Patent ID: 7625023

Claim:
A modular energy absorber assembly comprising: one or more energy absorbing modules, one or more of which having: means for coordinating energy absorbing units of the one or more modules, the means for coordinating having a topography; and one or more energy absorbing units associated with the means for coordinating, the means for coordinating positioning the one or more units in relation to each other before relative motion between an incident object and the energy absorber, so that impact forces resulting therefrom are at least partially absorbed by the one or more energy absorbing units, one or more of the units including an upper perimeter, a lower perimeter and an intermediate wall extending therebetween with one or more ribs defined at least partially in the intermediate wall and extending at least partially between the upper perimeter and the lower perimeter of an associated energy absorbing unit before impact, the intermediate wall at least partially collapsing during energy absorption; a domed portion extending from the upper perimeter; one or both of the intermediate wall and the domed portion at least partially deforming according to deformation characteristics associated with the intermediate walls, domed portions and ribs; wherein one or more of the energy absorbing units are oriented such that their intermediate walls are inclined to a major incident component of the impacting force, wherein the ribs are substantially co-axial with the major incident component of the impacting force and wherein at least one of the energy absorbing units cooperate with each other and the means for coordinating to afford mutual support in decelerating an object that imparts the impacting force.