Energy absorbing post for roadside safety devices

An energy absorbing post for roadside safety devices comprising:

• a lower post section for engaging a foundation upon which the roadside safety device is mounted;
• an upper post section for receiving the impact of an errant vehicle, the upper post section and the lower post section being generally vertically aligned;
• and
• a means for attaching the lower post section to the upper post section and facilitating out-of-plane deformation in the post upon the impact of an errant vehicle on the upper post section;
• such that at least a portion of the energy of the errant vehicle is absorbed by the out-of-plane deformation.

An energy absorbing post for roadside safety devices comprising:

• a lower post section for engaging a foundation upon which the roadside safety device is mounted;
• an upper post section for receiving the impact of an errant vehicle, the upper post section and the lower post section being generally vertically aligned;
• a splice connection between the upper and lower posts sections, the splice connection including overlapping splice plates;
• and
• a bolt connecting the overlapping splice plates, wherein the bolt forms an axial gap between the bolt head and nut, the gap exceeding the thickness of the overlapping splice plates;
• wherein the axial gap permits angular deflection of the bolt during an impact to facilitate tear-out in one or more of the overlapping splice plates and thereby absorb at least a portion of the energy of an errant vehicle impacting the upper post section.

An energy absorbing post for roadside safety devices comprising:

• a lower post section for engaging a foundation upon which the roadside safety device is mounted;
• an upper post section for receiving the impact of an errant vehicle, the upper post section and the lower post section being generally vertically aligned;
• a splice connection between the lower and upper post sections, the splice connection including a splice plate rigidly attached to one of the upper or lower post sections;
• and
• a tab extending from a portion of the splice plate, the tab being attached to the other of the upper or lower post sections;
• such that the tab closes the splice connection, and the energy of an errant vehicle impacting the upper post section is absorbed by out-of-plane tearing in the material of the splice plate near where the tab extends therefrom.

An energy absorbing post for roadside safety devices comprising:

• a lower post section for engaging a foundation upon which the roadside safety device is mounted;
• an upper post section for receiving the impact of an errant vehicle, the upper post section and the lower post section being generally vertically aligned;
• a splice connection between the lower and upper post sections, the splice connection including a splice plate facing a lateral impact and attached to the upper or lower post section;
• and
• a generally horizontal slot formed in a portion of the other of the upper or lower post sections, the splice plate being rigidly attached to the post near said slot;
• such the energy of an errant vehicle impacting the upper post section is absorbed by out-of-plane tearing in the material of the upper or lower post section near said slot.

An energy absorbing post for roadside safety devices comprising:

• a lower post section for engaging a foundation upon which the roadside safety device is mounted;
• an upper post section for receiving the impact of an errant vehicle, the upper post section and the lower post section being generally vertically aligned;
• a splice connection between the lower and upper post sections, the splice connection including a splice plate facing a lateral impact;
• a first portion of the splice plate is rigidly attached on a first planar side to the upper or lower post section;
• and
• a second portion of the splice plate is side bent over and an opposing second planar side thereof is welded to the other of the upper or lower post sections;
• such that impact energy of an errant vehicle is absorbed by out-of-plane tearing in the weld area.