Adaptive vent for knee airbag

• US 9,815,429 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schneider, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US15/051,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20170240132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A knee airbag (KAB) can be constructed with an adaptive vent for reducing internal cushion pressure when the deployment path is obstructed. Obstruction may occur, for instance, by an out-of-position occupant, or when the occupant'"'"'s legs are in close proximity to the deploying KAB. By reducing the cushion pressure through adaptive venting, a potential for injury due to the deploying KAB can be reduced. External straps can be used to close the vents when no obstruction is encountered. With an adaptive KAB vent design, a direct contact between the occupant and the KAB adaptive vent straps can determine an amount of venting. In addition, the straps may be designed so that they are adaptive (tapered, positioned on an angle, or using different spacing) to account for different occupant sizes/knee spacing/knee contact locations.

Claims

1. An inflatable knee airbag configured to be positioned in a vehicle forward of an occupant position and at a bottom portion of one of an instrument panel and a seat back, wherein the inflatable knee airbag comprises:

a plurality of panels defining an inflatable chamber, at least one panel comprising a vent, the inflatable chamber to receive inflation gas provided by an inflator;

a strap external to the chamber and coupled to the inflatable chamber, the strap configured to;

obstruct the vent when there is an obstructed deployment of the inflatable knee airbag causing a pressure pushing the strap against the vent; and

at least partially uncover the vent when there is an unobstructed deployment of the inflatable knee airbag causing a lack of pressure of the strap against the vent.

2. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 1, wherein the pressure of the strap being pushed against the vent is to be caused by a large or tall occupant.

3. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 1, wherein the lack of pressure of the strap against the vent results from lack of contact with a small or short-statured occupant.

4. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 1, wherein the strap extends over a top portion of the inflatable chamber.

5. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 4, wherein a first end of the strap is attached to a front of the inflatable chamber and a second end of the strap is attached to a back of the inflatable chamber.

6. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 1, wherein the strap is a panel.

7. The inflatable knee airbag of claim 6, wherein the strap is configured to cover a plurality of vents.