Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2005-01-25
2005-01-25
Ilan, Ruth (Department: 3616)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S752000, C296S187050, C188S188000, C188S267100, C188S267200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06846015
ABSTRACT:
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (28) of a vehicle (12) includes a knee bolster (20). An energy absorbing device (80) is interposed between the knee bolster (20) and the vehicle (12). The device (80) includes a field responsive fluid (84) having a viscosity that varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The device (80) also includes at least one passage (134) through which the fluid (84) flows upon movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12). The device (80) further includes means (150) for varying the viscosity of the fluid (84) to vary the flow rate through the at least one passage (134) and thereby vary the resistance to movement of the knee bolster (20) relative to the vehicle (12).
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Frank Matthew C.
Herberg Arnold J.
Meduvsky Alex G.
Zwolinski Joseph J.
Ilan Ruth
Tarolli, Sundheim Covell & Tummino L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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