Occupant restraint system

Claim 1

The combination comprising, a vehicle having a windshield, an instrument panel including an upper portion having an elongated opening therein extending generally transversely of the vehicle adjacent the windshield, an elongated manifold within the instrument panel having a base wall and an opposite open upper side generally coextensive with the opening of the upper portion of the instrument panel, an elongated oval-shape diffuser located in the manifold adjacent the base wall, spaced means securing the diffuser to the base wall of the manifold, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion including an occupant engageable portion and an umbilical portion generally coextensive with the opening, means mounting the umbilical portion on the vehicle inwardly of the opening of the instrument panel in communication with the diffuser, the cushion being normally folded and stored within the manifold intermediate the diffuser and the manifold opening, releasable cover means covering the manifold opening and continuing the upper portion of the instrument panel thereover, means communicating the diffuser with a source of pressure fluid upon the occurrence of a predetermined event to inflate the cushion and deploy the cushion from the manifold through the manifold and instrument panel openings, the diffuser expanding from an oval shape toward circular shape upon receipt thereby of pressure fluid, the spaced securing means blocking sinuous deformation of the diffuser upon expansion thereof, the cover means being moved out of the instrument panel opening by the cushion when the cushion deploys, and means communicating the cushion with ambient atmosphere when the pressure within the cushion exceeds a predetermined level.