Leg protection device for an occupant protection system of a vehicle

An occupant protection system for a vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle seat configured to move in a longitudinal direction from a normal position to a comfort position, wherein in the comfort position, the vehicle seat is displaced further away from a steering wheel of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction;
• a steering wheel airbag disposed in the steering wheel of the vehicle;
• a leg protection device comprising:
• an airbag module comprising a panel airbag and a gas generator configured to inflate the panel airbag to a deployed state, wherein the panel airbag is disposed in a footwell of the vehicle and in front of the vehicle seat when set in the deployed state,
• wherein the panel airbag comprises a first chamber and a second chamber fluidically connected to the first chamber, and the first chamber and the second chamber are each configured to be deployed in the footwell to protect an occupant of the vehicle when the panel airbag is set in the deployed state,
• wherein the first chamber is connected to the second chamber by a flexible connection region, and the flexible connection region is configured to divert the first chamber and the second chamber of the panel airbag along an object in any spatial direction when the panel airbag engages the object during deployment in the footwell so that the panel airbag is displaced to a position corresponding to a location of the object when set in the deployed state;
• and
• a crash sensor system configured to detect an impending vehicle impact or an occurrence of a vehicle impact,
• wherein if the vehicle seat is set in the normal position and the crash sensor system detects the impending vehicle impact or the occurrence of the vehicle impact, the leg protection device is configured to actuate the panel airbag in the deployed state and the steering wheel airbag is configured to be actuated in the deployed state,
• wherein if the vehicle seat is set in the comfort position and the crash sensor system detects the impending vehicle impact or the occurrence of the vehicle impact, the leg protection device is configured to actuate the panel airbag in the deployed state and the steering wheel airbag is configured not to be actuated in the deployed state.