Force and deceleration delimiting devices and methods for operating the same

Force and deceleration delimiting devices (100) and methods for operating the same in a vehicle. The devices generally include an open celled material (104) expandable from a non-expanded state to an expanded state, wherein the open celled material (104) is sandwiched between a first end cap member (110) and a second end cap member (112); an optional support surface (105) cooperatively positioned with the open celled material (104) to cover a surface of the open celled material (104) in the expanded and the non-expanded states; and an optional shield (109) cooperatively positioned with the open celled material (104) to cover a surface of the open celled material (104) in the expanded and the non-expanded states; and an activation mechanism (114) adapted to regulate selective expansion of the open celled material (104) from the non-expanded state to the expanded state in response to a triggering event, wherein the support surface (105) and/or shield (109) have a compact shape when the open celled material is in the non-expanded state and an expanded state when the open celled material is in the expanded state.