Tibia Pad Groove Design for Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tibia pads for vehicle lower leg impact absorption do not adequately reduce the peak tibia index during collisions, which affects passenger safety and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A tibia pad design featuring a horizontal foot placement portion with elongated groove portions aligned longitudinally and transversely, an inclined portion that directs load absorption, and strategically positioned weak points such as through-holes or grooves to facilitate bending and distribute load effectively, along with a rib structure that absorbs impact and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional tibia pad designs with horizontal and inclined portions are used, then basic impact absorption is achieved, but the peak value of the tibia index of impact cannot be sufficiently reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tibia pad is divided into multiple functional segments: a horizontal portion for initial impact absorption, an inclined portion for load distribution, groove portions for controlled deformation, and weak portions for bending initiation. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function in reducing the peak tibia index while maintaining overall structural coherence.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tibia pad are given different structural properties: the horizontal portion has groove portions for compressive deformation, the inclined portion has weak portions for bending, and the transition portion connects these regions. This local differentiation optimizes impact absorption at each stage without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Ease of manufacture
If the foot placement portion is designed to be simple, then manufacturing is easier, but heel sliding toward the vehicle front side occurs during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The foot placement portion is designed with weak portions that enable dynamic bending behavior during collision. The pad transitions from a rigid structure to a flexible one that adapts to the impact forces, allowing the heel to be restrained through controlled deformation rather than fixed constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The weak portions are strategically positioned asymmetrically on the inclined portion or transition portion to create a specific bending pattern. This asymmetric design ensures that the pad bends in a controlled manner to prevent heel sliding while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standardized geometric features.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If groove portions are added to the horizontal portion, then impact absorption is improved through compressive deformation, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The groove portions modify the structural parameters of the horizontal portion by creating localized deformation zones. These grooves change the stiffness distribution and enable controlled compressive deformation during impact, improving energy absorption without requiring complex external mechanisms.
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
The tibia pad design effectively reduces the peak tibia index by absorbing impact, suppressing heel sliding, and distributing load and rotational moments, thereby enhancing passenger safety and comfort during collisions.
Implementation Method 1
impact can be absorbed due to the horizontal portion of the foot placement portion compressively deforming
Implementation Method 2
the foot placement portion bends around an axis in the vehicle transverse direction, with this weak portion being the starting point
Data Source
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AI summary
A peak value of a tibia index is further reduced. A tibia pad (10) has: a right foot placement portion (16) having a right side horizontal portion (16A) that is formed horizontally and on which a heel of a right foot of a passenger is placed, and a right side inclined portion (16B) that is formed at a vehicle front side of this right side horizontal portion (16A) and is inclined with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction so as to head toward a vehicle upper side while heading toward a vehicle front side; a pair of groove portions (24) that are formed, at least in a bottom surface of the right side horizontal portion (16A) at the right foot placement portion (16), so to as to extend along the vehicle longitudinal direction and so as to be lined-up in a vehicle transverse direction; and a step portion (26C) that is formed at a transition portion (16D) between the right side horizontal portion (16A) and the right side inclined portion (16B), and is positioned between a rear side rib (26A) and a front side rib (26B) that are formed at the right side horizontal portion (16A) and the right side inclined portion (16B), respectively.