Occupant knee restraint

Claim 2

The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment having an instrument panel, an energy absorbing steering column assembly engageable by the upper torso of a seated driver for controlled collapse thereof, a knee restraint including first portions capable of absorbing energy by plastic deformation and located to each side of the steering column for engagement by the frontal surfaces of the knees of the driver, and a center portion interconnecting the first portions and at least partially surrounding the energy absorbing column, the plastic deformation of the first portions by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees absorbing kinetic energy of the lower torso of the driver and applying a resultant compressive load longitudinally of the femurs of such driver within predetermined tolerance limits to control the kinematics of the upper torso of the driver with respect to the steering column assembly, means rigidly supporting the center portion on the vehicle to block deformation of the center portion into the column assembly, and means interconnecting edge portions of the first portions of the knee restraint and fixed vehicle structure to insure plastic deformation of the first portions intermediate said edge portions.

Claim 3

The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment having an instrument panel, an energy absorbing steering column assembly engageable by the upper torso of a seated driver and including a first portion adapted to be mounted to the body and a second portion collapsible relative to the first, first column support means rigidly mounting the first portion to the body, releasable means securing the second portion to the first portion, a knee restraint including first portions capable of absorbing energy by plastic deformation and located to each side of the steering column for engagement by the frontal surfaces of the knees of the driver, and a center portion interconnecting the first portions and at least partially surrounding the energy absorbing column, the plastic deformation of the first portions by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees absorbing kinetic energy of the lower torso of the driver and applying a resultant compressive load longitudinally of the femurs of such driver within predetermined tolerance limits to control the kinematics of the upper torso of the driver with respect to the second portion of the column assembly, means interconnecting the center portion and the first column support means to block deformation of the center portion into the column assembly due to engagement thereof by the driver''s knees, and means interconnecting edge portions of the first portions of the knee restraint and fixed vehicle structure to insure plastic deformation of the first portions intermediate said edge portions.

Claim 4

The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment having an instrument panel, an energy absorbing steering column assembly engageable by the upper torso of a seated driver and including a first portion adapted to be mounted to the body and a second portion collapsible relative to the first, first column support means rigidly mounting the first portion to the body, releasable means securing the second portion to the first portion, a knee restraint including first portions capable of absorbing energy by plastic deformation and located to each side of the steering column for engagement by the frontal surfaces of the knees of the driver, and a center portion interconnecting the first portions and at least partially surrounding the energy absorbing column, the plastic deformation of the first portions by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees absorbing kinetic energy of the lower torso of the driver and applying a resultant compressive load longitudinally of the femurs of such driver within predetermined tolerance limits to control the kinematics of the upper torso of the driver with respect to the second portion of the column assembly, means interconnecting the center portion and the first column support means to block deformation of the center portion into the column assembly due to engagement thereof by the driver''s knees, and means interconnecting edge portions of the first portions of the knee restraint and fixed vehicle structure to insure plastic deformation of the first portions intermediate said edge portions.

Claim 5

The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment having an instrument panel, an energy absorbing steering column assembly engageable by the upper torso of a seated driver for controlled collapse thereof, a knee restraint including plastically deformable first portions located to each side of the steering column assembly for engagement by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees and a center portion interconnecting the first portions and at least partially surrounding the energy absorbing column, the first portions having upper edge portions and lower edge portions and being plastically deformed upon engagement by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees intermediate their said upper edge portions and their said lower edge portions to absorb kinetic energy of the lower torso of the driver and to apply a resultant compressive load longitudinally of the femurs of such driver within predetermined tolerance limits to control the kinematics of the upper torso of the driver with respect to the column assembly, means rigidly supporting the center portion on the vehicle to block deformaion thereof into the column due to engagement thereof by the driver''s knees, and means interconnecting the upper and lower edge portions of the first portions of the knee restraint and fixed vehicle structure to reinforce said edge portions and ensure plastic deformation of the first portions intermediate said edge portions.

Claim 6

The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment having an instrument panel, an energy absorbing steering column assembly engageable by the upper torso of a seated driver for controlled collapse thereof, a knee restraint including plastically deformable first portions located to each side of the steering column assembly for engagement by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees and a center portion interconnecting the first portions and at least partially surrounding the energy absorbing column, the first portions having upper edge portions and lower edge portions and being plastically deformed upon engagement by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees intermediate their said upper edge portions and their said lower edge portions to absorb kinetic energy of the lower torso of the driver and to apply a resultant compressive load longitudinally of the femurs of such driver within predetermined tolerance limits to control the kinematics of the upper torso of the driver with respect to the column assembly, means rigidly supporting the center portion on the vehicle to block deformaion thereof into the column due to engagement thereof by the driver''s knees, and means interconnecting the upper and lower edge portions of the first portions of the knee restraint and fixed vehicle structure to reinforce said edge portions and ensure plastic deformation of the first portions intermediate said edge portions.

Claim 7

The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment having an instrument panel, an energy absorbing steering column assembly engageable by the upper torso of a seated driver for controlled collapse thereof, a knee restraint including plastically deformable first portions located to each side of the steering column assembly for engagement by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees and a center portion interconnecting the first portions and at least partially surrounding the energy absorbing column, the first portions being plastically deformed upon engagement by the frontal surFaces of the driver''s knees intermediate their upper edge portions and their lower edge portions to absorb kinetic energy of the lower torso of the driver and to apply a resultant compressive load longitudinally of the femurs of such driver within predetermined tolerance limits to control the kinematics of the upper torso of the driver with respect to the column assembly, means rigidly supporting the center portion on the vehicle to block deformation thereof into the column and possible interference with column collapse, means interconnecting the upper and lower edge portions of the first portions of the knee restraint and the rigid support means, and means interconnecting the upper and lower edge portions of the knee restraint and fixed vehicle body structure, the interconnecting means reinforcing said edge portions and ensuring plastic deformation of the first portions intermediate said edge portions.

Claim 8

The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment having an instrument panel, an energy absorbing steering column assembly engageable by the upper torso of a seated driver for controlled collapse thereof, a knee restraint including plastically deformable first portions located to each side of the steering column assembly for engagement by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees and a center portion interconnecting the first portions and at least partially surrounding the energy absorbing column, the first portions being plastically deformed upon engagement by the frontal surFaces of the driver''s knees intermediate their upper edge portions and their lower edge portions to absorb kinetic energy of the lower torso of the driver and to apply a resultant compressive load longitudinally of the femurs of such driver within predetermined tolerance limits to control the kinematics of the upper torso of the driver with respect to the column assembly, means rigidly supporting the center portion on the vehicle to block deformation thereof into the column and possible interference with column collapse, means interconnecting the upper and lower edge portions of the first portions of the knee restraint and the rigid support means, and means interconnecting the upper and lower edge portions of the knee restraint and fixed vehicle body structure, the interconnecting means reinforcing said edge portions and ensuring plastic deformation of the first portions intermediate said edge portions.

Claim 9

The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment having an instrument panel, an energy absorbing steering column assembly including a first portion adapted to be mounted on the body and a second portion engageable by the upper torso of a seated driver for controlled collapse thereof relative to the first portion, column support means rigidly securing the first portion to the body, a knee restraint including plastically deformable first portions located to each side of the steering column assembly for engagement by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees and a center portion interconnecting the first portions and at least partially surrounding the energy absorbing column, the first portions being plastically deformed upon engagement by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees intermediate their upper and lower edge portions to absorb kinetic energy of the lower torso of the driver and to apply a resultant compressive load longitudinally of the femurs of such driver within predetermined tolerance limits to control the kinematics of the upper torso of the driver with respect to the column assembly, first means interconnecting the center portion and the column support means to block deformation of the center portion into the column and possible interference with column collapse, second means interconnecting the upper edge portions of the first portions of the knee restraint and the column support means, third means interconecting the lower edge portions of the knee restraint and the first means, and fourth means interconnecting the upper and lower edge portions of the knee restraint and fixed vehicle body structure, the interconnecting means reinforcing said edge portions and ensuring plastic deformation of the first portions intermediate said edge portions.

Claim 10

The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment having an instrument panel, an energy absorbing steering column assembly including a first portion adapted to be mounted on the body and a second portion engageable by the upper torso of a seated driver for controlled collapse thereof relative to the first portion, column support means rigidly securing the first portion to the body, a knee restraint including plastically deformable first portions located to each side of the steering column assembly for engagement by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees and a center portion interconnecting the first portions and at least partially surrounding the energy absorbing column, the first portions being plastically deformed upon engagement by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees intermediate their upper and lower edge portions to absorb kinetic energy of the lower torso of the driver and to apply a resultant compressive load longitudinally of the femurs of such driver within predetermined tolerance limits to control the kinematics of the upper torso of the driver with respect to the column assembly, first means interconnecting the center portion and the column support means to block deformation of the center portion into the column and possible interference with column collapse, second means interconnecting the upper edge portions of the first portions of the knee restraint and the column support means, third means interconecting the lower edge portions of the knee restraint and the first means, and fourth means interconnecting the upper and lower edge portions of the knee restraint and fixed vehicle body structure, the interconnecting means reinforcing said edge portions and ensuring plastic deformation of the first portions intermediate said edge portions.

Claim 11

The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment having an instrument panel, an energy absorbing steering column assembly engageable by the upper torso of a seated driver for controlled collapse thereof, a knee restraint including first portions capable of absorbing energy by plastic deformation and located to each side of the steering column for engagement by the frontal surfaces of the knees of the driver, and a center portion interconnecting the first portions and at least partially surrounding the energy absorbing column, the plastic deformation of the first portions by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees absorbing kinetic energy of the lower torso of the driver and applying a resultant compressive load longitudinally of the femurs of such driver within predetermined tolerance limits to control the kinematics of the upper torso of the driver with respect to the steering column assembly, means rigidly supporting the center portion on the vehicle to block deformation of the center portion into the column assembly, and means interconnecting edge portions of the first portions of the knee restraint and fixed vehicle structure to insure plastic deformation of the first portions intermediate said edge portions, the knee restraint firsT portions each including a plastically deformable base, a first layer of elastically deformable material, and a second thinner layer of elastically stretchable material, the first and second layers providing pocketing of the driver''s knees with respect to the bases.

Claim 12

The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment having an instrument panel, an energy absorbing steering column assembly engageable by the upper torso of a seated driver for controlled collapse thereof, a knee restraint including first portions capable of absorbing energy by plastic deformation and located to each side of the steering column for engagement by the frontal surfaces of the knees of the driver, and a center portion interconnecting the first portions and at least partially surrounding the energy absorbing column, the plastic deformation of the first portions by the frontal surfaces of the driver''s knees absorbing kinetic energy of the lower torso of the driver and applying a resultant compressive load longitudinally of the femurs of such driver within predetermined tolerance limits to control the kinematics of the upper torso of the driver with respect to the steering column assembly, means rigidly supporting the center portion on the vehicle to block deformation of the center portion into the column assembly, and means interconnecting edge portions of the first portions of the knee restraint and fixed vehicle structure to insure plastic deformation of the first portions intermediate said edge portions, the knee restraint firsT portions each including a plastically deformable base, a first layer of elastically deformable material, and a second thinner layer of elastically stretchable material, the first and second layers providing pocketing of the driver''s knees with respect to the bases.