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:
Dec. 26, 2006
Filed:
Feb. 20, 2004
Osamu Fukawatase, Aichi-ken, JP;
Takeaki Kato, Aichi-ken, JP;
Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi, Yokohama, JP;
Tadanori Hisamoto, Yokohama, JP;
Shinichi Horibata, Yokohama, JP;
Osamu Fukawatase, Aichi-ken, JP;
Takeaki Kato, Aichi-ken, JP;
Hiroyoshi Yamaguchi, Yokohama, JP;
Tadanori Hisamoto, Yokohama, JP;
Shinichi Horibata, Yokohama, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota, JP;
NHK Spring Co., Ltd., Yokohama, JP;
Abstract
An actuator of an active knee bolster is provided with a drive force generation device and a one way lock mechanism that is disposed in a vicinity of an operation end of the drive force generation device. The one way lock mechanism is configured such that, if attempted movement of a piston member in an inward insertion direction occurs, respective engagement portions are moved to a taper portion by urging force of a spring, whereby the engagement portions are abutted against an external periphery surface of the piston member such that the piston member and the engagement portions are fixed. Accordingly, as a result of the one way lock mechanism, a main body of the active knee bolster that has been moved to a restraining position cannot return in a vehicle forward direction, and thus it is possible to generate a substantial lower limb restraining force that restrains a lower limb of an occupant.