JP2002079905A - Air bag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To properly protect an occupant regardless of physical constitution of the occupant. SOLUTION: This air bag device is provided with an air bag body 3 for protecting the occupant by expanding toward the occupant side inside a vehicle compartment due to pressure gas. The air bag body 3 is provided with an internal pressure adjusting means 16 which comprises: an exhaust port 12 for exhausting the pressure gas inside the air bag body 3: an exhaust restraining mechanism 13 for restraining exhaust from the exhaust port 12 by approaching/ separating in a direction outside a surface of the air bag body 3; and a physical constitution responding mechanism 15 which operates the exhaust restraining mechanism 13 by cutting a cut part 14 when an internal pressure of the air bag body 3 exceeds a predetermined value by abutting of the occupant against the air bag body 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle airbag device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 18, an airbag device provided on a passenger seat side has a housing provided inside an instrument panel 1 or the like when an impact force of a predetermined value or more is applied to a vehicle body. The airbag body 3, which is folded and housed, is swelled toward the occupant side 5 by the supply of the pressurized gas from the inflator 4, receives the occupant sitting at a predetermined position, and
To protect them from collision.

[0003]

Further, a vent hole 6 is formed in the airbag body 3, and the vent hole 6 is used by an occupant to inflate and deploy the airbag body 3 which is supplied with a pressurized gas. When the occupant comes in contact with the occupant, the pressure gas in the airbag body 3 is exhausted by utilizing the increase in the internal pressure of the airbag body 3 to reduce the impact on the occupant.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 7 denotes a windshield of a vehicle.

[0005]

However, in the conventional airbag device for a vehicle, the vent hole 6 of the airbag body 3 is set to a predetermined diameter based on an occupant of an average physique. In the case of an occupant other than the occupant, there is a problem that the impact mitigation form is different from that of an occupant having an average physique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle airbag device which solves the above-mentioned problems and can appropriately protect an occupant regardless of the physique of the occupant.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle having an airbag body which is inflated by a pressurized gas toward an occupant in a passenger compartment to protect the occupant. In the airbag device, an exhaust hole that exhausts the pressurized gas in the airbag body, an exhaust restriction mechanism that restricts exhaust from the exhaust hole by moving close to and away from the airbag body in an out-of-plane direction, An internal pressure adjusting means comprising: a physique-responsive mechanism that activates the exhaust restriction mechanism by cutting the cutting portion when the internal pressure of the airbag main body becomes higher than a predetermined value by the occupant abutting on the airbag main body. It is characterized by being provided on the airbag body.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, if the internal pressure of the airbag body does not become higher than a predetermined value when the occupant contacts the airbag body, the exhaust restriction mechanism is not operated. Therefore, the air in the airbag body is exhausted from the exhaust hole, and the gas pressure level in the airbag body is reduced. Thereby, a small occupant can be softly restrained by a small internal pressure. Conversely, when the occupant abuts on the airbag body and the internal pressure of the airbag body becomes higher than a predetermined value, the cut portion of the physique response mechanism is cut off and the exhaust restriction mechanism is operated to restrict the exhaust from the exhaust holes. And maintain the gas pressure level of the airbag body. Since the force received from the occupant is added to this, the occupant having a large physique can be firmly restrained by a large internal pressure. As described above, appropriate protection can be performed on the spot in response to the physique of the occupant.

In the invention described in claim 2, the exhaust restricting mechanism closes the exhaust hole from outside and has a slack with respect to the airbag main body, and is attached to the airbag main body with a slack. It is composed of an air-permeable inner cloth that closes the exhaust hole from the inside and has a slack with respect to the airbag body, and the physique response mechanism is folded and folded so as to substantially eliminate the slack of the inner cloth. It is characterized by comprising a superposed portion and the cutting portion sewn to cut the superposed portion with a predetermined force.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the exhaust from the airbag body is performed in the order of the air-permeable inner cloth, the exhaust hole, and the air-permeable outer cloth. If the internal pressure of the airbag body does not become higher than the predetermined value when the occupant abuts on the airbag body, the outer cloth bulges outward by the amount of the slack, and is separated from the inner cloth, which has been slackened by the overlap folding. Therefore, the exhaust is smoothly performed without the eyes of the inner cloth and the outer cloth being closed with each other. Conversely, when the occupant abuts on the airbag body and the internal pressure of the airbag body becomes higher than a predetermined value, the sewing of the cut portion is cut, and the inner cloth bulges outward by the amount of the slack and closely adheres to the outer cloth. Therefore, the inner cloth and the outer cloth close each other's eyes to restrict the exhaust. As described above, the function of performing appropriate protection in response to the occupant's physique on the spot is achieved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the exhaust restricting mechanism is constituted by a stretchable cloth body which covers the exhaust hole from the inside and has one opening in the circumferential direction and is attached thereto. Wherein the physique response mechanism comprises a band-shaped member mounted in the airbag body so as to open the opening of the cloth body, and a cutting portion for releasing a force for opening the opening of the band-shaped material. It is characterized by that.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the exhaust from the airbag body is performed through the opening of the cloth body and the exhaust hole. If the internal pressure of the airbag main body does not become higher than the predetermined value when the occupant abuts on the airbag main body, the belt-like material opens the opening of the elastic cloth, so that the exhaust is performed smoothly.
On the other hand, when the internal pressure of the airbag body becomes higher than a predetermined value when the occupant abuts on the airbag body, the cut portion is cut to release the binding force of the band-shaped material, and the elastic cloth body closes the opening. Because it closes, exhaust is restricted. From the above,
The function of providing appropriate protection in response to the occupant's physique on the spot is achieved.

[0013]

First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same or equivalent parts as those in the above-described conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

First, the structure will be described. In the first embodiment, the airbag body 3 is mainly applied to the base cloth 11 of the airbag body 3 by the force received from the occupant after the deployment.
An exhaust hole 12 for exhausting the internal pressure gas is provided. Even if this exhaust hole 12 is provided separately from the conventional vent hole 6,
The function of the conventional vent hole 6 may be shared.

The exhaust hole 12 is provided with an exhaust restricting mechanism 13 for restricting exhaust from the exhaust hole 12 by moving toward and away from the airbag body 3 in a direction outside the plane.

Further, when the occupant comes into contact with the airbag body 3 and the internal pressure of the airbag body 3 becomes higher than a predetermined value, the cutting section 14 is cut off, and the body size response mechanism 15 for operating the exhaust restriction mechanism 13 is provided. Provide.

The exhaust hole 12, the exhaust restricting mechanism 13, and the physique responding mechanism 15 constitute an internal pressure adjusting means 16.
The airbag body 3 to be applied may be any.

Specifically, the exhaust restricting mechanism 13 is formed by closing the exhaust hole 12 from the outside and having a slack 21 with respect to the airbag body 3 and attached to the airbag body 3 by sewing (sewing line 22). It comprises a cloth 23 and an air-permeable inner cloth 25 having a slack 24 with respect to the airbag body 3 and attached by sewing (sewing line 22) while closing the exhaust hole 12 from the inside.

In FIG. 1, the outer cloth 23 and the inner cloth 25 are attached to the bag body 3 by the same sewing line 22.
It is good also as a separate sewing line. However, the same sewing line 22
In this case, the time and effort for sewing can be reduced. The direction of the eyes of the outer cloth 23 and the inner cloth 25 is shown in FIG.
3 and may be parallel as shown in FIG. However, when the eyes are crossed, the airflow resistance when the outer cloth 23 and the inner cloth 25 overlap can be further increased. Further, the air permeability of the outer cloth 23 and the air permeability of the inner cloth 25 may be different or the same. However, by setting the air permeability of the outer cloth 23 and the air permeability of the inner cloth 25 to different levels, the range of selection of the air flow resistance when the outer cloth 23 and the inner cloth 25 overlap can be expanded. . Outer cloth 23
The slack 21 and the slack 24 of the inner cloth 25 are set to substantially the same amount, or the slack 24 of the inner cloth 25 is made larger.

Further, the physique response mechanism 15 is overlapped and folded so that the slack 24 of the inner cloth 25 is substantially eliminated (see reference numeral 28), and sewing (so-called fuse) is performed so that the overlapped portion 29 is cut with a predetermined force. And a cutting portion 14 formed by sewing lines 30) by sewing.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

When an occupant abuts on the inflated airbag body 3, the airbag body 3 receives a small force from a small-sized (light-weight) occupant and a force received from a large-sized (heavy-weight) occupant. Becomes larger.

If the internal pressure of the airbag body 3 does not become higher than a predetermined value when the occupant comes into contact with the airbag body 3, the exhaust restriction mechanism 13 is not operated, so that the airbag body 3 receives mainly from the occupant. Due to the force, the air inside the airbag body 3 from the exhaust hole 12 is smoothly exhausted, and the gas pressure level by the pressurized gas is reduced. Thus, an occupant having a small physical size (light weight) can be softly restrained by a small internal pressure.

Conversely, if the internal pressure of the airbag body 3 becomes higher than a predetermined value when the occupant contacts the airbag body 3, the cutting section 14 of the physique response mechanism 15 is cut off and the exhaust restriction mechanism 13 is operated. , The exhaust from the exhaust hole 12 is restricted, and the gas pressure level by the pressurized gas is maintained. Since the force received from the occupant is added to this, an occupant with a large physical size (heavy weight) can be firmly restrained by a large internal pressure.

As described above, appropriate protection can be provided in response to the occupant's physique on the spot.

Since the exhaust restricting mechanism 13 is moved toward and away from the airbag body 3 in a direction out of the plane, the airbag main body 3 can be reliably operated without being affected by the degree of inflation of the airbag body 3.

More specifically, in the early stage when the occupant abuts on the airbag body 3, regardless of whether the occupant is small or large, the air-permeable inner cloth 25, the exhaust hole 12, and the air-permeable outer Exhaust from the airbag body 3 is performed in the order of the cloth 23.

If the internal pressure of the airbag body 3 does not become higher than the predetermined value when the occupant abuts on the airbag body 3 due to the small physique of the occupant (light weight), as shown in FIG. , Exhaust air through the permeable inner cloth 2
5. While passing through the exhaust hole 12 and the air-permeable outer cloth 23, the outer cloth 23 is expanded outward by the amount of the slack 21. Then, the inner cloth 25 and the outer cloth 23, which have been sagged by the overlapping folding (see reference numeral 28), are separated from each other, and a space is formed between the inner cloth 25 and the outer cloth 23. Since the blockage is eliminated and the exhaust resistance is reduced, the exhaust is smoothly performed, and the gas pressure level by the pressurized gas is reduced.

Conversely, when the occupant has a large physique (heavy weight), if the internal pressure of the airbag body 3 becomes higher than a predetermined value when the occupant contacts the airbag body 3,
As shown in FIG. 5, the sewing line 30 of the cutting portion 14 is cut, and the inner cloth 25 bulges outward by the amount of the slack 24 and closely adheres to the outer cloth 23. The exhaust resistance is restricted by closing the eyes and the exhaust resistance is increased, so that the gas pressure level by the pressurized gas is maintained.

As described above, the function of providing appropriate protection in response to the occupant's physique on the spot is reliably achieved.

Further, since the air-permeable inner cloth 25 and the air-permeable outer cloth 23 approach and separate from each other in the out-of-plane direction of the airbag body 3, the exhaust resistance from the exhaust hole 12 is changed. In addition, the internal pressure adjustment amount of the airbag body 3 can be easily set, and a highly reproducible configuration that is not affected by the degree of inflation of the airbag body 3 can be provided.

[0033]

Second Embodiment FIGS. 6 to 13 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The same or equivalent parts as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals.

First, the structure will be described. In the second embodiment, three base cloths (two side cloths 11a and the outer periphery of the two side cloths 11a are connected to each other) as shown in FIG. An example in which the present invention is applied to a three-piece drum type airbag body 3 constituted by the peripheral cloth 11b) or a two-piece drum type airbag body 3 constituted by two base cloths 11 as shown in FIG. 7 will be described. I do. The airbag body 3 has an occupant abutment portion 36 on a side substantially opposite to the pressure gas inlet 35.

Then, a pair of exhaust holes 12 are formed on both left and right sides with reference to the position of the occupant of the airbag body 3.

Each exhaust hole 12 is covered with an elastic cloth 37 from the inside, and the cloth 37 has one opening 38 in the circumferential direction and is sewn around the exhaust hole 12 (sewing line 39). )
To form a pocket-shaped exhaust restriction mechanism 13.

Further, a band 40 is mounted in the airbag body 3 so that the opening 38 of the cloth body 37 is opened when the occupant is in contact with the airbag body 3, and the band 40 is cut with a predetermined force. Then, a cutting portion 14 such as a slit 41 is provided so as to release a force for opening the opening 38 to form a physique response mechanism 15.

Specifically, in the case of FIG. 8, the distance 4 between the left and right openings 38 when the occupant is in contact with the airbag body 3.
The belt-shaped material 40 having a dimension 43 shorter than 2 is
Between the openings 38 by sewing (sewing line 44). The attachment position of the cloth body 37 to the opening 38 is preferably near the center of the opening 38.

The slit 41 is formed in the middle of the strip 40 or the like so as to cover substantially the entire width of the strip 40. Even if two slits 41 are provided as shown in FIG.
Although the number of slits may be three or more as shown in FIG. 10, the slits 41 are formed by lapping and shifting the corresponding ends.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

In the early stage when the occupant abuts on the airbag body 3, regardless of the occupant's physical size, as shown in FIG. 8, through the opening 38 of the cloth body 37 and the exhaust hole 12. Then, the air is exhausted from the airbag body 3 (the state of the point A in FIG. 13).

If the internal pressure of the airbag body 3 does not become higher than a predetermined value when the occupant abuts on the airbag body 3 due to the small physique of the occupant (light weight), it is shown in FIG. As described above, since the band-shaped material 40 deforms the elastic cloth body 37 to open the opening 38, the exhaust mainly by the force received from the occupant is smoothly performed from the exhaust hole 12, and the gas pressure level by the pressurized gas is reduced. Can be lowered (Fig. 1
(State of point b in 3).

On the other hand, if the occupant has a large physique (heavy weight) and the internal pressure of the airbag body 3 becomes higher than a predetermined value when the occupant comes into contact with the airbag body 3,
As shown in FIG. 12, the airbag body 3 temporarily spreads to the side and the opening 38 opens greatly (the state of the point C in FIG. 13). At this time, as shown in FIG. Since a force greater than the set value d at which the cutting portion 14 is cut acts on the band-shaped material 4, the band-shaped material 40 is cut at the cutting portion 14.
0 is released, the deformation of the elastic cloth 37 is restored, and the opening 38 is closed, so that the exhaust from the exhaust hole 12 is restricted, and the gas pressure level by the pressurized gas is maintained.

As described above, the function of performing appropriate protection in response to the physique of the occupant on the spot is surely achieved.

Further, by using the stretchable cloth body 37, it is possible to restrict the exhaust from the exhaust holes 12 without giving an adverse effect such as deformation of the airbag body 3. Then, the stretchable cloth body 37 is made into a pocket shape, and the stretchable cloth body 37 is moved close to and away from the airbag body 3 in the out-of-plane direction to change the opening amount of the pocket opening 38. Therefore, the internal pressure adjustment amount of the airbag body 3 can be easily set, and a highly reproducible configuration that is not affected by the degree of inflation of the airbag body 3 can be achieved.

The other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment.
, And the same operation and effect can be obtained.

[0047]

[Modification] FIG. 14 shows a first modification of the second embodiment, in which the cut portion 14 of the band-shaped material 40 is overlapped with the overlapping portion 45 obtained by folding the band-shaped material 40, and the overlapping portion 45 is pressed by a predetermined force. A sewing line 46 formed by so-called fuse sewing that is sewn so as to be cut.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a second modification of the second embodiment, in which a small hole 47 smaller than the exhaust hole 12 is formed at a portion where the belt-shaped material 40 and the elastic cloth 37 are attached. Thus, even after the opening 38 is closed, the air is gently exhausted from the small holes 47 so that the adjustment of the internal pressure of the airbag body 3 is continued.

FIG. 17 shows a third modification of the second embodiment, in which an exhaust restricting mechanism 13 is applied to an exhaust hole 12 formed on one side of the airbag body 3. In this case, the length dimension 43 of the strip 40 is determined by the distance between the opening 38 when the occupant is in contact with the airbag body 3 and the sewing position of the other end of the strip 40 on the airbag body 3. 4
Try to keep it shorter than 8.

In this case, the same operation and effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

[0051]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the internal pressure of the airbag body does not become higher than the predetermined value when the occupant abuts on the airbag body, the exhaust restriction mechanism is provided. Since it is not activated, the exhaust in the airbag body is performed through the exhaust hole, and the gas pressure level in the airbag body is reduced. Thereby, a small occupant can be softly restrained by a small internal pressure. Conversely, when the occupant abuts on the airbag body and the internal pressure of the airbag body becomes higher than a predetermined value, the cut portion of the physique response mechanism is cut off and the exhaust restriction mechanism is activated to restrict the exhaust from the exhaust holes. And maintain the gas pressure level of the airbag body. Since the force received from the occupant is added to this, the occupant having a large physique can be firmly restrained by a large internal pressure. As described above, appropriate protection can be performed on the spot in response to the physique of the occupant.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the exhaust from the airbag body is performed in the order of the permeable inner cloth, the exhaust hole, and the permeable outer cloth. If the internal pressure of the airbag body does not become higher than a predetermined value when the occupant comes into contact with the airbag body, the outer cloth bulges outward by the amount of the slack, and is separated from the inner cloth, which has been loosened by the overlap folding. Therefore, the exhaust is smoothly performed without the eyes of the inner cloth and the outer cloth being closed with each other. Conversely, when the occupant abuts on the airbag body and the internal pressure of the airbag body becomes higher than a predetermined value, the sewing of the cut portion is cut, and the inner cloth bulges outward by the amount of the slack and closely adheres to the outer cloth. Therefore, the inner cloth and the outer cloth close each other's eyes to restrict the exhaust. As described above, the function of performing appropriate protection in response to the occupant's physique on the spot is achieved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the exhaust from the airbag body is performed through the opening of the cloth body and the exhaust hole. If the internal pressure of the airbag main body does not become higher than the predetermined value when the occupant abuts on the airbag main body, the belt-like material opens the opening of the elastic cloth, so that the exhaust is performed smoothly. On the other hand, when the internal pressure of the airbag body becomes higher than a predetermined value when the occupant abuts on the airbag body, the cut portion is cut to release the binding force of the band-shaped material, and the elastic cloth body closes the opening. Because it closes, exhaust is restricted. Thus, a practically useful effect that a function of performing appropriate protection in response to the occupant's physique on the spot is achieved can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged side sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state where the eyes of an outer cloth and an inner cloth are crossed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which eyes of an outer cloth and an inner cloth are parallel to each other.

FIG. 4 is an operation diagram according to the first embodiment when a force received from an occupant is small.

FIG. 5 is an operation diagram according to the first embodiment when a force received from an occupant is large.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an airbag body to which Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another airbag body to which Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a stretchable cloth body part of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing another example of the cutting section.

FIG. 11 is an operation diagram when a force received from an occupant according to the second embodiment is small.

FIG. 12 is an operation diagram according to the second embodiment when a force received from an occupant is large.

FIG. 13 is a graph showing the relationship between the force acting on the strip and the opening amount of the opening.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a cutting section according to a first modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 9 according to a second modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 8, according to a third modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a side view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Airbag Main Body 12 Exhaust Hole 13 Exhaust Restriction Mechanism 14 Cutting Section 15 Physics Response Mechanism 16 Internal Pressure Adjusting Means 21 Slack 23 Outer Cloth 24 Slack 25 Inner Cloth 29 Overlapping Section 37 Cloth 38 Opening 40 Belt

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An airbag device for a vehicle, comprising an airbag body that protects an occupant by swelling toward an occupant in a vehicle cabin by a pressurized gas, wherein: an exhaust hole for exhausting the pressurized gas in the airbag body; An exhaust restricting mechanism for restricting exhaust from the exhaust hole by moving toward and away from the bag body in an out-of-plane direction, and an internal pressure of the airbag body being higher than a predetermined value by an occupant contacting the airbag body. An airbag device for a vehicle, further comprising an internal pressure adjusting means provided in the airbag main body, the internal pressure adjusting means having a physique response mechanism for operating the exhaust restriction mechanism by cutting the cutting portion. 2. An air-permeable outer cloth, said exhaust restricting mechanism closing said exhaust hole from outside and being attached to said airbag body with a slack, said exhaust restricting mechanism closing said exhaust hole from inside, and An air-permeable inner cloth attached to the airbag body with a slack, wherein the physique-responsive mechanism overlaps and folds the overlap so as to substantially eliminate the slack of the inner cloth; and The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising: the cutting portion sewn so as to be cut by a predetermined force. 3. The exhaust restricting mechanism comprises an elastic cloth body which covers the exhaust hole from the inside and has one opening in a circumferential direction and is attached thereto. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a band-shaped member attached to the airbag body so as to open the opening of the cloth body; and a cutting unit configured to release a force for opening the opening of the band-shaped material. 2. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1.