JP2007050847A - Side collision airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a side airbag device capable of properly deploying a head part protection airbag deployed with a side airbag. <P>SOLUTION: The side airbag device 10 is provided with the side airbag 22 arranged on a seat 24 for an occupant and deployed at a side of an upper body of the occupant sitting on the seat 24 when a gas is fed to the inside; and a head part protection airbag 12 arranged from a front pillar 16 to a roof side part 18 and deployed at a side of the head part of the occupant sitting on the seat 24 when the gas is fed to the inside. The side airbag 22 has a sewn part 32 as a thin thickness part for easily bending a shoulder part protection bag part 22C portion provided on an upper side than an intermediate part in its vertical direction and formed on an upper side than an installation position to an inner side of a cabin. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a side collision airbag device including both a side airbag that protects an occupant's upper body and a head protection airbag that protects the occupant's head in the event of a vehicle-side collision.

  In the event of a side collision of a vehicle such as an automobile (when the vehicle collides), the side airbag disposed in the seat back is inflated and deployed, and is provided from the front pillar to the rear pillar via the roof side rail rail. A technique is known in which the head protection airbag is inflated and deployed, and the occupant upper body is protected by the side airbag, and the occupant head is protected by the head protection airbag (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).

In addition, a technique for setting an extended inflating area extending below the belt line at the lower part of the head protection airbag is known in order to prevent the passenger from moving to the outside of the vehicle at the time of rollover by the head protection airbag. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
JP 2000-190807 A Japanese Patent No. 3520836 JP 2000-033847 A

  However, in the conventional side airbag device having both the side airbag and the head protection airbag as in the former case, the head protection airbag does not interfere with the side airbag at the time of a side collision and cannot be properly deployed. Is concerned. In particular, when the head protection airbag is extended downward as a countermeasure against rollover as in the latter case, the head protection airbag tends to interfere with the side airbag.

  In view of the above fact, an object of the present invention is to obtain a side-impact airbag device that can properly deploy a head protection airbag that is deployed with a side airbag.

  In order to achieve the above object, a side-impact airbag device according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided on a seat for seating an occupant or on the side of the seat, and the occupant seated on the seat at the time of a side collision of a vehicle. A side airbag that is deployed on the side of the upper body and an upper edge at the widthwise end of the vehicle body are deployed along the side of the head of the occupant seated on the seat during a vehicle side collision. A side impact airbag device including a head protection airbag, wherein the side airbag is provided above an intermediate portion in a vertical direction, and an upper portion of the installation portion is easily bent toward a vehicle interior side. It has a thin part.

  In the side collision airbag apparatus according to the first aspect, gas is supplied into the side airbag and the head protection airbag at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. Thus, the side airbag and the head protection airbag are inflated and deployed, respectively, and the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat is protected by the side airbag, and the occupant seated on the seat by the head protection airbag is protected. The head is protected.

  Here, since the thin part is provided in the upper part of the side airbag, when the lower end side of the head protection airbag interferes with the upper end side of the side airbag, the upper part of the side airbag is bent toward the vehicle interior side. (Fall), head protection airbags will deploy properly. That is, for example, a configuration in which the side airbag is not provided with a thin wall portion prevents a problem such as that the lower end portion of the head protection airbag is guided by the side airbag that interferes with the side airbag and deploys outward in the vehicle width direction. Is done.

  Thus, in the side impact airbag device according to the first aspect, the head protection airbag that is deployed together with the side airbag can be properly deployed.

  In order to achieve the above object, a side-impact airbag device according to a second aspect of the present invention is provided on a seat for seating an occupant or on the side of the seat, and for a occupant seated on the seat during a side collision of a vehicle. A side airbag that is deployed on the side of the upper body and an upper edge at the widthwise end of the vehicle body are deployed along the side of the head of the occupant seated on the seat during a vehicle side collision. The head protection airbag and the side airbag are provided above the middle portion in the vertical direction of the side airbag, and by suppressing the expansion of the side airbag in the vehicle width direction with respect to other parts, the side airbag And an expansion regulating member that makes it easier to bend the upper part than the expansion suppressing part toward the vehicle interior side.

  In the side collision airbag device according to the second aspect, gas is supplied into the side airbag and the head protection airbag at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. Thus, the side airbag and the head protection airbag are inflated and deployed, respectively, and the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat is protected by the side airbag, and the occupant seated on the seat by the head protection airbag is protected. The head is protected.

  Here, since an expansion regulating member is provided on the upper part of the side airbag, when the lower end side of the head protection airbag interferes with the upper end side of the side airbag, the upper part of the side airbag is located on the vehicle interior side. Bend (fall down) and head protection airbags will deploy properly. That is, for example, there is a problem that the side airbag is not provided with an expansion regulating member, such that the lower end portion of the head protection airbag is guided by the side airbag that interferes and is deployed toward the outside in the vehicle width direction. Is prevented.

  Thus, in the side collision airbag apparatus according to the second aspect, the head protection airbag that is deployed together with the side airbag can be appropriately deployed.

  A side-impact airbag device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the side-impact airbag device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the thin portion or the expansion regulating member is continuous or intermittent along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Provided.

  In the side-impact airbag device according to the third aspect, the upper part of the side airbag is easily bent toward the vehicle interior side in each part in the front-rear direction by the thin wall portion or the expansion regulating member provided along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. In particular, in the configuration in which the thin portion or the expansion regulating member is provided at substantially the same height as the belt line of the vehicle body, the head protection airbag can be reliably deployed properly.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a side impact airbag apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the thin portion or the expansion regulating member includes a vehicle interior side and a vehicle interior outside of the side airbag. This is a sewing portion that is joined by sewing.

  In the side-impact airbag device according to claim 4, by providing a sewing portion in which tension due to expansion does not act or tension is lower than other portions, the upper portion of the sewing portion can be easily accommodated in a low load. Turn inward.

  As described above, the side airbag device according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the head protection airbag deployed with the side airbag can be properly deployed.

  A side collision airbag apparatus 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. First, the schematic overall configuration of the side airbag device 10 will be described, and then the configuration of the side airbag 22 that is the main part of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that arrow FR, arrow UP, and arrow IN that are appropriately described in each figure indicate the front direction (traveling direction), the upward direction, and the vehicle width direction inner side of the automobile S to which the side airbag device 10 is applied. .

(Overall configuration of side airbag device)
The side view seen from the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle S to which the side impact airbag device 10 is applied is shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, the side airbag device 10 includes a head protection airbag 12 and a side airbag 22 described later. The head protection airbag 12 is formed so that it can be unfolded to cover a side window glass 14 and a center pillar (B pillar) 15 as side portions of the vehicle interior from the vehicle interior. In this embodiment, the head protection airbag 12 is configured so as to be able to cover a portion of the front and rear side window glasses 14 located on the side of the front seat and the rear seat except for a part on the lower side.

  Although not shown in the drawings, the head protection airbag 12 is, for example, rolled or accordion folded into a long shape, and is housed from the front pillar (A pillar) 16 to the roof side portion 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the front and rear side window glasses 14 and the center pillar 15 are deployed so as to protect the heads of the front and rear occupants as shown in FIG. The roof side portion 18 in this embodiment is a portion between the roof side rail and the end portion in the vehicle width direction of the roof head lining.

  In addition, the side airbag device 10 includes an inflator 20 for supplying gas into the head protection airbag 12. The inflator 20 is configured to contain an igniter, an igniting agent, a gas generating agent (one that burns to generate a gas, or one that burns to open a flow path of a compressed inert gas), and the like. . When the ignition agent is ignited by the igniter, the gas generating agent burns to generate a large amount of gas. A gas outlet of the inflator 20 communicates with the inside of the head protection airbag 12. In this embodiment, the inflator 20 is disposed on the roof side portion 18, but the inflator 20 may be disposed on another portion such as the rear pillar 21.

  Further, the side collision airbag device 10 includes a side collision sensor and an airbag ECU (not shown). The side collision sensor is configured to detect a side collision state of the automobile S and output a detection signal to the airbag ECU. The airbag ECU operates the igniter of the inflator 20 when the detection signal is input. It is like that. Therefore, when the airbag ECU operates the inflator, the head protection airbag 12 is inflated and deployed by the gas generated by the inflator 20. In addition, a rollover sensor may be further provided so that when the rollover state is detected, a detection signal is output to the airbag ECU so that the head protection airbag 12 is inflated and deployed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the side airbag 22 is deployed between a seat 24 on which an occupant is seated and a side door 26 of the vehicle body to protect the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat 24. ing. Although illustration is omitted, the side airbag 22 is, for example, roll-folded or bellows-folded, and is accommodated in the vertical direction on the side of the door of the seat back 24A of the seat 24, and gas from the inflator 28 is stored. It expands and expands when supplied.

  The inflator 28 is configured similarly to the inflator 20, and is disposed in the seat back 24 </ b> A together with the side airbag 22. The inflator 28 and the side airbag 22 may be disposed in the door trim of the door 26 instead of the seat back 24A. The inflator 28 is controlled by the above-described airbag ECU. The airbag ECU is configured to operate the igniter of the inflator 28 when a detection signal is input from a side collision sensor.

  Therefore, in the side airbag apparatus 10, when the detection signal from the side collision sensor is input to the airbag ECU, the head protection airbag 12 and the side airbag 22 are both inflated and deployed by receiving gas supply. It is supposed to be.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the side airbag device 10 is configured such that the lower end portion of the inflated and deployed head protection airbag 12 can interfere with the upper end portion of the inflated and deployed side airbag 22. . Specifically, the side airbag device 10 is configured such that the gap between the lower end of the head protection airbag 12 and the upper end of the side airbag 22 is 50 mm or less in the final deployment state (deployment completion state). .

  Therefore, in the side-impact airbag device 10, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower end of the head protection airbag 12 and the upper end of the side airbag 22 overlap in the up-down direction in the final deployment state or are deployed. The lower end of the head protection airbag 12 and the upper end of the side airbag 22 may interfere with each other during the expansion before reaching the final state. The latter interference is caused by the fact that the airbag, in particular, the head protection airbag 12 extends downward from the final deployment shape during inflation, and the vertical position of the side airbag 22 disposed on the seat 24 is adjusted by the vertical adjuster operation of the seat 24. This may occur due to (height adjustment) or change depending on the reclining angle of the seat back 24A, and is likely to occur when the gap is within 50 mm. The setting within 50 mm is a value when the vertical position of the sheet 24 is positioned at the standard position.

(Configuration of side airbag)
FIG. 2A shows a side airbag 22 in a deployed state, and FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 2B-2B in FIG. 2A. . As shown in these drawings, when the side airbag 22 is inflated by receiving gas supply, a waist protection bag portion 22A, a chest protection bag portion 22B, and a shoulder protection bag portion 22C are formed in order from the bottom. ing.

  The waist protection bag part 22 </ b> A and the chest protection bag part 22 </ b> B are partitioned by a sewing part 30 provided at the lower part of the side airbag 22. The sewn part 30 is a part excluding both ends in the front-rear direction of the side airbag 22 and is joined (directly joined) by sewing to a part constituting the inner side in the vehicle width direction and a part constituting the outer side in the car width. ing. The sewing portion 30 is formed to be inclined so that the rear end is located above the front end.

  The chest protection bag portion 22 </ b> B and the shoulder protection bag portion 22 </ b> C are partitioned by a sewing portion 32 provided on the upper side of the side airbag 22. The sewing portion 32 is a portion of the side airbag 22 excluding the rear end in the front-rear direction, and a portion that expands and forms the inner side in the vehicle width direction and a portion that forms the outer side in the vehicle width are joined by sewing. The sewing part 32 is formed so as to be substantially along the horizontal line. The sewn part 32 can also be configured not to reach the front end of the side airbag 22, as with the sewn part 30.

  In this side airbag 22, an inflator 28 is disposed on the rear end side where the waist protection bag portion 22A, the chest protection bag portion 22B, and the shoulder protection bag portion 22C communicate with each other. When the inflator 28 generates gas, A waist protection bag portion 22A, a chest protection bag portion 22B, and a shoulder protection bag portion 22C are inflated and deployed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the upper sewing portion 32 in the inflated and deployed state substantially coincides with the vertical position of the belt line BL (the lower edge of the side window glass 14 (exposed portion)) of the automobile S, It is configured to be substantially parallel to the belt line BL. That is, at least a part of the shoulder protection bag portion 22C of the side airbag 22 is configured to be inflated and deployed above the belt line BL.

  And in the side airbag 22, it is easy to bend | curve in the sewing part 32 so that shoulder protection bag part 22C which is the upper part may be displaced to a vehicle interior direction with respect to a lower part rather than the sewing part 32 (fall down). It is said that. Therefore, the sewing portion 32 in this embodiment corresponds to a “thin portion” in the present invention, and a suture thread (not shown) constituting the sewing portion 32 corresponds to an “expansion regulating member”.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  In the side impact airbag device 10 having the above configuration, when the side impact sensor detects a side impact of the automobile S and outputs a detection signal when an occupant is seated on the seat 24, the airbag ECU detects the side impact of the inflators 20 and 28. Activate each igniter. Then, gas is supplied from the inflator 20 into the head protection airbag 12, and gas is supplied from the inflator 28 into the side airbag 22. The head protection airbag 12 and the side airbag 22 are inflated and deployed, respectively. To do. As a result, the occupant seated on the seat 24 has its head protected by the head protection airbag 12 and its upper body (waist, chest and shoulders) protected by the side airbag 22. The

  Here, in the side collision airbag device 10, since the sewing portion 32 is provided on the upper side of the side airbag 22, interference occurs between the lower end portion of the head protection airbag 12 and the upper end portion of the side airbag 22. 3A, the shoulder protection bag portion 22C of the side airbag 22 bends toward the vehicle interior side with respect to the chest protection bag portion 22B. For this reason, the side airbag 22 is prevented from inhibiting proper deployment of the head protection airbag 12, and the head protection airbag 12 is properly deployed along the side window glass 14 and the center pillar 15.

  Furthermore, if it demonstrates in comparison with the comparative example shown in FIG.3 (B) in which the sewing part 32 is not formed between the chest protection bag part 22B and the shoulder protection bag part 22C, the side airbag 50 which concerns on a comparative example will be described. When the lower end portion of the head protection airbag 12 interferes, the shoulder protection bag portion 22C maintains an upright posture along the door 26, so that the lower end portion of the head protection airbag 12 faces the side window glass 14 side. It will bend. That is, proper deployment of the head protection airbag 12 is prevented by the side airbag 50, and a state in which the head protection airbag 12 cannot exhibit the required performance occurs. For example, there is a concern that the head protection airbag 12 may be damaged by the side window glass 14, or that the tension line is not formed to the vicinity of the belt line, and the passenger's ability to prevent the vehicle from being released outside the vehicle is degraded.

  On the other hand, in the side collision airbag device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the side airbag 22 is prevented from inhibiting proper deployment of the head protection airbag 12 as described above. The required performance of the protective airbag 12 is exhibited.

  Moreover, in the side collision airbag apparatus 10, since the sewing part 32 is provided along the vehicle body front-back direction, when the side airbag 22 interferes with the head protection airbag 12, in each part of the front-back direction, The shoulder protection bag portion 22C reliably falls to the vehicle interior side to ensure proper deployment of the head protection airbag 12.

  Further, the vertical position (high position) of the sewing portion 32 of the side airbag 22 is set so as to substantially coincide with the belt line BL. In other words, the shoulder protection bag portion 22C is connected to the door 26 (trim thereof). ) Or the contact area is small, the portion (shoulder protection bag portion 22 </ b> C) that extends to the upper side of the belt line BL in the side airbag 22 is surely bent toward the vehicle interior side. In addition, when the sewing portion 32 is positioned higher than the belt line BL, there is a concern that the upper end of the chest protection bag portion 22B hinders proper deployment of the head protection airbag 12, but the sewing portion 32 has a high position. Is set so as to substantially coincide with the belt line BL, so that the head protection airbag 12 is properly deployed until it reaches the vicinity of the belt line BL.

  Thus, in the side collision airbag device 10 according to the first embodiment, the head protection airbag 12 that is deployed together with the side airbag 22 can be properly deployed. Thereby, in the side airbag device 10, in the configuration including the side airbag 22 (shoulder protection bag portion 22 </ b> C), the lower end of the head protection airbag 12 is brought close to the belt line BL so as to cope with rollover. Was realized. It is possible to improve the rollover performance by adopting a configuration in which the lower end of the head protection airbag 12 is substantially coincident with the belt line BL (the entire surface of the side window glass 14 can be covered).

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in that a side airbag 40 is provided instead of the side airbag 22. Hereinafter, the structure and effect of providing the side airbag 40 and the side airbag 40 will be described.

  4A shows a side airbag 40 in a deployed state, and FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 4B-4B of FIG. 4A. . As shown in these drawings, when the side airbag 40 is inflated by receiving gas supply, a waist protection bag portion 40A, a chest protection bag portion 40B, and a shoulder protection bag portion 40C are formed in order from the bottom. ing.

  The waist protection bag portion 40A and the chest protection bag portion 40B are partitioned by a strap 42 provided at the lower portion of the side airbag 40. The strap 42 is a portion excluding both ends in the front-rear direction of the side airbag 40 and connects a portion that is deployed and forms the inner side in the vehicle width direction to a portion that forms the outer side in the vehicle width direction. In this case, it is restricted to expand beyond the width of the strap 42. The strap 42 is formed to be inclined so that the rear end is located above the front end. The rear end is formed to be inclined so as to be located above the front end.

  The chest protection bag portion 40B and the shoulder protection bag portion 40C are partitioned by a strap 44 provided on the upper side of the side airbag 40. The strap 44 is a portion excluding both ends in the front-rear direction of the side airbag 40 and connects a portion that expands to constitute the inner side in the vehicle width direction and a portion that constitutes the outer side in the vehicle width direction. In this case, it is restricted to expand beyond the width of the strap 44. The strap 44 is disposed so as to be long along a horizontal line. The strap 44 can also be configured to reach the front end of the side airbag 40 in the same manner as the sewing portion 32 of FIG.

  In this side airbag 40, the inflator 28 is disposed on the rear end side where the waist protection bag portion 40A, the chest protection bag portion 40B, and the shoulder protection bag portion 40C are communicated, and when the inflator 28 generates gas, The waist protection bag 40A, the chest protection bag 40B, and the shoulder protection bag 40C are inflated and deployed.

  As shown by the reference numerals in parentheses in FIG. 1, the vertical position of the strap 44 in the inflated and deployed state substantially coincides with the vertical position of the belt line BL (the lower edge of the side window glass 14 (exposed portion)) of the automobile S. The belt line BL is substantially parallel to the belt line BL. That is, at least a part of the shoulder protection bag portion 40C of the side airbag 40 is configured to be inflated and deployed above the belt line BL.

  In the side airbag 40, the shoulder protection bag portion 40 </ b> C that is the upper portion of the side airbag 40 is easily bent so as to be displaced (fall down) toward the vehicle interior relative to the lower portion of the strap 44. It is configured. Therefore, the strap 44 in this embodiment corresponds to the “expansion regulating member” in the present invention, and the “thin wall portion” in the present invention is formed in the side airbag 40.

  When the lower end of the head protection airbag 12 interferes with the shoulder protection bag portion 40C, the side airbag 40 described above bends so that the shoulder protection bag portion 40C bends to the vehicle interior side at the installation site of the strap 44. Therefore, in the side-impact airbag device 10 including the side airbag 40, the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as in the first embodiment.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the side airbag 22 is disposed on the seat back side portion of the front seat has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which an airbag is provided.

It is the side view seen from the vehicle interior which shows the schematic whole structure of the side collision airbag apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the side airbag which comprises the side collision airbag apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a side view, (B) is the 2B-2B line | wire of FIG. 2 (A). It is sectional drawing which follows. (A) is back sectional drawing which shows the state which the head protection airbag and side airbag of the side collision airbag apparatus which concern on the 1st Embodiment of this invention expand | deployed, (B) is a comparison with this embodiment. It is a back sectional view showing the state where the head protection airbag and the side airbag of the side collision airbag device concerning the example were developed. It is a figure which shows the side airbag which comprises the side collision airbag apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a side view, (B) is the 4B-4B line | wire of FIG. 4 (A). It is sectional drawing which follows.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Side impact airbag apparatus 12 Head protection airbag 22 Side airbag 24 Seat 32 Sewing part (thin part, expansion | extension control member)
40 Side airbag 44 Strap (thin wall part, expansion regulating member)

Claims (4)

A seat for occupant seating or a side airbag that is disposed on the side of the seat and that is deployed on the side of the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat at the time of a vehicle side collision;
A side-impact airbag including a head protection airbag that is disposed along an upper edge portion at a width direction end portion of the vehicle body and that is deployed on a side of the head of an occupant seated on the seat at a side collision of the vehicle A device,
The side airbag is a side-impact airbag device having a thin wall portion that is provided above an intermediate portion in the vertical direction and that makes it easier to bend an upper portion than the installation site to the vehicle interior side. A seat for occupant seating or a side airbag that is disposed on the side of the seat and that is deployed on the side of the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat at the time of a vehicle side collision;
A head protection airbag that is disposed along the upper edge portion at the widthwise end of the vehicle body and that is deployed on the side of the head of an occupant seated on the seat at the time of a side collision of the vehicle;
The upper portion of the side airbag is provided above the middle portion in the vertical direction, and the upper portion of the side airbag is restrained from expanding in the vehicle width direction relative to other portions. An expansion regulating member that facilitates bending toward the vehicle interior side,
A side-impact airbag device comprising:   The side impact airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thin wall portion or the expansion regulating member is provided continuously or intermittently along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.   The side-impact airbag device according to claim 3, wherein the thin-walled portion or the expansion regulating member is a sewing portion that joins the interior side and the exterior side of the side airbag by sewing.

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