JP2010179714A - Lower limb protection device of vehicle occupant - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress deviation of an inflated part of an inflated state in a vehicle width direction, and to suppress lowering of protection performance of the inflated part caused by the deviation. <P>SOLUTION: This lower limb protection device 30 includes the inflated part 44 and a receiving recessed part 84. The inflated part 44 is constituted of an airbag housed in a housing part in a lower part of an instrument panel, and is inflated toward a side region ZR of a leg lower end part (right leg FR) of a driver according to shock from the front in relation to a vehicle. A second inflated part 62 constituted of an airbag disposed between a floor 61 for a driver's seat and a floor carpet 13 includes a plurality of inflated bodies 71 and 72, and an inflation regulating part 74 provided between the adjacent inflated body parts 71 and 72. The receiving recessed part 84 is formed at a portion (a portion corresponding to the inflation regulating part 74 and the vicinity part in relation to the floor carpet 13) where a distal end part 44T of the inflated part 44 inflated reaches, and receives the distal end part 44T by being deformed into a recessed shape in conjunction with inflation of the inflated part 44. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lower limb protection device for a vehicle occupant that protects a lower limb of a front seat occupant, particularly a lower end portion of a leg, from the impact when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front.

  As a device for protecting the lower leg portion of the front seat occupant when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front due to a frontal collision or the like, for example, there is a vehicle occupant's lower limb protection device described in Patent Literature 1. In this lower limb protection device, a storage part is provided at the lower part of the instrument panel located in front of the front seat, and the airbag and the inflator are stored in this storage part. In response to an impact from the front of the vehicle, inflation gas is supplied from the inflator to the airbag. With this inflation gas, the airbag exits the instrument panel in a state where a part of the airbag is left in the storage portion, and is inflated downward. The inflated airbag wraps the lower end of the occupant's leg and protects the lower end of the leg from the impact.

JP 2006-205908 A

  However, the lower limb protection device described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that the tip of the inflated airbag contacts the flat floor of the vehicle. Therefore, when a force in the vehicle width direction is applied to the inflated airbag by the lower leg portion or the like, the airbag cannot stay at the initial position and may be displaced in the same direction. In this case, there is a concern that the protective action of the lower end portion of the leg by the airbag is not sufficiently exhibited.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to suppress the expansion of the inflated portion in the vehicle width direction, and to reduce the protection performance of the inflatable portion due to deviation. An object of the present invention is to provide a leg protection device for a vehicle occupant that can be suppressed.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is configured by an airbag provided in front of the front seat of the vehicle, and is seated in the front seat in response to an impact from the front on the vehicle. The inflatable portion that expands toward the lateral region of the lower end of the occupant's leg and the tip of the inflatable portion that expands receive the tip by deforming into a concave shape in conjunction with the expansion. The gist is to include a receiving recess.

  According to the above configuration, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front, an occupant seated in the front seat is provided in front of the front seat of the vehicle and an inflated portion formed of an airbag is provided in response to the impact. It expands toward the side area of the leg lower end. On the other hand, the receiving concave portion is deformed into a concave shape in conjunction with the expansion at the location where the tip of the expanding portion that expands reaches. And if the front-end | tip part of the expansion | swelling part expand | swelled as mentioned above enters into a receiving recessed part, the said receiving recessed part will restrict | limit the movement of the expansion part in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, even if a force toward the vehicle width direction is applied to the inflated portion by the occupant's lower leg portion or the like, the inflated portion is prevented from shifting in the same direction. As a result, a decrease in the protection performance of the inflatable portion due to the deviation is suppressed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the inflatable portion is housed in a lower storage portion of an instrument panel provided in front of the front seat, and The gist of the invention is that it expands substantially downward, enters into the receiving recess at its tip, and is received.

  According to the above configuration, when no impact is applied to the vehicle from the front, the expansion portion is continuously stored in the storage portion at the lower portion of the instrument panel in front of the front seat. At this time, since the inflating part is not inflated and bulky, the accommodating part for accommodating it can be small. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the installation space of the storage unit in the lower part of the instrument panel and store the expansion part without causing interference with other members in the lower part.

  When an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front, the expansion portion expands substantially downward from the storage portion. The inflating part passes through a lateral region of the lower end of the occupant's leg in the process of inflating. And if the front-end | tip part of an expansion | swelling part enters into a receiving recessed part, the movement of the front-end | tip part in the vehicle width direction will be controlled by the receiving recessed part.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, on the floor of the vehicle, a heel mounting portion on which the occupant's heel is placed, and the heel mounting portion is pushed in response to the impact. A lifting portion to be raised, and a footrest placing portion on which a foot of the occupant is placed is provided in the vicinity of the front of the saddle placing portion, and the receiving recess is provided on the floor on the floor. The gist is that it is formed near the side of the part.

  Here, the footrest placing portion is a place on which a front seat occupant, for example, a driver seated in the driver's seat places his feet. In addition to the operation pedals that the driver operates with the feet when driving the vehicle, such as an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and a clutch pedal, the members that are the targets of the footrest mounting portion include a footrest and a toe board. .

  According to the above configuration, the footrest mounting portion moves backward due to an impact from the front of the vehicle, the heel is placed on the heel resting portion, and the There is a case where a moment toward the rear acts on the fulcrum. This moment may cause dorsiflexion, which is a phenomenon in which the angle of the ankle becomes small, with respect to the occupant's ankle.

  However, in the invention described in claim 3, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front, the inflating portion expands toward the side region of the lower end portion of the occupant's leg, and the push-up portion The spear above it is pushed up. For this reason, even if the foot rest is moved backward as described above and a moment toward the rear is acted on the occupant's foot with the heel as a fulcrum, dorsiflexion is unlikely to occur.

  In addition, when the footrest mounting portion moves rearward due to the impact from the front, a moment in the vehicle width direction with the heel serving as a fulcrum acts on the occupant's foot, which may cause the occupant's ankle to twist. There is. However, in the invention described in claim 3, at least the heel of the foot pushed up together with the heel mounting portion is received by the inflating portion from the side in the vehicle width direction, and the ankle twist due to the moment in the vehicle width direction. It is suppressed.

  At this time, if the tip of the expanded part expands into the receiving recess provided on the floor in the vicinity of the side of the heel mounting part and deformed in a concave shape in conjunction with the expansion of the expanded part, Even if a force in the vehicle width direction accompanying torsion is applied to the inflating portion, the inflating portion is unlikely to shift in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the lower end portion of the leg is reliably received by the inflating portion, and the effect of suppressing the twisting of the ankle is assured.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the floor is provided with a floor carpet having the ridge mounting portion, and an air gap is provided between the floor and the floor carpet. A second inflating portion is provided that includes a plurality of inflating main body portions that are configured by a bag and that inflates in response to the impact, and an expansion regulating portion that is provided between the adjacent inflating main body portions and that restricts inflation. The receiving recess is formed in the floor carpet at a location corresponding to the expansion restricting portion and the vicinity thereof in the second expansion portion, and the push-up portion includes a plurality of the expansion portions. The gist is that it is constituted by at least one of the main body portions.

  According to said structure, the space between a floor and a floor carpet is narrow, and the storage space of the member which forms a receiving recessed part receives restrictions greatly. However, when no impact is applied to the vehicle from the front, none of the parts of the second inflating part (the inflating main body part and the inflating restricting part) constituted by the airbag is inflated, and the second inflating part is flat. It becomes. Therefore, as described above, by adopting the configuration in which the receiving recess is formed by the second inflating portion (airbag), the storage space of the second inflating portion forming the receiving recess is very small. The inflatable part can be easily stored in a narrow space between the floor carpet and the floor.

  Further, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front, at least one of the plurality of expansion body portions in the second expansion portion expands to function as a push-up portion, and is an upper portion of the expansion body portion in the floor carpet. Deform and push up the mounting part. At this time, the expansion restricting portion in the second expansion portion does not expand or expands less than the expansion portion. The upper part of the expansion regulating part in the floor carpet is not pushed up or only pushed up slightly. And about a floor carpet, a receiving recessed part is formed in the location corresponding to the expansion control part in the 2nd expansion part, and its vicinity. Therefore, it is difficult to form the receiving recess by breaking the floor carpet, but it is possible to reliably form the receiving recess by deforming the floor carpet by the expansion of the second expansion portion.

  For example, according to the invention described in claim 5, the expansion restricting portion in the invention described in claim 4 is coupled in a state where the top and bottom opposing portions in the second expanding portion are close to each other. It may be constituted by a coupling part.

According to said structure, in an expansion | swelling control part, the expansion | swelling is controlled by making the location which mutually opposes the upper and lower sides of a 2nd expansion | swelling part into the state mutually approached by the coupling | bond part.
When the second inflating part is formed of a fabric such as a woven fabric, the two inflating parts are brought close to each other by, for example, sewing up and down the mutually opposing parts in the second inflating part. The expansion restricting portion is easily formed.

  According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the invention of the fourth or fifth aspect, the inflating portion and the second inflating portion are connected to each other by a communicating portion, and are supplied from a common inflating fluid generation source. The gist is that the liquid is expanded by the expansion fluid. For example, an inflator and an inflation gas can be used as the inflation fluid generation source and the inflation fluid.

  According to the above configuration, when the expansion fluid is supplied from the common expansion fluid generation source to any of the expansion unit, the communication unit, and the second expansion unit, the expansion fluid passes through the communication unit and the expansion unit and the second expansion unit. Guided by both of the second inflating parts, the inflating parts and the second inflating parts are inflated. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide separate expansion fluid generation sources for the expansion section and the second expansion section.

  According to the lower limb protection device of the vehicle occupant of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the inflated airbag from shifting in the vehicle width direction, and to suppress a decrease in the protection performance of the airbag due to the shift.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle occupant's lower limb protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, partially broken away. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an inflating part, a second inflating part, etc. in the lower limb protection device of the vehicle occupant of FIG. The schematic plan view which removes the upper base fabric which comprises the expansion | swelling part in FIG. 2, a 2nd expansion | swelling part, etc., and shows the internal structure of a leg protection device. The schematic side view which expands and shows the X section of FIG. The schematic side view which shows the state which the expansion part in FIG. 4 expanded. (A) is a partial side sectional view showing the relationship between the accelerator pedal and the right foot when the lower limb protector is not operated, and (B) is the relationship between the accelerator pedal and the right foot when the lower limb protector is operated, The fragmentary sectional side view shown with it. (A) is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of non-operation | movement of a leg protection device with a right foot, (B) is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of the action | operation of the same leg protection device with a right foot.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the forward direction of the vehicle will be described as the front (front of the vehicle), and the reverse direction of the vehicle will be described as the rear (rear of the vehicle). Further, the left-right direction in the following description is the vehicle width direction of the vehicle and coincides with the left-right direction when the vehicle moves forward.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a floor carpet 13 formed according to the shape of the upper surface of the floor is laid on the floor constituting the bottom of the passenger compartment 11 in the body of the vehicle. Further, a driver's seat 14 and a passenger seat (not shown) are juxtaposed in the vehicle width direction as front seats on the front portion on the floor. Here, the driver's seat 14 is provided in the right front portion of the floor, and the passenger seat is provided in the left front portion. The driver's seat 14 includes a seat cushion (seat portion) 15 that supports the lower body of the driver D (occupant) from the lower side, and a seat back that is disposed at the rear end portion of the seat cushion 15 and supports the upper body of the driver D from the rear side. (Backrest part) 16 and a headrest 17 disposed on the seat back 16 and supporting the head of the driver D from the rear side are configured.

  An instrument panel 18 that is one of the interior parts of the vehicle is provided in front of the front seat (driver's seat 14 and passenger seat) in the passenger compartment 11. Meters and switches are incorporated in the instrument panel 18. A steering device for arbitrarily changing the traveling direction of the vehicle is provided near the front of the driver's seat 14 in the passenger compartment 11. A part of the steering device is configured by a steering wheel 19 which is a place where an operation by the driver D is performed.

  The engine room (not shown) and the vehicle compartment 11 are partitioned by a partition wall. A portion of the partition corresponding to the lower part of the instrument panel 18 constitutes a toe board 21. Various operation pedals such as an accelerator pedal 22 and a brake pedal 23, and a footrest 24 are arranged below the instrument panel 18 and in the vicinity of the rear of the toe board 21 as shown in at least one of FIGS. Yes. The positional relationship between these members is as follows. With the brake pedal 23 as a reference, the accelerator pedal 22 is located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (the vehicle outer side), and the footrest 24 is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (the vehicle inner side). Under such an arrangement, in the present embodiment, the accelerator pedal 22 and the footrest 24 are used as the foot rests. On the accelerator pedal 22 serving as one foot rest, a foot tip PT of the right foot FR, which is a portion located at the lower end of the right leg, is placed by a driver D (see FIG. 1) seated on the driver's seat 14. Also, the footrest 24 as the other footrest placing portion is placed by the driver D with the foottip PT of the left foot FL, which is a portion located at the lower end portion of the left leg.

  In the floor carpet 13, a portion near the rear of the accelerator pedal 22 is a heel placing portion 25 for the right foot FR. The heel placing portion 25 is a place where the driver D who places the toe PT of the right foot FR on the accelerator pedal 22 places the heel PH. Similarly, in the floor carpet 13, a portion near the rear of the footrest 24 is a heel mounting portion 26 for the left foot FL. The heel placing portion 26 is a place where the driver D who places the toe PT of the left foot FL on the footrest 24 places the heel PH.

In the passenger compartment 11, a seat belt device for restraining the driver D seated in the front seat is equipped, but the seat belt device is not shown in FIG.
The vehicle is equipped with a lower limb protection device 30 that protects the lower limb of the front seat occupant (driver D), particularly the lower end portion of the leg, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front during a frontal collision or the like. Next, details of the lower limb protection device 30 will be described.

  As shown in at least one of FIGS. 1 and 4, a bracket 31 is disposed near the front of the lower portion of the instrument panel 18, and the bracket 31 is attached to a highly rigid member on the vehicle body side. . As such a highly rigid member, for example, instrument panel reinforcement is suitable, and a pedal bracket, a column bracket, or the like that directly supports the brake pedal 23 or the accelerator pedal 22 are suitable. In the present embodiment, the bracket 31 is attached to the pedal bracket 32.

  The space below the instrument panel 18, more precisely below the steering column 33, in the vicinity of the front of the location on the front side of the shin PL of the driver D seated in the driver's seat 14 (front seat). Is used as the storage section 34. In addition, a pair of front and rear door portions 35 are provided at a position corresponding to the storage portion 34 in the lower portion of the instrument panel 18 so as to be opened and closed. In the present embodiment, an expected break portion 36 having a smaller wall thickness than other portions of the instrument panel 18 is provided at the lower portion of the instrument panel 18. A door portion 35 is constituted by a portion in the vicinity of the planned fracture portion 36. Both door portions 35 having such a configuration are connected to each other and closed when the planned break portion 36 is not broken. On the other hand, when both the door portions 35 are broken by the expanding portions 44 and 45, which will be described later, the portions to be broken 36 are broken, the door portions 35 are rotated in opposite directions to open.

  As shown in at least one of FIGS. 2 and 4, an expansion fluid generating source that generates an expansion fluid, a pair of expansion portions 44 and 45, and one horizontal communication portion 51 are disposed in the storage portion 34. Has been.

  The expansion fluid generation source includes an inflator 41 that generates an expansion gas G as an expansion fluid. Although there are a plurality of types of inflators 41 due to differences in the manner of generating the expansion gas G, here, the inflator 41 called a pyrotype is used. Inside this type of inflator 41, a gas generating agent (not shown) for generating an expansion gas G is accommodated. The inflator 41 is provided with a plurality of gas ejection holes 43 through which the expansion gas G generated by the gas generating agent is ejected. The inflator 41 is fastened to the bracket 31 by fasteners 42 such as bolts and nuts.

  As the inflator 41, a type different from the above pyro type may be used. Such types include a stored gas type in which a partition wall of a high-pressure gas cylinder filled with a high-pressure expansion gas G is broken with explosives and the like, and a combination of both a pyro type and a stored gas type The hybrid type etc. are mentioned.

  Both of the inflating portions 44 and 45 and the lateral communication portion 51 are constituted by airbags. The inflating portions 44 and 45 are located in the lateral regions ZL and ZR (lower side legs) of the driver D from locations separated from each other in the vehicle width direction in the storage portion 34 by the inflating gas G supplied from the inflator 41. (See FIG. 2 etc.) and expands substantially downward, and when inflated, the vehicle is elongated in a substantially longitudinal direction. Here, a region near the left side of the right foot FR is a side region ZR for the right inflating portion 44, and a region near the right side of the left foot FL is a side region ZL for the left inflating portion 45.

  In each expansion part 44 and 45, the rear-end part is obstruct | occluded and the front-end part is open | released. Each of the inflating portions 44 and 45 includes a pair of base cloths 46 that are overlapped with each other in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 7B). Both base fabrics 46 are formed of a material that has high strength and is flexible and can be easily deformed, such as a woven fabric made of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, or the like. Both base fabrics 46 are coupled together at a peripheral coupling portion 47 provided along the peripheral portion thereof. In the present embodiment, the peripheral joint portion 47 is configured by sewing the peripheral portions of both base fabrics 46 mainly with a sewing thread, but may be configured by bonding with an adhesive. Moreover, each expansion | swelling part 44 and 45 may be comprised by one base cloth other than what is each comprised by the two base cloths 46 as mentioned above. In this case, the base fabric having a predetermined shape is folded in two at the central portion. The peripheral portions of the two component pieces generated by folding in two are joined at the peripheral joint portion.

  The same applies to the inner connecting portion 48 and the peripheral connecting portions 53, 64, and 68, which will be described later, in that the peripheral connecting portion 47 that connects both base fabrics 46 is formed by sewing or bonding. In addition, the expansion portions 44 and 45 may be formed by folding a single base fabric in half. A lateral communication portion 51, a second expansion portion 62, and vertical communication portions 65 and 66, which will be described later. The same applies to.

  The right inflating portion 44 has a length that allows its front end portion 44T to reach the side region ZR when inflated. The left inflatable portion 45 has a length that allows its front end portion 45T to reach the side region ZL when inflated.

  In order to restrict the expansion of each expansion portion 44, 45 in the vehicle width direction, both base fabrics 46 for each of the expansion portions 44, 45 are brought closer to each other inside the peripheral edge coupling portion 47 for each expansion portion 44, 45. An inner coupling portion 48 is provided for coupling in the above state. Furthermore, both the expansion parts 44 and 45 are disposed in the storage part 34 in a state of being folded and made compact.

  On the other hand, the lateral communication portion 51 extends linearly in the vehicle width direction. The horizontal communication portion 51 is made of the same material as the expansion portions 44 and 45 and is formed longer than the distance between the upper end portions of the expansion portions 44 and 45 by a pair of base fabrics 52 that are overlapped in the vertical direction. Has been. Both base fabrics 52 are joined together at a peripheral joint part 53 provided along the peripheral part thereof. The lateral communication part 51 is connected in communication with the upper end parts of the inflating parts 44 and 45. More specifically, openings 51R and 51L are opened at two positions facing the side regions ZL and ZR on the rear surface of the horizontal communication portion 51, and the upper end portions of the inflating portions 44 and 45 are laterally extended. In the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the corresponding openings 51R and 51L of the communication part 51, the side communication part 51 is connected in an airtight state. In the present embodiment, the above-described connection is made by sewing the upper end portions of the inflatable portions 44 and 45 to the vicinity of the peripheral edges of the corresponding openings 51R and 51L of the lateral communication portion 51 with sewing threads.

  Further, a tubular gas introduction part 55 is provided in the middle part in the vehicle width direction of the lateral communication part 51. A part including the gas ejection hole 43 of the inflator 41 is inserted into the gas introduction part 55. The gas introduction part 55 is fastened and fixed in an airtight state to the inflator 41 by a fastening band 56 arranged on the outside thereof. The entire inflator 41 may be disposed in the gas introduction part 55.

  In addition to the inflating portions 44 and 45, the lower limb protection device 30 includes a portion of the floor in front of the driver's seat 14 (hereinafter referred to as “driver's seat floor 61”) and a floor carpet thereon as shown in FIG. 13 is provided with a second expansion portion 62 disposed between the first expansion portion 62 and the second expansion portion 62. As shown in FIG. 6 (B), the second inflating portion 62 is operated when the toe board 21 and the above-mentioned footrest mounting portions (accelerator pedal 22, footrest 24) move backward due to the impact from the front on the vehicle. It is provided for the purpose of protecting the ankle PA of the person D from dorsiflexion and twisting, which will be described later. The second inflating portion 62 is accommodated in a narrow space between the driver's seat floor 61 and the toe board 21 and the floor carpet 13 in a state where the second inflating portion 62 is unfolded and flattened.

  As shown in at least one of FIGS. 3 and 7A, the second inflating part 62 includes a pair of base cloths 63 that are stacked one above the other. Each base fabric 63 is made of the same material as the inflating portions 44 and 45, the lateral communication portion 51 and the like described above. Here, the base fabric 63 is formed of the same fabric as the fabric constituting the base fabric 52 of the lateral communication portion 51. Both base fabrics 63 are joined in an airtight state at a peripheral joint 64 provided at the peripheral part thereof.

  As shown in at least one of FIGS. 2 and 3, the end portion on the vehicle outer side (right end portion) of the lateral communication portion 51 and the end portion on the vehicle outer side (right end portion) of the second expansion portion 62 extend in the front-rear direction. They are connected by a vertical communication portion 65. Similarly, the vehicle interior end (left end) of the horizontal communication portion 51 and the vehicle interior end (left end) of the second expansion portion 62 are connected by a longitudinal communication portion 66 extending in the front-rear direction. The vertical communication portions 65 and 66 and the horizontal communication portion 51 described above constitute a communication portion that allows the two expansion portions 44 and 45 to communicate with the second expansion portion 62. The horizontal communication part 51 and the second expansion part 62 are in communication with each other via both vertical communication parts 65 and 66. Each of the vertical communication portions 65 and 66 includes a pair of base cloths 67 that are overlapped with each other in the vertical direction. Each base fabric 67 is formed of the same material as the inflating portions 44 and 45, the lateral communication portion 51, the second inflating portion 62, and the like described above. Here, the base fabric 63 is formed of the same fabric as the fabric constituting the base fabric 52 of the lateral communication portion 51 and the base fabric 63 of the second expansion portion 62. In other words, the horizontal communication portion 51, both vertical communication portions 65 and 66, and the second expansion portion 62 are integrally formed of the same fabric.

  Both base fabrics 67 are coupled in an airtight state at a peripheral coupling portion 68 provided at the peripheral portion thereof. With such a configuration, the expansion gas G ejected from the inflator 41 can be supplied to the both expansion portions 44 and 45 through the gas introduction portion 55 and the horizontal communication portion 51, and after passing through the horizontal communication portion 51. Further, it can be supplied to the second inflating part 62 through both vertical communication parts 65 and 66. A part of both vertical communication portions 65 and 66 is disposed near the lower part of the floor carpet 13 and the rear part of the toe board 21. A part of each of the vertical communication portions 65 and 66 is disposed in the storage portion 34.

  The second inflating portion 62 is arranged in parallel in the vehicle width direction and inflates in response to an impact from the front of the vehicle, between the inflating main body portions 71 and 72 adjacent to each other, A plurality of (two) expansion regulating portions 74 and 75 are provided between the adjacent expansion main body portions 72 and 73 and the expansion is restricted. The right expansion restricting portion 74 is located in the second expansion portion 62 in the vicinity of the left side of the right saddle mounting portion 25. The left expansion restricting portion 75 is located in the second expansion portion 62 in the vicinity of the right side of the left heel mounting portion 26. Each expansion regulating part 74, 75 is constituted by a coupling part 76. The coupling portion 76 for each of the expansion regulating portions 74 and 75 is coupled with the upper and lower base fabrics 63 constituting the second inflating portion 62 in a state where the upper and lower opposing portions are close to each other. In this embodiment, this connection is made by sewing with a sewing thread in a state where the upper and lower base fabrics 63 are in contact with each other.

  As shown in at least one of FIG. 3 and FIGS. 7A and 7B, a space S in the right-side expansion main body 71 and below the right-side ridge mounting portion 25 is provided with respect to the vehicle. When a shock is applied from the front, it is a push-up portion 77 that pushes up the heel mounting portion 25. In this space S, a pair of upper and lower inner base fabrics 78 each having a planar rectangular shape are arranged. The inner base fabric 78 is formed of the same material as the base fabric 63 and the like. The upper inner base fabric 78 is sewn to the upper base fabric 63 with a sewing thread, and the lower inner base fabric 78 is sewn to the lower base cloth 63 with a sewing thread. Both the upper and lower sewing parts 79 formed by these sewing threads have an annular shape (in the present embodiment, an oval shape).

  The upper and lower inner base fabrics 78 are stitched together with a sewing thread on the outer side (right side) in the vehicle width direction than the sewing portion 79. The stitched portion 81 by the sewing thread has a linear shape extending along the vehicle front-rear direction. Further, the upper and lower inner base fabrics 78 are stitched together with a sewing thread on the inner side (left side) in the vehicle width direction than the sewing portion 79. The stitching portion 82 by the sewing thread has a linear shape extending along the vehicle front-rear direction. In the upper and lower inner fabrics 78, a portion sandwiched between the sewing portion 79 and the stitching portion 81 on the outer side (right side) in the vehicle width direction, and a stitching portion 82 on the inner side (left side) in the vehicle width direction The portions sandwiched between the two portions serve as tethers 83 that regulate the height of expansion of the push-up portion 77.

  In addition, in the left expansion main body 73, the space below the heel mounting portion 26 on the inner side (left side) in the vehicle width direction is a push that pushes up the heel mounting portion 26 when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front. It is a raising part. Since this push-up part has the same configuration as the push-up part 77 that pushes up the above-mentioned right saddle rest part 25, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Note that a plurality of portions that are not involved in the expansion in the second expansion portion 62 are fixed to the driver's seat floor 61 by fasteners (not shown) such as bolts and nuts.
In the floor carpet 13, the portion corresponding to the right-side expansion regulating portion 74 and the vicinity thereof in the second expansion portion 62 is in a flat state when the second expansion portion 62 is not expanded. The same applies to the portions corresponding to the left expansion restricting portion 75 and its vicinity. Further, when the expansion gas G is supplied to the second expansion portion 62 and the expansion main body portions 71 to 73 are expanded, the portions corresponding to the expansion main body portions 71 to 73 in the floor carpet 13 are expanded. The portions that are pushed up by 71 to 73 and that correspond to the expansion regulating portions 74 and 75 are not pushed up. Therefore, with respect to the floor carpet 13, the portion corresponding to the right side expansion restricting portion 74 and the vicinity thereof in the second inflating portion 62 is deformed into a concave shape with the upper surface opened. The same applies to the portions corresponding to the left expansion restricting portion 75 and its vicinity.

  As described above, the right-side expansion restricting portion 74, the portions adjacent to the expansion restricting portions 74 in the adjacent expansion main body portions 71 and 72, and the portion that deforms into a concave shape in the floor carpet 13, the right-side expansion. A receiving recess 84 for receiving the tip 44T of the portion 44 is configured. Further, the left-side expansion restricting portion 75, the vicinity of the expansion restricting portion 75 in the adjacent expansion main body portions 72 and 73, and the portion that deforms into a concave shape on the floor carpet 13, the left-side expansion portion 45 is expanded. The receiving recessed part 85 which receives the front-end | tip part 45T of this is comprised (refer FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lower limb protection device 30 further includes an impact sensor 86 and a control device 87. The impact sensor 86 is composed of an acceleration sensor or the like, and detects an impact applied to the vehicle from the front. The control device 87 controls the operation of the inflator 41 based on the detection signal from the impact sensor 86.

  The lower limb protection device 30 of the present embodiment is configured as described above. Next, the operation of the lower limb protection device 30 will be described. Here, only the function of protecting the right foot FR by the right footrest 25, the push-up portion 77, the expansion portion 44, etc. will be described, but the left foot FL by the left footrest 26, the push-up portion, the expansion portion 45, etc. The same is true for the action of protecting.

  During traveling of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), the driver D places the toe PT of the right foot FR on the toe placing portion (accelerator pedal 22) and places the heel PH on the heel of the floor carpet 13. It is mounted on the mounting portion 25.

  If no impact is applied to the vehicle from the front during the traveling, the control device 87 does not output a command signal for operating the inflator 41. Therefore, the expansion gas G is not ejected from the gas ejection holes 43 of the inflator 41, and the expansion gas G is not supplied to both the expansion portions 44 and 45 and the second expansion portion 62. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the inflating parts 44 and 45 are not inflated and maintained in a folded state and are continuously housed in the housing part 34. The planned break portion 36 is not broken, and both door portions 35 are kept closed. At this time, since both the inflating parts 44 and 45 are not inflated and are not bulky, the accommodating part 34 for accommodating them can be small. Further, both the expanding portions 44 and 45 are unlikely to interfere with other members and the like at the lower portion of the instrument panel 18.

  On the other hand, the space between the floor carpet 13 and the driver's seat floor 61 and the toe board 21 is narrow, and the storage space of the second inflating portion 62 which is a member forming the receiving recess 84 is greatly restricted. However, when no impact is applied to the vehicle from the front, as shown in at least one of FIGS. 2 and 7A, in addition to the expansion regulating portions 74 and 75 of the second expansion portion 62, the expansion main body portions 71 to 73 are provided. The second inflating portion 62 is not expanded but maintains a state of being expanded and flattened. Therefore, the storage space for the second expansion portion 62 that forms the receiving recess 84 is small, and the second expansion portion 62 can be easily stored even in a narrow space as described above.

  At this time, since the second inflating part 62 does not inflate as described above, the portion of the floor carpet 13 on the upper side of the second inflating part 62 is also kept flat. In the floor carpet 13, the vicinity of the expansion restricting portion 74 is not deformed into a concave shape and is kept flat.

  On the other hand, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front due to a frontal collision or the like while the vehicle is traveling, the toe board 21 and the accelerator in front of the driver's seat 14 as shown by a solid line in FIG. 6B due to the impact. The pedal 22 or the like may move backward. In addition, the dashed-two dotted line in FIG. 6 (B) has shown the state of each part before an impact is added. Along with these movements, there is a case in which a moment moving backward with the heel PH as a fulcrum acts on the right foot FR of the driver D who places the heel PH on the heel rest 25 and the foot PT on the accelerator pedal 22. is there. This moment may cause dorsiflexion (a phenomenon in which the angle of the ankle PA (ankle angle α) becomes small) in the ankle PA of the right foot FR.

  On the other hand, when an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the vehicle from the front as described above, and this is detected by the impact sensor 86, the lower limb protection device 30 causes the control device 87 to the inflator 41 based on the detection signal. A command signal for operating this is output. In response to this command signal, the inflator 41 generates the expansion gas G by the gas generating agent. The expansion gas G is ejected from the gas ejection hole 43 into the gas introduction part 55 as shown in FIG. Part of the expansion gas G flowing through the horizontal communication portion 51 via the gas introduction portion 55 flows into the expansion portions 44 and 45. Further, a part of the expansion gas G flowing through the horizontal communication portion 51 flows into the second expansion portion 62 through the vertical communication portions 65 and 66.

  In the second expansion part 62, the expansion main body parts 71 to 73 are expanded by the expansion gas G. In the floor carpet 13, locations corresponding to the expansion main body portions 71 to 73 (locations on the upper side) are expanded by the expansion main body portions 71 to 73 as shown in at least one of FIGS. 6B and 7B. Pushed up. These expansion body portions 71 to 73 also include an expansion body portion 71 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction that constitutes the push-up portion 77. That is, the expansion main body portion 71 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction functions as a push-up portion 77 by expanding.

  By the expansion of the expansion main body 71 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, the heel mounting portion 25 that is the upper portion of the expansion main body 71 in the floor carpet 13 is deformed and pushed up. As the heel placing portion 25 is pushed up, the heel PH of the right foot FR thereon is quickly pushed up.

The expansion of the expansion main body 71 in the vertical direction is restricted by the tether 83. For this reason, the phenomenon in which the overhanging portion 25 is excessively pushed up by the pushing-up portion 77 is suppressed.
On the right foot FR, the lifting force due to the expansion of the expansion main body portion 71 (pushing-up portion 77) acts only on the heel PH and the vicinity thereof through the heel mounting portion 25. Therefore, the ankle PA of the right foot FR is pushed up while maintaining the ankle angle α. In the right foot FR of the driver D, a phenomenon in which a portion other than the heel PH is directly pushed up hardly occurs. Therefore, even if the toe board 21, the accelerator pedal 22 and the like are moved backward due to the impact at the time of collision, and the rearward moment acts on the right foot FR with the heel PH as a fulcrum, the ankle PA is unlikely to be bent.

  Further, when the accelerator pedal 22 moves rearward due to the impact from the front, a moment in the vehicle width direction may act on the right foot FR in addition to the moment toward the rear with the heel PH as a fulcrum. The latter moment is a phenomenon in which the ankle PA is twisted in the vehicle width direction (a phenomenon in which the ankle PA is twisted to the side closer to the other foot (left foot FL) is called “varus”), and the side away from the other foot (left foot FL) The twisting phenomenon is called “valgus”.

  In this respect, in the present embodiment, the expansion portions 44 and 45 are inflated while the folded state is canceled by the inflow of the expansion gas G, and the both door portions 35 are pressed. When the planned breakage portion 36 is broken as shown in FIG. 5 by this pressing, both door portions 35 are pushed open to form an opening 37, and both inflating portions 44 and 45 pass through the opening 37 and substantially downward. Inflates and expands. The inflating part 44 passes through the side region ZR on the left side of the leg lower end part (right foot FR) of the driver D seated on the driver's seat 14 in the process of inflating and expanding (see FIG. 7B).

  On the other hand, in the 2nd expansion part 62, even if the expansion main-body parts 71-73 expand as mentioned above, the expansion control parts 74 and 75 do not expand. In the floor carpet 13, portions corresponding to the expansion main body portions 71 to 73 are pushed up by the expansion main body portions 71 to 73, and portions corresponding to the expansion regulating portions 74 and 75 are not pushed up. Therefore, with respect to the floor carpet 13, the portion corresponding to the right-side expansion regulating portion 74 and the vicinity thereof in the second inflating portion 62 is deformed into a concave shape with the upper surface opened, and a receiving concave portion 84 is formed.

  When the distal end portion 44T of the right expansion portion 44 enters and engages in the receiving recess 84 deformed into a concave shape in the side region ZR in the vicinity of the left side of the saddle mounting portion 25 as described above, the same expansion occurs. The portion 44 is sandwiched between the pair of expansion main body portions 71 and 72 on both sides of the expansion regulating portion 74. The movement of the distal end portion 44T of the inflating portion 44 in the vehicle width direction is restricted by the receiving recess 84.

  Therefore, even if a moment in the vehicle width direction with the heel PH as a fulcrum acts on the right foot FR, at least the heel PH of the right foot FR pushed up together with the heel mounting portion 25 is a lateral side on the vehicle inner side in the vehicle width direction ( It is received by the inflating part 44 from the left side. The expansion portion 44 expands between the storage portion 34 below the instrument panel 18 and the floor carpet 13. Therefore, a wider region of the right foot FR is received from the left side by the inflating portion 44 than when only the heel PH is received or when only the foot tip PT is received. Further, heel PH is a portion that becomes a fulcrum when the moment in the vehicle width direction acts and the right foot FR is twisted. Since the moment in the vehicle width direction is received at least at the heel PH, the moment in the vehicle width direction is received more efficiently than when the moment is received only at the foot PT.

  By the receiving, the torsion (inversion) of the ankle PA caused by the moment in the vehicle width direction is suppressed. At this time, a force toward the inner side (left side) in the vehicle width direction is applied to the right inflated portion 44 in the inflated state by the right leg lower end portion (right foot FR) of the driver D. It is suppressed by the said engagement with the receiving recessed part 84 of the expansion part 44 that the expansion part 44 shifts | deviates to the same direction with the force.

  In the present embodiment, the inflating portion 44 inflates in the left side region ZR of the right foot FR, but does not inflate in the right side region. However, the side wall of the vehicle is located in the vicinity of the right side of the right foot FR so that the heel PH is received. Therefore, from the viewpoint of catching the heel PH, there is no particular problem due to the absence of the inflating portion 44 that inflates on the right side of the right foot FR.

  Similarly, the expansion part 45 expands in the right side region ZL of the left foot FL, but does not expand in the left side region. However, the center console of the vehicle is usually positioned near the left side of the left foot FL, and the heel PH is received by this. Therefore, from the viewpoint of catching the heel PH, there is no particular problem due to the absence of the inflating portion 45 that inflates on the left side of the left foot FL.

According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In front of the driver's seat 14 (front seat) of the vehicle, under the legs of a driver D (occupant) that is configured by an airbag and is seated in the driver's seat 14 in response to an impact from the front on the vehicle. Inflatable portions 44 and 45 that are inflated toward the side regions ZL and ZR of the end portions (the right foot FR and the left foot FL) are provided. In addition, receiving recesses 84 and 85 that receive the tip portions 44T and 45T are deformed into a concave shape in conjunction with the expansion at locations where the tip portions 44T and 45T of the expanding portions 44 and 45 that expand. Provided. Therefore, by engaging the front end portions 44T and 45T of the inflated portions 44 and 45 with the receiving recesses 84 and 85, the inflated portions 44 and 45 are prevented from shifting in the vehicle width direction, resulting from the deviation. It is possible to suppress a decrease in the protection performance of the expanding portions 44 and 45 that perform.

  (2) The storage part 34 is provided in the lower part of the instrument panel 18, and the inflatable parts 44 and 45 made of an airbag are stored in the storage part 34. Then, the inflating parts 44 and 45 are inflated substantially downward from the storage part 34 so that the tip parts 44T and 45T are engaged with the receiving recesses 84 and 85, respectively. Therefore, the installation space which the storage part 34 occupies the instrument panel 18 lower part can be made small. Further, the inflatable portions 44 and 45 can be accommodated without causing interference with other members or the like at the lower part of the instrument panel 18.

  (3) On the driver's seat floor 61, the heel rests 25 and 26 on which the heels PH of the right foot FR and the left foot FL of the driver D are placed, and the heel rests 25 and 26 are pushed up in response to an impact. In addition, a foot rest portion (accelerator pedal 22, footrest 24) on which each foot tip PT of the right foot FR and the left foot FL is placed is provided near the front of the heel rest portions 25 and 26. In addition, receiving recesses 84 and 85 are provided in the vicinity of the sides of the ridges 25 and 26 on the driver's seat floor 61.

  Therefore, in response to an impact from the front with respect to the vehicle, the footrest mounting portion (accelerator pedal 22, footrest 24) moves backward, and at least one of the right foot FR and the left foot FL of the driver D moves backward with the heel PH as a fulcrum. Even if a moving moment acts, dorsiflexion can be made difficult to occur.

  Further, when the foot rest (accelerator pedal 22, footrest 24) moves rearward due to the impact, a moment in the vehicle width direction with the heel PH as a fulcrum acts on at least one of the right foot FR and the left foot FL. However, the phenomenon that the ankle PA is twisted can be suppressed by receiving the heel PH by the inflating portions 44 and 45 from the side in the vehicle width direction. Further, the engagement with the receiving recesses 84 and 85 makes it difficult for the inflating portions 44 and 45 to shift in the vehicle width direction, and the effect of suppressing the twist of the ankle PA can be ensured.

  (4) Between the driver's seat floor 61 and the floor carpet 13, a second inflating portion 62 made of an air bag is disposed. The second expansion portion 62 is provided with three expansion main body portions 71 to 73 that expand in response to an impact, and between the adjacent expansion main body portions 71 and 72 and between the adjacent expansion main body portions 72 and 73, the expansion is performed. Are provided with expansion regulating portions 74 and 75 for regulating the pressure. And about the floor carpet 13, the receiving recessed part 84 is formed in the location corresponding to the vicinity part of the expansion control part 74 in the adjacent expansion main body parts 71 and 72, and the expansion control part 75 in the adjacent expansion main body parts 72 and 73 is formed. A receiving recess 85 is formed at a location corresponding to the vicinity. Further, the push-up portion 77 is configured by the expansion main body portions 71 and 73 on both sides in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the storage space of the second inflating portion 62 that is a member for forming the receiving recesses 84 and 85 in the floor carpet 13 is reduced, and the second inflating portion 62 is disposed between the driver seat floor 61 and the floor carpet 13. It can be easily stored in a narrow space.

  Further, it is difficult to form the receiving recesses 84 and 85 by breaking the floor carpet 13, but by deforming the floor carpet 13 by the expansion of the second inflating portion 62, the receiving recesses 84 and 85 are surely formed. Can be formed.

  (5) In the present embodiment in which the second inflating portion 62 is formed by using the base fabric 63 made of fabric, a simple operation of sewing together the portions facing each other in the vertical direction in both base fabrics 63. By simply performing the above, it is possible to form the coupling portion 76 that couples the second inflating portion 62 in a state in which the portions facing each other in the vertical direction are close to each other.

  (6) Both the expanding portions 44 and 45 and the second expanding portion 62 are communicated with each other by the communicating portions (the horizontal communicating portion 51 and the two vertically communicating portions 65 and 66), and the expanding gas G supplied from the common inflator 41 Thus, both the inflating portions 44 and 45, the second inflating portion 62, and the communicating portion (the lateral communicating portion 51 and the both longitudinal communicating portions 65 and 66) are inflated. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide separate inflators 41 for the inflating portions 44 and 45 and the second inflating portion 62.

Note that the present invention can be embodied in another embodiment described below.
<Matters related to foot rests>
In the above-described embodiment, the accelerator pedal 22 and the footrest 24 are used as the foot rests. However, the driver D operates the right foot FR and the left foot FL when driving the vehicle, such as the brake pedal 23. It is good also considering a pedal as a footrest mounting part. Further, a place other than the operation pedal, for example, the toe board 21, may be used as the foot rest part. In this case, not only the toe board 21 in front of the driver's seat 14 but also the toe board 21 in front of the front passenger seat can be the target of the footrest placing part.

<Matters related to receiving recesses 84 and 85>
In the above-described embodiment, the pair of upper and lower base cloths 63 are joined in the second inflating part 62 in a state of being in contact with each other to form the joining part 76 (expansion regulating parts 74 and 75). May be combined in a state of being slightly separated from each other to form the connecting portion 76 (expansion regulating portions 74 and 75). Even in this case, with respect to the floor carpet 13, the expansion restriction portions 74 and 75, the adjacent expansion main body portions 71 and 72, and the adjacent portions of the expansion main body portions 72 and 73 near the expansion restriction portions 74 and 75. Corresponding portions can be deformed into recesses to form receiving recesses 84 and 85.

  The receiving concave portions 84 and 85 may be formed by deforming the floor carpet 13 into a concave shape by means different from the airbag. For example, a combination of a push-up plate and an actuator is used as a push-up portion, and this is arranged below the ridges 25 and 26 of the floor carpet 13. Then, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front, the actuator may be operated to raise the push-up plate to push up the saddle placing portions 25 and 26.

<Matters related to push-up unit 77>
-You may make all the three expansion | swelling main-body parts 71-73 function as the raising part 77. FIG.
<Matters related to the inflating portions 44 and 45>
-“Stored in front of the front seat of the vehicle (driver's seat 14)”, “Under the leg of the occupant (driver D) seated in the front seat (driver's seat 14) in response to the impact from the front on the vehicle Even if the position of the storage portion 34 and the expansion direction of the expansion portions 44 and 45 are changed to those different from those in the above-described embodiment within the range satisfying “expanding toward the side regions ZL and ZR of the end portions”. Good.

  For example, you may set the position of the accommodating part 34 to the vicinity of the toe board 21 (front of a passenger | crew's leg lower end part). In this case, since the side regions ZL and ZR at the lower end portion of the leg are located behind the storage portion 34, the expansion portions 44 and 45 are expanded rearward. Further, in this case, the receiving recesses 84 and 85 may be deformed into a concave shape having an open upper surface, as in the above embodiment. If it carries out like this, the expansion parts 44 and 45 will be guided to the side area | regions ZL and ZR without passing in the vehicle width direction by passing the receiving recessed parts 84 and 85 in the process of expansion | swelling.

  Further, the position of the storage portion 34 may be set on the driver's seat floor 61. In this case, since the side regions ZL and ZR at the lower end portion of the leg are positioned substantially above the storage portion 34, the expansion portions 44 and 45 are expanded substantially upward.

  The lateral communication part 51 may be omitted, and the inflating part 44 and the inflating part 45 may be made independent of each other. In this case, an inflator that supplies the expansion gas G to the expansion unit 44 and an inflator that supplies the expansion gas G to the expansion unit 45 may be provided separately. Further, the common inflator may be connected to the inflating part 44 by the first pipe and connected to the inflating part 45 by the second pipe. In this case, the expansion gas generated by the common inflator is divided into two parts, and then supplied to the expansion unit 44 through the first pipe and is supplied to the expansion unit 45 through the second pipe.

-You may change the number of the expansion parts 44 and 45 to 1 or 3 or more.
<Matters related to second inflating portion 62>
The tether 83 may be provided on the expansion main body 72 located at the center in the vehicle width direction among the three expansion main bodies 71 to 73 as well as the expansion main body portions 71 and 73 on both sides in the vehicle width direction. On the contrary, the tether 83 may be omitted for at least one of the expansion main bodies 71 and 73 located on both sides in the vehicle width direction.

<Matters relating to both the inflating portions 44 and 45 and the second inflating portion 62>
The vertical communication portions 65 and 66 may be omitted, and the expansion portions 44 and 45 and the second expansion portion 62 may be made independent of each other. In this case, an inflator that supplies the expansion gas G to the expansion portions 44 and 45 and an inflator that supplies the expansion gas G to the second expansion portion 62 may be provided separately. Moreover, a common inflator may be connected to the expansion parts 44 and 45 by a third pipe and may be connected to the second expansion part 62 by a fourth pipe. In this case, the expansion gas generated by the common inflator is divided into two parts, and then supplied to the expansion units 44 and 45 through the third pipe and to the second expansion unit 62 through the fourth pipe. Supplied.

<Matters related to floor carpet 13>
-In the floor carpet 13, the location corresponding to the center expansion | swelling main-body part 72 is good also as a heel mounting part for right leg FR.

  -When the 2nd expansion part 62 expand | swells, following the expansion | swelling, it is desirable for the floor carpet 13 to deform | transform and to become the shape similar to the 2nd expansion | swelling part 62. FIG. On the other hand, the floor carpet 13 is generally formed by planting pile yarn on a base fabric and providing a backing layer on the back side of the base fabric. On the back surface of the backing layer, grooves are provided at locations corresponding to the expansion restricting portions 74 and 75 of the second expansion portion 62. In this case, in the backing layer, the strength in the vicinity of the groove is lower than the strength in other portions. The backing layer is easily deformed starting from the groove. As a result, the floor carpet 13 is deformed following the expansion of the expansion main body portions 71 to 73 and is likely to have the same shape as the second expansion portion 62.

<Other matters>
The gas introduction part 55 may be connected to any one of the expansion parts 44 and 45, the second expansion part 62, and the vertical communication parts 65 and 66 instead of the horizontal communication part 51.

  The subject of protection by the lower limb protection device 30 is an occupant seated in the front seat of the vehicle. In addition to the driver D, the passenger includes a passenger in the passenger seat. When the passenger in the passenger seat is to be protected, the lower limb protection device 30 is installed in front of the passenger seat.

  13 ... Floor carpet, 14 ... Driver seat (front seat), 18 ... Instrument panel, 22 ... Accelerator pedal (foot tip mounting portion), 24 ... Footrest (foot tip mounting portion), 25, 26 ... Shoe mounting portion, 34 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS: Storage part 41 ... Inflator (expansion fluid generation source) 44, 45 ... Expansion part, 44T, 45T ... Tip part, 51 ... Horizontal communication part (communication part), 61 ... Driver's seat floor (vehicle floor), 62 ... second expansion part, 65 and 66 ... vertical communication part (communication part), 71 to 73 ... expansion main body part, 74 and 75 ... expansion restriction part, 76 ... coupling part, 77 ... push-up part, 84, 85 ... Receiving recess, D ... driver (occupant), G ... expansion gas (expansion fluid), PH ... heel, PT ... foot tip, ZL, ZR ... side region.

Claims (6)

An inflatable portion configured by an airbag provided in front of the front seat of the vehicle and inflating toward a lateral region of a leg lower end portion of an occupant seated in the front seat in response to an impact from the front on the vehicle; ,
A vehicle occupant's lower limb protection device comprising: a receiving recess that receives the distal end portion by deforming into a concave shape in conjunction with the expansion at a location where the distal end portion of the inflating portion reaches. The inflating part is housed in a housing part at the lower part of the instrument panel provided in front of the front seat, inflates from the housing part substantially downward, and within the receiving recess at its leading end. The apparatus for protecting a lower limb of a vehicle occupant according to claim 1, wherein the lower limb protection device is for entering and receiving. On the floor of the vehicle, there are provided a heel-loading portion on which the occupant's heel is placed and a push-up portion that pushes up the heel-rest portion in response to the impact, while in the vicinity of the front of the heel-mounting portion, A foot rest portion on which the foot of the occupant is placed is provided;
The lower limb protection device for a vehicle occupant according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving recess is formed in the vicinity of a side of the heel mounting portion on the floor. The floor is laid with a floor carpet having the eaves part,
Between the floor and the floor carpet, a plurality of inflatable main body portions that are inflated in response to the impact and are inflated in response to the impact, and an inflatable portion that is provided between the adjacent inflatable main body portions and is restricted from being inflated. A second expansion portion having a restriction portion is disposed;
The receiving recess is formed on the floor carpet at a location corresponding to the expansion regulating portion and the vicinity thereof in the second expansion portion,
The device for protecting a leg of a vehicle occupant according to claim 3, wherein the push-up portion is configured by at least one of the plurality of the expansion body portions. The vehicle occupant's lower limb protection device according to claim 4, wherein the expansion restricting portion is configured by a coupling portion that couples the portions facing each other in the second inflating portion so as to be close to each other. The vehicle occupant according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the inflating portion and the second inflating portion are connected to each other by a communicating portion, and are inflated by an inflating fluid supplied from a common inflating fluid generation source. Lower limb protection device.

Images