Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Jeffrey Sadao Miki

Benjamin Warren Penner

Robert Anthony Porcs

Michael Joseph Lawlor

Craig Paul Voyer

An air vent with a damper for redirecting air flow within the air vent is provided. The air vent can include a housing that has an air inlet end and an air outlet end. In addition, the air vent has the damper within the housing, the damper having a generally flat surface and being movable between a closed position and an open position. At least one fin can be rigidly attached to and extend from the damper, for the purpose of redirecting air flow through the housing when the damper is in the open position. In some instances, a plurality of fins can extend from the damper, with at least one fin extending from an air inlet side of the damper and at least one fin extending from an air outlet side of the damper. The fins can extend from the generally flat surface of the damper at an angle between 15 and 165 degrees and in some instances extend in a generally normal direction from the damper flat surface. The orientation of the at least one fin relative to the housing affords for redirection of air flow coming through the air inlet end such that it is in alignment with the air outlet end.

Damper with fins

A knee airbag housing assembly including a cover panel, a box case, and a lower panel. The cover panel has an upper support portion and a lower support portion extending transversely from a cantilevered support portion. A tear seam formed between the upper cover and lower cover portion. A lower support portion extends transversely from a cantilevered support on the lower cover portion of said cover panel. The box case supports an airbag module and has a lower wall with a distal end lower wall extending towards the cover panel. The box case is fitted in the space between the upper support and lower support portions such that the distal end lower wall of the box spring is disposed closer to the cantilevered support than the terminal edge of the lower panel.

Knee airbag housing assembly

An adjustable beverage container includes an outer case having a case axis. An actuator ring, is rotatably coupled to the case. The actuator ring includes an arm extension push member and an arm retraction structure. A cover ring is fixedly attached to the case. An arm having an engagement structure including a slot or tab slidingly is engaged with the arm retraction structure of the actuator ring. The arm is also rotatably attached to the case and cover ring. The arm moves into and away from said case axis when the actuator ring is rotated relative to the case about the case axis.

Infinitely adjustable beverage container holder by spin actuation

A vehicle includes an instrument panel module including a receiving bracket. An airbag assembly includes an attachment bracket. The receiving bracket and attachment bracket have contact surfaces that provide a datum that guides the airbag assembly from an unsecured position toward a final installation position.

Set structure systems

A glove box assembly incorporated into a vehicle instrument panel, along which extends a reinforcing bar. A three-dimensional and interiorly open receptacle is fixedly mounted within the instrument panel. The receptacle includes integrally formed structural projections extending from a rear side thereof and in a direction towards the reinforcing bar. A plurality of ribs are attached to the receptacle proximate the projections and in order to adjust a deformation characteristic of the receptacle. A bin secures within said glove box receptacle and includes a door exposed to adjoining surfaces of the instrument panel. Upon experiencing a collision event resulting in a passenger's knees impacting the door, inward deformation of the receptacle transfers forces both to the instrument panel and through deforming the reinforcing bar.

Glove box assembly exhibiting knee impact force transferring structure with respect to an associated vehicle dash/instrument panel and reinforcing bar and including removable strengthening ribs for tuning of crash safety characteristics

An energy transferring system for transferring energy from an occupant's knees through an instrument panel assembly to a vehicle cross beam when an occupant's knee drives the instrument panel assembly into the cross beam as a result of an external load placed on the vehicle. The system having an elongated member projecting from the cross beam towards the instrument panel assembly, and an instrument panel assembly having an energy transferring member and a recess registered to said elongated member. Said elongated member and recess working in concert to prevent said cross beam from slipping past said energy transferring member thereby increasing the energy transferring from an occupant's knees to other vehicle structures.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey Sadao Miki