an air bag device for use in front of a passenger seat of an automobile includes a casing disposed in the instrument panel of the automobile , a folded air bag housed in the casing and inflatable through the upper opening upon impact , and a lid openably joined to the casing in covering relationship to the upper opening . an air bag restraint guide or protective cloth is joined to the casing for preventing the air bag from directly contacting an edge of the upper opening when the air bag is inflated through the upper opening .