Patent ID: 7819469

Claim:
Energy absorption apparatus protecting occupants from the effects of excessive G-force by absorbing energy imparted on a vehicle during an explosion occurring below that of the vehicle, the energy absorption apparatus comprising: a first mounting member attached to the vehicle; a second mounting member attached to the occupant's seat; an absorption mechanism attached between the first and second mounting members, wherein the absorption mechanism comprises at least a mitigating strip provided on one of the mounting members and an anvil provided on the other of the mounting members such that when the vehicle, and hence the first mounting member, is subjected to an excessive G-force, the mitigating strip is bent and pulled over the anvil, the mitigating strip comprising a portion at one end of the strip for anchoring the strip against movement relative to the first or second member and a portion of substantially constant resistance to bending at the other end of the strip, wherein a portion of gradually increasing resistance to bending is provided between the anchoring portion and the portion of substantially constant resistance to bending such that the resistance to bending of the mitigating strip over the or each anvil increases as the portion of gradually increasing resistance is pulled over the or each anvil until the portion of substantially constant resistance to bending reaches the or each anvil, at which point the resistance to bending of the mitigating strip will remain substantially constant as it is pulled over the or each anvil.