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US 4,903,987 AGranted
Energy absorbing automotive instrument panel
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorVijay K. Stokes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An instrument panel for an automobile is provided comprising a beam member. The central portion of the beam is spaced away from the frame and is capable of flexing elastically in the transverse direction. A recoil restraint means is secured at one end intermediate the ends of the beam and is secured at the other end to the frame. The recoil restraint means permits motion of the beam in the transverse direction towards the frame but preventing motion away from the frame.
Claims4
An instrument panel for use in a vehicle comprising:
- a beam member supported at either end by the frame of the vehicle, the central portion of the beam spaced away from the frame, said beam member flexing elastically in the transverse direction when impacted by a vehicle occupant;
- and
- recoil restrain means secured intermediate to the ends of said beam and secured to said frame for permitting motion of said beam in the transverse direction towards the frame when impacted and preventing transverse motion away from said frame so that said recoil restraint means stores the impact energy in said elastically flexed beam member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.