JP2002211338A - Air bag device for side surface collision - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an air bag of an air bag device for side surface collision from being hindered in smooth development due to strong rubbing with an internal surface of a door in process of developing the air bag. SOLUTION: An base end of the air bag 5 of the air bag device for side surface collision and a base end of a band-shaped developing guide cloth 42 are overlapped and fixed. The developing guide cloth 42 is folded together with the air bag 5. When the air bag 5 starts to expand and is unfolded, a developing direction of the air bag 5 is deflected to an occupant side (counter- door side) by frictional force F2 applied to the air bag 5 from the developing guide cloth 42 because the developing guide cloth 42 is located so as to be along a side surface on the occupant side of the air bag 5 in process of developing. The air bag 5 is capable of smoothly developing without strongly interfering with the internal surface of the door.

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 from the side of a seat back to the front of a vehicle interior 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 a side collision airbag apparatus is known, for example, from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-152011. The airbag of this airbag device includes a lower chamber that expands forward from a side of a seat back, and an upper chamber that expands upward from an upper end of the lower chamber, and a partition wall that partitions the lower chamber and the upper chamber. Has a structure in which a communication hole is formed. Therefore, the high-pressure gas generated by the inflator at the time of deployment of the airbag flows into the lower chamber first and deploys the lower chamber forward, and then deploys the upper chamber with the high-pressure gas passing through the communication hole from the lower chamber with a delay. This prevents the upper chamber from interfering with the seat belt when the airbag is deployed.

[0003]

By the way, in a side collision airbag apparatus for deploying an airbag into a vehicle cabin through an opening formed by breaking a sewn portion on a side surface of a seat back, the airbag passed through the opening. However, there is a possibility that the airbag is easily rubbed against the inner surface of the door in the course of deployment and smooth deployment is prevented. To prevent this, it is desirable to deflect the airbag passing through the opening of the seat back toward the front of the vehicle body so as not to strongly interfere with the inner surface of the door. Therefore, conventionally, a band-shaped cloth is arranged inside the airbag to control the flow of high-pressure gas generated by the inflator to adjust the deployment direction, or to adjust the deployment shape by the tension of the band-shaped cloth that has been completely expanded by the inflation of the airbag However, there is a problem in that the work of attaching the belt-like cloth to the inside of the airbag is troublesome and causes an increase in cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and prevents an airbag of a side collision airbag apparatus from being strongly rubbed against the inner surface of a door in the course of deployment to prevent smooth deployment. Aim.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a folded airbag is disposed on a side portion of a seat back, and an inflator is generated when a vehicle collides. In a side collision airbag device in which an airbag inflated by high-pressure gas is deployed from the side of the seatback to the front of the vehicle body between the occupant and the door inner surface, the base end is fixed to the seatback and the occupant side of the airbag is fixed. An airbag device for side collision is proposed in which a deployment guide cloth covering the outer surface is provided, and the airbag is folded together with the deployment guide cloth.

According to the above configuration, when the airbag of the side collision airbag apparatus starts to be inflated and is unfolded, the deployment guide cloth is positioned along the occupant side of the airbag during deployment. Because the frictional force acting between the deployment guide cloth and the airbag deflects the deployment direction of the airbag to the occupant side, the airbag strongly rubs against the inner surface of the door, preventing smooth deployment. Can be avoided. Moreover, since the deployment guide cloth is arranged outside the airbag, the assembly cost can be reduced as compared with a case where the deployment guide cloth is incorporated inside the airbag.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
In addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a tip of the deployment guide cloth is a free end that is not fixed to the airbag.

According to the above configuration, since the tip of the deployment guide cloth is a free end and is not fixed to the airbag, the airbag being deployed is deflected by the frictional force received from the deployment guide cloth to deploy the airbag. It can be deployed in a direction approaching the guide cloth.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
In addition to the configuration of the first aspect, a tip of the deployment guide cloth is a fixed end fixed to the airbag, and a side collision airbag device is proposed.

[0010] According to the above configuration, since the leading end of the deployment guide cloth is a fixed end and is fixed to the airbag, the deployment guide cloth is fully extended during the deployment of the airbag and generates tension, thereby causing the deployment. The deployed shape of the airbag for which the above has been completed can be curved toward the fixed end of the deployment guide cloth.

The right front door of the embodiment corresponds to the door 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.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show a first 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. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the operation when the airbag is deployed, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the folding order of the airbag, and FIG. FIG.

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 arranged inside the right side surface of the seat back 2. When the airbag module M is activated, the airbag 5 opens the module case 4 and sits on the seat S. The vehicle is deployed diagonally forward so as to block between the right side of the occupant and the left side of the right front door 6 (see FIG. 4).

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 module case 4 is provided with bolts 14 and 14 on the right side of the plate-shaped seat frame 12.
And nuts 15, 15. A spring 16 is stretched around the inner periphery of the pipe-shaped seat frame 11.
A shape-retaining material 17 made of a coarse blanket and a pad 18 made of a sponge are arranged around the periphery of the box.

A central portion of the front surface of the seat back 2 is covered with a first covering material 22. The second backing material 23 sewn in the second backing material 23, and the third backing material 24 sewn on the second backing material 23 at the sewn portion 25 covers the rear surface of the seat back 2 from the rear side to the back surface. First to third coating materials 22, 23,
24 has substantially the same structure, and includes wadding covers 22a, 23a, 24a on the inner side, and waddings 22b, 23 each composed 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 covering member 22 has the wadding 22b divided into two layers, and one wadding cover 22a and the heater 26 are further interposed therebetween. On the front surface of the wading cover 24a of the third covering material 24, a synthetic resin plate 27 for maintaining the form is superimposed.

At the sewn portions 20 of the first and second covering members 22 and 23, a hanging bag 28 obtained by folding a strip-shaped 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.

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. At this time, the unfolding guide cloth 4 made of a band-like cloth
2 is the base end of the airbag 5 and the side plate 3
The deployment guide cloth 42 is folded together with the airbag 5.

The retainer 31, the side plate 33, the inflator 32, the airbag 5, and the deployment guide cloth 42
Is housed inside 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 connected to the five hook engagement holes 37a provided on the upper edge, the front edge, and the lower edge of the lid 37.
, The lid 37 is fixed so as to cover the opening of the case body 36. Module case 4
Is fixed by sandwiching the case body 36 between the side plate 33 and the plate-shaped seat frame 12.

Next, the folding order of the airbag 5 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the side of the airbag 5 where the inflator 32 is stored is defined as a base end side, and the opposite side is defined as a distal end side.

First, from a state where the airbag 5 is squashed flat (see FIG. 5A), a predetermined range from the front end portion a of the airbag 5 is folded inward toward the base end portion b (see FIG. 5A). 5 (B)). In this state, the deployment guide cloth 42 extends along the occupant side surface of the airbag 5 (that is, the side surface opposite to the right front door 6), and the annular tip of the airbag 5 newly formed by the inward folding. The position of the portion c substantially coincides with the position of the leading end d of the deployment guide cloth 42. Subsequently, the airbag 5 and the deployment guide cloth 42 are wound in a roll in a state of being overlapped (FIG. 5).
(See FIG. 5C), and the folding is completed (see FIG. 5D).

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 higher than a predetermined value is detected during a side collision of the vehicle, the inflator 32 of the airbag module M fires to generate high-pressure gas, and the airbag 5 supplied with the high-pressure gas expands. Start. When the inflating airbag 5 presses 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 are disengaged from the hooks 36 a of the case body 36, and the lid 37 removes the hinge portion 38 at the rear edge. It turns to the right with the fulcrum. As a result, the lid 37 presses the inner surface of the third coating material 24 to break the sewn portion 25 with the second coating material 23, and the opening 43 formed on the side surface of the seat back 2 due to the breakage of the sewn portion 25 (see FIG. 4), the airbag 5 is deployed so as to block between the occupant and the inner surface of the right front door 6.

FIG. 6 shows the inflation process of the airbag 5. When the roll-shaped folding is released in the early stage of the inflation of the airbag 5, the direction of the inertial force F1 is directed toward the front of the vehicle body (see FIG. 6A). In the process of unfolding the roll-shaped fold of the airbag 5, the airbag 5 pushes the lid 37 of the module case 4 rightward and opens, and passes through the opening 43 formed by breaking the sewn portion 25 of the second covering material 23. Therefore, the direction of the inertial force F1 is deflected rightward toward the right front door 6 (see FIG. 6B). However, the annular tip c of the airbag 5 is
The airbag 5 is deployed in the direction of the resultant force F of the rightward inertial force F1 and the leftward frictional force F2 because the airbag 5 receives the leftward frictional force F2 toward the occupant at the portion in contact with the airbag (FIG. 6).
(C)). As described above, the leftward frictional force F2 received by the airbag 5 from the deployment guide cloth 42 causes the airbag 5
Can be deflected to the occupant side, so that the airbag 5 is not strongly rubbed against the right front door 6 and hinders smooth deployment. (See FIGS. 6D and 6E). Moreover, since the deployment guide cloth 42 is disposed outside the airbag 5, the assembly cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the deployment guide cloth 42 is stored inside the airbag 5.

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

In the second embodiment, two unfolding guide cloths 42 are provided one on top of the other, so that the effects of the first embodiment can be more effectively exerted.

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

In the first embodiment, the distal end d of the deployment guide cloth 42 is a free end that is not fixed to the airbag 5, but in the third embodiment, the distal end d of the deployment guide cloth 42 is Is fixed by sewing S, for example. Until the deployment guide cloth 42 is fully extended in the process of deploying the airbag 5, the deployment guide cloth 42 exerts the same function as that of the first embodiment, and applies a leftward frictional force to the airbag 5 so that the right Strong contact with the front door 6 is prevented. Thereafter, when the deployment guide cloth 42 is extended, the airbag bends toward the vehicle compartment (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 8) due to the tension of the deployment guide cloth 42, and smoothly deploys forward without interfering with the inner surface of the door 6. be able to.

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

In the second embodiment, two deployment guide cloths 42 whose leading ends d are sewn to the airbag 5 are provided.
Thereby, the effect of the third embodiment can be more effectively exerted. That is, the deployment shape of the airbag 5 can be more finely adjusted by changing the length of the two deployment guide cloths 42 and the timing at which the two are extended.

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

For example, by arranging a band-like cloth inside the airbag 5 in addition to the deployment guide cloth 42 provided outside the airbag 5, the deployment direction and the deployment shape of the airbag 5 can be further refined. Can be adjusted. That is, by fixing the base end of the band-shaped cloth to one side of the inflator, the amount of the high-pressure gas distributed to the left and right inside the airbag 5 has a difference, and the deployment direction of the airbag 5 can be set in any direction. By fixing the base end of the band-shaped cloth near the inflator 32 and fixing the front end to the inner surface of the intermediate portion of the airbag 5, the tension at the time when the band-shaped cloth is completely extended can be adjusted. 5 can be adjusted.

In the embodiment, the airbag 5 and the deployment guide cloth 42 are folded in a roll shape, but they can be folded in a zigzag or bellows shape.

Further, in the embodiment, the side collision airbag device on the driver's seat side is exemplified, but the present invention can be applied to a side collision airbag device on the passenger seat side.

Although the lid 37 of the module case 4 of the embodiment is covered with the third covering material 24, an opening is formed in the third covering material 24 in advance to expose the lid 37 directly to the side surface of the seat back 2. May be.

In the embodiment, the base end of the deployment guide cloth 42 is directly fixed to the base end of the airbag 5, but the base end of the deployment guide cloth 42 is close to the base end of the airbag 5. If there is, it can be fixed to an arbitrary position of the seat back 2.

[0038]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the airbag of the side collision airbag apparatus starts to be inflated and unfolded, the occupant of the airbag in the middle of deployment is inflated. The deployment guide cloth is located along the side of the door, and the frictional force acting between the deployment guide cloth and the airbag deflects the deployment direction of the airbag to the occupant side. It is possible to prevent the smooth deployment from being hindered by rubbing strongly against the inner surface. Moreover, since the deployment guide cloth is arranged outside the airbag, the assembly cost can be reduced as compared with a case where the deployment guide cloth is incorporated inside the airbag.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
Since the tip of the deployment guide cloth is a free end and is not fixed to the airbag, the airbag being deployed is deflected by the frictional force received from the deployment guide cloth, and the airbag is deployed in a direction approaching the deployment guide cloth. be able to.

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
Since the tip of the deployment guide fabric is a fixed end and is fixed to the airbag, the deployment guide fabric stretches out during the deployment of the airbag and generates tension, so that the deployed shape of the deployed airbag is completed. It can be curved to the fixed end side of the deployment guide cloth.

[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 sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the operation when the airbag is deployed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of an airbag folding order.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an airbag deployment order.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Seat back 5 Airbag 6 Right front door (door) 32 Inflator 42 Deployment guide cloth

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A folded airbag (5) is arranged on a side of a seat back (2), and an airbag (5) inflated by high-pressure gas generated by an inflator (32) at the time of a collision of a vehicle is attached to the seat back (2). 2) A side collision airbag device which is deployed forward from the side of the vehicle through the space between the occupant and the inner surface of the door (6) from the side of (2), wherein the base end is fixed to the seatback (2) and the airbag (5) is located on the occupant side. An airbag device for side collision, comprising a deployment guide cloth (42) covering an outer surface, and an airbag (5) folded together with the deployment guide cloth (42). 2. The side collision airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the deployment guide cloth is a free end that is not fixed to the airbag. 3. The side collision airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a tip of the deployment guide cloth (42) is a fixed end fixed to the airbag (5).