JP2008087523A - Airbag device for protecting knee - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device for protecting the knee capable of smoothly deploying and inflating an airbag stored in a column cover even when the arrangement position of the column cover is longitudinally and vertically adjusted. <P>SOLUTION: In the airbag device M1 for protecting the knee, an airbag 61 is folded to a lower part 16a side in a column cover 16, and stored therein. The airbag 61 is projected by pushing and opening a door part 34 of the column cover. A door part 35 to constitute the door part 34 abuts a rear edge 36 side before the opening on a rear face 12 of an instrument panel 7 or a lower edge 11a at a peripheral edge 11 of a storage opening 10 on the rear face 12 side at the opening to close a rear side of a space H for movement so as to prevent entry of the airbag 61 during the deployment and inflation in the space H for movement between an outer circumferential surface 18 of the movement-adjusted column cover and the lower edge 11a at the peripheral edge 11 of the storage opening 10 of the instrument panel 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a knee protection airbag device that protects a driver's knee with an inflated airbag in the event of a vehicle collision, and particularly stores a folded airbag in a column cover disposed to cover a steering column. The present invention relates to a knee protection airbag device with a steering column.

Conventionally, a knee protection airbag device with a steering column has a folded airbag stored in the lower side of the column cover, and when activated, inflation gas is supplied to the airbag and the airbag is deployed. It was set as the structure which protrudes from a column cover so that it may arrange | position to the front side of a driver | operator's knee, expanding (for example, refer patent document 1, patent document 2, patent document 3, patent document 4).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-301054 JP 09-104317 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-071911 German Patent Application Publication No. 10250405

  However, the column cover is attached to the steering column as a cylindrical shape that covers the steering column, and is disposed in front of the seated driver so as to protrude rearward from the storage opening of the instrument panel.

  If the steering column is equipped with an adjustment mechanism such as a telescopic mechanism or a tilt mechanism that can adjust the position of the steering wheel forward and backward or up and down, the column cover can be moved together with the steering column by operating the adjustment mechanism. Moves back and forth and up and down. And even if it moved, the predetermined | prescribed movement clearance gap was provided in the periphery of the opening for accommodation in the rear surface side of the instrument panel in the circumference | surroundings of a column cover so that interference with an instrument panel could be prevented.

  Therefore, in the knee protection airbag device that houses the airbag folded in the column cover, the column cover moves by adjusting the tilt mechanism, telescopic mechanism, etc. Even when the gap becomes large, there is a problem in smoothly disposing the airbag that has been inflated on the front side of the driver's knee without allowing the airbag to invade into the gap for movement. .

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and provides a knee protection airbag device capable of smoothly deploying and inflating an airbag stored in a column cover even if the column cover is adjusted in position. The purpose is to do.

The knee protection airbag device according to the present invention includes a column cover that is attached to the steering column as a cylindrical shape that covers the steering column, and that the seated driver projects so as to protrude rearward from the storage opening of the instrument panel. It is possible to prevent interference with the instrument panel when moved together with the steering column by operating the adjustment mechanism that is arranged in the front and that is mounted on the steering column and can adjust the position of the steering wheel at least up and down. In addition, a gap for movement is provided between the rear edge of the instrument panel and the periphery of the storage opening,
The folded airbag is stored in the lower part of the column cover,
During operation, an inflation gas is supplied to the airbag so that the airbag is deployed and inflated, and is disposed on the front side of the driver's knee so as to protrude from the column cover. Because
When the airbag is deployed and inflated, at least the lower side of the column cover that protrudes rearward from the instrument panel with respect to the driver's knee, and the lower side of the column cover and the rear side of the left and right sides of the instrument panel , Which is configured in a coverable shape,
In the area extending from the lower surface side of the column cover to the left and right side surfaces, a door portion that is pushed and opened by the air bag is disposed so that one protrusion opening can be formed when the air bag protrudes.
The door portion includes a lower door portion disposed on the lower surface side of the column cover, and a left door portion and a right door portion disposed on the left and right side surfaces of the column cover,
At least the lower door portion among the lower door portion, the left door portion, and the right door portion,
The rear edge side is configured to open away from the column cover toward the front side,
Before opening the airbag, it can be prevented from intruding into the gap for movement between the outer peripheral surface of the column cover that has been moved by the adjustment mechanism and the lower edge at the periphery of the instrument panel storage opening. The rear edge side of the instrument panel is placed in contact with the lower edge of the rear edge of the instrument panel when opened, or the rear edge of the storage opening, and the rear side of the moving gap is closed. To do.

  In the knee protection airbag device according to the present invention, when the inflation gas is supplied and the airbag is inflated during operation, the lower door portion, the left door portion, and the right door portion of the door portion are pushed by the airbag. Open the air bag to form an air bag protrusion opening in the column cover. And the airbag protrudes from the opening for protrusion, and can protect the driver's knee moving forward, at least the lower surface side of the column cover protruding backward from the instrument panel with respect to the driver's knee, The instrument panel expands and expands so as to cover the lower side of the column cover and the rear side of the left and right sides of the instrument panel.

  At that time, the lower door part of the door part, the left door part, the right part in the vicinity of the lower edge of the peripheral edge of the storage opening that is likely to fluctuate so that the moving gap becomes the largest due to the movement of the column cover by the adjustment machine operation. At least the lower door part of the door part moves on the rear edge side before opening between the outer peripheral surface of the column cover moved by the operation of the adjusting mechanism and the lower edge at the peripheral edge of the opening for storing the instrument panel. In order to prevent the intrusion of the airbag during deployment and expansion into the gap, the rear side of the movement gap is opened by contacting the lower edge of the storage opening on the rear or rear side of the instrument panel. Block it.

  Therefore, the airbag is smoothly deployed and inflated without entering the gap for movement between the outer peripheral surface of the column cover moved by the operation of the adjustment mechanism and the lower edge at the periphery of the storage opening of the instrument panel. And placed on the front side of the driver's knee.

  By the way, the operation in which the movement gap largely fluctuates is to place the column cover in the uppermost position by the operation of the tilt mechanism, and between the left edge and right edge of the peripheral edge of the storage opening and the outer peripheral surface of the column cover. The movement gap does not vary greatly even if the column cover is moved back and forth or up and down. Therefore, the shape of the column cover and the storage opening is set so as to minimize the gap for movement between the left and right edges of the periphery of the storage opening and the outer peripheral surface of the column cover (for example, for storage) The opening is a rectangular opening and the column cover is set to a rectangular cross-section corresponding to the storage opening), and the movement gap between the lower edge of the storage opening and the outer peripheral surface of the column cover is closed. If this is the case, the lower edge at the periphery of the opening for accommodating the air bag accurately hinders the protrusion of the airbag without considering the configuration for closing the left and right narrow movement gaps when the left door portion and the right door portion are opened. The penetration | invasion to the clearance gap for a site | part can be prevented. In addition, the movement gap between the left and right edges of the periphery of the storage opening and the outer peripheral surface of the column cover is reduced as much as possible so that there is no risk of intrusion of the airbag. When setting the shape of the opening, the left door part and the right door part of the door part, when opened by being pushed by the airbag, together with the opened lower door part, one opening for protruding the airbag Can be configured such that the lower edge side of the part protruding rearward from the instrument panel can be opened upward, or the front edge side of the part protruding rearward from the instrument panel can be opened to the rear edge side. It is good also as a simple structure.

  Therefore, in the knee protection airbag device according to the present invention, even if the column cover is adjusted to be arranged back and forth or up and down, the airbag stored in the column cover does not enter the moving gap smoothly. Expanding and expanding, covering at least the lower surface side of the column cover protruding rearward from the instrument panel and the rear surface side of the lower and left and right sides of the column cover in the instrument panel with respect to the driver's knee, The driver's knees moving forward can be protected from the lower surface of these column covers and the rear surface of the instrument panel.

Of course, the left door part and the right door part, respectively, like the lower door part,
The rear edge side is configured to open away from the column cover toward the front side,
Prevents intrusion of airbags during deployment and expansion into the respective gaps for movement between the outer periphery of the column cover moved by the operation of the adjusting mechanism and the peripheral edge of the opening for storing the instrument panel between the left edge and the right edge Possible to close the rear side of the gap for movement by bringing the rear edge side before opening into contact with the left edge and the right edge of the rear edge of the instrument panel when opening, respectively. , May be arranged.

  In such a configuration, a gap for movement between the left and right edges of the peripheral edge of the storage opening and the outer peripheral surface of the column cover can be set large in advance, so that the front and rear and upper and lower column covers can be set. Therefore, it is not necessary to consider the interference of the column cover with the left and right edges at the periphery of the storage opening, and the degree of freedom in designing the outer shape of the column cover can be improved.

In this case, the lower door portion, the left door portion, and the right door portion are respectively
While having a flexible structure,
The position of each trailing edge
The lower door part, the left door part, and the right door part are bent and opened so that they protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the column cover. The outer periphery of the column cover at the most advanced position of the column cover when adjusting the adjustment mechanism To allow contact with the lower edge, the left edge, and the right edge (the lower edge side edge of the storage opening) at the periphery of the storage opening when the maximum movement gap from the surface is generated ,
Set and
The length dimension from each rear edge to the front end of each edge extending forward,
The lower door part, left door part, and right door part are bent and opened so that they protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the column cover. The outer periphery of the column cover at the last retracted position of the column cover when adjusting the adjustment mechanism To allow contact with the lower edge, the left edge, and the right edge (the lower edge side edge of the storage opening) at the periphery of the storage opening when the maximum movement gap from the surface is generated ,
Set
It is desirable to arrange.

  In such a configuration, since each door portion is configured to be flexible, when opened, the rear edge side before opening is the rear side of the instrument panel from the rear surface vicinity to the outer periphery of the column cover. The opening portion is bent so as to protrude from the surface, and the opening portion comes into contact with the lower edge side periphery (the lower edge, the left edge, and the right edge at the periphery of the storage opening). At this time, the rear edge of each door portion is the lower edge side edge of the storage opening when the maximum movement gap from the outer peripheral surface of the column cover at the most advanced position of the column cover at the time of adjustment of the adjustment mechanism is generated. The length dimension from the rear edge to the front edge of each edge extending forward from each rear edge is determined so that the column cover is retracted at the time of adjustment of the adjustment mechanism. The opening portion is set so as to be able to come into contact with the lower edge side periphery of the storage opening when the maximum movement gap from the outer peripheral surface of the column cover at the position is generated. That is, when the column cover is moved back and forth, and the storage gap at that time is the largest, when the rear edge before opening is opened, each door part is a part extending rearward from each rear edge. Alternatively, the part protruding backward from the entire instrument panel is bent, and the opening part that is bent and opened from the outer peripheral surface of the column cover contacts the lower edge side edge of the storage opening. Thus, the gap for movement can be closed smoothly.

  And conversely, if each door part is configured to be flexible, the arrangement position of the rear edge of each door part and the length dimension in the front-rear direction of each edge extending forward from each rear edge, By setting these two types, each door portion can smoothly close the rear side of the moving gap when opened, even if the front and rear and upper and lower arrangement positions of the column cover are adjusted.

  In this case, the front and rear lengths of both edges extending forward from each rear edge are increased to some extent, and each door portion is bent and opened so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the column cover. If the airbag is in contact with the lower edge side edge of the opening and is further disposed along the rear surface of the instrument panel, the airbag that has been deployed and inflated is a portion (surface) along the instrument panel at the open opening portion. It can be placed along the rear surface of the instrument panel and close to the rear surface of the instrument panel beyond the area of the rear surface of the instrument panel. The reaction force can be easily secured, and the driver's knee can be protected with cushioning properties quickly.

  In particular, if the front end of each edge extending forward from each rear edge is arranged in the vicinity of the periphery of the storage opening at the last retracted position of the column cover, the column cover is at the last retracted position. Even when the doors are arranged, the doors have a sufficient length in the front-rear direction and are in contact with the lower edge side periphery of the storage opening, while the above-mentioned parts along the rear surface of the instrument panel. Can be placed. As a result, even if the column cover is placed at any position before and after the most advanced position to the last retracted position, it can be placed so that the airbag during deployment is inflated along the rear surface of the instrument panel. Therefore, the reaction force from the instrument panel can be easily secured.

  In addition, the lower door part, the left door part, and the right door part in the door part are arranged around each of the planned breakable parts that are pushed by the airbag and can be broken. If the projection opening is formed, the parting around the door portions can be prevented from appearing on the outer surface side of the column cover, and the appearance design of the column cover can be improved. Of course, if this point is not taken into consideration, as the lower door part, the left door part, and the right door part in the door part, the periphery excluding the hinge part at the time of opening is preliminarily separated from the surroundings, You may arrange | position so that it may be pushed and opened by the airbag which expand | swells.

  And, the column cover is arranged with the above door portion as a front door portion, adjacent to the rear side of the lower door portion and the left door portion / right door portion of the front door portion, together with the front door portion, The rear door portion may be disposed so as to constitute the airbag opening when opened.

  In such a configuration, the movement gap can be blocked by the front door portion, and the opening area of the protrusion opening can be easily widened by the rear door portion. Without protruding into the inner peripheral side of the storage opening and without being caught by the peripheral edge of the protrusion opening in the column cover, it can smoothly protrude from the column cover and expand and expand.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 5, a knee protection airbag device M1 according to the first embodiment includes a folded airbag 61 and a lower portion 16 a in a column cover 16. It is configured to be housed on the side. The knee protecting airbag device M1 includes a folded airbag 61, an inflator 66 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 61, and a case 71 that houses the airbag 61 and the inflator 66. The inflated airbag 61 pushes and opens the door (front door) 34 and the rear door 56 provided on the column cover 16, and the knees K (KL, KR) of the driver D seated. It is comprised so that it may be arrange | positioned at the front side of (refer FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the column cover 16 is made of a synthetic resin having a substantially rectangular tube shape so as to cover the steering column 3, and is attached to the column tube 5 of the steering column 3 at a portion not shown. It is arrange | positioned ahead of the driver | operator D who seated so that it may protrude in the back side from the opening 10 for storage of a ment panel (henceforth an instrument panel). The instrument panel 7 includes an upper panel 8 on the upper side and a lower panel 9 on the lower side. The steering column 3 is provided with an adjustment mechanism (not shown) including a telescopic mechanism and a tilt mechanism that can adjust the arrangement position of the steering wheel 1 forward and backward and up and down. Then, the column cover 16 is moved together with the steering column 3 by operating the adjustment mechanism. Further, the instrument panel 7 has a column cover 16 at the periphery of the storage opening 10 on the rear surface 7a side so as to prevent interference with the instrument panel 7 of the column cover 16 when the column cover 16 is moved together with the steering column 3. Movement gaps H (HL, HV) are provided between the outer peripheral surface 18 (see FIG. 4).

  During adjustment of an adjustment mechanism (not shown), the telescopic mechanism in the adjustment mechanism is operated to place the steering wheel 1 in the last retracted position, and further, the tilt mechanism of the adjustment mechanism is operated to bring the steering wheel 1 to the uppermost position. When arranged, the steering wheel 1 and the column cover 16 are in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, and the steering mechanism 1 is arranged at the lowest position when the tilting mechanism is operated and the steering wheel 1 is in the last retracted position. In such a case, a state indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 2 is obtained. In addition, when the telescopic mechanism of the adjustment mechanism is operated to place the steering wheel 1 in the most advanced position, and the tilt mechanism of the adjustment mechanism is operated to place the steering wheel 1 in the uppermost position, steering is performed. When the wheel 1 and the column cover 16 are in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 and the tilt mechanism is operated to place the steering wheel 1 at the lowest position at the most forward position of the steering wheel 1, FIG. It will be in the state shown to the dashed-dotted line.

  At this time, the distance LD between the front and back of the column cover 16 by the telescopic mechanism is about 40 mm, and the vertical distance VD of the column cover 16 by the tilt mechanism is about 20 mm near the rear surface 7a of the instrument panel 7.

  As shown in the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 4 and FIGS. 7 and 10, the airbag 61 is configured to have a horizontally elongated rectangular plate shape in which the left and right directions are elongated. A driver side wall part 62 disposed on the driver D side and a column side wall part 63 disposed on the column cover 16 side are provided. The driver side wall 62 and the column side wall 63 are cut from a woven fabric such as polyester or polyamide to have the same outer shape, and the outer peripheral edges are sewn together to form the airbag 61. Further, the column side wall 63 is formed with a plurality of mounting holes 64 (two in the embodiment) for projecting the bolts 68b (see FIG. 5) of the inflator 66 housed in the airbag 61. .

  When the airbag 61 is deployed and inflated, the airbag 61 has a lower side 18a of the column cover 16 projecting rearward from the instrument panel 7 with respect to the knees KL and KR of the driver D, and the lower and left and right sides of the column cover 16 in the instrument panel 7. It is comprised in the shape which can cover the rear surfaces 12,13,14 side with both sides (refer FIG. 4).

  The airbag 61 may be formed by folding a piece of cloth material in which the driver side wall 62 and the column side wall 63 are connected at a part of the periphery, and then stitching the outer periphery. . In addition, the airbag 61 is provided with a tether (not shown) that connects the driver side wall 62 and the column side wall 63 to regulate the thickness so that the plate shape at the time of completion of inflation can be maintained. Yes.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the inflator 66 includes a cylinder-type main body 67 that discharges expansion gas from a plurality of gas discharge ports 67 a, and a substantially cylindrical diffuser 68 that holds the main body 67. Yes. The diffuser 68 includes an opening 68 a through which the inflation gas flows out, and includes two bolts 68 b for attaching the inflator 66 to the column tube 5 together with the airbag 61 and the case 71. Each bolt 68 b is fixed to the bracket 5 a of the column tube 5 with a nut 69.

  The case 71 is made of a sheet metal having an inverted U-shaped cross section, and includes a ceiling wall 72 and side walls 73 and 74 extending downward from front and rear edges of the ceiling wall 72. A plurality of locking legs 73a and 74a that are inserted into the locking holes 19a and 20a provided in the mounting walls 19 and 20 of the column cover 16 and are connected to the mounting walls 19 and 20 are formed. The ceiling wall 72 is formed with through holes 72a through which the bolts 68b of the inflator 66 pass.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the column cover 16 has one protruding opening 22 when the airbag 61 protrudes in an area extending from the lower surface 18a side of the outer peripheral surface 18 to the left side surface 18b and the right side surface 18c. The front door part 34 and the rear door part 56 which are pushed and opened by the airbag 61 are disposed. Each of the front door portions 34 is provided with a portion of the planned breakable portion 24 that can be broken by being pushed by the air bag 61, and the rear edges 36, 43, and 50 are separated from the column cover 16 toward the front side. As a configuration that opens to the front, the lower door portion 35 disposed on the lower surface 18a side of the column cover 16, the left door portion 42 disposed on the left side surface 18b side of the column cover 16, and the right side surface 18c side. And a right door portion 49. The rear door portion 56 has a lower door portion 57 adjacent to the lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 at the rear side of the front door portion 34 with the portion of the planned break portion 24 interposed therebetween. The left door 58 and the right door 59 are disposed.

  The planned fracture portion 24 is configured as a thin portion provided with a recessed groove for denting the substantially square cylindrical peripheral wall 17 of the column cover 16 from the inner peripheral side, and includes a center line portion 25, an upper left line portion 26, and a lower left line portion. 27, an upper right line portion 28, a lower right line portion 29, a rear left line portion 31, and a rear right line portion 32. The center line portion 25 is disposed so as to divide the front door portion 34 and the rear door portion 56 in the front-rear direction. The horizontal line portion 25a extends in the left-right direction at the lower wall 17a of the column cover 16, and the horizontal line portion 25a From the left and right to the left side wall 17b and the right side wall 17c, so as to substantially follow the rear surfaces 12, 13, and 14 near the lower edge side peripheral edge 11 of the storage opening 10 on the lower panel 9 side of the instrument panel 7 (see FIGS. 2 to 4) The left vertical line portion 25b and the right vertical line portion 25d extend in the direction. The left end portion 25c and the right end portion 25e, which are the ends of the left and right left vertical line portions 25b and the right vertical line portion 25d, are both disposed at side positions of the ceiling wall 72 of the case 71. The lower edge side peripheral edge 11 of the storage opening 10 is a lower part of the peripheral edge of the storage opening 10, and is composed of a lower edge 11a, a left edge 11b, and a right edge 11c.

  The upper left line portion 26 is disposed so as to extend forward from the left end portion 25 c of the center line portion 25. The lower left line portion 27 includes a lower wall 17a and a left wall from the vicinity of a boundary portion (an intersection portion between the lower wall 17a and the left wall 17b of the peripheral wall 17) between the horizontal line portion 25a and the left vertical line portion 25b in the center line portion 25. It arrange | positions so that it may extend ahead substantially along the ridgeline of the cross | intersection site | part with 17b. The upper right line portion 28 is disposed so as to extend forward from the right end portion 25 e of the center line portion 25. The lower right line portion 29 is located near the boundary portion of the central line portion 25 between the horizontal line portion 25a and the right vertical line portion 25d (intersection portion of the lower wall 17a and the right side wall 17c of the peripheral wall 17). It is arrange | positioned so that it may extend ahead substantially along the ridgeline of the cross | intersection site | part with 17c. The rear left line part 31 is disposed so as to extend from the left end part 25c of the center line part 25 to the lower wall 17a obliquely below and the rear right line part 32 is obliquely rearward and downward from the right end part 25e of the center line part 25. It is arrange | positioned so that it may extend to the lower wall 17a.

  And the lower door part 35 is formed by the site | part ahead of the horizontal line part 25a of the center line part 25 between the lower left line part 27 and the lower right line part 29, and the left door part 42 is the upper left line. The right door portion 49 is formed by a portion on the front side of the left vertical line portion 25b of the central line portion 25 between the portion 26 and the lower left line portion 27. The right door portion 49 includes the upper right line portion 28 and the lower right line portion 29. It is formed by the site | part ahead of the right vertical line part 25d of the center line part 25 in between. Note that bent portions 26 a and 28 a that are bent downward are formed at the front ends of the upper left line portion 26 and the upper right line portion 28. At the front ends of the lower left line portion 27 and the lower right line portion 29, bent portions 27 a, 27 b, 29 a, and 29 b that are branched in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 17 are formed. And by these bending parts 26a, 28a, 27a, 27b, 29a, 29b, the thick part by the side of the front edge 39, 46, 53 used as the hinge part side (between the bending parts 27b, 29b, the bending part 26a). 27a, between the bent portions 28a and 29a), the center line portion 25, the upper left line portion 26, the lower left line portion 27, the upper right line portion 28, and the lower right line portion 29 The lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 are configured to be easily bent and opened when the entire region is broken and fully opened.

  Further, the rear door portion 56 is configured by a portion surrounded by the rear left line portion 31 and the rear right line portion 32 on the rear side of the center line portion 25, and in the case of the embodiment, the lower door portion 56 is located on the lower wall 17a. The left door part 58 and the right door part 59 are connected to the left and right upwards from the door part 57 to form a single sheet.

  Further, the front door portion 34 and the rear door portion 56 are set so that the lower door portions 35 and 57, the left door portions 42 and 58, and the right door portions 49 and 59 have flexibility. Yes. In the case of the embodiment, although the wall thickness is thicker than the planned fracture portion 24, each of the lower door portions 35, 57, the left door portions 42, 58, and the right door portions 49, 59 can be made thin by reducing the thickness in the entire area. It is configured to have flexibility.

  Furthermore, each of the lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 includes the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16 moved by the operation of the adjusting mechanism and the lower edge side of the storage opening 10 in the lower panel 9. The rear edge 36, 43, 50 side before opening of the rear edge of the instrument panel 7 on the lower panel 9 is opened at the rear side so that the airbag 61 can be prevented from intruding into the gaps HL, HV for movement between the peripheral edge 11 and the airbag 11. 12, 13, 14 or the rear edge 7 on the rear surface 7 a side so as to be in contact with the lower edge side peripheral edge 11 and disposed so as to close the rear side of the gaps for movement HL, HV (see FIGS. 10, 11, 13 to 16). ).

  Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 at the rear side of the rear surfaces 12, 13, 14 of the lower panel 9. The opening portions 40, 47, and 54 bent and opened so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16 are the outer peripheral surfaces of the column cover 16 at the most advanced position PF of the column cover 16 at the time of adjustment of an adjustment mechanism (not shown). When the maximum movement gaps HL and HV (HVM) from 18 are generated (the telescopic mechanism is operated to push the column cover 16 forward most, and the tilt mechanism is operated to move the column cover 16 upward most) The arrangement positions of the rear edges 36, 43, 50 are set so that they can come into contact with the lower edge side edge 11 of the storage opening 10 at the time of the arrangement). That.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 protrude from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16 as the rear side of the rear surfaces 12, 13, and 14 of the lower panel 9. The opening portions 40, 47, and 54 that are bent and opened as described above are the maximum movement gaps HL from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16 at the last retracted position PB of the column cover 16 at the time of adjustment of an adjustment mechanism (not shown). For storage when HV (HVM) is generated (when the telescopic mechanism is operated to pull the column cover 16 to the rearmost side and the tilt mechanism is operated to place the column cover 16 at the uppermost position). Sites of the planned fracture portions 24 arranged on both edges extending forward from the rear edges 36, 43, 50 so as to be able to contact the lower edge side peripheral edge 11 of the opening 10 Lengths UL, DL to the front ends (folded portions) 26a, 27a, 28b, 29a, 29b of the upper left line portion 26, lower left line portion 27, upper right line portion 28, lower right line portion 29) (see FIG. 2) is set.

  In particular, in the case of the embodiment, the lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 are provided on the rupture scheduled portions 24 arranged at both edges extending forward from the respective rear edges 36, 43, 50. The front end of the part (the position of the bent portions 26a, 27a, 28b, 29a, 29b, the end on the hinge portion side that is the front edge 39, 46, 53 side of each door portion) When viewed from the side, the column cover 16 is disposed in the vicinity of the lower edge 11 of the storage opening 10 at the last retracted position PB (see FIG. 2).

  By the way, even if the steering mechanism 1 is moved up and down by operating the tilt mechanism, the lower panel 9 from the left side surface 18b or the right side surface 18c of the column cover 16 is the same as long as the column cover 16 is disposed in the front-rear direction. The left and right movement gaps H (HL) to the left edge 11b and the right edge 11c of the lower edge side periphery 11 do not change significantly (see FIGS. 11, 14, and 16). In the case of the embodiment, the movement gap HL in the left-right direction does not change significantly within a range of about 5 to 10 mm. However, if the steering mechanism 1 is moved up and down by operating the tilt mechanism, the vertical movement gap H (HV) from the lower surface 18 a of the column cover 16 to the lower edge 11 a of the lower edge 11 of the lower panel 9. Changes greatly, and if the steering wheel 1 is arranged at the uppermost position, the maximum movement gap HVM is obtained. In the case of the embodiment, the vertical movement gap HV changes within a range of 5 to 25 mm. Even when the column cover 16 is moved in the front-rear direction, when the steering wheel 1 is disposed at the uppermost position, the maximum movement gap HVM is generated at the position where the column cover 16 is disposed in the front-rear direction. Will be allowed to.

  Therefore, regarding the configuration for closing the moving gap HL in the left-right direction, the left door portion 42 and the right door portion 49 are accommodated in the lower panel 9, and the length dimensions in the front-rear direction of the bent open portions 47, 54 are as follows. If the left and right moving gap HL can be closed at the most advanced position PF of the column cover 16 that is difficult to secure, the left door portion even if the column cover 16 is disposed behind the most advanced position PF. The opening portions 47 and 54 between the left door portion 42 and the right door portion 49 can ensure a long length in the front-rear direction, and the rear edges 43 and 50 of the left door portion 42 and the right door portion 49 are securely attached to the lower panel. 9 can be closed by contacting the rear surface 13 of the left edge 11b and the rear surface 14 of the right edge 11c of the lower edge 11 in the storage opening 10 (see FIGS. 11, 14, and 16).

  As for the configuration for closing the vertical movement gap HV, the lower door portion 35 is housed in the lower panel 9 and is a column that is difficult to secure the length dimension of the bent opening portion 40 in the front-rear direction. At the most advanced position PF of the cover 16, when the maximum movement gap HVM in which the rear edge 36 side hardly comes into contact with the lower edge 11 a of the lower edge 11 of the storage opening 10 of the lower panel 9, If the movement gap HVM can be closed, the opening portion 40 of the lower door portion 35 can ensure a long length in the front-rear direction even if the column cover 16 is arranged behind the most advanced position PF. The rear edge 36 side of the lower door portion 35 can surely come into contact with the rear surface 12 of the lower edge 11a of the lower edge side peripheral edge 11 in the storage opening 10 of the lower panel 9 to close the movement gap HVM (FIG. 10). 13, 15 reference).

  Therefore, in the knee protection airbag device M1 of the first embodiment, when the airbag 61 is inflated by being supplied with the inflation gas G, as shown in FIGS. The lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 of the portion 34 are pushed by the airbag 61 to break the surrounding break planned portion 24, and the rear edges 36, 43, 50 side before opening are column covers. The rear door 56 is also opened rearward so as to be away from the front door 16, and the protrusion 22 for the airbag 61 is formed in the column cover 16. The airbag 61 protrudes rearward from the instrument panel 7 with respect to the knees KL and KR of the driver D so as to be able to protect the knees KL and KR of the driver D that moves forward from the protrusion opening 22. The column cover 16 tries to expand and expand so as to cover the lower surface 18a side of the column cover 16 and the rear surfaces 12, 13, and 14 sides of the instrument panel 7 below and on the left and right sides of the column cover 16.

  At that time, the lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 of the front door portion 34 are arranged on the rear edges 36, 43, and 50 before opening, and the outer periphery of the column cover 16 moved by the operation of the adjusting mechanism. The rear surface 12 of the instrument panel 7 can be prevented from entering the airbag 61 at the time of deployment and expansion into the movement gap H (HL, HV) between the surface 18 and the lower edge side edge 11 of the storage opening 10 in the lower panel 9. 13 and 14 and the lower end side peripheral edge 11 of the storage opening 10 are opened so as to close the rear side of the movement gaps HL and HV.

  As a result, the airbag 61 enters the movement gaps HL and HV between the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16 moved by the operation of the adjustment mechanism and the lower edge side peripheral edge 11 of the storage opening 10 of the lower panel 9. Instead, it expands and expands smoothly, and is disposed on the front side of the knees KL and KR of the driver D.

  Therefore, in the knee protecting airbag device M1 of the first embodiment, even if the column cover 16 is adjusted to be arranged back and forth or up and down, the airbag 61 housed in the column cover 16 is moved to the gap H (HL for movement). , HV), and smoothly expands and expands without intruding into the knees KL and KR of the driver D, and at least the lower surface 18a side of the column cover 16 protruding rearward from the instrument panel 7 and the column in the instrument panel 7 The knees KL and KR of the driver D moving forward covering the rear surfaces 12, 13, and 14 of the lower side and the left and right sides of the cover 16 are placed on the lower surface 18 a of these column covers 16 and the rear surface 12 of the instrument panel 7. , 13, and 14 can be protected.

  Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment, since the lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 are configured to have flexibility, the rear edges 36, 43, The 50 side is bent and opened so that the rear side portion of the lower panel 9 is protruded from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16 from the vicinity of the rear surfaces 12, 13, 14 of the lower panel 9, and the open portions 40, 47, 54 are opened to the storage opening 10. It contacts the lower edge side peripheral edge 11. At this time, the rear edges 36, 43, 50 of the door portions have the maximum movement gaps HL, HVM from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16 at the most advanced position PF of the column cover 16 when the adjustment mechanism is adjusted. It is arranged so that it can come into contact with the lower edge side peripheral edge 11 (the lower edge 11a, the left edge 11b, and the right edge 11c at the peripheral edge of the storage opening 10) when the storage opening 10 is generated. (See FIGS. 15 and 16), and front ends (folded portions) 26a, 27a, and 27b of the portions of the planned breaking portion 24 disposed on both edges extending forward from the rear edges 36, 43, and 50, respectively. , 28a, 29a, and 29b are the maximum movement gaps HL and HVM from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16 at the last retracted position PB of the column cover 16 when the adjustment mechanism is adjusted. Generated The open portions 0, 47, 54 can also be brought into contact with the lower edge side periphery 11 of the storage opening 10 at the time (the lower edge 11a, the left edge 11b, and the right edge 11c at the periphery of the storage opening 10). (See FIGS. 13 and 14). That is, when the column cover 16 is moved back and forth and the movement gaps HL and HV at that time are the largest, when the rear edges 36, 43, and 50 before opening are opened, the rear edges 36, 43, The upper left line portion 26, the lower left line portion 27, the upper right line portion 28, a part of the lower right line portion 29, or a part of the lower right line portion 29, which are arranged on both edges extending forward from 50, are broken. Then, the opening portions 40, 47, 54 that are bent and opened from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16 are brought into contact with the lower edge side peripheral edge 11 of the storage opening 10, so that the movement gap HL can be smoothly performed. , HV can be blocked.

  Conversely, if the lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 are configured to be flexible, the arrangement positions of the rear edges 36, 43, and 50 of the door portions and the rear edges The length in the front-rear direction of the upper left line portion 26, the lower left line portion 27, the upper right line portion 28, and the lower right line portion 29, which are arranged at both edges extending forward from 36, 43, 50, respectively. By setting the two types of dimensions UL and DL, the lower door part 35, the left door part 42, and the right door part 49 are opened even if the front and rear and upper and lower arrangement positions of the column cover 16 are adjusted. At this time, the rear sides of the movement gaps HL and HV can be smoothly closed.

  In this case, the lengths UL and DL in the front-rear direction are increased to some extent at the portions of the planned breaking portion 24 arranged on both edges extending forward from the respective rear edges 36, 43, 50, so that the columns at the respective door portions are increased. As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 13 to 16, the opening portions 40, 47, and 54 that bend and open so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the cover 16 have the lower edge side peripheral edge 11 (the storage opening 10). The lower edge 11a, the left edge 11b, and the right edge 11c) at the peripheral edge of the lower panel 9 and further arranged along the rear surfaces 12, 13, and 14 of the lower panel 9 to complete the deployment and inflation. 61 is a region of the lower panel 9 beyond the region of the rear surfaces 41a, 48a, 55a along the lower panel 9 in the opened opening portions 40, 47, 54 (along the surface) 41, 48, 55. It can be arranged along the surfaces 12, 13, 14 and close to the rear surfaces 12, 13, 14, and when receiving the knees KL, KR of the driver D, it is counteracted from the rear surfaces 12, 13, 14 of the lower panel 9. It is easy to ensure the force and can quickly protect the knees KL and KR of the driver D while ensuring cushioning properties.

  In particular, the front ends (folded portions) 26a, 27a, 27b, 28a, 29a, and 29b of the portions of the planned breaking portion 24 that are disposed on both edges extending forward from the rear edges 36, 43, and 50 are vehicles. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the column cover 16 is configured so as to be disposed in the vicinity of the lower edge side peripheral edge 11 of the storage opening 10 at the most retracted position PB of the column cover 16 when viewed from the left-right direction. Even when 16 is disposed at the last retracted position PB, the lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 ensure a sufficient length in the front-rear direction, and the lower edge side periphery 11 of the storage opening 10 The surface side portions 41, 48, and 55 can be disposed along the rear surfaces 12, 13, and 14 of the lower panel 9 while abutting on the rear surface 9. As a result, even if the column cover 16 is disposed at an arbitrary position before and after the most advanced position PF to the last retracted position PB, the airbag 61 at the time of deployment and inflating can be attached to the rear surfaces 12, 13,. 14, the reaction force from the lower panel 9 can be easily secured.

  Of course, in the case of the embodiment, since the lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 are configured to have flexibility, the column cover 16 is disposed at the most advanced position PF. (See FIGS. 15 and 16), or even if it is disposed at an intermediate position between the most advanced position PF and the most backward position PB (see FIGS. 10 and 11), the lower door part 35, the left door part 42, the right The door portion 49 bends from a portion near the periphery of the storage opening 10 of the lower panel 9 of the instrument panel 7 and abuts the lower edge side peripheral edge 11 of the storage opening 10 while the above-mentioned portions 41, 48, and 55 are arranged on the lower panel. 9 is arranged along the rear surfaces 12, 13, and 14, the airbag 61 during deployment is arranged along the rear surfaces 12, 13, and 14 of the lower panel 9 to facilitate reaction force from the lower panel 9. Can be secured.

  In addition, the boundary part with the lower door part 35 in the left door part 42 and the right door part 49 of the front side door part 34, ie, the lower left line part 27 and the lower right line part 29 of the fracture | rupture planned part 24, are 1st Embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, on the side of the left side wall 17b and the right side wall 17c, as shown in FIGS. You may arrange | position, and you may arrange | position to the center side of the left-right direction of the lower wall 17a.

  In the case of the first embodiment, the column cover 16 is adjacent to the rear side of the lower door portion 35, the left door portion 42, and the right door portion 49 of the front door portion 34, together with the front door portion 34, when opened. A rear door portion 56 is disposed so as to constitute the protrusion opening 22 of the airbag 61. Therefore, in this column cover 16, the movement gap H (HL, HV) is blocked by the front door portion 34, and the opening area of the protrusion opening 22 can be easily widened by the rear door portion 56. The airbag 61 can smoothly protrude from the column cover 16 without entering the inner peripheral side of the storage opening 10 of the instrument panel 7 and without being caught by the peripheral edge of the protrusion opening 22 in the column cover 16. Can expand and expand.

  In the first embodiment, the rear door 56 is formed as a single sheet. However, instead of the rear left line 31 and the rear right line 32, the lower left line 27 and the lower right The line portion 29 may be extended rearward, and the left door portion 58 and the right door portion 59 may be separated from the lower door portion 57 when opened to be opened rearward. Furthermore, you may comprise from the door part of 2 sheets of right and left so that the rear side door part 56 may be opened to both right and left sides.

  Further, as in the column cover 16A of the knee protection airbag device M2 of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 19 to 23, the single opening 22 may be formed only by the front door portion 34A. Good. The front door portion 34A is configured such that the lower door portion 35A, the left door portion 42A, and the right door portion 49A are extended to the rear side to the region of the rear door portion 56 of the first embodiment.

  Also in this column cover 16A, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the column cover 16A is located behind the rear surfaces 12, 13, and 14 of the lower panel 9A in the lower door portion 35A, the left door portion 42A, and the right door portion 49A. The opening portions 40, 47, 54 that are bent and opened so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16A are the maximum from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16A at the most advanced position PF of the column cover 16A at the time of adjustment of an adjustment mechanism (not shown). When the movement gaps HL and HV (HVM) are generated (the telescopic mechanism is operated to push the column cover 16 forward most, and the tilt mechanism is operated to place the column cover 16 in the uppermost position). The projecting opening 2 that can be brought into contact with the lower edge side peripheral edge 11 of the storage opening 10 and from which the airbag 61 can project. Possible ensure the opening area, arrangement positions of the trailing edge 36,43,50 is set.

  20 and 21, the lower door portion 35A, the left door portion 42A, and the right door portion 49A protrude from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16A as the rear side of the rear surfaces 12, 13, 14 of the lower panel 9. The opening portions 40, 47, and 54 that are bent and opened in such a way that the maximum movement gap HL from the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column cover 16A at the last retracted position PB of the column cover 16A at the time of adjustment of an adjustment mechanism (not shown), For storage when HV (HVM) is generated (when the telescopic mechanism is operated to pull the column cover 16A to the rearmost side and the tilt mechanism is operated to place the column cover 16A in the uppermost position) Breaks arranged at both edges extending forward from each rear edge 36, 43, 50 so as to be able to contact the lower edge side edge 11 of the opening 10 Length to the front end (bending part) 26a, 27a, 28b, 29a, 29b of the part of the fixed part 24 (upper left line part 26, lower left line part 27, upper right line part 28, lower right line part 29) Dimensions UL and DL (see FIG. 19) are set.

  Further, in the case of the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the lower door portion 35A, the left door portion 42A, and the right door portion 49A extend forward from the rear edges 36, 43, 50, respectively. When the front end (position of the bent portions 26a, 27a, 28b, 29a, 29b) of the site of the planned break portion 24 disposed on both edges is viewed from the lateral side of the vehicle, the last retracted position of the column cover 16A It is arranged in the vicinity of the lower edge side periphery 11 of the PB storage opening 10.

  Therefore, also in the case of the second embodiment, the same operation and effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the first and second embodiments, the left and right moving gaps HL between the left edge 11b and the right edge 11c at the periphery of the storage opening 10 and the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column covers 16 and 16A are also supported. The left door portion 42, 42A and the right door portion 49, 49A are configured to close the moving gap HL when opened. For example, the storage opening 10 has a rectangular opening shape, and the column covers 16, 16A are If the left and right moving gaps HL can be set as dimensions that prevent the airbag 61 from being inflated during inflating, for example, by setting it to a cylindrical shape with a rectangular cross section corresponding to the storage opening 10, the door portion ( As the front door portions 34, 34A, at least the lower door portions 35, 35A are opened behind the gap HV for movement between the lower edge 11a of the peripheral edge of the storage opening 10 and the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column covers 16, 16A. Can be closed By configuring, it is possible to accurately prevent entry into the movement gap H (HV, HL) that hinders the protrusion of the airbag 61, and when the left door portions 42, 42A and the right door portions 49, 49A are opened. Therefore, it is not necessary to consider the configuration for closing the narrow movement gap HL in FIG. 5, and the degree of design freedom of the left door portions 42 and 42A and the right door portions 49 and 49A can be increased.

  Of course, as in the first and second embodiments, the left and right movement gaps HL between the left edge 11b and the right edge 11c of the periphery of the storage opening 10 and the outer peripheral surface 18 of the column covers 16 and 16A are also made to correspond. If the left door part 42, 42A and the right door part 49, 49A are configured to close the movement gap HL when opened, the left and right movement gaps HL can be set large in advance. Thus, when the front and rear and upper and lower column covers 16 and 16A are moved, it is not necessary to consider the interference of the column covers 16 and 16A with the left edge 11b and the right edge 11c at the periphery of the storage opening 10. It is possible to improve the degree of freedom in designing the external shape of the device itself.

  In the first and second embodiments, the lower door portions 35 and 35A, the left door portions 42 and 42A, and the right door portions 49 and 49A in the front door portions 34 and 34A are attached to the airbag 61 around each of them. Since the breakable portion 24 that is pushed and can be broken is arranged, and when it is opened, the breakable portion 24 is broken to form the opening 22 for projection. Can be prevented from appearing on the outer surface side of the column covers 16, 16A, and the appearance design of the column covers 16, 16A can be improved. Of course, if this point is not taken into consideration, the lower door portions 35 and 35A, the left door portions 42 and 42A, and the right door portions 49 and 49A in the front door portions 34 and 34A are the hinge portion side (front) when opened. The peripheral edges except for the edges 39, 46, and 53) may be arranged so as to be pushed and opened by the airbag 61 at the time of inflation as a structure separated from the surroundings in advance. Incidentally, in the case of such a configuration, an opening for attachment is formed on the lower portion 16a side of the column covers 16, 16A, and the lower door portions 35, 35A, the left door portions 42, 42A, And you may comprise so that the member for door parts provided with the right door parts 49 and 49A (For example, the airbag cover separate from the column covers 16 and 16A) may be assembled | attached.

1 is a schematic side view of the vicinity of a column cover on which a knee protecting airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mounted. The steering column adjusting mechanism on which the knee protection airbag device of the first embodiment is mounted is adjusted, and the steering wheel is arranged at the last retracted position together with the column cover, and further shows a state where it is moved up and down. It is a side view. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the steering column adjustment mechanism for adjusting the steering column on which the knee protection airbag device according to the first embodiment is mounted is arranged at the most advanced position together with the column cover and further moved up and down. It is a side view. It is a schematic front view when the column cover vicinity in which the airbag apparatus for knee protection of 1st Embodiment is mounted is seen from the vehicle rear side. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag apparatus for knee protection of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the airbag apparatus for knee protection of 1st Embodiment, and shows the VI-VI site | part of FIG. It is a schematic front view of the airbag used for the airbag apparatus for knee protection of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the column cover used for the knee protection airbag device of the first embodiment. It is a schematic partial perspective view which shows in order the state which forms the opening for protrusion of the column cover used for the airbag apparatus for knee protection of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the time of the action | operation of the airbag apparatus for knee protection of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the open state of each door part of the column cover at the time of the action | operation of the airbag apparatus for knee protection of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic front view when it sees from the vehicle rear side at the time of the action | operation of the airbag apparatus for knee protection of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the time of the action | operation of the knee protection airbag apparatus of 1st Embodiment, and shows the case where a column cover is arrange | positioned in the uppermost position as a last retracted position. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the open state of each door part of a column cover at the time of the action | operation of the knee protection airbag apparatus of 1st Embodiment, and shows the case where a column cover is arrange | positioned in the uppermost position as the last retracted position . It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the time of the action | operation of the airbag apparatus for knee protection of 1st Embodiment, and shows the case where a column cover is arrange | positioned in the uppermost position as a most advanced position. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the open state of each door part of a column cover at the time of the action | operation of the knee protection airbag apparatus of 1st Embodiment, and shows the case where a column cover is arrange | positioned in the uppermost position as a most advanced position . It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the modification of the column cover used in 1st Embodiment. It is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the other modification of the column cover used in 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic fragmentary perspective view which shows in order the state which forms the opening for protrusion of the column cover used with the airbag apparatus for knee protection of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the time of the action | operation of the knee protection airbag apparatus of 2nd Embodiment, and shows the case where it arrange | positions in the uppermost position as a column cover. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the open state of each door part of a column cover at the time of the action | operation of the airbag apparatus for knee protection of 2nd Embodiment, and shows the case where a column cover is arrange | positioned in the uppermost position as the last retracted position. . It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the time of the action | operation of the knee protection airbag apparatus of 2nd Embodiment, and shows the case where a column cover is arrange | positioned in the uppermost position as a most advanced position. It is a schematic cross-sectional view which shows the open state of each door part of the column cover at the time of the action | operation of the knee protection airbag apparatus of 2nd Embodiment, and shows the case where a column cover is arrange | positioned in the uppermost position as a most advanced position .

Explanation of symbols

3 ... Steering column,
7 ... (Instrument panel) Instrument panel,
10 ... Opening for storage,
11 ... lower edge side periphery,
12.13.14 ... rear side,
16.16A ... Column cover,
22 ... Opening for protrusion,
24 ... planned fracture part,
26a / 27a / 27b / 28a / 29a / 29b (front end) bent portion,
34.34A ... (door part) front door part,
35 / 35A ... Lower door,
36, 43, 50 ... trailing edge,
42.42A ... Left door,
49 / 49A ... Right door,
56: Rear door,
H, HL, HV, HVM ... clearance for movement,
M1, M2 ... Knee protecting airbag device.

Claims (6)

A column cover is attached to the steering column as a cylindrical shape that covers the steering column, and is disposed in front of the seated driver so as to protrude rearward from the storage opening of the instrument panel. The rear side of the instrument panel can be prevented from interfering with the instrument panel when moved together with the steering column by operating an adjustment mechanism that is mounted on the steering wheel and can adjust the arrangement position of the steering wheel at least up and down. Between the peripheral edge of the storage opening in which a gap for movement is provided,
The folded airbag is stored on the lower side in the column cover,
In operation, knee gas is configured to protrude from the column cover so that an inflation gas is supplied to the airbag, and the airbag is deployed and inflated and disposed on the front side of the driver's knee. An air bag device,
When the airbag is deployed and inflated, at least the lower surface side of the column cover that protrudes rearward from the instrument panel with respect to the driver's knee, and the lower and left and right sides of the column cover in the instrument panel It is configured in a shape that can cover both sides and the rear side,
In the area extending from the lower surface side of the column cover to the left and right side surfaces, a door portion that is pushed and opened by the airbag is disposed so that one projection opening can be formed when the airbag projects.
The door portion includes a lower door portion disposed on the lower surface side of the column cover, and a left door portion and a right door portion disposed on the left and right side surfaces of the column cover,
At least the lower door portion among the lower door portion, the left door portion, and the right door portion,
With a configuration that opens the rear edge side away from the column cover toward the front side,
Prevention of intrusion of the airbag at the time of deployment and expansion into the moving gap between the outer peripheral surface of the column cover moved by the operation of the adjusting mechanism and the lower edge at the peripheral edge of the storage opening of the instrument panel Preferably, the rear edge side before opening is brought into contact with the lower edge at the periphery of the storage opening on the rear surface or rear surface side of the instrument panel at the time of opening to close the rear side of the moving gap. An air bag device for protecting a knee characterized by being provided. The left door portion and the right door portion are respectively
With a configuration that opens the rear edge side away from the column cover toward the front side,
The air at the time of expansion and expansion into the respective movement gaps between the outer peripheral surface of the column cover moved by the operation of the adjustment mechanism and the left edge and the right edge at the periphery of the storage opening of the instrument panel In order to prevent intrusion of the bag, the rear edge side before opening is brought into contact with the left edge and the right edge at the periphery of the storage opening on the rear surface or rear surface side of the instrument panel at the time of opening. The knee protection airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the knee protection airbag device is disposed so as to close a rear side of the gap. The lower door part, the left door part, and the right door part are respectively
While being configured with flexibility,
The position of each trailing edge
The lower door portion, the left door portion, and the right door portion are bent and opened so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the column cover, at the most advanced position of the column cover when the adjustment mechanism is adjusted. To allow contact with the lower edge, the left edge, and the right edge at the periphery of the storage opening when the largest gap for movement from the outer peripheral surface of the column cover is generated,
Set and
The length dimension from each rear edge to the front end of each edge extending forward,
The lower door portion, the left door portion, and the right door portion are bent and opened so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the column cover. To allow contact with the lower edge, the left edge, and the right edge at the periphery of the storage opening when the largest gap for movement from the outer peripheral surface of the column cover is generated,
Set
The knee protection airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the knee protection airbag device is provided. The lower door portion, the left door portion, and the right door portion are
The front ends of both edges extending forward from the respective rear edges are arranged in the vicinity of the periphery of the storage opening at the most retracted position of the column cover,
The knee protection airbag device according to claim 3, wherein the knee protection airbag device is provided.   The lower door portion, the left door portion, and the right door portion are each disposed with a planned rupture portion that can be broken by being pushed by the airbag around the periphery. The knee protection airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the knee protection airbag device is configured to break the portion to form the projection opening.   The column cover is arranged with the door portion as a front door portion, adjacent to the rear side of the lower door portion and the left door portion / right door portion of the front door portion, together with the front door portion. The knee protection airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a rear door portion that constitutes an opening for projecting the airbag is disposed when the airbag is opened.

Images