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:
May. 11, 1998
Anindya Deb, Dearborn, MI (US);
Nripen Kumar Saha, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Stephen Matthew Calso, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An energy absorbing trim assembly 16 for covering an inner face of structural member 28 of a vehicle defining a passenger compartment having elongated wall portion 18 with a longitudinal axis. Wall portion 18 positionable in a covering relationship over structural member inner face 28. A plurality of swept arch members 20 are arrayed along longitudinal axis 19 in a laterally spaced relationship with respect to structural member inner face 28. Arch members 20 are elastically deformable in response to imposition of a load substantially normal to the structural member inner face 28 and plastically deformable upon contact with structural member inner face 28 to further distribute the load. Energy absorbing pedestal members 22,22' provide for the mounting of energy absorbing trim assembly 16 to a structural member inner face 28. Pedestals 22,22' are plastically deformable in response to imposition of a load substantially normal to a structural member 12. Pedestals 22,22' act in combination with swept arch members 20 to further reduce the magnitude of acceleration and thereby aid in protection of vehicle occupants.