Patent ID: 8267445

Claim:
Front end structure for a vehicle comprising: a frame; a strut supported by the frame for movement relative thereto along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle; a first engagement member movable relative to the strut along the longitudinal axis; a second engagement member fixed relative to the frame rearward of the first engagement member; a blocking member movable longitudinally with the strut and further moveable relative to the strut between a first position wherein it does not impede rearward movement of the strut relative to the first engagement member, and a second position wherein it prevents rearward movement of the strut relative to the first engagement member such that rearward movement of the strut relative to the frame urges the first engagement member into locking contact with the second engagement member; and an inertia-activated trigger mechanism between the strut and the frame, the mechanism including a mass mounted such that deceleration of the strut above a threshold causes an inertial movement of the mass forward relative to the strut, the inertial movement activating the trigger mechanism to a locked condition wherein the trigger mechanism is locked against rearward movement relative to the frame and continued rearward movement of the strut relative to the frame causes the locked trigger mechanism to urge the blocking member to the second position.