JP2018030555A - Vehicle occupant protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle occupant protection device is provided that suppresses the rotation of an occupant's torso restrained by a three-point seat belt during a frontal collision. An occupant restrained by a three-point seat belt is restrained by a shoulder belt with a clavicle located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, but is not restrained by a clavicle located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, at the time of a frontal collision, the unrestricted clavicle side moves to the front side of the vehicle, and the torso T rotates about the spinal cord. At the time of a frontal collision, the knee restraining airbag 28 is inflated and deployed to restrain only the knee KI located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the occupant P from the front of the vehicle. As a result, a reaction force in the rearward direction of the vehicle is input from the knee restraining airbag 28 to the knee KI, and a rotational moment M2 in the opposite direction to the torso T where the rotational moment M1 is generated about the spinal cord. Can be generated. As a result, the rotation of the torso T generated in the occupant restrained by the three-point seat belt at the time of a frontal collision is reduced or prevented. [Selection] Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device.

  An occupant seated on a vehicle seat and wearing a three-point seat belt has a shoulder belt restrained only on the clavicle on one side (vehicle width direction outer side), and the other side (vehicle width direction inner side). The clavicle is not restrained. Therefore, at the time of a frontal collision, the occupant's torso rotates about the spinal cord as the clavicle side not restrained by the shoulder belt moves to the front side of the vehicle. Due to this rotation of the torso, the shoulder belt strongly presses the ribs, which may cause a large deformation (hereinafter referred to as “chest deflection”) in the chest.

  As a method of suppressing this chest deflection, it is conceivable to suppress the rotation of the torso by inflating and deploying the airbag and restraining the occupant's knee to generate a rotational moment in the opposite direction to the torso.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a knee side restraint airbag device for reducing or preventing the occupant's ankle from being twisted at the time of a frontal collision, particularly at the time of a minute lap collision or a slanted collision. Specifically, a knee side restraint airbag device is disposed on the inner side of the seat cushion outer skin in the vehicle width direction, and the airbag is inflated by tearing the sewn portion of the outer skin at the time of a frontal collision. The restraint of the outer side surface of the knee outside the vehicle width direction of the occupant is described. This describes reducing or preventing the occupant's ankle from being twisted during a frontal collision.

JP 2014-141194 A

  However, since the above prior art restrains the outer side surface of one knee outside in the vehicle width direction, it is difficult to generate a rotational moment in the direction opposite to the rotation generated in the occupant's torso during a frontal collision. It was. That is, one knee restrained by the knee side restraint device is the side where the clavicle is restrained by the three-point seat belt (outside in the vehicle width direction), and restrains the outer side of the knee. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce or prevent the rotation of the occupant's torso that occurs during a frontal collision.

  In view of the above-described facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle occupant protection device that reduces or prevents rotation of an occupant's torso restrained by a three-point seat belt during a frontal collision.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a three-point seat belt in which a shoulder belt is located from an outer upper part in the vehicle width direction of the seat back toward an inner lower part in the vehicle width at the time of mounting, and an inner side or center of the seat cushion in the vehicle width direction. A knee restraining airbag that is disposed in the console box and is inflated and deployed at the time of a frontal collision and restrains only one knee located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction from the front of the vehicle.

  According to this configuration, in the occupant wearing the three-point seat belt, the clavicle located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is restrained by the shoulder belt, while the clavicle located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is not restrained by the shoulder belt. Therefore, at the time of a frontal collision, the clavicle side on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the occupant not restrained by the shoulder belt moves to the vehicle front side, and rotation of the torso around the spinal cord occurs in the occupant.

  On the other hand, at the time of the frontal collision, the knee restraining airbag disposed on the inner side of the seat cushion in the vehicle width direction or in the center console box is inflated and deployed, and only one knee located on the inner side of the occupant in the vehicle width direction is inflated. Restrain from the front of the vehicle. As a result, a reaction force in the vehicle rearward direction is input from the knee restraining airbag only to the passenger's inner knee in the vehicle width direction, and the direction opposite to the one direction with respect to the torso that rotates in one direction about the spinal cord in plan view Rotational moment is generated. As a result, the rotation of the torso that occurs in the occupant restrained by the three-point seat belt during a frontal collision is reduced or prevented.

  Since the vehicle occupant protection device according to the first aspect of the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to reduce or prevent the rotation of the occupant's torso restrained by the three-point seat belt at the time of a frontal collision.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which an occupant is seated on a vehicle seat provided with a vehicle occupant protection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the knee restraint airbag apparatus of the airbag folding state attached with respect to the seat side frame which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the knee restraint airbag apparatus of the airbag expansion | deployment deployment state attached with respect to the seat side frame which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the expansion | deployment deployment state of the airbag of the knee restraint airbag apparatus which comprises the vehicle occupant protection apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A)-(D) are the figures which show the folding method of the airbag of the knee restraint airbag apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A)-(D) is a figure which shows the inflation expansion | deployment method of the airbag of the knee restraint airbag apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the expansion | deployment deployment state of the knee restraint airbag which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) of the airbag which comprises the passenger | crew protection device for vehicles which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention is an accommodation state, (B) is a top view which shows a deployment state. (A) of the airbag which comprises the passenger | crew protection device for vehicles which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention is an accommodation state, (B) is a top view which shows a deployment state.

[First Embodiment]
A vehicle occupant protection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Moreover, each figure is typical and the thing with low relevance to this invention is abbreviate | omitting illustration. Further, in FIG. 7, illustration of a seat belt device 60 described later is omitted. 1 to 7, the arrow FR indicates the front side of the vehicle, the arrow IN indicates the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the front of the seat, the seat width direction, and the upper portion of the seat substantially coincide with the front of the vehicle, the vehicle width direction, and the upper portion of the vehicle, respectively. To do.

(Constitution)
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle occupant protection device 10 for an automobile according to this embodiment is provided in a vehicle seat 12 on the passenger seat side on the left side of the front seat of the vehicle in the cabin.

  The vehicle seat 12 includes a seat cushion 14 on which an occupant sits, a seat back 16 that supports the back of the seat occupant at the rear end of the seat cushion 14, and a head of the seat occupant disposed at the upper end of the seat back 16. And a headrest 18 that supports the headrest 18.

  The seat cushion 14 includes a seat cushion frame (not shown) configured in a rectangular frame shape in plan view. The seat cushion frame is arranged with a longitudinal direction in the vehicle front-rear direction and a pair of seat side frames arranged at intervals in the vehicle width direction (only the seat side frame 20 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). And a seat front pan (not shown) for connecting the front end portions of the seat side frame in the vehicle width direction, and a connecting rod (not shown) for connecting the rear end portions of the seat side frame in the vehicle width direction. The seat side frame is supported so as to be movable (slidable) in the vehicle front-rear direction on a seat slide rail (only the seat slide rail 21 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) installed on the floor pan. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an airbag module 24 of a knee restraining airbag device 22 is disposed on the seat side frame 20 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. The airbag module 24 includes a columnar inflator 26 that generates gas at the time of a frontal collision, and a knee restraining airbag 28 that is inflated and deployed by the gas generated by the inflator 26.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inflator 26 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is provided with a plurality of gas ejection holes formed along the outer peripheral surface of one end portion in the axial direction. The inflator 26 is connected to the collision ECU 30.

  A collision sensor 32 is electrically connected to the collision ECU 30. The collision sensor 32 is configured to output a signal corresponding to the presence or absence of a collision to the automobile and the form of the collision to the collision ECU 30.

  Therefore, when the inflator 26 is actuated by an operation signal from the collision ECU 30, the inflator 26 generates high-temperature gas therein and supplies the gas into the airbag 28 from the gas ejection holes.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the airbag 28 has a substantially rectangular knee side restraint portion 40 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction in a plan view in the deployed shape, and extends outward from the front end of the knee side restraint portion 40 in the vehicle width direction. A substantially rectangular knee front restraint portion 42, and a triangular membrane member 44 that connects the upper end of the vehicle outer side surface 40A of the knee side restraint portion 40 and the upper end of the vehicle rear side surface 42A of the knee front restraint portion 42. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an inflator accommodating portion 46 for accommodating the inflator 26 is formed on the vehicle lower side of the knee side restraint portion 40. Further, on the vehicle lower side of the knee side restraint portion 40, an upper joint portion 48 joined to the upper end surface 20A (see FIG. 2) of the seat side frame 20 and a front joint surface 20B (see FIG. 2) before joining. A joint portion 50 is formed.

  The airbag 28 is first folded in a clockwise direction in plan view around a rotation axis A1 extending in the vehicle vertical direction (see FIG. 5A). A part on the front side of the knee front restraint portion 42 and the knee side restraint portion 40 is wound around the arrow R1 direction (see FIG. 5B). This wound part is called a roll part 52. Subsequently, the upper side of the roll portion 52 is tilted 90 degrees toward the vehicle rear side (see FIG. 5B, the direction of arrow R2) (see FIG. 5C). Further, a portion of the knee side restraint portion 40 that is positioned above the rolled-up roll portion 52 is clockwise when viewed from the front of the vehicle about the rotation axis A2 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction (FIG. 5C ), See arrow R3 direction). As a result, as shown in FIG. 5D, the airbag 28 is folded into a predetermined shape.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag 28 is folded by joining the upper joint portion 48 and the front joint portion 50 of the airbag 28 to the upper end surface 20 </ b> A and the front end surface 20 </ b> B of the seat side frame 20, respectively. 28 is fixed to the seat side frame 20.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the skin 54 covering the seat cushion pad (not shown) of the seat cushion 14 extends downward from the upper surface portion 54A on which the occupant P is seated and the front side end portion of the upper surface portion 54A. And the existing front portion 54B. The front side of the upper side portion 54A in the vehicle width direction and the upper side of the front side portion 54B in the vehicle width direction inner side portion are continuously sewn along the vehicle longitudinal direction and the vehicle vertical direction. Hereinafter, the sewn portion is referred to as a “sewing portion 56”. The sewing portion 56 is sewn from a tear seam that breaks when a tensile load of a predetermined value or more is applied. When the sewing portion 56 is cleaved by the inflation pressure of the airbag 28, as shown in FIG. 7, the airbag 28 is deployed toward the side and front of the knee KI on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the occupant P. It has become.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the seat belt device 60 provided for the vehicle seat 12 is a three-point seat belt device, and a portion of the seat belt 62 from the shoulder anchor 64 to the buckle 66. Is a shoulder belt portion 62A, and a portion from the buckle 66 to the anchor plate 68 is a lap belt portion 62B.

  The shoulder belt portion 62A restrains the occupant P obliquely and forward from the shoulder portion SO at the upper outer side in the vehicle width direction of the occupant P to the waist L at the lower inner side in the vehicle width direction.

  A center console box 70 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is formed inside the vehicle seat 12 in the vehicle width direction.

(Action)
The operation of the vehicle occupant protection device 10 configured as described above will be described.
When the collision ECU 30 detects a frontal collision (unavoidable) to the automobile based on an input signal from the collision sensor 32 constituting the vehicle occupant protection device 10, an operation signal is output to the inflator 26.

  The inflator 26 generates gas by this operation signal, and the gas is injected into the airbag 28 from the injection hole. As a result, the sewing portion 56 formed on the upper surface portion 54A and the front surface portion 54B of the skin 54 of the vehicle seat 12 is cleaved, and the airbag 28 is inflated and deployed.

  Specifically, the inflator is accommodated by injecting gas from the inflator 26 accommodated in the inflator accommodating portion 46 to the airbag 28 (see FIG. 6A) folded in the vehicle seat 12. The knee side restraint portion 40 communicated with the portion 46 tears the sewing portion 56 formed on the upper surface portion 54A of the epidermis 54 and deploys upward (see arrow A in FIG. 6B). As a result, the bent portion of the knee side restraint portion 40 is also supplied with gas, and the roll portion 52 that has been bent rises (becomes straight) (see arrow B in FIG. 6C). Further, when the gas is supplied to the roll part 52, the knee side restraint part 40 constituting the roll part 52 tears the sewing part 56 formed on the front face part 54B of the skin 54 and is deployed forward of the vehicle ( 6D and FIG. 6D, the knee front restraint portion 42 that is continuous with the front end portion of the knee side restraint portion 40 is deployed outward in the vehicle width direction and deployed forward of the knee of the occupant P (FIG. 6). (D), see arrow D).

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the knee front restraint portion 42 of the airbag 28 has the vehicle rear side surface 42 </ b> A abutted against the front surface of the knee KI on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the occupant P. Further, since the knee front surface restraining portion 42 is connected to the knee side surface restraining portion 40 fixed (joined) to the seat side frame 20 via the membrane member 44, tension (see FIG. ), See arrow E). Thereby, the knee front restraint part 42 can restrain the knee KI inside the vehicle width direction of the passenger P from the front.

  By the way, at the time of a frontal collision, the occupant P moves to the front side of the vehicle by the action of inertial force. As shown in FIG. 1, the shoulder SO on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the occupant P is restrained by the shoulder belt portion 62 </ b> A of the seat belt device 60, but the shoulder portion SI on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is not restrained. Therefore, a counterclockwise rotational moment M1 is generated on the torso T of the occupant P in a plan view with the spinal cord as an axis (hereinafter referred to as “around the Z axis”). When the torso T is rotated by this rotational moment M1, the shoulder belt portion 62A strongly presses the ribs of the occupant P, and there is a possibility that a large deformation (hereinafter referred to as “chest deflection”) occurs in the chest.

  However, in the vehicle occupant protection device 10, as shown in FIG. 7, the knee front restraint portion 42 of the airbag 28 restrains only the knee KI inside the vehicle width direction of the occupant P from the front during a frontal collision. Accordingly, a reaction force in the rearward direction of the vehicle is input to the knee KI from the knee front surface restraining portion 42 supported by the membrane member 44, and a clockwise moment of rotation M2 is generated in the torso T of the occupant P. That is, by restraining only the knee KI inside the vehicle width direction of the occupant P from the front with the airbag 28, a rotational moment M2 opposite to the rotational moment M1 in a plan view can be generated in the torso T of the occupant P. . As a result, it is possible to reduce or prevent the rotation generated in the torso T of the occupant P restrained by the seat belt device 60 that is a three-point seat belt at the time of a frontal collision. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce or prevent occurrence of chest deflection in the occupant P during a frontal collision.

  Further, the knee side restraint portion 40 of the airbag 28 is in contact with the side surface 70A of the center console box 70 by the inflation and deployment of the airbag 28, and the vehicle outer side surface 40A is in the vehicle width direction of the occupant P. It abuts on the side surface of the inner knee KI and the side surface of the thigh TI. In other words, the knee side restraint portion 40 can obtain the support reaction force from the side surface 70A of the center console box 70 and restrain the knee KI and the thigh TI on the inner side in the vehicle width direction from the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

  Here, in the case of a frontal collision, when the vehicle seat 12 on the left side (passenger seat side) and the vehicle right side (driver's seat side) opposite to the vehicle seat 12 are inclined, A load to the front right side of the vehicle acts on the occupant P due to inertia. However, in the vehicle occupant protection device 10, by deploying the airbag 28, the knee side restraint portion 40 restrains the knee KI and the thigh TI inside the vehicle width direction (driver's seat side) of the occupant P from the inside in the vehicle width direction. In addition, since the knee front restraint portion 42 restrains the knee KI from the front of the vehicle, displacement of the occupant P to the right front of the vehicle is reduced or prevented.

[Second Embodiment]
A vehicle occupant protection device 80 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

(Constitution)
As shown in FIG. 8A, the vehicle occupant protection device 80 is connected to a seat side frame (not shown) of the vehicle seat 12 and includes a seat slide interlocking mechanism 82 housed in the center console box 70. The seat slide interlocking mechanism 82 is arranged in a straight line with the support member 84 having an L shape in plan view connected to the seat side frame, a joint 86 provided at the front end of the support member 84, and the support member 84 when the airbag is accommodated. And an arm member 88 rotated 90 degrees in a plan view so as to face the outside in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is deployed.

  The support member 84 extends from the seat side frame on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and is accommodated in the center console box 70. The joint 86 is driven by an operation signal from the collision ECU 30 and rotates the arm member 88 disposed in the center console box 70 in the vehicle front-rear direction by 90 degrees outward in the vehicle width direction in plan view. The drive source of the joint 86 is not particularly limited, and may be an inflator or a motor.

  Further, an airbag 90 for restraining the knee front surface is attached to the front end side of the outer side surface 88A of the arm member 88 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

  The length of the support member 84 in the vehicle front-rear direction is set to be a predetermined distance ahead of the vehicle front-rear direction position of the knee KI of the occupant P with the joint 86 seated on the vehicle seat 12. Further, the arm member 88 is set to a length that allows the airbag 90 to be disposed to face the knee KI of the occupant P when facing outward in the vehicle width direction.

(Function)
When the collision ECU 30 detects a frontal collision to the vehicle (inevitable) based on an input signal from the collision sensor 32, an operation signal is output to an inflator (not shown) and an operation signal is output to the joint 86. .

  When the joint 86 is driven based on the operation signal, the arm member 88 disposed in the vehicle front-rear direction in the center console box 70 is moved 90 degrees toward the vehicle seat 12 in plan view with the joint 86 as the rotation center. Rotate. As a result, the arm member 88 protrudes from the side surface of the center console box 70 and extends in the vehicle width direction. Further, the airbag 90 disposed on the arm member 88 is disposed in front of the knee KI on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the occupant P. In this state, the arm member 88 has a lock mechanism (not shown) that fixes the arm member 88 so as not to rotate about the joint 86.

  Further, the inflator generates gas by this operation signal, and the gas is injected into the airbag 90, whereby the airbag 90 is inflated and deployed by the gas from the inflator (see FIG. 8B). As a result, the airbag 90 restrains only the knee KI inside the vehicle width direction of the occupant P from the front.

  As described above, even if the airbag 90 is disposed inside the center console box 70 instead of the vehicle seat 12, the knee of the occupant P on the inner side in the vehicle width direction due to the rotation of the arm member 88 and the inflation and deployment of the airbag 90. Only KI can be restrained. Further, when the reaction force from the arm member 88 is input only to the knee KI via the airbag 90, a frontal collision is applied to the occupant P restrained by the seat belt device 60 that is a three-point seat belt. A rotational moment M2 in a direction opposite to the rotational moment M1 sometimes generated in the torso T can be generated in the torso T, and the rotation generated in the torso T of the occupant P at the time of a frontal collision can be reduced or prevented. That is, it is possible to reduce or prevent the chest deflection of the occupant P that occurs during a frontal collision.

  In the vehicle occupant protection device 80, even when the vehicle seat 12 is moved in the vehicle front-rear direction, the vehicle seat 12 is connected to the seat side frame disposed on the seat side rail by the support member 84. With the movement of 12, the seat slide interlocking mechanism 82 moves in the center console box 70 in the vehicle front-rear direction. Therefore, the positional relationship between the position of the joint 86 and the vehicle seat 12 in the vehicle front-rear direction is maintained constant. That is, regardless of the movement of the vehicle seat 12, the knee KI on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the occupant P can be favorably restrained at the time of a frontal collision.

[Third Embodiment]
A vehicle occupant protection device 100 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

(Constitution)
As shown in FIG. 9A, the vehicle occupant protection device 100 includes an airbag 102 obtained by removing the membrane member 44 from the airbag 28 of the first embodiment, and a seat slide interlocking mechanism 82 of the second embodiment. It has.

(Function)
When the collision ECU 30 detects a frontal collision (unavoidable) to the vehicle based on the input signal from the collision sensor 32, an operation signal is output to an inflator (not shown).

  In response to this operation signal, the inflator generates gas and injects the gas into the airbag 102. As a result, the airbag 102 tears the sewing portion 56 and inflates and deploys, so that the knee side restraint portion 40 restrains the knee KI and the thigh TI on the inner side in the vehicle width direction from the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

  On the other hand, the arm member 88 disposed in the center console box 70 in the vehicle front-rear direction is rotated 90 degrees toward the vehicle seat 12 in plan view with the joint 86 as the rotation center. As a result, the arm member 88 jumps out of the center console box 70, rotates outward in the vehicle width direction, and extends in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the arm member 88 supports the vehicle front side 42B of the knee front restraint portion 42 of the airbag 102 from the front, and the knee front restraint portion 42 restrains only the knee KI on the inner side in the vehicle width direction from the front. Become.

  Therefore, the vehicle occupant protection device 100 is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the occupant P from the knee front restraint portion 42 supported by the arm member 88, similarly to the vehicle occupant protection devices 10 and 80 of the first and second embodiments. The reaction force directed toward the rear of the vehicle is input only to the knee KI. As a result, the torso T of the occupant P restrained by the three-point seat belt device can generate a rotational moment M2 in the direction opposite to the rotational moment M1 generated at the time of a frontal collision, thereby reducing the rotation of the torso T of the occupant P. Or it can be prevented. That is, it is possible to reduce or prevent the chest deflection of the occupant P during a frontal collision.

  Also, the vehicle occupant protection device 100, like the vehicle occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment, deploys the airbag 102 so that the knee side restraint portion 40 is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the occupant P (the driver seat side ) And the thigh TI are restrained from the inside in the vehicle width direction, and the knee front restraint portion 42 restrains the knee KI from the front of the vehicle. Accordingly, in the case of a frontal collision, when the vehicle seat 12 on the left side (passenger seat side) and the vehicle right side (driver's seat side) opposite to the vehicle seat 12 are obliquely projected, or when the driver seat side has a micro lap collision, the occupant P Is reduced or prevented from being displaced to the front right side of the vehicle.

[Others]
In the first to third embodiments, the vehicle seat 12 on the left side of the vehicle (passenger seat side) has been described, but the vehicle occupant protection devices 10 and 80 for the vehicle seat on the right side of the vehicle front seat (driver seat side) are also described. , 100 can be applied as well.

10, 80, 100 Vehicle occupant protection device 14 Seat cushion 16 Seat back 28, 90, 102 Air bag (knee restraint air bag)
60 Seat belt device (3-point seat belt)
62A Shoulder belt 70 Center console box P Crew

Claims (1)

A three-point seat belt in which a shoulder belt is located from the upper outer side in the vehicle width direction of the seat back toward the lower inner side in the vehicle width when installed;
A knee restraining airbag that is disposed in the vehicle width direction inner side of the seat cushion or in the center console box and that is inflated and deployed at the time of a frontal collision and restrains only one knee located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction from the front of the vehicle; ,
A vehicle occupant protection device.