Impact energy absorbing member suitable for a vehicle door

An impact energy absorbing member provided within a vehicle door, and due to an impact load from an exterior of said vehicle door, said impact energy absorbing member plastically deforms so as to absorb impact energy, comprising:

• a plurality of ribs whose respective surface directions are directed in the same direction;
• a base plate portion with which said plurality of ribs are formed integrally such that respective ends of said plurality of ribs in the surface directions of said plurality of ribs are connected to said base plate portion, said base plate portion being mounted to a predetermined position of the vehicle door such that the respective surface directions of said plurality of ribs run substantially along an impact load direction;
• and
• reduced cross-sectional area portions provided at said ends of said plurality of ribs which are connected to said base plate portion, said reduced cross-sectional area portions being formed by cut-out portions in said ends connected to said base plate portions, wherein said reduced cross-sectional area portions are configured such that cross-sectional areas of said plurality of ribs along a direction orthogonal to the impact load direction when said base plate portion is mounted to the vehicle door become smaller toward said base plate portion from lengthwise intermediate portions of said plurality of ribs, lengths of said lengthwise intermediate portions run along the impact load direction.