US 12,404,644 B2
Crash cushion
Brent Sindorf, Roseville, CA (US); and Michael J. Buehler, Roseville, CA (US)
Assigned to VALTIR, LLC, Addison, TX (US)
Filed by Valtir, LLC, Addison, TX (US)
Filed on Mar. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/188,772.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/987,168, filed on Mar. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0277615 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. E01F 15/00 (2006.01); E01F 15/14 (2006.01)
CPC E01F 15/148 (2013.01) 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A crash cushion comprising:
first and second laterally spaced and longitudinally extending rails;
a diaphragm frame comprising first and second laterally spaced sides, wherein the diaphragm frame is moveably supported by the first and second rails in a longitudinal direction;
first and second laterally spaced outer guides coupled to the diaphragm frame, each of the first and second outer guides configured to engage an outboard portion of the first and second rails respectively during a lateral impact of the crash cushion on a first or second side of the crash cushion respectively, wherein each of the first and second outer guides is releasable from the outboard portion of the first and second rails in response to a first load configuration applied to one of the first or second sides of the crash cushion respectively;
first and second laterally spaced inner guides coupled to the diaphragm frame, wherein the first and second inner guides are spaced laterally inboard from the first and second outer guides respectively, wherein the first inner guide is configured to engage an inboard portion of the first rail during the lateral impact of the crash cushion on the first side of the crash cushion after release of the first outer guide, wherein the first inner guide is releasable from the inboard portion of the first rail in response to a second load configuration applied to the first side of the crash cushion, wherein the second inner guide is configured to engage an inboard portion of the second rail during the lateral impact of the crash cushion on the first side of the crash cushion after release of the first inner guide, and wherein the second inner guide is releasable from the inboard portion of the second rail in response to a third load configuration applied to the first side of the crash cushion.