Slanted Knee Bolster Bracket Layout for Variable Knee Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional knee bolster structures in vehicles are ineffective in protecting knees during accidents, as they can interfere with the steering wheel column and fail to accommodate varying knee spacings, leading to serious damage to drivers and passengers.

Innovation Solution

The knee bolster structure features slantly coupled bracket members to the cowl cross bar and center support bracket, allowing for impact absorption and continuous support of knees, while preventing interference with the key set during accidents, by positioning the first bracket member at the driver's side and the second at the steering wheel column, with triangular plate shapes and inclined contact points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the knee bolster bracket is vertically coupled to the cowl cross bar, then the bracket structure is simple, but it cannot simultaneously support knees of male and female dummies with different knee spacings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of varying knee spacingsVSAvoidbracket coupling structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is divided into multiple members (first knee bolster bracket member and second knee bolster bracket member) that are slantingly coupled to the cowl cross bar at different angles. This segmentation allows each member to independently support different knee spacing configurations, accommodating both male and female dummy requirements without increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket members are coupled slantingly at different angles rather than vertically, introducing angular variation as a new dimension. This allows the same bracket structure to accommodate different knee spacings by utilizing angular diversity, thereby improving adaptability without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the knee bolster bracket is positioned to support knees, then knee protection is improved, but the steering wheel column cannot be easily compressed during accidents

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveknee protection effectivenessVSAvoidsteering wheel column compression

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The interfering portion of the bracket is positioned away from the steering wheel column compression path. By strategically locating the bracket members, the design extracts the interference element from the compression zone, allowing the steering wheel column to compress freely during accidents while maintaining knee protection functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket members are positioned to act as intermediaries between the knee bolster and the steering wheel column, directing impact forces away from the column compression path. This mediation allows both knee support and column compression to function simultaneously without conflict.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the key set is aligned with the bracket, then the bracket can support knees effectively, but the key set interferes with bracket compression during accidents

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveknee support capabilityVSAvoidinterference with accident deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket members are positioned asymmetrically relative to the key set, with the first knee bolster bracket member located at a position that does not align with the key set. This asymmetric positioning allows the bracket to effectively support knees while preventing interference with key set compression during accidents, eliminating the harmful interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design effectively absorbs impact energy, prevents knee damage, and allows for smooth compression of the steering wheel column, supporting both male and female dummy knee spacings without interfering with the key set, thus enhancing safety during vehicular collisions.

Implementation Method 1

capable of effectively protecting knees of a driver when a vehicular accident occurs... absorb impact when the knees of the passenger collide with a key set... absorb impact energy applied thereto

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact energy absorption: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS20060061199A1Knee bolster bracket structure of vehicle

Publication Date: 2006.03.23 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A knee bolster structure of a vehicle, capable of effectively protecting knees of a driver in an accident, has two bracket members triangular shapes a lower end of the first knee bolster bracket configured to move coupled to the member is coupled to the cowl cross bar and the lower end of the second knee bolster bracket member is coupled to the center support bracket, which connected to the cowl cross bar so that the second knee bolster bracket is prevented from interfering with the key set. The knee bolster structure has upper and lower knee contact portions formed at front parts of the first and second knee bolster bracket members, so the knee bolster structure is used corresponding to position variation of knees of the driver.