Dent and vibration resistant rigid knee airbag

• US 6,712,385 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Enders, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/242,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/801.1, 280/805, 280/751, 280/752, 296/70
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0051 Knees
• 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 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23519 Resin
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23523 Composite
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23528 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/045 associated with the instrument panel or dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material

Abstract

An inflatable rigid knee airbag system for assisting in positioning and decelerating a vehicle occupant is disclosed. The system may include a front and a rear rigid panel, which may be made from sheet metal. The front and rear rigid panels define at least a portion of an inflatable chamber. The inflatable chamber is in fluid communication with an inflator that injects inflatable gas into the inflatable chamber when accident conditions exist. A support core positioned between the front and rear panels dampens vibrations of the front and rear panels and minimizes unsightly denting of the front panel when the inflatable rigid knee airbag system is in a pre-deployment state. The support core may be made from foam.

Claims

1. An inflatable airbag comprising:

a rear panel;

a front panel attached to the rear panel, wherein the front and rear panels are constructed of substantially rigid materials; and

a support core positioned in an inflatable chamber defined at least in part by the front and rear panels.

2. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the support core comprises foam.

3. The inflatable airbag of claim 2, wherein the foam comprises a preformed foam.

4. The inflatable airbag of claim 3, wherein the pre-formed foam defines a recess into which inflation gas is directed.

5. The inflatable airbag of claim 2, wherein the foam comprises an injected foam.

6. The inflatable airbag of claim 2, wherein the foam comprises a phenolic foam.

7. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the support core substantially occupies the inflatable chamber.

8. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the support core is attached to the front panel.

9. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the support core is attached to both the front and rear panels.

10. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the support core breaks into smaller pieces in response to injection of inflation gases into the inflatable chamber.

11. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the rear panel is directly attached to the front panel.

12. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the rear panel deforms in response to injection of inflation gases into an inflatable chamber defined by the front and rear panels.

13. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, further comprising an extensible bellows panel attached to both the front and rear panels.

14. An inflatable knee airbag comprising:

a rear panel;

a front panel attached to the rear panel,

wherein the front and rear panels are constructed of substantially rigid materials; and

a support core positioned in an inflatable chamber defined at least in part by the front and rear panels and attached to at least one of the front and rear panels.

15. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 14, wherein the support core comprises foam.

16. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 15, wherein the foam comprises a pre-formed foam.

17. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 16, wherein the pre-formed foam defines a recess into which inflation gas is directed.

18. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 15, wherein the foam comprises an injected foam.

19. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 15, wherein the foam comprises a phenolic foam.

20. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 14, wherein the support core substantially occupies the inflatable chamber.

21. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 14, wherein the support core breaks into smaller pieces in response to injection of inflation gases into the inflatable chamber.

22. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 14, wherein the rear panel is directly attached to the front panel.

23. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 22, wherein the rear panel deforms in response to injection of inflation gases into an inflatable chamber defined by the front and rear panels.

24. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 14, further comprising an extensible bellows panel attached to both the front and rear panels.

25. An inflatable airbag system comprising:

a rear panel;

a front panel attached to the rear panel,

wherein the front and rear panels are constructed of substantially rigid materials;

an inflatable chamber defined at least in part by the front and rear panels;

a support core substantially occupying the inflatable chamber; and

an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber for generating inflation gas to fill the inflatable chamber.

26. The inflatable airbag system of claim 25, wherein the support core comprises foam.

27. The inflatable airbag system of claim 26, wherein the foam comprises a pre-formed foam.

28. The inflatable airbag system of claim 27, wherein the pre-formed foam defines a recess into which inflation gas is directed.

29. The inflatable airbag system of claim 26, wherein the foam comprises an injected foam.

30. The inflatable airbag system of claim 26, wherein the foam comprises a phenolic foam.

31. The inflatable airbag system of claim 25, wherein the support core is attached to the front panel.

32. The inflatable airbag system of claim 25, wherein the support core is attached to both the front and rear panels.

33. The inflatable airbag system of claim 25, wherein the support core breaks into smaller pieces in response to injection of inflation gases into the inflatable chamber.

34. The inflatable airbag system of claim 25, wherein the rear panel is directly attached to the front panel.

35. The inflatable airbag system of claim 34, wherein the rear panel deforms in response to injection of inflation gases into the inflatable chamber.

36. The inflatable airbag system of claim 25, further comprising an extensible bellows panel attached to both the front and rear panels.