Knee restraint device for vehicles

• US 6,131,950 A
• Filed: 02/17/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Schroter, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/024,363
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 280/753, 280/751, 280/752, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/730.1, 280/732, 280/743.2
• 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 2021/2175 using energy absorbing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/045 associated with the instrument panel or dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

A knee restraint device for vehicles comprises a knee protector plate movable in the direction of the knees of a vehicle occupant, a base plate connectable to a vehicle structure having at least one opening for connection to a gas generator and a wall of flexible material folded between said base plate and said knee protector plate in the resting condition. Said wall is connected along a first closed rim to said base plate and along a second closed rim to said knee protector plate. To control the movement path of the knee protector plate during the inflation action a first edge of said knee protector plate oriented in the vehicle transverse direction is held swivable and releasable on said base plate and a second edge of said knee protector plate located opposite said first edge is secured to said base plate by a fastener which releases on activation of said gas generator due to the expansion pressure of said wall being deployed. The fastener releases before said knee protector plate has swivelled about its first edge and has been subsequently released from said base plate.

Claims

1. A knee restraint device for vehicles, comprising:

a knee protector plate movable in the direction of the knees of a vehicle occupant,

a gas generator,

a base plate connectable to a vehicle structure having at least one opening for connection to said gas generator,

a wall of flexible material with a first closed rim and a second closed rim,

said wall being folded between said base plate and said knee protector plate in a resting condition and being connected along said first closed rim to said base plate and along said second closed rim to said knee protect-or plate,

said knee protector plate having a first edge oriented in a vehicle transverse direction and a second edge located opposite said first edge,

said first edge being held swivable and releasable on said base plate, and

defeatable fastening means for securing said second edge to said base plate,

said flexible wall expanding in response to an increase in pressure upon activation of said gas generator, and

wherein, when said flexible wall expands, said defeatable fastening means releases, such that further expansion of the flexible wall causes said knee protector plate to swivel about its first edge, whereby still further expansion causes said first edge to release from the base plate.

2. The knee restraint device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base plate has a ledge fixedly arranged thereon, said first edge of said knee protector plate being held between said base plate and said ledge.

3. The knee restraint device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a sail having a first rim and a second rim, said sail being arranged within a volume defined by said flexible wall, said base plate and said knee protector plate, said first rim of said sail being connected to said base plate and said second rim of said sail being connected to said knee protector plate,, so that on activation of said gas generator a flow impinging on said sail exerts a pressure on said knee protector plate after said first edge of said knee protector plate has been released from said base plate, said pressure causing said knee protector plate to move substantially parallel to its swiveled-out position and away from said base plate.

4. The knee restraint device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible wall is formed as a bag, an opening of said bag being defined by said first closed rim.

5. The knee restraint device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said sail defines a final position of said knee protector plate in a deployed condition of said wall.

6. The knee restraint device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base plate is connected to said vehicle structure via a mechanical deformation element.

7. The knee restraint device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base plate is provided with a frame plate connected to said vehicle structure and a mounting plate secured to said vehicle structure, said mounting plate mounting said gas generator.

8. The knee restraint device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said flexible wall is clamped in place along said first closed rim between said frame plate and said mounting plate.

9. The knee restraint device as set forth in claim 7, wherein a profile ledge is mounted between said frame plate and said mounting plate, said flexible wall being secured to said profile ledge along said first closed rim.

10. The knee restraint device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second closed rim of said flexible wall is formed by a surrounding fold of said flexible wall and said knee protector plate is provided with a surrounding beading encompassing said surrounding fold of said flexible wall.

11. The knee restraint device as set forth in claim 10, wherein a reinforcement ring is inserted in said surrounding fold of said flexible wall and said beading of said knee protector plate encompasses said surrounding fold and said inserted reinforcement ring.