JP2008001198A - Air bag for front passenger seat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag for a front passenger seat capable of regulating a right and left width dimension at the time of completion of inflation by a simple constitution and accurately protecting an occupant. <P>SOLUTION: This air bag 15 is provided with an occupant protecting part 24 on a rear part side at the time of completion of inflation. The occupant protecting part 24 is provided with projecting parts 25L and 25R arranged side by side almost along a right and left direction and disposed to continuously project from an upper side to a rear side, and a recessed part 26 recessed between the projecting parts 25L and 25R. The right and left projecting parts 25L and 25R are communicated in the right and left direction by a communicating part 22 formed on a front side of the recessed part 26 in the air bag 15. In the communication part 22 portion, a tether 32 is arranged along a substantial right and left direction at the time of completion of inflation to connect a left side wall part 16c and a right side wall part 16d and to regulate the right and left width dimension at the time of completion of inflation of the air bag 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag for a top-mount type passenger seat airbag device disposed on the upper surface side of an instrument panel (hereinafter referred to as “instrument panel”) in front of a passenger seat.

Conventionally, an airbag for a passenger seat is arranged so as to be juxtaposed along the left-right direction at a portion from the upper side to the rear side when the airbag is completely inflated, and to continuously protrude from the upper side to the rear side. There existed a thing provided with the projection part provided and the recessed part relatively dented between protrusion parts (for example, refer to patent documents 1).
JP 2004-244005 A

  However, in the conventional passenger seat airbag, the left and right protrusions communicate with each other, and the communication portion formed on the front side of the recess in the airbag and on the upper side of the gas inlet is at the time of completion of inflation. Although this communication part is formed in the vicinity of the front end, this communication part is formed only in the vicinity of the inflator.Therefore, in order to regulate the left and right width dimensions of the airbag when the inflation is completed, a tether is provided in each protrusion. In addition to the arrangement, a connecting member for connecting the protrusions at the concave portion is separately arranged, and the configuration is complicated.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described problem, and provides a passenger seat airbag that is capable of regulating the left and right width dimensions at the time of completion of inflation with a simple configuration and that can accurately protect an occupant. The purpose is to provide.

An airbag for a passenger seat according to the present invention is folded and housed on the upper surface side of an instrument panel in front of the passenger seat of a vehicle, and protrudes upward when an inflating gas flows in. It is configured to expand and expand to the rear side of the vehicle so as to close the space between
An occupant protection part that is provided with a gas inflow port for allowing the inflation gas to flow in at a position near the front end when the inflation is completed, and that is capable of receiving an occupant seated on the passenger seat at a position on the rear side when the inflation is completed And is configured to include
The shape at the time of completion of expansion is a substantially square pyramid shape with the top portion disposed on the front end side, and the left and right wall portions disposed substantially along the front-rear direction on both the left and right sides, and substantially on both the upper and lower sides. An upper side wall portion and a lower side wall portion disposed along the left-right direction, and a rear side wall portion disposed substantially along the left-right direction so as to connect the upper side wall portion and the lower side wall portion on the passenger side. A passenger seat airbag having a configuration comprising:
A projecting portion in which the occupant protection portion is arranged so as to be juxtaposed along the left-right direction at the portion from the upper side to the rear side at the time of completion of the inflation and is continuously projected from the upper side to the rear side; And a recess recessed relatively from the upper part to the rear part between the parts,
The left and right protrusions are configured to be communicated in the left-right direction by a communication portion formed on the front side of the recess in the airbag and above the gas inlet,
In the portion of the communication portion, it is arranged along the substantially left and right direction at the time of completion of inflation so as to connect the left side wall portion and the right side wall portion, and the right and left width dimensions at the time of completion of inflation of the airbag can be regulated. A tether is provided.

  In the passenger seat airbag of the present invention, since the tether for connecting the left side wall and the right side wall is disposed at the portion of the communication portion, the left side wall when the airbag is completely inflated by the tether. The distance between the right side wall portion and the right side wall portion can be restricted, the left and right width dimensions of the airbag when inflation is completed can be restricted, and the distance between the protruding portions can be stabilized. That is, in the passenger seat airbag according to the present invention, if the tether is arranged so as to directly connect the left side wall portion and the right side wall portion, the right and left width dimensions of the airbag when the inflation is completed are accurately regulated. As a result, it is possible to simplify the configuration as compared with the conventional airbag for a passenger seat that requires two tethers disposed in the left and right protrusions and one connecting member for connecting the protrusions. be able to.

  Further, in the passenger seat airbag according to the present invention, since the protrusions are disposed on both the left and right sides of the recessed portion disposed at substantially the center of the left and right in the occupant protection portion, the occupant is placed on the airbag when the inflation is completed. Even when the head of the occupant comes into contact with a position slightly shifted in the left-right direction from the left and right center in the occupant protection part, the occupant's head is arranged to be shifted from the recess to the left and right. If the protrusion is received at a portion between the protrusion tops that protrude the most to the rear side, it is guided by the opposing inner side surfaces of the left and right protrusions that are inclined from the protrusion top to the bottom of the recess. Thus, it moves toward the concave portion and is restrained by the portion on the concave bottom side. In the passenger seat airbag according to the present invention, the distance between the projecting tops of the projecting parts at the time of completion of the inflation and the concave shape of the recessed parts between the projecting parts can be stabilized. Even if it comes into contact with a position slightly shifted in the left-right direction from the center of the left and right in the section, the occupant's head can be stably restrained by the part on the bottom side of the recess disposed in the center of the left and right , Occupants can be protected stably.

  Therefore, in the passenger seat airbag of the present invention, the left and right width dimensions when inflation is completed can be regulated with a simple configuration, and the passenger can be protected accurately.

  Further, in the passenger seat airbag of the present invention, the tether has a band shape having a width dimension in a direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, and when the airbag is completely inflated, the front end side in the width direction is positioned upward, If the rear end side in the width direction is positioned so as to be inclined downward, the inflation gas flowing into the airbag from the gas inflow port can be widely deployed vertically by the tether. It can be rectified. That is, the inflation gas flowing in from the gas inlet is rectified by the tether and flows widely into the airbag vertically along the upper windshield and the lower instrument panel upper surface. It will be. Therefore, in the initial stage of inflation, the airbag can be expanded widely in the vertical direction while suppressing protrusion to the occupant side, which is preferable.

  Further, in the passenger seat airbag having the above-described configuration, the tether is formed in a band shape having a width dimension in a direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, and at the portion between the instrument panel upper surface and the windshield when the airbag is completely inflated, The airbag is inclined so that the front end side is positioned downward and the rear end side in the width direction is positioned upward, and the arrangement direction in the width direction toward the rear end side is not provided with the tether. The left and right side wall portions at the most widened part when the expansion is completed are configured so as to be directed to the part having the largest left and right width dimension between the instrument panel upper surface and the windshield when the expansion is completed. The separation distance of the airbag can be accurately controlled, and the volume of the airbag at the completion of the inflation can be efficiently compared with the case where the tether is disposed at another site. To be able to bet, preferable.

  Furthermore, in the passenger seat airbag having the above-described configuration, the tether may be located on an upper side that deviates from the trajectory of the head when the head of the occupant moves forward while being received by the occupant protection unit when the inflation of the airbag is completed. If it is configured to be disposed on the front side, when the inflation of the airbag is completed, the occupant's head constrained by the bottom side portion of the recess may greatly enter the front side, It is preferable because the head of the passenger can be prevented from interfering with the tether.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A passenger seat airbag (hereinafter simply referred to as “airbag”) 15 according to a first embodiment includes an instrument panel 1 as shown in FIG. This is used for a top-mount type airbag device M for a passenger seat that is disposed inside the upper surface 2. The passenger seat airbag apparatus M includes a folded airbag 15, an inflator 8 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 15, a case 6 that stores and holds the airbag 15 and the inflator 8, and an airbag 15. A retainer 11 for attaching to the case 6 and an airbag cover 10 covering the folded airbag 15 are provided.

  Note that the vertical, front-rear, and left-right directions in this specification are the same as the vertical, front-rear, left-right directions of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling straight, unless otherwise specified.

  The airbag cover 10 is formed integrally with the instrument panel 1 made of synthetic resin, and is configured such that when the airbag 15 is deployed and inflated, the front and rear door portions 10a and 10b are pushed by the airbag 15 to open. ing. Further, a connecting wall portion 10 c connected to the case 6 is formed around the door portions 10 a and 10 b in the airbag cover 10.

  The inflator 8 includes a substantially cylindrical main body portion 8 a having a plurality of gas discharge ports 8 b provided radially on the side portion side, and a flange portion 8 c for attaching the inflator 8 to the case 6. Yes.

  The case 6 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape made of a sheet metal having a rectangular opening on the upper end side, a substantially rectangular plate-like bottom wall portion 6a to which the inflator 8 is inserted from below and attached to the outside of the bottom wall portion 6a. And a peripheral wall portion 6b that extends upward from the periphery and engages the connecting wall portion 10c of the airbag cover 10. The case 6 is provided with a bracket (not shown) connected to the vehicle body side at the bottom wall 6a.

  Note that the airbag 15 and the inflator 8 include a plurality of bolts 11 a of an annular retainer 11 disposed in the airbag 15, the airbag 15, the bottom wall portion 6 a of the case 6, and the flange of the inflator 8. The nut 8 is fixed to the case 6 by passing through the portion 8c.

  The airbag 15 includes a bag body 16 and a tether 32 disposed in the bag body 16. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the bag body 16 is formed into a substantially quadrangular pyramid shape with the front end as the top when the inflation is completed, and is disposed on the upper and lower sides along the substantially left-right direction. Part 16a, lower side wall part 16b, left side wall part 16c, right side wall part 16d disposed substantially along the front-rear direction on both left and right sides, and upper side wall part 16a and lower side wall part 16b on the passenger side. And a rear side wall portion 16e disposed substantially along the left-right direction. The airbag 15 according to the embodiment includes an occupant protection unit 24 disposed on the rear side that is the occupant MP side when the inflation is completed, and the instrument panel 1 and the windshield 4 on the front side of the occupant protection unit 24 when the inflation is completed. A substantially cylindrical vehicle body side portion 17 that is closed between the front end sides and is disposed between the front end side of the lower side wall portion 16b when the expansion is completed (the lower surface on the front end side when the expansion is completed) A gas inlet 19 that is circularly opened to allow the inflation gas to flow and is attached to the case 6 at a portion near the center in the left-right direction of the vehicle body side portion 17 that is the side). It is configured. A plurality of attachment holes 20 for attaching the peripheral edge 18 of the gas inlet 19 to the bottom wall portion 6 a of the case 6 by inserting the bolt 11 a of the retainer 11 are formed in the peripheral edge 18 of the gas inlet 19. . Further, a vent hole 21 that is opened in a circular shape capable of exhausting excess inflation gas is disposed in the left wall 16c and the right wall 16d of the bag body 16.

  The occupant protection part 24 includes protrusions 25L and 25R that are juxtaposed on both left and right sides and protrude in the rearward direction so as to extend in the vertical direction, and a recess 26 that is recessed from the upper part to the rear part between the left and right protrusions 25L and 25R. It is prepared for. In the case of the embodiment, the raised state of the left and right protrusions 25L, 25R and the depressed state of the recess 26 are determined from the rear side wall part 16e of the bag body 16 within the region of the upper side wall part 16a and the lower side wall part 16b. It extends continuously to a portion of the vehicle body side portion 17 in the vicinity of the gas inlet 19 so as to extend to the front side, and the uneven state is suppressed at a portion of the lower portion 35 of the first base fabric 34 described later. It is planar (see FIG. 2). In the bag body 16 of the embodiment, on the front side of the recess 26, the projecting portion 25 </ b> L is formed by a communication hole 22 as a communication portion formed in a portion of the vehicle body side portion 17 that is the upper side of the gas inlet 19. 25R is a structure which communicates with right and left.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tether 32 is formed in a band shape having a longitudinal direction substantially along the left-right direction and having a width dimension in a direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, and a portion of the communication hole 22 in the bag body 16. When the bag body 16 is completely inflated, the left side wall portion 16c and the right side wall portion 16d are connected substantially along the left-right direction. In the case of the embodiment, the tether 32 positions the front end 32a in the width direction downward in a portion between the upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1 protruding from the case 6 and the windshield 4 when the expansion of the bag body 16 is completed. The rear end 32b in the width direction is inclined so that the rear end 32b is positioned upward, and the tether is arranged in the width direction toward the rear end 32b when the vehicle is mounted. When the bag main body 16 is not provided, the bag body 16 is configured so as to be directed to the portion where the left and right width dimensions are the largest between the upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1 and the windshield 4. Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the tether 32 has a width direction on the upper side substantially at the center of the gas inlet port 19 protruding from the case 6 when the expansion of the bag body 16 is completed. It arrange | positions so that the site | part which is located and the site | part of the instrument panel 1 at the time of completion of expansion and the site | part of the upper-lower approximate center between the windshield 4 may be substantially corresponded with the straight line L which connected. In the case of the embodiment, the tether 32 is disposed at a position in front of the vent hole 21.

  In the case of the embodiment, the tether 32 is composed of two strip-shaped tether base fabrics 44, 44, and each tether base fabric 44 has one end 44a side on each left side wall. It is configured by sewing the portion 16c and the right side wall portion 16d and sewing the other end portion 44b to each other.

  The bag body 16 is configured by joining peripheral edges of base fabrics having a predetermined shape. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, one first base fabric 34 and two second base fabrics. It is comprised from the base fabrics 39L and 39R.

  The first base fabric 34 has a substantially rectangular lower portion 35 that constitutes the peripheral edge 18 of the gas inlet 19 in the vehicle body side portion 17 and a lower portion 35 as a left-right symmetrical shape that approximates the shape of an open butterfly. A substantially elliptical left side portion 36 and right side portion 37 are provided so as to extend to the left and right sides. The lower side portion 35 constitutes a front side portion in the vicinity of the gas inlet 19 in the lower wall portion 16b of the bag body 16 that has been inflated. The left side portion 36 and the right side portion 37 mainly constitute the left side wall portion 16c and the right side wall portion 16d of the bag body 16 that have been completely inflated, respectively. In the case of the embodiment, the left side part 36 and the right side part 37 are formed in line symmetry with a line along the front-rear direction passing through the center of the gas inlet 19 as a center line.

  The two second base fabrics 39L and 39R are symmetric, and are located on the rear side of the upper side wall portion 16a, the rear side wall portion 16e, and the lower side wall portion 16b of the bag body 16 that has been inflated. A part will be constituted. Each of the second base fabrics 39L and 39R is formed in a belt shape that is curved in a substantially C shape. In the case of the embodiment, the shape on the outer edge 39d side is the left side portion of the first base fabric 34, respectively. 36, the right side portion 37 is formed so as to have substantially the same shape as the portion of the peripheral portion 36a, 37a excluding the original side edge portions 36b, 37b. Each of the second base fabrics 39L and 39R has a substantially constant width dimension so that the outer shape of the inner edge 39a formed on the inner peripheral side is substantially similar to the outer edge 39d. It is configured.

  The bag body 16 is provided with a substantially circular reinforcing cloth 41 that reinforces the gas inlet 19 and a protective cloth 42 that protects the periphery of the gas inlet 19. The protective cloth 42 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape extending on both the front and rear sides of the gas inlet 19 so that the inflation gas discharged from the inflator 8 directly hits a stitched portion or the like disposed in the vicinity of the gas inlet 19. In order to prevent this, the bag body 16 is disposed on the inner peripheral side. The first base fabric 34, the second base fabrics 39L and 39R constituting the bag body 16, the reinforcing fabric 41, the protective fabric 42, and the tether base fabric 44 constituting the tether 32 are polyamide yarn, polyester yarn or the like. It is comprised from the woven fabric which consists of.

  In the bag body 16 of the embodiment, the left and right protrusions 25L and 25R and the recess 26 in the occupant protection part 24 are provided on the left side portion 36 and the right side portion 37 of the first base fabric 34 and the second base fabrics 39L and 39R. The peripheral edges are respectively stitched together. In the case of the embodiment, a stitched portion 28L configured by sewing the peripheral edge portion 36a of the left side portion 36 of the first base fabric 34 and the outer edge portion 39d of the second base fabric 39L, and the right side of the first base fabric 34 The stitched portion 28R configured by sewing the peripheral edge portion 37a of the portion 37 and the outer edge portion 39d of the second base fabric 39R constitutes the projected top portion 25a of each projected portion 25. And the stitching | suture part 29 comprised by sewing inner edge part 39a, 39a of 2nd base fabric 39L, 39R mutually comprises the bottom part 26a of the recessed part 26, and comprises the periphery of the communicating hole 22. FIG. It becomes.

  In the embodiment, the tether 32 has a left and right width dimension W1 (see FIG. 5) set to 300 mm. In the bag body 16 of the embodiment, the volume when the tether 32 is not disposed is set to 94L, and when the tether 32 is disposed, the volume is reduced by approximately 4L. And in the bag main body 16 of embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the width dimension W2 of the right and left at the time of completion of expansion is set to 400 mm, and the width dimension W3 between the protrusion top parts 25a and 25a in the protrusion parts 25L and 25R is 200 mm. The distance L1 (see FIG. 4) from the projecting top 25a to the bottom 26a of the recess 26 is set to about 50 mm. Incidentally, the width W2 of the bag body 16 when the tether 32 is not disposed is set to 450 mm, the width W3 is set to 210 mm, and the distance L1 is set to 40 mm. That is, in the bag body 16 of the embodiment, the width dimension W2 on the left and right at the completion of the expansion is reduced without greatly reducing the width dimension W3 between the projecting top portions 25a and 25a as compared with the airbag without the tether. It is possible to reduce the capacity. Specifically, in the bag body 16 of the embodiment, the tether 32 can reduce the left and right width dimension W2 in the vicinity of the center before and after the completion of the inflation to reduce the volume of the bag body 16, but the occupant The bag body 16 completes inflating so that the protective part 24 is slightly protruded rearward and is also widened to the left and right. Therefore, the reduction in the width dimension W3 between the protruding top portions 25a and 25a can be suppressed, and the distance L1 (the recessed amount of the recessed portion 26) from the protruding top portion 25a to the bottom portion 26a of the recessed portion 26 is not provided. It can be increased compared to an airbag. That is, in the bag body 16 of the embodiment, even if the left and right width dimensions at the time of completion of the expansion are reduced, the substantial reduction of the protection area constituted by the portion between the projecting top portions 25a and 25a is suppressed. Thus, the amount of recesses 26 can be increased.

  Next, manufacture of the airbag 15 of embodiment is demonstrated. The end portion 44a side of each tether base fabric 44 is sewn to predetermined positions of the left side portion 36 and the right side portion 37 of the first base fabric 34, respectively. Then, the reinforcing cloth 41 and the protective cloth 42 are overlapped on the first base cloth 34 in a flatly developed state, and are sewn at a portion that becomes the peripheral edge 18 of the gas inflow port 19. Thereafter, the gas inlet 19 and the mounting hole 20 are formed by drilling.

  Next, the second base fabrics 39L and 39R are overlapped with each other, and the inner edge portions 39a and 39a are sewn together to form the stitched portion 29. Next, the second base fabrics 39L and 39R are opened so that the front upper edge portions 39b and 39b are arranged in a substantially straight line while arranging the seam allowance between the inner edge portions 39a and 39a on the inner side. 39b, 39b is sewn to the front edge 35a of the lower portion 35 of the first base fabric 34. Similarly, the front lower edge portions 39c and 39c of the second base fabrics 39L and 39R arranged in a straight line are sewn to the rear side edge portion 35b of the lower portion 35 of the first base fabric 34. Then, the front and rear left side edge portions 35 c in the lower part 35 are sewn to the base part side edge part 36 b in the left side part 36, and the front and rear right side edge parts 35 d in the lower part part 35 are sewn to the base part side in the right side part 37. The edge 37b is sewn. Thereafter, the peripheral edge portion 36a of the left side portion 36 and the outer edge portion 39d of the second base cloth 39L are sewn together to form a stitched portion 28L, and the peripheral edge portion 37a of the right side portion 37 and the outer edge portion of the second base cloth 39R. 39d is sewn to form a stitched portion 28R. Then, the bag main body 16 is formed by using the gas inlet 19 so as not to expose the seam allowance of the edge to the outside, and then the end 44 b of each tether base fabric 44 is connected to the gas inlet 19. The airbag 15 can be manufactured by pulling out and sewing the end portions 44b together to form the tether 32.

  In the airbag 15 of the embodiment, the second base fabrics 39L and 39R are symmetric, and the second base fabrics 39L and 39R have the outer edge 39d on the left side of the first base fabric 34, respectively. It is formed so as to be substantially the same as the shape of the portion excluding the base side edge portions 36b and 37b in the peripheral portions 36a and 37a so as to be along the peripheral portions 36a and 37a in the portion 36 and the right side portion 37. Therefore, if the first base fabric 34 and the second base fabrics 39L and 39R are arranged so as to overlap each other during the stitching operation of the airbag 15, the positions of the edges to be sewn can be made to coincide with each other. Work becomes easy.

  The mounting of the airbag 15 manufactured as described above on the vehicle will be described. First, the airbag 15 is placed in a state where the retainer 11 is disposed so that the bolt 11a protrudes from each mounting hole 20. Fold it up. Specifically, the airbag 15 is folded through a preliminary folding process, and then a horizontal folding process and a vertical folding process.

  In the preliminary folding step, a preliminary folded airbag 47 as shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 is formed. The pre-folding airbag 47 has a shape in which the projecting portions 25L and 25R are opened to the left and right to be flattened, and the stitched portion 29 constituting the bottom portion 26a of the concave portion 26 is disposed along the front-rear direction. Yes. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the pre-folded airbag 47 has a deployment portion 48 in which the upper side portions 39e and 39e of the second base fabrics 39L and 39R are flatly deployed, The first base fabric 34 is provided with a plurality of valley folds CL and CR along the front-rear direction so that the part (part in the vicinity of the suture part 29) 48a is arranged to face the gas inlet 19. The upper side wall portion 16a of the second base fabrics 39L and 39R is folded so as to have a valley fold line CH1 along the left-right direction. A valley fold crease CH2 is formed in the vicinity of the rear end 47b of the pre-folded airbag 47 so as to extend substantially in the left-right direction. The crease CH1 is disposed on the rear side of the gas inlet 19 as shown in FIGS. Further, the pre-folded airbag 47 is substantially bilaterally symmetric about the gas inlet 19. As shown in FIG. 4, the preliminary folding includes a portion 16 aa in the upper side wall portion 16 a of the bag body 16 near the front and rear left and right sides of the approximate center and a rear end vicinity portion 16 ba in the lower side wall portion 16 b near the center of the left and right. Grip and form folds CL and CR by pulling in the front-rear direction so as to separate the gripping parts 16aa and 16ba from each other, and attach valley folds CH1 and CH2 so as to adjust the folding shape. This can be done by folding a predetermined part inside. The gripping portions 16aa and 16ba constitute front and rear end portions 47a and 47b of the preliminary folding airbag 47.

  Then, after pre-folding in this way, as shown in FIG. 12, with respect to the rear portion 50 and the front portion 51 of the gas inlet 19 in the pre-folded airbag 47, fold along the left-right direction, Lateral folding is performed so that the end portions 47 a and 47 b are close to the gas inlet 19. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12B and 12C, the rear portion 50 is rolled so that the end 47 b side is wound around the lower wall portion 16 b side and placed on the gas inlet 19. It is folded. Then, as shown in FIG. 12D, the front side portion 51 is folded back so that the end portion 47a is brought close to the gas inlet 19 and placed on the roll folding portion 52 where the rear side portion 50 is folded, It is folded.

  After the side fold, the left side portion 55 and the right side portion 56 of the gas inflow port 19 in the side fold airbag 54, as shown in FIGS. Vertical folding is performed so that the end portions 55 a and 56 a are close to the gas inlet 19. In the case of the embodiment, the left side portion 55 and the right side portion 56 are folded and folded so that the end portions 55 a and 56 a are close to the gas inlet 19 and placed on the gas inlet 19.

  When the folding of the airbag 15 is completed through the longitudinal folding process, the periphery of the folded airbag 15 is wrapped with a breakable wrapping sheet 13 (see FIG. 1) so as not to collapse. Then, the folded airbag 15 is placed on the bottom wall 6 a of the case 6 so that each bolt 11 a protrudes from the bottom wall 6 a of the case 6. Next, the main body portion 8 a of the inflator 8 is inserted into the case 6 from below the bottom wall portion 6 a, and each bolt 11 a protruding downward from the bottom wall portion 6 a is inserted into the flange portion 8 c of the inflator 8. Thereafter, when the nut 12 is fastened to each bolt 11 a protruding from the flange portion 8 c of the inflator 8, the folded airbag 15 and the inflator 8 can be attached to the bottom wall portion 6 a of the case 6.

  Then, the peripheral wall portion 6b of the case 6 is locked to the connecting wall portion 10c of the airbag cover 10 in the instrument panel 1 mounted on the vehicle, and a predetermined bracket (not shown) of the case 6 is fixed to the body side portion of the vehicle. Then, the passenger seat airbag device M can be mounted on the vehicle.

  If the inflation gas is discharged from each gas discharge port 8b of the inflator 8 at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle after mounting the airbag device M for the passenger seat on the vehicle, the airbag 15 is inflated and the wrapping sheet 13 is removed. At the same time, the doors 10a and 10b of the airbag cover 10 are pushed and opened as shown in the two-dot chain line of FIG. 1 and FIG. The airbag 15 protrudes upward from an opening formed by opening the door portions 10a and 10b of the airbag cover 10, and between the upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1 and the windshield 4 above the instrument panel 1. As shown in FIG. 1, it expands and expands toward the rear side of the vehicle to complete the expansion as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and FIGS.

  In the airbag 15 according to the embodiment, the tether 32 that connects the left wall portion 16c and the right wall portion 16d is disposed at the portion of the communication hole 22 as the communication portion. The separation distance between the left side wall portion 16c and the right side wall portion 16d when the inflation of the bag 15 is completed can be restricted, and the left and right width dimensions of the airbag 15 when the inflation is completed can be regulated. The distance between the portions 25L and 25R can be stabilized. That is, in the airbag 15 according to the embodiment, if the tether 32 is disposed so as to directly connect the left side wall portion 16c and the right side wall portion 16d, the right and left width dimensions of the airbag 15 at the completion of the inflation are accurately determined. Compared with a conventional passenger seat airbag that requires two tethers arranged in the left and right protrusions and one connecting member for connecting the protrusions, the configuration is simpler. Can be.

  Further, in the airbag 15 according to the embodiment, since the protruding portions 25L and 25R are disposed on the left and right sides of the recessed portion 26 disposed substantially at the left and right in the occupant protection portion 24, the airbag when the inflation is completed is provided. 15 when the occupant MP contacts the head MH of the occupant MP at a position slightly shifted in the left-right direction from the left-right center of the occupant protection unit 24. If the projections 25L and 25R are arranged so as to be shifted from the recess 26 to the left and right, the projections 25L and 25R can be received at a position between the projections 25a and 25a that protrude the most to the rear side, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 25a to the bottom 26a side of the concave portion 26, and are guided by the opposing inner side surfaces 25b of the left and right projecting portions 25L and 25R to move toward the concave portion 26 side. And, the to be bound at the site of the bottom portion 26a side of the recess 26. And in the airbag 15 of embodiment, the distance between the protrusion top parts 25a and 25a of the protrusion parts 25L and 25R at the time of completion of inflation, and the dent shape of the recessed part 26 between the protrusion parts 25L and 25R can be stabilized. In particular, in the airbag 15 of the embodiment, the area between the projecting top portions 25a and 25a (the area of the inner side surfaces 25b and 25b) at the completion of the inflation is substantially reduced as compared with the airbag when no tether is provided. In addition, the distance L1 from the projecting top 25a to the bottom 26a of the recess 26 (the amount of recess of the recess 26) can be increased as compared to an airbag without a tether. Therefore, even if the head MH of the occupant MP comes into contact with a position slightly shifted in the left-right direction from the center in the left-right direction in the occupant protection part 24, the bottom 26a side of the recess 26 disposed in the center in the left-right direction The head portion MH of the occupant MP can be stably restrained by the portion, and the occupant MP can be stably protected.

  Therefore, in the airbag 15 of the embodiment, the left and right width dimensions when the inflation is completed can be regulated with a simple configuration, and the occupant MP can be protected accurately.

  Further, in the airbag 15 of the embodiment, the tether 32 is positioned at the front end 32a side in the width direction downward in a portion between the upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1 and the windshield 4 when the airbag 15 is completely inflated. The instrument panel top surface when the airbag is completely inflated when the rear end 32b in the width direction is inclined and the width direction toward the rear end 32b is inclined and the tether is not provided. And the windshield are configured to be directed to a portion 16f (see FIGS. 4 and 15) having the largest left and right width dimensions. That is, in the airbag 15 according to the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the tether 32 is located on the upper side of the substantially central portion of the gas inlet 19 protruding from the case 6, and after the instrument panel 1 when the inflation is completed. When the airbag is completely inflated, the left and right sides of the instrument panel uppermost and the windshield are positioned so as to be substantially coincident with the straight line L connecting the vicinity of the end and the upper and lower substantially central portions between the windshield 4 and the windshield 4. Since it is arranged on the front side of the part 16f whose width is increased, the left side wall part 16c and the right side wall part 16d in the part along the straight line L that is most likely to spread to the left and right when the airbag 15 is deployed and inflated. The distance between the airbag 15 and the volume of the airbag 15 at the completion of the inflation can be efficiently compared with the case where the tether is placed in another part. To be able to Pact, preferable. The airbag 15 of the embodiment was able to reduce the volume by approximately 4L (approximately 1/24 of the entire volume) compared to the case where no tether was provided. If the volume is not considered, even if the positions of the tethers 32A, 32B, and 32C are changed as shown in the airbags 15A, 15B, and 15C of the second to fourth embodiments shown below, Good.

  Further, in the airbag 15A of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 16, the tether 32A positions the front end 32a in the width direction upward and the rear end 32b in the width direction downward when the inflation of the airbag 15A is completed. It is arranged so as to be inclined. In the airbag 15 </ b> A, specifically, the tether 32 </ b> A is disposed at a position above the gas inlet 19. In the airbag 15A having such a configuration, the inflation gas G flowing into the airbag 15A from the gas inlet 19 can be rectified by the tether 32A so as to be widely deployed vertically. That is, the inflation gas G flowing in from the gas inlet 19 is rectified by the tether 32A, and extends along the windshield 4 on the upper side and the upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1 on the lower side. It will flow widely into the top and bottom. Therefore, in the initial stage of inflation, the airbag 15A can be prevented from projecting toward the occupant side and can be expanded widely in the vertical direction, which is preferable, and a separate rectifying cloth need not be arranged inside the bag body.

  In the embodiment, the air bag 15 is not provided with a rectifying cloth that is separately provided and rectifies the inflation gas flowing in from the gas inlet 19 along the front-rear direction. It is good also as a structure which arrange | positions.

  In the airbag 15B according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 17, the tether 32B has the head MH when the head MH of the occupant MP moves forward while being received by the occupant protection unit 24 when the inflation of the airbag 15B is completed. It is arrange | positioned in the upper side which remove | deviates from the locus | trajectory O. Specifically, the tether 32B is disposed at a position above the locus O of the head MH when the airbag 15B is completely inflated. In the airbag 15B having such a configuration, when the inflation of the airbag 15B is completed, the head MH of the occupant MP restrained by the portion of the recess 26 on the bottom 26a side greatly enters the front side. However, it is preferable because the head MH of the occupant MP can be prevented from interfering with the tether 32B.

  In the airbag 15C of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 18, the tether 32C is arranged on the front side deviating from the locus O of the head MH when the head MH of the occupant MP moves forward while being received by the occupant protection unit 24. It is installed. Specifically, the tether 32C is an extension line of the locus O of the head MH when the airbag 15C is completely inflated, and a position far from the bottom 26a of the recess 26 (from the bottom 26a of the recess 26). It is disposed at a deep position. In this case, the tether 32C may interfere with the head MH of the occupant MP that has largely entered the front side. However, the tether 32C is disposed at a position far away from the occupant protection unit 24. The intrusion speed of the part MH is reduced, and even if the head MH of the occupant MP interferes with the tether 32C, the head MH can be softly received by the tether 32C.

It is sectional drawing of the vehicle front-back direction of the airbag apparatus for passenger seats using the airbag for passenger seats which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view seen from the front side of the state where the airbag of a 1st embodiment was inflated alone. It is the perspective view seen from the back side of the state where the airbag of a 1st embodiment was inflated alone. It is sectional drawing along the front-back direction of the state which expanded the airbag of 1st Embodiment alone. It is sectional drawing of the state which expanded the airbag of 1st Embodiment alone, and respond | corresponds to the VV site | part of FIG. It is a top view which shows the member which comprises the airbag of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a state after the airbag according to the first embodiment is pre-folded, and is a view seen from the gas inlet side. FIG. 2 shows a state after the airbag according to the first embodiment is pre-folded, and is a view seen from the occupant protection portion side. It is an end view of the IX-IX part of FIG. It is an end view of the XX site | part of FIG. It is an end view of the XI-XI site | part of FIG. It is a figure explaining the folding process after preliminary folding of the airbag of a 1st embodiment. It is a figure explaining the use condition of the airbag of a 1st embodiment, and it is the figure seen from the vehicles back side which shows the state where inflation was completed. It is a figure explaining the use condition of the air bag of a 1st embodiment, and is the schematic seen from the upper part of vehicles which shows the state where inflation was completed. It is a figure explaining the use condition of the airbag of a 1st embodiment, and is the schematic seen from the side of vehicles which shows the state where inflation was completed. It is a figure explaining the use condition of the airbag which is 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and is the schematic seen from the side of the vehicle which shows the state which the inflation was completed. It is a figure explaining the use condition of the airbag which is 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and is the schematic seen from the side of the vehicle which shows the state which the inflation was completed. It is a figure explaining the use condition of the airbag which is 4th Embodiment of this invention, and is the schematic seen from the side of the vehicle which shows the state which the inflation was completed.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Instrument panel (instrument panel),
2… Top surface,
4 ... Windshield,
6 ... Case,
8 ... Inflator,
10 ... Airbag cover,
15, 15A, 15B, 15C ... airbags,
16 ... Bag body,
16c ... left side wall,
16d ... right side wall,
19 ... gas inlet,
22 ... communication hole (communication part),
24 ... Occupant protection department,
25L, 25R ... projecting part,
25a ... protruding top,
26 ... recess,
26a ... bottom,
32, 32A, 32B, 32C ... tether,
MP ... Crew,
MH ... head,
O ... locus,
M ... Airbag device for passenger seat.

Claims (4)

Folded to the top side of the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat of the vehicle and protrudes upward when the inflation gas flows in, and between the top surface of the instrument panel and the windshield above the instrument panel It is configured to expand and expand to the rear side of the vehicle so as to close it,
Occupant protection provided with a gas inlet for inflow of inflation gas at a position on the lower surface on the front end side when inflation is completed, and capable of receiving a passenger seated on the passenger seat at a position on the rear side when inflation is completed And comprising a part,
The shape at the time of completion of expansion is a substantially square pyramid shape with the top portion disposed on the front end side, and the left and right wall portions disposed substantially along the front-rear direction on both the left and right sides, and substantially on both the upper and lower sides. An upper side wall part and a lower side wall part arranged along the left-right direction, and a rear side wall part arranged along the substantially left-right direction so as to connect the upper side wall part and the lower side wall part on the passenger side A passenger seat airbag comprising:
The occupant protection part is arranged so as to be juxtaposed along the left-right direction in a portion from the upper side to the rear side at the time of completion of inflation, and to be continuously projected from the upper side to the rear side, and A recess that is recessed from the upper part to the rear part between the protrusions.
The left and right protrusions are configured to be communicated in the left-right direction by a communication portion formed on the front side of the recess in the airbag and on the upper side of the gas inlet,
In the portion of the communication portion, the left and right side walls are connected to each other so as to connect the left side wall and the right side wall. An airbag for a passenger seat, characterized by a tether that can be regulated.   The tether has a belt-like shape having a width dimension in a direction perpendicular to the left-right direction, and when the airbag has been inflated, the front end side in the width direction is positioned upward and the rear end side in the width direction is directed downward. The passenger-side airbag according to claim 1, wherein the passenger-side airbag is disposed so as to be inclined.   The tether is formed in a band shape having a width dimension in a direction orthogonal to the left-right direction, and a front end side in the width direction is formed at a portion between the upper surface of the instrument panel and the windshield when the airbag is inflated. The airbag is inflated when the tether is not disposed in the widthwise direction toward the rear end side while being inclined so that the rear end side in the width direction is positioned upward. 2. The passenger seat air according to claim 1, wherein the passenger seat air is configured so as to be directed to a portion having the largest left and right width dimension between the upper surface of the instrument panel and the windshield at the time of completion. bag.   The tether is disposed on an upper side or a front side that deviates from the trajectory of the head when the head of the occupant moves forward while being received by the occupant protection unit when the airbag has been inflated. The airbag for a passenger seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the airbag is for a passenger seat.

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