Patent ID: 7101111

Claim:
An energy absorbing system to minimize the results of a collision between a moving vehicle and a roadside hazard comprising: at least one guide having a first end and a second end; the first end of the guide corresponding proximately with a first end of the system facing oncoming traffic; a first group of panel support frames slidably disposed to the guide; a second group of panel support frames spaced from each other and securely anchored at respective locations between the second end of the guide and the roadside hazard; a first group of panels slidably attached to the first group of panel support frames whereby the first group of panel support frames and associated first group of panels collapse toward the second end of the guide when a vehicle impacts the first end of the system; a second group of panels securely attached to the second group of panel support frames whereby the second group of panel support frames and associated second group of panels resist vehicle impacts; at least a portion of the second group of panel support frames and associated second group of panels disposed at an angle relative to the guide; the energy absorbing system having a first position with each panel support frame of the first group of panel support frames spaced longitudinally from adjacent panel support frames; the first group of panel support frames and the associated panels forming a series of bays extending generally longitudinally from the first end to the second end of the guide; a plurality of two-bay panels defined in part by selected panels having their respective first end securely attached to a first panel support frame and each panel of the two-bay panels slidably attached with two panel support frames disposed downstream from the first panel support flame; and at least one one-bay panel defined by a second panel support frame with the first end of selected panels securely attached thereto and each panel of the one-bay panel slidably attached to only one panel support frame disposed downstream from the second panel support frame.