Knee guard device
First Claim
1. A knee guard apparatus arranged in a vehicle having a driver'"'"'s side and a co-driver'"'"'s side, a seat at each of the sides, a knee well in front of each seat in which the lower legs and the knees of an occupant sitting on each respective seat extend, a center console, a dashboard, and an A-column, said knee guard apparatus comprising:
- at least one gas generator; and
a tube-shaped gas bag inflatable by said at least one gas generator, said gas bag having a flexible wall with axial ends at which said gas bag is secured to the vehicle and, in a non-inflated state, a length along an imaginary center axis in an axial direction enabling said gas bag to extend in a substantially bow-shaped configuration around one of the knee wells in the vehicle,said length being reduced upon inflation of said gas bag by said at least one gas generator so that said gas bag is tensioned in said axial direction and tightened between its axial ends across said one knee well in front of the knees of an occupant to absorb radial forces exerted on said gas bag by the occupant'"'"'s knees and to restrain the occupant'"'"'s knees in the event of a vehicle collision.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A knee guard device for vehicle occupants comprises a gas bag arranged in the vehicle in a knee well for the vehicle occupant. In its non-inflated state, the gas bag has a length along an imaginary center axis in the axial direction which enables the gas bag to be installed substantially bow-shaped around the knee well in the vehicle. Upon inflation, the length of the gas bag is so reduced that it is tightened between its axial ends to be able to bear radial forces exerted to it by the knees of the occupant.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A knee guard apparatus arranged in a vehicle having a driver'"'"'s side and a co-driver'"'"'s side, a seat at each of the sides, a knee well in front of each seat in which the lower legs and the knees of an occupant sitting on each respective seat extend, a center console, a dashboard, and an A-column, said knee guard apparatus comprising:
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at least one gas generator; and a tube-shaped gas bag inflatable by said at least one gas generator, said gas bag having a flexible wall with axial ends at which said gas bag is secured to the vehicle and, in a non-inflated state, a length along an imaginary center axis in an axial direction enabling said gas bag to extend in a substantially bow-shaped configuration around one of the knee wells in the vehicle, said length being reduced upon inflation of said gas bag by said at least one gas generator so that said gas bag is tensioned in said axial direction and tightened between its axial ends across said one knee well in front of the knees of an occupant to absorb radial forces exerted on said gas bag by the occupant'"'"'s knees and to restrain the occupant'"'"'s knees in the event of a vehicle collision. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification