Supplemental inflatable restraint system with hush panel housing

A supplemental inflatable restraint system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment with an instrument panel at a forward end therein, the instrument panel having an upper, middle, and lower portion, comprising:

• a panel member operatively attached to the lower portion of the instrument panel, said panel member defining a cavity with an opening, said cavity configured to nest the supplemental inflatable restraint system therein;
• an inflatable cushion operable to transition through said opening from a non-expanded state in which said cushion is substantially inside said cavity to an expanded state in which said cushion is substantially outside said cavity;
• a fluid dispensing apparatus in operative fluid communication with said cushion to selectively regulate transition of said cushion from said non-expanded state to said expanded state;
• and
• a plurality of non-releasing fasteners operatively configured to attach said panel member to the lower portion of the instrument panel at preselected locations.

A supplemental inflatable restraint system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment with an instrument panel at a forward end therein, the instrument panel having an upper, middle, and lower portion, comprising:

• a panel member operatively attached to the lower portion of the instrument panel, said panel member defining a cavity with an opening, said cavity configured to nest the supplemental inflatable restraint system therein;
• an inflatable cushion operable to transition through said opening from a non-expanded state in which said cushion is substantially inside said cavity to an expanded state in which said cushion is substantially outside said cavity;
• a fluid dispensing apparatus in operative fluid communication with said cushion to selectively regulate transition of said cushion from said non-expanded state to said expanded state;
• and
• a closeout door operatively attached to said panel member and configured to substantially cover said cushion when in said non-expanded state, wherein said cushion is in operative communication with said closeout door to transition said closeout door from a first substantially closed position to a second generally open position;
• wherein said closeout door includes a plurality of snap fasteners oriented along an outer periphery thereof, each of said plurality of snap fasteners configured to mate with said panel member and thereby temporarily retain said closeout door in said first position.

A supplemental inflatable restraint system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment with an instrument panel at a forward end therein, the instrument panel having an upper, middle, and lower portion, comprising:

• a panel member operatively attached to the lower portion of the instrument panel, said panel member defining a cavity with an opening, said cavity configured to nest the supplemental inflatable restraint system therein;
• an inflatable cushion operable to transition through said opening from a non-expanded state in which said cushion is substantially inside said cavity to an expanded state in which said cushion is substantially outside said cavity;
• a fluid dispensing apparatus in operative fluid communication with said cushion to selectively regulate transition of said cushion from said non-expanded state to said expanded state;
• a closeout door operatively attached to said panel member and configured to substantially cover said cushion when in said non-expanded state, wherein said cushion is in operative communication with said closeout door to transition said closeout door from a first substantially closed position to a second generally open position;
• and
• a penetrable membrane configured to at least partially wrap said inflatable cushion and thereby attach the same to said closeout door when in said non-expanded state.

A knee airbag apparatus for use with a vehicle having an instrument panel with upper and lower portions extending in a rearward direction relative to the motorized vehicle, and a middle portion extending therebetween, comprising:

• a hush panel operatively attached to the lower portion of the instrument panel, said hush panel defining a cavity with an opening facing in a generally downward direction, said cavity configured to nest the knee airbag apparatus therein;
• an inflatable cushion operable to transition through said opening from a non-expanded state in which said cushion is inside said cavity to an expanded state in which said cushion is substantially outside said cavity;
• a fluid dispensing apparatus in operative fluid communication with said cushion to selectively regulate transition of said cushion from said non-expanded state to said expanded state;
• and
• a closeout door operatively attached to said hush panel to substantially cover said cushion when in said non-expanded state, said closeout door configured to transition from a first substantially closed position to a second generally open position;
• wherein said hush panel is substantially nonvisible to a vehicle occupant seated upright and adjacent thereto;
• and
• wherein said hush panel acts as a reaction surface for said inflatable cushion when transitioning from said non-expanded state to said expanded state.

A vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:

• an instrument panel disposed at a forward end of the vehicle passenger compartment, said instrument panel having upper and lower portions extending generally rearward relative to the vehicle and a middle portion extending therebetween, said upper and middle portions including an exterior surface characterized by an appearance finish;
• a supplemental inflatable restraint system, including:
• a hush panel operatively attached to said lower portion of said instrument panel, said hush panel defining a cavity with an opening facing in a generally downward direction relative to the vehicle, said cavity configured to receive and nest said supplemental inflatable restraint system therein;
• an inflatable cushion operable to transition through said opening from a non-expanded state in which said cushion is inside said cavity to an expanded state in which said cushion is substantially outside said cavity;
• a fluid dispensing apparatus in operative fluid communication with said cushion to selectively regulate transition of said cushion from said non-expanded state to said expanded state;
• and
• a closeout door operatively attached to said hush panel to substantially cover said cushion when in said non-expanded state, said cushion being in operative communication with said closeout door and thereby configured to transition said closeout door from a first substantially closed position to a second generally open position;
• wherein said hush panel is substantially nonvisible to a vehicle occupant seated upright and adjacent thereto;
• and
• wherein said hush panel is characterized by an absence of an exterior surface with an appearance finish.