The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 21, 2011
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2007
Paul C. Glance, Troy, MI (US);
Sidney T. Winter, Richmond, MI (US);
Robert J. Bauer, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);
Eddy R. Finch, Murfreesboro, TN (US);
Bryant A. Tokarz, Franklin, TN (US);
Paul C. Glance, Troy, MI (US);
Sidney T. Winter, Richmond, MI (US);
Robert J. Bauer, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);
Eddy R. Finch, Murfreesboro, TN (US);
Bryant A. Tokarz, Franklin, TN (US);
O-Flex Group, Inc., Murfreesboro, TN (US);
Abstract
An energy absorbing tubular structure is formed of a molded or extruded polymer. The tube has a quadrangular cross-section with rounded corners. The walls of tube are corrugated with alternating convex and concave corrugations surfaces having a continuous constant radius, preferably with no flat spots. The corrugated walls have a constant thickness. The corrugations progressively deform during impact thereby providing a near perfect square wave force vs. deflection energy absorption curve at any predetermined nearly constant force level. The tube may be filled with polymer foam to vary the impact performance of the structure.