US-12623626-B2 - Knee airbag apparatus

US12623626B2US 12623626 B2US12623626 B2US 12623626B2US-12623626-B2

Abstract

A knee airbag apparatus including an airbag cushion including a lower sheet portion, an upper sheet portion to overlap the lower sheet portion to form a cushion space together with the lower sheet portion, and a folded portion formed by folding the upper sheet portion so that portions of the upper sheet portion overlap partially, and an inflator to supply a gas to the cushion space so that the airbag cushion is deployed.

Inventors

Jeong Mo HEO

Assignees

HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20241204
Priority Date: 20240429

Claims (12)

1 . A knee airbag apparatus comprising: an airbag cushion comprising a lower sheet portion, an upper sheet portion configured to overlap the lower sheet portion to form a cushion space together with the lower sheet portion, and a folded portion formed by folding the upper sheet portion so that portions of the upper sheet portion overlap partially; an inflator configured to supply a gas to the cushion space so that the airbag cushion is deployed; and a mouth tether positioned in the cushion space closer to a first end than a second end of the airbag cushion and comprising a first end coupled to the folded portion, and a second end coupled to the lower sheet portion, wherein the mouth tether comprises: a first mouth tether; and a second mouth tether comprising a first end coupled to the folded portion together with a first end of the first mouth tether, and a second end coupled to the lower sheet portion at a position different from a position at which a second end of the first mouth tether is coupled to the lower sheet portion, wherein the folded portion comprises a pair of folded piece portions defining a gap therebetween, wherein the first end of the first mouth tether and the first end of the second mouth tether are fitted into the gap and sewn to the folded portion by a sewed portion, wherein the second end of the first mouth tether is positioned closer to the first end of the airbag cushion than the second end of the second mouth tether, and wherein a length from the first end to the second end of the second mouth tether is shorter than a length from the first end to the second end of the first mouth tether.
2 . The knee airbag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the airbag cushion is opposite to the first end of the airbag cushion in a longitudinal direction, the inflator is positioned in the cushion space closer to the first end than the second end of the airbag cushion, and the folded portion is positioned closer to the first end than the second end of the airbag cushion.
3 . The knee airbag apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising: a heat-resistant layer stacked on an inner surface of the first end of the airbag cushion.
4 . The knee airbag apparatus of claim 2 , wherein an end of the lower sheet portion that is coupled to an end of the upper sheet portion by a sewed portion is an end of the lower sheet that is farthest from the second end of the airbag cushion.
5 . The knee airbag apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first mouth tether is larger than a thickness of the second mouth tether.
6 . The knee airbag apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a center tether positioned between the second end of the airbag cushion and the mouth tether in the cushion space and having a first end coupled to the upper sheet portion, and a second end coupled to the lower sheet portion.
7 . The knee airbag apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an airbag housing defining an internal space in which the airbag cushion is accommodated in a folded state; and a hook tether comprising a first end coupled to the folded portion, and a second end configured to penetrate the airbag housing and connected to the airbag housing.
8 . The knee airbag apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the airbag housing comprises: a base connected to the hook tether; and a cover coupled to the base and configured to separate from the base when the airbag cushion is deployed.
9 . The knee airbag apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a cushion cover configured to block the deployment of the airbag cushion so that the airbag cushion is kept folded when gas is not supplied to the cushion space by the inflator.
10 . The knee airbag apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising: an airbag housing defining an internal space in which the airbag cushion is accommodated in a folded state, wherein the cushion cover comprises a first end coupled to an outer surface of the airbag cushion, and a second end coupled to the airbag housing, and wherein the cushion cover is disconnected or the second end of the cushion cover is separated from the airbag housing when the airbag cushion is deployed.
11 . The knee airbag apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a cushion flap comprising a first end coupled to the folded portion, and a second end that is a free end.
12 . The knee airbag apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a diffuser configured to surround the inflator and diffuse a gas discharged from a gas discharge port of the inflator.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority from and the benefit under 35 USC § 119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0056881, filed on Apr. 29, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference for all purposes. BACKGROUND FIELD Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a knee airbag apparatus, and more particularly, to a knee airbag apparatus configured to be deployed in an upward direction along an instrument panel. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART A knee airbag apparatus refers to an airbag apparatus in which an airbag cushion is deployed between an instrument panel and a passenger's knee to protect the passenger's knee. The knee airbag apparatus is installed in the instrument panel. In the event of a collision accident of a vehicle, the inside of the airbag cushion is filled with gas generated by an inflator, such that the airbag cushion may be deployed in an upward direction from a lower end of the instrument panel toward the passenger. The airbag cushion of the knee airbag apparatus needs to be deployed in the upward direction against gravity. However, in case that several additional components are added to implement the upward deployment, manufacturing costs may be increased, and assembling productivity may be degraded. In addition, because the weight of the knee airbag apparatus may be increased, an effect of improving an upward deployment force may not meet expectations. The background technology of the present disclosure is disclosed in Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2016-0129232 (published on Nov. 9, 2016, and entitled ‘Knee Airbag for Vehicle’). SUMMARY Various embodiments are directed to a knee airbag apparatus capable of improving an upward deployment force of an airbag cushion so that the airbag cushion is deployed in the upward direction along an instrument panel when the airbag cushion is deployed. A knee airbag apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: an airbag cushion including a lower sheet portion, an upper sheet portion configured to overlap the lower sheet portion to form a cushion space together with the lower sheet portion, and a folded portion formed by folding the upper sheet portion so that portions of the upper sheet portion overlap partially; and an inflator configured to supply a gas to the cushion space so that the airbag cushion is deployed. The airbag cushion may include a first end, and a second end opposite to the first end in a longitudinal direction, the inflator may be positioned in the cushion space closer to the first end than the second end of the airbag cushion, and the folded portion may be positioned closer to the first end than the second end of the airbag cushion. The knee airbag apparatus may further include: a heat-resistant layer stacked on an inner surface of the first end of the airbag cushion. The knee airbag apparatus may further include: a mouth tether positioned in the cushion space closer to the first end than the second end of the airbag cushion and including a first end coupled to the folded portion, and a second end coupled to the lower sheet portion. The mouth tether may include: a first mouth tether; and a second mouth tether including the first end coupled to the folded portion together with the first end of the first mouth tether, and the second end coupled to the lower sheet portion at a position different from a position at which the second end of the first mouth tether is coupled to the lower sheet portion, and the second end of the first mouth tether may be positioned closer to the first end of the airbag cushion than the second end of the second mouth tether. A length from the first end to the second end of the second mouth tether may be shorter than a length from the first end to the second end of the first mouth tether. A thickness of the first mouth tether may be larger than a thickness of the second mouth tether. The first end of the first mouth tether and the first end of the second mouth tether may be fitted into the folded portion and sewed and coupled together with the folded portion. The knee airbag apparatus may further include: an airbag housing defining an internal space in which the airbag cushion is accommodated in a folded state; and a hook tether including a first end coupled to the folded portion, and a second end configured to penetrate the airbag housing and connected to the airbag housing. The airbag housing may include: a base connected to the hook tether; and a cover coupled to the base and configured to separate from the base when the airbag cushion is deployed. The knee airbag apparatus may further include: a cushion cover configured to block the deployment of the airbag cushion so that the airbag cushion is kept folded when a gas is not supplied to the cushion space by the inflator. The knee airbag apparatus may further include: an airbag housing defining an internal space in whic