JP2002337653A - Device for protecting leg of occupant - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for protecting the leg of an occupant capable of having a high flexibility of arrangement and expanding an air bag in a desired wide developing range. SOLUTION: An area as a cover of which an upper side is partitioned by a tear line 12 and a lower side is partitioned by a hinge part 14 is provided on an interior panel 10. When the air bag 4 expands, the tear line 12 is broken by an expansion pressure, and the area as the cover bends from the hinge part 14 and the upper side starts to open in a flap shape. The air bag 4 is guided by the area as the cover of the interior panel 10, expands upward along the interior panel 10, and expands and develops from a lower position than the knee of the occupant to the front of the knee.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an occupant leg protection device for protecting a lower leg of an occupant from hitting an interior panel or the like in front of a seat at the time of a collision of an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An occupant leg protection device for protecting a lower leg of an occupant from hitting an interior panel in front of a seat in the event of a collision of a high-speed moving body such as an automobile is provided inside the interior panel (on the rear side of the interior panel). Space), a gas generator for inflating the airbag, and a cover for covering the airbag during normal times (when the high-speed moving body such as the automobile does not encounter a collision situation). There are some that mainly consist of the cover that is used.

In such an occupant leg protection device,
Normally, the airbag is disposed inside the interior panel in a folded state, and the cover is attached so as to cover a folded body of the airbag.

[0004] Then, at the time of collision, the gas generator operates to eject gas, and the ejected gas is supplied to the airbag, and the airbag inflates rapidly. At this time, the cover opens with the inflation of the airbag, whereby the airbag is allowed to inflate to the outside of the interior panel and inflated and deployed between the interior panel and the lower leg of the occupant. Thus, the lower leg of the occupant is protected from hitting the interior panel.

An example of this type of occupant leg protection device is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 12 (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration example of an occupant leg protection device for a passenger seat of an automobile, and FIG. 12 (b) is a cross-sectional view of the occupant leg protection device when an airbag is inflated. It is.

[0006] The occupant leg protection device 1 for a passenger seat of this automobile
Reference numeral 00 denotes a container-shaped retainer 102 having an opening on the front surface (occupant-side surface), an airbag 104 folded and arranged in the retainer 102, and an airbag 104
Gas generator 106 for inflating the container and retainer 10
2, and has a cover 108 that opens the opening when the airbag 104 is inflated.

[0007] The occupant leg protection device 100 is arranged at a height facing the knee of the occupant in the front passenger seat, behind the mounting opening 114 provided in the interior panel 112 in front of the front passenger seat 110. The protection device 100 includes a bracket 116.
Through a body member (not shown). Normally, the cover 108 is arranged so as to close the opening 114 substantially flush with the interior panel 112.

In the occupant leg protection device 100,
At the time of a vehicle collision, the gas generator 106 performs a gas ejection operation, and the gas inflates the airbag 104 to cover the cover 108.
To open and expand in front of the occupant's knee to prevent the lower leg of the occupant from hitting the interior panel 112.

In the occupant leg protection device 100, when the airbag 104 is inflated, the cover 108 is pushed out toward the occupant by the inflation pressure of the airbag 104, and comes into contact with the occupant's knee. Thereby, the load locally applied from the occupant's knee is dispersed by the cover 108 and transmitted to the airbag 104, and the airbag 104 can more effectively absorb the load from the occupant. I can do it.

The cover 108 is connected to the connecting member 11.
The air bag 104 prevents the air bag 104 from excessively protruding toward the occupant and being repelled by the air bag 104. The connecting member 118 is omitted, and the cover 108 may be attached to the tip of the airbag 104 instead.

By the way, as this kind of occupant leg protection device, there is a device in which an airbag is arranged along two orthogonal sides of a glove box. FIG. 13 (a) is a perspective view showing an example of such an occupant leg protection device, and FIG. 13 (b) is a perspective view of the occupant leg protection device when an airbag is being inflated.

A glove box (accessory) 122 is provided on the interior panel 120. In the folded state, the occupant leg protection device 124 is disposed in an approximately L-shaped airbag along two sides of the glove box 122 (the upper side and one side in the occupant leg protection device 124). 126, and a gas generator 128 for inflating the airbag 126. The airbag 1
26 is covered with an interior panel 120, and both ends and an intermediate portion thereof are fixed to a vehicle body member (not shown) by fasteners 130 such as bolts. Further, the interior panel 120 is provided with a tear line (rupture promoting portion, not shown) that is broken by the inflation pressure of the airbag 126.

In the occupant leg protection device 124,
When the gas generator 128 performs a gas ejection operation at the time of a vehicle collision and the airbag 126 is inflated by the gas, the tear line is broken by the inflation pressure of the airbag 126. As a result, the airbag 126 is inflated and deployed so as to cover the front surface of the interior panel 120, and the lower leg of the occupant is moved to the interior panel 12.
Prevent hitting 0.

[0014]

In the occupant leg protection device 100, the device itself is arranged in front of or near the occupant's knee to deploy the airbag in front of the occupant's knee. And the degree of freedom in the layout and interior panel design is greatly restricted.

Further, in the occupant leg protection device 100, the cover 108 is moved when the airbag 10 is inflated.
4, the local load from the occupant is widely dispersed and transmitted to the airbag in order to prevent the cover from protruding excessively toward the occupant or being repelled by the airbag. , Connecting member 1
18, it is necessary to provide a member for restricting the movement of the cover within a predetermined range, or to attach the cover to the occupant-facing surface of the airbag, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost.

In the occupant leg protection device 124, since the airbag is arranged in advance along the outer periphery of the glove box 122, the arrangement of the airbag is complicated, and it is not easy to manufacture and assemble the automobile.

An object of the present invention is to provide an occupant leg protection device which has a high degree of freedom in arrangement, can reliably deploy an airbag to a target location, and has a relatively simple structure.

[0018]

An occupant leg protection device according to the present invention (Claim 1) comprises an airbag provided inside a seat front member, a gas generator for inflating the airbag, An occupant leg protection device having a cover that covers the airbag and that opens when the airbag is inflated, the cover including the cover that allows the airbag to inflate near the front of the knees of the seat occupant. It is characterized by guiding a bag.

In the occupant leg protection device according to the present invention, when the airbag is inflated during a collision of a vehicle or the like, the airbag is guided by the cover so as to be inflated near the front of the seat occupant. It is not necessary to arrange the occupant leg protection device itself in front of the seat occupant. As a result, the degree of freedom in arranging the occupant leg protection device and the degree of freedom in designing the interior panel are significantly improved.

In this occupant leg protection device, the cover is disposed lower than the height near the seat surface of the seat, and when the cover is opened, the lower side is the supporting end side and the upper side is the free end side. It is preferable that the airbag be inflated upward along the seat front member (claim 2).

In such a configuration, when the airbag is inflated at the time of a collision of a vehicle or the like, the airbag is guided by the cover and inflates and deploys widely from below the occupant's knee to near the front of the knee.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an occupant leg protection device including an airbag provided inside a seat front member, a gas generator for inflating the airbag, and a cover for covering the airbag. And a cover that opens when the airbag is inflated, wherein the cover is disposed near the front of the knees of the seat occupant,
The airbag is guided so as to inflate downward. Similarly to the occupant leg protection device of the first aspect, when the airbag is inflated at the time of collision of a vehicle or the like, the occupant leg protection device is guided by the cover so that the airbag is inflated near the front of the seat occupant. Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange the occupant leg protection device itself in front of the seat occupant. As a result, the degree of freedom in arranging the occupant leg protection device and the degree of freedom in designing the interior panel are significantly improved.

In this occupant leg protection device, it is preferable that when the cover is opened, the upper side is the supporting end side and the lower side is the free end side. In this case, the airbag is guided by the cover and smoothly inflates upward.

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 (a) is a cross-sectional view of an occupant leg protection device for a passenger seat of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 (b) shows the occupant leg protection device when an airbag is inflated. It is sectional drawing. Also, FIG.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion II in FIG.

The occupant leg protection device 1 includes a container-like retainer 2 having an opening at a front surface (occupant-side surface), an airbag 4 folded and disposed in the retainer 2, and an airbag 4. And a gas generator 6 for inflating the front panel. The front opening of the retainer 2 is covered by an interior panel 10 installed in front of a passenger seat 8.

On the back surface of the interior panel 10 (the surface opposite to the side facing the occupant of the interior panel 10), a groove-shaped tear line (break promoting portion) is provided below the height near the seating surface of the passenger seat 8. An area as a cover partitioned by the hinge 12 and the hinge portion (bending guide portion) 14 is provided. The tear line 12 extends along the upper side and the left and right sides of the region serving as the cover, and the hinge portion 14 extends along the lower side of the region serving as the cover. The retainer 2 is arranged inside the interior panel 10 so that its front opening overlaps the area as the cover, and is fixed to a vehicle body member (not shown) via a bracket 16.

When the area of the cover of the interior panel 10 is pressed from the inside of the interior panel 10 by the airbag 4 inflated by the gas from the gas generator 6,
The tear line 12 is broken along the upper side and the left and right sides, and is bent from the hinge portion 14 along the lower side, whereby the upper side rotates in a flap shape and the front side of the interior panel 10 (occupant). Side).

As shown in FIG. 2, a groove is formed in the hinge portion 14 from the back surface side of the interior panel 10, and the thickness of the interior panel 10 is reduced by the groove, thereby forming a linear weak portion. Thus, the area of the interior panel 10 as a cover is induced to bend from the hinge portion 14. The hinge 1
The opening angle of the opening 4 is regulated so that it does not rotate to the front side more than a predetermined angle even when receiving the pressing force from the airbag 4.

The occupant leg protection device 1 thus configured
In the case of, at the time of a vehicle collision, the gas generator 6 performs a gas ejection operation, and the gas causes the airbag 4 to start inflating to push open a region of the interior panel 10 as a cover and to swell to the front side of the interior panel 10. . At this time, the upper side of the area as the cover is opened to a predetermined angle by the pressing force of the airbag 4. Thereby, the airbag 4 is guided by the cover area, and the interior panel 1
It expands upwards along the zero surface. The airbag 4 is inflated and deployed so as to wrap the knee from below the knee of the passenger in the passenger seat, and protects the leg of the passenger from hitting the interior panel 10. In addition, the area as a cover of the interior panel is opened to the occupant side by deployment of the airbag and abuts against the occupant's legs as a surface, so that the load from the occupant is efficiently received and also serves as a load distribution plate.

In the occupant leg protection device 1, the airbag 4 is guided by the area of the interior panel 10 as a cover and is deployed from below the occupant's knee to near the front of the knee. It is not necessary to arrange the airbag 4 in advance in the deployment range, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the device itself is high, and the airbag 4 can be inflated and deployed over such a wide range without increasing the size of the device itself.

In the above embodiment, the interior panel 1
A groove is formed on the back surface of the interior panel 10 along the lower side of the region as the cover of No. 0, and the groove constitutes a hinge portion 14 for guiding the bending of the region as the cover. The configuration of the hinge portion is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a configuration shown in the following FIGS. 3 to 6 are cross-sectional views of the same portions as those in FIG. 2 showing the configuration of the hinge portion according to the embodiment.

The hinge portion 14A shown in FIG. 3 is provided with grooves on both the rear surface and the front surface of the interior panel 10 along the lower side of the area as the cover of the interior panel 10, thereby providing the thickness of the interior panel 10. And a linear weak portion is formed to induce bending of the area as the cover.

The hinge portion 14B shown in FIG.
The thickness of the region as the cover is made thinner than the thickness of the peripheral portion to form a step along the lower side of the region as the cover, and stress is concentrated on this step to thereby reduce the thickness of the cover. It is configured to induce bending of a region.

In each of the hinge portions 14A and 14B, the upper side of the area serving as the cover is rotated outside the interior panel 10 by a predetermined angle or more by the pressing force from the airbag 4. Has a strength that does not allow the above.

The hinge portion 14C shown in FIG. 5 is formed by bending a groove formed on the back surface of the interior panel 10 along the lower side of the cover region, similarly to the hinge portion 14 described above, so that the cover region is bent. However, the reinforcing member 18 is attached across the groove, whereby the strength of the interior panel 10 at the hinge portion 14C is secured, and the upper portion of the area as the cover is provided. The side does not rotate to the front side of the interior panel 10 beyond a predetermined angle. In FIG. 5, the reinforcing member 1
8 is inserted into the interior panel 10 at both ends across the groove of the hinge portion 14C, and is thereby fixed to the interior panel 10;
May be fixed along the back surface of the interior panel 10 so as to straddle the groove, and both ends may be fixed to the interior panel 10 by welding or the like. The reinforcing member is preferably a plate-shaped, rod-shaped, or coil-shaped metal, hard resin, or spring material.

The hinge portion 14D in FIG. 6 is also formed with a groove on the back side of the interior panel 10 along the lower side of the area as a cover, and the groove guides the bending of the area as the cover. This interior panel 1
0, from the lower edge of the front opening of the retainer 2A facing the area as the cover from the back side of the airbag 4 so as to press the front part of the airbag 4 folded and arranged in the retainer 2A. The ear piece 20 is protruded, and the ear piece 2
0 overlaps near the lower side of the area as the cover. When inflated, the airbag 4 applies a pressing force to the area as the cover via the ear piece 20.

Therefore, the pressing force from the airbag 4 is alleviated by the ear pieces 20 and applied to the area of the interior panel 10 as the cover, whereby the upper side of the area as the cover is shifted by a predetermined angle. Is prevented from being excessively pushed open toward the front side of the interior panel 10.

In the above embodiment, the area as the cover is provided integrally with the interior panel, and when the airbag is inflated, the area as the cover is opened from the interior panel by the pressing force from the airbag. The occupant leg protection device 1A shown in FIG.
As described above, a cover that covers the airbag may be provided separately from the interior panel. 7 (a) is a cross-sectional view of the occupant leg protection device 1A, and FIG. 7 (b) is a cross-sectional view of the occupant leg protection device 1A when the airbag is inflated. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The occupant leg protection device 1A comprises a plate-shaped retainer 2B, an airbag 4 which is folded and connected to the retainer 2B, a gas generator 6 for inflating the airbag 4, and a A box-shaped cover 22 connected to the retainer 2A is provided so as to cover the folded body of the airbag 4. The front side (occupant side) of the cover 22 normally covers the folded body of the airbag 4, and when the airbag 4 is inflated, the airbag 4 is bent from the lower hinge portion 24 by the pressing force, and the upper side turns. A lid 26 that moves and opens outward. In addition, the hinge part 24 is the hinge part 14 or the hinge parts 14A to 14A described above.
D has a similar configuration to that of the hinge portion 24. The hinge portion 24 has a rotation angle regulated so that the upper side of the lid portion 26 does not rotate outward beyond a predetermined angle even when receiving a pressing force from the airbag 4. Have been.

The occupant leg protection device 1A is installed inside the interior panel 10A through an occupant leg protection device mounting opening 28 provided in the interior panel 10A in front of the passenger seat 8, and is provided with a retainer 2B. It is fixed to a vehicle body member (not shown) via a bracket (not shown). This opening 2
Reference numeral 8 is provided below the height near the seating surface of the passenger seat 8, and is normally closed by the lid 26 of the cover 22 almost flush with the surrounding interior panel 10A.

The occupant leg protection device 1 thus configured
In A, at the time of a vehicle collision, the gas generator 6 performs a gas ejection operation, and the gas starts the inflation of the airbag 4 to push open the lid 26 of the cover 22 to swell to the front side of the interior panel 10A. At this time, the upper side of the lid 26 is opened to a predetermined angle by the pressing force from the airbag 4. The airbag 4 is guided by the lid 26 and inflates upward along the surface of the interior panel 10A. As a result, the airbag 4 is inflated and deployed from below the knee of the passenger seat occupant to near the front of the knee, thereby protecting the lower leg of the occupant from hitting the interior panel 10A.

FIG. 8 (a) is a sectional view of an occupant leg protection device for a passenger seat according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 (b) is a cross-sectional view of the occupant leg protection device when the airbag is inflated. In each drawing, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Also in this embodiment, the occupant leg protection device 1B comprises a container-like retainer 2 having an opening on the front surface.
And an airbag 4 folded and arranged in the retainer 2 and a gas generator 6 for inflating the airbag 4. The front opening of the retainer 2 has an interior in front of the passenger seat 8. Covered by panel 10B.

The interior panel 10B has a grooved tear line 30 and a hinge 3 at a height near the front of the passenger's seat occupant's knee.
An area is provided as a cover sectioned by two. The tear line 30 extends along the lower side or the left and right sides of the region serving as the cover, and the hinge portion 32 extends along the upper side of the region serving as the cover. The retainer 2 is disposed inside the interior panel 10 </ b> B such that the front opening thereof overlaps the area as the cover, and is fixed to a vehicle body member (not shown) via the bracket 16.

When the airbag 4 inflated by the gas from the gas generator 6 is pressed from the inside of the interior panel 10, the tear line 30 is broken and the area of the interior panel 10 B as a cover is broken. As a result, the lower side pivots in a flap-like manner and opens to the front side (occupant side) of the interior panel 10B. Note that also in this embodiment, the hinge part 32 is the same as the hinge part 1 described above.
4 or the hinge portions 14A to 14D, and in this hinge portion 32, even if a pressing force is applied from the airbag 4, the lower side of the area as the cover does not rotate to the front side by more than a predetermined angle. The rotation angle is restricted as described above.

The occupant leg protection device 1 thus configured
In B, at the time of a vehicle collision, the gas generator 6 performs a gas ejection operation, and the gas starts the inflation of the airbag 4 to push open the area of the interior panel 10B as a cover, and swell to the front side of the interior panel 10B. I do. At this time, the upper side of the area as the cover is opened to a predetermined angle by the pressing force of the airbag 4. The airbag 4 is
It is guided by this cover area and expands downward along the surface of the interior panel 10B. As a result, the airbag 4 inflates from near the front of the knee of the passenger seat occupant to below the knee,
The lower leg of the occupant is protected from hitting the interior panel 10B.

In the occupant leg protection device 1B, the airbag 4 is deployed from the vicinity of the front of the occupant's knee to below the knee by being guided by the area of the interior panel 10B as a cover. It is not necessary to arrange the airbag 4 in advance in the deployment range, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the device itself is high, and the airbag 4 can be inflated and deployed over such a wide range without increasing the size of the device itself.

In this occupant leg protection device 1B, since the area as the cover disperses the local load from the occupant and transmits it to the airbag, the airbag 4 is formed as a cover of the interior panel 10B. Thus, it is possible to more effectively absorb the load from the occupant.

FIG. 9 (a) is a sectional view of an occupant leg protection device for a passenger seat of an automobile according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 (b) is this occupant leg protection device. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when the airbag is inflated. In each drawing, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate the same parts.

Also in this embodiment, the occupant leg protection device 1C includes a container-like retainer 2C having an opening on the front side (occupant side), and an airbag 4 folded and arranged in the retainer 2C. A gas generator 6 for inflating the airbag 4 is provided, and the front opening of the retainer 2 is covered by an interior panel 10 </ b> C in front of the passenger seat 8.

On the back surface (the surface opposite to the side facing the occupant) of the interior panel 10C, the grooved tear line 34 and the first
A region as a cover partitioned by the hinge portion 36 is provided. The tear line 34 extends along the lower side or both left and right sides of the area serving as the cover, and the first hinge portion 36 extends along the upper side of the area serving as the cover. This hinge portion 36
Is the same as the above-described hinge portion 14 or the hinge portions 14A to 14D.

Further, in the vicinity of the middle of the area as a cover of the interior panel 10C in the vertical direction, the same as the first hinge portion 36 so as to cross the area as the cover in the vehicle width direction. A second hinge portion 38 is provided.

The retainer 2C has an interior panel 10 such that its front opening overlaps the upper half of the area as the cover.
C, and is fixed to a vehicle body member (not shown) by a bracket 16. An outward flange-shaped lug 40 protrudes downward from the lower edge of the front opening of the retainer 2C, and the lug 40 overlaps the lower half of the area as the cover. ing.

The occupant leg protection device 1 thus configured
In C, when the gas generator 6 performs a gas ejection operation at the time of a vehicle collision and the airbag 4 is inflated by the gas, the region of the interior panel 10C as a cover is covered by the inflation pressure of the airbag 4. Pressed from the inside, the tear line 34 breaks, bends from the first hinge portion 36, and its lower side opens in a flap shape toward the front side (occupant side) of the interior panel 10. Since the hinge 36 has the same configuration as the hinge 14 or the hinges 14A to 14D, the lower side from the hinge 36 is
The airbag 4 is opened to a predetermined angle by the pressing force. The airbag 4 is guided by the cover area and inflates downward along the lugs 40 of the retainer 2C.
As a result, the airbag 4 is inflated and deployed from above to below the knees of the passenger in the passenger seat, and the lower legs of the passenger are mounted on the interior panel 1.
Protects you from hitting 0C.

The area of the interior panel 10C pushed to the occupant side by the airbag 4 as the cover comes into contact with the occupant's knee, and the local load from the knee is widely dispersed to form an airbag 4C. To communicate. At this time, due to the load from the occupant, the area as the cover bends along the lower leg of the occupant from the second hinge portion 38 near the middle in the height direction, thereby reducing the load from the occupant. And reduce the impact on the occupants.

In this occupant leg protection device 1C, the airbag 4 is guided from the area of the interior panel 10C as a cover and is deployed from the upper level to the lower level than the occupant's knee. It is not necessary to dispose the airbag in a predetermined range, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the device itself is high, and the airbag can be inflated and deployed over such a wide range without increasing the size of the device itself.

In this occupant leg protection device 1C, the area as the cover disperses the local load from the occupant and transmits it to the airbag, and the area itself as the cover is deformed to reduce this load. So, the airbag 4
It is possible to more effectively absorb the load from the occupant through the area as the cover of the interior panel 10C.

In this embodiment, the interior panel 1
0C, a region as a cover is defined by the tear line 34 and the hinge portion 36, and when the airbag 4 is inflated, the region as the cover is divided into the interior panel 10C.
Is to be opened from
As in the occupant leg protection device 1D shown in the figure, a cover for covering the airbag may be provided separately from the interior panel. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a main part of the occupant leg protection device 1D according to the embodiment.

The occupant leg protection device 1D shown in FIG.
Container-shaped retainer 2D having an opening on the front side (occupant side)
And an airbag 4 folded and arranged in the retainer 2D, a gas generator 6 for inflating the airbag 4, and a cover 4 for covering the front opening of the retainer 2D.
2 is provided. The retainer 2D is a passenger seat (not shown)
Above the height in the vicinity of the seating surface of the vehicle, and is installed inside the interior panel 10D from the opening for mounting the occupant leg protection device provided in the interior panel 10D in front of the passenger seat.

The cover 42 has a vertical length extending from the upper part to the lower part of the height near the front of the knees of the passenger seat occupant. The front opening of the retainer 2D is
Is covered by the upper half. The lower half of the cover 42 overlaps the lower edge of the mounting opening of the interior panel 10D. In this embodiment, a concave step 46 is provided at the lower edge of the mounting opening of the interior panel 10D so that the lower half of the cover 42 fits. This concave step 46
The lower half of the cover 42 fits into the
The boundary between the lower half and the interior panel 10D is substantially flush.

A first hinge portion (not shown) similar to the above-described hinge portion 14 or 14A to 14D is provided on the upper side of the cover 42. In the vicinity, a second hinge portion 44 that crosses the cover 42 in the vehicle width direction is provided.

The occupant leg protection device 1 thus configured
In the case of D, when the gas generator 6 performs a gas ejection operation at the time of a vehicle collision and the airbag 4 is inflated by this gas, the cover 42 is pressed from the back side by the inflation pressure of the airbag 4, and 1 and bends from the hinge portion, and its lower side opens to the occupant side. The airbag 4 is guided by the cover 42 and inflates and deploys from the knees of the passenger in the front passenger seat to the lower seats.
It protects from hitting 0D.

The cover 42 pushed to the occupant side by the airbag 4 abuts on the occupant's knee and spreads the local load from the knee widely to the airbag 4. At this time, due to the load from the occupant, the cover 42 causes the second hinge 44 near the middle in the height direction.
The lower side is bent along the lower leg of the occupant to reduce the load from the occupant and reduce the impact on the occupant.

When the cover is provided separately from the interior panel as described above, a measure may be taken to prevent the lower side of the cover from coming into contact with the interior panel and fluttering. FIG. 11 shows an occupant leg protection device 1 according to an embodiment.
It is principal part sectional drawing which shows another structure of 1D.

As shown in the figure, the recessed step 4 provided at the lower edge of the opening for attaching the occupant leg protection device of the interior panel 10D '.
6, a claw piece 48 is provided on the step surface on the base end side, and this claw piece 48 is engaged with an engagement portion 50 provided on the lower end portion of the cover 42D. Thereby, the cover 4
The lower end of the second panel 2 is prevented from fluttering due to contact with and separating from the interior panel 10D '.

[0066]

As described above in detail, in the occupant leg protection device of the present invention, when the airbag is inflated at the time of collision of a vehicle or the like, the airbag is inflated by the cover near the front of the seat occupant. Therefore, it is not necessary to dispose the occupant leg protection device itself in front of the seat occupant, and the degree of freedom of arrangement is high. Further, the occupant leg protection device of the present invention,
The airbag can be deployed over a wide range without increasing its size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an occupant leg protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion II in FIG. 1 (a).

FIG. 3 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a hinge unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a hinge unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a hinge unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a main part showing a configuration of a hinge unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an occupant leg protection device 1A according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an occupant leg protection device 1B according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an occupant leg protection device 1C according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an occupant leg protection device 1D according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part showing another configuration of the occupant leg protection device 1D according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an occupant leg protection device according to a conventional example.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an occupant leg protection device according to another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D Occupant leg protection device 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D Retainer 4 Airbag 6 Gas generator 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10D 'Interior panel 12, 30, 34 Tear line 14, 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 24, 32,
36, 38, 44 Hinge 18 Reinforcement 20 Ear piece 22, 42, 42A Cover 26 Lid

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An airbag provided inside a seat front member, a gas generator for inflating the airbag, and a cover that covers the airbag and opens when the airbag is inflated. The occupant leg protection device according to claim 1, wherein the cover guides the airbag such that the airbag inflates near the front of the knee of the seat occupant. 2. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the cover is disposed lower than a height near a seating surface of the seat, and when the cover is opened, the lower side is a supporting end side and the upper side is a free end side. The occupant leg protection device, wherein the airbag inflates upward along the seat front member. 3. An airbag provided inside a seat front member, a gas generator for inflating the airbag, and a cover which covers the airbag and opens when the airbag is inflated. The cover is disposed near the front of the knee of the seat occupant, and guides the airbag to inflate downward. Leg protection device. 4. The occupant leg protection device according to claim 3, wherein, when the cover is opened, an upper side is a support end side and a lower side is a free end side.