A knee airbag module includes an inflatable knee airbag, an inflator for inflating the knee airbag, a housing for supporting the knee airbag and inflator, a cover for enclosing the knee airbag in the housing, and a deployment flap positioned beneath the cover. The housing includes an opening through which the knee airbag deploys. The deployment flap is connected to the housing and spans across at least a portion of the opening. The knee airbag has a width that extends laterally beyond the lateral extent of the housing when the airbag is deployed. The knee airbag also includes a central portion that spans the width of the housing when the knee airbag is deployed. The deployment flap is configured to initially inhibit deployment of the central portion of the knee airbag while remaining portions of the knee airbag initially deploy. The deployment flap is configured to thereafter rupture and permit deployment of the central portion.

The invention describes a vehicle occupant restraint system (2) comprising a control unit and at least two restraint elements (8, 10) for the protection of lower extremities (6, 6′, 7, 7′) in the area of a footwell (4) of a vehicle of a vehicle occupant seated in a particular vehicle seat of the vehicle, wherein a first restraint element (8) is configured as a knee airbag module (12), wherein a second restraint element (10) is provided for mounting into the footwell (4) of the vehicle, especially in an area of the footwell (4) of the vehicle arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) ahead of the knee airbag module (12), wherein, in a situation of restraint, the control unit can differentiate between different situations, wherein the control unit, in the situation of restraint, activates at least the first restraint element (8) and, depending on the given situation, additionally activates the second restraint element (10) and/or a partial element of the first restraint element (8) and/or a partial element of the second restraint element (10).

The invention describes a vehicle occupant restraint system (2) comprising a control unit and at least two restraint elements (8, 10) for the protection of lower extremities (6, 6′, 7, 7′) in the area of a footwell (4) of a vehicle of a vehicle occupant seated in a particular vehicle seat of the vehicle, wherein a first restraint element (8) is configured as a knee airbag module (12), wherein a second restraint element (10) is provided for mounting into the footwell (4) of the vehicle, especially in an area of the footwell (4) of the vehicle arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) ahead of the knee airbag module (12), wherein, in a situation of restraint, the control unit can differentiate between different situations, wherein the control unit, in the situation of restraint, activates at least the first restraint element (8) and, depending on the given situation, additionally activates the second restraint element (10) and/or a partial element of the first restraint element (8) and/or a partial element of the second restraint element (10).

A knee airbag is proposed. The knee airbag is configured to be applied to a slim-type cockpit design and to quickly restrain the knees of an occupant without increasing a package of an airbag cushion to reduce a risk of injuries to the occupant. The knee airbag includes an airbag housing provided at a lower end of a cockpit, and including an airbag cushion located toward an occupant, a cover assembled to the airbag housing in a shape of covering the airbag cushion, wherein in deployment of the airbag cushion, a lower portion of the cover is fixed to the airbag housing and an upper portion thereof is separated and opened from the airbag housing, and an opening limiting unit configured to limit an opening degree of the upper portion of the cover.

A knee airbag is proposed. The knee airbag is configured to be applied to a slim-type cockpit design and to quickly restrain the knees of an occupant without increasing a package of an airbag cushion to reduce a risk of injuries to the occupant. The knee airbag includes an airbag housing provided at a lower end of a cockpit, and including an airbag cushion located toward an occupant, a cover assembled to the airbag housing in a shape of covering the airbag cushion, wherein in deployment of the airbag cushion, a lower portion of the cover is fixed to the airbag housing and an upper portion thereof is separated and opened from the airbag housing, and an opening limiting unit configured to limit an opening degree of the upper portion of the cover.

A knee air bag reduces an injury to occupant's legs by employing a slim crash pad design. The air bag includes a first cushion that is deployed from an inner side of a crash pad toward an occupant to fill a space below the crash pad and a second cushion that is deployed between the first cushion and the occupant to support occupant's legs while being supported on the first cushion.

A vehicle includes an instrument panel reinforcement that extends in a vehicle width direction inside an instrument panel, a steering wheel located behind the instrument panel reinforcement, and an air duct that is disposed inside the instrument panel and passes between the instrument panel reinforcement and the steering wheel.

An embodiment apparatus for a knee airbag includes an airbag located inside a cockpit, the cockpit configured to be located in a front side of an interior of a vehicle, an airbag door disposed in the cockpit at a position facing an occupant knee area, the airbag door being configured to open when the airbag is deployed, an absorber located at a front end of the airbag, and a guide part surrounding at least two surfaces of the absorber and the airbag.

An embodiment apparatus for a knee airbag includes an airbag located inside a cockpit, the cockpit configured to be located in a front side of an interior of a vehicle, an airbag door disposed in the cockpit at a position facing an occupant knee area, the airbag door being configured to open when the airbag is deployed, an absorber located at a front end of the airbag, and a guide part surrounding at least two surfaces of the absorber and the airbag.

A heating apparatus has a heater body and a heater case. The heater body has a heat generator and emits heat supplied from the heat generator: The heat generator generates the heat when being energized. The heater case houses the heater body and is arranged on a side of an air-bag device for a vehicle adjacent to a vehicle compartment. The heater case is attached to an interior member located in the vehicle compartment or is a part of the interior member. The heater case has an expansion permissive portion that permits the air-bag device to expand into the vehicle compartment. The heat generator includes a portion located at a position corresponding to the expansion permissive portion. The heater body has a low strength portion that has a low strength as compared to the portion of the heat generator and that is located outside the expansion permissive portion.