Shock absorbers for protective body gear

A shock absorber for attenuating impact forces imparted thereto in stages of differing attenuation, the shock absorber comprising:

• a top wall comprising a raised central portion and a top rim;
• a bottom rim extending from a bottom wall plane;
• a side wall extending between the top and bottom rims;
• and
• a corrugation surrounding a periphery of the raised central portion that (i) connects the raised central portion to the top rim, (ii) descends to a depth below half a height of the side wall, and (iii) is separated by a distance from the bottom wall plane,
• wherein the shock absorber is configured to attenuate impact forces imparted on the shock absorber by a first amount in a first stage by resistive yielding of the side wall, by a second amount in a second stage by depression of the raised central portion and resistive yielding of the corrugation associated therewith, and by a third amount in a third stage by resistive yielding of the corrugation.