Patent ID: 7669897
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A vehicle passenger restraining apparatus comprising: a knee angle attaining structure configured to restrain a passenger during a frontal collision by contacting the passenger's knees to restrain the passenger's knees to a prescribed knee angle as measured between a passenger's thigh and a passenger's shin; a shin restraining structure configured to restrain the passenger during a frontal collision by moving the passenger's shins rearward and restraining the passenger's shins; and a groin angle attaining structure configured to restrain the passenger during a frontal collision by spreading the passenger's thighs to a prescribed groin angle as measured between the passenger's thigh and a longitudinal axis passing through a rotational center of a passenger's groin joint, the groin angle attaining structure, the shin restraining structure and the knee angle attaining structure being arranged to operate sequentially with the groin angle attaining structure operating first, the shin restraining structure operating second, and the knee angle attaining structure operating third during the frontal collision.