초록 ▼

An apparatus for protecting structural supports from damage when impacted by an object such as a moving vehicle is provided. The apparatus has a shaped component which in the preferred embodiment is a semi-cylindrical component having a body defined by a wall, a top, and a base. The wall has at leas

An apparatus for protecting structural supports from damage when impacted by an object such as a moving vehicle is provided. The apparatus has a shaped component which in the preferred embodiment is a semi-cylindrical component having a body defined by a wall, a top, and a base. The wall has at least one flat wall face and surrounds a hollow interior. An indentation for receiving a structural support is present in at least one flat wall face. A means for securing the shaped component to the structural support and for firmly seating one component at its flat wall face against the second component at its flat wall face when two components are present. Preferably, each component has a plurality of impact absorbing indentations, each having an aperture, a base and a wall extending from the base to an aperture mouth. These indentations function to re-distribute the energy of impact when a collusion occurs between the apparatus and a moving object. Preferably, each component is formed by rotational molding from a plastic resin.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for protecting a structural support from impact, said apparatus comprising:an impact protection component in the form of a rigid, molded, single unitary part having a top, a base, and a peripheral side wall, said side wall having a rear portion and a front portion, said top, base, re

1. An apparatus for protecting a structural support from impact, said apparatus comprising:an impact protection component in the form of a rigid, molded, single unitary part having a top, a base, and a peripheral side wall, said side wall having a rear portion and a front portion, said top, base, rear portion and front portion enclosing an air chamber; said a rear portion configured to mate with the structural support so as to seat said component in an installed position adjoining the structural support; said front portion configured to deflect inwardly toward said rear portion so as to reduce the volume of said air chamber upon the impact of a vehicle, and thereby to protect the structural support from said impact; said rear portion of said side wall having flat faces that are located opposite each other so as to mate with corresponding opposite flat faces of the structural support, and being flexible so as to conform to the shape of the structural support at the opposite flat faces of the structural support so as to fit said component closely in said installed position adjoining the structural support; said component further having an opening which is open in use of said component and through which air can vent from said air chamber upon said reduction of said volume.