Granted Patent B2

US 7,380,823 · App. 11/063,875 · Granted Jun 3, 2008

Abstract

Claims (20)

1. A knee-bag to be inflated in front of an occupant leg, comprising:

a first member facing the occupant,

a second member facing the first member, and

a tether provided in the knee-bag for connecting the first member and the second member, said tether extending in a lateral direction and having end portions in a thickness direction of the knee-bag, a middle portion between the end portions in the thickness direction, and lateral ends in the lateral direction, said middle portion having a width between the lateral ends in the lateral direction less than each of widths between the lateral ends at the end portions so that airflow spaces are formed between a left end of the tether and a left side of the knee-bag and between a right end of the tether and a right side of the knee-bag,

wherein each of said lateral ends of the tether is dented at the middle portion inwardly in the lateral direction.

2. An occupant leg protection apparatus comprising the knee-bag according to claim 1 and an inflator for inflating the airbag.

3. A knee-bag according to claim 1 , further comprising a second tether disposed adjacent to said tether with a space therebetween and having a middle and end portions substantially same as those of said tether.

4. A knee-bag according to claim 3 , further comprising a uniform width portion, and a narrow portion extending downwardly from the uniform width portion to have a width gradually decreased, said tether being located at a portion between the uniform width portion and the narrow portion.

5. A knee-bag according to claim 4 , wherein said second member includes an opening for an inflator at a lower portion of the narrow portion, said second tether being located between the opening and said tether.

6. A knee-bag according to claim 5 , further comprising a diffuser situated inside the narrow portion for covering the opening.

7. A knee-bag to be inflated in front of an occupant leg, comprising:

a first member facing the occupant,

a second member facing the first member, and

a tether provided in the knee-bag for connecting the first member and the second member, said tether extending in a lateral direction and having a middle portion and end portions in a thickness direction of the knee-bag, said middle portion having a width in the lateral direction less than those of the end portions so that air-flow spaces are formed between a left end of the tether and a left side of the knee-bag and between a right end of the tether and a right side of the knee-bag,

wherein said tether includes lateral ends, each lateral end forming an inwardly curved portion to form one air-flow space in a generally circular shape.

8. A knee-bag according to claim 7 , further comprising a second tether disposed adjacent to said tether with a space therebetween and having a middle and end portions substantially same as those of said tether.

9. A knee-bag according to claim 8 , further comprising a uniform width portion, and a narrow portion extending downwardly from the uniform width portion to have a width gradually decreased, said tether being located at a portion between the uniform width portion and the narrow portion.

10. A knee-bag according to claim 9 , wherein said second member includes an opening for an inflator at a lower portion of the narrow portion, said second tether being located between the opening and said tether.

11. A knee-bag according to claim 10 , further comprising a diffuser situated inside the narrow portion for covering the opening.

12. An occupant leg protection apparatus comprising the knee-bag according to claim 7 and an inflator for inflating the airbag.

Assignments (9)