Bomb fin shock absorber assembly

Claim 1

A shock absorber for dissipating the force applied to a device attached to the absorber by collapsing in a predetermined manner, and, thereby, reducing the destructive effect of the force on the device, consisting of: a tubular member having a solid wall with interior and exterior surfaces and first, second and third convoluted sections and first and second substantially cylindrical end sections wherein each said convoluted section has a plurality of solid circumferential roots and ridges longitudinally alternating in the wall of said tubular member; a plurality of supporting ribs in each said root of said first convoluted section sonsisting of circumferentially spaced protuberances in the wall of each said root joining adjacent ridges to provide increased longitudinal collapse resistance to said member at said first convoluted section; modified ridges in said second convoluted section consisting of a circumferentially uniform, flattened exterior planar surface at each ridge parallel to the longitudinal axis of said member, and a circumferentially uniform, reduced wall thickness in said member at each said flattened surface to provide a reduced longitudinal collapse resistance to said member at said second convoluted section; wherein said third convoluted section is unmodified, and is between and connects said first convoluted section to said second convoluted section, and said first end section is adjacent said second convoluted section and said second end section is adjacent said first convoluted section; and wherein the member''s interior surface at said second convoluted section is identical to the interior surface at said third convoluted section; a circumferentially uniform annular protuberance in the wall of said member at the end of said first end section that is opposite the end adjacent said second convoluted section; circumferentially spaced protuberances in the wall at said first end section between and connecting said annular protuberance to said second convoluted section of a longitudinal length greater than the longitudinal length of the protuberances of said first convoluted section; and a collar attached to said member at said second end section having a plurality of circumferentially spaced flanges extending longitudinally of, and outward from, said second end section for mounting said device; such that predetermined and different amounts of force are required to collapse, and are dissipated by collapsing, said first, second and third sections, and when said force is applied said second section collapses first, said third section second, and said first section last, until the force is absorbed.