Sustainable crash cushions

Abstract

A crash cushion is provided. The crash cushion includes a rigid structure and a pod. The pod is positioned within the rigid structure. The pod includes a waste material and a binder. The binder is mixed with the waste material and configured to bind the waste material to form the pod.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A crash cushion comprising:
 a rigid structure; and   a pod positioned within the rigid structure, the pod comprising:
 a waste material; and 
 a binder mixed with the waste material and configured to bind the waste material to form the pod. 
   
     
     
         2 . The crash cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the waste material comprises crumb rubber. 
     
     
         3 . The crash cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the binder further comprises a polyurethane binder. 
     
     
         4 . The crash cushion of  claim 3 , wherein the polyurethane binder comprises approximately 1.5% to approximately 10% by weight of the waste material. 
     
     
         5 . The crash cushion of  claim 4 , wherein the pod has a specific gravity of approximately 0.6 to approximately 1.5. 
     
     
         6 . The crash cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the pod has a rectangular prism shape. 
     
     
         7 . The crash cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid structure is configured to collapse, or telescope, along a length of the rigid structure. 
     
     
         8 . The crash cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the binder further comprises a catalyst. 
     
     
         9 . The crash cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises a polyether polyol-based catalyst. 
     
     
         10 . A crash cushion comprising:
 at least one sustainable article having a rectangular prism shape, the sustainable article comprising:
 a waste material; and 
 a binder mixed with the waste material and configured to bind the waste material to form the sustainable article, wherein the crash cushion is capable of being certified under the MASH TL2 certification test. 
   
     
     
         11 . The crash cushion of  claim 10 , wherein the waste material comprises crumb rubber. 
     
     
         12 . The crash cushion of  claim 10 , wherein the crash cushion comprises a plurality of sustainable articles. 
     
     
         13 . The crash cushion of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of sustainable articles are attached to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The crash cushion of  claim 10 , further comprising a rigid structure attached to the at least one sustainable article. 
     
     
         15 . A crash cushion comprising:
 at least one sustainable article having a barrel shape, the sustainable article comprising:
 a waste material; and 
 a binder mixed with the waste material and configured to bind the waste material to form the sustainable article, wherein the crash cushion is capable of being certified under the MASH TL2 certification test. 
   
     
     
         16 . The crash cushion of  claim 15 , wherein the waste material comprises crumb rubber. 
     
     
         17 . The crash cushion of  claim 15 , wherein the crash cushion comprises a plurality of sustainable articles. 
     
     
         18 . The crash cushion of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of sustainable articles are attached to each other. 
     
     
         19 . A crash cushion system comprising:
 a track;   at least one sustainable article positioned on the track;   a wedge positioned on the track, wherein the wedge is configured to separate the at least one sustainable article when a vehicle impacts the wedge.   
     
     
         20 . The crash cushion system of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one sustainable article comprises a triangular nesting pocket.