An apparatus helps to protect an occupant of a seat of a vehicle including an instrument panel and a display screen that is positioned rearward of an occupant facing surface of the instrument panel and that extends vertically above an upper surface of the instrument panel. The apparatus includes an airbag configured to have a stored condition in which the airbag is rolled and/or folded and positioned within the instrument panel at a location below the display screen. The airbag is configured to inflate and deploy from the instrument panel in response to receiving inflation fluid from an inflation fluid source. The airbag is configured to deploy in an upward direction through a space between the occupant and the instrument panel to a position in which the airbag is positioned between the display screen and the occupant.

A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an airbag module (12) which includes an airbag (16) as well as an inflator (18) which upon activation supplies filling gas for the airbag (16). The airbag (16) is folded prior to activation into an airbag package (14) so that a main package (48) which contains a restraint part (52) of the airbag (16) constituting a major part of the airbag volume as well as a connecting portion (50) is formed which comprises a neck (54) of the airbag (16) connecting the restraint part (52) to the inflator (18), wherein the restraint part (52) is folded differently from the neck (54).

An apparatus helps to protect an occupant of a seat of a vehicle including an instrument panel and a display screen that is positioned rearward of an occupant facing surface of the instrument panel and that extends vertically above an upper surface of the instrument panel. The apparatus includes an airbag configured to have a stored condition in which the airbag is rolled and/or folded and positioned within the instrument panel at a location below the display screen. The airbag is configured to inflate and deploy from the instrument panel in response to receiving inflation fluid from an inflation fluid source. The airbag is configured to deploy in an upward direction through a space between the occupant and the instrument panel to a position in which the airbag is positioned between the display screen and the occupant.

An inflatable airbag system is disclosed, the inflatable airbag system configured with a securement wrapper and a packaging wrapper, the securement wrapper retaining an inflatable airbag cushion of the inflatable airbag system in a packaging state during assembly of the packaging wrapper to the inflatable airbag system. The securement wrapper prevents or reduces the incidence of excursion of the inflatable airbag cushion from the appropriate packaging state during assembly.

A vehicle comprising: an airbag device comprising a housing and an airbag, the airbag having a packed configuration and an expanded configuration, the airbag expanding through the aperture in the housing when moving from the packed configuration to the expanded configuration; a composite material panel positioned to cover the airbag device, the panel comprising a break line running over the panel, the break line being proximal to the aperture so that when the airbag moves to the expanded configuration the airbag forces the panel to tear along the break line; and a first protection flap, the first protection flap having an initial configuration where the first protection flap is located adjacent the airbag in the packed configuration and a deployed configuration where the first protection flap covers at least one edge of the panel that runs along one side of the break line when the panel has torn due to the airbag moving to the expanded configuration.

A knee airbag unit (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system of a motor vehicle is described. The knee airbag unit (10) comprises an airbag module (12), which has a module holder (14), a gas generator (16) and a flexible, non-inherently rigid module housing (18) that at least partially surrounds the gas generator (16) and the airbag in the untriggered state, wherein the gas generator (16), the airbag and the flexible module housing (18) are fastened to the module holder (14). Also provided is a cover (20) forming a module covering and defining an outer side in the installed state of the knee airbag unit (10), which is connected to the airbag module (12). Furthermore, there is an edge-side means (26) securing the cover (20) against lowering, originating from the module holder (14).

The invention describes a vehicle occupant restraint system (2) comprising a control unit and at least two restraint elements (8, 10) for the protection of lower extremities (6, 6′, 7, 7′) in the area of a footwell (4) of a vehicle of a vehicle occupant seated in a particular vehicle seat of the vehicle, wherein a first restraint element (8) is configured as a knee airbag module (12), wherein a second restraint element (10) is provided for mounting into the footwell (4) of the vehicle, especially in an area of the footwell (4) of the vehicle arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) ahead of the knee airbag module (12), wherein, in a situation of restraint, the control unit can differentiate between different given situations, wherein the given situation can be determined via a vehicle seat position and parameters relating to vehicle occupants, wherein, in the situation of restraint, when a situation is given in which the vehicle seat (5) is in a position shifted backwards, especially in a position shifted backwards compared to the standard position, and the vehicle occupant is a short and/or light person, the control unit only activates the foot airbag module (16) of the second restraint element (10).

A knee airbag module includes an inflatable knee airbag, an inflator for inflating the knee airbag, a housing for supporting the knee airbag and inflator, a cover for enclosing the knee airbag in the housing, and a deployment flap positioned beneath the cover. The housing includes an opening through which the knee airbag deploys. The deployment flap is connected to the housing and spans across at least a portion of the opening. The knee airbag has a width that extends laterally beyond the lateral extent of the housing when the airbag is deployed. The knee airbag also includes a central portion that spans the width of the housing when the knee airbag is deployed. The deployment flap is configured to initially inhibit deployment of the central portion of the knee airbag while remaining portions of the knee airbag initially deploy. The deployment flap is configured to thereafter rupture and permit deployment of the central portion.

The invention describes a vehicle occupant restraint system (2) comprising a control unit and at least two restraint elements (8, 10) for the protection of lower extremities (6, 6′, 7, 7′) in the area of a footwell (4) of a vehicle of a vehicle occupant seated in a particular vehicle seat of the vehicle, wherein a first restraint element (8) is configured as a knee airbag module (12), wherein a second restraint element (10) is provided for mounting into the footwell (4) of the vehicle, especially in an area of the footwell (4) of the vehicle arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) ahead of the knee airbag module (12), wherein, in a situation of restraint, the control unit can differentiate between different situations, wherein the control unit, in the situation of restraint, activates at least the first restraint element (8) and, depending on the given situation, additionally activates the second restraint element (10) and/or a partial element of the first restraint element (8) and/or a partial element of the second restraint element (10).

An assembly for a vehicle includes a dash. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the dash and being inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag includes a knee chamber, a chest chamber supported by the knee chamber in the inflated position, and a head chamber supported by the chest chamber in the inflated position. The chest chamber is connected to the knee chamber at a lower seam that defines a lower fluid pathway. The head chamber is connected to the chest chamber at an upper seam that defines an upper fluid pathway. The assembly includes an inflator supported by the dash and being connected directly to the knee chamber.