Appeal No. 1999-1037
Application 08/804,284
column 6, lines 5-16; column 12, line 66 through column 13,
line 5). The system includes a U-shaped frame made up of
impact plate assembly 18 and structural member 106, 108.
Object 12 includes structural tubing members 42, 44.
Structural members 106, 108 are received in structural tubing
members 42, 44 for sliding movement therein (column 11, lines
28-33). When a vehicle collides with the impact plate
assembly, the impact plate assembly and structural members
106, 108 are displaced as a unit, with the structural members
106, 108 sliding in the tubing members 42, 44, while the
barrels 16 collapse to absorb the impact forces of the
collision. See Figure 8.
Reading claim 1 on the energy absorbing system of Carney
‘310, the Carney ‘310 system comprises a crash cushioning
apparatus capable of cushioning impacts with a fixed structure
comprising a plurality of collapsible members 16 extending
between a downstream end and an upstream end and presenting a
longitudinal side, and a structural reinforcement 18, 42, 44,
106, 108 extending along a portion of the side, of the
collapsible members. The structural reinforcement of Carney
-13-
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