Arrangement for protecting a motor vehicle passenger's knees and instrument panel therefor

Abstract

The invention concerns an arrangement for protecting a front passenger's knees (104) comprising an absorption plate (14) whereof the central part is rigidly supported by a central element (22) and whereof each lateral part, left or right, is rigidly supported, in the vicinity of its lateral end away from the central part, by an associated lateral element (24, 26) extending in a vertical and longitudinal lateral plane such that each lateral part is capable of being substantially deformed over its entire height perpendicular to a knee or an associated shin (106).

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a device for protecting the knees of the front row occupants of a motor vehicle. [0002] The invention relates more particularly to a device for protecting the driver or front passenger of a vehicle, the passenger compartment of which is equipped with an instrument panel. Background technique [0003] The instrument panel is a structural unit consisting of equipment and accessories and delimiting the passenger compartment longitudinally forward with respect to the driver and front passenger. [0004] On the driver's side, the instrument panel extends in particular transversely above the steering assembly, which includes a steering wheel and a steering column. [0005] Modern vehicles must meet increasingly stringent standard limits in terms of passive safety and protection of occupants, especially the driver and one or more front passengers. [0006] With regard to the protection of the driver of a vehicle, passive safety de...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0027] In order to overcome these disadvantages, the present invention proposes a knee protector of the above-mentioned type, characterized in that the absorbing element is substantially in the form of a lower plate, the central part of which is rigidly supported by a central support element in a vertical Extending integrally in a straight and longitudinal central plane, each left or right side portion of the absorbent panel is rigidly supported near its lateral end remote from the central portion by an associated lateral support element in a extend in vertical and longitudinal lateral planes, so that each left or right side portion of the absorbent panel can be freely deformed substantially over its entire height so as to pass through a substantially horizontal, semicircular or The plane of the U-shaped form, in the absence of corresponding rigid obstacles, especially in the inferior and / or superior position in the relevant area of ​​​​the knee and related tibia, gradually forms a partial pocket of absorption and deformation

Images