# US 10,864,884 B2 · Adaptive knee airbag > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,884 B2 - Document ID: US10864884B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/263,575 - 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; Yuqin Zhao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864884B2 ## CPC - B60R 21/239: characterised by their venting means - B60R 21/045: associated with the instrument panel or dashboard - B60R 21/206: in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees - B60R 21/2338: Tethers - B60R 21/2644: {using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder} - B60R 21/233: comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other (B60R21/232 takes precedence) - B60R 2021/0051: {Knees} - B60R 2021/024: {mounted on dash-board} - B60R 2021/23169: {specially adapted for knee protection} - B60R 2021/23382: {Internal tether means} - B60R 2021/23384: {having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment} - B60R 2021/2648: {comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An instrument panel assembly includes an instrument panel. The instrument panel assembly includes an airbag having an inboard chamber and an outboard chamber. A panel separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. A diffuser is in fluid communication with both the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. A releasable vent is between the diffuser and one of the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. An inflator is in fluid communication with the diffuser. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An instrument panel assembly, comprising: an instrument panel; an airbag supported by the instrument panel and having an inboard chamber and an outboard chamber; a panel separating the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; a diffuser in fluid communication with both the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber, the diffuser extending through the panel; a releasable vent between the diffuser and one of the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; and an inflator in fluid communication with the diffuser. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The instrument panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber horizontally. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The instrument panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel fluidly separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The instrument panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the panel is permeable. ### Claim 5 An airbag assembly, comprising: an airbag having an inboard chamber and an outboard chamber; a panel separating the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; a diffuser in fluid communication with both the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; a releasable vent between the diffuser and one of the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; and an inflator in fluid communication with the diffuser; the diffuser including an inboard vent in fluid communication with the inboard chamber, an outboard vent in fluid communication with the outboard chamber, and the releasable vent being designed to expand a cross-sectional area of one of the inboard vent and the outboard vent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the diffuser extends through the panel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the panel separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber horizontally. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the panel fluidly separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the panel is permeable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The airbag assembly of claim 5, further comprising a one-way valve on the panel and in fluid communication with the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The airbag assembly of claim 5, further comprising a pyrotechnic release connected to the releasable vent. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The airbag assembly of claim 11, further comprising a controller programmed to actuate the pyrotechnic release in response to an angular impact. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the releasable vent is spaced from the inboard vent and the outboard vent. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the inboard vent, the outboard vent, and the releasable vent are sized to inflate the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber to same pressure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the inboard vent, the outboard vent, and the releasable vent are sized to inflate the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber to different pressures. ### Claim 16 (depends on 5) The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the releasable vent is in communication with the inboard chamber, and the inboard vent, the outboard vent, and the releasable vent are sized to inflate the inboard chamber to a greater pressure than the outboard chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The airbag assembly of claim 5, further comprising a releasable tether connected to a front surface and a rear surface of the airbag. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The airbag assembly of claim 17, wherein the releasable tether includes tack stitching, and the tack stitching is designed to rupture. ### Claim 19 An airbag assembly, comprising: an airbag having an inboard chamber and an outboard chamber; a panel separating the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; a diffuser in fluid communication with both the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; a releasable vent between the diffuser and one of the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; an inflator in fluid communication with the diffuser; and a pyrotechnic release connected to the releasable vent. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The airbag assembly of claim 19, further comprising a controller programmed to actuate the pyrotechnic release in response to an angular impact.