Patent ID: 6054197
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: E04C,F16F,Y10T

Abstract:
A lightweight compressive structural element comprising:an enclosure having a first wall and two or more second walls surrounding a cavity; anda non-compressible material disposed in the cavity; whereinthe second walls each have at least a portion thereof inwardly shaped toward the cavity such that a first compressive force acting on the first wall tending to compress the element by a first deflection causes an amplified second deflection, relative to the first deflection, of the second walls into the non-compressible material, thereby exerting a second compressive force against the non-compressible material, resulting in a resistance to the first deflection and the first compressive force tending to compress the element; wherein said structural element is configured for an optimum combination of damping an rigidity.