JP2008302906A - Elastic webbing, air belt, air belt device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology effective to secure rigidity of a webbing and prevent displacement of stitches between yarns and fray of the yarns in an elastic webbing which structures a long-size air belt for constraining an occupant. <P>SOLUTION: In relation to an elastic webbing which structures a long-size air belt 110 for constraining an occupant of a vehicle, a yarn of the elastic webbing is structured of a first fiber material 1 and a second fiber material 2 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the yarn and extended in parallel with each other, and the second fiber material is formed from a low-melting-point fiber having a melting point lower than that of the first fiber material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a construction technique of an air belt used for restraining an occupant in an accident in a vehicle.

An air belt apparatus provided with this type of air belt is described in, for example, Patent Document 1 below. In Patent Document 1, an air belt (webbing) of an air belt device includes a stretchable inflatable region that accommodates a gas bag and a non-inflatable region that is wound by a retractor, and the gas bag accommodated in the inflated region causes a vehicle accident. The vehicle occupant is restrained via the inflated air belt due to the inflated gas supply.
JP 2001-260807 A

In designing this type of air belt device, as a request for the air belt, in addition to the basic performance of having webbing rigidity that can restrain an occupant in the event of a vehicle accident, there is also the occurrence of misalignment that occurs between the yarns and the yarn Effective performance is required to prevent fraying.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in the elastic webbing constituting the long air belt that restrains the vehicle occupant, the webbing rigidity is ensured and the misalignment generated between the yarns It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique effective in preventing the occurrence of yarn and fraying of yarn.

  The present invention is configured to solve the above problems. The present invention can be applied to a construction technique for an air belt or a safety belt used as a means for restraining an occupant in a vehicle such as an automobile.

  The stretchable webbing according to the present invention is a webbing constituting a long air belt that restrains a vehicle occupant, and includes at least a plurality of knitting yarns, insertion yarns, weft yarns, a first webbing region, and a second webbing region. Prepare.

  The plurality of knitting yarns are configured as portions that are elongated in a predetermined direction to form a webbing skeleton. By disposing the plurality of knitting yarns over the entire webbing, a webbing skeleton of the stretchable webbing is formed. The “predetermined direction” here typically matches the longitudinal direction of the air belt. The insertion yarn is configured as a portion extending in a predetermined direction while being inserted into a plurality of knitting yarns. The weft yarn includes a first extending portion extending in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction while being inserted into a plurality of knitting yarns, and a second extending portion extending in a predetermined direction continuously to the first extending portion. It is configured as a containing part. The region in which the first extending portion of the weft yarn extends is the first webbing region, and the second extending portion of the weft yarn extends, and the expansion and contraction in the direction intersecting the predetermined direction with respect to the first webbing region. A region having high characteristics is defined as a second webbing region.

  As for the knitting yarn, the insertion yarn and the weft yarn, these yarns forming the webbing generally extend in a certain direction as a whole while repeating regular or irregular undulation or bending. The extending mode of each yarn is not limited to a mode that extends in one direction in all parts, but also a mode that extends in one direction as a whole with some undulations and bends. It is included. Therefore, for example, the insertion thread may have a configuration that extends in a predetermined direction at all portions, or may have a configuration that extends in a predetermined direction as a whole with some undulation or bending.

  In particular, the knitting yarn has a first fiber body and a second fiber body extending in parallel with each other in the longitudinal direction of the insertion yarn, and the second fiber body is more than the first fiber body. It is composed of low melting point fibers having a low melting point. In such a configuration, the second fiber body melts adjacent to the first fiber body during the heat treatment, whereby the knitting yarn and the insertion yarn or weft yarn are heat-sealed. That is, the second fibrous body has a function as a binder (adhesive) for heat-sealing the knitting yarn and the insertion yarn or weft yarn to each other. In the present invention, the configuration and function of the knitting yarn can be similarly applied to the insertion yarn. Regarding the configuration of the knitting yarn, the knitting yarn may be formed by a single fiber yarn including the first fiber body and the second fiber body, or the fiber as the first fiber body. This knitting yarn may be formed by tying a yarn and a fiber yarn as the second fibrous body.

  According to such a configuration of the stretchable webbing according to the present invention, the knitting yarn is preferentially melted during heat treatment of the stretchable webbing and then solidified together with other insertion yarns and weft yarns. Later, the cross-sectional area increases and becomes hard, and the rigidity (wear resistance) of the entire webbing increases. Therefore, it is effective to prevent the occurrence of gaps between the yarns of the stretchable webbing, so-called “missing”, and to prevent fraying of the yarn (also referred to as “run”).

  In the stretchable webbing according to a further aspect of the present invention, the knitting yarn is such that the first fiber yarn constituting the first fiber body and the second fiber yarn constituting the second fiber body are adjacent to each other. Thus, it is preferable that the configuration extends in parallel. According to such a configuration, there is provided a stretchable webbing in which the knitting yarn having a heat welding function with respect to the insertion yarn or the weft yarn is constituted by at least two fiber yarns of the first fiber yarn and the second fiber yarn. .

  In the stretchable webbing according to a further aspect of the present invention, the knitting yarn is preferably a core-sheath structure yarn in which the core portion around the yarn center is covered with a sheath portion. In such a configuration, the core portion is constituted by the first fibrous body, and the sheath portion is constituted by the second fibrous body that extends in parallel adjacent to the first fibrous body. According to such a configuration, there is provided a stretchable webbing in which a knitting yarn having a heat welding function with respect to an insertion yarn or a weft yarn is constituted by a single core-sheath structure yarn made of a first fiber body and a second fiber body. Is done.

  The air belt according to the present invention is a long air belt that restrains a vehicle occupant, and is configured as a belt body that is formed into a bag shape or a cylindrical shape by the stretchable webbing. The air belt is configured such that a gas bag that can be inflated in the event of a vehicle accident is accommodated in the second webbing region of the belt body. When the gas bag is inflated in the event of a vehicle accident, the bag-like belt expands in the second webbing region along with the inflation, and this second webbing region is the front region (chest, shoulder, abdomen, etc.) of the vehicle occupant. (Region including) is constrained. According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide an air belt effective in increasing the rigidity (wear resistance) of the entire webbing and preventing occurrence of misalignment between yarns and fraying of the yarns. The

  An air belt device according to the present invention includes at least the air belt, the retractor, the buckle, and the tongue. The retractor has a function of winding and unwinding the air belt, and is configured to accommodate the spool in the retractor housing. The retractor may include a drive mechanism that drives the spool and a control mechanism that controls the drive. The tongue provided on the air belt is engaged with a buckle fixed to the vehicle when the air belt is mounted. According to such a configuration, there is provided an inflatable belt device having an inflatable belt which is effective in increasing rigidity (abrasion resistance) of the entire webbing and preventing occurrence of misalignment between the yarns and fraying of the yarns. The

  As described above, according to the present invention, the elastic webbing constituting the long air belt that restrains the vehicle occupant is related to the yarns of the elastic webbing adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the yarn. The webbing rigidity is ensured by constituting the first fiber body and the second fiber body extending in the form of a low-melting fiber having a melting point lower than that of the first fiber body. In addition, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of misalignment between the yarns and the fraying of the yarns.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
The present embodiment relates to an air belt device mounted on an automobile vehicle, and proposes an air belt that is most suitable for constituting the air belt device and a manufacturing method thereof.

  First, the configuration of an air belt device 100 as an embodiment of the “air belt device” in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The air belt device 100 is also referred to as a “seat belt device”. FIG. 1 is referred to regarding the schematic configuration of the air belt device 100.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an air belt device 100 of the present embodiment is an air belt device for a driver's seat mounted on an automobile vehicle, and includes a retractor 101, an air belt 110, a tongue (tongue) 104, a buckle 106, and a gas generator. 107 or the like.

  The retractor 101 of the present embodiment is configured to accommodate at least a cylindrical spool 102 in a retractor housing 101a, and enables the air belt 110 to be wound and unwound through the spool 102. The spool 102 is driven by driving means configured using a spring, a motor, or the like. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the retractor 101 is mounted in a housing space in the B pillar 10 of the vehicle. The retractor 101 corresponds to the “retractor” in the present invention.

  The gas generator 107 is connected to the buckle 106, and is configured as a gas generator that generates high-pressure gas when a vehicle accident occurs. The high-pressure gas generated in the gas generator 107 can be supplied into the gas bag 113 accommodated in the expansion region 111 of the air belt 110 through a gas flow passage provided in the buckle 106 and the tongue 104, although not particularly shown. It is said that.

  The air belt 110 according to the present embodiment is a long belt used for restraining or releasing the restraint of the vehicle occupant C, and is configured as a belt (webbing) formed in a long belt shape from a woven or knitted fabric made of synthetic fiber. Is done. This air belt 110 corresponds to the “air belt” in the present invention. The air belt 110 is also referred to as a “passenger restraint seat belt”.

  The air belt 110 is pulled out from the retractor 101 fixed to the vehicle, passes through a shoulder guide anchor 103 provided in a passenger shoulder region of the vehicle occupant C, passes through a tongue (tongue) 104, and is out-anchored. 105. When the tongue 104 is inserted into (engaged with) the buckle 106 fixed to the vehicle, the air belt 110 is put on the vehicle occupant C. On the other hand, the engagement state of the air belt 110 with respect to the vehicle occupant C is released by releasing the engagement of the tongue 104 with the buckle 106. The tongue 104 here corresponds to the “tang” in the present invention, and the buckle 106 here corresponds to the “buckle” in the present invention.

  The air belt 110 is formed by stretchable webbing that includes at least an inflatable region 111 and a non-inflatable region 112. The inflatable region 111 is configured as a belt portion having relatively higher stretchability than the non-inflatable region 112 among the portions of the air belt 110. Although details will be described later, the inflatable region 111 accommodates a gas bag 113 that can be inflated by supplying gas from the gas generator 107 and has a stretchability that allows the gas bag 113 to be inflated as the gas bag 113 is inflated. . The inflated region 111 is disposed in front of a front region (a region including the chest, shoulders, abdomen, and the like) of the vehicle occupant when the air belt 110 is mounted, and the inflated region 111 is inflated by the vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle accident. Served in restraint. On the other hand, the non-expandable region 112 is a non-expandable belt portion other than the expandable region 111, and is configured as a belt portion that is relatively less stretchable than the expandable region 111. The non-expanding region 112 has low elasticity or hardly expands / contracts compared to the expanding region 111. The non-inflatable region 112 includes a portion to be wound that is wound by the spool 102.

  2 to 5 will be referred to regarding the specific configuration of the air belt 110. FIG. FIG. 2 shows a partial plan view of the air belt 110 of the present embodiment. 3 shows a cross-sectional structure taken along line AA of the air belt 110 in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional structure taken along line BB of the air belt 110 in FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional structure taken along line CC of the air belt 110 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the air belt 110 according to the present embodiment has an inflatable region 111 and a woven fabric (webbing 120 described later) including a non-inflatable region 112 connected to the inflated region 111 in a cylindrical shape or a bag shape. The structure is woven or woven, and as a whole, is finished as a flat object having a pair of flat portions 110a and 110b as shown in FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inflatable region 111 is configured to accommodate the gas bag 113 in the accommodating space 110 c formed between the flat portions 110 a and 110 b. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the non-inflatable region 112 has a configuration in which the flat portions 110a and 110b are in close contact with each other.

  In the air belt device 100 configured as described above, the high-pressure gas generated by the gas generator 107 in the event of a vehicle accident is supplied into the gas bag 113 accommodated in the expansion region 111 of the air belt 110. As a result, the gas bag 113 is inflated, and the inflating region 111 that accommodates the gas bag 113 is inflated together with the gas bag 113 due to its stretchability. FIG. 6 is referred to regarding the expansion state of the expansion region 111. FIG. 6 shows a state where the air belt 110 in FIG. 2 is expanded. As shown in FIG. 6, in the case of a vehicle accident, the inflatable region 111 extends in the extending direction indicated by the arrow in the figure, and the air belt 110 is a front region of the vehicle occupant (region including the chest, shoulder, abdomen, etc.). The vehicle occupant is restrained by the expansion region 111.

  Moreover, FIG. 7 is referred regarding the knitting structure of the webbing 120 which comprises the air belt 110 of this Embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the webbing 120 according to the present embodiment is configured as a stretchable webbing including at least a plurality of knitting yarns 130, an insertion yarn 140, and a weft yarn 150. The webbing 120 here corresponds to the “stretchable webbing” in the present invention.

Each of the knitting yarns 130 has the same knitting structure, and is configured to extend in a long shape in the belt longitudinal direction (arrow direction in FIG. 7) so as to form a webbing skeleton of the webbing 120. By arranging the plurality of knitting yarns 130 over the entire webbing, a webbing skeleton of the webbing 120 is formed. The knitting yarn 130 here corresponds to the “knitting yarn” in the present invention. The insertion yarn 140 is configured to extend in the belt longitudinal direction while being inserted into the plurality of knitting yarns 130. The insertion thread 140 here corresponds to the “insertion thread” in the present invention. The weft yarn 150 is configured to include an extended yarn that is inserted into the plurality of knitting yarns 130 and extends in a direction crossing the belt longitudinal direction. The weft 150 here corresponds to the “weft” in the present invention.
Further, although not shown in particular, the ear threads extend along both edge portions of the webbing 120, whereby the strength of both end portions of the webbing 120 is imparted.

  In addition, regarding the knitting yarn 130, the insertion yarn 140, and the weft yarn 150 of the present embodiment, these yarns forming the webbing originally extend in a certain direction while repeating regular or irregular undulation or bending. In general, each yarn may extend in one direction in all parts, or may extend in one direction as a whole with some undulations or bends. Also good.

  In particular, in the weft 150 of the present embodiment, the first extending portion 153 extending in the non-inflatable region 112 extends so as to reciprocate a plurality of times within the width of the webbing 120, and most of the portions are belts. It is set as the structure extended in the direction which cross | intersects a longitudinal direction, and high rigidity is ensured by this. On the other hand, in the weft 150, the second extending portion 154 extending in the inflating region 111 is configured so that most of the portion extends along the longitudinal direction of the belt. And high elasticity is given. The expansion and contraction structure in the inflatable region 111 allows a smooth inflating operation of the gas bag 113 accommodated in the gas bag 113. The first extending portion 153 here corresponds to the “first extending portion” in the present invention, and the second extending portion 154 here corresponds to the “second extending portion” in the present invention. . Further, the non-inflatable region 112 in which the first extending portion 153 extends in the webbing 120 corresponds to the “first webbing region” in the present invention, and the second extending portion 154 in the webbing 120 extends. The expansion region 111 corresponds to the “second webbing region” in the present invention.

  By the way, in this kind of webbing that constitutes the air belt 110, in addition to the basic performance of providing rigidity capable of reliably restraining an occupant in the event of a vehicle accident, prevention of yarn fraying (also referred to as “run”) Other additional performance effective for reducing the product width is required. Therefore, the present inventor has intensively studied a configuration effective for ensuring desired performance in this type of webbing. As a result of the examination, a webbing having a desired performance can be obtained by devising the structures of the knitting yarn 130, the insertion yarn 140, and the weft yarn 150 constituting the webbing 120 as described below.

[Configuration of Knitting Yarn 130]
FIG. 8 is referred to regarding the configuration of the knitting yarn 130 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the knitting yarn 130 is configured such that the first fiber yarn 131 and the second fiber yarn 132 having different melting points extend in parallel with each other. The knitting yarn 130 can also be referred to as a knitting yarn having a configuration in which the first fiber yarn 131 and the second fiber yarn 132 are joined together. As a typical configuration of the knitting yarn 130, the first fiber yarn 131 is formed of polyester fiber having a melting point of about 255 to 260 ° C, and the second fiber yarn 132 is modified polyester having a melting point of about 160 to 180 ° C. It can be formed of fibers (fused yarn). That is, in the present embodiment, the second fiber yarn 132 is composed of fibers having a melting point lower than that of the first fiber yarn 131 and easier to melt than the first fiber yarn 131. This modified polyester fiber is also referred to as a low-melting-point polyester fiber having a melting point relatively lower than that of the polyester fiber and having fusibility (adhesiveness).

  The polyester fiber forming the first fiber yarn 131 is typically made of a polymer of polyethylene terephthalate produced by an esterification reaction using terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. On the other hand, the modified polyester fiber (low-melting polyester fiber) forming the second fiber yarn 132 is typically polyethylene isophthalate produced by an esterification reaction using terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid and ethylene glycol, and the polyethylene. It consists of a copolymer of terephthalate. A specific configuration of the modified polyester fiber forming the second fiber yarn 132 of the knitting yarn 130 of the present embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, this modified polyester fiber is constituted as a copolymer in which polyethylene terephthalate is scattered in polyethylene terephthalate, that is, a copolymer in which low melting point polyethylene isophthalate is mixed in high melting point polyethylene terephthalate, In particular, the copolymerization ratio of polyethylene isophthalate is 30 [%] (polyethylene terephthalate is 70 [%]). The first fiber yarn 131 here corresponds to “first fiber body” and “first fiber yarn” in the present invention, and the second fiber yarn 132 here refers to “first fiber yarn” in the present invention. This corresponds to “second fiber body” and “second fiber yarn”.

  In such a configuration of the knitting yarn 130, a heat treatment of about 190 ° C. is performed during the thermoforming of the webbing 120, whereby polyethylene isophthalate (low in melting point) of the second fiber yarn 132 is relatively lower than that of polyethylene terephthalate. The melting point fiber) is preferentially melted, and the melted component serves as a binder, and the knitting yarn 130 and the other yarns (insertion yarn 140 and weft yarn 150) are heat-sealed to each other. At this time, in the present embodiment, the knitting yarn 130 is preferentially melted and then solidified together with the other insertion yarns 140 and weft yarns 150, so that the cross-sectional area after shrinkage of the knitting yarn 130 increases and becomes hard. The rigidity of the entire webbing is increased. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a gap between the yarns of the webbing 120, so-called “missing”, and to increase the webbing rigidity. In particular, the webbing rigidity of the portion of the non-inflatable region 112 wound by the spool 102 is increased. It is effective to improve the wear resistance (durability) by increasing. Further, the knitting yarn 130 is preferentially melted and then solidified together with the other insertion yarns 140 and the weft yarns 150, which is particularly effective in preventing fraying of the yarn in the expansion region 111.

  As for the configuration of the knitting yarn 130 of the present embodiment, a modified example as shown in FIG. 10 can be adopted. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the knitting yarn 130 is composed of a core-sheath structure yarn including a core portion 130a occupying the yarn center and a sheath portion 130b covering the core portion 130a. In this case, the core portion 130a is formed of polyester fibers having a melting point of about 255 to 260 ° C., similarly to the first fiber yarn 131, and the sheath portion 130b is formed of a melting point of 160 to 250, similar to the second fiber yarn 132. It can be formed by modified polyester fibers at about 180 ° C. Even with such a webbing, it is possible to improve wear resistance and prevent fraying of the yarn during thermoforming. The core portion 130a here corresponds to the “core portion” and the “first fiber body” in the present invention, and the sheath portion 130b here refers to the “sheath portion” and the “second fiber body” in the present invention. Is equivalent to.

[Configuration of Insertion Thread 140]
Next, FIG. 11 is referred regarding the structure of the insertion thread 140 of this Embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11, the insertion yarn 140 is configured such that the first fiber yarn 141 and the second fiber yarn 142 having different melting points extend in parallel with each other. The insertion yarn 140 can also be referred to as an insertion yarn having a configuration in which the first fiber yarn 141 and the second fiber yarn 142 are joined together. As a typical configuration of the insertion yarn 140, the first fiber yarn 141 is formed of a polyester fiber having a melting point of about 255 to 260 ° C, and the second fiber yarn 142 is a modified polyester having a melting point of about 160 to 180 ° C. It can be formed of fibers (fused yarn). That is, in the present embodiment, the second fiber yarn 142 is composed of fibers having a melting point lower than that of the first fiber yarn 141 and easier to melt than the first fiber yarn 141. This modified polyester fiber is also referred to as a low-melting-point polyester fiber having a melting point relatively lower than that of the polyester fiber and having fusibility (adhesiveness).

  The polyester fiber forming the first fiber yarn 141 has a configuration similar to that of the first fiber yarn 131 of the knitting yarn 130, and is typically a polyethylene produced by an esterification reaction using terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. It consists of a polymer of terephthalate. On the other hand, the modified polyester fiber (low-melting point polyester fiber) forming the second fiber yarn 142 has the same configuration as the second fiber yarn 132 of the knitting yarn 130, and typically includes terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, and ethylene. It consists of a copolymer of polyethylene isophthalate produced by an esterification reaction using glycol and the polyethylene terephthalate. FIG. 12 shows a specific configuration of the modified polyester fiber forming the second fiber yarn 142 of the insertion yarn 140 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, this modified polyester fiber is constituted as a copolymer in which polyethylene terephthalate is interspersed in polyethylene terephthalate, that is, a copolymer in which low melting point polyethylene isophthalate is mixed in high melting point polyethylene terephthalate, In particular, the copolymerization ratio of polyethylene isophthalate is 30 [%] (polyethylene terephthalate is 70 [%]).

  In such a configuration of the insertion yarn 140, a heat treatment of about 190 ° C. is performed during the thermoforming of the webbing 120, so that the second fiber yarn 142 has a polyethylene isophthalate having a lower melting point than polyethylene terephthalate (low The melting point fiber) is preferentially melted, and the melted component serves as a binder, and the insertion yarn 140 and the other yarns (knitting yarn 130 and weft yarn 150) are thermally fused to each other. At this time, in the present embodiment, the insertion yarn 140 is preferentially melted and then set together with the other knitting yarns 130 and the weft yarns 150, so that the cross-sectional area after the shrinkage of the insertion yarn 140 increases and becomes hard. The rigidity of the entire webbing is increased. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a gap between the yarns of the webbing 120, so-called “missing”, and to increase the webbing rigidity. In particular, the webbing rigidity of the portion of the non-inflatable region 112 wound by the spool 102. It is effective to improve the wear resistance (durability) by increasing. Further, the insertion yarn 140 is preferentially melted and then solidified together with the other knitting yarns 130 and weft yarns 150, which is particularly effective in preventing fraying of the yarn in the expansion region 111.

  It should be noted that a modified example as shown in FIG. 13 can be adopted for the configuration of the insertion thread 140 of the present embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the insertion yarn 140 is constituted by a core-sheath structured yarn including a core portion 140 a occupying the center of the yarn and a sheath portion 140 b covering the periphery of the core portion 140 a. In this case, the core portion 140a is formed of polyester fibers having a melting point of about 255 to 260 ° C., similarly to the first fiber yarn 141, and the sheath portion 140b is formed of a melting point of 160 to 250 like the second fiber yarn 142. It can be formed by modified polyester fibers at about 180 ° C. Even with such a webbing, it is possible to improve wear resistance and prevent fraying of the yarn during thermoforming.

[Configuration of Weft 150]
Next, FIG. 14 is referred regarding the structure of the weft 150 of this Embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, in the weft yarn 150, the first fiber yarn 151 and the second fiber yarn 152, which have different melting points and heat shrinkage degrees (degrees of shrinkage in the longitudinal dimension direction of the fibers), are adjacent to each other. It is set as the structure extended in parallel. The weft yarn 150 can also be referred to as a weft having a configuration in which the first fiber yarn 151 and the second fiber yarn 152 are joined together. As a typical configuration of the weft yarn 150, the first fiber yarn 151 is formed of polyester fiber having a melting point of about 255 to 260 ° C. and a heat shrinkage of about 7 to 11%, and the second fiber yarn 152 is made of It can be formed from a modified polyester fiber (high shrinkage yarn) having a melting point of about 230 ° C. and a heat shrinkage of about 18.5%. That is, in the present embodiment, the second fiber yarn 152 is composed of fibers that have a higher heat shrinkage rate than the first fiber yarn 151 and are more easily contracted than the first fiber yarn 151. This modified polyester fiber is also referred to as a highly shrinkable polyester fiber having a relatively high thermal shrinkage rate than the polyester fiber. The heat shrinkage referred to here is calculated based on the ratio of the length of the sample before and after the immersion treatment by performing an immersion treatment in which a sample having a predetermined length is immersed in hot water. This heat shrinkage is also referred to as “hot water shrinkage”, “wet heat shrinkage”, “filament shrinkage”, “boiling water shrinkage” or “boiling shrinkage”. Typically, according to a method specified in JIS L1013 8.18.1 (b), a sample immersed in hot water for a predetermined time (for example, treatment at 90 ° C. for 30 minutes) ((before treatment) It is evaluated by a value (heat shrinkage rate) derived by (length−length after treatment) / length before treatment) × 100.

  The polyester fiber forming the first fiber yarn 151 has the same structure as the first fiber yarn 131 of the knitting yarn 130, and is typically a polyethylene produced by an esterification reaction using terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. It consists of a polymer of terephthalate. On the other hand, the modified polyester fiber (high-shrinkage polyester fiber) forming the second fiber yarn 152 typically includes polyethylene isophthalate produced by an esterification reaction using terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid and ethylene glycol, and the above-mentioned It consists of a copolymer of polyethylene terephthalate. FIG. 15 shows a specific configuration of the modified polyester fiber forming the second fiber yarn 152 of the weft yarn 150 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, this modified polyester fiber is composed of polyethylene terephthalate interspersed with polyethylene terephthalate, that is, a copolymer in which low melting point polyethylene isophthalate is mixed in high melting point polyethylene terephthalate, In particular, the copolymerization ratio of polyethylene isophthalate is 10% (polyethylene terephthalate is 90%).

  In such a configuration of the weft yarn 150, when the webbing 120 is thermoformed, heat treatment at about 190 ° C. is performed, so that the second fiber yarn 152 having a relatively high degree of heat shrinkage is preferentially shrunk. Accordingly, it is effective to improve wear resistance (durability) by increasing the webbing rigidity of the portion of the non-expanded region 112 wound up by the spool 102 in particular. In particular, the product width in the direction (width direction) intersecting the belt longitudinal direction in the non-inflatable region 112 can be suppressed.

  It should be noted that a modified example as shown in FIG. 16 can be adopted for the configuration of the weft yarn 150 of the present embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 16, the weft yarn 150 is constituted by a core-sheath structured yarn including a core portion 150a occupying the yarn center and a sheath portion 150b covering the periphery of the core portion 150a. In this case, the core portion 150a is formed of polyester fibers having a melting point of about 255 to 260 ° C. and a heat shrinkage of about 7 to 11%, similarly to the first fiber yarn 151, Similarly to the second fiber yarn 152, the sheath portion 150b can be formed of a modified polyester fiber (high shrinkage yarn) having a melting point of about 230 ° C. and a heat shrinkage of about 18.5%. Even with the webbing having such a configuration, it is possible to improve wear resistance and reduce the product width during thermoforming.

  Further, regarding the configuration of the weft yarn 150, the first fiber yarn 151 can also be configured by a modified polyester fiber (fused yarn) similar to the second fiber yarn 132 of the knitting yarn 130. In this case, the first fiber yarn 151 is typically made of a copolymer of polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate produced by an esterification reaction using terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid and ethylene glycol, particularly polyethylene. The copolymerization ratio of isophthalate is 30 [%] (polyethylene terephthalate is 70 [%]). The first fiber yarn 151 is a modified polyester fiber having a melting point of about 160 to 180 ° C. and a heat shrinkage of about 7 to 11%.

  According to such a configuration, polyethylene isophthalate (low melting point fiber) having a melting point relatively lower than that of polyethylene terephthalate in the first fiber yarn 151 is preferentially melted, and this melting component serves as a binder. The weft yarn 150 and the other yarns (knitting yarn 130 and insertion yarn 140) are heat-sealed to each other. Therefore, during the thermoforming, the wear resistance is improved and the product width is reduced, and the weft yarn 150 is preferentially melted and then solidified together with the other knitting yarns 130 and the insertion yarns 140, so The cross-sectional area of the webbing increases and becomes hard, and the rigidity of the entire webbing increases. Therefore, it is effective to prevent the occurrence of gaps between the yarns of the webbing 120, so-called “displacement”, and particularly to prevent fraying of the yarn in the expansion region 111.

  Further, regarding the configuration of the weft yarn 150, the weft yarn 150 may be composed of only the second fiber yarn 152 having a higher degree of thermal contraction than the other yarns (knitting yarn 130 and insertion yarn 140). According to such a configuration, a heat treatment at about 190 ° C. is performed at the time of thermoforming the webbing 120, so that the weft yarn 150 (second fiber yarn) having a higher degree of thermal shrinkage than the knitting yarn 130 and the insertion yarn 140. 152) preferentially contracts. Even with the webbing having such a configuration, it is possible to improve wear resistance and reduce the product width during thermoforming.

(Other embodiments)
In addition, this invention is not limited only to said embodiment, A various application and deformation | transformation can be considered. For example, each of the following embodiments to which the above embodiment is applied can be implemented.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the low-melting polyester fiber is included in both the knitting yarn 130 and the insertion yarn 140 has been described. However, in the present invention, it is sufficient that at least the knitting yarn 130 includes the low-melting polyester fiber. The type of fiber constituting the insertion yarn 140 can be changed as necessary. For example, the insertion yarn 140 can be composed of only polyester fibers having a melting point of about 255 to 260 ° C.

  In the present invention, if necessary, a configuration in which low melting point polyester fiber is included in at least one of the knitting yarn 130 and the insertion yarn 140 may be employed. Regarding this configuration, “a stretchable webbing constituting a long airbelt that restrains a vehicle occupant, a plurality of knitting yarns extending in a long direction in a predetermined direction to form a webbing skeleton, An insertion yarn that is inserted into the knitting yarn and extends in the predetermined direction, a first extension portion that is inserted into the plurality of knitting yarns and extends in a direction crossing the predetermined direction, and the first extension A weft including a second extending portion extending continuously in the predetermined direction, a first webbing region in which the first extending portion of the weft extends, and the second extending of the weft And a second webbing region having a stretchability higher in a direction crossing the predetermined direction than the first webbing region, and at least one of the knitting yarn and the insertion yarn is , Extending parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the yarn The first fiber body and the second fiber body, the second fiber body is composed of low melting point fibers having a lower melting point than the first fiber body, and the second fiber body is a heat treatment A stretchable webbing is sometimes conceived, characterized in that it is sometimes melted adjacent to the first fibrous body, whereby the yarn and the other yarn are thermally fused. The According to the stretchable webbing having such a configuration, the yarn is preferentially melted during heat treatment of the stretchable webbing and then set together with other yarns, so that the cross-sectional area after shrinkage of the yarn increases. It becomes hard and the rigidity (abrasion resistance) of the webbing as a whole increases, and the occurrence of misalignment and fraying (running) of yarns between stretchable webbing yarns is prevented.

  Moreover, although the case where the high shrinkage polyester fiber was included in the weft 150 was described in the said embodiment, in this invention, the fiber which comprises this weft 150 may be fibers other than a high shrinkage polyester fiber. Good. For example, the weft yarn 150 can be composed of only polyester fibers having a melting point of about 255 to 260 ° C.

  In the above embodiment, the air belt device 100 for a driver seat of an automobile is described. However, the present invention is not limited to a driver seat of an automobile vehicle, but also an air belt device for restraining a passenger in a passenger seat or a rear seat. The present invention can be applied to a configuration, and further to a configuration of an air belt device mounted on a vehicle such as a bus, a truck, an airplane, and a ship.

It is a figure showing a schematic structure of air belt device 100 of one embodiment in the present invention. It is a partial top view of the air belt 110 of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional structure in the AA of the air belt 110 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional structure in the BB line of the air belt 110 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional structure in the CC line of the air belt 110 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which the air belt 110 in FIG. 2 expanded. It is a figure which shows the knitting structure of the webbing 120 which comprises the air belt 110 of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the knitting yarn 130 of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific structure of the modified polyester fiber which forms the 2nd fiber yarn 132 of the knitting yarn 130 of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a change of the structure of the knitting yarn 130 of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the insertion thread | yarn 140 of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific structure of the modified polyester fiber which forms the 2nd fiber yarn 142 of the insertion yarn 140 of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a change of a structure of the insertion thread | yarn 140 of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the weft 150 of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific structure of the modified polyester fiber which forms the 2nd fiber yarn 152 of the weft 150 of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a change of the structure of the weft 150 of this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Air belt apparatus 101 Retractor 101a Retractor housing 102 Spool 103 Shoulder guide anchor 104 Tongue (tongue)
105 out anchor 106 buckle 110 air belt (webbing)
110a, 110b Plane portion 110c Accommodating space 111 Expansion region 112 Non-expansion region 113 Gas bag 120 Webbing 130 Knitting yarn 130a Core portion 130b Sheath portion 131 First fiber yarn 132 Second fiber yarn 140 Insertion yarn 140a Core portion 140b Sheath portion 141 first fiber yarn 142 second fiber yarn 150 weft yarn 150a core portion 150b sheath portion 151 first fiber yarn 152 second fiber yarn 153 first extension portion 154 second extension portion

Claims (5)

A stretchable webbing constituting a long occupant restraint belt for restraining a vehicle occupant,
A plurality of knitting yarns elongated in a predetermined direction to form a webbing skeleton;
An insertion yarn extending in the predetermined direction while being inserted into the plurality of knitting yarns;
A first extension portion extending in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction while being inserted into the plurality of knitting yarns; and a second extension portion extending in the predetermined direction continuously to the first extension portion. Including weft,
A first webbing region in which the first extending portion of the weft yarn extends;
A second webbing region in which the second extending portion of the weft yarn extends and has a higher stretchability in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction than the first webbing region;
With
The knitting yarn has a first fiber body and a second fiber body extending in parallel with each other in the longitudinal direction of the knitting yarn, and the second fiber body is the first fiber body. The second fiber body is melted adjacent to the first fiber body during heat treatment, so that the knitting yarn and the insertion yarn or the weft yarn are heat-melted. Elastic webbing characterized in that it is configured to be worn. The stretchable webbing according to claim 1,
The knitting yarn has a configuration in which a first fiber yarn constituting the first fiber body and a second fiber yarn constituting the second fiber body are adjacent to each other and extend in parallel. Elastic webbing characterized by. The stretchable webbing according to claim 1,
The knitting yarn is a core-sheath structure yarn in which a core portion around a core portion of the yarn is covered with a sheath portion, the core portion is constituted by the first fiber body, and is adjacent to the first fiber body. The stretchable webbing characterized in that the sheath portion is constituted by the second fibrous bodies extending in parallel. An air belt that restrains a vehicle occupant,
It is comprised as a belt body made into the bag shape or cylinder shape by the elastic webbing as described in any one of Claims 1-3, In the said 2nd webbing area | region of the said belt body, a vehicle accident is carried out. An air belt characterized in that an inflatable gas bag is accommodated. An air belt according to claim 4;
A retractor for winding and unwinding the air belt;
A buckle fixed to the vehicle;
A tongue that is provided on the seat belt and engages the buckle when the seat belt is worn;
An air belt device comprising:

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