JP2002154400A - Storage structure of air bag body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make an air bag body smoothly and quickly deployable without hooking to a top ceiling, when a side impact load of prescribed level or more acts in a car body. SOLUTION: This air bag body 6 deployed in a curtain shape astride at least a pillar and a window is provided in a closed space between a roof inner panel 20 and a top ceiling 12, a groove-shaped hinge part 22 flexing an extension piece part 12b by an expansion pressure of the air bag sack unit 6 is provided in the extension piece part 12b provided in the car width direction end of the top ceiling 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head of an occupant by injecting gas from an inflator when a high load acts on a vehicle body side and inflating an airbag bag into a curtain shape at least over a pillar and a window. The present invention relates to a storage structure of an airbag bag that protects a part.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a heavy load exceeding a predetermined level is applied to a side portion of a vehicle body, an airbag bag folded and stored in, for example, a side rail portion is deployed in a curtain shape along a window glass, and thereby a seat is mounted on a seat. Various airbag devices have been proposed for protecting the head of an occupant.

FIG. 4 shows an example of installation of this airbag device. In this airbag device, a sensor 3 that is provided at a base of a center pillar (B pillar) 2 of a vehicle body 1 and detects a side collision load, an inflator 4 that receives a side collision load exceeding a predetermined level and blows out gas, An airbag bag 6 that is folded in a predetermined shape near the roof side rail 5 and that can be deployed in a curtain shape by the gas ejection pressure is a main component. The inflator 4 is provided in the vicinity of a connection between the front pillar (A pillar) and the instrument panel 7.

FIG. 5 shows a structure for storing the airbag body. The B pillar 2 includes a pillar inner panel 8 inside a window, a pillar outer panel 9 outside a vehicle cabin, a pillar inner panel 8 and a pillar outer panel 9.
It has a closed cross-sectional structure by the pillar reinforcement 10 sandwiched therebetween.

The pillar inner panel 8 of the B pillar 2
A resin B pillar garnish 11 is disposed inside the window. The upper end of the B pillar 2 is connected to a roof panel via a roof rail (not shown), and a top ceiling 12 as a roof head lining is provided below the roof panel. A terminal portion 12 a of the top ceiling 12 in the vehicle width direction is bent in a hook shape, and the terminal portion 12 a is locked to the upper end portion of the B pillar garnish 11 outside the passenger compartment. The airbag bag 6 is housed in a case 13 installed between the pillar inner panel 8 and the B pillar garnish 11.

In such a conventional airbag storage structure, when a side impact load exceeding a predetermined level acts on the side of the vehicle body, this is detected by the sensor 3. For this reason,
When the inflator 4 is actuated, a predetermined amount of gas is ejected, whereby the airbag 6 starts to inflate. At the inflation pressure at that time, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The parts 13a, 13b are opened at the portions as shown in the figure.

For this reason, the inflated airbag body 6 is expanded in a curtain shape below the roof side rail 5 while pushing and opening the end portion 12a of the top ceiling 12 as shown by a two-dot chain line. Thereby, the airbag bag 6
Is interposed between the side of the vehicle body and the occupant's head to protect the head.

The airbag bag 6 is disposed over the predetermined length in the vicinity of the roof side rail 5 as described above, and the top sealing 1 is a top ceiling.
2, the top sealing 12 is different in length in the vehicle width direction between a portion having a pillar garnish such as the B pillar garnish 11 and a portion having no pillar garnish.

[0009] In particular, wagon vehicles are compared with sedan vehicles, etc.
There is a portion where the length of the top ceiling 12 in the vehicle width direction is longer than other portions. FIG. 6 conceptually shows the arrangement of pillars of the wagon vehicle, and FIG. 7 shows the roof head lining 12 of the wagon vehicle in a partially broken shape. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 14 denotes an A pillar, 15 denotes a B pillar, 16 denotes a C pillar, and 17 denotes a D pillar, between which a front window W1 and a side window W2 are arranged.

At the portions corresponding to these A pillars 14, B pillars 15, C pillars 16 and D pillars 17, the length in the vehicle width direction of the top ceiling 12 as a roof head lining is shown in FIG. For example, K
It is shorter by the width. That is, in these pillar-corresponding portions, both ends of the top ceiling 12 in the vehicle width direction are concave portions 18. In particular, on the rear side of the vehicle body with respect to the C pillar 16, the length of the top ceiling 12 in the vehicle width direction is an extended piece portion 12 b protruding further by L width than the portion excluding the concave portion 18.

FIG. 8 shows an airbag storage structure near the top ceiling 12 having such an extension piece 12b.
Here, the airbag bag 6 is interposed between the top ceiling 12 and the roof inner panel 20 with the airbag bag 6 stored in the case 13. Further, both ends of the extension portion 12b in the vehicle width direction of the top ceiling 12 are abutted against a weather strip 19 attached to a window opening edge of the roof inner panel 20. Note that 12
c is a bent portion of the extension piece 12b, and 21 is a window glass. The airbag body 6 is housed in a closed space between the top ceiling 12 and the roof inner panel 20.

[0012]

However, in such an airbag storage structure in a wagon or the like,
Since the top sealing 12 having the extension piece 12b extends long below the vehicle cabin wall, the airbag body 6 is in contact with the extension piece 12b, and the inflation speed is hindered. In some cases, it is not performed smoothly, and it takes a long time to deploy, and it is not possible to quickly protect the head. In addition, the developing airbag bag 6 is caught by the top sealing and does not deploy to the expected shape. There was a problem that sometimes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and has as its object to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks. An object of the present invention is to provide a storage device for an airbag body that can be deployed smoothly and promptly without being caught by the airbag.

[0014]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned object, and its gist is that a curtain-like structure is provided in a closed space between an inner panel and a top sealing at least over a pillar and a window. An airbag bag is provided, and a groove-shaped hinge portion is provided on an extension piece provided at an end of the top ceiling in the vehicle width direction to bend the extension piece by the inflation pressure of the airbag bag. A storage structure of an airbag body characterized by the above.

According to this aspect, when the airbag bag is inflated at the time of detecting the side impact load of the vehicle body, even if the top sealing is relatively long at both ends, the top sealing is moved by the inflating pressure by the grooved hinge portion. The airbag can be easily bent, and the airbag bag can be quickly deployed in a curtain shape from the opening opened by the bending.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an airbag bag which is deployed in a curtain shape over at least a pillar and a window in a closed space between a roof inner panel and a top sealing, and has a vehicle width of the top sealing. An extension piece provided at the direction end is provided with a cleavage groove for cleaving a part of the extension piece by an inflation pressure of the airbag body.

According to this aspect, when the airbag bag is inflated when the side impact load of the vehicle body is detected, the inflation pressure easily divides the top sealing along the cleavage groove even if the top sealing is relatively long at both ends. Therefore, the airbag bag can be quickly deployed in a curtain shape from the divided opening.

Another aspect of the present invention is that an airbag bag is provided in a closed space between an inner panel and a top ceiling so as to be deployed in a curtain shape over at least a pillar and a window. The extension piece portion provided at the end is provided with a step portion forming a thin portion toward the distal end side of the extension piece portion, and the thin portion is bent from the step portion as a starting point by the inflation pressure of the airbag body. A storage structure for an airbag body characterized in that the airbag body is configured to store the airbag.

According to this aspect, when the airbag bag is inflated at the time of detecting the side impact load of the vehicle body, even if the top sealing is relatively long at both ends due to the inflation pressure,
Using this as a starting point (a fulcrum) at the thick step, the thin part can be easily bent. Therefore, the airbag body is directed downward through the opening formed by the bending of the top sealing. Can be quickly deployed in a curtain shape.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a storage structure of an airbag body according to the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 6 denotes an airbag bag, which is installed between a top ceiling 12 as a roof head lining and a roof inner panel 20 while the airbag bag 6 is housed in a case 13. Have been.

In the vicinity of the bent portion 12c on the outer side of the extension portion 12b of the top ceiling 12, a groove-shaped hinge portion 2 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, such as a V-shaped groove, is provided.
2 are formed. A plurality of the groove-shaped hinge portions 22 may be provided as necessary. The same components as those shown in FIG. 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

In such an airbag bag storage structure, when a side impact load of a predetermined level or more acts on the side of the vehicle body, this is detected by the sensor 3 shown in FIG. 4, and the inflator 4 operates. Thus, a predetermined amount of gas is ejected.
For this reason, the airbag bag 6 breaks the deployed portion 13b of the case at the corner thereof by the inflation pressure, and, of the extended piece portion 12b of the top sealing 12, moves the end side from the substantially bent portion 12c to the groove-like hinge portion. At 22, it is lightly pushed open about this groove-shaped hinge portion 22.

In other words, the inflation pressure of the airbag 6 acts to remove the end of the extension piece 12b from the weatherstrip 19 and push it open without a large resistance, thereby delaying the deployment of the airbag 6. It can be done without. At this time, since the end of the extension piece portion 12b moves in a direction to escape from the deployment direction, it is possible to prevent the airbag body 6 from being caught on the top sealing 12 beforehand.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. This is an extension piece portion 12b of the top sealing 12, in which one cleavage groove 23 is provided on the outer surface on the end side from the bent portion 12c. The cleavage groove 23 is provided in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and has a shape and a size that can be easily cleaved by the inflation pressure of the airbag bag 6. Note that the end of the extension piece 12b is abutted against the weather strip 19 and is supported by the end of a step-like connection fitting 24 fixed to the roof inner panel 20.

In such a storage structure of the airbag bag 6, when a side impact load of a predetermined level or more is applied to the side of the vehicle body, the inflator 4 is actuated in the same manner as described above to release a predetermined amount of gas. It is injected into the bag 6. For this reason,
The airbag body 6 is inflated, the case 13 is broken by the inflation pressure, the deployed portion 13b is opened, and a part of the extension piece 12b is pushed out by the cleavage groove 23 in the top sealing 12 in the direction of the arrow.

For this reason, the airbag bag 6 bulges downward in a curtain shape from the elongated hole that has been pushed out and opened, and this protects the occupant's head. In this case, the depth and shape of the cleavage groove 23 are determined by the inflation pressure of the airbag body 6, the material and thickness of the top sealing 12, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention. This is provided on the outer surface of the extension piece portion 12b of the top ceiling 12 at a position corresponding to the bent portion 12c, and a thick step portion 25 is provided.
The extension piece 12b is formed as a thin part 12d toward the end of "b". Therefore, the thin portion 12
d is less rigid than other parts of the extension piece 12b.

In such a storage structure of the airbag 6, when a side impact load is applied to the side of the vehicle body as described above,
By injecting a predetermined amount of gas from the inflator 4 into the airbag 6, the airbag 6 can be inflated. Then, the case 13 is broken by this inflation pressure, the developed portion 13b is opened, and the thin portion 12d on the end side of the top sealing 12 is turned in the direction of the arrow around the step 25, which is the support starting point of the thin portion. Push open to move. At this time, the end of the thin portion 12 d is removed from the weather strip 19.

As a result, the airbag bag 6 bulges downward from the pushed-open gap (elongated hole) into a curtain shape, which is quickly interposed between the side of the vehicle body and the head of the occupant. As a result, the head can be protected from the impact due to the side collision.

Although specific embodiments and embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the embodiments can be modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the case 13 for storing the airbag bag 6 is not always necessary, and any means can be adopted as long as the airbag bag 6 can be stably held in a folded state. Further, the installation position of the inflator 4 can be any location other than the front portion of the vehicle body where gas supply to the airbag bag 6 is easy.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, an airbag bag is provided in a closed space between a roof inner panel and a top ceiling so as to be deployed in a curtain shape over at least a pillar and a window. A side impact load of a predetermined level or more is applied to the vehicle body by adopting a mode in which a groove-shaped hinge portion that bends the extension piece by the inflation pressure of the airbag body is provided on the extension piece provided at the width direction end. When the grooved hinge portion acts, the extended piece portion is quickly bent so that the airbag body can be smoothly and quickly developed into a curtain shape without being caught on the top sealing. Play.

Further, the present invention employs a mode in which a portion of the extension piece is provided with a cleavage groove for allowing the extension piece to be cleaved by the inflation pressure of the airbag bag body. With the airbag bag, the extension piece can be quickly divided by the cleavage groove, and the airbag bag can be quickly and smoothly turned downward by using the opening formed in the divided portion of the cleavage groove. It has a remarkable effect that it can be developed in a curtain shape.

In the present invention, the extension piece is provided with a step portion forming a thin portion toward the tip thereof, and the thin portion can be bent from the step portion by the inflation pressure of the airbag body. The thin portion is easily and quickly bendable or rotatable with the step portion as a starting point, and the airbag body is moved from the opening thus opened to the thin portion end. It has a remarkable effect that it can be smoothly and downwardly deployed in a curtain shape without being caught on the surface.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part showing a storage structure of an airbag body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a storage structure of an airbag body according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part showing a storage structure of an airbag body according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation side of a conventional airbag bag body in a vehicle body.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional airbag bag storage structure.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a pillar arrangement of a general wagon vehicle.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged development view showing the shape of the roof head lining of the wagon vehicle in FIG.

8 is a cross-sectional view showing a storage structure of an airbag body near a roof head lining having an extension piece in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Body 6 Airbag bag 12 Top sealing 12b Extension piece 12d Thin part 14-17 Pillar W1, W2 Window 20 Roof inner panel 22 Groove-shaped hinge part 23 Cleaving groove 25 Step part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An airbag bag which is deployed in a curtain shape over at least a pillar and a window in a closed space between a roof inner panel and a top ceiling, and is provided at an end of the top ceiling in a vehicle width direction. A storage structure for an airbag bag, wherein a groove-shaped hinge portion for bending the extension piece portion by the inflation pressure of the airbag bag body is provided in the one portion. 2. A closed space between the roof inner panel and the top ceiling, which has an airbag bag which is deployed in a curtain shape over at least a pillar and a window, and is provided at an end of the top ceiling in a vehicle width direction. A storage structure for an airbag bag, wherein a cleavage groove is provided in one of the portions to cleave a part of the extension piece by the inflation pressure of the airbag bag. 3. An extension provided in a closed space between the roof inner panel and the top ceiling, the air bag body being deployed in a curtain shape over at least a pillar and a window, and an extension provided at an end in the vehicle width direction of the top ceiling. A step portion for forming a thin portion toward the tip end side of the extension piece portion is provided on the one portion, and the thin portion is bent starting from the step portion by the inflation pressure of the airbag body. A storage structure for an airbag bag.