Patent ID: 8246091

Claim:
Apparatus for mounting a bumper beam to a frame of an automotive vehicle comprising: a strut having a forward end adapted for attachment to the bumper beam and a rear end adapted for engagement with the frame for rearward movement relative thereto along an impact axis; and an inertia-activated locking device inhibiting rearward movement of the strut when the strut experiences an impact deceleration above a threshold level, the locking device comprising: a first engagement member adapted for fixed mounting relative to the frame; a second engagement member mounted to the strut disposed forward of the first engagement member, the strut movable rearward relative to the second engagement member along the impact axis; and a mass movably mounted relative to the strut such that impact deceleration above the threshold applied to the strut causes an inertial movement of the mass forward relative to the strut, the inertial movement immobilizing the second engagement member relative to the strut such that rearward movement of the strut drives the second engagement member into locking contact with the first engagement member.