Patent ID: 7658404

Claim:
An instrument panel structure with an airbag unit provided at a front end portion in a vehicle cabin, comprising: a difference-in-level portion formed on an upper face portion of an instrument panel and located below a windshield at substantially a central portion of the upper face portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction; a rear portion of the upper face portion located in back of the difference-in-level portion and at a lower level than a front portion of the upper face portion located in front of the difference-in-level portion; the airbag unit including an inflatable airbag provided inside the rear portion of the upper face portion at a location adjacent to the difference-in-level portion; a lid portion formed on the rear portion of the upper face portion at a portion corresponding to the airbag unit, the lid portion being partitioned by a tear line with a groove formed on an inside face of the rear portion of the upper face portion and being opened when the tear line is torn by an inflation pressure of the airbag; the airbag being inflatable to an exterior of the instrument panel through an opening formed with the lid portion opening; a frame portion attached to the inside face of the rear portion of the upper face portion, the frame portion enclosing an inflation space of the airbag between the airbag unit and the lid portion; the lid portion being connected to the frame portion via a hinge member at a front end portion of the lid portion, the lid portion being openable substantially forward around the hinge member; and the hinge member being a deformable material and including a substantially U-shaped curved shape open towards a portion of the tear line and having a length configured such that the hinge member expands substantially straight from the curved shape upon receiving the inflation pressure of the airbag during an opening of the lid portion in such a manner that an extent of the hinge member increases, the front portion of the upper face portion of the instrument panel includes an end portion located above said U-shaped curved shape of the hinge member in the vehicle longitudinal direction, wherein the lid portion is openable beyond the difference-in-level portion to a position where the lid portion is substantially located on the front portion of the upper face portion of the instrument panel when the airbag is inflated to a maximum opening state thereof.