# US 2018/0022302 A1 · Integrated knee bolster device for vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0022302 A1 - Document ID: US20180022302A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/370,106 - Filed: 2016-12-06 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-19 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation; Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Motors Corporation; Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jae Hyun AN; II Sang KIM; Nam Seok KIM; Young Pyo LEE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180022302A1 ## CPC - B60R 21/04: Padded linings for the vehicle interior {; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings} - B60R 21/045: associated with the instrument panel or dashboard - B60R 2021/0051: {Knees} - B60R 2021/0414: {using energy absorbing ribs} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An integrated knee bolster device for a vehicle is configured to restrict the depth of penetration of the knees of a seat occupant which strike a lower crash pad panel when a vehicle collision occurs, thus minimizing injury to the seat occupant, and enhancing safety performance for the seat occupant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An integrated knee bolster device for a vehicle comprising: a shock absorption foam member configured to be supported by a cowl cross bar disposed behind a lower crash pad panel with which knees of a seat occupant collides when a vehicle collision occurs; and a lower-body-penetration-restriction support bracket installed between the lower crash pad panel and the cowl cross bar, wherein a first foam-member support bracket and a second foam-member support bracket are provided on a main bracket of the cowl cross bar and configured to support the shock absorption foam member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 1, wherein the cowl cross bar comprises a main pipe and a sub-pipe that are coupled to each other by a center panel, and the sub-pipe passes through the center panel and is inserted into a pipe assembly depression formed in a side surface of the shock absorption foam member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 2, wherein the first foam-member support bracket is provided at a side of the main bracket and disposed parallel with the sub-pipe, the first foam-member support bracket being inserted into a bracket assembly hole formed in the side surface of the shock absorption foam member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 3, wherein a clip is installed in the side surface of the shock absorption foam member and configured to elastically fix an end of the first foam-member support bracket passing through the bracket assembly hole. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 1, wherein the second foam-member support bracket is configured to be supported on a bent rear end of the main bracket and supports a rear surface of the shock absorption foam member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 2, wherein the main bracket is mounted to the center panel in a shape in which the sub-pipe passes through the main bracket, the main bracket being bonded to an outer circumferential surface of the main pipe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 1, wherein, of opposite ends of the lower-body-penetration-restriction support bracket, a first end thereof is bonded to the cowl cross bar, and a second end thereof is coupled, along with a lower bracket of a junction box, to a mounting part of the lower crash pad panel, the junction box having an upper bracket coupled to the cowl cross bar. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 1, wherein a reinforcing bracket for reinforcing strength is installed on an upper portion of the lower-body-penetration-restriction support bracket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 1, wherein a composite-material sheet for reinforcing the lower crash pad panel is provided on a rear surface of the lower crash pad panel in a region between the lower-body-penetration-restriction support bracket and the shock absorption foam member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 9, wherein the composite-material sheet comprises a continuous fiber composite material in which continuous fibers are impregnated in thermoplastics, and strength of the composite-material sheet is controlled by changing an arrangement pattern of the continuous fibers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 9, wherein, when the lower crash pad panel is injection-molded, injection material is applied to an upper end of a flange bent from an edge of the composite-material sheet so that the upper end of the flange is coated with the injection material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 9, wherein a plurality of fusion bosses are provided on the rear surface of the lower crash pad panel, and a plurality of fusion holes to be assembled with the corresponding fusion bosses are formed in the composite-material sheet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 12, wherein a sheet seating part is formed on an outer circumferential surface of each of the fusion bosses, and protruding parts to be seated onto the corresponding sheet seating parts are formed in the composite-material sheet on respective portions thereof in which the fusion holes are formed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 13, wherein the lower crash pad panel and the composite-material sheet, except the sheet seating parts and the protruding parts, are spaced apart from each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 12, wherein the fusion bosses are fused by ultrasonic fusion and bonded to the corresponding fusion holes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 12, wherein positions at which the fusion bosses are disposed are focused in the rear surface of the lower crash pad panel, on positions at which the knees of the seat occupant strike the lower crash pad panel when the vehicle collision occurs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 12, wherein a reinforcing rib for reinforcing strength is formed on the composite-material sheet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 12, wherein the composite-material sheet is formed by compression molding, and at least one elongated depression is formed in the composite-material sheet so that the composite-material sheet is prevented from moving during the compression molding. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The integrated knee bolster device of claim 1, wherein the lower-body-penetration-restriction support bracket is disposed at a position opposite to the shock absorption foam member based on a longitudinal direction of the cowl cross bar.