JP2003040066A - Occupant restraining air bag - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly and positively inflate an air bag. SOLUTION: In this air bag 1, gas flowing in from an opening part 10 fixed to a retainer case 6 is split into a first passage part 14 and a second passage part 15 partitioned by a sewn part 13 and then led into an occupant restraining part 12 abutting on the occupant. The sewn part 13 partitions the first passage part 14 from the second passage part 15 and forms a third passage part 17 communicating with the occupant restraining part 12. The third passage part 17 is provided with a vent hole 16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an occupant restraint airbag used in an occupant restraint system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automobile is equipped with an airbag device which protects an occupant from a shock generated in a collision or the like. This airbag device is configured to include an airbag that is inflated instantaneously and restrains movement of an occupant, and an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag. Here, for example, the airbag device for the passenger seat is provided with a larger capacity airbag than the airbag device for the driver seat because the distance between the seating position of the occupant and the instrument panel is large.
Since the airbag needs to be inflated by the time the occupant comes into contact with the occupant, the inflator capable of inflating and deploying such a large-capacity airbag can generate a large amount of gas. Is used.

[0003]

However, in order to generate a gas amount sufficient to inflate such a large-capacity airbag, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the inflator by that amount. This sometimes leads to an increase in the size of the airbag device, making it difficult to store the airbag device in the limited space inside the instrument panel. In addition, since the capacity of the inflator is increased, the weight of the airbag apparatus is also increased. Further, even if the inflator can generate a large amount of gas, if the capacity of the airbag is large, the time required for deployment will increase accordingly, so it was necessary to devise to inflate the airbag promptly. . Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reliably inflate an airbag while suppressing an increase in capacity and weight of the inflator. Another object is to shorten the time required to deploy the airbag.

[0004]

The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is an airbag for inflating and restraining an occupant by the supply of gas. The first flow path is divided into the first flow path section and the second flow path section divided by the suture section, and then introduced into the occupant restraint section that abuts the occupant. And a second flow path, and a third flow path part communicating with the occupant restriction part is formed, and a vent hole is provided in the third flow path part to provide an occupant restriction airbag.

The occupant restraining airbag has a constricted shape whose outer shape is reduced by the stitching portion. That is, the volume is smaller than the case where the suture portion is not provided even if all the volumes of the first, second, and third flow path portions are added together. Therefore, such an airbag can quickly inflate and maintain a sufficient restraining force even with a small gas supply amount. In addition, since the vent hole is provided in the third flow passage portion and the gas introduced into the third flow passage portion of the gas in the occupant restraint portion is discharged from the vent hole, the occupant restraint portion is Can be surely expanded.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is an airbag for restraining an occupant by inflating due to supply of gas, wherein the gas flowing from the opening is diverted to a flow dividing portion partitioned by a suture portion. After that, it has a configuration to be introduced into an occupant restraint portion that comes into contact with an occupant, and the flow dividing portion has a large-volume right-side flow passage portion and a left-side flow passage portion formed in a lateral direction, and a small-diameter flow having a small central volume. An occupant restraint airbag including a road portion is provided.

The occupant restraining airbag has a flow dividing portion having a small-diameter flow passage portion having a smaller capacity than the side portion in the central portion, so that the small-diameter flow passage portion can be reduced while reducing the volume of the airbag applied to this portion. The section ensures the flow rate of gas introduced into the occupant restraint section.

The invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is
The occupant restraint airbag according to claim 2, wherein the small-diameter flow passage portion is sewn at the end facing the occupant restraint portion to be closed, and the gas flowing into the small-diameter flow passage portion is connected to the right flow passage portion, and Or, it has a structure in which an opening is formed to flow out to the left channel portion.

In this occupant restraint airbag, the gas flowing through the small diameter flow path portion hits the closed end portion, changes its direction, and flows into the right flow path portion and / or the left flow path portion. Is configured. This gas flow works to push out the occupant restraint part to the occupant side, so the air bag is
It can be deployed more quickly.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the airbag device according to the present embodiment is activated and the airbag is deployed, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG.
Further, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of only the airbag. As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag 1 includes an instrument panel 2
The passenger is seated on the passenger seat 3 side to restrain the occupant seated on the passenger seat 3. As shown in FIG. 2, an airbag device 4 that accommodates or deploys the airbag 1 includes an airbag 1, an inflator 5 that supplies gas to the airbag 1, an airbag 1 and an inflator 5.
And a retainer case 6 to which is fixed, and a resin cover 7 forming a part of the instrument panel 2. The airbag device 4 is fixed to a steering beam 8 stretched over the vehicle body by a bolt or the like (not shown).

The airbag 1 is made of a woven fabric of nylon, polyester or the like, and the inner surface of the airbag 1, which is a back surface, is coated with rubber or the like to improve heat resistance. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, in the present embodiment, the airbag 1 has a gas flow path portion 11 having an opening 10 fixed to the retainer case 6, and the gas flow path portion 1
An occupant in which the gas supplied to No. 1 flows through the left side flow passage portion 14 which is the first flow passage portion and the right side flow passage portion 15 which is the second flow passage portion, and abuts on the occupant to restrain its movement. The structure is such that it is supplied to the restraint portion 12.

FIG. 4A, which is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, since the airbag 1 has the sewn portion 13 formed in the center portion in the left-right direction, the gas flowing in from the opening 10 is, as shown by the white arrow in FIG. The left flow passage portion 14 and the right flow passage portion 15 which are not sewn are separately flowed. The gas flowing through the left flow passage portion 14 and the right flow passage portion 15 of the airbag 1 flows into the occupant restraint portion 12 and inflates the occupant restraint portion 12.

On the other hand, a vent hole 16 for discharging gas is provided at the center of the airbag 1.
This vent hole 16 is, as shown in FIG. 4B, which is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2, and as shown in FIG.
It is provided in the discharge flow path portion 17 which is the third flow path portion formed by the stitching portion 13 on the rear side. A part of the gas that has inflated the occupant restraint portion 12 flows into the discharge passage portion 17 and is discharged to the outside from the vent hole 16 as indicated by the arrow shown by the broken line in FIG. Although only one vent hole 16 is provided in the present embodiment, the discharge flow path portion 17 is provided.
It is possible to provide an arbitrary number such as two in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the airbag 1 has a sewn portion 13 formed between the gas flow path portion 11 and the occupant restraining portion 12, whereby the outer shape of the airbag 1 is reduced. Therefore, the volume is reduced by the upper region 18 and the lower region 19 of the suture portion 13. Therefore, since the volume of the airbag 1 as a whole is reduced, the airbag 1 can be quickly inflated with a small amount of gas. As shown in FIG. 2, since the gas flow path portion 11 that expands over the entire circumference comes into contact with the vicinity of the instrument panel 2,
The deployment direction of the airbag 1 is properly maintained in the direction toward the occupant. Further, since the occupant restraint section 12 has a sufficient size, the occupant can be surely restrained. Therefore, even if the airbag 1 has a portion having a small volume, the characteristics of the airbag 1 are sufficiently satisfied.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Note that FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an airbag according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the airbag 21 has a gas flow path portion 23 having an opening 22 through which gas flows, and the gas flow path portion 2
The gas that has flowed through 3 is left side flow passage 25 and right side flow passage 26.
It is configured to flow into the occupant restraint portion 24 that restrains the occupant through the two flow paths. Although the vent hole is not shown in the airbag 21 as described above,
It can be provided on the side surface 24a or the back surface 24b of the occupant restraint portion 24.

The left channel portion 25 and the right channel portion 26 are partitioned by a stitching surface 27 that is stitched so as to maintain airtightness, and the outer shapes thereof are reduced. Therefore, the region 28 above the stitching surface 27 and the region 2 below the stitching surface 27
Since the volume is reduced by the amount corresponding to 9, the airbag 21 can be sufficiently inflated with a small amount of gas. Then, the airbag 21 can be swiftly inflated by the amount of gas required for inflation. Note that, in the airbag 21 as described above, the stitching surface 27 may be formed by stitching only the stitching portion 27a which is the outer edge thereof.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the airbag according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the airbag 31
Is a gas flow path portion 33 having an opening 32 through which gas flows.
The gas flowing through the gas flow path portion 33 has a left flow path portion 35 that is the first flow path portion, a right flow path portion 36 that is the second flow path portion, and a small portion of the central portion. The radial flow path portion 37 has a configuration in which the flow dividing portion including the three flow paths is branched and flows into the occupant restraint portion 34 that restrains an occupant. Further, the vent hole of the airbag 31 can be formed on the side surface of the occupant restraint portion 34, as in the second embodiment.

The left flow passage 35, the right flow passage 36, and the small diameter flow passage 37, which are the flow dividing portions, are sewn portions 38a, 3
It is partitioned by 8b. The small-diameter flow path portion 37 is located in the central portion of the airbag 31, and the left flow path portion 3 is provided at both ends thereof.
5, the right flow passage portion 36 is formed. Here, the cross-sectional area (capacity) of the small-diameter flow path portion 37 is sufficiently smaller than the cross-sectional area (capacity) of the left flow path portion 35 and the right flow path portion 36. Therefore, the gas diverted in the flow dividing portion mainly flows through the left flow passage portion 35 and the right flow passage portion 36, and the remaining part of the gas flows through the small diameter flow passage portion 3.
Flow through 7.

By dividing the flow dividing portion by the stitching portions 38a and 38b in this manner, the flow dividing portion has a shape in which the outer shape is reduced as compared with the case where the flow dividing portion is not sewn. Therefore, the upper region 39 of the small-diameter flow path portion 37, and
Since the volume is reduced by the amount of the lower region 40, the airbag 31 can be sufficiently inflated with a small amount of gas. Further, since the flow passage area of the flow dividing portion is increased by the small-diameter flow passage portion 37, compared with the second embodiment,
The airbag 31 can be quickly inflated.

(Fourth Embodiment) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9A and 9B. Note that FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the airbag in this embodiment. Further, FIG. 9A is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.
FIG. 9B is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the air bag 41 has a gas flow passage portion 43 having an opening portion 42 through which the gas flows, and the gas flowing through the gas flow passage portion 43 is left side flow passage portion 4
5, the right flow passage portion 46, and the small diameter flow passage portion 4 in the central portion
7 has a configuration in which the flow dividing portion including the three flow passages 7 is branched and flows into the occupant restraining portion 44 that restrains the occupant. In addition, the vent hole of the airbag 41 is connected to the occupant restraint section 4
The point that it can be formed on the side surface of No. 4 is the same as in the second and third embodiments.

The left side flow passage portion 45, the right side flow passage portion 46, and the small diameter flow passage portion 47, which are flow dividing portions, are sewn portions 48a and 4a.
8b, and the small-diameter flow path portion 47 has the airbag 41.
Is located in the central portion of and the left side flow passage portion 45 and the right side flow passage portion 46 are located at both ends thereof. Further, in the present embodiment, the small-diameter flow path portion 47 has the suture portion 4 on the occupant restraint portion 44 side.
It is blocked by 9. However, there is an unsewn region between the sewn portion 48 a and the sewn portion 49, and this region forms the opening 50 through which the gas flowing into the small-diameter flow passage portion 47 flows out to the left flow passage portion 45. . Also, the sutured portion 48b
There is also a non-sewn region between the sewn portion 49 and the sewn portion 49, and this region forms an opening 51 through which the gas flowing into the small diameter flow passage portion 47 flows out to the right side flow passage portion 46. Therefore, the gas flowing into the small-diameter flow passage portion 47 first flows toward the occupant restraint portion 44, but hits the suture portion 49, and its direction is changed, and the left side flow passage portion 45 or It flows into the occupant restraint portion 44 after passing through the right flow passage portion 46. As a reaction to change the direction of the gas flow in this manner, the suture portion 49 is pushed out toward the occupant by the gas flow. That is, since the occupant restraint section 44 is pushed out toward the occupant side, the occupant restraint section 44 can be quickly projected toward the occupant in the initial stage of the inflation of the airbag 41. Since the cross-sectional area (capacity) of the small-diameter flow passage portion 47 is sufficiently smaller than the cross-sectional area (capacity) of the left flow passage portion 45 and the right flow passage portion 46, the gas diverted in the flow dividing portion is Through the left side flow passage portion 45 and the right side flow passage portion 46, and the remaining part flows through the small diameter flow passage portion 47.

By dividing the flow dividing portion by the stitching portions 48a and 48b in this manner, the flow dividing portion has a shape in which the outer shape is reduced as compared with the case where the flow dividing portion is not sewn. Therefore, the airbag 41 has a smaller volume by the upper region 52 and the lower region region 53 of the small diameter channel portion 47 and the suture portion 49. In particular, in the present embodiment, while appropriately securing the gas flow passage area,
Since the volume of the upper and lower regions of the sewn portion 49 is greatly reduced, the airbag 41 can be inflated quickly.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and can be widely applied. For example, for an occupant in the driver's seat 61 shown in FIG. 1, the invention can be applied to an airbag of an airbag device arranged in a central portion 62a of a steering wheel 62. In addition, the small-diameter flow path portions 37, 4 shown in the third and fourth embodiments.
It is also possible to form two or more 7 in the up-down direction or the left-right direction of FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively. For example, when the suture portion 49 in the fourth embodiment is extended to the gas flow passage portion 43 side, a small diameter flow passage portion divided into two is formed.
The gas flowing through the small-diameter flow passage on the right side thus formed flows out from the opening 51 to the right-side flow passage 46, and the gas flowing through the small-diameter flow passage on the left side flows from the opening 50 to the left flow passage. Part 4
Outflow to 5.

Furthermore, in each of the embodiments, the discharge flow path portion 17, the stitched surface 27, and the small diameter flow path portions 37, 47 are shown as being formed above the center in each cross-sectional view. It can be formed at any position in the vertical direction in a sectional view. However, the small-diameter flow path portions 37, 47
Is the volume of the left side flow passages 14, 25, 35, 45 and / or the volume of the right side flow passages 15, 26, 36, 46, regardless of which position is formed. It is desirable to be sufficiently smaller than

[0026]

According to the invention of claim 1 of the present invention,
Since the volume of the airbag as a whole is reduced by partitioning the first, second, and third flow passage portions with the stitching portion, the airbag can be sufficiently inflated with a small amount of gas. Further, among the gases in the occupant restraint section, the gas introduced into the third flow path section is configured to be discharged from the vent hole, so that the gas utilization efficiency can be improved. Further, according to the invention of claim 2 of the present invention, by having a flow dividing portion composed of a large-capacity right-side flow passage portion and a left-side flow passage portion, and a small-capacity small-diameter flow passage portion in the center, The capacity of the airbag is reduced, and even a small amount of gas can be sufficiently inflated. Further, since the flow rate of the gas introduced into the occupant restraint portion can be secured by the small-diameter flow passage portion, the airbag can be quickly inflated. And according to the invention which concerns on Claim 3 of this invention, the gas which flows through a small diameter flow path part is
Since it is configured to flow into the occupant restraint portion via the right flow passage portion and / or the left flow passage portion, while ensuring the gas flow passage,
It is possible to push out the occupant restraint portion to the occupant side and deploy the airbag more quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where an airbag of an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention is deployed.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the airbag according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG.
It is a -B line sectional view.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an airbag.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an airbag according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an airbag according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an airbag according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

9A is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 8, and FIG. 9B is D of FIG.
It is a -D line sectional view.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 21, 31, 41 Airbags 10, 22, 32, 42 Openings 11, 23, 33, 43 Gas flow path portions 12, 24, 34, 44 Occupant restraint portions 13, 27a, 38a, 38b, 48a, 48b , 49
Sutured part 14 Left side flow path part (first flow path part) 15 Right side flow path part (second flow path part) 16 Vent hole 17 Discharge flow path part (third flow path part) 25, 35, 45 Left side Flow path portions 26, 36, 46 Right flow path portion 27 Stitching surface 37, 47 Small diameter flow path portion 50, 51 Opening

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An airbag that is inflated by supplying gas and restrains an occupant, wherein a first flow passage portion and a second flow passage portion are formed by dividing the gas flowing from an opening portion by a stitching portion. After diverting to the occupant, the occupant restraint portion abutting on the occupant is introduced, and the suture portion partitions the first flow passage portion and the second flow passage, and the occupant restraint portion. An air bag for restraining an occupant, characterized in that a third flow path part communicating with the section is formed, and a vent hole is provided in the third flow path part. 2. An airbag that is inflated by the supply of gas to restrain an occupant, the occupant contacting the occupant after the gas flowing from the opening is diverted to a diverting portion defined by a suture portion. The flow dividing section is configured to be introduced into the restraint section, and the flow dividing section is composed of a large-capacity right-side flow channel section and a left-side flow channel section formed laterally, and a small-diameter flow channel section with a small central volume. An occupant restraint airbag featuring. 3. The small-diameter flow passage portion is closed by stitching an end portion facing the occupant restraint portion, and the gas flowing into the small-diameter flow passage portion is right-side flow passage portion and / or The occupant restraint airbag according to claim 2, wherein an opening is formed to allow the left side flow passage portion to flow out.