Patent ID: 8556286

Claim:
A crash attenuator comprising: a crash cushion comprising a front end, a rear end, and a trailer hitch component disposed adjacent said front end; at least one wheel supporting said crash cushion, wherein said at least one wheel is spaced rearwardly from said trailer hitch component; and a pair of tethers positioned on opposite sides of said trailer hitch component and each having an end portion adapted for connection to a tow vehicle, wherein each of said tethers is moveable relative to a retraction mechanism connected to said crash cushion, wherein a length of each of said tethers between said end portion thereof and said retraction mechanism is variable when said tethers are in a disengaged condition, and wherein said length of each of said tethers between said end portion thereof and said retraction mechanism is fixed when said tethers are in an engaged condition, wherein at least one of said tethers is put in tension when said tethers are in said engaged condition.