US 11,850,979 B2
Seat mounted knee bolster
Scott D. Thomas, Novi, MI (US); Chin-hsu Lin, Troy, MI (US); and George H. Baker, Troy, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/685,768.
Prior Publication US 2023/0278472 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. B60N 2/427 (2006.01); B60N 2/42 (2006.01); B60N 2/90 (2018.01); B60R 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60N 2/427 (2013.01) [B60N 2/4214 (2013.01); B60N 2/43 (2013.01); B60N 2/995 (2018.02); B60N 2/4279 (2013.01); B60N 2/42772 (2013.01); B60R 2021/0051 (2013.01); B60R 2021/0053 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A knee bolster assembly for a vehicle seat, comprising:
a knee bolster moveably mounted in proximity to the vehicle seat, the knee bolster including a tray portion, the knee bolster and the tray portion having an L-shaped cross section;
the knee bolster selectively is configured to translationally move between a first position, wherein the knee bolster and tray portion are positioned to a side of the seating surface, and a second position, wherein the knee bolster is positioned directly in front of a seating surface and the tray portion is positioned above the seating surface, wherein the tray portion provides a working surface for a passenger when the knee bolster is in the second position; and
the knee bolster further including an energy absorbing device adapted to absorb energy when a perpendicular force is applied to the knee bolster by the passenger within the vehicle seat.