A force-attenuating system that is interposed between an exterior surface and an interior surface, either or both of which may be subjected to percussive forces. The system has a ceiling that is positioned proximate the exterior surface and one or more inverted hat-shaped force-attenuating units with sidewalls extending inwardly convergingly away from the ceiling. Some of the units have a floor that is positioned proximate the interior surface. Optionally the force-attenuating units may be configured as clover-leaf structures with a central region and hemi-pear-shaped lobes extending therefrom. Within the lobes is a floor that is positioned proximate the interior surface. The force-attenuating system may be deployed in an automotive or non-automotive environment.

Doors for motor vehicles include door trim panel assemblies having multiple door trim panels held together at attachment points. A door trim panel includes a weakened perimeter formed from a series of apertures in the panel, creating a predetermined breakaway point where the assembly will rupture in the event a load is applied. Methods for tuning the durability of a trim panel assembly include a repeatable cycle in which pins are selected and inserted in a mold at varying positions. During injection molding, the pins form apertures to create a predetermined breakaway point. Changing the size, shape, and location of the pins allows tuning of the durability and properties of the breakaway point. Injection molds have variable pin placement capability to facilitate the method.

A door module is equipped with an inflatable bladder configured to move an interior trim panel away from the door and toward a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision. The result is reduced occupant movement, additional absorption of kinetic energy, and distribution of remaining energy over an increased surface area. The bladder can have an accordion-like configuration that unfolds when changing from a deflated state to an inflated state, and more than one bladder can be used to control which portions of the trim panel move relative to each other.

A vehicle door includes a trim panel coupled to a frame. A single-piece armrest substrate is coupled with the frame. The armrest substrate is a three-dimensionally printed member having interior walls that are printed within the armrest substrate according to a virtual force model generated during a virtual impact scenario. The interior walls define a plurality of voids defined within the armrest substrate.

A vehicle interior component, having rigidity for mitigating an impact from a side collision, includes a door panel, a door trim adapted to be attached to the door panel, and a box-shaped protector arranged between the door panel and the door trim and attached to one of the door panel and the door trim. An outer wall groove extending in a vehicle front to back direction is formed in an outer wall of the protector, which is opposite to the other of the door panel and the door trim. The outer wall is partitioned by the outer wall groove in an up to down direction into an upper opposite surface and a lower opposite surface, and one of the upper opposite surface and the lower opposite surface has an up-down length at a vehicle front side, which is larger than an up-down length at a vehicle rear side.

A side pillar air curtain guide includes a main body having a ramp receiver and an air curtain ramp insert connected to the main body. The air curtain ramp receiver insert includes a plurality of ribs projecting from the main body at an acute included angle with the main body.

A side pillar air curtain guide includes a main body having a ramp receiver and an air curtain ramp insert connected to the main body. The air curtain ramp receiver insert includes a plurality of ribs projecting from the main body at an acute included angle with the main body.

An autonomous on-road vehicle having an outer nontransparent Shock-Absorbing Energy Dissipation Padding (SAEDP). In one embodiment, the SAEDP is mounted, during normal driving, to the front side of the vehicle at eye level of an occupant who sits in a front seat of the vehicle. A camera is mounted to the vehicle and takes video of the outside environment in front of the occupant. And a computer generates a representation of the outside environment at eye level for the occupant.

An armrest assembly includes a body outlining a crushable space. The body includes a first deformation initiating feature, a second deformation initiating feature, a deformation propagating feature and a fracture initiating feature provided at spaced locations around the crushable space. The features function to dissipate energy in the event of a side impact and therefore force or load that might be transmitted to a motor vehicle occupant as a result of a side impact.

A door service hole cover includes a cover component that is configured to cover a service hole, and a shock absorption component that is integral to the cover component. The shock absorption component includes a cabin inner component, at least a portion of which projects from the cover component toward the inside of the cabin and which is hollow and open toward the outside of the cabin; and a fragile portion formed on a side surface of the cabin inner component and configured to allow the cabin inner component to crush and deform upon application of a force acting in the direction of projection of the cabin inner component. Upon application of a force acting in the direction of projection, the cabin inner component crushes inwardly and deforms while being twisted.