Vehicle

Abstract

The invention provides a vehicle which is provided with a knee air bag at the lower part of a storage box, so that the vehicle is compact, the freedom degree of layout design is improved, and the expansion stability of the knee air bag can be ensured. A vehicle is provided with a knee airbag (113) disposed in front of a passenger seat. A knee airbag (113) is provided on the lower portion of the glove box (11). The glove box (11) is provided with a shell (111) which is fixed to an instrument panel through a plurality of supporting parts (111b, 111c) and defines a containing space. An instrument panel cross member (13) fixed to the vehicle body is disposed above the top wall (111d) of the housing (111). The top wall (111d) is provided with a displacement regulating wall part (111e) which is raised upwards compared with other parts of the top wall (111d) and is separated from the instrument panel cross beam (13) at a distance that can abut against the instrument panel cross beam when the knee airbag (113) is deployed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle having a knee airbag provided at a lower portion of a storage box on a passenger seat side. Background Art

[0002] Some vehicles are equipped with a knee airbag for protecting the knees of a passenger from impact during a collision. Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle in which the knee airbag is stored in a lower portion of a glove box.

[0003] In the vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1, the knee airbag is arranged at the lower part of the storage space of the glove box (storage box), and the knee airbag and the storage space are separated by a bottom plate. The outer plate provided on the passenger side of the glove box is provided with a breaking line, which allows the knee airbag to be deployed toward the inside of the cabin and to break in the event of a vehicle collision.

[0004] [Prior art literature] [Patent Literature] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4935646. Summary of the invention

[0005] [Technical problem to be solved by the invention] However, it is difficult to ensure the deployment stability of the knee airbag of Patent Document 1. Specifically, during the deployment of the knee airbag, the glove box is subjected to the deployment pressure and changes its posture. Therefore, the knee airbag deployed from the bottom of the glove box becomes unstable in the deployment direction together with the glove box.

[0006] In the case where the deployment stability of the knee airbag cannot be ensured as described above, it will be difficult to properly protect the knees of the occupant.

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems and aims to provide a vehicle which can achieve compactness and improve the degree of freedom of layout design by arranging a knee airbag under a storage box, and can ensure the deployment stability of the knee airbag.

[0008]

Technical means to solve technical problems

[0009] In the vehicle of this embodiment, the housing has a top wall covering the upper portion of the storage space and a plurality of support portions supported by the instrument panel. The top wall has a raised portion that is raised upward compared to other portions of the top wall and is spaced apart from the vehicle body fixing portion by a distance that allows the raised portion to abut against the vehicle body fixing portion when the knee airbag is deployed.

[0010] In the vehicle of the above embodiment, since the knee airbag is fixed to the lower part of the storage box, the periphery of the knee airbag can be made compact compared to the case where the knee airbag and the storage box are provided separately. In addition, a high degree of freedom in layout design of the periphery of the knee airbag can be ensured.

[0011] In a structure in which the knee airbag is fixed to the lower part of the storage box, when the knee airbag is deployed, the storage box will be subjected to a reaction force due to the deployment pressure of the knee airbag, and the posture of the storage box will change. In response to this, in the vehicle involved in the above-mentioned form, since the top wall in the shell has a raised portion, when the knee airbag is deployed, the raised portion abuts against the vehicle body fixing portion, thereby suppressing further changes in the posture of the storage box. That is, in the vehicle involved in the above-mentioned form, the raised portion of the top wall provided in the shell plays the role of a displacement limiting portion that limits the displacement of the storage box when the knee airbag is deployed. Therefore, in the vehicle involved in the above-mentioned form, a structure in which the knee airbag is fixed to the lower part of the storage box can be adopted to suppress the storage box from changing its posture when the knee airbag is deployed, and the deployment stability of the knee airbag can be ensured.

[0012] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the raised portion may be formed so as to be located on the front side with respect to the vehicle body fixing portion.

[0013] In the vehicle according to the above embodiment, the raised portion is formed to be located in front of the vehicle body fixing portion, thereby limiting the rearward displacement of the storage box when the knee airbag is deployed. Therefore, in the vehicle according to the above embodiment, when the knee airbag is deployed, the storage box, which is the starting point of the deployment, can be limited to be displaced toward the passenger side, and the deployment stability of the knee airbag can be ensured.

[0014] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, at least a part of the plurality of support portions may be arranged above and behind the knee airbag.

[0015] In the vehicle involved in the above-mentioned form, at least a part of the support portion in the shell is arranged on the upper side and the rear side of the knee airbag. Therefore, when the knee airbag is deployed and a reaction force is applied to the storage box toward the upper side, the shell rotates with the part of the support portion as a fulcrum, and the top wall is displaced toward the rear. In view of this, in the vehicle involved in the above-mentioned form, the raised portion is formed to be located in front of the vehicle body fixing portion, thereby limiting the displacement of the top wall toward the rear side. Therefore, in the vehicle involved in the above-mentioned form, when the knee airbag is deployed, it is helpful to suppress the change of the storage box posture and ensure the deployment stability of the knee airbag.

[0016] In the vehicle involved in the above-mentioned form, it can be designed that the raised portion is arranged at a position separated from the vehicle body fixing portion in a state before the knee airbag is deployed; when the shell is displaced due to the deployment of the knee airbag and abuts against the vehicle body fixing portion, the raised portion limits further displacement of the shell by the reaction force from the vehicle body fixing portion.

[0017] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the inflatable portion and the vehicle body fixing portion are arranged separately from each other before the knee airbag is deployed, so that the two can be prevented from contacting each other and generating noise while the vehicle is running.

[0018] Furthermore, although the noise generated during driving can be suppressed by firmly joining the inflation portion to the vehicle body fixing portion before the knee airbag is deployed, a member for joining the inflation portion and the vehicle body fixing portion is required, which increases the manufacturing cost.

[0019] In the vehicle involved in the above-mentioned form, it can be designed that the knee airbag has: a bag body, i.e., an airbag main body; a gas generator capable of supplying gas to the interior of the airbag main body; and an airbag cover covering the bottom of the airbag main body and opening at the rear when the airbag main body inflates.

[0020] In the vehicle involved in the above aspect, the knee airbag has an airbag cover that opens rearward when the airbag body inflates. By adopting the above scheme, the airbag body can be deployed toward the occupant side (rear side), which is conducive to reliably protecting the occupant.

[0021] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the airbag main body may be arranged on the upper side of the airbag cover and on the rear side of the gas generator.

[0022] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the airbag body is arranged on the rear side (passenger side) of the gas generator. Therefore, when the airbag body is inflated and deployed, the gas generator does not hinder the deployment, which is conducive to reliably protecting the passenger.

[0023] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the side wall of the housing may include a reinforcement portion, the reinforcement portion being formed to extend from a lower end portion to an upper end portion and for reinforcing the rigidity of the side wall.

[0024] In the vehicle of the above embodiment, the side wall of the housing has a reinforcement portion, so even if the knee airbag is subjected to a reaction force when it is deployed, the side wall of the housing can be prevented from being deformed or damaged. Therefore, in the vehicle of the above embodiment, it is more advantageous to ensure the deployment stability of the knee airbag.

[0025] [Effects of the invention] In the vehicle according to each of the above-described aspects, by arranging the knee airbag at the lower portion of the storage box, compactness can be achieved, the degree of freedom in layout design can be improved, and the deployment stability of the knee airbag can be ensured. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the vehicle according to the first embodiment, viewed forward from inside the cabin; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of the glove box; Figure 3 The oblique view of the appearance structure of the glove box; Figure 4 It is an oblique view of the appearance structure of the glove box; Figure 5 is an oblique view of a fixing structure for fixing a cross member of an instrument panel to a vehicle body; Figure 6 A side view showing the positional relationship of the displacement limiting wall portion relative to the instrument panel cross member; Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the function of the displacement limiting wall when the knee airbag is deployed; Figure 8 It is a perspective view showing the structure of a glove box in a vehicle according to a second embodiment; Fig. 9 (a) is a schematic diagram of the structure of a glove box in a vehicle according to a third embodiment, and (b) is a schematic diagram of the structure of a glove box in a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment; Fig.10 It is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a glove box in a vehicle according to a fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to any of the following embodiments except for the essential scheme.

[0028] [First embodiment] 1. Configuration of the glove box 11 use Figure 1 The arrangement form of the glove box 11 of the vehicle 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, in the vehicle 1, a dashboard 10 is provided at the front of the cabin, extending in the vehicle width direction from the driver's seat side portion 1a to the passenger seat side portion 1b. The dashboard 10 has a glove box (storage box) 11 at the passenger seat side portion 1b.

[0030] 2. Knee airbag 113 on the passenger seat side portion 1b use Figure 2 The structure of knee airbag 11 provided in passenger seat side portion 1 b of vehicle 1 will be described.

[0031] like Figure 2 As shown, the knee airbag 113 is fixed to the lower part of the housing 111 of the glove box 11. The housing 111 is used to define the storage space 11a of the glove box 11, and has an opening on the rear side (passenger side) for taking in and putting in luggage. The opening of the housing 111 is equipped with a box cover 112 that can be opened and closed.

[0032] The housing space 11a defined by the housing 111 is formed so that the front-rear length increases toward the upper part and decreases toward the lower part. Therefore, the box cover 112 is arranged so as to be located more rearward toward the upper part and more forward toward the lower part.

[0033] A knee airbag 113 is fixed to the lower portion of the housing 111. The knee airbag 113 protects the knees of a passenger sitting in a front passenger seat when the vehicle 1 collides. The knee airbag 113 includes a gas generator 1131 that releases gas when the vehicle 1 collides, an airbag body 1132 that expands and deploys due to the gas released by the gas generator 1131, and an airbag cover 1133 that covers the gas generator 1131 and the lower portion of the airbag body 1132.

[0034] Here, the airbag body 1132 and the gas generator 1131 are both located above the airbag cover 1133, and the airbag body 1132 is arranged on the rear side of the gas generator 1131. In addition, the hinge used for opening and closing the box cover 112 is arranged on the rear side of the airbag body 1132, but the detailed illustration is omitted.

[0035] When the vehicle 1 collides, the gas from the gas generator 1131 fills the bag body, that is, the airbag main body 1132 , and due to the expansion pressure, the rear side of the airbag cover 1133 opens with the cover hinge 1133 a on the front side as a fulcrum.

[0036] 3. Appearance structure of housing 111 use Figure 3 and Figure 4 The external appearance structure of the housing 111 of the glove box 11 will be described. Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the glove box 11 and its surrounding structures viewed from the right front. Figure 4 This is a perspective view of the glove box 11 and its surrounding structures as seen from the oblique left front.

[0037] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, two support portions 111b (support portion on the rear side of the vehicle) and 111c (support portion on the front side of the vehicle) are formed on the left and right side walls 111a of the housing 111. Each support portion 111b, 111c is formed so as to extend outward in the left-right direction. The glove box 11 is supported by the back side (front side) 10a of the instrument panel 10 using fastening members (bolts, rivets, etc.) 14 at the support portions 111b, 111c provided on the side walls 111a of the housing 111.

[0038] Furthermore, the support portion 111 c is supported by the rear surface 10 a of the instrument panel 10 via the bracket 100 .

[0039] Here, in the present embodiment, the support portion 111 b is disposed on the upper side and the rear side of the support portion 111 c on both the left and right side walls 111 a .

[0040] In addition, in this embodiment, these support parts 111b and 111c are supported by the instrument panel 10, but they can also be supported by the body structure around the instrument panel 10, or one of the support parts 111b and 111c can be supported by the body structure around the instrument panel 10.

[0041] An instrument panel cross member (vehicle body fixing portion) 13 extending in the left-right direction is arranged above the top wall 111 d of the housing 111. The instrument panel cross member 13 is a member that supports the instrument panel 10 and the like.

[0042] The top wall 111d of the housing 111 has: a fin-shaped displacement limiting rib 111f formed to protrude upward in a state where they are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction; and a plate-shaped displacement limiting wall 111e formed integrally with the displacement limiting rib 111f and extending in the left-right direction. The functions of the displacement limiting wall 111e and the displacement limiting rib 111f will be described below, but the displacement limiting wall 111e and the displacement limiting rib 111f of this embodiment are equivalent to the protrusion.

[0043] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the displacement restricting wall portion 111 e is disposed at a distance from the instrument panel cross member 13 and is located on the front side.

[0044] 4. Arrangement structure of instrument panel cross beam 13 use Figure 5 The arrangement structure of the instrument panel cross member 13 will be described.

[0045] like Figure 5 As shown, the instrument panel cross member 13 is a rod-shaped member extending in the left-right direction (the vehicle width direction). The instrument panel 10 is attached to the instrument panel cross member 13 .

[0046] The instrument panel cross member 13 is fixed to the vehicle body 15 below the front pillar 12 at both left and right ends. Figure 5 Although the left end of the dashboard cross member 13 is not shown in the figure, the left end is also fixed to the vehicle body 15 below the front pillar 12 in the same manner as the right end.

[0047] 5. Positional relationship between instrument panel cross beam 13 and housing 111 use Figure 6 The positional relationship between the instrument panel cross member 13 and the housing 111 in a normal state (a state where the vehicle 1 has not collided) will be described.

[0048] like Figure 6 As shown, the upper side surface of the top wall 111d of the housing 111 does not directly contact the instrument panel cross member 13 under normal circumstances but is arranged at a distance G1. The opposing surface (the surface facing the instrument panel cross member 13) 111g of the displacement limiting wall portion 111e also does not contact the instrument panel cross member 13 under normal circumstances but is arranged at a distance G2.

[0049] Here, the intervals G1 and G2 are set to be intervals at which the vibration generated by the running of the vehicle 1 in a normal state does not cause the instrument panel cross member 13 to abut against the top wall 111d and the displacement limiting wall portion 111e. Thus, in a normal state, the instrument panel cross member 13 can be suppressed from abutting against the top wall 111d and the displacement limiting wall portion 111e during the running of the vehicle 1, thereby suppressing the occurrence of collision noise.

[0050] In addition, although the collision sound during driving can be suppressed by fixing the top wall 111d and the displacement limiting wall 111e to the instrument panel cross member 13, in this case, the top wall 111d and the displacement limiting wall 111e need to be fixed to the instrument panel cross member 13, which increases the manufacturing cost. Therefore, it is preferable to space the top wall 111d and the displacement limiting wall 111e from the instrument panel cross member 13 with gaps G1 and G2 as in the present embodiment.

[0051] like Figure 6 As shown, the support portion 111b of the two support portions 111b and 111c provided on each side wall 111a is arranged behind the instrument panel cross member 13 and the support portion 111c and above the support portion 111c.

[0052] 6. Function of the displacement limiting wall portion 111e, etc. when the knee airbag 113 is deployed use Figure 7 The functions of displacement restricting wall portion 111 e and displacement restricting rib portion 111 f when knee airbag 113 is deployed will be described.

[0053] like Figure 7 As shown, when the vehicle 1 collides, the airbag body 1132 of the knee airbag 113 expands and deploys diagonally downward to the rear (arrow A1). Due to the expansion and deployment of the airbag body 1132, the housing 111 of the glove box 11 is subjected to a reaction force as shown by arrow A2. That is, the housing 111 is subjected to a reaction force that tends to lift the front portion of the housing 111 upward.

[0054] From the perspective of the vehicle width direction, the shape of the housing is a trapezoid: the bottom of the housing where the knee airbag 113 is arranged is shorter than the top wall 111d and is offset to the front of the vehicle, and the cover is tilted in a manner that the further it is to the upper side of the vehicle, the more the knee airbag is arranged to be offset to the front of the vehicle below the housing. Therefore, when the reaction force indicated by the arrow A2 acts, the housing 111 rotates around the rear half of the housing.

[0055] In addition, a vertical line L is drawn through the diameter center of the instrument panel cross member 13, and the support portion 111b is located behind the vertical line L, and the support portion 111c is located in front of the vertical line L. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the support portion 111b is directly supported by the instrument panel 10, while the support portion 111c is supported by the instrument panel 10 via the bracket 100. Therefore, when the reaction force indicated by the arrow A2 acts, the housing 111 rotates around the support point P1 of the support portion 111b. That is, the support point P2 of the support portion 111c is located directly above the knee airbag 113 and is therefore only an input point of the reaction force, while the support point P1 is arranged at a position separated from the knee airbag 113, so when the reaction force A2 is applied thereto, the housing 111 rotates around the support point P1 in a manner in which the front portion is lifted.

[0056] This action is more obvious especially when the shell is made of resin.

[0057] As described above, when the housing 111 is to be rotated, the front portion of the top wall 111 d of the housing 111 relative to the support portion P1 is to be displaced toward the rear as indicated by arrow A3 .

[0058] In this regard, the top wall 111d of the housing 111 is provided with a displacement limiting wall portion 111e, so that Figure 6At the time point when the gap G2 shown disappears (becomes "0"), the facing surface 111g of the displacement limiting wall portion 111e contacts the instrument panel cross member 13. As a result, the reaction force generated by the contact with the instrument panel cross member 13 is transmitted from the displacement limiting wall portion 111e to the entire housing 111 through the displacement limiting rib portion 111f. Therefore, when the airbag body 1132 is inflated and deployed, the posture of the housing 111 of the glove box 11 can be prevented from changing significantly. As a result, the posture change of the housing 111, which serves as a reference for the expansion and deployment of the airbag body 1132, is suppressed, and the deployment stability of the knee airbag 113 can be ensured.

[0059] 7. Technical Effects In the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment, the knee airbag 113 is fixed to the lower portion of the housing 111 of the glove box 11, so that the periphery of the knee airbag 113 can be made more compact compared to the case where the knee airbag 113 is provided separately from the glove box 11. In addition, a high degree of freedom in the layout design of the periphery of the knee airbag 113 can be ensured.

[0060] In addition, in a structure in which knee airbag 113 is fixed to the lower part of housing 111 of glove box 11, housing 111 is subjected to a reaction force due to the deployment pressure of knee airbag 113 when knee airbag 113 is deployed, and the posture of housing 111 tends to change. In view of this, in vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment, since top wall 111d of housing 111 has displacement limiting wall portion 111e and displacement limiting rib portion 111f, displacement limiting wall portion 111e and the like abut against instrument panel cross member 13 when knee airbag 113 is deployed, and further change in the posture of housing 111 is suppressed. That is, in vehicle 1, displacement limiting wall portion 111e and the like provided on top wall 111d of housing 111 limit displacement of housing 111 when knee airbag 113 is deployed. Therefore, in vehicle 1 , knee airbag 113 can be fixed to the lower portion of housing 111 of glove box 11 , and a posture change of housing 111 when knee airbag 113 is deployed can be suppressed, thereby ensuring deployment stability of knee airbag 113 .

[0061] Furthermore, in vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment, displacement limiting wall portion 111e is formed to be located on the front side of instrument panel cross member 13, thereby limiting the rearward displacement of housing 111 when knee airbag 113 is deployed. Thus, in vehicle 1, when knee airbag 113 is deployed, the housing, which is the starting point of the deployment, is suppressed from being displaced to the rear side (passenger side), and the deployment stability of knee airbag 113 can be ensured.

[0062] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment, the support portion 111b of the plurality of support portions 111b and 111c of the housing 111 is disposed above and behind the knee airbag 113. Therefore, when a reaction force is applied upward to the housing 111 when the knee airbag 113 is deployed, the housing 111 is rotated with the support portion 111b as a fulcrum, and the top wall 111d is displaced toward the rear. In view of this, in the vehicle 1, the displacement limiting wall portion 111e is formed to be located in front of the instrument panel cross member 13, thereby limiting the displacement of the top wall 111d toward the rear. Therefore, in the vehicle 1, when the knee airbag 113 is deployed, it is advantageous to suppress the change in the posture of the housing 111 of the glove box 11 and ensure the deployment stability of the knee airbag 113.

[0063] Furthermore, in vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment, displacement restricting wall portion 111 d is spaced apart from instrument panel cross member 13 before knee airbag 113 is deployed, so that the two can be prevented from contacting each other and generating noise while vehicle 1 is running.

[0064] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment, the knee airbag 113 has an airbag cover 1133 that opens rearward when the airbag body 1132 expands. By adopting the above scheme, the airbag body 1132 can be deployed toward the passenger side (rear side), which is beneficial for effectively protecting the passenger.

[0065] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment, the airbag body 1132 is arranged on the rear side (passenger side) of the gas generator 1131 , so when the airbag body 1132 is inflated and deployed, the gas generator 1131 does not hinder the deployment, which is conducive to effectively protecting the passengers.

[0066] As described above, in vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment, knee airbag 113 is disposed below housing 111 of glove box 11 , thereby achieving compactness and improving the degree of freedom in layout design, while ensuring deployment stability of knee airbag 113 .

[0067] [Second embodiment] use Figure 8 A vehicle according to the second embodiment will be described. Figure 8 Only the glove box 21 and the instrument panel cross member 13 are shown in the figure. The parts not shown in the figure have the same structure as that of the first embodiment.

[0068] like Figure 8As shown, the glove box 21 has a housing 211 defining a storage space and a box cover 212 that can open and close an opening on the rear side of the housing 211. A knee airbag 213 is fixed to the lower portion of the housing 211. The structure of the knee airbag 213 is the same as that of the knee airbag 113 of the first embodiment.

[0069] In addition, the top wall 211d of the housing 211 has: a fin-shaped displacement limiting rib 211f formed to protrude upward in a state where the rib 211f is spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction; and a plate-shaped displacement limiting wall 211e formed integrally with the displacement limiting rib 211f and extending in the left-right direction. The displacement limiting wall 211e and the displacement limiting rib 211f of this embodiment correspond to the protrusion.

[0070] The side walls 211a on the left and right sides of the housing 211 are provided with stepped portions (reinforced portions) 211h, which extend linearly from the position where the knee airbag 213 is fixed toward the position where the displacement limiting rib 211f stands. Figure 8 As shown in the enlarged cross-sectional portion of FIG. 2 , the step portion 211h connects the ends of the wall portions arranged staggered in the left-right direction at the front and rear thereof. By providing the step portion 211h extending linearly from the position where the knee airbag 213 is fixed toward the position where the displacement limiting rib portion 211f stands on the side wall 211a, the rigidity of the side wall 211a can be increased compared to the case where the step portion is not provided.

[0071] The vehicle according to this embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that a step portion 211 h is provided on the side wall 211 a of the housing 211 . Therefore, the same technical effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0072] Furthermore, in the vehicle according to the present embodiment, since the side wall 211a of the housing 211 is formed with the reinforcement portion 211h, even if the knee airbag 213 is subjected to a reaction force when it is deployed, the side wall 211a of the housing 211 is prevented from being deformed or damaged. Therefore, in the vehicle according to the present embodiment, it is more advantageous to ensure the deployment stability of the knee airbag 213.

[0073] [Third embodiment] use Fig. 9 (a) A vehicle according to a third embodiment will be described. Fig. 9 (a) Only the glove box 31 is shown in the figure. The parts not shown in the figure have the same structure as that of the first embodiment or the second embodiment.

[0074] like Fig. 9As shown in (a), the glove box 31 has a housing 311 that defines a storage space and a box cover 312 that can open and close an opening on the rear side of the housing 311. A knee airbag 313 is fixed to the lower part of the housing 311. The structure of the knee airbag 313 is the same as the knee airbag 113 of the first embodiment and the knee airbag 213 of the second embodiment.

[0075] The top wall 311d of the housing 311 has a high top 311i that bulges upward in front of the instrument panel cross member 13. The top wall 311d includes the high top 311i and a low top 311j that continues from the high top 311i and extends to the rear of the instrument panel cross member 13.

[0076] In the top wall 311 d of the housing 311 , the high top portion 311 i corresponds to a raised portion.

[0077] The top wall 311d of the housing 311 is arranged so that both the high top 311i and the low top 311j are spaced apart from the instrument panel cross member 13 in the normal state of the vehicle. The space between the high top 311i and the low top 311j and the instrument panel cross member 13 is the same as the space G1 and G2 in the first embodiment.

[0078] In the vehicle according to the present embodiment, the top wall 311d of the housing 311 has a high top 311i at the front, and the high top 311i functions as a raised portion. That is, even if the vehicle according to the present embodiment collides, the housing 311 tries to move to the rear side, but the high top 311i contacts the instrument panel cross member 13, thereby restricting the displacement of the housing 311. Therefore, the vehicle according to the present embodiment can ensure the deployment stability of the knee airbag 313 in the same manner as the first and second embodiments.

[0079] Furthermore, in the vehicle according to the present embodiment, since the front portion of the ceiling wall 311 d of the housing 311 of the glove box 31 is provided with the high top portion 311 i that bulges upward, the volume of the storage space of the glove box 31 can be greatly ensured.

[0080] [Fourth embodiment] use Fig. 9 (b) A vehicle according to a fourth embodiment will be described. Fig. 9 (b) Only the glove box 41 is shown in the figure. The parts not shown in the figure have the same structure as those of the first embodiment to the third embodiment described above.

[0081] like Fig. 9As shown in (b), the glove box 41 has a housing 411 defining a storage space and a box cover 412 that can open and close an opening on the rear side of the housing 411. A knee airbag 413 is fixed to the lower portion of the housing 411. The structure of the knee airbag 413 is the same as that of the knee airbag 113 of the first embodiment.

[0082] The top wall 411d of the housing 411 has a front high top 411i that bulges upward at a portion on the front side relative to the instrument panel cross beam 13, similarly to the third embodiment. In addition, the housing 411 of this embodiment has a rear high top 411j that bulges upward at a portion on the rear side relative to the instrument panel cross beam 13 of the top wall 411d. A recessed portion 411k is provided between the front high top 411i and the rear high top 411j, and the recessed portion 411k is recessed in a manner lower in height than the front high top 411i and the rear high top 411j so as to avoid the instrument panel cross beam 13.

[0083] The top wall 411d of the housing 411 is configured such that the high tops 411i and 411j are continuous with the recessed portion 411k. In addition, in the top wall 411d of the housing 411, the high tops 411i and 411j correspond to the raised portions, respectively.

[0084] The top wall 411d of the housing 411 is arranged so that the high tops 411i, 411j and the recessed portion 411k are spaced apart from the instrument panel cross member 13 in the normal state of the vehicle. The space between the high tops 411i, 411j and the recessed portion 411k and the instrument panel cross member 13 is the same as the space G1, G2 in the first embodiment.

[0085] In the vehicle according to the present embodiment, the top wall 411d of the housing 411 has a front high top 411i at the front and a rear high top 411j at the rear, and the high tops 411i and 411j function as ridges. That is, even if the vehicle according to the present embodiment collides, the housing 411 tries to move forward or backward, but the high tops 411i and 411j come into contact with the instrument panel cross member 13, thereby restricting the displacement of the housing 411. Therefore, the vehicle according to the present embodiment can ensure the deployment stability of the knee airbag 413 in the same manner as the first to third embodiments.

[0086] Furthermore, in the vehicle according to the present embodiment, since the high ceilings 411i and 411j are provided at the front and rear portions of the ceiling wall 411d of the housing 411 of the glove box 41, the volume of the storage space of the glove box 41 can be greatly ensured.

[0087] [Fifth embodiment] use Fig.10 A vehicle according to a fifth embodiment will be described. Fig.10Only the glove box 51 is shown in the figure. The parts not shown in the figure have the same structure as those of the first embodiment to the fourth embodiment.

[0088] like Fig.10 As shown, the glove box 51 has a shell 511 as an outer shell, an inner shell 514 as an inner shell, and a box cover 512 fixed to the inner shell 514 and capable of opening and closing the opening on the rear side of the shell 511 as shown by arrow B. A knee airbag 513 is fixed to the lower part of the shell 511. The structure of the knee airbag 513 is the same as that of the knee airbag 113 and the like of the first embodiment described above.

[0089] In the glove box 51 of the present embodiment, a top wall 511 d of a housing 511 constituting an outer shell is provided with a displacement restricting wall portion 511 e and a displacement restricting rib portion 511 f .

[0090] The vehicle according to this embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that an internal housing 514 is provided inside the housing 511 and the internal housing 514 can be opened and closed together with the tank cover 512. Therefore, the same technical effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0091] [Variation example] In the first to third embodiments and the fifth embodiment, the raised portion is provided on the front side of the vehicle body fixing portion (instrument panel cross member 13), and in the fourth embodiment, the raised portion is provided in front and behind the vehicle body fixing portion (instrument panel cross member 13), but the present invention may also provide the raised portion only on the rear side of the vehicle body fixing portion. That is, the formation position of the raised portion on the vehicle body fixing portion may be set according to how the housing is expected to change its posture when the knee airbag is deployed.

[0092] In the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the fifth embodiment, the ridge is formed by the displacement limiting wall portion 111e, 211e, 511e and the displacement limiting rib portion 111f, 211f, 511f formed integrally, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the ridge may be formed by only the wall portion extending upward, or by only one or more rib portions each erected upward.

[0093] Furthermore, the vehicle body fixing portion that the raised portion abuts against does not necessarily have to be the instrument panel cross member, and may be the instrument panel cross member, the instrument panel, or a part of the vehicle body structure.

[0094] In addition, in the first to fifth embodiments, the glove boxes 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 having the box covers 112, 212, 312, 412, 512 are used as examples of storage boxes, but the storage boxes in the present invention are not limited to glove boxes. For example, when the instrument panel is provided with a storage box different from the glove box, the same technical effects as above can be obtained by providing the knee airbag and the bulge in the storage box.

[0095] In addition, in the first to fifth embodiments, the structure in which the raised portion is integrally formed with the top wall of the housing is adopted, but in the present invention, the top wall of the housing and the raised portion may be separate structures fixed to each other. In this case, the same technical effect as above can also be obtained.

[0096]

Number Description

Claims

1. A vehicle having a knee airbag arranged in front of a passenger seat, characterized in that include: A storage box, provided in a front portion of the passenger seat in a dashboard extending in a vehicle width direction and having a shell defining a storage space; A vehicle body fixing portion, fixed to the vehicle body and arranged above the shell; The knee airbag is fixed to the lower part of the housing and can be deployed rearward and downward; The housing has a top wall covering the upper portion of the storage space and a plurality of support portions supported by the instrument panel; The top wall has a raised portion that is raised upward compared to other portions of the top wall and is spaced apart from the vehicle body fixing portion by a distance that allows the raised portion to abut against the vehicle body fixing portion when the knee airbag is deployed.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The raised portion is formed so as to be located on the front side with respect to the vehicle body fixing portion.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that: At least a part of the plurality of support portions is disposed above and behind the knee airbag.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The raised portion is arranged at a position separated from the vehicle body fixing portion in a state before the knee airbag is deployed; The raised portion restricts further displacement of the housing by a reaction force from the vehicle body fixing portion when the housing is displaced by the deployment of the knee airbag and abuts against the vehicle body fixing portion.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The knee airbag includes: a bag body, namely, an airbag main body; a gas generator capable of supplying gas to the interior of the airbag main body; and an airbag cover covering the lower side of the airbag main body and opening at the rear when the airbag main body is inflated.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that: The airbag main body is arranged on the upper side of the airbag cover and on the rear side of the gas generator.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The side wall of the housing has a reinforcement portion, which is formed to extend from a lower end portion to an upper end portion and is used to reinforce the rigidity of the side wall.

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