Motor vehicle and a motor vehicle airbag module
First Claim
1. A motor vehicle airbag module for housing an airbag and an airbag inflation arrangement to provide gas to inflate and deploy the airbag, the module comprising an open ended container defined by a top plate for attaching the module to a structural part of a motor vehicle, a bottom plate, two side walls and a rear wall, the top plate, bottom plate and side walls having front edges defining an aperture through which, in use, an airbag can be deployed wherein each of the side walls is formed as two parts, a first part connected to the top plate and a second part connected to the bottom plate and are interconnected and shaped relative to each other to define an interconnection therebetween which resists relative movement in one direction but provides no resistance to relative movement in an opposite direction, the interconnection being such that upon the application of an impact force to the bottom plate in a direction towards the top plate, the parts of the side wall members slide past each other in a controlled manner thereby allowing the bottom plate to move towards the top plate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag module 20 is disclosed in which the side walls 28, 29 are formed in two parts 28U,28L; 29U,29L connected together by a one way connection that resists relative motion in one direction but not in another.
36 Citations
11 Claims
- 1. A motor vehicle airbag module for housing an airbag and an airbag inflation arrangement to provide gas to inflate and deploy the airbag, the module comprising an open ended container defined by a top plate for attaching the module to a structural part of a motor vehicle, a bottom plate, two side walls and a rear wall, the top plate, bottom plate and side walls having front edges defining an aperture through which, in use, an airbag can be deployed wherein each of the side walls is formed as two parts, a first part connected to the top plate and a second part connected to the bottom plate and are interconnected and shaped relative to each other to define an interconnection therebetween which resists relative movement in one direction but provides no resistance to relative movement in an opposite direction, the interconnection being such that upon the application of an impact force to the bottom plate in a direction towards the top plate, the parts of the side wall members slide past each other in a controlled manner thereby allowing the bottom plate to move towards the top plate.
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11. A motor vehicle having a body structure defining an engine compartment and a passenger compartment separated by a firewall, a first structural member connected to the firewall near to an upper edge on the passenger compartment side of the firewall, a second structural member extending between opposite sides of the motor vehicle on the passenger compartment side of the firewall, a knee bolster connected to said second structural member for controlled collapse in the event of an impact above a pre-determined force and an airbag module housing an airbag and an inflation arrangement to provide gas to inflate and deploy the airbag, the module comprising an open ended container defined by a top plate for attaching the module to said first structural member, a bottom plate, two side walls and a rear wall, the top plate, bottom plate and side walls having front edges defining an aperture through which the airbag can be deployed, wherein each of the side walls is formed as two parts, a first part connected to the top plate and a second part connected to the bottom plate and are interconnected and shaped relative to each other to define an interconnection therebetween which resists relative movement in one direction but provides no resistance to relative movement in an opposite direction, the interconnection being such that upon the application of an impact force to the bottom plate in a direction towards the top plate, the parts of the side wall members slide past each other in a controlled manner thereby allowing the bottom plate to move towards the top plate.
Specification