Inflatable protection mechanisms for vehicle instrument panel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- first and second cover segments adjacent one another and collectively defining an upward-facing surface of an instrument panel for a vehicle in an installed position of the first cover segment;
a support member spaced away from the first cover segment opposite the surface;
a sidewall body attached to the first cover segment and extending between the first cover segment and the support member and enclosing a first volume therein; and
an inflator fluidly coupled to the first volume,wherein, when the inflator expands the first volume, the sidewall body extends away from the support member and respectively displaces the entire first cover segment away from the upward-facing surface of the instrument panel to a deployed position away from the second cover segment.
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Abstract
An apparatus includes first and second cover segments adjacent one another and collectively defining a surface of an instrument panel for a vehicle in an installed position of the first cover segment and a support member spaced away from the first cover segment opposite the surface. The apparatus further includes a sidewall body extending between the first cover segment and the support member and enclosing a first volume therein and an inflator fluidly coupled to the first volume. When the inflator expands the first volume, the sidewall body extends away from the support member and respectively displaces the first cover segment to a deployed position away from the second cover segment.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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first and second cover segments adjacent one another and collectively defining an upward-facing surface of an instrument panel for a vehicle in an installed position of the first cover segment; a support member spaced away from the first cover segment opposite the surface; a sidewall body attached to the first cover segment and extending between the first cover segment and the support member and enclosing a first volume therein; and an inflator fluidly coupled to the first volume, wherein, when the inflator expands the first volume, the sidewall body extends away from the support member and respectively displaces the entire first cover segment away from the upward-facing surface of the instrument panel to a deployed position away from the second cover segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An assembly comprising:
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an instrument panel beam secured to a frame of a vehicle; first and base cover segments spaced away from the instrument panel beam, the first cover segment aligned with a substantially central region of the instrument panel beam, the first and base cover segments being adjacent one another in an installed position of the first cover segment and collectively defining at least a part of an upward-facing surface of an instrument panel for a vehicle facing opposite the instrument panel beam; a first sidewall body attached to the first cover segment and extending between the first cover segment and the instrument panel beam and enclosing a first volume therein; and a first inflator fluidly coupled to the first volume, wherein, when the first inflator expands the first volume, the first sidewall body extends away from the instrument panel beam and respectively displaces the entire first cover segment away from the upward-facing surface of the instrument panel to a deployed position away from the base cover segment. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification