JP2010228583A - Folding structure of curtain airbag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a folding structure of a curtain airbag, more easily adjusting an airbag deployment direction. <P>SOLUTION: The curtain airbag 1 is folded to form a first folding back portion 15 provided lower than a fixed portion 14, a second folding back portion 16 continued to the lower side of the first folding back portion 15, and a general folding back portion 17 continued to the lower side of the second folding back portion 16. A preceding inflation portion 18 inflating in advance of the other portions in a predetermined zone K is formed in the predetermined zone K in a vehicle longitudinal direction corresponding to the garnish 2a of the center pillar 2 of the second folding back portion 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a folding structure when a curtain airbag is stored.

  Conventionally, as a curtain airbag, the portion disposed above the center pillar is folded in a state of being twisted and reversed toward the vehicle interior side, so that the portion that is twisted and reversed when gas is introduced from the inflator There is known one that can be deployed toward the side and can be smoothly deployed over the center pillar protruding from the side surface of the passenger compartment (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-193064 A

  However, in such a conventional technique, a part of the curtain airbag in the front-rear direction is twisted and reversed, and the deployment direction of the airbag is adjusted by the twisted amount. Therefore, it is troublesome to adjust the deployment direction of the airbag. It will take.

  Therefore, the present invention is characterized in that a curtain airbag folding structure that can adjust the deployment direction of the airbag more easily is obtained.

  In the first aspect of the invention, the upper end portion is stored in a folded state as a fixed portion to the vehicle body side at the upper edge portion of the side surface of the passenger compartment where the protruding portion exists, and the gas of the inflator is introduced into the inside. The curtain airbag is folded by a first folding portion that is folded back so that the lower side of the curtain airbag protrudes toward the vehicle interior side, and the first folding portion. A second folded portion that is continuous and folded back so as to protrude to the outside of the vehicle, is continuous with the second folded portion, and is generally folded under the first folded portion and the second folded portion. A pre-expansion that is folded so as to have a folding portion and expands in a predetermined section in the vehicle front-rear direction corresponding to the protruding portion of the second folding portion before other portions in the predetermined section The is characterized in that provided.

  In the invention of claim 2, in the folding structure of the curtain airbag according to claim 1, the first and second folded portions are gas conduit portions to which gas from the inflator is positively supplied, The preceding expansion portion is formed by providing a gas intrusion prevention portion at the first folded portion of the gas conduit portion.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the second folded portion is formed by folding back so as to protrude to the outside of the vehicle, and the leading inflating portion is inflated before other portions when the curtain airbag is deployed. The general folding part continuing to the second folding part can be pushed out toward the passenger compartment, and the deployment direction of the curtain airbag can be adjusted more easily.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the preceding expansion portion is formed by providing the gas intrusion prevention portion in the first folding portion, the expansion of the first folding portion is suppressed by the gas intrusion prevention portion, and the general folding portion The behavior is governed solely by the expansion of the second folded portion. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently push the general folding part toward the vehicle interior without being obstructed by the first folding part.

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a retracted state of a curtain airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a deployed state of the curtain airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section taken along line III-III in FIG. 2 in the retracted state of the curtain airbag. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section taken along line III-III in FIG. 2 in a state where the second folded portion is expanded in advance. FIG. 5 is a main part sectional view schematically showing a section taken along line III-III in FIG. 2 in a state in which the curtain airbag is deployed. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a retracted state of a curtain airbag according to another embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The curtain airbag 1 according to the present embodiment includes a vehicle front and rear along a roof side rail 4 located above the garnish 2a covering the vehicle interior side of the center pillar (projecting portion) 2, that is, at the upper edge of the vehicle interior side surface 3. It is stored in a folded state so as to extend in the direction. Then, at the time of a side collision or rollover, the curtain airbag 1 is deployed downward along the side surface 3 of the passenger compartment over the garnish 2a of the center pillar 2 as shown in FIG. Note that the folded curtain airbag 1 is covered with a covering material C that is easily broken when deployed.

  The side surface 3 of the passenger compartment is composed of a front window glass 3F and a rear window glass 3R, and the center pillar 2 is located between the two window glasses 3F, 3R. A front pillar 2F is located on the front side of the front window glass 3F, and a rear pillar 2R is located on the rear side of the rear window glass 3R. The upper ends of the front pillar 2F, center pillar 2, and rear pillar 2R are They are connected by the roof side rail 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the center pillar 2 is covered with a garnish 2a on the inner side, and an outer peripheral end of a roof trim 4a that covers the inner side of the roof side rail 4 is connected to the garnish 2a and the roof at the upper end of the garnish 2a. The trim 4a is attached so as to form an arc-shaped continuous surface. The curtain airbag 1 is folded and stored in the space S between the roof side rail 4 and the roof trim 4a.

  Thus, the garnish 2a of the center pillar 2 is in a state of projecting to the vehicle inner side than the inner surfaces of the window glasses 3F and 3R.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an inflator 5 for generating gas is connected to the rear end of the curtain airbag 1 through a gas supply pipe 5a, and the storage state shown in FIG. The curtain airbag 1 in FIG. 2 is deployed as shown in FIG. 2 by introducing the gas generated by the inflator 5. The inflator 5 is fixed to the rear pillar 2R. The gas supply pipe 5a is inserted and fixed in the insertion port 11 of the curtain airbag 1 with an airtight structure.

  Further, in the retracted state shown in FIG. 1, the front end portion of the folded curtain airbag 1 is protruded from the covering material C, and the tension strap 6 is protruded from the protruding tip portion, thereby the tip end portion of the tension strap 6. 6a is attached to the front pillar 2F.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the curtain airbag 1 has a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the vehicle front-rear direction so as to cover the entire side surface 3 of the vehicle compartment in the deployed state. 1B is formed into a bag shape by sewing the peripheral edge portion and joining them with an adhesive. Further, in the present embodiment, the two base fabrics 1A and 1B are joined not only at the peripheral edge but also partially inside by sewing and adhesion so that the curtain airbag 1 is deployed in a substantially flat shape. ing.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the two base fabrics 1 </ b> A and 1 </ b> B are peripheral portions excluding the insertion port 11 into which the gas supply pipe 5 a at the vehicle rear end (right end in FIG. 2) is inserted. Are joined by the outer peripheral joint 12, and a plurality of internal joints 13 are continuously turned from the appropriate part of the outer peripheral joint 12 in a desired direction, and the inner joint 13 is surrounded by the outer peripheral joint 12. The base fabrics 1A and 1B are joined inside.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the curtain airbag 1 is provided with a fixing portion 14 that is fixed to the roof side rail 4 on the vehicle body side. 14 is fixed downward as a fixed point.

  The substantially front half portion of the curtain airbag 1 elongated in the front-rear direction is a front restraint portion 1F for a front seat occupant corresponding to the front window glass 3F, and the rear half portion is for a rear seat occupant corresponding to the rear window glass 3R. This is the rear restraint portion 1R.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a first folded portion 15 that is folded back so as to project a predetermined section below the fixed portion 14 toward the vehicle interior, and a lower side of the first folded portion 15. The second folded portion 16 folded back so as to project a predetermined section extending outward from the vehicle, and the remaining portion continued to the lower side of the second folded portion 16 are the first folded portion 15 and the second folded portion. The curtain airbag 1 is folded so as to form a general folded portion 17 that is wound and folded together under the folded portion 16. The curtain airbag 1 folded in this way is stored along the roof side rail 4.

  The first folded portion 15 and the second folded portion 16 extend in the vehicle front-rear direction at the upper end portion of the curtain airbag 1, and the upper portion drawn by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 is the first folded portion 15. Thus, the lower part is the second folded portion 16. Then, the alternate long and short dash line set at the substantially central portion of the upper stage becomes the folding point 15p of the first folded portion 15, and the alternate long and short dashed line set at the substantially central portion of the lower stage becomes the folding point 16p of the second folded portion 16. .

  In the present embodiment, the general folding portion 17 is wound so that the lower end portion of the curtain airbag 1 is disposed at the center portion, and the first folding portion 15 and the general folding portion 17 are arranged along the outer periphery of the general folding portion 17. The 2nd folding | turning part 16 is arrange | positioned and the curtain airbag 1 is folded by the column shape as a whole. The outside of the curtain airbag 1 is covered with a covering material C (see FIG. 1) so as not to be deformed.

  And the 1st folding | turning part 15 and the 2nd folding | turning part 16 are made into the gas conduit part 19 which supplies the gas from the inflator 5 actively.

  Here, in the present embodiment, another portion (the first portion) in the predetermined section K is added to the predetermined section K (see FIG. 2) in the vehicle front-rear direction corresponding to the garnish 2a of the center pillar 2 of the second turning portion 16. A preceding expansion part 18 is provided which expands prior to the folding part 15 and the general folding part 17).

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the gas passage narrowing portion 16 a is provided in the second folding portion 16 by providing the gas intrusion prevention portion 15 a in the predetermined section K in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the first folding portion 15. The gas passage narrowing portion 16a serves as the preceding expansion portion 18.

  The gas intrusion prevention portion 15a is formed by pushing the outer peripheral joint portion 12 downward (second folded portion 16 side). Specifically, by introducing the lower side 15b and the front and rear sides 15c, 15d of the gas intrusion prevention unit 15a with the outer peripheral junction 12, introduction of gas into the gas intrusion prevention unit 15a is blocked. ing.

  The plurality of internal joints 13 described above includes a first internal joint 13A disposed along the lower edge of the second folded part 16 in the region of the rear restraint part 1R. The gas passage narrowing portion 16a is formed between the inner joint portion 13A and the outer peripheral joint portion 12 along the lower side 15b of the gas intrusion prevention portion 15a. In the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 3 and 4, joint portions other than the outer peripheral joint portion 12 and the first internal joint portion 13 </ b> A are omitted for convenience.

  The gas conduit portion 19 is formed between the first internal joint portion 13A described above and the outer peripheral joint portion 12 on the vehicle rear side with respect to the gas intrusion prevention portion 15a. Since it is arranged on the extension of the supply pipe 5a, the gas injected from the gas supply pipe 5a can be positively supplied to the gas conduit section 19. The gas is introduced into the front restraint portion 1F and the rear restraint portion 1R through the gas conduit portion 19. Note that, at the rear end portion of the gas conduit portion 19, a space is provided between the first internal joint portion 13A and the gas supply pipe 5a, and the rear constraining portion 1R also extends from the rear end portion of the gas conduit portion 19. Gas is introduced.

  With this configuration, the gas from the inflator 5 is positively introduced into the gas conduit portion 19 and the gas conduit portion 19 expands. In the predetermined section K of the curtain airbag 1, the gas intrusion prevention portion 15 a is provided in the first turn-up portion 15 so that the first turn-up portion 15 is not inflated. Gas is introduced into 16a, and the leading expansion portion 18 of the second folded portion 16 expands. At this time, gas is introduced into the gas passage narrowing portion 16a from the gas conduit portion 19 so that a large gas pressure acts on the gas passage narrowing portion 16a. Therefore, as shown in FIG. You can get over the 2 and push it to the inside of the car. Furthermore, by preventing the first folded portion 15 from being expanded, the general folded portion 17 can be smoothly pushed out to the vehicle interior side by the preceding expanded portion 18 without being obstructed by the first folded portion 15. become able to. It should be noted that the general folding portion 17 is pushed out to the vehicle interior side and downward due to the expansion of the first folding portion 15 and the second folding portion 16 at a portion other than the predetermined section K of the curtain airbag 1.

  Since the leading inflating portion 18 is provided only at the portion corresponding to the center pillar 2 of the second folded portion 16, the curtain airbag 1 is controlled by a portion other than the portion where the leading inflating portion 18 is disposed. Therefore, the general folding portion 17 is prevented from greatly jumping into the vehicle interior, and the curtain airbag 1 is deployed downward along the vehicle interior side surface 3 as a whole.

  By the way, when the curtain airbag 1 is inflated, although it is instantaneous, it is inflated from the rear of the vehicle to the front along the gas flow direction. That is, the gas conduit part 19 behind the preceding expansion part 18 first expands, and then the preceding expansion part 18 starts from the vehicle rear end of the lower side 15b of the gas intrusion prevention part 15a and starts from the vehicle front end. Inflate. Accordingly, the rear gas conduit portion 19 is inflated before the preceding inflating portion 18, and a force directed toward the vehicle interior side and downward is applied to the curtain airbag 1. For this reason, the expansion start point of the preceding inflation portion 18 is affected by the expansion of the rear gas conduit portion 19, and the starting point for pushing the curtain airbag 1 toward the vehicle interior side is greater than the expansion starting point of the preceding inflation portion 18. Also shifts downstream in the gas introduction direction. Similarly, the front end of the leading inflating portion 18 is affected by the expansion of the leading inflating portion 18, so that the end point for pushing the curtain airbag 1 toward the vehicle interior is downstream of the inflating end point of the leading inflating portion 18 in the gas introduction direction. It will shift to the side.

  Therefore, in order to deploy the curtain airbag 1 so as to get over the center pillar 2, it is preferable that the starting point of the leading inflating portion 18 is located behind the center pillar 2 (upstream side in the gas introduction direction). Further, in order to deploy the curtain airbag 1 as a whole along the side surface 3 of the passenger compartment, the end point is positioned behind the front end (downstream end) of the center pillar 2 behind the vehicle (upstream side). Is preferred. Here, the most preferable position of the end point is a substantially intermediate portion of the front-rear width of the center pillar 2, and in this embodiment, the front end of the predetermined section K is a substantially intermediate portion of the front-rear width of the center pillar 2. As long as the start point is located upstream of the center pillar 2, the end point may be the rear side (upstream side) of the center pillar 2 or the front side (downstream side) of the vehicle.

  As described above, according to the folding structure of the curtain airbag 1 according to the present embodiment, the curtain airbag 1 includes the first folded portion 15 provided below the fixed portion 14 and the first folded portion 15. The folded portion 15 is folded so as to form a second folded portion 16 that continues to the lower side of the folded portion 15 and a general folded portion 17 that continues to the lower side of the second folded portion 16. Therefore, basically, when the gas of the inflator 5 is introduced into the curtain airbag 1, the first folded portion 15, the second folded portion 16, and the general folded portion 17 are expanded. The curtain airbag 1 is generally deployed downward.

  Here, in the present embodiment, in the predetermined section K in the vehicle front-rear direction corresponding to the center pillar 2 of the curtain airbag 1, the second folded-back portion 16 is provided with a preceding inflating portion 18 that inflates before other portions. Therefore, when the curtain airbag 1 is deployed, the general folding portion 17 can be pushed out toward the passenger compartment by the expansion of the preceding inflating portion 18. As a result, the general folding portion 17 can be unfolded in a state where the upper end portion of the garnish 2a of the center pillar 2 is overcome. Thus, the curtain airbag 1 can be smoothly deployed by allowing the curtain airbag 1 to easily get over the garnish 2a of the center pillar 2 protruding from the side surface 3 of the passenger compartment at the time of deployment. It becomes like this.

  Therefore, in the retracted state of the curtain airbag 1, while maintaining a uniform folded shape by the first folded portion 15, the second folded portion 16, and the general folded portion 17 as a whole, the side surface 3 of the passenger compartment side 3 when deployed. The garnish 2a of the center pillar 2 projecting from the garnish can be overcome and smoothly deployed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the leading inflating portion 18 is formed by providing the first folding portion 15 with the gas intrusion prevention portion 15a. Therefore, the center pillar that protrudes from the vehicle interior side surface 3 with a simpler configuration. It will be possible to overcome the 2 garnish 2a and develop it. Further, the deployment direction of the curtain airbag 1 can be controlled by appropriately setting the length and position of the first folded portion 15 in the vehicle front-rear direction, the widths of the first and second folded portions 15 and 16, and the like. Therefore, the deployment direction of the curtain airbag 1 can be adjusted more easily.

  Moreover, since the expansion | swelling of the 1st folding | turning part 15 is blocked | prevented by providing the gas intrusion prevention part 15a in the 1st folding | turning part 15, the behavior of the general folding part 17 is the expansion | swelling of the 2nd folding | turning part 16 exclusively. Will be dominated by. Therefore, the general folding portion 17 is efficiently pushed toward the inside of the vehicle interior without being obstructed by the first folding portion 15, and the upper end portion of the garnish 2 a of the center pillar 2 can be more reliably overcome. .

  Incidentally, the curtain airbag can be folded like the curtain airbag 10 shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the curtain airbag 10 is folded so that the first folded portion 15, the second folded portion 16, and the general folded portion 17 are formed. And while folding the general folding part 17 into a bellows shape so that a cross section may become a substantially rectangular shape, the 1st folding | returning part 15 and the 2nd folding | turning part 16 of the general folding part 17 which became a cross-sectional substantially rectangular shape It is folded so as to be arranged along the upper outer side.

  Thus, even when the curtain airbag 10 is folded into a substantially rectangular cross section, the same effects as the curtain airbag 1 can be achieved.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, the cross-sectional shape when the curtain airbag is folded can be an elliptical shape, a triangular shape, or other polygonal shapes.

1, 10 Curtain airbag 2 Center pillar 2a Garnish (protrusion)
3 Side of vehicle compartment 4 Roof side rail (upper edge)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Inflator 14 Fixed part 15 1st folding | returning part 15a Gas intrusion prevention part 16 2nd folding | turning part 17 General folding part 18 Advance expansion part 19 Gas conduit part K Predetermined section

Claims (2)

A folding structure of a curtain airbag that is stored in a folded state at the upper edge of the side surface of the passenger compartment side where the protruding portion exists as a fixed portion to the vehicle body side and is deployed by introducing the gas of the inflator inside There,
The curtain airbag is folded back so as to protrude to the vehicle exterior side while continuing to the first folded portion and the first folded portion folded back so as to project the lower side of the fixed portion to the vehicle inner side. Folded to have a second folded part and a general folded part that is continuous with the second folded part and folded together below the first folded part and the second folded part,
Folding a curtain airbag characterized in that a preceding inflating portion that inflates before other portions in the predetermined section is provided in a predetermined section in the vehicle front-rear direction corresponding to the projecting portion of the second folding section. Construction. The first and second folded portions are gas conduit portions to which the gas from the inflator is actively supplied,
2. The curtain airbag folding structure according to claim 1, wherein the leading inflating portion is formed by providing a gas intrusion prevention portion at the first folding portion of the gas conduit portion.

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