JP2004217184A

JP2004217184A - Airbag device for side collision

Info

Publication number: JP2004217184A
Application number: JP2003010227A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Satoshi Mabuchi; 聡馬渕
Original assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
Current assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-01-17
Filing date: 2003-01-17
Publication date: 2004-08-05

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device for a side collision which can complete expansion of the airbag while minimizing protrusion toward an occupant and can surely protect the occupant. <P>SOLUTION: A position around a rear end at the time of the completion of expansion of an airbag 15 is a fixed point FP positioned relatively to a seat 1. In the airbag 15, the length of the film from the fixed point FP in an occupant side wall part 20 to a position around the front end is set to a value smaller than the length of the film from the fixed point FP in a car body side wall part 21 to a position around the front end. A tether 23 for connecting a position around the fixed point FP to a position around a site of connection between the occupant side wall part 20 and the car body side wall part 21 is provided between an inflator 11 within the airbag 15 and the car body side wall part 21 along the longitudinal direction. The length of the tether 23 is set so as to be substantially identical to the length of the film of the occupant side wall part 20 at the time of the completion of the expansion of the airbag 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、車両の座席に配置されて、作動時、車体側となる車内壁と乗員との間に、前方に向かって突出するように展開膨張可能なエアバッグを備える構成の側突用エアバッグ装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、上記構成の側突用エアバッグ装置では、エアバッグは、略同一形状とされる車体側壁部と乗員側壁部との周縁相互を、結合させて構成されていた。この車体側壁部は、エアバッグの膨張完了時に車体側に配設されるものであり、乗員側壁部は、エアバッグの膨張完了時に乗員側に配設されるものであった（例えば、特許文献１参照）。
【０００３】
すなわち、従来の側突用エアバッグ装置では、膨張完了時のエアバッグにおいて、車体側壁部の車両前後方向における膜長と、乗員側壁部の車両前後方向における膜長と、が、略同一に設定される構成であった。
【０００４】
【特許文献１】
特開平９−２０７６９８号公報
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
通常、上記のような構成の側突用エアバッグ装置では、エアバッグは、インフレーターからの膨張用ガスを流入させて膨張する際、膨張完了状態の形状を、極力、球形に近づけるように、膨張することとなる。そのため、膨張を完了させたエアバッグが、車体側だけでなく、乗員側にも大きく突出して、乗員を必要以上に押圧する虞れがあった。
【０００６】
本発明は、上述の課題を解決するものであり、乗員側への突出を極力抑えた状態で、エアバッグの膨張を完了させることができ、かつ、乗員を的確に保護可能な側突用エアバッグ装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明に係る側突用エアバッグ装置は、車両の座席に配置されて、作動時、車体側となる車内壁と乗員との間に、前方に向かって突出するように展開膨張可能なエアバッグを備える構成とされて、
エアバッグが、
膨張完了時の後部側に膨張用ガスを吐出するインフレーターを内蔵させて、膨張完了時における後端付近を、座席に対して相対的に位置決めされる固定点とするとともに、
膨張完了時において、固定点から前方側へ延びてインフレーターと乗員との間に配設される乗員側壁部と、固定点から前方側へ延びてインフレーターと車内壁との間に配設される車体側壁部と、を備えて構成されて、乗員側壁部の前端付近と車体側壁部の前端付近とを結合させてなる構成の側突用エアバッグ装置において、
エアバッグが、膨張完了時において、
乗員側壁部における固定点から前端付近にかけての車両前後方向に沿った膜長を、車体側壁部における固定点から前端付近にかけての車両前後方向に沿った膜長より、小さく設定させ、かつ、
インフレーターと車体側壁部との間で、前後方向に沿うように、固定点付近と、乗員側壁部と車体側壁部との結合部位付近と、を連結するテザーを、配設させ、
テザーが、エアバッグの膨張完了時において、車両前後方向における長さ寸法を、乗員側壁部の車両前後方向における膜長と略同一に設定されていることを特徴とする。
【０００８】
本発明の側突用エアバッグ装置では、エアバッグの膨張完了時において、乗員側壁部における固定点から前端付近にかけての車両前後方向に沿った膜長が、車体側壁部における固定点から前端付近にかけての車両前後方向に沿った膜長より小さく設定されるとともに、固定点付近と、乗員側壁部と車体側壁部との結合部位付近と、を連結するテザーの前後方向における長さ寸法が、乗員側壁部における車両前後方向に沿った膜長と、略同一に設定されている。そして、テザーは、エアバッグの膨張完了時において、インフレーターと車体側壁部との間に配設されている。そのため、本発明では、エアバッグの膨張完了時において、前後方向の長さ寸法を略等しくしたテザーと乗員側壁部との相互の後端付近で、インフレーターを挟み、かつ、テザーの前端付近と乗員側壁部の前端付近とが結合されるような態様となる。すなわち、本発明では、膨張完了時のエアバッグの前後方向の横断面において、テザーと乗員側壁部とで略二等辺三角形を構成するように、エアバッグが、膨張を完了させることとなる。その結果、乗員側壁部が、乗員側への部分的な突出を抑えた平らな状態で、エアバッグの膨張を完了させることができて、この乗員側壁部により、乗員を、不必要に押圧することなく、的確に保護することができる。
【０００９】
また、本発明の側突用エアバッグ装置では、車体側壁部は、車両前後方向における膜長を、乗員側壁部の車両前後方向における膜長より、大きく設定されていることから、エアバッグの展開膨張時に、車体側壁部が、車体側へ大きく突出するように膨張を完了させることとなる。そのため、膨張完了時のエアバッグにおける左右方向の厚さを十分に確保することができ、膨張を完了させたエアバッグにより、乗員を、クッション性よく保護することができる。
【００１０】
従って、本発明の側突用エアバッグ装置では、乗員側への突出を極力抑えた状態で、エアバッグの膨張を完了させることができ、かつ、乗員を的確に保護することができる。
【００１１】
また、上記構成の側突用エアバッグ装置において、車体側壁部が、周縁付近にかけてタックを設けるようにして、周縁を、タックを重ねた状態で、乗員側壁部の周縁と結合させている構成とすることが好ましい。
【００１２】
側突用エアバッグ装置を上記のような構成とすれば、エアバッグの製造時において、車体側壁部に、周縁付近にかけてタックを形成し、車体側壁部の周縁を、単に、タックを重ねた状態で、乗員側壁部の周縁と結合させれば、乗員側壁部より車両前後方向の膜長を大きくした車体側壁部を備えたエアバッグを製造できることから、エアバッグ自体の製造が容易となる。
【００１３】
さらに、上記構成の側突用エアバッグ装置において、テザーが、エアバッグの膨張完了時において、上下方向の長さ寸法を、乗員側壁部の上下方向における膜長と略同一に設定されるとともに、
上端を、エアバッグにおける車体側壁部の上端付近と乗員側壁部の上端付近との結合部位付近に結合させ、下端を、エアバッグにおける車体側壁部の下端付近と乗員側壁部の下端付近との結合部位付近に結合させるように、配設されている構成とすることが好ましい。
【００１４】
側突用エアバッグ装置を上記のような構成とすれば、乗員側壁部が、テザーにより、前後方向の両端だけでなく、上下方向の両端も規制されることとなる。そのため、乗員側壁部が乗員側への部分的な突出を一層抑えられた平らな状態で、エアバッグが膨張を完了させることとなり、乗員側壁部の乗員側への突出が一層抑えられることとなる。また、乗員側壁部の上下方向の両端がテザーにより規制されることから、車体側壁部における上下方向の膜長を、乗員側壁部の上下方向の膜長より大きく設定することができ、このように設定する場合には、車体側壁部を、車体側へ、一層、大きく突出させることも可能となる。その結果、上記構成の側突用エアバッグ装置では、エアバッグの膨張完了時における乗員側への突出を一層抑えて、乗員をクッション性よく、的確に、保護することができる。
【００１５】
さらにまた、上記構成の側突用エアバッグ装置において、テザーが、インフレーターから吐出される膨張用ガスを、エアバッグ内における車体側壁部側に、流出可能なガス流出孔を備える構成とされ、かつ、エアバッグ内を車体側壁部側と乗員側壁部側とに区画するように、周縁を、略全周にわたって、乗員側壁部の周縁及び車体側壁部の周縁とともに、結合させて配設されている構成とすることが好ましい。
【００１６】
側突用エアバッグ装置を上記のような構成とすれば、エアバッグの製造時に、テザー用の基布を、車体側壁部と乗員側壁部との間に、外周縁の位置をあわせるようにして配設させて、周縁相互を結合させれば、エアバッグ内にテザーを配設させることができることから、車体側壁部及び乗員側壁部に対して、テザーの上下・前後方向の位置決めが容易となり、エアバッグの製造が容易となる。
【００１７】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の一実施形態を図面に基づいて説明する。実施形態の側突用エアバッグ装置Ｍは、図１・２に示すように、車両用の座席１の背もたれ部２における車外側部位の上部に配置されている。
【００１８】
なお、本明細書における上下、左右、及び、前後は、側突用エアバッグ装置Ｍを車両に搭載させた際の車両の上下・左右・前後に対応するものである。
【００１９】
背もたれ部２には、略上下方向に配置されるシートフレーム３が配設され、側突用エアバッグ装置Ｍは、インフレーター１１の取付ブラケット１３から突出する取付ボルト１３ｂをナット８止めされて、フレーム３に固定されている。なお、４はクッション、５・６は装飾布等からなる表皮である。また、クッション４には、エアバッグ１５の膨張時にクッション４の破断位置を一定とするために、凹部４ｂが、設けられている。
【００２０】
側突用エアバッグ装置Ｍは、実施形態の場合、折り畳まれたエアバッグ１５と、エアバッグ１５に膨張用ガスを供給するインフレーター１１と、を備えて構成されている。
【００２１】
インフレーター１１は、図２〜４に示すように、本体１２と、２つの取付ブラケット１３と、を備えて構成され、本体１２は、略円柱状のシリンダタイプとして、リード線１２ｄから所定の電気信号を入力した際に、膨張用ガスを吐出させるものである。本体１２は、円柱状の大径部１２ａと、大径部１２ａ上端に設けられた小径部１２ｂと、を備えて構成されている。そして、小径部１２ｂには、図２に示すように、膨張用ガスを吐出させる複数のガス吐出口１２ｃが形成されている。各取付ブラケット１３は、円環状の板金製のクランプ部１３ａと、クランプ部１３ａに固着された取付ボルト１３ｂと、を備えて構成されている。各取付ブラケット１３は、本体１２の大径部１２ａにクランプ部１３ａが外装されるとともに、クランプ部１３ａが縮径されるようにかしめられて、本体１２に固定される構成である。
【００２２】
エアバッグ１５は、車体側となる車内壁Ｗ（図９の二点鎖線参照）と乗員Ｐとの間に、前方に向かって突出するように展開膨張可能とされており、図１〜５・９に示すように、膨張完了時の形状を略長方形板状とされている。エアバッグ１５は、膨張完了時の後部１７側の内部に、インフレーター１１を内蔵させている。そして、後部１７には、インフレーター１１の各取付ボルト１３ｂを挿通させる取付孔１７ａが形成されるとともに、インフレーター１１から延びるリード線１２ｄを挿通させるための図示しない挿通孔が形成されている。また、エアバッグ１５は、膨張完了時における後端付近を、座席１に対して相対的に位置決めされる固定点ＦＰとしている（図５参照）。固定点ＦＰは、実施形態の場合、インフレーター１１の取付ボルト１３ｂよりも車体側で、後述する補強布２８の車体側の前縁よりも乗員側となる位置に、設定されることとなる。エアバッグ１５は、実施形態の場合、エアバッグ本体１９と、エアバッグ本体１９内に配設されるテザー２３と、から構成されている。
【００２３】
エアバッグ本体１９は、ポリアミド糸やポリエステル糸等を使用した可撓性を有した織布から形成されており、実施形態の場合、固定点ＦＰから前方側へ延びてインフレーター１１と乗員Ｐとの間に配設される乗員側壁部２０と、固定点ＦＰから前方側へ延びてインフレーター１１と車内壁Ｗとの間に配設される車体側壁部２１と、を備えている。エアバッグ本体１９は、図６に示すように、乗員側壁部２０を構成する乗員側壁部用部位３２と、車体側壁部２１を構成する車体側壁部用部位３３と、の後端側を連結させた１枚のエアバッグ本体用基布３１から構成されるもので、この連結部位を折り返し、乗員側壁部用部位３２と車体側壁部用部位３３との周縁相互を縫合させて、構成されている。
【００２４】
車体側壁部用部位３３は、図６に示すように、前後方向の幅寸法Ｌ１と上下方向の幅寸法ｗ１とを、それぞれ、乗員側壁部用部位３２の前後方向の幅寸法Ｌ２と上下方向の幅寸法ｗ２より、大きく設定されて、外形形状を、乗員側壁部用部位３２より、大きくされている。すなわち、エアバッグ本体１９の膨張完了時において、乗員側壁部２０における固定点ＦＰから前端２０ａ付近にかけての車両前後方向に沿った膜長が、車体側壁部２１における固定点ＦＰから前端２１ａ付近にかけての車両前後方向に沿った膜長より、小さく設定されることとなる。また、実施形態の場合、エアバッグ本体１９の膨張完了時において、乗員側壁部２０における上下方向に沿った膜長も、車体側壁部２１における上下方向に沿った膜長よりも、小さく設定されることとなる。そして、実施形態の場合、車体側壁部用部位３３は、図３・７に示すように、周縁付近にかけてタック２２を配設させた状態で、周縁を、タック２２ごと、乗員側壁部用部位３２の周縁と縫着されて、エアバッグ本体１９の車体側壁部２１を構成している。
【００２５】
テザー２３は、エアバッグ本体１９と同様のポリアミド糸やポリエステル糸等を使用した可撓性を有した織布から形成されており、図５・６に示すように、インフレーター本体１２と車体側壁部２１との間において、前後方向に沿って配設される本体部２４と、本体部２４の後端側から乗員側壁部２０側に延設されて、テザー２３を乗員側壁部２０と車体側壁部２１とに縫着させる取付部２６と、を備えている。このテザー２３は、固定点ＦＰ付近と、乗員側壁部２０と車体側壁部２１との結合部位付近と、を連結する構成である。
【００２６】
本体部２４は、取付部２６における後述する車体側壁部側の部位２６ａを含めて、実施形態の場合、エアバッグ本体用基布３１における乗員側壁部用部位３２と、外形形状を略同一とされている。本体部２４は、取付部２６における車体側壁部側の部位２６ａを含めて、前後方向の幅寸法Ｌ３を乗員側壁部用部位３２の前後方向の幅寸法Ｌ２と略同一に設定され、上下方向の幅寸法ｗ３を乗員側壁部用部位３２の上下方向の幅寸法ｗ２と略同一に設定されるもので、周縁を、略全周にわたって、乗員側壁部２０及び車体側壁部２１の周縁とともに、縫合されている。すなわち、実施形態の場合、本体部２４は、固定点ＦＰから前端までの長さ寸法を、乗員側壁部２０における固定点ＦＰから前端２０ａまでの前後方向の長さ寸法と、略同一とするとともに、上下方向の長さ寸法を、乗員側壁部２０の上下方向における膜長と、略同一に設定されている。
【００２７】
また、本体部２４の後端近傍となる部位には、上下方向の両端を切り欠くようにして、２つのガス流出孔２５・２５が、形成されている。このガス流出孔２５は、インフレーター本体１２から吐出された膨張用ガスを、エアバッグ本体１９内における車体側壁部２１側に流出させるためのものである。すなわち、実施形態の場合、エアバッグ本体１９は、本体部２４により、内部を、乗員側壁部２０側となる部位と車体側壁部２１側となる部位との２室に、分割されたような態様となっている。
【００２８】
また、実施形態の場合、エアバッグ１５における後部１７側の部位には、補強布２８が、配設されている。この補強布２８は、図６に示すように、インフレーター１１の周囲となる乗員側壁部２０の後端側の部位と車体側壁部２１の後端側の部位とを略全面にわたって覆い可能な形状とされており、周縁を、略全周にわたって、エアバッグ本体用基布３１に縫着されている。すなわち、実施形態の場合、補強布２８は、車体側壁部側の部位２８ａを、乗員側壁部側の部位２８ｂより、上下方向の幅寸法を大きくして、形成されている。
【００２９】
また、テザー２３は、実施形態の場合、補強布２８とともに、エアバッグ本体用基布３１に縫着される構成であり、図６に示すように、本体部２４を構成する本体部用部位３５ａと、取付部２６を構成する取付部用部位３５ｂとを連結させた１枚のテザー用基布３５から構成されている。テザー２３の取付部２６は、補強布２８と略同一形状とされている。そして、テザー２３は、実施形態の場合、取付部２６における車体側壁部側の部位２６ａ及び乗員側壁部側の部位２６ｂのそれぞれの前縁を、補強布２８における車体側壁部側の部位２８ａ及び乗員側壁部側の部位２８ｂのそれぞれの前縁とともに、エアバッグ本体用基布３１の車体側壁部側部位３３・乗員側壁部側部位３２に縫着されている。また、テザー２３におけるガス流出孔２５を除いた本体部２４の周縁及び取付部２６の上下方向の縁部は、乗員側壁部側部位３２及び車体側壁部側部位３３の周縁とともに、縫合されている。
【００３０】
次に、実施形態の側突用エアバッグ装置Ｍの車両への搭載について説明する。まず、エアバッグ１５を製造する。具体的には、平らに展開した状態のエアバッグ本体用基布３１における車体側壁部用部位３３に、車体側壁部用部位３３の外形形状を、乗員側壁部用部位３２の外形形状と略同一となるように、周縁にかけて複数のタック２２を設ける。なお、実施形態の場合、タック２２は、図７に示すように、前後方向に沿うようなタック２２Ａが、上下方向に沿った２箇所に、上下方向に沿うようなタック２２Ｂが、前後方向に沿った４箇所に、それぞれ、車体側壁部用部位３３の略全長にわたって、形成されることとなる。その後、補強布２８とテザー用基布３５とを、順次、平らに展開した状態のエアバッグ本体用基布３１上に、平らに展開した状態で重ね、まず、補強布２８における車体側壁部側の部位２８ａ及び乗員側壁部側の部位２８ｂにおける前縁付近を、それぞれ、縫合糸を利用して、テザー本体用基布３５とともに、エアバッグ本体用基布３１に縫着させる。そして、取付孔１７ａと、リード線１２ｄを挿通させるための図示しない挿通孔と、の孔明け加工を、エアバッグ本体用基布３１・補強布２８・テザー用基布３５の所定箇所に、施す。なお、取付孔１７ａ及び挿通孔は、エアバッグ本体用基布３１・補強布２８・テザー用基布３５に、予め、形成しておいてもよい。その後、乗員側壁部用部位３２側を、車体側壁部側用部位３１側に重ねるようにして、エアバッグ本体用基布３１を、補強布２８及びテザー用基布３５ごと、折り返し、乗員側壁部用部位３２と車体側壁部用部位３１の周縁相互を、補強布２８及びテザー用基布３５の周縁とともに、縫合糸を利用して、縫合する。このとき、インフレーター１１挿通用の未縫合部位１７ｂ（図３参照）を残しておく。そして、未縫合部位１７ｂからインフレーター１１を収納して、各取付ボルト１３ｂを取付孔１７ａから突出させる。その後、エアバッグ１５の未縫合部位１７ｂを縫合して、エアバッグ１５を製造する。また、インフレーター１１のリード線１２ｄも、挿通孔から突出させておく。
【００３１】
次に、エアバッグ１５を折り畳む。実施形態の場合、まず、図８のＡ・Ｂに示すように、エアバッグ１５の上端側と下端側とを、車体側壁部２１側に折り返す。次いで、図８のＣ・Ｄに示すように、エアバッグ１５の前部１６側を後部１７側に接近させるように、上下方向に沿った折目をつけて、蛇腹折りし、エアバッグ１５の折り畳みを完了させる。そして、エアバッグ１５の折り畳み完了後には、周囲を、エアバッグ１５の折り崩れを防止可能とするとともに、展開膨張するエアバッグ１５により破断可能なラッピング材３８により、覆っておく（図２参照）。このとき、インフレーター１１の取付ボルト１３ｂ及びリード線１２ｄは、ラッピング材３８から突出させておく。
【００３２】
そして、ラッピング材３８から突出した各取付ボルト１３ｂを、シートフレーム３にナット８止めして、座席１の背もたれ部２にエアバッグ装置Ｍを取り付け、クッション４や表皮５・６等を取り付けて、座席１を組み立てた後、座席１を車両に装着させて、インフレーター１１から延びるリード線１２ｄを、図示しないエアバッグ作動用回路に結線させれば、エアバッグ装置Ｍを車両に搭載することができる。
【００３３】
エアバッグ装置Ｍの車両への搭載後、所定の作動信号がインフレーター本体１２に入力されて、ガス吐出口１２ｃから膨張用ガスが吐出されれば、エアバッグ１５が膨張して、ラッピング材３８を破断するとともに、座席１の側方に配置されるクッションの部位４ａを開かせて、図１・２の二点鎖線及び図９に示すように、座席１から前方へ大きく突出するように膨張することとなる。
【００３４】
そして、実施形態のエアバッグ装置Ｍでは、エアバッグ１５の膨張完了時において、乗員側壁部２０における固定点ＦＰから前端２０ａ付近にかけての車両前後方向に沿った膜長が、車体側壁部２１における固定点ＦＰから前端２１ａ付近にかけての車両前後方向に沿った膜長より小さく設定されるとともに、固定点ＦＰ付近と、乗員側壁部２０と車体側壁部２１との結合部位付近と、を連結するテザー２３における本体部２４の前後方向における長さ寸法が、乗員側壁部２０における車両前後方向に沿った膜長と、略同一に設定されている。そして、テザー２３の本体部２４は、エアバッグ１５の膨張完了時において、インフレーター１１と車体側壁部２１との間に配設されている。そのため、実施形態では、エアバッグ１５の膨張完了時において、前後方向の長さ寸法を略等しくしたテザー２３の本体部２４と乗員側壁部２０との相互の後端付近で、インフレーター１１を挟み、かつ、テザー２３における本体部２４の前端２４ａ付近と乗員側壁部２０の前端２４ａ付近とが結合されるような態様となる。すなわち、実施形態では、膨張完了時のエアバッグ１５における前後方向の横断面において、テザー２３の本体部２４と乗員側壁部２０とで略二等辺三角形を構成するように、エアバッグ１５が、膨張を完了させることとなる（図５参照）。その結果、図９に示すように、乗員側壁部２０が、乗員Ｐ側への部分的な突出を抑えた平らな状態で、エアバッグ１５の膨張を完了させることができて、この乗員側壁部２０により、乗員Ｐを、不必要に押圧することなく、的確に保護することができる。
【００３５】
また、実施形態の側突用エアバッグ装置Ｍでは、車体側壁部２１は、車両前後方向における膜長を、乗員側壁部２０の車両前後方向における膜長より、大きく設定されていることから、エアバッグ１５の展開膨張時に、車体側壁部２１が、車体側へ大きく突出するように膨張を完了させることとなる（図５・９参照）。そのため、膨張完了時のエアバッグ１５における左右方向の厚さを十分に確保することができ、膨張を完了させたエアバッグ１５により、乗員Ｐを、クッション性よく保護することができる。
【００３６】
従って、実施形態の側突用エアバッグ装置Ｍでは、乗員Ｐ側への突出を極力抑えた状態で、エアバッグ１５の膨張を完了させることができ、かつ、乗員Ｐを的確に保護することができる。
【００３７】
また、実施形態の側突用エアバッグ装置Ｍでは、車体側壁部２１が、周縁付近にかけてタック２２を設けるようにして、周縁を、タック２２を重ねた状態で、乗員側壁部２０の周縁と結合させている構成である。そのため、エアバッグ１５の製造時において、車体側壁部２１に、周縁付近にかけてタック２２を形成し、車体側壁部２１の周縁を、単に、タック２２を重ねた状態で、乗員側壁部２０の周縁と結合させれば、乗員側壁部２０より車両前後方向の膜長を大きくした車体側壁部２１を備えたエアバッグ１５を製造できることから、エアバッグ１５自体の製造が容易となる。勿論、この点を考慮しなければ、車体側壁部にタックを設けなくともよく、例えば、車体側壁部を部分的につまむようにして車体側壁部の外周縁を乗員側壁部の外周縁と合わせ、周縁を、乗員側壁部の周縁と結合させて、エアバッグを製造してもよい。
【００３８】
さらに、実施形態の側突用エアバッグ装置Ｍでは、テザー２３の本体部２４が、エアバッグ１５の膨張完了時における上下方向の長さ寸法を、乗員側壁部２０の上下方向における膜長と略同一に設定されて、上下方向の両端を、乗員側壁部２０における上下方向の両端と結合されている構成である。すなわち、実施形態のエアバッグ装置Ｍでは、乗員側壁部２０が、テザー２３の本体部２４により、前後方向の両端だけでなく、上下方向の両端も規制されることとなる。そのため、乗員側壁部２０の乗員Ｐ側への部分的な突出を一層抑えられた平らな状態で、エアバッグ１５が膨張を完了させることとなり、乗員側壁部２０の乗員Ｐ側への突出が一層抑えられることとなる。また、実施形態の場合、車体側壁部２１における上下方向の膜長が、乗員側壁部１１の上下方向の膜長より大きく設定されていることから、車体側壁部２１を、車体側へ、一層、大きく突出させることが可能となる。その結果、実施形態の側突用エアバッグ装置Ｍでは、エアバッグ１５の膨張完了時における乗員Ｐ側への突出を一層抑えて、乗員Ｐをクッション性よく、的確に、保護することができる。勿論、この点を考慮しなければ、テザーとして、前後方向に延びる帯状のものを配設させ、乗員側壁部の前後方向の両端のみを規制するように、エアバッグを構成してもよい。
【００３９】
さらにまた、実施形態の側突用エアバッグ装置Ｍでは、テザー２３の本体部２４が、エアバッグ１５内を車体側壁部２１側と乗員側壁部２０側とに区画するように、周縁を、略全周にわたって、乗員側壁部２０の周縁及び車体側壁部２１の周縁とともに、結合されている構成である。そして、テザー２３の本体部２４は、インフレーター１１から吐出される膨張用ガスを、エアバッグ１５内における車体側壁部２１側に、流出可能なガス流出孔２５を備える構成である。そのため、エアバッグ１５の製造時に、テザー用基布３５を、車体側壁部２１を構成する車体側壁部用部位３３と、乗員側壁部２０を構成する乗員側壁部用部位３２と、の間に、外周縁の位置をあわせるようにして配設させて、周縁相互を結合させれば、エアバッグ１５内にテザー２３を配設させることができることから、車体側壁部２１及び乗員側壁部２０に対して、テザー２３の上下・前後方向の位置決めが容易となり、エアバッグ１５の製造が容易となる。勿論この点を考慮しなければ、エアバッグとして、乗員側壁部の前後方向の両端と上下方向の両端とを規制する十文字形状のテザーを備える構成としてもよい。また、実施形態の場合、ガス流出孔２５は、本体部２４の後端側の２箇所にのみ形成されているが、図６の二点鎖線に示すように、後端側の２箇所に加えて、本体部の前端側の２箇所に配設させる構成としてもよい。
【００４０】
なお、実施形態の場合、エアバッグ１５は、蛇腹折りされて収納されているが、エアバッグ１５の折り畳み形状はこれに限られるものではなく、例えば、エアバッグ１５を、カクタス折りやロール折りにより折り畳んで収納させる構成としてもよい。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施形態である側突用エアバッグ装置の使用態様を示す座席の側面図である。
【図２】図１のＩＩ−ＩＩ部位の概略断面図である。
【図３】同実施形態で使用するエアバッグの膨張完了時における正面図である。
【図４】同実施形態のエアバッグの膨張完了時における背面図である。
【図５】図３のＶ−Ｖ部位の概略拡大断面図である。
【図６】同実施形態のエアバッグを構成する基布を示す分解図である。
【図７】同実施形態のエアバッグの膨張前の状態を示す概略図である。
【図８】同実施形態のエアバッグの折り畳み工程を示す概略図である。
【図９】同実施形態の側突用エアバッグ装置において、エアバッグの膨張完了状態を示す概略断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１…座席、
２…背もたれ部、
１１…インフレーター、
１５…エアバッグ、
１９…エアバッグ本体、
２０…乗員側壁部、
２０ａ…前端、
２１…車体側壁部、
２１ａ…前端、
２２（２２Ａ・２２Ｂ）…タック、
２３…テザー、
２４…本体部、
２５…ガス流出孔、
ＦＰ…固定点、
Ｐ…乗員、
Ｍ…側突用エアバッグ装置。[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a side collision air having a configuration in which an airbag that is arranged on a vehicle seat and that can be deployed and inflated so as to protrude forward is provided between an occupant and an inner wall on the vehicle body side during operation. The present invention relates to a bag device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in the side collision airbag device having the above-described configuration, the airbag is configured such that peripheral edges of a vehicle body side wall and an occupant side wall having substantially the same shape are connected to each other. The side wall portion of the vehicle body is disposed on the vehicle body when the inflation of the airbag is completed, and the side wall portion of the occupant is disposed on the occupant side when the inflation of the airbag is completed. 1).
[0003]
That is, in the conventional side collision airbag device, in the airbag at the time of completion of inflation, the film length of the vehicle body side wall in the vehicle front-rear direction and the film length of the occupant side wall in the vehicle front-rear direction are set to be substantially the same. It was a configuration to be done.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-207699
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Normally, in the side collision airbag device having the above-described configuration, when the airbag is inflated by flowing inflation gas from the inflator, the shape of the inflation completed state is made as close as possible to a spherical shape as much as possible. Will be done. For this reason, there is a risk that the inflated airbag will protrude not only toward the vehicle body but also toward the occupant, and press the occupant more than necessary.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and it is possible to complete the inflation of an airbag while minimizing the protrusion to the occupant side, and to provide a side collision air that can appropriately protect the occupant. It is an object to provide a bag device.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An airbag device for a side collision according to the present invention is disposed on a seat of a vehicle, and is capable of being deployed and inflated so as to protrude forward between an occupant and an inner wall on the vehicle body side during operation. It is configured to include
The airbag,
A built-in inflator that discharges inflation gas on the rear side when inflation is completed, and near the rear end when inflation is completed, as a fixed point positioned relative to the seat,
Upon completion of inflation, an occupant side wall extending forward from the fixed point and disposed between the inflator and the occupant, and a vehicle body extending forward from the fixed point and disposed between the inflator and the vehicle interior wall A side wall portion, and a side collision airbag device having a configuration in which the vicinity of the front end of the occupant side wall portion and the vicinity of the front end of the vehicle body side wall portion are combined.
When the airbag is inflated,
The film length along the vehicle longitudinal direction from the fixed point on the occupant side wall portion to the vicinity of the front end is set smaller than the film length along the vehicle longitudinal direction from the fixed point on the vehicle body side wall portion to the vicinity of the front end, and
Between the inflator and the vehicle body side wall, a tether that connects the vicinity of the fixed point and the vicinity of the joint portion between the occupant side wall and the vehicle body side wall is arranged along the front-rear direction,
The length of the tether in the vehicle front-rear direction when the inflation of the airbag is completed is set to be substantially the same as the film length of the occupant side wall in the vehicle front-rear direction.
[0008]
In the side collision airbag device of the present invention, when the inflation of the airbag is completed, the film length along the vehicle longitudinal direction from the fixed point on the occupant side wall to the vicinity of the front end is from the fixed point on the vehicle body side wall to the vicinity of the front end. The length of the tether connecting the vicinity of the fixed point and the vicinity of the joint between the occupant side wall and the vehicle body side wall in the front and rear direction is set to be smaller than the film length along the vehicle front and rear direction. It is set to be substantially the same as the film length along the vehicle front-rear direction in the section. The tether is disposed between the inflator and the vehicle body side wall when the inflation of the airbag is completed. Therefore, in the present invention, when the inflation of the airbag is completed, the inflator is sandwiched near the mutual rear end between the tether and the occupant side wall having substantially equal lengths in the front-rear direction, and the occupant is positioned near the front end of the tether. This is a mode in which the vicinity of the front end of the side wall portion is joined. That is, in the present invention, the airbag completes the inflation so that the tether and the occupant side wall form a substantially isosceles triangle in the cross section in the front-rear direction of the airbag when the inflation is completed. As a result, the inflation of the airbag can be completed in a flat state in which the occupant side wall is suppressed from partially protruding to the occupant side, and the occupant is unnecessarily pressed by the occupant side wall. Without any protection.
[0009]
Further, in the side collision airbag device of the present invention, since the film length in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the vehicle body side wall portion is set to be larger than the film length of the occupant side wall portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the airbag deployment. At the time of inflation, the inflation is completed so that the vehicle body side wall portion protrudes largely toward the vehicle body. Therefore, the thickness in the left-right direction of the airbag at the time of completion of the inflation can be sufficiently ensured, and the occupant can be protected with good cushioning by the airbag whose inflation has been completed.
[0010]
Therefore, in the side collision airbag device of the present invention, the inflation of the airbag can be completed while the protrusion to the occupant side is suppressed as much as possible, and the occupant can be properly protected.
[0011]
Further, in the side collision airbag device having the above configuration, the vehicle body side wall portion is provided with a tack near the peripheral edge, and the peripheral edge is combined with the peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion in a state where the tack is overlapped. Is preferred.
[0012]
If the side collision airbag device is configured as described above, a tack is formed on the side wall portion of the vehicle body around the periphery thereof at the time of manufacturing the airbag, and the periphery of the side wall portion of the vehicle body is simply overlapped with the tack. Then, when the airbag is connected to the peripheral edge of the occupant side wall, it is possible to manufacture an airbag having a vehicle body side wall having a larger film length in the vehicle front-rear direction than the occupant side wall, thereby facilitating the manufacture of the airbag itself.
[0013]
Furthermore, in the side collision airbag device having the above-described configuration, the tether is configured such that, when the inflation of the airbag is completed, the length in the up-down direction is set to be substantially the same as the length of the occupant side wall in the up-down direction,
The upper end is connected to a vicinity of a connection portion between the vicinity of the upper end of the vehicle body side wall portion and the vicinity of the upper end of the occupant side wall portion, and the lower end is connected to the vicinity of the lower end of the vehicle body side wall portion and the vicinity of the lower end of the occupant side wall portion. It is preferable to adopt a configuration in which the components are provided so as to be bonded near the site.
[0014]
If the side collision airbag device is configured as described above, not only both ends in the front-rear direction but also both ends in the vertical direction are restricted by the tether on the side wall portion of the occupant. Therefore, the inflating of the airbag is completed in a flat state in which the side wall portion of the occupant is further suppressed from partially projecting to the occupant side, and the protrusion of the occupant side wall portion to the occupant side is further suppressed. . In addition, since the vertical both ends of the occupant side wall are regulated by the tether, the vertical film length of the vehicle body side wall can be set to be larger than the vertical film length of the occupant side wall. In the case of setting, it is possible to make the vehicle body side wall portion more largely project toward the vehicle body side. As a result, in the side collision airbag device having the above-described configuration, it is possible to further suppress the protrusion of the airbag toward the occupant when the inflation of the airbag is completed, and to protect the occupant with good cushioning properties.
[0015]
Furthermore, in the side collision airbag device having the above-described configuration, the tether is configured to include a gas outflow hole that allows the inflation gas discharged from the inflator to flow out on the vehicle body side wall side in the airbag, and The perimeter is combined with the perimeter of the occupant side wall and the perimeter of the vehicle body side wall over substantially the entire circumference so as to partition the inside of the airbag into the vehicle body side wall and the occupant side wall. It is preferable to have a configuration.
[0016]
If the side collision airbag device is configured as described above, at the time of manufacturing the airbag, the base cloth for the tether is positioned between the side wall portion of the vehicle body and the side wall portion of the occupant so that the position of the outer peripheral edge is adjusted. By arranging and joining the peripheral edges together, it is possible to arrange the tether in the airbag, so that the positioning of the tether in the vertical and longitudinal directions with respect to the vehicle body side wall and the passenger side wall becomes easy, The manufacture of the airbag becomes easy.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side collision airbag device M according to the embodiment is disposed above a vehicle outside portion of a backrest 2 of a vehicle seat 1.
[0018]
Note that the terms up, down, left, right, and front and rear in this specification correspond to the up, down, left, right, and front and rear of the vehicle when the side collision airbag device M is mounted on the vehicle.
[0019]
A seat frame 3 arranged substantially vertically is disposed on the backrest portion 2, and the side collision airbag device M is fixed to a nut 8 with a mounting bolt 13 b protruding from a mounting bracket 13 of the inflator 11. It is fixed to 3. Reference numeral 4 denotes a cushion, and reference numerals 5 and 6 denote skins made of decorative cloth or the like. Further, the cushion 4 is provided with a concave portion 4b in order to keep the breaking position of the cushion 4 constant when the airbag 15 is inflated.
[0020]
In the case of the embodiment, the side collision airbag device M is configured to include a folded airbag 15 and an inflator 11 that supplies an inflation gas to the airbag 15.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the inflator 11 includes a main body 12 and two mounting brackets 13. The main body 12 is a substantially cylindrical cylinder type and receives a predetermined electric signal from a lead wire 12 d. Is input, the inflation gas is discharged. The main body 12 includes a cylindrical large-diameter portion 12a and a small-diameter portion 12b provided at an upper end of the large-diameter portion 12a. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of gas discharge ports 12c for discharging the inflation gas are formed in the small diameter portion 12b. Each mounting bracket 13 includes an annular sheet metal clamp 13a and a mounting bolt 13b fixed to the clamp 13a. Each of the mounting brackets 13 is configured such that the clamp portion 13a is externally provided on the large-diameter portion 12a of the main body 12, and the clamp portion 13a is caulked so as to reduce the diameter, and is fixed to the main body 12.
[0022]
The airbag 15 can be deployed and inflated so as to protrude forward between the vehicle interior wall W (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9) and the occupant P, as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 9, the shape at the time of completion of the expansion is a substantially rectangular plate shape. The airbag 15 incorporates the inflator 11 inside the rear portion 17 when the inflation is completed. The rear portion 17 is formed with a mounting hole 17a through which each mounting bolt 13b of the inflator 11 is inserted, and an insertion hole (not shown) through which a lead wire 12d extending from the inflator 11 is inserted. The airbag 15 has a fixed point FP positioned relatively to the seat 1 near the rear end when the inflation is completed (see FIG. 5). In the case of the embodiment, the fixing point FP is set at a position closer to the vehicle occupant than the mounting bolt 13b of the inflator 11 and closer to the occupant than a front edge of the reinforcing cloth 28 described later on the vehicle body. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag 15 includes an airbag body 19 and a tether 23 disposed in the airbag body 19.
[0023]
The airbag body 19 is formed of a flexible woven fabric using a polyamide thread, a polyester thread, or the like. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag body 19 extends forward from the fixing point FP to allow the inflator 11 and the occupant P to communicate with each other. The vehicle includes a passenger side wall portion 20 disposed therebetween, and a vehicle body side wall portion 21 extending forward from the fixed point FP and disposed between the inflator 11 and the vehicle inner wall W. As shown in FIG. 6, the airbag body 19 connects the rear end side of the occupant side wall portion 32 constituting the occupant side wall portion 20 and the vehicle body side wall portion portion 33 constituting the vehicle body side wall portion 21. The connecting portion is folded back, and the peripheral edges of the occupant side wall portion 32 and the vehicle body side wall portion 33 are sewn to each other. .
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle body side wall portion 33 has a front-rear width L 1 and a vertical width w 1, respectively, and a front-rear width L 2 and a vertical width L 2 of the occupant side wall 32. The external shape is set larger than the width dimension w2, and is larger than the occupant side wall portion 32. That is, when the inflation of the airbag body 19 is completed, the film length along the vehicle longitudinal direction from the fixed point FP on the occupant side wall 20 to the vicinity of the front end 20a is from the fixed point FP on the vehicle body side wall 21 to the vicinity of the front end 21a. It is set to be smaller than the film length along the vehicle longitudinal direction. Further, in the case of the embodiment, when the inflation of the airbag body 19 is completed, the film length of the occupant side wall portion 20 in the vertical direction is set to be smaller than the film length of the vehicle body side wall portion 21 in the vertical direction. It will be. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the vehicle body side wall portion 33 is provided with the tack 22 disposed near the periphery, and the periphery is joined to the occupant side wall portion 32 together with the tack 22. Are sewn to the periphery of the airbag body 19 to form the vehicle body side wall 21 of the airbag body 19.
[0025]
The tether 23 is made of a flexible woven fabric using the same polyamide yarn or polyester yarn as the airbag body 19, and as shown in FIGS. 21, a main body 24 disposed along the front-rear direction, and extending from the rear end side of the main body 24 to the occupant side wall 20 side, and the tether 23 is attached to the occupant side wall 20 and the vehicle body side wall. And an attachment portion 26 to be sewn to the sewing machine 21. The tether 23 is configured to connect the vicinity of the fixing point FP and the vicinity of the joint between the occupant side wall 20 and the vehicle body side wall 21.
[0026]
In the case of the embodiment, the main body portion 24 has substantially the same outer shape as the occupant side wall portion 32 in the airbag body base fabric 31, including a portion 26a of the mounting portion 26 on the vehicle body side wall side described later. ing. The main body 24 has a width L3 in the front-rear direction substantially equal to the width L2 in the front-rear direction of the occupant side wall portion 32, including the portion 26a of the attachment portion 26 on the side of the vehicle body side wall. The width w3 is set to be substantially the same as the width w2 of the occupant side wall portion 32 in the vertical direction, and the periphery is sewn over substantially the entire circumference together with the rims of the occupant side wall 20 and the vehicle body side wall 21. ing. That is, in the case of the embodiment, the length of the main body 24 from the fixing point FP to the front end is substantially the same as the length in the front-rear direction from the fixing point FP to the front end 20a of the occupant side wall 20 and The length in the up-down direction is set to be substantially the same as the film length in the up-down direction of the occupant side wall portion 20.
[0027]
Two gas outlet holes 25 are formed in a portion near the rear end of the main body 24 so as to cut out both ends in the vertical direction. The gas outlet holes 25 allow the inflation gas discharged from the inflator main body 12 to flow toward the vehicle body side wall 21 in the airbag main body 19. That is, in the case of the embodiment, the airbag main body 19 is divided into two chambers by the main body 24 into two parts, a part on the occupant side wall part 20 side and a part on the vehicle body side wall part 21 side. It has become.
[0028]
Further, in the case of the embodiment, a reinforcing cloth 28 is provided at a portion on the rear portion 17 side of the airbag 15. As shown in FIG. 6, the reinforcing cloth 28 has a shape capable of covering substantially the entire rear end portion of the occupant side wall portion 20 and the rear end portion of the vehicle body side wall portion 21 around the inflator 11. The periphery is sewn to the base fabric 31 for the airbag body over substantially the entire circumference. That is, in the case of the embodiment, the reinforcing cloth 28 is formed such that the width in the up-down direction of the portion 28a on the vehicle body side wall portion is larger than that of the portion 28b on the occupant side wall portion side.
[0029]
Further, in the case of the embodiment, the tether 23 is sewn together with the reinforcing cloth 28 to the base fabric 31 for the airbag main body, and as shown in FIG. And one tether base cloth 35 in which the mounting portion 26 and the mounting portion portion 35b constituting the mounting portion 26 are connected to each other. The attachment portion 26 of the tether 23 has substantially the same shape as the reinforcing cloth 28. In the case of the embodiment, the tether 23 is configured such that the front edges of the portion 26a on the vehicle body side wall side and the portion 26b on the occupant side wall portion in the mounting portion 26 are connected to the region 28a on the vehicle body side wall portion in the reinforcing cloth 28 and the occupant. Along with the front edge of the side wall portion side portion 28b, the airbag body base cloth 31 is sewn to the vehicle body side wall portion side portion 33 and the occupant side wall portion side portion 32. In addition, the peripheral edge of the main body portion 24 except for the gas outlet hole 25 in the tether 23 and the vertical edge of the mounting portion 26 are sewn together with the peripheral edges of the occupant side wall portion 32 and the vehicle body side wall portion 33. .
[0030]
Next, mounting of the side collision airbag device M of the embodiment on a vehicle will be described. First, the airbag 15 is manufactured. Specifically, the external shape of the vehicle body side wall portion 33 in the airbag body base fabric 31 in the flat deployed state is substantially the same as the external shape of the occupant side wall portion 32. A plurality of tacks 22 are provided along the periphery so that In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the tack 22 has a tack 22A extending in the front-rear direction and two tacks 22B extending in the up-down direction. Each of the four locations is formed over substantially the entire length of the vehicle body side wall portion 33 at four locations along the same. Thereafter, the reinforcing cloth 28 and the tether base cloth 35 are successively superimposed on the airbag body base cloth 31 in a flatly spread state in a flatly spread state. The portions near the front edge of the portion 28a and the portion 28b on the side wall of the occupant are sewn to the airbag body base fabric 31 together with the tether body base fabric 35 using a suture. Drilling of the mounting hole 17a and an insertion hole (not shown) for inserting the lead wire 12d is performed at predetermined positions of the airbag body base cloth 31, the reinforcing cloth 28, and the tether base cloth 35. . The mounting holes 17a and the insertion holes may be formed in the airbag body base cloth 31, the reinforcing cloth 28, and the tether base cloth 35 in advance. Thereafter, the airbag body base cloth 31 is folded back together with the reinforcing cloth 28 and the tether base cloth 35 so that the occupant side wall part 32 side is overlapped with the vehicle body side wall part side part 31 side. The peripheral edges of the body portion 32 and the vehicle body side wall portion 31 are sewn together with the peripheral edges of the reinforcing cloth 28 and the tether base cloth 35 using a suture. At this time, the unsewn portion 17b (see FIG. 3) for inserting the inflator 11 is left. Then, the inflator 11 is stored from the unsewn portion 17b, and each mounting bolt 13b is made to protrude from the mounting hole 17a. Thereafter, the unsewn portion 17b of the airbag 15 is sewn to manufacture the airbag 15. Further, the lead wire 12d of the inflator 11 is also made to protrude from the insertion hole.
[0031]
Next, the airbag 15 is folded. In the case of the embodiment, first, as shown in AB of FIG. 8, the upper end side and the lower end side of the airbag 15 are folded back to the vehicle body side wall 21 side. Next, as shown in C and D of FIG. 8, the airbag 15 is folded in a bellows form along the vertical direction so that the front portion 16 side of the airbag 15 approaches the rear portion 17 side. Complete folding. After the folding of the airbag 15 is completed, the surroundings are covered with a wrapping material 38 that can be prevented from being collapsed and that can be broken by the airbag 15 that is deployed and inflated (see FIG. 2). . At this time, the mounting bolt 13b and the lead wire 12d of the inflator 11 are projected from the wrapping material 38.
[0032]
Then, each of the mounting bolts 13b protruding from the wrapping material 38 is fixed to the seat frame 3 with the nut 8, and the airbag device M is mounted on the backrest 2 of the seat 1, and the cushion 4, the skins 5, 6 and the like are mounted. After the seat 1 is assembled, the seat 1 is mounted on the vehicle, and the lead wire 12d extending from the inflator 11 is connected to an airbag operating circuit (not shown), so that the airbag device M can be mounted on the vehicle. .
[0033]
After the airbag device M is mounted on the vehicle, if a predetermined operation signal is input to the inflator body 12 and the inflation gas is discharged from the gas discharge port 12c, the airbag 15 is inflated and the wrapping material 38 is removed. While breaking, the cushion portion 4a arranged on the side of the seat 1 is opened to expand so as to protrude greatly from the seat 1 forward as shown in a two-dot chain line in FIGS. It will be.
[0034]
In the airbag device M of the embodiment, when the inflation of the airbag 15 is completed, the film length along the vehicle longitudinal direction from the fixing point FP on the occupant side wall 20 to the vicinity of the front end 20a is fixed on the vehicle body side wall 21. The tether 23 is set to be smaller than the film length along the vehicle front-rear direction from the point FP to the vicinity of the front end 21a, and connects the vicinity of the fixed point FP and the vicinity of the joint between the occupant side wall 20 and the vehicle body side wall 21. The length dimension of the main body 24 in the front-rear direction is set substantially equal to the film length of the occupant side wall 20 along the vehicle front-rear direction. When the inflation of the airbag 15 is completed, the main body 24 of the tether 23 is disposed between the inflator 11 and the vehicle body side wall 21. Therefore, in the embodiment, when the inflation of the airbag 15 is completed, the inflator 11 is sandwiched near the mutual rear ends of the main body portion 24 of the tether 23 and the occupant side wall portion 20 having substantially the same length in the front-rear direction. In addition, the vicinity of the front end 24a of the main body 24 in the tether 23 and the vicinity of the front end 24a of the occupant side wall 20 are combined. That is, in the embodiment, the airbag 15 is inflated so that the main body 24 of the tether 23 and the occupant side wall 20 form a substantially isosceles triangle in the cross section in the front-rear direction of the airbag 15 when the inflation is completed. Is completed (see FIG. 5). As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the inflation of the airbag 15 can be completed in a flat state in which the occupant side wall portion 20 is suppressed from partially protruding toward the occupant P, and the occupant side wall portion 20 can be completed. By means of 20, the occupant P can be properly protected without being unnecessarily pressed.
[0035]
Further, in the side collision airbag device M of the embodiment, since the film length in the vehicle front-rear direction of the vehicle body side wall portion 21 is set to be larger than the film length of the occupant side wall portion 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction. When the bag 15 is deployed and inflated, the inflation is completed so that the vehicle body side wall portion 21 protrudes greatly toward the vehicle body (see FIGS. 5 and 9). Therefore, the thickness of the airbag 15 in the left-right direction at the time of completion of the inflation can be sufficiently ensured, and the occupant P can be protected by the airbag 15 whose inflation has been completed with good cushioning properties.
[0036]
Therefore, in the side collision airbag device M of the embodiment, the inflation of the airbag 15 can be completed with the protrusion toward the occupant P being minimized, and the occupant P can be properly protected. it can.
[0037]
Further, in the side collision airbag device M of the embodiment, the vehicle body side wall portion 21 is provided with the tack 22 near the peripheral edge, and the peripheral edge is connected to the peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion 20 in a state where the tack 22 is overlapped. This is the configuration. Therefore, at the time of manufacturing the airbag 15, a tack 22 is formed around the periphery of the vehicle body side wall portion 21, and the periphery of the vehicle body side wall portion 21 is simply overlapped with the periphery of the occupant side wall portion 20 in a state where the tack 22 is overlapped. When the airbag 15 is connected, the airbag 15 having the vehicle body side wall 21 having a larger film length in the vehicle front-rear direction than the occupant side wall 20 can be manufactured, so that the manufacture of the airbag 15 itself becomes easy. Of course, if this point is not taken into consideration, it is not necessary to provide a tack on the side wall portion of the vehicle body, for example, by partially pinching the side wall portion of the vehicle body, aligning the outer peripheral edge of the vehicle body side wall portion with the outer peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion, and Alternatively, the airbag may be manufactured by being combined with the periphery of the occupant side wall.
[0038]
Further, in the side collision airbag device M of the embodiment, the length of the main body 24 of the tether 23 when the inflation of the airbag 15 is completed is substantially equal to the length of the occupant side wall 20 in the vertical direction. In this configuration, both ends in the up-down direction are set to be the same and are connected to both ends in the up-down direction in the occupant side wall portion 20. That is, in the airbag device M of the embodiment, the occupant side wall portion 20 is regulated by the main body portion 24 of the tether 23 not only at both ends in the front-back direction but also at both ends in the up-down direction. Therefore, the airbag 15 completes the inflation in a flat state in which the partial protrusion of the occupant side wall 20 toward the occupant P is further suppressed, and the occupant side wall 20 further projects to the occupant P side. It will be suppressed. Further, in the case of the embodiment, since the vertical film length of the vehicle body side wall portion 21 is set to be longer than the vertical film length of the occupant side wall portion 11, the vehicle body side wall portion 21 is further moved toward the vehicle body. It is possible to protrude greatly. As a result, in the side collision airbag device M of the embodiment, the protrusion of the airbag 15 toward the occupant P when the inflation of the airbag 15 is completed can be further suppressed, and the occupant P can be protected with good cushioning properties. Of course, if this point is not taken into consideration, an airbag may be configured so that a tether-like band extending in the front-rear direction is provided, and only the front and rear ends of the occupant side wall are restricted.
[0039]
Furthermore, in the side collision airbag device M of the embodiment, the periphery is substantially set so that the main body 24 of the tether 23 partitions the inside of the airbag 15 into the vehicle body side wall 21 and the occupant side wall 20. The entire periphery is joined together with the periphery of the occupant side wall 20 and the periphery of the vehicle body side wall 21. The main body 24 of the tether 23 has a gas outflow hole 25 through which the inflation gas discharged from the inflator 11 can flow out of the airbag 15 on the side of the vehicle body side wall 21. Therefore, at the time of manufacturing the airbag 15, the tether base cloth 35 is placed between the vehicle body side wall portion 33 constituting the vehicle body side wall portion 21 and the occupant side wall portion 32 constituting the occupant side wall portion 20. The tether 23 can be disposed in the airbag 15 by arranging the outer peripheral edges so as to be aligned with each other and joining the peripheral edges to each other. The positioning of the tether 23 in the up-down and front-rear directions is facilitated, and the manufacture of the airbag 15 is facilitated. Of course, if this point is not taken into consideration, the airbag may be configured to include a cross-shaped tether that regulates both ends in the front-rear direction and both ends in the vertical direction of the occupant side wall. Further, in the case of the embodiment, the gas outlet holes 25 are formed only at two positions on the rear end side of the main body 24, but as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. Thus, the main body may be provided at two positions on the front end side.
[0040]
In the case of the embodiment, the airbag 15 is stored in a bellows-folded state, but the folded shape of the airbag 15 is not limited to this. For example, the airbag 15 may be folded by cactus folding or roll folding. It may be configured to be folded and stored.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a seat showing a use mode of a side collision airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view when the inflation of the airbag used in the embodiment is completed.
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the airbag according to the embodiment when inflation is completed.
FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged sectional view of a portion VV in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing a base fabric constituting the airbag of the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a state before inflation of the airbag of the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a step of folding the airbag of the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view showing a completed state of inflation of the airbag in the side collision airbag device of the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... seat,
2. Backrest,
11 ... inflator,
15 ... Airbag,
19 ... Airbag body,
20 ... occupant side wall,
20a ... front end,
21 ... body side wall,
21a ... front end,
22 (22A / 22B) ... tack,
23 ... Tether,
24 ... body part,
25 ... gas outlet,
FP: fixed point,
P ... crew,
M: Airbag device for side collision.

Claims

It is arranged on the seat of the vehicle, and when activated, between the vehicle inner wall and the occupant on the vehicle body side, is configured to include an airbag that can be deployed and inflated so as to protrude forward,
The airbag,
A built-in inflator for discharging the inflation gas on the rear side at the time of completion of inflation is provided, and the vicinity of the rear end at the time of completion of inflation is a fixed point positioned relative to the seat,
When the inflation is completed, an occupant side wall portion extending forward from the fixed point and disposed between the inflator and the occupant, and extending between the inflator forward from the fixed point and the inner wall of the vehicle. A side wall airbag device that is configured to include a front end of the occupant side wall and a front end of the vehicle body side wall.
When the airbag is inflated,
The film length along the vehicle longitudinal direction from the fixed point to the vicinity of the front end of the occupant side wall portion is set to be smaller than the film length along the vehicle longitudinal direction from the fixed point to the vicinity of the front end of the vehicle body side wall portion, And,
Between the inflator and the vehicle body side wall portion, a tether connecting the vicinity of the fixed point and the vicinity of a joint portion between the occupant side wall portion and the vehicle body side wall portion is provided along the front-rear direction. ,
The side impact air, wherein when the inflating of the airbag is completed, a length dimension in the vehicle longitudinal direction is set to be substantially the same as a film length of the occupant side wall in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Bag device.

2. The side according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body side wall portion is provided with a tack near a peripheral edge thereof, and the peripheral edge is joined to a peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion in a state where the tack is overlapped. 3. Airbag device for collision.

The tether, when the inflation of the airbag is completed, the length dimension in the up-down direction is set to be substantially the same as the film length in the up-down direction of the occupant side wall,
An upper end is coupled to a vicinity of a coupling portion between an upper end of the vehicle body side wall and an upper end of the occupant side wall in the airbag, and a lower end is connected to a vicinity of a lower end of the vehicle body side wall in the airbag and the occupant side wall. The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is provided so as to be connected near a connection portion with a vicinity of a lower end of the airbag.

The tether is configured to include a gas outflow hole through which the inflation gas discharged from the inflator can flow out on the vehicle body side wall side in the airbag, and the vehicle body side wall portion moves through the inside of the airbag. The outer periphery is joined to the periphery of the occupant side wall and the periphery of the vehicle body side wall over substantially the entire circumference so as to be divided into the side and the occupant side wall. An airbag device for side collision according to claim 1.