INFLATABLE KNEE AIRBAG ASSEMBLIES WITH ARTICULATING HOUSINGS

• US 20120049497A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Enders, Mark L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,297,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2161 the cover being displaced towards the occupant during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment

Abstract

An inflatable knee airbag is typically stored in a packaged state within an airbag housing. The housing often has a cover, which can be either a cosmetic cover or an unfinished cover, if the cover will not be readily visible to an occupant. During inflatable airbag deployment, the housing may contribute to determining the airbag'"'"'s trajectory. A car-forward portion of an airbag housing that is horizontally oriented may rotate in a car-downward direction to allow a deployment trajectory of the deploying airbag to be more vertically oriented.

Claims

1. An inflatable airbag assembly comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

an inflator coupled to the inflatable airbag; and

a housing coupled to the inflator, wherein in a packaged configuration, the airbag is contained within the housing and the housing is in a contracted configuration,

wherein in a deployed configuration, the housing is in an extended configuration, wherein a car-forward portion has a greater height in the extended configuration than in the contracted configuration, and

wherein a car-rearward portion of the housing has a height that remains the same in the deployed configuration and in the contracted configuration.

2. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein upon deployment, the inflatable airbag exits the housing on a same side of the housing on which a hinge is located.

3. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein a car-downward portion of the housing rotates about a hinge that is located on a car-rearward and car-downward portion of the housing.

4. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises two side portions, and wherein each of the side portions expands when transitioning from the constricted configuration to the expanded configuration.

5. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a car-downward portion, and wherein a car-forward portion of the car-downward portion moves in a car-downward direction when the housing transitions from the constricted configuration to the expanded configuration.

6. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the housing is configured such that pressure from inflation gas causes the inflatable airbag to push the car-forward portion of the car-downward portion of the housing in the car-downward direction.

7. An inflatable airbag assembly comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

an inflator coupled to the inflatable airbag; and

a housing coupled to the inflator, wherein the housing comprises a car-upward portion and a car-downward portion, wherein the car-upward portion comprises a rigid reaction plate, and wherein the car-downward portion comprises a plurality of folds that permit the car-downward portion to rotate relative to the rigid reaction plate,

wherein, when the assembly is in a packaged configuration, the airbag is contained within the housing and the housing is in a contracted configuration, and

wherein, when the assembly transitions to a deployed configuration, the folds expand so that the housing is moved to an extended configuration, wherein a car-forward portion has a greater height in the extended configuration than in the contracted configuration.

8. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 7, wherein the car-downward portion comprises a hinge region.

9. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 8, wherein the housing is configured such that pressure from inflation gas acting on the airbag causes a portion of the car-downward portion to rotate about the hinge region.

13. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 7, wherein the inflator is coupled to the car-upward portion of the housing.

14. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 7, wherein the inflator is coupled to the car-downward portion of the housing.

10-12. -12. (canceled)

15. An inflatable airbag assembly comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

an inflator coupled to the inflatable airbag; and

a housing coupled to the inflator, wherein the housing comprises a car-upward portion and a car-downward portion, and wherein the car-upward portion comprises a rigid member and wherein the car-downward portion comprises a plastic member,

wherein the car-downward portion comprises a living hinge,

wherein in a packaged configuration, the airbag is contained within the housing and the housing has a contracted configuration,

wherein in a deployed configuration, the housing comprises an extended configuration, wherein a car-forward portion has a greater height than in the contracted configuration, and

wherein in the deployed configuration and in the constricted configuration, a car-rearward portion has a same height.

16. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 15, wherein the housing is configured such that inflation gas causes the inflatable airbag to apply pressure to a car-downward wall of the car-downward portion.

17. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 16, wherein a car-forward portion of the car-downward wall rotates in a car-downward direction, such that a car-rearward portion of the car-downward portion acts as a hinge.

18. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 15, wherein a car-forward wall of the housing comprises a plurality of folds.

19. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of sidewalls, and wherein each sidewall comprises accordion folds.

20. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 15, wherein the inflator is coupled to the car-upward portion of the housing.

21. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 15, wherein the inflator is coupled to the car-downward portion of the housing.