Safety device

• US 7,651,157 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2007
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polestar Performance AB (Polestar Automotive Holding UK Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jonsson, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan; Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chenevert; Paul A
• Application Number:
  US11/748,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20070267857A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 188/371, 188/375, 188/377, 280/748, 280/751, 280/752, 280/753, 296/1.04, 296/37.12, 296/70, 296/187.05, 296/84.1, 296/193.02
• US Class Current: 296/187.05
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/045 associated with the instrument panel or dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/06 mounted on or below dashboards

Abstract

A safety device a for a vehicle including a load distributing member for arrangement in front of a vehicle seat so as to be exposed to an impact load from a vehicle occupant as the occupant moves forwardly in an impact situation, and a load deformable member arranged to retard the forward movement of the occupant, wherein the load deformable member is intended to be attached to the load distributing member and to a supporting member, which supporting member is intended to hold at least a part of the load deformable member in place in relation to the vehicle, and wherein the load distributing member is sufficiently rigid to allow the impact load to be distributed to the load deformable member. The safety device is characterized in that the load deformable member is intended to be arranged with regard to the load distributing member and the supporting member so as to be deformed by tensile and/or shear forces in the event of an impact situation.

Claims

1. A safety device for a vehicle said vehicle having a windshield, said device comprising:

a load distributing member for arrangement in front of a vehicle seat so as to be exposed to an impact load from a vehicle occupant as the occupant moves forwardly in an impact situation; and

a load deformable member arranged to retard the forward movement of the occupant, wherein the load deformable member is attached to the load distributing member and to a supporting member, which supporting member is intended to hold at least a part of the load deformable member in place in relation to the vehicle, wherein the load distributing member is sufficiently rigid to allow the impact load to be distributed to the load deformable member, wherein the load deformable member is attached to the load distributing member at a position that is located closer to a front of the vehicle than the position at which the load deformable member is attached to the supporting member.

2. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the load distributing member is arranged to be movable when exposed to an impact load from a vehicle occupant.

3. The safety device according to claim 1 wherein the load deformable member comprises a wave-shaped steel band.

4. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the load deformable member comprises a first part attached to the supporting member and a second part attached to the load distributing member, wherein said first and second parts are arranged to be joined together by inserting a pin, positioned on one of the parts, into a hole positioned on the other part.

5. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein the load distributing member comprises a part of a glove box.

6. A safety device for a vehicle, said device comprising:

a glove box for arrangement in front of a vehicle seat so as to be exposed to an impact load from a vehicle occupant as the occupant moves forwardly in an impact situation; and

a load deformable member arranged to retard the forward movement of the occupant, wherein the load deformable member is attached to the glove box and to a supporting member, which supporting member holds at least a part of the load deformable member in place in relation to the vehicle, wherein the glove box is sufficiently rigid to allow the impact load to be distributed to the load deformable member, wherein the load deformable member is attached to the glove box on a distal side of the glove box that faces away from the seat.

7. A safety device for a vehicle said vehicle having a windshield, said device comprising:

a load distributing member for arrangement in front of a vehicle seat so as to be exposed to an impact load from a vehicle occupant as the occupant moves forwardly in an impact situation; and

a load deformable member arranged to retard the forward movement of the occupant, wherein the load deformable member is attached to the load distributing member and to a supporting member, which supporting member holds at least a part of the load deformable member in place in relation to the vehicle, wherein the load distributing member is sufficiently rigid to allow the impact load to be distributed to the load deformable member, wherein the safety device is arranged between said supporting member and an additional supporting member wherein the load deformable member is arranged to be connected to both supporting members so as to extend from one of the supporting members to the other via the load distributing member.

8. The safety device according to claim 7, wherein the load deformable member extends from a first position above the load distributing member to a second position below the load distributing member when the device is installed.