# US 10,864,876 B2 · Deployable panel for an airbag

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- Number: US 10,864,876 B2
- Document ID: US10864876B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/263,975
- Filed: 2019-01-31
- Published: 2020-08-06
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-31
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Srinivas Reddy Malapati; Mangesh Kadam
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864876B2

## CPC

- B60R 21/205: in dashboards
- B60R 2021/01252: {Devices other than bags}
- B60R 2021/0273: {automatically movable to an operative position, e.g. in case of collision or impending collision}
- B60R 2021/161: {characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An assembly includes a vehicle interior component. The assembly includes an airbag mounted to the vehicle interior component. The assembly includes a deployable panel supported by the vehicle interior component adjacent the airbag, the deployable panel being movable relative to the vehicle interior component between a retracted position and an extended position. The assembly includes a spring between the vehicle interior component and the deployable panel. The spring biases the deployable panel toward the extended position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly, comprising:
a vehicle interior component;
an airbag mounted to the vehicle interior component;
a deployable panel supported by the vehicle interior component adjacent the airbag, the deployable panel being movable relative to the vehicle interior component between a retracted position and an extended position; and
a spring between the vehicle interior component and the deployable panel and biasing the deployable panel toward the extended position;
an actuator releasably coupled to the deployable panel;
the spring biasing the deployable panel toward the actuator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a pyrotechnic release.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle interior component defines a cavity, the deployable panel being in the cavity in the retracted position and extendable from the cavity to the extended position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a slidable rail between the deployable panel and the vehicle interior component.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the deployable panel is translatable between the retracted position and the extended position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a windshield, the deployable panel being positioned to be between the airbag and the windshield in the extended position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the deployable panel has a reaction surface positioned to abut the airbag in an inflated position when the deployable panel is in the extended position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle interior component is an instrument panel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a controller programed to actuate the actuator in response to a vehicle impact.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the deployable panel is rigid relative to the airbag.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the deployable panel is elongated in a cross-vehicle direction.

### Claim 12

An assembly, comprising:
a vehicle interior component;
an airbag mounted to the vehicle interior component;
a deployable panel supported by the vehicle interior component adjacent the airbag, the deployable panel being movable relative to the vehicle interior component between a retracted position and an extended position;
a spring between the vehicle interior component and the deployable panel and biasing the deployable panel toward the extended position; and
a windshield, the deployable panel being positioned to be between the airbag and the windshield in the extended position.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The assembly of claim 12, wherein the deployable panel is translatable between the retracted position and the extended position.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein the deployable panel is rigid relative to the airbag.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein the deployable panel is elongated in a cross-vehicle direction.

### Claim 16

An assembly, comprising:
a vehicle interior component, the vehicle interior component is an instrument panel;
an airbag mounted to the vehicle interior component;
a deployable panel supported by the vehicle interior component adjacent the airbag, the deployable panel being movable relative to the vehicle interior component between a retracted position and an extended position; and
a spring between the vehicle interior component and the deployable panel and biasing the deployable panel toward the extended position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The assembly of claim 16, wherein the deployable panel is translatable between the retracted position and the extended position.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein the deployable panel is rigid relative to the airbag.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein the deployable panel is elongated in a cross-vehicle direction.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The assembly of claim 16, wherein the deployable panel has a reaction surface positioned to abut the airbag in an inflated position when the deployable panel is in the extended position.