Folded rigid knee airbag
First Claim
1. An airbag for preventing the lower body portion of a vehicle occupant from being propelled forward during a collision, comprising:
- a front panel made from a rigid material;
a back panel made from a rigid material and attached to the front panel, the back panel comprising an inflator interface configured to receive an inflator such that the inflator is substantially stationary with respect to a substantially flat portion of the back panel during inflation of the airbag;
wherein the back panel comprises a plurality of folds that cross each other such that the front panel remains substantially flat during discharge of the inflator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A folded rigid knee airbag for preventing the lower body portion of a vehicle occupant from being propelled forward during a collision is provided. The folded rigid knee airbag includes a back panel and a front panel attached to the back panel. Both the front panel and the back panel may be made from a rigid material, such as sheet metal. The back panel may include first and second accordion folds, and first and second vertical folds. The airbag may be in communication with an inflator. During discharge of the inflator, the accordion folds and the vertical folds unfold to form four substantially planar walls. The accordion folds and the vertical folds enable the front panel to remain substantially flat and maintain a substantially uniform cross-sectional area during inflation.
48 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. An airbag for preventing the lower body portion of a vehicle occupant from being propelled forward during a collision, comprising:
-
a front panel made from a rigid material;
a back panel made from a rigid material and attached to the front panel, the back panel comprising an inflator interface configured to receive an inflator such that the inflator is substantially stationary with respect to a substantially flat portion of the back panel during inflation of the airbag;
wherein the back panel comprises a plurality of folds that cross each other such that the front panel remains substantially flat during discharge of the inflator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An airbag for preventing the lower body portion of a vehicle occupant from being propelled forward during a collision, comprising:
-
a front panel made from a rigid material;
a back panel made from a rigid material and attached to the front panel, the back panel comprising an inflator interface configured to receive an inflator, wherein the inflator interface is centrally located with respect to the back panel, the back panel further comprising a folded portion configured to unfold during discharge of the inflator to form a substantially planar portion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An airbag for preventing the lower body portion of a vehicle occupant from being propelled forward during a collision, comprising:
-
a front panel made from a rigid material;
a back panel made from a rigid material and attached to the front panel, the back panel comprising;
an inflator interface configured to receive an inflator;
a first accordion fold configured to unfold during discharge of the inflator to form a first substantially planar wall;
a second accordion fold configured to unfold during discharge of the inflator to form a second substantially planar wall opposite the first substantially planar wall;
a first vertical fold configured to unfold during discharge of the inflator to form a third substantially planar wall adjacent the first and second substantially planar walls; and
a second vertical fold configured to unfold during discharge of the inflator to form a fourth substantially planar wall opposite the third substantially planar wall. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An airbag system for preventing the lower body portion of a vehicle occupant from being propelled forward during a collision, comprising:
-
a front panel made from a rigid material, the front panel having a first side and a second side;
a decorative trim panel attached to the first side of the front panel;
a back panel made from a rigid material and attached to the second side of the front panel, the back panel comprising;
an inflator interface configured to receive an inflator;
a first vertical fold configured to unfold during discharge of the inflator to form a first substantially planar wall;
a second vertical fold configured to unfold during discharge of the inflator to form a second substantially planar wall opposite the first substantially planar wall;
a first accordion fold configured to unfold during discharge of the inflator to form a third substantially planar wall adjacent the first and second substantially planar walls; and
a second accordion fold configured to unfold during discharge of the inflator to form a fourth substantially planar wall opposite the third substantially planar wall. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
Specification