Lower limb protective device

Abstract

To provide a lower limb restraint device that can be easily installed even when it is difficult to secure mounting space, and that can accurately restrain the lower limbs of an occupant seated in a seat. [Solution] This is a lower limb protection device S1 positioned in front of the left and right lower limbs ML of an occupant MD seated in a vehicle seat. It comprises a lower limb restraint part 20, a holding member 10 that holds the lower limb restraint part, and a moving means 50 that can move the lower limb restraint part from a standby position P0 to a receiving position P1 when activated. The lower limb restraint part is a flat plate divided into at least two sections in the vertical direction, and is positioned flat along the rear surface of the holding member in the standby position. When the moving means is activated, each section 22U, 22C, 22D is moved relative to the holding member so that the adjacent edge areas of each section protrude rearward, so that in the receiving position the upper and lower intermediate portions protrude rearward relative to the rear surface of the holding member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lower limb protection device disposed in front of the lower limbs that can protect the left and right lower limbs of an occupant sitting on a seat.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a lower limb protection device, there is one disposed in a region on the upper end side of a glove box disposed in front of the passenger seat. In this lower limb protection device, a knee receiving portion is disposed in a region on the upper end side of the glove box, and an extrusion mechanism using a piston cylinder is disposed in a region in front of this knee receiving portion (in front of the glove box). When a frontal collision of a vehicle occurs, while operating the extrusion mechanism to open the glove box, the knee receiving portion is pushed out (moved rearward) so as to be positioned in front of the knee of an occupant sitting on the passenger seat, thereby protecting the occupant's knee (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, since the conventional lower limb protection device is configured integrally with the glove box disposed in front of the passenger seat, it cannot be easily diverted for the driver's seat. Further, even if an attempt is made to mount a device having a similar configuration in front of the driver's seat, it is difficult to secure a wide mounting space in the front - rear direction because a steering column or the like is disposed in front of the driver's seat, and it is difficult to mount.

[0005] The present invention solves the above - mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a lower limb restraint device that can be easily mounted even when it is difficult to secure a mounting space, and can accurately restrain the lower limbs of an occupant sitting on a seat. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The lower limb protection device according to the present invention is a lower limb protection device positioned in front of the lower limbs so as to be able to protect the left and right lower limbs of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, The device comprises a lower limb restraint unit positioned in front of the lower limb to restrain it, a holding member on the rear side to hold the lower limb restraint unit, and a moving means that can move the lower limb restraint unit from a standby position to a receiving position when activated during a vehicle collision. The lower limb restraints are The flat plate is divided into at least two sections vertically, and at least two sections are connected so as to be rotatable to each other between adjacent edges, and the structure is such that it can rotate or move relative to the rear surface of the holding member. In the standby position, it is positioned flat and along the rear surface of the holding member, The mechanism for moving each segment is characterized by moving it relative to the holding member so that, when the moving mechanism is operated, the adjacent edge regions of each segment protrude rearward, thereby positioning the upper and lower intermediate portions to protrude rearward relative to the rear surface of the holding member at the receiving position.

[0007] In the lower limb protection device of the present invention, a lower limb restraint unit capable of restraining the lower limbs of an occupant seated in a seat is held by a retaining member in front of the occupant's lower limbs. This lower limb restraint unit moves from a standby position to a receiving position by a moving mechanism that is activated in the event of a vehicle collision. This lower limb restraint unit is a flat plate divided into at least two sections in the vertical direction. In the standby position, it is positioned flat along the rear surface of the retaining member. In the receiving position after the movement mechanism is activated, the upper and lower intermediate portions are positioned so as to protrude rearward from the rear surface of the retaining member, with the adjacent edge areas of each divided section protruding rearward. In other words, in the lower limb protection device of the present invention, the lower limb restraint unit is configured to be positioned flat along the rear surface of the retaining member in front of the left and right lower limbs in the standby position, making it easy to install even in places where it is difficult to secure ample mounting space in the front-to-back direction, such as in front of the driver's seat. Furthermore, in the receiving position, the lower limb restraint unit is positioned so that the upper and lower intermediate portions protrude rearward from the rear surface of the retaining member over the entire left-to-right area. In other words, the lower limb restraint is positioned such that, in the receiving position, a gap is created between the upper and lower intermediate parts and the rear surface of the retaining member, with the upper and lower intermediate parts protruding backward. As a result, the upper and lower intermediate parts that protrude backward in the lower limb restraint come into contact with the lower limbs of the occupant moving forward, and these upper and lower intermediate parts deform by entering the gap between them and the protective member and concave forward, thereby absorbing energy and receiving the lower limbs, thus effectively restraining the occupant's lower limbs.

[0008] Therefore, the lower limb protection device of the present invention can be easily installed even when it is difficult to secure mounting space, and can accurately restrain the lower limbs of an occupant seated in a seat.

[0009] Furthermore, in the lower limb protection device of the present invention, if the lower limb restraint portion is divided into three sections vertically, and the central section located in the middle of the vertical section is positioned at a location posterior to the holding member at the receiving position, then the lower limb restraint portion will be positioned so that the rear surface of the central section of the vertical section (the rear surface of the central section) is roughly aligned with the occupant's lower limb at the receiving position, and this rear surface of the central section will allow the lower limb to be widely supported from above and below, which is preferable.

[0010] Furthermore, in the lower limb protection device with the above configuration, if each segment is hollow, the segment itself can be plastically deformed when the lower limb is supported. Compared to the case where the segment is made of a solid plate-like body, this increases the amount of energy absorbed when the lower limb is supported, making it possible to restrain the occupant's lower limbs more accurately, which is preferable.

[0011] Furthermore, in the lower limb protection device with the above configuration, if the moving means is equipped with a locking mechanism capable of maintaining the position of the lower limb restraint at the receiving position, it is preferable that the lower limb restraint device is prevented from moving back to the standby position after the lower limb restraint is positioned at the receiving position (after the movement of the lower limb restraint is completed), and that the lower limb restraint, which maintains a stable protruding state, can stably restrain the occupant's lower limbs.

[0012] Furthermore, in the lower limb protection device with the above configuration, the rear side of the lower limb restraint portion is covered by a cover portion made of a flexible sheet body. It is preferable to configure the system so that each segment is attached to the cover, thereby allowing them to rotate relative to each other via the cover.

[0013] With the lower limb protection device configured as described above, since the rear surface side of the lower limb restraint portion is covered by the cover portion, the appearance is improved, and the design property when mounted on a vehicle can be made good. Further, since each divided body constituting the lower limb restraint portion is connected to each other so as to be rotatable via the cover portion, it is not necessary to adopt a configuration in which the divided bodies themselves are connected to each other so as to be rotatable, the manufacturing becomes easy, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] [Figure 1] It is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a lower limb protection device which is an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a schematic rear view showing the state of the lower limb protection device of the embodiment as viewed from the rear side of the vehicle. [Figure 3] It is a schematic rear view of the lower limb protection device of the embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a schematic enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the lower limb protection device of the embodiment. [Figure 5] In the lower limb protection device of the embodiment, it is a partially enlarged rear view showing the lower limb restraint portion disposed on the left side. [Figure 6] It is a partially enlarged rear view showing the vicinity of the hinge portion which is the upper end side in the lower limb restraint portion. [Figure 7] It is a partially enlarged rear view showing the region of the lower end side in the lower limb restraint portion. [Figure 8] It is a sectional view of the VIII-VIII portion in FIG. 6. [Figure 9] It is a sectional view of the IX-IX portion in FIG. 6. [Figure 10] It is a sectional view of the X-X portion in FIG. 7. [Figure 11] It is a sectional view of the XI-XI portion in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] It is a sectional view of the XII-XII portion in FIG. 5. [Figure 13] In the lower limb protection device of the embodiment, it is a partially enlarged rear view showing the vicinity of the upper end of the guide slit. [Figure 14]In the lower limb protection device of the embodiment, it is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the lower limb restraint part, showing the standby position state and the receiving position state. [Figure 15] It is a partially enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the vicinity of the upper end of the lower limb restraint part in the state of being arranged at the receiving position. [Figure 16] It is a partially enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the vicinity of the lower end of the lower limb restraint part in the state of being arranged at the receiving position. [Figure 17] It is a partially enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the state where the connecting shaft part is inserted into the locking concave part in the state of being arranged at the receiving position. [Figure 18] In the lower limb protection device of the embodiment, it is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the state where the lower limb restraint part is arranged at the receiving position. [Figure 19] It is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a lower limb protection device which is another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] It is a schematic enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the lower limb protection device in FIG. 19. [Figure 21] In the lower limb protection device in FIG. 19, it is a rear view showing one lower limb restraint part. [Figure 22] In the lower limb protection device in FIG. 19, it is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the lower limb restraint part, showing the standby position state and the receiving position state. [Figure 23] In the lower limb protection device in FIG. 19, it is a partially enlarged sectional view showing the region near the upper end of the lower limb restraint part in the state of being arranged at the standby position. [Figure 24] In the lower limb protection device in FIG. 19, it is a partially enlarged sectional view showing the region near the upper end of the lower limb restraint part in the state of being arranged at the receiving position.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, a lower limb protection device S1 is provided as an example, which is positioned in front of and below the driver (occupant) MD seated in the driver's seat. Specifically, the lower limb protection device S1 is provided in the peripheral area of ​​approximately the lower half of the steering column 1. In this embodiment, unless otherwise specified, the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions coincide with the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions of the vehicle.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the steering column 1 comprises a column body 3 and a column cover 4 that covers the outer circumference of the column body. As shown in Figure 1, the column body 3 consists of a main shaft 3a and a column tube 3b that covers the circumference of the main shaft 3a.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the lower limb protection device S1 includes a lower limb restraint unit 20 capable of restraining the lower limbs ML, a holding member 10 that holds the lower limb restraint unit 20, a lifting mechanism 50 as a means of movement that can move the lower limb restraint unit 20 from a standby position P0 to a receiving position P1 when activated, and a cover unit 45 that covers the rear side of the lower limb restraint unit 20. In the embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the holding member 10 is composed of a part of the lower panel 7b of the instrument panel (hereinafter abbreviated as "instrument panel") 7, which is an interior material. The lower limb restraint unit 20 is capable of restraining the left and right lower limbs ML of the driver MD as an occupant, and in the lower limb protection device S1 of the embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, it is positioned at two locations in front of each lower limb ML, separated on the left and right sides with the steering column 1 in between. Each lower limb restraint portion 20 is positioned in a flat state (flat, unfolded plate-like state) in the standby position P0, along the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10 (lower panel 7b) (see A in Figures 1, 4, and 14). In this embodiment, the cover portion 45 that covers the rear side of the lower limb restraint portion 20 is also positioned in two places, separated on the left and right sides with the steering column 1 in between (see Figure 2).

[0018] In the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, a lifting mechanism 50 is used as a means of movement that operates when a vehicle is hit (specifically, when a frontal collision occurs). This mechanism allows the lower end 20b side of each lower limb restraint part 20 (the lower edge 22d side of the lower split body 22D, described later) to be lifted when activated. In the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, the upper end 20a side of each lower limb restraint part 20 (the upper edge 22c side of the upper split body 22U, described later) is rotatably connected to the holding member 10 by a hinge part 30, described later. When the lifting mechanism 50 is activated, each lower limb restraint part 20 rotates its upper end 20a side relative to the holding member 10 while moving its lower end 20b side upward, so that the intermediate upper and lower portion protrudes rearward from the holding member 10 (see the dashed line in Figure 1 and Figure 18).

[0019] The instrument panel 7 is made of synthetic resin and comprises an upper panel 7a and a lower panel 7b, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, the area of ​​the lower panel 7b that is positioned around the steering column 1 constitutes the retaining member 10. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the lower panel 7b (retaining member 10) is plate-shaped and is arranged at an angle with respect to the front-rear direction such that the upper end is positioned towards the rear when viewed from the left-right direction. That is, in this embodiment, the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10 is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction such that the upper end is positioned towards the rear when viewed from the left-right direction. Furthermore, the lower panel 7b (retaining member 10, i.e., the rear surface 10a) is also arranged at an angle with respect to the column body 3 (main shaft 3a) of the steering column 1. Specifically, the lower panel 7b (retaining member 10, i.e., rear surface 10a) is positioned with an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction (the floor surface of the vehicle, not shown) that is greater than the inclination angle of the column body 3 with respect to the horizontal direction (see Figure 1).

[0020] The retaining member 10 is configured to hold each lower limb restraint 20 by rotatably connecting the upper end 20a side (upper edge 22c side of the upper divided body 22U) of each lower limb restraint 20 by each hinge portion 30, and by connecting the lower end 20b side (lower edge 22d side of the lower divided body 22D) of each lower limb restraint 20 to the lifting mechanism 50. The retaining member 10 is provided with a guide slit 11, a locking recess 13, and a stopper portion 15. As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 5, the guide slit 11 is provided on the retaining member 10 approximately in the center of the left and right sides of the area covering the front side of each lower limb restraint 20, and is positioned approximately along the vertical direction. Each guide slit 11 is for inserting the connecting member 54 of the lifting mechanism 50, which will be described later, and is formed to penetrate the retaining member 10 so that the connecting member 54 can slide up and down (see Figures 1, 4, 14, and 18). As shown in Figures 5 and 13, the locking recess 13 is formed to extend to both the left and right sides, continuing from near the upper end of the guide slit 11. This locking recess 13 is formed by recessing the holding member 10 from the rear surface 10a side (see Figures 12 and 17). When the lifting mechanism 50 is in operation, the upper surface 56a of the rear portion 56 of the connecting member 54, which will be described later, comes into contact with the upper end surface 11a of the guide slit 11, and the upward movement of the connecting member 54 stops (when the lower limb restraint portion 20 is positioned at the receiving position P1). As shown by the dashed line in Figure 13 and in Figure 17, the left end 58a and right end 58b of the connecting shaft portion 58, which will be described later, protruding to the left and right from the connecting member 54, are inserted into the locking recess 13. The locking recess 13 has an opening width that is larger than the outer diameter of the connecting shaft portion 58, allowing the left end 58a and right end 58b of the connecting shaft portion 58 extending from the movable connecting member 54 to be smoothly inserted. The lower surface 13a of this locking recess 13 comes into contact with the connecting shaft portion 58 (left end 58a, right end 58b) (see Figure 17). In other words, in the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, the connecting shaft portion 58 and the lower surface 13a of the locking recess 13 constitute a locking mechanism that can maintain the position of the lower limb restraint portion 20 at the receiving position P1. The stopper portion 15 is positioned near the upper side of the hinge portion 30 and is arranged to protrude rearward from the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10 (see Figures 5, 6, and 8).In this embodiment, the stopper portion 15 has an external shape that, when viewed from the left-right direction, is a right-angled triangle with its lower surface 15a substantially aligned horizontally. This stopper portion 15 is configured to be able to press down on the area near the upper edge 22c of the upper split body 22U with its lower surface 15a. As shown in Figure 15, this stopper portion 15 is positioned to prevent damage to the area near the hinge portion 30 by pressing down on the upper edge 22c of the upper split body 22U when the lower limb restraint portion 20, positioned at the receiving position P1, receives the lower limb ML of the driver MD.

[0021] The left and right lower limb restraint sections 20, which are capable of restraining the left and right lower limbs ML of the driver MD, have the same configuration. The lower limb restraint sections 20 are made of a hard synthetic resin such as polypropylene (PP), and are flat in shape, and in this embodiment, are divided into three sections in the vertical direction. Specifically, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 14, the lower limb restraint section 20 comprises an upper section 22U, a central section 22C, and a lower section 22D that are adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. In the standby position P0, the lower limb restraint section 20 is laid flat (with the upper section 22U, central section 22C, and lower section 22D arranged in series) and positioned along the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10 (see A in Figures 4 and 14). Each of the upper section 22U, central section 22C, and lower section 22D is connected to each other so as to be rotatable between adjacent edges. In this embodiment, the upper division 22U, the central division 22C, and the lower division 22D are not directly connected, but are rotatably connected to each other via the cover portion 45, as will be described later (see Figure 12). Specifically, the upper division 22U, the central division 22C, and the lower division 22D are attached to the cover portion 45 in an adjacent state by adhering (attaching) their rear surfaces 22b to the front surface 45a of the cover portion 45, and the upper division 22U, the central division 22C, and the lower division 22D are configured to be rotatable to each other by a part of the cover portion 45 positioned between them. The upper division 22U, the central division 22C, and the lower division 22D have a cross-sectional shape in the vertical direction that is a flat, roughly trapezoidal plate shape that narrows towards the front, and are hollow in the horizontal direction. More specifically, each of the upper division 22U, central division 22C, and lower division 22D has the same thickness dimension, but differs in length in the vertical direction, and is configured to have different shapes (inclination in the thickness direction (angle of inclination)) of the upper edge portions 23U, 23C, 23D and lower edge portions 24U, 24C, 24D located at the upper and lower ends respectively (see Figure 4, 14A).Furthermore, as described above, the lower limb restraint portion 20 is rotatably connected to the holding member 10 via the hinge portion 30 at its upper end 20a (the area of ​​the upper edge portion 23U of the upper divided body 22U), and its lower end 20b (the lower edge portion 22d of the lower divided body 22D) is raised when the lifting mechanism 50 is operated.

[0022] In the non-operational state (standby position P0) of the lifting mechanism 50, the lower limb restraint section 20 is configured such that each upper section 22U, central section 22C, and lower section 22D are aligned along the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10, and more specifically, the front surfaces 22a of each upper section 22U, central section 22C, and lower section 22D are in contact with the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10 (see Figure 4, 14A). When the lifting mechanism 50 is activated, the lower edge 22d side (lower edge portion 24D) of the lower split body 22D is moved upward (more precisely, upward and rearward) along the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10, causing the upper split body 22U to rotate around the hinge portion 30 provided on the upper edge 22c side relative to the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10. As a result, the central split body 22C and the lower split body 22D rotate relative to the retaining member 10 and move upward relative to the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10 (see the dashed line in Figure 14B), and the lower limb restraint portion 20 is positioned at the receiving position P1 (see Figure 14B and Figure 18).

[0023] At this time, the upper split body 22U is positioned such that the front surface 23a of the upper edge portion 23U abuts against the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10, and is inclined with respect to the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10, and is inclined downwards towards the rear in the front-rear direction, while the lower split body 22D is positioned such that the front surface 24a of the lower edge portion 24D abuts against the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10, and is inclined with respect to the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10, and is inclined upwards towards the rear in the front-rear direction (see Figure 14B and Figure 18). The central split body 22C is positioned between the lower edge 24U of the upper split body 22U and the upper edge 23D of the lower split body 22D, at a position separated rearward from the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10, such that the front surface 23a of the upper edge 23C abuts against the front surface 24a of the lower edge 24U of the upper split body 22U, and the front surface 24a of the lower edge 24C abuts against the front surface 23a of the upper edge 23D of the lower split body 22D.

[0024] The vertical length dimensions of each upper segment 22U, central segment 22C, and lower segment 22D, as well as the shape of the upper edges 23U, 23C, 23D and lower edges 24U, 24C, 24D (the inclination state (angle of inclination) with respect to the thickness direction), are appropriately set to achieve an appropriate external shape when the lower limb restraint 20 is positioned at the receiving position P1. In this embodiment, the upper segment 22U is set to have the largest length dimension, and the central segment 22C is set to have the smallest length dimension. Furthermore, when the lower limb restraint 20 is positioned at the receiving position P1, the inclination angle α of the upper segment 22U with respect to the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10 is set to be smaller than the inclination angle β of the lower segment 22D with respect to the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10 (see Figure 14B). The central split body 22C is positioned at an angle relative to the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10, and in the position at the receiving position P1, it is positioned so as to be tilted upwards towards the rear in the front-rear direction (see Figure 18). Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14B, the central split body 22C is positioned approximately perpendicular to the upper split body 22U and intersects the lower split body 22D at an obtuse angle. More specifically, in the embodiment, in the lower limb restraint section 20 positioned at the receiving position P1, the central split body 22C is positioned close to the front of the knee MK of the occupant (driver MD) seated in the driver's seat, and is positioned so as to be roughly aligned with the shin MS, with a smaller angle of inclination in the horizontal direction than the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10 (see Figure 18).

[0025] The upper end 20a side of the lower limb restraint portion 20 (the upper edge 22c side of the upper split body 22U) is rotatably connected to the holding member 10 via a hinge portion 30. As shown in Figures 5, 6, 8, and 9, the hinge portion 30 comprises a round rod-shaped pivot shaft portion 31 arranged along the left-right direction, a bearing portion 32 formed to protrude forward from the front lower end side of the upper edge portion 23U of the upper split body 22U, and mounting members 34 that attach both the left and right ends of the pivot shaft portion 31 to the holding member 10. As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the bearing portion 32 is partially formed in the area near the left and right center of the upper split body 22U. The pivot shaft portion 31 is arranged to pass through the bearing portion 32 and to protrude from the bearing portion 32 on both the left and right sides. The end portions 31a protruding from the bearing portion 32 on both the left and right sides of the pivot shaft portion 31 are each attached to the rear surface 10a side of the holding member 10 by mounting members 34. As shown in Figure 9, the mounting member 34 is curved in a substantially semicircular cross-section so as to be able to hold the pivot shaft portion 31, and its upper and lower ends are attached to the rear surface 10a side of the holding member 10 using fixing means such as screws (not shown in the figure). The hinge portion 30 is housed in a mounting recess 17 that is recessed from the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10 so that the front surface 23a of the upper edge portion 23U of the upper divided body 22U after movement (more specifically, the surface of the cushioning material 36 described later) can come into contact with the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10 (see Figure 8). Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, a shock-absorbing cushioning material 36 is attached to the front surface of the upper edge portion 23U of the upper split body 22U, in the area in front of the hinge portion 30 (bearing portion 32). Also, in this embodiment, the upper split body 22U is configured such that the mounting portion 34 is cut out (see Figure 9).

[0026] A connecting piece 40 is formed protruding from the lower end 20b side of the lower limb restraint portion 20 (the lower edge 22d side of the lower split body 22D). This connecting piece 40 is for connecting the connecting member 54 of the lifting mechanism 50, which will be described later. Specifically, the connecting piece 40 is formed to protrude from the front surface 24a of the lower edge portion 24D of the lower split body 22D. Two of these connecting pieces are arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the connecting member 54, and each is formed so that a connecting shaft portion 58, which will be described later and penetrates the connecting member 54, can be inserted through it (see Figures 10 and 11). In other words, the lower edge 22d side of the lower split body 22D is rotatably connected to the connecting member 54 of the lifting mechanism 50, with the connecting shaft portion 58 as the center of rotation.

[0027] In this embodiment, the cover portion 45 completely covers the rear side of each lower limb restraint portion 20 and, as described above, is arranged in two locations, separated on the left and right sides by the steering column 1. The cover portion 45 is formed from a flexible sheet material and, in this embodiment, is made of leather such as natural leather, synthetic leather, or artificial leather. As described above, the rear surfaces 22b of each of the upper divisions 22U, central division 22C, and lower division 22D constituting the lower limb restraint portion 20 are bonded (attached) to the front surface 45a of the cover portion 45 using adhesive means such as adhesive or double-sided tape. The upper edge of the cover portion 45 is positioned approximately in line with the upper edge 22c of the upper division 22U (see Figure 8).

[0028] The lifting mechanism 50 is activated in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle to lift the lower end 20b side of each lower limb restraint part 20 upward. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, it comprises connecting members 54, 54 extending from the lower end 20b side of each lower limb restraint part 20 (the lower edge 22d side of each lower divided body 22D), a connecting rod 52 extending in the left-right direction to connect the two connecting members 54, 54, a lifting belt 65 that allows the connecting rod 52 to be lifted, and a winding means 67 that can wind up the lifting belt 65 when activated.

[0029] The connecting rod portion 52 is positioned in front of the lower end 20b of each lower limb restraint portion 20 in the standby position P0, specifically in front of the holding member 10 (lower panel 7b). In this embodiment, it is shaped like a round rod with its axial direction aligned with the left-right direction (see Figures 3 and 4).

[0030] The connecting members 54 extending from the lower end 20b side of each lower limb restraint portion 20 are, in this embodiment, rod-shaped with a square cross-section and fixed to the connecting rod portion 52, and are arranged to connect the left end 52a side and the right end 52b side of the connecting rod portion 52 to the lower end 20b side of each lower limb restraint portion 20 (see Figures 3-5, 7, 10, 11). Each connecting member 54 is arranged to extend backward from the left end 52a side and the right end 52b side of the connecting rod portion 52, respectively. In this embodiment, each connecting member 54 is formed with a shallow bend so that the intermediate portion is positioned downward when viewed from the left and right sides (see Figures 4, 10). Each connecting member 54 has its front and rear intermediate portions inserted into guide slits 11 formed in the holding member 10. Its front end is fixed to the connecting rod 52, and its rear end is rotatably connected to a connecting piece 40 disposed on the lower edge 22d side of the lower divided body 22D using a connecting shaft 58. The connecting shaft 58 is a round rod oriented in the left-right direction. Each connecting member 54 is covered on both sides by connecting pieces 40, 40 that extend (project) from the lower edge 22d side of the lower divided body 22D (specifically, the front surface 24a of the lower edge portion 24D of the lower divided body 22D). The connecting shaft 58 is passed through both the connecting member 54 and the connecting piece 40, 40, thereby rotatably connecting it to the connecting piece 40 (lower divided body 22D) via the connecting shaft 58 (see Figures 10 and 11). In the state before the winding means 67 is activated (positioned at the standby position P0 of the lower limb restraint 20), the connecting member 54 is positioned such that the lower surface 55a of the front portion 55, which is on the connecting rod portion 52 side, abuts against the lower end surface 11b of the guide slit 11 (see Figure 10). In the state after the winding means 67 is activated (positioned at the receiving position P1 of the lower limb restraint 20), the connecting member 54 is positioned so that the upper surface 56a of the rear portion 56, which is on the lower limb restraint 20 side, is close to the upper end surface 11a of the guide slit 11 (see Figure 16).

[0031] The connecting shaft portion 58, which connects the connecting member 54 and the connecting piece portion 40, is configured to extend outward to the left and right of the connecting piece portions 40, 40 (see the dashed lines in Figures 11 and 13). The left end portion 58a and the right end portion 58b of this connecting shaft portion 58, which protrude outward to the left and right of the connecting piece portions 40, 40, are inserted into the locking recess 13 provided in the holding member 10 after the connecting member 54 moves upward (after each lower limb restraint portion 20 is positioned at the receiving position P1) (see Figure 17). Together with the locking recess 13, they constitute a locking mechanism that prevents the lower limb restraint portion 20 from returning (maintaining the position of the lower limb restraint portion 20 at the receiving position P1).

[0032] The lifting belt section 65 is made of a flexible strip and is positioned to extend upward from the intermediate left and right sides of the connecting rod section 52, with its ends connected to the winding means 67. In this embodiment, the lower region of the lifting belt section 65 is bifurcated to prevent interference with the column body 3 of the steering column 1 (see Figures 2 and 3). The winding means 67 is of a predetermined configuration that allows the lifting belt section 65 to be wound up when in operation. The winding means 67 is electrically connected to a control circuit (not shown) provided on the vehicle body side. Detailed illustration is omitted, but it is equipped with a motor and a winding shaft, etc., and is configured to wind up a predetermined amount of the lifting belt section 65 in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the winding means 67 is located inside the steering column 1 (near the upper wall of the column cover 4) (see Figures 1 and 4). The lifting belt portion 65 is then reoriented by a deflection roller 69 located on the upper wall side of the column cover 4 near the front end of the steering column 1, and its end is connected to the winding means 67 behind the deflection roller 69. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, in the standby position P0, the lifting belt portion 65 is positioned between the deflection roller 69 and the connecting rod portion 52 so as to be inclined with respect to the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10. Specifically, in this embodiment, it is positioned substantially along the vertical direction. In this embodiment, when the lifting belt portion 65 is wound up during the operation of the winding means 67, the connecting rod portion 52 is restricted from moving forward from the holding member 10 by the lower limb restraint portion 20 (lower split body 22D) itself, and moves upward along the front surface of the holding member 10 (see A in Figure 14).

[0033] Then, when the winding mechanism 67 is operated, the area on the end side of the lifting belt portion 65 (the area located between the deflection roller 69 and the winding mechanism 67) is wound up, causing the connecting rod portion 52 to move upward. As the connecting rod portion 52 moves upward, the lower edge 22d side of the lower divided body 22D of each lower limb restraint portion 20 moves upward, causing each lower limb restraint portion 20 to move from the standby position P0 to the receiving position P1 (see Figure 14 A, B). To explain the movement of the lower limb restraint portion 20 in detail, the connecting member 54 that moves upward together with the connecting rod portion 52 slides upward within the guide slit 11, and as the connecting member 54 moves, the lower edge 22d of the lower divided body 22D is pulled upward. At this time, as the connecting rod 52 moves upward along the front surface of the holding member 10, the lower split body 22D rotates relative to the connecting member 54 around the connecting shaft 58, while moving so that the lower end 24b of the lower edge 24D is aligned with the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10. Then, the upper split body 22U, the central split body 22C, and the lower split body 22D move upward and rotate in sequence, so that the lower limb restraint body 20 is positioned at the receiving position P1. When positioned at the receiving position P1, the upper split body 22U is positioned so as to be inclined with respect to the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10, with the front surface 23a of the upper edge 23U abutting against the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10, and the front surface 24a of the lower edge 24U abutting against the front surface 23a of the upper edge 23C of the central split body 22C. The lower split body 22D is positioned so as to be inclined with respect to the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10, with the front surface 24a of the lower edge 24D abutting against the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10, and the front surface 23a of the upper edge 23D abutting against the front surface 24a of the lower edge 24C of the central split body 22C. In other words, the lower limb restraint body 20 is positioned at the receiving position P1 with the central split body 22C, which is located between the upper and lower parts, projecting backward (positioned at a position away from the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10) (see Figure 18). When the lower limb restraint portion 20 is positioned at the receiving position P1, the left end 58a and the right end 58b of the connecting shaft portion 58 are inserted into the locking recess 13 formed in the holding member 10 (see the dashed line in Figure 13 and Figure 17), thereby restricting the downward movement of the connecting rod portion 52.

[0034] In the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, a lower limb restraint unit 20 capable of restraining the lower limbs ML of an occupant (driver MD) seated in the driver's seat is held by a holding member 10 in front of the driver MD's lower limbs ML. This lower limb restraint unit 20 moves from a standby position P0 to a receiving position P1 by a lifting mechanism 50, which is a means of movement that operates when a vehicle is hit (in the event of a frontal collision). The lower limb restraint portion 20 is a flat plate divided into at least two sections (three sections in this embodiment) in the vertical direction. In the standby position P0, it is positioned flat along the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10 (see Figures 1 and 4). In the receiving position P1 after the lifting mechanism 50 is activated, the upper and lower intermediate portions are positioned so that they protrude rearward relative to the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10, causing the adjacent edge regions of each divided body (upper divided body 22U, central divided body 22C, lower divided body 22D) (specifically, the central divided body 22C in this embodiment) to protrude rearward (see Figure 18). In other words, in the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, the lower limb restraint portion 20 is positioned flat along the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10 in front of the left and right lower limbs ML in the standby position P0. Therefore, it can be easily mounted even in places where it is difficult to secure a wide mounting space in the front and rear directions, such as in front of the driver's seat. Furthermore, in the receiving position P1, the lower limb restraint portion 20 is positioned such that its upper and lower intermediate portions protrude backward from the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10 over the entire left and right area. In other words, in the receiving position P1, the lower limb restraint portion 20 is positioned such that a gap is created between the upper and lower intermediate portions (central divided body 22C) and the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10, with the upper and lower intermediate portions protruding backward. As a result, the upper and lower intermediate portions (central divided body 22C) that protrude backward in the lower limb restraint portion 20 come into contact with the lower limb ML of the driver MD as it moves forward. These upper and lower intermediate portions (central divided body 22C) deform by entering the gap between them and the retaining member 10 and retracting forward, thereby absorbing energy and receiving the lower limb ML, thus effectively restraining the lower limb ML of the driver MD.

[0035] Therefore, the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment can be easily installed even when it is difficult to secure mounting space, and can accurately restrain the lower limbs ML of the driver MD, who is seated in the seat.

[0036] Furthermore, in the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, the lower limb restraint section 20 is divided into three sections vertically, and at the receiving position P1, the central section 22C, located in the center of the vertical section, is positioned at a distance rearward from the holding member 10. As a result, at the receiving position P1, the lower limb restraint section 20 is positioned so that the rear surface of the central area of ​​the vertical section (the rear surface 22b of the central section 22C) is roughly aligned with the lower limb ML of the driver MD, and the rear surface 22b of the central section 22C can widely support the lower limb ML from above and below. Specifically, in the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, when the lower limb ML comes into contact with the central section 22C, the central section 22C absorbs energy by deforming the upper section 22U and the lower section 22D interposed between the central section 22C and the holding member 10, while the central section 22C supports the lower limb ML. If these points are not taken into consideration, the lower limb restraint section may be configured to be divided into two parts in the vertical direction. Of course, the lower limb restraint section may also be configured to be divided into four or more parts in the vertical direction.

[0037] Furthermore, in the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, each of the upper segment 22U, central segment 22C, and lower segment 22D is hollow. Therefore, when the lower limb ML is received, the upper segment 22U, central segment 22C, and lower segment 22D themselves can be deformed, which increases the amount of energy absorbed when the lower limb is received compared to when the segments are made of solid plate-like bodies, and makes it possible to restrain the occupant's lower limbs more accurately. If these points are not taken into consideration, each segment constituting the lower limb restraint part may be made of solid plate-like bodies.

[0038] Furthermore, in the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, the lifting mechanism 50, which serves as a means of movement, is equipped with a locking mechanism that can maintain the position of the lower limb restraint 20 at the receiving position P1. Specifically, in this embodiment, the connecting shaft portion 58 of the lifting mechanism 50 and the locking recess 13 provided on the holding member 10 side into which the connecting shaft portion 58 can be inserted constitute the locking mechanism. Therefore, in the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, after the lower limb restraint 20 is positioned at the receiving position P1 (after the movement of the lower limb restraint 20 is completed), the movement of the lower limb restraint 20 back to the standby position P0 can be restricted, and the driver's lower limb ML can be stably restrained by the lower limb restraint 20, which maintains a stable protruding state.

[0039] Furthermore, in the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, the rear side of the lower limb restraint portion 20 is covered by a cover portion 45 made of a flexible sheet material, and each upper segment 22U, central segment 22C, and lower segment 22D are attached (bonded) to the cover portion 45 on their rear sides 22b, thereby rotatably connected to each other via the cover portion 45. As a result, in the lower limb protection device S1 of this embodiment, the rear side of the lower limb restraint portion 20 is covered by the cover portion 45, which improves its appearance and enhances its aesthetic appeal when mounted on a vehicle. In addition, since each upper segment 22U, central segment 22C, and lower segment 22D constituting the lower limb restraint portion 20 are rotatably connected to each other via the cover portion 45, it is not necessary to configure each segment itself to be rotatably connected to each other, which simplifies manufacturing and suppresses increases in manufacturing costs. Furthermore, if these points are not taken into consideration, the configuration may be made without a cover, or even if a cover is provided, the individual parts may be directly connected.

[0040] Alternatively, a lower limb protection device S2 with the configuration shown in Figures 19-21 may be used. This lower limb protection device S2 is also positioned in front of the lower part of the driver MD seated in the driver's seat. Although detailed illustrations are omitted, it has two lower limb restraint parts 20A, 20A separated on the left and right sides by the steering column 1, similar to the lower limb protection device S1 described above.

[0041] The lower limb protection device S2 comprises a lower limb restraint section 20A, a holding member 10A that holds the lower limb restraint section 20A, an extrusion device 85 as a moving means that can move each lower limb restraint section 20A from a standby position P0 to a receiving position P1 when activated, and a cover section 45 that covers the rear side of the lower limb restraint section 20A. The holding member 10A is composed of a part of the lower panel 7b of the instrument panel 7, similar to the lower limb protection device S1 described above. The cover section 45 has the same configuration as the cover section 45 used in the lower limb protection device S1 described above, so the same reference numerals are used and a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0042] In this lower limb protection device S2, an extrusion device 85 is used as a means of movement, which, when activated, can push the upper and lower intermediate portions (central divided body 22CA) of each lower limb restraint section 20A backward. Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the extrusion device 85 is installed in two locations corresponding to each lower limb restraint section 20A. In this lower limb protection device S2, the upper end 20a side (upper edge 22c side of the upper split body 22UA) and the lower end 20b side (lower edge 22d side of the lower split body 22DA) of the lower limb restraint part 20A are connected to the holding member 10A by slide rail parts 75U and 75D, which will be described later, so that they can slide and rotate relative to the holding member 10A. When the extrusion device 85 is operated, each lower limb restraint part 20A is moved backward so that the upper and lower intermediate part (central split body 22CA) protrudes backward relative to the holding member 10A, while the upper end 20a side and the lower end 20b side are rotated relative to the holding member 10A and slid toward the upper and lower center, thereby being positioned at the receiving position P1 (see A and B in Figure 22). In other words, in the lower limb protection device S2, the holding member 10A holds the lower limb restraint portion 20A by connecting the upper end 20a side and the lower end 20b side of the lower limb restraint portion 20A via the slide rail portions 75U and 75D.

[0043] The lower limb restraint section 20A is flat and divided into three sections vertically. Specifically, as shown in Figures 20 and 21, the lower limb restraint section 20A comprises an upper section 22UA, a central section 22CA, and a lower section 22DA. These upper section 22UA, central section 22CA, and lower section 22DA are also rotatably connected to each other via a cover section 45, similar to the lower limb protection device S1 described above. The upper section 22UA, central section 22CA, and lower section 22DA are symmetrical vertically; that is, the upper section 22UA and the lower section 22DA have the same external shape. The length dimension of the central section 22CA in the vertical direction is set to be smaller than that of the upper section 22UA and the lower section 22DA. These upper segment 22UA, central segment 22CA, and lower segment 22DA have the same configuration as the upper segment 22U, central segment 22C, and lower segment 22D that constitute the lower limb restraint section 20, except that they are arranged approximately symmetrically in the vertical direction (more specifically, along the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10) when positioned at the receiving position P1, as shown in Figure 22B. Therefore, the same reference numeral "A" is added to the end of each part, and a detailed explanation is omitted.

[0044] In this lower limb protection device S2, an extrusion device 85, which serves as a means of movement, is provided in front of the central split body 22CA of the lower limb restraint section 20A. The lower limb restraint section 20A is connected to the holding member 10A so that its upper end 20a side (upper edge 23UA side of the upper split body 22UA) and lower end 20b side (lower edge 24DA side of the lower split body 22DA) can slide relative to the holding member 10A. In detail, slide rails 75U, 75U, 75D, and 75D are provided on both the left and right sides of the upper region of the upper split body 22UA and on both the left and right sides of the lower region of the lower split body 22DA, respectively, for sliding the upper edge 23UA side of the upper split body 22UA and the lower edge 24DA side of the lower split body 22DA (see Figures 21 and 22).

[0045] A groove 76U is continuously formed along the rear surface 10a of the holding member 10A in the upper slide rail portion 75U, allowing the pivot shaft portion 80U, which is positioned to protrude outward to the left and right from the front lower end of the upper edge portion 23UA of the upper divided body 22UA, to slide (see Figures 23 and 24). At the lower end of the groove 76U, as shown in Figure 24, a locking recess 77U is formed to protrude forward, allowing the pivot shaft portion 80U to be inserted after movement and to prevent it from returning to its original position. The pivot shaft portion 80U, which protrudes from the upper edge portion 23UA of the upper split body 22UA, is positioned near the upper end of the slide rail portion 75U (near the upper end of the groove portion 76U) in the standby position P0, as shown in Figure 23. As the central split body 22CA moves backward due to the operation of the extrusion device 85, the pivot shaft portion 80U slides downward within the groove portion 76U and, in the receiving position P1, is inserted into the locking recess 77U provided on the lower end side of the groove portion 76U (see Figure 24). The slide rail portions 75D, which are arranged on both the left and right sides of the lower region of the lower split body 22DA, and the pivot shaft portion 80D, which is located on the lower edge portion 24DA of the lower split body 22DA, have the same configuration except that they are arranged symmetrically above and below the upper slide rail portion 75U and the pivot shaft portion 80U provided on the upper split body 22UA. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used, with "D" appended to the end, and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0046] In this embodiment, the extrusion device 85 is positioned in front of the central split body 22CA, held by the holding member 10A (see Figures 20 and 22). This extrusion device 85 is configured to operate during a frontal collision of a vehicle, enabling it to extrude the central split body 22CA backward. The extrusion device 85 includes a gas generator 86 (micro gas generator) capable of generating a small amount of gas when in operation, and a bag 87 positioned to surround the gas generator 86 and expand by filling its interior with the gas generated from the gas generator 86. The rear surface of the bag 87 is connected (bonded) to the front surface of the central split body 22CA. The extrusion device 85 is configured to operate the gas generator 86 during a frontal collision of a vehicle, thereby expanding the bag 87, and the expanding bag 87 presses the central split body 22CA backward (see Figure 22B).

[0047] When the extrusion device 85 is in operation, the central split body 22CA is pushed backward by the expanding bag 87. As the central split body 22CA moves backward, the upper split body 22UA rotates relative to the holding member 10A so that its lower edge 22d faces backward, while its upper edge 22c slides downward. At the same time, the lower split body 22DA also rotates relative to the holding member 10A so that its upper edge 22c faces backward, while its lower edge 22d slides upward, so that the lower limb restraint portion 20A is positioned at the receiving position P1. When the lower limb restraint portion 20A is positioned at the receiving position P1, each pivot shaft portion 80U, 80D is inserted into the locking recesses 77U, 77D formed in the slide rail portions 75U, 75D, thereby restricting its return. In other words, in the lower limb protection device S2, each pivot axis portion 80U, 80D and the locking recess 77U, 77D constitute a locking mechanism that can maintain the position of the lower limb restraint portion 20A at the receiving position P1.

[0048] Furthermore, the lower limb protection device S2 also includes stopper portions 90U and 90D that are positioned to protrude from the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10A. The stopper portions 90U and 90D are positioned on the upper end 20a side and the lower end 20b side of the lower limb restraint portion 20A when it is positioned at the receiving position P1, that is, near the upper edge 22c of the upper divided body 22UA and near the lower edge 22d of the lower divided body 22DA. These stopper portions 90U and 90D are arranged to prevent the pivot shaft portions 80U and 80D from detaching from the locking recesses 77U and 77D when the driver's lower limbs ML are received by the lower limb restraint portion 20A in the receiving position P1, by pressing down on the tip area of ​​the upper edge portion 23UA of the upper split portion 22UA and the tip area of ​​the lower edge portion 24DA of the lower split portion 22DA (see Figure 22B and Figure 24).

[0049] In the lower limb protection device S2 with this configuration, the lower limb restraint portion 20A is positioned in a flat shape along the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10A in front of the left and right lower limbs ML in the standby position P0. Therefore, it can be easily mounted even in places where it is difficult to secure a wide mounting space in the front and rear, such as in front of the driver's seat. Furthermore, in the receiving position P1, the lower limb restraint portion 20A is positioned so that the upper and lower intermediate portions protrude rearward from the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10A over the entire left and right area. In other words, in the receiving position P1, the lower limb restraint portion 20A is positioned so that a gap is created between the upper and lower intermediate portions (central side divided body 22CA) and the rear surface 10a of the retaining member 10A, with the upper and lower intermediate portions protruding rearward. Therefore, the upper and lower intermediate portions (central split body 22CA) that protrude posteriorly in the lower limb restraint portion 20A come into contact with the lower limb ML of the driver MD as it moves forward. These upper and lower intermediate portions (central split body 22CA) deform by entering the gap between them and the holding member 10A and concave forward, thereby absorbing energy and receiving the lower limb ML, thus effectively restraining the lower limb ML of the driver MD.

[0050] In the lower limb protection device S2, an example is shown in which the extrusion device 85 as a means of movement includes a gas generator 86 (micro gas generator) and a bag 87 that inflates using the gas discharged from the gas generator 86. However, an extrusion device without a bag may also be used, in which the gas generated from the gas generator is applied directly to the front side of the central divided body to push out the lower limb restraint (central divided body). Also, in the lower limb protection device S1 described above, an example is shown in which the lifting mechanism 50 as a means of movement includes a lifting belt 65 that is wound up by a winding means 67. However, for example, the lifting belt may be connected to an airbag built into the steering wheel, and an example may be used in which the lifting mechanism utilizes the inflation of this airbag to lift the lower limb.

[0051] In the lower limb protection devices S1 and S2 of the embodiment, the retaining members 10 and 10A that hold the lower limb restraints 20 and 20A are made from a part of the lower panel 7b of the instrument panel 7, which is an interior material of the vehicle. However, the retaining members may be configured to be separate from the lower panel and arranged separately. In the lower limb protection devices S1 and S2 of the embodiment, since the rear surface of the lower panel 7b (retaining members 10 and 10A) is inclined downwards toward the front, the lower limb restraints 20 and 20A are also arranged in a flat state with an inclination toward the front when in the standby position P0. Therefore, when in the standby position P0, contact between the lower limb restraints 20 and 20A and the shins, toes, etc. of the driver MD seated in the driver's seat can be suppressed, allowing for comfortable driving. Furthermore, in the embodiments, the lower limb protection devices S1 and S2 are described as being positioned in front of the lower part of the driver MD seated in the driver's seat, but the lower limb protection device of the present invention can also be mounted in front of the passenger seat. When mounted in front of the passenger seat, one lower limb restraint unit is provided to broadly cover the front of the left and right lower limbs of the occupant. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0052] 1...Steering column, 7...Instrument panel, 10,10A...Retaining member, 10a...Rear surface, 20,20A...Lower limb restraint part, 22U,22UA...Upper split part, 22C,22CA...Central split part, 22D,22DA...Lower split part, 30...Hinge part, 50...Lifting mechanism (movement means), 85...Extrusion device (movement means), MD...Driver (occupant), ML...Lower limb, P0...Standby position, P1...Receiving position, S1,S2...Lower limb protection device.

Claims

1. A lower limb protection device positioned in front of the lower limbs so as to be able to protect the left and right lower limbs of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, The configuration includes a lower limb restraint unit positioned in front of the lower limb and capable of restraining the lower limb, a holding member on the rear side that holds the lower limb restraint unit, and a moving means that can move the lower limb restraint unit from a standby position to a receiving position when activated during a vehicle collision. The lower limb restraint portion is The flat plate is divided into at least two sections vertically, and at least two sections are connected so as to be rotatable to each other between adjacent edges, and the structure is such that it can rotate or move relative to the rear surface of the holding member. In the aforementioned standby position, the object is positioned in a flat state, along the rear surface of the holding member, A lower limb protection device characterized in that, when the moving means is operated, each of the divided parts is moved relative to the holding member such that the regions on the adjacent edges of each divided part protrude rearward, so that at the receiving position, the upper and lower intermediate parts protrude rearward relative to the rear surface of the holding member.

2. The lower limb protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower limb restraint portion is divided into three parts in the vertical direction, and the central part located in the center of the vertical position is positioned at a location separated rearward from the holding member.

3. The lower limb protection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of the divided parts is hollow.

4. The lower limb protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the moving means is equipped with a locking mechanism capable of maintaining the position of the lower limb restraint portion at the receiving position.

5. The rear side of the lower limb restraint portion is covered by a cover portion made of a flexible sheet material. The lower limb protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the divided parts is attached to the cover portion, thereby being rotatably connected to each other via the cover portion.

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