Air bag device for knee protection
First Claim
1. A knee protecting airbag device for protecting the knee of a driver with an airbag to be expanded and inflated by an inflating gas, wherein:
- said airbag, when having completed expansion and inflation, is configured in a shape to cover at least the lower surface of a column cover covering a steering column; and
a portion of the airbag is configured to cover a hard area of the column cover and is thicker than a remaining general portion, the hard area being formed of a material harder than the column cover.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A knee protecting airbag device (M1), wherein an airbag (26) covers the substantial lower surface (9a) of a column cover (9) protruded to a driver side. Therefore, the airbag is minimized in the capacity without deteriorating the protection of the knee of the driver. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time period required for the airbag to complete the expansion and inflation. The airbag has a generally plate shape capable of covering at least the lower surface of the column cover when it completes the inflation. Even if the knee of the driver comes close to the column cover when the driver depresses a brake pedal or the like, the airbag being expanded and inflated is smoothly arranged in a narrow space between the knee of the driver and the column cover lower surface without interfering with the knee of the driver. With the knee protecting airbag device according to the present invention, therefore, the airbag is rapidly expanded and inflated in the narrow space between the column cover and the knee of the driver thereby to protect the knee of the driver properly.
47 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A knee protecting airbag device for protecting the knee of a driver with an airbag to be expanded and inflated by an inflating gas, wherein:
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said airbag, when having completed expansion and inflation, is configured in a shape to cover at least the lower surface of a column cover covering a steering column; and
a portion of the airbag is configured to cover a hard area of the column cover and is thicker than a remaining general portion, the hard area being formed of a material harder than the column cover. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification