Patent Publication Number: US-2023137805-A1

Title: Apparatus for Knee Airbag

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0148388, filed on Nov. 2, 2021, which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for a knee airbag. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An airbag for a vehicle is a safety device which deploys a cushion of an airbag when a collision occurs to alleviate an impact on an occupant and includes a driver airbag (DAB), a passenger airbag (PAB), a side airbag (SAB), a curtain airbag (CAB), and a knee airbag (KAB). 
     Generally, the KAB includes a retainer, an inflator installed in the retainer and configured to provide a gas, a cushion configured to be deployed by receiving an injection of a gas of the inflator, and a cover configured to accommodate the cushion into the retainer, and the KAB is installed in a lower portion of a glove box. During a collision of a vehicle, the cushion of the KAB is deployed toward a knee side of the occupant and protects the knee of the driver or occupant. 
     A conventional apparatus for a KAB has a problem in that, in a state in which a knee and a shin of a seated person are maintained a predetermined distance or more from the apparatus for the KAB, the cushion is deployed normally, but in a state in which the knee or shin of the seated person is closer than the predetermined distance to the apparatus for the KAB, the cushion is pressed or pushed against the knee or shin of the seated person so that the cushion is not stably deployed. Therefore, there is a need to solve such a problem. 
     In addition, when a slim cockpit is applied according to a recent change in a driving method of the vehicle, since a distance between the knee of the seated person and an airbag device is increased, a structure for absorbing an impact applied to the knee of the occupant by being deployed in a wide space is essentially required. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for a knee airbag. Particular embodiments relate to an apparatus for a knee airbag that is located in a slim cockpit, formed such that an airbag and an absorber are capable of being simultaneously deployed, and deployed to a position corresponding to the knee of a first row occupant. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure can solve problems associated with the prior art. 
     One embodiment of the present disclosure provides an apparatus for a knee airbag (KAB) for absorbing an impact through an airbag which includes an absorber and is deployed to a knee of an occupant. 
     Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides an apparatus for a KAB that is capable of easily changing a deployment direction of an airbag through an absorber and a guide part for surrounding two or more surfaces of the airbag. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and other embodiments of the present disclosure, which are not mentioned, can be understood by the following description and also will be apparently understood through the described embodiments of the present disclosure. Further, the embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented by means described in the appended claims and a combination thereof. 
     An apparatus for a KAB includes the following configurations. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus for a KAB, which includes a cockpit located in a front side of an interior of a vehicle, an airbag located inside the cockpit so as to be deployed according to an impact, an airbag door formed in the cockpit and formed at a position facing a knee of an occupant, and opened when the airbag is deployed, an absorber located at a front end of the airbag being deployed, and a guide part configured to surround at least two surfaces of the absorber and the airbag. 
     In addition, the guide part may be configured to surround a front surface of the absorber and upper and lower surfaces of the absorber and the airbag. 
     In addition, the guide part may be configured to surround the front surface of the absorber and left and right surfaces of the absorber and the airbag. 
     In addition, the absorber may be formed such that two or more foams are located to be adjacent to each other. 
     In addition, in the absorber, two foams may be located to be spaced apart from each other based on a front surface of the guide part when the airbag is deployed. 
     In addition, the airbag may be inserted between the two foams spaced apart from each other. 
     In addition, the airbag may be mounted in a folded state in the same direction as an outer surface of the cockpit, and the guide part may be located on the side of the airbag in a folded state in a direction perpendicular to the outer surface of the cockpit. 
     In addition, when the cockpit has an angle that is greater than a first reference value based on a horizontal direction, a number of folds of a first folding part of the guide part located in the folded state may be greater than a number of folds of a second folding part of the guide part. 
     In addition, when an angle in the horizontal direction of the cockpit is smaller than the first reference value, the number of folds of the second folding part of the guide part located in the folded state may be greater than the number of folds of the first folding part of the guide part. 
     In addition, the absorber may be formed integrally with the airbag door. 
     Other aspects and preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed infra. 
     It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles. 
     The above and other features of embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed infra. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features of embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings which are given hereinbelow by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present disclosure, and wherein: 
         FIG.  1 A  is a diagram illustrating a side view of a knee airbag (KAB) including a single foam in a state of being mounted according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  1 B  is a diagram illustrating a side view of the KAB including a single foam in a state of being deployed according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2 A  is a diagram illustrating a side view of a KAB including two foams in a state of being mounted according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2 B  is a diagram illustrating a side view of the KAB including two foams in a state of being deployed according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3 A  is a diagram illustrating a guide part configured to surround a front surface of an absorber and upper and lower surfaces of a KAB in a state in which the KAB is deployed according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3 B  is a diagram illustrating a guide part configured to surround the front surface of the absorber and left and right surfaces of the KAB in a state in which the KAB is deployed according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4 A  is a diagram illustrating a folded state of the guide part when a cockpit is formed at an angle that is smaller than a first angle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4 B  is a diagram illustrating a deployment direction upon the deployment of the KAB when the cockpit is formed at an angle that is smaller than the first angle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5 A  is a diagram illustrating a folded state of the guide part when the cockpit is formed at an angle that is greater than the first angle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5 B  is a diagram illustrating a deployment direction upon the deployment of the KAB when the cockpit is formed at an angle that is greater than the first angle according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6 A  is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which an airbag door is fused to one side surface of the KAB being deployed and is integrally deployed according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6 B  is a diagram illustrating a deploy part located on both sides of the airbag door so as to allow the airbag door to be integrally deployed together with the KAB according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6 C  is a diagram illustrating the deploy part extending from an inner side of the cockpit so as to allow the airbag door to be integrally deployed together with the KAB according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram illustrating an apparatus for a KAB including two airbags according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of embodiments of the present disclosure. The specific design features of embodiments of the present disclosure as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. 
     In the figures, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of embodiments of the present disclosure throughout the several figures of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments of the present disclosure can be modified in various forms, and the scope of the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the following embodiments. These embodiments are provided to more fully describe the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. 
     Further, the term “˜part,” “˜housing,” “˜airbag” or the like used herein means a unit for processing at least one function or operation, and this unit may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. 
     Further, in the present specification, the terms a first, a second, and the like are assigned to components so as to distinguish these components because names of the components are the same, but these terms are not necessarily limited to the order in the following description. 
     In addition, in the present specification, since a “folded amount” refers to the number of folded times, a meaning in which a number of folds is relatively large refers to a length in which a region of a corresponding configuration may be deployed is longer, and a meaning in which the number of folds is relatively small refers to the length in which the region of the corresponding configuration may be deployed is shorter. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and, in describing with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding components are assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted therein. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a knee airbag (KAB)  200  configured to absorb an impact applied to a knee of an occupant in a first row of a vehicle including a slim cockpit  100 . In addition, the slim cockpit wo of embodiments of the present disclosure may be defined as a front interior structure of the vehicle or a glove box. In addition, since the development of eco-friendly vehicles reduces an engine room and improves a degree of freedom of a cockpit layout for autonomous driving, a maximum protrusion position of the cockpit in a lengthwise direction of the eco-friendly vehicle from the engine room is moved forward based on the vehicle, and a knee-side space from a maximum protrusion is more spaced when compared with the related art. In addition, since it is possible to achieve slimness based on the conventional engine room and cockpit layout, a configuration for protecting a knee of an occupant during a front collision is provided. 
       FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  illustrate a mounted state and a deployed state of a KAB  200  including a single absorber  400 , and  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  illustrate a mounted state and a deployed state of a KAB  200  including an absorber  400  formed of two foams. 
     The KAB  200  of embodiments of the present disclosure is formed to be engaged with an inflator located in the cockpit  100  and is formed to be located at a relatively lower portion of the cockpit  100 . The KAB  200  may be mounted in a folded state inside an airbag housing  210  located in the cockpit  100 . 
     An outer surface of the cockpit  100  includes an airbag door  300  capable of providing an opening of the KAB  200  when the KAB  200  is deployed. The airbag door  300  may be deployed in both directions or may include a door shape capable of being deployed in one direction. More preferably, an airbag door  300  integrally formed with the absorber  400  may be included. The airbag door  300  may be located on one surface of the cockpit  100  facing the occupant and may be formed to correspond to a position facing a knee and a shin of the occupant when the KAB  200  is deployed. 
     The KAB  200  of embodiments of the present disclosure may be deployed in response to a front collision and an impact of a vehicle, and when a front collision or an impact of the vehicle is applied, a controller of the vehicle may be formed to drive the inflator, thereby expanding the KAB  200 . 
     At least one end of both ends of the airbag door  300  is engaged with an inner side of the airbag housing  210  to prevent the airbag door  300  from being sheared when the KAB  200  is deployed. In addition, the airbag door  300  may be made of the same physical property as a guide part  500  to be extended when the KAB  200  is deployed. 
     The absorber  400  formed of one foam or two or more foams may be located at one end on which the KAB  200  is deployed.  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  illustrate an absorber  400  formed of one foam, and  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  illustrate an absorber  400  including a first foam  410  and a second foam  420 . 
     In a state in which the KAB  200  is mounted, the guide part  500  located between the airbag door  300  and the KAB  200  may be included. In addition, in a state in which the KAB  200  is deployed, the guide part  500  may be formed to surround a front surface of the absorber  400  and at least two of side surfaces of the absorber  400  and the KAB  200 . One end of the guide part  500  may be formed to be integrally fixed to the airbag housing  210  with one end of the KAB  200 , and the other end thereof may correspond to the other end of the KAB  200  and may be located and mounted inside the airbag housing  210  in a folded state. More preferably, the guide part  500  may be formed to surround an outer side of the KAB  200  and may be located to surround at least two side surfaces of the KAB  200 . 
     In addition, as shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , an outer surface of the absorber  400  formed of the first foam  410  and the second foam  420  is formed to be surrounded by the guide part  500 . More preferably, as shown in  FIG.  2 A , the first foam  410  and the second foam  420  are formed at adjacent locations in a state in which the KAB  200  is mounted, and as shown in  FIG.  2 B , when the KAB  200  is deployed, the first foam  410  and the second foam  420  are formed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Moreover, when the KAB  200  is deployed, it may be formed such that a portion of a front end of the KAB  200  is located at and inserted into a space between the first foam  410  and the second foam  420 . 
     As described above, in a state in which the KAB  200  is mounted, when a portion of the guide part  500  is maintained in a folded state between the first foam  410  and the second foam  420  and the KAB  200  is deployed, the guide part  500  is formed such that the portion of the guide part  500  located in the folded state between the first foam  410  and the second foam  420  is unfolded, and thus the first foam  410  and the second foam  420  are spaced apart from each other. 
     The guide part  500  may be made of a fabric tether, and more preferably, a nylon material. In addition, the guide part  500  is formed to cover the front surface of the absorber  400  facing the knee of the occupant, and one end of the guide part  500  is formed to be simultaneously fixed to one end of the KAB  200  inside the airbag housing  210 . 
     In addition, the guide part  500  is formed to extend between a front end of the absorber  400  and the airbag housing  210 , and thus the guide part  500  is formed to surround at least two side surfaces corresponding to each other among side surfaces of the KAB  200  and the absorber  400 . 
       FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  illustrate a configuration of the guide part  500  engaged with the deployed KAB  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  3 A , the guide part  500  is configured to surround side surfaces located above and below the deployed KAB  200  and the absorber  400  and to surround the front surface of the absorber  400 . 
     When the guide part  500  is formed to surround an upper surface and a lower surface of the deployed KAB  200 , since a vertical protruding amount of the KAB  200  and the absorber  400  which absorb an impact may be constant, it is possible to stably absorb impact energy applied in various knee shapes distributed in a vertical direction. In addition, according to the development of the KAB  200 , a structural feature capable of preventing the KAB  200  from sagging in a direction of gravity is included. 
     In comparison,  FIG.  3 B  illustrates a guide part  500  configured to surround left and right side surfaces of the deployed KAB  200  and the absorber  400  and surround the front surface of the absorber  400 . 
     Since the guide part  500  is configured to surround the left and right sides of the deployed KAB  200 , left and right protruding amounts of the KAB  200  and the absorber  400  may be set to be consistent. Therefore, a structure capable of stably absorbing a knee impact distributed in a left-right direction is provided. In addition, the above structure may provide an effect capable of minimizing a deviation in contact time between left and right knees and the absorber  400 . 
     That is, as shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , since the guide part  500  is formed to surround at least two side surfaces of the deployed KAB  200 , in response to an inclination of the cockpit loo and a shape of the cockpit loo, the protruding amounts of the KAB  200  and the absorber  400  may be controlled to appropriately distribute the impact applied to the knee of the occupant. 
       FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  illustrate a difference in folded amount between a first folding part  510  and a second folding part  520  of the guide part  500  according to an angle formed between the outermost surface of the cockpit loo and a horizontal plane. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4 A , the KAB  200  may be located in a folded state in a direction substantially parallel to the outer surface of the cockpit loo, and the guide part  500  may be located on the side surface of the KAB  200  so as to surround one deployed end of the KAB  200  in the folded state. 
     The guide part  500  may be located in a folded state on at least two different side surfaces of the KAB  200 . As described above, the guide pall  500  may be located to surround upper and lower surfaces or left and right side surfaces on the basis of the mounted KAB  200  and the front end thereof. 
     In addition, based on the horizontal plane of the vehicle, the cockpit  100  may be formed to have an angle that is smaller than a first reference value. As described above, in the case of the cockpit  100  formed at the angle that is smaller than the first reference value, when compared with the first folding part  510 , the second folding pall  520  may include a relatively large folded amount. 
     In addition, in a state in which the KAB  200  is mounted in the cockpit  100 , the first folding part  510  of the guide part  500  is located at a relatively upper end based on the cockpit  100 , and the second folding part  520  of the guide part  500  is located at a relatively lower end based on the cockpit  100 . 
     That is, in the case of the cockpit  100  formed at the angle that is smaller than the first reference value, since the KAB  200  is deployed at a height that is lower than a height of the knee when a number of folds of the second folding pall  520  is equal to a number of folds of the guide part  500  forming the first folding part  510 , the number of folds of the second folding part  520  is increased so that the KAB  200  may be controlled to be relatively deployed upward in a height direction of the vehicle. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4 B , a length of the guide part  500  in which the second folding part  520  is deployed is relatively longer than a length of the guide part  500  in which the first folding part  510  is deployed, and thus when the KAB  200  is deployed, the front surface of the absorber  400  may be deployed to a position that is relatively higher than one surface side facing the cockpit  100 . 
     When compared with  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B , in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , when the outer surface of the cockpit loo facing an interior of the vehicle is formed at an angle that is greater than the first reference value based on the horizontal plane of the vehicle, settings of folded amounts of the first folding part  510  and the second folding part  520  are illustrated. 
     When the cockpit loo is located at an angle that is greater than the first reference value based on the horizontal plane, the airbag door  300  located in the cockpit loo faces a position that is relatively higher than a position of the knee of the occupant. Therefore, the number of folds of the first folding part  510  of the guide part  500  is configured to be greater than the number of folds of the second folding part  520 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5 B , when the guide part  500  is deployed together with the KAB  200 , a deployed length of the guide part  500  in which the first folding part  510  is located is configured to be relatively greater than a deployed length of the guide part  500  in which the second folding part  520  is located. Accordingly, the KAB  200  is deployed to face a position that is relatively lower than an area facing the cockpit  100 . 
     As described above, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, since the number of folds of the first folding part  510  and the second folding part  520  are set and, when the KAB  200  is deployed, a position of the height direction in which the guide part  500  faces is set, the KAB  200  is configured to be deployed to a position substantially corresponding to the knee of the occupant. 
       FIG.  6 A  illustrates an airbag door integrally deployed with an airbag according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     The outermost surface of the KAB  200  being deployed is configured to be located in contact with the airbag door  300 , and in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the outermost side of the KAB  200  and the inner side of the airbag door  300  are fused and located. 
     More preferably, the airbag door  300  may be made of a thermoplastic olefin (TPO) material, and then when the KAB  200  is deployed, the airbag door  300  may be configured to perform the same function as the absorber  400 . 
     That is, the airbag door  300  may be made of a material which absorbs an impact when the KAB  200  is deployed, thereby being fused to and located at the outermost side surface of the KAB  200 . 
     In addition,  FIG.  6 B  illustrates a configuration of a deploy part  600  which is engaged with the airbag door  300  when the KAB  200  is deployed. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the deploy part  600  engaged with an inner surface of the airbag door  300  may be included, one end of the deploy part  600  may be located on both ends in the airbag door  300 , and thus the other end thereof may be fixed to and located on an inner side of the cockpit  100 . 
     Therefore, when the KAB  200  is deployed, the airbag door  300  is integrally deployed, and the deploy part  600  prevents the airbag door  300  from being separated so that the KAB  200  and the airbag door  300  may be integrally deployed. 
     In this case, the airbag door  300  may be made of a TPO material, and the deploy part  600  may be made of a nylon material so as to be contracted and located on an outer surface of the airbag housing  210 . 
     In addition, deployment heights and deployment lengths of the KAB  200  and the airbag door  300  may be set according to a length of the deploy part  600 . 
       FIG.  6 C  illustrates a configuration in which one end of the deploy part  600  made of a nylon material is fixed to one end of the airbag housing  210 , and the other end thereof is located to surround the other end of the airbag housing  210 . 
     Therefore, when the KAB  200  is deployed, the other end of the deploy part  600  configured to surround the KAB  200  and the airbag housing  210  is separated from the airbag housing  210 , and one end thereof is fixed to the airbag housing  210  so that a deployment direction and a deployment height of the KAB  200  may be controlled. 
     The deploy part  600  is formed to surround the KAB  200 , and when the KAB  200  is deployed, the deploy part  600  is formed to be deployed integrally with the KAB  200 . 
     An inner surface of the other end of the deploy part  600  formed to surround the airbag housing  210  may include one or more hooks to be fixed to the airbag housing  210 . 
     However, engagement of the deploy part  600  and the airbag housing  210  which are engaged through the hook is released in response to a deployment force of the KAB  200 , and the KAB  200  is formed to be deployed integrally with the deploy part  600 . 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a configuration of the KAB  200  including a first airbag  201  and a second airbag  202 . 
     The first airbag  201  located adjacent to an inner circumferential surface of the airbag housing  210  and the second airbag  202  located on an inner side of the first airbag  201  may be further included in the airbag housing  210 . 
     When the KAB  200  is deployed, the first airbag  201  is formed to be deployed from the airbag housing  210  to the interior of the vehicle and the second airbag  202  is formed to be deployed in a lengthwise direction of the airbag housing  210 . At the same time, a deployment force is applied to the second airbag  202  in a width direction to which the impact is applied. 
     More preferably, the first airbag  201  may be formed to be deployed in a direction of the interior of the vehicle, and the second airbag  202  may be formed to be deployed in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first airbag is deployed. 
     That is, the first airbag  201  and the second airbag  202  are formed to be simultaneously deployed based on the airbag housing  210 , the first airbag  201  is formed to be deployed in a lengthwise direction of the housing  210 , and the second airbag  202  is formed to be deployed in a width direction of the airbag housing  210 . The direction in which the second airbag  202  is deployed may be set in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the airbag housing  210 , and more preferably, the first airbag  201  and the second airbag  202  may each be deployed to have an angle which is set based on the side surface of the cockpit wo. In addition, the second airbag  202  may be formed to perform substantially the same function as the absorber  400 . 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure can obtain the following effects according to a combination of the above-described embodiments and a configuration, which has been described above, and a use relationship. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure have an effect of providing an apparatus for a KAB (knee airbag) which can be easily tuned through the apparatus for a KAB configured to have various deployment angles in a height direction of a cockpit. 
     In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure have an effect of providing an apparatus for a KAB capable of alleviating an impact applied to the knee through the apparatus for a KAB including an absorber located at a front end of an airbag. 
     In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure can provide an apparatus for a KAB capable of selectively changing a deployment direction in response to an angle formed by the cockpit and has an effect of providing the apparatus for a KAB which can be applied to various vehicles. 
     The foregoing detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure. Further, the foregoing is intended to illustrate and describe the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure may be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments. That is, it is possible to practice alternations or modifications without departing from the scope of the present disclosure disclosed in this specification, equivalents, and/or within the technical or knowledge scope in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. The described embodiments are intended to illustrate the best mode for carrying out the technical spirit of the present disclosure and various modifications can made in the specific applications and uses of the present disclosure. Therefore, the detailed description is not intended to limit the present disclosure as in the disclosed embodiments. Further, it should be construed that the appended claims are intended to other embodiments.