LOW RISK DEPLOYMENT PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM WITH KNEE PROTECTION
First Claim
1. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion adjacent the windshield, a lower portion with a surface that is generally directed toward the legs of an occupant in the passenger compartment and a mid portion with a surface that extends between the top portion and the lower portion, the passenger airbag system comprising:
- a first airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel and an airbag cushion deployable from the housing thru the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with the head and torso of an adult occupant sitting in the passenger compartment; and
a second airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel and an airbag cushion deployable from the housing through the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with an occupant seated in the passenger compartment, the second airbag cushion having an upper portion for contacting the torso of the occupant and a lower portion after deployment that at least partially fills a space between the occupant'"'"'s lower extremities and the lower portion of the instrument panel.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A passenger airbag system is designed for an automotive vehicle with a passenger compartment, a windshield and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and the windshield. The instrument panel has a top portion adjacent the windshield, a lower surface generally directed toward the legs of an occupant and a mid-portion with a surface that extends between the top and lower portions. The system includes a first airbag and a second airbag both disposed in the instrument panel. Each airbag has a cushion deployable from the housing through the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with an occupant seated in the passenger compartment. The second airbag has a lower portion when deployed that fills a space between the occupant'"'"'s lower extremities and the lower portion of the instrument panel and thus acts as a knee airbag.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion adjacent the windshield, a lower portion with a surface that is generally directed toward the legs of an occupant in the passenger compartment and a mid portion with a surface that extends between the top portion and the lower portion, the passenger airbag system comprising:
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a first airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel and an airbag cushion deployable from the housing thru the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with the head and torso of an adult occupant sitting in the passenger compartment; and
a second airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel and an airbag cushion deployable from the housing through the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with an occupant seated in the passenger compartment, the second airbag cushion having an upper portion for contacting the torso of the occupant and a lower portion after deployment that at least partially fills a space between the occupant'"'"'s lower extremities and the lower portion of the instrument panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and the windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion adjacent the windshield, a lower portion with a surface that is generally directed toward the legs of an occupant in the passenger compartment and a mid portion with a surface that extends between the top portion and the lower portion, the passenger airbag system comprising:
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a first airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel, the first airbag being deployable along a predetermined path for direct contact with an adult occupant sitting in the passenger compartment, the first airbag having a lower surface when deployed;
a second airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel, the second airbag being deployable along a predetermined path for direct contact with the adult occupant seated in the passenger compartment; and
the second airbag further having an upper part that is located above the occupant'"'"'s upper legs and below the lower surface of the first airbag, and an lower part that is located between the occupant'"'"'s knees or lower legs and the lower portion of the instrument panel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification