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:
Nov. 14, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1997
James Patrick White, Macomb, MI (US);
James Jenying Wang, Troy, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A knee bolster assembly is provided for use in a vehicle having a vehicle driver and including a steering column. The knee bolster assembly includes a central bracket adapted for partially surrounding the steering column and a foam element mounted on the central bracket. The knee bolster further includes left and right knee brackets mounted on opposite sides of the central bracket. The knee brackets each have a generally D-shaped cross-section including a convex rear wall positionable adjacent a vehicle driver such that upon loading by the vehicle driver, the knee brackets deform about multiple, nonspecific bend lines for absorption of energy. The knee brackets preferably include inner and forward walls rigidly secured to the central bracket and outer and rear walls that significantly deform for absorption of energy.