Low risk deployment passenger airbag system
First Claim
1. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion with a surface which is more horizontal than vertical and generally directed toward the windshield and a mid portion with a surface which is more vertical than horizontal and generally directed toward an occupant'"'"'s torso in the passenger compartment, the passenger airbag system comprising:
- a top-mounted airbag disposed in the top portion of the instrument panel and a mid-mounted airbag disposed in the mid portion of the instrument panel, both airbags being deployable through the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with an occupant seated in the passenger compartment, the predetermined path being substantially horizontal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A low risk deployment passenger airbag system has two separate airbags, a top-mounted airbag and a mid-mounted airbag. The top-mounted airbag deploys into the adult occupant'"'"'s head and upper torso areas without generating substantial downward deployment, while the mid-mounted airbag deploys into the adult occupant'"'"'s lower torso area without generating substantial upward deployment. This mode of substantially horizontal deployments can provide an out-of-position child with a safe mode of airbag inflation, reducing the risk of neck injuries. An infant in a rear facing child seat receives distributed small forces from two airbags with a possible time delay in initial airbag contact rather than a concentrated large force from the conventional single passenger airbag. The total capacity of the two airbags is about the same as the conventional single passenger airbag and thus can provide as effective protection. The top-mounted airbag has a larger capacity in volume than the mid-mounted airbag and serves as a main airbag for protecting in-position occupants. The mid-mounted airbag may be deployed at low output or no output level for belted occupants during high-speed crashes, which in turn can help reduce the injury values of an infant dummy in a rear facing child seat during the low risk deployment test.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion with a surface which is more horizontal than vertical and generally directed toward the windshield and a mid portion with a surface which is more vertical than horizontal and generally directed toward an occupant'"'"'s torso in the passenger compartment, the passenger airbag system comprising:
a top-mounted airbag disposed in the top portion of the instrument panel and a mid-mounted airbag disposed in the mid portion of the instrument panel, both airbags being deployable through the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with an occupant seated in the passenger compartment, the predetermined path being substantially horizontal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion with a surface which is more horizontal than vertical and generally directed toward the windshield and a mid portion with a surface which is more vertical than horizontal and generally directed toward an occupant'"'"'s torso in the passenger compartment, the passenger airbag system comprising:
a top-mounted airbag disposed in the top portion of the instrument panel and a mid-mounted airbag disposed in the mid portion of the instrument panel, both airbags being deployable through the instrument panel for direct contact with an occupant seated in the passenger compartment, the top-mounted airbag having a volume after deployment that is substantially larger than the volume of the mid-mounted airbag after deployment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and windshield, the passenger airbag system comprising:
an upper airbag and a lower airbag, both being deployable through the instrument panel for direct contact with an occupant seated in the passenger compartment, the deployment of the airbags during high speed crashes being controlled in accordance with an algorithm that defines a predetermined high output level for the deployment of the upper airbag and a predetermined low output level for the deployment of the lower airbag when it is determined that the occupant is restrained by a safety belt in the occupant compartment, the low output level being lower than the high output level. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
Specification