JP2007216821A - Side airbag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a side airbag which can be deployed in a consistent behavior without being impaired by an arm rest or the like. <P>SOLUTION: An airbag body to be inflated and deployed between an occupant and a door by a high-pressure gas ejected from an inflator in a side impact of a car comprises a first inflation unit 1d which is connected to a gas introducing port 1c connected to the inflator with the vertical width being successively expanded in a diagonally forward upper direction with respect to the horizontal direction, and a second inflation unit 1f continuous to the first inflation unit. The second inflation unit is folded in a roll shape and/or a bellows shape while a fore end 1k of the second inflation unit is pressed into the second inflation unit, and the first inflation unit is stored in a case 6 so that the folding unit of the airbag body is located forward while the first inflation unit is folded in a bellows shape. The airbag body can be deployed between an occupant and a door in a consistent behavior without being impaired by an arm rest or the like projecting inward of the door. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a side airbag that protects an occupant from an impact caused by a side collision (side collision) of an automobile.

  In the airbag which protects an occupant from the impact when the automobile collides, there is a side airbag which deals with a side collision in addition to a normal airbag which deals with a collision from the front (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). .

  The “airbag folding structure and method” described in Patent Document 1 has an airbag that is deployed in an approximately L shape in order to protect the head and chest of the passenger at the same time.

  When folding the airbag, first, the end of the head protection part is folded back to align the width with the chest protection, and the head protection part is rolled up, and in this state, the head protection part is The angle is different from the storage case.

  Next, after pushing a part of the connecting part between the head protection part and the chest protection part into the chest connection part from this state and correcting the angle in the storage direction of the storage case, the folded airbag is stored in the storage case. ing.

On the other hand, in the “occupant protection device” described in Patent Document 2, both side surfaces of the airbag are folded in an accordion manner inward of the airbag, and the upper and lower portions of the airbag protruding in the vertical direction are folded in an accordion shape. It is configured to be folded into the front side of the part and stored in the case.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-152004 JP-A-11-59312

  In the airbag that protects the occupant's head and chest described in Patent Document 1 at the same time, when the automobile collides, the airbag chest protector is folded and stored in the storage case. The head protection part is deployed forward, and then the head protection part is deployed upward while quickly unwinding along the side wall of the vehicle body, thereby protecting the head and chest of the occupant from impact during a side impact.

  However, in the airbag described in Patent Document 1 configured so that the airbag is deployed forward from the storage case at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag, the chest of the airbag is mounted on the armrest provided on the side of the seat on which the occupant is seated. The protection unit may interfere.

  In addition, since the tip of the head protecting portion, which is the tip of the airbag, is deployed last, the initial behavior when the airbag is deployed is not stable. There is a risk of developing while contacting glass or the like.

  On the other hand, the airbag described in Patent Document 2 is configured to protect an occupant's chest from an impact when the automobile collides.

  However, the airbag described in Patent Document 2 is also likely to interfere with the armrest because the airbag in front of the case is deployed at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag, similarly to the airbag described in Patent Document 1. is there.

  In addition, since the leading end portion of the airbag is deployed last, the initial behavior of the airbag deployment is not stable, and as a result, the airbag may be deployed while contacting the side surface of the vehicle body or the door glass. .

  In view of such a point, the present invention has an object to provide a side airbag that can be deployed with a stable behavior without being obstructed by an armrest or an interior material.

  The side airbag according to the present invention is a side airbag that protects an occupant from an impact by inflating and deploying the airbag body between the occupant and the door by high-pressure gas ejected from an inflator at the time of a side collision of the automobile, The airbag main body is directed to a first inflating portion located on the inflator side and a second inflating direction inclined at a leading end of the inflating direction of the first inflating portion with respect to the first inflating direction of the first inflating portion. And the second inflating part is formed in a continuous state, and the second inflating part is folded into a roll or bellows in a state where the tip of the second inflating part is folded into the second inflating part, The first expanding portion is folded in a bellows shape.

  According to the above configuration, when the tip of the second inflating part that has been pushed inward into the second inflating part protrudes forward more vigorously than the second inflating part, the first and second inflating parts. The direction of the movement of the part is parallel to the inner surface of the door and the door glass, so the occupant has a stable behavior without any obstruction by the armrest or interior material protruding from the inside of the door. The airbag main body can be deployed between the door and the door, whereby the occupant can be reliably protected from the impact caused by the side collision.

  In addition, since the tip of the second inflating part, which is most loaded during deployment, protrudes forward from the inside of the second inflating part after the folded part of the second inflating part is unwound, the load applied to the tip of the second inflating part is reduced. This eliminates the need to reinforce this portion in advance, thereby reducing the labor required for sewing the airbag body.

  In the side airbag of the present invention, the first inflatable portion is folded in a bellows shape along the first deploying direction, and the second inflatable portion is roll-shaped along the second deploying direction or It is characterized by being folded into a bellows shape.

  With the above configuration, since the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion of the side airbag are folded along the deployment direction of each inflatable portion, each inflatable portion has a more stable behavior. The passenger can be protected from impact.

  The second inflating part in the side airbag according to the present invention is sandwiched between bellows-like folded parts of the first inflating part folded in a bellows shape in a folded state. It is.

  With the above configuration, since the second inflating part is sandwiched between the bellows of the first inflating part, the bellows part of the first inflating part acts as a guide for deployment of the second inflating part, It is possible to stabilize the deployment direction of the second inflatable portion that is deployed before the first inflatable portion, and to perform rapid deployment.

  The side airbag of the present invention is formed by forming a cutout portion at the lower edge portion of the second inflatable portion to prevent interference with an armrest or an interior material protruding inside the door.

  With the above configuration, the second inflating part can be smoothly deployed because the development of the second inflating part is not hindered by the armrest or the interior material.

  In the side airbag of the present invention, the expansion direction of the vertical width of the first inflating part is set in a range of approximately 20 degrees to 40 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction.

  With the above configuration, when the first inflating portion and the second inflating portion are deployed obliquely upward, the high-pressure gas is flowed almost evenly in the vertical direction of the airbag body, so that the deployment behavior of the airbag body can be stabilized. it can.

  According to the side airbag of the present invention, the leading end of the second inflating part that has been pushed inward to the inside of the second inflating part protrudes forward more vigorously than the second inflating part. Therefore, the airbag body can be deployed between the occupant and the door with a stable behavior without being obstructed by an armrest or interior material protruding from the inside of the door.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing a deployed state of an airbag, FIGS. 2 to 9 are process diagrams showing a procedure for folding an airbag, and FIG. 10A is a side view showing a state in which an airbag module is mounted in a seat back. FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along line JJ of FIG.

  The airbag main body 1 shown in FIG. 1A is formed by sewing a plurality of, for example, two base fabric panels 1a and 1b formed in a bag shape by cutting a woven fabric such as nylon. ing.

  Each base fabric panel 1a, 1b has a gas inlet port 1c connected to a gas jet port of an inflator (not shown) formed in a substantially vertical linear shape, and protrudes inside a door (not shown) when unfolded. In order not to interfere with the armrest 9, the lower edge of the second expansion portion 1f is cut away from the lower edge of the first expansion portion 1d continuous with the gas inlet 1c.

  The base fabric panels 1a and 1b that form the first inflatable portion 1d extend while increasing the vertical width sequentially at an angle α (20 to 40 °) diagonally forward and upward with respect to the horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the gas inlet 1c. The second inflating portion 1f continuous to the first inflating portion 1d is configured to expand in a direction intersecting the first inflating portion 1d, and the outer peripheral edge 1g of the second inflating portion 1f is It is curved in a substantially semicircular shape, and the lower end edge of the outer peripheral edge portion 1g is connected to one end of a cutout portion 1h cut out substantially horizontally. Accordingly, the airbag main body 1 has a first deployment direction in which the first inflation portion 1d is deployed substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction of the automobile and a second inflation portion 1f with respect to the first deployment direction. In the second deployment direction, the vehicle is inflated and deployed, that is, incline, that is, in a second deployment direction that is inclined obliquely upward and forward of the automobile.

  Each base fabric panel 1a, 1b is overlapped with each other, and the entire periphery except for the gas inlet port 1c is sewn with a sewing thread 2 to form a bag. It is deployed between the inside of the door to protect the passenger's chest.

  The second inflatable portion 1f of the airbag body 1 is formed with a non-inflatable portion 1j by sewing the base fabric panels 1a and 1b in an annular shape with the sewing thread 3 in the substantially central portion. A vent hole 4 is opened on one base fabric panel 1b so as to be spaced apart in the vertical direction on the front end side of 1f, and a reinforcing cloth (not shown) is sewn in an annular shape around the vent hole 4 with a sewing thread 5. ing.

  FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

  Next, the folding procedure of the airbag main body 1 formed as described above will be described with reference to the drawings shown in FIGS.

  In order to store the airbag body 1 in a case 6 which will be described later, first, as shown in FIG. 2A, the distal end portion 1k of the second inflatable portion 1f is pushed into the second inflatable portion 1f. When the bag body 1 is unfolded, it becomes a portion that protrudes most forward.

  Next, the second inflating portion 1f is wound in a roll shape once from the portion into which the tip portion 1k is pushed, and the cross section taken along the line BB at this time is shown in FIG.

  When the front end side of the second inflatable portion 1f is rolled, the second inflatable portion 1f is folded back so that the roll portion is on the occupant side as shown in FIG. 3 (a). Is shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the second inflating portions 1f are alternately folded back into a bellows shape so as to be in the state shown in FIG. 5 (a). A section along the line EE is shown in FIG. 4B, and a section along the line EE in FIG. 5A is shown in FIG. 5B. And the fold line (refer to the broken line in FIG. 3A) of the second inflating portion 1f intersects the unfolding direction of the second inflating portion 1f.

  In the state shown in FIG. 5A, the second expansion portion 1f is folded at an angle β with respect to the vertical line of the gas introduction port 1c. In this state, the second expansion portion 1f is stored in the case 6. As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the first inflatable portion 1d, which is then fanned out from the connecting portion of the first inflatable portion 1d and the second inflatable portion 1f, is folded in a bellows shape. The folding part of the second inflating part 1f is modified so as to be substantially parallel to the gas inlet 1c, and the cross section taken along the line FF of FIG. 6 (a) is shown in FIG. 6 (b).

  Then, in order to fold more compactly, first, the upper end of the folded portion of the second inflatable portion 1f is folded downward as shown in FIG. 7 (a) and overlapped on the front side of the folded portion. An arrow view from the G direction is shown in FIG.

  After that, when the lower end of the second inflating portion 1f is folded upward as shown in FIG. 8A and overlapped with the front side of the already folded upper end, the arrow view from the H direction in FIG. 8 (b), and a cross section taken along line II in FIG. 8 (b) is as shown in FIG. 8 (c).

  The folding heights of the first and second expansion portions 1d and 1f at this time are substantially equal to the height of the gas inlet 1c, so that the folded shape does not collapse in this state inside the gas inlet 1c. After the retainer (not shown) is attached, the whole is wrapped by the cover 7 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 8C, the second inflating part 1f is sandwiched between the first inflating parts 1d folded together with the tip part 1k, and as a result, the second inflating part 1f is sandwiched between the bellows of the first inflating portion 1d, and the bellows portion of the first inflating portion 1d acts as a guide for unfolding the second inflating portion 1f. It is possible to stabilize the deployment direction of the second expansion portion 1f that is deployed before the first expansion portion 1d, and to perform rapid deployment.

  The cover 7 is formed of a woven fabric similar to the base fabric panels 1a and 1b, and the perforation 7a that is broken by the inflation pressure with the introduction of gas from the inflator is folded so as not to hinder the inflation and deployment of the airbag body 1. The airbag body 1 is formed in the longitudinal direction.

  The airbag main body 1 folded as described above is configured as an airbag module 8 by being housed in the case 6 with the gas inlet 1c connected to the gas outlet of the inflator by a retainer. As shown in FIG. 10A, the bag module 8 is attached to a surface facing a door of a seat frame 10b provided in a seat back 10a installed at a rear portion of a seat 10 on which a passenger sits.

  In addition, the cross section which follows the JJ line | wire of (a) of FIG. 10 is shown in (b) of FIG.

  As is clear from FIG. 10 (b), the airbag main body 1 accommodated in the case 6 is cleaved by the expansion pressure of the high-pressure gas injected into the airbag main body 1 from the inflator at the side impact of the automobile. The folding part is located forward on the lid 6a side of the case 6 to be operated, and the height of the lower part of the airbag module 8 is the armrest 9 projecting from the inner surface of the door or the interior projecting from the inner surface of the door It is almost the same height as the material (not shown) or slightly higher.

  Next, a description will be given of the operation when the automobile collides. When the high-pressure gas is ejected into the airbag body 1 from the inflator housed in the case 6 due to the impact when the automobile collides, the airbag body 1 Due to the expansion pressure of the first expansion portion 1d, the lid body 6a on the front surface of the case 6 is cleaved and opened forward.

  At the same time, the second inflating portion 1f starts to expand together with the first inflating portion 1d formed to expand obliquely forward and upward at an angle α with respect to the horizontal direction, but the first inflating portion 1d folded in a bellows shape and the first inflating portion 1d 2 expansion | swelling part 1f is expand | deployed by the angle of 20-40 degrees to diagonally forward upward.

  At this time, since the second inflating portion 1f is prevented from interfering with the armrest by the cutout portion 1h formed in the lower portion of the second inflating portion 1f, the unfolding of the second inflating portion 1f is smoothly unfolded. At the same time, since the tip of the second inflatable portion 1f wound in a roll is on the outside of the second inflatable portion 1f folded in a bellows shape, the roll-like portion extends outward from the bellows-like folded portion. Expansion is regulated, and as a result, the second expansion portion 1f is expanded in a state close to ideal.

  After that, when the portion of the second inflatable portion 1f that is folded into the roll shape is unraveled, the tip 1k of the second inflatable portion 1f that has been previously pushed into the second inflatable portion 1f is more forward than the second inflatable portion 1f In order to orient the first and second expansion portions 1d and 1f so that the unfolding behavior is parallel to the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the door glass when projecting to the armrest 9 The airbag body 1 can be deployed between the chest of the occupant and the inner surfaces of the door and the door glass with a stable behavior without being obstructed by the interior material or the like.

  As a result, the occupant can be surely protected from the impact at the time of a side collision, and the tip 1k of the second inflatable portion 1f, which is the most loaded at the time of deployment, is pushed into the inside of the second inflatable portion 1f in advance, and the entrainment portion is released. By causing the tip portion to protrude forward from the inside of the second inflating portion 1f later, the load applied to the tip 1k of the second inflating portion 1f can be reduced, and it is not necessary to reinforce this portion in advance.

  In the above-described embodiment, the upper end of the second inflatable portion 1f folded in a bellows shape is bent first. However, as in the first modified example shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the folded portion The lower side may be bent first, and then the upper end may be bent. After the upper and lower ends of the folding part are bent as in the second modification shown in FIG. Alternatively, it may be bent or the tip may be bent inward as in the third modification shown in FIG.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the 2nd expansion part 1f was folded in roll shape first in the state which pushed the front-end | tip into this 2nd expansion part 1f, and then folded back in the shape of a bellows. All may be folded into a roll or bellows.

  12B is an arrow view from the K direction in FIG. 12A, and FIG. 13B is an arrow view from the L direction in FIG. 13A.

  On the other hand, FIG. 14 to FIG. 17 show a modification of the airbag body 1 and will be described next.

  Reinforcing cloth 12 is sewn around the vent hole 4 opened on the distal end side of the second inflatable portion 1f forming the airbag body 1 shown in FIG. When the distance from the inner peripheral edge to the outer peripheral edge 1g of the second inflating part 1f is short, the reinforcing cloth 12 and the outer peripheral edge 1g of the second inflating part 1f are sewn together with the sewing thread 2.

  However, when the reinforcing cloth 12 and the outer peripheral edge 1g of the second inflating portion 1f are stitched together, the base cloth panel 1b and the reinforcing cloth 12 are doubled as shown in FIG. When the portion 1f expands, a misalignment 13 as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B occurs in the sewn portion due to the difference in expansion / contraction ratio with respect to the tension applied to the base fabric panels 1a and 1b. FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line MM in FIG.

  In order to prevent this, in the modification of the airbag body 1, the misalignment prevention means 15 is provided between the sewing thread 2 for sewing the outer peripheral edge 1 g of the second inflating portion 1 f and the sewing thread 5 of the reinforcing cloth 12 of the vent hole 4. Forming.

  As the misalignment prevention means 15, as shown in FIG. 16 (a), a slit 15 a may be formed in the reinforcing cloth 12 along the sewing thread 2, and as shown in FIG. 16 (b), a notch shape is formed. A notch 15b may be provided, and as shown in FIG. 16 (c), a perforation 15d may be provided as shown in FIG. Also good.

  Further, when the non-expanded portion 16j formed at the substantially central portion of the second inflatable portion 1f is reinforced with the reinforcing cloth 16 as shown in FIG. 17 (a), as shown in FIG. 17 (b). In addition, an arc-shaped slit 15f is formed between the sewing thread 17 for sewing the periphery of the non-inflatable portion 16j in an annular shape and the sewing thread 18 for sewing the outer peripheral edge of the reinforcing cloth 16, so Good. FIG. 17B is an enlarged view in the N circle of FIG.

  Thus, when the second inflating portion 1f is inflated, the misalignment prevention means 15 is expanded to allow the base fabric panel 1b to which the reinforcing fabrics 12 and 16 are sewn to be allowed to extend. 1a and 1b are stretched almost uniformly, thereby causing misalignment in the sewing thread 2 portion for sewing the outer peripheral edge 1g of the second expansion portion 1f and the sewing thread 17 portion for sewing the non-expansion portion 16j. Can be prevented.

  In the above-described embodiment, the airbag body 1 includes the first deployment direction in which the first inflation portion 1d is deployed substantially horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the automobile and the second inflation portion 1f. In the second deployment direction in which the vehicle is tilted and deployed obliquely upward in front of the automobile, the first inflation portion 1d is not limited to this, and is not limited thereto. The first unfolding direction of the second inflating portion 1f is set to be substantially horizontal in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Good.

  The side airbag according to the present invention can deploy the airbag body between the occupant and the door with a stable behavior without being obstructed by an armrest or interior material protruding from the inside of the door. It is ideal for side airbags that protect passengers from impacts when a side impact occurs.

It is an expanded view of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st step of the folding procedure of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd step of the folding procedure of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd step of the folding procedure of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 4th step of the folding procedure of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 5th step of the folding procedure of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 6th step of the folding procedure of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 7th step of the folding procedure of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the state which packaged the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention with the cover. It is explanatory drawing of the state which attached the airbag module of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention to the seat frame. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st modification of the folding procedure of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd modification of the folding procedure of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd modification of the folding procedure of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification which provided the misalignment prevention means in the airbag main body of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the reason for which a misalignment prevention means is required for the airbag main body of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the misalignment prevention means provided in the airbag main body of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of the misalignment prevention means provided in the airbag main body of the side airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Airbag main body 1a Base fabric panel 1b Base fabric panel 1c Gas inlet 1d 1st expansion part 1f 2nd expansion part 1k The tip of the 2nd expansion part 6 Case 9 Armrest

Claims (5)

A side airbag that inflates and deploys an airbag main body between an occupant and a door by a high-pressure gas ejected from an inflator at the time of a side collision of an automobile, and protects the occupant from an impact. The airbag main body is connected to the inflator side. A first inflatable portion located in the first inflatable portion, and a first inflating direction of the first inflatable portion extending continuously in a second inflating direction inclined with respect to the first inflating direction of the first inflating portion. The second expansion part is folded in a roll shape or a bellows shape with the tip of the second expansion part folded into the second expansion part, and the first expansion part is a bellows shape. Side airbags that are folded into two. The first expansion part is folded in a bellows shape along the first deployment direction, and the second expansion part is folded in a roll shape or a bellows shape along the second deployment direction. The side airbag according to claim 1. 3. The side according to claim 1, wherein the second inflating portion is sandwiched between bellows-like folded portions of the first inflating portion folded in a bellows shape in a folded state. Airbag. The side airbag according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a notch portion is formed at a lower edge portion of the second inflatable portion to prevent interference with an armrest or interior material protruding inside the door. . The side airbag according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an expansion direction of the vertical width of the first inflating portion is set in a range of approximately 20 degrees to 40 degrees with respect to a horizontal direction.

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