Knee Airbag

• US 20070200321A1
• Filed: 02/19/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Varcus, Johannes A., Heitplatz, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,604,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, with a gas generator (2), a plurality of chambers (5, 6, 7) and catch straps (3, 4). So that it deploys better and provides better protection for a vehicle occupant, in particular the driver, in the event of a crash, it comprises a first catch strap (3) dividing the airbag essentially horizontally, and two catch straps (4) extending essentially vertically from the first catch strap (3). The space between the steering column and the knees of the driver is therefore rapidly filled by the airbag in the event of a crash.

Claims

1. A driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, with a gas generator (2), a plurality of chambers (5, 6, 7) and catch straps (3, 4), wherein it comprises a first catch strap (3) dividing the airbag essentially horizontally, and two catch straps (4) extending essentially vertically from the first catch strap (3).

2. The driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first catch strap (3) is provided in such a manner that a first pressure chamber (5) extending essentially horizontally over the width of the airbag (1) is formed, and wherein the two catch straps (4) extending essentially vertically from the first catch strap (3) are provided in such a manner that two outer pressure chambers (6) and a central pressure chamber (7) are formed, and wherein a gas outlet opening (9) of the gas generator (2) is arranged in the first pressure chamber (5).

3. The driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first catch strap (3) is arranged in such a manner that the first pressure chamber (5) is arranged below the further pressure chambers (6, 7).

4. The driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1) as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the vertically extending catch straps (4) are arranged in such a manner that the outer pressure chambers (6) in each case have a larger volume than the central pressure chamber (7).

5. The driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the first catch strap (3) has gas passage openings (8).

6. The driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the gas passage openings (8) connect the first pressure chamber (5) in each case to the outer pressure chambers (6).

7. The driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein it is arranged below the steering column (10).

8. The driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein it engages around the steering column (10) in the event of a crash, with the outer pressure chambers (6) being arranged in each case at the sides of the steering column (10) and the central pressure chamber (7) being arranged around the steering column (10).

9. The driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the first pressure chamber (5) is arranged upstream of the other pressure chambers (6, 7) in the inflation sequence.

10. The driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer pressure chambers (6) are arranged upstream of the central pressure chamber (7) in the inflation sequence.

11. The driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1) as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein it is configured in such a manner that it first of all, in the region of the first pressure chamber (5), inflates essentially transversely to the direction of the steering column and, subsequently, in the region of the further pressure chambers (6, 7), inflates in the direction of the steering column.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein a knee airbag (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11 is used.

12. A method for defining the inflation sequence of a driver'"'"'s knee airbag (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, the knee airbag (1) being provided with a gas generator (2), a plurality of chambers (5, 6, 7) and catch straps (3, 4), wherein, in the airbag (1), a first catch strap (3) dividing the latter essentially horizontally and two catch straps (4) extending essentially vertically from the first catch strap (3) are provided.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first catch strap (3) is provided in such a manner that a first pressure chamber (5) extending essentially horizontally over the width of the airbag (1) is formed, and wherein the two catch straps (4) extending essentially vertically from the first catch strap (3) are provided in such a manner that two outer pressure chambers (6) and a central pressure chamber (7) are formed, and wherein a gas outlet opening (9) of the gas generator (2) is arranged in the first pressure chamber (5).