JP2001163160A - Air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To certainly apply an occupant's head protective function by preventing the upper end of a center pillar garnish from jumping into a cabin during inflation and development of the air bag, in an air bag device in which an air bag develops like a curtain. SOLUTION: A body is provided with a guide bracket 12 for guiding the air bag 5 so that it does not enter into the inside of the center pillar garnish 11 but develops on the cabin side during the inflation and development of the air bag 5, an engaging claw 15 is suspended from the guide bracket 12, and an engaged part 16 engaged with the engaging claw 15 is disposed in the center pillar garnish 11 to prevent the upper end of the center pillar garnish 11 from jumping into the car room.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device for protecting an occupant from an impact at the time of a collision of an automobile, and more particularly to an occupant by inflating and deploying an airbag along a side window glass in a curtain shape at an impact from a side. The present invention relates to an airbag device for protecting the head of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An airbag apparatus for protecting an occupant's head by inflating and deploying an airbag along a side window glass in a curtain shape upon impact from the side of a vehicle body is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-10-138858. Kaihei 11-91490
No. 6,009,036.

[0003] Further, in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-91490, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the upper end of the center pillar garnish is contacted with or caught by the airbag, thereby inhibiting smooth and rapid inflation. In order to prevent the air bag from inflating, a guide bracket for guiding an inflation and deployment direction of the airbag is provided on the body.

[0004] One example of this type of airbag device is as follows.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 21 denotes an airbag device which inflates and deploys in a curtain shape along the side window glass when an impact is applied from the side. The roof side rail 2 extends from the front pillar portion 22 to the center pillar portion 23.
The airbag 25 includes an airbag 25 disposed along the airbag 4 and an inflator 26 for blowing gas into the airbag 25 when required. The airbag 25 is attached to the roof side rail 24 by fastening and fixing both ends of the holding ribbon 27 to the roof side rail 24 with bolts 28 by wrapping the holding ribbons 27 at appropriate intervals in an elongated and folded state. In the center pillar portion 23, when the airbag 25 is inflated and deployed, the airbag 25 is moved to the center pillar garnish 29.
A guide bracket 30 that regulates the expansion and deployment direction so as not to contact the upper end of the roof side rail is fastened and fixed to the roof side rail 24 by a bolt 31. The center pillar garnish 29 is a pillar inner panel 3
A mounting bracket 32 protrudes toward 3 and is fixed by a grommet 34. Reference numeral 35 denotes a roof head lining that forms the ceiling surface of the passenger compartment.

In the above-described configuration, when a large impact is applied from the side, a sensor (not shown) detects the impact, and the inflator 26 is actuated so that gas is ejected into the airbag 25. 8, the holding ribbon 27 is broken and expanded from the folded state shown by the solid line, and is expanded in a curtain shape along the side window glass as shown by the imaginary line to protect the occupant's head. Further, when the airbag 25 is inflated and deployed, the lower end of the roof head lining 35 is bent toward the passenger compartment side and swells toward the passenger compartment as shown by a white arrow in FIG. 2
Also in 3, the vehicle is guided by the guide bracket 30 so as not to enter the inside of the center pillar garnish 29, but to bulge out of the upper end thereof into the vehicle interior, and to expand in the shape of a curtain as described above. Protect the department.

[0006]

However, in the above configuration, the upper edge of the center pillar garnish 29 covers the lower end of the roof head lining 35 from the vehicle interior side, and the roof is inflated when the airbag 25 is inflated. When the lower end of the head lining 35 is bent toward the passenger compartment, it is necessary to get over the upper edge of the center pillar garnish 29.
Excessive force acts on the upper end of the vehicle toward the interior of the vehicle, and the mounting portion of the center pillar garnish 29 may come off as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. In addition, there is a problem that the airbag 25 may be caught on the protruding center pillar garnish 29 or may enter the inside of the garnish 29 so that the airbag 25 may not be properly inflated and deployed, and the head protection function of the occupant may not be reliably exhibited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention does not cause the upper end of the center pillar garnish to jump out into the passenger compartment when the airbag is inflated and deployed, and the airbag is not caught. It is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag device that can be used in a vehicle.

[0008]

An airbag device according to the present invention has an airbag disposed at least along a center pillar portion, and inflates the airbag in a curtain shape to protect an occupant's head. A device, wherein a guide bracket is provided on the body to guide the airbag into the vehicle compartment side without entering the center pillar garnish when the airbag is inflated and deployed, and the upper end of the center pillar garnish is provided in the vehicle interior. A means for preventing the airbag from jumping out of the vehicle is provided with a center pillar garnish when the airbag inflates toward the cabin while the lower end of the roof head lining is bent toward the cabin when the airbag is inflated and deployed. The upper end of the center pillar garnish jumps out of the vehicle interior even if excessive force acts on the upper end of the vehicle toward the interior of the vehicle. The airbag can be reliably prevented from being caught in the protruding center pillar garnish or entering the inside of the center pillar garnish and not properly inflating and deploying, and reliably exhibiting the occupant's head protection function Can be.

Further, when the engaging claw is hung down from the guide bracket and an engaged portion of the engaging claw is provided at the upper end of the center pillar garnish, the upper end of the center pillar garnish can be protruded into the vehicle compartment from the guide bracket. The above effects can be obtained with a lightweight and inexpensive configuration by using the guide bracket.

Further, if the engaging claw is not normally engaged with the engaged portion, and the guide bracket is deformed and engaged by the inflation pressure of the airbag when the airbag is inflated and deployed,
There is no need to engage or disengage the engaging claw with the engaged part when assembling or replacing the center pillar garnish, so workability during assembling or replacing is good, and the airbag At the time of expansion and deployment, the above effect can be obtained by engaging the engaging claw with the engaged portion.

In addition, when the engaging claw is engaged with the engaged portion in the state where the center pillar garnish is mounted, the above-mentioned effect can be reliably obtained, and at the same time, it functions as the mounting means for the center pillar garnish and the roof head lining The butting terminal with the lower end can be neatly finished.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the airbag device of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes an airbag device which inflates and deploys in the form of a curtain along a side window glass when an impact is applied from a side, and a roof side rail 4 extending from a front pillar portion 2 to a center pillar portion 3. , And an inflator 6 for blowing gas into the airbag 5 when required.

As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the airbag 5 is wound around the holding ribbons 7 at appropriate intervals in an elongated and folded state, and is inserted into a clamp 8 in which both ends of the holding ribbon 7 are bent in an inverted U-shape. In this state, the clamp 8 is fastened and fixed to a nut 9a fixed to the roof side rail 4 with bolts 9. 10
Is a roof head lining that forms the ceiling surface of the vehicle compartment, and the airbag 5 is disposed at the lower end of the space between the roof head lining 10 and the roof side rail 4.

In the center pillar section 3, FIGS.
As shown in detail in FIG. 5, when the airbag 5 is inflated and deployed, the deployment direction of the airbag 5 is adjusted so that the airbag 5 does not contact the upper end portion of the center pillar garnish 11 or enter the interior thereof. A regulating bracket 12 is provided, and bolt holes 13 formed at both ends thereof are provided.
The bolt 13 inserted into the roof side rail 4 is fastened and fixed to a nut 13b fixed to the roof side rail 4. The center pillar garnish 11 is mounted with a mounting bracket (not shown) protruding at an appropriate position on the back surface fixed to a pillar inner panel 14 with a grommet or the like.

An engaging claw 15 hangs down from the center of the leading edge of the guide bracket 12, and an engaging hole 17 into which the engaging claw 15 can be fitted is formed on the back surface of the upper end of the center pillar garnish 11. The formed engaged portion 16 is protruded. The engaged portion 16 includes an upper surface portion 16a having an engaging hole 17 and reinforcing ribs 16b on both sides thereof. 4 and 6A, the engaging claw 15 does not engage with the engaged portion 16, and the inflation pressure of the airbag 5 when the airbag 5 is inflated and deployed during normal operation.
As shown in FIG. 6B, when the guide bracket 12 is deformed downward, the engaging claw 15 is fitted into the engaging hole 17 and engages with the engaged portion 16, and the upper end of the center pillar garnish 11 is It is configured to prevent jumping into the vehicle interior.

A portion of the lower end of the roof head lining 10 corresponding to the engaged portion 16 is provided with the engaged portion 1.
A relief opening 10a is formed to avoid interference with the opening 6.

In the above configuration, when a large impact is applied from the side, it is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the inflator 6 is actuated so that gas is ejected into the airbag 5 and the airbag 5 is moved. In FIG. 1, the holding ribbon 7 is broken and expanded from the folded state shown by the solid line, and is expanded like a curtain along the side window glass as shown by the imaginary line to protect the occupant's head.

When the airbag 5 is inflated and deployed,
As shown in FIG. 6B from the state shown in FIG. 6A, the lower end of the roof head lining 10 is bent toward the passenger compartment side and swells toward the passenger compartment. By being guided by the guide bracket 12, it does not enter the inside of the center pillar garnish 11 but swells over the upper end thereof and bulges toward the vehicle interior, and is developed in a curtain shape as described above to protect the head of the occupant. I do.

Further, when the airbag 5 is inflated toward the passenger compartment while the lower end of the roof head lining 10 is bent toward the passenger compartment as described above when the airbag 5 is inflated and deployed, the center pillar garnish 11 In some cases, excessive force acts on the upper end of the vehicle toward the interior of the vehicle.
As shown in (b), the guide bracket 12 is deformed downward, and the engaging claw 15 hanging downward from the tip thereof is engaged with the engaged portion 16 provided at the upper end of the center pillar garnish 11.
The upper end of the center pillar garnish 11 does not jump out into the vehicle cabin by being fitted into the engagement hole 17 of the airbag 5. Therefore, the airbag 5 is caught on the upper end of the center pillar garnish 11 from which the airbag 5 has jumped out. It is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the vehicle does not enter the space and cannot be properly inflated and deployed, so that the occupant's head protection function can be reliably exhibited.

Also, the engaging claws 15 are attached to the guide bracket 12.
Is provided and the guide bracket 12 is used, so that the above effects can be obtained with a lightweight and inexpensive configuration. In addition, the engaging claw 15 does not normally engage with the engaged portion 16, and the guide bracket 12 is deformed and engaged by the inflation pressure of the airbag 5 when the airbag 5 is inflated and deployed. There is no need to engage or disengage the engaging claw 15 with the engaged portion 16 when assembling or replacing the center pillar garnish 11, so that the assembling and replacement can be performed with good workability. it can.

Next, another embodiment of the airbag device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the engaging claw 15 is not normally engaged with the engaged portion 16, but in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1
The engagement claw 18 hanging down from the second member 2 extends long downward, and a guide inclined portion 18a inclined toward the outside of the vehicle compartment is formed at the lower end thereof. The engaged portion 16 protruding from the upper end of the center pillar garnish 11 is
It is arranged so as to be located above the lower end of the engaging claw 18. Thus, by pressing the upper end of the center pillar garnish 11 toward the outside of the vehicle compartment as shown by the arrow when the center pillar garnish 11 is mounted, the engaging claw 18 is As shown in FIG. 7 (b), it is fitted over and engaged with the engaging hole 17 of the engaged portion as it goes over the distal end of the engaged portion 16 while being deformed.

According to the above configuration, the protrusion of the upper end of the center pillar garnish 11 into the vehicle interior is performed by the engaging claw 18 of the guide bracket 12 and the engaged portion 16 of the upper end of the center pillar garnish 11. The upper end of the center pillar garnish 11 protrudes into the vehicle compartment when the airbag 5 is inflated and deployed, similarly to the above-described embodiment, and the airbag 5 is caught or inside. It is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the vehicle does not enter the vehicle and not properly inflated and deployed, and the occupant's head protection function can be reliably exhibited.

Further, the engagement between the engaging claw 18 and the engaged portion 16 functions as a means for attaching the center pillar garnish 11, and a terminal for abutment with the lower end of the roof head lining 10 can be finished beautifully. it can.

[0026]

According to the airbag device of the present invention, the means for preventing the upper end portion of the center pillar garnish from jumping into the vehicle compartment when the airbag is inflated and deployed as described above is provided. Such a situation that the center pillar garnish is caught by the center pillar garnish or enters the inside of the center pillar garnish and is not properly inflated and deployed can be reliably prevented, and the occupant's head protection function can be reliably exhibited.

The engaging claw is suspended from a guide bracket that guides the airbag so as to be deployed toward the vehicle compartment without entering the center pillar garnish, and the engaging claw is engaged with the upper end of the center pillar garnish. By providing the joint portion, the upper end of the center pillar garnish can be reliably prevented from protruding into the vehicle interior with the guide bracket, and the above effect can be obtained with a lightweight and inexpensive configuration by using the guide bracket. be able to.

Further, if the engaging claw is not normally engaged with the engaged portion, and the guide bracket is deformed and engaged by the inflation pressure of the airbag when the airbag is inflated and deployed,
There is no need to engage or disengage the engaging claw with the engaged part when assembling or replacing the center pillar garnish, so workability during assembling or replacing is good, and the airbag At the time of expansion and deployment, the above effect can be obtained by engaging the engaging claw with the engaged portion.

Further, when the engaging claw is engaged with the engaged portion in a state where the center pillar garnish is mounted, the above-mentioned effect can be surely obtained, and at the same time, it functions as a mounting means of the center pillar garnish, and the roof head lining The butting terminal with the lower end can be neatly finished.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an overall schematic configuration of an embodiment of an airbag device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of upper ends of a guide bracket and a center pillar garnish in the embodiment.

6A and 6B are views showing an operation in the embodiment, in which FIG. 6A is a vertical side view of a main part in a normal state, and FIG. 6B is a vertical side view of a main part when an airbag is inflated and deployed.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show another embodiment of the airbag device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 7A is a vertical sectional side view of a main part in a process of assembling a center pillar garnish, and FIG. It is a side view.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the overall schematic configuration of a conventional airbag device.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional side view of a main part showing a state at the time of operation in the conventional example.

[Description of Signs] 1 Airbag device 3 Center pillar portion 5 Airbag 11 Center pillar garnish 12 Guide bracket 15 Engagement claw 16 Engagement portion 18 Engagement claw

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An airbag device, wherein an airbag is provided along at least a center pillar portion, and inflates the airbag in a curtain shape to protect an occupant's head. A guide bracket is provided on the body for guiding the bag so as to be unfolded into the vehicle interior without entering the center pillar garnish, and a means for preventing the upper end of the center pillar garnish from jumping into the vehicle interior is provided. Characteristic airbag device. 2. An engaging claw is suspended from the guide bracket,
2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein an engaged portion of the engaging claw is provided at an upper end portion of the center pillar garnish. 3. The engaging claw does not normally engage with the engaged portion,
3. The airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the guide bracket is deformed and engaged by the inflation pressure of the airbag when the airbag is inflated and deployed. 4. The airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the engaging claw is engaged with the engaged portion while the center pillar garnish is mounted.