Inflatable knee bolster module assembly
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsLance M. Bosgieter, Davin Saderholm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Inflatable knee bolster module assemblies are provided wherein a knee bolster panel and an associated reaction plate engage to form a bolster housing containing an inflatable knee cushion and a knee cushion inflator assembly. Upon actuation, the knee cushion inflator assembly provides an inflation fluid effective to inflate the knee cushion and to deploy the knee bolster panel to provide lower torso restraint for an oppositely positioned vehicle occupant while the knee bolster panel remains engaged with the reaction plate.
Claims17
In an inflatable restraint system for an automotive vehicle and which automotive vehicle includes at least one primary inflatable cushion and a corresponding primary inflator assembly to provide an inflation fluid to inflate the primary inflatable cushion to restrain forward movement of an oppositely positioned vehicle occupant and an inflatable knee bolster module assembly which includes a knee bolster panel, an associated inflatable knee cushion and a corresponding knee cushion inflator assembly distinct from the primary inflator assembly and effective to provide an inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable knee cushion to position the knee bolster panel to provide lower torso restraint for the oppositely positioned vehicle occupant, the improvement of the inflatable knee bolster module assembly comprising:
- the knee bolster panel including a generally planar face portion and first and second spaced apart attachment flanges, the first and second attachment flanges each rearwardly extending from the face portion and
- a reaction plate including first and second spaced apart attachment extensions corresponding to the first and second spaced apart attachment flanges, respectively, with the knee bolster panel adapted to cooperate with the reaction plate to form a housing for the knee cushion inflator assembly and the inflatable knee cushion in a stored condition and wherein, upon deployment of the inflatable knee cushion, the knee bolster panel face portion is displaced to provide lower torso restraint for the oppositely positioned vehicle occupant while the knee bolster panel remains engaged with the reaction plate.
An inflatable knee bolster module assembly comprising:
- a knee bolster panel including a generally planar face portion;
- a reaction plate adapted to engage with the knee bolster panel to form a bolster housing;
- an inflatable knee cushion stored in an uninflated condition in the bolster housing;
- and
- a knee cushion inflator assembly also stored in the bolster housing and actuatable to provide an inflation fluid effective to inflate the knee cushion and deploy the knee bolster panel to provide lower torso restraint for an oppositely positioned vehicle occupant while the knee bolster panel remains engaged with the reaction plate,
- wherein the knee bolster panel also includes first and second spaced apart attachment flanges extending rearwardly from the face portion, the first attachment flange including at least one first attachment slot opening and the second attachment flange including at least one second attachment slot opening.
An inflatable knee bolster module assembly comprising:
- a knee bolster panel including a generally planar face portion and first and second spaced apart attachment flanges extending rearwardly from the face portion the first attachment flange including at least one first attachment slot opening and the second attachment flange including at least one second attachment slot opening;
- a reaction plate including a generally planar section and having oppositely disposed first and second attachment extensions wherein the first attachment extension includes at least one first attachment projection generally corresponding to the first attachment slot opening of the first attachment flange and the second attachment extension includes at least one second attachment projection generally corresponding to the second attachment slot opening of the second attachment flange, wherein the first attachment projection is engageable with the first attachment slot opening and the second attachment projection is engageable with the second attachment slot opening to form a bolster housing;
- an inflatable knee cushion stored in an uninflated condition in the bolster housing;
- and
- a knee cushion inflator assembly also stored in the bolster housing and actuatable to provide an inflation fluid effective to inflate the knee cushion and deploy the knee bolster panel to provide lower torso restraint for an oppositely positioned vehicle occupant while the first attachment projection remains enraged with the first attachment slot opening and the second attachment projection remains engaged with the second attachment slot opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.