Patent ID: 7458450

Claim:
An impact energy absorption device, comprising: a single elongated part made of a high strength material, at least one column having upper and lower faces disposed to substantially surround the elongated part, and an upper platen and a lower platen disposed to keep the upper and lower faces of the column between the platens and to cover the upper and lower faces of the column respectively, the upper platen being attached to each end of the elongated part, the elongated part, the at least one column and the upper and lower platens being so configured and connected relative to each other so as to constitute a structural system in which a deformation of the elongated part caused by an impact force applied to it causes the upper platen and the lower platen to move toward each other and contact the upper and lower faces of the column, respectively, in planes, thus compressively deforming the at least one column to absorb the impact energy of the impact force.