IMPACT ENERGY ABSORBING KNEE BOLSTER SYSTEM

Abstract

An impact energy absorbing knee bolster system is basically provided with a lateral offset input restriction structure and a vertical offset input absorption structure. The lateral offset input restriction structure restricts a lateral offset input component of an impact load imparted by a passenger's knee against the knee bolster to lateral direction and promotes deformation of the knee bolster during a collision. The vertical offset input absorption structure absorbs a vertical offset input component of the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee against the knee bolster and to promote deformation of the knee bolster during the collision.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a simplified cross sectional view of a front section of a vehicle passenger compartment equipped with an impact energy absorbing knee bolster system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is provided;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting of the impact energy absorbing knee bolster system in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the knee bolster in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b) illustrate in a sequential manner the behavior of the lateral offset input restriction structure in the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5( a) and 5(b) are simplified cross sectional views taken along the section line 4-4 of FIG. 4(a) and illustrate in a sequential manner the relationship between a displacement part and a receiving part of a lateral offset input restriction structure in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates the behavior of the a vertical offset input absorption structure in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7( a), 7(b) and 7(c) are simplified cross sectional views illustrating the behavior of a rotational support structure of a vertical offset input absorption structure in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is simplified cross sectional view of a load limiter in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting of the impact energy absorbing knee bolster system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the knee bolster in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11( a) and 11(b) are simplified cross sectional views illustrating in a sequential manner the behavior of the lateral offset input restriction structure in the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting of an impact energy absorbing knee bolster system in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the knee bolster in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 14( a) and 14(b) are simplified views that illustrate in a sequential manner the operating state of the rotational support structure when a knee bolster in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention receives an impact load;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting of an impact energy absorbing knee bolster system in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the knee bolster in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 17( a) and 17(b) are simplified views that illustrate in a sequential manner the operating state of the rotational support structure when a knee bolster in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention receives an impact load;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting of an impact energy absorbing knee bolster system in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the knee bolster in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 20( a) and 20(b) are simplified views that illustrate in a sequential manner the operating state of the rotational support structure when a knee bolster in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention receives an impact load;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting of an impact energy absorbing knee bolster system in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the rotational energy absorbing member in the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting of an impact energy absorbing knee bolster system in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the knee bolster in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 25( a) and 25(b) are simplified cross sectional views illustrating in a sequential manner the behavior of the lateral offset input restriction structure in the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 26( a) and 26(b) are simplified plan views illustrating in a sequential manner the behavior of the lateral offset input restriction structure in the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting of an impact energy absorbing knee bolster system in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is an exploded perspective view of the knee bolster in accordance with the eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the vertical offset input absorption structure in the eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 30( a) and 30(b) are simplified cross sectional views illustrating in a sequential manner the behavior of the lateral offset input restriction structure in the eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 31( a) and 31(b) are simplified cross sectional views taken along the section line B-B of FIG. 30 and illustrate in a sequential manner the behavior of the lateral offset input restriction structure in the eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting of an impact energy absorbing knee bolster system in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is an exploded perspective view of a lateral rotational restricting structure in accordance with the ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 34( a) and 34(b) are simplified plan views illustrating in a sequential manner the behavior of the lateral rotational restricting structure in the ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 35 is a perspective view illustrating the mounting of an impact energy absorbing knee bolster system in accordance with a tenth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 36( a) and 36(b) are simplified plan views illustrating in a sequential manner the behavior of the lateral offset input restriction structure in the tenth embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An impact energy absorbing knee bolster system comprising: a lateral offset input restriction structure arranged to restrict a lateral offset input component of an impact load imparted by a passenger's knee in a laterally offset direction and to promote deformation during a collision,a vertical offset input absorption structure arranged to absorb a vertical offset input component of the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee and to promote deformation during the collision.

2. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 1, wherein the lateral offset input restriction structure includes: a deformation accepting structure located between a load input part and a vehicle structural member to deform in response to the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee during the collision; anda load transmitting support member located between the load input part and the vehicle structural member, and arranged to cooperate with the deformation accepting structure to restrict lateral movement of the deformation accepting structure in response to the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee during the collision.

3. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 1, wherein the lateral offset input restriction structure includes: a deformation accepting structure located between an load input part and a vehicle structural member, and arranged to deform in response to the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee during the collision; anda load transmitting support member located between the load input part and the vehicle structural member to fit with the deformation accepting structure to restrict mutual lateral movement of the deformation accepting structure in response to the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee during the collision.

4. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 1, wherein the lateral offset input restriction structure includes: a deformation accepting structure located between an load input part and a vehicle structural member to deform in response to the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee during the collision; anda pair of load transmitting support members located between the load input part and the vehicle structural member, and arranged near both laterally facing sides of the deformation accepting structure to contact the deformation accepting structure to restrict lateral movement of the deformation accepting structure and the load transmitting member in response to the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee during the collision.

5. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 2, wherein the load input part and the load transmitting support member are connected together with a deformation timing delay structure that is arranged to deform by collapsing laterally to delay deformation of the load transmitting support member from the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee during the collision.

6. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 4, wherein the load input part and the load transmitting support member are connected together by a lateral rotational restricting structure that is arranged to rotate laterally when a direction in which the impact load imparted by the passenger's knees impact is offset in a lateral direction to absorb lateral offset input from the load input part.

7. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 1, wherein the lateral offset input restriction structure includes a pair of deformation accepting structures located between a load input part and a vehicle structural member, and arranged to deform in response to the impact load imparted by the passenger's knees contacting an intermediate portion of each the deformation accepting structures.

8. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 1, wherein the vertical offset input absorption structure includes a rotational support structure connecting the lateral offset input restriction structure to a vehicle structural member with a prescribed reactive rotational force such that the lateral offset input restriction structure can swing against the prescribed reactive rotational force in response to the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee during the collision.

9. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 8, wherein the rotational support structure includes: a rotational supporting member connecting the lateral offset input restriction structure to the vehicle structural member such the lateral offset input restriction structure is rotatable relative to the vehicle structural member; anda rotational energy absorbing member located between the rotational supporting member and the vehicle structural member to absorb a relative movement force between the rotational supporting member and the vehicle structural member.

10. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 9, wherein the rotational supporting member and the structural member have non-circular shapes; andthe rotational energy absorbing member includes a load limiter arranged between the rotational supporting member and the vehicle structural member to absorb load changes that occur due to changes in a radial clearance existing between the rotational supporting member and the vehicle structural member.

11. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 9, wherein the rotational energy absorbing member includes: a tapered section formed with the vehicle structural member;an axial direction movement structure arranged to move the rotational supporting member toward the tapered section such that the tapered section enters into the rotational supporting member when the rotational supporting member rotates relative to the vehicle structural member; anda load limiter located between the rotational supporting member and the vehicle structural member to absorb load changes that occur due to changes in a radial clearance existing between the rotational supporting member and the vehicle structural member.

12. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 9, wherein the rotational energy absorbing member includes a load limiting spring connected between the rotational supporting member and the vehicle structural member to absorb load changes that occur when the rotational supporting member rotates relative to the vehicle structural member

13. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 9, wherein the rotational energy absorbing member includes: an axial direction movement structure arranged to move the rotational supporting member in an axial direction of a rotational axis of the rotational supporting member when the rotational supporting member rotates relative to the vehicle structural member; anda load limiter connecting the rotational supporting member and the vehicle structural member together along the axial direction.

14. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 9, wherein the rotational energy absorbing member includes a load limiting plate connecting the rotational supporting member and the vehicle structural member together in a rotational direction to absorb load transitions that occur when the rotational supporting member rotates relative to the vehicle structural member.

15. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 1, wherein the vertical offset input absorption structure includes a rotational restricting connector connecting the lateral offset input restriction structure to a vehicle structural member such that the lateral offset input restriction structure can move vertically relative to the vehicle structural member while exerting a rotational resistance against a rotational load from the lateral offset input restriction structure.

16. The impact energy absorbing knee bolster system as recited in claim 15, wherein the rotational restricting connector includes a fastening bolt fixedly connecting a mounting flange of the lateral offset input restriction structure to the vehicle structural member, and a bolt hole with a vertical slit formed in the mounting flange with the vertical slit having a narrower width than a diameter of the fastening bolt located in the bolt hole.

17. A vehicle equipped with the impact energy absorbing knee bolster system according to claim 1.

18. An impact energy absorbing knee bolster system comprising: lateral offset input restriction means for restricting a lateral offset input component of an impact load imparted by a passenger's knee to a lateral direction and for promoting deformation during a collision,vertical offset input absorption means for absorbing a vertical offset input component of the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee and for promoting deformation during the collision.

19. A method for absorbing impact energy to a vehicle passenger comprising: restricting a lateral offset input component of an impact load imparted by a passenger's knee against a knee bolster to lateral direction while promoting deformation of the knee bolster during a collision; andabsorbing a vertical offset input component of the impact load imparted by the passenger's knee against the knee bolster while promoting deformation of the knee bolster during the collision.