Method and apparatus for restraining a vehicle occupant

Details Method and apparatus for restraining a vehicle occupant Method and apparatus for restraining a vehicle occupant

1993-12-21

1994-09-06

Rice, Kenneth R.

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Attachment

280732, 280753, B60R 2122

Patent

active

053441842

ABSTRACT:
An apparatus (10) for restraining a vehicle occupant comprises an air bag assembly having a center of gravity (70) and including a container (20), an air bag (42), and an inflator (50). The air bag assembly is pivotally mounted to an instrument panel (16) of the vehicle with a pivot axis (90) offset from the center of gravity (70). The air bag assembly has a stored position and an operative position and is pivotable from the stored position to the operative position. Thrust produced upon inflation of the air bag pivots the air bag assembly. The apparatus further includes a knee blocking member (36) secured to a side (24) of the container (20) of the air bag assembly. When the assembly moves from the stored position to the operative position, the knee blocking member (36) moves to an occupant restraining position. An actuator (110, 116) is operatively mounted to the air bag assembly and the instrument panel (16) for, when actuated, applying a moment to the air bag assembly to pivot the air bag assembly from the stored position to the operative position.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3618978 (1971-11-01), Klove, Jr. et al.
patent: 3702706 (1972-11-01), Sobkow
patent: 3794349 (1974-02-01), Fuller
patent: 3904222 (1975-09-01), Bursott et al.
patent: 3966227 (1976-06-01), Cameron
patent: 4198075 (1980-04-01), Kob et al.
patent: 4427215 (1984-01-01), Weichenrieder et al.
patent: 4948168 (1990-08-01), Adomeit et al.

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