US 12,305,730 B2
Crash absorption device
Frederick J. AmRhein, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed by Frederick J. AmRhein, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed on May 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/826,596.
Prior Publication US 2023/0383810 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. F16F 3/02 (2006.01); F16F 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC F16F 3/02 (2013.01) 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Apparatus for absorbing impacting energy from a downward impact comprising:
an elongated transverse support assembly extending in a distal-proximal direction;
four torsion elements having longitudinal axes, each torsion element attached to the transverse support assembly and extending to either side of the transverse support assembly along its longitudinal axis, such that the longitudinal axes of the torsion elements extend nonparallel to the distal-proximal direction;
a pair of bending elements spaced apart and attached to each torsion element, the bending elements extending downward from their attached torsion element at a slant with respect to the distal-proximal direction;
wherein the torsion elements absorb a downward impacting load primarily by twisting, and the torsion elements further untwist to an unloaded state when the impacting load is removed; and wherein the bending elements further absorb the impacting load by bending, and unbend to an unloaded state when the impacting load is removed.