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Patent US4198075A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4198075A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Safety installation in motor vehicles with a knee impact element
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
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Filing: 1977-07-08
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Granted: 1980-04-15
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Expires: 1997-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A motor vehicle with a safety installation for passengers, especially in passenger motor vehicles, with a knee impact element pivotally arranged at fixed vehicle parts which can be brought from a normal position into a position near the knees of the passenger by an actuating device.
Inventors
- 👤 Adolf Kob
- 👤 Eduard Blatner
- 👤 Heinz Bielmeier
- 👤 Wolfgang Kirchberger
- 👤 Klaus Gersmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:26
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/205; B60R2021/003; B60R2021/0039; B60R2021/0051; B60R2021/0206; B60R2021/024; B60R21/23; B60R21/231; B60R2021/23153; B60R2021/23169
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
In a motor vehicle with a body forming a passenger compartment and comprising a vehicle floor, a dashboard adjoining said floor and an instrument panel, at least one passenger seat being arranged within said passenger compartment and mounted on the vehicle floor at a distance from the dashboard, the improvement comprising a safety installation for a passenger coordinated to the seat and including a movably arranged knee impact means pivotally mounted to a fixed part of said body and a device for pivoting the knee impact means from a normal position into a position near the knees of the passenger in response to a collision, said knee impact means including a bending-rigid plate which extends from the bottom side of the instrument panel essentially to the vehicle floor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a motor vehicle with a body forming a passenger compartment and comprising a vehicle floor, a dashboard adjoining said floor and an instrument panel, at least one passenger seat being arranged within said passenger compartment and mounted on the vehicle floor at a distance from the dashboard, the improvement comprising a safety installation for a passenger coordinated to the seat and including a movably arranged knee impact means pivotally mounted to a fixed part of said body and a device for pivoting the knee impact means from a normal position into a position near the knees of the passenger in response to a collision, said knee impact means including a bending-rigid plate which extends from the bottom side of the instrument panel essentially to the vehicle floor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating device is an inflatable bag means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said knee impact means is pivotally mounted about an axis extending substantially in the vehicle transverse direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that said axis is along the lower edge of said knee impact means and in that said device includes an inflatable bag means provided for the actuation of the knee impact means on the side of said knee impact means opposite the passenger seat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the knee impact means upon achieving an effective position is operatively connected with shock absorbers as energy-absorbing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the knee impact means is operatively connected with a tilt-back locking means and includes an energy-absorbing padding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the knee impact means covers the area underneath the instrument panel in the rest position at least sectionwise.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the knee impact means covers the area underneath the instrument panel uninterruptedly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the knee impact means is angularly bent off in vertical edge areas and together with said dashboard delimits a space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that said inflatable bag means for the actuation of the knee impact means is arranged in said space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that the knee impact means upon achieving an effective position is operatively connected with shock-absorbers as energy-absorbing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that an inflating means for the inflatable bag means is also arranged within said space.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that the knee impact means is operatively connected with a tilt-back locking means and includes an energy-absorbing padding.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that the knee impact means is mounted at said fixed vehicle part by way of a torsion rod spring means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 14, characterized in that said torsion rod spring means is prestressed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that one knee impact means is arranged on the driver side and one on the co-driver side plate, both knee impact plate means being operatively connected with each other by way of a common torsion rod.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 16, characterized in that said inflatable bag means is coordinated to the knee impact means on the co-driver side which is extended by a section that in the operative position fills the space between the co-driver and the instrument panel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that said axis is along the upper edge of said knee impact means, said knee impact means being operatively connected along its lower edge area to said device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 18, characterized in that the knee impact means is pivotally mounted along its upper edge at the instrument panel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 19, characterized in that said device is a belt tightener.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 20, characterized in that the knee impact means is pivotally connected at the free ends of energy-absorbing impact shock-absorber means arranged fixedly at said fixed part.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the knee impact means is arranged for pivotal movement by way of guide means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 22, characterized in that said guide means include at least one belt-tightener and at least one energy-absorbing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the knee impact means is pivotally mounted along its lower edge at said fixed part and in that an inflatable bag means is provided for the actuation of the knee impact means on the side opposite the passenger.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the knee impact means upon achieving an effective position is operatively connected with shock absorbers as energy-absorbing means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the knee impact means is operatively connected with a tilt-back locking means and includes an energy-absorbing padding.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the knee impact means is angularly bent off in vertical edge areas and together with said dashboard delimits a space.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 27, characterized in that said device includes an inflatable air bag means for the actuation of the knee impact means is arranged in said space.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the knee impact means is arranged at fixed said part by way of a torsion rod spring means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that one knee impact means each is arranged on the driver side and on the co-driver side, both knee impact means being operatively connected with each other by way of a common torsion rod.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 30, characterized in that an inflatable bag means is coordinated to the knee impact means on the co-driver side which is extended by a section that in the operative position fills the space between the co-driver and the instrument panel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the knee impact means covers the area underneath the instrument panel at least sectionwise.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 32, characterized in that the knee impact means covers the area underneath the instrument panel uninterruptedly.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the knee impact means is pivotally mounted along its upper edge at said fixed part and is operatively connected along its lower edge area with said device.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 34, characterized in that the knee impact means is pivotally mounted along its upper edge at the instrument panel.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 34, characterized in that said device is a belt tightener.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the knee impact means is pivotally connected at the free ends of energy-absorbing impact shock-absorber means arranged fixedly at the vehicle.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the knee impact means is arranged for pivotal movement by way of guide means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 38, characterized in that said guide means include at least one belt-tightener and at least one energy-absorbing means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
A motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said device is actuable by a pressurized medium and arranged in a space delimited by the knee impact plate means, the dashboard and the instrument panel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-04-15 | 1983-10-15 | 1984-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-04-15 | 1987-10-15 | 1988-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-04-15 | 1991-10-15 | 1992-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |