JP2007307990A - Airbag apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag apparatus capable of ensuring the consistent opening/closing of an airbag exhaust hole with a simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: The airbag apparatus includes an airbag 36 having an exhaust hole 41 for discharging a part of an inflation gas, an open/close controller for controlling opening and closing operations of the exhaust hole 41, and a flap element 55 releasably joined to the open/close controller and being joined to a periphery of the exhaust hole 41 in an outer side of the airbag 36 which periphery is in a side facing away from the open/close controller, for opening and closing the exhaust hole 41. The apparatus further includes an open/close means 63 arranged in the periphery of the exhaust hole 41 of the airbag 36. Upon inflation of the airbag 36, if the flap element 55 is retained by the open/close controller, the open/close means is held down at its outer side by the flap element 55 and keeps the exhaust hole closed. If the flap element 55 is released from the open/close controller upon inflation of the airbag 36, the open/close means 63 opens by the pressure of inflation gas to expand an opening area of the exhaust hole 51. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus including an airbag set so as to be able to suppress an internal pressure during inflation.

  Conventionally, in an airbag device, a discharge hole that allows a part of the inflation gas to be discharged is formed in the airbag, and the discharge hole can be opened and closed by a flap material connected to the opening and closing control device, so that the seating position of the occupant In addition, there is a configuration that controls the opening and closing of the discharge hole according to the physique and suppresses the internal pressure when the airbag is inflated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In this airbag device, the flap material is made of a flexible sheet material and is set to a size that can close the discharge hole, and is opened and closed in the vicinity of the inflow opening in the airbag. It was the structure connected with the periphery of the discharge | emission hole of the side of the apparatus and the outer peripheral surface side of an airbag away from the opening / closing control apparatus. The flap material closes the discharge hole in a state where the connection state with the opening / closing control device is maintained, and presses against the inflation gas flowing into the airbag when the connection state with the opening / closing control device is released. It was the structure which was opened and the discharge hole was opened.
US Pat. No. 6,648,371

  However, since the conventional airbag device is configured to open and close the discharge hole with a single flap material, in order to improve the closing performance when closing the discharge hole with the flap material, the flap material is removed from the opening and closing control device. It was the structure sewn to an airbag also in parts other than the edge part of the distant side. For example, in the flap material disclosed in Fig. 5, the portion of the flap material closer to the opening / closing control device is also sewn to the airbag at the portion around the periphery of the discharge hole. In addition, the flap material disclosed in Fig. 6 was configured to be sewn to the airbag over the entire circumference, except for the side close to the opening / closing control device, at the periphery of the plurality of discharge holes arranged. . Therefore, in the conventional airbag device, when the airbag is inflated in a state in which the connection state with the flap material opening / closing control device is released, the suture thread for sewing the flap material to the airbag is further provided. Since the discharge hole is configured to be opened only when it is broken and the sewing state between the flap member and the airbag is released, the suture thread is surely broken to open the discharge hole. Had to be configured as follows.

  Further, in the conventional airbag device, the flap material disclosed in FIG. 5 is set to a dimension that allows the flap material to be inserted into the discharge hole. That is, when the airbag is deployed and inflated while being connected to the opening / closing control device, the airbag is inflated while the discharge hole is kept closed by the flap material. If it is not reliably closed by the flap material, the expansion gas leaks from the gap formed between the discharge hole and the flap material. Therefore, in the conventional airbag apparatus, in order to stably maintain the closed state of the discharge hole, a member for suppressing leakage of the inflation gas from the vicinity of the discharge hole is separately required. Alternatively, in order to secure a stable closed state, it is conceivable to reduce the opening area of the discharge hole, but if the opening area is reduced, the discharge amount of the expansion gas at the opening of the discharge hole is reduced. As the number of discharge holes is reduced, the significance of providing the discharge holes is eliminated, and the open / closed state of the discharge holes cannot be secured stably with a simple configuration.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can stably secure the opening and closing of the discharge hole with a simple configuration.

The airbag device according to the present invention is an airbag having an exhaust hole that allows an inflating gas to flow in, inflates from a folded state at the time of storage, and allows a part of the inflated gas to be discharged;
An opening / closing control device capable of controlling the opening / closing of the discharge hole;
Connected to the opening / closing control device and the peripheral edge of the discharge hole on the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag away from the opening / closing control device, to hold the peripheral edge of the discharge hole when maintaining the connection with the opening / closing control device when the airbag is inflated When the connection with the open / close control device is released when the airbag is inflated, the flap is pushed by the inflation gas to open the discharge hole and can be folded together with the airbag. Material,
An airbag device comprising:
On the periphery of the airbag's discharge hole,
As it can be folded with an airbag,
When maintaining the connection with the flap material opening / closing control device when the airbag is inflated, the flap material is pressed against the outer peripheral surface to maintain the discharge hole closed, and when the airbag is inflated, the flap material is opened and closed. An opening / closing mechanism that is pushed by the expansion gas and opens to widen the opening area of the discharge hole when the connection with the control device is released is provided.

  In the airbag apparatus of the present invention, an opening / closing mechanism capable of opening and closing the discharge hole is disposed at the periphery of the discharge hole formed in the airbag, and the airbag is maintained in a state in which the flap material is maintained in connection with the opening / closing control apparatus. When the air bag is inflated, the opening and closing mechanism is pressed against the outer peripheral surface by the flap material with the discharge hole closed, and the airbag is inflated with the flap material disconnected from the open / close control device. In this case, the opening / closing mechanism opens to widen the opening area of the discharge hole. That is, in the airbag device of the present invention, when the airbag is inflated while the flap material is kept connected to the opening / closing control device, the flap material presses the outer peripheral side of the opening / closing mechanism that closes the discharge hole. Therefore, the opening / closing mechanism that closes the discharge hole can be prevented from being pushed up by the expansion gas and largely lifted, and the expansion gas can be prevented from being discharged from the discharge hole as much as possible. Conversely, when the airbag is inflated with the flap material disconnected from the opening / closing control device, the opening / closing mechanism is opened to secure a large opening area of the discharge hole, and a large amount of inflation can be achieved from the discharge hole. Gas can be discharged. For this reason, the amount of inflation gas discharged from the exhaust hole can be greatly changed between when the connection to the opening / closing control device of the flap material is maintained and when it is released, and the internal pressure of the airbag that has completed the inflation also changes greatly. Can be made.

  In the airbag device of the present invention, since the flap member and the opening / closing mechanism are both foldable together with the airbag, the flap member and the opening / closing mechanism can be stored together with the folded airbag. In addition, the apparatus is not increased or complicated.

  Therefore, in the airbag device of the present invention, it is possible to stably secure the opening and closing of the discharge hole with a simple configuration.

Further, in the airbag device of the present invention, the discharge hole is disposed so as to always open from the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag to the inner peripheral surface side,
The opening / closing mechanism is composed of an inner flap that is coupled to the periphery of the discharge hole on the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag and is disposed so as to close the discharge hole,
When maintaining the connection of the inner flap with the flap material opening and closing control device when the airbag is inflated, the outer peripheral surface side is pressed by the flap material to close the discharge hole, and the flap material is opened and closed when the airbag is inflated. When the connection with the control device is released, the connecting portion with the airbag is used as a hinge part, and is pushed and opened by the inflation gas, and the discharge hole is opened so that the inflation gas can be discharged from the discharge hole to the outside of the airbag. It is preferable to configure.

  If the airbag device is configured as described above, since the discharge hole is configured to always open from the outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface side of the airbag, the flap material is connected to the opening / closing control device. When the airbag is inflated in a state where the release is released, the discharge amount of the inflation gas flowing out from the airbag can be set by the opening area of the discharge hole, and the discharge amount of the inflation gas when the discharge hole is opened Can be stabilized.

  Further, in the airbag device having the above-described configuration, the inner flap is configured so that the coupling portion with the airbag serving as the hinge portion is disposed at a position facing the coupling portion with the airbag of the flap material at the periphery of the discharge hole. It is preferable.

  If the airbag device has the above configuration, when the airbag is inflated in a state where the flap material is maintained in connection with the opening / closing control device, the inner side flap is positioned on the outer peripheral side on the opening end side facing the hinge portion. Since the flap material is pressed by the portion on the side where the airbag is joined, the flap material can suppress the inner flap from being pushed by the inflation gas and opening as much as possible.

Further, in the airbag device having the above-described configuration, at least one of the coupling portion of the flap material with the airbag or the coupling portion of the inner flap with the airbag is curved so that both ends are directed toward the other coupling portion. Let me configure
It is preferable that the connecting portion of the flap material with the airbag and the connecting portion of the inner flap with the airbag are arranged so that the end portions are arranged close to each other.

  If the airbag device is configured as described above, when the airbag is inflated while the flap material is maintained in connection with the opening / closing control device, the inner flap is located on the outer peripheral side of the portion that is near the end of the hinge portion. The flap material is pressed by a portion in the vicinity of the end of the hinge portion, so that the opening of the inner flap by being pushed by the expansion gas can be more reliably suppressed.

Furthermore, in the airbag device of the present invention, the discharge hole is disposed as a slit penetrating from the outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface side of the airbag,
Opening and closing mechanism,
Composed from the periphery of the slit,
When maintaining the connection with the flap material opening / closing control device when the airbag is inflated, the flap material is pressed against the outer peripheral surface side, and the opening of the slit is restricted, thereby restricting the opening of the discharge hole. Maintain,
It is preferable that when the connection with the flap material opening / closing control device is released when the airbag is inflated, it is pushed by the inflating gas so as to widen the opening area of the slit and to open the discharge hole. .

  If the airbag device is configured as described above, the opening / closing mechanism can be configured simply by providing a slit in the base fabric that configures the airbag, and the manufacturing man-hours and cost of the airbag device can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the airbag device configured as described above, the slit is
The part where both ends are connected is used as a hinge part, and the area surrounded by the slit can be configured as a door part that is pushed and opened by the airbag, and is arranged in a substantially U shape when viewed from the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag,
When the airbag is inflated, when the connection with the flap material opening / closing control device is released, the door is opened and the discharge hole is opened so that the opening area of the slit is increased by being pushed by the inflation gas. It is preferable.

  If the airbag device is configured as described above, when the airbag is inflated in a state where the flap material is disconnected from the opening / closing control device, the area surrounded by the slit formed in a substantially U shape is the door. Since it opens as a part and the discharge hole is opened, it is possible to ensure a large opening area of the discharge hole as compared with the case where the discharge hole is opened by simply opening the straight slit.

  Furthermore, in the airbag device having the above-described configuration, the door portion may be configured by disposing the hinge portion at the time of opening at a position facing the coupling portion with the airbag of the flap material at the periphery of the discharge hole at the time of opening. When the airbag is inflated in a state where the flap material is maintained in connection with the opening / closing control device, the door portion has an outer peripheral side on the opening end side facing the hinge portion at the time of opening, and the airbag in the flap material. Since it is pressed down by the site | part which becomes a coupling | bond part site | part, it can suppress as much as possible that a door part is pushed by the gas for expansion | swelling by a flap material, and opens.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show an airbag apparatus M for a steering wheel that is an embodiment of the present invention.

  Note that the front-rear, up-down, left-right directions in the embodiment are based on the straight-ahead steering of the steering wheel W mounted on the vehicle unless otherwise specified, and the steering shaft SS (see FIG. 3) to which the steering wheel W is assembled. , 4 (refer to the two-dot chain line), the vertical direction is the vertical direction, the front-rear direction of the vehicle that is orthogonal to the steering shaft SS is the front-rear direction, and the left-right direction of the vehicle that is the axial orthogonal direction of the steering shaft SS As the left-right direction, the front-rear, up-down, left-right directions are shown.

  The airbag apparatus M is a structure arrange | positioned at the upper part in the boss | hub part B of the center of the steering wheel W, as shown to FIGS. The steering wheel W includes a ring portion R that is gripped during steering, a boss portion B that is disposed in the center and connected to the steering shaft SS, four spoke portions S that connect the boss portion B and the ring portion R, and It is configured with. In addition, the steering wheel W includes an airbag device M and a steering wheel body 1 on the component parts.

  The steering wheel body 1 includes a cored bar 2 made of an aluminum alloy or the like disposed so as to connect the ring part R, the boss part B, and the spoke part S, and the spoke part S on the ring part R and the ring part R side. And a synthetic resin coating layer 3 for covering the core metal 2 and a synthetic resin lower cover 4 disposed below the boss B.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the airbag apparatus M stores and holds the folded airbag 36, the inflator 8 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 36, and the airbag 36 and the inflator 8. A bag holder 11 as a case, a pad 27 as an airbag cover disposed so as to cover the opening 11a of the bag holder 11, and a horn switch 17 are connected to the bag holder 11 and an airbag apparatus M Are connected to the steering wheel body 1, a locking member 23 as an opening / closing control device for controlling the opening / closing of a discharge hole 41 described later formed in the airbag 36, and discharge in the airbag 36. A flap member 55 connected to the periphery of the hole 41 and the locking member 23, and an opening / closing mechanism disposed on the periphery of the discharge hole 41 And it is configured to include an inner flap 63 and, the. The operation of the inflator 8 and the locking member 23 is controlled by the control device 68.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 68 includes a position detection sensor 69 as an occupant detection sensor capable of detecting the physique of the occupant (driver) MD seated on the seat SE and the distance between the steering wheel W and the occupant MD. A weight sensor 70 as an occupant detection sensor capable of detecting the weight of the occupant MD, a collision detection sensor 71 capable of detecting the acceleration, acceleration direction, and the like of the vehicle are electrically connected, and as these occupant detection sensors The opening / closing control device is configured to input an electrical signal from the position detection sensor 69, the weight sensor 70, the collision detection sensor 71, or the like to operate the inflator 8 and to inflate the airbag 36 in a suitable inflation mode. The operation of the locking member 23 is controlled.

  The inflator 8 includes a substantially cylindrical main body 8a provided with a plurality of gas discharge ports 8b for discharging inflation gas at an upper portion, a substantially square plate-like flange portion 8c arranged to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the main body 8a, It is configured with. The flange portion 8c is formed with an insertion hole 8d through which a bolt 6a protruding from a retainer 6 described later is inserted.

  The retainer 6 is made of a sheet metal having a substantially quadrangular annular body, and includes bolts 6a protruding downward at the four corners. The retainer 6 is protruded from the flange portion 8 c of the inflator 8 through the peripheral edge of the inflow opening 39 on the inner peripheral surface side of the airbag 36 and the bag holder 11. Then, by fastening the nut 7 to each bolt 6 a, the airbag 36 and the inflator 8 are attached to the bag holder 11 using the retainer 6.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bag holder 11 includes a holder main body 12 made of sheet metal and two holding plates 16. The two holding plates 16 are fixed to the lower surface side on both the front and rear sides of the holder body 12.

  The holder main body 12 includes a substantially square plate-like bottom wall portion 13 and a side wall portion 14 that extends upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 13 and has an upper end opened. In the vicinity of the center of the bottom wall portion 13, an insertion hole 13 a is formed that opens in a circular shape and allows the main body 8 a of the inflator 8 to be inserted from below to above. Four insertion holes 13b through which the bolts 6a of the retainer 6 are inserted are formed at the periphery of the insertion hole 13a. Further, a through hole 13c through which a loop portion 61 formed at a tip 60b of a belt portion 60 (described later) of the airbag 36 can be inserted is formed on the bottom wall portion 13 in front of the insertion hole 13a.

  Further, the lower side of the bottom wall portion 13 and in the vicinity of the through-hole 13c is a latch as an opening / closing control device that connects a front end 60b side of a belt portion 60 (described later) formed in the flap material 55. A member 23 is provided. The locking member 23 is fixed to the lower surface side of the bottom wall portion 13 so as to be able to retract the locking pin 24 and the locking pin 24 inserted into the loop portion 61 formed at the tip 60b of the belt portion 60. And an actuator 25. When the actuator 25 is operated so as to retract the locking pin 24, the locking pin 24 shifts from a state where the loop portion 61 is locked to a state where the locking is released. If this actuator 25 can move the locking pin 24 by an electrical signal from the control device 68, the piston cylinder uses the fluid pressure including the case where hydraulic pressure, water pressure, air pressure, or inflating gas pressure such as an inflator is generated. A motor utilizing such fluid pressure or electricity, an electromagnetic solenoid, a spring utilizing an urging force at the time of restoration, or the like can be used. As shown in FIG. 5, the tip of the locking pin 24 of the locking member 23 is supported on the peripheral edge of the through hole 13 c on the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 13 and on the edge side facing the actuator 25. A support base 13d that prevents the loop portion 61 from coming off from the locking pin 24 during locking is provided.

  The side wall portion 14 of the holder body 12 is provided with locking claws 14a extending outward and downward at the upper ends of the front and rear portions, and these locking claws 14a are located at the front and rear positions of the side wall portion 31 described later of the pad 27. It will be locked to the step part 31a.

  The two front and rear holding plates 16 fixed to the holder main body 12 are each provided with a holding portion 16a extending to the vicinity of the portion of the coating layer 3 in the vicinity of the ring portion R in the spoke portions S on the left and right sides. A horn switch 17 is attached. Each holding plate 16 includes a mounting hole 16b through which the rivet 34 is inserted.

  The two connecting plates 21 are arranged in strips along the front-rear direction on the left and right lower surfaces of the airbag apparatus M, respectively, and a substantially intermediate portion in the front-rear direction is fixed to the core metal 2 of the steering wheel body 1. The front and rear ends are respectively arranged below the holding portions 16a at the left and right ends of the holding plate 16 and are supported by the cored bar 2 at the portion of the spoke portion S. . The front and rear ends of the connecting plate 21 and the holding portion 16a are supported by the left and right connecting plates 21 with the horn switch 17 interposed therebetween, and the connecting plate 21 is fixed to the core metal 2 so that the steering wheel. It is attached to the upper part of the boss part B of the main body 1.

  The pad 27 as the airbag cover is made of a synthetic resin such as an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, and as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a ceiling wall portion 28 that covers the upper side of the boss portion B, and a ceiling wall portion 28. The side wall part 31 of the substantially square cylinder shape extended below from the outer periphery of this is comprised. The inner side part of the side wall part 31 in the ceiling wall part 28 is configured as a part that covers the folded airbag 36, and a plurality of door parts 30 that are opened when the airbag 36 is inflated are parts to be broken around the part. 29 is provided. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, two door portions 30 are arranged side by side along the front-rear direction, and are pressed by an airbag 36 into which an inflating gas has been introduced, It is the structure which fractures | ruptures the character-shaped fracture | rupture scheduled part 29, and opens it back and forth. A plurality of mounting holes 32 penetrating in the horizontal direction are formed in the side wall portion 31. In these mounting holes 32, rivets 34 are inserted as fixing means for holding the pad 27 to the bag holder 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the airbag 36 includes a bag-shaped bag body 37 that is inflated by inflating an inflation gas, and a tether 50 that regulates the shape of the bag body 37 when the inflation is completed. It is configured.

  In the bag body 37, the outer peripheral wall at the completion of the expansion is formed of a flexible woven fabric made of polyamide yarn, polyester yarn or the like. The outer peripheral wall of the bag body 37 is disposed opposite to the inflow opening 39 and the vehicle body side wall portion 38 having an inflow opening 39 for inflating gas into the steering wheel W side when the expansion is completed. An occupant side wall 45 that sometimes becomes an occupant (driver side).

  The inflow opening 39 is a part for inserting the main body 8 a of the inflator 8 from below and allowing the inflation gas discharged from the gas discharge port 8 b of the inflator 8 to flow into the bag main body 37. Further, four attachment holes 40 through which the bolts 6 a formed on the retainer 6 are inserted are formed on the periphery of the inflow opening 39. In addition, a discharge hole 41 that is always circular and penetrates from the outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface side of the bag body 37 is formed in a portion of the vehicle body side wall portion 38 that is in front of the inflow opening 39. Yes. In addition, vent holes 42 and 42 having circular openings whose opening areas are set to be smaller than the discharge holes 41 are formed in the left and right sides of the discharge holes 41. Between the discharge hole 41 and the inflow opening 39, the belt portion 60 of the flap member 55 can be inserted in the left and right directions in the vicinity of the rear of the discharge hole 41 and the vicinity of the front of the inflow opening 39. Slit-like insertion holes 43A and 43B formed along the side are formed (see FIG. 6).

  As shown in FIG. 9, the bag main body 37 includes a circular vehicle body side base cloth 47 that forms the vehicle body side wall portion 38, and a circular passenger side base cloth 48 that forms the passenger side wall portion 45. Yes. The inflow opening 39 is formed at the center of the vehicle body-side base cloth 47, and the mounting hole 40, the discharge hole 41, the vent hole 42, and the insertion holes 43A and 43B are respectively located at predetermined positions of the vehicle body-side base cloth 47. Is formed.

  Similar to the bag body 37, the tether 50 is formed of a flexible woven fabric made of polyamide yarn, polyester yarn or the like. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the tether 50 regulates the separation distance between the vehicle body side wall 38 and the occupant side wall 45 when the bag body 37 is completely inflated, thereby restricting the shape of the bag body 37 that has been inflated. The tether base fabrics 51 and 52 are arranged on the vehicle body side wall portion 38 side and the occupant side wall portion 45 side. The tether base fabrics 51 and 52 are formed in a substantially circular shape and are connected to the vehicle body side wall portions 38 and the occupant side wall portions 45, and are extended from the left and right edges of the connection portions 51a and 52a. It is comprised from the strip-shaped extension parts 51b and 52b which are. In the connecting portion 51a of the tether base fabric 51, openings (not shown) are formed corresponding to the inflow opening 39, the attachment hole 40, and the insertion hole 43B.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the flap member 55 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the bag body 37 (the vehicle body side wall 38) and has an outer flap 56 as a flap body that can close the discharge hole 41, and an outer flap 56. The belt portion 60 is connected to the front end 56f side and connected to the locking member 23. An inner flap 63 as an opening / closing mechanism is coupled to the periphery of the discharge hole 41 on the outer peripheral side of the vehicle body side wall portion 38 between the outer side flap 56 and the bag body 37 (vehicle body side wall portion 38). . That is, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the discharge hole 41 disposed so as to always open from the outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface side of the bag main body 37 includes the inner flap 63 and the outer side of the flap material 55. The flap 56 can be opened and closed.

  In the case of the embodiment, the inner flap 63 and the outer flap 56 are formed of a flexible woven fabric made of polyamide yarn, polyester yarn, or the like, like the bag body 37. In the case of the embodiment, the inner flap 63 and the outer flap 56 each have a substantially square shape with the same size that can block the discharge hole 41 independently, and the diagonal lines are approximately along the front-rear direction. Are inclined.

  And the inner side flap 63 and the outer side flap 56 overlap the inner side flap 63 on the outer peripheral side of the vehicle body side wall part 38 so as to block the discharge hole 41, and the outer side flap 56 is slightly shifted forward by the sewing allowance. By arranging so as to overlap with the outer peripheral side of the flap 63 and sewing the periphery to the vehicle body side wall portion 38 in the shape of a square stroke over the entire circumference, each is coupled to the vehicle body side wall portion 38. (See FIG. 7).

  That is, the outer side flap 56 is formed in a substantially inverted V shape with the front two sides 56c and 56d on the side away from the locking member 23 as the base 56e side, and the peripheral portion of the discharge hole 41 in the vehicle body side wall 38. To be joined to the side wall 38 of the vehicle body. The outer flap 56 is a portion that is in the vicinity of the front end 56f so that the front end 56f can be pressed to the airbag 36 side with the rear two sides 56a and 56b on the side of the locking member 23 as the front end 56f side. The belt portion 60 is sewn on the outer peripheral surface side. Moreover, the outer side flap 56 is comprised so that the site | part located in the vicinity of the coupling | bond part 57 may be used as the hinge part 58 bent at the time of opening. The inner flap 63 is sewn to the peripheral portion of the discharge hole 41 in the vehicle body side wall portion 38 in a substantially V shape with the rear side 63a, 63b on the locking member 23 side as the base portion 63e side. A coupling portion 64 is formed by sewing and coupling to the vehicle body side wall portion 38. The inner flap 63 has the front two sides 63c and 63d on the side away from the inflow opening 39 as the tip 63f side when opened. Moreover, the inner side flap 63 is comprised so that the site | part located in the vicinity of the coupling | bond part 64 may be used as the hinge part 65 bent at the time of opening.

  That is, in the embodiment, the coupling portion 57 that couples the outer flap 56 to the vehicle body side wall portion 38 and the coupling portion 64 that couples the inner flap 63 to the vehicle body side wall portion 38 are each curved in a substantially V shape. The end portions 57a, 57b, 64a, 64b of the respective binding sites 57, 64 are arranged so as to be close to each other. By these binding sites 57, 64, the discharge hole 41 is formed. It becomes a mode in which the periphery is surrounded over the entire circumference.

  In the embodiment, the coupling portion 57 that couples the outer flap 56 to the vehicle body side wall portion 38 is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the belt portion 60 disposed along the front-rear direction as will be described later. These are arranged in an inverted V shape along the left-right direction. In the embodiment, the straight lines L1 and L2 connecting the end portions 57a and 57b of the coupling portion 57 and the tip 56f are respectively connected to the left and right edges 41a and 41b of the discharge hole 41 as shown in FIG. It is placed in a position beyond it. In other words, in the embodiment, the discharge hole 41 is disposed in a substantially rectangular region surrounded by the straight lines L1 and L2 connecting the ends 57a and 57b of the binding site 57 and the tip 56f and the binding site 57. It is installed.

  Further, in the case of the embodiment, the outer side flap 56 is arranged so that the front end 56f on the locking member 23 side and the base portion 56e on the side away from the inflow opening 39 are along the arrangement direction of the belt portion 60. The bag main body 37 is disposed so as to be positioned on a line extending radially from the center of the inflow opening 39 (in the embodiment, on a line along the front-rear direction passing through the center of the inflow opening 39). That is, the outer flap 56 is arranged so that the opening direction is along a line extending radially from the center of the inflow opening 39, in other words, the direction in which the airbag 36 is inflated.

  In the case of the embodiment, the inner side flap 63 and the outer side flap 56 are arranged on the outer peripheral side of the vehicle body side wall portion 38 so as to close the discharge hole 41 and overlap each other. When the bag body 37 is inflated in a state where the connection between the belt portion 60 connected to the front end 56 f side of the outer flap 56 and the locking member 23 is maintained, the inner flap 63 has an outer peripheral surface on the outer flap 56. In the pressed state, the entire discharge hole 41 is closed and the closed state of the discharge hole 41 is maintained.

  The belt portion 60 connected to the front end 56f side of the outer flap 56 is composed of a belt-like cloth material having flexibility. In the embodiment, the belt portion 60 is smaller than the width dimension of the hinge portion 58 in the outer flap 56. As a width dimension, it arrange | positions so that it may extend along the front-back direction used as the opening direction of the outer side flap 56. FIG. And the belt part 60 is connected to the outer peripheral side which becomes the front-end | tip 56f vicinity of the outer side flap 56 by the base part 60a side. In the case of the embodiment, the belt portion 60 is arranged on a line extending radially from the center of the inflow opening 39 in the bag body 37 (in the case of the embodiment, on a line along the front-rear direction passing through the center of the inflow opening 39). Has been. A loop portion 61 configured by sewing an end portion into a ring shape is disposed on the front end 60b side of the belt portion 60. The loop portion 61 is configured so that the locking pin 24 of the locking member 23 can be inserted. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, when the airbag 36 is folded and stored, the locking pin 24 is inserted, It will be locked to the locking member 23.

  The belt portion 60 is disposed so as to penetrate through the insertion holes 43A and 43B formed in the vehicle body side wall portion 38, and mutually connects the inner flap 63 and the outer flap 56 so as to block the discharge hole 41. In the state of being overlapped with each other, the penetrating hole 43A formed in the vicinity of the discharge hole 41 is inserted, the intermediate portion 60c is positioned on the inner peripheral side of the bag body 37, and the tip 60b side where the loop portion 61 is formed is In order to protrude out of the bag body 37, the insertion hole 43B is formed again in the vicinity of the inflow opening 39 (see FIGS. 6 and 10). That is, when the airbag 36 is folded and stored, the belt portion 60 positions the base portion 60a side and the tip end 60b side on the outer peripheral side of the bag main body 37, and positions the intermediate portion 60c on the inner peripheral side of the bag main body 37. Thus, the locking pin 24 of the locking member 23 is inserted into the loop portion 61 on the tip 60b side protruding from the insertion hole 43B. In the case of the embodiment, the belt portion 60 has a length dimension, and even when the airbag 36 is inflated in a state in which the loop portion 61 is maintained in the locked state with the locking pin 24, the airbag 36 has no problem. The dimensions are set so that the expansion can be completed.

  Next, mounting of the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment on a vehicle will be described. First, manufacture of the airbag 36 will be described. An inflow opening 39, a discharge hole 41, a vent hole 42, and an insertion hole 43A are formed in the vehicle body side fabric 47 in advance. Also, an opening (not shown) corresponding to the inflow opening 39 is formed in advance in the connecting portion 51 a of the tether base fabric 51.

  First, the inner flap 63 is arranged on the outer surface side of the vehicle body side base fabric 47 so as to block the discharge hole 41, and the outer flap 56 constituting the flap material 55 is slightly shifted forward by the sewing allowance. It arrange | positions so that it may overlap with the outer peripheral side of the flap 63, and the periphery of the inner side flap 63 and the outer side flap 56 is sewn on the vehicle body side wall part 38 over a perimeter. Thereafter, in the vicinity of the front end 56 f of the outer side flap 56, the base part 60 a side of the belt part 60 in which the loop part 61 is formed in advance on the front end 60 b side is sewn to form the flap material 55. Further, the connecting portion 51a of the tether base fabric 51 is disposed on the inner surface side of the vehicle body side base fabric 47 so that the opening corresponds to the inflow opening 39, and is sewn at the periphery of the inflow opening 39. . Further, the connecting portion 52a of the tether base fabric 52 is sewn on the inner surface side of the occupant side base fabric 48 at the peripheral portion.

  Thereafter, the mounting hole 40 and the insertion hole 43 </ b> B are drilled on the vehicle body side base fabric 47 and the connecting portion 51 a of the tether base fabric 51. Of course, the inflow opening 39 may be provided at the same time as the drilling process so that the inflow opening 39 is not disposed before the stitching.

  Next, the vehicle body side base fabric 47 and the occupant side base fabric 48 are overlapped so that the outer surface sides face each other, and the outer peripheral edges are sewn together. After the outer peripheral edge is sewn, the bag body 37 is reversed using the inflow opening 39 so that the seam allowance of the outer peripheral edge does not appear on the outer surface side of the airbag 36. After the reversing work, the bag body 37 can be manufactured by pulling out the ends of the extending portions 51b and 52b of the tether base fabrics 51 and 52 from the inflow opening 39 and sewing them, and the flap material 55 and The airbag 36 to which the inner flap 63 is coupled can be manufactured.

  And the airbag apparatus M is assembled using the airbag 36 manufactured as mentioned above. First, the loop portion is formed so that the belt portion 60 of the flap material 55 is passed from the loop portion 61 side to the insertion hole 43A formed in the vicinity of the discharge hole 41 and the intermediate portion 60c is positioned on the inner peripheral side of the bag body 37. The part on the part 61 side is projected from the insertion hole 43B. At this time, the discharge hole 41 is closed by the inner flap 63 disposed so as to overlap each other and the outer flap 56 of the flap member 55.

  Thereafter, the retainer 6 is inserted into the airbag 36 through the inflow opening 39, and each bolt 6 a is protruded from the mounting hole 40. The airbag 36 is folded so as to be housed in the bag holder 11 together with the flap material 55 and the inner flap 63 while maintaining the protruding state of the loop portion 61 from the insertion hole 43B.

  Next, each of the bolts 6a protrudes from the insertion hole 13b of the bottom wall portion 13 and the loop portion 61 protrudes from the through hole 13c. And the connection board 21 is accommodated in the bag holder 11 which has been attached. Then, the locking pin 24 of the locking member 23 is inserted through the loop portion 61, and the loop portion 61 is locked to the locking member 23 so that the distal end side of the locking pin 24 is supported by the support base 13 d. Thereafter, the main body 8a of the inflator 8 is inserted into the insertion hole 13a of the bottom wall portion 13 from below, and each bolt 6a is protruded from the insertion hole 8d of the flange portion 8c. Then, the nut 7 is fastened to each bolt 6 a, and the airbag 36 and the inflator 8 are held by the bag holder 11.

  Thereafter, the pad 27 is put on the airbag 36, the locking claw 14 a of the bag holder 11 is locked to the stepped portion 31 a of the side wall 31, and the bag holder 11 and the side wall 31 are fastened by the rivet 34. The airbag apparatus M can be assembled.

  The airbag apparatus M assembled in this manner can be obtained by connecting the connecting plate 21 to a mounting seat (not shown) of the steering wheel main body 1 that is already attached to the vehicle by using a predetermined bolt. At this time, the assembly of the steering wheel W and the mounting of the steering wheel W to the vehicle are completed. When the airbag device M is mounted on the vehicle, an operation signal input lead wire extending from the control device 68 is connected to the inflator 8 and the locking member (opening / closing control device) 23.

  If the traveling vehicle collides after the airbag device M is mounted on the vehicle, the control device 68 outputs an operation signal to the inflator 8, and the inflator 8 supplies the inflation gas from the gas discharge port 8b. The air bag 36 is discharged and inflated by allowing the inflation gas to flow into the interior, the doors 30 and 30 of the pad 26 are opened on both the front and rear sides, and protrudes toward the occupant MD side to complete the inflation.

  In the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the control device 68 that receives signals from the predetermined sensors 69, 70, 71 detects, for example, the seating of the small occupant MD1, or the occupant MD controls the steering wheel W. When it is detected that the user is seated at a position close to the airbag 36, the inflation gas is discharged from the inflator 8 and the airbag 36 is substantially completely inflated. ) The connection state to 23 is released. That is, after a predetermined time has elapsed from the gas discharge start time of the inflator 8, the control device 68 outputs an actuation signal to the actuator 25 to actuate the locking pin 24, thereby forming the flap material 55. The airbag 36 completes inflating in a state where the locking state between the loop portion 61 formed on the tip 60b side of the portion 60 and the locking pin 24 is released. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11B, the airbag 36 completes the expansion by opening the discharge hole 41 and discharging the excess inflation gas G from the discharge hole 41. Conversely, when the control device 68 detects the seating of the large occupant MD2, or detects that the occupant MD is seated at a position away from the steering wheel W, the airbag 36 The loop portion 61 formed on the front end 60b side of the belt portion 60 constituting the flap member 55 is engaged with the locking pin 24 without operating the actuator 25 so that the connection state of the 55 to the locking member 23 is maintained. The expansion is completed in the stopped state. In this case, as shown in A of FIG. 11, the airbag 36 completes the inflation while the closed state of the discharge hole 41 is maintained.

  And in the airbag apparatus M of embodiment, the inner side flap 63 as an opening / closing mechanism which can open and close the discharge hole 41 is arrange | positioned in the periphery of the discharge hole 41 formed in the bag main body 37 (airbag 36), and flaps are provided. When the airbag 36 is inflated in a state where the belt portion 60 of the material 55 is maintained in connection with the locking member 23, the inner side flap 63 closes the discharge hole 41 and the outer side flap of the flap material 55 is closed. When the airbag 36 is inflated in a state where the outer peripheral surface side is pressed by 56 and the belt portion 60 of the flap member 55 is disconnected from the locking member 23, the inner flap 63 opens the discharge hole 41. It will open to widen the area.

  That is, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, when the airbag 36 is inflated in a state where the belt portion 60 of the flap member 55 is kept connected to the locking member 23, the inner side in which the discharge hole 41 is closed. Since the outer flap 56 of the flap member 55 presses the outer peripheral side of the flap 63, it is possible to prevent the inner flap 63 that closes the discharge hole 41 from being pushed up by the expansion gas and to be lifted greatly, and the expansion gas from the discharge hole. Can be suppressed as much as possible.

  Specifically, in the airbag apparatus M according to the embodiment, the coupling portion 57 of the outer flap 56 to the airbag 36 side (vehicle body side wall portion 38) is an outer side in which the end portions 57a and 57b and the belt portion 60 are extended. The straight lines L1 and L2 connecting the tip 56f of the flap 56 are arranged at positions beyond the left and right edges 41a and 41b of the discharge hole 41 closed by the inner flap 63, respectively. It is arrange | positioned at the front end side (front side). Therefore, when the airbag 36 is inflated in a state in which the outer flap 56 is maintained in the state of connection between the belt portion 60 disposed on the distal end 56f side and the locking member 23, the belt portion 60 is connected to the locking member 23. By being connected and towed, tension is generated on the two straight lines L1 and L2 connecting the ends 57a and 57b of the coupling portion 57 and the tip 56f of the outer flap 56 by this towing. In particular, in the embodiment, since the belt portion 60 and the outer flap 56 are arranged on a line extending radially from the center of the inflow opening 39, the belt portion 60 is pulled along the direction in which the airbag 36 is inflated. Thus, a large tension is generated on the two straight lines L1 and L2 connecting the end portions 57a and 57b of the coupling portion 57 and the tip 56f of the outer flap 56. Therefore, the portion surrounded by the binding portion 57 of the outer flap 56 and the two straight lines L1 and L2 connecting the ends 57a and 57b of the binding portion 57 and the tip 56f of the outer flap 56 is an airbag. Since the outer flap 56 can accurately suppress the opening of the inner flap 63 that opens the discharge hole 41, the inner flap 63 is opened. It is possible to prevent the expansion gas from leaking.

  On the contrary, when the airbag 36 is inflated with the belt portion 60 of the flap member 55 being released from the engagement member 23, the inner flap 63 is opened and a large opening area of the discharge hole 41 is secured. Thus, a large amount of inflation gas can be discharged from the discharge hole 41. In the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the inner side flap 63 and the outer side flap 56 of the flap material 55 are disposed on the outer peripheral side of the airbag 36, and therefore, the belt portion 60 of the flap material 55 and the locking member 23. When the airbag 36 is deployed and inflated with the connected state released, the outer flap 56 releases the press of the inner flap 63, and the inner flap 63 and the outer flap 56 flow into the airbag 36. Are opened in opposite directions around the hinge portions 65 and 58, respectively, and the discharge hole 41 is opened. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the inner flap 63 and the outer flap 56 are opened so as to open a bird cage. That is, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, if the connection state between the belt portion 60 of the flap member 55 and the locking member 23 is released, the inner flap 63 and the outer flap 56 are pressed against the inflation gas and naturally Therefore, the discharge hole 41 can be opened stably with a large opening area.

  As a result, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the discharge amount of the inflation gas from the discharge hole 41 is increased when the connection of the flap member 55 to the locking member 23 serving as the opening / closing control device is maintained and released. The internal pressure of the airbag 36 that has been inflated can be greatly changed.

  In the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the flap member 55 and the inner flap 63 as the opening / closing mechanism are both foldable together with the airbag 36, and therefore the flap member 55 and the inner flap 63 are folded. The air bag 36 can be housed together, and the apparatus is not increased or complicated.

  Therefore, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, it is possible to stably secure the opening / closing of the discharge hole 41 with a simple configuration.

  Further, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the vehicle body side wall portion is formed so that the discharge hole 41 is substantially circular and always opens from the outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface side of the airbag 36 (bag main body 37). Therefore, when the airbag 36 is inflated with the belt portion 60 of the flap member 55 being released from the engagement member 23, the inflation gas discharged from the airbag 36 is discharged. The amount can be set by the opening area of the discharge hole 41, and the discharge amount of the expansion gas when the discharge hole 41 is opened can be stabilized.

  Moreover, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the inner side flap 63 forms the flap part 55 on the periphery of the discharge hole 41, and the outer side flap 63 forms the connecting part 64 with the vehicle body side wall part 38 of the airbag 36 that becomes the hinge part 65. 56, the belt portion 60 of the flap member 55 is maintained in the state in which the connection with the locking member 23 is maintained. When the bag 36 is inflated, the inner flap 63 presses the outer peripheral side on the tip 63f (opening end) side facing the hinge portion 65 by the portion on the base portion 56e side that is the coupling portion 57 side in the outer flap 56. Will be. Therefore, the outer flap 56 can suppress the inner flap 63 from being pushed by the expansion gas and opening as much as possible.

  In the airbag apparatus M according to the embodiment, the coupling portion 57 of the outer flap 56 of the flap member 55 with the vehicle body side wall portion 38 and the coupling portion 64 of the inner side flap 63 with the vehicle body side wall portion 38 have end portions 57a. 57b, 64a, 64b are disposed so as to be close to each other, so that the airbag 36 is inflated in a state where the belt portion 60 of the flap member 55 is kept connected to the locking member 23. In this case, the outer side of the part where the inner flap 63 is near the end of the hinge part 65 is pressed by the part near the end of the hinge part 58 in the outer flap 56, so that the inner flap 63 is Further, it is possible to more reliably suppress the opening by being pushed by the expansion gas. In particular, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the inner flap 63 has a portion on the base portion 63e side in the vicinity of the hinge portion 65, the end portions 57a and 57b of the coupling portion 57 in the outer flap 56, and the tip of the outer flap 56. 56f is arranged in the vicinity of the two straight lines L1 and L2 that connect 56f and the two straight lines L1 that connect the ends 57a and 57b of the coupling portion 57 and the tip 56f of the outer flap 56. , L 2, the vicinity of the left and right end portions of the hinge portion 65 of the inner flap 63 is also pressed toward the vehicle body side wall 38, and the inner flap 63 that blocks the entire periphery of the discharge hole 41. Can be stably suppressed, and the inner flap 63 can be prevented from shifting with respect to the vehicle body side wall portion 38, and the seal by the inner flap 63 can be prevented. The can be better.

  In the embodiment, the outer flap 56 constituting the flap member 55 and the inner flap 63 as the opening / closing mechanism are both substantially square and have diagonal lines substantially closed so as to close the discharge hole 41 opened in a substantially circular shape. Although the thing arrange | positioned along the front-back direction is used, the shape of a discharge hole, an inner side flap, and the outer side flap of a flap material is not restricted to this, For example, as shown in FIG. The flap material is provided with an inner flap 74 as a substantially triangular opening / closing mechanism that closes the discharge hole 41A formed in the vehicle body side wall 38 and opened in a substantially triangular shape, and an outer flap 80 that is substantially the same shape as the inner flap 74. 79, and further, as shown in FIG. 15, an inner flap 74A as an opening / closing mechanism having a substantially fan shape for closing the discharge hole 41A, and an inner flap A flap member 79A having the flop 74A and the outer flaps 80A of substantially the same shape may be used.

  The outer flap 80 and the inner flap 74 of the flap member 79 shown in FIG. 13 each have a substantially triangular shape, and are arranged so that the top portion is positioned on the rear end side so that one side is along the substantially left-right direction on the front side. Has been. The flap material 79 includes an outer flap 80 and a belt portion 60 having the same configuration as the belt portion 60 in the aforementioned flap material 55. Similar to the outer flap 56 and the inner flap 63 of the flap material 55 described above, the inner flap 74 and the outer flap 80 are overlapped on the outer peripheral side of the vehicle body side wall 38A so as to close the discharge hole 41A. The flap 80 is slightly shifted forward by the sewing amount, and is arranged so as to be overlapped with the outer peripheral side of the inner flap 74, and the peripheral edge is sewn to the vehicle body side wall portion 38A over the entire periphery. It is coupled to the portion 38A. That is, the inner flap 74 is sewn to the vehicle body side wall 38A in a substantially V shape with the rear side 74a, 74b side on the side of the locking member as the opening / closing control device as the base part 74d side, The coupling portion 75 is coupled to the vehicle body side wall portion 38A. And the inner side flap 74 makes the site | part of the one side 74c of the front side the front-end | tip 74f side at the time of opening. Further, the inner flap 74 is configured such that a portion located in the vicinity of the coupling portion 75 is a hinge portion 76 that bends when opened, and the hinge portion 76 is bent when opened, and the tip 74f and the vehicle body side wall are bent. The expansion gas can be discharged from the discharge hole 41A through a gap 77 formed between the portion 38A (see FIG. 14).

  The outer flap 80 serves as a connecting portion 81 that is sewn to the vehicle body side wall portion 38A with the portion of the one side 80c on the front side as the base portion 80d side and is connected to the vehicle body side wall portion 38A. And the outer side flap 80 is set as the structure which made the belt part 60 sewn to the site | part used as the front-end | tip 80e side by making the site | part of the two sides 80a and 80b of the back side into the front-end | tip 80e side. Moreover, the outer side flap 80 is comprised so that the site | part located in the vicinity of the coupling | bond part 81 may be used as the hinge part 82 bent at the time of opening.

  Also in the flap member 79, the joint portion 81 of the outer flap 80 with the vehicle body side wall portion 38A and the joint portion 75 of the inner flap 74 with the vehicle body side wall portion 38A are connected to each other between the end portions 81a, 81b, 75a, and 75b. It is formed so as to be arranged at a close position. Also, in this flap material 79, straight lines L3 and L4 connecting the end portions 81a and 81b of the joining portion 81 of the outer flap 80 and the tip 80e are respectively left and right of the discharge hole 41A as shown in FIG. It is arranged at a position beyond the edge portions 41a and 41b in the direction. That is, the discharge hole 41A is arranged in a substantially triangular region surrounded by the straight lines L3 and L4 connecting the end portions 81a and 81b of the coupling part 81 and the tip 80e and the coupling part 81. Even in the case of the flap member 79 having such a configuration, when the airbag is inflated with the flap member 79 connected to the locking member, the end portions 81a and 81b of the coupling portion 81 and the outer flap 80 Due to the tension generated on the two straight lines L3 and L4 connecting the tip 80e, the outer side flap 80 presses the outer peripheral side of the inner side flap 74 blocking the discharge hole 41A.

  The flap material 79A and the inner flap 74A shown in FIG. 15 are substantially fan-shaped in which the inner flap 74A and the outer flap 80A are curved in a substantially arcuate shape on one side that is disposed substantially along the left-right direction on the front side. Except for the above, the configuration is the same as the flap member 79 and the inner flap 74 shown in FIG. Also in this flap material 79A, the end portion 81a, 81b, 75a, 75b is formed by the connecting portion 81A of the outer side flap 80A with the vehicle body side wall portion 38A and the connecting portion 75A of the inner side flap 74A with the vehicle body side wall portion 38A. It is formed so that they are arranged close to each other. Also in the outer flap 80A of the flap member 79A, straight lines L5 and L6 connecting the end portions 81a and 81b and the tip end 80e of the coupling portion 81A respectively form the left and right edges 41a and 41b of the discharge hole 41A. It is arranged at a position exceeding (see A in FIG. 15). Also in the flap member 79A, when the airbag is inflated with the flap member 79A connected to the locking member, the end portions 81a and 81b of the coupling portion 81A and the tip 80e of the outer flap 80A are connected to each other. The outer flap 80A presses the outer peripheral side of the inner flap 74A that closes the discharge hole 41A by the tension generated on the two connected straight lines L5 and L6.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the discharge hole formed in the vehicle body side wall portion 38B is constituted by a slit 84 penetrating from the outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface side of the vehicle body side wall portion 38B, and is opened and closed by the flap material 55 described above. It is good also as a structure which enables.

  The slit 84 is a substantially reverse shape that approximates a U-shape so that the center side projects forward from the side away from the belt portion 60 (locking member) of the flap member 55 when viewed from the outer peripheral side of the vehicle body side wall portion 38B. It is configured as a V-shape. In this case, the opening / closing mechanism is configured from a peripheral portion of the slit 84. Specifically, the door portion that is opened with the portion surrounded by the slit 84 in the vehicle body side wall portion 38B connecting the ends 84a and 84b of the slit 84 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 16B) as the hinge portion 86. 85, and this door portion 85 constitutes an opening / closing mechanism. When the door portion 85 is opened, a portion surrounded by the slit 84 and the opened door portion 85 (portion surrounded by the slit 84 and the hinge portion 86) constitutes the discharge hole 87 and expands from the discharge hole 87. The working gas G is discharged (see FIG. 16B and FIG. 17). That is, the door portion 85 is configured such that the hinge portion 86 at the time of opening is arranged on the rear side facing the coupling portion 57 with the vehicle body side wall portion 38B of the outer side flap 56 at the periphery of the discharge hole 87 at the time of opening. Has been.

  The flap material 55 has the same configuration as the flap material 55 described above, and the same reference numerals are assigned to omit the description. Also in this flap material 55, straight lines L1 and L2 connecting the end portions 57a and 57b of the connecting portion 57 for connecting the outer side flap 56 to the vehicle body side wall portion 38B and the tip 56f are respectively shown in FIG. As described above, the slit 84 is disposed at a position beyond the ends 84a and 84b. That is, the slit 84 is disposed in a substantially rectangular region surrounded by the straight lines L1 and L2 connecting the end portions 57a and 57b of the binding site 57 and the tip 56f and the binding site 57. It becomes an aspect.

  In such a configuration, the door portion 85 as the opening / closing mechanism can be formed simply by providing the slit 84 in the vehicle body side wall portion 38B constituting the airbag, and the manufacturing man-hour and cost of the airbag device can be reduced. Can do.

  Further, in the above configuration, the slit 84 is configured to be curved, the portion where the ends 84a and 84b are connected is the hinge portion 86, and the portion surrounded by the slit 84 in the vehicle body side wall portion 38B is pushed by the inflation gas. The door 85 is opened so that the opening area of the slit 84 is expanded by being pushed by the inflation gas when the connection with the locking member of the flap member 55 is released when the airbag is inflated. Thus, since the discharge hole 87 is opened, a larger opening area of the discharge hole can be secured as compared with the case where the discharge hole is opened by simply opening the straight slit.

  Furthermore, in the above configuration, the door 85 has the hinge portion 86 at the time of opening disposed at a position facing the coupling portion 57 between the outer flap 56 and the vehicle body side wall 38B. When the airbag is inflated in a state where the connection with the locking member is maintained, the outer side of the outer flap 56 in the flap member 55 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the opening end 85a facing the hinge portion 86 when the door 85 is opened. Therefore, the flap member 55 can prevent the door portion 85 from being pushed by the expansion gas and opening as much as possible. In particular, in the above configuration, the slit 84 is surrounded by the connecting portion 57 and the straight portions L1 and L2 connecting the end portions 57a and 57b of the connecting portion 57 with the vehicle body side wall portion 38B of the outer flap 56 and the tip 56f. Since the airbag is inflated in a state where the flap member 55 is kept connected to the locking member, the ends 57a and 57b and the tip of the coupling portion 57 are disposed in the substantially rectangular region. Due to the tension generated on the straight lines L1 and L2 connecting 56f, the entire door 85 is pressed by the outer flap 56 on the outer peripheral side, and the door 85 is opened by being pushed by the expansion gas. Can be suppressed as much as possible.

  In addition, when the slit is formed in the vehicle body side wall portion 38B and the opening / closing mechanism is configured from the peripheral portion of the slit as described above, the shape of the slit and the flap material is not limited to this, as shown in FIG. A slit having an arc shape approximated to a U-shape so that the center side protrudes forward of the side of the vehicle body side wall 38B away from the belt portion 60 (locking member) of the flap member 79A when viewed from the outer peripheral side. 84A may be formed, and a flap material 79A including a substantially fan-shaped outer flap 80A disposed so as to cover the outer peripheral side of the slit 84A may be coupled to the vehicle body side wall 38B. The flap material 79A has the same configuration as the flap material 79A shown in FIG. 15 described above, and the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted. The slit 84A has the same configuration as the slit 84 described above except for its shape, and a detailed description thereof is omitted by adding “A” to the end of the reference numeral. In this flap material 79A, straight lines L5 and L6 connecting the end portions 81a and 81b of the coupling portion 81A for coupling the outer side flap 80A to the vehicle body side wall portion 38B and the leading end 80e are respectively shown in FIG. As described above, the slit 84A is disposed at a position beyond the ends 84a and 84b). Therefore, even in such a configuration, when the airbag is inflated with the flap member 79A connected to the locking member, the end portions 81a and 81b of the coupling portion 81A and the distal end of the outer flap 80A are used. Due to the tension generated on the two straight lines L5 and L6 connecting 80e, the entire door portion 85A is pressed by the outer side flap 80A on the outer peripheral side, and the door portion 85A is pushed by the expansion gas and opened. This can be suppressed as much as possible.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 19, the vehicle body side wall 38 </ b> B has an inverted U-shape so that the center side projects forward from the side away from the belt portion 60 (locking member) of the flap member 79 </ b> B when viewed from the outer peripheral side. It is good also as a structure which forms the slit 84B made into the shape and couple | bonds the flap material 79B provided with the substantially home base-shaped outer side flap 80B arrange | positioned so that the outer peripheral side of the slit 84B may be covered to the vehicle body side wall part 38B. In addition, the flap material 79B shown in FIG. 19 is the above-described flap material except that the outer side flap 80B has a substantially pentagonal shape and the front side 3 sides are joined portions 81B joined to the vehicle body side wall 38B side. 79A, and the slit 84B has the same configuration as the slits 84 and 84A described above except that the slit 84B has an inverted U shape that is substantially similar to the coupling portion 81B of the outer flap 80B. Therefore, “B” is added to the end of the reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted. Also in this flap material 79B, straight lines L7 and L8 connecting the end portions 81a and 81b and the tip end 81e of the connecting portion 81B for connecting the outer side flap 80B to the vehicle body side wall portion 38B are respectively shown in FIG. 19A. As described above, the slit 84B is disposed at a position beyond the ends 84a and 84b. Therefore, even in such a configuration, when the airbag is inflated with the flap member 79B connected to the locking member, the end portions 81a and 81b of the coupling portion 81B and the distal end of the outer flap 80A are used. Due to the tension generated on the two straight lines L7 and L8 connecting 80e, the entire door portion 85B is pressed by the outer flap 80B on the outer peripheral side, and the door portion 85B is pushed by the expansion gas and opens. This can be suppressed as much as possible.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 20, a linear slit 91 is formed in the vehicle body side wall portion 38C substantially along the left-right direction, and the vehicle body side wall portion 38C is arranged so as to cover the outer peripheral side of the slit 91. It is good also as a structure which couple | bonds the flap material 94 provided with the flap main body 95.

  The slit 91 is a straight line arranged along the left-right direction so as to be substantially orthogonal to the opening direction of the flap body 95, which will be described later, and the peripheral portion of the slit 91 in the vehicle body side wall portion 38C provides an opening / closing mechanism. Will be configured. The slit 91 is pushed by the inflating gas when the airbag is inflated with the flap member 94 released from the connection state with the locking member, and is opened to widen the opening area. The discharge hole 92 is opened (see FIG. 21).

  The flap member 94 includes a flap body 95 having a substantially home-base-like substantially pentagonal shape disposed on the outer peripheral side of the vehicle body side wall portion 38C, and a belt portion 60 connected to the front end 95a side of the flap body 95. Has been. The belt portion 60 has the same configuration as the belt portion 60 in the above-described flap material 55, and the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  The flap body 95 is positioned on the rear end side as the front end 95a side when the top portion is opened, and the three sides 95c, 95d, and 95e located on the front side that is the base portion 95b side are sewn to the vehicle body side wall portion 38C over the entire area. The coupling portion 96 is attached to be coupled to the vehicle body side wall portion 38C. And the flap main body 95 is comprised so that the site | part located in the vicinity of this coupling | bond part 96 may be opened along the front-back direction as the hinge part 97 bent at the time of opening. Further, the coupling portion 96 is disposed so as to surround the periphery of the slit 91. In the case of the embodiment, the coupling portion 96 is a portion that is on the side of the base portion 95b of the flap body 95 as shown in FIG. And a portion on the side of the ends 91a and 91b of the slit 91 so as to surround the three sides. That is, also in the flap member 94, straight lines L9 and L10 connecting the end portions 96a and 96b of the connecting portion 96 for connecting the flap body 95 to the vehicle body side wall portion 38C and the tip end 95a are respectively as shown in FIG. The slit 91 is disposed at a position beyond the ends 91a and 91b.

  In such a configuration, the slit 91 formed in the vehicle body side wall 38 </ b> C is disposed along the left-right direction so as to be substantially orthogonal to the front-rear direction, which is the opening direction of the flap body 95. When the airbag is inflated in a state where the coupling state with the locking member is maintained, the peripheral portion of the slit 91 as the opening / closing mechanism is pressed by the flap main body 95 and along the opening direction of the flap main body 95. It is possible to suppress movement to open the mouth. Specifically, even in the above-described configuration, when the airbag is inflated while the flap member 94 is maintained in the state of being connected to the locking member, the coupling portion 96 of the flap body 95 to the vehicle body side wall portion 38C. Tension is generated on two straight lines L9 and L10 connecting the end portions 96a and 96b and the front end 95a of the flap body 95. Therefore, the portion surrounded by the coupling part 96 in the flap body 95 and the two straight lines L9 and L10 connecting the ends 96a and 96b of the coupling part 96 and the tip 95a of the flap body 95 is the side wall part of the vehicle body. As a result of being pressed against the 38C side, it is possible to prevent the peripheral portion of the slit 91 from being pressed by the flap body 95 and opening the slit 91 so as to open.

  Further, in the above configuration, the coupling portion 96 to the vehicle body side wall 38 </ b> C in the flap body 95 is the peripheral edge of the slit 91, and the portion on the base portion 95 b side of the flap body 95 and the end portions 91 a and 91 b side of the slit 91. Therefore, the flap body 95 can close the periphery of the slit 91 without a gap, and gas leakage from the slit 91 can be further prevented.

  When the airbag is deployed and inflated in a state in which the connection state of the flap member 94 with the locking member is released, the flap body 95 is pressed by the inflation gas flowing into the airbag, and the hinge portion 97 is pressed. As shown in FIG. 21, the slit 91 opens so as to open in the front-rear direction to form a discharge hole 92, and the expansion gas is discharged from the open discharge hole 92. It will be.

  In the embodiment, as the flap members 55, 79, 79A, 79B, 94, the outer flaps (flap main bodies) 56, 80, 80A, 80B, 95 covering the discharge holes and the belt portion 60 are configured separately. However, for example, the belt portion may be integrally formed so as to extend from the front end side of the flap body (outer flap). In the embodiment, the belt portion 60 is sewn in the vicinity of the front ends 56f, 80e, and 95a of the outer side flaps (flap main bodies) 56, 80, 80A, 80B, and 95. If the outer side flaps (flap body) 56, 80, 80A, 80B, 95 can be pressed against the end 56f, 80e, 95a side, the belt portion 60 is connected to each outer flap (flap body) 56, 80, 80A, 80B. , 95 may be sewn to an intermediate portion (front and rear intermediate portions) along the opening direction.

  In the embodiment, the airbag apparatus for the steering wheel is described as an example of the airbag apparatus. However, the airbag apparatus to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to this, for example, a passenger seat. The present invention can also be applied to an airbag apparatus for use.

It is the schematic which shows the steering wheel vicinity of the vehicle carrying the airbag apparatus for steering wheels which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the steering wheel in which the airbag apparatus of the embodiment is used. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the steering wheel of the embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the III-III site | part of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the steering wheel of the embodiment, and respond | corresponds to the IV-IV site | part of FIG. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged schematic cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the portion of the locking member in the airbag device of the embodiment, corresponding to the VV portion of FIG. 3. It is a bottom view of the airbag used for the airbag apparatus of the embodiment. It is a partial expanded bottom view which shows the flap material vicinity in the airbag of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the VIII-VIII site | part vicinity of FIG. It is a general | schematic disassembled perspective view which shows the structural member at the time of manufacture of the airbag of the embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the airbag of the embodiment. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the expansion completion state of the airbag of the embodiment, and is a figure which shows the state which obstruct | occluded the discharge hole, and the state opened. It is a partial expansion perspective view which shows the state which a flap material opens and opens a discharge hole at the time of expansion | deployment of the airbag of the embodiment. It is the partial expanded bottom view and partial expanded exploded perspective view which show the modification of flap material. It is sectional drawing which shows the open state of the flap material of FIG. It is the partial expanded bottom view and partial expanded exploded perspective view which show the other modification of flap material. It is the partial expanded bottom view and partial expanded exploded perspective view which show the flap material of another form. It is sectional drawing which shows the open state of the flap material of FIG. It is the partial expansion bottom view and partial expansion exploded perspective view which show the modification of the flap material of another form. It is the partial expanded bottom view and partial expanded exploded perspective view which show the other modification of the flap material of another form. It is the partial expanded bottom view and partial expanded exploded perspective view which show the flap material of another form. It is sectional drawing which shows the open state of the flap material of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

36 ... Airbag,
37 ... Bag body,
38, 38A, 38B, 38C ... vehicle body side wall,
39 ... Inflow opening,
41, 41A, 87, 87A, 87B, 92 ... discharge hole 41a, 41b ... edge,
43A, 43B ... insertion holes,
45 ... occupant side wall,
55, 79, 79A, 79B, 94 ... flap material,
56, 80, 80A, 80B, 95 ... outer flap (flap body),
57, 81, 81A, 81B, 96 ... binding sites,
58, 82, 82A, 82B, 97 ... hinge part,
60 ... belt part,
63, 74, 74A ... inner flap (opening / closing mechanism),
64, 75, 75A ... binding site,
65, 76, 76A ... hinge part,
60 ... belt part,
84, 84A, 84B ... slit,
85, 85A, 85B ... door part,
86, 86A, 86B ... hinge part,
91 ... Slit,
MD (MD1, MD2) ... Crew,
M: Airbag device.

Claims (7)

An air bag having a discharge hole that allows the inflating gas to flow in, expands from the folded state at the time of storage, and allows a part of the inflated gas to be discharged;
An opening / closing control device capable of controlling the opening / closing of the discharge hole;
When connected to the opening / closing control device and the peripheral edge of the discharge hole on the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag away from the opening / closing control device, and maintaining the connection with the opening / closing control device when the airbag is inflated, Pushing the periphery of the discharge hole to close the discharge hole, when releasing the connection with the opening / closing control device when the airbag is inflated, it is pushed by the inflation gas and opens to open the discharge hole, A flap material disposed so as to be foldable together with the airbag;
An airbag device comprising:
On the periphery of the discharge hole of the airbag,
As foldable with the airbag,
When maintaining the connection of the flap material with the opening / closing control device when the airbag is inflated, the outer peripheral surface side is held by the flap material to maintain the closed state of the discharge hole, and the airbag is inflated An air bag is provided, wherein an opening / closing mechanism that is opened by the gas for inflation to widen the opening area of the discharge hole when the connection of the flap material with the opening / closing control device is released at the time is provided. apparatus. The discharge hole is disposed so as to always open from the outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface side of the airbag,
The opening / closing mechanism is composed of an inner flap that is coupled to a peripheral edge of the discharge hole on the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag and disposed so as to close the discharge hole,
When the inner flap is kept connected to the opening / closing control device of the flap material when the airbag is inflated, the outer peripheral surface side is pressed by the flap material to block the discharge hole, and the airbag When the connection of the flap material with the opening / closing control device is released during inflation, the coupling portion with the airbag is used as a hinge portion to be pushed and opened by the inflation gas, and the inflation gas is removed from the airbag through the discharge hole. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is configured to open the discharge hole such that the discharge hole can be discharged.   The inner flap is disposed so that a coupling portion with the airbag serving as the hinge portion is disposed at a position facing a coupling portion with the airbag of the flap material at a peripheral edge of the discharge hole. The airbag device according to claim 2, wherein At least one of the joint part of the flap material with the airbag or the joint part of the inner flap with the airbag is configured to be bent so that both ends are directed to the other joint part side. ,
The coupling portion of the flap material with the airbag and the coupling portion of the inner flap with the airbag are configured so that the end portions are arranged close to each other. The airbag apparatus according to claim 3. The discharge hole is disposed as a slit penetrating from the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag to the inner peripheral surface side,
The opening / closing mechanism is
Consists of the periphery of the slit,
When maintaining the connection of the flap material with the opening / closing control device at the time of inflation of the airbag, the outer peripheral surface side is pressed by the flap material, thereby restricting the opening of the slit to widen the opening area. Maintain the closed state of the discharge hole,
At the time of releasing the connection of the flap material with the opening / closing control device when the airbag is inflated, it is pushed by the inflation gas so as to widen the opening area of the slit so as to open the discharge hole The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is configured. The slit is
It is arranged in a substantially U shape when viewed from the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag so that a portion where both ends are connected can be configured as a hinge portion, and an area surrounded by the slit can be configured to be opened by being pushed by the inflation gas. And
When the connection of the flap material with the opening / closing control device is released when the airbag is inflated, the door is opened so that the opening area of the slit is increased by being pushed by the inflation gas, and the discharge hole is opened. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein the airbag device is configured to be opened.   The door portion is arranged by disposing a hinge portion at the time of opening at a position facing a coupling portion of the flap material with the airbag at a peripheral edge of the discharge hole at the time of opening. The airbag device according to claim 6.

Images