Abstract A vehicle includes a seat having a seat cushion and a seat back for supporting an occupant in seated position, an instrument panel having a frontal surface located in spaced juxtaposed relationship to the seat back and a lower surface located above the level of the seat cushion and forwardly of the occupant''s knees. A source of pressure fluid on the vehicle communicates with a diffuser tube located adjacent the lower surface of the instrument panel. The pressure fluid is releasable in response to the vehicle receiving an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time. An inflatable cushion of generally tear drop shape longitudinally of the vehicle has its apical end mounted on the vehicle and communicating with the diffuser tube. When inflated by the pressure fluid, the cushion deploys rearwardly and upwardly. The upper and lower walls of the cushion flare outwardly with respect to each other from the apical end of the cushion, with the upper wall engaging the frontal surface of the instrument panel and the lower wall engaging the knees and upper leg portions of the seated occupant. These walls are interconnected by an end wall of arcuate cross section which tangentially engages the torso of the seated occupant and extends arcuately away from the torso in spaced relationship to the head of the occupant. Sidewalls interconnect the upper, lower and end walls of the cushion.
In combination with a vehicle including a seat having a seat cushion and a seat back for supporting an occupant in seated position, an instrument panel having a frontal surface juxtaposed to the seat back and torso of the seated occupant, and a source of pressure fluid releasable in response to the vehicle receiving an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time, an occupant restraint comprising, a cushion inflated by the pressure fluid and being of generally tear drop cross-sectional shape longitudinally thereof, means mounting the cushion adjacent the apical end thereof on the vehicle below the frontal surface of the instrument panel for deployment rearwardly and upwardly of the seated occupant upon inflation of the cushion by the pressure fluid, the cushion having upper and lower generally planar wall portions flaring outwardly with respect to each other generally longitudinally of the vehicle and joined by an end wall portion of arcuate cross section facing the seated occupant, sidewall portions facing generally transversely of the vehicle and joined to the upper, lower and end wall portions adjacent the edge portions thereof, the upper wall portion of the cushion engaging the frontal surface of the instrument panel, the lower wall portion of the cushion engaging the knees and upper leg portions of the seated occupant, and the arcuate end wall portion generally tangentially engaging the torso of the seated occupant and extending arcuately away therefrom in spaced relationship to the head of the seated occupant, the cushion applying a downward and rearward force on the seated occupant and filling the space between the frontal surface of the instrument panel and the upper leg portions and torso of the seated occupant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
In combination with a vehicle including a seat having a seat cushion and a seat back for supporting an occupant in seated position, an instrument panel having a frontal surface juxtaposed to the seat back and torso of the seated occupant, and a source of pressure fluid releasable in response to the vehicle receiving an acceleration pulse of predetermined amplitude and time, an occupant restraint comprising, a cushion inflated by the pressure fluid and being of generally tear drop cross-sectional shape longitudinally thereof, means mounting the cushion adjacent the apical end thereof on the vehicle below the frontal surface of the instrument panel for deployment rearwardly and upwardly of the seated occupant upon inflation of the cushion by the pressure fluid, the cushion having upper and lower generally planar wall portions flaring outwardly with respect to each other generally longitudinally of the vehicle and joined by an end wall portion of arcuate cross section facing the seated occupant, sidewall portions facing generally transversely of the vehicle and joined to the upper, lower and end wall portions adjacent the edge portions thereof, the upper wall portion of the cushion engaging the frontal surface of the instrument panel, the lower wall portion of the cushion engaging the knees and upper leg portions of the seated occupant, and the arcuate end wall portion generally tangentially engaging the torso of the seated occupant and extending arcuately away therefrom in spaced relationship to the head of the seated occupant, the cushion applying a downward and rearward force on the seated occupant and filling the space between the frontal surface of the instrument panel and the upper leg portions and torso of the seated occupant.