JP2004026039A - Occupant leg protecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an occupant leg protecting device easy to manufacture and low in manufacturing cost by improving moving limiting means for a lid. <P>SOLUTION: The occupant leg protecting device 10 comprises a container shaped retainer 12 having an opening at the front face (on the occupant side), an air bag 14 folded and stored in the retainer 12, a wrapping bag 16 wrapping the air bag 14, a gas generator 18 for inflating the air bag 14, and the lid 30. The wrapping bag 16 is connected to the retainer 12 and the lid 30. The wrapping bag 16 is formed of a woven material (a mesh) which freely elongates in the direction of cutting across the forward direction of the lid 30 but little elongates in the forward direction of the lid 30. When the gas generator 18 is operated, the lid 30 is moved forward until the wrapping bag 16 is in a tensed state, and finally stopped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an occupant leg protection device for protecting an occupant's leg at the time of a collision of an automobile or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a passenger leg protection device at the time of a collision of a high-speed moving body such as an automobile, a retainer provided in front of the seat, an airbag housed in the retainer, a gas generator for inflating the airbag, Some of them are mainly composed of a lid covering the retainer during normal times (when a high-speed moving body such as the automobile does not encounter a collision situation).
[0003]
Further, as this occupant leg protection device, there is one in which the lid is pushed by an airbag and moves in a parallel movement toward the seat, and the occupant's leg is received by the lid (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 8). -40177).
[0004]
In the occupant leg protection device of the publication, the airbag is disposed in the retainer in a folded state, and one end side is connected to the retainer. The lid is disposed so as to be substantially flush with the interior panel in front of the seat. The lid is attached to the retainer by a fastening member. When the lid is pushed by the airbag, the attachment by the fastening member is released and the lid moves to the seat side.
[0005]
The airbag is fastened to the back of the lid. Further, in order to limit the moving distance of the lid, the retainer and the lid are connected by a string-like object. This string-like object is disposed inside the airbag, and one end is connected to the retainer and the other end is connected to the retainer.
[0006]
When the airbag is inflated, the lid is moved forward by being pushed by the airbag. The lid moves forward until the string-like object is taut. The lid receives the occupant leg, but is backed up by the airbag, so that the impact when the leg hits the lid is absorbed by the airbag.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the occupant leg protection device in which the retainer and the lid are connected by the string-like material arranged inside the airbag as described above, since the string-like material is arranged inside the airbag, the retainer and the lid are secured to the retainer and the lid. It takes time and effort to increase the manufacturing cost.
[0008]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an occupant leg protection device with an improved lid movement restricting means that is easy to manufacture and can be manufactured at low cost.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An occupant leg protection device of the present invention includes a retainer that is provided in front of a seat and has an opening that opens toward the seat, an airbag housed in the retainer, and an airbag for inflating the airbag. A gas generator, a lid that covers the opening, and that is pushed by the airbag to move toward the seat when the airbag is inflated; and means for limiting a movement distance of the lid In the occupant leg protection device, the movement distance limiting means of the lid is an enveloping bag that encloses the airbag and is connected to both the lid and the retainer.
[0010]
In such an occupant leg protection device, the lid movement restriction means comprises an enveloping bag surrounding the air bag from the outside, and the connection of the encapsulating bag to the lid and the retainer is a conventional string-like object. Is significantly simpler than those placed inside the airbag. For this reason, the production of the occupant leg protection device is facilitated, and the production cost of the occupant leg protection device is also reduced.
[0011]
In one aspect of the present invention, the envelope bag has one end connected to the lid and the other end connected to the retainer, and the envelope bag is substantially in the direction connecting the one end and the other end. It consists of a woven body that does not stretch. Further, in another aspect of the present invention, both ends of the envelope bag are connected to the retainer, and a middle portion between these both ends is inserted through an insertion portion provided in the lid, and The envelope bag is made of a knitted fabric that does not substantially extend in the direction connecting the end portion and the insertion portion. According to these configurations, since the enveloping bag does not extend in the movement direction of the lid, the movement distance of the lid is surely limited to a predetermined distance.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an occupant leg protection device for a driver seat or a passenger seat of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an operation diagram of FIG. 1, and FIG. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line III-III, Fig. 4 is an operation diagram of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the envelope bag before expansion.
[0013]
The occupant leg protection device 10 includes a container-like retainer 12 having an opening on the front surface (occupant side surface), an airbag 14 folded and housed in the retainer 12, and the airbag 14 encapsulated. An enveloping bag 16 and a gas generator 18 for inflating the airbag 14 are provided. The airbag 14 and the envelope bag 16 are attached to the retainer 12 with bolts 20 and nuts 22 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The gas generator 18 is attached to the back surface of the retainer 12 by an attachment band 26. The gas generator 18 is configured to introduce the generated gas into the airbag 14 via the L-shaped duct 28. A flange 28 a provided at one end of the duct 28 presses the edge of the gas inlet 29 (FIG. 5) of the airbag 14 and the envelope 16.
[0014]
The lid 30 that covers the front opening of the retainer 12 is disposed flush with the vehicle interior panel 32 in front of the seat. An insert plate 34 is embedded in the lid 30, and a bag mounting bracket 36 is fixedly installed on the back surface of the lid 30 by a fastening member 38 connected to the insert plate 34. The airbag 14 and the ear portion 40 (FIG. 5) of the envelope bag 16 are inserted and attached to the opening (not shown) of the bracket 36.
[0015]
The retainer 12 is disposed behind the interior panel 32 and is attached to a vehicle body side member (not shown) via a bracket 44.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 3, a projecting piece 46 projects from the back surface of the lid 30, and the projecting piece 46 is fastened to the retainer 12 by bolts or rivets 48. The base portion of the projecting piece 46 is a low strength portion. When the airbag 14 is inflated and the lid 30 moves forward, each projecting piece 46 is torn from the base portion. Instead of the configuration in which the protruding piece 46 is torn off from the base portion, the protruding piece 46 may be configured to be detached from the bolt or rivet 48.
[0017]
The airbag 14 is made of a cloth or a resin film that does not allow gas to pass therethrough. The airbag 14 is provided with a vent hole (not shown) made up of small holes.
[0018]
The envelope bag 16 encapsulates the airbag 14. The enveloping bag 16 can freely extend in the forward and cross directions of the lid 30, for example, the up and down direction in FIG. 1 and the left and right direction in FIG. 3, but does not extend in the forward direction of the lid 30. It consists of a body (mesh).
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 5, the envelope bag 16 has a plurality of ears 44, and these ears 44 are inserted into the opening (not shown) of the bracket 36 and folded as shown in FIG. And the ear | edge part 44 is connected with the lid 30 by sewing the front end side and proximal end of the piled ear | edge part.
[0020]
In the occupant leg protection device 10 configured as described above, the gas generator 18 performs a gas ejection operation in the event of a vehicle collision, and the airbag 14 is inflated as shown in FIGS. Push. Thereby, the protruding piece 46 is torn and the lid 30 moves forward. The lid 30 finally moves forward and stops until the enveloping bag 16 becomes taut.
[0021]
When the occupant's leg hits the lid 30, gas flows out from the vent hole of the airbag 14, and the impact applied to the leg is absorbed.
[0022]
In this occupant leg protection device 10, since the advancement of the lid 30 is restricted by the enveloping bag 16 that hardly extends in the forward direction of the lid 30, the lid 30 moves forward to a specified position, and the occupant leg is moved up. Take it.
[0023]
In FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the lid 30 is advanced by one airbag 14, but the lid may be advanced by a plurality of airbags as shown in FIG. 6.
[0024]
In FIG. 6, two right and left airbags 14A are provided, and gas is distributed and supplied from the gas generator 18A through the duct 50 into the airbag.
[0025]
The airbag 14A is encapsulated by an encapsulating bag 16A. The proximal end sides of the airbag 14A and the envelope bag 16A are attached to the retainer 12A by a flange at the distal end of the duct 50. The front end sides of the airbag 14A and the envelope bag 16A are fastened to the mount 52 on the back surface of the lid 30A by an attachment member 54 such as a bolt.
[0026]
Also in this embodiment, when the gas generator 18A is actuated, the lid 30A moves forward until each encapsulation bag 16A is taut. The enveloping bag 16A is also made of a knitted fabric that hardly extends in the advancing direction of the lid 30A, like the encapsulating bag 16, and restricts the advancing distance of the lid 30A to a specified distance.
[0027]
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the same part as FIG. 4 and 6 showing still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a folding view of the airbag and the enveloping bag used in this embodiment. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG.
[0028]
In the passenger leg protection device 10B of this embodiment, a convex portion 58 is provided on the back surface of the lid 30B, and an opening 58a is provided in the convex portion 58. The airbag 14B is arranged in the envelope bag 16B as in the above embodiments. One end side of the airbag 14B and the envelope bag 16B is attached to one half side of the retainer 12B by a flange 28a of the duct 28, and the other end is attached to the other half side of the retainer 12 by a bracket 60. Intermediate portions of the airbag 14B and the envelope bag 16B are inserted through the openings 58a of the convex portions 58. The envelope bag 16B is made of a knitted fabric that hardly extends in the direction from the flange 28 via the opening 58a to the bracket 60, and can be extended flexibly in the direction intersecting with this direction.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 8, the airbag 14 </ b> B and the encapsulating bag 16 have narrow portions 62 and 66 at both ends, and a wide portion 64 between these narrow portions 62 and 66. The tip of one narrow portion 62 is connected to the duct 28.
[0030]
The wide width portion 64 has a width substantially equal to that of the narrow width portions 62 and 66 by being folded back a plurality of times along a folding line 64a extending in a direction parallel to the direction connecting the narrow width portions 62 and 66. .
[0031]
When the gas generator 18B is activated, gas is introduced into the airbag 14B through the duct 28, the airbag 14B is inflated, and the lid 30B moves forward as shown in FIG. Then, the lid 30B moves forward until the envelope bag 16B is stretched between the one convex portion 58 and the flange 28a and between the other convex portion 58 and the bracket 60. The lid 30B receives the occupant's legs, and the airbag 14B absorbs the impact.
[0032]
Similar to the above embodiment, the advance distance of the lid 30B is regulated by the encapsulating bag 16B.
[0033]
In FIG. 8, the thick portion 64 is folded outward, but may be folded so as to be folded inside. Further, the width may be reduced by winding the wide portion 64 in a roll shape.
[0034]
9A or 9B, large holes 58b are provided at both ends of the opening 58a of the convex portion 58. This is because even if the airbag 14B is tightened by the forward inertial force of the lid 30B, the inside of the airbag 14B on both sides sandwiching the projection 58 is communicated via the large hole portion 58b.
[0035]
Each of the above embodiments is an example of the present invention, and it is apparent that the present invention can take forms other than those shown in the drawings.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the advance distance of the lid is regulated by the enveloping bag that encloses the airbag, and it is not necessary to draw a string-like body inside the airbag. Manufacture is easy, and the production cost of the occupant leg protection device can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an occupant leg protecting device for a driver seat or a passenger seat of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an operation diagram of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.
FIG. 4 is an operation diagram of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an envelope bag.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment when the gas generator is operated.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view when a gas generator is activated showing still another embodiment.
8 is an explanatory diagram of a method for folding the airbag and the enveloping bag of FIG. 7. FIG.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 10A, 10B Passenger leg protection device 12, 12A, 12B Retainer 14, 14A, 14B Airbag 16, 16A, 16B Covered bag 18, 18A Gas generator 28 Duct 28a Flange 30 Lid 32 Interior panel 44 Ear part 50 Duct 52 Mount part 58 Protruding part 58a Opening 58b Large hole part 60 Brackets 62, 66 Narrow part 64 Thick part 64a Folding line

Claims (3)

A retainer provided in front of the seat and having an opening that opens toward the seat;
An airbag housed in the retainer;
A gas generator for inflating the airbag;
A lid that covers the opening and that is pushed by the airbag and moves toward the seat when the airbag is inflated;
Means for limiting the travel distance of the lid;
In an occupant leg protection device having
The occupant leg protection device, wherein the lid moving distance limiting means is an enveloping bag that encloses the airbag and is connected to both the lid and the retainer. 2. The envelope bag according to claim 1, wherein one end of the envelope bag is connected to the lid and the other end is connected to the retainer, and the envelope bag is substantially in the direction connecting the one end and the other end. An occupant leg protection device comprising a knitted fabric that does not stretch. In Claim 1, the both ends of this envelope bag are connected to a retainer, the middle part between these both ends is inserted in the insertion part provided in the lid, and this envelope bag is the end. An occupant leg protection device comprising a knitted fabric that does not substantially extend in a direction connecting the portion and the insertion portion.

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