ENERGY ABSORBING CARTRIDGE FOR VEHICLE SUPPORT PILLAR

An energy absorbing cartridge for covering a substantially rigid vehicle support pillar is provided. The energy absorbing cartridge has an accordion-shaped portion including a plurality of spaced load distribution walls for distributing and transferring an applied impact force, a plurality of spaced side walls for absorbing the applied impact force, and a plurality of spaced stabilization walls for stabilizing the spaced side walls upon application of the applied impact force. The spaced side walls are substantially perpendicular to the spaced load distribution walls, and the spaced stabilization walls are substantially parallel to the spaced load distribution walls. The plurality of spaced side walls connect, respectively, the plurality of spaced load distribution walls and the plurality of spaced stabilization walls to form the accordion-shaped portion of the energy absorbing cartridge.