Vehicle instrument panel with movable pods having fore and aft airbags

• US 6,095,273 A
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Baldas, Jason, Aboud, George
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASMIN, LYNDA C
• Application Number:
  US09/258,241
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/731, 280/732, 280/752, 280/748, 280/751, 280/750, 180/90, 296/70, 296/72
• US Class Current: 180/90
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/045 associated with the instrument panel or dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards

Abstract

A vehicle instrument panel assembly includes a vehicle console with first and second movable instrument panel pods positioned on opposing sides of the console. Each pod is independently movable in forward and rearward directions with respect to the console. Each pod includes a first airbag positioned at a forward side thereof and a second airbag positioned at a rearward side thereof for improved energy management.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle console;

first and second movable instrument panel pods positioned on opposing sides of the vehicle console, each said pod being independently movable forward and rearward in the vehicle; and

wherein each said pod includes a first airbag positioned at a forward side thereof and a second airbag positioned at rearward side thereof.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each said first airbag is mounted to the forward side of the respective pod.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a firewall positioned in the vehicle forward of said first and second movable instrument panel pods, and wherein each said first airbag is mounted to the firewall.

4. A vehicle instrument panel assembly comprising:

a vehicle console;

first and second movable instrument panel pods positioned on opposing sides of the vehicle console, each said pod being independently movable in forward and rearward directions with respect to the vehicle console; and

wherein each said pod includes a first airbag positioned at a forward side thereof and a second airbag positioned at a rearward side thereof.

5. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle console;

first and second movable instrument panel pods positioned on opposing sides of the vehicle console, each said pod being independently movable forward and rearward in the vehicle; and

wherein each said pod includes a first airbag positioned at a forward side thereof and at least one of said pods includes a second airbag positioned at a rearward side thereof.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein each said first airbag is mounted to the forward side of the respective pod.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a firewall positioned in the vehicle forward of said first and second movable instrument panel pods, and wherein each said first airbag is mounted to the firewall.