Abstract: The kinetic energy of the driver's knees is properly absorbed by a plurality of simply configured shock absorbing mechanisms, contributing to a minimization of injury to the driver's knees. A knee bolster of a vehicle comprises an upper member whose front end is secured to a cowl cross member. A lower member is in a bent plate shape configuration that is consecutively formed with a front portion, a center portion, a rear portion and a knee supporting portion. Shear pins fix a portion between the upper member and the rear portion of the lower member. A damping hole is formed on the upper member and tapers off toward the front of the vehicle. A damping protrusion is inserted into the damping hole at the rear side of the vehicle and protrudes out from the rear portion of the lower member.

Abstract: A luggage area protection device includes a flexible flat article movably arranged between a compactly deposited rest position and an extracted functioning position. At the front end in the extraction direction, a dimensionally stable extraction part, extending transversely to the flat article extraction position, is provided. Guides are associated with the extraction part and move the latter between the extracted functioning position and the flat article rest position. The extraction part is lockable in the extracted flat article functioning position. The locking mechanisms, considered in the flat article extraction direction, are positioned approximately at the same height or behind an area portion defining the rest position of the extraction part.

Abstract: An occupant restraint mechanism is disposed between a rigid member and an instrument panel of an automotive vehicle. The occupant restraint mechanism includes first and second brackets each extending between proximal ends fixedly secured to the rigid member and distal ends coupled to the instrument panel. One of the first and second brackets has at least one notch formed therein. The notch has a predetermined size to allow a predetermined amount of deformation of the first and second brackets during contact of an occupant with the instrument panel during a sudden deceleration of the vehicle.

Abstract: A fluid relief device (40) is responsive to a sensor (38) for relieving the hydraulic fluid pressure in hydraulic line (30) in response to the crash conditions. A fuseable link (52) abuts the distal end of a shaft (46) and holds the piston (42) in the normal operating position until a crash where the fuseable link (52) is consumed or removed to allow movement of the shaft (46) and the piston (42) to the accumulator position to relieve pressure in the hydraulic system. A resilient curved leaf spring member (60) reacts between the cross beam (16) and the pedal arm (20) in the event of rearward movement of the pedal arm (20) out of the normal operating range due to a crash to limit movement of the pedal arm (20) toward the operator space. The resilient spring (60) and the fluid relief device (40) are reusable.

Abstract: A knee bolster structure includes an upper shock-absorbing member adapted for absorbing input force of knees of an occupant who has an average physical constitution and a lower shock-absorbing member adapted for absorbing input force of knees of an occupant who is small in stature, and a difference in strength between the upper shock-absorbing member and the lower shock-absorbing member is provided such that receiving strength of the upper shock-absorbing member is larger and receiving strength of the lower shock-absorbing member is smaller.

Abstract: A control system for a work machine is provided and includes an operator actuable input assembly and a sensor coupled to the input assembly. The sensor is configured to provide a signal indicative of operator presence on an operator platform. The control system also includes a controller operably coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the signal provided by the sensor. The controller is further configured to manipulate at least one function of the work machine based on the signal.

Abstract: A golf cart safety bar device is activated by occupied cart seats operatively installed on the cart frame to swivel about hinges and on spring biases. The safety bar device includes a pair of laterally adjacent driver/passenger seat bottoms each having a front end and a rear end. A weight is installed internally or externally of the cart frame to hold up the seat front at rest until the seating passenger depresses it. The weight means provides an eccentric weight about its own axis of rotation. A safety bar is fixed at one end to the weight means with the opposite end protruding upright at rest in preparation for a passenger to board the cart without a blocking. When passengers sit the safety bars are lowered limiting lateral outward movement of passengers from the cabin. The safety bars block the entrances or exits.

Abstract: A knee bolster installation for an automotive vehicle includes a bridge plate extending across a space receiving a steering column in front of the driver's knee and having a knee impact absorber structure attached behind each end of the bridge plate. Each knee impact absorber structure has diverging front and back walls having a curve top wall and a curved intermediate web extending between the front and back walls, and a curved bottom connecting the lower end of front and back walls together. A horizontal stabilizer web connects the top wall and intermediate web together to restrain bulging when crushed to avoid horizontal collapse thereof during deformation. Offset openings in each of the top wall, intermediate web, and bottom wall form wider curved strips at the inside adjacent the steering column space so that the front of the outside ends of the knee installation absorber structures are inclined away from the steering column space when deformed by knee impact.

Abstract: A vehicle safety system for impeding an occupant's egress from a vehicle is provided. A barrier is deployed, either manually or automatically, to cover at least a portion of the vehicle's exit in order to impede an occupant from egressing through the exit. The barrier may be a passive barrier or a reactive barrier. The barrier may also be a combination of a passive and a reactive barrier or the combination of several reactive barriers.

Abstract: A seat mounting structure is disclosed for reducing injury to vehicle occupants in side impact collisions. The seat mounting structure may include an inflation module, a linkage system, a sensor system, and a side airbag. The inflation module may include an inflatable structure and inflator or a piston device. The linkage system attaches the seat mounting structure to a seat and may help guide the movement of the seat. The sensor system may include a radar sensor and an optical sensor to help the sensor system anticipate an impending side impact. The seat mounting structure mitigates injury to the occupant by moving the occupant vertically up and laterally toward a centerline of the vehicle, thus increasing the space between the sidewall of the vehicle and the occupant. Additionally, the inflation module may comprise an inflatable structure that stiffens a floor structure of the vehicle upon inflation.

Abstract: A system for reducing the forward motion of a vehicle occupant is provided. The system includes a contact surface, a fixed energy absorption device, a deployable energy device, and an energy absorption modifier. The contact surface interacts with a vehicle occupant. The fixed energy absorption device is attached to a structural member of the vehicle. The deployable energy device is in contact with the contact surface and the fixed energy absorption device. The energy absorption modifier is in communication with the fixed energy absorption device for varying the energy absorption characteristics of the fixed energy absorption device.

Abstract: The cab guard for pickup truck has a horizontal base member made of square hollow structural steel; an upright structure extending upward from the horizontal base member, and two anchor brackets for attachment to the sides of a pickup truck box. Each of the anchor brackets has a stem made of square hollow structural steel and an anchor plate extending at right angle from the stem. Each stem is telescopically engaged in one end of the horizontal base member. The cab guard also comprises a pair of J-shaped hooks extending through the anchor plates and having means for attachment to the stake pockets of a pickup truck box for retaining the anchor plates to the sides of the pickup truck box. The universal cab guard is mountable to the front stake pockets of a pickup truck box and is adjustable to match the width between the stake pockets.

Abstract: A vehicular pedal supporting structure includes a pedal bracket, a pedal, and a guide. A front portion of the pedal bracket is fixed to a first vehicle-body-side constituent member, while a rear portion of the pedal bracket is extended toward a rear of the vehicle. The pedal is supported on lateral side portions of the pedal bracket so as to be swingable around a center shaft. The guide causes the rear portion of the pedal bracket to be displaced backwards and downwards when the pedal bracket is displaced backwards as a result of application of a frontal external force to create a rotational displacement of the rear portion of the pedal bracket relative to the front portion. The pedal bracket is provided with a rupture creation mechanism for ensuring that the rear portion of the pedal bracket is at least partially ruptured from the front portion thereof when the rear portion is rotationally displaced.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning an occupant of a vehicle in an area of a closeable roof hatch includes a carrier frame suspended within a vehicle below the roof hatch and including a vertical support portion and a horizontal standing area connected to the vertical support portion. A seat assembly for the occupant has a backrest which is guided by the vertical support portion for movement in a vertical direction between upper and lower end positions and is spring-biased to seek the upper end position. The seat assembly has a seating area, which is swingably mounted to a lower end of the backrest, and a coupling brace, which has one end swingably mounted to the seating area and another end swingably mounted to the standing area. Connected to the seat assembly is a seat belt for fastening the occupant.

Abstract: A sleeper bunk restraining system includes a sleeper bunk configured to be carried by a vehicle and having a top surfaced defining a length upon which an occupant may rest. The bunk includes a stationary portion and a moveable portion defined along the length, and the moveable portion is movable toward the stationary portion to form an occupant restraining barrier. A restraining member may be included and is configured for releasable connection to the vehicle such that the restraining member restrains movement of the movable portion of the bunk relative to the stationary portion of the bunk to thereby maintain the occupant restraining barrier in an occupant restraining position.

Abstract: A vehicle including a seat fitted in the transverse direction of the vehicle for a passenger traveling sideways. A seatbelt (12) is provided and designed for securing the passenger to the seat (11). A restraining structure (15) runs in the transverse direction (10) of the vehicle and which is arranged in front of, and immediately adjacent to, the seat (11). The restraining structure (15) checks or restrains the movement of the passenger's head and upper body in the event of a collision. The seat (11) has a first forward slide safeguard (21) arranged on a seat cushion (16) forming part of the seat close alongside the restraining structure (15). The forward slide safeguard (21) has a sloping section (22) that forms an upwardly inclined ramp in the forwards direction (7) of the vehicle. The forward slide safeguard is designed to check the movement of the passenger's hip in the event of a collision.

Abstract: The headrest of an automotive vehicle seat has at least one bar (20) and one supporting member (26). Normally, the supporting member (26) is in a utilization position. When the automotive vehicle is involved in an accident, the supporting member (26) leaves the utilization position and adopts an accident position in which it is located in front of the utilization position. The at least one bar (20) comprises an oblique portion (30) that is located above an upper edge (32) of a backrest of the automotive vehicle seat. Said oblique portion has one component in the x direction and one component in the z direction. The supporting member (26) comprises a guide region (34) that conforms to the oblique portion (30) of bar (20) and that is movable relative to the oblique portion (30). An elastic means (spring 48) biases the supporting member (26) in the accident position. A releasable locking device (52) is associated with the elastic means, which it normally blocks.

Abstract: A pedal bracket structure wherein a pedal lever is rotatably supported in the vicinity of the rear end portion of a pedal bracket fixed to a toe board at the front end portion thereof, a rigidity supplementing portion is formed in the vicinity of the aforesaid front end portion and a brittle portion is formed at the rear end portion of the rigidity supplementing portion. Only with a simple structural modification in which the rigidity supplementing portion is provided contiguously with the brittle portion formed to promote the absorption of impact by deformation between a mounting portion to the toe board and the brittle portion. While the pedal bracket is made to deform longitudinally easily through the formation of the brittle portion, the pedal bracket provides such a superior rigid feeling that the driver feels no uncertainty in operating the pedal.

Abstract: To prevent a window intruding into a cab of a rail vehicle in the event of an impact, the vehicle including a protective structure between the window and the interior of the cab and the protective structure including an opening facing the window, the protective structure supports anti-intrusion members which can move to obstruct at least part of the opening.

Abstract: A pedestrian protection airbag system includes a control unit, an airbag, an inflator, a movement unit for moving a cover member to thereby allow the airbag to thrust out from an airbag storage portion smoothly, and a drawing unit for drawing out the airbag. The control unit receives signals from sensors, and can perform detection in two stages. In one of the stages the control unit performs touch detection such that the control unit can anticipate that a vehicle will touch a pedestrian, while in the other stage the control unit performs approach detection before the touch detection such that the control unit detects the pedestrian approaching the vehicle. The movement unit and the drawing unit are actuated by the control unit detecting a pedestrian approaching the vehicle. The inflator is actuated by the control unit detecting calculated touch to the pedestrian.

Abstract: A supplemental restraint system that is easy to use in a vehicle is provided. The user of the system is prevented from the damaging effects of being restrained by a shoulder seat belt combination that provides inadequate support to most of the body and can produce injury at the point of contact with the body during an accident. Further, the supplemental restraint system of the present invention provides the user with a harness to better hold the user to the seat and restraint system of the vehicle. The present invention provides a means of dressing an adult or a child in a restraint harness that may be easily attached within a vehicle and provides the user with restraints that fit the user's height and weight requirements.

Abstract: A self-propelled material handler has a pivotally mounted boom on a frame, and a cab that is positioned adjacent the side of the boom. The cab has an operator's entrance and exit opening on a side of the cab, that is positioned to permit an operator to enter and exit the cab and sit on a seat in the cab. A lateral restraint bar is mounted between the seat and the cab opening, and is movable to a working position where it obstructs the cab opening so that portions of the operator cannot be moved outwardly through the cab side opening from the interior, and which pivots to a raised position to permit an operator to pass through the cab opening. When the restraint bar moves away from its working position, a signal is provided to disable machine controls.

Abstract: A personal restraint system includes a central mounting assembly that is couplable to an interior surface of a vehicle. The central mounting assembly has a base member. The central mounting assembly has a rotatable coupling portion that is rotatably coupled to the base member. An elongate member has a first and second end. The first end is operationally couplable to the rotatable coupling portion. A harness assembly is operationally couplable to the second end of the elongate member. The elongate member is providing vertical support for a user when the harness assembly is worn by the user and the harness assembly is coupled to the central mounting assembly via the elongate member. The harness member is for inhibiting unwanted movement of the user relative to the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for protecting a driver's cab of a commercial vehicle or mobile equipment having a driver's seat, including a driver-protection roof open laterally at least on one side, having front and rear members connected by cross-members, and having an ellipsoidal bar-type frame comprising a top ellipse bar and a bottom ellipse bar.

Abstract: A supplemental restraint system that is easy to use in a vehicle is provided. The user of the system is prevented from the damaging effects of being restrained by a shoulder seat belt combination that provides inadequate support to most of the body and can produce injury at the point of contact with the body during an accident. Further, the supplemental restraint system of the present invention provides the user with a harness to better hold the user to the seat and restraint system of the vehicle. The present invention provides a means of dressing an adult or a child in a restraint harness that may be easily attached within a vehicle and provides the user with restraints that fit the user's height and weight requirements.

Abstract: A general retaining device for use with utility vehicles, such as fork lift trucks, tractors, construction and agricultural machines, and public utility vehicles for protecting the driver from centrifugal forces. The invention is attached to all canopy guards with front and rear struts, and is open on all sides. The side openings of the canopy guard protecting the driver are divided by means of an approximately horizontally extending support which is pivoted on the one strut by a hinge and retained on the other strut by means of a locking system.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the absorbing of energy during an impact with the front edge of the sun visor and directing the sun visor out of the impact area such that the sun visor front edge does not break under impact by the use of a sun visor arm that incorporates energy absorbing and directional collapsing through the use of breakaway notches in the sun visor arm.

Abstract: The Vehicle Body Armor Support System (V-BASS) significantly enhances the survivability of vehicle crewmembers and occupants in aircraft and ground vehicles from high velocity projectiles such as shrapnel or bullets at minimum weight burden on the vehicle occupants. Current heavy body armor systems weigh 20 to 40 pounds. The majority of this weight is carried on the vehicle occupant's torso and transferred through the occupant'spine to the seat. The Vehicle Body Armor Support System invention allows the direct transfer of the heavy body armor system's weight directly to the seat or other points in the vehicle without burdening the occupant. This invention is comprised of a vehicle platform; an occupant seat supported by the vehicle platform; an occupant armor component carried on the occupant designed in such a fashion to transfer the weight of the armored component from the occupant to the seat or other points in the vehicle.

Abstract: An occupant protection system capable of sufficiently pushing up the left and right sides of a seat cushion from below without having to use a high-output gas generator. An enclosure encloses an inflatable airbag arranged on a seat pan for pushing the front of a seat cushion from below. The airbag extends along the width of the seat pan. The bag enclosure is arranged in the longitudinal center of the airbag. The perimeter of the bag enclosure is smaller than that of the airbag in an inflated condition. The bag enclosure is fixed to the seat pan.

Abstract: An expanded propylene vehicle passenger restraint. The restraint includes a back portion, seat portion and side portions integrally joined together. A removable back insert is mounted to the back portion and a leg separator is mounted to the seat portion. The method of producing the restraint includes the step of scanning the configuration of the restraint into a router for shaping a solid plastic piece in accordance with the configuration.

Abstract: A passenger protecting apparatus that includes an air belt configured to inflate along a back surface of a seat back to provide protection to the lower body a passenger sitting behind the seat. The apparatus includes a buckle and a lap anchor. The rear end on the right and the left of the air belt are connected to the buckle and the lap anchor via a wire respectively. Upon collision, the air belt is inflated and the buckle and the lap anchor are pulled down to thereby pretension the seat belt.

Abstract: In order to have an external force heading from the front toward the occupant received, a bumper member extending substantially along the length of the vehicle is disposed under or by the sides of the cabin (riding space). The shock absorbing members are connected at the rear ends of the bumper member. Even in the case of the vehicle in which it is difficult to dispose the shock absorbing member at the front portion of the vehicle within the range of the length of the vehicle for example, when an impact load is exerted to such a vehicle, the impact load may be efficiently absorbed. As a consequent the riding space for an occupant can be maintained. The shock absorbing body may be constructed of an upper shock absorbing member and a lower shock absorbing member. The upper and lower shock absorbing members may be formed of two types of members having different crushing features.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety device for lifting a bonnet (1) of a motor vehicle in the event of a collision, this device being situated under the said bonnet (1) and comprising a mechanism (2) for lifting the said bonnet (1) and a gas generator (31), the said bonnet (1) comprising a structure allowing it, in normal operation, to be opened or closed about an axis (10) known as the rotation axis. This device is characterized in that it comprises an actuator (3) comprising mechanical means actuated using the said gas generator (31) and able to deploy the said lifting mechanism (2).

Abstract: A safety arrangement compriese a unit (20) to be located beneath a bonnet (8) of a motor vehicle. The unit is adapted to become of increased lenght in response to a signal from a sensor (35) and may comprise a bellows-sleeve (21) and a gas generator (19), the unit has a catch arrangement (23) adapted ot engage part (9) of the bonnet structure so that that part of the bonnet structure is engaged and retained when the lenght of the unit is increased.

Abstract: A deformation element, in particular for use in motor vehicles, comprises a first base part and a second base part. The first base part includes at least one protrusion which tapers starting from the first base part The second base part includes at least one recess which tapers from a front side to a rear side thereof and is associated to the protrusion.

Abstract: A restraining device for protecting the driver of a vehicle. The restraining system has at least one safety rollover bar laterally mounted next to the seat of the driver. The safety rollover bar can be swiveled from an vertical release position into a horizontal restraining position by a shaft extending transversely in relation to the longitudinal expanse of the vehicle. The shaft is driven by an electric motor via a transmission.

Abstract: A safety arrangement (1) is located beneath the hood or bonnet (3) of a motor vehicle and includes an inflatable element (8) which is formed of a plastically deformable material. A gas generator (14) supplies gas to inflate the element (8) in response to a signal from a sensor (18) which is responsive to impact with a pedestrian. The gas generator (14) passes gas to a chamber (15), and thus through a relatively small aperture (16) to inflate the element (8) with a gradual inflation. If a pedestrian strikes the bonnet, the pedestrian will not deform the bonnet and then be arrested by impact with an engine block or the like, and also the plastically deformable element (8) will deform to absorb energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle headlight which comprises, on the one hand, an impact member displaceable between a position of use and a deployed position in which it may come into contact with an obstacle in the event of an impact of the latter with the headlight, and, on the other hand, a safety device able to cause the displacement of the impact member from its position of use to its deployed position.

Abstract: An aesthetically pleasing rear window protector for pickup trucks is made up of a main arcuate member and one or several smaller arcuate members that are welded at their ends to the main member and to each other to form any of various alternative arrangements. The rear window protector is used to protect the occupants of the truck from very large moving objects, such as a lawn mower, that might otherwise cause harm when the vehicle comes to a sudden stop.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat portion, a seat pan integrated in the seat portion, and a viscous mass arranged within the seat pan, wherein the viscous mass is actuatable to form a ramp.

Abstract: A vehicular impact resistant barrier system for mounting in an interior passenger compartment a vehicle. The interior passenger compartment of the vehicle is defined by a plurality of doors, a firewall, a floor wall, a roof wall, and a rear wall. The vehicular impact resistant barrier system includes a plurality of protective sheets that are mountable in the interior passenger compartment of the vehicle. Each of the protective sheets comprises a plurality of woven fibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a foot protection device for vehicle occupants. The protection device comprises a foot support piece which can support the occupant's feet, a base piece by which the foot protection device can rest on a floor of a vehicle, and an adjustment device to displace the foot support piece in a first direction parallel to the base piece. Ramp surfaces are constructed on at least one of the base piece and the foot support piece, which with a displacement of the foot support piece by the adjustment device bring about a movement of the foot support piece in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: An instrument panel extends in the widthwise direction of a vehicle body, and is vertically separated into an upper panel and a lower panel. A bolt member for fastening a column-mounting bracket and a column holder is independently fixed to the column-mounting bracket and to the column holder. In a state in which the bolt member is fixed to the column holder, a first nut member is screwed onto a first externally-threaded portion from above the lower panel mounted on the vehicle body, thereby fastening the column holder to the column-mounting bracket.

Abstract: A sleeper bunk restraining system includes a sleeper bunk configured to be carried by a vehicle and having a top surface defining a length upon which an occupant may rest. The bunk includes a stationary portion and a movable portion defined along the length, and the movable portion is movable toward the stationary portion to form an occupant restraining barrie.

Abstract: An aesthetically pleasing rear window protector for pickup trucks is made up of a main arcuate member and one or several smaller arcuate members that are welded at their ends to the main member and to each other to form any of various alternative arrangements. The rear window protector is used to protect the occupants of the truck from very large moving objects, such as a lawn mower, that might otherwise cause harm when the vehicle comes to a sudden stop.

Abstract: A safety device for use in a motor vehicle includes a restraining element in the form of a net (4) initially stored within a housing (3) extending across the entire upper edge of a windscreen (2). Pull cords (5, 6) attached to the edges of the net extend downwardly past guides (7, 8) located adjacent the lower edges of the windscreen to a centrally located drive mechanism (9). Further pull cords (10, 11) extend from positions more towards the central part of the lower edge of the net, and initially extend around the outer periphery of the windscreen being retained by a yieldable mechanism. The pull cords (10, 11) pass guides (14, 15) located adjacent the lower edge of the windscreen (2) and thus to the drive mechanism (9). The drive mechanism applies such a tension to the pull cords (5, 6, 10, 11) that the net is drawn to a position in which it extends tautly across the windscreen (2) in response to an accident situation.

Abstract: An enclosed motorcycle (10) that utilizes a structural frame (14), a pair of tandem wheels (36,38), an engine (40) and a handlebar assembly (46) provides transportation for a single driver. A foot brake pedal assembly (96) is pivotally affixed to the frame for stopping the motorcycle and a bench seat (132) is rigidly attached to the frame for seating the driver. A pair of outrigger landing wheels (140) are attached to the motorcycle frame on a common axle and have automatic control to extend the wheels at a predetermined road speed, for preventing tipping at low speeds and when stopped. An enclosure (16) is disposed over and attached to the frame which includes a pair of entrance doors (172) and a pair of leg doors (170), one on each side of the motorcycle for access to the seat for minimizing the enclosure envelope and providing effortless entry into the motorcycle. A two piece external passenger seat (272) is provided over the engine with a fold down cargo compartment underneath.

Abstract: When passengers are transported in automotive vehicles, in particular, when automotive vehicles are used in motor sports events, there is an increased risk of injury for the occupants of the vehicle. In particular, if the vehicle is hit from the side, rolls over or catches fire, it is therefore necessary to provide the occupants with optimum protection against the consequences of such an accident. To this end the invention provides a safety seat system comprising a shell element which is secured to a vehicle body and has integrally formed therein a foot area, a seat area and a backrest area, the safety seat being displaceable as a whole relative to the vehicle body upon impacts acting thereon. As a result, the passive safety of an occupant is considerably increased and, in particular, the a consequences of an injury are kept to a minimum or are prevented altogether.

Abstract: A knee protector is arranged in front of a seat in a vehicle, and includes a load receiving part that is comprised of an upper portion positioned or shaped suitably for a person who is relatively large in stature and a lower portion positioned or shaped suitably for a person who is relatively small in stature. Therefore, the load receiving part of the knee protector is positioned substantially in front of the knees of drivers of various statures. The knee protector can absorb the impact applied by the knees of drivers of varying statures without requiring an increase in weight or cost.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle occupant restraint system which can reduce the load on the chest and head of the vehicle occupant in an impact situation while reliably preventing the submarine phenomenon. By restraining the pelvis and the adjacent parts of the vehicle occupant before the load is applied to the chest and head, the load is more favorably distributed, and the critical parts are favorably protected. This can be accomplished by activating a restraining member for raising an appropriate part of the vehicle seat immediate upon detecting an impact.