Energy absorbing arrangement

Claim 1

AN ENERGY ABSORBING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING: A BUFFER ELEMENT HAVING A TUBULAR PORTION CONNECTED TO AN END WALL PORTION THROUGH A SMOOTH CURVED BEND, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOTS FORMED IN SAID TUBULAR PORTION AND SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TUBULAR PORTION, A PISTON MOUNTED FOR SLIDING AXIAL MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID BUFFER END WALL AND HAVING AN END-WALL-ENGAGING PORTION SMALLER IN OUTER CROSS-SECTION THAN THE INNER CROSS-SECTION OF SAID BUFFER ELEMENT TUBULAR PORTION FOR AXIAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID BUFFER END WALL AND SEQUENTIAL SEGMENTAL ROLLING OF SAID SLOTTED TUBULAR PORTION IN THE DIRECTION OF END WALL MOVEMENT, AXIAL STOP MEANS FOR STOPPING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID TUBULAR PORTION RELATIVE THERETO IN THE AXIAL DIRECTION OF MOTION OF SAID PISTON TOWARD SAID BUFFER END WALL, AND AN ANNULAR CONFINING WALL DISPOSED ABOUT SAID SLOTTED TUBULAR PORTION OF SAID BUFFER ARRANGEMENT FOR PREVENTING UNDESIRED OUTWARD BUCKLING OF THE WALL OF SAID TUBULAR PORTION DURING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID END WALL AND THE CONCOMINANT SEQUENTIAL SEGMENTAL INWARD ROLL BENDING OF SAID TUBULAR PORTION.