Occupant knee protection system for vehicle and inflating and deploying method
First Claim
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1. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an inflator;
an airbag which is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied form from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and
a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle is provided inside the airbag, characterized in that;
the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, front and rear end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to front and rear walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, that the inflator is disposed at an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and that a direction of the gas flow from the inflator is in a vertical direction of the vehicle, and the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a mountain shape which protrudes against the gas flow from the inflator.
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Abstract
An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle (10) has an airbag (11), which is folded and stored in a part of a vehicle, inflate and deploy in front of the occupant'"'"'s knees by gas supplied from an inflator (12), so as to protect the occupant'"'"'s knees. The airbag (11) has in its inside a tether (11c) (gas flow dividing portion whose front and rear end portions are connected to front and rear walls (11a, 11b) of the airbag (11), both walls being arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so as to appropriately regulate a longitudinal thickness (D) of the airbag (11)) for dividing a gas flow from the inflator (12) in right and left directions of the vehicle.
21 Citations
55 Claims
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1. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag which is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied form from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle is provided inside the airbag, characterized in that; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, front and rear end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to front and rear walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, that the inflator is disposed at an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and that a direction of the gas flow from the inflator is in a vertical direction of the vehicle, and the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a mountain shape which protrudes against the gas flow from the inflator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An inflating and deploying method of an airbag of an occupant knee protection system for a vehicle by supplying a gas from an inflator, comprising the step steps of:
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inflating the airbag by the inflator; dividing a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle by a dividing portion;
anddeploying the airbag characterized by comprising the step of; forming the gas flow dividing portion in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and thereby connecting front and rear end portions of the gas flow dividing portion to front and rear walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, and disposing the inflator at an upper end portion or lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and directing the gas flow from the inflator in a vertical direction of the vehicle, and forming the gas flow dividing portion in a mountain shape which protrudes against the gas flow from the inflator. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, first and second end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to first and second walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator is disposed at an uppermost end or a lowermost end of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle, the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a lateral direction of the vehicle, upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, first and second end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to first and second walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator includes a gas supply hole that faces the gas flow dividing portion in a state when the airbag is deployed, the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a lateral direction of the vehicle, upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, first and second end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to first and second walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a lateral direction of the vehicle, the gas flow from the inflator directly impinges upon the gas flow dividing portion, and upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant.
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26. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, first and second end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to first and second walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a lateral direction of the vehicle, the inflator includes a gas supply hole arranged to emit gas in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the gas flow dividing portion in a state when the airbag is deployed, and upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant.
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27. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, first and second end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to first and second walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator is disposed at an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle, the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a lateral direction of the vehicle, a direction of the gas flow from the inflator is in a vertical direction of the vehicle, and upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant.
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28. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, first and second end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to first and second walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator is disposed at an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a planar surface, the gas flow from the inflator directly impinges upon the gas flow dividing portion, and upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, front and rear end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to front and rear walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator is disposed at an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle; the gas flow dividing portion has one end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which is connected to the front wall of the air bag in such a manner that a height of the one end is substantially constant and has an opposite end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which is connected to the rear wall of the air bag in such a manner that a height of the opposite end is substantially constant, the gas flow from the inflator directly impinges upon the gas flow dividing portion, and upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, first and second end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to first and second walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator includes a gas supply hole that faces the gas flow dividing portion in a state when the airbag is deployed, the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a planar surface, upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, front and rear end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to front and rear walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator includes a gas supply hole that faces the gas flow dividing portion in a state when the airbag is deployed, the gas flow dividing portion has one end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which is connected to the front wall of the air bag in such a manner that a height of the one end is substantially constant and has an opposite end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which is connected to the rear wall of the air bag in such a manner that a height of the opposite end is substantially constant, upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, first and second end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to first and second walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator is disposed at an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle; the inflator includes a gas supply hole arranged to emit the gas in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the gas flow dividing portion in a state when the airbag is deployed, the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a planar surface, upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant.
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51. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, front and rear end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to front and rear walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator is disposed at an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle; the inflator includes a gas supply hole arranged to emit the gas in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the gas flow dividing portion in a state when the airbag is deployed, the gas flow dividing portion has one end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which is connected to the front wall of the air bag in such a manner that a height of the one end is substantially constant and has an opposite end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which is connected to the rear wall of the air bag in such a manner that a height of the opposite end is substantially constant, upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant.
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52. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, first and second end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to first and second walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator is disposed at an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle; the inflator includes a gas supply hole that faces the gas flow dividing portion in a state when the airbag is deployed, the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a planar surface, upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant.
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53. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, front and rear end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to front and rear walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator is disposed at an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle; the inflator includes a gas supply hole that faces the gas flow dividing portion in a state when the airbag is deployed, the gas flow dividing portion has one end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which is connected to the front wall of the air bag in such a manner that a height of the one end is substantially constant and has an opposite end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which is connected to the rear wall of the air bag in such a manner that a height of the opposite end is substantially constant, upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant.
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54. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, first and second end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to first and second walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator is disposed at an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle; a direction of the gas flow from the inflator is in a vertical direction of the vehicle, the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a planar surface, upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant.
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55. An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an inflator; an airbag that is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, that is inflated and deployed in front of knees of an occupant by a gas supplied from the inflator for protecting knees of the occupant; and a gas flow dividing portion that divides a gas flow from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle and that is provided inside the airbag, wherein; the gas flow dividing portion is formed in a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, front and rear end portions of the gas flow dividing portion being connected to front and rear walls, that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the airbag, the inflator is disposed at an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the airbag as viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle; a direction of the gas flow from the inflator is in a vertical direction of the vehicle, the gas flow dividing portion has one end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which is connected to the front wall of the air bag in such a manner that a height of the one end is substantially constant and has an opposite end in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle which is connected to the rear wall of the air bag in such a manner that a height of the opposite end is substantially constant, upon deployment, the airbag directly contacts the knees of the vehicle occupant, and the gas flow dividing portion suppresses inflation of the airbag in between both knees of the vehicle occupant.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
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Original AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
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InventorsHayakawa, Tatsuya
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Primary Examiner(s)Dickson; Paul N.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Freedman; Laura
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Application NumberUS12/314,019Time in Patent Office3,093 DaysField of Search280/729, 280/730.1, 280/732, 280/740, 280/742, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280751-753US Class Current280/740CPC Class CodesB60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee ...B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether meansB60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashbo...B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of i...B60R 21/2338 TethersB60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
