Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Shigeyuki Nozumi

Ryosuke Yamamoto

Mikiharu Shimoda

Shinji Hara

Toshiaki Isogai

Mutsuo Muramatsu

The present invention comprises a column support fixed to a deck cross member extending along a width of a vehicle; a steering column supported by the column support; a column bracket disposed about an axis of the steering column in such a manner as to widen toward a front part of the vehicle, both ends of the column bracket being fixed to a body of the vehicle; and knee absorbers disposed at both sides of the column bracket, each of the knee absorbers having a base end fixed to the deck cross member and a front end facing the knees of an occupant, the front end coming into contact with the knees of the occupant. When the vehicle crashes, the occupant and his or her knees move forward to collide with the column bracket. The column bracket, however, is not displaced since both ends of the column bracket are fixed to the body of the vehicle. The knees of the occupant are guided forward along the surface of the column bracket to the right and left knee absorbers. This prevents the deformation of the steering column, and prevents the disturbance of the contracting function of a steering system for absorbing the impact energy. Moreover, the knee absorbers buckle and deform when the knees collide with them, and this results in the absorption of the impact energy to reduce the load that is applied to the knees. It is therefore possible to protect the knees of the occupant.

Occupant's knee protection system

An air bag system for a motor vehicle is provided in which an air bag module is disposed inside a lid provided at a certain location within a vehicle compartment, such that the air bag module stores an inflator operable to generate high-pressure gas and an air bag in a folded state within a reaction can. The air bag system further includes a retainer that is selectively placed in a position to engage with a side portion of the air bag and a position to release the air bag, and a control device that places the retainer in one of the engaging position and releasing position. When the retainer is placed in the position to engage with the side portion of the air bag, the air bag deploys to a smaller size as compared with the size of the air bag deployed when the retainer is placed in the position to release the air bag.

Growing community of inventors

Anjo, Japan

Shigeyuki Nozumi