Patent ID: 8708401

Claim:
A crash brace for use as an energy absorption and management device, the crash brace comprising: a rear arch; a front arch; a set of longitudinal structures with a plurality of triggers, the longitudinal structures connecting the rear arch to the front arch and defining a first space between the front arch, the rear arch and the longitudinal structures, the first space having a defined cross-sectional shape and volume; a set of rear mounting brackets attached to each end of the rear arch and adapted to attach to a rear rail of a vehicle body structure; and a front bracket assembly attached to each end of the front arch and adapted to attach to a rear rail of the vehicle body structure, a portion of the vehicle body structure and the front arch partially defining a second space, the second space having a defined cross-sectional shape and volume, wherein the crash brace is configured to absorb and manage impact energy and prevent the impact from affecting the cross-sectional shape and volume of the second space.