Resilient device
OwnerKarl L. Aschenbachinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A resilient device, such as a fender, includes a mounting portion connected to a resilient leaf spring portion. The leaf spring portion is designed to collapse and absorb a substantial amount of energy upon impact with another object while a free end of the leaf spring slides along a front side of the mounting portion. In a preferred embodiment, the leaf spring portion is extruded of a high-strength abrasion-resistant plastic material having a low coefficient of friction, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The leaf spring portion may include multiple access holes sized to admit a tool for installing or removing the device.
Claims19
A resilient device, comprising:
- a mounting portion for mounting to an object, the mounting portion having a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing longitudinal margins;
- and
- a resilient leaf spring portion made of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material and rigidly connected to the mounting portion along one of the longitudinal margins, the leaf spring portion projecting outwardly from the front side of the mounting portion to extend over at least part of the front side and then back toward the front side to terminate in a free end, the leaf spring portion defining a compression space located between the leaf spring portion and the mounting portion into which the leaf spring portion collapses when under load, the free end of the leaf spring portion sliding along the front side of the mounting portion when the leaf spring portion collapses under load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.