JP2011126496A - Air-bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air-bag device well developing a second bag between an instrument panel and the knees of an occupant. <P>SOLUTION: The front-passenger-seat air-bag device 10 include a main bag 26 to be inflated/developed to constrain the upper body of the occupant at its front side, a sub bag 28 having a smaller capacity than the main bag 26, to be inflated/developed to constrain the knees of the occupant at their front sides, and an inner tube 35 developed in the main bag 26 and sub bag 28 by gas from an inflator 22. The inner tube 35 blows the gas from the inflator 22 out of a main side supply part 40 into the main bag 26 and blows it out of a sub side supply part 42 into the sub bag 28. The sub side supply part 42 has a large opening blow-out portion 42A for blowing out the gas toward the side where a longitudinal distance between the instrument panel 16 and the knee of the occupant is short, and a small opening blow-out portion 42B for blowing out the gas toward the side where the distance is long. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device including a knee protection bag for protecting a passenger's knee.

  An airbag device is known in which an airbag for restraining a knee is connected to an airbag for restraining the upper body of an occupant (for example, see Patent Document 1). There is also known an airbag device that simultaneously inflates and deploys an airbag for restraining the upper body of an occupant and an airbag for restraining a knee by gas supply from a common pressure accumulator (for example, , See Patent Document 2).

Japanese Utility Model Publication No.7-17662 JP-A-51-23917

  By the way, in the configuration in which the instrument panel is curved in a plan view, the distance between the instrument panel and the occupant's knees in the front-rear direction may be different, and the knee protection instrument is provided between the knees and the instrument panel. There is room for improvement in developing the bag well.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain an airbag device that can satisfactorily deploy a knee-restraining bag between an instrument panel and an occupant's knees.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, the airbag device receives the gas supply and is inflated and deployed on the vehicle compartment side with respect to the instrument panel, thereby restraining the upper body of the vehicle occupant from the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction. A bag and a capacity smaller than that of the first bag; when the gas is supplied and inflated and deployed on the vehicle compartment side with respect to the instrument panel, the occupant's knees are restrained from the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction. The two bags and the gas supplied from the inflator are deployed in the first bag and the second bag, and the gas from the inflator is deployed in the first bag so that the gas is ejected in the first bag. A first gas supply portion provided in a portion to be deployed, and a portion to be deployed in the second bag so that gas from the inflator is ejected in the second bag. A gas flow path member having two gas supply parts, and the second gas supply part is directed to the side of the vehicle front-rear direction gap between the front edge of the seat and the instrument panel in the vehicle width direction. The gas ejection amount is set to be larger than the gas ejection amount toward the larger gap.

  In the airbag device according to the first aspect, for example, in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the gas flow path member is inflated and deployed by the gas from the inflator. Gas is supplied from the first supply part of the gas flow path member to the first bag, and gas is supplied from the second supply part to the second bag. Thereby, the first bag and the second bag are inflated and deployed, respectively. At this time, the second bag having a relatively small volume is deployed before the first bag. Then, the deployed second bag restrains the occupant's knee, and the deployed first bag restrains the occupant's upper body.

  Here, in the airbag device, the second bag has more in the vehicle width direction than the larger side on the side where the gap in the front-rear direction between the instrument panel and the front edge of the seat (that is, both occupants' knees) is small. Gas is supplied. For this reason, the portion of the second bag with the smaller gap with the occupant's knee is inflated and deployed prior to the portion with the larger gap, and the distance between the instrument panel and the occupant's knees is different. In addition, the second bag can be satisfactorily deployed between these knees and the instrument panel.

  Thus, in the airbag device according to the first aspect, the second bag can be satisfactorily deployed between the instrument panel and the knees of the occupant.

  The airbag device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the airbag device according to the first aspect, wherein the second gas supply section has a relatively large opening area and ejects gas to the side having the small gap. It has a large opening and a small opening that has a relatively small opening area and ejects gas to the side with the large gap.

  3. The airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the portion of the second bag that receives gas supply from the large opening precedes the portion that receives gas supply from the small opening, and the instrument panel and the occupant's knee. Deployment is completed on the side with a small gap. Thereafter, the portion of the second bag that has received the gas supply from the small opening is completed on the side where the gap between the instrument panel and the occupant's knee is large.

  Thus, the second bag is provided between the instrument panel and the occupant's knees with a limited amount of gas (capacity of the inflator) by the distribution of the gas ejection direction by the second gas supply part of the gas flow path member. Can be developed well.

  The airbag apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the airbag apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the second gas supply unit ejects all the gas from the inflator into the second bag. The opening is configured so as to be directed to the small side of the gap.

  In the airbag device according to claim 3, the second bag is configured such that the portion on the gas ejection side from the second gas supply unit precedes the portion on the opposite side to the ejection side, and the instrument panel and the passenger Deployment is completed on the side with the smallest gap with the knee. Thereafter, in the second bag, the portion on the opposite side to the gas ejection side from the second gas supply section is on the side where the gap between the instrument panel and the occupant's knee is large due to the gas that has circulated from the ejection side. Deployment is completed.

  Thus, the second bag is provided between the instrument panel and the occupant's knees with a limited amount of gas (capacity of the inflator) by the distribution of the gas ejection direction by the second gas supply part of the gas flow path member. Can be developed well.

  As described above, the airbag device according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the second bag can be satisfactorily deployed between the instrument panel and the knees of the occupant.

It is a sectional side view which expands and shows the expansion | deployment state of the airbag in the airbag apparatus for passenger seats concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a back sectional view showing the deployment state of the airbag in the passenger's seat airbag device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure explaining the expansion | deployment process of the airbag in the airbag apparatus for passenger seats which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a rear sectional view which shows the state of an initial deployment typically, (B) FIG. 6 is a rear cross-sectional view schematically showing a developed state. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a passenger compartment of an automobile to which a passenger seat airbag apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a sectional side view which shows the deployment state of the airbag in the airbag apparatus for passenger seats concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a rear cross-sectional view showing an expanded state of an airbag in a passenger seat airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the expansion | deployment process of the airbag in the airbag apparatus for passenger seats concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a rear sectional view which shows the state of an initial deployment, (B) FIG. 6 is a rear cross-sectional view schematically showing a developed state.

  A passenger seat airbag apparatus 10 as an airbag apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, arrow FR, arrow UP, arrow IN, and arrow OUT that are appropriately described in each figure are a vehicle V to which the passenger seat airbag device 10 is applied, a vehicle front direction (traveling direction) of the passenger seat 12, an upward direction, The inside and the outside in the vehicle width direction are shown. In the following description, when the shape of the airbag 20 (its constituent part) is described, the shape in the inflated and deployed state is referred to unless otherwise specified.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a front portion in a passenger compartment C of an automobile V in an operating state of a passenger seat airbag device 10. As shown in this figure, a passenger seat 12 as a vehicle seat, which is a seat, is disposed in the front part of the passenger compartment C. The passenger seat 12 includes a seat cushion 12A for the occupant P to sit forward and a seat back 12B that supports the occupant P seated on the seat cushion 12A from the rear of the vehicle.

  A windshield glass 14 that defines the front end of the vehicle in the passenger compartment C is disposed in front of the passenger seat 12. An instrument panel 16 is provided below the vehicle with respect to the windshield glass 14. The instrument panel 16 protrudes toward the passenger seat 12 in a side view, and the occupant P seated on the passenger seat 12 puts his / her feet in the space below the instrument panel 16. Therefore, the occupant P seated on the passenger seat 12 brings the knee K close to the instrument panel 16 in the seated posture.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the rear edge 16 </ b> A of the instrument panel 16 has a curved (or inclined) shape that is located on the rear side on the center side of the vehicle width direction end in a plan view. Yes. In other words, the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16 has a curved shape in which the distance along the front-rear direction with the front edge 12C of the seat cushion 12A is smaller on the inner side than on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, in the automobile V to which the passenger seat airbag device 10 is applied, the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16 is in the front-rear direction with the knee Ki positioned on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the passenger P seated on the passenger seat 12. The distance Di along is smaller than the distance Do along the front-rear direction with the knee Ko positioned outside the occupant P in the vehicle width direction.

  The passenger seat airbag device 10 includes an airbag module 18 disposed in the instrument panel 16. The airbag module 18 includes an airbag 20 that will be described in detail later, an inflator 22 as a gas supply device for supplying gas to the airbag 20, and an airbag that holds (partially accommodates) the airbag 20 and the inflator 22. The case 24 is configured as a main part. The airbag module 18 is held by an attachment portion 16 </ b> B provided on the instrument panel 16 in the airbag case 24.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the airbag 20 protects the knee K and the main bag 26 as the first bag (upper body protection bag) for protecting the upper body U of the occupant P. And a sub bag 28 as a second bag (knee protection bag). Therefore, in the passenger seat airbag device 10, the airbag module 18 is provided in the vicinity of the vehicle rearmost portion (rear edge 16 </ b> A) in the instrument panel 16 so as to face the vehicle rearward and upward. Specifically, in the airbag device 10 for the passenger seat, the airbag case 24 of the airbag module 18 is held by the mounting portion 16B of the instrument panel 16 in a posture that opens toward the rear of the vehicle and upward of the vehicle. Yes.

  The airbag case 24 holds (partially accommodates) the airbag 20 in a folded state as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The airbag 20 is kept in a folded state by being wrapped in a holding sheet or the like (not shown). The inflator 22 is fixedly held by the airbag case 24 in a state in which a part including the gas ejection port 22 </ b> A is inserted into the airbag 20. In this embodiment, the inflator 22 is a so-called disk-type inflator, and a sufficient gas capacity is ensured for the airbag 20 having the main bag 26 and the subbag 28 as described above.

  The main bag 26 of the airbag 20 is inflated and deployed between the windshield glass 14 and the instrument panel 16 and the upper body U of the occupant P, and restrains the relative movement of the upper body U toward the front of the vehicle. It has become. In this embodiment, a vent hole 25 for adjusting internal pressure is formed in the main bag 26. The sub bag 28 is inflated and deployed between the instrument panel 16 and the knee K, and restrains the relative movement of the knee K forward of the vehicle. The main bag 26 and the sub bag 28 of the airbag 20 are integrally configured as shown in FIG.

  The sub bag 28 is formed in a bag shape that opens upward in the vehicle with the base cloth 32, and the opening edge is joined to the vehicle lower opening edge of the main bag 26 by sewing or the like. Thereby, the airbag 20 has comprised the big bag shape as a whole. The base fabric 32 is different from the base fabric 30 in that the surface is subjected to a texture seal process such as a silicon coat, and prevents gas leakage from the main bag 26 via the texture (suppresses the base fabric 30). ). The silicon coat for holding the internal pressure of the sub bag 28 is preferably applied to the inner surface of the sub bag 28 from the viewpoint of preventing gas leakage.

  As described above, the airbag 20 deployed as a large bag as a whole has a tether 34 as a cloth-like material for partitioning (separating) the interior into a chamber of the main bag 26 and a chamber of the subbag 28. The tether 34 has a cloth shape and regulates the expansion of the sub bag 28 in the vehicle front-rear direction as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the tether 34 is joined to the sewing part of the base fabric 30 and the base fabric 32 by sewing etc. as shown in FIG. Further, a tether or a strap for restricting the expansion (thickness) of the sub-bag 28 in the vehicle front-rear direction may also be provided in a portion that is a substantially middle portion in the vehicle vertical direction in the deployed state in the sub-bag 28.

  The airbag 20 according to this embodiment includes an inner tube (diffuser) 35 as a flexible gas flow path member that guides the gas of the inflator 22 to the main bag 26 and the subbag 28. The inner tube 35 is configured as a bag body that is expanded and deployed independently of the main bag 26 and the sub bag 28 by a base cloth 36 that is a woven fabric similar to the base cloth 30.

  Specifically, the inner tube 35 includes a header portion 38 as a common flow path extending in the opening direction from the airbag case 24 that opens toward the rear of the vehicle and toward the upper side of the vehicle as described above, and the rear end of the header portion 38. The main side supply part 40 as a first gas supply part extending upward from the main part and the sub-side supply part 42 as a second gas supply part extending downward from the rear end of the header part 38 are configured as main parts. The header portion 38 of the inner tube 35 covers the gas outlet 22A of the inflator 22, and guides the gas of the inflator 22 to the main side supply portion 40 and the sub side supply portion 42.

  The main side supply unit 40 is inflated and deployed in the main bag 26, and supplies the gas from the inflator 22 to the main bag 26. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, gas is supplied into the main bag 26 outwardly in the bag width direction from the pair of left and right gas ejection portions 40A facing different sides in the bag width direction (vehicle width direction). It is set as the structure.

  The sub-side supply part 42 penetrates the tether 34 and the tip side is inflated and deployed in the sub-bag 28. At the tip (lower end) of the sub-side supply unit 42, a large opening ejection part 42A as a large opening for supplying the gas from the inflator 22 to the sub bag 28, and an opening area (flow path) than the large opening ejection part 42A. A small opening ejection part 42B is formed as a small opening with a small cross-sectional area. The large opening ejection part 42A and the small opening ejection part 42B are configured such that different sides in the bag width direction are directed toward each other and gas is ejected toward the outside in the bag width direction. Specifically, the large opening ejection portion 42A is configured to be opened inward in the vehicle width direction so as to inject gas inward in the vehicle width direction, which is one of the bag width directions, in the sub bag 28. The ejection portion 42B is configured to open outward in the vehicle width direction so as to eject gas outward in the vehicle width direction, which is the other in the bag width direction, in the sub bag 28.

  Thereby, in the airbag device 10 for the passenger seat, the distance along the front-rear direction between the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16 and the front edge 12C of the seat cushion 12A is reduced toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction. A larger amount of gas than the gas directed to the outside of the gas is ejected (supplied) into the sub bag 28. In other words, in the passenger seat airbag device 10, the knee Ki (see FIG. 4) located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the knees K of the occupant P seated on the passenger seat 12 in the sub-bag 28. A large amount of gas is supplied to the knee Ko (see FIG. 4) located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

  Further, in this embodiment, the opening area of the large opening ejection part 42A is made larger than the opening area of the gas ejection part 40A, and the sum of the opening area of the large opening ejection part 42A and the opening area of the small opening ejection part 42B. Is larger than the sum of the opening areas of the two gas ejection portions 40A. As a result, in the passenger seat airbag device 10, the sub bag 28 is inflated and deployed before the main bag 26. In other words, the sub-bag 28 has a smaller capacity than the main bag 26, so that the sub-bag 28 has a larger amount of gas supplied per hour than the sub-bag 28 in addition to the action that is deployed before the main bag 26. The action of deploying prior to the main bag 26 is promoted. In place of the setting of the opening area described above, for example, when the gas ejection portion 40A is sewn with a tear seam, the inner pressure of the inner tube 35 exceeds a predetermined value and the tear seam is broken. By adopting a configuration in which the supply is started, an action of deploying the sub bag 28 in advance with respect to the main bag 26 may be promoted.

  Further, in the passenger airbag device 10, a check valve (one-way valve) 44 is formed in the sub-side supply part 42 of the inner tube 35 as gas discharge suppression means. The check valve 44 is constituted by a funnel-shaped cloth piece as a main part, and allows the gas flow from the header part 38 side to be developed in a funnel shape having a gas flow port 44A as shown in FIG. It is like that. On the other hand, when the internal pressure (dynamic pressure) of the sub bag 28 becomes higher than the internal pressure on the header portion 38 side, the check valve 44 is configured such that the cloth pieces are overlapped by the internal pressure and the gas flow port 44A is closed. Yes. In order to facilitate understanding of the configuration of the check valve 44, FIG. 2 shows an open state of the sub-side supply unit 42 (gas flow port 44A), which is a non-operating state of the check valve 44, and FIG. 44 schematically illustrates a closed state of the sub-side supply unit 42 (the gas circulation port 44A).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, an airbag door 46 is formed along the rear edge 16A at the portion of the instrument panel 16 to which the airbag module 18 is attached. Has been. The airbag door 46 according to this embodiment is opened up and down around the hinge portion by being cleaved at a groove-like tear line formed on the inner surface side of the instrument panel 16, and the instrument panel 16 has an opening. It comes to form. Through this opening, the airbag 20 is allowed to be expanded and deployed outside the instrument panel 16, that is, into the passenger compartment C.

  In the passenger-side airbag device 10 described above, for example, when a frontal collision of the automobile V is detected or predicted to be unavoidable based on an output of a collision sensor (not shown), an airbag as a control device (not shown) is used. The ECU operates the inflator 22.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  In the passenger airbag device 10 configured as described above, when a frontal collision of the automobile V is detected or predicted based on a signal from the collision sensor, the airbag ECU activates (ignites) the inflator 22. Then, the airbag 20 that has received the gas supply from the inflator 22 is inflated in the instrument panel 16, and inflated and deployed in the passenger compartment C through an opening formed by deploying the airbag door 46 with the deployment pressure. .

  At this time, the inner tube 35 supplied with the gas from the inflator 22 is first expanded and deployed. The gas from the inflator 22 is supplied to the main bag 26 through the gas ejection part 40A formed in the main side supply part 40 of the inner tube 35, and has a large opening formed in the sub side supply part 42 of the inner tube 35. It is supplied to the sub bag 28 through the ejection part 42A and the small opening ejection part 42B. Then, the sub bag 28 is inflated and deployed between the instrument panel 16 and the knees K of the occupant P, and the main bag 26 having a relatively large capacity is the upper body of the occupant P after the deployment of the sub bag 28 is completed. Deployment is completed in front of the vehicle with respect to U.

  The sub-bag 28 restrains the knee K of the occupant P seated on the passenger seat 12 and reduces the load acting on the knee K from the instrument panel 16 side. That is, the knee K of the passenger P is protected. In particular, in the passenger airbag device 10, the check valve 44 is provided in the sub-side supply portion 42 of the inner tube 35, so that the check valve increases when the internal pressure of the sub-bag 28 rises due to the restraint of the knee K. 44 closes the sub-side supply unit 42. For this reason, the internal pressure fall (gas discharge) of the sub bag 28 accompanying restraint of the knee K is suppressed, and the knee K of the occupant P is better protected.

  On the other hand, the upper body U of the occupant P is restrained by the inflated and deployed main bag 26 and absorbs shock. Accordingly, the passenger P is well protected by the passenger seat airbag device 10. In particular, in the passenger seat airbag device 10, gas is supplied toward both sides in the vehicle width direction in the main bag 26 through the left and right gas ejection portions 40 </ b> A. For this reason, compared with the configuration in which gas is supplied to the rear of the vehicle, the deployment force (deployment speed) of the main bag 26 toward the rear of the vehicle is suppressed, and the load is reduced when restraining the upper body U of the occupant P. The

  Here, in the passenger airbag device 10, gas is supplied to the sub bag 28 from the large opening ejection portion 42A inward in the vehicle width direction, and from the small opening ejection portion 42B to the gas outward in the vehicle width direction. Supplied. That is, the sub bag 28 is supplied with a larger amount of gas toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction than the amount of gas ejected toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), the sub bag 28 is inflated and deployed on the inner side with respect to the outer portion in the vehicle width direction, and the deployment is almost completed, and thereafter, in FIG. 3 (B). As shown, the development of the outer portion in the vehicle width direction is completed.

  Therefore, the sub-bag 28 is stably deployed between the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16 and the knee Ki of the occupant P with a relatively small interval along the front-rear direction. That is, for the knee Ki whose interference stroke (interval Di) to the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16 is smaller than the knee Ko outside in the vehicle width direction, the sub bag 28 ( It is necessary to suppress the interference with 16A of the knee Ki. In the passenger airbag device 10, a relatively large amount of gas is ejected toward the knee Ki side of the subbag 28, so that the knee Ki side subbag 28 precedes the knee Ko side subbag 28. Can be expanded and deployed. Further, even when the occupant P is seated on the passenger seat 12 at a seat position where the knee Ki is brought close to the instrument panel 16, that is, when the distance Di is small, the portion on the knee Ki side of the sub bag 28 is absolutely It can be expanded and deployed in a short time.

  In addition, since the distribution of the gas supply in the sub bag 28 is set by the ratio of the opening areas of the large opening ejection part 42A and the small opening ejection part 42B of the sub side supply part 42 of the inner tube 35, an inflator with a limited capacity is provided. 22, the portion of the sub bag 28 on the knee Ki side can be stably deployed between the knee Ki and the rear edge 16 </ b> A of the instrument panel 16.

  As described above, in the passenger seat airbag device 10 according to the first embodiment, even if the distances Di and Do between the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16 and the knees Ki and Ko of the occupant P are different from each other. The sub-bag 28 can be satisfactorily deployed between the knees Ki and Ko and the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that components / parts that are basically the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 5 shows a passenger airbag device 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a side sectional view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 6 shows a main part of the passenger seat airbag device 50 in a rear sectional view corresponding to FIG. As shown in these drawings, the passenger seat airbag device 50 is the first embodiment in that the inner tube 35 includes a sub-side supply unit 52 instead of the sub-side supply unit 42. This is different from the passenger seat airbag apparatus 10 according to the above.

  The sub-side supply unit 52 has a gas ejection part 52A as an opening facing inward in the vehicle width direction, and does not have a gas ejection part facing out in the vehicle width direction. That is, in the passenger airbag device 50, the gas ejection portions, which are all the openings of the sub-side supply portion 52, are gas ejection portions 52A that face inward in the vehicle width direction, and the sub-bags from the gas ejection portion 52A. The gas is supplied into the vehicle 28 only inward in the vehicle width direction. The opening area of the gas ejection part 52A is made larger than (the sum of) the opening area of the gas ejection part 40A. Other configurations of the passenger seat airbag device 50 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the passenger seat airbag device 10.

  Of the operation of the passenger seat airbag device 50, a portion different from the operation of the passenger seat airbag device 10 will be mainly described.

  In the passenger seat airbag device 50, the sub bag 28 is supplied with gas inward in the vehicle width direction from the gas ejection portion 52A. That is, the sub bag 28 is supplied with a relatively large amount of gas toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction than the gas amount (flow rate 0) drawn toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 7 (A), the sub-bag 28 is inflated and deployed in advance inward with respect to the outer portion in the vehicle width direction, and the deployment is almost completed, and then in FIG. 7 (B). As shown in the drawing, the development of the outer portion in the vehicle width direction is completed by the gas that has entered from the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

  Therefore, the sub-bag 28 is stably deployed between the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16 and the knee Ki of the occupant P with a relatively small interval along the front-rear direction.

  As described above, also by the passenger seat airbag device 50 according to the second embodiment, a relatively large amount of gas is directed toward the knee Ki side where the distance between the sub-bag 28 and the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16 is small. Therefore, even if the distances Di and Do between the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16 and the knees Ki and Ko of the occupant P are different, the knees Ki and Ko and the rear edge of the instrument panel 16 are different. The sub bag 28 can be satisfactorily deployed between 16A. That is, the same effect can be obtained by the same action as the passenger seat airbag device 10.

  In the above-described embodiment, the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16 is curved (inclined) in plan view so as to be closer to the front edge 12C (knee Ki) of the seat cushion 12A than to the outside on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. Although the example is shown, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rear edge 16A of the instrument panel 16 is closer to the front edge 12C (knee Ko) of the seat cushion 12A than the inner side on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. It is good also as a structure curved or inclined by planar view.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the check valve 44 is provided as the internal pressure holding (gas discharge suppression) means of the sub bag 28 has been shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto, for example, as the internal pressure holding means, You may employ | adopt the string etc. which close the sub side supply part 42 of the inner tube 35 with expansion | swelling and expansion | deployment of the main bag 26 or the subbag 28. FIG.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the main side supply unit 40 for supplying gas to the main bag 26 has a pair of left and right gas ejection units 40A. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the main side supply unit 40 The side supply unit 40 may have a single or three or more gas ejection units 40A.

10 Airbag device for passenger seat 12 Passenger seat (seat)
16 Instrument panel 22 Inflator 26 Main bag (first bag)
28 Sub bag (second bag)
35 Inner tube (gas flow path member)
40 Main side supply section (first gas supply section)
42 Sub-side supply unit (second gas supply unit)
42A Large opening ejection part (large opening part)
42B Small opening ejection part (small opening part)
50 Airbag device for passenger seat 52 Sub-side supply unit (second gas supply unit)
52A Gas outlet (opening)
P Crew K Knee

Claims (3)

A first bag that restrains the upper body of a vehicle occupant seated in the seat from the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction by being inflated and deployed on the passenger compartment side with respect to the instrument panel upon receiving gas supply;
A second bag that has a smaller capacity than the first bag, is inflated and deployed on the passenger compartment side with respect to the instrument panel upon receiving gas supply, and restrains the occupant's knee from the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction; ,
Provided in a portion where the gas is supplied from the inflator to be developed in the first bag and the second bag, and the gas from the inflator is blown out in the first bag. A gas flow having a first gas supply unit formed and a second gas supply unit provided in a portion where the gas from the inflator is deployed in the second bag so that the gas is blown out in the second bag A road member;
With
The second gas supply unit is configured such that the amount of gas blown toward the side where the gap between the front edge of the seat and the instrument panel in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle longitudinal direction is small is the amount of gas directed toward the side where the gap is large. An airbag device that is set to be larger than the ejection amount.   The second gas supply unit includes a large opening that has a relatively large opening area and ejects gas to a side having a small gap, and a gas that has a relatively small opening area and has a large opening. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is configured to have a small opening to be ejected.   2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the second gas supply unit is configured such that all openings for ejecting gas from the inflator into the second bag are directed to a side having a small gap.

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