Volume-filling mechanical structures for a bolster system
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsSteven E. Morris, Lawrence C Maugh, Robert R. Kubiak, Peter J. Gareau, Brian Latouf
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A volume-filling mechanical structure for modifying a crash includes a bolster system defined by an outer bolster and an inner bolster, a honeycomb celled material expandable from a dormant state to a deployed state, the honeycomb celled material disposed intermediate the outer and inner bolsters cooperatively positioned with the honeycomb celled material to cover surfaces defining the honeycomb celled material in the deployed and dormant states, and a means for deploying the honeycomb celled material from the dormant state to the deployed state causing the outer bolster to translate away from the inner bolster.
Claims13
A volume-filling mechanical structure for modifying a crash comprising:
- a bolster system defined by an outer bolster and an inner bolster;
- a honeycomb celled material expandable from a dormant state to a deployed state, the honeycomb celled material disposed intermediate the outer and inner bolsters cooperatively positioned with the honeycomb celled material to cover surfaces defining the honeycomb celled material in the deployed and dormant states;
- a means for deploying said honeycomb celled material from said dormant state to said deployed state causing the outer bolster to translate away from the inner bolster;
- a first rigid end cap connected to a first end of the honeycomb celled material and a second rigid end cap connected to a second end of the honeycomb celled material;
- and
- wherein the first rigid end cap includes a wedge or is wedge-shaped to facilitate translation of the outer bolster away from the inner bolster upon deployment of the honeycomb celled material.
A volume-filling mechanical structure for modifying a crash comprising:
- a bolster system defined by an outer bolster and an inner bolster;
- a honeycomb celled material expandable from a dormant state to a deployed state, the honeycomb celled material disposed intermediate the outer and inner bolsters cooperatively positioned with the honeycomb celled material to cover surfaces defining the honeycomb celled material in the deployed and dormant states;
- a means for deploying said honeycomb celled material from said dormant state to said deployed state causing the outer bolster to translate away from the inner bolster;
- wherein the honeycomb celled material includes a variable thickness receptive to allow non-parallel expansion along at least one of a width and length of the outer bolster.
A volume-filling mechanical structure for modifying a crash comprising:
- a bolster system defined by an outer bolster and an inner bolster;
- a honeycomb celled material expandable from a dormant state to a deployed state, the honeycomb celled material disposed intermediate the outer and inner bolsters cooperatively positioned with the honeycomb celled material to cover surfaces defining the honeycomb celled material in the deployed and dormant states;
- a means for deploying said honeycomb celled material from said dormant state to said deployed state causing the outer bolster to translate away from the inner bolster;
- wherein the honeycomb celled material includes energy management properties that can be tuned by varying a thickness of the honeycomb celled material.
A volume-filling mechanical structure for modifying a crash comprising:
- a bolster system defined by an outer bolster and an inner bolster;
- a honeycomb celled material expandable from a dormant state to a deployed state, the honeycomb celled material disposed intermediate the outer and inner bolsters cooperatively positioned with the honeycomb celled material to cover surfaces defining the honeycomb celled material in the deployed and dormant states;
- a means for deploying said honeycomb celled material from said dormant state to said deployed state causing the outer bolster to translate away from the inner bolster;
- wherein translation of the outer bolster away from the inner bolster beyond a thickness of the honeycomb celled material is limited by a restraining device;
- and
- wherein the restraining device includes a fixed slot and pin arrangement, the outer bolster having a pin in a slot retraining translation thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.