Abstract: A shock absorber constructed as elastomer hollow spring which is arranged between a vehicle bumper and a fixed vehicle part, and which is supported under prestress at these parts; the shock absorber includes at its end near the vehicle a socket having an inner area abutting at the shock absorber and an outer area abutting at the inner sides of sections of the bumper which are directed inwardly of the vehicle; each outer area thereby includes friction structures supported under prestress at the inner sides of the bumper sections.

Abstract: An energy absorbing bumper for protecting an object from a collision is disclosed which has a compressible cellular core having a plurality of relatively large spaced apart cavities extending from the back side at least partially through the cellular core and a resilient outer skin enclosing the compressible core.

Abstract: An energy absorber comprises an elastomeric member in a substantially trapezoidal configuration, a piston connected to the apex of the trapezoid, and piston retaining and mounting supports. The elastomer absorbs energy by virtue of its inclined buckling columns forming the sides of the trapezoid while the piston is forced to move in a substantially horizontal plane by the piston retaining and mounting supports. The energy absorber, when applied to vehicle applications, provides a bumper mount that accepts frontal and lateral force impact and lends itself to bumper jacking and towing forces.

Abstract: A flexible, pneumatic bumper adapted for motor vehicle applications. A plurality of individual chambers are defined by a resiliently deformable outer bumper shell, a supporting plate secured to the vehicle structural members and a plurality of baffles or separator elements extending from the bumper shell toward or to the mounting plate. When the outer bumper shell is displaced inwardly due to an impact force, resultant chamber deformation causes an increase in chamber pressure that is relieved by air being forced out of the chamber to an adjacent chamber or to the atmosphere through a pressure relief valve. Following impact, return of the bumper shell to its original shape is slowed by a restricted return air flow into the chambers thereby preventing bumper rebound forces.The separator elements may be designed to provide a preloading effect or a maximum buckling resistance when the bumper shell is installed on the supporting plate.

Abstract: This energy absorber for use on automotive vehicles has a cylinder slidably mounted in a support bracket to flex a belt of energy absorbing material on bumper impact to dissipate impact energy. The cylinder has integral radial connector straps at its outer end to facilitate bumper attachment. The belt is looped around a pair of pins, one being slidably mounted in a travel slot and the other in an end notch facilitating assembly of the belt into the cylinder. Preferably the energy absorber cylinder and connector straps are made from a one piece stamping rolled into a cylinder and seam welded.

Abstract: A bumper for an object to be protected, e.g. an automobile, has a closed profiled-section support beam comprised of a rigid rear support and a front hollow section of some deformable material. The front section partly embraces the rigid support with freely extending parallel shanks that are separably connected with the rigid support by screw connections for the bottom shank and hook-shaped holding elements for the upper shank. The front section also contains reinforcing ribs with edges arranged at a distance opposite a front portion of the rigid support means. The lower shank has a region that bears against a portion of the rigid support.

Abstract: A highway guard rail bumper guard includes at least two automobile tires arranged concentrically one within the other. Each of the tires has a mirror circumferential segment thereof removed to provide each of such tires with a pair of spaced ends. The tires preferably are positioned such that the spaced ends of the respective tires are substantially aligned radially. Fastening means are secured to the outermost of the tires adjacent each of the ends thereof and clamping means is connected between the fastening means. An annularly extending layer of a particulate non-compressible material is disposed within the innermost of the tires.

Abstract: A yielding guard for attachment to a pole to protect individuals from injury. The pole guard includes a substantially rigid strip of material such as a wood plank that is secured longitudinally to a pole extending upwardly out of the ground. The strip is positioned in spaced relation from the pole by spacers. Worn or used vehicle tires which are larger in diameter than the pole are each provided with diametrically opposed slots in the worn perimetal annular face of the tires. These slots are positioned adjacent one side face of the tire and slidably receive the strip with the aforesaid one side face of the tire facing the pole. The tires may be slid up and down the strip to a desired position and held in place with a stop.

Abstract: A means for towing a vehicle comprises a towing cushion which is positioned between the towing member and the body structure for preventing the member from engaging the body structure. The towing cushion comprises an elongated yieldable, compressible cushion member extending transversely of the vehicle between the vehicle body and the towing member. The method of the present invention comprises securing a towing member to the vehicle and placing the towing cushion between the towing member and the vehicle to prevent injury to the vehicle body during lifting of the cable.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing buffer for boarding fenders used for the protection of ships and waterway port structures has a hollow rubber body in the form of a tubular sleeve with a thick wall subjected to compression-bending, and rigid mounting plates affixed to its extremities which are arranged parallel to each other and at right angles to an axis of revolution of the rubber body. The buffer also includes an annular radially extensible rubber element which contacts and encloses at least one of the extremities of the hollow rubber body. This rubber element is separate from the rubber body and is adjacent to the mounting plate at this extremity.

Abstract: A cellular section for shock absorption having a longitudinal rear support side and a longitudinal front impact side. Between these sides there is a number of cells having their axis perpendicular to the support side. In a position between the support side and the impact side there is a longitudinal inner wall which constitutes a bottom for cells opening out backwards towards the support side and for cells opening out forwards towards the impact side. In this way each cell can stand a higher buckling load in impact, since the buckling length is reduced.

Abstract: An impact or shock absorbing guard constructed of a molded rubber composition for padding structural elements such as poles or the like found on playgrounds, schoolyards, etc. to prevent injuries. The shock absorbing guard affords energy or shock absorption properties of at least two levels and has a long service life.

Abstract: An impact or shock absorbing guard for padding structural elements such as poles or the like found on playgrounds, schoolyards, etc. to prevent injuries. The shock absorbing guard affords three stages of impact energy absorption and long service life.

Abstract: A modular cushioning pad comprises a rigid plate and at least one elastomeric cushion centered on the plate. One end surface of the cushion is bonded to the plate, while the second, opposite end surface is spaced from the plate. The outer side surface of the cushion has a first portion that slopes outwardly and away from the end of the cushion bonded to the plate. A second portion of the outer side surface slopes inwardly and away from the first portion of the surface to merge with the second end surface of the cushion. The plate and cushion are preferably annular.

Abstract: A pneumatic conduit cigarette rod transfer system includes an energy absorbing assembly adapted to dissipate the kinetic energy of rods traversing a guide on issuance from the conduit to avert end shape alteration of transferred rods.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing device suitable as an automobile bumper using sinuous (corrugated), elastomeric ribs, which can be either attached to a connecting member at one end and unattached at the other end or unattached at both ends. These ribs buckle in a direction normal to the impact force and modulate that force.

Abstract: A shock absorbing arrangement for marine structures includes an annular elongated hollow body with an elastomer body molded adjacent one end of the annular body, the elastomer body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced voids therein extending from one end of the body and terminating in spaced relation relative to the other end of the body. A cylinder is molded in the center of the body and has an open end facing in the same direction as the open end of the voids and a closed end adjacent but spaced from the other end of the elastomer body and the elastomer body is provided with an enlargement adjacent the closed cylinder end to serve as a shock absorber and bumper.

Abstract: A fender system including a supporting frame mounted on a stationary structure by energy-absorbing shock mounting members, and the frame carrying annular bumper members stacked one above the other and sized for rotation about a pipe column, the bumper members each having their respective end surfaces stepped at an annular step in such a way that the stepped surfaces of adjacent bumpers mate and interlock, and the bumper members having multiple relief holes extending in from their end surfaces parallel to the axis of the bumper members and tending to impart a degree of asymmetrical distortion to an impacted bumper member causing it to creep around the pipe column on which it is supported; such rotation being aided by friction reducing means on the surfaces of the bumper members.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semi-pneumatic energy absorbing bumper system for interposition between two objects at least one of which is movable including module means having an impacting face and upper, lower and side walls terminating in a continuous bead, support means for mounting said module means to at least one of said objects, a plurality of reinforcing ribs connecting only the impacting face to the upper and lower side walls, means for holding the module means against the support means to form a cavity therebetween closed to the atmosphere, and means for permitting selective communication between the cavity and the atmosphere upon the application of an external force of predetermined magnitude to the module means.

Abstract: A shock absorber fastening at the bumper of motor vehicles, in which an impact plate is secured externally at the bottom of the shock absorber housing which projects considerably beyond the circumference of the shock absorber housing bottom; the impact plate is embedded within a shock absorber bearing of an elastomer or polyurethane material; the impact plate is detachably secured at the bumper by way of a metal cap at least partly surrounding the shock absorber bearing, through which a shock absorber housing part is adapted to be extended.

Abstract: An energy absorber which comprises in cross-section at least one limb of rubber-plastic composite material comprising a layer of rubber and a layer of plastics, said layers being united together and each extending substantially in the direction of the length of the limb, and the layer of plastics material being capable of absorbing more energy than the layer of rubber during deformation of the limb by bending or buckling.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a wheel having at least two spaced parallel sides. A type-supporting member is slidably mounted between said sides for radial movement, the wheel being open radially outwardly from this supporting member to receive a segment of rubber type. A spring of resilient, rubber-like material, in columnar form extends radially of the wheel between the sides, being secured at its radially outer end to the supporting member and at its inner end to the central portion of the wheel. Radially inward movement of the supporting member causes flexure of said spring which reacts with a corresponding force. A type segment mounted on said type-supporting member will be impressed against a surface to be imprinted depending upon the reactionary force exerted by the flexed spring.

Abstract: An elongate body of elastomeric material of substantially uniform width and thickness has support plates fixedly attached to opposite ends of the body of elastomeric material. The plates are oriented substantially parallel to each other and normal to the longitudinal axis of the body of elastomeric material. A rigid wedge member is mounted within and transversely of the body of elastomeric material between and in spaced relation to the plates. The wedge member forms a wedge angle in the body of elastomeric material for controlling the direction of buckling.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for absorbing the energy of shock impact loads are disclosed. In accordance with the method, an elastomeric member is axially advanced along a friction surface and into a confined condition upon impact loading to simultaneously provide friction and resilient deformation reaction forces having a substantially constant additive total. The elastomeric member is preloaded in an axial direction and the friction interface developed is of controlled lubricity to assure efficient energy absorption and uniform reaction forces independent of temperature and impact velocity. If velocity sensitivity is desired, the friction surface and preload can be modified to provide direct velocity sensitivity wherein the reaction force increases with the velocity of the impact. The apparatus includes an impact receiving piston axially disposed within a casing and arranged to load the elastomeric member.

Abstract: A rubber shock absorber for a mooring guard comprising a hollow rubber element of revolution having a generally truncated conical shape adhering to a base plate with an angle of inclination A of its conical wall in the order of 60.degree. - 85.degree.. The rubber element has a hollow section with an axial length H and a conical wall with a radial thicknes E so dimensioned that the outer diameter D of the small base of the rubber element at right angles to the hollow section is substantially equal to the inner diameter d of the large base of the section. In this arrangement, the conical wall of the rubber element operates essentially through bending and extension towards the outside under a crushing stress comprising an axial component and provides lateral stability to counteract the tangential components of this stress.

Abstract: In a shock absorber assembly for a vehicle, a closed flexible hollow body mounted on a rigid support member, such as a part of the vehicle understructure, and a highly compressible fluid medium, for instance air, is filled into the hollow body. Another rigid support member of closed hollow construction is mounted against the opposite side of the hollow body from the support member on the vehicle understructure. The hollow support member can be lined interiorly with a closed bladder-like member and connected by a throttling member to the hollow body to act as an equalizing member when the hollow body is compressed by shock forces. As an alternative, two similar shock absorber assemblies can be spaced apart on a vehicle with each including one of the closed flexible hollow bodies and with the throttling member connected between the hollow bodies in the separate shock absorber assemblies.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns crush resistant bumpers suitable for use on vehicles. There is disclosed a resilient bumper cushion rigidly mounted on the vehicle and having an outwardly facing impact surface. A flexible belt is connected to the cushion in the vicinity of the impact surface and extends along the entire length of the cushion. The belt is connected to the cushion at points lying along the entire length of the interface between the belt and the cushion in order to disperse localized impact forces throughout the cushion.

Abstract: A support frame is positioned on a structure in a water covered area and receives and supports an elongated elastomer body to function as a bumper guard to protect the structure and vessel when contact is made. The support frame and the elongated elastomer body are constructed and arranged so that the elongated elastomer body may be positioned in the support from above water level, and may be withdrawn and replaced when necessary from above water level. The support frame includes inwardly extending plates to engage the elongated elastomer body to position it on the support frame and the elongated elastomer body is constructed and arranged to absorb shock, protect the support frame, and includes one or more rigid reinforcing members to inhibit unwanted or accidental removal of the elongated member from the support frames.

Abstract: A resilient bumper for protecting vehicles and stationary objects against collisions comprising a plurality of spaced, adjacent fins of flexible resilient material which are so spaced that the fins abut against each other progressively as the result of an impact and thus offer progressively higher resistance as each fin contacts an adjacent fin. The fins are preferably of tough rubber or plastic material having high ultimate elongation at low temperatures, high tear strength over a wide temperature range, and high abrasion resistance.The fins may be disposed on corners of a vehicle or other objects to be protected or may be on flat, circular or other shapes. The fins may be of various shapes and may be offset or staggered relative to each other.

Abstract: Energy absorbing media for vehicle bumpers and other vehicular components comprising stacked energy absorbing layers each formed by a pair of sheets of thin plastic material secured together. Each sheet has rows of spaced projections formed therein which interlock with the rows of spaced projections of the mating sheet. The projections flex in directions parallel and perpendicular to the bases of the sheets in response to impact to absorb impact energy.