Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Hector Javier Zarazua Mauleon

Alberto Rodriguez

Diane M Schwark

An apparatus () helps to protect an occupant () of a vehicle () having an instrument panel () by preventing a forceful impact between lower portions () of legs () of the occupant () and the instrument panel () during a vehicle collision. The apparatus () comprises an inflator () that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid and an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () for receiving inflation fluid from the inflator (). The protection device () inflates from a stored condition to an inflated condition () engaging the lower portions () of legs () of the occupant (). The protection device (), when in the stored condition, includes a rolled lower portion () and an upper portion () that is folded into a stack () of pleated sections.

Apparatus including an inflatable knee bag

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) includes first and second panel portions ( ) each having a plurality of discrete openings ( ). The first panel portion ( ) overlies the second panel portion ( ) when the device ( ) is in the deflated condition. A tether ( ) interconnects the first and second panel portions ( ). The tether ( ) includes a single thread ( ) extending through the plurality of openings ( ) in the first panel portion ( ) and through the plurality of openings ( ) in the second panel portion ( ) in a serpentine manner. The single thread ( ) has loop thread portions located outside the inflation fluid volume ( ). The panel portions ( ) move relative to the single thread ( ) as the device ( ) is inflated from the deflated condition to the inflated condition. Preferably, stop members ( ) on the end portions ( ) of the tether ( ) block movement of the end portions through the openings ( ) in the panel portions ( ).

Air bag with tether

A vehicle air bag ( ) comprises an outer bag ( ) having an inflation fluid volume ( ). The outer bag ( ) has a retainer portion ( ) defining a central opening ( ). The retainer portion ( ) has a plurality of fastener openings ( ) spaced apart around the central opening ( ). An inner bag ( ) is located in the inflation fluid volume ( ) of the outer bag ( ). The inner bag ( ) has a retainer portion ( ) defining an inflation fluid opening ( ) for receiving inflation fluid. The retainer portion ( ) has a plurality of fastener openings ( ) spaced apart around the inflation fluid opening ( ). The inner bag ( ) has at least one vent opening ( ) movable from a closed condition to an open condition, in response to increase in fluid pressure in the inner bag, to enable flow of inflation fluid from the inner bag into the inflation fluid volume ( ) of the outer bag ( ). The air bag ( ) further comprises a plurality of fasteners ( ) extending through the fastener openings ( ) in the retainer portion ( ) and through the fastener openings ( ) in the retainer portion ( ) to secure the inner bag to the outer bag without sewing. The retainer portion ( ) is free of stitching openings.

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Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Hector Javier Zarazua Mauleon