A cowl cross structure including a cowl portion disposed in a driver's seat section in a width direction of a vehicle, the cowl portion including a cowl upper and a cowl lower and a crash pad portion provided in a structure extending from the cowl portion, and disposed between a center fascia section and a passenger's seat section of the vehicle, the crash pad portion including a glovebox accommodation space that is open toward an interior of the vehicle on a front surface thereof that is exposed to the interior of the vehicle.

A cowl cross structure including a cowl portion disposed in a driver's seat section in a width direction of a vehicle, the cowl portion including a cowl upper and a cowl lower and a crash pad portion provided in a structure extending from the cowl portion, and disposed between a center fascia section and a passenger's seat section of the vehicle, the crash pad portion including a glovebox accommodation space that is open toward an interior of the vehicle on a front surface thereof that is exposed to the interior of the vehicle.

A knee bolster device for a vehicle is intended to enhance passenger safety performance by minimizing injury to passengers when a collision occurs. The knee bolster device is capable of preventing injury to passengers striking a lower crash pad panel and penetrating into an inner space of the lower crash pad panel because the lower crash pad panel is reinforced by a composite material and an impact energy absorbing structure installed in the inner space of the lower crash pad panel.

A knee bolster device for a vehicle is intended to enhance passenger safety performance by minimizing injury to passengers when a collision occurs. The knee bolster device is capable of preventing injury to passengers striking a lower crash pad panel and penetrating into an inner space of the lower crash pad panel because the lower crash pad panel is reinforced by a composite material and an impact energy absorbing structure installed in the inner space of the lower crash pad panel.

A knee protection structure for a vehicle may include a bracket disposed on a vehicle body structure, and a lower crash pad panel disposed to be supported by the bracket so that a knee of a passenger hits the lower crash pad panel in the event of a collision, in which the lower crash pad panel may include a uni-directional continuous-fiber composite material, continuous fibers may be arranged in a given direction, inserted into at least a predetermined region of the entire region thereof, and a multi-directional continuous-fiber composite material, in which continuous fibers may be arranged in multiple directions, inserted into the remaining region.

A knee protection structure for a vehicle may include a bracket disposed on a vehicle body structure, and a lower crash pad panel disposed to be supported by the bracket so that a knee of a passenger hits the lower crash pad panel in the event of a collision, in which the lower crash pad panel may include a uni-directional continuous-fiber composite material, continuous fibers may be arranged in a given direction, inserted into at least a predetermined region of the entire region thereof, and a multi-directional continuous-fiber composite material, in which continuous fibers may be arranged in multiple directions, inserted into the remaining region.

A glove box latch system for an automotive vehicle is provided. A glove box door is mounted in an instrument panel housing. The glove box door comprises a movable latch rod and an adjacent lock plate. In the event that the vehicle is involved in a collision, the lock plate engages the latch rod. The engaged lock plate arrests movement of the latch rod, securing the latch rod in the closed position and preventing the glove box door from opening. Exemplary methods and structures for restraining movement of latch rods are provided.

A knee bolster device for a vehicle includes a lower crash pad panel having a composite material injection-molded thereto at a rear surface of the lower crash pad panel to improve rigidity of the lower crash pad panel. A shock absorbing foam is mounted on a rear surface of the lower crash pad panel and absorbs an impact.

A knee bolster device for a vehicle includes a lower crash pad panel having a composite material injection-molded thereto at a rear surface of the lower crash pad panel to improve rigidity of the lower crash pad panel. A shock absorbing foam is mounted on a rear surface of the lower crash pad panel and absorbs an impact.

An impact-absorbing compressible member includes a thin-walled enclosure defining an inner chamber containing a volume of fluid such as air. The enclosure includes one or more orifices which as sized and positioned to allow air to vent from the inner chamber in response to an impact on the member and to refill the inner chamber in response to an impact on the member and to refill the inner chamber after the impact is released. The enclosure is formed of a blow-molded thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material which is economical to make and durable in use. The compressible members can be used as building blocks for impact-absorbing shell structures for a wide variety of applications such as helmets, protective pads for body parts, sports arena wall padding, vehicular bumpers, dashboards and the like. The compressible member has impact-absorbing advantages over conventional foams currently used in those applications.