Patent · US Expired

Deformation bar for energy-absorbing support

US5577770A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
5References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 28, 1995
Grant dateNov 26, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 28, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB62D21/15
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An instrument panel with knee restraint for motor vehicles has a pair of deformation bars which can be deformed in a defined manner with respect to three zones, a load-distributing panel, and a large-surface-area impact-absorption member arranged in front of the load-distributing panel. In order to achieve an inexpensive knee restraint which does not require a redesign of the instrument panel configuration when the knee restraint is mounted on the instrument panel, the deformation bars are arranged on that side of the instrument panel remote from the vehicle interior and are supported, by one leg on the rear surface of the instrument panel and another leg on the transverse carrier fixed to the bodywork. The impact-absorption member is a shell-like carrier part positioned on that side of the instrument panel facing the vehicle interior. A cavity is defined and completely filled by an energy-absorbing insert, e.g. consisting of foam, which forms the energy-absorption element.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.