(54) LOAD DISTRIBUTION ELEMENT FOR AN AIR-BAG
(75) Inventor: Erik Hjerpe, Goteborg (SE)
(73) Assignee: Autoliv Development AB, Vargarda (SE)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 10/642,491
(22) Filed: Aug. 18, 2003
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2004/0070182 Al Apr. 15, 2004
Related U.S. Application Data
(62) Division of application No. 09/959,989, filed as application No. PCT/SE01/00529 on Mar. 14, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,817,625.
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data
Mar. 14, 2000 (GB) 0006140
May 16, 2000 (GB) 0011796
(51) Int. CI.7 B60R 21/04
(52) U.S. CI 280/751; 296/97.23
(58) Field of Search 280/751, 753,
280/730.1; 180/90.6; 296/75, 97.23
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
1,270,103 A * 6/1918 Bell 296/75
3,047,088 A * 7/1962 Murrell 180/90.6
3,387,315 A * 6/1968 Stata 15/215
3,767,229 A 10/1973 Cain
4,726,438 A * 2/1988 Stuertz et al 180/90.6
An air-bag is adapted to be positioned on the floor pan of a vehicle in the foot-well, to be located beneath the feet of an occupant of the vehicle. The air-bag unit is an upper cover located above an air-bag. On inflation of the air-bag, the cover is lifted from its initial position to an elevated position. The cover includes two sections inter-connected by a hingeline. On inflation of the air-bag, part of the cover adjacent the hinge-line is elevated to a greater extent than the portions of the cover which are remote from the hinge-line.
15 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
