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:
Jan. 22, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 28, 2000
Michael B. Davis, Clarkston, MI (US);
Garry Hayes, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having an instrument panel ( ) includes a knee bolster ( ) movable in the vehicle from a stored position adjacent the instrument panel to a blocking position spaced apart from the instrument panel. The knee bolster ( ) has at least one fastener opening ( ) and a tear seam ( ) extending around the fastener opening. The tear seam ( ) defines and encloses a securing portion ( ) of the knee bolster ( ). A fastener ( ) releasably maintains the knee bolster ( ) in the stored position adjacent to the instrument panel ( ). The fastener ( ) extends through the fastener opening ( ) in the knee bolster ( ) and overlies the securing portion ( ) of the knee bolster. The knee bolster ( ) ruptures at the tear seam ( ) in response to movement of the knee bolster from the stored position to the blocking position. The securing portion ( ) of the knee bolster ( ) remains secured to the instrument panel ( ) by the fastener ( ) when the knee bolster moves from the stored position.