A lever assembly for controlling a lock of a steering column assembly includes a lever body extending from a first end to a second end. Also included is a pivot portion integrally formed with the lever body and disposed at the second end of the lever body, the pivot portion defining a hollow portion and pivotable about an axis. Further included is an insert disposed within the hollow portion of the pivot portion and rotatable about the axis, the insert defining a receiving feature for receiving a fuse extending from the pivot portion, the fuse breaking upon application of a load that exceeds a predetermined load.

A detachable steering mechanism, comprising a steering wheel (1), an upper steering column (2), a worm (10), and a drive system and control system (20); said steering wheel (1) being fixedly connected to said upper steering column (2); said upper steering column (2) being provided with a thread (11), and a first drive gear (3) being provided on said worm (10); the thread (11) of the upper steering column (2) meshing and rotating with said first drive gear (3); upon said control system (20) detecting the ejection of the steering wheel airbag, controlling said drive system to drive said worm (10), said first drive gear (3) is driven to move away from the thread (11) of the upper steering column (2), allowing said upper steering column (2) to move along its own axis. When the steering wheel airbag deploys, said detachable steering mechanism allows the steering wheel (1) to move in the axial direction, thereby increasing the buffer travel in a collision between the driver's head and the steering wheel airbag, reducing the impact of the airbag on the driver's head and improving safety performance of the vehicle.

A detachable steering mechanism, comprising a steering wheel (1), an upper steering column (2), a worm (10), and a drive system and control system (20); said steering wheel (1) being fixedly connected to said upper steering column (2); said upper steering column (2) being provided with a thread (11), and a first drive gear (3) being provided on said worm (10); the thread (11) of the upper steering column (2) meshing and rotating with said first drive gear (3); upon said control system (20) detecting the ejection of the steering wheel airbag, controlling said drive system to drive said worm (10), said first drive gear (3) is driven to move away from the thread (11) of the upper steering column (2), allowing said upper steering column (2) to move along its own axis. When the steering wheel airbag deploys, said detachable steering mechanism allows the steering wheel (1) to move in the axial direction, thereby increasing the buffer travel in a collision between the driver's head and the steering wheel airbag, reducing the impact of the airbag on the driver's head and improving safety performance of the vehicle.

A vehicle brake system comprises an input device (21) attached to a bulkhead (15) separating a power unit room and a passenger compartment of the vehicle from each other, and including a part extending into the power unit room. A free end of the part of the input device extending into the power unit room is fitted with a protective member (70) defining a slanted surface (70a) opposing the power unit and slanting rearward as one moves in a prescribed lateral direction so that the input device is protected from a frontal impact. In particular, the slanted surface aligns with a corner part (83a) of the power unit (83).

A steering wheel position control system for a vehicle comprises a controller for a vehicle. The controller includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor. The controller is programmed to receive values from the sensors. The controller commands a pivot mechanism to bias a steering wheel to a stowed position based on values from the sensors. The controller also deploys an air bag based on values from the sensors, wherein the steering wheel is pivoted out of a space envelope of the deployed airbag.

A deformation suppressing structure of a vehicle includes a dash panel separating a driving unit space for installing a weight component and a vehicle interior space for a passenger to ride, a brake component disposed inside the driving unit space and between the weight component and the dash panel to control a hydraulic pressure of a brake system, and a protecting member fixed to the dash panel and accommodating the brake component. The protecting member includes a guide surface configured such that a contact point at which the guide surface contacts the weight component changes during a backward movement of the weight component at the time of a collision of the vehicle, and a contacting portion arranged to contact the dash panel at a location above a fixing point at which the protecting member and the dash panel are fixed to each other and above the contact point.

Provided is a brake pedal device for an automotive vehicle that is capable of rotating a lower portion of a brake pedal toward a front side of a vehicle body by using force generated by a collision and suitably preventing disengagement of a link member under normal conditions before the collision.

A brake pedal device includes a brake pedal 6 pivotally supported to be freely rotatable on a rotation center axis (X) provided at a pedal bracket 3 fixed to a vehicle body, and a link member 4 which is rotatably connected to the brake pedal by a connection part 5 and has a master cylinder connection part 44 coupled to a master cylinder 9 through a push rod 8, a collision part 43 which collides with a part of the vehicle body in a frontal collision of a vehicle, and an engagement part 42 which engages with the brake pedal and disengages toward a front side of the vehicle body in the collision between the collision part and the part of the vehicle body. The connection part is positioned on an extended line of the push rod in relation to the master cylinder connection part.

Provided is a brake pedal device for an automotive vehicle that is capable of rotating a lower portion of a brake pedal toward a front side of a vehicle body by using force generated by a collision and suitably preventing disengagement of a link member under normal conditions before the collision.

A brake pedal device includes a brake pedal 6 pivotally supported to be freely rotatable on a rotation center axis (X) provided at a pedal bracket 3 fixed to a vehicle body, and a link member 4 which is rotatably connected to the brake pedal by a connection part 5 and has a master cylinder connection part 44 coupled to a master cylinder 9 through a push rod 8, a collision part 43 which collides with a part of the vehicle body in a frontal collision of a vehicle, and an engagement part 42 which engages with the brake pedal and disengages toward a front side of the vehicle body in the collision between the collision part and the part of the vehicle body. The connection part is positioned on an extended line of the push rod in relation to the master cylinder connection part.

A vehicle operation pedal device includes a pedal bracket, an operation pedal, a rotation lever, and a shear portion. The rotation lever includes a contact portion and a pressing portion. The rotation lever is configured to, by receiving a load greater than or equal to a threshold when the contact portion comes into contact with the vehicle body structural member, rotate about the rotation shaft such that the pressing portion presses the input shaft. The shear portion is configured to fix the rotation lever to the pedal arm when the load applied to the rotation lever from the vehicle body structural member is less than the threshold, and cancel the fixation by being broken when the load is greater than or equal to the threshold.

A passenger protection unit for a vehicle can comprise an adjustable steering apparatus configured to be lockable at least in a first position and a second position, an instrument panel, an airbag module comprising at least an airbag, a crash control unit, and a retracting mechanism configured to initiate a movement of the steering apparatus in a retracting direction, wherein the crash control unit is configured to release movement of the steering apparatus at least in the retracting direction upon detecting a crash risk or an upcoming crash, wherein the crash control unit is further configured to activate the retracting mechanism, and wherein the crash control unit is further configured to deploy the airbag upon an upcoming crash.