An inflatable knee airbag having a flexible housing is disclosed. An inflatable knee airbag may provide protection for the lower anatomy of an occupant in a vehicle collision event. The disclosed inflatable knee airbag may include components, such as the inflatable airbag cushion, inflator, etc., within a flexible housing supported by a rigid or semi-rigid mounting plate. The flexible housing may conform to the shape of enclosed components, and may support and protect the enclosed components. The flexible housing may be lighter and more cost-effective than conventional housing methods.

A knee airbag module of a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an outer housing (14) in which an airbag (20) folded into an airbag package prior to its deployment as well as an inflator (16) generating filling gas for filling the airbag (20) are accommodated. In the outer housing (14) an exit opening (22) is formed through which the airbag (20) leaves the outer housing (14) during deployment. The airbag (20) is subdivided into plural chambers (28a-28f) arranged in series and being in fluid communication. The chamber closest to the inflator (28a) is separated from an adjacent chamber (28b) by a wall (32) which in the inflated airbag (20) extends substantially in the area of the exit opening (22) along the exit opening (22).

A knee airbag module of a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an outer housing (14) in which an airbag (20) folded into an airbag package prior to its deployment as well as an inflator (16) generating filling gas for filling the airbag (20) are accommodated. In the outer housing (14) an exit opening (22) is formed through which the airbag (20) leaves the outer housing (14) during deployment. The airbag (20) is subdivided into plural chambers (28a-28f) arranged in series and being in fluid communication. The chamber closest to the inflator (28a) is separated from an adjacent chamber (28b) by a wall (32) which in the inflated airbag (20) extends substantially in the area of the exit opening (22) along the exit opening (22).

A knee protection airbag device includes: an airbag that is folded and stored; an inflator configured to supply inflation gas to the airbag; a case that stores the airbag and the inflator; and an airbag cover covering the folded airbag. The airbag cover includes a door portion that covers a protruding opening and can be opened when the airbag is deployed and inflated, and is attached to a peripheral wall portion of the case around the door portion. A recessed groove through which a harness main body can be inserted is formed at a portion of a peripheral edge of the protruding opening in the case so as to recess an end edge of the peripheral wall portion. A bead for reinforcement at a peripheral edge portion of the recessed groove is formed on the peripheral wall portion so as to surround a periphery of the recessed groove.

An airbag device includes an airbag, an airbag case that is made from metal and includes a base wall and a tubular wall, and an airbag cover that is made from synthetic resin and includes a covering wall and a joint wall. The case and cover are coupled together by insertion of hooks of the tubular wall of the case into joint holes of the joint wall of the cover. An approximation-limiting region suppresses the cover as coupled with the case from moving further towards the base wall of the case, and a separation-limiting region suppresses the cover as coupled with the case from moving further away from the base wall of the case. The approximation-limiting region includes an abutment region and a receiving region engageable with the abutment region. The separation-limiting region includes a retaining hole and a projection engageable with an inner surface of the retaining hole.

An airbag device includes an airbag, an airbag case that is made from metal and includes a base wall and a tubular wall, and an airbag cover that is made from synthetic resin and includes a covering wall and a joint wall. The case and cover are coupled together by insertion of hooks of the tubular wall of the case into joint holes of the joint wall of the cover. An approximation-limiting region suppresses the cover as coupled with the case from moving further towards the base wall of the case, and a separation-limiting region suppresses the cover as coupled with the case from moving further away from the base wall of the case. The approximation-limiting region includes an abutment region and a receiving region engageable with the abutment region. The separation-limiting region includes a retaining hole and a projection engageable with an inner surface of the retaining hole.

A knee airbag for vehicles is provided. The knee airbag includes a lower crash pad that has a panel shape to block a steering column to prevent exposure of the steering column to an indoor space of a vehicle, and includes a housing unit having recesses dented toward the steering column such that the housing unit is spaced apart from the steering column by a designated distance. An airbag module of the knee airbag includes an inflator and a cushion and contained in the housing unit of the lower crash pad to deploy the cushion toward a driver's knee outside the lower crash pad when the cushion is deployed by explosion of the inflator.

A clip assembly for holding a component during a vehicle assembly/disassembly process. This clip assembly includes a clip structure coupled to one of a component and an associated structure of a vehicle and a corresponding receptacle structure manufactured into the other of the component and the associated structure of the vehicle. When the clip structure is engaged with the corresponding receptacle structure, the clip assembly holds the component with respect to the associated structure along three (orthogonal) axes, preventing translation of the component with respect to the associated structure in one or both directions along each axis. Along one of the axes, the engagement of the clip structure with the corresponding receptacle structure can be overcome by the application of a sufficiently high force to the component, thereby disengaging the clip structure from the corresponding receptacle structure and the component from the associated structure.

An airbag device includes an airbag, an inflator and an attachment base. The airbag includes a body portion, and an inflow port portion, into which the distal end side of the inflator is inserted. The attachment base includes a holding plate portion including a pressing portion and a support portion that are provided at positions displaced around an axial center of the inflator so as to surround a periphery of the inflow port portion into which the distal end side of the inflator is inserted. The pressing portion is plastically deformable so as to approach a side of the support portion by being crimped, and the distal end side of the inflator inserted between the pressing portion and the support portion and the inflow port portion are sandwiched between the crimped pressing portion and the support portion, and are held by the attachment base.

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.