JP2002036997A - Air bag device for side collision - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely form an aperture for extending an air bag by surely pushing open the terminals of the front and rear covering materials which cover a side surface of a seat back with expanding pressure in an air bag device for side collision. SOLUTION: An air bag module is arranged in a side part of a seat bag, and a contact part 25 of the front part covering material 23 with the rear part covering material 24 which covers the side surface of the seat back is connected with a slide type fastener 41. At the time of collision of the vehicle, the fastener 41 is opened with expansion pressure of an air bag 5, and the air bag 5 is extended inside a cabin from an aperture which is formed by the result. This can form the aperture at stable timing and surely extend the air bag 5 by adopting the fastener 41 comparing with one which forms the aperture by braking a sewed part of the front part covering material 23 with the rear part covering material 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a side collision airbag device for restraining an occupant by deploying an airbag into a vehicle interior from the side of a seat back with high-pressure gas generated by an inflator at the time of a side collision of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such an air bag apparatus for side collision is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-78758. In this airbag device, an airbag case containing a folded airbag is arranged on a side portion of a seatback, and a sewing portion for sewing a skin of a seat by the pressure of an airbag inflating at the time of a collision of a vehicle is broken and opened. Is formed, and the airbag is deployed into the vehicle interior through the opening.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional device, the sewing thread of the skin is broken by the pressure of the inflating airbag to form an opening, so that the strength of the sewing thread varies and the sewing thread is sewn. The timing of breakage varies due to the variation of the airbag, making it difficult to stably form an opening for deploying the airbag, which may hinder smooth deployment of the airbag.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in an airbag device for side collision, the terminals of the covering material before and after covering the side surface of the seatback are reliably pushed open by the pressure at which the airbag inflates, An object is to reliably form an opening for deploying an airbag.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a folded airbag is disposed on a side portion of a seat back, and air which inflates when a vehicle collides. An opening is formed between a front covering material and a rear covering material that covers a side surface of a seat back by pressure of a bag, and a front covering material and a rear part are provided in a side collision airbag apparatus that deploys an airbag into a vehicle interior through the opening. A side collision airbag device is proposed in which the covering material is joined by a slide-type fastener, and the fastener is opened by the pressure of an inflating airbag to form the opening.

[0006] According to the above construction, the front covering material and the rear covering material that cover the side surfaces of the seat back are joined by the slide fastener, and the fastener is opened by the pressure of the inflating airbag to deploy the airbag. Since the opening is formed, the opening can be formed at a more stable timing and the airbag can be reliably deployed as compared with the case where the opening is formed by breaking the sewn portions of the front covering material and the rear covering material.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
In addition to the configuration of the first aspect, there is proposed a side collision airbag device including a load transmitting member for transmitting the pressure of the inflating airbag to the fastener.

According to the above configuration, the pressure of the inflating airbag is transmitted to the fastener via the load transmitting member, so that the fastener of the airbag can be more reliably opened to form the opening.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
In addition to the configuration of claim 1 or claim 2, there is proposed a side collision airbag device characterized in that the fastener is covered with either the front covering material or the rear covering material.

According to the above configuration, since the fastener is covered with either the front covering material or the rear covering material, the fastener can be made invisible from the outside and the appearance can be improved.

The second coating 23 of the embodiment corresponds to the front coating of the present invention, and the third coating 24 of the embodiment corresponds to the rear coating of the present invention. The first and second webbings 4 of the embodiment
6, 47 correspond to the load transmitting member of the present invention.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat provided with an airbag device for side collision, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. And FIG. 3 is FIG.
FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 3-3, FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 in FIG.
Is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory view when the airbag is deployed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a seat S for a driver of an automobile includes a seat cushion 1 disposed substantially horizontally.
And a seat back 2 extending rearward and upward from a rear end of the seat cushion 1, and a headrest 3 provided at an upper end of the seat back 2. An airbag module M housed in a module case 4 is disposed inside the right side of the seat back 2.
The airbag 5 opens the module case 4 and operates diagonally forward so as to block between the right side of the occupant seated on the seat S and the left side of the right front door 6 (see FIG. 6).

As is apparent from the cross section of the seat back 2 shown in FIG. 2, a plate-shaped seat frame 12 is fixed to a pipe-shaped seat frame 11 extending vertically along the right side of the seat back 2. The airbag module M is provided with bolts 14 on the right side surface of the plate-shaped seat frame 12.
14 and nuts 15 and 15. A spring 16 is stretched on the inner periphery of the pipe-shaped seat frame 11, and a shape-retaining material 17 made of a coarse blanket and a pad 18 made of a sponge are arranged from the front surface of the spring 16 to the periphery of the module case 4. .

The central portion of the front surface of the seat back 2 is covered with a first covering material 22, and the right and left sides of the first covering material 22 to the front side of the seat back 2 are sewn to the first covering material 22 by sewing portions 20. The second backing material 23 is sewn in the second backing material 23, and a portion from the rear side to the back surface of the seat back 2 is covered by the third backing material 24 connected to the second backing material 23 at the joint 25. First to third coating materials 22, 23,
Numeral 24 has substantially the same structure, and includes wadding covers 22a, 23a, 24a on the inner side and waddings 22b, 23 each formed of a thin sponge integrally joined to the outer surface of the wadding covers 22a, 23a, 24a.
b, 24b and a trim cover 2 made of leather or cloth superposed on the outer surfaces of the wadings 22b, 23b, 24b.
2c, 23c and 24c. However, only the first coating material 22 has the wading 22b divided into two layers, and one wadding cover 22a and the heater 26 are further interposed therebetween. On the front surface of the wadding cover 24a of the third covering material 24, a synthetic resin plate 27 for maintaining the form is superimposed.

The second coating material 23 and the third coating material 24
Respectively correspond to the front covering material and the rear covering material of the present invention.

At the sewn portion 20 of the first covering material 22 and the second covering material 23, a hanging bag 28 obtained by folding a band-like material having strength such as tricot into two is sewn integrally. A stainless steel wire 29 is housed inside the hanging bag 28, and the other ends of the plurality of hooks 30.

The joining portions 25 connected to the second coating material 23 and the third coating material 24 are connected to each other by sewing in areas A and B of FIG. 1 and connected by a slide fastener 41 described later in area C. You. Area C is module case 4
And extends further upward and downward than the upper and lower ends of the.

Next, the structure of the airbag module M will be described with reference to FIGS.

The metal retainer 31 includes a main body 31a having a J-shaped cross section and a pair of clamps 31b, 31b extending from one side edge of the main body 31a. A substantially cylindrical inflator 32 filled with a propellant inside is supported by a circular cross section formed by 31b and 31b. Retainer 31
And the inflator 32 is provided with the folded airbag 5.
It is stored so as to be wrapped around the base end. The bolt 1
Reference numerals 4 and 14 denote clamp portions 31b and 31b of the retainer 31,
It is fastened by nuts 34, 34 through the main body 31 a and the side plate 33, and further fastened by nuts 15, 15 through the plate-shaped seat frame 12.

The retainer 31, the side plate 33, the inflator 32, and the folded airbag 5 are accommodated in a module case 4 integrally formed of a synthetic resin. The module case 4 includes a tray-shaped case body 36 that opens toward the right side of the vehicle body, and a lid 37 that is connected to a rear portion of the case body 36 via a hinge portion 38. The five hooks 36a provided on the front edge and the lower edge are engaged with the five hook engagement holes 37a provided on the upper edge, the front edge and the lower edge of the lid 37, so that the opening of the case body 36 is opened. Lid 37 is fixed so as to cover.

Next, based on FIG. 4 and FIG.
The structure of the C region 5 (see FIG. 1) will be described.

In the region C of the joint 25, the second coating material 2
3 and the third covering material 24 are not directly sewn, and the front edge of the trim covering 24c of the third covering material 24 is located outside the rear edges of the wadding cover 23a and the trim cover 23c of the second covering material 23. Overlap in part a of FIG. The structure of the fastener 41 is basically the same as that for a bag or clothing, and includes two cloth tapes 43 and 44 provided with a large number of claw pieces 42 along opposing side edges. And a slider 45 which slides in the longitudinal direction to engage and disengage the claw pieces 42. The two cloth tapes 43 and 44 are not joined at both ends, and the two cloth tapes 43 and 44 can be completely separated in a state where the claws 42 are disengaged.

The cloth tape 43 on the front side of the fastener 41 is sewn on the wadding cover 23a and the trim cover 23c of the second covering material 23, and the cloth tape 44 on the rear side of the fastener 41 is used as the wading cover 24a of the third covering material 24.
Then, sewing S2 is performed on the trim cover 24c. Therefore,
In the region C, the second coating material 23 and the third coating material 24 are connected to each other via the fastener 41. In this state, the rows of the claw pieces 42 of the fastener 41 extend along the front edge of the lid 37.

One end of the first webbing 46 and the second webbing 47 made of a strip of cloth having sufficient strength against a tensile load is placed between the case body 36 of the module case 4 and the sheet frame 12. And is fixed to the lower bolt 14. The first webbing 46 extends obliquely upward along the left side surface and the front surface of the module case 4, and the other end is sewn S3 to the upper end of the cloth tape 43 on the front side of the fastener 41.
The second web 47 extends diagonally upward along the left side, rear side and right side of the module case 4, and the other end is sewn to the upper end of the cloth tape 44 on the rear side of the fastener 41 by sewing S 4.

The first webbing 46 and the second webbing 47 constitute the load transmitting member of the present invention.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration will be described.

When a lateral acceleration equal to or greater than a predetermined value is detected during a side collision of the vehicle, the inflator 32 of the airbag module M is ignited, and the generated high-pressure gas inflates the airbag 5. When the pressure for inflating the airbag 5 acts on the inner surface of the lid 37 of the module case 4, the hook engagement holes 37 a at the front edge of the lid 37
.., the lid 37 rotates rightward with the hinge 38 at the rear edge as a fulcrum. As a result, tension is generated in the second web cloth 47 pressed by the lid 37, and the upper end of the cloth tape 44 on the rear side of the fastener 41 is pulled obliquely downward by this tension. On the other hand, since the cloth tape 43 on the front side of the fastener 41 is restricted by the first webbing 46 and cannot move following the upper end of the cloth tape 44 on the rear side, the front and rear cloth tapes 43 and 44 are separated from each other. . Then, the slider 45 slides downward to disengage the claw pieces 42, so that the fastener 41 is opened to form an opening 48 in the side surface of the seat back 2 as shown in FIG.
The airbag 5 is deployed so as to block between the occupant and the inner surface of the right front door 6.

As described above, the joint 25 between the second coating material 23 and the third coating material 24 on the side surface of the seat back 2
Are connected by a slide fastener 41, and the fastener 41 is opened by the pressure at which the airbag 5 inflates, and the airbag 5 is opened.
Is formed, the opening 48 can be formed at a more stable timing and the airbag 5 can be reliably deployed as compared with the case where the opening 48 is formed by breaking the sewn portion. In particular, the pressure at which the airbag 5 is inflated is applied to the fastener 41 via the first and second webbings 46 and 47.
The fastener 41 can be more reliably opened. Further, since the fastener 41 is covered with the front edge of the third covering material 24 and is not visible from the outside, the fastener 41 does not impair the appearance of the sheet S.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In the first embodiment described above, the opening 48 is formed by sliding the slider 45 of the fastener 41 with the pressure at which the airbag 5 is inflated. In the second embodiment, the fastener in the engaged state is used. 41 are forcibly opened from an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the fastener 41 by the pressure at which the airbag 5 is inflated to form an opening 48. For this purpose, the first webbing 46 and the second webbing 47 are connected to the cloth tapes 43 and 44 at a longitudinally intermediate portion of the fastener 41. Therefore, fastener 4
The first slider 45 (see FIG. 4) is no longer necessary, but there is no particular problem if it is left as it is. Thus, the second book
According to this embodiment, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be achieved.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, various design changes can be made in the present invention without departing from the gist thereof.

For example, the airbag module M of the embodiment
Is housed inside the module case 4, but the present invention can also be applied to an airbag module M having no module case 4. Further, in the embodiment, the side collision airbag device on the driver's seat side is illustrated, but the present invention can also be applied to a side collision airbag device on the passenger seat side.

[0035]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the front covering material and the rear covering material that cover the side surfaces of the seat back are joined by a slide fastener, and the pressure of the inflating airbag is increased. In order to form the opening where the airbag is deployed by opening the zipper, the opening is formed at a stable timing as compared with the case where the opening is formed by breaking the sewing portion of the front covering material and the rear covering material. Thus, the airbag can be reliably deployed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
Since the pressure of the inflating airbag is transmitted to the fastener via the load transmission member, the fastener of the airbag can be more reliably opened to form the opening.

According to the invention described in claim 3,
Since the fastener is covered with either the front covering material or the rear covering material, the fastener can be made invisible from the outside to improve the aesthetic appearance.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat provided with a side collision airbag device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the operation when the airbag is deployed.

FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 4 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 seat back 5 airbag 23 second covering material (front covering material) 24 third covering material (rear covering material) 41 fastener 46 first force cloth (load transmitting member) 47 second force cloth (load transmitting member) 48 Opening

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Ito 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama Prefecture Inside Honda R & D Co., Ltd. (72) Yuichi Saito 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama Inside Honda R & D Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Satoshi Hayashi 1-4-1 Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama Prefecture Inside Honda R & D Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Fumio Umezawa 3-7-27 Sakaemachi, Asaka-shi, Saitama・ S-Tech Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3B087 CD05 3D054 AA21 BB24 FF16 FF20

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A front part in which a folded airbag (5) is arranged on a side part of a seat back (2), and covers a side surface of the seat back (2) by the pressure of the airbag (5) which expands at the time of a vehicle collision. An opening (48) is formed between the covering material (23) and the rear covering material (24), and the airbag (5) is deployed into the passenger compartment through the opening (48). The material (23) and the rear covering material (24) are joined by a slide fastener (41), and the fastener (41) is opened by the pressure of the inflating airbag (5) to form the opening (48). An airbag device for side collision, characterized in that: 2. A load transmitting member (46, 47) for transmitting the pressure of an inflating airbag (5) to a fastener (41).
The side collision airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The fastener (41) is attached to the front covering material (2).
3. The side collision airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is covered with any one of 3) and the rear covering material (24). 4.