Slanted Knee Bolster Bracket for Vehicle Occupant Protection

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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 occupants.

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 conventional 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 different knee spacingsVSAvoidbracket coupling structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The knee bolster bracket is divided into two separate bracket members instead of a single vertical structure. Each bracket member can be independently positioned and angled to accommodate different knee spacings, allowing the system to adapt to both male and female dummy configurations while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket members are coupled at slanted angles rather than vertically, introducing angular orientation as a new dimension. This slanted coupling allows the brackets to accommodate varying knee spacings by adjusting the angular position, transforming a one-dimensional vertical support into a multi-dimensional adjustable structure.

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, causing chest damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveknee protection effectivenessVSAvoidchest damage from compressed key set

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The disturbing element (knee bolster bracket) is extracted from its conventional vertical position and repositioned with slanted coupling. This extraction removes the interference with the steering wheel column compression path while maintaining knee support functionality, allowing the key set to compress properly during accidents without causing chest damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The slanted bracket members act as intermediaries between the cowl cross bar and the knee bolster. This intermediary positioning allows the bracket to support knees while creating sufficient clearance for the steering wheel column to compress during accidents, mediating between the conflicting requirements of knee protection and safe compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If the knee bolster bracket is positioned to absorb impact, then knee support is improved, but the bracket cannot be easily deformed to absorb impact energy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveknee support capabilityVSAvoidbracket rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket members are designed with slanted coupling that allows dynamic deformation during impact. The slanted orientation enables the brackets to bend and absorb impact energy while maintaining sufficient rigidity to support knees, transforming from a static rigid structure to a dynamic energy-absorbing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 knee spacings without interfering with the key set, thus enhancing occupant safety during vehicular collisions.

Implementation Method 1

the knee bolster bracket members are slantingly bent when a vehicular accident occurs while absorbing impact energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact energy absorption: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS7478832B2Knee bolster bracket structure of vehicle

Publication Date: 2009.01.20 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.