Shock absorbing structure for vehicle

• US 6,371,511 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1999
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kitagawa, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCHANAN, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US09/471,413
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/743.1, 280/753, 280/735, 280/732, 297/216.1, 180/273
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0046 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0226 mounted on fire wall
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23176 specially adapted for foot protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26005 the inflation fluid being transferred to the inflatable member by the mechanical deformation of the fluid container during an impact

Abstract

A shock absorbing structure for a vehicle is provided for moderating an impact on a passenger'"'"'s foot due to the deformation of a foot panel 105. A bag 104 is arranged adjacent to the foot panel 105. When the foot panel 105 is deformed due to the vehicle'"'"'s collision or the like, the bag 104 is expanded to moderate the impact on the passenger'"'"'s foot.

Claims

1. A shock absorbing structure for a vehicle comprising:

a foot panel arranged in the vicinity of a foot pedal of the vehicle and connected to a floor panel of the vehicle, the foot panel forming a part of the vehicle body;

a bag arranged adjacent to the foot panel;

an inflator for inflating the bag;

a sensor for sensing deformation of the foot panel and for transmitting a signal corresponding to deformation of the foot panel due to an impact;

a control unit for receiving signals from the sensor and activating the inflator;

wherein a signal transmitted by the sensor corresponding to deformation of the foot panel activates the inflator causing the bag to expand toward a foot of the passenger to moderate impact on the foot.

2. The shock absorbing structure of claim 1, wherein the bag is constructed so that its lower part close to the passenger'"'"'s heel can expand larger than the upper part close to the passenger'"'"'s toe, whereby the rotation of the passenger'"'"'s ankle can be reduced at the foot panel'"'"'s deforming.

3. The shock absorbing structure of claim 1, wherein the bag is constructed so as to expand by gas.

4. The shock absorbing structure of claim 1, wherein the bag is constructed so that an amount of expansion thereof increases as the amount of deformation of the foot panel becomes larger.

5. The shock absorbing structure of claim 4, wherein the sensor detects the amount of deformation of the foot panel.

6. The shock absorbing structure of claim 4, wherein the sensor detects the amount of deformation of the foot panel and the control unit controls the operation of the inflator in accordance with the detected amount of deformation of the foot panel thereby adjusting the amount of gas being supplied into the bag.

7. The shock absorbing structure of claim 1, wherein the bag is made of flexible material and arranged on the foot panel in a contracted condition.

8. The shock absorbing structure of claim 1, wherein the bag is made of non-flexible material and disposed on the foot panel while the bag is uninflated.

9. An energy absorbing front body structure for a passenger in a cabin of a vehicle comprising:

a dash panel which separates a front compartment of the vehicle from the cabin, said dash panel being connected to a floor panel on the lower side of the cabin and arranged in the vicinity of a foot pedal of the vehicle;

an energy absorber attached to the lower side of the dash panel facing in toward the cabin;

a sensor for sensing deformation of the foot panel and for transmitting a signal corresponding to deformation of the foot panel due to an impact;

a control unit for receiving signals from the sensor and activating the energy absorber;

wherein the energy absorber expands toward a foot of the passenger to moderate impact on the foot after receiving a signal transmitted by the sensor corresponding to deformation of the foot panel.

10. The energy absorbing front body structure of claim 9, wherein said energy absorber comprises an airbag.

11. The shock absorbing structure of claim 9, wherein the sensor detects the amount of deformation of the dash panel and the control unit controls the operation of the inflator in accordance with the detected amount of deformation of the dash panel.

12. The energy absorbing front body structure of claim 9, wherein said energy absorber comprises a fluid bag.

13. The energy absorbing front body structure of claim 12, wherein said sensor comprises a pedal hinged to an upper side of the dash panel and facing to the fluid airbag.

14. The energy absorbing front body structure of claim 13, wherein said sensor comprises a bracket attached to a back side of the pedal and facing to the fluid bag.

15. An energy absorbing front body structure for a passenger in a cabin of a vehicle comprising:

a floor panel which forms a floor of the cabin;

a dash panel which separates a front compartment of the vehicle from the cabin, the dash panel being connected inclined to the floor panel and arranged in the vicinity of a foot pedal of the vehicle;

an energy absorber attached to the lower side of the dash panel and facing in toward the cabin;

an inflator connected to the energy absorber for expanding the energy absorber;

a sensor for sensing deformation of the dash panel toward the cabin and for transmitting a signal corresponding to deformation of the dash panel due to an impact;

a control unit for receiving signals from the sensor and activating the energy absorber;

wherein the energy absorber expands toward a foot of the passenger to moderate impact on the foot after receiving a signal transmitted by the sensor corresponding to deformation of the dash panel.

16. The energy absorbing front body structure of claim 15, wherein said energy absorber comprises an airbag.

17. The energy absorbing front body structure of claim 16, wherein said energy absorber comprises a fluid bag.