Knee restraint device for vehicles

US6131950A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventor

• Rainer Schroter · Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 17, 1998
• Grant date: Oct 17, 2000
• Expiry date: Feb 17, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R2021/23324
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A knee restraint device for vehicles comprises a knee protector plate movable in the direction of the knees of a vehicle occupant, a base plate connectable to a vehicle structure having at least one opening for connection to a gas generator and a wall of flexible material folded between said base plate and said knee protector plate in the resting condition. Said wall is connected along a first closed rim to said base plate and along a second closed rim to said knee protector plate. To control the movement path of the knee protector plate during the inflation action a first edge of said knee protector plate oriented in the vehicle transverse direction is held swivable and releasable on said base plate and a second edge of said knee protector plate located opposite said first edge is secured to said base plate by a fastener which releases on activation of said gas generator due to the expansion pressure of said wall being deployed. The fastener releases before said knee protector plate has swivelled about its first edge and has been subsequently released from said base plate.