Energy absorbing impact system

A fender system for use with a support structure adjacent a road accommodating vehicle traffic in a direction along the road's center line, the fender system comprising:

• a first energy absorbing fender element including:
• a first elastomeric leg having a first base adapted to be coupled to the support structure such that the leg extends in a direction oblique to the center line;
• and
• a first contact panel extending from the first leg, the first contact panel having a first contact surface adapted to extend substantially parallel to the road's center line, a first forward end and a first rearward end;
• and
• a second energy absorbing fender element adjacent the first energy absorbing fender element, the second energy absorbing fender element including:
• a second elastomeric leg having a base adapted to be coupled to the support structure such that the second leg extends in a direction oblique to the center line;
• and
• a second contact panel extending from the second leg, the second contact panel having a second contact surface adapted to extend substantially parallel to the road's center line, a second forward end and a second rearward end, wherein the first forward end is adapted to face the second rearward end when the first and second fender elements are coupled to the support structure such that when the first contact surface is engaged by a vehicle, the first leg resiliently flexes to move the first forward end into engagement with the second rearward end to transfer energy from the first fender element to the second fender element.

An energy absorbing impact system comprising:

• a thoroughfare along which traffic moves in a general direction;
• at least one support structure;
• and
• first and second adjacent energy absorbing fender elements supported by the at least one support structure and extending adjacent to the thoroughfare, each of the first and second adjacent energy absorbing fender elements including:
• at least one elastomeric leg obliquely extending from the at least one support structure wherein each leg does not substantially resist flexure in the direction of traffic;
• and
• a contact panel extending from the at least one leg and from no other legs and being connected to the at least one support structure solely by the at least one leg, the contact panel having a contact surface facing the thoroughfare, a forward end and a rearward end, wherein the forward end of the first adjacent fender element faces the rearward end of the second adjacent fender element such that when the contact surface of the first adjacent fender element is engaged by traffic, the at least one leg of the first adjacent fender element resiliently flexes to move the forward end of the first adjacent fender element into engagement with the rearward end of the second adjacent fender element.

A vehicle impact system comprising:

• a road accommodating vehicle traffic in a direction along its center line;
• at least one support structure;
• and
• first and second adjacent energy absorbing fender elements supported by the at least one support structure and extending adjacent to the road, each of the first and second adjacent energy absorbing fender elements including:
• an elastomeric leg extending non-parallel from the support structure;
• a contact panel extending from the leg, the contact panel having a contact surface extending substantially parallel to the road's center line, a forward end and a rearward end, wherein the forward end of the first adjacent fender element faces the rearward end of the second adjacent fender element such that when the contact surface of the first adjacent fender element is engaged by a vehicle, the leg of the first adjacent fender element resiliently flexes to move the forward end of the first adjacent fender element into engagement with the rearward end of the second adjacent fender element, and wherein a first one of the base and the at least one support structure includes a key way and a second one of the base and the at least one support structure includes a key, wherein the key way receives the key to couple the fender element base to the at least one support structure.

A vehicle impact system comprising:

• a road accommodating vehicle traffic in a direction along its center line;
• at least one support structure;
• and
• first and second adjacent energy absorbing fender elements supported by the at least one support structure and extending adjacent to the road, each of the first and second adjacent energy absorbing fender elements including:
• an elastomeric leg extending non-parallel from the support structure;
• and
• a contact panel extending from the leg, the contact panel having a contact surface extending substantially parallel to the road's center line, a forward end and a rearward end, the contact panel including a support portion coupled to the leg, and a shield including at least one material distinct from the support portion, wherein the shield is coupled to the support portion, the shield providing the support surface, wherein the forward end of the first adjacent fender element faces the rearward end of the second adjacent fender element such that when the contact surface of the first adjacent fender element is engaged by a vehicle, the leg of the first adjacent fender element resiliently flexes to move the forward end of the first adjacent fender element into engagement with the rearward end of the second adjacent fender element.

A vehicle impact system comprising:

• a road accommodating vehicle traffic in a direction along its center line;
• at least one support structure;
• and
• first and second adjacent energy absorbing fender elements supported by the at least one support structure and extending adjacent to the road, each of the first and second adjacent energy absorbing fender elements including:
• an elastomeric leg extending non-parallel from the support structure;
• and
• a contact panel extending from the leg, the contact panel having a contact surface extending substantially parallel to the road's center line, a forward end and a rearward end, wherein the leg and the contact panel have a generally L-shaped configuration, wherein the forward end of the first adjacent fender element faces the rearward end of the second adjacent fender element such that when the contact surface of the first adjacent fender element is engaged by a vehicle, the leg of the first adjacent fender element resiliently flexes to move the forward end of the first adjacent fender element into engagement with the rearward end of the second adjacent fender element.