JP5631087B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device that is installed on a steering wheel of an automobile, an instrument panel in front of a passenger seat, and a ceiling or a side door of the automobile to protect an occupant from an impact caused by an automobile collision or the like.

  This type of airbag device detects when a vehicle encounters a collision, etc., and inflates and deploys the airbag stored in a folded state with the inflation gas ejected from the inflator. An occupant is captured and protected by an airbag. Usually, a vent hole is formed for properly discharging the inflation gas introduced into the airbag to adjust the internal pressure of the airbag. The vent hole is configured to close immediately in response to the inflation and deployment of the airbag by introducing the inflation gas so that the airbag can be inflated and deployed at an early stage. In addition, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with the airbag after being inflated and deployed, the closed vent hole is appropriately opened to exhaust the inflation gas in the airbag to the outside. The pressure inside the bag is lowered to weaken the object and protect the occupant.

  As an airbag device having such a vent hole opening / closing mechanism, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is known. The airbag apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is generally configured by two embodiments described below (the reference numerals given to the components are the same as those used in Patent Document 1). Is written).

  First, according to one embodiment, the airbag 10 is constituted by a front panel 12 and a rear panel 14, and the front panel 12 and the rear panel 14 are connected by a hanging strap 80. Further, a hanging strap 80 and a lid body 60 that covers the open / close vent ball 18 from the outside of the airbag 10 are connected by a tether 70. When the airbag 10 is inflated, the suspension strap 80 and the tether 70 are tensioned and the lid 60 closes the open / close vent hole 18, and the front panel 12 of the airbag 10 inflated and deployed in such a closed state. When the occupant comes into contact with the central portion of the vehicle and the central portion retreats, the hanging strap 80 and the tether 70 are loosened, the vent hole 18 is opened, and the internal pressure of the airbag is lowered.

  Further, according to another embodiment, the annular patch cloth 65 is addressed to the vent hole 18 from the inside of the airbag 10B, and the inner periphery of the patch cloth 65 constitutes the airbag 10B by the seam 66a. The outer peripheral edge is sewn to the rear panel 14 by a seam 66b. Between the seams 66a and 66b, a tunnel-shaped passage is provided between the patch cloth 65 and the rear panel 14, and this passage circulates around the vent hole 18. One end of the tether 70B is inserted into the passage through a small hole 66c provided in the patch cloth 65, and is sewn to the rear panel 14 and the patch cloth 65a by a seam 60d. Then, in response to the inflation and deployment of the airbag 10B, the tether 70B is pulled to the inside of the airbag 10B to narrow the vent hole 18, and the opening degree of the vent hole 18 is reduced. An attempt is made to expedite the expansion of the bag 10B. In such an inflated and deployed state, when an occupant comes into contact with the airbag 10B, the tether 70B is loosened by the retreat of the airbag 10B, and the opening degree of the vent hole 18 is increased. The internal pressure will drop, and the crew will be softly received.

JP2009-113757A.

  However, among the techniques described in Patent Document 1, in one embodiment, when the suspension strap 80 and the tether 70 are tensioned immediately in response to the inflation and deployment of the airbag 10, the lid 60 is attached to one end thereof. It swings as a hinge fulcrum and closes the vent hole 18. For this reason, it takes a relatively long time to completely close the vent hole 18. As a result, the inflating gas is exhausted to the outside from the vent hole 18 in the process of being not completely closed, and the airbag 10 cannot reach the final inflated and deployed shape so early.

  Further, in another embodiment described in Patent Document 1, in response to the inflation and deployment of the airbag 10B, the tether 70B is pulled to the inside of the airbag 10B so that the vent hole 18 is narrowed. The opening degree of the vent hole 18 is reduced to expedite the inflation and deployment of the airbag 10B. For this reason, the vent hole 18 is pulled up from one end to the other end by pulling the tether 70B around the outer peripheral edge of the airbag 10B in response to the inflating and deploying operation of the airbag 10B. As a result, the opening degree is reduced by constricting. As a result, the vent hole 18 is slightly opened until it is lifted from one end to the other end, and in the process of inflating and deploying the airbag 10B, the inflation gas is exposed to the outside. Since the air is exhausted, the airbag 10 cannot reach the final inflated and deployed shape so early as in the first embodiment.

  Accordingly, in view of the above-described problems in the conventional technology, the present invention accelerates the inflation and deployment of the airbag by quickly closing the vent hole in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag, thereby protecting the occupant. In addition, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with an inflated airbag, the vent hole is opened early to reduce the internal pressure of the airbag, and an airbag device that attempts to softly receive the occupant is provided. It is intended to provide.

The airbag device according to the present invention is configured to inflate and deploy an airbag in a folded state when an impact such as a collision is applied to an automobile to an occupant side by an inflating gas ejected from an inflator. In the airbag device for protecting the airbag, a vent hole is formed in the base fabric panel of the airbag so as to communicate between the inside and the outside, and the vent hole is closed immediately in response to the inflating opening / closing operation of the airbag. When the object such as an occupant comes into contact with the airbag in an inflated and deployed state, the vent hole in the closed state is opened to shut off the air. In order to expel the inflating gas into the bag appropriately, the peripheral edges facing each other across the opening of the vent hole are jigged with a strap. By knitting the grayed shape, the lumping together cord is passed bridge across over the opening, fastening the two end portions of the bundling strap in occupant restraint surface side which faces the vent hole installation portion in the air bag When the airbag is inflated, the strap is tensioned and the vent hole is tightened and closed. When the strap is tensioned, the object is placed on the airbag. When the occupant restraining surface side of the airbag retreats due to contact, the strap is loosened so that the vent hole is appropriately opened by the inflation gas pressure in the airbag.

  In the present invention having such a configuration, the end portion of the airbag is formed by a bridging cord formed by zigzag knitting the peripheral edges facing each other across the opening of the vent hole across the opening. If the straps fastened to the occupant restraint surface are immediately tensioned in response to the inflation and deployment of the airbag, the straps will pull each other around the venthole opening and the opposite edges will The opening can be closed quickly and reliably. As a result, inflating and deploying the airbag, the inflation gas is not exhausted from the vent hole, and the airbag can reach the final inflated and deployed shape at an early stage. It will be possible to capture and protect early.

  In addition, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with an inflated airbag and the occupant restraint surface side of the airbag is retracted, the strap is unfastened and loosened, resulting in the expansion in the airbag. The vent hole is opened early due to the working gas pressure, the internal pressure of the airbag is lowered, and the occupant can be received softly.

  Moreover, the said string in this invention is comprised with the thread-like string or the strip-like string as embodiment of the said invention.

  In the present invention having such a configuration, when a thread string is used as a tie string, for example, a thread string such as a sewing thread for sewing two base fabric panels can be used to form an airbag. In addition, the vent hole can be knitted in parallel with the sewing work between these base fabrics. In addition, when a strip-like string is used as the binding string, the strip-like string can be configured by, for example, forming an end material of a base fabric panel material similar to the above-described airbag into a strip shape, By configuring so as to be openable and closable, an increase in the manufacturing cost of the airbag device can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the strap in the present invention is broken by the internal pressure of the airbag when the object comes into contact with the inflated airbag and the occupant restraint surface side of the airbag is retracted. It is configured by forming a fracture weak part.

  With this configuration, when the airbag that has been inflated and deployed is retracted on the side of the occupant restraint due to contact with an object, the weak breakage portion formed on the strap is broken by the internal pressure of the airbag and the vent hole is quickly opened. It is possible to immediately capture and protect the abutting object, particularly the occupant, softly.

  In this invention, since the tie straps knitted in a zigzag shape with the peripheral edges facing each other across the opening of the vent hole are bridged across the opening, the terminal portion is on the side of the occupant restraint surface of the airbag When the straps fastened to the strap are immediately tensioned in response to the inflation and deployment of the airbag, the straps pull each other around the entire periphery of the ventholes across the venthole opening. The opening can be closed quickly and reliably. As a result, in the process of inflating and deploying the airbag, the inflation gas discharged from the vent hole is reduced as much as possible, and the airbag can reach the final inflated and deployed shape at an early stage. It will be possible to capture and protect early.

  In addition, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with an inflated airbag and the occupant restraint surface side of the airbag is retracted, the strap is unfastened and loosened, resulting in the expansion in the airbag. The vent hole is opened early due to the working gas pressure, the internal pressure of the airbag is lowered, and the occupant can be received softly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically depicting an inflated and deployed state of an airbag in an airbag apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Similarly, it is a block diagram of the vent hole peripheral portion of the airbag in an uninflated and deployed state. FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams illustrating an inflated and deployed process of the airbag depicted in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 1A is when the airbag is not inflated and deployed, FIG. 1B is during the inflation and deployment of the airbag, and FIG. In the final stage of the process, (d) shows a state where the vent hole is opened by the contact of an object such as an occupant in the final stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag shown in (c). FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram depicting the opening and closing operation of the vent hole in FIG. 1, (a) when the airbag is not inflated and deployed, (b) during the inflation and deployment of the airbag, (c) during the inflation and deployment process of the airbag. The final stage, (d), shows a state in which an object such as an occupant abuts to open a vent hole in the final stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag shown in (c). It is the schematic perspective view which drawn the vent hole periphery part of the airbag in the unexpanded deployment state which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. It is the schematic perspective view which drawn the vent hole peripheral part of the airbag in the unexpanded deployment state which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. It is the schematic perspective view which drawn the vent hole periphery part of the airbag in the unexpanded deployment state which concerns on Example 4 of this invention. It is the partial top view which drawn the modification of the strap according to this invention.

  In the airbag device according to the present invention, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the airbag is inflated and deployed quickly by closing the vent hole at an early stage, thereby ensuring the occupant's capture and protection. When the occupant comes into contact with the inflated airbag, the vent hole is opened early to reduce the internal pressure of the airbag, so that the occupant is softly received.

  Next, the Example which concerns on the airbag apparatus of this invention is described using figures.

  First, the structure of Example 1 as an airbag apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

  The airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is configured as a driver airbag apparatus that is installed on a steering wheel (not shown) in a state in which the airbag 1 is folded, and the airbag 1 is shown in FIG. As shown, a front-side base fabric panel 2 that is an occupant restraint surface that faces the occupant during inflation and deployment, and a rear-side base fabric panel 3 that constitutes the outer surface opposite to the occupant restraint surface, that is, the occupant facing surface, Peripheral ends are mutually sewn using a sewing thread 4 and are formed into a bag shape.

  An inflator 5 for injecting inflation gas into the airbag 1 is installed at a substantially central portion of the rear base fabric panel 3. A vent hole 6 that communicates the inside and the outside of the airbag 1 is provided in a vent hole installation portion 3 a that is a peripheral portion of the inflator 5 in the rear side base fabric panel 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the vent hole 6 is opened to allow communication between the inside and the outside of the airbag 1 when the airbag 1 is folded to be accommodated in the steering wheel, for example, when the airbag 1 is not inflated and deployed. The vent hole 6 is formed by zigzagging the peripheral edges 6b, 6c facing each other across the opening 6a having a round hole shape with a binding string 7 made of, for example, a thread-like string, so that the binding string 7 has the opening 6a. It is bridged across. Both end portions 7 a, 7 b of the strap 7 are fixed to the front side base fabric panel 2, which is the occupant restraint surface facing the vent hole setting portion 3 a of the rear side base fabric panel 3. The strapping holes 6b-1 and 6c-1 formed in the peripheral edges 6b and 6c are formed by small holes that allow the strap 7 to move. In addition to the through holes 6b-1 and 6c-1, a synthetic resin locking hook may be installed in the airbag 1 by bonding with an adhesive or sewing with a sewing thread.

  Next, in the first embodiment configured as described above, the relationship between the inflation and deployment operation of the airbag 1 and the opening / closing movement of the vent hole 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. When the airbag 1 is folded and installed on the steering wheel, the front base fabric panel 2 and the rear base fabric panel 3 are close to each other. As a result, the strap 7 is relaxed. Thus, the vent hole 6 is in an open state (the state shown in FIGS. 3A and 4A).

  From this state, when the automobile receives an impact due to a collision or the like, the sensor of the airbag device works, and the inflator 5 operates to inject the inflation gas into the airbag 1. As a result, the airbag 1 proceeds from the middle of the inflation and deployment shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and 4 (b) to the final stage of the inflation and deployment process shown in FIGS. 3 (c) and 4 (c). The passengers who have moved due to the reaction of the impact due to the collision of the automobile are captured and protected.

  In the middle of the inflation and deployment shown in FIGS. 3 (b) and 4 (b), the separation distance between the front-side base fabric panel 2 and the rear-side base fabric panel 3 is increased by immediately responding to the inflation operation of the airbag 1. Thus, the strap 7 is changed from the relaxed state to the tensioned state, and the opening 6a of the vent hole 6 is closed. As a result, the inflation gas is not exhausted from the vent hole 6, and the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed at an early stage until the final stage of inflation and deployment shown in FIGS. 3 (c) and 4 (c). The passenger can be captured and protected at an early stage from an impact such as an automobile collision. In the final stage of the inflation and deployment of the airbag 1, the strap 7 is in a completely tensioned state because the front side base fabric panel 2 and the rear side base fabric panel 3 are largely separated from each other. Therefore, the distance dimension (extra length dimension) from the vent hole installation part 3a to the fastening part of the front side base fabric panel 2 in the strap 7 is the same as that of the airbag 1 shown in FIGS. 3 (c) and 4 (c). It is set to be substantially equal or shorter than the separation rejection of the front side base fabric panel 2 and the rear side base fabric panel 3 in the final stage of expansion and deployment.

  Then, at the final stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 1 shown in FIG. 3C, an occupant 8 or an object such as a child seat or luggage placed on the seat comes into contact with the airbag 1 and the occupant of the airbag 1 When the front side base fabric panel 2 side, which is the restraining surface side, is retracted in the direction of being crushed, as shown in FIGS. 3 (d) and 4 (d), the strap 7 is released from its tension and loosened. As a result, the vent hole 6 is opened early due to the inflation gas pressure in the airbag 1 to reduce the internal pressure of the airbag 1, and the object, for example, the occupant 8 is softly received.

  In the airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment configured as described above, the strap 7 in which the peripheral edges 6b and 6c facing each other across the opening 6a of the vent hole 6 are knitted in a zigzag shape is bridged across the opening 6a. Is configured. From this, the strap 7 fastened to the front base fabric panel 2 side, which serves as an occupant restraint surface of the airbag 1, can be tensioned immediately in response to the inflation and deployment of the airbag 1. The strap 7 can pull the peripheral edges 6b, 6c opposed to each other across the opening 6a of the vent hole 6 over almost the entire region, thereby quickly and reliably closing the opening 6a of the vent hole 6. As a result, in the process of inflating and deploying the airbag 1, the inflation gas exhausted from the vent hole 6 is reduced as much as possible to inflate and deploy the airbag 1 to the final inflated and deployed shape at an early stage, thereby causing the passenger to collide with the automobile, It will be possible to capture and protect from the impact of the early.

  Further, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with the inflated airbag 1 and the front-side base fabric panel 2 on the occupant restraining surface side of the airbag 1 moves backward, the strap 7 is released from the tension. As a result, the opening 6a of the vent hole 6 is opened at an early stage due to the inflation gas pressure in the airbag 1 and the internal pressure of the airbag 1 is lowered, so that the occupant can be softly received.

  FIGS. 5 to 8 show other embodiments in which the strap 7 according to the present invention is bridged to the opening 6 a having a long hole rectangular shape in the vent hole 6 as the second to fourth embodiments.

  In Example 2 shown in FIG. 5, the strap 7 has a two-piece configuration with split straps 7-1 and 7-2. Both split straps 7-1 and 7-2 are inserted into the peripheral edge of the short side of the vent hole 6 at one end, and are fastened to the front base fabric panel 2, while the other ends are opposed to each other. After being inserted through the side edge, the front side base fabric panel 2 is fastened.

  Therefore, according to the second embodiment, in a state where the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the pair of split straps 7-1 and 7-2 are both tensioned to squeeze and close the opening 6a of the vent hole 6. Thus, the opening 6a can be closed early to speed up the inflation and deployment operation of the airbag 1.

  Moreover, in Example 3 shown in FIG. 6, the strap 7 is bridged to the opening 6a having a long hole rectangular shape in the same manner as in Example 1, and then both ends are fastened to the front base fabric panel 2. In addition, one end of the second strap 9 composed of a separate thread string is connected to the middle portion of the strap 7, and the other end of the second strap 9 is connected to the front base fabric panel 2. It is fixed to the side.

  Therefore, according to the third embodiment, in a state where the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, both ends of the strap 7 and the other end of the second strap 9 are pulled together by the movement of the front base fabric panel 2. The strap 7 and the second strap 9 are both tensioned. As a result, the opening 6a of the vent hole 6 is squeezed up and closed, so that the opening 6a can be closed early to speed up the inflation and deployment operation of the airbag 1.

  Further, in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the strap 7 bridged to the opening 6a having a long hole rectangular shape in the vent hole 6 is fixed to the front side base fabric panel 2 at one end side as in the first embodiment. The other end is fixed to the rear base fabric panel 3 while being attached.

  Therefore, according to Example 4, the opening of the vent hole 6 is knitted with a bridge while the other end side of the strap 7 is fastened to the rear base fabric panel 3 side. Then, one end side of the strap 7 is fastened to the front side base fabric panel 2, and the knitting fastening work can be made stable and simple.

  FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which a strip-like string is used as the string 7 for bridging the opening of the vent hole 6 according to the present invention. The strap 7 according to this embodiment is also configured to braid the peripheral portion of the opening 6a of the vent hole 6 in the form shown in the above-described embodiments 1 to 4, but it is configured by a strip-shaped string. The notch 7c is formed in the middle part.

  Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, when the airbag 1 in the final stage of inflation and deployment comes into contact with an object such as the occupant 8 and the occupant-facing side of the airbag 1 retreats, the notch is formed by the internal pressure of the airbag. By cutting from 7c, the strap 7 is surely relaxed so that the opening 6a of the vent hole 6 is opened at an early stage to reduce the internal pressure of the airbag 1, and the occupant is softly received.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the airbag device is applied to an airbag device for a driver's seat has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Installed in the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat, the ceiling or side door of a car, etc., configured to open a vent hole when an object such as the occupant 8 contracts in contact with the airbag in such a state. The present embodiment can also be applied to an airbag apparatus to be used.

  As described above, the present invention is configured such that the straps knitted in a zigzag shape around the opposite edges across the opening of the vent hole are bridged across the opening. If the straps fastened to the restraint surface are immediately tensioned in response to the inflation and deployment of the airbag, the straps will pull each other around the entire perimeter across the vent hole opening. The opening of the vent hole can be closed quickly and reliably. As a result, in the process of inflating and deploying the airbag, the inflation gas is not exhausted from the vent hole, and the airbag is inflated and deployed to the final inflated shape at an early stage, so that the occupant can be expedited from an impact such as a car crash. It can be captured and protected. In addition, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with an inflated airbag and the occupant restraint surface side of the airbag is retracted, the strap is unfastened and loosened, resulting in the expansion in the airbag. The vent hole is opened early due to the working gas pressure, the internal pressure of the airbag is lowered, and the occupant can be received softly.

  Therefore, the present invention is suitable for an air bag apparatus that is installed on a steering wheel of an automobile, an instrument panel in front of a passenger seat, and a ceiling or a side door of an automobile to protect an occupant from an impact caused by an automobile collision or the like. You can say that.

1 Airbag 2 Front side base fabric panel (occupant restraint surface)
3 Rear side base fabric panel 3a Vent hole installation part 5 Inflator 6 Vent hole 6a Opening 6b, 6c Periphery 7, 9 Strapping string 8 Crew (object)

Claims (3)

In the airbag device that protects the occupant from the impact by inflating and deploying the airbag in a folded state when an impact such as a collision is applied to the automobile to the occupant side by the inflation gas ejected from the inflator, The airbag of the inflation gas is formed by forming a vent hole in the base fabric panel of the airbag so that the inside and the outside communicate with each other and closing the vent hole in response to the inflation opening / closing operation of the airbag. When an object such as an occupant comes into contact with an airbag in an inflated and deployed state, the vent hole in the closed state is opened and the inflation gas is appropriately exhausted into the airbag. In order to configure the front edge by knitting the peripheral edges facing each other across the opening of the vent hole in a zigzag shape with a strap Lumping together cord is passed bridge across over the opening, the enclosed and fixed to the occupant restraint surface side which faces the vent hole installation portion both end portions of the cord in the airbag, the airbag is inflated operation When the strap is tightened and the vent hole is tightened and closed, the object comes into contact with the airbag when the strap is tensioned, and the occupant of the airbag An airbag apparatus, wherein when the restraint surface is retracted, the strap is loosened so that the vent hole is appropriately opened by the inflation gas pressure in the airbag.   The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the strap is formed of a thread-like string or a strip-like string. The strap is formed with a weak breakage portion that is broken by an internal pressure of the airbag when the object comes into contact with the inflated airbag and the occupant restraining surface side of the airbag is retracted. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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