JP2004210012A - Occupant protector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an occupant protector for protecting the occupant's head by regulating a deployment direction of an air bag body so as to project it between the occupant and the window glass. <P>SOLUTION: The occupant protector A protects the occupant by deploying the air bag body 5 disposed over a door opening 1b by igniting an inflator by a signal from an impact sensor for detecting an impact from a lateral side of a vehicle 1. The occupant protector A has a regulating member 26 for regulating the air bag body 5 from deploying to the inside of a cabin 1a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an occupant protection device for protecting an occupant when a lateral impact is applied to a vehicle, and more particularly to protecting an occupant's head and preventing the occupant from unexpectedly jumping out of the vehicle. In the technical field of so-called side curtain airbags which are deployed along side windows of vehicles.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as an occupant protection device of this type, when an impact is applied to a side portion of a vehicle, an airbag bag body of a side curtain airbag is deployed in a curtain shape along a side window. An arrangement structure of a head protection bag is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state when the conventional airbag bag is deployed.
Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the airbag body 100 is formed so as to wither after being extended in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The airbag body 100 is mounted on a bracket 103 and stored in a roof head lining 102 in a state of being folded from a front pillar (not shown) of the vehicle to a roof side frame 101. In the airbag 100, an inflator (not shown) provided in a front pillar (not shown) or a rear pillar (not shown) is developed by high-pressure gas generated by a collision signal from an impact sensor. The occupant 105 is protected by pushing the roof head lining 102 to break into the vehicle compartment 104.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-115567 (pages 3 to 5, FIGS. 1 to 4)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the side curtain airbag as shown in Patent Document 1 and FIG. 7, when the airbag body 100 is deployed, a large amount of the airbag body 100 protrudes toward the occupant 105, so that the airbag body 100 is located between the occupant 105 and the window glass 106. There was a possibility of not jumping out. The airbag body 100 directly hits the head 105a of the occupant 105 like an airbag body a shown in FIG. 7, or the occupant exceeds the head 105a of the occupant 105 like an airbag bag b. There is a possibility that the head 105a of the 105 is not restrained.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide an occupant protection device that protects an occupant's head by restricting a deployment direction of an airbag bag body to protrude in a direction between an occupant and a window glass.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, in the occupant protection device according to claim 1, the inflator is ignited by a signal from an impact sensor that detects an impact from the side of the vehicle, and is disposed above the door opening. An occupant protection device that protects an occupant by deploying an airbag bag, wherein the occupant protection device includes a regulating member that regulates a direction in which the airbag bag deploys to the inside of the passenger compartment. .
[0008]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the occupant protection device includes a regulating member that regulates a deployment direction of the airbag bag body to the inside of the vehicle compartment, so that the airbag bag body is connected to the occupant and the window glass. It can be regulated to jump out in the direction between. For this reason, the airbag bag deploys toward the side of the occupant's head when the vehicle collides or rolls sideways, protecting the occupant's head and allowing the occupant to break through the window glass. Can be prevented from jumping out of the vehicle.
In addition, since the airbag body can support the airbag body that has been lowered due to vibration or the like while the vehicle is running, the airbag body can be supported by the weight of the airbag body due to the provision of the regulating member. The member on the vehicle interior side of the bag can be prevented from being swelled by being pushed toward the vehicle interior side.
And even in a place where the storage space for installing the airbag body is narrow, the airbag body can be partially supported by the regulating member, so that the airbag body can be easily placed in a narrow place. Can be installed.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an occupant protection device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the embodiment of the present invention, “front” is the front side of the vehicle, “rear” is the rear side of the vehicle, “upper” is the vertical upper side, and “lower” is the vertical lower side.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic diagram illustrating a stored state of an airbag body.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 1, the curtain airbag device (occupant protection device) A is disposed, for example, on a right side body of a vehicle 1 of a passenger car having a front row seat 2, a middle row seat 3 and a rear row seat 4. The curtain airbag device A is an airbag body installed at the door opening 1b of each of the seats 2, 3, 4 or above the pillar when an impact of a predetermined magnitude or more acts on the right side surface of the vehicle 1. The inflated portions 5b, 5c, 5d of 5 are deployed to protect the occupant B's head and the like. Note that the curtain airbag device A has the same configuration and operation as the left side body of the vehicle 1 and operates in the same manner, so that the description thereof will be omitted.
[0011]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the occupant protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic diagram showing a state when the airbag bag is deployed.
As shown in FIG. 2, a front pillar 6, a center pillar 7, and a rear pillar 8 connected to a hood (not shown) are arranged in the right side body of the vehicle 1 in order from the front side. A roof side rail 9 extending in the front-rear direction is connected to the front pillar 6, the center pillar 7, and the rear pillar 8 so as to connect respective upper ends. A front door (not shown) and a front window 11 are provided between the front pillar 6 and the center pillar 7. A rear door (not shown) and a rear window 13 are arranged between the center pillar 7 and the rear pillar 8. A quarter window 14 is provided next to the back row seats 4. As described above, the side windows including the front window 11, the rear window 13, and the quarter window 14 are provided on the side surface of the vehicle 1.
[0012]
In a range extending from the front end of the roof side rail 9 where the side window is located to the rear pillar 8, the airbag 5 is stored in a state of being folded and wrapped by a surrounding member 15 made of cloth or film. (See FIGS. 5 and 6).
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag body 5 has a large bag shape that is long in the front-rear direction with two sheets sewn together at a peripheral edge 5 a. The airbag bag 5 is supplied with the sewn portions 5e, 5f, and 5g sewn to the heads of the occupants B sitting in the front row seat 2, the middle row seat 3, and the rear row seat 4 of the vehicle 1, and gas is supplied. The inflated portions 5b, 5c, 5d for protecting the heads of the occupants B sitting in the seats 2, 3, and 4 and the sewn portions 5e, 5f, 5g are formed so that gas is not supplied. And the non-expandable region 5j.
[0014]
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the occupant protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state when the airbag bag is deployed.
As shown in FIG. 4, the airbag 5 is formed so as to wither after being deployed.
[0015]
When the inflated portions 5b, 5c of the front row seat 2 and the middle row seat 3 are deployed, the stitched portions 5e, 5f are inclined so as to be deployed slightly downward from the position of the roof head lining 16 toward the front. When the inflated portion 5d of the rear row seat 4 is unfolded, the stitching portion 5g is inclined so as to unfold slightly downward from the position of the roof head lining 16 to the rear.
[0016]
The airbag 5 is provided with an opening 5h at a location between the center pillar 7 and the middle row seat 3 located substantially at the center of the airbag 5 and a resin or resin opening is provided in the opening 5h. A metal T-shaped joint 17 is inserted in an airtight state. The T-shaped joint 17 has a supply pipe 19 connected to the inflator 18, a pipe 20 for sending the high-pressure gas supplied from the inflator 18 to the expansion section 5 b, and a supply pipe 19 for expanding the high-pressure gas supplied from the inflator 18. A pipe 21 for sending to the sections 5c and 5d is connected.
[0017]
The supply pipe 19 is provided to the inflator 18 of the rear pillar 8 through the inside of the roof head lining 16 above the rear window 13 and the quarter window 14. The inflator 18 has a built-in ignition device electrically connected to impact sensors 22 and 23 for detecting an impact from the right side surface of the vehicle 1 and a gas generating agent such as sodium azide. Device. The inflator 18 is a device in which an igniter instantaneously burns a gas generating agent in response to an impact signal from the impact sensors 22 and 23, generates high-pressure nitrogen gas, and instantaneously inflates the airbag 5.
[0018]
The pipes 20 and 21 are, for example, formed of a cylindrical body having a square cross section, and buffer the shock by deforming the impact when the head of the occupant B collides with the roof head lining 16 at the position where the airbag 5 is stored. It is made of a buffer material such as aluminum so that it can be formed. A plurality of gas supply holes (not shown) are provided in the middle of the pipes 20 and 21, and high-pressure gas from the inflator 18 is supplied from the gas supply holes to the inflatable portions 5 b and 5 c of the airbag 5. , 5d. Further, the pipes 20, 21 are disposed between the supply pipe 19 and the inflated portions 5b, 5c, 5d of the airbag body 5, and by forming a high-pressure gas passage therebetween, the high-pressure gas between them is formed. It has a function as a reinforcing material for the flow path portion.
[0019]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the occupant protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a gas supply pipe.
As shown in FIG. 6, the folded airbag 5 is disposed below the pipes 20 and 21, and the pipes 20 and 21 and the airbag 5 are both housed in the surrounding member 15. .
[0020]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the occupant protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a regulating member.
The surrounding member 15 is a substantially cylindrical cover that wraps the folded airbag bag 5 and the pipes 20 and 21. The surrounding member 15 includes a sewn portion 15 a sewn along the longitudinal direction so as to be opened by the pressure of the gas supplied to the airbag bag 5, and a fastening portion 5 i formed on the airbag bag 5. And an insertion hole 15b for insertion.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the occupant protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged sectional view of a main part.
As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag 5 is fixed to a bracket 25 welded to an inner panal 24 at a substantially constant interval from the front end to the rear end at the upper edge. The fastening portion 5i is formed so as to protrude. The fastening part 5i of the airbag body 5 is interposed between the bracket 25 and the roof head lining 16 together with the regulating member 26 installed on the vehicle compartment 1a side of the surrounding member 15, and is fixed to the bracket 25 by the fastener 10. Is done.
[0022]
The fastener 10 is composed of, for example, a bolt and a nut, and the bolt is inserted into the bracket 25 through the washer 28, the pedestal 27, the roof head lining 16, the regulating member 26, and the fastening part 5 i of the airbag 5. By screwing the nuts together, they are integrally fixed. The pedestal 27 is formed of, for example, a resin, and a washer 28, a head of the fastener 10, and the grab rail 12 are installed on the vehicle room 1 a side of the pedestal 27.
[0023]
The airbag bag body 5 wrapped by the surrounding member 15 is housed in a housing space formed between the inner panel 24 and the roof head lining 16, and as shown in FIG. 7 and the upper part of the rear pillar 8 and the upper part of the door opening 1b of the front row seat 2, the middle row seat 3 and the rear row seat 4.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3, the roof head lining 16 is a plate member constituting a ceiling surface of the vehicle compartment 1a, and includes a skin 16a having a cushioning property and a heat insulating property, and a base 16b which is more rigid than the skin 16a. Is done.
[0025]
The bracket 25 is made of a rolled steel plate or the like, the upper end is welded to the inner panel 24, and the fastener 10 is installed at the lower end. The inner panel 24 is a rolled steel plate that is installed on the side of the vehicle compartment 1 a of the roof side rail 9 and is welded to the roof side rail 9. A sealing material 29 is provided at the lower end of the welded portion between the inner panel 24 and the roof side rail 9 to cover the welded portion.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 5, the regulating member 26 is formed in a substantially U-shaped regulating portion 26 a that covers the vehicle compartment 1 a side of the airbag bag body 5 wrapped by the surrounding member 15, and is formed on the regulating portion 26 a at an upper side. A fixing portion 26c having a screw hole 26b through which the fastener 10 is inserted. The restricting member 26 is formed of a metal plate such as resin or iron and has elasticity, and the deployed airbag body 5 is connected to the occupant B by the restricting portion 26a having elasticity as shown in FIG. The directivity is provided so as to jump out between the windows such as the window 11.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 2, the restricting member 26 is formed by folding each of the expanded portions 5 b so as to restrict the protruding direction of the expanded portion 5 b of the front row seat 2, the expanded portion 5 c of the middle row seat 3, and the expanded portion 5 d of the rear row seat 4. , 5c, 5d are installed inside the vehicle compartment 1a. The regulating member 26 may be disposed so as to cover the entire folded airbag 5 or to cover a part of the airbag 5.
[0028]
The material of the regulating member 26 is not limited to the resin or the metal. For example, when the airbag 5 is deployed, the resistance at the time of deployment is as small as possible, and the temperature is low and high. However, any material may be used as long as it has a rigidity that does not break or break when the airbag bag 5 is deployed.
[0029]
Next, the operation of the occupant protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, when no impact is applied to the vehicle 1 in the direction of the right side, the airbag 5 is kept in the storage portion 34 in a folded state. The cabin 1a side of the airbag bag 5 is covered with a regulating member 26. Since the airbag body 5 is supported by the regulating member 26, the airbag body 5 is lowered by vibration or the like while the vehicle 1 is running, and the roof head lining 16 is pushed down by its own weight, and the roof head lining 16 is lowered. 16 can be prevented from expanding toward the passenger compartment 1a.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 1, when an impact of a predetermined magnitude or more acts on the right side surface of the vehicle 1 and an ignition signal is input from the impact sensors 22 and 23 to the inflator 18, gas generation in the inflator 18 occurs. The agent burns at high speed to generate high pressure gas. The high-pressure gas flows through the supply pipe 19 to the T-shaped joint 17 located at the central portion of the airbag bag body 5, and the front row 2 of the pipe 20 and the middle row 3 and the rear row 4 of the pipe 21. And supplied to the airbag 5.
[0031]
The airbag bag body 5 which is long in the front-rear direction and has inflated portions 5b, 5c, 5d which are extended toward the front three rows, the middle rows 3, and the rear rows 4 of the three rows, has a T-shaped joint 17 disposed substantially at the center. With this arrangement, the pressing gas smoothly flows from the center of the airbag body 5 toward the front and rear ends. The high-pressure gas is smoothly supplied to the inflation portions 5b, 5c, and 5d of the airbag bag body 5 by disposing the pipes 20 and 21 having the plurality of gas supply holes, so that the passage of the high-pressure gas is not blocked. You. Further, the pipes 20, 21 are disposed between the supply pipe 19 and the inflated portions 5b, 5c, 5d of the airbag body 5, thereby reinforcing the flow path of the high-pressure gas therebetween, and The durability of the bag body 5 near the high-pressure gas suction port can be improved.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 3, the folded airbag 5 pushes the surrounding member 15, the regulating member 26, and the roof head lining 16 to the inside of the vehicle compartment 1 a as indicated by imaginary lines by high-pressure gas. At this time, the regulation member 26 can suppress the airbag 5 from being pushed and spread in the direction of the head of the occupant B due to the rigidity of the regulation member 26.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 4, the airbag 5 that presses the regulating member 26 is guided by the lower end 26d because the lower end 26d of the regulating portion 26a of the regulating member 26 faces substantially directly below. It expands and deploys rapidly downward between the front window 11 and the occupant B. Thereby, the airbag 5 can restrain the head of the occupant B and protect it, and can prevent the occupant B from jumping out of the vehicle.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 2, the inflated portions 5b, 5c, 5d of the airbag body 5 for protecting the occupant B in the front row seat 2 are provided with the sewn portions 5e, 5f, 5g. , 5d can be suppressed from flowing to an unnecessary portion (non-expandable region 5j) that does not come into contact with the occupant B when deployed. By forming the sewn portions 5e, 5f and 5g in the airbag 5 as described above, the non-inflated region 5j can be provided in the airbag 5 and the volume of the airbag 5 can be reduced. Can be shortened, and appropriate tension can be applied to the expanded portions 5b, 5c, 5d.
[0035]
If the airbag body 5 expands greatly in the left-right direction at the time of deployment, the inflated portions 5b, 5c, and 5d may be deployed toward the occupant B and come into contact with the occupant B. , 5f and 5g, the inflation of the airbag body 5 in the left-right direction can be appropriately suppressed to avoid such adverse effects.
[0036]
The airbag 5 is formed with the sewn portions 5e, 5f, and 5g and has an appropriate tension, so that when the vehicle body 1 receives an impact or rolls, sufficient tension acts in the front-rear direction. The inflated portions 5b, 5c, 5d can protect the occupant B so as to stay in the passenger compartment 1a.
[0037]
The curtain airbag device A has the same configuration and operation as the left side body of the vehicle 1 and operates in the same manner as when a predetermined or more impact is applied to the left side of the vehicle 1. .
[0038]
It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the technical idea, and the present invention extends to these modified and changed inventions. Of course.
For example, the curtain airbag device A is similarly used for a vehicle 1 having only one row of front seats 2 or a vehicle 1 having two rows of front rows 2 and middle rows 3. be able to.
[0039]
Note that the pipes 20 and 21 may not be provided. In this case, the T-shaped joint 17 or the supply pipe 19 is connected directly to the opening 5h of the airbag 5 and a cushioning material for absorbing impact is provided above the folded airbag 5. Is preferred.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the occupant protection device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the airbag bag has the regulating member that regulates the direction of deployment to the inside of the vehicle compartment, so that the airbag bag is formed. It can be regulated so that it jumps out in the direction between the occupant and the window glass. For this reason, the airbag bag body is deployed toward the side of the occupant's head when the vehicle collides sideways or rolls over, protecting the occupant's head and allowing the occupant to break through the window glass. Jumping out of the vehicle can be prevented.
In addition, since the airbag body can support the airbag body that has been lowered due to vibration or the like while the vehicle is running, the airbag body can be supported by the weight of the airbag body due to the provision of the regulating member. The member on the vehicle cabin side of the bag body can be prevented from being pushed toward the vehicle cabin and expanded.
And even in a place where the storage space for installing the airbag body is narrow, the airbag body can be partially supported by the regulating member, so that the airbag body can be easily placed in a narrow place. Can be installed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view showing an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic view showing a stored state of an airbag body.
FIG. 2 is a view showing the occupant protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic view showing a state when an airbag bag is deployed.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged sectional view of a main part.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the occupant protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram showing a state when the airbag bag is deployed.
FIG. 5 is a view showing the occupant protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a regulating member.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a gas supply pipe.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state when a conventional airbag bag is deployed.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 1a Cabin 5 Airbag bag 11 Front window 13 Rear window # 14 Quarter window 16 Roof head lining 18 Inflator 22, 23 Impact sensor 26 Restriction member 26a Restriction part A Curtain airbag device (occupant protection device)
B crew

Claims (1)

An occupant protection device that protects an occupant by igniting an inflator in response to a signal from an impact sensor that detects an impact from the side of the vehicle and deploying an airbag bag disposed above the door opening. ,
The occupant protection device is characterized in that the occupant protection device includes a regulating member that regulates a direction in which the airbag body deploys to the inside of the passenger compartment.

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