Abstract: An active glove box bolster system for an automotive vehicle comprises an instrument panel housing defining a door space. A glove box door comprises a longitudinally-movable latch rod having a sloped end. A striker is provided on the housing for receiving the latch rod in a pocket between a front wall and a rear wall. The front wall slidably engages the sloped end during closing of the door to retract the latch rod until it enters the pocket. The latch rod includes a first interlock element adjacent to the sloped end, and the rear wall includes a second interlock element aligned with the first interlock element. The interlock elements engage to resist movement in response to a force against the door in a direction to push the door through the door space.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having a transmission capable of operating in a plurality of modes to propel the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a steering wheel first switch to receive user input indicative of a desired transmission operating mode. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to in response to a user input at the steering wheel first switch while a brake is applied, cause the transmission to shift into a drive mode from a non-drive mode.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having a transmission capable of operating in a plurality of modes to propel the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a steering wheel first switch to receive user input indicative of a desired transmission operating mode. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to in response to a user input at the steering wheel first switch while a brake is applied, cause the transmission to shift into a drive mode from a non-drive mode.

Abstract: An active bolster for an automotive vehicle includes a plastic-molded outer trim panel with a welding track on an inside surface and a plastic-molded expandable bladder member with a welding flange along a peripheral edge with a first surface facing the trim panel inside surface and a second opposed surface. The welding track and the welding flange are joined by a hot weld to form a sealed chamber. A plurality of counterbores are distributed over the welding flange in order to form rivets that mechanically strengthen the weld. Each counterbore is comprised of a neck portion penetrating the first surface and a head portion penetrating the second surface. Each head portion includes an internal ledge extending laterally from the neck portion. The hot weld includes plastic-molded material that flows from the welding track through each neck portion and spreading onto the internal ledge in each head portion.

Abstract: An active bolster for an automotive vehicle has a outer trim panel with a welding track. An expandable bladder member has a central section configured to attach to a support structure of a vehicle, a welding flange along a peripheral edge, and a pleated region between the central section and the welding flange. The welding track and the welding flange are joined by a hot weld to form a sealed chamber. The welding track includes a plurality of radially-spaced stepped pits. Each pit has an upper section defining a first opening with a respective first cross-sectional area and a lower section defining a second opening with a respective second cross-sectional area smaller than the respective first area. A perimeter of each upper section is melted by the hot weld and a perimeter of each lower section is not melted by the hot weld.

Abstract: An active glove box bolster system for an automotive vehicle comprises an instrument panel housing defining a door space. A glove box door comprises a longitudinally-movable latch rod having a sloped end. A striker is provided on the housing for receiving the latch rod in a pocket between a front wall and a rear wall. The front wall slidably engages the sloped end during closing of the door to retract the latch rod until it enters the pocket. The latch rod includes a first interlock element adjacent to the sloped end, and the rear wall includes a second interlock element aligned with the first interlock element. The interlock elements engage to resist movement in response to a force against the door in a direction to push the door through the door space.

Abstract: An active bolster mounts at an interior trim surface of a passenger compartment in an automotive vehicle. A plastic-molded front wall deploys in a deployment direction toward a passenger in the passenger compartment. A plastic-molded back wall is joined around a substantially sealed perimeter with the front wall to form an inflatable bladder. The back wall includes at least one substantially circumferential pleated baffle and a plurality of attachment towers projecting from a central region disposed within the baffle to join with a reaction surface. An inflator couples an inflation gas into the inflatable bladder in response to a crash event of the vehicle. At least one of the attachment towers includes an elongated notch sunk partially into a surface of the attachment tower to provide a thinned wall section configured to tear open at a predetermined pressure during inflation.

Abstract: An active bolster for an interior trim surface of an automotive vehicle has a plastic-molded outer trim panel with a closed-loop bonding section on an inside surface. A plastic-molded expandable bladder member has a central attachment section configured to attach to a support structure of the vehicle, a bonding flange along an peripheral edge, and a baffle section between the central attachment section and the bonding flange. The closed-loop bonding section and the bonding flange are configured to define a substantially closed toroidal region therebetween. An attachment body is molded in-situ to substantially fill the toroidal region. As a result of the in-situ molding of the attachment body in the toroidal region, the trim panel and bladder member become bonded via the attachment body resulting in a high bonding strength.

Abstract: An active bolster for an interior trim surface of a vehicle has a trim panel with a closed-loop bonding section on an inside surface. A first stud extending from an inside trim panel surface at the closed-loop bonding section, and a second stud extends from the panel inside surface radially outward of the bonding section. A thermoplastic expandable bladder member has a welding flange along an peripheral edge which is hot-welded with the bonding section. The welding flange has a stud aperture receiving the first stud. A stepped bracket comprises a first plate overlying the welding flange and a second plate overlying the trim panel. The first plate has a first aperture receiving the first stud. The second plate has a second aperture receiving the second stud. The studs have respective re-melted heads clamping the bracket in place.