Knee airbag

A knee airbag module for a vehicle, comprising:

• an airbag housing configured to be mounted in an instrument panel of the vehicle at a position adjacent an upper surface and a front surface of the instrument panel;
• a knee airbag comprising overlying panels interconnected along a perimeter connection to define an inflatable volume of the knee airbag;
• and
• at least one tether configured to control the shape of the knee airbag and/or the trajectory along which the knee airbag inflates and deploys so that the knee airbag, when inflated, extends along a contour of an instrument panel surface facing an occupant of a vehicle seat,
• wherein the knee airbag has a stored condition in the airbag housing and is configured to inflate and deploy in a direction that is downward and forward into a footwell of the vehicle,
• wherein the at least one tether is connected to an external surface of the knee airbag and is configured so that it is free from engaging the instrument panel when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed, and wherein the at least one tether has one end connected to the knee airbag along or near a centerline of the knee airbag, and an opposite end connected to the knee airbag away from the centerline of the knee airbag.