Knee bag cover retention design

• US 5,630,621 A
• Filed: 07/12/1996
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Morton International Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schneider, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US08/728,136
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 280/753, 280/751, 280/752, 280/732, 280/728.1, 280/748, 280/730.1
• US Class Current: 280/753
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21525 the lid being fixed on the bag, or forming part of the bag wall, or the bag itself being used as wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components

Abstract

A knee bag cushion is attached to a bolster panel or cushion cover by providing channels on an inner face of the bolster panel and providing retention rods on the outside of the knee bag cushion. The rods are attached to the cushion by passing through loops sewed to the cushion. The retention rods are assembled to the channels by sliding or snapping in the cushion with the rods into the channels on the bolster panel.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle knee bag cushion/knee bolster assembly with enhanced stability which includes:

a knee bolster panel or cover,

at least two spaced channels secured to said bolster panel or cover,

a knee bag cushion, and

at least two retention rods attached to the outside of said cushion,

whereby when said retention rods are slid into said channels, said bolster panel is secured to said knee bag cushion.

2. The assembly of claim 1 in which loops are secured onto said cushion for mounting said retention rods.

3. The assembly of claim 1 in which said retention rods extend lengthwise of said knee bolster panel, i.e., transversely of said automotive vehicle.

4. The assembly of claim 1 in which said retention rods are nylon.

5. The assembly of claim 1 including means to inflate said cushion.

6. The assembly of claim 1 in which said channels have a C shape adapted to receive said rods.

7. A method of assembling a knee bag bolster to a knee bag cushion which comprises:

securing at least two channels to one exterior surface of said bolster panel,

securing at least two retention rods to the exterior of said knee bag cushion,

and sliding or snapping said rods into said channels to assemble said bolster panel and said knee bag cushion.