초록 ▼

An inflatable bolster system is provided for supporting a body portion of a vehicle occupant such as the knees and lower body or pelvis during a collision. The inflatable bolster includes a decorative substantially rigid front panel and an expandable metal rear panel attached to the non-metal decora

An inflatable bolster system is provided for supporting a body portion of a vehicle occupant such as the knees and lower body or pelvis during a collision. The inflatable bolster includes a decorative substantially rigid front panel and an expandable metal rear panel attached to the non-metal decorative front panel. The inflatable bolster has an inflation orifice, and may have at least one vertical expansion fold and at least one horizontal expansion fold on the rear panel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An inflatable bolster comprising:a substantially rigid plastic front panel; andan expandable metal rear panel attached to the substantially rigid front panel, wherein the rear panel cooperates with the front panel to define an expandable volume, wherein the expandable metal rear panel is configur

1. An inflatable bolster comprising:a substantially rigid plastic front panel; andan expandable metal rear panel attached to the substantially rigid front panel, wherein the rear panel cooperates with the front panel to define an expandable volume, wherein the expandable metal rear panel is configured to expand in response to the introduction of a pressurized fluid into the volume.2. The inflatable bolster of claim 1, wherein the substantially rigid front panel comprises a decorative plastic panel.3. The inflatable bolster of claim 1, wherein the expandable metal rear panel includes expansion pleats to allow expansion of the inflatable bolster.4. The inflatable bolster of claim 1, wherein the substantially rigid front panel is attached to the expandable metal rear panel by fasteners.5. The inflatable bolster of claim 4, wherein the fasteners are selected from the group consisting of bolts, screws, and rivets.6. The inflatable bolster of claim 4, wherein the fasteners comprise projections of the rigid front panel that extend through openings formed in the expandable metal rear panel.7. The inflatable bolster of claim 6, wherein the projections are flattened after passing through the openings in the expandable metal rear panel to securely attach the substantially rigid front panel to the expandable metal rear panel.8. The inflatable bolster of claim 7, wherein the projections are flattened by melting them using heat.9. The inflatable bolster of claim 7, wherein the projections are flattened by melting them using ultrasound.10. The inflatable bolster of claim 1, further comprising a joint seal positioned between the substantially rigid front panel and the expandable metal rear panel.11. The inflatable bolster of claim 10, wherein the joint seal is selected from the group consisting of adhesive seals, foam seals, rubber seals, and elastomeric seals.12. An inflatable knee bolster comprising:a substantially rigid plastic front panel configured to support the knees and/or lower legs of a vehicle occupant during a collision; andan expandable metal rear panel securely attached to the substantially rigid front panel, the rear panel comprising expansion folds and an inflation orifice, wherein the rear panel cooperates with the front panel to define an expandable volume, wherein the expandable metal rear panel is configured to expand in response to the introduction of a pressurized fluid into the volume.13. The inflatable knee bolster of claim 12, wherein the substantially rigid front panel is a decorative panel for use as an interior trim panel of a vehicle.14. The inflatable knee bolster of claim 12, wherein the expandable metal rear panel is securely attached to the rigid front panel by fasteners.15. The inflatable knee bolster of claim 14, wherein the fasteners are selected from the group consisting of bolts, screws, and rivets.16. The inflatable knee bolster of claim 14, wherein the fasteners comprise protrusions of the substantially rigid front panel that extend through openings in the expandable metal rear panel.17. The inflatable knee bolster of claim 16, wherein the protrusions of the substantially rigid front panel are flattened after passing through the openings of the expandable metal rear panel to securely attach the substantially rigid front panel to the expandable metal rear panel.18. The inflatable knee bolster of claim 17, wherein the protrusions of the substantially rigid front panel are flattened by melting them using heat.19. The inflatable knee bolster of claim 17, wherein the protrusions of the substantially rigid front panel are flattened by melting them using ultrasound.20. The inflatable knee bolster of claim 12, wherein the expandable metal rear panel comprises at least one vertical expansion fold and at least one horizontal expansion fold.21. The inflatable knee bolster of claim 12, further comprising a joint seal positioned between the substantially rigid front panel and the expandable metal rear panel.22. The inflatable knee bolster of claim 21, wherein the joint seal is selected from the group consisting of adhesive seals, foam seals, rubber seals, and elastomeric seals.23. The inflatable knee bolster of claim 12, further comprising a pyrotechnic inflator coupled to the inflation orifice of the expandable metal rear panel.24. An inflatable pelvic bolster comprising:a substantially rigid plastic front panel configured to support the pelvis of a vehicle occupant during a collision; andan expandable metal rear panel securely attached to the substantially rigid front panel, the rear panel comprising expansion folds and an inflation orifice, wherein the rear panel cooperates with the front panel to define an expandable volume, wherein the expandable metal rear panel is configured to expand in response to the introduction of a pressurized fluid into the volume.25. The inflatable pelvic bolster of claim 24, wherein the substantially rigid front panel is a decorative panel for use as an interior trim panel of a vehicle.26. The inflatable pelvic bolster of claim 24, wherein the expandable metal rear panel is securely attached to the rigid front panel by fasteners.27. The inflatable pelvic bolster of claim 26, wherein the fasteners are selected from the group consisting of bolts, screws, and rivets.28. The inflatable pelvic bolster of claim 26, wherein the fasteners comprise protrusions of the substantially rigid front panel that extend through openings in the expandable metal rear panel.29. The inflatable pelvic bolster of claim 28, wherein the protrusions of the substantially rigid front panel are flattened after passing through the openings of the expandable metal rear panel to securely attach the substantially rigid front panel to the expandable metal rear panel.30. The inflatable pelvic bolster of claim 29, wherein the protrusions of the substantially rigid front panel are flattened by melting them using heat.31. The inflatable pelvic bolster of claim 29, wherein the protrusions of the substantially rigid front panel are flattened by melting them using ultrasound.32. The inflatable pelvic bolster of claim 24, wherein the expandable metal rear panel comprises at least one vertical expansion fold and at least one horizontal expansion fold.33. The inflatable pelvic bolster of claim 24, further comprising a joint seal positioned between the substantially rigid front panel and the expandable metal rear panel.34. The inflatable pelvic bolster of claim 33, wherein the joint seal is selected from the group consisting of adhesive seals, foam seals, rubber seals, and elastomeric seals.35. The inflatable pelvic bolster of claim 24, further comprising a pyrotechnic inflator coupled to the inflation orifice of the expandable metal rear panel.36. An inflatable bolster system comprising:a plastic decorative front panel;an expandable metal rear panel attached to the plastic decorative front panel, the rear panel including an inflation orifice, at least one vertical expansion fold and at least one horizontal expansion fold; andan inflator coupled to the inflation orifice; wherein activation of the inflator causes the rear panel to expandwherein the plastic decorative front panel is attached to the expandable metal rear panel by fasteners and wherein the fasteners extend from the plastic decorative front panel and comprise projections of the plastic decorative front panel that extend through openings formed in the expandable metal rear panel.37. The inflatable bolster system of claim 36, wherein the plastic decorative front panel is configured to be used as an interior trim panel of a vehicle.38. The inflatable bolster system of claim 36, wherein the projections are flattened after passing through the openings in the expandable metal rear panel to securely attach the plastic decorative front panel.39. The inflatable bolster system of claim 36, wherein the projections are flattened by melting them using heat.40. The inflatable bolster system of claim 36, wherein the projections are flattened by melting them using ultrasound.41. The inflatable bolster system of claim 36, further comprising a joint seal positioned between the plastic decorative front panel and the expandable metal rear panel.42. The inflatable bolster system of claim 41, wherein the joint seal is selected from the group consisting of adhesive seals, foam seals, rubber seals, and elastomeric seals.43. The inflatable bolster system of claim 36, wherein the inflator coupled to the inflation orifice is a pyrotechnic inflator.44. The inflatable bolster system of claim 36, wherein the plastic decorative front panel is shaped for use as a knee bolster.45. The inflatable bolster system of claim 36, wherein the plastic decorative front panel is shaped for use as a pelvic bolster.