Energy absorbing cellular matrix for vehicles

Claim 2

A resilient multicelled matrix of plastic material for absorbing energy of an impact load applied thereto comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending cells disposed adjacent to one another, said cells being formed by a plurality of first and second thin wall means which intersect one another to form open polygonal cells therebetween, each cell extending from a back support surface to an outer impact surface so that all impact loads applied to said matrix are transmitted to all impacted walls of said cells simultaneously, each of said cells having a polygonal base section of predetermined thickness providing a secondary deflecting zone and comprising a first portion of said first and second wall means of a predetermined thickness, ex-tending longitudinally from one end of said matrix to predetermined points between the front and rear ends thereof, each of said cells further having an outer section polygonal in cross section and providing a primary deflecting zone and comprising a second portion of said first and second wall means integral with said first portion and extending directly outwardly from said pre-determined points to the other end of said matrix, said wall means being stepped in thickness at said predetermined points forming a discrete plane extending across said cells so that said first portion is substantially thicker at said plane and all along its longitudinal dimensions than said second portion to thereby separate said matrix into said primary and secondary working zones with differing rates of deflection.

Claim 3

A resilient one piece matrix of plastic material for absorbing energy of an impact load applied thereto, said matrix having a plurality of longitudinally extending cells disposed adjacent to each other, each cell extending from a back support surface to an impact surface spaced outwardly from the back surface, said cells being formed by a plurality of first and second continuous and thin wall means which intersect one another to form hollow polygonal cell spaces therebetween and which extend from the support surface to said impact surface, each of said wall means having a minimal thickness at one end of said matrix and a maximum thickness at the other end of said matrix, each of said wall means being stepped in thickness at predetermined points intermediate the ends thereof to form a plane dividing each of said cells into discrete first and second longitudinally extending deflection zones integrally connected in series with respect to each other, said wall means defining said first zone being sub-stantially thinner along their longitudinal dimensions than the wall means defining said second zone and having at said plane a maximum thickness substantially less than the minimum thickness of said wall means defining said second zone, said first and second of said zones having different deflection rates and being both deflected in response to the application of a predetermined impact load applied thereto, and only said first zone being deflected in response to the application of an impact load thereto less than said predetermined impact load.

Claim 4

A resilient one piece matrix of plastic material for absorbing energy of an impact load applied thereto, said matrix having a plurality of longitudinally extending cells disposed adjacent to each other, each cell extending from a back support surface to an impact surface spaced outwardly from the back surface, said cells being formed by a plurality of first and second continuous and thin wall means which intersect one another to form hollow polygonal cell spaces therebetween and which extend from the support surface to said impact surface, each of said wall means having a minimal thickness at one end of said matrix and a maximum thickness at the other end of said matrix, each of said wall means being stepped in thickness at predetermined points intermediate the ends thereof to form a plane dividing each of said cells into discrete first and second longitudinally extending deflection zones integrally connected in series with respect to each other, said wall means defining said first zone being sub-stantially thinner along their longitudinal dimensions than the wall means defining said second zone and having at said plane a maximum thickness substantially less than the minimum thickness of said wall means defining said second zone, said first and second of said zones having different deflection rates and being both deflected in response to the application of a predetermined impact load applied thereto, and only said first zone being deflected in response to the application of an impact load thereto less than said predetermined impact load.