A knee airbag configured to rapidly restrain the knees of a passenger and reduce the risk of injury to the passenger by changing a deployment angle of the airbag depending on a seated state of the passenger, the knee airbag including an airbag module coupled to a hinge structure inside a cockpit and configured to rotate around the hinge structure to change a deployment direction of a cushion, a driving unit configured to provide rotational force to the airbag module, and a controller configured to adjust a rotation angle of the airbag module by operating the driving unit based on the seated state of the passenger.

A knee airbag configured to rapidly restrain the knees of a passenger and reduce the risk of injury to the passenger by changing a deployment angle of the airbag depending on a seated state of the passenger, the knee airbag including an airbag module coupled to a hinge structure inside a cockpit and configured to rotate around the hinge structure to change a deployment direction of a cushion, a driving unit configured to provide rotational force to the airbag module, and a controller configured to adjust a rotation angle of the airbag module by operating the driving unit based on the seated state of the passenger.

A knee airbag having a first wall extending from an upper end and having a first outer surface serving as an impact surface being positioned opposite the knee-shin-area of an occupant to be protected when the airbag is fully deployed, and a second wall extending from a rear end adjacent or identical to the upper end of the first wall and having a second outer surface. The second wall comprises a first section, a second section and a groove section being positioned between the first section and the second section such that the second outer surface shows a groove. In order to make the knee airbag suitable for a vehicle that does not provide sufficient instrument panel surface to support it, the first wall and the first and second sections of the second wall enclose an angle between 20° and 80°, preferably between 30° and 60°.

A knee airbag having a first wall extending from an upper end and having a first outer surface serving as an impact surface being positioned opposite the knee-shin-area of an occupant to be protected when the airbag is fully deployed, and a second wall extending from a rear end adjacent or identical to the upper end of the first wall and having a second outer surface. The second wall comprises a first section, a second section and a groove section being positioned between the first section and the second section such that the second outer surface shows a groove. In order to make the knee airbag suitable for a vehicle that does not provide sufficient instrument panel surface to support it, the first wall and the first and second sections of the second wall enclose an angle between 20° and 80°, preferably between 30° and 60°.

A representative configuration of an airbag module including a folded or rolled airbag cushion, an inflator provided in the airbag cushion, and a case type housing for stowing the airbag cushion, wherein the housing is rectangular shaped in cross-sectional view and includes a first member forming at least one side wall of the rectangular shape, a second member that forms the remaining two or more side walls of the rectangular shape, and a rotational shaft connecting the first member and the second member enabling mutual relative rotation, and upon expansion and deployment of the airbag cushion, one of either the first member or second member rotates relative to the other around the rotational shaft causing the opening of an upper part of the case type housing to open up.

A knee protection airbag device includes an airbag, an inflator, an airbag cover, and an attachment base which holds those and is to be attached to a vehicle body member. The attachment base includes a holding seat which is disposed in front of a body portion of the inflator and a folded portion of the airbag, and holds the body portion and the airbag attached by a fastening bolt of the inflator, and attachment seats which are arranged on left and right sides of the holding seat and are attached to the vehicle body member. The airbag cover covers a vicinity of the airbag folded and the body portion of the inflator on a rear side of the attachment base, is attached to the attachment base due to the fastening bolt being fastened, and provides a projection opening on a bottom side of the airbag cover.

A knee protection airbag device includes an airbag, an inflator, an airbag cover, and an attachment base which holds those and is to be attached to a vehicle body member. The attachment base includes a holding seat which is disposed in front of a body portion of the inflator and a folded portion of the airbag, and holds the body portion and the airbag attached by a fastening bolt of the inflator, and attachment seats which are arranged on left and right sides of the holding seat and are attached to the vehicle body member. The airbag cover covers a vicinity of the airbag folded and the body portion of the inflator on a rear side of the attachment base, is attached to the attachment base due to the fastening bolt being fastened, and provides a projection opening on a bottom side of the airbag cover.

A support apparatus includes a gas-fillable support that is connectable to a gas generator. The gas-fillable support is securable to a body of a motor vehicle and has a first operating state which exists before the gas generator is activated and which has a first volume. The gas-fillable support has a second operating state which exists after the gas generator is activated and which has a second volume which is greater than the first volume. The gas-fillable support in the second operating state is contactable against a first portion which is operationally connected to the body and is contactable against a second portion which is operationally connected to the body and which is remote from the first end portion. A first mechanical strength of the gas-fillable support in the first operating state is less than a second mechanical strength of the gas-fillable support in the second operating state.

A support apparatus includes a gas-fillable support that is connectable to a gas generator. The gas-fillable support is securable to a body of a motor vehicle and has a first operating state which exists before the gas generator is activated and which has a first volume. The gas-fillable support has a second operating state which exists after the gas generator is activated and which has a second volume which is greater than the first volume. The gas-fillable support in the second operating state is contactable against a first portion which is operationally connected to the body and is contactable against a second portion which is operationally connected to the body and which is remote from the first end portion. A first mechanical strength of the gas-fillable support in the first operating state is less than a second mechanical strength of the gas-fillable support in the second operating state.

A knee airbag module comprising a housing (10) and a knee airbag is described. A first section of the knee airbag following from its first end is rolled into a first direction of rotation when the knee airbag is in its stowed state. In order to optimise the knee airbag for a mounting situation in which a gap is present between the vehicle rearward end of the housing and the lower end of the instrument panel, a second section of the knee airbag following the first section is rolled in a second direction of rotation, contrariwise to the first direction rotation, such that the stowed knee airbag comprises an at least partially rolled package comprising the first section being rolled to a first roll section (50) and the second section being rolled to a second roll section (52).