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Deployable or active knee bolsters are being introduced by many OEMs, primarily on the driver side, as an improvement to the fixed or passive knee bolsters. There are shortcomings with the fixed knee bolster and many of them can be overcome with a deployable knee bolster. Also the deployable knee bolster has a few other advantages that make it a critical restraint system component for reducing the occupant injury numbers in frontal impact crashes. With the latest revision of FMVSS208, vehicle manufacturers must now demonstrate occupant performance for a wide range of test conditions. OEMs are now required to evaluate the 5th percentile female and the 50th percentile male in both belted and unbelted scenarios. A wide range of crash conditions must also be evaluated, including rigid barriers, angled impacts and offset deformable barriers.

An open vehicle architecture can be achieved by adding a knee cushion to the airbag system. However, a separate knee cushion adds considerable system complexity and cost. A low cost effective solution can be achieved by incorporating the knee cushion into a low mounted passenger side airbag system (LMPAB). The LMPAB incorporates the upper torso cushion and knee bag chamber into a single cushion assembly. This system replaces the conventional knee bolster and knee bolster brackets, allowing passenger side instrument panel surface to move forward in the vehicle. The LMPAB system provides greater styling flexibility and interior space while maintaining the safety of more conventional airbag systems.