William A Travis, 31Natural Dam, NY

4642948, Feb 17, 1987

Oct 18, 1984

6/663470

William B. Travis - Dallas TX

E04H 104
B64G 110

52 7913

An apparatus comprising only tension-bearing members serves to interconnect first and second bodies and carry both tension and compressive forces between the bodies. A first tension-bearing member, such as a cable, is connected between first and second points of a first body and connected to a first point of a second body at a location along the tension-bearing member between the connections to the first and second parts of the first body. The first tension-bearing member carries tension forces to oppose the first and second bodies from moving together. A second tension-bearing member, such as a second cable, is connected between the first and second bodies for carrying a tension force to oppose the first and second bodies from moving apart. The combination of the two tension-bearing members serves to carry both the tension and compressive forces between the two bodies.

4844213, Jul 4, 1989

Sep 29, 1987

7/102356

William B. Travis - Dallas TX

E01F 1500
F16F 712

188377

Several embodiments (10, 30, 80) of an energy absorption system are designed for permitting progressive collapse of the system by absorbing energy within the system. In one embodiment, a system (10) comprises conical bodies (12) separated by cables (20), which system progressively collapses through plastic deformation of compression members (16) cooperating with each cable (20). In another embodiment, a system (30) incorporates plastically collapsible compression members (44, 46, 48) which collapse progressively to permit the bodies (32) to move together. In another embodiment, a system (80) is provided where the progressive collapse is permitted by frictional sliding of a securing device (92) along a track (90) which permits bodies (82) to move together.