Impact absorbing device and motor vehicle body structure incorporating the same

Claim 2

An impact absorbing device comprising a first elongated tubular member having a first end portion which has at least one enlarged portion, the cross sectional shape of said at least one enlarged portion of said first end portion being substantially the same as that of the remainder of said first elongated tubular member; and a second elongated tubular member having a second end portion which has at least one second enlarged portion, the cross sectional shape of said at least one second enlarged portion of said second end portion being substantially the same as that of the said remainder of said second elongated tubular member, the cross sectional area of said at least one enlarged portion of said second end portion being larger than that of the said remainder of said first elongated tubular member, said second elongated tubular member being in coaxial alignment with said first elongated tubular member and telescopically connected with said first elongated tubular member with said second end portion received by surface-to-surface engagement in said first end portion, said first elongated tubular member being made of a relatively malleable material.

Claim 3

An impact absorbing device as claimed in claim 1, in which said first and second end portions are tapered in the direction of travel of said second elongated tubular member relative to said first elongated tubular member.

Claim 4

An impact absorbing device as claimed in claim 1, in which said at least one enlarged portion of said first end portion and said at least one enlarged portion of said second end portion are rounded in profile.

Claim 5

An impact absorbing device as claimed in claim 3, and further comprising reinforcement members for reinforcing said at least one enlarged portion of said second end portion.

Claim 6

An impact absorbing device as claimed in claim 3, in which said first end portion has two such enlarged portions and said second end portion has two such enlarged portions, the two enlarged portions of said first end portions being longitudinally spaced from each other and having substantially the same cross sectional area, the two enlarged portions of said second end portion being longitudinally spaced from each other and having substantially the same cross sectional area.

Claim 7

An impact absorbing device as claimed in claim 1, in which said second end portion has two enlarged portions longitudinally spaced from each other and received in contact with an enlarged portion of said first end portion.

Claim 8

An impact absorbing device as claimed in claim 6, in which said two enlarged end portions of said second end portion have substantially the same cross sectional area.

Claim 9

An impact absorbing device as claimed in claim 6, in which the inner of said two enlarged portions of said second end portion of said second elongated tubular member has a larger cross sectional area than the outer of said two enlarged portions.

Claim 10

An impact absorbing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third elongated tubular member made of less malleable material than said second elongated tubular member, said second elongated tubular member. having a third end portion opposite said second end portion, said third end portion having an enlarged portion the cross sectional shape of which is substantially the same as that of the enlarged portion of said second end portion, and said third elongated tubular member has a fourth end portion, said fourth end portion having an enlarged portion the cross sectional shape of which is substantially the same as that of said second elongated tubular member, the cross sectional area of said enlarged portion of said fourth end portion being larger than that Of said second elongated tubular member, said third elongated tubular member being in coaxial alignment with said second elongated tubular member and telescopically connected with said second elongated tubular member, said fourth end portion being received by surface-to-surface engagement in said third end portion.

Claim 11

An impact absorbing device as claimed in claim 9, and further comprising a plurality of rupturable pins passing through said first and second elongated tubular members adjacent said first and second end portions and through said second and third elongated tubular members adjacent said third and fourth end portions, respectively.

Claim 12

An impact absorbing device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for urging said first, second and third elongated tubular members longitudinally toward each other.

Claim 13

In a motor vehicle having a rigid member stationarily fixed relative to a passenger compartment when there is a collision of the motor vehicle: a plurality of elongated hollow members connected at one end with said rigid member and extending in fore-and-aft direction therefrom; a corresponding number of first elongated deformable tubular members positioned within said fixed elongated hollow members respectively, said first elongated deformable tubular members connected at one end thereof with said rigid member and having free ends; a corresponding number of second elongated deformable tubular members; a corresponding number first means for deforming said first elongated deformable tubular means upon motion of said second elongated deformable tubular members relative to said first elongated deformable tubular members, said second elongated deformable tubular members being telescopically connected with said first elongated tubular members by said first deforming means respectively; a first cross panel interconnecting said fixed elongated hollow members and said free ends; a corresponding number of third elongated members; a corresponding number of second means for deforming said second deformable tubular members upon motion of said third elongated members relative to said second elongated deformable tubular members, said third elongated members being telescopically connected with said second elongated tubular members by said second deforming means respectively; and a second cross panel interconnecting said second elongated deformable tubular members.

Claim 14

In a motor vehicle having a rigid member stationarily fixed relative to a passenger compartment when there is a collision of the motor vehicle: a plurality of elongated hollow members connected at one end with said rigid member and extending in fore-and-aft direction therefrom; a corresponding number of first elongated deformable tubular members positioned within said fixed elongated hollow members respectively, said first elongated deformable tubular members connected at one end thereof with said rigid member and having free ends; a corresponding number of second elongated deformable tubular members; a corresponding number first means for deforming said first elongated deformable tubular means upon motion of said second elongated deformable tubular members relative to said first elongated deformable tubular members, said second elongated deformable tubular members being telescopically connected with said first elongated tubular members by said first deforming means respectively; a first cross panel interconnecting said fixed elongated hollow members and said free ends; a corresponding number of third elongated members; a corresponding number of second means for deforming said second deformable tubular members upon motion of said third elongated members relative to said second elongated deformable tubular members, said third elongated members being telescopically connected with said second elongated tubular members by said second deforming means respectively; and a second cross panel interconnecting said second elongated deformable tubular members.

Claim 15

In a motor vehicle having a rigid member stationarily fixed relative to a passenger compartment when there is a collision of the motor vehicle: a plurality of elongated hollow members connected at one end thereof with said rigid member and having free ends and extending in fore-and-aft direction of the motor vehicle; a first panel interconnecting said free ends of said elongated hollow members; a corresponding number of first elongated deformable tubular members; a corresponding number of first means for deforming said first elongated deformable tubular members upon motion of said first deformable members relative to said elongated hollow members, said first elongated deformable tubular members being teslescopically connected with said elongated hollow members by said first deforming means; a second cross panel interconnecting said first elongated deformable tubular members; a corresponding number of second elongated deformable members; and a corresponding number of second means for deforming said second elongated deformable members upon motion of said second elongated deformable members relative to said first elongated deformable tubular members, said second elongated deformable members being telescopically connected with said first deformable tubular members by said second deforming means respectively.

Claim 16

In a motor vehicle having a rigid member stationarily fixed relative to a passenger compartment when there is a collision of the motor vehicle: a plurality of elongated hollow members connected at one end thereof with said rigid member and having free ends and extending in fore-and-aft direction of the motor vehicle; a first panel interconnecting said free ends of said elongated hollow members; a corresponding number of first elongated deformable tubular members; a corresponding number of first means for deforming said first elongated deformable tubular members upon motion of said first deformable members relative to said elongated hollow members, said first elongated deformable tubular members being teslescopically connected with said elongated hollow members by said first deforming means; a second cross panel interconnecting said first elongated deformable tubular members; a corresponding number of second elongated deformable members; and a corresponding number of second means for deforming said second elongated deformable members upon motion of said second elongated deformable members relative to said first elongated deformable tubular members, said second elongated deformable members being telescopically connected with said first deformable tubular members by said second deforming means respectively.