Patent ID: 7328913
Filing Date: 2008-02-12
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and windshield, the instrument panel having an outer surface with a top portion which is more horizontal than vertical and generally directed toward the windshield and a mid portion which is more vertical than horizontal and generally directed toward an occupant in the passenger compartment, the passenger airbag system comprising: an airbag housing disposed in the instrument panel, the housing having a first edge disposed in the top portion of the instrument panel and an opposed second edge disposed in the mid portion of the instrument panel, an airbag deployment opening being defined between the first and second edges and extending substantially the entirety of the distance from the first to the second edge, the airbag housing further having an airbag cushion receiving surface extending between the first and second edges, the airbag cushion receiving surface having a top portion adjacent the first edge and a front portion adjacent the second edge; an airbag cushion deployable from the housing through the instrument panel, the airbag cushion deploying along a predetermined generally radial path through substantially the entirety of the airbag deployment opening, the air bag cushion being received in a non-deployed state on the airbag cushion receiving surface of the airbag housing and extending from the top portion to the front portion of the airbag receiving surface; and a single inflator and a diffuser disposed between the inflator and the airbag, the diffuser having a surface with openings defined therethrough, a first set of openings in the surface of the diffuser operable to direct gas flow into a top portion of the airbag cushion, and a second set of openings in the surface of the diffuser operable to direct gas flow into a mid portion of the airbag cushion.