Knee airbag with passive venting for out of position occupant protection
First Claim
1. An occupant protection system for a vehicle comprising a knee airbag installed in a lower portion of an instrument panel and having a deployed condition wherein it extends rearward and upward to place a reaction surface of the airbag in contact with the instrument panel, the airbag comprising:
- a left lobe, a right lobe, and a central portion disposed between and joined to the left and right lobes; and
a vent formed in each of the lobes on the reaction surface, a vent-bearing portion of the reaction surface immediately adjacent each vent is recessed relative to a portion of the reaction surface surrounding the vent-bearing portion, whereby the vent-bearing portion is spaced from the instrument panel such that the vents are spaced from the instrument panel to allow inflation gasses to escape from the airbag when an occupant force directed forwardly against the lobes is below a threshold level, and the vent bearing portions are urged against the instrument panel to substantially block the escape of inflation gasses when the occupant force reaches or exceeds the threshold level.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A knee airbag installed in a lower portion of an instrument panel has a deployed condition wherein it extends rearward and upward. The airbag has a left lobe, a right lobe, and a central portion between and joined to the left and right lobes. A vent is formed in the reaction surface of each of the lobes to allow inflation gasses to escape from the airbag when, during a crash event, an occupant force applied forwardly against the lobes is below a threshold level. When the occupant force reaches or exceeds the threshold level, the vents are urged against the instrument panel to substantially block the escape of inflation gasses. The threshold level is selected such that a child-sized occupant standing forward of a desired passenger seating position exerts less than the threshold level.
51 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An occupant protection system for a vehicle comprising a knee airbag installed in a lower portion of an instrument panel and having a deployed condition wherein it extends rearward and upward to place a reaction surface of the airbag in contact with the instrument panel, the airbag comprising:
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a left lobe, a right lobe, and a central portion disposed between and joined to the left and right lobes; and a vent formed in each of the lobes on the reaction surface, a vent-bearing portion of the reaction surface immediately adjacent each vent is recessed relative to a portion of the reaction surface surrounding the vent-bearing portion, whereby the vent-bearing portion is spaced from the instrument panel such that the vents are spaced from the instrument panel to allow inflation gasses to escape from the airbag when an occupant force directed forwardly against the lobes is below a threshold level, and the vent bearing portions are urged against the instrument panel to substantially block the escape of inflation gasses when the occupant force reaches or exceeds the threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An occupant protection system for a vehicle comprising a knee airbag installed in a lower portion of an instrument panel and having a deployed condition wherein it extends rearward and upward immediately adjacent to the instrument panel, the knee airbag comprising:
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a left lobe, a right lobe, and a central portion disposed between and joined to the left and right lobes; a vent formed in a vent-bearing portion of an instrument panel-facing surface of each lobe, the vent-bearing portion immediately adjacent each vent being recessed relative to a portion of the instrument panel-facing surface surrounding the vent-bearing portion such that the vent-bearing portions are urged against the instrument panel and the vents are substantially blocked when an occupant force directed forwardly against the lobes reaches a threshold level, and the vent-bearing portions are spaced from the instrument panel to permit flow through the vents when the occupant force is below the threshold level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification