JP4134929B2 - Knee protector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention comprises a knee protection panel that is extended by a drive mechanism to the front side of an occupant's knee in a vehicle collision and is capable of absorbing the kinetic energy of the knee by restraining the knee moving forward. It relates to a protective device.

Conventionally, there is a knee protector that restrains the knee at the time of a vehicle collision (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) or a knee protector that absorbs the kinetic energy of the knee and protects the knee (for example, Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-182851 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-81162

However, in the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 and 2, although attained the protection of the knee, with respect to the protection of the shin of the lower knee room for improvement it has Tsu Oh.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a knee protection device capable of accurately protecting not only a knee but also a shin below the knee.

The knee protection device according to the present invention includes a knee protection panel that is extended to the front side of the occupant's knee by a drive mechanism at the time of a vehicle collision and can restrain the knee moving forward to absorb the kinetic energy of the knee. A knee protection device composed of
Knee protection panel
It has a vertical dimension that can interfere with the occupant's knee and the shin below the knee,
A design panel portion which is exposed to the passenger side, and the front panel portion located on the drive mechanism side, is disposed between the decorative panel and the front panel portion, design panel portion during interference between the knee and the shin and front An impact absorbing portion that can be plastically deformed to absorb the kinetic energy of the knee and shin so as to reduce the distance to the panel portion; and
Shock absorber
In order to buckle and plastically deform, as a strip shape along the left-right direction, a plurality of horizontal ribs arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction, and as a strip shape along the vertical direction, a plurality of vertical ribs arranged side by side in the left-right direction, Are arranged in a lattice pattern,
The vertical ribs are arranged only on the upper side and placed on the lower side so that the load during plastic deformation to reduce the thickness in the front-rear direction is larger on the upper side that interferes with the knee than on the lower side that interferes with the shin. It is characterized by not having a configuration .

  In the knee protection device according to the present invention, at the time of a vehicle collision, the drive mechanism is activated, and the knee protection panel is extended to the front side of the knee. Then, the knee and shin that move forward by the inertial force at the time of collision come into contact with the knee protection panel, plastically deform the impact absorbing portion, and kinetic energy is absorbed.

  At that time, the seated occupant's shin has his toes placed on the floor panel or the like, and the thigh that extends substantially horizontally to the occupant's waist supported by the seat back and seat Therefore, the load that plastically deforms the shock absorbing portion is smaller than that of the knee supported by the rear. Therefore, if the shock absorbing part equalizes the load at the time of plastic deformation of the part that interferes with the knee and the shin, when the shock absorbing part plastically deforms to reduce the thickness in the front-rear direction, Compared to the interfered knee, the shin is shifted so as to move backward relative to the knee while reducing the amount of forward movement.

  However, in the knee protection device according to the present invention, the shock absorbing portion is configured such that the upper portion that interferes with the knee is set larger than the lower portion that interferes with the shin as a load during plastic deformation, and the shock absorbing portion that interferes with the shin. Since the part has a small plastic deformation load, a large amount of deformation can be secured to reduce the thickness at the time of interference with the shin, and the shin moves backward relative to the knee. In other words, the shin is prevented from shifting from the knee, and the kinetic energy is absorbed while moving forward integrally with the knee. As a result, the knee and the shin are accurately It will be protected.

  Therefore, in the knee protection device according to the present invention, not only the knee but also the shin below the knee can be protected accurately.

  Further, in the knee protection device according to the present invention, even if a small occupant, for example, a woman is seated, even if the vehicle collides frontward and the occupant's knee and shin move forward, the small occupant The knee with a low height position from the floor panel can interfere with the lower side of the shock absorbing portion with a low deformation load, and the knee with a small inertia force in a small occupant can be applied without giving a large reaction force. It can be protected accurately.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A knee protection device S according to the embodiment can restrain a knee K and a shin L of a driver M as an occupant as shown in FIGS. Further, the vehicle is disposed below the steering column 6 on the vehicle front side of the driver M.

  The vertical / front / rear / left / right relationship in this specification is based on the state in which the knee protection device S is mounted on the vehicle, and is consistent with the vertical / front / rear / left / right relationship of the vehicle when mounted. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the steering column 6 includes a main shaft 7 coupled to the steering wheel 5, a column tube 8 that covers the periphery of the main shaft 7, and a column cover 9 that covers the periphery thereof. Has been. The column cover 9 is disposed so as to protrude obliquely upward and rearward from an instrument panel (hereinafter referred to as instrument panel) 12 as an interior material.

  The knee protection device S includes a knee protection panel 21 and a drive mechanism 34 that moves the knee protection panel 21.

  The drive mechanism 34 includes an actuator 35 as a drive source capable of moving a drive rod 36 protruding rearward to the rear side. The actuator 35 includes a hydraulic cylinder, an electromagnetic solenoid, an electric motor, and the like, and the operation is controlled by the control device 17. The actuator 35 is held on the body side member 1 side of the instrument panel reinforcement 2 having the rigidity of the vehicle with brackets 3 and 4 interposed therebetween.

  In the knee protection device S of the embodiment, two actuators 35 of the drive mechanism 34 are used and arranged on the left and right sides of the column cover 9, respectively.

  The drive rod 36 of each actuator 35 is connected to a support plate 37 made of a substantially rectangular steel plate having rigidity disposed substantially in the vertical direction at the rear end. Each support plate 37 is disposed in each of the left and right regions 21a and 21b of the column cover 9 in the knee protection panel 21 when viewed from the rear side of the vehicle, and the front of the vehicle approximately at the center of the regions 21a and 21b. Arranged on the side. Incidentally, the front shape of each support plate 37 is, more specifically, a substantially square shape in which the upper corners on the side of the column cover 9 that are close to each other are recessed in a curved shape, and in the center of each drive plate The rear end of the rod 36 is connected.

  1-4, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the design panel part 22 exposed to the passenger | crew M side, the front panel part 23 located in the support plate 37 side, the design panel part 22, and the front panel part 23, And an impact absorbing portion 25 disposed between the two. The design panel section 22 is made of a synthetic resin such as a substantially rectangular plate-like polypropylene / ABS resin and is disposed in the opening 13 of the instrument panel 12 as an interior material. Note that the opening 13 has a substantially rectangular shape and is disposed in a region extending left and right on the lower side of the column cover 9 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

  Locking legs that can be inserted into locking holes 15 formed in the peripheral edge 14 of the opening 13 of the instrument panel 12 and locked to the peripheral edge 14 respectively on the front side at the four corners of the outer peripheral edge of the design panel 22. 29 projects from the front side. Then, when these locking legs 29 are locked to the peripheral edge portion 14, the knee protection panel 21 is configured so that the surface on the vehicle rear side is the vehicle rear side of the instrument panel 12 before the knee protection device S is activated. The front side of the occupant M is improved in design so as to be flush with the side surface.

  The shock absorbing portion 25 is disposed not only in the regions 21a and 21b on the left and right sides of the column cover 9 in the knee protection panel 21, but also in a portion immediately below the column cover 9, and is made of an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, polypropylene, or the like. Made of synthetic resin or metal such as sheet metal. In the case of the embodiment, the shock absorbing portion 25 is provided in parallel in the left-right direction as a plurality of horizontal ribs 26 arranged in multiple stages in the up-down direction as a band shape along the left-right direction, and as a band shape in the up-down direction. The vertical ribs 27 are arranged in a lattice pattern. The shock absorbing portion 25 composed of the ribs 26 and 27 buckles each rib 26 and 27, and the thickness of the absorbing portion 25 in the front-rear direction, that is, the distance between the design panel portion 22 and the front panel portion 23, It is configured to be plastically deformed so as to contract and to absorb kinetic energy during the plastic deformation.

  Furthermore, the impact absorbing portion 25 of the embodiment is configured such that the longitudinal rib 27 is disposed only on the upper portion 25a side and not disposed on the lower portion 25b side, and the load at the time of plastic deformation reducing the thickness in the front-rear direction is obtained. The upper part 25a side that interferes with the knee K is set larger than the lower part 25b side that interferes with the shin L of the occupant M.

  In the case of the embodiment, the region of the upper portion 25a provided with the vertical ribs 27 is set in a range that covers the front side of the knee K when a normal adult is seated in the driver's seat in a vehicle-mounted state. .

  The front panel portion 23 is made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene and ABS resin, and is connected to the front ends of the ribs 26 and 27 of the shock absorbing portion 25 and has a plate shape in which the entire outer peripheral edge is contracted from the design panel portion 22. Is formed.

  The knee protection panel 21 includes a design panel portion 22, an impact absorption portion 25, and a front panel portion 23, which are formed separately from each other and bonded to each other or welded using vibration, heat, or the like. Or the like, or the shock absorbing portion 25 is integrally formed with the design panel portion 22 and the front panel portion 23 is connected to the molded product, or the shock absorbing portion 25 is connected to the front panel portion. 23, and the design panel portion 22 may be joined to the molded product.

  In the case of the embodiment, engaging members 31 and 32 that engage with each other are disposed on the front surface 23 a of the front panel portion 23 and the rear surface 37 a of the support plate 37. In the embodiment, these engaging members 31 and 32 are hook-and-loop fasteners that are engaged with each other, and are disposed apart from each other in a state before the knee protection device S is operated. When the drive rod 36 moves backward, the support plate 37 is moved backward to engage with each other and hold the knee protection panel 21 so that the support plate 37 is not shifted up and down or left and right. . Note that the knee protection panel 21 detaches each locking leg 29 from the locking hole 15 as the drive rod 36 further moves rearward, and holds the knee K of the occupant M with the support plate 37 held. It will be arranged on the front side.

  The control device 17 is electrically connected to a plurality of sensors 18 arranged in a bumper or the like. The sensor 18 can detect an object approaching the vehicle from the front, and can be exemplified by a type using infrared rays or ultrasonic waves, or a type using a CCD camera. The control device 17 inputs signals from the sensors 18 in consideration of the vehicle speed and the like, and operates each actuator 35 of the drive mechanism 34 at the time of collision detection that can predict a collision with an approaching object. Become.

  That is, in this knee protection device S, if the control device 17 detects collision detection by a signal from the sensor 18, each actuator 35 of the drive mechanism 34 is operated by the control device 17, and each drive rod 36 moves backward. Accordingly, the support plate 37 connected to the rear end of each drive rod 36 moves to the vehicle rear side. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, with the engagement members 31 and 32 engaged with each other and the support plate 37 supporting the front surface 23a side of the front panel portion 23, the knee protection panel 21 is moved. It is arranged on the front side of the knee K of the occupant M.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the knee K that moves forward at the time of a vehicle collision interferes with the knee protection panel 21 and plastically deforms the shock absorbing portion 25 of the knee protection panel 21 supported by the support plate 37, Since it is restrained by the knee protection panel 21 in a state where the kinetic energy is reduced, it is effectively protected.

  At that time, the shin L of the occupant M seated is merely placing the toes on the floor panel or the like, and in a substantially horizontal direction to the lumbar part of the occupant M supported by the seat back and the seat. The load that plastically deforms the impact absorbing portion 25 is smaller than that of the knee K supported rearward by the extended thigh F. Therefore, if the shock absorber 25 is plastically deformed so as to reduce the thickness in the front-rear direction if the load at the time of plastic deformation of the part that interferes with the knee K and the shin L is equal, Compared to the knee K that interferes with the shock absorbing portion 25, the shin L is displaced so as to move backward relative to the knee K with a smaller amount of movement to the front side.

  However, in the knee protection device S of the embodiment, the shock absorbing portion 25 is set so that the upper portion 25a that interferes with the knee K is set larger than the lower portion 25b that interferes with the shin L as a load during plastic deformation. Since the portion 25b of the impact absorbing portion 25 that interferes has a small plastic deformation load, a large amount of deformation can be secured to reduce the thickness when interfering with the shin L. In contrast, the heel L is restrained from moving relatively backward, that is, the shin L is restrained from shifting with the knee K, and the kinetic energy is absorbed while moving forward integrally with the knee K. The knee K and the shin L are accurately protected by the knee protection panel 21.

  Therefore, in the knee protection device S of the embodiment, not only the knee K but also the shin L below the knee K can be protected accurately.

  Furthermore, in the knee protection device S of the embodiment, even if a small occupant, for example, a woman is seated, even if the vehicle collides frontward and the occupant's knee and shin move forward, as shown in FIG. In addition, the small occupant W can cause the knee K, which is low in height from the floor panel, to interfere with the lower portion 25b side of the shock absorbing portion 25 having a low deformation load, so that the inertia force of the small occupant W can be reduced. The small knee K can be protected accurately without giving a large reaction force.

  In the embodiment, the case where the shock absorbing portion 25 is configured by the ribs 26 and 27 has been shown. However, as a plate shape provided with a foam layer that causes brittle fracture, the thickness in the front-rear direction is reduced. You may form from the synthetic resin etc. which plastically deform.

  In the embodiment, the support plate 37 is disposed away from the front surface 23a of the knee protection panel 21 before the drive mechanism 34 is activated. 37 may be directly connected to the front surface 23a of the knee protection panel 21. In this case, if the support plate 37 has a large area, the front panel portion 23 may be eliminated, and the front end of the shock absorbing portion 25 may be directly connected and supported by the support plate 37.

  Furthermore, although the case where the knee protection device S of the embodiment is disposed on the front side of the driver's seat has been shown, the knee protection device of the present invention may be mounted in front of the passenger seat.

It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the knee protection apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic front view seen from the vehicle back side of the knee protection device of an embodiment. It is a partial expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view of the knee protection apparatus of embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the III-III site | part of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the impact absorption part of embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the IV-IV site | part of FIG. It is a figure which shows in order the action | operation time of the knee protection apparatus of embodiment. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the time of interference with the knee of the knee protection panel at the time of the action | operation of the knee protection apparatus of embodiment. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view at the time of the other action | operation in the knee protection apparatus of embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

21 ... Knee protection panel,
25 ... Shock absorbing part,
25a ... upper part,
25b ... Bottom,
34 ... Drive mechanism,
M ... Crew,
K ... knees,
L ... Shin,
S: Knee protector.

Claims (2)

A knee protection device comprising a knee protection panel that is extended to the front side of the occupant's knee by a drive mechanism in the event of a vehicle collision and restrains the knee moving forward to absorb the kinetic energy of the knee. And
The knee protection panel is
With vertical dimensions capable of interfering with the occupant's knee and the shin below the knee,
The design panel portion exposed to the occupant side, the front panel portion located on the drive mechanism side, the design panel portion and the front panel portion are disposed between the design panel portion and the front panel portion, and when the knee and shin interfere with each other, the design a panel portion and the front panel portion can absorb the kinetic energy of the plastically deformed knee and shin to reduce the distance between the impact absorbing portion is configured with,
The shock absorbing part is
In order to buckle and plastically deform, as a strip shape along the left-right direction, a plurality of horizontal ribs arranged in multiple stages in the vertical direction, and as a strip shape along the vertical direction, a plurality of vertical ribs arranged side by side in the left-right direction, Are arranged in a lattice pattern,
The vertical rib is arranged only on the upper side so that the upper side that interferes with the knee is larger than the lower side that interferes with the shin, so that the load during plastic deformation that reduces the thickness in the front-rear direction is larger. A knee protection device characterized in that it is configured not to be disposed . The knee protection panel is locked to the periphery of the opening of the instrument panel in front of the occupant in a state before the operation of the drive mechanism,
The drive mechanism includes an actuator having a drive rod movable rearward during operation, and a support plate connected to a rear end of the drive rod and holding the knee protection panel,
On the rear surface of the support plate and the front surface of the front panel portion, an engaging member made of a hook-and-loop fastener that can be engaged with each other is disposed,
The engagement members between the rear surface of the support plate and the front surface of the front panel portion are disposed apart from each other in a state before the operation of the drive mechanism, and the support plate during operation of the drive mechanism The knee protection panel is engaged with each other by rearward movement of the support plate, and the knee protection panel is held by the support plate, and the knee protection panel is held by the support plate as the drive rod further moves backward in the drive mechanism. 2. The knee protection device according to claim 1, wherein the knee protection device is configured to be detached from a peripheral portion of the opening of the instrument panel and disposed on the front side of the occupant's knee.

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