Patent ID: 7597051

Claim:
A system for managing a wide range of impact energies exerted upon impact of a vehicle with an object, comprising: a cover structure adapted for attachment to a vehicle, the cover structure being designed to deform elastically when impact energy is exerted thereon, and having an inner surface designed to face the vehicle, the inner surface having a preformed detent; and a folding coupler mechanism including a shank having a proximate end adapted to attach to the vehicle, and a longitudinal axis that extends from the proximate end to a distal end in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the shank having an energy absorption element for absorbing energy caused by compressive forces exerted along the longitudinal axis of the shank, the mechanism also including a coupling head pivotally attached to the distal end of the shank for pivoting between an extended position and a stowed position, wherein the distal end of the shank moves into the preformed detent in the cover structure upon consumption of the energy absorbing capacity of the cover structure when the coupling head is in the stowed position.