Knee airbag having increased package width
First Claim
1. A knee airbag assembly that is operable to restrain at least one leg of an occupant of a vehicle comprising:
- an inflator;
a housing; and
an airbag that moves between a stowed state and a deployed state, the inflator operable to selectively inflate the airbag to move the airbag from the stowed state to the deployed state, the airbag being housed within the housing in the stowed state, the airbag extending from the housing in the deployed state, the airbag defining a package width when in the stowed state, the airbag defining a deployed width when in a fully deployed state, a ratio of the package width to the deployed width being between approximately 0.8 and 1.0,wherein the airbag includes a tethered region and at least one side region that is untethered, the at least one side region being folded over the tethered region when in the stowed position, the at least one side region being unfolded from the tethered region when in the fully deployed position to partially define the fully deployed width.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A knee airbag assembly is operable to restrain at least one leg of an occupant of a vehicle. The assembly includes an inflator, a housing, and an airbag that moves between a stowed state and a deployed state. The inflator is operable to selectively inflate the airbag to move the airbag from the stowed state to the deployed state. The airbag is housed within the housing in the stowed state, and the airbag extends from the housing in the deployed state. The airbag defines a package width when in the stowed state, and the airbag defines a deployed width when in the deployed state. A ratio of the package width to the deployed width is between approximately 0.8 and 1.0.
43 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A knee airbag assembly that is operable to restrain at least one leg of an occupant of a vehicle comprising:
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an inflator; a housing; and an airbag that moves between a stowed state and a deployed state, the inflator operable to selectively inflate the airbag to move the airbag from the stowed state to the deployed state, the airbag being housed within the housing in the stowed state, the airbag extending from the housing in the deployed state, the airbag defining a package width when in the stowed state, the airbag defining a deployed width when in a fully deployed state, a ratio of the package width to the deployed width being between approximately 0.8 and 1.0, wherein the airbag includes a tethered region and at least one side region that is untethered, the at least one side region being folded over the tethered region when in the stowed position, the at least one side region being unfolded from the tethered region when in the fully deployed position to partially define the fully deployed width. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of restraining at least one leg of an occupant of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a housing and an airbag that is operable to move between a stowed state and a deployed state, the airbag being housed within the housing in the stowed state, the airbag extending from the housing in the deployed state, the airbag defining a package width when in the stowed state, the airbag defining a deployed width when in a fully deployed state; stowing the airbag in the housing, wherein the airbag includes a tethered region and at least one side region that is untethered, wherein stowing the airbag includes folding the at least one side region over the tethered region, the at least one side region being unfolded from the tethered region when in the deployed position to partially define the fully deployed width; and moving the airbag from the stowed state to the fully deployed state such that a ratio of the package width to the deployed width is between approximately 0.8 and 1.0. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification