Leg protection system and vehicle having the same

• US 20040113399A1
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan GK
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yoshikawa, Hiromichi, Abe, Kazuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,090,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23176 specially adapted for foot protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• 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

A leg protection system includes an airbag that deploys in front of a leg of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat. The airbag first deploys in front of an ankle or an instep of the leg, and then deploys upwardly along the leg. An airbag may include an ankle bag that deploys only in front of the ankle or the instep, and a knee bag that deploys only in front of the knee. A vehicle may further include a closing panel for blocking a space between a lower end of an instrument panel and a dash panel.

Claims

1. A leg protection system for protecting a leg of an occupant, comprising:

an airbag having a first portion to be inflated in front of an ankle or an instep of the leg, and

an inflator connected to the airbag for inflating the airbag.

2. A leg protection system according to claim 1, wherein said airbag further includes a second portion to be inflated upwardly along the leg after the first portion is inflated.

3. A leg protection system according to claim 1, wherein said second portion of the airbag is inflated in front of a knee of the leg.

4. A leg protection system according to claim 2, wherein said first portion is separated from the second portion.

5. A leg protection system according to claim 2, wherein said first portion is integrated with the second portion.

6. A leg protection system according to claim 5, wherein said airbag further includes a duct portion arranged between the first portion and the second portion to communicate together.

7. A leg protection system according to claim 2, further comprising an external duct portion arranged between the inflator and the airbag so that the inflator supplies gas to the first portion and the second portion.

8. A vehicle having a leg protection system for protecting a leg of an occupant, comprising:

an instrumental panel,

a dash panel disposed below the instrument panel, and

a closing panel extending from a lower end of the instrumental panel for closing a space between the lower end of the instrument panel and the dash panel so that an airbag is disposed between the instrument panel and the leg of the occupant when the airbag is inflated.

9. A vehicle having a leg protection system according to claim 8, wherein said protection system is disposed on at least one of the instrument panel, the dash panel, and the closing panel.

10. A vehicle having a leg protection system for protecting a leg of an occupant, comprising:

an instrumental panel, and

a dash panel extending from a lower end of the instrumental panel so that an airbag is disposed between the instrument panel and the leg of the occupant when the airbag is inflated.