Patent ID: 7677640

Claim:
A panel assembly for a vehicle door, comprising; a trim panel having a first impact area and a second impact area; a first plurality of energy absorbing structures arranged in an array; a first energy absorbing structure of the first plurality of energy absorbing structures adapted to engage the first impact area of the trim panel, the first energy absorbing structure having a first predetermined range of energy absorption; a second energy absorbing structure of the first plurality of energy absorbing structures adapted to engage the second impact area of the trim panel, the second energy absorbing structure having a second predetermined range of energy absorption that is greater than the first predetermined range of energy absorption; the first energy absorbing structure having at least one side wall having a first aperture formed therethrough that is sized and configured so that the first energy absorbing structure has the first predetermined range of energy absorption; and the second energy absorbing structure having at least one side wall having a second aperture formed therethrough that is smaller than the first aperture and is sized and configured so that the second energy absorbing structure has the second predetermined range of energy absorption.