JP5455732B2 - Side airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a side airbag device configured to inflate and deploy along a side surface of a vehicle to cover an opening of a window portion.

  By the way, in recent vehicles, particularly automobiles, from the viewpoint of improving the safety of passengers due to a collision, an airbag device that deploys an airbag toward the passenger compartment at the time of a collision is provided. As such airbag devices, various side airbag devices have been proposed that protect an occupant, for example, at the time of a side collision of an automobile, by inflating and deploying the airbag along the side surface of the automobile and covering the opening of the window. . As such a side airbag device, for example, a curtain airbag device installed on a ceiling or a side door of a vehicle or a side end portion of a backrest of a seat on which an occupant is seated and passed forward on the side of the occupant's body side. There are side airbag devices such as a head / chest bag (head and solax bag) and a chest / abdominal bag (PT bag (Pervis solax bag)) that are deployed.

  This type of side airbag device is configured so that the inflation tip side of an airbag that is normally inflated and deployed becomes a free end portion and is deployed along the side surface of the automobile, so that the inflation trajectory remains constant. The deployment stability is ensured by using, for example, a specially applied special folding method or strap.

  And the opening of the window part covered with an airbag in this way has a considerably large opening area, and is configured to be opened and closed by a side glass.

  Then, the technique described in patent document 1 is proposed as this kind of conventional side airbag. That is, according to Patent Document 1, a side wall member of a vehicle body of an automobile has an opening that is covered with a side glass, and a side airbag that is deployed toward a vehicle interior at the time of a side collision faces at least the opening. When the side airbag is configured and mechanically engaged with the deployed airbag to receive an occupant, the phenomenon of exiting the automobile through the opening, the outward bag It comprises a means for preventing a phenomenon called escape (escape prevention means), and the escape prevention means is constituted by a separate synthetic resin or the like provided at the tip of the deployed side airbag. And a hook bar provided on the peripheral edge of the opening and engaged with the hook.

  Therefore, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the hook of the escape preventing means is used to inflate and deploy the side airbag even when the side glass cannot be expected to prevent the side airbag from escaping to the outside of the automobile. Accordingly, by moving to the hook bar side and engaging with the hook bar, escape of the side airbag to the outside of the vehicle can be prevented or suppressed, and the impact mitigation by the side airbag can be more effectively performed. It is something that can be done.

  Further, as another conventional side airbag, in Patent Document 2 or Patent Document 3, an extending member formed of a bar member or a plate member that extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and spans between the front pillar or the rear pillar and the center pillar. A technique is disclosed in which the extending member prevents the airbag from escaping from the opening of the window to the outside of the vehicle when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

  By having such a configuration, the extending member prevents the airbag from escaping to the outside of the vehicle, so that the head of the occupant and the like can be captured and impact mitigation can be performed more effectively. .

  In addition, although it can be said that the problems to be solved are different, Patent Document 4 has a belt configured to be able to pull the lower edge side of the airbag body in the vehicle outward direction in the middle of deployment and inflation. Disclosed is a head protection airbag in which the upper end of the airbag is coupled to the vehicle outer side on the upper edge side of the airbag body, and the lower end is coupled to the vehicle outer side on the lower edge side of the airbag body below the initial inflating portion (gas introduction passage). Has been.

  According to the head protection airbag having such a configuration, the deployment direction of the airbag body is regulated by the belt, and the airbag body is located above the narrow triangular space between the side window and the upper end of the passenger head. It makes it easier to break in.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-1198 (see especially paragraph 0019) JP 2005-212731 A (refer to paragraph 0008 in particular) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-212732 (see in particular paragraph 0009) JP 2005-178729 A, especially paragraphs 0007 and 0008).

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the hook that constitutes the escape prevention means together with the hook bar is made of a separate synthetic resin or the like, and is in a position corresponding to the tip portion of the side airbag that is inflated and deployed. Since it is configured by mounting, not only the hook needs to be attached to the side airbag, but also the hook itself has a predetermined mass, so that the side airbag is inflated. If you want to instantly pop out in the direction of the hook bar during deployment, it is necessary to use an expensive material with excellent strength in order to prevent deformation due to collision with the car interior material. For example, a method of enlarging the hook and hook bar can be considered. Increasing the difficulty and also exposing the hook bar in the interior of the car makes it look bad, and in order to bulge out when necessary to improve the appearance, a starting device for that is required, It is thought that there are problems such as requiring storage space.

  Moreover, the technique described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 is to install an extending contact member made of a bar member or a plate member having a separate structure on the airbag, and to store the airbag in the storage portion of the vehicle. When it is folded, it becomes bulky, and it is still difficult to fold and store it compactly in the storage section.

  Furthermore, in the technique described in Patent Document 4, the belt that regulates the deployment direction of the airbag body has an upper end coupled to the vehicle outer side at the upper edge of the airbag body and a lower end at the initial inflating portion (gas introduction passage). ) It is configured to be connected to the outside of the vehicle on the lower edge side of the lower airbag body, and after being attached to the initial inflating part of the airbag body, it is attached to the plate-like part which is a non-inflating part doing.

  In the technique described in the cited document 4, the length of the belt is set to be substantially equal to the length between the coupling portions when the airbag body is flatly deployed. The lower edge side of the vehicle can be pulled toward the outside of the vehicle, making it easier to enter the narrow space between the side window and the passenger's head. There is no description or suggestion about the problem of effectively preventing the phenomenon that appears.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems in the conventional technology, the present invention sufficiently exhibits the support function of the inflated airbag and reliably prevents the vehicle from escaping to the outside, and the airbag itself is compactly folded. It is an object of the present invention to provide a side airbag device that can be stored in a predetermined storage portion.

  A side airbag device according to the present invention protects an occupant by inflating and deploying a gas introduction passage for introducing a high-pressure gas ejected from an inflator, and the high-pressure gas introduced from the inflator in communication with the gas introduction passage. An airbag formed in a bag shape so that the inflating chamber faces each other is inflated and deployed along the side surface of the vehicle from the inflating and deploying leading end side with the inflating and deploying original end side coupled to the vehicle to open the window portion. A side airbag device configured to cover a belt-like strap, one end of which is coupled with the vehicle body at the inflating and deploying original end side of the inflating chamber, is attached to the outside of the inflating chamber of the airbag. In this state, the other end of the strap is coupled to the inflating and deploying tip side of the inflating chamber, and the strap is inflated when the inflating chamber of the airbag is inflated and deployed. Serial is characterized in that configured to bite into the side airbag.

  In the present invention having such a configuration, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, a strap having one end coupled to the vehicle body bites into the inside of the inflating chamber, thereby applying tension to the inflating chamber from the outside to tension the airbag and thereby providing rigidity during deployment. Can be raised to catch the crew. Moreover, one end of the strap is coupled with the vehicle body on the inflating and deploying original end side, and is supported by the vehicle body on one side, and the self-maintenance is also improved, so that the airbag is biased outward by the occupant's contact. It is possible to prevent the airbag from escaping from the window opening to the outside of the vehicle due to the contact of the occupant, and the strap is used to prevent the airbag from escaping to the outside of the vehicle. Therefore, it can be configured without using a separate bar member or plate member consisting of a separate member as in the past, and the folded shape of the airbag itself can be compactly stored in a predetermined storage part. It can be.

  In addition, the strap according to the present invention is, as an embodiment, formed in an X shape or a Y shape to form a cross point portion, and the cross point portion is expanded and deployed in the expansion chamber. In this case, it may be arranged in the vicinity of the hitting point portion where the head of the occupant abuts.

  With this configuration, due to the presence of the cross point portion, the tension applied to the expansion chamber by the strap can be applied at least from the cross point in three directions, and the airbag can be tensioned to increase the rigidity during deployment. As a result, the airbag firmly receives the occupant's head, and the airbag is less likely to be biased outwardly by the contact of the occupant's head, i.e., escape from the window opening to the outside of the vehicle. It can suppress and it can prevent further more reliably that it escapes from the window part opening of an airbag to vehicle outward.

  When the airbag is inflated and deployed, the strap with one end coupled to the vehicle body bites into the inside of the inflating chamber, so that the air bag is inflated even if it is about to escape from the window opening due to the contact of the occupant. Because the occupant can be received by applying tension to the compartment from the outside and tensioning the airbag to increase the rigidity when deployed, and using a strap to prevent the airbag from escaping to the outside of the vehicle In addition, it is possible to configure without using an extension member composed of a separate bar member or plate member as in the prior art, and the folded state of the airbag itself can be compactly stored and stored in a predetermined storage unit. be able to.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view depicting a state in which an airbag in Example 1 is flatly deployed when the present invention is adopted in an automobile among vehicles. FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram depicting a state where the airbag in FIG. 1 is inflated and deployed. FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory diagram depicting a state in which a dummy abuts when the airbag is inflated and deployed as shown in FIG. 2. Similarly, it is the top view which drawn the state which unfolded the airbag in Example 2 concerning the present invention flatly. It is the top view which similarly drawn the state which developed the air bag in Example 3 concerning the present invention flatly. It is the top view which similarly drawn the state which developed the air bag in Example 4 concerning the present invention flatly.

  In the side airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, a strap whose one end is coupled to the vehicle body is bitten into the inflation chamber of the airbag, so that the airbag is opened by the contact of the occupant. Even if you try to escape from the opening of the vehicle to the outside of the vehicle, you can apply tension to the expansion chamber from the outside to tension the airbag to increase the rigidity when deployed and catch the occupant, and use the strap to Since the escape to the outside is prevented, it can be configured without using a separate extending member consisting of a bar member or a plate member as in the prior art, and the folded shape of the airbag itself can be made compact. It can be stored together in a predetermined storage unit.

  Next, Embodiments 1 to 4 according to the airbag apparatus of the present invention will be described sequentially with reference to the drawings.

  First, the structure of Example 1 as a side airbag apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  In FIG. 1, an airbag 1 is configured so as to cover an opening of a window portion in a side door disposed on the front and rear sides of an automobile (not shown) as a side wall member of an automobile (not shown). It is to be equipped in a folded state along the direction.

  The airbag 1 is, for example, attached to the front side and the rear side with respect to the automobile by superimposing two substantially rectangular base cloths along the traveling direction of the automobile and bonding or sewing the peripheral portion. Two expansion chambers 2 and 3 are formed in a bag shape formed side by side in the longitudinal direction of the automobile.

  The expansion chambers 2 and 3 are configured to cover the openings of the window portions arranged before and after the center pillar constituting the vehicle body 10 of the automobile when inflated and deployed, and are formed in the airbag 1. The gas introduction passages 4 communicate with each other.

  The gas introduction passage 4 is formed with an inflator mounting portion 4a so that, for example, an inflator (not shown) provided in the front pillar of the vehicle body 10 can be connected. Accordingly, the high-pressure gas supplied from the inflator is sent to the expansion chamber 2 positioned on the front side of the vehicle and the expansion chamber 3 positioned on the rear side of the vehicle via the gas introduction passage 4. While inflating, the airbag 1 is configured to be deployed from above the window opening toward the bottom.

  Accordingly, a portion of the expansion chambers 2 and 3 close to the gas introduction passage 4 is the expansion and deployment original end side A, and a distal end of the distant portion is the expansion and deployment distal end side B.

  Between the expansion chamber 2 and the expansion chamber 3 in the airbag 1, a non-inflatable portion 5 formed in a thin plate shape is formed by two base fabrics being closely polymerized to each other, and the airbag 1 is inflated. For example, the movement is not hindered by a portion facing the center pillar at the time of deployment.

  A plurality of mounting pieces 6 for mounting the vehicle body 10 are formed at the top edge portion of the airbag 1 on the gas introduction passage 4 side so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the automobile. The airbag 1 is attached to the vehicle body 10 by hooking the attachment hole 6a formed in the piece 6 to the vehicle body 10 side.

  One end of a tension belt 7 for stabilizing the behavior of the airbag 1 during inflation and deployment is attached to the rear side of the vehicle body in the airbag 1, and the other end of the tension belt 7 is, for example, a rear pillar (not shown) of the vehicle body 10. It is fixed to.

  Further, in the first embodiment, a pair of straps 8 formed in a band shape is provided. That is, the pair of straps 8 are attached to the outside of the rear side expansion chamber 3 in a state where they are laid so as to have an X shape.

  One end of both straps 8 is bonded or sewn to a mounting piece 6 formed at the tip of the upper edge side of the gas introduction passage 4 located on the inflating / deploying original end side of the inflating chamber 3 in the airbag 1. The other end is connected to the inflating / deploying distal end B side in the expansion chamber 3. The dimension between both ends of the straps 8 is set to be shorter than the vertical dimension of the airbag 1, and at the time of coupling of the straps 8, it is preferable that the bag 1 is slightly contracted in the vertical direction to form a ridge.

  Therefore, when high-pressure gas is supplied from the gas introduction passage 4 and the expansion chambers 2 and 3 are inflated and deployed, the strap 8 attached to the outer side of the rear expansion chamber 3 is connected to the rear expansion chamber. 3 is configured to bite inwardly on the vehicle outer side (state shown in FIG. 2). The strap 8 applies tension to the expansion chamber 3 from the outside, and tensions the expansion chamber 3. As if it is a bow, the strap 8 is tensioned to the airbag 1 that is inflated like a string, providing a self-holding property as compared with the expansion of the airbag 1 alone, and is less likely to bend.

  As a result, when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, with the strap 8 having one end coupled to the vehicle body 10 biting into the inside of the expansion chamber 3 on the rear side, the dummy 9 (e.g. When the head) is in contact with the expansion chamber 3 (the state shown in FIG. 3), the tension of the strap 8 can prevent the airbag 1 from escaping outward from the opening of the automobile window. Become.

  In addition, the pair of straps 8 are formed so as to cross each other (X-shape) to have a cross point portion P, and the cross point portion P is formed of a dummy 9 (for example, in the expansion chamber 3). It is configured so as to be disposed in the vicinity of the hitting spot portion H of the occupant's head).

  With this configuration, the presence of the cross point portion P can more reliably prevent the strap 8 from firmly receiving the head of the occupant and escaping from the window opening of the airbag 1 to the outside of the vehicle. .

  In addition, since the strap 8 is used to prevent the airbag 1 from escaping to the outside of the vehicle body 10, it is configured without using a separate extending member composed of a bar member or a plate member as in the prior art. Therefore, the folded state of the airbag 1 itself can be gathered in a compact manner and stored in a predetermined storage unit.

  FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, the strap 8 is configured in a Y shape, and one end of the bifurcated side of each of the expansion chambers 3 in the airbag 1 is shown. It is attached and connected to the vehicle body 10 in a state where it is adhered or sewn to the attachment piece 6 formed at the tip of the upper edge side of the gas introduction passage 4 located on the inflation deployment original end side, and the other end on the standing side is inflated. It is connected to the expansion and deployment distal end B side in the chamber 3, and when the high pressure gas is supplied from the gas introduction passage 4 and the expansion chambers 2 and 3 are expanded and deployed in the same manner as in the above embodiment, the rear side The strap 8 attached to the vehicle exterior side of the expansion chamber 3 is configured to bite inward on the vehicle exterior side of the expansion chamber 3 on the rear side.

  With such a configuration, when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the strap 8 whose one end side of the bifurcated shape is coupled to the vehicle body 10 is bitten into the inside of the expansion chamber 3 on the rear side. When (for example, a passenger | crew's head) contact | abuts to the expansion chamber 3, it can prevent that the airbag 1 escapes outward from the opening of the window part of a motor vehicle by the tension | tensile_strength of the strap 8. FIG.

  In addition, the strap 8 is formed by crossing each other (Y-shaped) so as to have a cross point portion P. The cross point portion P is formed of a dummy 9 (for example, an occupant's passenger) in the expansion chamber 3. It is configured to be disposed in the vicinity of the hitting spot portion H of the head.

  With this configuration, due to the presence of the cross point portion P, a tensile force is applied from the cross point portion P in three directions, that is, two-dimensional tension substantially parallel to the virtual plane formed by the edge of the window portion. As a result, a plate-like self-holding property is obtained at the opening of the window portion, and the bending becomes more difficult. Accordingly, the airbag 1 can be suitably suppressed and prevented from escaping outward from the opening of the automobile window.

  In addition, since the strap 8 is used to prevent the airbag 1 from escaping to the outside of the vehicle body 10, it is configured without using a separate extending member composed of a bar member or a plate member as in the prior art. Therefore, the folded state of the airbag 1 itself can be gathered in a compact manner and stored in a predetermined storage unit.

  In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the strap 8 is formed in a Y shape as in the second embodiment. However, with respect to the second embodiment, one end of the bifurcated side is connected to the expansion chamber 3. An attachment piece 6 formed on the upper edge side of the gas introduction passage 4 which is coupled to the inflated and deployed distal end side B and conversely the other end on the standing side is located on the inflated and deployed origin end A side of the inflation chamber 3 in the airbag 1. The high pressure gas is supplied from the gas introduction passage 4 in the same manner as in the second embodiment, but the expansion chambers 2, 3 are different from each other in that they are attached to and coupled to the vehicle body 10 while being bonded or sewn to the vehicle body 10. When the bag is inflated and deployed, the strap 8 attached to the outer side of the rear side expansion chamber 3 is configured to bite inwardly on the outer side of the rear side expansion chamber 3.

  With this configuration, due to the presence of the cross point portion P, a tensile force is applied from the cross point portion P in three directions, that is, two-dimensional tension substantially parallel to the virtual plane formed by the edge of the window portion. As a result, a plate-like self-holding property is obtained at the opening of the window portion, and the bending becomes more difficult. Accordingly, the airbag 1 can be suitably suppressed and prevented from escaping outward from the opening of the automobile window.

  In addition, the strap 8 is formed by crossing each other (Y-shaped) so as to have a cross point portion P. The cross point portion P is formed of a dummy 9 (for example, an occupant's passenger) in the expansion chamber 3. It is configured to be disposed in the vicinity of the hitting spot portion H of the head.

  With this configuration, the presence of the cross point portion P can more reliably prevent the strap 8 from firmly receiving the head of the occupant and escaping from the window opening of the airbag 1 to the outside of the vehicle. .

  In addition, since the strap 8 is used to prevent the airbag 1 from escaping to the outside of the vehicle body 10, it is configured without using a separate extending member composed of a bar member or a plate member as in the prior art. Therefore, the folded state of the airbag 1 itself can be gathered in a compact manner and stored in a predetermined storage unit.

  In Example 4 shown in FIG. 6, the strap 8 is configured by a strip-like strip-shaped body, and one end of the strap 8 is located on the inflating / deploying original end side of the inflating chamber 3 in the airbag 1. In a state of being bonded or sewn to the attachment piece 6 formed on the tip portion on the upper edge side, it is attached and joined to the vehicle body 10 side, the other end is joined to the inflation deployment tip side B side in the expansion chamber 3, and the cross point portion Although it is different from any of the above embodiments in that it does not have P, when the high pressure gas is supplied from the gas introduction passage 4 and the expansion chambers 2 and 3 are inflated and deployed as in the above embodiments. The strap 8 attached to the outer side of the rear side expansion chamber 3 is configured to bite inwardly on the outer side of the rear side expansion chamber 3.

  With such a configuration, when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the strap 8 whose one end side of the bifurcated shape is coupled to the vehicle body 10 is bitten into the inside of the expansion chamber 3 on the rear side. When (for example, a passenger | crew's head) contact | abuts to the expansion chamber 3, it can prevent that the airbag 1 escapes outward from the opening of the window part of a motor vehicle by the tension | tensile_strength of the strap 8. FIG.

  In addition, since the escape of the airbag 1 to the outside of the vehicle body 10 is prevented by using the strap 8, it is configured without using a conventional extending member composed of a bar member or a plate member which is a separate member. Therefore, the folded state of the airbag 1 itself can be gathered in a compact manner and can be stored in a predetermined storage portion.

  In the above embodiment, the strap 8 is attached to the outer side of the expansion chamber 3 on the rear side. However, the strap 8 is not limited to this and is attached to the outer side of the expansion chamber 2 on the front side. You may make it install.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the strap having one end coupled to the vehicle body bites into the inside of the inflating chamber, so that the air bag is moved from the window opening to the outside of the vehicle by the contact of the occupant. Even when trying to escape, it is possible to catch the occupant by applying tension to the expansion chamber from the outside and tensioning the airbag to increase the rigidity when deployed, and using the strap to escape the airbag to the outside of the vehicle Therefore, it can be configured without using a separate extending member consisting of a bar member or plate member as in the prior art, and the folded state of the airbag itself can be compactly packed into a predetermined storage part. Can be stored.

  Therefore, it can be said that the present invention is suitable for a side airbag device or the like configured to inflate and deploy along the side surface of the vehicle and cover the opening of the window portion.

1 airbag 2 expansion chamber (expansion chamber) on the front side
3 Expansion chamber on the rear side (expansion chamber)
4 Gas introduction passage 8 Strap 10 Car body

Claims (2)

A bag so that a gas introduction passage for introducing a high-pressure gas ejected from an inflator and an expansion chamber communicating with the gas introduction passage and inflated and deployed by the high-pressure gas introduced from the inflator to protect an occupant face each other Side airbag device configured to inflate and deploy the airbag formed in a shape from the leading end side of the inflating and deploying along the side surface of the vehicle with the inflating and deploying original end side coupled to the vehicle so as to cover the window portion Because
In a state where a band-shaped strap, one end of which is coupled with the vehicle body on the inflating and deploying original end side of the expansion chamber, is attached to the outside of the expansion chamber of the airbag, the other end of the strap is connected to the expansion chamber. A side airbag device that is coupled to the distal end side of the inflation and deployment of the airbag and that the strap bites into the airbag inward when the inflation chamber of the airbag is inflated and deployed.   The strap is formed in an X shape or a Y shape to form a cross point portion, and the cross point portion is formed at a hit point portion where a head of an occupant abuts when the expansion chamber is inflated and deployed. The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the side airbag device is disposed in a proximity portion.

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