Patent ID: 6964451

Claim:
An energy-absorbing structure arranged to absorb an impacting force, the structure comprising a first metal sheet having an incident surface against which the impacting force is applied, the first metal sheet rigidly supported a distance from a basal surface by a rigid support means which allows the first metal sheet to elastically expand in the direction of the basal surface when the magnitude of the impacting force is less than a first threshold value and to return to its original conformation when the impacting force is removed, the rigid support means allowing the first metal sheet to plastically deform when the magnitude of the impacting force is greater than the first threshold value; and a second metal sheet positioned between the first metal sheet and the basal surface, the second metal sheet rigidly supported on a first edge, the second metal sheet supported on a second edge by a support means that rigidly supports the second edge when the magnitude of the impacting force is less than a second threshold value and releases the second edge when the magnitude of the impacting force is greater than the second threshold value.