Knee airbag

• US 20100201106A1
• Filed: 02/11/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sequin, Maria Therese, Wigger, Henning, Lisseman, Jason Carl
• Application Number:
  US12/379,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20100201106A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together

Abstract

The present invention relates to a knee airbag for a vehicle with a reinforcement configured to form a seal with an inflator. The knee airbag that includes an opening, an inflator inserted within the opening of the knee airbag, and a reinforcement formed around the opening of the airbag, wherein the reinforcement is configured to form a seal with the inflator. Such an arrangement may advantageously minimize or prevent the release of inflation gas through the opening for the inflator.

Claims

1. A knee airbag device, comprising:

a knee airbag that includes an opening,

an inflator, wherein the inflator is inserted within the opening of the knee airbag, and

a reinforcement formed around the opening of the airbag, wherein the reinforcement is configured to form a seal with the inflator.

2. The knee airbag device of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement is formed by a patch that is joined to the knee airbag.

3. The knee airbag device of claim 2, wherein the patch is coated with a coating.

4. The knee airbag device of claim 3, wherein the coating is formed with a coating weight of at least 100 g/m2.

5. The knee airbag device of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement forms the opening in the knee airbag.

6. The knee airbag device of claim 5, wherein the opening is formed by an x-shaped cut.

7. The knee airbag device of claim 6, wherein the x-shaped cut forms fabric portions that are configured to seal with the inflator.

8. The knee airbag device of claim 7, wherein the fabric portions are positioned in an interior of the knee airbag.

9. The knee airbag device of claim 7, wherein the fabric portions are positioned in an exterior of the knee airbag.

10. The knee airbag device of claim 7, wherein the fabric portions are configured to release gas from the knee airbag when the knee airbag is subjected to a high energy input condition.

11. The knee airbag device of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement is configured to release gas from the knee airbag when the knee airbag is subjected to a high energy input condition.

12. The knee airbag of claim 7, further comprising a clamp, wherein the clamp is configured to clamp the fabric portions against the inflator.

13. The knee airbag of claim 1, further comprising a clamp, wherein the clamp is configured to clamp the reinforcement against the inflator.

14. An knee bolster for a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable knee bolster that includes an opening,

an inflator, wherein the inflator is inserted within the opening of the knee bolster, and

a reinforcement formed around the opening of the bolster, wherein the reinforcement is configured to form a seal with the inflator.

15. The knee bolster of claim 14, wherein the reinforcement forms the opening in the knee bolster.

16. The knee bolster of claim 15, wherein the opening is formed by an x-shaped cut.

17. The knee bolster of claim 16, wherein the x-shaped cut forms fabric portions that are configured to seal with the inflator.

18. The knee bolster of claim 17, wherein the fabric portions are configured to release gas from the knee bolster when the knee bolster is subjected to a high energy input condition.

19. The knee bolster of claim 14, wherein the reinforcement is configured to release gas from the knee bolster when the knee bolster is subjected to a high energy input condition.

20. The knee bolster of claim 14, further comprising a clamp, wherein the clamp is configured to clamp the reinforcement against the inflator.