An integrated knee bolster device for a vehicle is configured to restrict the depth of penetration of the knees of a seat occupant which strike a lower crash pad panel when a vehicle collision occurs, thus minimizing injury to the seat occupant, and enhancing safety performance for the seat occupant.

A vehicle safety seat for protecting a vehicle occupant from injury due to impact and airborne debris, in the event of a collision. The vehicle safety seat includes a seat bottom, a backrest, and a headrest, wherein the seat is secured to a frame. The frame is pivotally secured to the floor and frame of a vehicle, wherein the seat can recline immediately in advance of a collision for absorbing impact forces. The safety seat further includes telescoping shields that are retractably secured to the lateral sides of the seat bottom, backrest, and headrest. The shields are projected from the safety seat, creating a protective cocoon around the seat occupant prior to a collision. The seat is operably connected to one or more sensors that can detect an imminent collision between the vehicle and another object, wherein a pneumatic system deploys the shields and an electro-mechanical system reclines the seat.

The present invention in one or more embodiments provides a polymeric bracket for instrument panel side passenger knee protection, the polymeric bracket including first and second legs spaced apart from each other and to support an instrument panel at an assembly position, and a waist connecting the first and second legs and to support a cross car beam at the assembly position.

A side pillar air curtain guide includes a main body having a ramp receiver and an air curtain ramp insert connected to the ramp receiver. The main body is made from a first material having a strength S.sub.1 and a ductility D.sub.1 while the air curtain ramp insert is made from a second material having a strength S.sub.2 and a ductility D.sub.2 where S.sub.1>S.sub.2 and D.sub.1<D.sub.2.

An apparatus comprises a vehicle door closeout panel. The closeout panel comprises a pelvis bolster having a plurality of load points. Each load point is determined based on a respective one of a plurality of vehicle seat track positions and is configured to receive a respective load determined according to the seat track position by which the load point was determined.

An energy absorbing member may be positioned between a passenger and a solid member to mitigate impact of the passenger with the solid member, for instance, during a collision. The energy absorbing member can include a base and a biased member extending from and biased relative to the base. The base may be configured for coupling to a vehicle such that the biased member is disposed between a trim panel and a frame of the vehicle. The biased member may be configured to dissipate energy from an impact proximate the energy absorbing member.

A vehicle door interior trim assembly includes a trim panel and an armrest supported by the trim panel. The armrest includes an energy absorbing device. The energy absorbing device includes an inboard panel and an outboard panel. The outboard panel is between the inboard panel and the trim panel. The energy absorbing device has a variable crush resistance based on a temperature of the energy absorbing device. A heater is operatively coupled to the energy absorbing device.

A component for a vehicle interior configured to deform in an event such as a side impact of the vehicle may comprise a composite structure comprising a structural substrate and a structure/frame. The structural substrate may comprise a fiber panel; the structure may comprise a molded structure with a feature provided on the structural substrate at an interface. The feature may comprise a reinforcement for the interface and/or a projection for assembly of the component. The interface may comprise resin material from the molded structure and resin material from the fiber panel. The structure may comprise a border formed at the edge along the thickness of the fiber panel. The interface may comprise intermixing of resin material from the molded structure and the fiber panel and intermingling of resin material from the molded structure and fibers from the fiber panel. A method of producing the component may comprise providing a structural substrate and forming a structure onto the structural substrate at an interface and providing a cover and/or a pad for the composite structure. The component may comprise a trim panel, armrest, etc.

An extendable arm assembly includes an extendable arm structure defining a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis. The extendable arm structure is configured to be actuated between a stowed configuration and an extended configuration in which the extendable arm structure extends along the first axis. The extendable arm structure includes a main body having a plurality of recesses and a plurality of hinge portions, and a first bladder disposed on the main body delimiting the recesses formed in the main body. The extendable arm assembly is configured to apply vacuum to the recesses to fold the main body along the hinge portions.

An energy absorbing structure of a vehicle includes an energy absorbing structure including a plurality of interconnected structural members positioned at the vehicle. The energy absorbing structure is selectably transformable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and the plurality of interconnected structural members are configured to absorb an energy of an impact event by one or more of deformation and fracture of at least one structural member of the plurality of interconnected structural members.