Granted Patent B2

US 7,478,833 · App. 11/085,359 · Granted Jan 20, 2009

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. 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.

2. The volume-filling mechanical structure of claim 1 , wherein the outer bolster includes an exposed surface of the instrument panel.

3. The volume-filling mechanical structure of claim 2 , wherein the exposed surface of the instrument panel includes one of a glove box door and a steering column filler.

4. The volume-filling mechanical structure of claim 3 , wherein the honeycomb celled material expandable to a deployed state translates the glove box door or steering column filler toward a rear of the vehicle.

5. The volume-filling mechanical structure of claim 1 , wherein the honeycomb celled material comprises a metallic composition.

6. The volume-filling mechanical structure of claim 1 , wherein the first rigid cap is receptive to aid deployment by the means for deploying said honeycomb celled material, while the second rigid cap is bonded to one of a lower or upper portion defining the bolster system.

7. 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.

8. The volume-filling mechanical structure of claim 7 , wherein said dormant state of the honeycomb celled material displaces the outer bolster away from a bolster zone while providing a substantially parallel loading surface in said deployed state.

9. 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.

10. The volume-filling mechanical structure of claim 9 , wherein the tuning is achieved by selectively removing material from the honeycomb celled material.

11. The volume-filling mechanical structure of claim 9 , wherein a portion of a lower portion defining the honeycomb celled material is removed to reduce knee loads.

12. 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.

13. The volume-filling mechanical structure of claim 12 , wherein the pin and slot arrangement is disposed on at least opposing sides defining the outer bolster facilitating at least one of alignment and retention of a translating outer bolster.

Assignments (13)