Low risk deployment passenger airbag system with knee protection
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 adjacent the windshield, a lower portion with a surface that is generally directed toward the legs of an occupant in the passenger compartment and a mid portion with a surface that extends between the top portion and the lower portion, the passenger airbag system comprising:
- a first airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel and an airbag cushion deployable from the housing through the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with the head and torso of an adult occupant sitting in the passenger compartment; and
a second airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel and an airbag cushion deployable from the housing through the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with an occupant seated in the passenger compartment, the second airbag cushion having an upper portion for contacting the torso of the occupant and a lower portion after deployment that at least partially fills a space between the occupant'"'"'s lower extremities and the lower portion of the instrument panel, the second airbag cushion further having a membrane separating the upper portion from the lower portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A passenger airbag system is designed for an automotive vehicle with a passenger compartment, a windshield and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and the windshield. The instrument panel has a top portion adjacent the windshield, a lower surface generally directed toward the legs of an occupant and a mid-portion with a surface that extends between the top and lower portions. The system includes a first airbag and a second airbag both disposed in the instrument panel. Each airbag has a cushion deployable from the housing through the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with an occupant seated in the passenger compartment. The second airbag has a lower portion when deployed that fills a space between the occupant'"'"'s lower extremities and the lower portion of the instrument panel and thus acts as a knee airbag.
80 Citations
19 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 adjacent the windshield, a lower portion with a surface that is generally directed toward the legs of an occupant in the passenger compartment and a mid portion with a surface that extends between the top portion and the lower portion, the passenger airbag system comprising:
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a first airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel and an airbag cushion deployable from the housing through the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with the head and torso of an adult occupant sitting in the passenger compartment; and a second airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel and an airbag cushion deployable from the housing through the instrument panel along a predetermined path for direct contact with an occupant seated in the passenger compartment, the second airbag cushion having an upper portion for contacting the torso of the occupant and a lower portion after deployment that at least partially fills a space between the occupant'"'"'s lower extremities and the lower portion of the instrument panel, the second airbag cushion further having a membrane separating the upper portion from the lower portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and the windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion adjacent the windshield, a lower portion with a surface that is generally directed toward the legs of an occupant in the passenger compartment and a mid portion with a surface that extends between the top portion and the lower portion, the passenger airbag system comprising:
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a first airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel, the first airbag being deployable along a predetermined path for direct contact with an adult occupant sitting in the passenger compartment, the first airbag having a lower surface when deployed; a second airbag having a housing disposed in the instrument panel, the second airbag being deployable along a predetermined path for direct contact with the torso of the adult occupant seated in the passenger compartment; and the second airbag further having an upper part that is disposed between the occupant'"'"'s upper legs and the lower surface of the first airbag, and a lower part that is located between the occupant'"'"'s knees or lower legs and the lower portion of the instrument panel. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification