Knee protective structure of vehicle
US4834422A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 1987 |
| Grant date | May 30, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/219
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A knee protective panel of a vehicle, extending laterally of the vehicle in front of a driver's seat under an instrument panel and having a U-shaped cut receiving a steering column is provided with a reinforcing member fixed to the protective panel so that there is formed between the protective panel and reinforcing member an enclosed space extending laterally immediately under the U-shaped cut. In one embodiment of the invention, an opening is formed in an outboard half of the reinforcing member lying on the outboard side of the steering column so that the rigidity of the outboard half is made lower than that of the inboard half. In another embodiment, the protective panel is joined with the instrument panel through at least one intermediate bracket which is fastened with the upper end of the protective panel by bolts extending substantially vertically and which is connected with a laterally extending steering member through at least one support bracket extending forwardly and transmitting impact due to collision from the protective panel to the steering member.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.