Claims
- 1. An apparatus for protecting an elongated structural support from impact said apparatus comprising:an elongated impact protection component in the form of a single unitary part having a top, a base, and a peripheral side wall, said side wall having a rear portion configured to mate with the structural support so as to seat said component in an installed position adjoining the structural support; said side wall surrounding an air chamber and further having a front portion configured to deflect inwardly toward said rear portion so as to reduce the volume of said air chamber upon the impact of a vehicle or the like, and thereby to protect the structural support from said impact; said front portion of said side wall having inner and outer surfaces with undulating contours that define projections at said inner surface and corresponding indentations at said outer surface.
- 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said component is one of a plurality of elongated impact protection components configured to fit together beside each other in installed positions in which said components define transversely adjacent segments of an elongated impact protection body that surrounds the structural support.
- 3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said components are alike.
- 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said components are semi-cylindrical.
- 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said indentations are spaced apart from each other along the length and around the periphery of said front portion of said side wall.
- 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said indentations have rectangular peripheral shapes.
- 7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said indentations have circular peripheral shapes.
- 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said component is formed of material that imparts rigidity sufficient for the component normally to stand upright in an original, self-supported hollow configuration defining said air chamber.
- 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said component has a vent which is open in use of said component and through which air can exhaust air from said air chamber upon said reduction of said volume.
- 10. An apparatus for protecting an elongated structural support from impact, said apparatus comprising:a plurality of elongated impact protection components configured to fit together beside each other in installed positions in which said components define transversely adjacent segments of an elongated impact protection body that surrounds the structural support; each of said components being a single unitary part having a peripheral side wall with a rear portion configured to mate with the structural support upon movement of the component transversely into its installed position; each of said side walls surrounding a respective air chamber and further having a front portion configured to deflect inwardly toward said rear portion so as to reduce the volume of said respective air chamber upon the impact of a vehicle or the like, and thereby to protect the structural support from said impact.
- 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein each of said components is formed of material that imparts rigidity sufficient for the component normally to stand upright in an original, self-supported hollow configuration defining the respective air chamber.
- 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said components are a pair of components configured to define transversely opposed halves of said impact protection body.
- 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said components are alike.
- 14. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein each of said components has a vent which is open in use of the component and through which air can exhaust air from the respective air chamber upon said reduction of said volume.
- 15. An apparatus for protecting a structural support from impact, said apparatus comprising:an impact protection component in the form of a single unitary part having a top, a base, and a peripheral side wall, said side wall having a rear portion configured to mate with the structural support so as to seat said component in an installed position adjoining the structural support; said side wall surrounding an air chamber and further having a front portion configured to deflect inwardly toward said rear portion so as to reduce the volume of said air chamber upon the impact of a vehicle or the like, and thereby to protect the structural support from said impact; said component further having an opening which is open in use of said component and through which air can vent from said air chamber upon said reduction of said volume.
- 16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said component is one of a plurality of elongated impact protection components which are unitary parts configured to fit together beside each other in installed positions in which said components define transversely adjacent segments of an elongated impact protection body that surrounds the structural support.
- 17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said components are alike.
- 18. An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said components are semi-cylindrical.
- 19. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said opening is located at said side wall.
- 20. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said opening is circular.
- 21. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said opening is a solitary opening providing a total flow area through which air can vent from said air chamber upon said reduction of said volume.
- 22. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said component is formed of material that imparts rigidity sufficient for the component normally to stand upright in an original, self-supported hollow configuration defining said air chamber.
- 23. An apparatus for protecting a structural support from impact, said apparatus comprising:an impact protection component in the form of a single unitary part having a top, a base, and a peripheral side wall, said side wall having a rear portion configured to mate with the structural support so as to seat said component in an installed position adjoining the structural support; said side wall surrounding an air chamber and further having a front portion configured to deflect inwardly toward said rear portion so as to reduce the volume of said air chamber upon the impact of a vehicle or the like, and thereby to protect the structural support from said impact; said rear portion of said side wall having flat faces that are located opposite each other so as to mate with corresponding opposite flat faces of the structural support, and being flexible so as to conform to the shape of the structural support at the opposite flat faces of the structural support so as to fit said component closely in said installed position adjoining the structural support; said component being one of a plurality of elongated impact protection components which are unitary parts configured to fit together beside each other in installed positions in which said components define transversely adjacent segments of an elongated impact protection body that surrounds the structural support.
- 24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said components are alike.
- 25. An apparatus as defined in claim 23 wherein said components are semi-cylindrical.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/132,913 filed Aug. 12, 1998, which claims benefit of Provisional No. 60/055,276 filed Aug. 13, 1997.
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Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
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Date |
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3039897 A1 |
May 1982 |
DE |
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0360761 A1 |
Mar 1990 |
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Advertisements for the Column Cushion described in Applicant's Background of the Invention, including three sheets of photocopies and one original color p. 45, IEN/Aug. '99. |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/055276 |
Aug 1997 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/132913 |
Aug 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/538159 |
|
US |