Patent ID: 7370881
Filing Date: 2008-05-13
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. A knee-protecting airbag device for protecting knees of a driver, the airbag device being located below a column cover covering a steering column, the column cover protruding from an instrument panel and being inclined to rise upward toward a rear in such a manner that the front part of the column cover is located downward while the rear part of the column cover is located upward, the airbag device comprising: an airbag; and a housing, wherein: the airbag is folded and housed in the housing disposed inside the instrument panel disposed below the steering column; when fed with inflation gas, the airbag expands and inflates in a clearance between the column cover and the driver's knees, and when having completed expansion and inflation, the airbag is configured into a generally plate shape covering an area from a front side to a rear end vicinity of the lower surface of the column cover; the airbag includes a column cover side wall arranged toward the column cover and a driver's side wall arranged toward the driver; in a flatly developed state where the driver's side wall and the column cover side wall are overlaid one on the other, the lateral width of the airbag is greater than the lateral width of the housing; a lower part of the airbag serves as an upstream portion of the inflation gas whereas the upper part of the airbag serves as a downstream portion of the inflation gas; and the airbag includes a gas flow regulating member directing the inflation gas in the upstream portion such that the lateral width of the lower part of the airbag is increased, and then directing the gas toward the downstream portion such that the upper part of the airbag is inflated.