KR20250059006A - Driver Support Device and the Cockpit Module that uses it - Google Patents

Abstract

An occupant support device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a connecting portion having a hinge formed at one end thereof, a supporting portion arranged at an end of the connecting portion, and an elastic body arranged at the hinge of the connecting portion and providing elasticity in a direction in which the connecting portion rotates downward, and when an impact occurs on a vehicle, the connecting portion rotates downward and the supporting portion is exposed to the lower side of the crash pad to support the occupant.

Description

{Driver Support Device and the Cockpit Module that uses it}

The present invention relates to a cockpit module, and more specifically, to a cockpit module capable of protecting a passenger by supporting the passenger's knees and shins when a vehicle collision occurs.

A cockpit module is placed in the front of the vehicle, extending across the width of the vehicle. The cockpit module can support passengers in the event of a collision with the vehicle and prevent passengers from being pushed forward.

However, as autonomous driving becomes more advanced and the time spent inside a vehicle increases, structures that increase the space inside the vehicle are being developed. The increase in the space inside the vehicle can be implemented by reducing the volume of parts such as the cockpit module that previously took up a large volume.

Even in autonomous vehicles, there are times when manual driving mode is required, and in such cases, if the cockpit module is reduced in height, the cockpit module may not be able to fully support passengers when they move forward due to a collision of the vehicle. In particular, in the case of a vehicle model with a slim cockpit with a reduced lower part of the cockpit module, the passenger's knees can be supported, but the lower part of the knees is not supported, which may cause injury due to misalignment of the knee joint.

Therefore, there is a need for a slim cockpit that can increase the space inside the vehicle while still supporting passengers without them being pushed forward in the event of a collision.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a passenger support device capable of supporting a passenger in the event of an accident at the lower portion of a slim cockpit having a wide lower space, and a cockpit module using the same.

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

A passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include: a connecting portion having a hinge formed at one end; a supporting portion arranged at an end of the connecting portion; and an elastic body arranged at the hinge of the connecting portion and providing elastic force in a direction in which the connecting portion rotates downward.

When an impact occurs to the vehicle, the connecting portion rotates downward and the supporting portion is exposed to the lower side of the crash pad to support the passenger.

The above support member is formed by bending at an end of the above connecting member, and when the connecting member is rotated downward, the support member can cover the space below the crash pad.

A buffer portion formed of a buffer material may be placed on the surface of the support portion facing the passenger.

The hinge of the above connecting part may further include a stopper that supports the connecting part so that it does not rotate after rotating to the maximum rotation angle.

A cockpit module according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a crash pad; and a passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The crash pad may include a front portion of the pad facing the passenger; and a lower portion of the pad that is bent toward the front of the vehicle at a lower end of the front portion.

An exposure hole is formed at the bottom of the above pad, and the connecting part is rotated downward to be exposed through the exposure hole and can cover the lower space of the crash pad.

A protruding pin is formed on the inner side of the front surface of the above pad, and a fixing hole is formed in the connecting portion so that the protruding pin can be positioned while being hooked into the fixing hole.

In the event of an accident, if an impact is applied to the front of the pad in the forward direction of the vehicle, the protruding pin may come out of the fixing hole and the connecting part may rotate.

The above-mentioned passenger support device may be formed in two units at positions corresponding to the passenger's knees.

The support members of the two above-mentioned passenger support devices can be formed integrally by extending from each other.

The above connecting portion is connected to a crossbar arranged on the inside of the crash pad, and the hinge of the connecting portion can be arranged on the outside of the crossbar.

The above connecting portion is connected to the inner surface of the lower portion of the pad, and the hinge of the connecting portion can be placed on the lower portion of the pad.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a passenger support device disposed inside a crash pad rotates downward to cover a lower space of the crash pad, and the support member supports the passenger, thereby protecting the passenger in the event of an accident.

The various beneficial advantages and effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described contents, and will be more easily understood in the process of explaining specific embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a hinge of a passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating the operation method of a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a crash pad of a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional drawing of a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The present invention can be modified in various ways and has various embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention are included. In describing the present invention, if it is judged that a specific description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The terms first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

The terminology used in this application is only used to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, it should be understood that the terms "comprises" or "has" and the like are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, but do not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

Also, throughout the specification, when we say "connected," this does not only mean that two or more components are directly connected, but also that two or more components are indirectly connected through other components, that they are electrically connected as well as physically connected, or that they are referred to by different names depending on location or function but are one.

In addition, when described as being formed or arranged “above or below” each component, above or below includes not only the case where the two components are in direct contact with each other, but also the case where one or more other components are formed or arranged between the two components. In addition, when expressed as “above or below,” it can include the meaning of the downward direction as well as the upward direction based on one component.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a passenger support device according to the present invention and a cockpit module using the same will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. When describing with reference to the attached drawings, identical or corresponding components are assigned the same drawing numbers and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a passenger support device (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is rotatably connected to the inside of a crash pad (10) at the front of a vehicle to support a passenger.

The conventional crash pad (10) is installed at the front of the vehicle, but is formed to extend downward as well, so that it can support the lower body of the passenger in the event of an accident. In the case of a slim cockpit for securing space inside the vehicle, the cockpit module (1) can be reduced to implement a slim shape. That is, the lower side of the cockpit module (1) is formed by bending, so that the space inside the vehicle can be secured widely.

As future cars such as self-driving cars and electric cars are developed, the time spent inside the vehicle may increase, and it is becoming important to secure a wide space inside the vehicle for the convenience of passengers. Therefore, it can be seen that a configuration for securing space inside the vehicle, such as a slim cockpit, is essential.

In the case of vehicles with a slim cockpit, there is a problem that the space corresponding to the lower body of the passenger is left as an empty space, so the passenger is not sufficiently supported by the cockpit in the event of an accident. Passengers riding in a vehicle with a slim cockpit can be supported by the cockpit above the knees, but the shins are not supported, and there is a risk of injury, such as the knees and shins being misaligned due to impact.

Therefore, a slim cockpit that can secure a wide space inside the vehicle while sufficiently supporting the passenger in the event of an accident is required. The present invention aims to solve the above problem by providing a passenger support device (100) installed on the inside of the crash pad (10) of the cockpit module (1) and a cockpit module (1) utilizing the same.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a passenger support device (100) may include a hinge (111) formed at one end thereof, a connecting portion (110) rotatably connected to the hinge (111) with a rotation axis, a support portion (120) disposed at an end of the connecting portion (110), and an elastic body (112) disposed at the hinge (111) to provide elastic force in a direction in which the connecting portion (110) rotates downward. When an impact occurs on a vehicle, the connecting portion (110) and the supporting portion (120) rotate downward due to the elastic force provided by the elastic body (112) and are exposed to the lower side of the crash pad (10), and the supporting portion (120) covers the lower space of the crash pad (10) to support the passenger.

A crossbar (20) that extends in the width direction of the crash pad (10) may be arranged on the inner side of the crash pad (10). A connecting portion (110) may be rotatably connected to the outer side of the crossbar (20). The connecting portion (110) may be rotated about a hinge (111) formed at the end of the connecting portion (110).

The connecting portion (110) can be formed by bending to match the shape of the crossbar (20) or the structure inside the crash pad (10). In the case of Fig. 2, the connecting portion (110) is shown as being formed by bending at least partly to correspond to the shape of the crossbar (20) having a rectangular cross section.

There is no limitation on the position where the connecting part (110) is placed, and there is no limitation as long as it can be rotated downward from the inside of the crash pad (10) and exposed to the lower side of the crash pad (10). That is, in addition to the method of being rotatably connected to the outside of the crossbar (20), it is also possible to be directly connected to the inside of the crash pad (10), and it is also possible to be connected to the front wall side of the vehicle on the inside of the crash pad (10).

A support member (120) may be formed at the end of the connecting member (110). The support member (120) may be bent downward at the end of the connecting member (110) so as to be exposed to the lower side of the crash pad (10) when the connecting member (110) is rotated downward.

The support member (120) is bent downward from the end of the connecting member (110) and can cover the space below the crash pad (10). In the case of Fig. 2, the support member (120) is shown as being formed by being bent vertically from the end of the connecting member (110), but depending on the constraints of the inner space of the crash pad (10), it is also possible to bend at an angle greater than 90 degrees to support the passenger, and alternatively, it is also possible to bend at an angle less than 90 degrees.

The support member (120) is a part that directly supports the passenger in the event of an accident, and thus, the material may be selected to enable cushioning. That is, the support member (120) itself may be formed of a cushioning material. Alternatively, a cushioning member (121) formed of a cushioning material may be placed on the side of the support member (120) that faces the passenger. In the event of an accident, the cushioning member (121) may support the passenger and alleviate the impact applied.

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a hinge of a passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that one end of a connecting portion (110) is rotatably connected to the outside of a crossbar (20) formed to extend in the width direction on the inside of a crash pad (10). As described above, the connecting portion (110) can be formed by being bent at least in part, and in the case of the present embodiment, it can be formed by being bent so that the movement of the connecting portion (110) is not interfered with by the crossbar (20) when the connecting portion (110) rotates in correspondence with the shape of the crossbar (20) having a rectangular cross-section.

The connecting portion (110) extends from the crossbar (20) toward the passenger and has a support portion (120) formed at the end. Before an accident occurs, the passenger support device (100) may be positioned on the inside of the crash pad (10) so as not to be exposed to the passenger's view.

A hinge (111) may be formed at one end of the connecting portion (110). The connecting portion (110) may be rotatably connected based on the hinge (111). In the present embodiment, an elastic body (112) may be arranged at the hinge (111) of the connecting portion (110) to provide elasticity in the direction in which the connecting portion (110) rotates downward. The elastic body (112) provides elasticity so that the connecting portion (110) rotates downward when an accident occurs, and the elastic body (112) may be a spring.

Figure 4 illustrates that the elastic body (112) is a torsion spring. The end of the spring formed in a spiral shape is formed to extend in a tangential direction of the spiral portion of the spring, and the portion can provide elastic force in the direction in which the spring is twisted.

Before the connecting portion (110) is rotated, the torsion spring of the hinge (111) can be fixed in a twisted state, and the connecting portion (110) can maintain a fixed state by resisting elastic force through a separate fixing means. In the event of an accident, the fixing of the separate fixing means is released, and the connecting portion (110) can be rotated downward due to the elastic force applied from the spring.

FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating the operation method of a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 5, a cockpit module (1) to which a passenger support device (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied may include a crash pad (10) and a passenger support device (100), and the crash pad (10) may include a pad front portion (12) facing the passenger and a pad lower portion (14) formed by bending in the vehicle forward direction from the lower side of the pad front portion (12).

The lower part of the pad (14) is formed by being bent toward the front of the vehicle, thereby increasing the space at the bottom of the cockpit module (1) and enabling a slim cockpit to be implemented. The passenger support device (100) can be rotated toward the lower part of the pad (14) in the event of an accident and exposed to the lower part of the cockpit module (1).

An exposure hole (15) may be formed in the lower part of the pad (14) so that the passenger support device (100) can be exposed downward. When the passenger support device (100) is rotated downward, at least a portion thereof may be exposed downwardly through the exposure hole (15) of the crash pad (10), and at least a portion thereof may include a support member (120).

A door (16) for opening and closing the exposure hole (15) of the lower part of the pad (14) can be arranged. The door (16) can be kept closed in normal times, and a neat design can be implemented by the door (16) blocking the exposure hole (15). The door (16) can be arranged so that the passenger side of the exposure hole (15) is open, and the hinge (111) can be arranged on a border far from the passenger side so that the passenger side can be opened.

When the connecting part (110) of the passenger support device (100) rotates, the door (16) receives force due to the rotational force and can be opened downward. A hook may be formed to protrude from the door (16), and the hook may be fixed to the door (16) in a manner that it is hooked to the side of the exposure hole (15). The door (16) fixed by the hook can normally be closed and close the exposure hole (15), and in the event of an accident, it can be opened by receiving an impact from the passenger support device (100).

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, a fixing hole (114) may be formed in the connecting portion (110). In addition, a protruding pin (13) may be formed to protrude from the inner side of the pad front portion (12). The protruding pin (13) may protrude from the inner side of the pad front portion (12) toward the front of the vehicle, but may be formed with an end that is bent, and at least a portion of the protruding pin (13) including the bent portion may be hooked into the fixing hole (114) of the connecting portion (110).

The connecting portion (110) is fixed by the protruding pin (13), and the passenger support device (100) can remain fixed in the inner space of the crash pad (10) until an accident occurs. That is, the fixing strength of the protruding pin (13) and the fixing hole (114) can be strong enough to withstand the elastic force of the elastic body (112) arranged in the hinge (111) of the connecting portion (110).

The part shown in the dotted line in Fig. 5 illustrates the appearance of the passenger support device (100) being operated by rotating downward when an impact is applied to the front part of the pad (12).

In the event of an accident, the vehicle may suddenly stop or hit an obstacle, and the passenger may be pushed forward. In this case, the passenger may be impacted by the front part of the pad (12). If the front part of the pad (12) is impacted in the forward direction of the vehicle, the front part of the pad (12) may bend and move forward a predetermined distance.

When the front part of the pad (12) is moved, the protruding pin (13) formed on the inside of the front part of the pad (12) is moved forward a predetermined distance and can be detached from the fixing hole (114) of the connecting part (110). When the connecting part (110) is detached from the protruding pin (13), the connecting part (110) can be rotated downward due to the elastic force of the elastic body (112) and the weight of the passenger support device (100).

When the connecting part (110) of the passenger support device (100) is rotated downward, it moves to the lower space of the crash pad (10) through the exposure hole (15) formed in the lower part of the pad (14) and can support the passenger who is pushed forward by covering the lower space of the crash pad (10).

A stopper (113) may be formed at the hinge (111) side end of the connecting portion (110) so that the connecting portion (110) can only rotate to a certain angle. In the case of the present embodiment, the connecting portion (110) is extended by being bent at least in a direction in which the hinge (111) is formed, and when the connecting portion (110) is rotated to a maximum angle, the stopper (113) catches on the crossbar (20) and prevents it from rotating further. The stopper (113) allows the connecting portion (110) to rotate to an appropriate angle so as to stably support the passenger.

There is no limitation on the shape of the stopper (113), and as in the present embodiment, it is possible to fix the passenger support device (100) in a manner in which the connecting portion (110) is extended and hooked to the crossbar (20), but unlike this, it is also possible to adjust the rotation angle of the connecting portion (110) by arranging it on the rotation axis of the connecting portion (110), and there is no limitation as long as the connecting portion (110) does not rotate excessively and cannot fully support the passenger.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a crash pad of a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to Fig. 6, the number of door (16) parts formed in the lower part of the pad (14) may be plural. Figs. 1 and 3 illustrate that the connecting part (110) and the supporting part (120) of the passenger support device (100) are formed in two pieces each. The passenger support device (100) supports the lower body of the passenger, and may be formed in two pieces so as to support both the right and left legs, and may be formed in a larger number so as to reduce restrictions on the position and posture of the passenger. In the case of Fig. 6, it is illustrated that two doors (16) are formed to match the positions of both legs of the passenger.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to Fig. 7, a notch may be formed in the door (16). When the door (16) is in an open state to support a passenger, if the door (16) is positioned in a fixed position with a strong rigidity, the passenger may be shocked by the door (16) and may be injured. In this case, the door (16) being broken when receiving an appropriate shock protects the passenger.

The door (16) can be formed with notches in the horizontal and vertical directions, and when the notches are formed, when an impact is applied to the door (16), the door (16) is broken along the notches when impacted by a passenger, thereby reducing the risk of injury to the passenger.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional drawing of a cockpit module to which a passenger support device according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to Fig. 8, the connecting portion (110) can be rotatably connected to the inner surface of the pad lower portion (14). When the connecting portion (110) is connected to the pad lower portion (14) as shown in Fig. 8, a separate support portion (120) may not be present. However, in the present embodiment, although the support portion (120) is not present, the support portion (120) may be bent and extended from the end of the connecting portion (110) to cover the lower space of the crash pad (10).

In this embodiment, the connecting part (110) can serve as a support part (120). The connecting part (110) can be positioned and fixed inside the crash pad (10) before an accident occurs, and the method of fixing the connecting part (110) can be a method using a protruding pin (13) and a fixing hole (114).

A protruding pin (13) may be protruded from the inner side of the front surface of the pad (12), and a fixing hole (114) may be formed in the connecting portion (110) so that the protruding pin (13) may be hooked onto, and the fixing hole (114) may be in the shape of a groove that does not penetrate the connecting portion (110). At least a portion of the end of the protruding pin (13) may be bent to be hooked onto the fixing hole (114), thereby allowing the connecting portion (110) to be maintained in a state of being arranged on the inner side of the crash pad (10).

When an impact is applied to the front part of the pad (12) in the forward direction of the vehicle, the protruding pin (13) is released from the fixing hole (114) and the connecting part (110) can be rotated downward. The elastic body (112) arranged in the hinge (111) of the connecting part (110) can provide elasticity so that the connecting part (110) can be rotated downward. When the connecting part (110) is rotated downward, a buffer part (121) formed of a separate buffer material can be arranged on the surface that supports the passenger, and the connecting part (110) itself can also be formed of a buffer material.

In the above-described embodiment, when a passenger is pushed forward and impacts the crash pad (10), the passenger support device (100) can cover the space below the crash pad (10) and support the passenger. However, in contrast, when a direct impact occurs from the front of the vehicle toward the passenger, the passenger support device (100) can rotate and cover the space below the crash pad (10).

In order for the passenger support device (100) to rotate when an impact occurs from the front of the vehicle toward the passenger, a protruding pin (13) formed on the inner side of the front side of the pad (12) as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 may be formed on the inner side of the surface facing the front of the vehicle. Similarly, a fixing hole (114) may be formed in the connecting portion (110), and at least a portion of the protruding pin (13) may be formed by being bent at the end and may be hooked onto the fixing hole (114). The position and shape of the fixing hole (114) formed in the connecting portion (110) may also be determined to correspond to the shape of the protruding pin (13).

When an impact due to an accident occurs at the front of the vehicle, the protruding pin (13) is pushed toward the passenger and moves a predetermined distance, and the protruding pin (13) is detached from the fixing hole (114) so that the connecting part (110) can rotate downward.

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a cockpit module (1) to which a passenger support device (100) according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to Fig. 9, the support members (120) formed at the ends of the connecting members (110) may be formed integrally by extending from each other. When the connecting members (110) are formed in multiple pieces, the support members (120) may also be formed in multiple pieces correspondingly, but they may also be formed integrally by extending from multiple connecting members (110).

The support member (120) formed by extending between the plurality of connecting members (110) can be formed of a buffer material, and, differently, a buffer member (121) formed of a separate buffer material can be placed on the surface facing the passenger to absorb impact.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below.

1: Cockpit module
10: Crash Pad
12: Front of the pad
14: Bottom of pad
15 : Exposure hole
16 : Door
100 : Passenger Support Device
110 : Connection
120 : Support

Claims (10)

In a passenger support device rotatably connected to the inside of a crash pad at the front of a vehicle,
A connecting portion in which a hinge is formed at one end;
A support member arranged at the end of the above connecting portion; and
An elastic body arranged on the hinge of the above connecting portion and providing elastic force in the direction in which the above connecting portion rotates downward;
A passenger support device including a body, wherein when an impact occurs in a vehicle, the connecting portion rotates downward and the supporting portion is exposed to the lower side of the crash pad to support the passenger. In the first paragraph,
A passenger support device in which the support member is formed by bending at an end of the connection member, and the support member covers the space below the crash pad when the connection member is rotated downward. In the second paragraph,
A cushioning part formed of a cushioning material on the surface of the support part facing the passenger;
A passenger support device in which a is placed. In the third paragraph,
A stopper is provided on the hinge of the above connecting part to prevent the connecting part from rotating after it has rotated to the maximum rotation angle;
An occupant support device further comprising: crash pad; and
A passenger support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4;
, and the crash pad comprises
The front of the pad facing the passenger; and
The lower part of the pad that is folded towards the front of the vehicle from the lower end of the front part;
A cockpit module including a pad, wherein an exposure hole is formed at the bottom of the pad, and the connecting part is rotated downward to be exposed through the exposure hole and covers the lower space of the crash pad. In paragraph 5,
A cockpit module in which a protruding pin is formed on the inner side of the front part of the pad, a fixing hole is formed in the connecting part, and the protruding pin is positioned in a state of being hooked into the fixing hole, and when an impact is applied to the front part of the pad in the direction of the front of the vehicle in the event of an accident, the protruding pin is released from the fixing hole and the connecting part is rotated. In Article 6,
The above passenger support device is a cockpit module in which two are formed at positions corresponding to the passenger's knees. In Article 7,
A cockpit module in which the support sections of the two above-mentioned passenger support devices are formed integrally by extending from each other. In Article 8,
A cockpit module in which the above connecting portion is connected to a crossbar arranged on the inside of the crash pad, and the hinge of the above connecting portion is arranged on the outside of the crossbar. In Article 8,
A cockpit module in which the above connecting portion is connected to the inner surface of the lower portion of the pad, and the hinge of the above connecting portion is positioned on the lower portion of the pad.

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