Force-absorbing device
AssigneeRubber Millers, Inc.
InventorsRobert B. McNatt, John T. Day
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosed invention relates to a force-absorbing member which is formed of a resilient plastic material having a relatively high tensile strength mounted in a suitable restraining member. The force-absorbing member includes an annular mounting flange which is of sufficient size and the material of the force-absorbing member of sufficient strength to permit the force-absorbing member to readily deflect to one side of its axis during use, and the mounting of the flange is such that the flange will not rupture or pull through the member restraining it against movement. The force-absorbing member may be utilized, inter alia, as a bumper per se, as a support for a bumper, as a combined boat rub-rail and line-attaching member, or as part of a shock-absorbing unit of a tow unit, such as a tow chain.
Claims21
A force-absorbing member formed of a resilient, deformable, low modulus material having at one end thereof a restraining flange on at least two opposite sides thereof, and restraining means engaging said flange for restraining said flange while permitting resilient deformation of said force-absorbing member to one side of its axis, and said restraining flange being of a size sufficient and of a material having tensile strength sufficient to prevent both the movement of said flange through said restraining means and rupture of said flange during said resilient deformation of said force-absorbing member, said restraining means being in the form of a fixed member engaging said flange with said flange being solidly positioned against a high modulus material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.