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Occupant knee restraint

  • US 3,938,821 A
  • Filed: 10/10/1973
  • Issued: 02/17/1976
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1973
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. The combination comprising, an automotive vehicle including an occupant compartment for supporting a driver in seated attitude, an energy absorbing steering column assembly for absorbing the kinetic energy of the upper torso of said driver when engaged thereby, column support means mounted on the vehicle, means mounting said steering column assembly to said column support means, a knee restraint including a center portion partially surrounding the lower part of said steering column assembly and a pair of knee deformable side portions, each located to one side of said steering column assembly and engageable by the knees of said driver to absorb kinetic energy of the lower torso of said driver and control the kinematics of the upper torso of said driver with respect to said steering column assembly, and rigid generally U-shaped bracket means including a base portion connected to said center portion of said knee restraint below said lower part of said steering column assembly and spaced leg portions, each located to one side of said steering column assembly and secured to said column support means, said bracket means being spaced from said column assembly and blocking deformation of said center portion into said steering column assembly upon engagement of said driver'"'"'s knees with said knee restraint.

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