Abstract: An armrest structure for a vehicle of the present invention comprises a first armrest to support an elbow of one of arms of a passenger seated in a seat and a second armrest to support an elbow of the other arm of the passenger. A horizontal distance W1 between a vertically-extending seat center line of the seat and an elbow's support position at the first armrest is greater than a horizontal distance W2 between the vertically-extending seat center line and an elbow's support position at the second armrest, and a height H1 of the elbow's support position at the first armrest is greater than a height H2 of the elbow's support position at the second armrest. Accordingly, the passenger's elbows can be properly supported at the armrests on both sides, in a seat width direction, of the seat.

Abstract: A driving position adjusting apparatus for a vehicle comprises a driver's seat provided on a floor panel of a vehicle compartment, an operational pedal, such as an accelerator pedal, which is operated by a driver seated in the driver's seat, an incline-face portion which is provided on the floor panel, on which a heel of the driver operating the operational pedal is placed, the incline-face portion having an upper face which is inclined so that a front portion thereof is located at a higher position than a rear portion thereof, and a heel-placement height adjusting device which adjusts a height position of the driver's heel placed on the incline-face portion at least by moving up or down the incline-face portion.

Abstract: An armrest structure for a vehicle of the present invention comprises a first armrest to support an elbow of one of arms of a passenger seated in a seat and a second armrest to support an elbow of the other arm of the passenger. A horizontal distance W1 between a vertically-extending seat center line of the seat and an elbow's support position at the first armrest is greater than a horizontal distance W2 between the vertically-extending seat center line and an elbow's support position at the second armrest, and a height H1 of the elbow's support position at the first armrest is greater than a height H2 of the elbow's support position at the second armrest. Accordingly, the passenger's elbows can be properly supported at the armrests on both sides, in a seat width direction, of the seat.

Abstract: A driving position adjusting apparatus for a vehicle comprises a driver's seat provided on a floor panel of a vehicle compartment, an operational pedal, such as an accelerator pedal, which is operated by a driver seated in the driver's seat, an incline-face portion which is provided on the floor panel, on which a heel of the driver operating the operational pedal is placed, the incline-face portion having an upper face which is inclined so that a front portion thereof is located at a higher position than a rear portion thereof, and a heel-placement height adjusting device which adjusts a height position of the driver's heel placed on the incline-face portion at least by moving up or down the incline-face portion.

Abstract: The present invention is a vehicle planning support system (1) for displaying vehicle models (84, 92, etc.) on a screen to support vehicle planning, and comprises specification value input screen display means (36) for displaying specification value input screens for inputting specification values including dimensions and angles in the vehicle model; 3D morphing screen display means (58) for displaying vehicle models as deformable three-dimensionally shaped 3D vehicle models based on specification values input on the specification value screen using the 3D morphing screen; 2D morphing screen display means (56) for displaying vehicle models as deformable two-dimensionally shaped 2D vehicle models based on specification values input on the specification value screen using the 2D morphing screen.

Abstract: The present invention is a vehicle planning support system (1) for displaying vehicle models (84, 92, etc.) on a screen to support vehicle planning, and comprises specification value input screen display means (36) for displaying specification value input screens for inputting specification values including dimensions and angles in the vehicle model; 3D morphing screen display means (58) for displaying vehicle models as deformable three-dimensionally shaped 3D vehicle models based on specification values input on the specification value screen using the 3D morphing screen; 2D morphing screen display means (56) for displaying vehicle models as deformable two-dimensionally shaped 2D vehicle models based on specification values input on the specification value screen using the 2D morphing screen.

Abstract: An opening portion (2) is formed on an instrumental panel (1). A plurality of units (U1-U3) and a panel body (P) corresponding to the units are arranged. The units (U1-U3) have neither an input portion such as switches operated by the passenger nor an output portion such as a display for the passenger, and switch groups (7, 8) and a display (5) are mounted on the panel body (P). The units (U1-U3) and panel body (P) are coupled and connected to each other in advance to obtain an electronic equipment assembly. Of this assembly, the units (U1-U3) are stored in the instrumental panel (1) via the opening portion (2), and the opening portion (2) is covered by the panel body (P), so that the panel body (P) constitutes a portion of the wall surface in the passenger room.

Abstract: The head rest is detachably mounted to the seat back of the front seat and the air bag unit with an air bag mounted therein is mounted to the head rest. The air bag is expanded toward the passenger seated on the rear seat in response to an explosion signal from the control unit into which signals are entered from impact sensors. The air bag is so disposed as to expand only when the passenger is seated on the rear seat. The posture and position of the air bag unit is adjusted in association with the movement or displacement of the front seat to which the air bag is mounted, thereby improving the ability of the expanded air bag to confine the passenger seated on the rear seat and protecting the passenger in a more safe fashion. Further, the air bag unit is mounted to the head rest of the front seat, so that the air bag can be exchanged with ease and at cheap costs without exchanging the front seat itself.

Abstract: A safety air bag apparatus is disposed behind an instrument panel having an instrument panel opening which is inclined with respect to a direction of air bag expansion relative to an opening of an air bag container. The safety air bag apparatus has a lid which covers the instrument panel opening so as to be flush with the instrument panel and to have an outer surface with a profile matching an outer profile of the instrument panel. The lid opens upwards to uncover the instrument panel opening. The safety air bag apparatus is further provided with a control device which brings the air bag, during expansion, into contact with a lower portion of the lid no later than it is brought into contact with an upper portion of the lid.

Abstract: The head rest is detachably mounted to the seat back of the front seat and the air bag unit with an air bag mounted therein is mounted to the head rest. The air bag is expanded toward the passenger seated on the rear seat in response to an explosion signal from the control unit into which signals are entered from impact sensors. The air bag is so disposed as to expand only when the passenger is seated on the rear seat. The posture and position of the air bag unit is adjusted in association with the movement or displacement of the front seat to which the air bag is mounted, thereby improving the ability of the expanded air bag to confine the passenger seated on the rear seat and protecting the passenger in a safer fashion. Further, the air bag unit is mounted to the head rest of the front seat, so that the air bag can be exchanged with ease and at a cheap cost without needing to exchange the front seat itself.

Abstract: An air bag device for an automotive vehicle which comprises a reaction can disposed in a dashboard of the vehicle and a ring frame attached inside a portion of the reaction can. The air bag device also includes an air bag having a distal portion, a fixed portion disposed between the reaction can and the ring frame and a protruding portion which extends outside of the reaction can. The protruding portion has a stiffness greater than he distal portion of the air bag, whereby the distal portion of the air bag is substantially prevented from being disposed between the reaction can and the ring frame. A method for attaching the air bag to the reaction can is also disclosed.

Abstract: An air bag mount structure for mounting an air bag unit which is disposed behind an instrument panel for absorbing a shock against a passenger seated in a front seat of a vehicle includes a hinge pillar arranged in a front body structure of the vehicle for supporting a door unit through a hinge device. A support device mounts the air bag unit thereon. The support device is mounted on the hinge pillar at one end portion and on either the hinge pillar or a floor panel at the other end. Stability can be improved in supporting the air bag unit so that a reliability of the air bag system can be obtained in operation.

Abstract: An instrument panel structure or dashboard of a vehicle is constituted by an instrument panel arranged on the front side of a passenger room, a steering wheel, arranged in front of a driver's seat, for regulating a travel direction of the vehicle, and an operation switch mounting portion which is defined on the dashboard, and on which various operation switches are mounted. The operation switch mounting portion is curved so as to be located on the rear side of a vehicle body from a portion far from a mounting position of the steering wheel toward the mounting position of the steering wheel. The operation switch mounting portion has a first area which is defined on a portion near the mounting position of the steering wheel, and on which a first-class operation switch having the highest importance of the various operation switches is mounted.

Abstract: An air bag system includes an instrument panel provided with an opening in the vicinity of a passenger's seat. An air bag unit is disposed in the opening and provided with an air bag and a casing for receiving the air bag, and a lid device is disposed at a rear end of the casing for covering the opening. At least a pair of belt members, spaced transversely and in a mirror image relationship with regard to a vertical center line for connecting the lid device with the instrument panel, are provided. One end of the belt member is mounted on the lid device at a position offset from a transverse center line of the lid device. When the air bag inflated, the lid device is swung about a transverse axis so as to be opened smoothly.

Abstract: A seat belt device for fastening a passenger seated on a seat comprises a shoulder belt carried by a seat back. A support strap is fixed at one end to the seat back and extends rearwardly. An anchor member is mounted on a body member of the vehicle rearward of the seat back for carrying the support strap. A retractor is mounted on a body member for winding up and retracting the support strap. A lock mechanism is provided in the retractor for preventing the support means from being drawn out from the retractor when a horizontal acceleration acting on the retractor is greater than a predetermined value. The seat belt device is reliable in case of an emergency and provides improved visuality.

Abstract: An air bag system includes an instrument panel provided with an opening in the vicinity of a passenger seat. An air bag unit, disposed in the opening is provided with an air bag and a casing for receiving the air bag. A cover member is provided on the instrument panel so as to cover the opening in such a manner that the cover member extends continuous to a surface of the instrument panel. A shelf portion is formed, on the instrument panel, to extend toward a passenger seated in the passenger seat. The cover member is provided with a weakened portion to be broken, with an upper portion thereof being opened upwardly and a lower portion thereof being opened downwardly, like a double door, when the air bag is inflated. The shelf portion is slightly extended beyond the lower portion of the cover member when the lower portion is opened. With this construction, a safe air bag system can be obtained with a compact structure.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle has a tilt mechanism for adjusting the height of a steering wheel. The steering wheel can be tilted through a larger angular range while the vehicle is parking but is inhibited from being tilted out of a smaller angular range included in the larger angular range while the vehicle is running.

Abstract: An air bag system includes an air bag unit having an air bag to be inflated, an inflator for generating a gas for the air bag and a casing for receiving the air bag in a folded state in a normal condition. An instrument panel provides a space in which the air bag unit is disposed, a dash upper panel is disposed in front of the air bag unit in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a protective structure or device prevents the dash upper panel from interfering with a proper operation of the air bag unit. A proper operation of the air bag system can, therefore, be successfully maintained.

Abstract: A steering system for use in an automotive vehicle includes a steering shaft inclined at a fixed angle with respect to a vehicle body, an air bag module securely mounted on one end of the steering shaft, and a steering wheel pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the steering shaft. The steering wheel can be tilted relative to the steering shaft.

Abstract: A perfume emitting device for use in an automobile comprises a tank for storing a perfume emitting material and a perfume atomizing unit connected to the tank. The perfume atomizing unit is provided with a nozzle for atomizing the perfume emitting material and an operation member reciprocably mounted in the perfume atomizing unit for mechanically operating this unit, when a door of the automobile is opened, so that the perfume emitting material may be emitted to the inside of the automobile for a predetermined period of time.