JP2010137779A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely suppress the direct discharge of an inflation gas to the side of an object to be protected, and to suppress the blocking of a vent hole by a vehicle constituent. <P>SOLUTION: Segment connecting parts 39 connecting a pair of cloths 33, 34 in an annular shape are arranged in an airbag 30, and a protection area of the airbag 30 is divided into non-inflated sections 43 which are surrounded by the segment connecting parts 39 and to which the inflation gas G is not supplied and inflated sections 44 positioned outside the segment connecting parts 39 and inflated by the inflation gas G to be supplied. Since the segment connecting parts 39 are formed by intermittently connecting both the cloths 33, 34, the vent holes 45 for discharging the inflation gas G inside the inflated sections 44 are arranged between neighboring connecting sections in the segment connecting parts 39 between the cloths 33, 34. In the vehicle external side cloths 34 at a side farther from the object to be protected out of both the cloths 33, 34, holes 47 are formed by cutting at least a part of the sections surrounded by the segment connecting parts 39. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device equipped in a vehicle so as to protect a vehicle occupant, a pedestrian, and the like from a shock as a protection target.

  An airbag device is widely known as a device that protects vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and the like from impacts. This airbag device includes an airbag formed by stitching the peripheral portions of a pair of fabric portions, and an inflator disposed in the airbag.

  Among such airbag apparatuses, for example, in a side airbag apparatus that protects an occupant from an impact caused by a side collision or the like, the airbag is incorporated in a seat back (backrest) of a vehicle seat together with an inflator.

  In the side airbag device, when an impact is applied to the body side portion of the vehicle from the side, inflation gas is supplied from the inflator into the airbag. The airbag starts inflating and deploying by the inflating gas, and jumps out of the seat back in a state where a part thereof is left in the seat back. The airbag is inflated and deployed forward in a narrow space between the occupant seated on the seat and the body side portion. The inflated airbag is interposed between the occupant and the body side portion that enters the passenger compartment to restrain the occupant. Further, the gas in the inflated airbag is discharged to the outside of the airbag through an exhaust hole (vent hole) provided in the airbag. Due to the expansion and deployment of these airbags and the decrease in internal pressure associated with the exhaust of the inflation gas, the impact from the side transmitted to the occupant through the body side portion is mitigated.

  In addition, it is desirable that the exhaust hole be provided in the fabric portion on the outside of the vehicle with respect to the airbag that has been inflated and deployed. This is to prevent the inflation gas from being directly discharged from the fabric portion inside the airbag to the passenger side. However, if the vicinity of the exhaust hole comes into contact with the body side portion when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the exhaust hole is blocked and the discharge of the inflation gas is hindered.

  Therefore, in the side airbag device described in Patent Document 1, the exhaust hole is provided at a position away from the body side portion of the vehicle when the airbag is inflated and deployed. More specifically, in Patent Document 1, a seam is provided that is coupled in a state in which both fabric portions are in contact with each other, and the interior of the airbag is partitioned into a plurality of chambers by this seam. An exhaust hole is opened in the vicinity of the seam in the fabric portion outside the vehicle.

In addition to the function of partitioning the internal space of the airbag, the seam also exhibits a function of regulating the thickness in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is inflated. With this function, the portion where the seam is provided moves away from the body side portion when the airbag is inflated and deployed. For this reason, the exhaust hole provided in the vicinity of the seam is also moved away from the body side portion and is not easily blocked by the body side portion.
JP 2003-335208 A JP 2007-283786 A

  By the way, the exhaust hole is most difficult to be blocked by the body side portion when the exhaust hole is provided at a location where the thickness of the airbag during inflation and deployment is minimized. In the case of Patent Document 1 described above, the place where the seam is provided corresponds to the place where the thickness of the airbag during inflation is minimized. However, in the side airbag device described in Patent Document 1, there is a limit in bringing the exhaust hole close to the seam, and there is a limit in moving the exhaust hole away from the body side part when the airbag is inflated and deployed. . Therefore, in order to prevent the exhaust hole from being blocked more reliably, a separate device is required for the airbag.

Such a problem may occur not only in the above-described side airbag device but also in other types of airbag devices having an exhaust hole in the airbag.
For example, Patent Document 2 describes an airbag device that inflates a head protection airbag in a curtain shape between the head of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a side portion of the vehicle interior of the vehicle. ing. In the head protecting airbag, the peripheral edges of the plurality of base fabrics are joined at the peripheral joint portion, and the inner side is joined at the inner joint portion to form a bag shape. In addition, a vent hole (exhaust hole) is formed at the inner position of the inner joint portion on the base fabric outside the vehicle compartment (outer side of the vehicle), and an inner opening is formed at the inner joint portion. The vent hole (exhaust hole) discharges the inflation gas in the airbag introduced into the bag inner space through the internal opening.

  However, even the airbag device described in Patent Document 2 can cause the same problem as described above. This is because an inflatable cloth part (a cloth part that can generate a thickness) remains around the vent hole (exhaust hole), that is, in the base cloth outside the passenger compartment, between the periphery of the vent hole and the inner joint part. Because it is. As a result, even in Patent Document 2, the cloth portion comes into contact with a vehicle component (a body side portion such as a door) on the outside of the vehicle and the vent hole is blocked, making it difficult to continue exhaust.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to control a vehicle configuration such as a body side portion while suppressing the inflation gas from being discharged directly to a protection target side such as an occupant. An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can reliably prevent the exhaust hole from being blocked by an object.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is an air formed in a bag shape by a pair of fabric portions overlapped with each other and provided with a protection region for protecting a protection object from an impact. A non-inflatable portion provided with a partition, wherein the airbag is provided with a partition coupling portion that annularly couples both fabric portions, the protective region is surrounded by the partition coupling portion, and no inflation gas is supplied And an expansion portion that is located outside the partition coupling portion and expands when supplied with an inflation gas, and the two fabric portions are intermittently coupled to form the partition coupling portion. Thus, an exhaust hole for exhausting the expansion gas in the expansion portion to the non-expansion portion side is provided between the two fabric portions and between the adjacent connection portions in the partition connection portion. And further Of fabric portion, the fabric portion remote from the protected, and summarized in that at least a portion of said enclosed by the partition coupling portion is bran hollowed.

Here, a vehicle occupant or a pedestrian corresponds to an object to be protected by the airbag device.
According to said structure, in the protection area | region of an airbag, inflation gas is supplied to an expansion | swelling part, and inflation gas is not supplied to a non-expansion part. Therefore, the expansion part expands and the non-expansion part does not expand. The airbag has a minimum thickness at the non-inflatable portion and is larger at the inflatable portion than at the non-inflatable portion. In particular, the thickness at the inflating portion decreases as the non-inflating portion is approached.

  Here, the division coupling | bond part which divides a protection area into an expansion part and a non-expansion part is couple | bonded cyclically | annularly by couple | bonding both fabric parts intermittently. The inflating part and the non-inflating part are in communication with each other through the adjacent joints (exhaust holes) between the fabric parts and adjacent to each other in the partition joints. Therefore, the expansion gas supplied to the expansion part and used for the expansion can be discharged to the non-expansion part side through these exhaust holes. In addition, since the partition coupling portion provided with the exhaust hole is located at the boundary portion between the inflatable portion and the non-inflatable portion, the exhaust hole is located at the position where the thickness is minimum in the inflated airbag. is doing.

  Furthermore, at least one part of the part enclosed by the division | segmentation coupling | bond part is pierced about the cloth part on the side away from the protection object among both cloth parts. Therefore, as described above, the inflation gas discharged from the inflating part through the exhaust hole to the non-inflating part side is removed from the part of the cloth part away from the protection target. And is discharged to the outside of both fabric parts. Therefore, even if the airbag is inflated and comes into contact with the vehicle component on the opposite side of the object to be protected across the airbag, the exhaust hole is located at the farthest point in the range that can be taken from the vehicle component. Will be.

  As a result, the expansion gas is not directly discharged to the protection target side, but the exhaust holes are not easily blocked by the vehicle components. Therefore, if the inflating gas is properly discharged to the outside of the airbag, the internal pressure of the inflating portion will decrease.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein, in the fabric portion on the side close to the protection object, the portion corresponding to the non-expandable portion is closed. Is the gist.

  According to said structure, in the non-expanded part, the fabric part far from the protection target is removed, and the fabric part near the protection target is closed. In the fabric part far from the object to be protected, the inflation gas can be distributed through the perforated part, whereas in the fabric part near the object to be protected, the circulation of the inflation gas is restricted. The Therefore, most of the inflation gas discharged from the inflating part through the exhaust hole of the partition coupling part to the non-inflating part passes through the hollowed-out part of the fabric part far from the protection target and sandwiches the airbag. Is discharged to the opposite side of the protected object. The expansion gas is hardly discharged to the protection target side.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the partition coupling portion is formed by sewing the two fabric portions, and the exhaust hole includes an upper thread and a lower portion of the sewing. The gist is that the yarn is formed between the entangled portions where the yarn intersects.

  According to said structure, both fabric parts are sewed, ie, an upper thread and a lower thread cross | intersect at many places, and are couple | bonded cyclically | annularly. A division coupling portion is formed by coupling the two fabric portions during the sewing. And between the fabric parts and between the entangled portions where the upper thread and the lower thread intersect at the partition joint part is an exhaust hole. The expansion gas in the expansion part is discharged to the non-expansion part through these exhaust holes.

In this configuration, it is possible to easily change the size of the exhaust holes (flow channel area) by adjusting the stitch lengths of the upper thread and the lower thread, and changing the interval between the entangled parts. is there.
The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the partition coupling portion is formed by intermittently bonding the two fabric portions, and the exhaust hole is formed by the partition coupling portion. In the gist, it is formed between adjacent adhesive portions.

  According to said structure, when both fabric parts are adhere | attached intermittently, the fabric parts are couple | bonded cyclically | annularly and a division coupling | bond part is formed. And between both fabric parts, and between the adhesion parts adjacent in a division | segmentation coupling | bond part becomes an exhaust hole. The expansion gas in the expansion part is discharged to the non-expansion part through these exhaust holes.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the airbag is formed by bag weaving, and the partition coupling portion having the exhaust holes is formed by weaving the airbag. The exhaust hole is formed between adjacent connecting portions of the bag weave.

  According to said structure, both fabric parts are intermittently couple | bonded in the process of bag-weaving an airbag, and a cyclic | annular division coupling | bond part is formed. And between two fabric parts and between adjacent connection parts in a division | segmentation coupling | bond part becomes an exhaust hole. The expansion gas in the expansion part is discharged to the non-expansion part through these exhaust holes.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the airbag is inflated between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a body side portion of the vehicle. It is a side airbag, and the non-inflatable portion is provided at a location corresponding to at least one of an arm portion, a chest portion, and an abdominal portion of the occupant in the side airbag.

  According to the above configuration, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the side due to a side collision or the like, the inflation gas is supplied to the inflation portion of the airbag. By this inflation gas, the airbag is inflated and deployed between the body side portion of the vehicle and the occupant seated on the seat, and the impact from the side of the vehicle transmitted to the occupant through the body side portion is mitigated. At this time, the thickness in the vehicle width direction is increased in many parts of the airbag, but the thickness in the vehicle width direction is provided in a non-inflatable portion provided at a position corresponding to at least one of the arm, chest, and abdomen of the occupant. Does not increase. Therefore, the chest and abdomen which are not so high in impact resistance among the occupant side portions are hardly pressed by the airbag indirectly or directly through the arms. In this way, the non-inflatable part not only discharges the inflation gas in the inflatable part to the outside of the airbag through the fabric part far from the object to be protected, but also compresses the chest and abdomen via the arm part. Suppress.

  Therefore, in the case of an airbag originally provided with a configuration that suppresses compression of the chest and abdomen by reducing the thickness of the location corresponding to the arm portion, in a location different from the configuration, There is no need to provide a structure for discharging the inflation gas to the outside of the airbag through the fabric portion on the side far from the protection target.

  According to the invention described in claim 7, the airbag is inflated in a curtain shape between the head of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a side portion of the vehicle interior of the vehicle. A head protecting airbag that protects the head, a rear impact airbag that protects the passenger by inflating in the vicinity of the rear of the rear seat of the vehicle, and inflating between the vehicle and a pedestrian. Any of the pedestrian protection airbags protecting the pedestrian may be used. In this case, each of the protection areas of the head protection airbag, the rear collision airbag, and the pedestrian protection airbag is partitioned into a plurality of areas, and the non-inflatable portion is used for the head protection. In the airbag, the rear impact airbag, and the pedestrian protection airbag, the airbag may be provided at a location corresponding to a partition section that partitions the protection area.

  Usually, each protection region of the head protection airbag, the rear impact airbag, and the pedestrian protection airbag is provided with a partition portion that divides this into a plurality of regions, and the partition portion has a thickness. It is set smaller than other parts. Therefore, if it is a location with a small thickness corresponding to a partition part in an airbag, it is possible to provide a non-inflatable part easily compared with other places.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 8, the airbag is inflated at the front lower side of the occupant seated on the vehicle seat, thereby protecting the portion of the occupant from the shin part to the knee part. An air bag may be used. In this case, the non-inflatable portion may be provided at a location corresponding to the shin portion of the occupant in the knee protection airbag.

  Usually, in the knee protection airbag, the thickness of the part corresponding to the knee part of the occupant is set large, and the thickness of the part corresponding to the shin part is set small. Therefore, in the same airbag, if it is a location with a small thickness corresponding to the knee, it is possible to easily provide a non-inflatable portion compared to other locations.

  According to the airbag device of the present invention, it is possible to reliably suppress the exhaust hole from being blocked by the vehicle component while suppressing the inflation gas from being directly discharged to the protection target side. .

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a side airbag device will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the traveling direction (forward direction) of the vehicle will be described as the front of the vehicle.

  As shown in at least one of FIGS. 1 to 3, a seat (vehicle seat) 12 is disposed in the vicinity of the vehicle side of the body side portion 11 in the vehicle 10. Here, the body side portion 11 refers to a member disposed on the side portion of the vehicle 10. For example, the body side part 11 corresponding to the front seat is a front door, a center pillar (B pillar), or the like. The body side portion 11 corresponding to the rear seat is a rear portion of a side door (rear door), a C pillar, a front portion of a tire house, a rear quarter, and the like.

  The seat 12 includes a seat cushion (seat portion) 13 and a seat back (back portion) 14 that stands up from the rear side of the seat cushion 13 and has an inclination adjustment mechanism (not shown). . A storage portion 15 is provided on the side of the seatback 14 on the vehicle exterior side, and an airbag module AM that forms the main part of the side airbag device is stored in the storage portion 15. The position of the storage unit 15 is in the vicinity of the rear of the occupant P seated on the seat 12.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the airbag module AM includes an inflator assembly 20 and a side airbag (hereinafter simply referred to as “airbag”) 30 as main components.

  Next, each of these structural members will be described. Here, in the present embodiment, when the airbag module AM and its constituent members are referred to as “vertical direction” and “front-rear direction”, the seat back 14 of the seat 12 is used as a reference. The direction in which the seat back 14 stands is the “vertical direction”, and the direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10 with respect to this direction is the “front-rear direction”. Usually, since the seat back 14 is used in an inclined state, the “vertical direction” is not strictly a vertical direction but is slightly inclined. Similarly, the “front-rear direction” is not strictly a horizontal direction but is slightly inclined.

<Inflator assembly 20>
As shown in at least one of FIGS. 5 and 6, the inflator assembly 20 includes an inflator 21 as a gas generation source and a retainer 22 attached to the outside of the inflator 21. The inflator 21 has a substantially cylindrical shape that is elongated in the substantially vertical direction, and a gas generating agent (not shown) that generates an expansion gas G in response to an operation signal from the outside is accommodated in the inflator 21. Yes. A plurality of gas ejection holes 23 through which the generated expansion gas G is ejected radially outward are provided in the upper part of the inflator 21. A connector portion 24 is provided at the lower end portion of the inflator 21, and a harness 25 serving as a control signal application wiring to the inflator 21 is connected to the connector portion 24.

  The inflator 21 may be a type in which the partition wall of the high-pressure gas cylinder filled with the high-pressure gas is broken with explosives or the like and the expansion gas G is ejected instead of the type using the gas generating agent. .

  On the other hand, the retainer 22 is a member that functions as a diffuser and has a function of fixing the inflator 21 together with the airbag 30 to the seat frame 16 (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6) in the seat back 14. Most of the retainer 22 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape elongated in the vertical direction by bending a plate material such as a metal plate. On the upper front side of the retainer 22, a window portion 26 that exposes a part of the gas ejection holes 23 of the inflator 21 from the retainer 22 is provided, and the expansion gas G from the gas ejection holes 23 passes through the window portion 26. Derived generally toward the front of the vehicle.

  A plurality of (two in the present embodiment) bolts 27 are fixed to the retainer 22 as locking members for attaching the retainer 22 to the seat frame 16. In other words, both bolts 27 are indirectly fixed to the inflator 21 via the retainer 22. These bolts 27 extend in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the inflator 21.

The inflator assembly 20 may be one in which an inflator 21 and a retainer 22 are integrated.
<Airbag 30>
As shown in at least one of FIGS. 1 to 3, the airbag 30 protects the occupant P seated on the seat 12, and an impact is applied to the body side portion 11 from the outside of the vehicle 10 due to a side collision or the like. Sometimes, the expansion gas G from the inflator 21 expands and develops. Then, the airbag 30 jumps out substantially forward from the storage portion 15 in a state where a part (rear portion) of the airbag 30 is left in the storage portion 15, and is inflated and deployed between the occupant P and the body side portion 11. It is for restraining the passenger | crew P and protecting it from the said impact.

  FIG. 4A schematically shows the airbag module AM in a state in which the airbag 30 is deployed without being filled with the inflation gas G. FIG. FIG. 7 shows a state where the airbag 30 is being manufactured. As shown in at least one of these FIG. 4 (A) and FIG. 7, the airbag 30 has a panel cloth 31 (also called a base cloth) 31 made of a single cloth at a fold line 32 set at the central portion thereof. It is formed by folding in half along the vehicle width direction and joining the overlapped portions in a bag shape. Here, in order to distinguish the two overlapping portions of the airbag 30, the one located on the vehicle interior side is referred to as the vehicle interior fabric portion 33, and the one located on the vehicle exterior side is referred to as the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34. And In the panel cloth 31, the outer shapes of the vehicle interior fabric portion 33 and the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34 are in a line-symmetric relationship with respect to the folding line 32. In addition, when it is not necessary to particularly distinguish the vehicle interior fabric portion 33 and the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34, they are simply described as “fabric portions 33, 34”.

  As the panel cloth 31, a material having high strength and flexibility and can be easily folded, for example, a woven cloth formed using a polyester thread, a polyamide thread, or the like is suitable. The shape and size of the vehicle interior fabric portion 33 and the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34 are in the vicinity of the outside of the occupant P sitting on the seat 12 when the airbag 30 is inflated and deployed between the seat 12 and the body side portion 11. Thus, the region corresponding to the shoulder PS from the abdomen PB is set (see FIG. 4A).

In the vehicle interior fabric portion 33, bolt holes 35 are formed at two locations spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction in the vicinity of the folding line 32.
The above-described connection between the vehicle interior fabric portion 33 and the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34 is performed at a peripheral connection portion 36 provided at the peripheral portion thereof. In the present embodiment, the peripheral edge coupling portion 36 is formed by sewing (sewing with a sewing thread) most of the peripheral edge portions of the vehicle interior fabric portion 33 and the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34 except for the rear edge portion. The peripheral coupling portion 36 is illustrated by a thick broken line. The same applies to the partition coupling portion 39 described later. A space between the vehicle interior fabric portion 33 and the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34 and surrounded by the peripheral edge coupling portion 36 is a protection region Z for protecting the occupant P from impact.

  The airbag 30 includes a pair of mutually independent panel cloths 31 stacked in the vehicle width direction, the panel cloth 31 located on the inside of the vehicle serves as the inside cloth part 33, and the panel cloth 31 located on the outside of the car serves as the outside of the vehicle. The fabric portion 34 may be formed by joining both the fabric portions 33 and 34 into a bag shape. Further, the peripheral edge coupling portion 36 may be formed by means different from the sewing using the above-described sewing thread, for example, bonding using an adhesive.

  In the airbag 30, an annular reinforcing cloth 37 is disposed in the front lower portion inside the vehicle interior fabric portion 33. Similarly, in the airbag 30, an annular reinforcing cloth 38 is disposed in the front lower portion inside the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34. The reinforcing cloths 37 and 38 are in a line-symmetric relationship with respect to the folding line 32 as an axis of symmetry. The locations of the two reinforcing cloths 37 and 38 are locations corresponding to the lateral vicinity of the arm (upper arm) PA when an occupant P (adult) having a standard physique is seated in a standard posture. It is. For example, the posture when the driver holds the steering wheel can be a standard posture. The reinforcing cloth 37 is bonded to the vehicle interior fabric portion 33 at the above-described location, and is in close contact with the vehicle interior fabric portion 33. In addition, the reinforcing cloth 38 is bonded to the vehicle outer fabric portion 34 at the above-described location, and is in close contact with the vehicle outer fabric portion 34.

  When the reinforcing fabrics 37 and 38 are not bonded to the fabric portions 33 and 34, the reinforcing fabrics 37 and 38 are separated and are in close contact with the corresponding fabric portions 33 and 34, or both the reinforcing fabrics 37 and 38. It is desirable to adopt a configuration in which only one fabric portion 33 (or 34) is in close contact with each other in a state of being overlapped.

  The two fabric portions 33 and 34 overlapped along the fold line 32 and the two reinforcing cloths 37 and 38 disposed between them are divided and connected in a ring shape along the reinforcing cloths 37 and 38. The parts 39 are integrally connected. As shown in at least one of FIGS. 4 (A), (B) and FIG. 8 (A), the partition coupling portion 39 is similar to the peripheral coupling portion 36 described above, and both the fabric portions 33 and 34 and both the reinforcements. It is formed by sewing (sewing) the cloths 37 and 38 with sewing threads, that is, by crossing the upper thread 41 and the lower thread 42. In FIG. 8A, illustration of the reinforcing cloths 37 and 38 is omitted. The protective region Z of the airbag 30 described above is surrounded by the partition coupling portion 39 and is not supplied with the inflation gas G, and is positioned outside the partition coupling portion 39, and the inflation gas G It is divided into an inflating part 44 that is supplied and inflated.

  In the present embodiment, the partition coupling portion 39 is formed by intermittently coupling both the fabric portions 33 and 34. With this formation, an exhaust hole 45 for exhausting the expansion gas G in the expansion portion 44 is provided between the fabric portions 33 and 34 and between the adjacent coupling portions in the partition coupling portion 39. . More specifically, the exhaust hole 45 is configured by the interlaced portions 46 where the sewing upper thread 41 and the lower thread 42 intersect (portion K indicated by hatching in FIGS. 8A and 8B). Has been. The cross-sectional shape of each portion K changes according to the filling state of the expansion gas G in the expansion portion 44.

  When the expansion portion 44 is not filled with the expansion gas G, the cross-sectional shape of each portion K is flat as shown in FIG. 8A, and the exhaust holes 45 are closed. In FIG. 8A, the relationship between the fabric portions 33 and 34, the upper thread 41, the lower thread 42, and the like is schematically illustrated. Actually, the fabric portions 33 and 34 are in close contact with each other or in a state close thereto. On the other hand, when the expansion portion 44 is filled with the expansion gas G, the cross-sectional shape of the portion K becomes substantially circular as shown in FIG. 8B, and the exhaust holes 45 are opened.

  Here, the flow path area of the exhaust hole 45 depends on the interval between the interlaced portions 46 (seam length: pitch P1). As the pitch P1 becomes shorter, the flow path area becomes smaller, and when it becomes excessively short, the ability to discharge the expansion gas G is impaired. On the contrary, as the pitch P1 becomes longer, the flow path area becomes larger and the discharge ability of the inflation gas G becomes higher, but the strength (coupling strength) for joining the fabric portions 33 and 34 is lowered. For this reason, when setting the pitch P1, it is desirable to set the pitch P1 to a value that can achieve both the discharge ability of the expansion gas G and the bonding strength. Specifically, in the case of sewing as a normal connection, the pitch between the portions where the yarns intersect is set to be less than 1.0 to 2.0 mm. When the exhaust holes 45 are formed at this portion as in the present embodiment, the pitch P1 is set to about 2.0 to 15.0 mm as shown in FIGS. 4B and 8A. It is desirable to set it to about 5.0 to 10.0 mm.

  The flow passage area of the exhaust hole 45 is also affected by the tension of at least one of the upper thread 41 and the lower thread 42. In the case of a seam with high tension, the flow passage area of the exhaust hole 45 is reduced.

  Furthermore, as shown in at least one of FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 9A, of the two fabric portions 33, 34, the outer fabric portion 34 on the side far from the occupant P is partitioned and joined. Many portions surrounded by the portion 39 are hollowed out. A hole 47 is made in the outer fabric part 34 by this punching. On the other hand, the part corresponding to the non-inflatable part 43 is closed and closed about the vehicle interior fabric part 33 on the side close to the occupant P among the fabric parts 33 and 34.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 7, the distance (sewing margin M1) from the end (periphery) of the hole 47 to the partition coupling portion 39 is about 2.0 to 25.0 mm. It is desirable to set, and it is more desirable to set to about 5.0-10.0 mm. In addition, a slit SL and a notch KK (see FIG. 4 (B)) obtained by cutting from the end (periphery) of the hole 47 to the partition coupling portion 39 in the middle portion of the portion where the threads cross each other in the seam allowance M1. It may be provided. By providing these slits SL and notches KK, the exhaust efficiency is further improved. Furthermore, regarding the peripheral edge of the hole 47, if the minimum value of the distance between two opposing locations is the distance D1, the distance D1 is preferably 10 mm or more, and more preferably 25 mm or more.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the inflator assembly 20 is disposed in the airbag 30 in a posture that extends substantially in the vertical direction. The two bolts 27 of the retainer 22 are inserted into the corresponding bolt holes 35 (see FIG. 7) of the vehicle interior fabric portion 33. By such insertion, the inflator assembly 20 is locked in a state of being positioned with respect to the airbag 30. Further, the rear lower end of the airbag 30 is fastened in an airtight state to the lower portion of the inflator assembly 20 by an annular fastener 28.

  The airbag module AM is formed into a compact storage configuration by folding the airbag 30 (see FIG. 4A) in a deployed state as shown in FIG. This is because the airbag module AM is securely stored in the storage unit 15 having a limited size in the seat back 14.

  The airbag module AM in the above-described storage form is fixed to the seat frame 16 by inserting the bolts 27 of the retainer 22 into the seat frame 16 and tightening the nuts 17. The retainer 22 may be fixed to the vehicle 10 (seat frame 16) by a member different from the bolt 27 described above.

  The side airbag device includes an impact sensor 51 and a control device 52 shown in FIG. 1 in addition to the airbag module AM described above. The impact sensor 51 includes an acceleration sensor or the like, and is attached to the body side portion 11 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of the vehicle 10 and detects an impact applied to the body side portion 11 from the outside. The control device 52 controls the operation of the inflator 21 based on the detection signal from the impact sensor 51.

  As described above, the side airbag device of the present embodiment is configured. In this side airbag device, when an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the body side portion 11 of the vehicle 10, and this is detected by the impact sensor 51, the control device 52 applies this to the inflator 21 based on the detection signal. An operation signal for operating is output. In response to this operation signal, in the inflator 21, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the gas generating agent generates a high-temperature and high-pressure expansion gas G, which is radially outward from the plurality of gas ejection holes 23. Try to erupt. At this time, among the plurality of gas ejection holes 23, the rear one is closed by the retainer 22, and the front one is exposed from the window portion 26. Therefore, the expansion gas G is ejected from the front gas ejection hole 23 toward the front of the vehicle substantially through the window portion 26. In addition to the front, the front of the vehicle includes a front upper and lower front.

  The inflated gas G that is ejected is supplied to the inflating part 44 in the protection region Z (see FIG. 4A) of the airbag 30, but is not supplied to the non-inflating part 43. Therefore, the airbag 30 is inflated while eliminating (deploying) the folded state, and jumps out from the seat back 14 to the front of the vehicle in a state where the rear end portion of the airbag 30 is left in the storage portion 15 together with the inflator assembly 20. Thereafter, as shown in at least one of FIGS. 2 and 3, the airbag 30 to which the inflation gas G is supplied is forward of the vehicle between the body side portion 11 of the vehicle 10 and the occupant P seated on the seat 12. Inflates and expands toward. The airbag 30 is interposed between the occupant P and the body side portion 11 entering the vehicle interior. The passenger 30 is pressed and restrained by the airbag 30 inward in the vehicle width direction. And the impact from the side transmitted to the passenger | crew P through the body side part 11 is relieve | moderated by the airbag 30. FIG.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 9B, the thickness of the airbag 30 in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 9B) is the smallest in the non-inflatable portion 43 and the non-inflatable portion 43 in the inflatable portion 44. Bigger than. In particular, the thickness at the inflating portion 44 decreases as the non-inflating portion 43 is approached. The position of the non-inflatable portion 43 in the inflated and deployed airbag 30 corresponds to the arm portion PA of the occupant P (see FIG. 4A). Therefore, when the airbag 30 is inflated and deployed in a situation where the arm PA of the occupant P (adult) having the standard physique is located at a position corresponding to the non-inflatable portion 43, the arm PA of the occupant P Is not pushed excessively inward by the airbag 30 in the vehicle width direction. The inner side in the vehicle width direction of the arm part PA is the abdominal part PB and the chest part PT, which are not so high in impact resistance. The protection by 30 is appropriately performed.

  Here, as shown in at least one of FIGS. 8 (A) and 8 (B), the fabric portions 33 and 34 are sewn, that is, the upper thread 41 and the lower thread 42 are arranged at a number of locations at regular intervals. By making it cross | intersect, both the fabric parts 33 and 34 are couple | bonded intermittently. In this embodiment, sewing is performed in an annular shape. An annular partition coupling portion 39 is formed by coupling the fabric portions 33 and 34 by sewing. And between the adjacent joint parts in the division joint part 39, here, between the entangled parts 46 where the upper thread 41 and the lower thread 42 intersect (part K) is the exhaust hole 45. The inflating part 44 and the non-inflating part 43 communicate with each other through these exhaust holes 45. Therefore, the expansion gas G supplied to the expansion portion 44 and used for the expansion pushes both the fabric portions 33 and 34 in the exhaust holes 45. The exhaust hole 45 is opened, and the expansion gas G can pass through the exhaust hole 45 and be discharged to the non-expandable portion 43 side. Moreover, since the partition coupling portion 39 provided with the exhaust hole 45 is located at the boundary portion between the inflating portion 44 and the non-inflating portion 43, the exhaust hole 45 has a thickness in the inflated airbag 30. Located at the smallest point.

  Further, in the non-inflatable portion 43, the outer fabric portion 34 on the side farther from the occupant P is hollowed out, while the inner fabric portion 33 on the side closer to the occupant P is not hollowed out and closed. . In the outside fabric portion 34 on the side far from the occupant P, the inflation gas G can flow through the hollowed portion (hole 47), whereas the inside fabric portion 33 on the side close to the occupant P. Then, the distribution of the expansion gas G is regulated. Therefore, the inflation gas G discharged from the inflating part 44 through the exhaust hole 45 of the partition coupling part 39 to the non-inflating part 43 passes exclusively through the hole 47 and is on the side opposite to the occupant P across the airbag 30 ( The exhaust gas G to the passenger P side is almost completely suppressed.

  Therefore, even if the airbag 30 is inflated and comes into contact with the vehicle component (the body side portion 11) on the opposite side (the vehicle outer side) from the occupant P across the airbag 30, the exhaust hole 45 can be taken. Will be located in the place most distant from the vehicle component (body side part 11). As a result, the inflation gas G is not directly discharged to the occupant P side, and the exhaust hole 45 is not easily blocked by the vehicle component (the body side portion 11).

  In this regard, the present embodiment provides the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 in which an exhaust hole is provided at a position away from the body side part of the vehicle when the airbag is inflated and deployed, and a vent hole is provided on the inner side of the inner side joint part. This is different from Patent Document 2 in which an internal opening is provided.

In particular, this embodiment is different from Patent Document 2 in the following points. Here, the matter described in Patent Document 2 will be described as a comparative example (see FIG. 9C).
As shown in FIG. 9C, in the comparative example, the vehicle inner and outer base fabrics (fabric portions 33, 34) are connected to the inner bag portion (partition coupling portion 39) by a plurality of bag inner spaces (inflatable portions 44). , And is divided into non-inflatable portions 43). In the base fabric (fabric part 34) outside the vehicle, a vent hole (hole 47) is formed at an inner position of the inner joint part (partition joint part 39), and the inner joint part (partition joint part 39) itself has an inner part. An opening (exhaust hole 45) is formed. The vent hole (hole 47) discharges the inflation gas introduced into the bag inner space (non-inflatable portion 43) through the internal opening (exhaust hole 45) to the outside of the airbag. In addition, the member in a parenthesis is a member name corresponding in this embodiment.

  However, in the comparative example, the distance (sewing margin M1) from the end (periphery) of the vent hole to the inner joint is large. In other words, there are many cloth parts (cloth parts that can be thickened) around the vent hole (exhaust hole), that is, in the base cloth outside the vehicle, between the periphery of the vent hole and the inner joint part. Remaining. Therefore, the space in the bag is inflated by the inflation gas flowing in through the internal opening, and the thickness in the vehicle width direction is increased. Along with this, the vent hole is displaced to the outside of the vehicle. When the base fabric on the outside of the vehicle comes into contact with the body side portion, the vent hole is easily blocked, making it difficult to continue exhaust.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment where the seam allowance M1 is small, as shown in FIG. 9 (B), there are only a few fabric portions (cloth portions capable of producing a thickness) that can expand between the peripheral edge of the hole 47 and the partition coupling portion 39. It remains only (minimum). Therefore, even if the expansion gas G flows through the exhaust hole 45, the non-expandable portion 43 does not expand and the thickness in the vehicle width direction does not increase. The hole 47 is not easily displaced to the outside of the vehicle, and the hole 47 is not easily blocked even if the vehicle-side fabric portion 34 in the inflating portion 44 contacts the body side portion 11. Exhaust of the expansion gas G continues favorably.

According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) By forming the partition coupling portion 39 by intermittently coupling the vehicle interior fabric portion 33 and the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34 that are overlapped with each other, between the fabric portions 33 and 34, the partition coupling portion 39, an exhaust hole 45 for exhausting the expansion gas G in the expansion part 44 to the non-expansion part 43 side is provided between adjacent coupling parts (entanglement part 46). Further, among the fabric portions 33 and 34, the outer fabric portion 34 on the side far from the object to be protected (occupant P) is perforated so as to open a hole 47 through most of the portion surrounded by the partition coupling portion 39. Therefore, it is possible to reliably suppress the exhaust hole 45 from being blocked by the vehicle component (body side portion 11) while suppressing the inflation gas G from being directly discharged to the protection target (occupant P) side. it can. As a result, the inflation gas G can be appropriately discharged to the outside of the airbag 30, and the internal pressure of the inflatable portion 44 can be lowered to a value desirable for protecting the protection target (occupant P).

  (2) Among the fabric portions 33 and 34, the portions corresponding to the non-inflatable portion 43 are closed in the fabric portions 33 and 34 on the vehicle inner side, which are closer to the protection target (occupant P). Therefore, the expansion gas G discharged from the expansion portion 44 through the exhaust hole 45 to the non-expansion portion 43 can be substantially completely suppressed from being discharged to the protection target (occupant P) side. Most of the inflation gas G in the non-inflatable portion 43 can be discharged to the outside of the vehicle, which is far from the protection target (occupant P).

  (3) The partition coupling portion 39 is formed by sewing the fabric portions 33 and 34 together. An exhaust hole 45 is formed between the entangled portions 46 where the upper thread 41 and the lower thread 42 intersect with each other. Therefore, the expansion gas G in the expansion portion 44 can be reliably discharged to the non-expansion portion 43 through the exhaust holes 45.

  Further, in the case of sewing, by adjusting the stitch length (pitch P1) of the upper thread 41 and the lower thread 42, the interval between the entangled portions 46 is changed, and the size of the exhaust hole 45 (flow path area). There is also an advantage that can be easily changed.

  (4) The airbag 30 is inflated between the occupant P seated on the seat 12 of the vehicle 10 and the body side portion 11 of the vehicle 10 (side airbag 30). Then, by providing the non-inflatable portion 43 at a location corresponding to the arm portion PA of the occupant P in the airbag 30, the non-inflatable portion 43 protects the inflation gas G in the inflatable portion 44 from the protection target (occupant P). In addition to discharging to the outside of the airbag 30 through the far side exterior fabric portion 34, the airbag 30 is prevented from pressing the chest PT and the abdomen PB via the arm PA. Therefore, in the case of the airbag 30 originally provided with a configuration that suppresses the compression of the chest PT and the abdominal portion PB (arm pushing suppression seam or the like) There is no need to provide a configuration for discharging the gas G to the outside of the airbag 30 through the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34.

Note that the present invention can be embodied in another embodiment described below.
<About the inflator assembly 20>
The airbag device may be one in which the inflator assembly 20 is disposed outside the airbag 30. In this case, the inflator 21 and the airbag 30 may be connected by a pipe or the like, and the inflation gas G ejected from the inflator 21 may be supplied to the airbag 30 through the pipe or the like.

<Regarding the partition coupling unit 39>
-You may change the side surface shape of the division | segmentation coupling | bond part 39 into the shape different from the said embodiment (substantially fan shape), for example, circular shape, an ellipse shape, a triangular shape etc., on the condition that it is cyclic | annular.

  FIG. 10A shows the vicinity of the partition coupling portion 39 when the airbag 30 is viewed from the outside of the vehicle. FIGS. 10B and 10C show an enlarged view of the partition coupling portion 39 viewed from the direction of arrow E in FIG. As shown in at least one of these FIGS. 10A to 10C, instead of sewing, the fabric portions 33 and 34 are joined together by intermittent bonding to form an annular partition joint portion 39. May be. In this case, between the adhering portions 61 adjacent to each other in the partition connecting portion 39 is defined as the exhaust hole 45. In this way, the expansion gas G in the expansion part 44 can be discharged to the non-expansion part 43 through the exhaust hole 45.

  FIG. 11A shows the vicinity of the partition coupling portion 39 when the airbag 30 is viewed from the outside of the vehicle. FIGS. 11B and 11C show an enlarged view of the partition coupling portion 39 viewed from the direction of arrow F in FIG. As shown in at least one of these FIGS. 11A to 11C, the airbag 30 is formed by bag weaving, and in the process of the bag weaving, the partition coupling portion 39 having the exhaust holes 45 is also formed together. May be. In this case, between the adjacent connecting portions 62 of the bag weave are defined as the exhaust holes 45 in the partition connecting portion 39. Even in this case, the expansion gas G in the expansion part 44 can be discharged to the non-expansion part 43 through the exhaust hole 45.

  Here, FIGS. 12A and 12B are views showing a cross-sectional structure taken along the line S-S in FIG. 11A, and after the airbag 30 is formed by bag weaving, the fabric on the outside of the vehicle is shown. For the part 34, a step of cutting through the part surrounded by the partition coupling part 39 is shown.

  After the air bag 30 is woven, as shown in FIG. 12 (A), the outer fabric portion 34 on the side farther from the object to be protected (upper side in FIG. 12 (A)) of both fabric portions 33, 34. Then, at least a part 43A of the part surrounded by the partition coupling part 39 is cut. The cut portion 43A is separated from the airbag 30 (the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34) as indicated by a two-dot chain line arrow. As a result of this separation, most of the portion surrounded by the partition coupling portion 39 in the outer fabric portion 34 is removed, and a hole 47 is formed as shown in FIG. As a result, as in the above embodiment, the expansion gas G discharged from the expansion portion 44 through the exhaust hole 45 to the non-expansion portion 43 is discharged through the hole 47 to the outside of the vehicle.

  -In the side airbag 30, you may provide the non-inflatable part 43 in the location different from the said embodiment. In this case, when the non-inflatable portion 43 is provided at a location corresponding to at least one of the arm PA, the chest PT, and the abdomen PB of the occupant P, the non-inflatable portion 43 is provided at a location corresponding to the arm PA. In addition, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained. That is, in the case of the airbag 30 originally provided with a configuration that suppresses the compression of the chest PT and the abdomen PB, the inflation gas G in the inflatable portion 44 is separated from the protection target at a location different from the configuration. It is not necessary to provide a configuration for discharging the air bag 30 to the outside through the outer fabric portion 34.

<Reinforcing cloth 37 and 38>
-Use of the reinforcing cloths 37 and 38 may be omitted. In this case, the vehicle interior fabric portion 33 and the vehicle exterior fabric portion 34 that are overlapped with each other may be directly coupled to form the partition coupling portion 39. Further, the number of reinforcing cloths 37 and 38 to be used may be changed to three or more.

<Regarding the location of the air bag module AM>
In place of the seat back 14 of the seat 12, a storage part 15 for the airbag module AM may be provided in the body side part 11.

<About the types of airbags to which the present invention is applied>
The present invention can be applied to the head protection airbag 65, the rear collision airbag 70, the front slip suppression airbag 75, and the pedestrian protection airbags 80 to 83 in addition to the side airbag 30. It is.

  The head protecting airbag 65 shown in FIG. 13 is housed in the front pillar, roof side rail, and quarter pillar of the vehicle body. The protection region Z of the head protecting airbag 65 is partitioned into a plurality of regions 65A by a partitioning portion 65B. When an impact is applied to the vehicle from the side due to a side collision or the like, the head protection airbag 65 is inflated and deployed in a curtain shape on the side of the vehicle interior by the inflation gas, and the head and rear of the front seat occupant Protect the head of the occupant.

  In the head protecting airbag 65, the partition coupling portion 39 is provided in the vicinity of the partition portion 65B. In the vicinity of the partition portion 65B, the partition coupling portion 39 is configured to partition the inflatable portion 44 having a larger thickness and the non-inflatable portion 43 having a smaller thickness than other portions of the head protecting airbag 65. This is because it is easier to set than in other places.

  The rear impact airbag 70 shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is housed in the rear portion of the roof 71 of the vehicle 10. The protection region Z of the rear-impact airbag 70 is partitioned into a plurality of regions 70A by a partitioning portion 70B. When an impact is applied to the vehicle 10 from the rear, the rear-impact airbag 70 exits from the roof 71 by the inflation gas and is inflated and deployed so as to cover many areas of the rear window 72 near the rear of the rear seat 12R. To do. The occupant P seated in the rearmost seat 12R and the rear window 72 are separated from each other via the rear impact airbag 70. Therefore, the rear impact airbag 70 that is inflated and deployed not only absorbs the impact applied to the vehicle 10 from the rear, but also reduces the influence on the interior of the vehicle interior due to scattered objects and intruders from the rear. Is done. Furthermore, the posture change of the passenger | crew P to the back is suppressed.

  In the rear impact airbag 70, a partition coupling portion 39 is provided in the vicinity of the partition portion 70B. This is because, in the vicinity of the partition portion 70B, the partition connecting portion 39 that partitions the large inflatable portion 44 and the small non-inflatable portion 43 is thinner than other portions of the rear impact airbag 70. This is because it is easier to set than other parts.

  16 and 17, the front-slip suppressing airbag 75 is configured such that one panel cloth 73 is folded along a folding line 74 set at the central portion thereof and overlapped in the vertical direction, and joined by a peripheral joint 79. It is formed by doing. A region within the panel cloth 73 and surrounded by the peripheral joint 79 is a protection region Z. The protection area Z is partitioned into a plurality of areas 75A by a partition 75B.

  The front slip suppression airbag 75 is accommodated between the seat cushion pad 18 and the seat pan 76 in the seat cushion 13 of the seat 12. When the sensor detects that an impact is applied to the vehicle 10 from the front due to a front collision or the like, the front slip suppression airbag 75 is inflated by the inflation gas and raises the seat surface 13A of the seat cushion 13. . By this protrusion, the front part of the thigh PF of the occupant P is pressed upward and pressed against the lap belt part 78 of the seat belt device 77. The restraining force of the lap belt portion 78 is increased, and a phenomenon (submarine phenomenon) in which the waist portion PP slips forward is suppressed.

  In the front slip suppressing airbag 75, the partition coupling portion 39 is provided in the vicinity of the partition portion 75B. In the vicinity of the partition portion 75B, the partition coupling portion 39 partitions the inflated portion 44 having a larger thickness and the non-inflatable portion 43 having a smaller thickness than the other portions of the front slip suppressing airbag 75. This is because it is easier to set than in other places.

  The pedestrian protection airbags 80 to 83 shown in FIGS. 18 to 20 are intended to protect the pedestrian 85 (see FIG. 19), and the pedestrian 85 is inflated between the vehicle 10 and the pedestrian 85. Protect.

  A pedestrian protection airbag 80 shown in FIG. 18 is housed in a cowl 88 between the hood panel 86 and the windshield 87 of the vehicle 10. The protection area Z of the pedestrian protection airbag 80 is partitioned into a plurality of areas 80A by a partition 80B. When the contact of the pedestrian 85 with the vehicle 10 is detected by the sensor, the pedestrian protection airbag 80 is inflated and deployed by the inflation gas, and the pillar cover portion 89 covers the front surface of the front pillar 91, and the hood cover portion. 92 covers the upper surface of the hood panel 86. The pillar cover part 89 and the hood cover part 92 correspond to an inflating part in the pedestrian protection airbag 80. The pedestrian 85 is prevented from coming into contact with the hard front pillar 91 and the hard parts on the hood panel 86 side by the pedestrian protection airbag 80, and is protected from the impact caused by the contact.

  In the pedestrian protection airbag 80, the partition coupling portion 39 is provided in the vicinity of the partition portion 80B. In the vicinity of the partition portion 80B, the partition coupling portion 39 is configured to partition the inflatable portion 44 having a larger thickness and the non-inflatable portion 43 having a smaller thickness than other portions of the pedestrian protection airbag 80. This is because it is easier to set than in other places.

  A pedestrian protection airbag 81 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 19 is housed in the front side of the vehicle 10, for example, inside the front bumper 93. The protection area Z of the pedestrian protection airbag 81 is partitioned into a plurality of areas 81A by a partition 81B. When the approach of the pedestrian 85 to the vehicle 10 is detected by the sensor, the airbag 81 for pedestrian protection exits from the front bumper 93 by the inflation gas and is inflated and deployed in a substantially vertical direction so as to cover the front surface of the vehicle 10. To do. When the pedestrian 85 comes into contact with the pedestrian protection airbag 81, the pedestrian 85 is unlikely to receive an impact that greatly bends the upper body and the lower body.

  In the pedestrian protection airbag 81, the partition coupling portion 39 is provided in the vicinity of the partition portion 81B. In the vicinity of the partition portion 81B, the partition coupling portion 39 partitions the inflatable portion 44 having a large thickness and the non-inflatable portion 43 having a small thickness. This is because it is easier to set than in other places.

  One pedestrian protection airbag 82 (front side of the vehicle) indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 20 is housed in a front bumper 93 of the vehicle 10. The protection area Z of the pedestrian protection airbag 82 is partitioned into a plurality of areas 82A by a partition 82B. When the approach of the pedestrian 85 to the vehicle 10 is detected by the sensor, the pedestrian protection airbag 82 exits from the front bumper 93 by the inflation gas, and the front side of the hood panel 86 from the front surface near the front grill 94. Inflates to cover the top surface. The pedestrian 85 is prevented from directly contacting the front grill 94 of the vehicle 10 and the front side of the hood panel 86 by the pedestrian protection airbag 82, and is protected from the impact caused by the contact.

  The other pedestrian protection airbag 83 shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 20 is housed in a hood panel 86 near the cowl 88 of the vehicle. The protection area Z of the pedestrian protection airbag 83 is partitioned into a plurality of areas 83A by a partition portion 83B. When the approach of the pedestrian 85 to the vehicle 10 is detected by the sensor, the hood panel 86 is opened, and the pedestrian protection airbag 83 is inflated from the vicinity of the rear upper surface of the hood panel 86 by the inflating gas. It expands so as to cover the vicinity of the lower front surface. The pedestrian 85 is prevented from coming into contact with the vicinity of the cowl 88 by the pedestrian protection airbag 83 and is protected from an impact caused by the contact.

  In the two types of pedestrian protection airbags 82 and 83, the partition coupling portion 39 is provided in the vicinity of the partition portions 82B and 83B. In the vicinity of the partition portions 82B and 83B, the thickness is smaller than the other portions of the pedestrian protection airbags 82 and 83, and the thick inflatable portion 44 and the thin non-inflatable portion 43 are partitioned. This is because it is easier to set the partition coupling part 39 than other parts.

  The present invention is also applicable to the knee protection airbag 100 shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. The knee protection airbag 100 is inflated in front of and below the occupant P seated on the seat 12 of the vehicle 10, thereby protecting the region from the shin PD of the occupant P to the knee PK. The knee protection airbag 100 is stored in a storage portion 103 provided below the steering column 101 on the front side of the driver's vehicle, for example. In addition, this accommodating part 103 may be provided in the front lower direction of the passenger | crew P of a passenger seat in an instrument panel. When it is detected that an impact is applied to the vehicle 10 from the front due to a front collision or the like, the knee protection airbag 100 starts to be inflated by the inflation gas G, exits from the storage portion 103 to the rear side, and the passenger P And the steering column 101 are inflated and deployed in a region from the shin PD of the legs of the occupant P to the knee PK.

  In this case, it is desirable that the non-inflatable portion 43 is provided at a location corresponding to the shin portion PD of the occupant P in the knee protection airbag 100. In the knee protection airbag 100, the thickness of the portion corresponding to the knee portion PK of the occupant P is normally set large (in other words, the knee portion PK is protected by the inflatable portion 44), and corresponds to the shin portion PD. This is because the thickness of the portion is set to be small, so that it is easier to provide the non-inflatable portion 43 in the knee protection airbag 100 as long as it corresponds to the knee portion PK as compared to other portions.

<Other matters>
The side airbag 30 may include the chest PT and the abdomen PB of the occupant P, and may restrain (protect) a wider part than that.

In one Embodiment which actualized this invention to the side airbag apparatus, the schematic side view which shows the seat equipped with the same side airbag apparatus with a passenger | crew. The schematic plane sectional view which shows the positional relationship of a seat and a body side part with a passenger | crew. Similarly, the general | schematic front sectional view which shows the positional relationship of a seat and a body side part with a passenger | crew. (A) is a side view schematically showing the airbag module together with the occupant in a state where the airbag is deployed without being filled with the inflation gas, and (B) is an enlarged view of the Q part in (A). Partial side view. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the inflator assembly in FIG. The schematic plan view which shows the state which looked at the inflator assembly of FIG. 5 from diagonally backward upper direction with an airbag, a seat frame, a volt | bolt, etc. FIG. It is a figure which shows the state in the middle of manufacturing an airbag module, and is an expanded view which shows the positional relationship of the panel cloth of a deployment state, a reinforcement cloth, and an inflator assembly. (A) is schematic sectional drawing which shows the state of the division | segmentation coupling | bond part when the expansion part is not filled with the gas for expansion, (B) is the state of the division | segmentation coupling | bond part when the expansion part is filled with the gas for expansion. FIG. (A) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional structure along line RR in FIG. 4 (A), (B) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state of the airbag when the inflation gas passes through the exhaust hole, (C) is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the state by which a hole is block | closed by the body side part of what the airbag of a comparative example expand | swells. It is a figure which shows another embodiment which formed the division | segmentation coupling | bond part by adhesion | attachment, (A) is a partial side view which shows the vicinity part of the division | segmentation coupling | bond part when seeing an airbag from the vehicle outer side, (B) is division | segmentation coupling | bonding (C) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state of the partition coupling portion when the expansion portion is not filled with the expansion gas, and (C) is a view of the expansion portion with the expansion gas. The schematic sectional drawing which shows the state of the division coupling | bond part when it fills. It is a figure which shows another embodiment which formed the division | segmentation coupling | bond part by bag weaving, (A) is a partial side view which shows the vicinity part of the division | segmentation coupling part when seeing an airbag from the vehicle outer side, (B) is a division | segmentation. It is the figure which looked at the coupling | bond part from the arrow F direction of (A), Comprising: Schematic sectional drawing which shows the state of a division coupling | bond part when an expansion | swelling gas is not filled into an expansion | swelling part, (C) The schematic sectional drawing which shows the state of a division coupling | bond part when it is filled. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional structure along the SS line | wire of FIG. 11 (A), Comprising: (A) is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the state before forming a hole in a vehicle exterior fabric part, (B) is a fabric part. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state after forming a hole by scraping a part of the wire. The side view which shows another embodiment using the airbag for head protection as an airbag. FIG. 5 is a partial side view showing a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with the rear impact airbag in another embodiment using a rear impact airbag as an airbag. The rear view which shows the state which looked at the vehicle of FIG. 14 from back. The top view which shows the state which looked at the airbag for front slip prevention from the upper direction in another embodiment using the airbag for front slip prevention as an airbag. The sectional side view which shows the seat equipped with the airbag for front slip prevention with a passenger | crew. In another embodiment using the pedestrian protection airbag as an airbag, the fragmentary perspective view which shows the pedestrian protection airbag with a vehicle. In another embodiment using the airbag for pedestrian protection as an airbag, the partial side view which shows the airbag for pedestrian protection with a pedestrian and a vehicle in another embodiment. In another embodiment using the airbag for pedestrian protection as an airbag, the partial side view which shows the airbag for pedestrian protection with a vehicle. The bottom view which shows the state which looked at the airbag for knee protection of the expansion | deployment state from the downward direction in another embodiment using the airbag for knee protection as an airbag. The partial side view which shows the vicinity part of the steering column equipped with the airbag for knee protection with a passenger | crew's knee part.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle, 11 ... Body side part, 12 ... Seat, 12R ... Last seat, 30 ... (Side) airbag, 33 ... Car interior fabric part, 34 ... Car exterior fabric part, 39 ... Partition coupling part, 41 ... Upper thread, 42 ... lower thread, 43 ... non-inflatable part, 44 ... inflated part, 45 ... exhaust hole, 46 ... entangled part, 61 ... adhesive part, 62 ... connecting part, 65 ... airbag for head protection, 65A , 70A, 75A, 80A to 83A ... area, 65B, 70B, 75B, 80B to 83B ... partition section, 70 ... rear impact airbag, 75 ... front slip suppression airbag, 80-83 ... pedestrian protection air Bag: 85 ... Pedestrian (protection target), 100 ... Knee protection airbag, G ... Inflation gas, P ... Crew (protection target), PA ... Arm part, PB ... Abdomen, PD ... Shine part, PH ... Head Part, PK ... knee, PT ... chest, Z ... protected area.

Claims (8)

An air bag that is formed into a bag shape by a pair of fabric portions that are superposed on each other, and that is provided with a protective region for protecting the object to be protected from impact;
The airbag is provided with a partition coupling portion that couples both fabric portions in an annular shape, the protection region is surrounded by the partition coupling portion, and a non-inflatable portion to which no inflation gas is supplied, and the partition It is located outside the coupling part, and is divided into an inflating part that is inflated by supplying an inflating gas,
The partition coupling portion is formed by intermittently coupling the two fabric portions, so that the expansion in the expansion portion is between the two fabric portions and between adjacent coupling portions in the partition coupling portion. Exhaust holes for exhausting the working gas to the non-expanded portion side are provided,
Furthermore, at least a part of the portion surrounded by the partition coupling portion is removed from the fabric portion on the side far from the protection target among the fabric portions. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion corresponding to the non-inflatable portion of the both fabric portions close to the object to be protected is closed. The partition coupling portion is formed by sewing the two fabric portions,
The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the exhaust hole is formed between entangled portions where the sewing upper thread and lower thread intersect. The partition coupling portion is formed by intermittently bonding the two fabric portions,
The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust hole is formed between adjacent adhesive portions in the partition coupling portion. The airbag is formed by bag weaving,
The partition coupling portion having the exhaust hole is formed in a process of weaving the airbag,
The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust hole is formed between adjacent connecting portions of the bag weave. The airbag is a side airbag that is inflated between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a body side portion of the vehicle,
The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the non-inflatable portion is provided at a location corresponding to at least one of an arm portion, a chest portion, and an abdominal portion of the occupant in the side airbag. The airbag is a head protecting airbag that protects the head by inflating in the form of a curtain between the head of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a side portion of the vehicle interior of the vehicle, A rear impact airbag that protects the passenger by inflating in the vicinity of the rear of the rearmost seat of the vehicle, and a pedestrian protection airbag that protects the pedestrian by inflating between the vehicle and the pedestrian. Either
Each of the protection regions of the head protection airbag, the rear impact airbag, and the pedestrian protection airbag is partitioned into a plurality of regions,
The said non-inflatable part is provided in the location corresponding to the division part which divides the said protection area in the said head protection airbag, the said rear impact airbag, and the said pedestrian protection airbag. The airbag device according to any one of 5. The airbag is a knee protection airbag that protects a region from the shin part to the knee part of the occupant by inflating in front of and below the occupant seated in the vehicle seat,
The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the non-inflatable portion is provided at a location corresponding to the shin portion of the occupant in the knee protecting airbag.

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