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 given situations, wherein the given situation can be determined via a vehicle seat position and parameters relating to vehicle occupants, wherein, in the situation of restraint, when a situation is given in which the vehicle seat (5) is in a position shifted backwards, especially in a position shifted backwards compared to the standard position, and the vehicle occupant is a short and/or light person, the control unit only activates the foot airbag module (16) 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).

Provided is an occupant's leg restraint device suitable for restraining the legs of an occupant when an automobile has an oblique collision or an offset barrier collision. The occupant's leg restraint device has an airbag and an inflator for supplying gas to the lower part of the airbag to inflate the airbag, and the airbag has a first panel on the occupant side and a second panel on the side opposite thereto. An upper part of the inside of the airbag is divided into small chambers by vertical separating panels that are joined to the first panel and the second panel and that extend vertically. In a state where the airbag has inflated, recessed portions having a depth of 20 to 40 mm are formed in the occupant-side surface of the airbag along the vertical separating panels.

An active bolster for a vehicle is provided, wherein the bolster comprises an expansible hollow interior that is inflatable and is self-supporting in both an inflated and in an uninflated position. The bolster has an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior. The bolster has an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow interior. The bolster may have a relatively non-expansible component located between a first expansible chamber and a second expansible chamber. The bolster may comprise an outer wall having an attachment portion for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the side of the vehicle.

The present disclosure relates to a leg protection device for an occupant protection system of a vehicle. The leg protection device includes an airbag module. The airbag module includes an airbag and a gas generator that inflates the airbag to a deployed state such that the airbag is disposed in the footwell and in front of a vehicle seat. The airbag includes a first chamber and a second chamber fluidically connected to the first chamber. The first chamber and the second chamber are deployed in the footwell to protect an occupant when the airbag is set in the deployed state. The first chamber is connected to the second chamber by a flexible connection region that diverts the airbag along the object in any spatial direction when the airbag encounters the object during deployment in the footwell.

An apparatus, system, and method for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision. The apparatus comprising an inflatable tube having a first and second end connected to the floor of the vehicle and a middle portion therebetween and an inflator that is actuatable to direct inflation fluid into the inflatable tube in response to a vehicle collision. The inflatable tube is configured to inflate and deploy from the vehicle floor in response to receiving inflation fluid from the inflator. The middle portion extends from the floor and forms an arch into which the lower legs and/or feet of the occupant can move into in response to a collision and be restrained.

A vehicle airbag control system has an airbag module, a detector and an electronic controller. The airbag module has an airbag that is configured to be positioned below a vehicle floor panel in an undeployed state. The airbag that is configured to be positioned to be above the vehicle floor panel in the deployed state. The detector is configured to detect a presence of an obstruction over the airbag module at a location above the vehicle floor panel. The electronic controller is programmed to deploy the airbag based on a detected result of the detector.

An apparatus, system, and method for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision. The apparatus comprising an inflatable tube having a first and second end connected to the floor of the vehicle and a middle portion therebetween and an inflator that is actuatable to direct inflation fluid into the inflatable tube in response to a vehicle collision. The inflatable tube is configured to inflate and deploy from the vehicle floor in response to receiving inflation fluid from the inflator. The middle portion extends from the floor and forms an arch into which the lower legs and/or feet of the occupant can move into in response to a collision and be restrained.

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 given situations, wherein the given situation can be determined via a vehicle seat position and parameters relating to vehicle occupants, wherein, in the situation of restraint, when a situation is given in which the vehicle seat (5) is in a position shifted backwards, especially in a position shifted backwards compared to the standard position, and the vehicle occupant is a short and/or light person, the control unit only activates the foot airbag module (16) of the second restraint element (10).

A vehicle airbag control system has an airbag module, a detector and an electronic controller. The airbag module has an airbag that is configured to be positioned below a vehicle floor panel in an undeployed state. The airbag that is configured to be positioned to be above the vehicle floor panel in the deployed state. The detector is configured to detect a presence of an obstruction over the airbag module at a location above the vehicle floor panel. The electronic controller is programmed to deploy the airbag based on a detected result of the detector.