The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 13, 2005
Filed:
Jul. 05, 2001
Masahiro Takimoto, Aichi, JP;
Toru Koyama, Aichi, JP;
Masahiro Takimoto, Aichi, JP;
Toru Koyama, Aichi, JP;
Toyoda Gosei, Co., Ltd., Aichi-ken, JP;
Abstract
A knee protecting airbag device (M), wherein an airbag () covers the substantial lower surface () of a column cover () protruded to a driver side. Therefore, the airbag is minimized in the capacity without deteriorating the protection of the knee of the driver. As a result, it is possible to shorten the time period required for the airbag to complete the expansion and inflation. The airbag has a generally plate shape capable of covering at least the lower surface of the column cover when it completes the inflation. Even if the knee of the driver comes close to the column cover when the driver depresses a brake pedal or the like, the airbag being expanded and inflated is smoothly arranged in a narrow space between the knee of the driver and the column cover lower surface without interfering with the knee of the driver. With the knee protecting airbag device according to the present invention, therefore, the airbag is rapidly expanded and inflated in the narrow space between the column cover and the knee of the driver thereby to protect the knee of the driver properly.