Fuel tank protector shield

A shield ( 20 ) for an automotive vehicle ( 10 ) is provided to lessen the impact force to a foreign body by absorbing energy or converting energy from the foreign body with the shield ( 20 ). The shield ( 20 ) has a ramped surface ( 22 ), an inner surface ( 24 ), and a periphery ( 26 ) delineating the inner surface ( 24 ) from the ramped surface ( 22 ). The inner surface ( 24 ) is further refined into an upper area ( 28 ) and a lower area ( 30 ), where a ridge ( 32 ) extends from the inner surface ( 24 ) portioning the upper area ( 28 ) from the lower area ( 30 ). At least one rib ( 34 ) is connected to the ridge ( 32 ) and extends from the inner surface ( 24 ), whereby the ridge ( 32 ) or the rib ( 34 ) may absorb energy or divert direct contact into sliding contact when the ramped surface ( 22 ) is impacted by a foreign body reducing the impact force upon the foreign body. Also, a method of using a shield ( 20 ) in an automotive vehicle 10 is provided.