Knee-restraining airbag device

• US 8,100,433 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shimono, Hiroyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US12/663,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20100181745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• 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 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To improve expansion performance of an airbag.

[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A knee-restraining airbag device (B) has an inflator (11), the airbag (12), an aesthetically designed cover (13) installed at the lower part of an interior article ahead, in the front-rear direction of a vehicle, of an seated occupant, and a case (14) installed on the opposite side of the aesthetically designed cover (13) from the seated occupant and forming a space (15). In a cross section of the space (15) taken in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, a cross section of an airbag receiving section (15b) in the space (15) has a vertically elongated shape. The airbag (12) is adapted such that, when it is placed in the airbag receiving section (15b), at least a part of the airbag (12) is positioned in a region closer to the occupant than a line (L) interconnecting the upper end of the case (14), which is in a state installed on the aesthetically designed cover (13), and an end surface that is located at the lower end of the case (14) and is closer to the aesthetically designed cover (13). As a result, the airbag (12) is positioned closer to the cover (13) at its surface which forms the space (15). [EFFECT] Expansion performance of the airbag is improved. When the device is used for a front passenger seat, a sufficient glove box capacity is secured and comfortable space is obtained for the passenger.

Claims

1. A knee-restraining airbag device for a vehicle comprising:

a decorative cover;

a case defining a space having an airbag housing portion, the case including a surface adjacent the decorative cover, the surface having an upper end and a lower end connected to the decorative cover, the upper and lower ends connected by an imaginary line; and

an airbag disposed in the airbag housing portion in a folded configuration, at least a portion of the airbag disposed on both sides of the imaginary line;

wherein the space further defines an inflator housing portion and the device further comprises an inflator disposed in the inflator housing portion such that a length of the inflator is oriented in a lateral direction of the vehicle when viewed from a passenger'"'"'s side, and the airbag extends to respective outer sides of both lengthwise ends of the inflator.

2. The knee-restraining airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag housing portion has a cross section with a vertically elongated shape when viewed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

3. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the inflator is provided with a gas injection orifice at both ends in a lengthwise direction.

4. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the inflator is disposed in the inflator housing portion such that at least a portion of the inflator is positioned on both sides of the imaginary line.

5. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the inflator is attached to the case.

6. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the inflator is attached to the case.

7. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag housing portion is disposed above the inflator housing portion.

8. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the airbag housing portion is disposed above the inflator housing portion.

9. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 5, wherein the airbag housing portion is disposed above the inflator housing portion.

11. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 4, further comprising a shock-absorbing metal plate disposed within the space, the metal plate extending toward outer sides of both ends of the folded airbag in a lateral direction of the vehicle.

12. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 5, further comprising a shock-absorbing metal plate disposed within the space, the metal plate extending toward outer sides of both ends of the folded airbag in a lateral direction of the vehicle.

13. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 7, further comprising a shock-absorbing metal plate disposed within the space, the metal plate extending toward outer sides of both ends of the folded airbag in a lateral direction of the vehicle.

15. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is directly disposed within the case.

16. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 15, wherein at least a substantial portion of the airbag is disposed on both sides of the imaginary line.

17. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 15, wherein a greater portion of the airbag in the folded configuration is disposed on a side of the imaginary line adjacent the cover as compared to a side of the imaginary line adjacent the case.

18. The knee-restraining airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the decorative cover includes first and second decorative cover ends secured to the case, the case directly housing the folded airbag.

10. A knee-restraining airbag device for a vehicle comprising:

a decorative cover;

a case defining a space having an airbag housing portion, the case including a surface adjacent the decorative cover, the surface having an upper end and a lower end connected to the decorative cover, the upper and lower ends connected by an imaginary line;

an airbag disposed in the airbag housing portion in a folded configuration, at least a portion of the airbag disposed on both sides of the imaginary line; and

a shock-absorbing metal plate disposed within the space, the metal plate extending toward outer sides of both ends of the folded airbag in a lateral direction of the vehicle.

14. A knee-restraining airbag device for a vehicle comprising:

a decorative cover;

a case defining a space having an airbag housing portion and an inflator receiving portion, the case including a surface adjacent the decorative cover, the surface having an upper end and a lower end connected to the decorative cover, the upper and lower ends connected by an imaginary line;

an airbag disposed in the airbag housing portion in a folded configuration, at least a portion of the airbag disposed on both sides of the imaginary line; and

an inflator disposed in the inflator housing portion, the inflator disposed in the inflator housing portion such that at least a portion of the inflator is positioned on both sides of the imaginary line.