Knee protection airbag device

• US 20050073134A1
• Filed: 06/25/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Kazumasa, Nagata, Atsushi, Mizuno, Yoshio, Matsuura, Hirokazu
• Granted Patent: US 7,185,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

In the knee protection airbag device of the present invention, an airbag folded and housed in a case opened rearward of the vehicle pushes open the door portion of an airbag cover assembled with the case, upon inflow of inflation gas from the inflator. Around the airbag cover, there is arranged an interior decoration member for vehicle which is provided separate from the airbag cover. The door portion includes at least an upper door openable upward. The upper door is formed in such a size as to cover a gap formed between the interior decoration member and the airbag cover when opened upon deployment of the airbag.

Claims

1. A knee protection airbag device arranged in front of the knees of a seated vehicle occupant, the airbag device comprising:

a case that opens toward the rear of the vehicle, wherein the case houses a folded airbag and an inflator, which supplies the airbag with inflation gas;

an airbag cover assembled with the case, wherein;

the airbag cover includes a door portion covering the opening of the case;

the door portion is adapted to open upon deployment of the airbag; and

the door portion includes at least an upper door that opens upwardly; and

an interior decoration member for the vehicle provided separate from the airbag cover, the interior decoration member being arranged around the airbag cover, wherein the airbag, upon inflow of inflation gas from the inflator, pushes open the door portion and expands and inflates upwardly while protruding toward the rear of the vehicle, and the dimensions of the upper door are such that a gap formed between the interior decoration member and the airbag is covered when the airbag is deployed.

2. A knee protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the door portion comprises, below the upper door, a lower door that is adapted to open downward upon deployment of airbag.

3. A knee protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein:

the airbag cover comprises a general portion arranged around the door portion; and

the interior decoration member is extended to a position rearward of the general portion so as to be supported by the general portion.

4. A knee protecting airbag device arranged below a steering column of a vehicle, the device comprising:

an airbag;

a case attached to the vehicle for housing the folded airbag, wherein the case has a recessed section at a front side thereof so that the recessed section can accommodate the steering column when shifted; and

an inflator attached to the case for inflating the airbag.

5. The knee-protecting airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the case opens toward the rear of the vehicle, the case houses the inflator, and the airbag device further comprises:

an airbag cover assembled with the case, wherein;

the airbag cover includes a door portion covering the opening of the case;

the door portion is adapted to open upon deployment of the airbag; and

the door portion includes at least an upper door that opens upwardly; and

an interior decoration member for the vehicle provided separate from the airbag cover, wherein the interior decoration member is arranged around the airbag cover, and the airbag, upon inflow of inflation gas from the inflator, pushes open the door portion and expands and inflates upward while protruding toward the rear of the vehicle, and the dimensions of the upper door are such that a gap formed between the interior decoration member and the airbag is covered when the airbag is deployed.