Motor Vehicle With Knee Airbag

• US 20080067790A1
• Filed: 05/21/2005
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Narin, Muhammed, Gruber, Arno
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

A knee airbag is described which is located in front of a front seat (S) in the footwell, whereby this footwell is limited on a first side by the vehicle inner structure (F) and on the side lying opposite the first side is limited by a centre console (M). When it is completely filled and free from external forces, this knee airbag (10) exhibits a certain maximum width (b) horizontally and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle (f). In order to improve the safety of the vehicle occupants in case of a laterally-offset frontal collision, knee airbag (10) is arranged in the footwell in such a way that its maximum width (b) in inflated state is greater than the separation (a) between vehicle inner structure (F) and centre console (M).

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

two front seats, whereby a footwell is located in front of each front seat which is limited on a first side by the vehicle inner structure and on the side lying opposite the first side is limited by a centre console,

at least one knee airbag located in the footwell, whereby the completely filled knee airbag, free of outside forces, exhibits a certain maximum width horizontally and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of vehicle,

wherein knee airbag is arranged in the footwell in such a way that its maximum width in inflated state is larger than the available separation between vehicle inner structure and centre console.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the maximum width is at least 30 mm greater than the separation which is available.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the knee airbag is formed and positioned in such a way that in its fully inflated state its impact surface embraces the knee-shin areas of the relevant vehicle occupants in part at least on the outside.

4. Motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterised in that knee airbag (10) is formed and positioned in such a way that in the case of a 50% H III Dummy in standard seating position, at least tangential surfaces of impact surfaces which are allocated to the outer upper knee-shin areas respectively include a first angle between 15°

and 75°

with a straight line running horizontally and perpendicularly to vehicle longitudinal axis.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the knee airbag is formed and positioned in such a way that with a 50% H III Dummy in standard seating position, the impact surface also embraces the inner knee-shin areas.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the knee airbag is formed and positioned in such a way that in its fully inflated state its impact surface embraces the knee-shin areas of the relevant vehicle occupants in part at least on the outside.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the knee airbag is formed and positioned in such a way that with a 50% H III Dummy in standard seating position, the impact surface also embraces the inner knee-shin areas.