An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to be mounted to a support structure of the vehicle. The airbag is inflatable to deploy from a stored condition away from the support structure toward a vehicle seat in which the occupant is seated to one of a first deployed condition in which the airbag is configured for a non-reclined condition of the vehicle seat, and a second deployed condition in which the airbag is configured for a reclined condition of the vehicle seat. The airbag is configured to deploy to the first deployed condition in response to determining a non-reclined condition of the vehicle seat and to the second deployed condition in response to determining a reclined condition of the vehicle seat.

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to be mounted to a support structure of the vehicle. The airbag is inflatable to deploy from a stored condition away from the support structure toward a vehicle seat in which the occupant is seated to one of a first deployed condition in which the airbag is configured for a non-reclined condition of the vehicle seat, and a second deployed condition in which the airbag is configured for a reclined condition of the vehicle seat. The airbag is configured to deploy to the first deployed condition in response to determining a non-reclined condition of the vehicle seat and to the second deployed condition in response to determining a reclined condition of the vehicle seat.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 knee airbag apparatus including a housing part that is formed such that one side thereof is open, a cover part covering the open portion of the housing part, a cushion part that is accommodated in a folded state inside the housing part and connected to an inflator, and a flap part surrounding the folded cushion part on a side of the cover part, and blocking a gap between the housing part and a lower panel of a vehicle to substantially prevent the cushion part from being caught by the lower panel when the cushion part is deployed.

A knee airbag apparatus including a housing part that is formed such that one side thereof is open, a cover part covering the open portion of the housing part, a cushion part that is accommodated in a folded state inside the housing part and connected to an inflator, and a flap part surrounding the folded cushion part on a side of the cover part, and blocking a gap between the housing part and a lower panel of a vehicle to substantially prevent the cushion part from being caught by the lower panel when the cushion part is deployed.