JP2004098865A - Knee airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a knee airbag device realizing an excellent space design and securing adequate and stable performance. <P>SOLUTION: The knee airbag device is provided with a knee airbag module 1 arranged on the rear side of an instrument panel 10 ahead of a seat. The knee airbag module 1 is dimensioned to secure mutual space between itself and parts or peripheral members such as a duct 12 for an airconditioner, a brake pedal 13, and a parking brake pedal 14. The center of the knee airbag module 1 is arranged to align with the center C of a seat, thus influence to the peripheral parts is minimized and common use of parts is applicable. The center of the airbag module is set to the center C of the seat, thus airbag deployment is adequately stabled and property for restraining a human body is enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a knee airbag device that is employed as a safety measure in the event of a vehicle collision in a vehicle such as a passenger car, and in particular, restrains the occupant's knees to ensure safety.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For vehicles such as passenger cars, a knee airbag module is provided as an auxiliary restraint device for the seat belt in order to restrain the occupant's knees around the front seat in the event of a vehicle collision, and in particular to reduce the chest injury value. It is attached to the back of the panel lower.
When the knee airbag module is installed on the driver's seat side, it is installed behind the lower instrument panel in front of the seat, and in the event of a collision, the airbag deploys from the knee airbag module to restrain the occupant's knee. ing.
[0003]
Normally, the knee airbag module is located below the steering column, which is arranged at the front of the driver's seat and is inclined, and around the knee airbag module are a number of functional components such as air conditioner ducts and brake pedals Or components are provided.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional knee airbag module mounting structure, especially when a large knee airbag module (having a width of 270 mm or more) is mounted, mutual space with the peripheral parts as described above is secured. Is difficult. Therefore, new peripheral components must be newly installed to fit the limited space, and the die cost required for the newly installed components increases.
On the other hand, when a small knee airbag module (having a width of 230 mm or less) is attached, the deployed airbag enters between the crotches, and it is not always possible to ensure proper human body restraint performance as it is. And so on.
[0005]
In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a knee airbag device which realizes an excellent space design and can secure appropriate and stable performance.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is a knee airbag device provided with a knee airbag module disposed on the back side of an instrument panel lower in front of a seat, such that the knee airbag module can secure a mutual space with peripheral members or components. It is characterized in that dimensions are set.
[0007]
In the knee airbag device according to the present invention, the center of the knee airbag module is arranged to be aligned with the seating center.
[0008]
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the influence on a peripheral component can be minimized by suitably setting the dimension of a knee airbag module so that mutual space with a peripheral component etc. can be ensured. As a result, parts can be shared between different vehicle types. Further, by setting the center of the knee airbag module at the seating center, the deployment performance of the airbag can be appropriately and stabilized, and the restraint on the human body can be improved.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a knee airbag device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows the periphery of a knee airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The knee airbag module 1 is arranged behind the lower instrument panel 10 in front of the driver's seat. Above the knee airbag module 1, a steering column 11 is arranged at an angle, and around the knee airbag module 1, there are other components such as an air conditioner duct 12, a brake pedal 13, a parking brake pedal 14, and a switch base 15. A number of functional members or components are provided.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 2, the knee airbag module 1 has an airbag door 3 attached to a front surface of a package 2 for storing an airbag, that is, a driver's seat side. A pair of brackets 4 and 5 are projected from the upper and rear portions of the package 2, respectively, and are fastened to a knee panel described later via these brackets 4 and 5. Here, the knee airbag module 1 is dimensioned so as to secure a mutual space with the various peripheral parts as described above. Specifically, the width W = 250 mm, the height H = 54.5 mm, It is assumed that the depth L is 110 mm.
[0011]
FIG. 3 shows an arrangement relationship between the knee airbag module 1 and its peripheral components and the like. In the figure, a steering column 11 is disposed above a knee airbag module 1, and a steering handle 16 is mounted on an end of the steering column 11. The steering column 11 is covered by a steering column cover 17. The knee airbag module 1 is fastened to a knee panel 18 via brackets 4 and 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the knee panel 18 is fastened to a bracket 20 extending from a reinforce 19 on the body side and attached to the body.
[0012]
With such a configuration, the knee airbag module 1 is fastened to the knee panel 18 so as to be arranged at a predetermined position in front of the knee M of the occupant. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 1, the center of the airbag module 1 is arranged so as to be aligned with the seating center C.
[0013]
As described above, the dimensions of the knee airbag module 1 are set to predetermined sizes (width W = 250 mm, height H = 54.5 mm, depth L = 110 mm) so as to secure a mutual space with peripheral parts and the like. By doing so, it is possible to minimize the effect on peripheral components. By suppressing the influence on the peripheral parts in this way, parts can be shared between different types of vehicles.
[0014]
Further, by setting the center of the knee airbag module 1 at the seating center C, the deployment performance of the airbag can be appropriately and stabilized, and the restraint on the human body can be improved. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the airbag A can be deployed in front of the occupant's knee M. In this case, there is no concern that the deployed airbag A will enter the crotch area. .
[0015]
The specific numerical values and the like of the knee airbag module 1 described in the above embodiment can be appropriately changed as necessary, and are not necessarily limited thereto.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in this kind of knee airbag device, components can be shared by minimizing the influence on peripheral components, and mold costs and the like can be reduced. . In addition, there is an advantage that a high level of safety can be ensured by appropriately and stabilizing the deployment performance of the airbag and improving the human body restraint.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration example around a knee airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a side view showing a configuration example of a knee airbag module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a front view.
FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an arrangement relationship of a knee airbag module and peripheral components thereof in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an example of a support structure of a knee airbag module according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state when the airbag is deployed in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state when an airbag is deployed in the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Knee airbag module 2 Package 3 Airbag doors 4 and 5 Bracket 10 Instrument panel lower 11 Steering column 12 Air conditioner duct 13 Brake pedal 14 Parking brake pedal 15 Switch base 16 Steering handle 17 Steering column cover 18 Knee panel 19 Reinforce 20 bracket

Claims (2)

A knee airbag device including a knee airbag module disposed behind an instrument panel in front of a seat,
A knee airbag device characterized in that the knee airbag module is dimensioned so as to secure a mutual space with peripheral members or components. The knee airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a center of the knee airbag module is arranged so as to be aligned with a seating center.

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