Patent ID: 7360822

Claim:
A modular energy absorber comprising: one or more energy absorbing modules, one or more of which have: means for coordinating energy absorbing units of the one or more modules, the means for coordinating having a pre-defined, contoured topography including a number (n) of apertures defined in a central region of the means for coordinating, where n≧1; and one or more energy absorbing units associated with the means for coordinating, the means for coordinating positioning and supporting the one or more units in relation to each other before, during and after relative motion between an incident object and the energy absorber, so that impact forces resulting therefrom are at least partially absorbed, the apertures being defined between at least some of the energy absorbing units, at least some of the units including a crushable member, with a number (m) of breaches defined therein before impact for tunability, where m≧1 and an upper extremity that defines an upper perimeter, a lower extremity that defines a lower perimeter and a wall including an intermediate section extending therebetween, the breaches being defined in a central region of the intermediate section, the crushable member at least partially collapsing during absorption to a crushed configuration.