Knee airbag device and connecting method thereof
AssigneesToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
InventorsOsamu Fukawatase, Kenji Imamura, Akiyoshi Sanada, Yuichi Adachi, Kazuaki Bito
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A knee airbag device includes a column cover that covers a rear end portion of a steering column from below; and an airbag module. The airbag module is disposed in a column lower cover and includes a gas generation portion that generates gas and a knee airbag that is housed in the airbag module in a folded state, and is inflated and deployed by the gas supplied by the gas generation portion. The airbag module is connected to the steering column by a snap-fit action.
Claims20
A knee airbag device, comprising:
- a column lower cover that covers a rear end portion of a steering column from below;
- an airbag module disposed inside the column lower over when the airbag module is connected to the steering column, the airbag module including a gas generation portion that generates gas when the gas generation portion is operated, and a knee airbag that is housed in the airbag module in a folded state and is inflated and deployed by the gas supplied from the gas generation portion;
- and
- a bracket that includes at least one nail portion and at least one urging member, the at least one urging member being capable of temporarily engaging the at least one nail portion, and
- the bracket is attached to a rear end portion of the steering column, wherein,
- the airbag module is moved toward the steering column from below and is fitted to the bracket by a snap-fit action.
A method of connecting a knee airbag device, comprising:
- attaching a bracket to a rear end portion of a steering column, the bracket includes at least one nail portion and at least one urging member, the at least one urging member being configured to temporarily engage the at least one nail portion by way of a snap-fit mechanical engagement;
- moving an airbag module toward the steering column from below;
- and
- snap-fitting the airbag module to the bracket so that the airbag module is disposed below the steering column, wherein the airbag module includes a gas generation portion that generates gas when the gas generation portion is operated, a knee airbag that is housed in the airbag module in a folded state and is inflated and deployed by the gas supplied from the gas generation portion, and an airbag door that is opened downward in a vehicle-height direction toward a rear of a vehicle by an inflation pressure of the knee airbag;
- and
- fixing a column lower cover, which covers the rear end portion of the steering column from below, below the airbag module in a manner such that a peripheral portion of the airbag door is partially covered by a peripheral edge portion around an opening portion formed in a lower surface of the column lower cover, and fixing a column upper cover, which covers the rear end portion of the steering column from above, above the steering column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.