Patent ID: 9133899
Filing Date: 2015-09-15
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
1. An energy-absorbing element comprising: an absorbing portion having two filiform elements oriented symmetrically about an axis of symmetry, each deformable filiform element having at least two successive straight segments connected by an arc-shaped segment; a first and second anchoring point, a first and second distal ends of the absorbing portion being respectively secured to the first and second anchoring points, and a solid pre-tensioning rod installed between the first and second distal ends along the axis of symmetry, the length of the pre-tensioning rod maintains the absorbing portion in an extended position thereby elastically deforming the absorbing portion and defining a gap dimension between the two distal ends in order to pretension the energy absorbing element such that the gap dimension between the two distal ends when the energy-absorbing element is not pre-tensioned is less than the length of the pre-tensioning rod, wherein the pre-tensioning rod is configured not to buckle under compressive forces exerted on the energy absorbing element and the pre-tensioning rod applies a tensile force to the absorbing portion equal to a predetermined threshold, wherein the absorbing portion plastically deforms when the absorbing portion experiences tensile forces above the predetermined threshold.