Method and apparatus for absorbing impact energy

An energy absorbing assembly for a vertically extending structural pillar of a motor vehicle in combination with the structural pillar, the energy absorbing assembly comprising:

• an interior trim panel secured to said structural pillar and having opposing inboard and outboard sides, the outboard side facing the structural pillar;
• and
• an energy absorbing member secured to said outboard side of said interior trim panel and facing said structural pillar, said energy absorbing member being inelastically deformable, said energy absorbing member having a depth, a height, and a width, said depth being substantially less than said height and said width and having a generally planar surface and a plurality of four sidewalls extending therefrom, adjacent sidewalls of said plurality of four sidewalls being oriented substantially perpendicular to one another, wherein each of said sidewalls tapers from said generally planar surface;
• whereby inelastic deformation of said energy absorbing member functions to absorb impact energy during a side impact collision and wherein each said energy absorbing member further includes a circumferential flange connected to each of said sidewalls.

A pillar assembly for a motor vehicle, the pillar assembly comprising:

• a structural pillar;
• an interior trim panel interconnected to said structural pillar;
• and
• an energy absorbing member attached to said interior trim panel, said energy absorbing member disposed between said structural pillar and said interior trim panel member, said energy absorbing member being inelastically deformable and having an open side and a close side, said open side oriented to face said structural pillar, said energy absorbing member includes a generally Dlanar surface and a plurality of four sidewalls extending therefrom, adiacent sidewalls of said Dlurality of four sidewalls being oriented substantially perpendicular and wherein each of said sidewalls outwardly tapers from said generally planar surface.

A pillar assembly for a motor vehicle, the pillar assembly comprising:

• a structural pillar;
• an interior trim panel interconnected to said structural pillar;
• and
• an energy absorbing member attached to said interior trim panel, said energy absorbing member disposed between said structural pillar and said interior trim panel member, said energy absorbing member being inelastically deformable and having an open side and a close side, said open side oriented to face said structural pillar, said energy absorbing member includes a generally planar surface and a plurality of four sidewalls extending therefrom, adiacent sidewalls of said plurality of four sidewalls being oriented substantially perpendicular, wherein said energy absorbing member further includes a circumferential flange connected to each of said sidewalls.