Energy absorbing bolsters for vehicle doors are usually formed of non-recyclable foam plastic and/or metal. A relatively simple bolster, which can be formed of recyclable plastic, includes a hollow body with a hole therein for equalizing interior and exterior pressure, and permitting limited flexing of the body, and reinforcing ribs on the outer and side walls of the body, so that the latter can be relatively thin walled.
There is provided an impact absorption device that comprises an impact bar 24 extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle door 20 and a hollow impact absorption member 30 with an upper end rib 32 locked on the impact bar 24 and a lower end rib 34 locked on an internal wall of a door inner panel 22 via a long bracket 35. A fragile portion 36 is formed in the upper end rib 32, and an end 41 of the impact absorption member 40 provided on a door trim 23 is positioned opposite to the impact absorption member 30 with a gap 42 formed there between.
An inflatable knee bolster for a vehicle occupant is mounted to the bottom of the vehicle's instrument panel, having an outer wall that is projected outwardly from a stored position to an extended position adjacent the occupant's knees by inflation of an expansible chamber by an inflator, characterized by. The bolster is an expansible chamber comprising a unitary hollow blow molded polypropylene body that has an outer wall and an inner wall which are interconnected at their bottoms by a bottom wall and at their tops and sides by U-shaped normally folded accordion pleats. These pleats extend from the bottom side corners of the body up the sides and across the top of the body. A pair of spaced attachment tabs extend from the bottom wall for attachment to vehicle structure, and a pair of spaced frangible tabs extending from the top of the outer wall for attachment to vehicle structure to maintain the outer wall in stored position. An inflator is mounted on the hollow body in fluid communication with the interior of the body and, when activated, pressurizes the expansible body to unfold the accordion pleats to expand the body. This breaks the frangible tab and projects the front wall outwardly to extended position adjacent the occupant's knees. A pair of vent holes formed in the inner wall enable controlled depressurization of the bolster.
An inflatable knee bolster for a vehicle occupant is mounted in opposing relation to the knees of a vehicle occupant. The bolster is an expansible chamber of multipiece construction having a face portion and a separate three dimensional expansible body portion. The face portion and body portion are joined about their peripheries to define and substantially enclose the chamber. The expansible body portion is formed from injection molded polymeric material and has one or more integrally molded at least partially collapsible pleated profile elements disposed along the sides and across the top of the body portion in raised and lowered profile with respect to the face portion. Deformable mounting brackets extend outwardly from the body portion for attachment to the vehicle. The materials forming the face and body portions are of either similar or dissimilar chemical and physical character. Actuation of an inflator in fluid communication with the bolster pressurizes the expansible body causing at least a portion of the pleated profile elements to collapsibly deform such that the volume of the enclosed chamber is expanded and the face portion is thrust outwardly to an extended position.
A motor vehicle occupant protection system features an upper panel of an armrest is maintained in an arm supporting position during normal vehicle operation, and is moved to a safety position by an actuation device upon sensing of an actual or impending impact on the side of the vehicle. In the arm supporting position, the arm support panel contributes to the structural strength of the armrest so that it is able to withstand rugged use. In the safety position, the arm support panel is positioned so that it does not present a rigid edge oriented directly toward the occupant, but rather is in a partially or completely folded position. Both mechanical and electronic actuation systems are disclosed.
An automotive glove box assembly. The glove box assembly includes a storage bin and a door disposed in hinging relation to the storage bin. The door includes an expansible body having a face portion facing towards a vehicle occupant and a back portion in opposing relation to the face portion. The expansible body is operatively connected to at least one gas emitting unit such that upon discharge of gas from the gas emitting unit, the expansible body is pressurized and the face portion is projected outwardly to an extended position so as to intercept lower extremities of the occupant.
