US Patent 7318685 Tension decoupler device

A tension decoupler includes first frangible rupture members, arranged in parallel to each other, and second structural rupture members, arranged in parallel to each other and parallel to the first rupture members. The frangible rupture members and the structural rupture members are designed to break only when the load applied to the decoupler device reaches or exceeds a predetermined load value, and the structural rupture members are designed to have sufficient fatigue strength as long as the applied load does not reach the predetermined load value.