Side impact bolster
OwnerBijoy K. Saraf, Michael N. Trutzel +1inventors
InventorsBijoy K. Saraf, Michael N. Trutzel, Kalu Uduma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy-management device is provided for occupant protection in side-impact events and is designed to meet FMVSS214 and IIHS barrier tests. The energy-management device is designed to be part of a side door trim panel of a vehicle and forms the “A-surface” around a first area where the shoulder/thorax of an occupant would be located and around a second area where a pelvis of an occupant would be located when seated in a vehicle seat of the vehicle. The energy-management device may be constructed out of a blow-molded compounded material such as, for example, Thermoplastic Polyolefin plastic (TPO).
Claims10
A vehicular side impact bolster comprising:
- an inflatable plastic chamber having an outer surface comprising a rigid interior trim panel for a side door of a vehicle adapted to be positioned at a preselected location on the side door.
An energy management system for a vehicular side impact event comprising:
- a first inflatable plastic chamber having a first outer surface comprising a first rigid interior trim panel for a side door of a vehicle positioned so as to be adjacent to a shoulder area of an occupant seated adjacent the side door;
- and
- a second inflatable plastic chamber having a second outer surface comprising a second rigid interior trim panel for the side door positioned so as to be adjacent a pelvic area of the occupant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.