Dent and vibration resistant rigid knee airbag
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorMark L. Enders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inflatable rigid knee airbag system for assisting in positioning and decelerating a vehicle occupant is disclosed. The system may include a front and a rear rigid panel, which may be made from sheet metal. The front and rear rigid panels define at least a portion of an inflatable chamber. The inflatable chamber is in fluid communication with an inflator that injects inflatable gas into the inflatable chamber when accident conditions exist. A support core positioned between the front and rear panels dampens vibrations of the front and rear panels and minimizes unsightly denting of the front panel when the inflatable rigid knee airbag system is in a pre-deployment state. The support core may be made from foam.
Claims36
An inflatable airbag comprising:
- a rear panel;
- a front panel attached to the rear panel, wherein the front and rear panels are constructed of substantially rigid materials;
- and
- a support core positioned in an inflatable chamber defined at least in part by the front and rear panels.
An inflatable knee airbag comprising:
- a rear panel;
- a front panel attached to the rear panel,
- wherein the front and rear panels are constructed of substantially rigid materials;
- and
- a support core positioned in an inflatable chamber defined at least in part by the front and rear panels and attached to at least one of the front and rear panels.
An inflatable airbag system comprising:
- a rear panel;
- a front panel attached to the rear panel,
- wherein the front and rear panels are constructed of substantially rigid materials;
- an inflatable chamber defined at least in part by the front and rear panels;
- a support core substantially occupying the inflatable chamber;
- and
- an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber for generating inflation gas to fill the inflatable chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.