Patent ID: 8215705

Claim:
A front shock-absorber assembly for a motor vehicle that includes vehicle side body members extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the assembly comprising: a high-energy impact absorption structure comprised of: a rigid elongate right-hand plate and a rigid elongate left-hand plate, a rear face surface of said right-hand plate comprising a lower portion fixedly joined and longitudinally aligned with a right-hand lower vehicle side body member, and an upper portion fixedly joined and longitudinally aligned with a right-hand upper vehicle side body member, and a rear face surface of said left-hand plate comprising a lower portion fixedly joined and longitudinally aligned with a left-hand lower vehicle side body member, and an upper portion fixedly joined and longitudinally aligned with a left-hand upper vehicle side body member; and left-hand and right-hand deformable elements configured for absorbing medium-energy impacts, the rear face surfaces of said right-hand and left-hand deformable elements being in abutment against at least a majority of, respectively, a front surface of said right-hand plate and a front surface of said left-hand plate.