Patent ID: 7967366

Claim:
A damage mitigation system for a vehicle, the system comprising: a housing coupled to a vehicle; a spindle disposed within the housing; a first self-inflating foam pad configured to be wound about the spindle; first and second pinching rods rotatably supported by the housing and configured to pinch the first self-inflating foam pad as the first self-inflating foam pad moves between the first and second pinching rods; a motor adapted to retract the first self-inflating foam pad by winding the first self-inflating foam pad about the spindle; and a first valve operably associated with the first self-inflating foam pad, wherein the first valve is operable to be opened for allowing the first self-inflating foam pad to inflate and for deflating the first self-inflating foam pad while the first self-inflating foam pad moves between the first and second pinching rods; wherein the first pinching rod rotates in a counterclockwise rotational direction, while the second pinching rod rotates in the clockwise rotational direction as the first self-inflating foam pad is extracted from the housing; and wherein the first pinching rod rotates in a clockwise rotational direction, while the second pinching rod rotates in a counterclockwise rotational direction as the first self-inflating foam pad is retracted within the housing.