An energy absorbing member for use in an automobile to absorb occupant impact forces. The energy absorbing member includes a hollow membrane defining a cushion with a plurality of chambers. The membrane includes walls defining the chambers and orifices hydraulically interconnecting the plurality of chambers to equalize fluid pressure within each of the chambers and dissipate impact forces acting on the membrane by conveying fluid between the plurality of chambers when the energy absorbing member is moved from an initial state to a collapsed state. The cushion contains a constant amount of fluid as the energy absorbing member is moved from the initial to collapsed states.
Method and device for protecting a person (2) traveling in a vehicle (1) by applying a protective arrangement the inside of the roof (4) of the vehicle (1). The inside of the roof (4) is equipped with an inner roof structure (5) in a place where the head (3) of the person (2) traveling in the vehicle is expected to make an impact in the event of an accident. The inner roof structure (5) is designed to guide the head (3) so that a flexion of the neck (6) of the person (2) traveling in the vehicle is initiated essentially simultaneously with the impact between the head (3) and the inside of the roof (4) during the accident. The device gives an improved protection of a person traveling in a vehicle (1), especially against head and neck injuries that occur when a person's head hits the inside of the roof (4) of the vehicle (1).
An energy absorbing assembly includes a covering; and a shape memory material in operative communication with the covering, wherein the shape memory material has a first shape attached to an underside of the covering and is operative to change to a second shape in response to an activation signal. The second shape of the shape memory material can cause the covering to expand or expand and detach from a surrounding surface medium. The energy absorbing assembly is used to absorb kinetic energy of an object impacting the assembly. Methods of operating the assembly are also disclosed.
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (28) of a vehicle (12) includes a knee bolster (20). An energy absorbing device (80) is interposed between the knee bolster (20) and the vehicle (12). The device (80) includes a field responsive fluid (84) having a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The device (80) also includes at least one passage (134) through which the fluid (84) flows upon movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12). The device (80) further includes means (150) for varying the viscosity of the fluid (84) to vary the flow rate through the at least one passage (134) and thereby vary the resistance to movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12).
The method of making a vehicle body panel includes blow molding all or a substantial portion of the vehicle body panel and then securing attachments to openings formed on the blow molded body or to peripheral portions of the blow molded body.
An impact countermeasure device (30) used for receiving an impact force (56) has a generally hollow body with an outer wall (52) defining an interior portion (54) and an exterior portion. The wall (52) has at least one blow hole (60) therethrough. The wall (52) has at least one tack off area (70) formed therein. The tack off area (70) and the blow hole (60) control the crush rate of the body in response to the impact force (56).
