JP2004114829A - Airbag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly develop an airbag to cover a side window portion of a car along the window portion. <P>SOLUTION: A first folding portion 57, a second folding portion 58 and an assembly portion 56 are provided from a gas inlet side when folding an airbag 1. The assembly portion 56 is rolled outwardly in a roll from a lower end. The first folding portion 57 is disposed on a cabin 4 side of the assembly portion 56, and the second folding portion 58 is disposed on an outdoor side of the assembly portion 56. When gas is introduced in the airbag 1, the first folding portion 57 is developed firstly, and a head lining 17 is pressed to ensure a projecting port of the airbag 1. When the second folding portion 58 is developed, the assembly portion 56 is pressed against the cabin 4 side to further expand the projecting port of the airbag 1, and the assembly portion 56 is tilted outwardly. Then, the assembly portion 56 is inflated and developed along a window portion 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to, for example, an airbag that protects an occupant in the event of an automobile collision.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called curtain airbag that deploys along a window on a side of an automobile is known as an airbag that is inflated by introducing a gas. For example, there is known a configuration in which such a curtain airbag is elongated and stored in a bellows shape along a roof side rail of an automobile (for example, see Patent Document 1). However, since the airbag simply folded in a bellows shape sequentially inflates from the upper end to which the gas is supplied, the tip, which is the lower end, is easy to move as if swinging, and it is easy to obtain a stable behavior. Not.
[0003]
In this regard, a configuration is known in which the upper portion to which gas is supplied is folded in a bellows shape, and the lower portion is folded in a roll shape, which is a so-called inner roll wound around the lower end portion toward the passenger compartment (for example, see Patent Reference 2). However, even in such a configuration, it is not easy to stabilize the behavior of the roll-folded portion when the bellows-folded portion is deployed, and when the folded portion is deployed on the inner roll, There is a problem that it is not always easy to deploy along the side window.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-43004 (FIG. 3)
[0005]
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent No. 3107072 (FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above-described curtain airbag is arranged to be elongated and folded along the roof side rail of an automobile, and can easily obtain a stable behavior, and can be easily deployed along the window. Is required.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag that can be easily deployed along a predetermined surface with a predetermined behavior.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The airbag according to claim 1 is an airbag which is stored in a folded state, in which gas is introduced and inflates and deploys along a predetermined surface, wherein the airbag communicates with the gas introduction port through which the gas is introduced. A first fold portion including an inflatable portion and communicating with the gas inlet, the first fold portion being folded including the inflatable portion, and the inflatable portion communicating with the inflatable portion located at the first fold portion. And a second fold that includes the second fold and a second fold that communicates with the second fold that is located in the second fold. The first fold and the second fold And a third folded portion which is positioned between the first folded portion and a third folded portion which is located between the first folded portion and a roll portion which is wound around the predetermined surface side from a leading end portion. Is located on the opposite side of the predetermined surface, and the second folded portion is located on the predetermined surface side.
[0009]
In this configuration, when gas is introduced into the airbag from the gas inlet, the inflating portion expands, and the inflating portion inflates the first folding portion, the second folding portion, and the third folding portion. Expand in the order of the fold. Guided by the first folded portion and the second folded portion that have been developed earlier, the third folded portion is stably and smoothly deployed from a desired position in a desired direction. Furthermore, since the third folding portion is folded in a roll shape wound around the predetermined surface from the front end portion, the third folding portion can be easily developed along the predetermined surface. Further, since the first fold is located on the opposite side of the predetermined surface and the second fold is located on the predetermined surface side with respect to the third fold, the first fold that is developed first is opened. The folding section eliminates a member that interferes with the deployment of the third folding section, such as a member that covers the airbag, and the second folding section that subsequently deploys places the third folding section on a predetermined surface. The third folded portion is stably and smoothly deployed in a desired direction from a desired position.
[0010]
An airbag according to a second aspect is the airbag according to the first aspect, wherein the airbag is disposed on a roof side portion of the vehicle in a folded state, and the predetermined surface is a side surface of a vehicle compartment.
[0011]
In this configuration, the airbag can be stably and smoothly deployed between the side surface of the cabin and the occupant in the cabin.
[0012]
An airbag according to a third aspect is the airbag according to the first or second aspect, wherein the inflation portion communicates the first inflation portion, the second inflation portion, and the first and second inflation portions. A communication portion, and the gas inlet is connected to the communication portion.
[0013]
In this configuration, even in a configuration having a large longitudinal dimension, it is easy to adjust the deployment balance in the longitudinal direction, and the predetermined surface can be stably and quickly covered with the airbag.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an airbag of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
1 to 7, reference numeral 1 denotes an airbag, and an airbag device 2 including the airbag 1 is disposed on a roof side portion 5 of a vehicle compartment 4 of an automobile 3 as a vehicle. The airbag 1 is also called a curtain airbag, a side collision airbag, a side airbag, an inflatable curtain type, or a head protection airbag. As shown in FIG. When the vehicle receives an impact, it is deployed in a planar manner to the side of the occupant A to protect the occupant A, which is an object to be protected.
[0016]
The automobile 3 has a front seat and a rear seat in which a passenger A can sit in a vehicle compartment 4, and corresponding to the front seat and the rear seat, a window portion that forms a predetermined surface that can be opened at an upper portion. A door 9 having a (side window) 8 is provided. Pillars 12 such as A pillars, B pillars, and C pillars are provided on both sides of the passenger compartment 4 in order from the front side. Above these pillars 12, a ceiling panel 15 is supported via a roof side rail 14. ing. The pillars 12 shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 are B pillars. Further, a pillar garnish 16 is attached to the vehicle compartment 4 side of each pillar 12, and a head, which is a soft, that is, a deformable ceiling panel, is provided on the vehicle compartment 4 side from the ceiling panel 15 to the roof side rail 14. A lining 17 is attached, and a packing body 18 to which the doors 9 are in close contact is attached at a position where an upper part of each door 9 contacts. Each seat is provided with a seat belt, and pillars 12 such as B pillars are provided with support portions for supporting these seat belts.
[0017]
The airbag device 2 is a so-called front and rear seat airbag that can protect the occupants of the front and rear seats, and is folded and stored in the roof side portion 5 surrounded by the roof side rail 14 and the head lining 17 and the like. The airbag 1, an inflator housed above the body of the occupant A in the rear seat to supply gas to the airbag 1, a tubular covering member (not shown) that covers the folded airbag 1 and holds the shape. And is attached to the roof side rail 14 via a bracket 20.
[0018]
The airbag 1 includes an airbag body 21 formed by combining a plurality of base fabrics into a flat bag shape, as shown in FIG. 2 and the like. At the front end of the airbag body 21, a tension strap 22, which is a cord-like base cloth, is attached.
[0019]
The airbag body 21 overlaps the outer base fabric portion 24 disposed on the outside, which is the vehicle body side, with the inner base fabric portion 25 disposed on the vehicle cabin 4 side, and forms a predetermined sewing portion 26 serving as a joint. A bag-like inflatable portion 27 into which gas flows and inflates and deploys; a gas inlet 28 located at the upper center of the airbag body 21 and communicating the inflatable portion 27 to the outside; A sheet-like non-expandable portion 29 that does not expand is provided. In the present embodiment, the outer base fabric portion 24 and the inner base fabric portion 25 are formed integrally by folding a main panel, which is a single base fabric, along a fold line 30. Therefore, the non-expandable portion 29 located below the center is provided by forming the hole 25 a in the inner base cloth portion 25.
[0020]
Further, the inflating portion 27 is an air chamber that is a hollow portion, and a communicating portion 32 located at an upper portion of a central portion in the longitudinal direction that is the front-rear direction of the airbag body 21, and a portion before communicating with a front side of the communicating portion 32. A front-seat expansion chamber 33 as a first expansion section that is a seat protection section (front-seat protection area), and a second rear-seat protection section (rear seat protection area) that communicates with the rear side of the communication section 32. A rear seat expansion chamber 34 as an expansion section is provided.
[0021]
The sewn portion 26 includes an outer sewn portion 36 serving as an outer connecting portion for sewing the outer periphery of the inflatable portion 27 and, if necessary, a regulating portion that regulates the width of each of the inflatable chambers 33 and 34 when deployed. Have. The restricting portion is located at one or more positions of the expanding portion 27 and is formed integrally with or separate from the outer peripheral sewing portion 36. For example, the regulating portion is formed in an annular shape independent of the outer peripheral sewing portion 36.
[0022]
Further, between the outer base cloth part 24 and the inner base cloth part 25, the inner pipe 41 and the front partition body 42 serve as means for guiding gas or regulating the width dimension of the inflatable part 27 at the time of development. And the rear partition 43 are attached by sewing or the like.
[0023]
The inner pipe 41 guides the gas and protects the outer base cloth portion 24 and the inner base cloth portion 25 from the heat of the gas and the like. It is sewn integrally and attached to the main panel. In the inner pipe 41, an opening 45 communicating with the gas inlet 28 is formed in the upper part, a first outlet 46 is formed on the front side, and a first outlet 46 is formed on the front side, and the first outlet 46 is formed on the rear side. Two outlets 47 are formed. Then, the gas introduced from the gas inlet 28 is guided to the inner pipe 41 located in the communication portion 32 and is distributed to the front seat expansion chamber 33 and the rear seat expansion chamber 34.
[0024]
The front partition 42 and the rear partition 43 guide the gas and regulate the width of the inflatable portion 27 when deployed. Each of the front partition 42 and the rear partition 43 is formed in a substantially square shape by one base cloth, and is formed in a longitudinal direction. A communication hole 48 having a circular shape or the like is formed at a predetermined interval along. The front partition 42 has both sides along the longitudinal direction attached to the outer base cloth 24 and the inner base cloth 25 by sewing or the like to partition the front seat expansion chamber 33 up and down. 43 is attached to the outer base fabric part 24 and the inner base fabric part 25 by sewing, for example, on both sides along the longitudinal direction to partition the rear seat expansion chamber 34 up and down.
[0025]
At the upper edge of the airbag body 21, a plurality of mounting pieces 51 are formed at predetermined intervals as mounting portions for mounting to the bracket 20, and mounting means such as screws are mounted on each mounting piece 51. A through hole 51a is formed. Further, at the front end of the airbag body 21, a plurality of handle pieces 52 used when inserting the folded airbag 1 into the covering member are formed.
[0026]
Next, the folded state of the airbag 1 will be described.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the airbag 1 is mainly folded into a shape having a conduit portion 55 and a collecting portion 56 as a third folding portion. The conduit portion 55 is set at a position including the gas inlet 28, the communication portion 32, a part of the front and rear expansion chambers 33, 34, and in this embodiment, the upper side of the partition members 42, 43. Further, the conduit portion 55 includes a first fold portion 57 located on the gas inlet 28 side, that is, an upper side, along the longitudinal direction which is a longitudinal direction, and a collection portion 56 side of the first fold portion 57. And a second folding portion 58 located at the second position. That is, regarding the gas supplied to the inflatable portion 27, the gas introduced from the gas inlet 28 is supplied in the order of the first folded portion 57, the second folded portion 58, and the collecting portion 56. .
[0028]
The first folded portion 57 is a region from P1 to P2 at the base end portion in FIG. 1, includes a portion that does not expand, communicates directly with the gas inlet 28, and is on the side opposite to the vehicle body, that is, the occupant. The arm extends toward the inside of the vehicle compartment 4 and is folded into a plate shape so as to be crushed flat from above and below.
[0029]
The second folded portion 58 is a region from P2 to P3 at the base end portion in FIG. 1 and extends in an arm shape toward the outside of the cabin 4 on the vehicle body side so as to be flattened from above and below. It is folded into a plate shape.
[0030]
Further, the collecting portion 56 is a region from P3 to P4 at the base end portion in FIG. 1 and is mainly a portion of the front seat expansion chamber 33 and the rear seat expansion chamber 34, and is wound in a predetermined direction from the lower end portion, That is, it is folded in a roll shape. Here, the predetermined direction is a so-called outer roll, which is wound around the window 8 side from the front end, which is the lower end, and attached to the left side when viewed from the front, for example, as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, it is wound clockwise. When the gathering portion 56 is unwound, the gathering portion 56 is pressed along the window portion 8 and further to the window portion 8 side so as to be developed while sliding on the window portion 8.
[0031]
The first folding portion 57 and the second folding portion 58 are arranged so as to surround the gathering portion 56 from above, and further, the first folding portion 57 is located on the vehicle outside of the gathering portion 56. , And the second folding portion 58 is arranged toward the vehicle interior of the collecting portion 56, and is folded into a parasol shape as a whole. 3 to 7 are views of the automobile 3 as viewed from the rear side.
[0032]
In the airbag device 2, when a side collision of the automobile 3 occurs, an inflator is operated by a control device (not shown), and gas injected from the inflator is introduced into the airbag 1 from a gas inlet 28. While inflating the inflatable portion 27 and deforming the head lining 17 and the like, the airbag 1 quickly projects downward from the roof side portion 5 and inflates and deploys, covering the front and rear windows 8 in a curtain shape, and the front and rear seats. The head, chest, etc. of each occupant A are protected.
[0033]
Further, deployment of the airbag 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIGS. 3 to 7 show the airbag 1 attached to the occupant A in the right seat, for example, as viewed from the front. In addition, what is indicated as the occupant A is a dummy head portion for a collision test.
[0034]
First, in the state shown in FIG. 3, when the gas supplied from the inflator is introduced into the airbag 1 through the gas inlet 28, this gas is first supplied to the first folding portion 57 forming the conduit portion 55. It is supplied to the inflatable portion 27 located, and as shown in FIG. 4, the first folded portion 57 located on the occupant A side is deployed. In this state, the deployed first folding portion 57 pushes and deforms the head lining 17 and the like, and secures the protrusion of the airbag 1. At the same time, portions other than the first folded portion 57 of the airbag 1 start pushing the body surface outward.
[0035]
Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the gas is supplied to the inflatable portion 27 located at the second fold portion 58 to expand the second fold portion 58 located outside. In this state, the unfolded second folding portion 58 pushes and moves the other portion of the airbag 1 such as the gathering portion 56 toward the passenger compartment 4 to further push and deform the headlining 17. In addition, a projecting opening of the airbag 1 is secured. At the same time, the conduit portion 55 is in a deployed state, and guides the collecting portion 56 so as to be pushed downward. Further, since the second folded portion 58 is folded back at the lower end point 58a shown in FIG. 1, when the second folded portion 58 is unfolded, the second folded portion 58 is opened in a V-shape using the point 58a as a fulcrum. The gathering portion 56 which has been developed into a roll and folded in a roll shape moves so as to draw an arc shown by an arrow B, and is guided so that the roll of the gathering portion 56 faces outward as shown by an arrow C.
[0036]
Then, after the conduit portion 55 has been deployed, the collecting portion 56 starts to deploy as shown in FIG. This is because the collecting portion 56 folded in a roll shape has a higher gas flow resistance at the time of development than the conduit portion 55 folded just to crush. The unfolding portion 56 is guided so as to face outward and is folded by an outer roll. Therefore, the leading end portion of the unfolding always generates an outward force while the glass of the window portion 8 is formed. It is deployed downward while sliding along the surface or the surface of the pillar 12, etc., and is completed as shown in FIG. 7 to protect the head of the occupant A.
[0037]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, with respect to the curtain airbag that extends from roof side portion 5 to window portion 8 and protects the head of occupant A, gas is introduced from gas inlet 28 into airbag 1. Then, first, the conduit portion 55 is unfolded, that is, the first fold portion 57 and the second fold portion 58 are quickly unfolded, and then unfolded in order to unfold the gather portion 56 in this order. Guided by the first folded portion 57 and the second folded portion 58, the collecting portion 56 is stably and smoothly deployed from a desired position in a desired direction, and the airbag 1 is brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle compartment 4. It can be easily and stably deployed smoothly with the occupant A in the vehicle compartment 4.
[0038]
Further, the gathering portion 56, which is the main portion of the inflating portion 27 of the airbag 1, is applied with an outward force due to the unwinding behavior of the gathering portion 56 of the outer roll, and unfolds along a predetermined surface such as the window portion 8, Further, the occupant A is deployed so as to push away the head thereof. Therefore, for example, when the vehicle 3 is tilted or in a so-called rollover state such as a rollover accident, even if the head of the occupant A is close to a predetermined surface such as the window portion 8, the behavior of the outer roll gathering portion 56 is improved. As a result, the head of the occupant A is pushed back inside the passenger compartment 4, and the airbag 1 is deployed with favorable characteristics so as to enter between the occupant A and a predetermined surface such as the window portion 8. It can be easily and stably deployed between A and a predetermined surface such as the window portion 8 to protect an occupant.
[0039]
When the airbag 1 is deployed, first, the first folded portion 57, which is the upper part of the conduit portion 55, is deployed, so that the trims such as the head lining 17 are greatly pushed open to protrude the airbag 1. The mouth can be secured, and subsequently, the second folding part 58, which is the lower part of the conduit part 55, expands and pushes the collecting part 56, which is a lump of the airbag 1, toward the passenger compartment 4, and from the window part 8, etc. It can be moved to a desired separated deployment start position. Therefore, for example, trims such as the pillar garnish 16 of the pillar 12 such as the B pillar have a step such as a support portion of the seatbelt. It can be smoothly and stably deployed without being affected by the kind of the like, that is, without being caught by each pillar 12 or the like.
[0040]
Also, as in the present embodiment, by introducing gas into the communicating portion 32 between the front seat expansion chamber 33 and the rear seat expansion chamber 34, the airbag 1 having a large longitudinal dimension in the front-rear direction can also be extended. It is easy to adjust the deployment balance in the direction, and the front and rear windows 8 can be stably and quickly covered with the airbag 1.
[0041]
Further, the folded shape of the airbag 1 is simple, the airbag 1 can be easily folded, the work process can be facilitated, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In particular, in a so-called curtain airbag which is deployed from the roof side portion 5, for a type in which gas is introduced from an intermediate portion between the front-seat inflation chamber 33 and the rear-seat inflation chamber 34, the conduit portion 55 into which gas is initially introduced is provided. In some cases, the airbag 1 does not necessarily have a straight line shape but has a complicated shape such as a bent shape. However, even when the conduit portion 55 has a complicated shape, the airbag 1 can be easily folded.
[0042]
In addition, the inflatable portion 27 of the airbag 1 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can take various shapes. For example, a configuration in which a gas inlet 28 is provided at the rear end of the airbag body 21 can be applied. That is, in this configuration, the conduit portion 55 communicates linearly from the rear end portion where the gas inlet 28 is provided to the front end portion of the expansion portion 27.
[0043]
Further, a sealing material or the like may be applied to each of the sewing portions 26 to improve the airtightness.
[0044]
Further, the airbag of the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which the airbag is deployed from the upper side to the lower side to cover the side window of the automobile, but may be an appropriate air that needs to be inflated and deployed in a planar shape along a predetermined surface. It can be applied to a bag device. For example, the airbag 1 folded in the above shape is vertically housed in a pillar garnish 16 of a pillar 12 such as a B pillar along a longitudinal direction, and is deployed forward of the automobile 3 along a front window 8. It can also be done. Further, the folded airbag 1 is stored in a state of being inclined along the longitudinal direction of the C pillar, and is deployed toward the front lower side of the automobile 3 along the rear window portion 8 so that the occupant A of the rear seats You can also protect your head.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
According to the airbag of the first aspect, when gas is introduced into the airbag from the gas introduction port, the inflating portion expands, and the inflating portion inflates the first folding portion and the second folding portion. Part and the third folding part. Guided by the first and second folds that have been developed earlier, the third fold can be stably and smoothly deployed from a desired position in a desired direction. Furthermore, since the third folding portion is folded in a roll shape wound around the predetermined surface side from the front end portion, the third folding portion can be easily developed along the predetermined surface. Further, since the first fold is located on the opposite side of the predetermined surface and the second fold is located on the predetermined surface side with respect to the third fold, the first fold that is developed first is opened. The folding section eliminates a member that interferes with the deployment of the third folding section, such as a member that covers the airbag, and the second folding section that subsequently deploys places the third folding section on a predetermined surface. The third folded portion can be stably and smoothly deployed in a desired direction from a desired position by holding the third folding portion at a position slightly separated from the third folding portion.
[0046]
According to the airbag of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the airbag is disposed on the roof side portion of the vehicle in a folded state, and the predetermined surface is a side surface of the vehicle compartment. Can be stably and smoothly deployed between the side of the cabin and the occupant in the cabin.
[0047]
According to the airbag of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the first or second aspect, the inflating portion includes a first inflating portion, a second inflating portion, and the first and second inflating portions. Since the gas introduction port communicates with the communication portion, even in a configuration having a large longitudinal dimension, the deployment balance in the longitudinal direction can be easily adjusted, and the predetermined surface is stably and quickly covered with the airbag. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag device showing an embodiment of the airbag of the present invention, taken along a position corresponding to II in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the airbag.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view at the start of a collision, showing a deployment process of the airbag.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a state following FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state following FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state following FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state following FIG. 6;
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 airbag 3 automobile 4 as vehicle Vehicle compartment 5 roof side portion 8 window portion 27 forming a predetermined surface inflatable portion 28 gas inlet 32 communication portion 33 front seat inflatable chamber 34 as first inflatable portion second inflatable portion Rear-seat expansion chamber 56 as a part gathering part 57 as a third folding part first folding part 58 second folding part

Claims (3)

An airbag that is folded and stored, gas is introduced, and inflates and deploys along a predetermined surface,
A gas inlet into which gas is introduced, and an inflating portion communicating with the gas inlet,
A first folded portion including the inflatable portion communicating with the gas inlet, and a second folded portion including the inflatable portion communicating with the inflatable portion located in the first folded portion; 2 folds,
The first fold portion includes the inflatable portion communicating with the inflatable portion located in the second fold portion, and is located between the first fold portion and the second fold portion. A third folding portion folded in a roll shape wound around the side,
The airbag, wherein the first fold is located on the opposite side of the predetermined surface from the third fold, and the second fold is located on the predetermined surface. . The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is disposed on a roof side portion of the vehicle in a folded state, and the predetermined surface is a side surface of a vehicle compartment. The inflation portion includes a first inflation portion, a second inflation portion, and a communication portion communicating the first and second inflation portions, and the gas inlet is connected to the communication portion. The airbag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

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