A knee protection airbag device is provided with an airbag, an inflator, an airbag cover, and an attachment base to be connected to a vehicle body side member. The airbag cover includes a door portion that allows forming of a protrusion-permitting opening when pushed by the airbag that inflates, a door disposition wall portion that covers a lower portion of the airbag in a folded state, and connecting wall portions that extend upward from front and rear edges of the door disposition wall portion and that are connected to the attachment base. The airbag cover defines an accommodating recess capable of accommodating the airbag that is formed by bending a portion of the recessed grooves for bending that are formed by performing press working on a sheet member made of a non-woven fabric.

An airbag system for restraining a lower body of a vehicle occupant during a collision event and a method for deploying the same are disclosed. The airbag system includes a panel and a restraining airbag. The panel defines a support surface that is adapted to be deployed from a first configuration to a second configuration responsive to the collision event. In the first configuration, the panel forms part of an instrument panel of a vehicle and, in the second configuration, the panel is at least partially separated from the instrument panel of the vehicle. The restraining airbag is adapted to be deployed adjacent to the support surface of the panel between the support surface and the lower body of the vehicle occupant responsive to the collision event.

An airbag system for restraining a lower body of a vehicle occupant during a collision event and a method for deploying the same are disclosed. The airbag system includes a panel and a restraining airbag. The panel defines a support surface that is adapted to be deployed from a first configuration to a second configuration responsive to the collision event. In the first configuration, the panel forms part of an instrument panel of a vehicle and, in the second configuration, the panel is at least partially separated from the instrument panel of the vehicle. The restraining airbag is adapted to be deployed adjacent to the support surface of the panel between the support surface and the lower body of the vehicle occupant responsive to the collision event.

A front structure of a vehicle cabin may include: an instrument panel arranged in front of a passenger seat; a crossbeam arranged in the instrument panel and connected to right and left sides of a vehicle body; and an airbag bracket fixed to the crossbeam inside the instrument panel and supporting an airbag for the passenger seat. The airbag bracket may extend rearward beyond the airbag and incline upward.

A front structure of a vehicle cabin may include: an instrument panel arranged in front of a passenger seat; a crossbeam arranged in the instrument panel and connected to right and left sides of a vehicle body; and an airbag bracket fixed to the crossbeam inside the instrument panel and supporting an airbag for the passenger seat. The airbag bracket may extend rearward beyond the airbag and incline upward.

A passenger protection apparatus for a vehicle includes a first airbag configured to deploy from a front part of the vehicle toward a passenger, a second airbag provided under the first airbag and configured to deploy toward the passenger, and a collision type detector configured to detect a collision or collision possibility of the vehicle and detect a collision type. The collision type detector detects a first type of collision and a second type of collision. The second airbag deploys in a first deployment configuration when the first type of collision is detected, and deploys in a second deployment configuration when the second type of collision is detected. The second airbag deployed in the second deployment configuration contacts an in-vehicle component provided in a vehicle compartment, and the second airbag in contact with the in-vehicle component guides the first airbag in a direction in which the collision load is applied.

A passenger protection apparatus for a vehicle includes a first airbag configured to deploy from a front part of the vehicle toward a passenger, a second airbag provided under the first airbag and configured to deploy toward the passenger, and a collision type detector configured to detect a collision or collision possibility of the vehicle and detect a collision type. The collision type detector detects a first type of collision and a second type of collision. The second airbag deploys in a first deployment configuration when the first type of collision is detected, and deploys in a second deployment configuration when the second type of collision is detected. The second airbag deployed in the second deployment configuration contacts an in-vehicle component provided in a vehicle compartment, and the second airbag in contact with the in-vehicle component guides the first airbag in a direction in which the collision load is applied.

A passenger protection apparatus for a vehicle includes first and second airbags, an airbag deployment device, a collision speed detector, a passenger's position detector, a seat moving unit, an airbag deployment determination unit, and a deployment controller. The first airbag is deployable in different sizes. The second airbag is deployable between the first airbag and vehicle equipment. The airbag deployment device deploys the airbags. The collision speed detector detects a collision or collision possibility of a vehicle, and calculates a collision speed. The passenger position detector detects a position of a passenger sitting on a seat. The seat moving unit moves the seat. The airbag deployment determination unit determines a size of the deployed first airbag. The deployment controller determines an amount of movement of the seat, causes the seat moving unit to move the seat, and causes the airbag deployment device to deploy the airbags.

A passenger protection apparatus for a vehicle includes first and second airbags, an airbag deployment device, a collision speed detector, a passenger's position detector, a seat moving unit, an airbag deployment determination unit, and a deployment controller. The first airbag is deployable in different sizes. The second airbag is deployable between the first airbag and vehicle equipment. The airbag deployment device deploys the airbags. The collision speed detector detects a collision or collision possibility of a vehicle, and calculates a collision speed. The passenger position detector detects a position of a passenger sitting on a seat. The seat moving unit moves the seat. The airbag deployment determination unit determines a size of the deployed first airbag. The deployment controller determines an amount of movement of the seat, causes the seat moving unit to move the seat, and causes the airbag deployment device to deploy the airbags.

A knee airbag device includes: an airbag case disposed at a lower face part of an instrument panel; a knee airbag accommodated within the airbag case in a folded state, the knee airbag inflating and deploying toward a vehicle rear side and a vehicle upper side upon being supplied with gas; and an airbag door part disposed at a vehicle lower side of the airbag case, the airbag door part having a substantially U-shaped rupture target part, the rupture target part is open toward a vehicle front side as seen in a plan view, at a portion, of a bottom wall part configuring a vehicle lower side face of the airbag door part, disposed rearward of an intermediate part of the airbag door part in a vehicle front-rear direction, and the portion of the bottom wall part disposed rearward of the intermediate part opening toward a vehicle lower side upon rupture of the rupture target part caused by inflation pressure of the knee airbag.