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. 10, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 24, 2010
Thomas C. Vandenberge, Hudsonville, MI (US);
Scott D. Wilde, Grand Haven, MI (US);
Joel M. Cormier, Lathrup Village, MI (US);
Geoffrey A. Mills, Lake Orion, MI (US);
David Zecchin, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Thomas C. VandenBerge, Hudsonville, MI (US);
Scott D. Wilde, Grand Haven, MI (US);
Joel M. Cormier, Lathrup Village, MI (US);
Geoffrey A. Mills, Lake Orion, MI (US);
David Zecchin, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Shape Corp., Grand Haven, MI (US);
Autoliv ASP, Inc., Ogden, UT (US);
Abstract
An energy absorber includes opposing aligned crush lobes expandable in opposite directions, and when expanded, potentially collapse with different energy-absorbing rates and stroke distances. The energy absorber forms a subassembly design that is adaptable and easily modified for predetermined energy absorption crush curves and specific energy-absorbing circumstances, such that it can be used inside a vehicle passenger compartment or outside a vehicle in different locations, such as for a knee bolster on the instrument panel, or on a door inner panel, or on an under-knee seat component, or on a headliner or A-pillar cover, or hood-lifter for pedestrian safety. One version of the energy absorber includes formed sheets bonded along a perimeter to define two cavities and an inflator-holding pocket connected to the cavities by integrally-formed tunnels.