Side underride collision guards configured to be incorporated beneath the cargo containment structures of large powered or unpowered vehicles are described. These collision guards are designed to absorb the force and kinetic energy of a lateral impact from a striking vehicle in an efficient manner. The guards disclosed are suited for incorporation into those vehicles with an elevated side structure, regardless if those vehicles are equipped with or without a sliding rear axle or axles. The guards comprise at least one impact force resisting structure per vehicle side, typically wire rope, oriented axially and mounted at or near each outboard side of the vehicle. The wire rope is attached to a plurality of support members connecting the linear structures to supporting members of the vehicle. The supported linear guard interaction members diminish the impact hazard presented to other roadway users that comprises the lower axial edges of the vehicle, typically a cargo box container, which is geometrically mismatched to the impacting vehicle, typically a passenger vehicle, as the container box edges are elevated above the front and rear bumper height of the impacting vehicle.

A crash cushion includes a number of spaced-apart supports or bulkheads; energy-absorbing modules positioned between the supports; overlapping side panels that interconnect the supports; front and rear fixed anchors; and reinforcing cables extending between the anchors. The crash cushion also includes indexing structure that permits each hinge to be selectively mounted in several different positions with respect to its support; angle set structure that allows the hinges to pivot relative to the supports up to a defined pivot range.

A semi-trailer is provided, including a wheeled chassis having at least one wheeled axle at a rearward end and a retractable support at a forward end, a body comprising a cargo deck and an underride guard assembly that is movable in response to an upward force applied thereto.

A side barrier for a truck or trailer, the side barrier comprising at least one barrier member and at least two support arms between which the at least one barrier member hingedly extends, the at least two support arms being provided with hinges one for connection to the at least one barrier member and the other for connecting the side barrier to the vehicle in a position lying parallel to the longitudinal length of the vehicle, wherein all the said hinges are arranged with respectively parallel axes. Usually a second barrier member is present via which the other hinges connect the support arms to the truck or trailer. The side barrier is for lowering the window below pre-existing side barriers for preventing or reducing accidents involving vulnerable people such as pedestrians or cyclists and vehicles.

The present invention is related to an aerodynamic side skirt assembly for attaching a panel to a trailer or semi-trailer. The present invention comprise a coupler configured to be attached to a frame rail of the trailer and to a panel, a compressible element preferably with a curved shape used as a damper and a bracket with a preferably flat surface connected to the panel and a rib through the length of the bracket.

A secondary bumper assembly is provided and includes a base plate, a secondary bumper, and heel blocks. The base plate includes holes for mounting the secondary bumper assembly to a primary bumper. The secondary bumper is disposed on the base plate. The secondary bumper includes a main body and a base. First and second grooves exist between portions of the main body and the base, which has base segments. The heel blocks include flanges and maintain contact between or at least partially prevent movement between the secondary bumper and the base plate. The base segments slide into gaps between the base plate and the heel blocks. A hardness level of the base segments is greater than a predetermined level to prevent flexing of the base segments in a direction away from portions of the main body opposite the base segments. The flanges slide respectively into the first and second grooves.

A vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a bumper assembly, a skid plate, and a capacitive sensor system of the skid plate. A sensing method for a vehicle includes using a capacitive sensing system to detect a proximity of a vehicle to an object. The capacitive sensing system is incorporated into a skid plate that is vertically beneath a portion of a bumper assembly of the vehicle.

Embodiments of safety trucks incorporate multiple connection points to which a variety of attachments, or combinations of attachments, can be releasably and interchangeably coupled to enable their use with increased effectiveness to safeguard roadway construction, maintenance and repair personnel as they perform tasks within or relatively near to roadway workzones and worksites. Also, methods of operation of the safety truck embodiments enhance their ability to guard and protect roadway construction, maintenance and repair personnel while they work within or relatively near to roadway workzone and worksite locations.

A protective device structure for a vehicle is provided that includes an outer surface or shell attached to or otherwise disposed upon a vehicle that covers a top edge of a vehicle to absorb impact. The protective device can include a compressible portion disposed in a cavity defined between the outer shell and the vehicle proximate to the top front wall of the vehicle.

A mounting system for a vehicle with one or more cross members. The mounting system includes a mounting rail including a mounting platform and at least one mounting slot being formed in the mounting platform. The mounting system includes a panel bracket coupled to the mounting rail that is configured to receive at least one guard panel. The mounting system includes at least one clamping body removably coupled to the mounting platform of the mounting rail. The at least one clamping body is configured to engage a cross member and the mounting platform is configured to engage the cross member so as to clamp the cross member between the at least one clamping body and the mounting platform.