Apparatus for protecting structural supports

Abstract

An apparatus for protecting structural supports from damage when impacted by an object such as a moving vehicle is provided. The apparatus has a shaped component which in the preferred embodiment is a semi-cylindrical component having a body defined by a wall, a top, and a base. The wall has at least one flat wall face and surrounds a hollow interior. An indentation for receiving a structural support is present in at least one flat wall face. A device for securing the shaped component to the structural support and for firmly seating one component at its flat wall face against the second component at its flat wall face when two components are present. Preferably, each component has a plurality of impact absorbing indentations, each having an aperture, a base and a wall extending from the base to an aperture mouth. These indentations function to re-distribute the energy of impact when a collusion occurs between the apparatus and a moving object. Preferably, each component is formed by rotational molding from a plastic resin.

What is claimed is:  
     
         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 and a front portion, the top, base, front portion and rear portion enclosing an air chamber, said rear portion configured to mate with the structural support so as to seat said component in an installed position adjoining the structural support;    said 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, 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 comprising: 
 a first elongated impact protection component in the form of a unitary part having a top, a base, and a peripheral side wall, said side wall having a rear portion and a front portion, the top, base, front portion and rear portion enclosing an air chamber, said rear portion configured to mate with the structural support so as to seat said component in an installed position adjoining the structural support;    said 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, and thereby to protect the structural support from said impact;    said front portion of said side wall having inner and outer surfaces with a plurality of discontinuous indentations that define projections at said inner surface and corresponding indentations at said outer surface.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said discontinuous indentations are in a spaced-apart relationship.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said rear portion further comprises a flat surface adapted to mate with the structural support.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said flat surface has an indentation defining one half of the indentation for receiving the structural support.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a second elongated impact protection component which is adapted to be stacked on top of the first elongated impact protection component.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising securing means for securing said component to the structural support.  
     
     
         8 . 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 unitary part having a top, base, and a peripheral side wall, said side wall having a front portion and a rear portion, said top, base, front portion, and rear portion enclosing an air chamber, each of said rear portions configured to mate with the structural support upon movement of the component transversely into its installed position;    each of said front portions 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, thereby to protect the structural support from said impact;    said front portion of said side wall having contours, said contours having a depth, the depth being the distance from peak to valley perpendicular to said front portion; and,    securing means for securing each of said components to the structural support.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein each of said components are stackable on each other in a vertical direction.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said front portion has a hollow interior space.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the hollow interior space is defined by an aperture base and an aperture mouth, wherein said aperture base has a variable width.  
     
     
         12 . A method for protecting a structural support, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first elongated impact protection component in the form of a unitary part having a top, a base, and a peripheral side wall, said side wall having a rear portion and a front portion, the top, base, front portion and rear portion enclosing an air chamber, said rear portion configured to mate with the structural support so as to seat said component in an installed position adjoining the structural support; said front portion of said side wall having inner and outer surfaces with a plurality of discontinuous indentations that define projections at said inner surface and corresponding indentations at said outer surface;    mating the rear portion of said impact protection component with the structural support; and,    seating said impact protection component in an installed position adjoining the structural support.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: 
 impacting said impact protection component;    deflecting said front portion inwardly toward said rear portion so as to reduce the volume of said air chamber upon the impact of a vehicle; and,    protecting the structural support from said impact.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing securing means to secure said impact protection component to the structural support; and,    securing said impact protection component to the structural support.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said securing means is a belt.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a second impact protection component; and,    stacking said second impact protection component on top of said impact protection component to protect the structural support at a higher elevation.