Decelerating safety bumper for vehicles and the like

摘要

A bumper structure for a vehicle or the like, having a relatively long extension and retraction travel whereby the bumper may be sufficiently extended when the vehicle is in motion to provide a relatively very large shock or impact absorption, the structure readily being capable of extension for example, of 20 inches or more, and capable of being designed to provide a progressive shock absorbing action of widely varying characteristics. The construction is such that relatively long extension and retraction may be achieved in a structure taking up relatively little if any greater longitudinal space than conventional bumper structures, which results are accomplished by the use of chain structures which are rigid in compression but which may be passed around cooperable sprockets whereby unextended portions of the chains may extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.