Patent ID: 8293353

Claim:
An energy absorbing panel comprising: a pair of generally parallel spaced apart rigid end plates having a stiffness of at least about 200 N-m; and, a plurality of fabric layers, wherein each fabric layer has a first major face, a second major face, and a thickness between the first and second major faces, wherein the fabric layers extend between the rigid end plates such that the first major faces and second major faces are oriented in a z-axis direction defined as being perpendicular to the rigid end plates, wherein each fabric layer comprises a plurality of fusible thermoplastic fibers, and wherein the plurality of fabric layers are fused together forming a bonded structure, and wherein the fusible thermoplastic fibers are thermoplastic tape elements comprising a base layer of a strain oriented polymer and at least one covering layer of a heat fusible polymer on the base layer, wherein the covering layer is characterized by a softening temperature below that of the base layer to permit fusion bonding upon application of heat.