US5458366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compartmentalized airbag knee bolster
Assignee: Autoliv ASP Inc
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Filing: 1994-06-01
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Granted: 1995-10-17
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Expires: 2014-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device is mounted to the instrument panel of a vehicle for restraining forward movement of the knees of the front seat occupants. The device contains a plenum chamber attached to an inflator for pressurizing the plenum chamber. A plurality of airbag compartments are in communication with the plenum chamber by a plurality of one way valves. A knee bolster panel is positioned in front of the plenum chamber with the compartments of the airbag situated therebetween. On inflation of the compartmentalized airbag, the knee bolster panel contacts the front of the knees of a vehicle occupant to restrain forward knee movement. The pressure in the compartments behind the area of the knee bolster panel engaged by the occupant's knees increases in the contacted compartments, and accordingly the rigidity of the airbag in the proximate area of contact with the knees.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher Hock
- 👤 Gregory J. Lang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:42
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/23; B60R21/231; B60R21/233; B60R21/20; B60R21/205; B60R21/206; B60R2021/23169; B60R2021/23324; B60R21/26; B60R2021/26094
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device mounted to the instrument panel of a motor vehicle comprising: an inflator for providing pressurized gas upon actuation of the inflator; a plenum chamber having said inflator attached thereto such that when the inflator is activated, gas from the inflator flows into and pressurizes said plenum chamber; a compartmentalized airbag having a plurality of compartments in communication with the plenum chamber; a plurality of one-way valves mounted to said compartmentalized airbag and providing for communication of said pressurized gas from said plenum chamber to each of said compartments; a knee bolster panel mounted on a vehicle occupant side of said compartmentalized airbag and opposite said plenum chamber with said compartmentalized airbag located between said knee bolster panel and said plenum chamber, said knee bolster panel having a tear line; and means for mounting said compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device to said instrument panel such that when said compartmentalized airbag is inflated, said inflating compartmentalized airbag causes said knee bolster panel to split along said tear line and swing open away from the inflating compartmentalized airbag.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device mounted to the instrument panel of a motor vehicle comprising: an inflator for providing pressurized gas upon actuation of the inflator; a plenum chamber having said inflator attached thereto such that when the inflator is activated, gas from the inflator flows into and pressurizes said plenum chamber; a compartmentalized airbag having a plurality of compartments in communication with the plenum chamber; a plurality of one-way valves mounted to said compartmentalized airbag and providing for communication of said pressurized gas from said plenum chamber to each of said compartments; a knee bolster panel mounted on a vehicle occupant side of said compartmentalized airbag and opposite said plenum chamber with said compartmentalized airbag located between said knee bolster panel and said plenum chamber, said knee bolster panel having a tear line; and means for mounting said compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device to said instrument panel such that when said compartmentalized airbag is inflated, said inflating compartmentalized airbag causes said knee bolster panel to split along said tear line and swing open away from the inflating compartmentalized airbag.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said knee bolster panel is hingedly attached to the instrument panel at two ends of said knee bolster panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
190 words
A compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device mounted to the instrument panel of a motor vehicle comprising: an inflator for providing pressurized gas upon actuation of the inflator; a plenum chamber having said inflator attached thereto such that when the inflator is activated, gas from the inflator flows into and pressurizes said plenum chamber; a compartmentalized airbag having a plurality of compartments in communication with the plenum chamber, each of said compartments having a width approximately equal to the width of a knee of an occupant of the motor vehicle; a plurality of one-way valves mounted to said compartmentalized airbag and providing for communication of said pressurized gas from said plenum chamber to each of said compartments; a knee bolster panel mounted on a vehicle occupant side of said compartmentalized airbag and opposite said plenum chamber with said compartmentalized airbag located between said knee bolster panel and said plenum chamber; and means for mounting said compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device to said instrument panel such that said knee bolster panel is adapted to contact the front of the knees of an occupant of the vehicle when the compartmentalized airbag is inflated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
190 words
A compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device mounted to the instrument panel of a motor vehicle comprising: an inflator for providing pressurized gas upon actuation of the inflator; a plenum chamber having said inflator attached thereto such that when the inflator is activated, gas from the inflator flows into and pressurizes said plenum chamber; a compartmentalized airbag having a plurality of compartments in communication with the plenum chamber, each of said compartments having a width approximately equal to the width of a knee of an occupant of the motor vehicle; a plurality of one-way valves mounted to said compartmentalized airbag and providing for communication of said pressurized gas from said plenum chamber to each of said compartments; a knee bolster panel mounted on a vehicle occupant side of said compartmentalized airbag and opposite said plenum chamber with said compartmentalized airbag located between said knee bolster panel and said plenum chamber; and means for mounting said compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device to said instrument panel such that said knee bolster panel is adapted to contact the front of the knees of an occupant of the vehicle when the compartmentalized airbag is inflated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said knee bolster panel is mounted on the front of said compartmentalized airbag such that when the airbag is inflated, the knee bolster panel directly comes into contact with the front of the knees of an occupant of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The compartmentalized airbag knee bolster device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said knee bolster panel runs the length of the instrument panel from a passenger side front door across a middle passenger's seat.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-16 | 1999-04-17 | 1999-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-16 | 2003-04-17 | 2003-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-16 | 2007-04-17 | 2007-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |