Knee airbag configuration
AssigneeVolvo Car Corporation
InventorsJohan Rosenberg, Sebastian Rutelin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airbag system for restraining a lower body of a vehicle occupant during a collision event and a method for deploying the same are disclosed. The airbag system includes a panel and a restraining airbag. The panel defines a support surface that is adapted to be deployed from a first configuration to a second configuration responsive to the collision event. In the first configuration, the panel forms part of an instrument panel of a vehicle and, in the second configuration, the panel is at least partially separated from the instrument panel of the vehicle. The restraining airbag is adapted to be deployed adjacent to the support surface of the panel between the support surface and the lower body of the vehicle occupant responsive to the collision event.
Claims16
An airbag system, comprising:
- a panel defining a support surface that is adapted to be deployed from a first configuration to a second configuration responsive to a collision event, wherein, in the first configuration, the panel forms part of an instrument panel of a vehicle and, in the second configuration, the panel is at least partially separated from the instrument panel of the vehicle;
- a restraining airbag adapted to be deployed adjacent to the support surface of the panel between the support surface and a lower body of a vehicle occupant responsive to the collision event;
- and
- a locking mechanism comprising a pair of mechanical linkages coupled to the panel, the locking mechanism adapted to secure the panel in the second configuration when the pair of mechanical linkages are deployed from a collapsed configuration disposed next to each other to an expanded configuration disposed in line with each other.
An instrument panel, comprising:
- a panel defining a support surface that is adapted to be deployed from a first configuration to a second configuration responsive to a collision event, wherein, in the first configuration, the panel forms part of the instrument panel of a vehicle and, in the second configuration, the panel is at least partially separated from the instrument panel of the vehicle;
- a restraining airbag adapted to be deployed adjacent to the support surface of the panel between the support surface and a lower body of a vehicle occupant responsive to the collision event;
- and
- a locking mechanism comprising a pair of mechanical linkages coupled to the panel, the locking mechanism adapted to secure the panel in the second configuration when the pair of mechanical linkages are deployed from a collapsed configuration disposed next to each other to an expanded configuration disposed in line with each other.
A method for deploying an airbag system, the method comprising:
- deploying a panel defining a support surface from a first configuration to a second configuration responsive to a collision event, wherein, in the first configuration, the panel forms part of an instrument panel of a vehicle and, in the second configuration, the panel is at least partially separated from the instrument panel of the vehicle;
- deploying a restraining airbag adjacent to the support surface of the panel between the support surface and a lower body of a vehicle occupant responsive to the collision event;
- and
- securing the panel in the second configuration once deployed via a locking mechanism comprising a pair of mechanical linkages coupled to the panel, wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to secure the panel in the second configuration when the pair of mechanical linkages are deployed from a collapsed configuration disposed next to each other to an expanded configuration disposed in line with each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.