USRE42364E1 - Occupant knee protection system for vehicle and inflating and deploying method - Google Patents

Occupant knee protection system for vehicle and inflating and deploying method Download PDF

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Publication number
USRE42364E1
USRE42364E1 US12/314,019 US31401902A USRE42364E US RE42364 E1 USRE42364 E1 US RE42364E1 US 31401902 A US31401902 A US 31401902A US RE42364 E USRE42364 E US RE42364E
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
vehicle
gas flow
airbag
flow dividing
dividing portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime, expires
Application number
US12/314,019
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English (en)
Inventor
Tatsuya Hayakawa
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toyota Motor Corp
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Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Toyota Motor Corp filed Critical Toyota Motor Corp
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Publication of USRE42364E1 publication Critical patent/USRE42364E1/en
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B60R21/233—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
    • B60R21/205—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components in dashboards
    • B60R21/206—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components in dashboards in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B60R21/2334—Expansion control features
    • B60R21/2338—Tethers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B60R21/2334—Expansion control features
    • B60R21/2346—Soft diffusers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B60R2021/23169—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration specially adapted for knee protection
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/23—Inflatable members
    • B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
    • B60R21/2334—Expansion control features
    • B60R21/2338—Tethers
    • B60R2021/23382—Internal tether means

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an airbag system and inflating and deploying method of the airbag, provided in a vehicle, more particularly to an occupant knee protection system for a vehicle (knee airbag system) which protects occupant's knees by inflating and deploying an airbag (sometimes called as a gas bag), which is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, in front of the occupant's knees by gas supplied from an inflator.
  • a vehicle knee airbag system
  • an airbag sometimes called as a gas bag
  • a related art of the occupant knee protection system for a vehicle is disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 11-321539.
  • This publication discloses an occupant knee protection system for a vehicle in which opposed wall portions (front wall portion and rear wall portion) of an airbag are connected via connecting means so as to suppress the shape change of the airbag in a case the occupant's knees smash into the airbag.
  • the shape change of the airbag when the occupant's knees smash into the airbag can be suppressed by the connecting means provided in the airbag.
  • the airbag since the airbag itself inflates in a spherical shape at the time of inflation and deployment, the airbag may be inflated into a large size in between both knees (between legs) of the occupant, thereby making it difficult for the airbag to gets in front of both left and right knees of the occupant.
  • the invention is characterized in that, in the occupant knee protection system for a vehicle which protects occupant's knees by inflating and deploying an airbag, which is folded and stored in a part of the vehicle, in front of the occupant's knees by gas supplied from an inflator, gas flow dividing portion for dividing a flow of the gas supplied from the inflator in right and left directions of the vehicle is provided inside the airbag.
  • the occupant knee protection system for a vehicle With the occupant knee protection system for a vehicle according to the invention, introduction of the gas can be facilitated while distributing the gas within the airbag in left and right directions of the vehicle by the gas flow dividing portion. As a result, inflation and deployment of the airbag at its center portion (airbag inflation in a spherical shape) is suppressed, thereby improving the inflation and deployment performance at both end portions of the air bag in a lateral direction of the vehicle. This arrangement allows the airbag to get in front of the occupant's knees, making it possible to appropriately protect the occupant's knees.
  • a longitudinal thickness of the airbag in an inflated and deployed state can be regulated appropriately (in a predetermined length). Therefore, the airbag inflation and deployment can be restricted such that the airbag is not inflated more than required in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, enabling the airbag to get in front of the occupant's knees easily.
  • the gas supplied from the inflator can be distributed quickly and evenly in right and left directions by the gas flow dividing portion.
  • the inflation and deployment of the airbag in left and right directions in equal amount can be facilitated.
  • the occupant knee protection system for a vehicle according to the invention also enables improvements of the inflation and deployment performance of the entire airbag and an airbag shape retention effect.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view which schematically shows one embodiment of an occupant knee protection system for a vehicle according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing relationships of a panel, a bracket, an instrument panel reinforcement, and the occupant knee protection system for a vehicle in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 4 is a longitudinal center sectional view from the rear which schematically shows a first modified embodiment of the occupant knee protection system for a vehicle according to the invention
  • FIG. 5 is a longitudinal center sectional view from the rear which schematically shows a second modified embodiment of the occupant knee protection system for a vehicle according to the invention
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view, equivalent to FIG. 3 , which schematically shows another embodiment of the occupant knee protection system for a vehicle according to the invention
  • FIG. 7 is a longitudinal center sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 from the rear;
  • FIG. 8 is a longitudinal center sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 from the side;
  • FIG. 9 is a longitudinal center sectional view from the rear which schematically shows a second modified embodiment of the occupant knee protection system for a vehicle in which an inflator is provided outside the airbag.
  • FIGS. 1 to 3 show one embodiment of an occupant knee protection system for a vehicle according to the invention.
  • An occupant knee protection system (knee airbag system) 10 in the embodiment is assembled to an instrument panel reinforcement 23 via a panel 21 and a bracket 22 at approximately the same height as a knee B of an occupant A.
  • the occupant knee protection system 10 is provided with an airbag 11 which inflates and deploys in front of the knee B of the occupant A, and an inflator 12 which supplies gas to the airbag 11 .
  • the airbag 11 is made of a woven fabric and is folded and stored inside an instrument panel 24 .
  • the airbag 11 intervenes between the panel 21 and the knee B of the occupant A at the time of inflation and deployment as shown in FIG. 1 so as to protect the knee B of the occupant A.
  • the airbag 11 has in its inside a tether 11 c for connecting a front wall 11 a and a rear wall 11 b of the airbag 11 that are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and is supported on the panel 21 via the front wall 11 a.
  • the tether 11 c is a rectangular woven fabric formed in predetermined lengths of La and Lb in longitudinal and lateral directions of the vehicle, respectively.
  • the front and rear end portions of the tether 11 c are connected to (for example, sewn to) the front and rear walls 11 a, 11 b of the airbag 11 that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
  • the tether 11 c extends in longitudinal and lateral directions above a gas supply hole 12 a of an inflator 12 , so as to form a pair of inflating chambers R 1 , R 2 arranged one on top of the other within the airbag 11 , both chambers being communicated with each other at the right and left end portions of the tether 11 c.
  • the tether 11 c functions as a connecting means for connecting the front and rear walls 11 a, 11 b of the airbag 11 that are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and also as gas flow dividing portion for dividing the gas flow from the inflator 12 in right and left directions of the vehicle.
  • the inflator 12 injects and supplies gas into the airbag 11 upon a frontal collision of the vehicle, and is incorporated in the airbag 11 to be supported on the panel 21 together with the airbag 11 . Furthermore, the inflator 12 has the gas supply hole 12 a for injecting and supplying the gas towards a bottom face of the tether 11 c (i.e. injecting the gas upward).
  • the airbag 11 is normally stored inside the instrument panel 24 in a multi-folded state, and covered by a lower portion of the instrument panel 24 .
  • gas is supplied from the inflator 12 into the airbag 11 that is stored in the folded state when the acceleration detected by a relevant sensor (not shown) upon the frontal collision of the vehicle reaches or exceeds a set value.
  • the airbag 11 inflates and deploys by the supplied gas, so as to intervene between the panel 21 and the knee B of the occupant A, thereby protecting the knee B of the occupant A.
  • introduction of the gas can be facilitated while distributing the gas in right and left directions of the vehicle by the tether 11 c within the airbag 11 .
  • This suppresses inflation and deployment of the airbag 11 at its center portion (inflation of the airbag 11 in a spherical shape), and thus the inflation and deployment performance of the airbag 11 at both end portions in the lateral direction of the vehicle is improved. Consequently, the airbag 11 is made to promptly get in front of the knee B of the occupant A, making it possible to appropriately protect the knee B of the occupant A.
  • the tether 11 c is formed and arranged within the airbag 11 in a tabular shape against the gas flow from the inflator 12 . Nonetheless, as illustrated in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 , or FIGS. 6 to 8 , the tether 11 c may be formed and arranged in a mountain-like shape which protrudes against the gas flow from the inflator 12 . In the embodiments shown in FIG. 4 and in FIGS. 6 to 8 , the tether 11 c is formed and arranged in a mountain-like shape which protrudes in a V-shape against the gas flow from the inflator 12 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , the tether 11 c is formed and arranged in a mountain-like shape which protrudes in a U-shape against the gas flow from the inflator 12 .
  • the tether 11 c is provided with three communicating holes 11 c 1 which communicate between an inflating chamber (one area) R 1 and an inflating chamber (the other area) R 2 within the airbag 11 , both chambers being separated by the tether 11 c. Due to this arrangement, the occupant knee protection system for a vehicle according to this embodiment can facilitate the inflation and deployment performance of the airbag 11 in the lateral direction, and at the same time, can improve the inflation and deployment performance of the entire airbag 11 as well as a shape retention effect of the airbag 11 .
  • the inflator 12 is provided in the lower part in the airbag 11 such that the inflator 12 injects and supplies gas in an upward direction of the vehicle.
  • the inflator may be provided in the upper part in the airbag such that the inflator injects and supplies gas in a downward direction of the vehicle.
  • the tether is formed and arranged in a mountain-like shape which protrudes upward.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)
US12/314,019 2001-12-10 2002-11-27 Occupant knee protection system for vehicle and inflating and deploying method Expired - Lifetime USRE42364E1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2001375389A JP3687602B2 (ja) 2001-12-10 2001-12-10 車両用乗員膝部保護装置
JP2001-375389 2001-12-10
PCT/IB2002/005039 WO2003049977A2 (en) 2001-12-10 2002-11-27 Occupant knee protection system for vehicle and inflating and deploying method

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/495,867 Reissue US7147247B2 (en) 2001-12-10 2002-11-27 Occupant knee protection system for vehicle and inflating and deploying method

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
USRE42364E1 true USRE42364E1 (en) 2011-05-17

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Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/314,019 Expired - Lifetime USRE42364E1 (en) 2001-12-10 2002-11-27 Occupant knee protection system for vehicle and inflating and deploying method
US10/495,867 Ceased US7147247B2 (en) 2001-12-10 2002-11-27 Occupant knee protection system for vehicle and inflating and deploying method

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/495,867 Ceased US7147247B2 (en) 2001-12-10 2002-11-27 Occupant knee protection system for vehicle and inflating and deploying method

Country Status (8)

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US (2) USRE42364E1 (zh)
EP (1) EP1451044B1 (zh)
JP (1) JP3687602B2 (zh)
KR (1) KR100576751B1 (zh)
CN (1) CN1265989C (zh)
AU (1) AU2002353264A1 (zh)
DE (1) DE60204589T2 (zh)
WO (1) WO2003049977A2 (zh)

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US9205792B1 (en) * 2014-10-31 2015-12-08 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Inflatable bolster in a vehicle bumper
US20160001734A1 (en) * 2013-02-27 2016-01-07 Autoliv Development Ab Knee Airbag

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JP4016842B2 (ja) * 2003-01-24 2007-12-05 トヨタ自動車株式会社 車両用乗員膝部保護装置
DE10313730B4 (de) * 2003-03-27 2010-06-02 GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit Knie-Airbagmodul eines Kraftfahrzeuges
US7350801B2 (en) 2003-07-11 2008-04-01 Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Knee-protecting airbag
EP1531098B1 (de) * 2003-11-13 2018-09-19 Ford Global Technologies, LLC, A subsidary of Ford Motor Company Airbag
JP4553577B2 (ja) * 2003-12-12 2010-09-29 タカタ株式会社 ニーバッグ及び乗員脚部保護装置
JP4674468B2 (ja) * 2004-02-10 2011-04-20 タカタ株式会社 乗員保護装置
JP4345645B2 (ja) * 2004-11-09 2009-10-14 豊田合成株式会社 膝保護用エアバッグ装置
JP4704821B2 (ja) * 2005-06-30 2011-06-22 日本プラスト株式会社 車両用サイドエアバッグ
US7942440B2 (en) 2005-12-22 2011-05-17 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Channel and diffuser airbag
DE102006008756A1 (de) * 2006-02-24 2007-09-06 Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn Knieairbag
JP4506713B2 (ja) * 2006-04-19 2010-07-21 トヨタ自動車株式会社 ニーエアバッグ支持構造
JP5098231B2 (ja) * 2006-06-22 2012-12-12 豊田合成株式会社 サイドエアバッグ装置
EP2042387B1 (en) * 2007-09-27 2012-02-01 Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Airbag for knee protection
JP4530018B2 (ja) * 2007-09-27 2010-08-25 豊田合成株式会社 膝保護エアバッグ
JP5187818B2 (ja) 2007-10-22 2013-04-24 芦森工業株式会社 膝保護用エアバッグ装置
JP4591574B2 (ja) * 2008-08-06 2010-12-01 トヨタ自動車株式会社 車両用ニーエアバッグ装置
US7862082B2 (en) * 2008-08-20 2011-01-04 Gm Global Technology Operations, Inc. Air bag inflation baffle
JP4433078B2 (ja) 2008-08-26 2010-03-17 トヨタ自動車株式会社 車両用ニーエアバッグ装置
US8500157B2 (en) 2009-04-27 2013-08-06 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Knee airbag assemblies and related methods
US20100270782A1 (en) * 2009-04-27 2010-10-28 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Inflatable knee airbag assemblies with bag straps for wrapping the airbags and optimizing deployment
US8118325B2 (en) * 2009-04-27 2012-02-21 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Inflatable knee airbags and internal tethers produced from single panels of material
US8083254B2 (en) * 2009-04-27 2011-12-27 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Knee airbag assemblies configured for inflator insertion and inflator-mediated coupling to an airbag housing
US8777262B2 (en) 2009-04-27 2014-07-15 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Airbag assemblies with stabilizer straps
US8297649B2 (en) * 2009-07-16 2012-10-30 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Inflatable knee airbag having two chambers separated by an internal tether
US8272667B2 (en) * 2009-11-03 2012-09-25 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Low-mount inflatable knee airbags having serial chambers
US8500155B2 (en) * 2009-12-22 2013-08-06 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Inflatable airbag assembly with an integral cover
US8376396B2 (en) * 2010-01-15 2013-02-19 Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Multi-chamber knee airbag
JP5494215B2 (ja) * 2010-05-15 2014-05-14 スズキ株式会社 インストルメントパネルの下部構造
DE102010030194B4 (de) * 2010-06-17 2018-06-07 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Knieairbaganordnung für Fahrzeuge
US8297650B2 (en) 2010-08-31 2012-10-30 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Inflatable knee airbag assemblies with articulating housings
US8360464B2 (en) 2010-08-31 2013-01-29 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Covers for inflatable knee airbag housings
WO2013054397A1 (ja) 2011-10-11 2013-04-18 トヨタ自動車株式会社 車両用ニーエアバッグ装置
US8540276B2 (en) 2011-11-07 2013-09-24 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Inflatable knee airbag assemblies with cushion fold pattern
US8505963B1 (en) 2012-02-24 2013-08-13 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Airbag assemblies with strap clamps
KR101637207B1 (ko) * 2012-11-29 2016-07-08 아우토리브 디벨롭먼트 아베 차량의 안전장치
US9010804B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2015-04-21 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Airbag assemblies with constrained stabilizer straps
US9132797B2 (en) * 2013-10-28 2015-09-15 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Non-symmetrical knee airbag
WO2015112644A1 (en) 2014-01-21 2015-07-30 Tk Holdings Inc. Passenger side airbag
US10696266B2 (en) 2017-11-10 2020-06-30 Autoliv Asp, Inc. Inflatable knee airbag assemblies
US11400881B2 (en) * 2019-06-26 2022-08-02 Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Knee protection airbag device

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EP1451044A2 (en) 2004-09-01
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JP3687602B2 (ja) 2005-08-24
KR100576751B1 (ko) 2006-05-03
DE60204589D1 (de) 2005-07-14
JP2003175793A (ja) 2003-06-24
US7147247B2 (en) 2006-12-12
CN1602262A (zh) 2005-03-30
WO2003049977A3 (en) 2003-10-23
DE60204589T2 (de) 2006-03-16
WO2003049977A2 (en) 2003-06-19
CN1265989C (zh) 2006-07-26
EP1451044B1 (en) 2005-06-08

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