Vehicle occupant system having an adaptive knee airbag

US9061646B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Timo Abele · Aalen, DE
• Werner Freisler · Schwäbisch Gmünd, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 5, 2012
• Grant date: Jun 23, 2015
• Expiry date: Jun 5, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R2021/2395
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an inflatable knee airbag (10). The knee airbag (10) includes an airbag sheath (12) and at least one vent hole (18) formed therein. The vent hole (18) is arranged in the upper half of the knee airbag (10) and is provided on a side of the knee airbag (10) facing away from the vehicle occupant which in the operating position of the knee airbag (10) is directly opposed to a fixed component (28) in the vehicle interior. A method of protecting a vehicle occupant comprises the following steps of: Inflating a knee airbag (10) with gas so that the knee airbag (10) adopts an operating position; and adapting the gas discharge behavior in accordance with the constitution, especially the body height of the vehicle occupant, in that a vent hole (18) formed in an upper section (36) of the knee airbag (10) is pressed against a fixed component (28) in the vehicle interior by the knee (38) of a normal size vehicle occupant moving forward and is closed thereby, or is not pressed against a fixed component (28) in the vehicle interior by the knee (38) of a small size vehicle occupant moving forward.