Restraint system for rear seat occupant

An air bag restraint system for restraining a rear seat occupant having an upper head portion and a lower knee portion, the restraint system comprising:

• a front seat having a cushion portion including a rearwardly facing seat aperture;
• an air bag module for attachment to the seat and for insertion within the seat aperture, the air bag module comprising:
• a reaction plate mounted to the seat;
• a deployment door movably secured to the reaction plate for movement in a rearward direction, the deployment door closing the rearwardly facing seat aperture when the module is assembled to the seat such that the deployment door is a rearward trim panel for the seat;
• an inflator mounted between the reaction plate and the deployment door, the inflator for discharging inflator gas;
• and
• an air bag mounted between the reaction plate and the deployment door, the air bag in fluid communication with the inflator for receiving inflator gas therein.

An air bag restraint system for restraining a rear seat occupant having an upper head portion and a lower knee portion, the restraint system comprising:

• a front seat having an upstanding seat frame including laterally spaced apart sides rails and a cushion portion including a rearwardly facing seat aperture;
• and
• an air bag module for mounting within the seat aperture, the module comprising
• a reaction plate for attachment between the side rails of the seat frame;
• a deployment door movably secured to the reaction plate, the deployment door closing the rearwardly facing seat aperture when the module is assembled to the seat such that the deployment door is a rear trim panel for the seat, the deployment door having a lower door portion pivotally secured to the seat and an upper door portion releasably secured, to the cushion portion when the module is assembled to the seat;
• an inflator mounted on the reaction plate between the reaction plate and the deployment door, the inflator for discharging inflator gas;
• an air bag mounted on the reaction plate between the reaction plate and the deployment door, the air bag in fluid communication with the inflator for receiving inflator gas therein to inflate the air bag, the air bag including a lower bag portion which substantially fills the space between the reaction plate and the deployment door upon inflation and the air bag including an upper bag portion extending upwardly above the deployment door and rearwardly of the deployment door upon inflation such that the inflated upper bag portion is positioned for protecting the upper head portion of the occupant and wherein the inflated lower bag portion and the deployment door cooperatively provide a knee restraint positioned for protecting the lower knee portion of the occupant.