JP2001354102A - Head part protective air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a part of an air bag from getting on an upper surface of a headrest in the middle of inflating and unfolding in a head part protective air bag device. SOLUTION: In this head part protective air bag device for protecting a head part of an occupant by inflating and unfolding the air bag 11 housed along a roof side rail 21 in a curtain shape along a cabin side wall by gas supplied from an inflator, when swelling the air bag 11, a tail end part 31a of a roof head lining 31 for engaging with an upper end part 33a of an intermediate pillar garnish 33 can abut to a side surface Sa2 of the headrest Sa in a seat (a front seat) arranged in response to an intermediate pillar 23 by releasing the engagement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head protection airbag device mounted on a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one type of head protection airbag device of this type, an airbag housed along a roof side rail is inflated and deployed in a curtain shape along a vehicle cabin side wall by gas supplied from an inflator. Some are designed to protect the occupant's head. For example, British Patent Publication No. 2
No. 326385. In the head protection airbag device disclosed in the above-mentioned specification, the airbag that expands and deploys in a curtain shape along the side wall of the vehicle compartment has front and rear sides of an intermediate pillar (a center pillar also called a B pillar). It is configured to cover both the door and the rear side door.

[0003]

When the above-mentioned conventional head protection airbag device is applied to a vehicle as shown in FIG. 6, when the vehicle hits or rolls over, the B-pillar 1 is moved to the position shown in FIG. As shown in (1), when the vehicle enters the interior of the vehicle cabin, the B-pillar garnish 2 attached to the B-pillar 1 and the roof head lining 3 engaged with the B-pillar also invade and deform, and the front seat 4 It approaches the headrest 4a. For this reason, a part 5a of the airbag 5 rides on the upper surface of the headrest 4a during the inflation and deployment, and when the inflation and deployment of the airbag 5 is completed, the lower end of the airbag 5 has a regular head protection area (see the dashed line in FIG. 6). ) May not be reached (not expanded).

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an airbag which is housed along a roof side rail and is inflated and deployed in a curtain shape along a side wall of a passenger compartment by gas supplied from an inflator. In the head protection airbag device designed to protect the occupant's head, when the airbag is inflated, the terminal portion of the roof head lining that engages with the upper end of the intermediate pillar garnish disengages. The present invention is characterized in that it can be brought into contact with the side surface of the headrest of the seat provided corresponding to the intermediate pillar.

Further, according to the present invention, the airbag stored along the roof side rail is inflated and deployed in the form of a curtain along the side wall of the passenger compartment by the gas supplied from the inflator to protect the head of the occupant. In the head protection airbag device, at the time of inflation and deployment of the airbag, an inflation chamber substantially corresponding to the intermediate pillar is provided in the airbag independently of the other inflation chambers, and a portion where the independent inflation chamber is provided is provided. It is characterized in that it can be separated and deformed to other parts (the invention according to claim 2).

[0006]

In the head protection airbag device according to the present invention, the airbag is normally stored along the roof side rail in a folded state in the event of a side collision or rollover of the vehicle. In such a case, gas is supplied from an inflator into the airbag, and the airbag is inflated and deployed in a curtain shape along the side wall of the vehicle compartment. On this occasion,
In the airbag, the gas supplied from the inflator causes the inflatable portion to inflate and deploy toward a head protection inflation area located on the side of the occupant's head.

The present invention (the invention according to claim 1)
In the early stage of the inflation and deployment of the airbag, the roof head lining is pushed inward by the airbag and deformed, so that the end of the roof head lining is disengaged from the upper end of the intermediate pillar garnish. It can contact the side of the headrest. As a result, the airbag is guided by the roof head lining and does not ride on the upper surface of the headrest during inflation and deployment, and can be inflated and deployed to the regular head protection area through the space between the side wall of the cabin and the occupant's head. Therefore, the head of the occupant can be properly protected.

On the other hand, in the present invention (the invention according to claim 2), even if a part of the airbag (a portion provided with an independent inflation chamber) rides on the upper surface of the headrest during inflation and deployment, the same applies. The part is deformed separately from other parts.
As a result, other parts of the airbag (parts other than the part where the independent inflation chambers are provided) can be appropriately deployed toward the regular head protection area, and the occupant's head can be properly protected. .

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a head protection airbag device 10 according to the present invention.
In the first embodiment, the head-protecting airbag device 10 is inflated and deployed in a curtain shape along the side wall of the vehicle compartment, and the front seat (seat provided corresponding to the B pillar 23) S
Airbag 11 that protects the head Hf of the occupant H1 seated on the vehicle and the head Hr of the occupant H2 seated on the rear seat (not shown).
And an inflator 12 for supplying gas to the airbag 11.

The airbag 11 is formed by applying a coating for maintaining airtightness to a base cloth (woven fabric). As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag 11 has front and rear seats sandwiching a central non-inflating portion 11a. It has an inflatable portion 11b for the rear and an inflatable portion 11c for the rear seat, and has a gas introduction portion 11d in an upper rear portion. Further, the airbag 11 has a non-inflated portion 11e in the front and a plurality of mounting pieces 11f at the upper edge.

The front seat inflatable portion 11b protects the head Hf of the front seat occupant H1 from the side during inflation and deployment, and includes four expansion chambers 11b1, 11b2, 11 extending vertically.
b3, 11b4 and each of these expansion chambers 11b1 to 11b4
Communicating with the upper end of each expansion chamber 11b5 and each expansion chamber 1
Lower communication path 11b for communicating the lower ends of 1b1 to 11b4
6 at the rear end of the upper communication passage 11b5, which communicates with the gas inlet 11d through the gas communication passage 11g.

The rear-seat inflating portion 11c protects the head Hr of the rear-seat occupant H2 from the side during inflation and deployment, and includes three expansion chambers 11c1, 11c2, 11 extending vertically.
c3 and a lower communication passage 11c4 that communicates the lower ends of the respective expansion chambers 11c1 to 11c3.
The upper end of the front expansion chamber 11c1 communicates with the gas inlet 11d through the gas communication passage 11g.

The airbag 11 having the above-described structure is provided with
At 1f, it is assembled to the roof side rail 21 and the A-pillar (front pillar) 22 of the vehicle body using bolts 41 and nuts. Further, the A-pillar 22 is provided in a state in which the airbag 11 is folded so as to be deployable by bellows folding.
The A-pillar garnish 32 which is stored along the roof side rail 21 and the C pillar (quarter pillar) 24 and whose lower edge is elastically deformable, the peripheral edge of the roof head lining 31 which is elastically deformable, and elastically deformable C pillar garnish 34.

The inflator 12 is for injecting and supplying gas toward the airbag 11 in the event of a side collision or rollover of the vehicle, and is disposed inclining along the C pillar 24, and is provided with a bracket and a bracket. Bolts (both not shown)
The front end of the airbag 11 is airtightly fitted into the gas introduction portion 11d of the airbag 11. Further, the inflator 12 is connected to the airbag 11.
And the C-pillar garnish 34 together with the rear end of the gas introduction section 11d.

By the way, in the first embodiment,
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front seat S provided with a parting L between the roof head lining 31 and the B pillar garnish 33 corresponding to the B pillar (center pillar) 23.
The lower end portion 31a of the roof head lining 31 (the upper end of the B pillar garnish 33) when the airbag 11 is inflated as shown by the phantom line in FIG. Part 33a
) Can be brought into contact with the side surface Sa2 of the headrest Sa. Note that even if the above-mentioned parting L is set above the upper surface Sa1 of the headrest Sa, the terminal part 31a of the roof head lining 31 is disengaged from the upper end part 33a of the B pillar garnish 33 and deforms obliquely downward. What is necessary is just to be able to contact the side surface Sa2 of the headrest Sa.

In the head protection airbag device 10 of the first embodiment configured as described above, the airbag 11 is normally in a state in which the entire airbag 11 is folded by bellows as shown in FIG. A pillar 22 and roof side rail 2
1 and are stored along the C pillar 24 and are covered by the A pillar garnish 32, the peripheral edge of the roof head lining 31, and the C pillar garnish 34.

In the event of a side collision or rollover of the vehicle, gas is blown out of the inflator 12 and this gas is folded through the gas introduction portion 11d of the airbag 11 and stored in the airbag 11 stored therein. When supplied, the airbag 11 is connected to the roof head lining 31 and A
Corresponding portions of the pillar garnish 32 and the C pillar garnish 34 are deformed toward the vehicle interior and deployed downward, and expanded and deployed in a curtain shape along the side wall in the vehicle interior as shown by the phantom line in FIG. . At this time, the airbag 1
1, the inflatable portions 11b and 11c are connected to the occupants H1 and H
The second heads Hf and Hr are inflated and deployed toward the head protection expansion area located on the side.

Incidentally, in the first embodiment,
At the initial stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 11, the roof head lining 31 is pushed by the airbag 11 toward the room and deformed, so that the terminal portion 31 a is disengaged from the upper end 33 a of the B pillar garnish 33. It can abut on the side surface Sa2 of the headrest Sa. As a result, the airbag 11 is guided by the roof head lining 31 and does not ride on the upper surface Sa1 of the headrest Sa during the inflation and deployment, and passes through the headspace Hf between the side wall of the passenger compartment and the head Hf of the front passenger H1. The head Hf of the front occupant H1 can be properly protected by being inflatable and deployable in the part protection area (see the phantom line in FIG. 1). This operation can be similarly obtained when the B pillar 23 is deformed and enters the interior of the vehicle at the time of side collision or rollover of the vehicle.

4 and 5 show a head protection airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the front seat inflatable portion 11 of the airbag 11 is provided.
b, the rearmost expansion chamber 11b4 (the expansion chamber substantially corresponding to the B pillar 23 at the time of expansion and deployment) is the other expansion chamber 11b.
1, 11b2, and 11b3 are provided independently in the front-rear direction, and communicate with the upper communication path 11b5 at the upper end.

The airbag 11 has slits 11h and 11i extending to the lower end before and after the portion where the rearmost inflation chamber 11b4 is provided in the front inflation portion 11b, respectively. 11b4 is provided at another site (other expansion chambers 11b1, 11b2, 1).
1b3 and the central non-expandable portion 11a).

For this reason, in the second embodiment,
As shown by phantom lines in FIG.
Of the headrest Sa on the upper surface Sa1 of the headrest Sa during the inflation and deployment, the part is separated and deformed from other parts. As a result, other portions of the airbag 11 (the inflation chamber 11b4
The part other than the part provided with) is the side wall of the cabin and the front seat occupant H1.
The head Hf of the front seat occupant H1 can be properly protected by properly developing toward the regular head protection area (see the virtual line in FIG. 4) between the heads Hf. At the time of normal deployment, the terminals separated front and rear by the slits 11h and 11i are partially heat-welded or connected to each other by a hook-and-loop fastener so that tension in the front-back direction acts on the airbag 11. Is preferred.

In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to a vehicle having B pillars (intermediate pillars) adjacent to the front seat with two front and rear seats, but close to the first row seat with three front and rear seats. The invention can likewise be implemented in vehicles with B pillars (front middle pillars) and with C pillars (rear middle pillars) close to the second row seats.
In this case, the configuration provided for the B pillar portion in each of the above embodiments needs to be provided and implemented for the B pillar portion and the C pillar portion. In addition, tests have shown that when the headrest is located sufficiently below, the possibility that a part of the airbag will ride on the upper surface of the headrest during inflation and deployment is small. For this reason, the positional relationship may be such that the roof headlining terminal can abut on the side surface of the headrest with at least the headrest adjusted to the uppermost position.

In the second embodiment, the slits 11 are formed in the airbag 11 before and after the portion where the rearmost inflation chamber 11b4 is provided in the front inflation portion 11b.
h, 11i, the portion where the rearmost expansion chamber 11b4 is provided can be separated and deformed with respect to other portions. For example, instead of the slits 11h, 11i, the portion can be broken at perforations. By doing so, the rearmost expansion chamber 11b
It is also possible to implement such that the part provided with 4 can be separated and deformed with respect to other parts.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a head protection airbag device according to the present invention.
It is a side view showing the embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a state where the airbag shown in FIG. 1 is not inflated and deployed.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the head protection airbag device according to the present invention.
It is a side view showing the embodiment.

5 is a side view showing a state where the airbag shown in FIG. 4 is not inflated and deployed.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing an embodiment of a conventional head protection airbag device.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6 when the B pillar is deformed and enters the interior of the vehicle cabin.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Head protection airbag device, 11 ... Airbag, 1
1a: Central non-expandable portion, 11b: Front seat inflatable portion, 11b1
11b4 ... expansion chamber, 11c ... rear seat expansion section, 11d ...
Gas introduction part, 11e: front non-expandable part, 11f: mounting piece,
11g: gas communication path, 11h, 11i: slit, H1
... Front seat occupant, Hf ... Head of front seat occupant, 12 ... Inflator, 21 ... Roof side rail, 22 ... A pillar, 23
... B (middle) pillar, 24 ... C pillar, 31 ... Roof head lining, 31a ... Terminal, 32 ... A pillar garnish, 33 ... B (middle) pillar garnish, 33
a: Upper end, 34: C pillar garnish, L: Parting between roof head lining and B pillar garnish,
S: front seat (seat), Sa: headrest, Sa1: upper surface of headrest, Sa2: side surface of headrest.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A head protection air in which an airbag stored along a roof side rail is inflated and deployed in a curtain shape along a side wall of a vehicle compartment by gas supplied from an inflator to protect an occupant's head. In the bag device, when the airbag is inflated, a terminal portion of a roof head lining that engages with an upper end portion of an intermediate pillar garnish is disengaged and a side surface of a headrest in a seat provided corresponding to the intermediate pillar. A head protection airbag device characterized in that it can be brought into contact with the airbag. 2. A head protection air in which an airbag stored along a roof side rail is inflated and deployed in a curtain shape along a side wall of a vehicle compartment by gas supplied from an inflator to protect an occupant's head. In the bag device, at the time of inflation and deployment of the airbag, an inflation chamber substantially corresponding to an intermediate pillar is provided in the airbag independently of the other inflation chambers, and a portion provided with the independent inflation chamber corresponds to another portion. A head protection airbag device characterized in that it can be separated and deformed.