Abstract: A knee airbag system for a vehicle is disclosed. The knee airbag system may include a reaction plate having a plurality of apertures. The knee airbag system may include an airbag. The airbag may have a plurality of locations that are disposed to correspond to the plurality of apertures if the airbag is positioned for attachment to the reaction plate. The knee airbag system may also include a plurality of protrusions. The plurality of protrusions may extend through the plurality of apertures for securing the reaction plate to the airbag.

Abstract: An apparatus for leading to normal tearing of an instrument panel having a built-in passenger air bag (PAB). The apparatus includes an instrument panel having an air bag module located thereinside, a tear line formed on the instrument panel in a predetermined shape such that the air bag easily comes out of the instrument panel when deployed, and a heating device installed inside the instrument panel so as to heat a surrounding area of the tear line and at least one predetermined area of the instrument panel which acts as a hinge section when the air bag is deployed.

Abstract: An inflator securing structure for securing an inflator having substantially cylindrical shape to a retainer in an airbag system includes a fixed shaft having a substantially D-shaped cross section and formed at one end of the inflator along an axial direction of the inflator; and a locking structure forming a locking hole having a substantially D shape and formed in the retainer so that the locking hole is engaged with the fixed shaft. One of the fixed shaft and the locking hole has at least one groove, and other of the fixed shaft and the locking hole has at least one convex portion so as to engage with the groove.

Abstract: A module assembly for an airbag device for protecting occupants of motor vehicles includes a carrier for the assembly, an inflatable airbag packet, a flexible protective envelope, and a fixing mechanism. The airbag packet is fixed to the carrier. The airbag packet is accommodated in the flexible protective envelope. The protective enveloped can be closed off in a gastight manner. The fixing mechanism fixes the airbag packet to the carrier. The fixing mechanism includes a holding element. The holding element, which includes a securing mechanism provided on the carrier to fix the airbag packet to the carrier, extends along an edge of the airbag packet. The securing mechanism is formed integrally on the carrier and is resiliently pivotable with respect to a lateral section of the carrier. Alternatively, the securing mechanism is fixed on the carrier as a separate assembly.

Abstract: A supplemental inflatable restraint system (SIR) is provided for use with a vehicle having a passenger compartment with an instrument panel at a forward end therein. The SIR includes a cavity having an opening formed in a lower portion of the instrument panel. An inflatable cushion is operable to transition through the opening from a non-expanded state, in which the cushion is inside the cavity, to an expanded state, in which the cushion is substantially outside the cavity. A fluid dispensing apparatus is operable to regulate transition of the cushion from the non-expanded state to the expanded state. A hush panel is attached to the lower portion of the instrument panel such that the panel is not visible to a vehicle occupant seated upright and adjacent thereto. The hush panel is configured to cover the opening, and is characterized by the absence of an outer surface with an appearance finish.

Abstract: An interior trim panel is provided that is adapted to house a supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) system when installed in a motorized vehicle. The trim panel includes a rigid substrate configured to attach to the vehicle. The rigid substrate includes opposing inner and outer surfaces, and defines a cavity therein with an opening formed through the inner and outer surfaces. The cavity is configured to nest the SIR system therein. A standing rib protrudes from the rigid substrate outer surface, elongated about at least a portion of the opening. An outer skin is injection molded over the rigid substrate, covering the outer surface and opening. The outer skin includes a reduced thickness portion, formed between an external surface thereof and the standing rib, which is configured to weaken the outer skin such that the inflatable cushion can break therethrough when transitioning from a non-expanded state to an expanded state.

Abstract: Air bag assembly is inflatable by an inflator mounted on the vehicle forward of the vehicle occupant seat. The air bag assembly has a vertical extending, occupant facing restraining surface located at a distance from the air bag base end. An air bag base wall extends generally horizontally from a base end mounted on the inflator and divides the air bag assembly into a lower air bag portion for restraint of the occupant lower torso and an upper air bag portion for restraint of the upper torso. The upper air bag portion includes an inflatable left hand lobe rising from the left side of the base wall and an inflatable right lobe rising from the right side of the base wall. The left and right hand lobes define an upper un-inflated void space, the lower extent of which is provided by the horizontal extending base wall.

Abstract: A motor vehicle trim element having weakened areas for an airbag deployment opening is provided. The layered construction of the trim element includes a carrier layer, a spacer layer laminated thereto and a decorative layer. A weakened area of the decorative layer is not visible from the outside. An additional layer of material, made of, for example, a plastic film, is located between the spacer layer and the decorative layer to reduce the likelihood of the weakened area becoming visible from the outside, even under thermal and/or mechanical stress. The additional layer of material may also include a weakened area.

Abstract: Several embodiments take the form of an instrument panel having an airbag therein for a motor vehicle. The instrument panel includes a pre-constructed substrate that includes a mounting surface and a reference surface. The instrument panel also includes a cover including a cover skin layer and a woven layer. The cover skin layer has an outer surface that defines a stitched region for presentation to an occupant and an airbag region that is separate from the stitched region. The woven layer has an inner surface that is coupled to the mounting surface of the substrate and coupled to the mounting surface via an adhesive. The stitched region is configured to receive at least one stitch and the airbag region corresponds to at least part of an area where the airbag impacts the cover skin layer during a deployment of the airbag. Other embodiments relate forming an instrument panel.

Abstract: A housing for acceptance of an airbag module for a motor vehicle includes at least two side walls located opposite one another formed to be capable of deformation to different extents. The side walls are more easily capable of deformation and exhibit a generally flat area section which can be deformed in the direction of the housing floor if acted upon by force, and which remain stable in shape in the case of tensile force applied in a direction generally away from the housing floor.

Abstract: Described is an interior trim part for covering an airbag, which may include a two-dimensional carrier, a surface decor and a foamed intermediate layer. A through-opening for the airbag is recessed in the carrier, and an inlay covering the through-opening is applied into the intermediate layer, such that the inlay projects beyond an edge of the through-opening on one side and there, in an overlapping region of the inlay and of the carrier, serves as a hinge for an airbag flap formed by the surface decor and the intermediate layer with the inlay. Furthermore, with a folding open of the airbag flap, an energy amount which is dependent on the intensity of an opening impact of the airbag, may be absorbed by way of a release of the intermediate layer with the inlay from the carrier, away from the edge in the overlapping region.

Abstract: An airbag cover has lid portions which are opened by a breakable portion being broken when the airbag cover is pushed by an airbag which is being inflated and is formed from a synthetic resin by molding into a single layered airbag cover. A breakable portion on a distal side of the lid portions is formed as a distal edge straight section through cutting operation which utilizes a cutting blade. The part is formed by providing a thick portion and a thin portion so that a maximum change rate which is a rate of difference between a maximum value and a minimum value based on the maximum value is made to be 15% or more without providing at both ends of a sectional area change curve marked by plotting along the part values of sectional areas of a segment of 50 mm along the part an area where the values of the sectional areas are reduced from a center towards both ends thereof as a range where the values of the sectional areas are larger than the minimum value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a driver's knee airbag (1), in particular for a motor vehicle, with a gas generator (2), a plurality of chambers (5, 6, 7) and catch straps (3, 4). So that it deploys better and provides better protection for a vehicle occupant, in particular the driver, in the event of a crash, it comprises a first catch strap (3) dividing the airbag essentially horizontally, and two catch straps (4) extending essentially vertically from the first catch strap (3). The space between the steering column and the knees of the driver is therefore rapidly filled by the airbag in the event of a crash.

Abstract: A panel includes an air bag insert hole. An air bag housing is mounted in the air bag insert hole. The air bag housing includes a connector. A bracket is attached to the panel and to the connector, to connect the air bag housing to the panel. The panel may further include at least one breakable portion, configured to break upon inflation of an air bag cushion mounted within the air bag housing. The breakable portion may include thinner material than material of a remaining portion of the panel, perforations, or a crack. The bracket may have a higher ductility than the lower panel. The bracket may be bolted to the lower panel. The connector may include a secondary hole. The bracket has a portion that is inserted in the secondary hole.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a front passenger's seat includes a case that includes a front storage area that has an airbag mounting plane and a rear storage area. A bottom wall of the rear storage area is located at a lower level than the airbag mounting plane of the front storage area. The airbag has a generally square conical contour whose top is disposed at the front end and includes proximate the front end a gas inlet port. The airbag is secured to the mounting plane of the case by the periphery of the gas inlet port. A lower folded-up portion that is formed by folding up a lower inflatable portion of the airbag is stored in the rear storage area of the case. The airbag apparatus further includes proximate left and right edges of an opening of the case in the rear storage area means for restraining emergence of the lower folded-up portion of the airbag from the opening of the case in an early stage of airbag deployment by holding down left and right end regions of the lower folded-up portion.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus for protecting a front seat passenger of a vehicle. The apparatus includes an airbag module configured to be mounted in a instrument panel of a vehicle in front of the front seat passenger. The module includes an airbag and a gas generator. The airbag includes left and right inflatable lobes separated by a central gap. Each of the inflatable lobes is bounded by an outer panel forming an outer surface of the lobe and an inner panel forming an inner surface of the lobe.

Abstract: A variety of embodiments are disclosed, in both apparatus and method form, that relate to the use of fabric material in the manufacture of an air bag deployment system. In addition, fabric weakening is disclosed according to a technique that does not result in physical alteration of the fabric. This invention therefore includes an air bag cover for an air bag safety system for a vehicle comprising a fabric outer layer having a frontside and a backside and a substrate containing an opening wherein the opening has a periphery. The substrate is preferably formed by low pressure molding, wherein the fabric outer layer overlies the opening in the substrate, and wherein the fabric outer layer is weakened at a location that is adjacent or overlies the substrate opening periphery.

Abstract: Airbag module bag (1) for protecting the occupants of a vehicle in the event of collision of this vehicle, where this bag (1) comprises at least an upper panel (2) and at least a lower panel (3), one or more panels comprising in their fabric one or more pins (5) that make that the shape of the bag (1) changes obtaining shapes that are adapted to the protection necessities of the occupants in the event of collision of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle passenger restraining system comprises a knee bolster, a bolster movement structure, a collision detecting section and a control section. The knee bolster is disposed in a front portion of a seat in a vehicle. The bolster movement structure is coupled to the knee bolster to apply a rearwardly directed pulling force to each transverse end of the knee bolster. The collision detecting section is configured and arranged to detect information relating to a collision of the vehicle and a probability of a collision of the vehicle. The control section is configured to operate the bolster movement structure based on the information from the collision detecting section.

Abstract: An air bag apparatus for a vehicle is provided with an air bag configured to inflate and deploy with inflow of a gas; a first inflator configured to supply the gas to the air bag having a first pressure-time property; and a second inflator configured to supply the gas to the air bag having a second pressure-time property, the second pressure-time property differing from the first pressure-time property.

Abstract: The airbag for a front passenger's seat includes an inner panel comprised of a pair of left and right base cloths. Each of the base cloths has a band shape curved in a generally C shape. A circumferential edge of a communication area communicating left and right shoulder restraining portions of the airbag is constituted by a joint portion joining inner edges of the respective base cloths together. The joint portion includes a corner area having a large curvature. Each of the base cloths includes a reinforcing portion at its inner edge for preventing the corner area from being so deformed as to reduce the curvature thereof upon airbag deployment.

Abstract: A passenger-seat airbag (32) includes a left airbag (44), a right airbag (46), and a root portion (48). A strap (70) is provided in the root portion (48) that is inflated by gas injected from an inflator (28) when a passenger-seat airbag device (10) operates. The strap (70) connects the base-end portion (48B) of the root portion (48) to a connection root portion (48C). Further, the strap (70) is provided such that a peripheral length (L2) on a front side is longer than or equal to a peripheral length (L1) on a rear side in a lateral view showing the inflated root portion (48).

Abstract: A housing for an airbag module that contains an inflatable airbag cushion in a compacted configuration before being inflated by inflation gas supplied by an inflator device. The housing includes a collar formed of a rigid material for attaching the housing to a vehicle and a chute assembly formed of a flexible material and secured to the collar.

Abstract: A vehicle airbag system includes a vehicle crash sensor that detects a vehicle impact, and an airbag module that is provided in interior equipment positioned in front of a front-seat occupant and that includes an inflator and an airbag. The vehicle airbag system further includes a reaction-force plate that receives a reaction force of the airbag; a drive unit that moves the reaction-force plate from the storage position to the predetermined operating position; and a stopper that holds the reaction-force plate at the predetermined operating position. In the airbag system, when the airbag is deployed, the reaction-force plate is moved from the storage position to the predetermined operating position by the drive unit.

Abstract: An airbag ring for mounting an airbag assembly to an instrument panel including an airbag ring portion having a first aperture. The first aperture being dimensioned to allow an airbag to pass through the first aperture during airbag deployment and a duct mounting portion integral with the airbag ring portion, the duct mounting portion having a second aperture.

Abstract: An airbag cover to be mounted on a vehicle includes a housing case for housing a passenger airbag; an airbag-cover body portion extending along a surface facing an occupant in a passenger seat; a tear line formed in the airbag-cover body portion for rupturing the airbag cover; and a plate-shaped developing door partitioned by the tear line in the airbag-cover body portion to be ruptured and developed at the tear line by being pressed by a developing-and-expanding load of the passenger airbag. The plate-shaped developing door further includes a first developing portion with standing portions, and a second developing portion attached to the case. A contacting area is formed between the standing portions and the second developing portion for vibration welding to thereby connect the first developing portion and the second developing portion.

Abstract: A housing for an airbag module that contains an inflatable airbag cushion in a compacted configuration before being inflated by inflation gas supplied by an inflator device. The housing includes a collar for attaching the housing to a vehicle and a chute assembly formed of a flexible material and secured to the collar.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint assembly includes an air bag door and chute. The air bag door includes at least one fastener integrally-formed with the air bag door. The chute is adapted to receive the at least one fastener to effect an interlock for retaining the air bag door to the chute. A method for manufacturing the inflatable restraint assembly is also disclosed. A method for assembling the inflatable restraint assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: An airbag module assembly is provided which may be used with a steering wheel unit that controls the gap between a driver airbag cover and adjacent steering wheel features. The airbag module assembly includes an airbag housing for enclosing an airbag in communication with an inflator. The airbag module assembly also includes an airbag cover that is coupled to a cover suspension module, which in turn is coupled to the steering wheel unit. The cover suspension module includes a biasing element disposed within a housing and a locating feature extending from the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting an airbag module to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising a backing plate for mounting the airbag module to the vehicle, the backing plate comprising: a plurality of elongated mounting members each being drawn from the material of the backing plate wherein the plurality of elongated mounting members are integrally formed with the backing plate and each of the plurality of elongated mounting members has a portion comprising a periphery formed from the material of the backing plate and an opening extending into the elongated mounting member, the opening defining the periphery of the plurality of elongated mounting members.

Abstract: An airbag for a front passenger's seat internally includes a communication port defined by an inner joint that joins inner circumferential edges of a pair of inner panels. The airbag includes at a rear side a recess and a pair of raised regions. The airbag further includes a contact portion where outer surfaces of the inner panels are in face-to-face contact proximate the circumference of the communication port at full inflation. The contact portion is created and maintained by an inner pressure of the airbag at full inflation that acts on the panels of the airbag, and is not formed if the inner pressure is less than that at full inflation of the airbag.

Abstract: In order to realize the required weakening geometries in a lining material for the hinged cover of an airbag, punctures are produced on the inner side of a lining material by a puncturing needle, wherein the punctures are intermittently produced in the lining material from the inner side, the weakening geometry deviates from a straight line to ensure constant, reliable and defined tearing characteristics of the lining material, wherein for producing the lines of arbitrary weakening geometries by the punctures, the puncturing needle is oriented relative to the desired line direction in one preferred embodiment of the invention, i.e., the cutting edge of the puncturing needle is aligned with the weakening geometry to be produced.

Abstract: An airbag-releasing portion structure, an inner case, and an airbag apparatus are provided that are unsusceptible to a surrounding temperature, and capable of small-sizing for a hinge portion and smoothly releasing an airbag to a vehicle interior. In this form, an inner case is composed of an inner panel connected to an inside of the outer panel, and a side wall that forms a space for housing the retainer. The inner panel is composed of a supporting portion connected to the fixing portion of the outer panel, a flap portion welded to the door portion, and a hinge portion formed between the supporting portion and the flap portion. The hinge portion includes a top portion, a supporting portion side connecting portion for connecting the supporting portion and the top portion, and a flap side connecting portion for connecting the flap portion and the top portion.

Abstract: In the airbag device for front passenger's seat of the present invention, an airbag before being housed in the case and mounted on vehicle is folded up through a preparatory folding step and a regular folding step, the regular folding step further including a transverse folding step and a vertical folding step. In a preparatorily folding step, a portion near an upper edge of the passenger's side wall is located to confront the gas inlet port, and the passenger's side wall is flatly developed so as to overlap with a lower part of the circumferential wall. In the transverse folding step, a portion of the preparatorily folded airbag located rearward of the gas inlet port is folded back in two toward a lower side of a lower part of the circumferential wall to bring a rear end thereof closer to the gas inlet port. The airbag device of the present invention shifts an entire rear face of the deploying airbag rearward in a generally vertical condition.

Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle including an airbag, an inflator and a cover a cover positioned between the airbag and the vehicle interior. The airbag is folded so that at least two portions of the airbag are positioned adjacent the inflator. The two portions of the airbag include only a single layer of material so that the two portions of the airbag deploy outside the cover before a remaining portion of the airbag.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that includes a first panel (160) with at least one first vent opening (142). A second panel (144) secured to the first panel (160) includes a base portion (150) and a door portion (156). The base portion (150) includes at least one second vent opening (200) and is folded to position the door portion (156) between the first panel (160) and the base portion (150). The door portion (156) has an open condition positioned away from the vent openings (142, 200) permitting inflation fluid to vent through the vent openings. The door portion (156) has a closed condition positioned between the first and second vent openings (142, 200) blocking inflation fluid from venting through the first and second vent openings. The door portion (156) is movable to the closed condition when the protection device (14) deploys.

Abstract: An air bag module includes an inflator for supplying gas, and an air bag supplied with the gas from the inflator, and arranged to expand between an attachment surface and legs of an occupant sitting on a seat. Thickness of the air bag in a direction from the attachment surface to the legs of the occupant is established such that a rear surface of the air bag is substantially parallel to a virtual line extending substantially along a bilateral direction of a vehicle.

Abstract: The airbag of the present invention, when completely inflated, is formed into a generally square conical shape whose top is in a front end of the airbag. A protection portion to be located in rear side of the airbag upon airbag inflation includes shoulder restraining portions disposed generally side by side in left-right orientation in an area from upper part to rear part of the completely inflated airbag. Each of the shoulder restraining portions continuously projects in upper part to rear part of the airbag.

Abstract: An impact absorbing airbag module is disclosed. The module includes a chassis that holds an inflator, and is connected to a mounting system. The chassis includes a forward side wall, a first lateral side wall, a second lateral side wall, and a rear side wall. One of the side walls includes a deforming zone that includes a first angled portion and a second angled portion. In some cases, the deforming zone extends around the periphery of the chassis.

Abstract: The positioning of an airbag plate with respect to an inflator is achieved so as to prevent the generation of a rattle that may otherwise be caused by vibrations during vehicle travel. The bottom side of a column-shaped inflator that injects pressurized fluid is supported by a retainer. An opening edge of an airbag body is clamped between an airbag plate and the retainer when the airbag plate, which is located on the upper side of the inflator, is engaged with the retainer. The edge of the bottom opening of the airbag body is clamped between the airbag plate and the inflator. In one embodiment, shoulders, which are provided on the airbag plate, abut both ends of the inflator. In another embodiment, tongue strips, which are provided on the airbag plate, abut both ends of the inflator.

Abstract: A passenger side airbag installation for an automotive vehicle has a passenger airbag module mounted in a vehicle compartment in front of an instrument panel. The airbag module has an airbag adapted to deploy in a rearward direction. A door formed integrally with the panel has a crease, which, when severed, allows the door to swing open and create an opening in the panel. The crease is adapted to be severed and the door swung open by the force of the airbag when the airbag deploys to permit the airbag to project through the opening. The door may be bowed forwardly by an accidental impact caused by a passenger or object within the vehicle being thrown against the door if the vehicle is stopped too suddenly. A reinforcing bar limits forward bowing to protect the crease from rupturing.

Abstract: An interior panel for covering an air bag module of a vehicle, includes a base layer of hard resin, formed with a breakaway portion to form a deployment door for the air bag module; and a covering layer overlying the base layer, and including a surface layer of soft resin forming an interior surface. The covering layer includes a break guide portion formed between the base layer and the surface layer.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus includes an airbag, an inflator, and an accumulator. The airbag is configured to be stored in a vehicle before inflation. The inflator is configured to provide gas for inflating the airbag. The accumulator is in fluid communication with the airbag and the inflator. The accumulator includes a chamber for at least temporarily storing gas after the inflator provides gas. The accumulator also includes a flow-control mechanism configured to permit gas to flow into the chamber at a first rate and to flow out of the chamber at a slower second rate.

Abstract: An air bag apparatus includes a folded air bag, an inflator arranged to discharge a high pressure gas into the air bag at a collision of the vehicle, and a container member receiving the air bag, covering a non-deployment side of the air bag, and retaining the inflator. The container member includes a rigid base plate supporting the inflator and the air bag, covering one part of the non-deployment side of the air bag, and supporting a reaction force of the air bag at a deployment of the air bag, and a flexible panel including a connecting portion connected with the base plate, covering the other part of the non-deployment side of the air bag, and being arranged to restrict inflation of the air bag on the non-deployment side at the deployment of the air bag.

Abstract: A cover component mountable to an airbag system has a tear line that is torn open when an airbag of the airbag system inflates. At least part of the tear line includes a recessed line and hollows bored in the recessed line at intervals. The recessed line is molded into the cover component using a raised line provided on a core surface of a die, and where the hollows are bored into the cover component by laser processing.

Abstract: An airbag module removal structure includes a pair of brackets which extends from an instrument panel and is disposed with a space to sandwich an airbag module, a first hook member secured to one side of the airbag module and a second hook member secured to the other side of the airbag module, and each of the first and second hook members includes an engagement part capable of being inserted into a hole provided in each of the brackets, and a clearance between the brackets and sizes of the engagement parts of the first and second hook members are set such that the first hook member is removed from the hole corresponding to the first hook member, and then the second hook member is removed from the hole corresponding to the second hook member.

Abstract: An airbag device is provided to reduce the deployment force of an airbag when a vehicle occupant or a child seat is positioned adjacent to an airbag device or a vehicle-body component adjacent to the airbag device. In one form, a passenger-seat airbag device is set in an instrument panel and includes a bracket which is fixed to a vehicle-body member with, for example, a bolt. A strain gauge is attached to the bracket. If a vehicle occupant or a child seat is positioned adjacent to the airbag device, and when an airbag in the process of inflation comes into contact with, for example, a vehicle occupant, the opposing force is transmitted to the bracket via a retainer, such that a strain which is different from that of the normal deployment process is generated in the bracket and detected by the strain gauge for reducing airbag deployment force.

Abstract: A module cover for an airbag apparatus. The module cover includes a plate member and a leg member. The leg member extends from the back surface of the plate member. The plate member and the leg member are formed separately and joined after formation. The plate member is formed of thermoplastic elastomer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a facia panel for allowing an inflated airbag to pass through. In accordance with the invention, a composite finished part includes a support element made of plastic and having a reduced thickness in comparison to its other dimensions, and a connecting sheet joined to the support element and not extending over the whole surface of the support element. The part presents a special zone which forms a door for an airbag and is designed to make it possible to create a passageway for the airbag. The zone is delimited by a periphery constituted by an embrittled portion presenting two extremities and by an articulating portion which defines, between the two extremities, a articulation axis overlapped by the connecting sheet. The connecting sheet is present over the greater part of the special zone present, along at least the major part of the embrittled portion end on either side of the embrittled portion, and encompassed in the support element.

Abstract: The knee protection airbag device (S1) includes an airbag (40) which protrudes rearward from a deployment opening of a housing upon inflow of inflation gas, and deploys upward to be located in front of knees of an occupant between a vehicular body and the occupant. The airbag (40) includes an occupant's side wall (41) and a vehicular body side wall (42). Lower end (48) side of the airbag (40) as flatly expanded with the walls (41 and 42) overlaid on each other constitutes an upstream side of inflation gas. The airbag (40) is firstly folded to bring its upper end (47) close to its lower end (48), from flat expanded state in which the occupant's side wall (41) and the vehicular body side wall (42) are overlaid on each other. Thereafter, the airbag (40) is folded to reduce its transverse width, and then is housed in the housing. The airbag (40) of the knee protection airbag device (S1) is able to deploy effectively from the start to completion of deployment for protecting the knees of the occupant.