Knee airbag and restraint system for suppressing deployment of head/torso airbag

• US 20070267852A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Enders, Mark L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,069 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0044 Chest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0051 Knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01231 control of expansion timing or sequence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01238 control of expansion shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01 Electrical circuits for triggering passive safety arrangements, e.g. airbags, safety belt tighteners, in case of vehicle accidents or impending vehicle accidents electrical circuits for transmission of signals between steering wheel and the vehicle itself B60R16/027; for electrically actuating belt retractor locking means B60R22/343
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01544 detecting seat belt parameters, e.g. length, tension or height-adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A restraint system that evaluates factors such the type of collision an automotive vehicle is experiencing and then, based on that evaluation, deploys a knee airbag and/or a head/torso airbag. A knee airbag is also disclosed with an upper portion and a lower portion.

Claims

1. A restraint system for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a first inflatable restraint cushion that is configured to engage a lower extremity region of a passenger in the automotive vehicle when the first inflatable restraint cushion is in an inflated state;

a second inflatable restraint cushion that is configured to engage an upper body region of the passenger when the second inflatable restraint cushion is in an inflated state;

the first and second inflatable restraint cushions capable of separate, non-simultaneous inflation; and

an electronic control unit capable of making an evaluation as a condition for selecting deployment of at least one of the inflatable restraint cushions and initiating deployment of at least one of the inflatable restraint cushions.

2. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is capable of making an evaluation as a condition for deployment by evaluating the speed of the vehicle, the rate of deceleration of the vehicle, the occupant'"'"'s use of a seatbelt, the position of the occupant, and/or the occupant'"'"'s weight.

3. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit is capable of (1) measuring an operational parameter of the automotive vehicle;

and (2) comparing the measured operational parameter value to a predetermined threshold operational parameter value to make the evaluation as a condition for deployment of at least one of the inflatable restraint cushions.

4. The restraint system of claim 3, in which the operational parameter that is measured by the electronic control unit is the speed of the automotive vehicle.

5. The restraint system of claim 4, in which the predetermined threshold operational parameter value is between about 12 mph and about 18 mph.

6. The restraint system of claim 1, in which the first inflatable restraint cushion has an upper portion and a lower portion which are positioned relative to each other to permit conformance to an instrument panel of the vehicle and to the passenger'"'"'s lower extremity region.

7. A passenger restraint system for use in an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a first inflatable restraint cushion that is configured to engage a lower extremity region of a passenger in the automotive vehicle when the first inflatable restraint cushion is in an inflated state,

wherein the first inflatable restraint cushion has a lower portion and an upper portion,

wherein the lower portion and upper portion each have a chamber and the chambers are in fluid communication,

wherein the lower portion is shaped to provide knee/upper leg protection for a passenger,

wherein the upper portion is shaped to provide torso region protection for a passenger, and

wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are configured such that the lower portion expands before the upper portion upon deployment;

a second inflatable restraint cushion that is configured to engage an upper body region of the passenger when the second inflatable restraint cushion is in an inflated state;

the first and second inflatable restraint cushions capable of separate, non-simultaneous inflation; and

an electronic control unit capable of making an evaluation as a condition for selecting deployment of at least one of the inflatable restraint cushions and initiating deployment of at least one of the inflatable restraint cushions.

8. The restraint system of claim 7, wherein the upper portion of the first inflatable restraint extends from the lower portion in a configuration that permits conformance to an instrument panel of a vehicle and to the transition from the passenger'"'"'s upper legs to torso.

9. The restraint system of claim 7, wherein the electronic control unit is capable of making an evaluation as a condition for deployment by evaluating the speed of the vehicle, the rate of deceleration of the vehicle, the occupant'"'"'s use of a seatbelt, the position of the occupant, and/or the occupant'"'"'s weight.

10. The restraint system of claim 7, wherein the electronic control unit is capable of deploying the first inflatable restraint cushion while suppressing deployment of the second inflatable restraint cushion.

11. The restraint system of claim 7, wherein the electronic control unit is capable of (1) measuring an operational parameter of the automotive vehicle;

and (2) comparing the measured operational parameter value to a predetermined threshold operational parameter value to make the evaluation as a condition for deployment of at least one of the inflatable restraint cushions.

12. A method of suppressing deployment of a passenger-side head/torso airbag during a low-speed automotive vehicle collision in which the passenger-side head/torso airbag has an inflated state and an uninflated state and is configured to engage an upper body region of a passenger in an automotive vehicle when the passenger-side head/torso airbag is in the inflated state, comprising:

providing a passenger-side knee airbag having an inflated state and an uninflated state and configured to engage a knee region of the passenger when the passenger-side knee airbag is in the inflated state, the passenger-side knee airbag capable of inflation separately from and non-simultaneously with inflation of the passenger-side head/torso airbag;

measuring an operational parameter of the automotive vehicle;

comparing a measured operational parameter value to a first predetermined threshold operational parameter value; and

initiating inflation of the passenger-side knee airbag and suppressing inflation of the passenger-side head/torso airbag when the measured operational parameter value is less than the first predetermined threshold operational parameter value.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

comparing the measured operational parameter value to a second predetermined threshold operational parameter value; and

initiating inflation of the passenger-side head/torso airbag instead of the passenger-side knee airbag when the measured operational parameter value is greater than the second predetermined threshold operational parameter value.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

initiating inflation of both the passenger-side knee airbag and the passenger-side head/torso airbag when the measured operational parameter value is greater than the second predetermined threshold operational parameter value.

15. The method of claim 12, in which the operational parameter is speed of the automotive vehicle and the value of the first predetermined threshold operational parameter is less than about 12 mph.

16. The method of claim 13, in which the operational parameter is speed of the automotive vehicle and the value of the second predetermined threshold operational parameter is between about 12 mph and about 18 mph.

17. A passenger-side knee airbag comprising:

a lower portion having a throat for receiving an inflation gas into a chamber of the lower portion, wherein the lower portion is shaped to provide knee/upper leg protection for a passenger,

an upper portion having a chamber for receiving the inflation gas from the chamber of the lower portion, wherein the upper portion is shaped to provide torso region protection for a passenger,

wherein the upper portion and the lower portion which are positioned relative to each other to permit conformance to an instrument panel of a vehicle and to the transition from the passenger'"'"'s upper legs to torso.

18. The airbag of claim 17, wherein the chamber of the upper portion is U-shaped.

19. The airbag of claim 17, wherein the throat into the chamber of the lower portion combined with the configuration of the upper portion enables the chamber of the lower portion to be inflated before the chamber of the upper portion.

20. The airbag of claim 17, wherein the upper portion extends from the lower portion at an angle.

21. The airbag of claim 17, wherein the lower portion has at least one tether to maintain a shallow depth.