Patent ID: 8177269

Claim:
A body of a vehicle, comprising: a longitudinal member; a cross-member; and an energy absorbing element mounted between the longitudinal member and the cross-member and extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the energy absorbing element comprising: a tube section formed from a single metal strip and including: (i) a cross-section having at least one concavity, as taken along a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tube section, and (ii) opposing longitudinal edges disposed within the at least one concavity; a first weld seam joining one of the opposing longitudinal edges to a central portion of the single metal strip; and a second weld seam joining the other of the opposing longitudinal edges to a central portion of the single metal strip; wherein the tube section further includes first and second generally rectangular hollow profiles, as taken along a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the tube section.