Chrysler Corporation

Other

Fca US LLC

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Patrick J Gibbons

D Scott Bittinger

Alexander L Dominique

Issa A Nasser

James A Cotton

Kenneth S Deneau

Anantha M Malavalli

Paul J Eagle

Kyle Kindle

Kristin Godfrey

Jason D Shawver

Anne Ridenour

Sherry A Feldpausch

Dean M Martin

A vehicle has a front structure that includes a pair of side rails, front members, and inner braces. Each front member is coupled to a front end of one side rail and extends laterally outward at least partially into a respective outer quarter of a total width of the vehicle. In an aspect, each inner brace includes a transverse wall and a base. The transverse wall has a side edge extending longitudinally along a respective one of the side rails and a leading edge extending laterally outward from that rail. The base extends diagonally between and is coupled to a respective front member and rail. A leading edge of the base is coupled to the front member within the respective outer quarter. In an aspect, the front structure includes outer braces that surround the inner braces.

Vehicle front structure for absorbing small offset impact forces

An arrangement of a frame rail bumper beam combination is provided which has a frame rail for connection with a chassis of an automotive vehicle, and a bumper beam having a tubular cross-sectional shape with a first section connected with the frame rail, and a first upper surface between a front end and a rear end of the bumper beam, and the bumper beam having at least first and second cutouts in the first surface with a web therebetween that causes the rail to plastically deform in the first section of the bumper beam in a crash.

Automotive frame bumper interface for discriminated deceleration response

An automotive safety airbag installation includes a padded instrument panel having a U-shaped tearable seam in the panel skin, and a concealed airbag assembly having two hinged lids spaced from the instrument panel internal surface, such that during inflation of the airbag the lids swing outwardly to cause a flap-like section of the panel to deflect upwardly for expansion of the airbag into the passenger compartment. One of the lids closes a gap between the airbag and instrument panel to guide the airbag through the instrument panel and to protect both the airbag and the instrument panel from damage. The padded instrument panel is designed to achieve good shock absorbing action when struck by a human body, in the absence of airbag deployment.

Airbag assembly concealed within an instrument panel

An orthopedic protective device to protect limb extremities against injury. The device is typically used in conjunction with a cast, and encloses the limb extremity, while providing airflow within the device to reduce the risk of infection. A combination of gripping strips and gripping straps provide an easy means to attach and remove the device from the extremity. The device can also be used in combination with a surgical boot to protect the device and the cast from damage that may occur when the patient walks.

Orthopedic protection device

A reinforced instrument panel assembly capable of being preassembled and then installed as a unit in a motor vehicle. The instrument panel assembly comprises an instrument panel and motor vehicle instruments mounted on a rigid reinforcing bar. A mounting bracket is secured to each end of the reinforcing bar. When the preassembled instrument panel assembly is placed inside the vehicle body and moved forwardly to the installed position, the mounting brackets contact side frame members of the vehicle body and are readily accessible to the installer so that the mounting brackets can be secured to the side frame members quickly and easily. The instrument panel assembly can be moved to a position for installation with a direct forward movement in an ergonomic manner. Hooks on the mounting brackets guide the instrument panel assembly to its installed position. When the instrument panel is installed, the reinforcing bar serves as a brace to resist the effect of side impact on the body in a collision. The securement of the mounting bracket to the side frame member on the driver side of the vehicle includes a slotted connection which is capable of releasing in the event of a frontal impact when the driver is thrown forwardly against the instrument panel assembly. The reinforcing bar has crush-inducing formations enabling it to bend and crush in a frontal impact.

Reinforced instrument panel assembly

Growing community of inventors

Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

Patrick J Gibbons