Lift apparatus for attenuator cushion
OwnerAlbert W. Unrathinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for supporting an attenuator cushion comprising a vehicle mounted support frame; a support member coupled to said support frame and extending outward from said vehicle; and a mounting bracket to which the attenuator cushion is coupled, the mounting bracket pivotably coupled to the support member along an axis to pivot between a horizontal deployed position in which the cushion extends generally outward from the vehicle, and a vertical position in which the cushion extends vertically upward, wherein the mounting bracket engages the support member along a majority of the width of the mounting bracket when the cushion is in the vertical position.
Claims23
A lift apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for supporting an attenuator cushion comprising:
- a support frame;
- support means coupled to said support frame and extending outward from said support frame for supporting said attenuator cushion;
- and
- a mounting bracket for coupling to said attenuator cushion, said mounting bracket pivotably coupled to said support means by means of a plurality of hinge angles along an axis to pivot between a horizontal deployed position in which the cushion extends generally outward from said support frame, and a vertical position in which said cushion extends vertically upward, wherein said mounting bracket is disposed on said support means along a majority of the width of said mounting bracket when said cushion is in said vertical position.
A lift apparatus adapted to be mounted onto an end of a vehicle comprising:
- a support frame comprising:
- a vertical back support plate;
- a pair of vertical channel plates coupled at opposite ends of said back support plate;
- a pair of support tubes coupled to a front surface of said back support plate at a bottom portion thereof;
- and
- a mounting bracket for supporting an attenuator cushion, said mounting bracket pivotably coupled to said pair of support tubes along an axis and operable to pivot between a horizontal deployed position in which the attenuator cushion extends generally outward from said support frame in parallel orientation with said pair of support tubes, and a vertical position in which said cushion extends vertically upward perpendicular to said pair of support tubes,
- wherein said mounting bracket engages said support tubes via a corresponding pair of hinge angles along a majority of the width of said mounting bracket when said cushion is in said vertical position, thereby permitting said attenuator cushion to rest upon said mounting bracket and a majority portion of said support tubes.
A lift apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for supporting a cushion comprising:
- a support frame;
- a support means coupled to said support frame and extending in a longitudinal direction therefrom;
- and
- a mounting bracket to which said cushion is coupled, said mounting bracket pivotably coupled to said support means along a transverse axis for pivoting between a horizontal deployed position in which the cushion extends generally outward longitudinally such that said cushion is disposed a first distance from ground, and a vertical position in which said cushion extends vertically upward such that said cushion is disposed a second distance from the ground;
- wherein the difference in distance of the cushion from the ground when in the vertical position relative to the horizontal position is substantially a function of the height of the support means, wherein when said cushion is in said vertical position, a majority of the width of said mounting bracket is disposed over said support means.
A vehicle mounted crash attenuator comprising:
- a crushable, energy-absorbing crash cushion;
- and
- a lift apparatus coupled to said vehicle for rotating said crash cushion between a horizontal deployed position in which the cushion extends generally outward from said vehicle, and a vertical position in which said cushion extends vertically upward, comprising:
- a substantially vertical support frame;
- a pair of support members extending outward from said support frame and fixedly coupled thereto along a longitudinal axis at a first end, each of said support members having disposed thereon a transverse tubular member having first and second open ends;
- a mounting bracket for receiving said crash cushion and securing thereto;
- a pair of hinge angles, each coupled to corresponding sides of a respective one of said pair of support members, each said hinge angle fixedly coupled to said mounting bracket and having a corresponding cavity aligned with said first and second open ends of said transverse tubular member for receiving a pin such that said hinge angle pivots about said pin;
- and
- actuator means for causing said mounting bracket to rotate about an axis to cause rotation of said crash cushion between said horizontal deployed position and said vertical position.
A lift apparatus adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for supporting an attenuator cushion comprising:
- a support frame;
- support means coupled to said support frame and extending outward from said support frame for supporting said attenuator cushion;
- and
- a mounting bracket for coupling to said attenuator cushion, said mounting bracket pivotably coupled to said support means by means of a plurality of hinge angles along an axis to pivot between a horizontal deployed position in which the cushion extends generally outward from said support frame, and a vertical position in which said cushion extends vertically upward;
- and
- adjusting means coupled to said support means for incrementally adjusting the attitude of said cushion from the ground surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.