Selectively deployable vehicle knee restraint
AssigneeMascoTech Automotive Systems, Inc.
InventorRobert Elton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A knee restraint for the interior passenger compartment of a vehicle which deploys upon sudden deceleration such as vehicle impact. The knee restraint system acts as a passive restraint for the lower part of the passengers' body to restrain forward movement. The restraint system includes independent restraint pads which normally form a portion of the dashboard. Spring-biased linkages extend the restraint pads into the passenger compartment closer to the occupant. An inertia latch prevents deployment until a predetermined rate of deceleration is reached. One embodiment of the restraint system incorporates the glove box.
Claims18
A selectively deployed restraint assembly an interior passenger compartment of a vehicle, said restraint assembly disposed within and forming part of a substantially vertical forward surface of the vehicle compartment, said restraint assembly deploying to restrain an occupant of the vehicle upon a predetermined rate of vehicle deceleration, said restraint assembly comprising:
- a substantially vertical restraining panel forming a part of the vehicle compartment forward surface and selectively deployable longitudinally rearwardly into the passenger compartment to restrain the vehicle occupant;
- and
- a selectively releasable linkage attached to said restraining panel to move said restraining panel linearly from a first position forming a part of the forward surface to a second position deployed into the passenger compartment, said linkage including means for securing said restraining panel against retreat from said second position upon impact by the occupant, latching means preventing deployment until a predetermined rate of vehicle deceleration is reached and means for biasing said linkage towards said deployed second position to provide instantaneous deployment of said restraining panel upon release of said latching means.
A selectively deployed restraint assembly for an interior passenger compartment of a vehicle, said restraint assembly disposed within a forward surface of the vehicle compartment and formed at least in part by a storage compartment having a selectively operable door with closure means, said restraint assembly deploying to restrain an occupant of the vehicle upon a predetermined rate of vehicle deceleration, said restraint assembly comprising:
- a restraint panel formed at least in part by the selectively operable door of the storage compartment, said restraining panel deployable rearwardly into the passenger compartment to restrain the vehicle occupant;
- and
- a selectively releasable linkage attached to said restraining panel to move said restraining panel from a first position forming a part of the forward surface to a second position deployed into the passenger compartment, said linkage including:
- a slider bar reciprocally movable to deploy said restraining panel and having a striker opening selectively receiving the closure means of the storage compartment door;
- a linkage arm having a first end connected to said slider bar for moving said slider bar and restraining panel between said first and second positions, said linkage arm selectively movable between a contracted position maintaining said slider bar and restraining panel in said first position and an extended position moving said restraining panel to said deployed second position, said linkage arm connected to means for biasing said linkage arm towards said extended position;
- and
- an inertia latch selectively connected to said linkage arm for maintaining said linkage arm in said contracted position against the force of said biasing means, said inertia latch releasing said linkage arm upon a predetermined rate of deceleration.
A selectively deployed restraint assembly for an interior passenger compartment of a vehicle, said restraining assembly disposed within and forming a part of a forward surface of the vehicle compartment, said restraint assembly deploying to restrain an occupant of the vehicle upon a predetermined rate of vehicle deceleration, said restraining assembly comprising:
- a restraining panel forming a part of the vehicle compartment forward surface and selectively deployable rearwardly into the passenger compartment to restrain the vehicle occupant;
- and
- a selectively releasable linkage attached to said restraining panel to move said restraining panel from a first position forming a part of the forward surface linearly to a second position deployed into the passenger compartment, said linkage including;
- a linkage arm having a first end connected to said restraining panel, said linkage arm selectively movable between a contracted position maintaining said restraining panel in said first position and an extended position moving said restraining panel linearly rearwardly to said deployed second position spaced longitudinally rearwardly from said first position, said linkage arm connected to means for biasing said linkage arm towards said extended position and including means for securing said restraining panel against retreat from said second position;
- and
- an inertia latch proximate said linkage arm maintaining said linkage arm in said contracted position against the force of said biasing means, said inertia latch releasing said linkage arm upon a predetermined rate of deceleration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.