Device for absorbing energy and applications thereof

Claim 3

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastically yieldable material is vulcanized polyurethane.

Claim 4

A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said polyurethane has a Shore A hardness of between 80 and 95.

Claim 5

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastically yieldable material is neoprene.

Claim 6

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastically yieldable material is polyvinyl chloride.

Claim 7

A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said enlarged head has a substantially biconical shape.

Claim 8

A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the axial cavity of said sleeve is frustoconical and converges in the direction of the movement of said second element into said first element.

Claim 9

A vehicle comprising a floor, a seat connected to the floor in the front part of the seat to pivot about a transverse axis, and an energy absorbing device connecting the rear part of the seat to the floor, said device comprising two telescopic elements relatively movable in a given direction, a first of said elements having a tubular shape and carrying at least one sleeve of elastically yieldable material and the second of said elements being a rod comprising an enlarged head which has a profile substantially symmetrical relative to a plane transverse to said given direction and has its maxImum cross section in said plane, said head having a transverse dimension greater than the inner dimension of said sleeve and forming a projection which is such that, in the course of said relative movement, it must force its way through said sleeve of elastically yieldable material by compressing the latter transversely and locally as it passes through one of said elements being connected to the seat and the other element being connected to the floor.

Claim 10

A vehicle comprising a floor, a seat connected to the floor in the front part of the seat to pivot about a transverse axis, and an energy absorbing device connecting the rear part of the seat to the floor, said device comprising two telescopic elements relatively movable in a given direction, a first of said elements having a tubular shape and carrying at least one sleeve of elastically yieldable material and the second of said elements being a rod comprising an enlarged head which has a profile substantially symmetrical relative to a plane transverse to said given direction and has its maxImum cross section in said plane, said head having a transverse dimension greater than the inner dimension of said sleeve and forming a projection which is such that, in the course of said relative movement, it must force its way through said sleeve of elastically yieldable material by compressing the latter transversely and locally as it passes through one of said elements being connected to the seat and the other element being connected to the floor.

Claim 11

A vehicle comprising a safety belt or harness and an energy absorbing device for connecting the safety belt or harness to the vehicle, said device comprising two telescopic elements relatively movable in a given direction, a first of said elements having a tubular shape and carrying at least one sleeve of elastically yieldable material and the second of said elements being a rod comprising an enlarged head which has a profile substantially symmetrical relative to a plane transverse to said given direction and has its maximum cross section in said plane, said head having a transverse dimension greater than the inner dimension of said sleeve and forming a projection which is such that, in the course of said relative movement, it must force its way through said sleeve of elastically yieldable material by compressing the latter transversely and locally as it passes through and means for connecting one of said elements to the belt or harness and means for connecting the other element to the vehicle.

Claim 12

A vehicle comprising a safety belt or harness and an energy absorbing device for connecting the safety belt or harness to the vehicle, said device comprising two telescopic elements relatively movable in a given direction, a first of said elements having a tubular shape and carrying at least one sleeve of elastically yieldable material and the second of said elements being a rod comprising an enlarged head which has a profile substantially symmetrical relative to a plane transverse to said given direction and has its maximum cross section in said plane, said head having a transverse dimension greater than the inner dimension of said sleeve and forming a projection which is such that, in the course of said relative movement, it must force its way through said sleeve of elastically yieldable material by compressing the latter transversely and locally as it passes through and means for connecting one of said elements to the belt or harness and means for connecting the other element to the vehicle.

Claim 13

A bumper for a vehicle comprising a bar, and two energy-absorbing devices connecting said bar to the vehicle, each device comprising two telescopic elements relatively movable in a given direction, a first of said elements having a tubular shape and carrying at least one sleeve of elastically yieldable material and the second of said elements being a rod comprising an enlarged head which has a profile substantially symmetrical relative to a plane transverse to said given direction and has its maximum cross section in said plane, said head having a transverse dimension greater than the inner dimension of said sleeve and forming a projection which is such that, in the course of said relative movement, it must force its way through said sleeve of elastically yieldable material by compressing the latter transversely and locally as it passes through.

Claim 14

A bumper for a vehicle comprising a bar, and two energy-absorbing devices connecting said bar to the vehicle, each device comprising two telescopic elements relatively movable in a given direction, a first of said elements having a tubular shape and carrying at least one sleeve of elastically yieldable material and the second of said elements being a rod comprising an enlarged head which has a profile substantially symmetrical relative to a plane transverse to said given direction and has its maximum cross section in said plane, said head having a transverse dimension greater than the inner dimension of said sleeve and forming a projection which is such that, in the course of said relative movement, it must force its way through said sleeve of elastically yieldable material by compressing the latter transversely and locally as it passes through.