Patent ID: 8360400

Claim:
A guardrail assembly comprising: a first rail section comprising an upstream end portion, a downstream end portion and a first side; a second rail section comprising an upstream end portion, a downstream end portion and a second side, wherein said upstream end portion of said second rail section overlaps with and is secured to said downstream end portion of said first rail section with said first and second sides facing each other, and wherein said first rail section is moveable relative to said second rail section from a pre-impact position to an impact position in response to an axial impact to the guardrail assembly; and a deforming member secured to said upstream end portion of said second rail section and extending laterally from said second side, wherein said deforming member slideably engages said first side and laterally deforms said first rail section outwardly away from said second rail section as said deforming member slides along said first side as said first rail section is moved relative to said second rail section from said pre-impact position to said impact position.