Adaptive knee airbag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020247349-A1
Application number	US-201916263575-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2019
Priority date	Jan 31, 2019
Publication date	Aug 6, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

An instrument panel assembly includes an instrument panel. The instrument panel assembly includes an airbag having an inboard chamber and an outboard chamber. A panel separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. A diffuser is in fluid communication with both the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. A releasable vent is between the diffuser and one of the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber. An inflator is in fluid communication with the diffuser.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An instrument panel assembly, comprising:
an instrument panel; an airbag supported by the instrument panel and having an inboard chamber and an outboard chamber; a panel separating the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; a diffuser in fluid communication with both the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; a releasable vent between the diffuser and one of the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; and an inflator in fluid communication with the diffuser.

2 . The instrument panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser extends through the panel.

3 . The instrument panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the panel separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber horizontally.

4 . The instrument panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the panel fluidly separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber.

5 . The instrument panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the panel is permeable.

6 . An airbag assembly, comprising:
an airbag having an inboard chamber and an outboard chamber; a panel separating the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; a diffuser in fluid communication with both the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; a releasable vent between the diffuser and one of the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber; and an inflator in fluid communication with the diffuser.

7 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , wherein the diffuser extends through the panel.

8 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , wherein the panel separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber horizontally.

9 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , wherein the panel fluidly separates the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber.

10 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , wherein the panel is permeable.

11 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a one-way valve on the panel and in fluid communication with the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber.

12 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a pyrotechnic release connected to the releasable vent.

13 . The airbag assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a controller programmed to actuate the pyrotechnic release in response to an angular impact.

14 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , wherein the diffuser includes an inboard vent in fluid communication with the inboard chamber, an outboard vent in fluid communication with the outboard chamber, and the releasable vent is spaced from the inboard vent and the outboard vent.

15 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , wherein the diffuser includes an inboard vent in fluid communication with the inboard chamber, an outboard vent in fluid communication with the outboard chamber, and the releasable vent is designed to expand a cross-sectional area of one of the inboard vent and the outboard vent.

16 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , wherein the diffuser includes an inboard vent in fluid communication with the inboard chamber and an outboard vent in fluid communication with the outboard chamber, wherein the inboard vent, the outboard vent, and the releasable vent are sized to inflate the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber to same pressure.

17 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , wherein the diffuser includes an inboard vent in fluid communication with the inboard chamber and an outboard vent in fluid communication with the outboard chamber, wherein the inboard vent, the outboard vent, and the releasable vent are sized to inflate the inboard chamber and the outboard chamber to different pressures.

18 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , wherein the diffuser includes an inboard vent in fluid communication with the inboard chamber, an outboard vent in fluid communication with the outboard chamber, the releasable vent is in communication with the inboard chamber, and the inboard vent, the outboard vent, and the releasable vent are sized to inflate the inboard chamber to a greater pressure than the outboard chamber.

19 . The airbag assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a releasable tether connected to a front surface and a rear surface of the airbag.

20 . The airbag assembly of claim 19 , wherein the releasable tether includes tack stitching, and the tack stitching is designed to rupture.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Malapati Srinivas Reddy
• Kadam Mangesh
• Zhao Yuqin

Classifications

• B60R21/23

  Inflatable members (B60R21/18 takes precedence; connection to inflation fluid source retainers B60R21/217) · CPC title

• B60R21/206 Primary

  in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees · CPC title

• B60R2021/23384

  having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment · CPC title

• B60R2021/2648

  comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers · CPC title

• B60R21/2644

  using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder · CPC title