US 11,891,009 B1
Deployable panel assembly deployed by airbag
Eric Axel Smitterberg, Berkley, MI (US); Russell Joseph Mihm, Beverly Hills, MI (US); Johnathan Andrew Line, Northville, MI (US); Chuck R. Reese, Northville, MI (US); and James Robert Chascsa, II, Farmington Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/051,989.
Int. Cl. B60R 21/216 (2011.01); B60R 21/205 (2011.01); B60R 21/2165 (2011.01); B60R 21/215 (2011.01); B60R 21/2338 (2011.01)
CPC B60R 21/216 (2013.01) [B60R 21/205 (2013.01); B60R 21/2165 (2013.01); B60R 2021/21506 (2013.01); B60R 2021/21537 (2013.01); B60R 2021/23386 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly comprising:
a dash;
a deployable panel having a proximal end rotatably connected to the dash, the deployable panel being rotatable about the proximal end from an undeployed position to a deployed position, the proximal end being engaged with the dash in the deployed position and the deployable panel having a distal end spaced above the dash in the deployed position;
an airbag supported by the dash and inflatable to an inflated position, the airbag having a back panel abutting the deployable panel in the inflated position and an impact panel opposite the back panel; and
a tether connected to the deployable panel and the impact panel and extending through the back panel from the deployable panel to the impact panel.