Abstract: An energy absorber having a bar movable along a longitudinal axis by a tensile force. First and second energy absorbers extend along the longitudinal axis. A coupling mechanism couples the second energy absorber to the bar. The first energy absorber activates upon movement of the bar along the longitudinal axis. The coupling mechanism has a force transferring element to transfer force from the bar to the second energy absorber upon activation by a trigger. The trigger is subjected to a trigger load that is proportional to the bar's velocity along the longitudinal axis. The trigger is displaceable from its unloaded position upon loading and, simultaneously, constrained from displacing by a constraining force acting in opposite direction of the trigger load. The trigger displaces to activate the force transferring element to activate the second energy absorber when the velocity of the bar is above first pre-determined non-zero amount.

Abstract: An energy absorber with a bar extending and movable along a longitudinal axis, and first and second energy absorbers. The first energy absorber activates upon movement of the bar along the axis. A mechanism couples the second energy absorber to the bar, and has a force transferring element to transfer force from the bar to the second energy absorber upon activation by a trigger. The trigger receives a trigger load as the bar is moved along the axis, the load being proportional to the velocity of the bar such that a higher velocity results in a higher trigger load. The trigger is displaceable relative to its unloaded position and simultaneously constrained from displacing by a constraining force acting in a direction opposite the trigger load. Displacing the trigger activates the force transferring element to couple and activate the second energy absorber when the bar velocity exceeds a first amount.