Inflatable restraint system and method of deployment
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsJanice L Woolley, John Zlotecki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable restraint assembly and method of deploying an inflatable restraint assembly in a vehicle includes a support structure mounted below an opening in the instrument panel adapted to receive an air bag deployment door. An air bag module includes a deployable air bag disposed within an air bag housing pivotally mounted to the support structure. An air bag deployment door is pivotally mounted to the housing of the air bag module and is movable between an installed position mounted adjacent the opening in the instrument panel and a deployed position wherein the door is received within the cavity in the instrument panel.
Claims20
An inflatable restraint system for a vehicle, the inflatable restraint system comprising:
- an instrument panel having an opening formed therethrough and having a cavity disposed below the opening;
- a support structure mounted within the cavity below the opening in the instrument panel;
- an air bag module cooperating with the opening in the instrument panel having a housing pivotally secured to the support structure, an inflator disposed within the housing and an air bag operatively connected to the inflator deployable through the opening in the instrument panel;
- and
- an air bag deployment door pivotally mounted to the housing, wherein the door is movable between an installed position disposed within the opening in the instrument panel and a deployed position received within the cavity in the instrument panel when the air bag engages the door to pivot the door about the housing.
An inflatable restraint system disposed adjacent an opening formed in an upper surface of an instrument panel of a vehicle, the inflatable restraint system comprising:
- a support structure mounted below the opening in the instrument panel;
- an air bag module having a housing pivotally secured to the support structure, an inflator disposed within the housing and an air bag operatively connected to the inflator deployable through the instrument panel opening;
- and
- an air bag deployment door pivotally mounted to the housing, wherein the door is movable between an installed position disposed in the opening in the instrument panel and a deployed position received within the instrument panel when the deploying air bag engages the door to pivot the door about the housing into a cavity in the instrument panel.
A method of deploying an inflatable restraint system through an opening defined in an outer surface of an instrument panel of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing an air bag module below the opening in the instrument panel, the module including a housing pivotally secured to a support structure provided within a cavity in the instrument panel, an inflator disposed within the housing and an air bag operatively connected to the inflator;
- providing an air bag deployment door pivotally secured to the air bag housing extending adjacent the opening in the instrument panel;
- deploying the air bag against the air bag deployment door;
- pivoting the air bag deployment door about the air bag housing between an installed position and a deployed position when the deploying air bag engages a lower surface of the door;
- and
- pivoting the air bag housing downward relative to the opening in the instrument panel in response to the door pivoting about the air bag housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.