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:
Feb. 19, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 14, 2004
Richard K. Riefe, Saginaw, MI (US);
Bruce M. Collier, Saginaw, MI (US);
Minoo J. Shah, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Chantal S. Parenteau, Troy, MI (US);
Richard K. Riefe, Saginaw, MI (US);
Bruce M. Collier, Saginaw, MI (US);
Minoo J. Shah, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Chantal S. Parenteau, Troy, MI (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus and method for absorbing energy in response to a vehicle crash. The apparatus includes a knee bolster disposable in a vehicle for absorbing an impact from at least one knee of a driver. The apparatus also includes a connecting device associated with the knee bolster. The connecting device includes a breakable portion for releasably connecting the knee bolster to the vehicle such that the knee bolster breaks away from the vehicle under predetermined conditions. The method according to the invention includes the step of disposing a knee bolster in a vehicle for absorbing an impact from at least one knee of a driver. The method also includes the step of releasably connecting the knee bolster to the vehicle such that the knee bolster breaks away from the vehicle under predetermined conditions with a connecting device associated with the knee bolster and having a breakable portion.