Patent ID: 7370886

Claim:
A vehicle frame comprising: a first rail and a second rail, the first and second rails extending generally longitudinally with respect to the vehicle frame; a first member positioned forward or rearward of at least a portion of the first and second rails and operatively connected to the first and second rails such that, if the first member receives a load in a vehicle impact event, at least part of the load is transferred to both the first rail and the second rail to create two load paths; a third rail being generally longitudinally oriented, spaced a distance apart from the first rail, and cooperating with the first rail to at least partially form a first cavity; a fourth rail being generally longitudinally oriented; and a second member being positioned forward or rearward of at least a portion of the third and fourth rails and operatively connected to the third and fourth rails such that, if the second member receives a load in a vehicle impact event, at least part of the load is transferred to both the third rail and the fourth rail to create two load paths; wherein the first member includes a first locally weakened crush initiator configured to initiate deformation of the first member when the first member is subjected to a load having a first magnitude; and wherein the first member includes a second locally weakened crush initiator configured to initiate deformation of the first member when the first member is subjected to a load having a second magnitude greater than the first magnitude.