Patents by Inventor Bret Eckert

Bret Eckert has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8556286
    Abstract: A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end, a rear end, and a trailer hitch component disposed adjacent the front end. The trailer hitch component is capable of being secured to a mating hitch component located on a towing vehicle, such that the hitch components are capable of being rotated relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The wheel is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and is spaced rearwardly from the hitch component. A pair of tethers are positioned on opposite sides of the hitch component and are moveable relative to one or more retraction mechanisms connected to the crash cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bret Eckert, Michael J. Buehler, James B. Welch
  • Publication number: 20130140791
    Abstract: A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end, a rear end, and a trailer hitch component disposed adjacent the front end. The trailer hitch component is capable of being secured to a mating hitch component located on the towing vehicle, such that hitch components are capable of being rotated relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The wheel is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and is spaced rearwardly from hitch component. A pair of tethers are positioned on opposite sides of the hitch component and are moveable relative to one or more guides connected to the crash cushion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Energy Aborption Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bret Eckert, Michael J. Buehler, James B. Welch
  • Patent number: 8388012
    Abstract: A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end, a rear end, and a trailer hitch component disposed adjacent the front end. The trailer hitch component is capable of being secured to a mating hitch component located on the towing vehicle, such that hitch components are capable of being rotated relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The wheel is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and is spaced rearwardly from hitch component. One or more tethers are positioned on opposite sides of the hitch component and are moveable relative to one or more guides connected to the crash cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Buehler, Bret Eckert, James B. Welch
  • Publication number: 20120146313
    Abstract: A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end, a rear end, and a trailer hitch component disposed adjacent the front end. The trailer hitch component is capable of being secured to a mating hitch component located on the towing vehicle, such that hitch components are capable of being rotated relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The wheel is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and is spaced rearwardly from hitch component. One or more tethers are positioned on opposite sides of the hitch component and are moveable relative to one or more guides connected to the crash cushion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Michael J. BUEHLER, Bret ECKERT, James B. WELCH
  • Patent number: 8136830
    Abstract: A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end and a rear end, and a restraint element disposed adjacent the front end and capable of being coupled to a towing vehicle. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The restraint element is operable between at least an impact condition and a non-impact condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Buehler, Bret Eckert, James B. Welch
  • Publication number: 20110089668
    Abstract: A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end and a rear end, and a restraint element disposed adjacent the front end and capable of being coupled to a towing vehicle. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The restraint element is operable between at least an impact condition and a non-impact condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Michael J. Buehler, Bret Eckert, James B. Welch
  • Patent number: 7874572
    Abstract: A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end, a rear end, and a trailer hitch component disposed adjacent the front end. The trailer hitch component is capable of being secured to a mating hitch component located on the towing vehicle, such that hitch components are capable of being rotated relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The wheel is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and is spaced rearwardly from the substantially vertical axis. The crash attenuator further includes at least one restraint element operable between at least a disengaged condition, wherein the crash cushion is capable of rotating about the substantially vertical axis, and an engaged condition, wherein the at least one restraint element constrains rotation of the crash cushion about the substantially vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Energy Absorption Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Buehler, Bret Eckert, James B. Welch
  • Publication number: 20060151971
    Abstract: A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end, a rear end, and a trailer hitch component disposed adjacent the front end. The trailer hitch component is capable of being secured to a mating hitch component located on the towing vehicle, such that hitch components are capable of being rotated relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The wheel is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and is spaced rearwardly from the substantially vertical axis. The crash attenuator further includes at least one restraint element operable between at least a disengaged condition, wherein the crash cushion is capable of rotating about the substantially vertical axis, and an engaged condition, wherein the at least one restraint element constrains rotation of the crash cushion about the substantially vertical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Buehler, Bret Eckert, James Welch
  • Publication number: 20050249553
    Abstract: A delineator includes a post having a bottom portion and a stem extending from the bottom portion. At least a portion of the post is moveable in a lateral direction between an at-rest position and an impact position. An anchor includes a top and an elongated receptacle. In one aspect, the stem is removably inserted in the receptacle and is moveable in a longitudinal direction between at least a first position and a second position relative to the receptacle as the flexible post is moved between the at-rest position and the impact position respectively. A first portion of the length of the stem is disposed in the receptacle when the stem is in the first position and a second portion of the length of the stem remains disposed in the receptacle when the stem is in the second position, wherein the first portion is greater than the second portion. Methods of removably retaining a boundary in a pathway and of installing a boundary in a pathway are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Publication date: November 10, 2005
    Inventors: Bret Eckert, Jeffrey Thompson