UPWARD DEPLOYING INFLATABLE KNEE BOLSTER WITH MECHANICAL GUIDES

摘要

A knee bolster (14) for a vehicle has an airbag (18) and an airbag inflator (38). The airbag (18) has an inflated condition (30) and a condition (34) when the airbag (18) has not yet been deployed. The airbag (18) is attached to the knee bolster (14), which is moveable with the airbag (18). The knee bolster (14) may move from an unactuated position when the airbag (18) is in the condition (34) where the airbag (18) has not yet been deployed to an actuated position when the airbag (18) is inflated. A guide structure (54), which is attached to the knee bolster (14) directs the bolster along a linear path from the unactuated position to the actuated position.