Patent ID: 8056685

Claim:
A mechanical device, comprising: an elongate structural element, configured to absorb at least partially impacts by deformation, wherein the structural element comprises a profile of a selected straight section, the profile including localized alterations that are shaped and that are positioned on said selected straight section such that, when the selected straight section of the structural element is subjected to a combined force of compression in a longitudinal axis of the structural element and torque having an axis perpendicular to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis, the selected straight section undergoes a phase of energy absorption wherein the phase of energy absorption includes a deformation by bunching and by bending of the selected straight section, and wherein the localized alterations include a first alteration and a second alteration that are axially spaced from each other on the selected straight section, that are respectively shaped and that are respectively positioned on the selected straight section such that the bunching mainly occurs at the first alteration and the bending mainly occurs at the second alteration.