Patent ID: 6877775

Claim:
An energy absorbing assembly ( 20 ) providing variable energy absorption from an energy transmitting component ( 10 ), comprising: a mounting bracket ( 16 ) for mounting said energy absorbing assembly ( 20 ) to the energy transmitting component ( 10 ); an elongated strap ( 22 ) immovably secured at a first end ( 24 ) for absorbing energy received from the energy transmitting component ( 10 ); cooperating anvils ( 30 A,B) slidably received by said mounting bracket ( 16 ), wherein said elongated strap ( 22 ) is interwoven between said anvils ( 30 ); and wherein said anvils ( 30 A,B) include generally parallel axes (a) along which each anvil ( 30 A, 30 B) defines stepped diameters (A,B,C,D), and is slidable along one of said axes in response to a predetermined force thereby providing variable energy absorption relative to said stepped diameters (A,B,C,D).