Assembly with an instrument panel for a motor vehicle and a knee airbag

• US 20090212541A1
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wagner, Marcus, Wallat, Nico
• Granted Patent: US 8,444,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees

Abstract

An airbag housing is carried on a formed part extending from a lower section of an instrument panel for a motor vehicle. The formed part forms at least a front section of an upper wall of a footwell assigned to the vehicle occupants. A knee airbag is disposed in the airbag housing.

Claims

1. An assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

an instrument panel;

a formed part extended from a lower section of the instrument panel;

a housing carried on the formed part; and

an airbag in the housing when stored and which on activation is inflated between the lower section of the instrument panel and a knee-shin area of a vehicle occupant to be protected.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the formed part forms at least part of a ceiling of a footwell for the vehicle occupant.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing defines an exit opening for the airbag, the exit opening disposed in a horizontal plane.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the formed part is connected with the instrument panel.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the formed part is latched together with the instrument panel by clip connections.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the formed part is directly connected with a transverse strut of the motor vehicle.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the formed part is selected from a group including an injection moulded part and a deep-drawn part of plastic.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing is an integral part of the formed part.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing is a separate element which is connected with the formed part.