The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 19, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 09, 1996
Mercedes-Benz AG, , DE;
Abstract
A forward structure of a motor vehicle has a cross member which connects the two A-columns with one another and which is used for fixing a steering column and a knee restraint. A strut is fixed on the forward structure and extends from the cross member to a transmission tunnel extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. At least two mutually overlapping strut sections of the strut have a connection area which, under a load during a crash and after overcoming a force threshold, can be elongated in a longitudinal direction while absorbing energy. A force limiting device is provided in the connection area of the strut sections in the force transmission path. Consequently, after the force threshold is exceeded, an energy reduction is achieved during a predetermined lengthening path of the connecting strut and at a constant force level so that a yielding of the impact-loaded knee restraint together with the cross member takes place with a force-limited resistance along a predetermined path distance.