Energy absorbing automotive vehicle body structure

摘要

The vehicle body structure comprises a structural member which forms a load-bearing portion of a vehicle, a trim component (12) mounted to the structure member. A number of energy absorbing elements (24), mounted to the trim component and spaced relative to one another, have a serpentine shape and extend from the trim component toward the structural member such that a distal end of the energy absorbing elements are spaced from, but adjacent to, the structural member in non-contacting relationship with it. The energy absorbing elements are deformable in response to a force which causes the distal end of the elements to contact the structural member to absorb and dissipate the energy generated by the force.