Abstract: A knee bolster assembly having a vehicle frame structure, a bracket structure having a base portion and two contoured side wall portions that extend from the base portion to ends that attach to the frame structure, a trigger point occurs in each side wall portion at a first maximum width and a first minimum width between side wall portions, and a knee bolster plate cooperating with the base portion.

Abstract: A knee bolster assembly having a vehicle frame structure, a bracket structure having a base portion and two contoured side wall portions that extend from the base portion to ends that attach to the frame structure, a trigger point occurs in each side wall portion at a first maximum width and a first minimum width between side wall portions, and a knee bolster plate cooperating with the base portion.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for venting an inflatable restraint assembly 12. The apparatus 10 includes a conventional pyrotechnic cylinder 30 which is communicatively coupled to a controller 28, a selectively pivotable door 32 which selectively seals and/or covers an opening 33 within assembly 12, and a latch mechanism 34 which is coupled to the cylinder 30 and which selectively engages and disengages door 32. Controller 28 is communicatively coupled to a seat position sensor 36, seat belt sensor 38 and crash severity sensor(s) 40. Controller 28 determines when a crash situation has occurred or will imminently occur and selectively activates assembly 12 if such a determination is made, thereby protecting the vehicle occupant 18 from harm and/or injury. Controller 28 further determines whether and/or when to vent air bag module 12 based upon the data received from sensors 36-40 and selectively activates cylinder 30 in response to such a determination.

Abstract: An air bag deployment system for a vehicle having an air bag cushion having at least one pyrotechnic vent, an inflator in communication with the air bag cushion for inflating the air bag cushion, at least one sensor, and a restraint control module electrically connected to the pyrotechnic vent and the at least one sensor. The restraint control module being operative to receive and analyze a signal from the at least one sensor and to signal the pyrotechnic vent to deploy thereby allowing gas to vent from inside the air bag cushion.