JPH02225154A - Protecting device for car crewman's knee - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve absorbing effect for striking energy by providing a striking energy absorbing member arranged between a column cramp and a crewman's knee part with a position controlling section which engages with the column cramp to control the movement of the absorbing member in case of necessity. CONSTITUTION:A striking energy absorbing member 7 has metallic flat and curved plates 8, 9 joined mutually, and is formed into a shape of a cylinder passing through in a lateral direction X of a car. A cover 10 is attached to the peripheral face of the curved plate 9. In this case, the flat plate 8 is provided with two protruding parts 11 functioning as the position controlling section protruding toward a column cramp 3. When the crewman's knee H has abutted against the absorbing member 7 at the colliding time of cars, the protruding part 11 is made to abut against the column cramp 3 for preventing the absorbing member 7 from moving in a direction where it is pressed by the knee part H. The knee part H therefore sufficiently presses and deforms the absorbing member 7 as it remains at a fixed position to surely absorb the striking energy.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] <Industrial application field> The present invention relates to a knee protection device for a vehicle occupant.

<Prior Art> As occupant protection devices in the event of a vehicle collision, seatbelt devices that restrain the occupant in a seat and air pack devices that rapidly inflate to prevent the occupant from falling forward during a collision are known.

However, although this type of occupant protection device can sufficiently protect the occupant's upper body, it cannot be said to be sufficient in terms of protecting the occupant's lower limbs, especially the knees.
A knee protection device as shown in FIGS. 57-32043 has been proposed in the past.

1 is a steering wheel, 2 is a steering column, and this steering column 2 is supported by a vehicle body 4 by a column clamp 3. The column clamp 3 is covered with a cover 5 made of resin, and an impact energy absorbing member 6 made of a deformable metal cylinder is disposed between the cover 5 and the column clamp 3. Therefore, the knee part H of the occupant that jumps up due to the reaction at the time of a vehicle collision hits the cover 5 with force, but since the impact energy absorbing member 6 inside the cover 5 is pressed and deformed by the knee part H, the knee part The force (impact energy) of portion H is absorbed as the impact energy absorbing member 6 is pressed and deformed.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in such a conventional knee protection device for a vehicle occupant, when the knee H hits the impact energy absorbing member 6 directly, the impact energy absorbing member 6 is not sufficiently damaged as described above. Although energy absorption can be performed, if the knee portion H hits the impact energy absorbing member 6 from an oblique direction, there is a possibility that the impact energy cannot be absorbed sufficiently. That is, when the knee part H hits the knee part from an oblique direction, the impact energy absorbing member 6 is pushed and moves in one direction along the vehicle width direction X, so that the impact energy absorbing member 6 is not sufficiently crushed and the knee part It may not be possible to completely absorb the impact energy of H.

Furthermore, depending on the degree of movement of the impact energy absorbing member 6, there is a possibility that the knee portion H may directly hit the column clamp 3.

This invention has been made by focusing on such conventional technology, and provides knee protection for vehicle occupants that can sufficiently absorb impact energy even if the knee hits an impact energy absorbing member from an oblique direction. The aim is to provide the equipment.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the knee protection device for a vehicle occupant according to the present invention has an impact energy absorbing member that engages with a column clamp. A position regulating section is provided to regulate movement in the vehicle width direction.

<Function> Even if the knee hits the impact energy absorbing member from an oblique direction, the position regulating portion engages with the column clamp, so that movement (escaping) of the impact energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction is restricted. Therefore, the knee part can reliably press and deform the impact energy absorbing member, the impact energy of the knee part is reliably absorbed, and the knee part does not come into direct contact with the column clamp.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Incidentally, the same reference numerals are given to the parts common to the conventional one, and redundant explanation will be omitted.

1 to 3 are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention.

What is shown in FIG. 1 is an impact energy absorbing member 7. This impact energy absorbing member 7 is made of a metal flat plate 8.
It is formed by joining the curved plate 9 and the curved plate 9, and has a generally cylindrical shape penetrating in the vehicle width direction X. The curved plate 9 of this impact energy absorbing member 7 has a cross-sectional shape curved into a hat shape and also has a curved shape with a raised center in the vehicle width direction X, and the raised top of this curved plate 9 and the cover lO and are fixed with screws at φ. and,
Two protrusions 11 that protrude toward the column clamp 3 and serve as position regulating parts are attached to the flat plate 8. Each of the projections 11 has a cross-sectional shape, and is attached by joining the flange portions 11a to the flat plate 8, respectively. The distance between the protrusions 11 is slightly larger than the width d of the column clamp 3, and the column clamp 3 is sandwiched between the protrusions 11.

Next, the effect will be explained. When the passenger's knee H hits the impact energy absorbing member 7 from an oblique direction during a vehicle collision,
The impact energy absorbing member 7 is pushed by the knee H and tries to move in one direction along the vehicle width direction X, but since one of the projections 11 contacts (engages) the column clamp 3, the impact energy The absorbing member 7 cannot move in the direction pushed by the knee part H and cannot escape from the position between the knee part H and the column clamp 3. Therefore, the impact energy absorbing member 7 is sufficiently pressed and deformed by the knee part H while remaining in that position, and the force (impact energy) of the knee part H can be reliably absorbed. Further, the knee portion H does not directly contact the column clamp 3.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention. In this embodiment, instead of the protrusion 11 of the previous embodiment,
Two sieve-like protrusions 14 serving as position regulating portions are integrally formed on the flat plate 13 of the impact energy absorbing member 12. The height of the projection 14 gradually decreases from one end of the flat plate 13 to the other end, but the height is not limited to this. The other configurations and effects are the same as those of the previous embodiment, so redundant explanation will be omitted.

In the above explanation, an example is shown in which a protrusion is provided as a position regulating part on the impact energy absorbing member, but a recessed part that engages with a column clamp and restricts the movement of the impact energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction is also provided. Also good. Furthermore, the impact energy absorbing member is not limited to the above embodiments, but is treated as a broad term that includes covers, pads, and the like that protect the lower limbs of the occupant.

<Effects of the Invention> The device for protecting the knee region of a vehicle occupant according to the present invention has the content as described above, and even if the knee region of the vehicle occupant hits the impact energy absorbing member from an oblique direction, the position regulating portion remains in the column. Since it engages with the clamp, movement (escaping) of the impact energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction is restricted. Therefore, the knee part can reliably press and deform the impact energy absorbing member, and the impact energy in the knee part is reliably absorbed, and the knee part does not directly hit the column clamp, providing sufficient protection for the passenger's knee part. can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of an impact energy absorbing member according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the impact energy absorbing member of Fig. 1 and a column clamp, and Fig. 3 is a knee portion. FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view of an impact energy absorbing member according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an impact energy absorbing member shown in FIG. 4. 6 is a partially sectional side view showing a knee protection device for a vehicle occupant according to a conventional example of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the members and the column clamp.
It is a cross-sectional view along the -■ line. 2... Steering column 3-... Column clamp 6.7.12... Impact energy absorbing member 11
14 -... Position regulating part H... Knee part X... Vehicle width direction diagram

Claims (1)

[Claims] In the knee protection device for a vehicle occupant, the above-mentioned knee protection device comprises an impact energy absorbing member that is pressed and deformed by the knee of the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision, which is disposed between a column clamp for supporting a steering column and the knee of the occupant. For impact energy absorption members,
A knee protection device for a vehicle occupant, comprising a position regulating portion that engages with a column clamp to regulate movement of the impact energy absorbing member in the vehicle width direction.