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An inflatable rigid knee airbag system for assisting in positioning and decelerating a vehicle occupant is disclosed. The system includes an inflatable knee airbag having a front panel, an annular, accordion-folded bellows panel, and a rear panel having an inflation orifice and mounting brackets; an

An inflatable rigid knee airbag system for assisting in positioning and decelerating a vehicle occupant is disclosed. The system includes an inflatable knee airbag having a front panel, an annular, accordion-folded bellows panel, and a rear panel having an inflation orifice and mounting brackets; and a pyrotechnic inflator. The system helps to improve the kinematics of a vehicle occupant in relation to a primary airbag cushion by bolstering the knees of the occupant. The system of the invention may be mounted in a vehicle in a panel under the steering column, in the door of a glove box, or in the lower section of the instrument panel of the vehicle directly in front of the occupant's lower legs.

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1. An inflatable airbag comprising:a front panel, a rear panel having an inflation orifice, and an extensible bellows panel disposed between said front panel and said rear panel, wherein each of said panels comprises a substantially rigid material. 2. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the su

1. An inflatable airbag comprising:a front panel, a rear panel having an inflation orifice, and an extensible bellows panel disposed between said front panel and said rear panel, wherein each of said panels comprises a substantially rigid material. 2. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the substantially rigid material is metal or plastic.3. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the front panel further comprises a decorative cover panel for use as a knee bolster.4. The inflatable airbag of claim 3, wherein the decorative cover panel is a glove box door.5. The inflatable airbag of claim 3, wherein the decorative cover panel is a contoured panel suitable for placement under the steering column of a vehicle.6. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the bellows panel comprises at least one accordion fold.7. The inflatable airbag of claim 6, wherein the bellows panel comprises more than one accordion fold.8. The inflatable airbag of claim 6, wherein the bellows panel comprises at least two rigid sheets having at least one accordion fold, wherein the sheets are operably joined to form an annulus.9. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the rear panel has a thickness greater than a thickness of the front panel.10. The inflatable airbag of claim 9, wherein the rear panel has a thickness greater than a thickness of the bellows panel.11. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the rear panel further comprises connector studs for attaching an inflator to the airbag.12. The inflatable airbag of claim 11, wherein the rear panel further comprises a mounting bracket for mounting the airbag to a vehicle for use.13. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the shape of the airbag is selected from the group consisting of oval, circular, and rectangular.14. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the airbag is configured to be positioned in a vehicle to protect a vehicle occupant's lower legs when deployed.15. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the airbag is configured to be positioned in a vehicle to protect a vehicle occupant during a side-impact collision when deployed.16. The inflatable airbag of claim 1, wherein the airbag is configured to be positioned in a vehicle to prevent foot intrusion by a vehicle occupant's feet when deployed.17. An inflatable airbag comprising:a front panel, a rear panel having an inflation orifice, and an extensible bellows panel disposed between said front panel and said rear panel, wherein the front panel further comprises a decorative cover panel for use as a bolster for a vehicle occupant, and wherein the front, rear, and extensible bellows panels comprise a substantially rigid material. 18. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the decorative cover panel is a glove box door.19. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the decorative cover panel is a contoured panel suitable for placement under the steering column of a vehicle.20. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the bellows panel comprises at least one accordion fold.21. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the bellows panel comprises at least four accordion folds.22. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the bellows panel comprises at least two metal sheets having at least one accordion fold, wherein the sheets are operably joined to form an annulus.23. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the rear panel has a thickness greater than a thickness of the front panel.24. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the rear panel has a thickness greater than a thickness of the bellows panel.25. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the rear panel further comprises a ring of connector studs for attaching an inflator to the airbag.26. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the rear panel further comprises a mounting bracket for mounting the airbag to a vehicle for use.27. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the shape of the airbag is selected from the group consisting of oval, circular, and rectangular.28. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the airbag is substantially constructed of metal.29. The inflatable airbag of claim 17, wherein the airbag is substantially constructed of plastic.30. An inflatable airbag system comprising:an inflatable airbag comprising a front panel, a rear panel having an inflation orifice, and an annular, accordion-folded bellows panel connected to the front panel and the rear panel, wherein the panels comprise a substantially rigid material; and an inflator attached to the inflation orifice of the back panel of the inflatable airbag, the inflator capable of expelling inflation gas sufficient to inflate the airbag upon activation; wherein when the inflatable airbag system is mounted in a vehicle and inflated, a vehicle occupant positioned near the airbag is decelerated by deformation of the airbag. 31. The inflatable airbag system of claim 30, wherein the bellows panel comprises at least one accordion fold.32. The inflatable airbag system of claim 30, wherein the bellows panel comprises at least two accordion folds.33. The inflatable airbag system of claim 30, wherein the bellows panel comprises at least two sheets of said substantially rigid material having at least one accordion fold, wherein the sheets are operably joined to form an annulus.34. The inflatable airbag system of claim 30, wherein the rear panel has a thickness greater than that a thickness of the front panel.35. The inflatable airbag system of claim 34, wherein the rear panel further comprises a ring of connector studs for attaching the inflator to the airbag.36. The inflatable airbag system of claim 34, wherein the rear panel further comprises a mounting bracket for mounting the airbag to a vehicle for use.37. The inflatable airbag of claim 30, wherein the shape of the airbag is selected from the group consisting of oval, circular, and rectangular.38. The inflatable airbag system of claim 30, wherein the front panel further comprises a decorative molded cover panel for integration into a vehicle interior; wherein the decorative cover panel functions as a knee bolster.39. The inflatable airbag system of claim 38, wherein the decorative cover panel is a contoured panel suitable for placement under the steering column of a vehicle.40. The inflatable airbag system of claim 38, wherein the decorative cover panel is a glove box door.41. The inflatable airbag system of claim 40, wherein the airbag further comprises a sensor to detect whether the glove box door is closed or open.42. The inflatable airbag system of claim 41, wherein the airbag further comprises a controller operably linked to the sensor and the inflator such that when the sensor detects an open glove box door, the controller prevents the inflation of the airbag.43. The inflatable airbag system of claim 30, wherein the inflator is selected from the group consisting of pyrotechnic, hybrid, and compressed gas inflators.44. An inflatable knee airbag system comprising:an inflatable knee airbag having a front panel configured to be attached to a decorative cover panel, an annular accordion-folded bellows panel attached to the front panel, and a rear panel having an inflation orifice and mounting brackets, the rear panel also being attached to the bellows panel, wherein the front, bellows, and rear panels comprise a substantially rigid material; an airbag inflator attached to the inflation orifice of the rear panel of the knee airbag, the airbag inflator capable of expelling inflation gas sufficient to inflate the knee airbag upon activation; and a decorative cover panel attached to the front panel of the knee airbag. 45. The inflatable knee airbag system of claim 44, wherein the bellows panel has at least one accordion fold.