Knee airbag attachment structure for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a knee airbag attachment structure for a vehicle which eases restrictions on the layout of other devices in an instrument panel while maintaining attachment strength of a knee airbag to structure the knee airbag to be able to withstand reaction force at the time of expansion.SOLUTION: In a knee airbag attachment structure 1 for a vehicle, a knee airbag unit 5 in which an airbag is expandable toward knee lower parts of an occupant seated on a driver's seat is attached to a steering support member 3 disposed in an instrument panel 2. The steering support member 3 includes a first pipe 31 extending in a vehicle width direction, a second pipe 32 disposed spaced apart further on the vehicle rear side than the first pipe 31 and extending in the vehicle width direction, and first and second stays 33 and 34 extending to a vehicle lower side from the first and second pipes 31, 32. The first and second stays 33, 34 include a joining section J that joins them to each other. The knee airbag unit 5 is attached to a portion corresponding to the joining section J in the second stay 34.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle knee airbag mounting structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Some vehicles, such as automobiles, are equipped with knee airbags that deploy toward the area below the knees of occupants seated in the driver's seat, etc. This knee airbag is attached to a steering support member or the like disposed within the instrument panel of the vehicle.

[0003] As a conventional knee airbag mounting structure, for example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a structure in which a knee airbag module is connected in the vehicle forward direction to a mounting bracket provided on an instrument panel reinforcement (corresponding to the above-mentioned steering support member) that extends in the vehicle width direction within the instrument panel. In this conventional structure, the knee airbag module is also connected outward in the vehicle width direction to the vehicle side located on the outer side thereof via an outer bracket.

[0004] According to this conventional structure, the knee airbag module is not only connected to the instrument panel reinforcement via a mounting bracket, but also to the side of the vehicle via an outer bracket, thereby maintaining the mounting strength of the knee airbag module to the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-207419 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In recent years, the number of electronic devices and other components installed in instrument panels has been increasing. In this situation, adding an outer bracket to connect the knee airbag to the side of the vehicle inside the instrument panel, as in the conventional structure described above, could restrict the layout of other devices, leaving room for improvement.

[0007] The present invention has been made in light of the above points, and has an object to provide a vehicle knee airbag mounting structure that maintains the mounting strength of the knee airbag and is capable of withstanding the recoil at the time of deployment, while also alleviating layout restrictions on other devices within the instrument panel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle knee airbag mounting structure for mounting a knee airbag unit, capable of deploying an airbag toward the knees of an occupant seated in the driver's seat, to a steering support member disposed within the vehicle's instrument panel. In this knee airbag mounting structure, the steering support member includes a first pipe extending in the vehicle width direction, a second pipe extending in the vehicle width direction and spaced apart rearward of the first pipe, a first stay extending from the first pipe toward the vehicle's bottom, and a second stay extending from the second pipe toward the vehicle's bottom. The first stay and the second stay have a joint where they are joined together. The knee airbag unit is mounted to a portion of the first stay or the second stay that corresponds to the joint. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The vehicle knee airbag mounting structure according to the present invention can maintain the mounting strength of the knee airbag and withstand the recoil at the time of deployment, while also relaxing layout restrictions on other devices within the instrument panel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic structure of a steering support member and its surroundings in a vehicle to which a knee airbag mounting structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the area around the mounting location of the knee airbag unit in FIG. 1, as viewed obliquely from the front side of the vehicle. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a side view of the vehicle from the side in FIG. 2 with the instrument panel and side brackets removed. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the state of FIG. 3 as seen obliquely from the rear side of the vehicle. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the state of FIG. 3 as seen obliquely from the front side of the vehicle. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the state of FIG. 3 as seen from the rear of the vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic structure around a steering support member 3 in a vehicle to which a knee airbag mounting structure 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. In each of the figures described below, the arrow F direction indicates the front in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the arrow U direction indicates the upward direction in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the arrow R direction and the arrow L direction indicate the right and left when looking at the front of the vehicle from inside the vehicle cabin.

[0012] A knee airbag mounting structure 1 according to this embodiment is applied to a vehicle such as an automobile. An instrument panel 2 made of a resin material or the like is provided in the front portion of the passenger compartment of this vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1 , the instrument panel 2 has an upper panel 21 facing upward in the vehicle and a lower panel 22 facing rearward in the vehicle and overlooking the driver's seat and passenger seat (not shown). A steering support member 3 extending in the vehicle width direction is disposed inside the instrument panel 2, i.e., in a space outside the passenger compartment located below the upper panel 21 and in front of the lower panel 22.

[0013] A column hole 23, through which a steering column (not shown) is inserted, is formed in the driver's seat side (left side in FIG. 1) portion of lower panel 22 of instrument panel 2. Knee airbag unit 5, which is attached to steering support member 3 by knee airbag mounting structure 1 according to this embodiment, is disposed below and in front of column hole 23.

[0014] Here, details of the knee airbag mounting structure 1 according to the present embodiment will be specifically described with reference to Figs. 2 to 6. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the area around the mounting location of knee airbag unit 5 in Fig. 1, viewed from an obliquely lateral front side of the vehicle. Fig. 2 also shows a state in which instrument panel 2 and knee airbag unit 5 are mounted to steering support member 3. Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2 with instrument panel 2 and side bracket 36, which will be described later, removed, viewed from the lateral side of the vehicle. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the state of Fig. 3 viewed from an obliquely lateral rear side of the vehicle, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the state of Fig. 3 viewed from an obliquely lateral front side of the vehicle, and Fig. 6 is a rear view of the state of Fig. 3 viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

[0015] In this embodiment, the steering support member 3 to which the knee airbag unit 5 is attached is a highly rigid metal vehicle body component. The steering support member 3 includes a first pipe 31 extending in the vehicle width direction, a second pipe 32 disposed rearward of the first pipe 31 and extending in the vehicle width direction, a first stay 33 extending downward from the first pipe 31, and a second stay 34 extending downward from the second pipe 32 (FIGS. 1 to 6). In this embodiment, two stay units 35, each combining the first stay 33 and the second stay 34, are provided at positions corresponding to the column holes 23 in the instrument panel 2 (lower panel 22) and spaced apart in the vehicle width direction (FIGS. 1 and 2). The distance between the left and right stay units 35 is designed to correspond to the length (total width) of the knee airbag unit 5 in the vehicle width direction. Details of each stay unit 35 will be described later.

[0016] The first pipe 31 extends in the vehicle width direction at a position below the upper panel 21 and in front of the lower panel 22 of the instrument panel 2. Both ends of the first pipe 31 in the longitudinal direction (vehicle width direction) are fixed to dash side panels (not shown) that form the sides of the vehicle body using the above-mentioned side brackets 36 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0017] The second pipe 32 is located between the first pipe 31 and the instrument panel 2 (lower panel 22) when viewed in the vehicle width direction, and is arranged so as to overlap the vicinity of the upper edge of the column hole 23 in the instrument panel 2 (lower panel 22) when viewed in the vehicle front-rear direction. The length of the second pipe 32 in the vehicle width direction is designed to roughly correspond to the length of the column hole 23 in the vehicle width direction, and is shorter than half the length of the first pipe 31 in the vehicle width direction. Both ends of the second pipe 32 in the vehicle width direction are connected to the left portion of the first pipe 31 located in front of the driver's seat via a pair of connecting members 37, respectively.

[0018] Each connecting member 37 extends generally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, with its front end fixed to the upper and lower parts of the first pipe 31 by welding or the like, and its rear end fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the second pipe 32 by welding or the like (FIGS. 2 to 4). A pair of steering column brackets 38 to which the steering column described above is connected are disposed between the pair of connecting members 37 at a distance in the vehicle width direction (FIGS. 1, 4, and 6). Each steering column bracket 38 extends in the longitudinal direction so as to connect the first pipe 31 and the second pipe 32, with its front end fixed to the lower part of the first pipe 31 by welding or the like, and its rear end fixed to the lower part of the second pipe 32 by welding or the like (FIG. 6).

[0019] A front member 39 is provided between the pair of steering column brackets 38, extending from the first pipe 31 and the second pipe 32 toward the front of the vehicle and connected to a dash panel (not shown) of the vehicle (FIGS. 1 to 3). In this embodiment, the front member 39 has an upper member 39A and a lower member 39B (FIGS. 2 and 3). The rear portion of the upper member 39A is fixed by welding or the like across the upper portions of the first pipe 31 and the second pipe 32, extends forward from the fixed portion, and has its tip fastened to the dash panel by bolts or the like. The rear portion of the lower member 39B is fixed by welding or the like to the front portion of the first pipe 31, and extends forward from the fixed portion along the underside of the upper member 39A.

[0020] Furthermore, a lower member 40 is connected to the inner (right) connecting member 37 in the vehicle width direction of the pair of connecting members 37 (FIGS. 1 to 6). Lower member 40 extends in the vehicle up-down direction, with its upper end fixed to the rear end side of connecting member 37 by welding or the like, and its lower end fastened to a vehicle body part (not shown) on the floor panel side by a bolt or the like.

[0021] As described above, the first pipe 31 of the steering support member 3 has both ends in the vehicle width direction supported by the dash side panels on the sides of the vehicle body via the side brackets 36, and its middle portion in the vehicle width direction supported by the dash panel via the front member 39, and is also supported by vehicle body parts on the floor panel side via the connecting member 37 and the lower member 40.

[0022] In addition to left and right stay units 35 that support knee airbag unit 5, steering support member 3 also has a plurality of instrument panel stays 41 for supporting upper panel 21 or lower panel 22 of instrument panel 2, which are fixed to first pipe 31 and second pipe 32 by welding or the like (FIGS. 1 and 2). Each instrument panel stay 41 extends from first pipe 31 or second pipe 32 toward the side where instrument panel 2 is installed (either above or behind the vehicle) and is disposed in a dispersed manner in the vehicle width direction.

[0023] Here, the detailed structure of left and right stay units 35 that support knee airbag unit 5 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 6. In this embodiment, first stay 33 and second stay 34 that form right stay unit 35 and first stay 33 and second stay 34 that form left stay unit 35 have the same shape.

[0024] The first stay 33 has a base 33A extending downward from the first pipe 31, and an inclined portion 33C connected to the lower end of the base 33A via a curved portion 33B and extending at an angle toward the front of the vehicle as it extends downward (FIGS. 3 to 5). The first stay 33 is formed by bending a sheet metal member that has been bent into a substantially U-shaped cross section and extends in one direction, and then curving it near the center in the longitudinal direction, so that it has a substantially L-shaped shape when viewed in the vehicle width direction.

[0025] Specifically, the base portion 33A of the first stay 33 has a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens toward the rear of the vehicle, and a flange portion 33D that protrudes in the vehicle width direction is formed at its upper end portion. The flange portion 33D is fixed to the front lower portion of the outer circumferential surface of the first pipe 31 by welding or the like. A curved portion 33B is formed continuously at the lower end portion of the base portion 33A. The curved portion 33B is formed so as to gradually curve toward the front of the vehicle while maintaining the cross-sectional shape of the base portion 33A. An inclined portion 33C that is continuous with the front end portion of the curved portion 33B has a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens diagonally downward and rearward of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the first stay 33 is subjected to bead processing from the curved portion 33B to near the longitudinal center of the inclined portion 33C, thereby increasing the strength of the first stay 33 (FIGS. 2 and 5).

[0026] The second stay 34 extends straight from the second pipe 32 downwards, inclined toward the front of the vehicle, and has a generally U-shaped cross section that opens diagonally upward and forward of the vehicle (FIGS. 3 to 5). A flange 34A that protrudes in the vehicle width direction is formed at the upper end of the second stay 34. The flange 34A is fixed by welding or the like, straddling the rear lower portion of the outer circumferential surface of the second pipe 32 and the rear lower portion of the connecting member 37 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 6). The lower end of the second stay 34 is curved downwards of the vehicle, and has a generally U-shaped cross section that opens toward the front of the vehicle.

[0027] A front portion of the lower portion 34B of the second stay 34 is joined to a rear portion of the inclined portion 33C of the first stay 33. In this embodiment, the lower portion 34B of the second stay 34, which has a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens diagonally upward and toward the front of the vehicle, is arranged so as to fit inside the inclined portion 33C of the first stay 33, which has a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens diagonally downward and toward the rear of the vehicle. Specifically, at least a portion of the outer surface of each side wall facing in the vehicle width direction in the lower portion 34B of the second stay 34 is joined and fixed by welding or the like to at least a portion of the inner surface of each side wall facing in the vehicle width direction in the inclined portion 33C of the first stay 33. In other words, the first stay 33 and the second stay 34 have a joint J (indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 3 to 5) where they are joined to each other.

[0028] Knee airbag unit 5 is attached to second stay 34 at a position corresponding to joint J with first stay 33 using knee airbag bracket 6. In this embodiment, a seat surface for fixing knee airbag bracket 6 is provided in the rear portion of lower portion 34B of second stay 34, which is located opposite to the front portion joined to first stay 33 (FIGS. 3 to 6).

[0029] Knee airbag unit 5 is configured to deploy an airbag toward the area below the knees of an occupant seated in the driver's seat. Knee airbag unit 5 in this embodiment has a main body case 51 formed in a horizontally long box shape, which houses a folded airbag (not shown) and an inflator (not shown) that supplies inflation gas to the airbag (FIGS. 3 to 5). A pair of left and right knee airbag brackets 6 are fixed to both sides of main body case 51 in the vehicle width direction by welding or the like. An opening (not shown) is formed in the rear side of main body case 51 to allow the airbag, which receives gas from the inflator, to deploy outside the case. The opening of main body case 51 is covered by knee airbag cover 7.

[0030] Each knee airbag bracket 6 has an extension portion 61 that extends diagonally upward and forward from a side surface of knee airbag unit 5 (main body case 51) in the vehicle width direction, and a flange portion 62 that protrudes in the vehicle width direction from the tip of extension portion 61 (FIGS. 3 to 6). Flange portion 62 extends obliquely rearward as it extends upward toward the vehicle, along lower portion 34B of second stay 34. A middle portion in the longitudinal direction of flange portion 62 is recessed toward the vehicle rear, and both end portions are joined to the bearing surface of the rear portion of lower portion 34B of second stay 34 and fixed with bolts or the like (FIGS. 3 and 4). Furthermore, bead processing is applied to extension portion 61 and flange portion 62 of each knee airbag bracket 6, thereby increasing the strength of each knee airbag bracket 6 (FIGS. 4 to 6).

[0031] Knee airbag cover 7 is provided to cover the opening of knee airbag unit 5 from the rear of the vehicle. Knee airbag cover 7 is located below column hole 23 formed in instrument panel 2, and the rear surface facing the interior of the vehicle forms the design surface of knee airbag cover 7 (Fig. 1). In this embodiment, knee airbag cover 7 extends forward from the front surface positioned opposite the opening of knee airbag unit 5, and has surrounding wall portion 71 formed to surround at least the periphery of the rear end of knee airbag unit 5 (Figs. 3 and 5).

[0032] The upper wall portion of surrounding wall 71 is formed with multiple engagement holes 71A that penetrate in the vertical direction and are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction (Fig. 5). Multiple engagement claws 52 provided on the upper rear side of knee airbag unit 5 can engage with each engagement hole 71A. Knee airbag cover 7 also has outer wall portion 72 that protrudes forward from the outer edge of the rear surface (design surface) in the vehicle width direction and extends at an inclined forward direction as it extends downward (Figs. 4 to 6). Knee airbag cover 7 also has multiple legs 73 that extend outward in the vehicle width direction from outer wall portion 72 and are fixed to lower panel 22 of instrument panel 2 (Figs. 3 to 6).

[0033] Next, the operation of the knee airbag mounting structure 1 according to this embodiment will be described. As described above, in the knee airbag mounting structure 1 according to this embodiment, the knee airbag unit 5, whose opening is covered by the knee airbag cover 7, is mounted via the knee airbag bracket 6 to the left and right stay units 35 formed by combining the first and second stays 33, 34 fixed to the first and second pipes 31, 32 of the steering support member 3.

[0034] When an impact of a predetermined level or greater is applied to the knee airbag unit 5 supported by the left and right stay units 35 of the steering support member 3 in this way, gas is instantly supplied from the inflator to the airbag of the knee airbag unit 5, and the airbag inflates toward the lower knees of the occupant sitting in the driver's seat while breaking the knee airbag cover 7, thereby protecting the lower knees of the occupant.

[0035] At this time, a reaction force directed toward the front of the vehicle acts on knee airbag unit 5 as the airbag deploys. This reaction force is transmitted to left and right stay units 35 via knee airbag brackets 6 connected to both sides of knee airbag unit 5 in the vehicle width direction. As a result, each stay unit 35 receives a reaction force Fr near joint J that is directed diagonally upward and toward the front of the vehicle, as indicated by the white arrow in Figure 3. This reaction force Fr is transmitted to first pipe 31 via first stay 33, and to second pipe 32 via second stay 34.

[0036] The first and second pipes 31, 32 are connected by a pair of connecting members 37 and a pair of steering column brackets 38, and are further supported by various parts of the vehicle body via left and right side brackets 36, a front member 39, and a lower member 40. Therefore, the force transmitted to the first and second pipes 31, 32 due to the reaction force when the airbag deploys is reliably received by the side brackets 36, the front member 39, and the lower member 40 connected to the vehicle body.

[0037] Furthermore, when the airbag deploys, knee airbag cover 7 is pushed by the inflating airbag and tends to move toward the rear of the vehicle. However, engagement claws 52 on knee airbag unit 5 engage with engagement holes 71A formed in surrounding wall portion 71 of knee airbag cover 7, preventing knee airbag cover 7 from moving toward the rear of the vehicle. As the airbag continues to inflate, a dividing line (not shown) formed on knee airbag cover 7 ruptures, causing the airbag to deploy toward the area below the knees of the occupant.

[0038] As described above, in the knee airbag mounting structure 1 according to this embodiment, the first and second stays 33, 34 extending downward from the first and second pipes 31, 32 of the steering support member 3 have a joint J where they are joined together, and the knee airbag unit 5 is mounted to the second stay 34 at a portion corresponding to the joint J. With this mounting structure 1, the recoil of the knee airbag unit 5 generated when the airbag deploys can be absorbed by each of the first and second stays 33, 34. This makes it possible to realize a structure that maintains the mounting strength of the knee airbag unit 5 and can withstand the recoil at the time of deployment without the need for an additional outer bracket to connect the knee airbag to the side of the vehicle, as in the conventional structure described above. Furthermore, because the knee airbag unit 5 is supported by the first and second stays 33, 34 extending downward from the first and second pipes 31, 32 of the steering support member 3 extending in the vehicle width direction within the instrument panel 2, restrictions on the layout of other devices within the instrument panel 2 can be alleviated.

[0039] Furthermore, in the knee airbag mounting structure 1 according to this embodiment, the first stay 33 has a base portion 33A, a curved portion 33B, and an inclined portion 33C, and the second stay 34 extends straight from the second pipe 32 while inclining toward the front of the vehicle as it extends downward from the second pipe 32. The front portion of the lower portion 34B of the second stay 34 is joined to the rear portion of the inclined portion 33C of the first stay 33, and the knee airbag unit 5 is fixed to the rear portion of the lower portion 34B of the second stay 34. With this mounting structure 1, the second stay 34 extends straight while inclining, so there is no portion that could be the starting point for bending or folding of the second stay 34 when it receives the reaction force Fr due to airbag deployment. This allows the second stay 34 to efficiently absorb the recoil of the knee airbag unit 5. Furthermore, the portion of first stay 33 between base portion 33A and inclined portion 33C is also formed in a curved shape that is unlikely to become a starting point for bending when subjected to a reaction force during airbag deployment, and therefore, the recoil of knee airbag unit 5 can be efficiently absorbed by first stay 33. In particular, by applying bead processing from curved portion 33B to the longitudinal center of inclined portion 33C as in this embodiment, bending at curved portion 33B can be effectively suppressed.

[0040] Furthermore, in the knee airbag mounting structure 1 according to this embodiment, two stay units 35, each combining a first stay 33 and a second stay 34, are provided at a distance in the vehicle width direction, and the left and right stay units 35 have the same shape. With this structure, the left and right stay units 35 supporting the knee airbag unit 5 have the same rigidity in each direction, which prevents the airbag from shifting in its deployment direction around a vertical axis passing through the center between the left and right stay units 35 when the airbag deploys. That is, if the left and right stay units 35 have different shapes, the reaction force generated when the airbag deploys will cause each stay unit 35 to deform (bend) differently. In this case, twisting movement of the knee airbag unit 5 occurs, causing the airbag to shift in its deployment direction at least around the vertical axis. If the left and right stay units 35 have the same shape, such fluctuations in the deployment direction can be prevented. That is, the deployment direction of the knee airbag unit 5 can be stabilized. Furthermore, since the left and right stay units 35 supporting the knee airbag unit 5 have the same shape, the design of the mounting position of the knee airbag unit 5 can be simplified. For example, by positioning the center position of knee airbag unit 5 in the vehicle width direction in the center between left and right stay units 35, it is possible to easily determine the mounting position of knee airbag unit 5 so that the reaction force when the airbag is deployed acts evenly on left and right stay units 35.

[0041] Furthermore, in knee airbag mounting structure 1 according to the present embodiment, first and second pipes 31, 32 are connected by connecting member 37, and the upper end of second stay 34 is fixed across second pipe 32 and connecting member 37. With this structure, reaction force Fr, which is transmitted to stay unit 35 due to the reaction when the airbag deploys, can be more reliably received by first and second pipes 31, 32 and connecting member 37.

[0042] Furthermore, in the knee airbag mounting structure 1 according to this embodiment, a pair of steering column brackets 38, to which the steering columns are respectively connected, are disposed between a pair of connecting members 37 that respectively connect both vehicle widthwise ends of the second pipe 32 to the first pipe 31. Furthermore, a front member 39 extending from the first and second pipes 31, 32 toward the front of the vehicle and fixed to the dash panel is disposed between the pair of steering column brackets 38. In addition, a lower member 40 extending downward from the connecting member 37 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is fixed to a vehicle body component on the floor panel side. With this structure, the force transmitted to the first and second pipes 31, 32 due to the recoil generated when the airbag deploys can be more reliably absorbed by the front member 39 and lower member 40 connected to the vehicle body. In particular, the front member 39 is disposed between the pair of steering column brackets 38, which have high rigidity capable of supporting the steering column, which is a heavy object, making it possible to realize a strong structure that can sufficiently withstand the recoil generated when the airbag deploys.

[0043] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible based on the technical concept of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example was described in which the knee airbag unit 5 is fixed to the rear portion of the lower portion 34B of the second stay 34, but even if the knee airbag unit 5 is attached to a portion corresponding to the joint J of the first stay 33, it is possible to obtain the same effect as in the above-described embodiment.

[0044] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which two stay units 35, each combining the first and second stays 33, 34, are provided spaced apart in the vehicle width direction, but a single stay unit or three or more stay units may be provided to support the knee airbag unit 5. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1...Knee airbag mounting structure 2...Instrument panel 21...Upper panel 22...Lower panel 23...Column Hall 3...Steering support member 31...First pipe 32...Second pipe 33...First stage 33A…Base 33B...Bend 33C…Slope part 33D...Flange part 34...Second stay 34A...Flange part (upper end) 34B...lower part 35...Stay unit 36...Side bracket 37...Connecting member 38...Steering column bracket 39...Front member 40...Lower member 41...Instrument panel stay 5...Knee airbag unit 51...Main unit case 52...Engaging claw 6...Knee airbag bracket 61...Extending part 62...Flange 7...Knee airbag cover 71...Enclosure wall 71A…Engagement hole 72...Outer wall part 73…legs Fr...reaction force J…Joint part

Claims

1. A knee airbag mounting structure for a vehicle for mounting a knee airbag unit capable of deploying an airbag toward the lower knees of an occupant seated in a driver's seat of a vehicle to a steering support member disposed within an instrument panel of the vehicle, comprising: The steering support member is a first pipe extending in the vehicle width direction; a second pipe disposed rearward of the first pipe and extending in the vehicle width direction; a first stay extending from the first pipe downwardly of the vehicle; a second stay extending from the second pipe downwardly of the vehicle, the first stay and the second stay have a joint portion where they are joined to each other, The knee airbag unit is attached to a portion of the first stay or the second stay that corresponds to the joint portion.

2. the first stay has a base portion extending downward from the first pipe to the vehicle, and an inclined portion connected to a lower end portion of the base portion via a curved portion and extending obliquely forward of the vehicle as it extends downward of the vehicle, the second stay extends straight from the second pipe and inclined toward the front of the vehicle as it extends downwardly from the second pipe, and a front portion of a lower part of the second stay is joined to a rear portion of the inclined portion of the first stay, 2. The vehicle knee airbag mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the knee airbag unit is fixed to a rear portion of a lower part of the second stay.

3. 3. The vehicle knee airbag mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein two stay units each combining the first stay and the second stay are provided spaced apart in the vehicle width direction, and the two stay units have the same shape.

4. the steering support member includes a connecting member that connects the first pipe and the second pipe, 2. The vehicle knee airbag mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of the second stay is fixed across the second pipe and the connecting member.

5. The steering support member is a pair of connecting members that connect both ends of the second pipe in the vehicle width direction to the first pipe, respectively; a pair of steering column brackets that are disposed at an interval in the vehicle width direction between the pair of connecting members, connect the first pipe and the second pipe, and are respectively connected to a steering column of the vehicle; a front member disposed between the pair of steering column brackets, extending from the first pipe and the second pipe toward the front of the vehicle, and fixed to a dash panel; a lower member extending downward from the inner connecting member of the pair of connecting members in the vehicle width direction and fixed to a vehicle body component on a floor panel side; 2. The vehicle knee airbag mounting structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

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