Apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant's legs
AssigneesTRW Inc., TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsKevin M. Brown, Cris C. Cabral, Albert N. Felix, Juede P. Pajela, Alexander Heilig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A safety apparatus (70) for helping to protect an occupant (30) of a vehicle (10) in the event of a vehicle collision comprises an air bag system including at least one inflatable air bag (80) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The air bag (80), when inflated, unlocks at least one of the occupant's knees (50) to minimize forces transmitted through at least the corresponding one of the occupant's legs (40) to the occupant's pelvis (36). Seat belt webbing (74) restrains forward movement of the occupant (30) relative to the vehicle (10) when the occupant's knee (50) is unlocked.
Claims22
A safety apparatus for helping to protect the lower legs of a vehicle occupant during a vehicle collision, said safety apparatus including:
- a first air bag inflatable into engagement with the bottom of at least one of the vehicle occupant's shoes;
- and
- a second air bag inflatable into engagement with the back of at least one of the vehicle occupant's lower legs.
A safety apparatus for helping to protect the lower legs of a vehicle occupant during a vehicle collision, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable air bag inflatable into a position to engage the back of at least one of the vehicle occupant's lower legs;
- and
- an inflator for inflating said inflatable air bag.
A safety apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a vehicle collision, said apparatus comprising:
- an air bag system including at least one inflatable air bag having a deflated condition and an inflated condition,
- said air bag, when inflated, unlocking at least one of the occupant's knees to minimize forces transmitted through at least the corresponding one of the occupant's lower legs to the occupant's pelvis;
- and
- seat belt webbing for restraining forward movement of the occupant relative to the vehicle when the at least one of the occupant's knees is unlocked;
- said at least one air bag being inflated into engagement with the at least one of the occupant's lower legs to cause the at least one of the occupant's lower legs to pivot at the occupant's corresponding knee;
- said at least one air bag engaging the back of the at least one of the occupant's lower legs and raising the at least one lower leg to cause the at least one lower leg to pivot at the occupant's corresponding knee.
A safety apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision, said safety apparatus comprising:
- a first air bag inflatable into a first position adjacent one side of the lower legs of the vehicle occupant;
- a second air bag inflatable into a second position adjacent the other side of the lower legs of the vehicle occupant;
- and
- a third air bag inflatable into engagement with the back of at least one of the vehicle occupant's lower legs.
A safety apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision, said safety apparatus comprising:
- a first air bag inflatable into a first position adjacent one side of the lower legs of the vehicle occupant;
- a second air bag inflatable into a second position adjacent the other side of the lower legs of the vehicle occupant;
- and
- a third inflatable air bag which, as it inflates, engages the bottom of at least one of the occupant's shoes and lifts at least a corresponding one of the occupant's lower legs to cause the corresponding one of the lower legs to pivot at the occupant's corresponding knee.
A safety apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision, said safety apparatus comprising:
- a first air bag inflatable into a first position adjacent one side of the lower legs of the vehicle occupant;
- a second air bag inflatable into a second position adjacent the other side of the lower legs of the vehicle occupant;
- and
- a third air bag inflatable into engagement with the shin of each of the occupant's lower legs to help pivot the lower legs at the occupant's knees rearwardly in the vehicle and to cushion forward movement of the lower legs in a vehicle collision.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.