JP2001163145A - Air bag folding method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag folding method capable of being developed uniformly due to blowing gas. SOLUTION: A flattened air bag 1 having a gas intake opening on the lower side is trough-folded inwardly along an upper-side trough folding line A11, A11, and outwardly crest-folded along a crest folding line B11, B11 in parallel with the trough folding line A11, A11, then is trough-folded and crest-folded along a trough folding line and a crest folding line orthogonal to the trough folding line A11 and the crest folding line B11, respectively. The air bag 1 can be folded in a small and substantially quadrangle by repeating the folding steps discussed above.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for folding an airbag of an airbag device incorporated in a steering wheel or the like of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in Japanese Patent No. 2823608, a conventional airbag in an airbag device is folded from above and below along two reference lines parallel to a center line and has a predetermined width. After forming, both sides divided by a second reference line orthogonal to the center line,
By folding each along a line inclined with respect to the second reference line and finally forming a substantially trapezoidal shape, a desired directivity is imparted to the initial deployment direction of the airbag.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method of folding an airbag which can be uniformly deployed by blowing gas.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a method of folding an airbag according to the present invention described in claim 1 is as follows.
In a flat, substantially circular airbag in which a gas suction port is formed on the lower surface side, while avoiding the gas suction port, on the upper surface side, alternately in a direction substantially orthogonal to each other, from both sides,
After each folding inward in the opposite direction, further folding is repeated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of folding an airbag according to the present invention, wherein a gas suction port is formed on a lower surface of a flat, substantially circular airbag while avoiding the gas suction port. On the upper surface side, four corners that are substantially orthogonal to each other are folded toward the center, and then the four corners that are substantially orthogonal to the four corners are folded toward the center.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for folding an airbag according to the present invention, wherein a flat, substantially circular airbag having a gas suction port formed on a lower surface side is provided while avoiding the gas suction port. On the upper surface side, after being folded inwards in opposite directions from both sides in each of the above-described directions along a direction substantially orthogonal to each other, and further repeating the folding, the four corners located at positions substantially orthogonal to each other Each is folded towards the center.

That is, in a flat, substantially circular airbag having a gas suction port formed on the lower surface side, while avoiding the gas suction port, the airbag is arranged on the upper surface side in a direction substantially orthogonal to each other or along the above-mentioned direction. After partially folding inward, furthermore, they are repeatedly folded, so that the airbag can be easily folded into a small size, while when the gas is blown from the gas inlet, the airbag is It will be possible to deploy uniformly and quickly enough.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described by assigning the same reference numerals to the same parts. FIG. 1 shows a bag-shaped airbag 1 of an airbag device incorporated in a steering wheel or the like of a vehicle.
The airbag 1 has a gas suction port 2 through which gas is blown from a gas generator (not shown) formed in a lower surface portion, and an upper surface portion and a lower surface portion are integrally laminated to form a flat, substantially circular shape.

According to the first embodiment, the airbag 1
As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the position of the gas suction port 2 on the lower surface side is removed, and the center line is formed on the upper surface side while the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion are integrally stacked. At both sides of X, valleys are folded inward along a valley broken line A11 indicated by a dotted line in parallel with the centerline X at a distance of w from the centerline X (folded so that the line A11 is on the inside).
A broken line B11 indicated by a broken line in parallel with the broken line A11 at a distance of w or slightly smaller than w from the broken line A11.
(A line B11 projects outward and is folded outward), resulting in a partially folded 1-II state as shown in FIG.

Next, the airbag 1 in the 1-II state is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the center line Y is located on both sides of the center line Y orthogonal to the center line X at a distance of w from the center line Y.
In parallel with the valley fold line A12 shown by the dotted line, the valley fold is made inward along the valley fold line A12 shown by the dotted line, and the valley fold line B12 shown by the broken line is parallel to the valley fold line A12 at a distance of w or slightly smaller than w from the valley fold line A12. Then, the fold is outwardly folded along the outside to form a further folded 1-III state as shown in FIG.

Further, the airbag 1 in the 1-III state is
As shown in FIG. 2C, valleys are folded inward along both sides of the center line X at a distance of w from the center line X and in parallel with the center line X along a broken line A13 indicated by a dotted line. At the same time, the valley is bent outward at a distance of w from the valley fold line A13 or at a distance slightly smaller than w along a ridge fold line B13 shown by a broken line in parallel with the valley fold line A13, and partially folded as shown in FIG. 1-IV state.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2D, the airbag 1 in the 1-IV state is provided on both sides of the center line Y at a distance of w from the center line Y and in parallel with the center line Y, The valley is folded inward along the broken line A14 shown by the dotted line,
A broken line B14 indicated by a broken line parallel to the valley broken line A14 at a distance of w or a distance slightly smaller than w from the valley broken line A14.
6, and is folded into a small, substantially rectangular shape as shown in FIG.

That is, after the airbag 1 is folded once along the directions of the center line X and the center line Y orthogonal to each other on the upper surface side, the center line X and the center line Y are further folded.
Are repeatedly folded along the direction of the arrow to form a small, substantially rectangular shape, so that it can be easily incorporated into an airbag device, and the gas intake port 2 on the lower surface side is used for folding the airbag 1 on the upper surface side. Since it is not affected at all, the effect of blowing the gas from the gas generator into the airbag 1 is not impaired.

Moreover, the airbag 1 is folded along the directions of the center line X and the center line Y which are orthogonal to each other, and is further repeatedly folded along the directions of the center line X and the center line Y. , The four sides are folded in a well-balanced manner, so that when the gas is blown into the airbag 1 from the gas generator through the gas inlet 2, the airbag 1 is sufficiently fast and uniformly. The airbag 1 can be deployed in the vehicle compartment, and thus the deployed airbag 1 can reliably and effectively protect the occupants of the vehicle.

According to the second embodiment, the airbag 1
As shown in FIG. 7A, the center line is formed on the upper surface while the upper surface and the lower surface are integrally stacked so that the position of the gas suction port 2 on the lower surface is removed. On both sides of X, valley folds inward along a valley broken line A21 indicated by a dotted line in parallel with the center line X at a distance of w from the center line X, and valley broken lines A21 at a distance s smaller than w from the valley broken line A21. In parallel with FIG. 8, the fold 2 is folded outward along a fold line B21 indicated by a broken line and partially folded as shown in FIG.
-The state is set to II.

Next, the airbag 1 in the 2-II state is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), on both sides of the center line X, at a distance of s from the mountain line B21, respectively, in parallel with the mountain line B21,
The valley is folded inward along the broken line A22 indicated by the dotted line, and is outwardly extended along the broken line B22 indicated by the broken line in parallel with the broken line A22 at a distance of w or slightly smaller than w from the broken line A22. It is folded in a mountain and is in a 2-III state partially folded as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7 (c), the airbag 1 in the 2-III state is positioned on both sides of a center line Y orthogonal to the center line X at a distance of w from the center line Y. In parallel with the line Y, the valley is folded inward along a valley broken line A23 indicated by a dotted line, and the distance or w from the valley broken line A23 is w.
At a slightly smaller distance in parallel to the valley line A23, the hill is outwardly fold along a ridge line B23 indicated by a broken line, and FIG.
As shown in the 2-IV state.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2D, the airbag 1 in the 2-IV state is provided on both sides of the center line X at a distance of w from the center line X and in parallel with the center line X. The valley is folded inward along the broken line A24 indicated by the dotted line,
A broken line B24 indicated by a broken line parallel to the broken line A24 at a distance of w or slightly smaller than w from the broken line A24.
And is folded outward as shown in FIG. 11 to form a folded 2-V state as shown in FIG.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2E, the airbag 1 in the 2-V state is provided on both sides of the center line Y at a distance of w from the center line Y in parallel with the center line Y. The valley is folded inward along the broken line A25 indicated by the dotted line,
A broken line B25 indicated by a broken line parallel to the broken line A25 at a distance of w or slightly smaller than w from the broken line A25.
12, and folded into a small, substantially rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 12 to form a 2-VI state, and the same operational effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

According to the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the airbag 1 in which the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion are integrally laminated to form a flat, substantially circular shape, So that the position of the gas inlet 2 on the side is removed, and on the top side, on both sides of the center line X, at a distance of w from the center line X, in parallel with the center line X, along the valley broken line A31 shown by the dotted line Only the portion is folded inwardly in the valley, and only the upper surface portion is outwardly folded along the broken line B31 shown by the broken line in parallel with the broken line A31 at a distance of w or slightly smaller than w from the broken line A31. As shown in FIG. 14, a partially folded 3-II state is obtained. However, when the valley fold of only the upper surface along the valley fold line A31 and the mountain fold of only the upper surface along the ridge fold line B31, the lower surface is 1 is partially lifted up to the upper surface side, so that FIG. (B) and a portion of the lower surface as shown by hatching in FIG. 14 appearing on the top side.

Next, the airbag 1 in the 3-II state is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 (b), on both sides of a center line Y orthogonal to the center line X, at a distance of w from the center line Y, in parallel with the center line Y, along a valley broken line A32 indicated by a dotted line. Only the portion is folded inwardly in the valley, and only the upper surface portion is outwardly folded along the broken line B32 indicated by the broken line in parallel with the broken line A32 at a distance of w or slightly smaller than w from the broken line A32. 15 is further folded as shown in FIG. 15, but in the case of the valley fold of only the upper surface along the valley line A32 and the mountain fold of only the upper surface along the mountain fold line B32, the periphery of the lower surface is Since the vicinity is further partially lifted to the upper surface side, a part of the lower surface portion appears on the upper surface side as shown by hatching in FIG. 13C and FIG.

Further, the airbag 1 in the 3-III state is
As shown in FIG. 13 (c), on both sides of the center line X, at a distance of w from the center line X, in parallel with the center line X, and along the valley broken line A33 shown by the dotted line, only the upper surface portion goes inward. At the same time as the valley fold line A33, the upper surface is only outwardly fold along the valley fold line B33 indicated by the broken line in parallel with the valley fold line A33 at a distance of w or a distance slightly smaller than w, and FIG. In this case, the part is folded into the 3-IV state, but also at this time, when the valley fold of only the upper part along the valley fold line A33 and the mountain fold of only the upper part along the fold line B33, the lower part of the bottom part is folded. Since the vicinity of the peripheral edge is further partially lifted to the upper surface side, a part of the lower surface portion appears on the upper surface side as shown by hatching in FIGS.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13D, the airbag 1 in the 3-IV state is provided on both sides of the center line Y at a distance of w from the center line Y and in parallel with the center line Y, The upper surface portion and the lower surface portion are integrally valley-folded inward along a valley-folding line A34 indicated by a dotted line, and a dashed line parallel to the valley-folding line A34 at a distance of w or slightly smaller than w from the valley-folding line A34. The upper surface portion and the lower surface portion are integrally mountain-folded outward along the mountain fold line B34 shown in FIG. 17 to form a 3-V state folded into a small, substantially rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 17, which is equivalent to each of the above embodiments. The effect of the invention can be obtained.

According to the fourth embodiment, the airbag 1
As shown in FIG. 18 (a), the position of the gas suction port 2 on the lower surface side is removed, and the airbag is kept on the upper surface side while the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion are integrally stacked. 19 along the dotted line A41 of a dotted line connecting the periphery of 1 with a square, as shown by arrows in FIG. 19, the valleys are folded from the four sides toward the center, respectively, and the outer shape is folded into a quadrilateral surrounded by the respective broken lines A41. State.

Next, the airbag 1 in the 4-II state is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8 (b), along a dotted valley broken line A42 connecting the centers of the respective sides of the rectangle,
The four corners outside each valley line A42 are shown in FIG.
4-III folded into a valley to the center side as indicated by the arrow at 0 and the outer shape is folded into a square surrounded by each valley line A42.
State.

Further, the airbag 1 in the 4-III state is
As shown in FIG. 18C, along the dotted valley broken lines A43 connecting the centers of the respective sides of the square of the outer shape, the four corners outside the valley broken lines A43 are indicated by arrows in FIG. 4 is folded to the center side and the outer shape is folded into a square surrounded by each valley broken line A43.
By setting the state to the -IV state and repeating the above-described operation as necessary, the outer shape of the airbag 1 is further reduced, and the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

According to the fifth embodiment, the airbag 1 is
As shown in FIG. 22 (a), the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion are integrally laminated so that the position of the gas suction port 2 on the lower surface side is removed, and the four portions on the upper surface side Then, on both sides of the center line X, the valleys are bent inward at right angles along the valley broken lines A51 indicated by dotted lines in parallel with the center line X at a distance of w from the center line X, and the valley broken lines A51 to w Valley line A at a distance or a distance slightly smaller than w
A center line Y is bent outward at a right angle along each broken line B51 indicated by a broken line in parallel with 51 and a center line Y orthogonal to the center line X.
On both sides of the valley line A52 at a distance of w from the center line Y and at a distance of w from the valley line A52 at a distance of w from the valley line A52, in parallel with the center line Y at a distance of w from the valley line A52. At a small distance in parallel with the valley fold line A52, at right angles outward along the ridge fold lines B52 indicated by broken lines, and, at the center, appropriately valley folds along the valley break lines A53 indicated by dotted lines. At the same time, it is appropriately mountain-folded along each mountain-folding line B53 shown by a broken line, and the state is changed to a partially-folded 5-II state as shown in FIG.

Then, each of the folds is completely folded and folded so as to be entirely flat,
The airbag 1 is in a partially folded 5-III state as shown in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG. 22 (b), the airbag 1 in the 5-III state is parallel to the center line X at a distance of w from the center line X on both sides of the center line X. The four fan-shaped portions are appropriately valley-folded inward along each valley broken line A54 shown by the dotted line, and are indicated by broken lines in parallel with the valley broken line A54 at a distance of w or slightly smaller than w from the valley broken line A54. Four-sided fan-shaped portions are appropriately folded outward along each mountain-folding line B54, and each valley-folding line A55 indicated by a dotted line on both sides of the centerline Y at a distance of w from the centerline Y and in parallel with the centerline Y. The four fan-shaped portions are appropriately valley-folded inward along, and at a distance of w from the valley broken line A55 or a distance slightly smaller than w in parallel with the valley broken line A55,
Four-sided fan-shaped portions are appropriately folded outward along respective broken line B55 indicated by broken lines, and valleys are appropriately folded along respective broken line A56 indicated by dotted lines in the central portion, and each peak indicated by broken lines is As a result of being appropriately mountain-folded along the polygonal line B56,
As shown in FIG. 25, a partially folded 5-IV state is set.

Then, each of the folds is completely folded and folded so as to be entirely flat,
The airbag 1 is brought into a 5-V state folded into an outer shape as shown in FIGS. 22 (c) and 25.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 22C, the airbag 1 in the 5-V state is valley-folded inward along a quadrangular dotted valley line A57, and is also rectangular. 26 is folded outward along a broken-line mountain-folding line B57 and folded into a small, substantially square shape as shown in FIG.
By setting the state to the VI state, it is possible to achieve the same operation and effect as those of the above embodiments.

The size of the folding widths w and s in each of the above embodiments can be appropriately or arbitrarily selected according to the size of the airbag to be folded. Needless to say, the folding widths having different sizes can be appropriately or arbitrarily selected.

[0033]

According to the method of folding an airbag according to the present invention, in a flat, substantially circular airbag having a gas suction port formed on the lower surface side, while avoiding the gas suction port,
On the upper surface side, after partially folding the airbag inward in a direction substantially orthogonal to each other or along the above-mentioned direction, furthermore, since the folding is repeated,
The airbag can be easily folded into a small size,
When gas is blown in from the gas inlet, the airbag can be deployed quickly enough and evenly,
The occupants and the like of the vehicle can be protected reliably and effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an airbag used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a step-by-step explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a step-by-step explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a step-by-step explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a step-by-step explanatory diagram of the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 22 is an exploded view according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a step-by-step explanatory view of the fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 air bag 2 gas inlet A valley fold line B mountain fold line

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Ryoji Nakahama 5-33-8 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo Mitsubishi Motors Corporation F-term (reference) 3D054 AA13 CC29 FF13 FF20

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A flat, substantially circular airbag having a gas suction port formed on a lower surface side and alternately in a direction substantially orthogonal to each other on the upper surface side while avoiding the gas suction port. A method of folding an airbag in which after folding inward in the opposite direction, the folding is repeated. 2. A flat, substantially circular airbag having a gas suction port formed on a lower surface side, wherein four substantially mutually orthogonal corners are folded toward the center on the upper surface side while avoiding the gas suction port. Then, a method of folding an airbag in which four corners substantially orthogonal to the four corners are folded toward the center. 3. In a flat, substantially circular airbag having a gas suction port formed on a lower surface side, the upper surface side of each of the flattened airbags extends along a direction substantially orthogonal to each other while avoiding the gas suction port. A method of folding an airbag in which, after being folded inward in opposite directions from both sides, further folding is repeated, and then the four corners located at substantially orthogonal positions are respectively folded toward the center.