Patent ID: 8656823

Claim:
A shock absorber system for a vehicle comprising: a shield having a first surface adjacent the vehicle and a shock receiving surface; an air gap between the shield and the vehicle; and a least one shock absorber disposed in the air gap, the shock absorber constructed and arranged to operate when the shock receiving surface of the shield is subjected to a shock event, the shock absorber including a pressure-operated, frangible pressure relief device, wherein the shock absorber includes a top cap mechanically attached to the vehicle and a bottom cup mechanically attached to the first surface of the shield, the cap and cup telescopically arranged relative to each other and operable upon the occurrence of the shock event, wherein the cap and cup include a volume formed therein, the volume reduced upon movement of the cap and cup relative to each other, wherein the frangible pressure relief device is in fluid communication with the volume; and further including a pressure relief device associated with each standard shock absorber provided for each wheel of the vehicle.