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.

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 panel member is provided in front of a seat of a vehicle at a height such that knees of an occupant who moves forward from the seat come into contact with therewith. The panel member includes a cover member defining a surface thereof and a reinforcement member attached to a back side of the cover member over an entire region thereof. The reinforcement member includes an outer part, a central part, and an inner part in a vehicle width direction. The outer part is provided with a first grid-shaped rib unit. The inner part is provided with a second grid-shaped rib unit that expands in the vehicle width direction more easily than the first grid-shaped rib unit. The central part is provided with no rib unit, and is provided with a coupling member coupling the first and second rib units.

A panel member is provided in front of a seat of a vehicle at a height such that knees of an occupant who moves forward from the seat come into contact with therewith. The panel member includes a cover member defining a surface thereof and a reinforcement member attached to a back side of the cover member over an entire region thereof. The reinforcement member includes an outer part, a central part, and an inner part in a vehicle width direction. The outer part is provided with a first grid-shaped rib unit. The inner part is provided with a second grid-shaped rib unit that expands in the vehicle width direction more easily than the first grid-shaped rib unit. The central part is provided with no rib unit, and is provided with a coupling member coupling the first and second rib units.

A panel member is provided in front of a seat in a vehicle cabin of a vehicle at a height such that knees of an occupant who moves forward from the seat come into contact with the panel member. The panel member includes a cover member and a reinforcement member. The cover member defines a surface of the panel member. The reinforcement member is provided behind the cover member. The reinforcement member includes an upper part in an up-down direction of the vehicle and a lower part other than the upper part. The upper part is provided with a grid-shaped rib unit extending over an overall width of the reinforcement member in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle. The lower part is provided with a grid-shaped rib unit in a region excluding a central part of the reinforcement member in the vehicle width direction.

A panel member is provided in front of a seat in a vehicle cabin of a vehicle at a height such that knees of an occupant who moves forward from the seat come into contact with the panel member. The panel member includes a cover member and a reinforcement member. The cover member defines a surface of the panel member. The reinforcement member is provided behind the cover member. The reinforcement member includes an upper part in an up-down direction of the vehicle and a lower part other than the upper part. The upper part is provided with a grid-shaped rib unit extending over an overall width of the reinforcement member in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle. The lower part is provided with a grid-shaped rib unit in a region excluding a central part of the reinforcement member in the vehicle width direction.

An active knee bolster for disposition in a motor vehicle dashboard includes a main bladder and a side bladder. The main bladder is formed of molded plastic and has an aperture therein at a first end. The main bladder also has a substantially flat undeployed shape and a deployed shape extending away from the dashboard. The side bladder is formed of molded plastic and has an open side. The open side is disposed over the aperture in the main bolster front panel and is sealingly connected to the main bladder. The side bladder has a substantially flat undeployed shape substantially flush with the undeployed shape of the main bolster. The side bladder has a deployed shape extending away from the main bladder.

An open core crash pad includes a core and a skin abutting the core to include a forming space therebetween. A foaming layer is foam-formed by injecting a foam liquid into the forming space. A foam tape prevents an overflow of the foam liquid. The skin includes a body portion and a distal end which extends from the body portion in parallel with the core. The core comprises a protrusion protruding toward the skin and formed at which the core and the distal end contact.

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.

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.