Vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle that can secure deployment stability of a knee airbag while intending to achieve compact formation and an improvement in flexibility of layout design by disposing the knee airbag in a lower portion of a storage box.SOLUTION: The vehicle includes a knee airbag 113 arranged in front of a front passenger seat. The knee airbag 113 is provided in a lower portion of a glove compartment 11. The glove compartment 11 has a housing 111 fixed to an instrument panel with a plurality of support portions 111b, 111c and defining a storage space. An instrument panel member 13 fixed to a vehicle body is placed above a ceiling wall 111d of the housing 111. The ceiling wall 111d has a displacement regulation wall portion 111e that bulges upward relative to other portions of the ceiling wall 111d and arranged separately at a distance so as to abut on the instrument panel member 13 when the knee airbag 113 is deployed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle equipped with a knee airbag under a storage box on the passenger seat side. [Background technology]

[0002] Some vehicles are equipped with a knee airbag that protects the knees of occupants from impact during a collision. The vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which the knee airbag is stored under the glove box.

[0003] In the vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1, the knee airbag is disposed in the lower part of a storage space in a glove box (storage box), and is separated from the storage space by a bottom panel. Also, the outer panel disposed on the occupant side of the glove box is provided with a rupture line that ruptures so that the knee airbag can be deployed inside the vehicle cabin in the event of a vehicle collision, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4935646 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, it is considered difficult to ensure stable deployment of the knee airbag of Patent Document 1 when the knee airbag is deployed. Specifically, when the knee airbag is deployed, the deployment pressure is applied to the glove box, which may change its position. For this reason, the deployment direction of the knee airbag deployed from the bottom of the glove box becomes unstable together with the glove box.

[0006] If the deployment stability of the knee airbag cannot be ensured as described above, it becomes difficult to adequately protect the knees of the occupant.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a vehicle in which the knee airbag can be arranged at the bottom of a storage box to achieve compactness and improved freedom in layout design while ensuring stable deployment of the knee airbag. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention is a vehicle equipped with a knee airbag disposed in front of a passenger seat, and includes a storage box, a vehicle body fixing part, and a knee airbag. The storage box is provided in a portion of an instrument panel extending in the vehicle width direction in front of the passenger seat and has a housing that defines a storage space. The vehicle body fixing part is fixed to the vehicle body and is disposed above the housing. The knee airbag is fixed to a lower part of the housing and is deployable toward the rear and downward.

[0009] In the vehicle according to this aspect, the housing has a ceiling wall covering an upper portion of the storage space and a plurality of support parts supported by the instrument panel, and the ceiling wall has a bulging part that bulges upward compared to other parts of the ceiling wall and is spaced from the vehicle body fixing part by a distance that allows the knee airbag to come into contact with the vehicle body fixing part when the knee airbag is deployed.

[0010] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, since the knee airbag is fixed to the lower part of the storage box, the area around the knee airbag can be made more compact than when the knee airbag is provided at a distance from the storage box. Also, a high degree of freedom in the layout design around the knee airbag can be ensured.

[0011] In a structure in which a knee airbag is fixed to the bottom of a storage box, when the knee airbag deploys, a reaction force is applied to the storage box due to the deployment pressure of the knee airbag, and the posture of the storage box tends to change. In contrast, in the vehicle according to the above aspect, since the ceiling wall of the housing has a bulging portion, when the knee airbag deploys, the bulging portion abuts against the vehicle body fixed portion, suppressing further posture change of the storage box. That is, in the vehicle according to the above aspect, the bulging portion provided on the ceiling wall of the housing functions as a displacement restriction portion that restricts displacement of the storage box when the knee airbag deploys. Thus, in the vehicle according to the above aspect, while adopting a configuration in which the knee airbag is fixed to the bottom of the storage box, posture change of the storage box when the knee airbag deploys is suppressed, and deployment stability of the knee airbag can be ensured.

[0012] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the bulge portion may be formed so as to be located forward of the vehicle body fixing portion.

[0013] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the bulge is formed to be located forward of the vehicle body fixing part, so that the rearward displacement of the storage box when the knee airbag is deployed is restricted. As a result, in the vehicle according to the above aspect, the storage box, which is the starting point of the deployment of the knee airbag, can be restricted from displacing toward the occupant when the knee airbag is deployed, and the deployment stability of the knee airbag can be ensured.

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

[0015] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, at least a portion of the support portion of the housing is disposed above and rearward of the knee airbag, so that if an upward reaction force is applied to the storage box when the knee airbag is deployed, the housing rotates about the support portion as a fulcrum, and the ceiling wall tends to displace rearward. In contrast, in the vehicle according to the above aspect, the bulge portion is formed to be located forward of the vehicle body fixing portion, so that the ceiling wall is restricted from displacing rearward. Thus, in the vehicle according to the above aspect, change in the posture of the storage box is suppressed when the knee airbag is deployed, which is advantageous in ensuring the deployment stability of the knee airbag.

[0016] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the bulge portion may be positioned at a position spaced apart from the vehicle body fixing portion before the knee airbag is deployed, and when the bulge portion abuts against the vehicle body fixing portion due to displacement of the housing accompanying deployment of the knee airbag, further displacement of the housing may be restricted by a reaction force from the vehicle body fixing portion.

[0017] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, before the knee airbag is deployed, the inflation portion is positioned away from the vehicle body fixing portion, thereby suppressing noise caused by contact with each other while the vehicle is moving.

[0018] It should be noted that noise generation during driving can also be suppressed by attaching the expansion portion to the vehicle body fixing portion so that it does not rattle before the knee airbag is deployed. However, in this case, a component is required to join the expansion portion to the vehicle body fixing portion, which will increase manufacturing costs.

[0019] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the knee airbag may have an airbag body which is a bag body, an inflator capable of supplying gas to the inside of the airbag body, and an airbag lid which covers a lower part of the airbag body and opens at a rear portion when the airbag body is inflated.

[0020] In the vehicle of the above-mentioned aspect, the knee airbag has an airbag lid whose rear opens when the airbag body is inflated, allowing the airbag body to be deployed toward the occupant (rearward), which is advantageous in ensuring the protection of the occupant.

[0021] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the airbag body may be disposed above the airbag lid and rearward of the inflator.

[0022] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the airbag body is positioned rearward (toward the occupant) from the inflator, so that when the airbag body inflates and deploys, the deployment is not hindered by the inflator, which is advantageous in ensuring reliable protection of the occupant.

[0023] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the side wall of the housing may have a reinforcing portion that is formed to extend from the lower end toward the upper end and that reinforces the rigidity of the side wall.

[0024] In the vehicle according to the above aspect, the side wall of the housing has a reinforcing portion, so that even if a reaction force is applied when the knee airbag is deployed, the side wall of the housing can be prevented from being deformed or damaged. Therefore, the vehicle according to the above aspect is further advantageous in terms of ensuring the deployment stability of the knee airbag. Effect of the Invention

[0025] In the vehicles according to each of the above aspects, by disposing the knee airbag below the storage box, it is possible to achieve compactness and improved freedom in layout design while ensuring stable deployment of the knee airbag. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle according to a first embodiment, viewed from the vehicle interior toward the front. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a glove box. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a glove box. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of a glove box. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fixing structure of an instrument panel member to a vehicle body. [Figure 6] 11 is a side view showing a positional relationship of a displacement restricting wall portion with respect to an instrument panel member. FIG. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating a role played by a displacement restriction wall portion when a knee airbag is deployed. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a glove box in a vehicle according to a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10(a) is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a glove box in a vehicle according to a third embodiment, and FIG. 10(b) is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a glove box in a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a glove box in a vehicle according to a fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely illustrative of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments except for the essential configuration.

[0028] [First embodiment] 1. Location of the glove box 11 The arrangement of the glove box 11 in the vehicle 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0029] 1, an instrument panel 10 is provided in the front of the passenger compartment of a vehicle 1 so as to extend in the vehicle width direction from a driver's seat side portion 1a to a passenger seat side portion 1b. The instrument panel 10 includes a glove box (storage box) 11 in the passenger seat side portion 1b.

[0030] 2. Knee airbag 113 in passenger side section 1b The configuration of knee airbag 11 disposed in passenger seat side portion 1b of vehicle 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0031] 2, knee airbag 113 is fixed to the lower part of housing 111 in glove box 11. Housing 111 defines storage space 11a of glove box 11, and has an opening on the rear side (passenger side) through which luggage can be put in and taken out. An openable box lid 112 is attached to the opening of housing 111.

[0032] The storage space 11a defined by the housing 111 is formed so that the front-to-rear length is longer at the top and shorter at the bottom. Therefore, the box lid 112 is disposed so that the top is located rearward and the bottom is located forward.

[0033] Knee airbag 113 is fixed to the lower part of housing 111. Knee airbag 113 protects the knees of an occupant sitting in the passenger seat in the event of a collision of vehicle 1. Knee airbag 113 has an inflator 1131 that releases gas in the event of a collision of vehicle 1, an airbag body 1132 that inflates and deploys with the gas released from inflator 1131, and an airbag lid 1133 that covers the lower parts of inflator 1131 and airbag body 1132.

[0034] Here, the airbag body 1132 is disposed, together with the inflator 1131, at a position above the airbag lid 1133 and rearward of the inflator 1132. Although not shown in detail, a hinge for opening and closing the box lid 112 is disposed further rearward of the airbag body 1132.

[0035] When the vehicle 1 collides, gas from the inflator 1131 fills the airbag body 1132, which is a bag, and the rear side of the airbag lid 1133 opens with the lid hinge 1133a on the front side as a fulcrum due to the inflation pressure.

[0036] 3. External configuration of the housing 111 The external configuration of the housing 111 in the glove box 11 will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the glove box 11 and its peripheral configuration as viewed obliquely from the front right, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the glove box 11 and its peripheral configuration as viewed obliquely from the front left.

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

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

[0039] In this embodiment, the support portion 111b of each of the left and right side walls 111a is disposed above and rearward of the support portion 111c.

[0040] In this embodiment, these support portions 111b, 111c are supported by the instrument panel 10, but they may also be supported by a body structure around the instrument panel 10, or one of the support portions 111b, 111c may be supported by a body structure around the instrument panel 10.

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

[0042] The ceiling wall 111d of the housing 111 has a fin-shaped displacement-regulating rib portion 111f formed to protrude upward with a gap between them in the left-right direction, and a plate-shaped displacement-regulating wall portion 111e formed integrally with the displacement-regulating rib portion 111f and extending in the left-right direction. The functions of the displacement-regulating wall portion 111e and the displacement-regulating rib portion 111f will be described later, but the displacement-regulating wall portion 111e and the displacement-regulating rib portion 111f in this embodiment correspond to a bulging portion.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the displacement restricting wall portion 111e is disposed so as to be located on the front side of the instrument panel member 13 with a gap therebetween.

[0044] 4. Arrangement of instrument panel member 13 The arrangement of the instrument panel member 13 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0045] 5, the instrument panel member 13 is a rod-shaped member extending in the left-right direction (the vehicle width direction).

[0046] The instrument panel member 13 is fixed at both left and right ends to the vehicle body 15 below the front pillar 12. Although the left end of the instrument panel member 13 is not shown in Fig. 5, 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 the instrument panel member 13 and the housing 111 The positional relationship between the instrument panel member 13 and the housing 111 in a normal state (when the vehicle 1 is not in a collision state) will be described with reference to FIG.

[0048] 6, the upper surface of the ceiling wall 111d of the housing 111 is disposed at a distance G1 from the instrument panel member 13 so as not to come into direct contact with the instrument panel member 13 in the steady state. The opposing surface 111g (the surface facing the instrument panel member 13) of the displacement restriction wall portion 111e is also disposed at a distance G2 from the instrument panel member 13 so as not to come into contact with the instrument panel member 13 in the steady state.

[0049] Here, the gaps G1 and G2 are set to prevent the instrument panel member 13 from contacting the ceiling wall 111d or the displacement restriction wall 111e due to vibrations generated by the vehicle 1 traveling in a steady state. This prevents the instrument panel member 13 from contacting the ceiling wall 111d or the displacement restriction wall 111e while the vehicle 1 is traveling in a steady state, thereby suppressing the generation of collision noise.

[0050] Incidentally, by fixing the ceiling wall 111d and the displacement restriction wall 111e to the instrument panel member 13, the occurrence of collision noise during driving can be suppressed. However, in this case, a member for fixing the ceiling wall 111d and the displacement restriction wall 111e to the instrument panel member 13 is required, which is considered to lead to an increase in manufacturing costs. Therefore, as in this embodiment, it is preferable to space the dotted wall 111d and the displacement restriction wall 111e from the instrument panel member 13 by the intervals G1 and G2.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 6, of the two support portions 111b, 111c provided on each side wall 111a, the support portion 111b is disposed rearward of the instrument panel member 13 and the support portion 111c, and disposed above the support portion 111c.

[0052] 6. Function of the displacement restriction wall portion 111e, etc. when the knee airbag 113 is deployed The functions of displacement-regulating wall portion 111e and displacement-regulating rib portion 111f when knee airbag 113 is deployed will be described with reference to FIG.

[0053] 7, when vehicle 1 collides, airbag body 1132 of knee airbag 113 inflates and deploys diagonally downward and rearward (arrow A1). As airbag body 1132 inflates and deploys, a reaction force as shown by arrow A2 acts on housing 111 of glove box 11. That is, a reaction force that tries to lift the front part of housing 111 upward is applied.

[0054] As viewed in the vehicle width direction, the housing has a generally trapezoidal shape in which the bottom of the housing where knee airbag 113 is located is shorter than ceiling wall 111d and positioned toward the front of the vehicle, and the box lid is tilted toward the rear as it moves toward the upper part of the vehicle, so that the knee airbag is also positioned below the housing and positioned toward the front of the vehicle. For this reason, when a reaction force as shown by arrow A2 is applied, housing 111 tries to rotate around the rear half of the housing.

[0055] In addition, when a perpendicular line L passing through the radial center of instrument panel member 13 is drawn, support portion 111b is located rearward of perpendicular line L, and support portion 111c is located forward of perpendicular line L. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, support portion 111b is directly supported by instrument panel 10, whereas support portion 111c is supported by instrument panel 10 via bracket 100. For this reason, when a reaction force as shown by arrow A2 acts, housing 111 tends to rotate about support point P1 of support portion 111b. That is, support point P2 of support portion 111c is located directly above knee airbag 113 and therefore only serves as an input point of the reaction force, but support point P1 is located at a position separated from knee airbag 113, so that when reaction force A2 is applied, housing 111 tends to rotate about support point P1 such that the front portion is lifted.

[0056] This movement is particularly noticeable when the housing is made of resin.

[0057] When housing 111 is about to rotate as described above, the portion of top wall 111d of housing 111 in front of support point P1 is about to be displaced rearward as indicated by arrow A3.

[0058] In response to this, since the displacement restriction wall portion 111e is provided on the ceiling wall 111d of the housing 111, the opposing surface 111g of the displacement restriction wall portion 111e abuts against the instrument panel member 13 when the gap G2 shown in FIG. 6 disappears (becomes "0"). As a result, the reaction force caused by the abutment with the instrument panel member 13 is transmitted from the displacement restriction wall portion 111e to the entire housing 111 via the displacement restriction rib portion 111f. This prevents the attitude of the housing 111 of the glove box 11 from changing significantly when the airbag body 1132 is inflated and deployed. This suppresses the change in the attitude of the housing 111, which is the reference for the inflation and deployment of the airbag body 1132, and ensures the deployment stability of the knee airbag 113.

[0059] 7.Effects In vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, knee airbag 113 is fixed to the lower part of housing 111 in glove box 11, so it is possible to make the area around knee airbag 113 more compact than when knee airbag 113 is provided away from glove box 11. Also, a high degree of freedom in the layout design around knee airbag 113 can be ensured.

[0060] Furthermore, in a structure in which knee airbag 113 is fixed to the lower part of housing 111 in glove box 11, when knee airbag 113 deploys, a reaction force is applied to housing 111 due to the deployment pressure of knee airbag 113, and the posture of housing 111 tends to change. In contrast, in vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment, ceiling wall 111d of housing 111 has displacement-regulating wall portion 111e and displacement-regulating rib portion 111f, so that when knee airbag 113 deploys, displacement-regulating wall portion 111e etc. come into contact with instrument panel member 13, thereby suppressing further posture change of housing 111. That is, in vehicle 1, displacement-regulating wall portion 111e etc. provided on ceiling wall 111d of housing 111 restricts the displacement of housing 111 when knee airbag 113 deploys. Therefore, in vehicle 1, while adopting a configuration in which knee airbag 113 is fixed to the lower part of housing 111 in glove box 11, change in posture of housing 111 is suppressed when knee airbag 113 is deployed, and stability of deployment of knee airbag 113 can be ensured.

[0061] Furthermore, in vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, displacement restriction wall portion 111e is formed to be located on the front side of instrument panel member 13, thereby restricting rearward displacement of housing 111 when knee airbag 113 is deployed. As a result, in vehicle 1, when knee airbag 113 is deployed, the housing, which is the starting point of the deployment, can be restricted from being displaced rearward (toward the occupant), and the deployment stability of knee airbag 113 can be ensured.

[0062] In vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, support portion 111b of multiple support portions 111b, 111c in housing 111 is disposed above and rearward of knee airbag 113, so that when an upward reaction force is applied to housing 111 when knee airbag 113 is deployed, housing 111 rotates about support portion 111b as a fulcrum, and ceiling wall 111d tends to displace rearward. In contrast, in vehicle 1, displacement restriction wall portion 111e is formed to be located on the front side of instrument panel member 13, so that displacement of ceiling wall 111d rearward is restricted. Thus, in vehicle 1, when knee airbag 113 is deployed, a change in the attitude of housing 111 in glove box 11 is suppressed, which is advantageous in ensuring the deployment stability of knee airbag 113.

[0063] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, before the knee airbag 11 is deployed, the displacement restriction wall portion 111d is positioned at a distance from the instrument panel member 13, thereby suppressing the generation of noise caused by contact with each other while the vehicle 1 is traveling.

[0064] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, the knee airbag 113 has an airbag lid 1133 whose rear portion opens when the airbag body 1132 is inflated, so that the airbag body 1132 can be deployed toward the occupant (rearward), which is advantageous in ensuring the protection of the occupant.

[0065] Furthermore, in the vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, the airbag body 1132 is positioned rearward (closer to the occupant) than the inflator 1131. Therefore, when the airbag body 1132 inflates and deploys, the deployment is not hindered by the inflator 1131, which is advantageous in ensuring the protection of the occupant.

[0066] As described above, in vehicle 1 according to this embodiment, by arranging knee airbag 113 at the bottom of housing 111 in glove box 11, it is possible to achieve compactness and improve freedom in layout design while ensuring stable deployment of knee airbag 113.

[0067] [Second embodiment] A vehicle according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 8. In Fig. 8, only the glove box 21 and the instrument panel member 13 are illustrated. The parts not illustrated have the same configuration as those in the first embodiment.

[0068] 8, glove box 21 has a housing 211 that defines a storage space, and a box lid 212 that can open and close an opening on the rear side of housing 211. A knee airbag 213 is fixed to the lower part of housing 211. The configuration of knee airbag 213 is the same as that of knee airbag 113 of the first embodiment described above.

[0069] The ceiling wall 211d of the housing 211 has a fin-shaped displacement-regulating rib 211f formed to protrude upward and spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, and a plate-shaped displacement-regulating wall 211e formed integrally with the displacement-regulating rib 211f and extending in the left-right direction. The displacement-regulating wall 211e and the displacement-regulating rib 211f in this embodiment also correspond to the bulging portion.

[0070] Side walls 211a on both the left and right sides of housing 211 are provided with step portions (reinforcement portions) 211h extending linearly from the position where knee airbag 213 is fixed to the position where displacement-restricting rib portion 211f rises. As shown in the enlarged cross-sectional portion of Fig. 8, step portion 211h connects the ends of wall portions disposed with a shift in the left-right direction before and after step portion 211h. By providing side walls 211a with step portions 211h extending linearly from the position where knee airbag 213 is fixed to the position where displacement-restricting rib portion 211f rises, the rigidity of side walls 211a can be reinforced compared to a case where no step portion is provided.

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

[0072] Furthermore, in the vehicle according to this embodiment, reinforcing portion 211h is formed on side wall 211a of housing 211, so that deformation or damage to side wall 211a of housing 211 can be suppressed even when a reaction force is applied when knee airbag 213 is deployed. Thus, the vehicle according to this embodiment is further advantageous in ensuring the deployment stability of knee airbag 213.

[0073] [Third embodiment] A vehicle according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9(a). In Fig. 9(a), only the glove box 31 is illustrated. The parts not illustrated have the same configuration as those in the first or second embodiment.

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

[0075] The ceiling wall 311d of the housing 311 has a high ceiling portion 311i that bulges upward in a portion forward of the instrument panel member 13. The ceiling wall 311d is composed of the high ceiling portion 311i and a low ceiling portion 311j that is continuous with the high ceiling portion 311i and extends rearward beyond the instrument panel member 13.

[0076] In the ceiling wall 311d of the housing 311, the high ceiling portion 311i corresponds to the bulging portion.

[0077] The ceiling wall 311d of the housing 311 is disposed so that, when the vehicle is in a stationary state, both the high ceiling portion 311i and the low ceiling portion 311j are spaced apart from the instrument panel member 13. The distances between the high ceiling portion 311i and the instrument panel member 13 are the same as the distances G1 and G2 in the first embodiment.

[0078] In the vehicle according to this embodiment, the ceiling wall 311d of the housing 311 has a high ceiling portion 311i at the front, and the high ceiling portion 311i functions as a bulging portion. That is, even if the vehicle according to this embodiment collides and the housing 311 attempts to displace rearward, the high ceiling portion 311i comes into contact with the instrument panel member 13, thereby restricting the displacement of the housing 311. Therefore, in the vehicle according to this embodiment, the deployment stability of the knee airbag 313 can be ensured, as in the first and second embodiments.

[0079] Furthermore, in the vehicle according to this embodiment, the front portion of the ceiling wall 311d of the housing 311 in the glove box 31 is formed as a high ceiling portion 311i that bulges upward, so that the volume of the storage space in the glove box 31 can be made large.

[0080] [Fourth embodiment] A vehicle according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 9(b). In Fig. 9(b), only the glove box 41 is illustrated. The parts not illustrated have the same configuration as those in the first to third embodiments.

[0081] 9(b), glove box 41 has a housing 411 that defines a storage space, and a box lid 412 that can open and close an opening on the rear side of housing 411. A knee airbag 413 is fixed to the lower part of housing 411. The configuration of knee airbag 413 is the same as that of knee airbag 113 of the first embodiment described above.

[0082] As in the third embodiment, the ceiling wall 411d of the housing 411 has a front high ceiling portion 411i that bulges upward in a portion forward of the instrument panel member 13. Furthermore, the housing 411 of this embodiment has a rear high ceiling portion 411j that bulges upward in a portion rearward of the instrument panel member 13 in the ceiling wall 411d. A recessed portion 411k is provided between the front high ceiling portion 411i and the rear high ceiling portion 411j, which is recessed so as to be lower in height than the front high ceiling portion 411i and the rear high ceiling portion 411j so as to avoid the instrument panel member 13.

[0083] The high ceiling portions 411i and 411j and the recessed portion 411k are continuous with each other on the ceiling wall 411d of the housing 411. In the ceiling wall 411d of the housing 411, the high ceiling portions 411i and 411j each correspond to a bulging portion.

[0084] The ceiling wall 411d of the housing 411 is disposed such that, when the vehicle is in a stationary state, the high ceiling portions 411i, 411j and the recessed portion 411k are spaced apart from the instrument panel member 13. The distances between the instrument panel member 13 are the same as the distances G1, G2 in the first embodiment.

[0085] In the vehicle according to this embodiment, the ceiling wall 411d of the housing 411 has a front high ceiling portion 411i at the front and a rear high ceiling portion 411j at the rear, and these high ceiling portions 411i, 411j function as bulging portions. That is, even if the vehicle according to this embodiment collides and the housing 411 attempts to displace forward or rearward, the high ceiling portions 411i, 411j come into contact with the instrument panel member 13, thereby restricting the displacement of the housing 411. Therefore, in the vehicle according to this embodiment, the deployment stability of the knee airbag 413 can be ensured, as in the first to third embodiments.

[0086] Furthermore, in the vehicle according to this embodiment, high ceiling portions 411i, 411j are provided at the front and rear of ceiling wall 411d of housing 411 in glove box 41, so that glove box 41 can have a large storage space.

[0087] [Fifth embodiment] A vehicle according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. In Fig. 10, only a glove box 51 is illustrated. The parts not illustrated have the same configuration as those in the first to fourth embodiments.

[0088] 10, glove box 51 has housing 511 as an outer shell, inner housing 514 as an inner shell, and box lid 512 that is fixed to inner housing 514 and can open and close an opening on the rear side of housing 511 as shown by arrow B. Knee airbag 513 is fixed to the lower part of housing 511. The configuration of knee airbag 513 is the same as knee airbag 113 of the first embodiment described above.

[0089] In the glove box 51 of this embodiment, a displacement regulating wall portion 511e and a displacement regulating rib portion 511f are provided on a ceiling wall 511d of a housing 511 that constitutes an outer shell.

[0090] The vehicle of this embodiment has an inner housing 514 inside the housing 511, and is the same as the first embodiment except that the inner housing 514 can be opened and closed together with the box lid 512, so that the same effects as the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0091] [Variations] In the first to third embodiments and the fifth embodiment, the bulge is provided on the front side of the vehicle body fixing part (instrument panel member 13), and in the fourth embodiment, the bulge is provided on the front and rear of the vehicle body fixing part (instrument panel member 13), but in the present invention, the bulge can be provided only on the rear side of the vehicle body fixing part. That is, the location of the bulge with respect to the vehicle body fixing part can be set depending on how the housing changes its posture when the knee airbag is deployed.

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

[0093] Furthermore, the vehicle body fixing portion with which the bulging portion abuts does not necessarily have to be an instrument panel member, and may be an instrument panel member, an instrument panel, or a part of the vehicle body structure.

[0094] In addition, in the first to fifth embodiments, the glove box 11, 21, 31, 41, 51 having the box lid 112, 212, 312, 412, 512 is used as an example of the storage box, but the present invention is not limited to the storage box. For example, when a storage box other than the glove box is provided on the instrument panel, the same effect as above can be obtained even if a knee airbag and a bulge are provided in the storage box.

[0095] In addition, in the first to fifth embodiments, a configuration is adopted in which the bulge is integrally formed with the ceiling wall of the housing, but in the present invention, a configuration in which the ceiling wall of the housing and the bulge are separate and fixed to each other can also be adopted. In this case, the same effects as those described above can be obtained. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1 vehicle 11,21,31,41,51 Glove box (storage box) 13 Instrument panel member (body fixing part) 111,211,311,411,511 Housing 111d, 211d.311d, 411d, 511d Ceiling wall 111e, 211e, 511e Displacement regulating wall (bulging part) 111f, 211f, 511f Displacement control rib (bulge) 113,213,313,413,513 Knee airbag 211h Step (reinforced part) 311i High wall part (bulging part) 411i Front high ceiling part (bulging part) 411j Rear high ceiling part (bulging part) 514 Inner Housing

Claims

1. A vehicle equipped with a knee airbag disposed in front of the passenger seat, a storage box provided in a front portion of the passenger seat in an instrument panel extending in a vehicle width direction, the storage box having a housing defining a storage space; a vehicle body fixing portion that is fixed to a vehicle body and that is disposed above the housing; The knee airbag is fixed to a lower portion of the housing and is deployable rearward and downward; Equipped with The housing has a ceiling wall that covers an upper portion of the storage space and a plurality of support portions that are supported by the instrument panel, The ceiling wall has a bulging portion that bulges upward compared to other portions of the ceiling wall and is spaced apart from the vehicle body fixing portion by a distance that allows the knee airbag to come into contact with the vehicle body fixing portion when the knee airbag is deployed. vehicle.

2. The bulge portion is formed to be located forward of the vehicle body fixing portion.

2. The vehicle of claim 1.

3. At least a part of the plurality of support parts is disposed above and rearward of the knee airbag.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2.

4. The bulging portion is The knee airbag is disposed at a position spaced apart from the vehicle body fixing portion before the knee airbag is deployed, a reaction force from the vehicle body fixing portion restricting further displacement of the housing when the housing is displaced due to deployment of the knee airbag and comes into contact with the vehicle body fixing portion; 2. The vehicle of claim 1.

5. The knee airbag includes an airbag body, which is a bag body, an inflator capable of supplying gas to the inside of the airbag body, and an airbag lid that covers the lower part of the airbag body and opens at the rear when the airbag body is inflated.

2. The vehicle of claim 1.

6. The airbag body is disposed above the airbag lid and rearward of the inflator.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5.

7. The side wall of the housing is formed to extend from the lower end to the upper end and has a reinforcing portion that reinforces the rigidity of the side wall.

2. The vehicle of claim 1.

Images