California Inventor Develops Truck Mounted Attenuator
Published in: US Fed News Service
Date: 10/23/2008
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 23 — David C. Gertz of San Clemente, Calif., has developed a vehicular crash attenuator.
According to the abstract released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: “A truck mounted attenuator (TMA) is constructed to minimize length during use in a horizontal position and height in a vertical transport position, as well as to minimize wind resistance and buffeting at highway speeds. A modular construction is employed, so that only damaged portions of the TMA can be removed and replaced in the field after a vehicle impact. The TMA comprises a plurality of outwardly curved tubular structural members which are designed to buckle upon application to the TMA of forces resulting from vehicular impact. The rigid tubes buckle at a high initial force, then proceed to crush at a lower force once the sides have buckled outwardly sufficiently to protect vehicle occupants during the critical first two feet of travel after impact. This design also provides increased protection for errant vehicles which impact the TMA device from an angle (i.e. “coffin corner” impact).”
The inventor was issued U.S. Patent No. 7,438,337 on Oct. 21.
The patent has been assigned to TrafFix Devices Inc., San Clemente. The original application was filed on July 16, 2007, and is available at: https://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,438,337.PN.&OS=PN/7,438,337&RS=PN/7,438,337.
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