# US 6,837,518 B2 · Reinforcement structure for instrument panel

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- Number: US 6,837,518 B2
- Document ID: US6837518B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/227,320
- Filed: 2002-08-23
- Published: 2004-02-26
- Granted: 2005-01-04
- Earliest claimed: 2002-08-23
- Assignees: L & W Engineering
- Inventors: Brian J. Mullan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6837518B2

## CPC

- B60R 21/045: associated with the instrument panel or dashboard
- B60R 2021/0051: {Knees}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An energy absorbing knee bolster for use in an interior of a vehicle is disclosed. The knee bolster is configured to absorb energy from the vehicle's occupants during a crash. The knee bolster is formed of a collapsible cylinder which is welded to an impact plate on its first end and to a vehicle's cross-car beam at its second end. A coupling flange is disposed between the impact plate and a medial portion of the collapsible cylinder. The collapsible cylinder is configured to axially collapse at a predetermined force when impacted by a moving occupant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An energy absorbing member for use in a vehicle to support an interior trim component and absorb vehicle crash induced energy from a moving vehicle occupant comprising:
a collapsible cylinder having a first end and a medial portion;
an impact surface coupled to said first end;
a coupling flange coupled to the impact surface and to the medial portion of the collapsible cylinder, wherein said collapsible cylinder is configured to axially collapse at a predetermined force when impacted by the moving occupant.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The energy absorbing member according to claim 1 wherein the collapsible cylinder has first and second coaxially aligned cylindrical portions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The energy absorbing member according to claim 2 wherein said first cylindrical portion has a first perimeter with a smaller extent than an extent of the second perimeter of the second cylindrical portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The energy absorbing bracket according to claim 3 further comprising a transitionary portion disposed between said first and second cylindrical portions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The energy absorbing member according to claim 4 wherein said transitionary portion comprises an exterior convex surface and an exterior concave surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The energy absorbing member according to claim 4 wherein said transititionary portion is configures to plastically deform at a predetermined load.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The energy absorbing member according to claim 2 wherein said first cylindrical portion has an exterior diameter smaller than the interior diameter of the second cylindrical portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The energy absorbing member according to claim 7 wherein the first cylindrical portion telescopically collapses into the second cylindrical member upon being impacted by an occupant.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The energy absorbing member according to claim 2 further comprising a third cylindrical portion, said third cylindrical portion being coaxially aligned to said second cylindrical portion, and a second transitionary portion disposed between said third cylindrical portion and said second cylindrical portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The energy absorbing member according to claim 9 further comprising a second coupling flange, said second coupling flange being coupled to said impact plate and to said third cylindrical portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The energy absorbing member according to claim 1 further comprising a cross-car beam.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The energy absorbing member according to claim 11 wherein said cross-car beam comprises a steering column and wherein said collapsible cylinder is positioned adjacent to said steering column.

### Claim 13

A cross-car beam comprising:
a first member disposed between two points within a vehicle compartment;
a collapsible cylinder having first and second ends and an intermediate location disposed therebetween, the second end being coupled to the first member;
an impact plate coupled to the first end;
a coupling flange coupled to the impact plate and to the intermediate location of the collapsible cylinder, wherein said collapsible cylinder is configured to axially collapse at a predetermined force when impacted by a vehicle occupant.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The cross-car beam according to claim 13 wherein the collapsible cylinder has first and second coaxially aligned cylinder portions.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The cross-car beam according to claim 14 wherein the first cylindrical portion has an exterior diameter smaller than an interior diameter of the second cylindrical member, and wherein the cross-car beam further comprises a plastically deformable transitionary portion disposed between the first and second cylindrical members.