Integral head/torso airbag and knee airbag restraint system
First Claim
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1. A vehicle occupant restraint module assembly comprising an occupant head/torso airbag and a knee airbag for concurrent deployment from a single inflator, said assembly comprising:
- a trough-shaped module canister comprising a bottom wall, and first and second opposing sidewalls and first and second opposing endwalls extending therefrom and forming a trough opening opposite said bottom wall, said first sidewall having at least one kneebag inflation port therein;
an inflator having a plurality of inflator gas exhaust ports and mounted along said bottom wall of the canister;
an occupant head/torso airbag mounted to said module canister for receiving inflation gases from the inflation gas exhaust ports of the inflator into a mouth of said head/torso airbag through the trough opening;
an occupant knee airbag mounted to said module canister for receiving inflation gases from the inflator gas exhaust ports of the inflator into a mouth of said knee airbag through the at least one kneebag inflation port in the first sidewall of the module canister; and
an inflation gas diffuser and an inflation gas diverter mounted in said module canister intermediate the inflation gas exhaust ports of the inflator and the mouth of the head/torso airbag for diffusing a first portion of inflation gases from the inflator into the mouth of the head/torso airbag and for diverting a second portion of the inflation gases from the inflator into the mouth of the knee airbag through the at least one kneebag inflation port in the first sidewall of the module canister.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trough-shaped airbag canister and module assembly has an integral diffuser and diverter for permitting simultaneous deployment of a head/torso airbag and a knee airbag. The integral diffuser and diverter in the canister diffuses a first portion of inflation gases from an inflator to a mouth of a head/torso airbag and diffuses and diverts a second portion of the inflation gases through a kneebag inflation port in a sidewall of the canister and into a mouth of a knee airbag.
115 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant restraint module assembly comprising an occupant head/torso airbag and a knee airbag for concurrent deployment from a single inflator, said assembly comprising:
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a trough-shaped module canister comprising a bottom wall, and first and second opposing sidewalls and first and second opposing endwalls extending therefrom and forming a trough opening opposite said bottom wall, said first sidewall having at least one kneebag inflation port therein; an inflator having a plurality of inflator gas exhaust ports and mounted along said bottom wall of the canister; an occupant head/torso airbag mounted to said module canister for receiving inflation gases from the inflation gas exhaust ports of the inflator into a mouth of said head/torso airbag through the trough opening; an occupant knee airbag mounted to said module canister for receiving inflation gases from the inflator gas exhaust ports of the inflator into a mouth of said knee airbag through the at least one kneebag inflation port in the first sidewall of the module canister; and an inflation gas diffuser and an inflation gas diverter mounted in said module canister intermediate the inflation gas exhaust ports of the inflator and the mouth of the head/torso airbag for diffusing a first portion of inflation gases from the inflator into the mouth of the head/torso airbag and for diverting a second portion of the inflation gases from the inflator into the mouth of the knee airbag through the at least one kneebag inflation port in the first sidewall of the module canister. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A trough-shaped canister for a vehicle occupant restraint module assembly comprising an occupant head/torso airbag and a knee airbag for concurrent deployment from a single inflator, said trough-shaped canister comprising:
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a bottom wall, and first and second opposing sidewalls and first and second opposing endwalls extending therefrom and forming a trough opening opposite said bottom wall, said first sidewall having at least one kneebag inflation port therein; means on internal surfaces of said first and second sidewalls for mounting an occupant head/torso airbag to said canister for receiving a first portion of inflation gases into a mouth of said head/torso airbag through the trough opening from an inflator mountable along the wall of the canister; means on an external surface of said first sidewall for mounting an occupant knee airbag to said canister for receiving a second portion of inflation gases into a mouth of said knee airbag through the at least one kneebag inflation port in the first sidewall of the canister from an inflator mountable along the bottom wall of the canister; and an inflation gas diffuser and an inflation gas diverter mounted in said canister intermediate the bottom wall and the means on the internal surfaces of the sidewalls for mounting the head/torso airbag for diffusing the first portion of inflation gases into the head/torso airbag and for diverting the second portion of the inflation gases from the inflator into the knee airbag through the at least one kneebag inflation port in the first sidewall of the canister. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification