JP5605266B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device that inflates an airbag and protects an occupant from the impact when an impact is applied to a vehicle due to a collision or the like.

  An airbag device is effective as a device for protecting an occupant from an impact when the vehicle is subjected to an impact due to a collision or the like. The airbag device includes an airbag formed in a bag shape and an inflator that supplies inflation gas into the airbag.

  As one aspect of such an airbag device, there is a side airbag device that protects an occupant from an impact caused by a side collision or the like. In this side airbag device, the airbag is folded together with an inflator, for example, incorporated in a seat back (backrest) of a vehicle seat. In this side airbag device, when an impact is applied from the side to a member (body side portion) that constitutes a side portion of the vehicle, such as a side door, inflation gas is supplied from the inflator into the airbag. The airbag is inflated and deployed by the inflation gas, and jumps out of the vehicle seat with a part left in the seat back. The airbag is inflated and deployed toward the front in a narrow space between the occupant seated on the vehicle seat and the body side portion. The inflated airbag is interposed between the occupant and the body side portion that enters the vehicle, restrains the occupant, absorbs impact energy, and protects the occupant from the impact.

As an aspect of the side airbag device, there is a type in which the airbag is not partitioned (hereinafter referred to as “prior art 1”).
Further, in Patent Document 1, as another aspect of the side airbag device, a pressure regulating valve (pressure control valve) is provided in a partition portion that partitions the airbag into an upper airbag and a lower airbag, and the pressure regulating valve (pressure control valve) is provided. A type in which the lower airbag is inflated prior to the upper airbag by the action of the valve (hereinafter referred to as “prior art 2”) has been proposed. The phrase in parentheses following the member name indicates the member name used in Patent Document 1. In the side airbag device of this prior art 2, the airbag is first inflated to the height of the occupant's waist and then inflated to the height of the chest, so that more efficient shock absorption can be performed.

JP-A-10-67297

  By the way, in the side airbag device, the body side portion enters the vehicle interior due to an impact from the side, and the airbag is pressed against the occupant by the body side portion. Along with this pressing, the occupant receives an impact load through the airbag. This load is represented by the product of the area in which the occupant receives pressure from the airbag (the pressure receiving area on the airbag side of the occupant) and the internal pressure of the airbag. From the viewpoint of protecting the occupant from impact, this load reaches a predetermined value in a short time after the start of entry of the body side portion, and thereafter, is maintained at the predetermined value regardless of the amount of entry (stroke) of the body side portion. It is desirable.

  However, in the above prior art 1, since the internal pressure and the pressure receiving area increase as the amount of entry (stroke) of the body side portion increases, the load that the occupant receives from the airbag gradually increases as the body side portion advances. To increase. The load does not reach a predetermined value until the body side part has entered to some extent. In addition, the load continues to increase after reaching the predetermined value, and eventually exceeds the predetermined value. As a result, sufficient protection of the occupant from impact is not started until the load reaches a predetermined value. After the load reaches a predetermined value, the occupant receives a load larger than the predetermined value through the airbag.

  On the other hand, in the prior art 2 described in Patent Document 1, the specific structure of the pressure regulating valve (pressure control valve) is not clarified. Therefore, the relationship between the load that the occupant receives from the airbag and the approach amount (stroke) of the body side part is unknown.

Although it is possible to improve the load characteristics by making the pressure regulating valve complicated, in that case, the cost of the airbag device increases.
Such a problem may occur not only in the above-described side airbag device but also in other types of airbag devices.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device capable of improving the characteristics of a load received by an occupant through an airbag with a simple and inexpensive configuration. There is.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that an inflatable portion of an airbag that is flat before the supply of the inflation gas and inflates by the supply of the inflation gas is provided in the airbag. A partition member spanned between a cloth part on the vehicle outer side and a cloth part on the vehicle inner side, and at least an upstream expansion part and a downstream expansion part are partitioned, and the expansion gas supply period to the expansion part is There was provided a pressure regulating valve that was initially closed to restrict the flow of the expansion gas from the upstream expansion portion to the downstream expansion portion, and opened from the middle of the supply period to release the restriction. In the airbag device, when the partition member is tensioned in a planar shape with expansion of the inflatable portion, the length in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length in the short direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. No longer elongate, said the partition member, said in the transverse direction Unit was a pair of superimposed is provided which forms a the Activity belt, said pressure regulating valve, the inner opening slit extending in the lateral direction provided in the allowed pair of overlapping portions, around the inside opening Bei example a pair of valve body portions provided toward and away from each other, the pair of overlapping portions, together are coupled to each other within the coupling portion along the widthwise direction of the partition member, said coupling portion And a fabric portion on the vehicle exterior side of the airbag and a fabric portion on the vehicle interior side by outer coupling portions extending in the longitudinal direction of the partition member at both ends in the lateral direction along the line .

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the inflating portion of the airbag that has a flat shape before the supply of the inflation gas and is inflated by the supply of the inflation gas is formed by the partition member. The expansion unit is divided into at least an upstream expansion unit and a downstream expansion unit, and is closed at the initial stage of the supply period of the expansion gas to the expansion unit to expand the expansion unit from the upstream expansion unit to the downstream expansion unit. The airbag device is provided with a pressure regulating valve that regulates the gas flow and opens the valve in the middle of the supply period to release the regulation, and the partition member is flattened as the inflating portion is inflated. When formed, the length in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length in the lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and the partition member extends in the lateral direction to form a strip shape. A pair of overlapping portions are provided, and the pressure regulating valve is A pair of slit-shaped inner openings that are provided in the pair of overlapping portions and extend in the lateral direction, and a pair that is provided around the inner opening and that is configured by the pair of overlapping portions to approach and separate from each other. The pressure regulating valve is closed by the pair of valve body portions that are in close contact with each other by the internal pressure of the expansion gas at the beginning of the supply period of the expansion gas. In the middle of the supply period of the inflation gas, the pair of valve body portions are opened by an external force applied along with the restraint by the airbag to allow the inflation gas to flow. The opening and closing of the pair of valve body portions is based on a change in the tension applied to the partition member due to the application of the external force .

According to the configuration of the first or second aspect of the invention, before the inflation gas is supplied to the inflatable portion of the airbag, the inflatable portion becomes planar.
When an impact due to a collision or the like is applied to the vehicle, the expansion gas is first supplied to the upstream expansion portion of the expansion portion, and the upstream expansion portion starts to expand. The partition member is pulled with the expansion of the upstream expansion portion. A tension is applied to the partition member in the longitudinal direction or the short direction, and the partition member tends to be planar. Here, the partition member has a long shape longer in the longitudinal direction than in the lateral direction. For this reason, a stronger tension is more easily applied to the short direction than to the long direction. The slit-shaped inner opening provided in the partition member extends in the short direction where the strong tension is easily applied. For this reason, the inner opening tends to be strongly pulled toward the closing side rather than the opening side.

  However, although there is a tension strength relationship as described above, tension is also applied in the longitudinal direction in which the inner opening is to be opened, so the inner opening is not necessarily closed securely. However, even in this case, both valve body portions are closed at least at the front end portion thereof. This is because even if a force that attempts to open the inner opening is applied due to the tension of the partition member being flat, the force is the largest in the inner opening and from the inner opening. This is because the distance becomes smaller as the distance increases, and becomes minimum at the tip portions of both valve body portions. As a result, the expansion gas in the upstream expansion portion is restricted from flowing out between the valve body portions and through the inner opening to the downstream expansion portion.

  By continuing to supply the expansion gas to the upstream expansion portion where the above-described regulation is performed, the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion increases. At this time, since the expansion part is partitioned into at least an upstream expansion part and a downstream expansion part, the volume of the upstream expansion part is larger than the volume of the expansion part when the expansion part is not partitioned (prior art 1). (However, the volume when the airbag of the prior art 1 is inflated and the total volume when the inflated portion of the present application is inflated are substantially the same). For this reason, the internal pressure of the upstream inflating portion starts to rise and becomes higher than when the inflating portion is not partitioned.

  On the other hand, when the vehicle component enters the vehicle interior due to the impact and the airbag is pressed against the occupant, the occupant is restrained by the airbag. Since only the upstream inflatable portion is inflated in the inflatable portion, the upstream inflatable portion is the only place where the occupant contacts while receiving the pressure of the inflatable portion. Therefore, the area of the surface on which the occupant receives the pressure of the inflatable portion (pressure receiving area on the side of the inflating portion of the occupant) is the same as the area of the surface on which the pressure of the upstream inflating portion receives the pressure (the pressure receiving area on the upstream side of the occupant) It is small. However, the pressure receiving area on the upstream expansion portion side increases as the vehicle component advances toward the vehicle interior side.

  The impact load that the occupant receives through the inflatable part is expressed by the product of the pressure-receiving area and the internal pressure. This load increases from the early stage of the supply period of the inflation gas and protects the occupant from the impact. The predetermined value of is quickly reached.

  From the middle of the supply period of the inflation gas to the inflatable portion, the inflatable portion is pressed and deformed by an external force applied along with passenger restraint, and the tension applied to the partition member changes. Further, the internal pressure of the upstream inflating portion further increases with the deformation of the inflating portion, the partition member is pressed toward the downstream inflating portion, and the tension applied to the partition member changes. Such a change in tension of the partition member allows deformation of the inner opening and operation of the valve body.

  Under such circumstances, when the inner opening and both valve bodies are both opened (the pressure regulating valve is opened), the restriction is released. By this release, the expansion gas in the upstream expansion portion flows out between the valve body portions and through the inner opening to the downstream expansion portion, and the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion is reduced. The pressure-receiving area on the upstream expansion portion side of the occupant increases as the vehicle component enters the vehicle interior.

  Further, the downstream side expansion portion starts to expand due to the expansion gas, and accordingly, the internal pressure of the downstream side expansion portion starts to increase. Further, with a slight delay from the rise of the internal pressure, the inflating portion is pressed against the occupant by the vehicle component member at the downstream inflating portion in addition to the upstream inflating portion, so that the occupant is further restrained, and the occupant is downstream The area of the surface that receives the pressure of the inflating portion (the pressure receiving area on the inflating portion downstream side of the occupant) begins to increase.

Note that the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion and the internal pressure of the downstream expansion portion finally become equal.
As described above, after opening the pressure regulating valve, the internal pressure of the upstream side expansion portion decreases and the internal pressure of the downstream side expansion portion increases. Further, the pressure receiving area on the upstream expansion portion side of the occupant and the pressure receiving area on the downstream expansion portion side increase with a time difference. For this reason, the load that the occupant receives from the entire inflating part after opening the pressure regulating valve, that is, the total of the load that is received from the upstream inflating part and the load that is received from the downstream inflating part is simply expanded to a single inflating the airbag. It is possible to maintain a value (predetermined value) smaller than the maximum load value in the case where the pressure control valve is not provided (conventional technology 1).

  Thus, according to the first or second aspect of the invention, in the initial stage of the supply period of the expansion gas to the expansion portion, the configuration is simple and inexpensive such as the inner opening portion and the pair of valve body portions. Can be closed to establish a pressure regulating valve that opens from the middle of the supply period. And by the operation of this pressure regulating valve, the characteristics of the load received by the occupant through the airbag reach a predetermined value in a short time, and then are maintained at the predetermined value in order to appropriately restrain and protect the occupant. It is possible to obtain suitable characteristics.

The invention of claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, prior Symbol both the valve body, said is constituted by a portion corresponding to the inner opening in each overlapping portion, superposing the two The portion is bent along a boundary portion with the non-overlapping portion of the partition member, and is coupled to the airbag at both end portions in the short-side direction. The gist is that it is arranged in the downstream expansion section before expansion.

  According to said structure, since both the overlap parts are arrange | positioned in the downstream expansion part before expansion | swelling of an expansion part, unlike the invention of Claim 4 mentioned later, expansion | swelling of an upstream expansion part Sometimes, it cannot be expected that the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion is applied to both valve body portions from both sides in the thickness direction.

  However, since both the overlapping portions are bent along the boundary portion with the non-overlapping portion of the partition member and are coupled to the airbag at both ends in the lateral direction, when the upstream inflating portion is inflated The partition member is not only strongly tensioned in the shorter direction than the longitudinal direction, but also has a stronger tension in the shorter direction than the longitudinal direction on the overlapped portion. Due to this tension, the two valve body portions are brought into close contact with each other over their entire surface, and a sealing state is attempted in which leakage of the expansion gas is suppressed.

  Further, when the occupant is restrained by the inflating portion, the two overlapping portions fixed at the both end portions are pressed by the internal pressure of the upstream inflating portion, and are deformed so as to bulge toward the downstream inflating portion side at places other than the both end portions. . Since the direction of this deformation and the thickness direction of both valve body portions are the same, both valve body portions are unlikely to move in directions away from each other in the thickness direction. When the external force applied along with the occupant restraint is relatively small, both valve body portions are kept in close contact with each other, and exhibit high sealing performance.

  As the external force applied along with the occupant restraint increases and the deformation amount of the partition member and the overlapping portion increases, both valve body portions move in a direction away from each other in the plane direction rather than in the thickness direction. Along with this, the overlapping degree of both valve body portions decreases.

  When at least one of the valve body portions is inclined (tilted) to the downstream side rather than a small amount and the pressure regulating valve is opened, the expansion gas in the upstream expansion portion becomes the inner opening portion and both valve bodies. It flows out to a downstream side expansion part through between parts.

Thus, the invention described in claim 3 is particularly effective in a scene where it is required to close the pressure regulating valve and maintain high sealing performance over a relatively long period from the initial stage when the passenger is restrained.
The gist of the invention according to claim 4 is that, in the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the valve body parts are arranged in the upstream inflating part before the inflating part is inflated. .

  According to said structure, at the time of expansion | swelling of an upstream expansion part, the internal pressure of an upstream expansion part is applied from both sides about the overlapping direction (thickness direction) with respect to both valve body parts located in the upstream expansion part. This internal pressure is not as high as when the occupant is restrained by the inflating portion. The two valve body portions are brought into close contact with each other over the entire surface by this internal pressure, and are in a self-sealing state that regulates the flow of the expansion gas between the both valve body portions.

  When the internal pressure of the upstream inflating portion becomes higher due to the restraint of the occupant by the inflating portion, both valve body portions are pushed out to the downstream inflating portion through the inner opening while being deformed (inverted) by the internal pressure. When the tip portions of both valve body portions are separated, the expansion gas in the upstream expansion portion can flow out between the inner opening and both valve body portions to the downstream expansion portion.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the partition members are folded back along a fold line extending in the longitudinal direction, thereby facing opposite ends. The partition member in the half-folded state is arranged in the inflated portion in the non-inflated and deployed state with the fold line positioned upstream from the opposing end. Furthermore, the gist of the present invention is that it is coupled to the airbag at both opposing end portions and both end portions in the longitudinal direction.

  According to said structure, before supply of the gas for expansion | swelling to an expansion | swelling part, a division member will be in the double fold state which positions a fold line upstream from an opposing edge part. In addition, the partition member is coupled to the airbag at each of the opposing end portions, and is coupled to the airbag at both ends in the longitudinal direction. For this reason, when the expansion of the upstream expansion portion is started by the supply of the expansion gas to the expansion portion, the two-folded partition member is pulled. A tension is applied to the partition member in the longitudinal direction or the short side direction, and the partition member tends to be in a planar state.

  However, the whole partition member is not in a uniform tension state. From the coupling mode of the partition member to the airbag described above, the section of the upstream inflatable portion when inflated has a substantially elliptical shape with a large curvature in the vicinity of both ends in the direction along the fold line and a small curvature in the other portions. Because it becomes. Because of such an irregular (non-circular) cross section, tension is less likely to be applied to the vicinity of both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the partition member than the portion (intermediate portion) between them. Therefore, the portion in the vicinity of both ends of the partition member is in a bent state in which the fold line is positioned on the upstream side of the opposite end portion (when the intermediate portion is in a substantially flat tension state (however, folded in two) More open).

  When the expansion portion is pressed and deformed by an external force applied in accordance with the occupant restraint from the middle of the supply period of the expansion gas to the expansion portion, the tension applied to the partition member changes. In addition, the internal pressure of the upstream inflating portion further increases with the deformation of the inflating portion, the intermediate portion of the partition member is pressed toward the downstream inflating portion, the tension applied to the intermediate portion changes, and the partition member The portion in the vicinity of both end portions is pressed and deformed so as to swell toward the downstream side expansion portion. As described above, the vicinity of the both end portions is in a bent state in which the fold line is positioned on the upstream side of the opposite end portion before restraining the occupant. When the occupant is restrained, the vicinity of both ends is deformed into a shape that is inverted from the shape before the occupant restraint. Due to such a shape change (inversion) in the vicinity of both end portions, the tension changes in the intermediate portion, and the deformation of the inner opening and the operation of the valve body are allowed.

  At this time, due to the inversion of the portions in the vicinity of both ends, the tensioned region of the partition member expands in the longitudinal direction. In the partition member, the tension in both directions with respect to the longitudinal direction is increased. Due to the change in the tension, the slit-shaped inner opening is pulled in the longitudinal direction and is easily opened.

  When the invention according to claim 5 is combined with the invention according to claim 4, the improvement in the sealing performance when the pressure regulating valve is closed and the improvement in the flowability of the expansion gas when the valve is opened. Coexistence is achieved.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the partition members are folded back along a fold line extending in the longitudinal direction, thereby facing opposite ends. The partition member in the half-folded state is disposed in the inflatable portion in the non-inflated and deployed state with the fold line positioned on the downstream side of the opposed end portion. Furthermore, the gist of the present invention is that it is coupled to the airbag at both opposing end portions and both end portions in the longitudinal direction.

  In the invention described in claim 6 having the above-described configuration, the same operation as that of the invention described in claim 5 described above is performed. The difference from the invention described in claim 5 is that the partition member is in a double-folded state in which the folding line is positioned downstream of the opposing end before the expansion gas is supplied to the expansion section. It is that you are. For this reason, the portion in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the partition member has the folding line facing the opposite end even when the upstream expansion portion is expanded by the supply of the expansion gas and the intermediate portion is in a substantially flat tension state. It will be in the bent state (however, it is the open state rather than the bi-fold state) located downstream from the part.

  When the expansion portion is pressed and deformed by an external force applied in accordance with the occupant restraint from the middle of the supply period of the expansion gas to the expansion portion, the tension applied to the partition member changes. In addition, the internal pressure of the upstream inflating portion further increases with the deformation of the inflating portion, the intermediate portion of the partition member is pressed toward the downstream inflating portion, the tension applied to the intermediate portion changes, and the partition member The portion in the vicinity of both end portions is pressed and deformed so as to swell toward the downstream side expansion portion. As described above, the vicinity of both end portions is in a bent state in which the fold line is positioned on the downstream side of the opposing end portion before restraining the occupant. When the occupant is restrained, the portions near both ends have the same tendency as before the occupant restraint. Therefore, as compared with the invention described in claim 5, there is little change in the tension in the intermediate portion due to the shape change in the vicinity of both end portions. Therefore, the deformation of the inner opening and the operation of both valve bodies are difficult to be permitted.

  At this time, unlike the invention described in claim 5, since there is no reversal of the vicinity of both end portions, the tensioned region of the partition member extends in the longitudinal direction and goes in both directions with respect to the longitudinal direction. It is difficult for tension to increase. Therefore, the inner opening and the valve body are easily maintained in a closed state, and the sealing performance is easily maintained.

  When the invention according to the sixth aspect is combined with the invention according to the third aspect, it is difficult for the two overlapping portions to operate only by increasing the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion. Only when the amount of deformation of the partition member exceeds a certain level, the operation of both overlapping portions is allowed.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the airbag has a pair of cloth portions and a peripheral edge provided along the peripheral edge portions of the two cloth portions. The partitioning member is formed by joining at a joining part, and the partitioning member is folded back along a fold line extending in the longitudinal direction before the inflation gas is supplied, thereby approaching opposite opposing ends. The two folded portions are arranged between the two fabric portions of the airbag, and are coupled to the fabric portions by outer coupling portions at the opposing end portions, and at both end portions in the longitudinal direction, The outer joint portions are joined to both the cloth portions by a peripheral joint portion, and the distance between the outer joint portions and the folding line is smaller than the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction at the intersection with the peripheral joint portion. The opposite end as And summarized in that those coupling said cloth portion Prefecture.

  Here, if the outer coupling portion that couples the opposing end portion of the partition member to the fabric portion of the airbag extends in parallel to the fold line, the interval between the outer coupling portion and the fold line is folded. It is the same at any point in the longitudinal direction, including the intersection of the line with the peripheral joint.

  On the other hand, the partition member is tensioned in a planar shape orthogonal to the expansion direction as the expansion portion expands. While the opposing end portions of the partition member are coupled to the airbag fabric portion by the outer coupling portion, the folded portion of the partition member is connected to the fabric portion by the peripheral coupling portion only at both ends in the longitudinal direction. Are combined. Therefore, when the partition member is tensioned in a planar shape as described above, the folded portion along the fold line of the partition member is pulled and moved toward the outer coupling portion in the expansion direction of the expansion portion. The joint portion of the folded portion with the cloth portion, that is, the intersection portion of the folding line with the peripheral joint portion is pulled and moved toward the outer joint portion in the same manner as the other portions of the folded portion. At this time, the amount of movement of the intersecting portion that is far away from the outer coupling portion is large, and accordingly, the tensile force acting on the intersecting portion is increased. As a result, stress may concentrate on the intersection.

  On the other hand, in the invention according to claim 7, the interval between each outer coupling portion and the folding line is made smaller than the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction at the intersection with the peripheral coupling portion of the outer coupling portion. Yes. Therefore, compared with the case where each outer coupling part is parallel to the fold line, the interval between the intersection of the fold line with the peripheral coupling part and each outer coupling part becomes smaller. The amount of movement of the intersection of the fold line with the peripheral coupling portion is reduced by being pulled toward the outer coupling portion, the tensile force acting on the intersection is reduced, and the stress concentration on the intersection is reduced.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 7, wherein each outer coupling portion extends parallel to the fold line, and each outer coupling portion intersects with the peripheral coupling portion. Is a point A, a point where the fold line intersects the peripheral joint part is a point B, and a point where a line segment passing through the point B and perpendicular to the fold line intersects the outer joint part is a point C. , When the point on the outer coupling portion is a point D away from the point C toward the pressure regulating valve by the same length as the line segment, the peripheral edge of the outer coupling portion The portion connecting the connecting portion and the point D is the region between the line connecting the point A and the point D, the line connecting the point B and the point D, and the peripheral connecting portion. It is provided on the line segment side connecting the point B and the point D rather than the line segment connecting the point A and the point D. The gist of the Rukoto.

  Among the outer coupling portions, the portion connecting the peripheral coupling portion and the point D is provided at a location that satisfies the above conditions, so that the interval between each outer coupling portion and the folding line is the same as the peripheral coupling portion of each outer coupling portion. The crossing portion of the partition member is smaller than the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the partition member. Therefore, by adopting the configuration of the invention described in claim 8, the effect of the invention described in claim 7 can be obtained.

  In addition, even if the part which connects a periphery coupling | bond part and the point D among the outer coupling parts makes a linear form along the line segment which connects the point B and the point D like the invention of Claim 9. Alternatively, as in the tenth aspect of the present invention, an arc shape that swells toward the point C side from the line segment connecting the point B and the point D may be used.

  By employ | adopting said structure, the space | interval of the cross | intersection part with the periphery coupling | bond part of each outer coupling part and a folding line approaches the minimum value of the range which can be taken. Therefore, the amount of movement of the intersection of the fold line with the peripheral coupling portion is pulled toward the outer coupling portion, and the pulling force acting on the intersection portion approaches the minimum, thereby greatly reducing the stress concentration on the intersection portion. Is obtained.

  According to the airbag device of the present invention, it is possible to improve the characteristics of the load received by the occupant through the airbag with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

In 1st Embodiment which materialized this invention to the side airbag apparatus, the side view which shows the vehicle seat equipped with the same side airbag apparatus with a passenger | crew. In 1st Embodiment, the front sectional view which shows the positional relationship of a vehicle seat, a passenger | crew, and a body side part. In 1st Embodiment, the plane sectional view which shows the positional relationship of a vehicle seat, a passenger | crew, and a body side part. In the first embodiment, a partial plan sectional view showing an airbag module incorporated in a seat back storage portion together with a body side portion. In 1st Embodiment, the partial side view which shows the airbag module by which the airbag was made into the non-expanded deployment state with a vehicle seat and a passenger | crew. FIG. 6 is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the airbag module, in which the airbag in the non-inflated and deployed state in FIG. The fragmentary perspective view which shows the state which looked at the upper part of the airbag module by which 1st Embodiment was made into the non-expanding deployment state from the diagonally upper back. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectional structure of a partition member and the like along the line AA in FIG. 5. In 1st Embodiment, the longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the internal structure of the airbag module which the airbag expanded and the partition member was tension | tensile_strength planarly. It is a figure which shows 1st Embodiment, (A) is the fragmentary perspective view which shows the vicinity part of the pressure regulation valve in the division member of a bending state, (B) is the vicinity part of the pressure regulation valve in the division member strained planarly. FIG. (A)-(C) are explanatory drawings which show operation | movement of the pressure regulation valve of 1st Embodiment. The characteristic view which shows each change aspect of an internal pressure at the time of an airbag being pressed on a passenger | crew by the body side part which approachs a vehicle inner side, pressure receiving area, and a load in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a partial plan cross-sectional view showing a state in which the airbag is left in a seat back part of the state shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment which actualized this invention, and is the fragmentary sectional side view which shows the airbag module by which the airbag of the non-expanded deployment state was cut | disconnected by the center part of the vehicle width direction with a vehicle seat and a passenger | crew . The fragmentary sectional view which shows sectional structure of the division member etc. along CC line of FIG. In 2nd Embodiment, the fragmentary perspective view which shows the vicinity part of the pressure regulation valve in the division member strained planarly. (A)-(C) are explanatory drawings which show operation | movement of the pressure regulation valve of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows 3rd Embodiment which actualized this invention, and is the fragmentary sectional side view which shows the airbag module by which the airbag of the non-expanded deployment state was cut | disconnected by the center part of the vehicle width direction with a vehicle seat and a passenger | crew . In 3rd Embodiment, the fragmentary perspective view which shows the state which looked at the upper part of the airbag module by which the airbag was made into the non-expanded deployment state from diagonally upward front. The fragmentary sectional view which shows sectional structure, such as a division member along the DD line | wire of FIG. In 3rd Embodiment, the fragmentary perspective view which shows the vicinity part of the pressure regulation valve in the division member strained planarly. (A)-(C) are explanatory drawings which show operation | movement of the pressure regulation valve of 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows 4th Embodiment which actualized this invention, and is the fragmentary sectional side view which shows the airbag module by which the airbag of the non-expanded deployment state was cut | disconnected by the center part of the vehicle width direction with a vehicle seat and a passenger | crew . The fragmentary sectional view which shows sectional structure of the division member etc. along the EE line of FIG. In 4th Embodiment, the fragmentary perspective view which shows the vicinity part of the pressure regulation valve in the division member strained planarly. (A)-(C) are explanatory drawings which show operation | movement of the pressure regulation valve of 4th Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the conditions at the time of setting the outer coupling part of the division member in 5th Embodiment which actualized this invention, and the airbag of the non-expanded deployment state was cut | disconnected by the center part of the vehicle width direction The fragmentary sectional side view which shows an airbag module. In 5th Embodiment, the partial sectional side view which shows the airbag module by which the airbag of the non-expanded deployment state was cut | disconnected by the center part of the vehicle width direction. (A), (B) is a fragmentary perspective view which shows the other example which comprised the division member of 1st Embodiment by one piece of cloth. (A), (B) is a side view which shows another example which applied this invention to the side airbag apparatus of the type different from 1st-5th embodiment. (A) and (B) are side views showing another example in which the present invention is applied to a side airbag device of a type different from the first to fifth embodiments. (A) and (B) are side views showing another example in which the present invention is applied to a side airbag device of a type different from the first to fifth embodiments. It is a figure which shows the other example which applied this invention to the airbag apparatus for knee protection, and is a partial side view which shows the vicinity part of the steering column equipped with the airbag with a passenger | crew's leg. The front view which shows the airbag module in which the airbag was made into the non-expanding deployment state in another example of FIG. FIG. 10 is a view showing another example of the outer coupling portion of the partition member according to the fifth embodiment, and is a partial side sectional view showing an airbag module in which an airbag in a non-inflated and deployed state is cut at a central portion in the vehicle width direction.

(First embodiment)
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a first embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a vehicle side airbag device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the following description, the forward direction of the vehicle will be described as the front, and the reverse direction of the vehicle will be described as the rear. Further, in the following description, the vertical direction means the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the horizontal direction is the vehicle width direction of the vehicle and coincides with the horizontal direction when the vehicle moves forward.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a vehicle seat 12 is disposed in the vehicle 10 in the vicinity of the vehicle inner side (the right side in FIG. 2, the upper side in FIG. 3) of the body side portion 11. Here, the body side part 11 refers to a vehicle constituent member arranged on the side part of the vehicle 10, and mainly corresponds to a door, a pillar, and the like. For example, the body side part 11 corresponding to the front seat is a front door, a center pillar (B pillar), or the like. The body side portion 11 corresponding to the rear seat is a rear portion of a side door (rear door), a C pillar, a front portion of a tire house, a rear quarter, and the like.

  The vehicle seat 12 includes a seat cushion (seat portion) 13 and a seat back (backrest) 14 that stands up from the rear side of the seat cushion 13 and whose inclination angle is adjusted by an inclination adjustment mechanism (not shown). Configured.

Next, the internal structure of the side portion on the vehicle outer side in the seat back 14 will be described.
A seat frame that forms the skeleton is disposed in the seat back 14. As shown in FIG. 4, a part of the seat frame is disposed on the vehicle outer side (lower side in FIG. 4) in the seat back 14, and this part (hereinafter referred to as “side frame part 15”) is made of metal. It is formed by bending a plate. A seat pad 16 made of an elastic material such as urethane foam is disposed on the front side of the seat frame including the side frame portion 15. A hard backboard 17 made of synthetic resin or the like is disposed on the rear side of the seat frame. Although the seat pad 16 is covered with a skin, the skin is not shown in FIG. The same applies to FIG. 13 described later.

  In the seat pad 16, a storage portion 18 is provided in the vicinity of the vehicle exterior side of the side frame portion 15. The position of the storage portion 18 is in the vicinity of the rear of the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 12 (see FIG. 3). An air bag module AM that forms the main part of the side air bag device is incorporated in the storage portion 18.

  A slit 19 extends from a corner on the vehicle outer side and front side of the storage unit 18 toward the diagonal front vehicle outer side. A portion sandwiched between the corner 16C on the front side of the seat pad 16 and the slit 19 (a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4) constitutes a planned fracture portion 21 to be broken by the airbag 40 described later. ing.

The airbag module AM incorporated in the seat back 14 includes an inflator assembly 30 and an airbag 40 as main components.
Next, each of these structural members will be described. Here, in the first embodiment, when the airbag module AM and its constituent members are referred to as “vertical direction” and “front-rear direction”, as shown in FIG. 1, the seat back 14 of the vehicle seat 12 is used as a reference. . The direction in which the seat back 14 stands is the “vertical direction”, and the thickness direction of the seat back 14 is the “front-rear direction”. Usually, since the seat back 14 is used in a state of being slightly inclined rearward, the “vertical direction” is not strictly a vertical direction but is slightly inclined. Similarly, the “front-rear direction” is not strictly a horizontal direction but is slightly inclined.

<Inflator assembly 30>
As shown in at least one of FIGS. 4 and 5, the inflator assembly 30 includes an inflator 31 as a gas generation source and a retainer 32 attached to the outside of the inflator 31. In the first embodiment, a type called a pyrotype is employed as the inflator 31. The inflator 31 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a gas generating agent (not shown) that generates an expansion gas is accommodated therein. A harness (not shown) serving as a control signal application wiring to the inflator 31 is connected to one end (the lower end in the first embodiment) of the inflator 31 in the length direction.

  As the inflator 31, a type (hybrid type) that breaks the partition wall of a high-pressure gas cylinder filled with a high-pressure gas with an explosive or the like instead of the pyro-type using the gas generating agent (hybrid type) is used. Also good.

  On the other hand, the retainer 32 is a member that functions as a diffuser and has a function of fastening the inflator 31 to the side frame portion 15 together with the airbag 40. Most of the retainer 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape by bending a plate material such as a metal plate. The retainer 32 is provided with a window 33, and most of the inflation gas ejected from the inflator 31 is ejected to the outside of the retainer 32 through the window 33.

  A plurality of bolts 34 are fixed to the retainer 32 as a locking member for attaching the retainer 32 to the side frame portion 15. In other words, the plurality of bolts 34 are indirectly fixed to the inflator 31 via the retainer 32.

The inflator assembly 30 may be one in which the inflator 31 and the retainer 32 are integrated.
<Airbag 40>
As shown in at least one of FIGS. 1 to 3, the airbag 40 is inflated from the inflator 31 when an impact is applied to the body side part 11 from the side due to a side collision or the like while the vehicle 10 is traveling. Receive supply of G. The airbag 40 that has received the supply of the inflation gas G jumps out substantially forward from the storage portion 18 in a state where a part (rear portion) of the airbag 40 is left in the storage portion 18 to the vehicle seat 12. By inflating and deploying between the upper body of the seated occupant P and the body side part 11, the upper body of the occupant P is protected from the impact of the side collision.

  FIG. 5 shows an airbag module AM in a state where the airbag 40 is deployed in a plane without being filled with the inflation gas G (hereinafter referred to as “non-inflated and deployed state”) together with the occupant P and the vehicle seat 12. Show. 6 shows the airbag module AM in which the airbag 40 in the non-inflated and deployed state in FIG. 5 is cut at the center in the vehicle width direction, and the vehicle seat 12 and the airbag module AM. It is shown together with the passenger P. In FIG. 6, a portion surrounded by a large round frame W with a one-dot chain line shows an enlarged portion surrounded by a small round frame W.

  As shown in at least one of FIGS. 5 and 6, the airbag 40 folds one piece of cloth 41 (also called a base cloth, panel cloth, etc.) along a fold line 42 set at the center thereof. Then, they are formed by overlapping in the vehicle width direction and joining the overlapped portions so as to form a bag. Here, in order to distinguish the two overlapped portions of the airbag 40, the one located on the inside of the vehicle is referred to as a cloth portion 43 (see FIG. 6), and the one located on the outside of the vehicle is designated as a cloth portion 44 ( (See FIG. 5).

  In the first embodiment, the cloth piece 41 is folded in two so that the folding line 42 is positioned at the front end of the airbag 40, but the folding line 42 is positioned at the other end, for example, the rear end. The cloth piece 41 may be folded in half. The airbag 40 may be composed of two pieces of cloth divided along the fold line 42. In this case, the airbag 40 is formed in a bag shape by superimposing two pieces of cloth in the vehicle width direction and joining both pieces of cloth at their peripheral portions. Further, the airbag 40 may be composed of three or more pieces of cloth.

As described above, the airbag 40 that is planar when in a non-inflated and deployed state is also referred to as a “planar bag”.
In the airbag 40, the outer shapes of the cloth portions 43 and 44 are in a line-symmetric relationship with each other with the folding line 42 as the axis of symmetry. The shape and size of the cloth portions 43 and 44 correspond to the upper body of the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 12 when the airbag 40 is inflated and deployed between the vehicle seat 12 and the body side portion 11. It is set so that it can occupy the area to be.

  As the cloth parts 43 and 44, a woven cloth formed using a material having high strength and flexibility and can be easily folded, for example, polyester yarn, polyamide yarn or the like is suitable.

  The above-described connection between the cloth parts 43 and 44 is performed at a peripheral connection part 45 provided at the peripheral part thereof. In the first embodiment, the peripheral edge coupling portion 45 sews (sews) a portion of the peripheral edge portions of the cloth portions 43 and 44 excluding the rear lower end portion and the front end portion (the vicinity of the folding line 42) with a sewing thread. It is formed by.

  5 to 7, 9, 10, and FIGS. 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 to 29, 34, and 34. In 35, a sewing part is expressed by two line types. One line type is a line (a type of broken line) expressed by arranging thick lines of a certain length intermittently, which is the state of the sewing thread outside the cloth part to be stitched (not between the cloth parts). (See FIG. 5 and the like). The other line type is a line (a type of broken line) in which dots are arranged at regular intervals, and this indicates the state of the sewing thread inside the cloth part to be stitched (between the cloth parts) ( (See FIG. 6). That is, the drawing in which the sewing is expressed in the latter manner shows a cross-sectional structure along a cross section passing through the sewing portion.

  As shown in at least one of FIGS. 5 and 6, the space between the cloth portions 43 and 44 and surrounded by the peripheral joint portion 45 (the space inside the peripheral joint portion 45) is an expansion gas G. By inflating near the outer side of the upper body of the occupant P (see FIG. 1 etc.), an inflating portion 46 is provided to protect the upper body from impact.

  In addition, the periphery coupling | bond part 45 may be formed by the means different from the sewing using the said sewing thread, for example, adhesion | attachment using an adhesive agent. This also applies to the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 and the inner coupling portion 63 described later.

  The inflator assembly 30 is disposed in the lower portion of the rear end in the airbag 40 in a posture inclined so as to become lower toward the front side. The bolts 34 of the retainer 32 are inserted through the cloth portion 43 on the vehicle inner side (see FIG. 4). By such insertion, the inflator assembly 30 is locked in a state of being positioned with respect to the airbag 40. Further, the lower end of the rear portion of the airbag 40 is fastened to the lower end of the inflator assembly 30 in an airtight state by an annular fastener 37.

  The inflating portion 46 of the airbag 40 is supplied by the partition member 50 with the upstream inflating portion 47 to which the inflating gas G from the inflator 31 is first supplied and the inflating gas G via the upstream inflating portion 47. And a downstream-side inflatable portion 48. The partition member 50 has the same configuration as that generally called a tether, and is formed using the same material as the cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which a part of the upper portion of the airbag module AM in which the airbag 40 is in a non-inflated and deployed state is viewed obliquely from above and rearward, and FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. The structure is shown. In FIG. 8, each member is drawn with the thickness omitted, and the inner coupling portion 63 is drawn in a zigzag shape. This also applies to FIGS. 15, 20, and 24 described later. FIG. 9 shows the internal structure of the airbag module AM in which the airbag 40 is inflated and the partition member 50 is tensioned flat. FIG. 10A shows a part of the partition member 50 in a bent state, and FIG. 10B shows an intermediate portion P1 of the partition member 50 that is strained in a planar shape and its vicinity. . As shown in at least one of these FIGS. 7 to 10A and 10B, the partition member 50 is folded back along a fold line 51 extending in a substantially vertical direction, thereby facing opposite ends. 52 and 53 are made close to each other. The two-folded partition member 50 is disposed in the inflatable portion 46 in a non-inflated and deployed state with the fold line 51 positioned on the upstream side of the opposing end portions 52 and 53 (see FIG. 8). .

  When the partition member 50 is tensioned in a planar shape with the expansion of the expansion portion 46, the length L1 in the direction along the fold line 51 (hereinafter referred to as “longitudinal direction”) is perpendicular to the fold line 51 ( The length is longer than the length L2 (hereinafter referred to as “short direction”) (see FIGS. 6 and 9).

  The two-folded partition member 50 is coupled to both cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 by outer coupling portions 54 and 55 extending substantially in the vertical direction (longitudinal direction) at each of the opposing end portions 52 and 53. Has been. Both the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 correspond to the opposing end portions 52 and 53 of the partition member 50 at locations that are lateral to the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the upper body of the occupant P when the inflating portion 46 is inflated. It couple | bonds with the cloth parts 43 and 44 to perform (refer FIG. 3).

  In this way, the partition member 50 is bridged between the fabric portion 43 on the vehicle interior side and the fabric portion 44 on the vehicle exterior side of the airbag 40. The partition member 50 is folded in two when the inflating portion 46 is not inflated (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Moreover, when the expansion part 46 expand | swells, the partition member 50 will be in the state by which it was tensed planarly in the vehicle width direction (refer FIG. 9, FIG. 10 (B)), and the thickness of the vehicle expansion direction of the expansion part 46 is the same. To regulate.

  Further, the two-folded partition member 50 is coupled to the airbag 40 at both ends in the direction along the fold line 51 (longitudinal direction). That is, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the partition member 50 in the folded state are the upper end portions and the lower end portions of the cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 by the peripheral edge coupling portion 45 (see FIGS. 6, 7, and 9). It is joined (co-sewn) to the part.

  As shown in at least one of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the partition member 50 causes the inflating portion 46 to form the latter half of the inflating portion 46, and the upstream inflating portion 47 on the rear side where the inflator assembly 30 is disposed. The front portion of the inflating section 46 is divided into a front-side downstream inflating section 48 where the inflator assembly 30 is not disposed.

  In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the partition member 50 includes two members 56 and 57 arranged in a substantially vertical direction (longitudinal direction) that is a direction along the fold line 51. Consists of. In the upper and lower members 56, 57, the end portions 58, 59 are overlapped in a band shape with the end edges 58E, 59E of the end portions 58, 59 being matched. Both the upper and lower members 56 and 57 are in a direction substantially orthogonal to the fold line 51 at a boundary portion between a pair of overlapping portions 61 each having a band shape and other portions (hereinafter referred to as “non-overlapping portions 62”) ( They are coupled by an inner coupling part 63 extending in the short direction. This boundary portion is separated from the end edges 58E and 59E by a certain distance.

  In the substantially central portion of the partition member 50, the expansion gas G is closed from the upstream side expansion part 47 to the downstream side expansion part 48 at the initial stage of the supply period of the expansion gas G to the expansion part 46. From the middle of the supply period, there is provided a pressure regulating valve 70 that is opened by an external force applied in accordance with passenger restraint to release the restriction.

  Next, the configuration of the pressure regulating valve 70 will be described. The inner coupling portion 63 is released from coupling at a part thereof (a portion straddling the folding line 51 in the first embodiment). In other words, the inner coupling portion 63 that couples the upper and lower members 56 and 57 is not provided in a portion straddling the folding line 51 at the boundary portion between the overlapping portion 61 and the non-overlapping portion 62. In this way, the portion where the inner coupling portion 63 is not provided, where the coupling is released, extends in the short-side direction, and is a slit-shaped inner portion that allows the upstream inflating portion 47 and the downstream inflating portion 48 to communicate with each other. An opening 71 is configured.

  A portion (proximal portion) corresponding to the inner opening 71 in the overlapping portion 61 constitutes a pair of valve body portions 73 and 74. More precisely, a valve body 73 is constituted by a portion between the inner opening 71 and the end edge 58E, and a valve body 74 is constituted by a portion between the inner opening 71 and the end edge 59E. Yes. The flow of the expansion gas G between the valve body portions 73 and 74 is restricted by the valve body portions 73 and 74 coming into contact with each other in at least a part of them, for example, the tip portions 73T and 74T (see FIG. 11 (B)). Further, since the entire valve body 73 is separated from the entire valve body 74, the inflation gas G can be circulated between the valve bodies 73 and 74 (see FIG. 11C).

Furthermore, as described above, the two overlapping portions 61 having both the valve body portions 73 and 74 are arranged in the upstream inflating portion 47 before the inflating portion 46 is inflated.
The two overlapping portions 61 are bent upward or downward (upward in the first embodiment) at the boundary portion with the non-overlapping portion 62 and overlapped with the non-overlapping portion 62. Further, the folded belt-like two overlapping portions 61 are respectively connected to the cloth portions 43 of the airbag 40 by the outer connecting portions 54 and 55 described above at both ends in the direction along the inner connecting portion 63 (short direction). , 44 and the partition member 50 (non-overlapping portion 62) (see FIGS. 6 and 8).

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, the airbag module AM having the airbag 40 and the inflator assembly 30 as main components is compact by folding the airbag 40 (see FIG. 5) in a non-inflated and deployed state. (Hereinafter referred to as “storage form”). This is because the airbag module AM is suitable for storage with respect to the storage unit 18 having a limited size in the seat back 14.

  The airbag module AM in the storage configuration is disposed in the storage portion 18 of the seatback 14 with the inflator assembly 30 positioned on the rear side and most of the airbag 40 positioned on the front side. Yes. As described above, the bolt 34 extending from the retainer 32 and inserted into the airbag 40 (cloth portion 43) is inserted into the side frame portion 15 and is tightened by the nut 36. By this tightening, the inflator assembly 30 is fixed to the side frame portion 15 together with the airbag 40.

The inflator assembly 30 may be fixed to the vehicle 10 (side frame portion 15) by means different from the bolts 34 and nuts 36 described above.
As shown in FIG. 1, the side airbag device includes an impact sensor 75 and a control device 76 in addition to the airbag module AM described above. The impact sensor 75 is composed of an acceleration sensor or the like and is provided on the body side portion 11 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of the vehicle 10 and detects an impact applied to the body side portion 11 from the side. The control device 76 controls the operation of the inflator 31 based on the detection signal from the impact sensor 75.

  The side airbag device of the first embodiment is configured as described above. Next, typical operation modes (modes) of the side airbag device will be described with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11C schematically show how the configuration of the pressure regulating valve 70 and the like changes with time after the supply of the expansion gas G starts, and details are omitted and simplified. It has become. 12 shows the pressure (internal pressure) of the inflation gas G in the upstream and downstream expansion portions 47, 48, the pressure receiving area of the passenger P on the expansion portions 47, 48 side, It shows how the load received from the bag 40 changes according to the amount of entry (stroke) of the body side portion 11 that enters the vehicle interior due to impact. The load is represented by the product of the internal pressure and the pressure receiving area.

  In this side airbag device, when no impact is applied to the vehicle 10 from the side due to a side collision or the like, the control device 76 does not output an operation signal for operating the inflator 31, and the inflator 31 is inflated. The working gas G is not supplied to the expansion section 46 (upstream expansion section 47). The airbag 40 continues to be stored in the storage portion 18 together with the inflator assembly 30 in the storage form (see FIG. 4). At this time, in the airbag 40, both the cloth parts 43 and 44 are approaching each other. The partition member 50 is in a double-folded state in which the fold line 51 is positioned upstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53. Both valve body parts 73 and 74 overlap in the upstream expansion part 47. The approach amount (stroke) of the body side portion 11 is “0”. The internal pressures of the expanding portions 47 and 48 are both low (substantially atmospheric pressure), and the pressure receiving area and the load are both “0”.

  On the other hand, when the vehicle 10 is traveling, an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the body side portion 11 due to a side collision or the like, and when this is detected by the impact sensor 75, the inflator is controlled from the control device 76 based on the detection signal. The operation signal for operating this is output to 31. The amount of entry (stroke) of the body side portion 11 at this time is S0. In response to this operation signal, in the inflator 31, the gas generating agent generates a high-temperature and high-pressure expansion gas G. The expansion gas G is first supplied to the upstream expansion portion 47, and the upstream expansion portion 47 starts to expand.

  In the inflating portion 46, the two-folded partition member 50 is disposed in a state where the folding line 51 is positioned upstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53. In addition, the partition member 50 is coupled to the corresponding cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 by the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 at each of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). . Further, the partition member 50 is coupled to both the cloth portions 43 and 44 by the peripheral coupling portion 45 at each of both end portions (upper end portion and lower end portion) in the direction along the fold line 51 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). ). Therefore, when the expansion of the upstream expansion portion 47 is started as described above, the partition member 50 in a folded state is pulled. A tension is applied to the partition member 50 in the direction along the fold line 51 (longitudinal direction) or in the orthogonal direction (short direction), and the partition member 50 tends to be in a planar state (see FIG. 9).

  However, the whole partition member 50 is not in a uniform tension state. From the above-described coupling mode of the partition member 50 to the cloth portions 43 and 44, the longitudinal section of the upstream inflatable portion 47 when inflated has a large curvature near the upper and lower end portions as shown in FIG. This is because it becomes a vertically long substantially elliptical shape with a small curvature. Because of such an irregular (non-circular) cross section, the upper portion P2 and the lower portion P3 of the partition member 50 are less likely to be tensioned than the portion (intermediate portion P1) between them. Therefore, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 of the partition member 50 are in a bent state in which the folding line 51 is positioned upstream of the opposed end parts 52 and 53 even when the intermediate part P1 is in a substantially planar tension state. (However, it is in an opened state rather than a folded state) (see FIG. 11A).

  Internal pressure PI is applied to both valve body parts 73 and 74 located in the upstream expansion part 47 from both sides in the overlapping direction (thickness direction). The internal pressure PI is not as high as when the occupant P is restrained by the inflating portion 46. Both valve body portions 73 and 74 are brought into close contact with each other over the entire surface by the internal pressure PI, and are in a self-sealing state that restricts the flow of the expansion gas G between the both valve body portions 73 and 74. Further, the overlapping portion 61 that is bent and overlapped with the non-overlapping portion 62 of the partition member 50 is pressed against the non-overlapping portion 62 by the internal pressure PI (see FIG. 11A). Also from these things, it becomes easier to close both valve body parts 73 and 74 further.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the partition member 50 is formed longer in the longitudinal direction (substantially up and down direction) than in the lateral direction (L1> L2). From this, in the said intermediate part P1 of the division member 50, a tension | tensile_strength with respect to a transversal direction is easy to be applied rather than with respect to a longitudinal direction. In the first embodiment, since the inner opening 71 extends in the short direction where the strong tension is easily applied, the inner opening 71 is easily closed.

  However, although there is a tension relationship as described above, the tension is also applied in the longitudinal direction in which the inner opening 71 is to be opened. There is also a possibility that the part 71 opens. However, even in this case, both valve body portions 73 and 74 are closed at least at their tip portions 73T and 74T. This is because even if the inner opening 71 is pulled by the tension of the intermediate portion P1 and a force to open the inner opening 71 acts, the force is the largest in the inner opening 71, and the inner opening 71 This is because the distance between the valve body portions 73 and 74 becomes smaller at the distal end portions 73T and 74T.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the overlapping portion 61 bent toward the non-overlapping portion 62 side is opposed to the opposite end by the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 at both ends in the direction along the inner coupling portion 63 (short direction). It couple | bonds with the cloth parts 43 and 44 with the parts 52 and 53 (refer FIG. 10 (B)). For this reason, when the upstream expansion portion 47 is expanded, not only a strong tension is applied to the intermediate portion P1 of the partition member 50 in the short direction but also a strong tension is applied to the overlapping portion 61 in the same direction. .

  When the two valve body portions 73 and 74 come into contact with each other in at least a part of them, the pressure regulating valve 70 is closed, and the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 is between the valve body portions 73 and 74. In addition, the flow out to the downstream side expansion portion 48 through the inner opening 71 is restricted.

Due to the above restriction, the expansion gas G accumulates in the upstream expansion portion 47, and only the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 starts to increase after the approach amount (stroke) S0.
In the first embodiment, since the expansion part 46 is partitioned into the upstream expansion part 47 and the downstream expansion part 48 by the partition member 50, the volume of the upstream expansion part 47 is not partitioned from the expansion part 46. In the case (conventional technique 1 corresponds to this), it is smaller than the volume of the expansion part. For this reason, the internal pressure of the upstream inflating portion 47 starts to rise faster than when the inflating portion 46 is not partitioned, and becomes higher. In particular, the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 is allowed to flow only between the valve body portions 73 and 74, and flows out to the downstream expansion portion 48 without passing between the valve body portions 73 and 74. Never do. Therefore, the increase rate of the internal pressure of the upstream side expansion portion 47 does not decrease due to the outflow of the expansion gas G.

At this time, the airbag 40 (inflatable portion 46) is not yet in contact with the occupant P. Therefore, both the pressure receiving area and the load are still “0”.
And by the said expansion | swelling of the upstream expansion part 47, it tries to eliminate a folding state in the reverse order to the order in which the upstream expansion part 47 was folded. When the upstream inflating portion 47 is inflated while eliminating (deploying) the folded state, the seat pad 16 of the seat back 14 is pressed by the airbag 40 and broken at the planned breaking portion 21 (see FIG. 4). . As shown in FIG. 13, the airbag 40 jumps out from the seat back 14 through the broken portion in a state where a part (the vicinity of the inflator assembly 30) remains in the seat back 14.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upstream side expansion portion 47 to which the expansion gas G is supplied is between the body side portion 11 and the rear half portion of the upper half of the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 12. Develop it while eliminating the folded state.

  The approach amount (stroke) of the body side part 11 becomes S1, and the inflating part 46 starts to be pressed against the upper body of the occupant P by the body side part 11. Since only the upstream inflatable portion 47 is inflated in the inflatable portion 46, the only place where the occupant P contacts while receiving the pressure of the inflatable portion 46 is the upstream inflatable portion 47. Therefore, the area of the surface where the occupant P receives the pressure of the inflating portion 46 (pressure receiving area on the inflating portion 46 side) is the area of the surface receiving the pressure of the upstream inflating portion 47 (pressure receiving area on the upstream inflating portion 47 side). Same and small. However, the pressure receiving area on the upstream expansion portion 47 side increases as the approach to the vehicle inner side of the body side portion 11 in accordance with the impact of the side collision proceeds (the amount of entry (stroke) increases).

  The impact load that the occupant P receives through the inflating portion 46 also increases as the pressure receiving area and the internal pressure increase. As described above, since the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 starts to rise quickly, the approach amount (stroke) S1 at which the load starts to increase is the same when the expansion portion 46 is not partitioned (prior art 1). The load becomes smaller than the approach amount (stroke) S10 at which the increase starts. In other words, the load begins to increase at an earlier timing than when the inflatable portion 46 is not partitioned (prior art 1), and reaches a predetermined value β for protecting the upper body of the occupant P from an impact earlier. (See FIG. 12).

  In a state where both valve body portions 73 and 74 are in close contact with each other (closed), the expansion gas G continues to be supplied into the upstream side expansion portion 47, while the amount of entry (stroke) of the body side portion 11 When the internal pressure of the upstream side expansion portion 47 rises to the value α due to the external force applied from the body side portion 11, the pressure regulating valve 70 starts to open.

  That is, from the middle of the supply period of the expansion gas G to the expansion portion 46, an external force accompanying occupant restraint is applied, the expansion portion 46 is pressed and deformed, and the tension applied to the partition member 50 changes. Further, the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 is further increased with the deformation of the expansion portion 46, and the intermediate portion P1 of the partition member 50 is pressed toward the downstream expansion portion 48 (see FIG. 11B). The tension applied to the intermediate portion P1 changes. Further, due to the increased internal pressure, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 of the partition member 50 are pressed and deformed so as to swell toward the downstream inflating part 48 side. As described above, the upper portion P2 and the lower portion P3 are in a bent state in which the fold line 51 is positioned upstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 before occupant restraint (see FIG. 11A). . At the time of occupant restraint, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 are deformed into a shape that is inverted from the shape before the occupant restraint (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11B). Due to such a shape change (inversion) of the upper part P2 and the lower part P3, a change in tension easily occurs in the intermediate part P1. Due to this change in tension, deformation of the inner opening 71 located in the intermediate portion P1 is allowed, and operation of the valve body portions 73 and 74 located in the intermediate portion P1 is allowed.

  At this time, due to the inversion of the upper part P2 and the lower part P3, the tensioned region of the partition member 50 expands in the vertical direction. The upward tension is increased for the upper member 56 of the partition member 50, and the downward tension is increased for the lower member 57. Due to these changes in tension, the slit-like inner opening 71 is easily pulled up and down.

  On the other hand, the overlapping portion 61 is overlapped with the non-overlapping portion 62 and is connected to the cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 by the outer connecting portions 54 and 55 at both ends in the direction along the inner connecting portion 63. . For this reason, in the overlapping portion 61, the portion near the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 has a strong force for maintaining the overlapping state. However, this force decreases as the distance from the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 increases, and becomes minimum at the central portion in the direction along the inner coupling portion 63, that is, both valve body portions 73 and 74. For this reason, the overlapping portion 61 pulled in the up-down direction is deformed in the up-down direction only at the valve body portions 73, 74 and the vicinity thereof.

  When the inner opening 71 is opened to some extent in the vertical direction, the overlapping portion 61 expands on the downstream side through the inner opening 71 only in both valve body portions 73 and 74 that have received the high internal pressure PI of the upstream expansion portion 47. It is pushed out (inverted) to the part 48. When the vertical width W1 of the inner opening 71 is narrow, the tip portions 73T and 74T are in contact with each other, and both valve body portions 73 and 74 are closed at the tip portions 73T and 74T (see FIG. 11B). ). This state continues for a period in which the width W1 of the inner opening 71 is narrower than the total value (= 2 · W2) of the width W2 (see FIG. 11C) of the valve body portions 73 and 74.

  When the width W1 of the inner opening 71 becomes larger than the total value (= 2 · W2), the tip portions 73T and 74T are separated (see FIG. 11C). The regulation valve 70 is opened and the above restriction is released. By releasing this restriction, the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 can flow out between the inner opening 71 and the valve body portions 73 and 74 in order and flow out to the downstream expansion portion 48.

  Due to the outflow of the expansion gas G, the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 changes from increasing to decreasing. However, since the body side portion 11 continues to enter the vehicle inner side and the inflating portion 46 is pressed against the occupant P in the upstream inflating portion 47, the pressure receiving area on the upstream inflating portion 47 side of the occupant P continues to increase. .

  Further, after the approach amount (stroke) S2, the downstream side expansion portion 48 starts to expand due to the expansion gas G, and accordingly, the internal pressure of the downstream side expansion portion 48 starts to increase. Further, when the approach amount (stroke) becomes S3 with a slight delay from the increase of the internal pressure, the downstream side inflating part 48 is in addition to the occupant P in addition to the upstream side inflating part 47 by the body side part 11 entering the inside of the vehicle. It comes into contact and pressed, and the area of the surface where the passenger P receives the pressure of the downstream expansion portion 48 (pressure receiving area on the downstream expansion portion 48 side) starts to increase.

Note that the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 and the internal pressure of the downstream expansion portion 48 become equal after the approach amount (stroke) S4.
As described above, after the pressure regulating valve 70 is opened (entry amount (stroke) S2), the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 decreases and the internal pressure of the downstream expansion portion 48 increases. Further, the pressure receiving area on the upstream expansion portion 47 side and the pressure receiving area on the downstream expansion portion 48 side of the occupant P increase with a time difference. Therefore, after the approach amount (stroke) S2, the load that the occupant P receives from the entire inflating portion 46, that is, the sum of the load that is received from the upstream inflating portion 47 and the load that is received from the downstream inflating portion 48 is simply air When the bag is constituted by a single inflating portion and no pressure regulating valve is provided (prior art 1), the bag is lower than the maximum value and becomes a substantially constant value (predetermined value β).

  Further, at the beginning of the supply period of the inflation gas G, the load received by the occupant P from the expansion portion 46 increases early, and thereafter, the load is substantially maintained at a low predetermined value β. The energy absorption amount of the portion 46 is approximately the same as the energy absorption amount when the airbag is configured by a single inflating portion and no pressure regulating valve is provided (prior art 1). In the stroke-load characteristic of the first embodiment, in the related art 1, the high load area in the second half of the supply period of the expansion gas to the expansion section (the portion Q indicated by the upward slanting diagonal line) is the first half of the supply period. It becomes a form which shifted to the low load area | region (part R shown with the slanting line of the lower right). The portions Q and R have different shapes, but the areas are substantially the same.

  By the way, due to the expansion of the downstream side expansion part 48, the folded state tries to be canceled in the reverse order of the order in which the downstream side expansion part 48 is folded. The downstream inflating portion 48 cancels (deploys) the folded state toward the front between the body side portion 11 and the front half of the upper half of the occupant P (chest PT).

  In this way, the airbag 40 is interposed between the upper body of the occupant P and the body side portion 11 entering the vehicle interior. The upper body is pressed and restrained by the airbag 40 inward in the vehicle width direction. And the impact from the side transmitted to the upper body through the body side part 11 is relieved by the airbag 40, and the upper body is protected.

  Here, the impact resistance when an impact is applied from the side to the upper body of the occupant P is generally superior to the front half in the rear half. This is because the rear half has a spine and the rib is connected to the spine at the rear part, whereas the front part of the rib is not connected to the spine having the strength as described above. Therefore, it is desirable that the internal pressure of the inflating portion 46 acting on the upper body of the occupant P from the side as the airbag 40 is inflated and deployed is lower in the front half than in the rear half.

  In this regard, in the first embodiment, the expansion portion 46 expands so that the partition member 50 is positioned in the vicinity of the boundary portion between the front half and the rear half of the upper body in the front-rear direction. In the state in which the inflatable portion 46 of the airbag 40 is inflated and deployed, the upstream inflatable portion 47 is located near the side of the rear half of the upper body, and the downstream inflatable portion 48 is located near the side of the front half ( (See FIG. 3). Therefore, in the early stage of restraining the occupant P by the airbag 40, the rear half of the upper half of the occupant P, which has higher impact resistance than the front half, is pressed by the upstream-side inflating portion 47 whose internal pressure increases early. In the initial stage of the restraint, the front half of the upper body of the occupant P, which has a relatively low impact resistance, is pressed by the downstream inflatable portion 48 whose internal pressure is not as high as that of the upstream inflatable portion 47.

According to the first embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) As the partition member 50, a member having a long shape in which the length L1 in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length L2 in the short-side direction when being tensioned in a planar shape as the expansion portion 46 expands ( FIG. 9). The pressure regulating valve includes a slit-like inner opening 71 provided in the partition member 50 and extending in the short-side direction, and a pair of valve body parts 73 and 74 provided around the inner opening 71 and approaching and separating from each other. 70 (FIG. 10).

  For this reason, when the upstream side expansion portion 47 is expanded, the pressure regulating valve 70 is closed in the partition member 50 by a strong tension applied in the shorter direction than the longitudinal direction, and the expansion gas G in the upstream side expansion portion 47 is downstream. Outflow to the side expansion portion 48 can be restricted.

  Further, when an external force accompanying occupant restraint is applied to the expansion portion 46, the tension can be changed by deforming the partition member 50 by the internal pressure that the upstream expansion portion 47 rises. Further, the airbag 40 is crushed between the occupant P and the body side portion 11 (door trim), and the airbag 40 itself is deformed, whereby the tension applied to the partition member 50 can be changed. By changing the tension of these partition members 50, the deformation of the inner opening 71 and the operation of both valve body portions 73 and 74 can be allowed. The inner opening 71 is opened, and both valve body parts 73 and 74 are pushed out (reversed) through the inner opening 71 to the downstream expansion part 48 by the internal pressure of the upstream expansion part 47, and the tip parts 73T and 74T are By separating them, the restriction is released, and the expansion gas G can flow out from the upstream expansion portion 47 to the downstream expansion portion 48.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the initial period of the supply period of the expansion gas G to the expansion portion 46 is simple and inexpensive with the inner opening 71 and the pair of valve body portions 73 and 74. The pressure regulating valve 70 that is closed and opened from the middle of the supply period can be established. Then, by the operation of the pressure regulating valve 70, the characteristics of the load received by the upper body of the occupant P through the airbag 40 reach the predetermined value β in a short time, and thereafter the occupant P is appropriately maintained. Therefore, it is possible to obtain suitable characteristics for protection by restraining.

(2) Both valve body parts 73 and 74 are arranged in the upstream inflating part 47 before the inflating part 46 is inflated (FIG. 8).
For this reason, when the upstream inflating portion 47 is inflated and before the occupant is restrained, the valve body portions 73 and 74 are brought into close contact with each other by the internal pressure PI of the upstream inflating portion 47 to be in a self-sealing state. (FIG. 11A).

  When the occupant is restrained by the airbag 40, the overlapping portion 61 is reversed only at both valve body portions 73 and 74, and is pushed out to the downstream inflating portion 48 through the inner opening portion 71 (FIG. 11B). Can be opened (FIG. 11C).

  (3) The partition member 50 is folded back along the fold line 51 to make a two-fold state in which the opposed end portions 52 and 53 facing each other are brought close to each other. The two-folded partition member 50 is disposed in the inflatable portion 46 in a non-inflated and deployed state with the fold line 51 positioned on the upstream side of the opposed end portions 52 and 53. Further, the partition member 50 is coupled to the corresponding fabric portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 by the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 at the respective opposite end portions 52 and 53, and at both ends in the longitudinal direction (substantially up and down direction), It is connected (co-sewn) to the cloth portions 43 and 44 by the peripheral edge connecting portion 45 (FIGS. 6 and 10).

  For this reason, when the upstream expansion portion 47 is expanded, the upper portion P2 and the lower portion P3 of the partition member 50 are in a bent state in which the folding line 51 is positioned upstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 (FIG. 11 ( A)). Further, when an external force due to passenger restraint is applied to the expansion portion 46, the upper pressure P2 and the lower portion P3 are moved downstream of the opposing end portions 52 and 53 by the internal pressure PI rising by the upstream expansion portion 47. The position is changed (reversed) to the opposite shape to that before the occupant restraint (FIG. 11B). Due to this shape change, a change in tension applied to the partition member 50 (intermediate portion P1) can be easily generated, and the deformation of the inner opening 71 and the operation of the valve body portions 73 and 74 can be permitted.

  At this time, by the above inversion of the upper part P2 and the lower part P3, the tensioned region in the partition member 50 is expanded in both directions in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction), and the inner opening 71 and the both valve body parts 73, It is possible to open 74 by pulling 74 in the same direction (the pressure regulating valve 70 is opened).

  In particular, in the first embodiment, in combination with the self-sealing function of (2) described above, the improvement of the sealing performance when the pressure regulating valve 70 is closed and the improvement of the flowability of the expansion gas G when the valve is opened are achieved. be able to.

  (4) The end portions 58 and 59 of the two members 56 and 57 are overlapped in a strip shape in a state where the end edges 58E and 59E of the two members 56 and 57 are matched. Further, the partition members 50 are formed by coupling both the members 56 and 57 by an inner coupling portion 63 provided at a boundary portion between the both overlapping portions 61 and the non-overlapping portion 62. The inner opening 71 is formed by releasing the coupling of the members 56 and 57 in a part of the inner coupling portion 63. And the location (vicinity part) corresponding to the inner opening 71 in both the overlapping parts 61 is made into both valve body parts 73 and 74 (FIG. 10).

  For this reason, by combining the boundary portions between the non-overlapping portion 62 and the two overlapping portions 61 in the two members 56 and 57 while leaving a part of them, the partition member 50, the inner opening 71 and the both valves The body parts 73 and 74 can be formed at a time. There is no need to perform a special operation for forming the inner opening 71 and forming both valve body portions 73 and 74.

  In particular, both valve body portions 73 and 74 are integrated with the partition member 50. More precisely, one valve body 73 is integrated with the member 56, and the other valve body 74 is integrated with the member 57. For this reason, compared with the case where both valve body parts 73 and 74 consist of parts different from the division member 50 (members 56 and 57), a number of parts can be decreased. Moreover, it is not necessary to perform the operation | work which couple | bonds the said components to the division member 50 (members 56 and 57).

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in at least one of FIGS. 14 to 16, the pair of overlapping portions 61 including both valve body portions 73 and 74 are connected to the downstream side expansion portion 48 before the expansion portion 46 is expanded. In the point arrange | positioned, it differs from 1st Embodiment. Therefore, the same portions and members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 14, a portion surrounded by a large round frame X with a one-dot chain line shows an enlarged portion surrounded by a small round frame X.

In this case, the overlapping portion 61 including both valve body portions 73 and 74 behaves slightly different from the first embodiment.
The partition member 50 is in a double-folded state in which the folding line 51 is positioned upstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 before the supply of the expansion gas G to the expansion portion 46 (FIG. 14). FIG. 15).

  When the expansion of the upstream expansion portion 47 is started by supplying the expansion gas G to the expansion portion 46, the partition member 50 in a folded state is pulled as shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. On the other hand, tension is applied in the longitudinal direction and the short direction. Due to this tension, the intermediate portion P1 in the partition member 50 is in a substantially planar tension state, but the upper portion P2 and the lower portion P3 are in a bent state in which the folding line 51 is positioned upstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53. Become.

  Here, in the partition member 50 satisfying the relationship of L1> L2, a stronger tension is easily applied to the short direction (direction perpendicular to the fold line 51) than to the longitudinal direction (direction along the fold line 51). Therefore, the inner opening 71 extending in the short direction is easily closed due to the strength relationship of the tension.

  Further, when the upstream-side inflating portion 47 is inflated, not only a strong tension is applied to the partition member 50 in the short side direction but also to the overlapping portions 61 including both valve body portions 73 and 74. However, a stronger tension is applied in the lateral direction than in the longitudinal direction. Due to this tension, both valve body portions 73 and 74 are brought into close contact with each other over their entire surface, and a sealing state is attempted in which leakage of the expansion gas G is suppressed. Therefore, the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 hardly flows out to the downstream expansion portion 48 through the inner opening 71 and both the valve body portions 73 and 74.

  In the second embodiment, since both valve body parts 73 and 74 are located in the downstream inflating part 48 before the inflating part 46 is inflated, unlike the first embodiment, the upstream inflating part 47 The internal pressure is not applied to both valve body parts 73 and 74 from both sides in the overlapping direction (thickness direction), so that both valve body parts 73 and 74 are not in a self-sealing state. Further, the overlapping portion 61 including both valve body portions 73 and 74 is not pressed against the non-overlapping portion 62 of the partition member 50 by this internal pressure.

  While the pressure regulating valve 70 is closed, the expansion gas G continues to be supplied into the upstream side expansion portion 47, while the expansion portion 46 is pressed by an external force applied to the passenger as shown in FIG. 17B. If it is deformed, the tension applied to the partition member 50 changes. Further, the internal pressure PI of the upstream side expansion portion 47 further increases with the deformation of the expansion portion 46. The intermediate part P1 of the partition member 50 is pressed, and the tension applied to the intermediate part P1 changes.

  Further, the upper pressure P2 and the lower portion P3 of the partition member 50 are pressed by the increased internal pressure PI and deformed so as to swell toward the downstream side expansion portion 48 (see the solid line in FIG. 17B). That is, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 are deformed into a shape that is inverted from the bent state before the occupant restraint (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 17B), and the tension change easily occurs in the intermediate part P1. The deformation of the inner opening 71 and the operation of both valve body parts 73 and 74 are allowed.

  However, when the intermediate portion P1 is deformed, the two overlapping portions 61 fixed at both end portions are also pressed and deformed so as to swell toward the downstream inflating portion 48 at locations other than both end portions. Since the direction of this deformation and the thickness direction of both valve body portions 73 and 74 are the same, both valve body portions 73 and 74 are less likely to move in the thickness direction than in the direction of separating from each other in the plane direction. Therefore, when the external force applied along with the occupant restraint is relatively small, both valve body parts 73 and 74 are kept in close contact with each other and exhibit high sealing performance.

  When the external force applied in accordance with the occupant restraint increases, the region where the tension is applied in the partition member 50 expands in both directions in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) due to the inversion of the upper part P2 and the lower part P3. The upward tension is increased for the upper member 56 of the partition member 50, and the downward tension is increased for the lower member 57. Due to these changes in tension, the slit-like inner opening 71 is easily pulled up and down.

  As the vertical width W1 of the inner opening 71 increases, the upper valve body 73 is pulled upward as indicated by the arrow AU, and the lower valve body 74 is pulled downward as indicated by the arrow AL. . In the overlapping portion 61, the portion near the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 has a strong force for maintaining the overlapping state. However, this force decreases as the distance from the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 increases, and becomes minimum at the central portion in the direction along the inner coupling portion 63, that is, both valve body portions 73 and 74. For this reason, the overlapping portion 61 pulled in the up-down direction is deformed in the up-down direction, which is a direction away from each other, in the valve body portions 73, 74 and the vicinity thereof, and the overlapping portion of both valve body portions 73, 74 is It gradually decreases.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 17C, at least one (for example, the lower side) valve body 74 is tilted forward (not down), and the pressure regulating valve 70 is opened. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 17C, the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 flows forward between the inner opening 71 and the valve body portions 73 and 74, and is downstream. It flows out to the expansion part 48.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the above-described (1), (3), and (4), the following effects can be obtained.
(5) The partition member 50 is provided with a pair of overlapping portions 61 that extend in the lateral direction and have a band shape, and are positioned in the downstream expansion portion 48 before the expansion portion 46 is expanded. The locations corresponding to the inner opening 71 are defined as both valve body portions 73 and 74. Both overlapping portions 61 are bent along the boundary portion between the partition member 50 and the non-overlapping portion 62, and the overlapping portions 61 are respectively corresponding to the cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 at both ends in the lateral direction. (FIG. 16).

  For this reason, during the expansion of the upstream expansion portion 47, not only the partition member 50 but also the overlapping portions 61 are tensioned in the shorter direction than the longitudinal direction, so that both valve body portions 73 and 74 are Can be brought into close contact with each other over the entire surface. Further, when the occupant P is restrained by the inflating portion 46, both valve body portions 73 and 74 can be maintained in close contact until a large external force is applied in accordance with the restraint, and high sealing performance can be exhibited.

  Therefore, the side airbag device of the second embodiment is particularly effective in a scene where it is required to close the pressure regulating valve 70 and maintain high sealing performance for a relatively long period from the initial stage when the passenger is restrained. It can be said.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in at least one of FIGS. 18 to 20, two opposing end portions 52 and 53 are made to approach each other by being folded along a folding line 51 extending in the longitudinal direction. The partition member 50 in the folded state is disposed in the inflatable portion 46 in a non-inflated and deployed state with the fold line 51 positioned on the downstream side of the opposed end portions 52 and 53.

  Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same portions and members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 18, a portion surrounded by a large round frame Y with a one-dot chain line shows an enlarged portion surrounded by a small round frame Y.

  In this case, the partition member 50 is in a double-folded state in which the folding line 51 is positioned downstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 before the expansion gas is supplied to the expansion portion 46 (see FIG. 18 to 20).

  As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22A, when the expansion of the upstream side expansion portion 47 is started by supplying the expansion gas G to the expansion portion 46, the partition member 50 in a folded state is pulled, and the partition member In contrast to 50, tension is applied in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction. This tension causes the intermediate portion P1 to be in a substantially planar tension state in the partition member 50, but the upper portion P2 and the lower portion P3 are in a bent state in which the folding line 51 is positioned downstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53. Become.

  Internal pressure PI is applied to both valve body parts 73 and 74 located in the upstream expansion part 47 from both sides in the overlapping direction (thickness direction). The internal pressure PI is not as high as when the occupant P is restrained by the inflating portion 46. Both valve body portions 73 and 74 are brought into close contact with each other over the entire surface by the internal pressure PI, and are in a self-sealing state that restricts the flow of the expansion gas G between the both valve body portions 73 and 74. Further, the overlapping portion 61 that is bent and overlapped with the non-overlapping portion 62 of the partition member 50 is pressed against the non-overlapping portion 62 by the internal pressure PI (see FIG. 22A), and both valve body portions 73 are pressed. 74 are more likely to be closed.

  Here, also in the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, in the long partition member 50 that satisfies the relationship of L1> L2, the inner opening 71 extends in the short direction (see FIG. 21). On the other hand, in this partition member 50, a stronger tension is easily applied to the short direction than to the long direction. For this reason, the inner opening 71 is likely to be closed due to the tension relationship described above.

  Further, when the upstream inflating portion 47 is inflated, a stronger tension is applied to the overlapping portion 61 including both valve body portions 73 and 74 in the lateral direction than in the longitudinal direction. Due to this tension, both valve body portions 73 and 74 are brought into close contact with each other over their entire surface, and a sealing state is attempted in which leakage of the expansion gas G is suppressed. Therefore, the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 hardly flows out to the downstream expansion portion 48 through the inner opening 71 and both the valve body portions 73 and 74.

  In the state where the pressure regulating valve 70 is closed, the expansion gas G continues to be supplied into the upstream-side expansion portion 47, and when the expansion portion 46 is pressed and deformed due to an external force accompanying occupant restraint, it is applied to the partition member 50. The tension changes. Further, the internal pressure PI of the upstream side expansion portion 47 further increases with the deformation of the expansion portion 46. The intermediate part P1 of the partition member 50 is pressed, and the tension applied to the intermediate part P1 changes.

  On the other hand, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 of the partition member 50 are pressed and deformed so as to swell toward the downstream inflating part 48 side. As described above, the upper portion P2 and the lower portion P3 are in a bent state in which the folding line 51 is positioned on the downstream side of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 before restraining the occupant. When the occupant is restrained, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 have the same tendency as before the occupant restraint. Therefore, compared with the said 1st Embodiment, the change of the tension | tensile_strength of the intermediate part P1 by the shape change of the division member 50 is few. Therefore, the deformation of the inner opening 71 and the operation of both valve body parts 73 and 74 are not easily allowed.

  At this time, unlike the first embodiment, since the upper portion P2 and the lower portion P3 are not inverted, the tensioned region of the partition member 50 extends in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction), and the longitudinal direction (vertical direction). ) Is less likely to increase tension in both directions. Therefore, the inner opening 71 and the valve body parts 73 and 74 are easily maintained in a closed state, and the sealing performance is easily maintained.

  The subsequent steps are the same as in the first embodiment. That is, as the member 56 on the upper side of the partition member 50 is deformed toward the downstream expansion portion 48, the upward tension is increased. As the lower member 57 is deformed toward the downstream expansion portion 48, the downward tension is increased. Due to these changes in tension, the slit-shaped inner opening 71 is pulled upward to open (see FIG. 22B).

  When the inner opening 71 is opened to some extent in the vertical direction, the overlapping portion 61 expands on the downstream side through the inner opening 71 only in both valve body portions 73 and 74 that have received the high internal pressure PI of the upstream expansion portion 47. It is pushed out to the part 48 and reversed (see FIG. 22B).

  When the width W1 of the inner opening 71 becomes larger than 2 · W2, the tip portions 73T and 74T are separated (see FIG. 22C). The pressure regulating valve 70 is opened, and the expansion gas G in the upstream side expansion portion 47 flows out between the inner opening portion 71 and the valve body portions 73 and 74 in order and flows out to the downstream side expansion portion 48. Is possible.

Therefore, according to the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the above (1), (2), and (4).
(6) The partition member 50 is folded along a fold line 51 extending in the longitudinal direction so that the opposing end portions 52 and 53 facing each other are brought into a double-folded state. The two-folded partition member 50 is disposed in the inflatable portion 46 in a non-inflated and deployed state with the fold line 51 positioned on the downstream side of the opposed end portions 52 and 53. Further, the partition member 50 is coupled to the corresponding fabric portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 by the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 at the respective opposite end portions 52 and 53, and at both ends in the longitudinal direction (substantially up and down direction), It is couple | bonded with both the cloth parts 43 and 44 by the periphery coupling | bond part 45 (FIG. 18, FIG. 21).

  For this reason, when the expansion part 46 is expanded, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 of the partition member 50 are in a bent state in which the fold line 51 is positioned on the downstream side of the opposed end parts 52 and 53 (FIG. 22A). ). Further, when an external force associated with passenger restraint is applied to the expansion portion 46, the upper line P <b> 2 and the lower portion P <b> 3 are positioned on the downstream side of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 due to the internal pressure rising by the upstream expansion portion 47. The shape, that is, the same tendency as that before occupant restraint. Compared with the first and second embodiments, the change in the tension of the intermediate portion P1 due to the shape change of the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 is reduced, and the deformation of the inner opening 71 and the operation of both valve body parts 73 and 74 are allowed. It can be difficult to do. It is possible to maintain the inner opening 71 and both valve body portions 73 and 74 in a closed state, and to easily maintain the sealing performance. Therefore, after maintaining the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 at a high pressure, it is easy to obtain the characteristic that the expansion gas G of the upstream expansion portion 47 flows out to the downstream expansion portion 48.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the overlapping portion 61 including both valve body portions 73 and 74 is arranged in the downstream side expansion portion 48 before the expansion portion 46 is expanded. This is different from the third embodiment. Therefore, the same parts and members as those in the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 23, a portion surrounded by a large round frame Z with a one-dot chain line is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a small round frame Z.

  In this case, before the supply of the expansion gas G to the expansion portion 46, the partition member 50 is in a double-folded state in which the folding line 51 is positioned downstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 ( (See FIGS. 23 and 24).

  When expansion of the upstream side expansion portion 47 is started by supplying the expansion gas G to the expansion portion 46, the partition member 50 in a folded state is pulled, and tension is applied to the partition member 50 in the longitudinal direction or the short direction. It takes. Due to this tension, the intermediate portion P1 of the partition member 50 is in a substantially flat tension state (see FIG. 25), but the upper portion P2 and the lower portion P3 have the folding line 51 positioned downstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53. The bent state is obtained (see FIG. 26A).

  Here, in the fourth embodiment, since both the valve body portions 73 and 74 are located in the downstream side expansion portion 48 before the expansion portion 46 is expanded, unlike the third embodiment, the upstream side expansion portion. The internal pressure of 47 is applied to both valve body parts 73 and 74 from both sides in the overlapping direction (thickness direction), so that both valve body parts 73 and 74 are not in a self-sealing state. Further, the overlapping portion 61 including both valve body portions 73 and 74 is not pressed against the non-overlapping portion 62 of the partition member 50 by this internal pressure.

  However, in the long partition member 50 satisfying the relationship of L1> L2, since the inner opening 71 extends in the short direction, a stronger tension is easily applied to the short direction than to the long direction, The inner opening 71 is easily closed.

  In addition, a stronger tension is applied to the overlapping portion 61 including both valve body portions 73 and 74 in the short direction than in the longitudinal direction. Due to this tension, both valve body portions 73 and 74 are brought into close contact with each other over their entire surface, and a sealing state is attempted in which leakage of the expansion gas G is suppressed. Therefore, the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 hardly flows out to the downstream expansion portion 48 through the inner opening 71 and both the valve body portions 73 and 74.

  On the other hand, when an external force accompanying occupant restraint is applied and the expansion portion 46 is pressed and deformed, the tension applied to the partition member 50 changes. Further, the internal pressure PI of the upstream side expansion portion 47 further increases with the deformation of the expansion portion 46. The intermediate part P1 of the partition member 50 is pressed, and the tension applied to the intermediate part P1 changes.

  Further, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 of the partition member 50 are pressed and deformed so as to swell toward the downstream side expansion part 48 (see FIG. 26B). As described above, the upper portion P2 and the lower portion P3 are in a bent state in which the fold line 51 is positioned downstream of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 before occupant restraint (see FIG. 26A). When the occupant is restrained, the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 have the same tendency as before the occupant restraint. Therefore, compared to the second embodiment, the change in the tension of the intermediate portion P1 due to the shape change of the upper part P2 and the lower part P3 is small, and the deformation of the inner opening 71 and the operation of both valve body parts 73 and 74 are difficult to be permitted.

  At this time, since there is no inversion of the upper part P2 and the lower part P3, the tensioned region in the partition member 50 spreads in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction), and there is tension in both directions in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction). It is hard to get stronger. Therefore, the inner opening 71 and the valve body parts 73 and 74 are easily maintained in a closed state, and the sealing performance is easily maintained.

  In addition to this, with the deformation of the intermediate portion P1, the two overlapping portions 61 fixed at both end portions are also pressed and deformed so as to swell toward the downstream inflating portion 48 at locations other than both end portions. Since the direction of this deformation and the thickness direction of both valve body portions 73 and 74 are the same, both valve body portions 73 and 74 are less likely to move in the thickness direction than in the direction of separating from each other in the plane direction. Therefore, when the external force applied along with the occupant restraint is relatively small, both valve body parts 73 and 74 are kept in close contact with each other and exhibit high sealing performance.

  The subsequent steps are the same as in the second embodiment. That is, as the external force applied due to passenger restraint increases, the upward tension is increased for the upper member 56 of the partition member 50, and the downward tension is increased for the lower member 57. For this reason, the slit-shaped inner opening 71 is opened by being pulled in the vertical direction (see FIG. 26B).

  As the vertical width W1 of the inner opening 71 increases, the upper valve body 73 is pulled upward and the lower valve body 74 is pulled downward. The overlapping portion 61 is deformed in the vertical direction in the valve body portions 73 and 74 and the vicinity thereof, and the overlapping portion of both valve body portions 73 and 74 gradually decreases.

  Then, when a large external force accompanying occupant restraint is applied to the inflating portion 46 and the inflating portion 46 is deformed much, at least one (for example, the lower side) valve body 74 is small as shown in FIG. Instead, it is tilted forward (tilted) and the pressure regulating valve 70 is opened. As shown by an arrow in FIG. 26C, the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 47 flows forward through the inner opening 71 and the valve body portions 73 and 74, and is downstream. It flows out to the expansion part 48.

  Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, the same effects as (1) and (4) to (6) described above can be obtained. In particular, in the fourth embodiment, both valve body parts 73 and 74 are less likely to move than in the third embodiment. Therefore, after the internal pressure of the upstream expansion portion 47 is maintained higher than that in the third embodiment, the upstream expansion is performed. It is easy to obtain the characteristic that the expansion gas G of the portion 47 flows out to the downstream side expansion portion 48.

  In addition, when the cloth parts 43 and 44 of the airbag 40 and the sewing thread used for the peripheral joint part 45 are compared, the former is superior in heat resistance. On the other hand, high-temperature inflation gas G is ejected from the inflator 31. Therefore, the airbag 40 is more heat resistant when one piece of cloth is folded in two near the inflator 31 (not sewn) than when one or two pieces of cloth are stitched near the inflator 31. From the viewpoint of sex.

  However, in this case, it is difficult from the viewpoint of manufacturing to apply the configurations of the first and third embodiments of the first to fourth embodiments. This is because the airbag 40 is made of a single piece of cloth, and the order of the work for providing the respective connecting portions must be in the order of the outer connecting portions 54 and 55 → the inner connecting portion 63 → the peripheral connecting portion 45. . As long as the operations are performed in this order, it is very difficult to perform the operation of providing the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 and the inner coupling portion 63 so that the overlapping portion 61 is positioned in the upstream expansion portion 47. Eventually, the configuration of the second and fourth embodiments in which the overlapping portion 61 is located in the downstream side expansion portion 48 has to be adopted. Therefore, it can be said that the second and fourth embodiments are superior in ease of manufacture compared to the first and third embodiments in which the overlapping portion 61 is located in the upstream expansion portion 47.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6, FIG. 27 and FIG.

  As described above, the airbag 40 is formed in a bag shape by joining the pair of fabric portions 43 and 44 with the peripheral joint portion 45 provided along the peripheral portions of the both fabric portions 43 and 44. ing. Further, as described above, the partition member 50 is folded back along the fold line 51 extending in the longitudinal direction before the inflation gas G is supplied, thereby bringing the opposed end portions 52 and 53 facing each other closer. And is arranged between the two cloth portions 43 and 44 of the airbag 40. Further, the partition member 50 is coupled to the cloth portions 43 and 44 by the outer coupling portions 54 and 55 at the opposite end portions 52 and 53, and is connected to both the fabric portions 43 and 44 by the peripheral coupling portion 45 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. It is also as described above that they are combined. In the following description, in the airbag 40, only the members on the vehicle inner side than the central portion in the vehicle width direction will be described, but the same applies to the members on the vehicle outer side.

  Here, when the outer coupling portion 54 that couples the opposing end portion 52 of the partition member 50 to the cloth portion 43 of the airbag 40 extends in parallel to the fold line 51 (see FIG. 6, etc.), The interval D1 between the coupling portion 54 and the fold line 51 is the same at any position in the longitudinal direction including the intersection 51C of the fold line 51 with the peripheral coupling portion 45.

  On the other hand, the partition member 50 is tensed in a planar shape perpendicular to the expansion direction (forward (generally right in FIG. 6)) as the expansion portion 46 expands. The opposing end portion 52 of the partition member 50 is coupled to the cloth portion 43 of the airbag 40 by the outer coupling portion 54, whereas the folded portion of the partition member 50 is a peripheral coupling portion only at both ends in the longitudinal direction. 45 is coupled to the cloth portion 43. Therefore, when the partition member 50 is tensioned in a planar shape as described above, the folded portion along the fold line 51 of the partition member 50 is pulled and moved toward the outer coupling portion 54 in the expansion direction of the expansion portion 46. To do. As shown in the arrow A1 in FIG. 6, the outer joint portion is also connected to the joint portion 51C of the folded portion with the cloth portion 43, that is, the intersection portion 51C of the fold line 51 with the peripheral joint portion 45 as shown in FIG. It moves by being pulled to the 54 side. Other portions of the folded portion are not directly coupled to the cloth portion 43, and there is nothing that restricts movement. However, at the joint portion with the cloth portion 43 of the folded portion (intersection portion 51C of the folding line 51 with the peripheral joint portion 45), the peripheral joint portion 45 regulates the movement of the cross portion 51C. Therefore, unlike the other portions of the folded portion, the intersecting portion 51C is forcibly pulled and a large load is applied to the intersecting portion 51C.

  At this time, the outer coupling portion 54 is parallel to the fold line 51, and the distance D1 between the fold line 51 and the outer coupling portion 54 is large as shown in FIG. For this reason, the amount of movement (the amount to be pulled) of the intersection 51C that is far away from the outer coupling portion 54 is large, and the pulling force acting on the intersection 51C increases accordingly. As a result, stress concentrates on the intersection 51C, and a large load may be applied. This can be dealt with by reinforcing the intersecting portion 51C by adding a reinforcing cloth or the like. However, a reinforcing cloth is required separately, or a work for connecting the reinforcing cloth to the airbag 40 is required. And cost rises.

Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, a countermeasure is taken by devising the shape of the outer coupling portion 54 that couples the facing end portion 52 and the cloth portion 43.
The outer coupling portion 54 has a distance D1 between the outer coupling portion 54 and the folding line 51 that is smaller than an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction at the intersection 54C of the outer coupling portion 54 with the peripheral coupling portion 45. Is provided.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 27, in a virtual airbag device in which the outer coupling portion 54 extends in parallel to the folding line 51, points A to D are defined as follows.
Point A: A location where the outer coupling portion 54 intersects with the peripheral coupling portion 45.

Point B: A location where the fold line 51 intersects with the peripheral joint 45.
Point C: A point where the line segment S1 passing through the point B and orthogonal to the folding line 51 intersects the outer coupling portion 54.

Point D: A location on the outer coupling portion 54 and away from the point C toward the pressure regulating valve 70 by the same length as the line segment S1.
Since the peripheral edge coupling portion 45 is provided at two positions above and below the cloth portion 43, there are two sets of the above points A to D. Note that the points A to D of each set are located at locations that are generally line-symmetric with respect to the inner coupling portion 63 of the pressure regulating valve 70 as an axis of symmetry. Therefore, here, the words of points A to D are used in common in both sets.

In each set, a portion (54S: see FIG. 28) that connects the peripheral coupling portion 45 and the point D in the outer coupling portion 54 is provided at a location that satisfies the following condition.
Condition: A region Z1 (region shown by a halftone dot in FIG. 27) sandwiched between a line segment S2 connecting the points A and D, a line segment S3 connecting the points B and D, and the peripheral edge coupling portion 45. Among these, it is provided on the line segment S3 side with respect to the line segment S2.

  In the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 28, the portion 54S of the outer coupling portion 54 has a linear shape along the line segment S3 so as to satisfy the above condition. Therefore, the portion 54 </ b> S of the outer coupling portion 54 intersects the fold line 51 obliquely.

In the fifth embodiment, in the outer coupling portion 54, a portion 54 </ b> M connecting the upper set point D and the lower set point D is linear so as to be parallel to the folding line 51. .
Moreover, the shape of the peripheral edge 50C of the partition member 50 is also changed with the said change of the shape of the outer coupling part 54. FIG. The peripheral edge 50 </ b> C of the partition member 50 is located at a location away from the outer coupling portion 54 by a certain distance. A portion corresponding to the portion 54S of the outer coupling portion 54 on the peripheral edge 50C intersects the fold line 51 obliquely, and a portion corresponding to the portion 54M is parallel to the fold line 51.

Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same portions and members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.
In the fifth embodiment, since the shape of the outer coupling portion 54 is changed to a shape different from that of the first to fourth embodiments, the distance D1 between the outer coupling portion 54 and the fold line 51 is set to the same. The crossing portion 54C with the peripheral edge coupling portion 45 is smaller than the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction. Compared with the case where the outer coupling portion 54 is parallel to the fold line 51 (see FIG. 6), the interval D1 between the intersecting portion 51C and the intersecting portion 54C is smaller.

  Therefore, when the partition member 50 is tensioned in a plane perpendicular to the expansion direction as the expansion portion 46 expands, the amount by which the crossing portion 51C is pulled and moved to the outer coupling portion 54 side is indicated by an arrow A1. Less as shown. Along with this, the pulling force acting on the intersection 51C is reduced, and the stress concentration on the intersection 51C is alleviated. The possibility that a large load is applied to the intersection 51C is reduced.

  In particular, in the fifth embodiment, the portion 54S of the outer coupling portion 54 forms a straight line along the line segment S3, and the interval D1 between the intersecting portion 54C and the folding line 51 is the minimum value that can be taken. Get closer. For this reason, the amount of movement of the intersecting portion 51C that is pulled toward the outer coupling portion 54, that is, the pulling force acting on the intersecting portion 51C approaches the minimum value, and a great effect of relaxing the stress concentration on the intersecting portion 51C is obtained. . It is difficult for a large load to be applied to the intersection 51C, and a separate measure for reinforcing the intersection 51C becomes unnecessary.

Therefore, according to the fifth embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the above (1) to (4).
(7) Of the outer coupling portion 54, a portion 54S connecting the peripheral coupling portion 45 and the point D, a line segment S2 connecting the point A and the point D, a line segment S3 connecting the point B and the point D, and the peripheral coupling portion In the region Z1 sandwiched by 45, it is provided on the line segment S3 side with respect to the line segment S2. By adopting this configuration, the distance D1 between the outer coupling portion 54 and the fold line 51 is set at an intermediate portion (part) in the longitudinal direction of the partition member 50 at the intersection 54C with the peripheral coupling portion 45 of the outer coupling portion 54. 54M etc.) (FIG. 28).

  For this reason, compared with the case where the whole outer coupling part 54 is parallel to the folding line 51 (FIG. 6 etc.), the intersection 51C of the folding line 51 with the peripheral coupling part 45 is pulled toward the outer coupling part 54 side. The amount of movement, and hence the tensile force acting on the intersection 51C can be reduced, and the stress concentration on the intersection 51C can be reduced.

  (8) Of the outer coupling portion 54, by forming the portion 54S that connects the intersection 54C with the peripheral coupling portion 45 and the point D in a straight line along the line segment S3 that connects the point B and the point D, The distance D1 between the intersection 54C of the outer coupling portion 54 with the peripheral coupling portion 45 and the folding line 51 is brought close to the minimum value of the range that can be taken (FIG. 28).

  For this reason, the amount by which the intersection 51C of the fold line 51 with the peripheral coupling portion 45 is pulled and moved toward the outer coupling portion 54, and hence the tensile force acting on the intersection 51C, is brought close to the minimum, A great effect of relieving stress concentration can be obtained.

  As a result, it is not necessary to reduce a separate measure for reinforcing the intersecting portion 51C, such as using a reinforcing cloth, or to take the measure in some cases. In the latter case, it is not necessary to separately prepare a reinforcing cloth or to perform an operation of coupling the reinforcing cloth to the airbag 40, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost.

Note that the present invention can be embodied in another embodiment described below.
The upper member 56 in the partition member 50 of each embodiment may be divided into two along the fold line 51. Similarly, the lower member 57 may be divided into two along the fold line 51.

  In each embodiment, the opposed end portion 52 of the partition member 50 may be coupled to the cloth portion 43 of the airbag 40 within the upstream inflatable portion 47 or within the downstream inflatable portion 48. Also good. Similarly, the facing end portion 53 of the partition member 50 may be coupled to the cloth portion 44 of the airbag 40 in the upstream inflating portion 47 or in the downstream inflating portion 48.

Further, one of the opposed end portions 52 and 53 may be coupled within the upstream expansion portion 47 and the other may be coupled within the downstream expansion portion 48.
In each embodiment, the inner opening 71 and the inner coupling portion 63 are not limited to the direction orthogonal to the fold line 51 of the partition member 50, and may be provided along a direction that intersects obliquely.

The airbag 40 may be substantially entirely composed of the inflating portion 46, but may have a part of a non-inflating portion in which the inflating gas G is not supplied and does not inflate. .
-In 1st Embodiment, as shown to FIG. 29 (A), (B), as the division member 50, you may use what consists of the single member 86 (cloth piece). In this case, the member 86 is folded in two along the fold line 85. An inner coupling portion 63 is provided at a position separated from the folding line 85 of the partition member 50 in a folded state by a certain distance. A portion sandwiched between the inner coupling portion 63 and the fold line 85 is defined as a pair of overlapping portions 61 having a band shape. Further, on the folding line 85 of these overlapping portions 61, slits 87 are made at least at locations corresponding to the inner openings 71. In both overlapping portions 61, portions between the inner opening 71 and the slit 87 are referred to as valve body portions 73 and 74.

The second to fifth embodiments can be modified in the same manner as described above.
In the overlapping portion 61, the valve body portions 73 and 74 function as the portions corresponding to the inner opening 71 (in the vicinity of the inner opening 71, more precisely, the inner opening 71 and the edge 58E). , 59E). Therefore, when at least the tip end portions 73T and 74T of both valve body portions 73 and 74 are in contact with each other and closed when the upstream expansion portion 47 is expanded, a portion of the overlapping portion 61 that does not correspond to the inner opening portion 71 ( The form of the non-neighbor portion may be changed. For example, a portion (non-neighboring portion) that does not correspond to the inner opening 71 in the overlapping portion 61 may be partially or entirely combined. As a means for this connection, stitching or adhesion may be used. By changing in this way, only the part corresponding to the inner opening 71 in the overlapping part 61 is operated as both valve body parts 73 and 74, and the phenomenon in which the non-corresponding part moves unnecessarily, for example, the phenomenon of flapping is suppressed. it can.

In addition, at least a part of the overlapping portion 61 that does not correspond to the inner opening 71 may be notched.
The partition member 50 and the valve body portions 73 and 74 may be configured by different members.

-The fold line 51 in the partition member 50 in a folded state may be slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction.
In the first to fifth embodiments, the side airbag device that mainly protects the chest part PT of the occupant P has been described as an example. However, the present invention includes a side part of the occupant P including the chest part PT. The present invention is also applicable to a side airbag device that protects against impacts such as the above. Hereinafter, application examples will be described. Each of FIGS. 30A and 30B to FIGS. 32A and 32B schematically shows an arrangement state of members such as the partition member 50 in the inflating portion 46 of the airbag 40. Yes, details are omitted or simplified. In addition, in each figure, the part to which the halftone dot was attached | subjected is a partition member.

<< Side Airbag Device that Protects Part of Passenger P from Chest PT to Head PH >>
In this type of side airbag device, as shown in FIG. 30 (A), the inflated portion 46 of the airbag 40 is mounted in the vehicle and inflated, so that the side portion of the chest PT to the side of the head PH is near the side. It becomes elongated in the vertical direction so that it can expand. When the present invention is applied to this side airbag device, the inflating portion 46 may be partitioned into two front and rear portions by a partition member 50 having a pressure regulating valve (not shown) and extending substantially in the vertical direction. In the inflating portion 46, the rear side of the partition member 50 is an upstream inflating portion 88 and the front side is a downstream inflating portion 89. In this case, the partition member 50 extends along the vertical direction, but the extending direction of the partition member 50 may be changed according to the required performance for the airbag 40. The partition member 50 may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction. At that time, the angle (tilt angle) formed with the vertical line of the partition member 50 can be variously changed.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 30B, the partition members may be arranged in parallel at two locations separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the inflating portion 46. In order to distinguish the two partition members, the one located on the front side is defined as a partition member 50F, and the one located on the rear side is defined as a partition member 50R. In this case, the expansion part 46 is divided into three parts, rear, center, and front, by both partition members 50R and 50F. When the rear partition member 50R is used as a reference, the “rear” portion becomes the upstream expansion portion 91 and the “center” portion becomes the downstream expansion portion 92. When the front partition member 50 </ b> F is used as a reference, the “center” portion becomes the upstream expansion portion 93 and the “front” portion becomes the downstream expansion portion 94. The expansion gas ejected from the inflator 31 flows in the order of the upstream expansion portion 91, the partition member 50R, the downstream expansion portion 92 (upstream expansion portion 93), the partition member 50F, and the downstream expansion portion 94. Although not shown, the partition members may be arranged in parallel at three or more locations separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the inflating portion 46.

<< Side Airbag Device that Protects Part of Crew P from Lumbar PP to Chest PT (Shoulder PS) >>
In this type of side airbag device, as shown in FIG. 31 (A), the inflatable portion 46 of the airbag 40 is mounted on the vehicle and inflated so that the waist portion PP to the chest PT (shoulder portion PS). It is elongated in the vertical direction so as to be able to expand in the vicinity of the side. The expansion portion 46 is divided into two upper and lower portions by a partition portion 95 and a check valve 96. The partition part 95 may be configured by a tether in which a cloth piece is installed between the cloth parts 43 and 44 of the airbag 40, or is sewn (coupled) in a state where the cloth parts 43 and 44 are in contact with each other. It may be configured by a seam.

  The inflator 31 is disposed at a site above the partition part 95. The check valve 96 allows the inflation gas ejected from the inflator 31 to flow from the upper part to the lower part of the partition part 95 and restricts the flow in the opposite direction. The part above the partition part 95 expands, for example, on the side of the chest part PT and the shoulder part PS, and the part below the partition part 95 expands, for example, on the side part of the waist part PP.

  When the present invention is applied to this side airbag device, as shown in FIG. 31 (A), the upper part extends substantially in the vertical direction and is further separated by a partition member 50U having a pressure regulating valve (not shown). You may divide into two front and back. Further, the lower part may be further divided into two front and rear parts by a partition member 50L that extends substantially in the vertical direction and has a pressure regulating valve (not shown). In this case, in the region above the partition portion 95, the rear portion of the partition member 50U is the upstream expansion portion 97, and the front portion is the downstream expansion portion 98. Further, in a portion below the partition portion 95, a portion on the rear side of the partition member 50L is an upstream inflatable portion 99, and a front portion is a downstream inflatable portion 100.

In addition, although not illustrated, the partition members 50U and 50L may be provided only in the upper part of the partition part 95, or may be provided only in the lower part.
As a modification of FIG. 31 (A), as shown in FIG. 31 (B), a portion above the partitioning portion 95 extends in a substantially longitudinal direction instead of a partition member 50U extending in a substantially vertical direction. It may be divided into two upper and lower parts by 50H. In this case, the part below the partition member 50H is the upstream inflatable part 101 that protects the chest PT, and the upper part is the downstream inflatable part 102 that protects the shoulder PS.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the portion below the partition portion 95 may be divided into two upper and lower portions by a partition member extending in the substantially front-rear direction instead of the partition member 50L extending in the substantially vertical direction. In this case, the upper part of the partition member is an upstream expansion part that protects the upper half of the waist PP, and the lower part is a downstream expansion part that protects the lower half of the waist PP.

  As shown in FIG. 32 (A), the inflating part 46 may be largely divided into two front and rear parts by a partition part 103 extending substantially in the vertical direction along the inflator 31 in front of the inflator 31. Similarly to the partition part 95 (see FIGS. 31 (A) and 31 (B)) described above, the partition part 103 may be configured by a tether in which a cloth piece is provided between the cloth parts 43 and 44 of the airbag 40. Alternatively, it may be constituted by a seam formed by stitching (bonding) the cloth parts 43 and 44 in contact with each other.

  A part on the rear side of the partition 103 is an inflator accommodating portion 104 in which the inflator 31 is accommodated. The part on the front side of the partition part 103 is a protective part 105 that protects the part from the shoulder part PS to the waist part PP of the occupant P. The protection unit 105 includes a pressure regulating valve (not shown), and may be partitioned into three parts, an upper part, a center part, and a lower part, by a pair of upper and lower partition members 50U and 50L that extend substantially in the front-rear direction. In this case, when the upper partition member 50U is used as a reference, the “upper” portion becomes the upstream expansion portion 106 and the “center” portion becomes the downstream expansion portion 107. When the lower partition member 50L is used as a reference, the “lower” portion becomes the upstream expansion portion 108 and the “center” portion becomes the downstream expansion portion 107.

  The inflating gas ejected from the inflator 31 is supplied to the downstream inflating portion 107 through the inflator accommodating portion 104, the upstream inflating portion 106, and the partition member 50U in order, and the inflator accommodating portion 104, the upstream inflating portion 108, and the like. It is supplied to the downstream inflating part 107 through the partition member 50L in order. In this way, the expansion gas is supplied to the downstream expansion portion 107 through two routes.

  Although not shown, the partition part 103 is not provided, and the expansion part 46 has a pressure regulating valve (not shown) and is partitioned into two upper and lower parts by one partition member extending substantially in the front-rear direction. May be. The lower part is an upstream side expansion part that first supplies the inflation gas from the inflator 31 to protect the waist PP, and the upper part is supplied with the expansion gas that has passed through the upstream side expansion part, It may be a downstream expansion part that protects the chest part PT (shoulder part PS).

  The shape of the partition member 50 is not limited to a linear shape, and may be a non-linear shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 32B, the partition member 50 having a pressure regulating valve (not shown) may have an L shape (a shape of a dog). In this case, the inflating portion 46 may be partitioned into three parts in the substantially vertical direction by the partition member 50. The upper part of the partition member 50 is defined as the upstream expansion part 111, the lower part of the partition member 50 is defined as the upstream expansion part 112, and the part sandwiched by the partition members 50 is the downstream expansion part. 113.

In addition, although not shown, the partition member 50 may have a semicircular shape.
In addition, the idea about the said change is the side airbag device which protects only chest PT, the side airbag device which protects chest PT-head PH, and the side airbag which protects waist PP-chest PT (shoulder PS). The device can be appropriately converted to each airbag of the side airbag device that protects the waist PP to the head PH.

-This invention is applicable also to the airbag apparatus of a kind different from a side airbag apparatus.
As an example, there is a knee protection airbag device 120 shown in FIGS. 33 and 34. As shown in FIG. 33, the knee protection airbag device 120 is inflated in front of and below the lower limbs of the occupant P seated on a vehicle seat (not shown), so that the knee portion PK extends from the shin PD of the occupant P. It protects the part over. The knee protection airbag device 120 is stored in a storage portion 122 provided below the steering column 121, for example. In addition, this accommodating part 122 may be provided in the front lower direction of the passenger | crew of a passenger seat in an instrument panel.

  When it is detected that an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front due to a front collision or the like, the airbag 123 of the knee protection airbag device 120 starts to inflate with the inflation gas and exits from the storage portion 122 to the rear side. In between the occupant P and the steering column 121, the occupant P inflates and expands in a region from the shin PD to the knee PK of both feet of the occupant P.

  In the case of this other example, as shown in FIG. 34, the airbag 123 of the knee protection airbag device 120 is formed by combining a pair of front and rear fabric portions 123A in a bag shape by a peripheral edge coupling portion 124 provided at the peripheral edge portion. It is formed by. The inflating portion 125 of the airbag 123 includes an inflator housing portion 126 in which the inflator assembly 30 is housed, an upstream inflating portion 127 that protects the knee portion PK, and an inflating gas G in the inflator housing portion 126 as an upstream inflating portion. A pair of gas passage portions 128 leading to 127 and a downstream side expansion portion 129 located on the downstream side of the upstream side expansion portion 127 are provided. The inflator accommodating portion 126 is formed at the lower portion of the inflating portion 125, and the upstream inflating portion 127 is formed at the upper portion of the inflating portion 125. The downstream expansion portion 129 is formed between the upstream expansion portion 127 and the inflator accommodating portion 126. Both gas passage portions 128 are formed on both sides of the downstream side expansion portion 129 in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 34). The inflator accommodating portion 126 and both gas passage portions 128 and the downstream side expansion portion 129 are partitioned by a partition portion 131 provided between them in a substantially U-shape on the front surface. The partition part 131 may be configured by a tether in which a piece of cloth is provided between the front and rear cloth parts 123A of the airbag 123, as in the case of the partition parts 95 and 103 described above, or the front and rear cloth parts 123A are in contact with each other. You may be comprised by the seam formed by stitching | suture (joining) in the made state.

  A partition member 50 is provided between the upstream expansion portion 127 and the downstream expansion portion 129. When the partition member 50 is tensioned in a planar shape with the expansion of the expansion portion 125, the length in the longitudinal direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 34) is longer than the length in the short direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. It is long and long.

  The partition member 50 includes two members 56 and 57 arranged in the vehicle width direction that is a direction along the fold line 51. Both members 56 and 57 are coupled by an inner coupling portion 63 that extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the fold line 51. In the portion straddling the fold line 51, the inner coupling portion 63 that couples both the members 56 and 57 is not provided. In this way, the portion where the inner coupling portion 63 is not provided, where the coupling is released, constitutes a slit-shaped inner opening 71 that allows the upstream expansion portion 127 and the downstream expansion portion 129 to communicate with each other. Yes.

  In FIG. 34, the partition member 50 is folded in two, and the inflated portion 125 in the non-inflated and deployed state with the fold line 51 positioned on the upstream side (upper side in FIG. 34) of the opposing end portions 52 and 53. It is arranged. Both opposing end portions 52 and 53 are coupled to the corresponding fabric portion 123 </ b> A by outer coupling portions 54 and 55. Both end portions (left and right end portions in FIG. 34) in the direction (longitudinal direction) along the fold line 51 of the partition member 50 are coupled (sewed together) to both the cloth portions 123A by a part (upper end portion) of the partition portion 131. ing.

  By configuring the knee protection airbag device 120 in such a configuration, the inflation gas G ejected from the inflator 31 is supplied to the upstream inflation portion 127 through the gas passage portions 128. Due to the expansion gas G, the upstream side expansion portion 127 starts to expand. The upstream expansion portion 127 is pressed and deformed by an external force applied in accordance with the occupant restraint, the internal pressure rises and the pressure regulating valve 70 is opened, and the expansion gas G in the upstream expansion portion 127 enters the downstream expansion portion 129. Supplied. The downstream expansion portion 129 expands behind the upstream expansion portion 127. As a result, among the lower limbs of the occupant P, the knee part PK having a relatively high impact resistance is restrained and protected early by the upstream inflating part 127 in which the internal pressure rises quickly, and the shin part PD having a relatively low impact resistance. Can be softly restrained and protected by the downstream expansion portion 129 whose internal pressure increases later than the upstream expansion portion 127.

  As another example of the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 35, the shape of the portion 54 </ b> S that connects the peripheral joint portion 45 and the point D in the outer joint portion 54 is the line segment S <b> 3 that connects the point B and the point D. Alternatively, it may be changed to an arc shape that swells to the point C side.

Even in this case, the distance D1 between the intersection 54C of the outer coupling portion 54 with the peripheral coupling portion 45 and the folding line 51 approaches the minimum value of the range that can be taken.
Therefore, the amount that the intersection 51C of the fold line 51 and the peripheral coupling portion 45 is pulled and moved toward the outer coupling portion 54, and the pulling force acting on the intersection 51C approaches a minimum, and the stress on the intersection 51C is reduced. A great effect of relaxing the concentration can be obtained, and the same effect as the above-described (8) can be obtained.

FIG. 35 shows only the members on the vehicle inner side than the center portion in the vehicle width direction in the airbag 40, but the same applies to the members on the vehicle outer side.
In the outer coupling portions 54 and 55, the portion 54M that connects the upper set point D and the lower set point D moves away from the fold line 51 as the distance from the point D increases as shown in FIG. It may have an arc shape that swells.

  In the region Z1 sandwiched between the line segment S2 connecting the point A and the point D, the line segment S3 connecting the point B and the point D, and the peripheral edge coupling portion 45, the line segment S3 is closer to the line segment S2 than the line segment S2. On the condition that there is, the position of the portion 54 </ b> S that connects the peripheral coupling portion 45 and the point D in the outer coupling portion 54 may be changed.

  -In 5th Embodiment and the other example of the said FIG. 35, the peripheral edge 50C of the division member 50 does not necessarily need to follow the outer coupling parts 54 and 55. FIG. Therefore, the partition member 50 may be the same as that in the first embodiment (the peripheral edge 50C is in a straight line).

  In all the embodiments, the inflator assembly 30 may be provided outside the airbag 40. In this case, the inflator 31 and the upstream side inflatable portions 47, 88, 91, 93, 97, 99, 101, 106, 108, 111, 112, 127 are connected by a pipe, and the inflator 31 is connected to the inflator 31 via this pipe. You may make it supply the gas G for expansion | swelling.

  In all the embodiments, instead of the seat back 14 of the vehicle seat 12, the storage part 18 may be provided in the body side part 11, and the airbag module AM may be provided here.

  40, 123 ... airbag, 42, 51, 85 ... fold line, 43, 44, 123A ... cloth part, 45, 124 ... peripheral joint part, 46, 125 ... inflatable part, 47, 88, 91, 93, 97, 99, 101, 106, 108, 111, 112, 127 ... upstream side expansion part, 48, 89, 92, 94, 98, 100, 102, 107, 113, 129 ... downstream side expansion part, 50, 50F, 50H, 50L, 50R, 50U ... partition member, 51C, 54C ... crossing part, 52, 53 ... opposite end part, 54, 55 ... outer coupling part, 61 ... overlapping part, 62 ... non-overlapping part, 70 ... pressure regulating valve, 71 ... Inner opening, 73, 74 ... Valve body, 120 ... Knee protecting airbag device, A, B, C, D ... Points, D1 ... Interval, G ... Inflating gas, L1, L2 ... Length, P ... Crew, S1, S2, S3 ... Line segment, Z1 ... Territory .

Claims (10)

Before the supply of the inflation gas, the airbag is inflated between the fabric portion on the outside of the vehicle and the fabric portion on the inside of the vehicle. The partition member is partitioned into at least an upstream expansion portion and a downstream expansion portion, and is closed at an initial stage of the supply of the expansion gas to the expansion portion so that the upstream expansion portion and the downstream expansion portion are closed. An airbag device provided with a pressure regulating valve that regulates the flow of the inflation gas to the valve and opens the valve from the middle of the supply period to release the regulation,
When the partition member is strained in a planar shape with the expansion of the expansion portion, the length in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length in the short direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,
The partition member is provided with a pair of overlapping portions extending in the lateral direction to form a belt shape,
The pressure regulating valve is
An inner opening slit extending in the lateral direction provided in the allowed pair of overlapping portions,
Bei example a pair of valve body portions approaching and away from each other is provided around the inside opening,
The pair of overlapping portions are coupled to each other at an inner coupling portion along the short direction of the partition member, and are externally extended in the longitudinal direction of the partition member at both ends in the short direction along the inner coupling portion. An airbag device characterized in that the airbag unit is coupled to a fabric portion on the vehicle exterior side and a fabric portion on the vehicle interior side of the airbag by a coupling portion . Before the supply of the inflation gas, the airbag is inflated and is inflated by the supply of the inflation gas. The inflation part is divided into at least an upstream inflation part and a downstream inflation part by a partition member, and The expansion gas is closed at the beginning of the supply period to restrict the flow of the expansion gas from the upstream expansion section to the downstream expansion section, and is opened from the middle of the supply period to An airbag device provided with a pressure regulating valve for releasing regulation,
When the partition member is strained in a planar shape with the expansion of the expansion portion, the length in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length in the short direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,
The partition member is provided with a pair of overlapping portions extending in the lateral direction to form a belt shape,
The pressure regulating valve is
A slit-shaped inner opening provided in the pair of overlapping portions and extending in the lateral direction;
A pair of valve body portions provided around the inner opening and configured by the pair of overlapping portions to approach and separate from each other;
With
In the initial stage of the supply period of the expansion gas, the pressure regulating valve is closed by the pair of valve body portions that are in close contact with each other by the internal pressure of the expansion gas, thereby restricting the flow of the expansion gas. From the middle of the supply period of the inflation gas, the pair of valve body portions are opened by an external force applied in accordance with the occupant restraint by the airbag , and the circulation of the inflation gas is allowed.
The opening and closing of the pair of valve body portions is based on a change in tension applied to the partition member due to the application of the external force . Before SL each valve body is constituted by a portion corresponding to the inner opening in each of overlapping portions,
The two overlapping portions are bent along a boundary portion with the non-overlapping portion of the partition member, and are coupled to the airbag at both end portions in the short direction,
The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the overlapping portion is disposed in the downstream inflating portion before the inflating portion is inflated. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve body portions are arranged in the upstream inflating portion before the inflating portion is inflated. The partition member is folded along a fold line extending in the longitudinal direction, so that the opposing end portions facing each other are folded in two,
The bi-folded partition member is disposed in the inflated portion in a non-inflated and deployed state in a state where the fold line is positioned on the upstream side of the opposed end portion, and further, the opposed end portions, The airbag apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4 currently couple | bonded with the said airbag in the both ends about the said longitudinal direction. The partition member is folded along a fold line extending in the longitudinal direction, so that the opposing end portions facing each other are folded in two,
The partition member in the bi-fold state is disposed in the inflatable portion in a non-inflated and deployed state in a state where the fold line is positioned on the downstream side of the opposing end portion, and the opposing end portions, The airbag apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4 currently couple | bonded with the said airbag in the both ends about the said longitudinal direction. The airbag is formed by joining a pair of fabric portions with a peripheral joint portion provided along the peripheral portions of the both fabric portions,
Before the supply of the inflation gas, the partition member is folded along a fold line extending in the longitudinal direction to be folded in two so as to make opposed opposing ends approach each other. Between the two fabric portions, and coupled to the fabric portion by an outer coupling portion at each opposed end portion, and coupled to the both fabric portions by the peripheral coupling portion at both ends in the longitudinal direction. And
Each outer joint portion joins the opposite end portion and the cloth portion so that the distance from the fold line is smaller than the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction at the intersection with the peripheral joint portion. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Each outer coupling portion extends parallel to the fold line, and a point where each outer coupling portion intersects with the peripheral coupling portion is a point A, and a location where the folding line intersects with the peripheral coupling portion. A point B is defined as a point C where a line segment passing through the point B and perpendicular to the fold line intersects the outer coupling part. The point C is located on the outer coupling part, and the point C is changed to the pressure regulating valve. In the case where the point away from the approaching side by the same length as the line segment is point D,
Of the outer coupling part, the part connecting the peripheral joint part and the point D includes a line segment connecting the point A and the point D, a line segment connecting the point B and the point D, and the peripheral joint part. The airbag device according to claim 7, wherein the airbag device is provided on a line segment side connecting the point B and the point D with respect to a line segment connecting the point A and the point D. The airbag device according to claim 8, wherein a portion of the outer joint portion that connects the peripheral joint portion and the point D has a linear shape along a line segment that connects the point B and the point D. The part which connects the said peripheral connection part and the said point D among the said outer coupling parts has comprised the circular arc shape which swells to the said point C side rather than the line segment which connects the said point B and the said point D. Airbag device.

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