Patent ID: 7213840

Claim:
An occupant leg protection apparatus for protecting an occupant in a vehicle seat, comprising: an instrument panel disposed in front of the vehicle seat and having an outer layer movable toward the occupant and a base member arranged behind the outer layer, an airbag to be inflated in front of the vehicle seat and disposed between the outer layer and the base member of the instrument panel so that the airbag pushes the outer layer toward the occupant when the airbag is inflated, said airbag having a front panel contacting the outer layer and a rear panel contacting the base member, said front panel and rear panel being partially connected together in a middle area thereof to regulate a shape thereof when the airbag is inflated, and a gas generator for inflating the airbag, wherein said outer layer is flexible and deformable so that when the airbag is inflated, the outer layer is deformed along the front panel of the airbag to receive impact together with the airbag, wherein said outer layer includes sections so that the outer layer is divided into a plurality of pieces when the airbag is inflated.