JP2013107598A - Air bag and air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag and an air bag device capable of appropriately constraining an occupant in accordance with a form of the occupant.SOLUTION: The air bag 14 includes a bag-shaped air bag body 13 which has an occupant-facing surface 21 capable of facing the occupant and is expanded and deployed by the introduction of expansible gas. The one-end side of a pulling member 25 which regulates the deployment of the occupant-facing surface 21 by pulling the occupant-facing surface 21 to the front side is connected with a part of the occupant-facing surface 21of the air bag body 13. When the air bag body 13 is set to a first deployment state, a part of the occupant-facing surface 21 is pulled and bent by the pulling member 25, and thereby, deployment to the occupant side is regulated and the bent occupant-facing surface 21 is joined with a sewing part 27. When the air bag body 13 is set to a second deployment state, the pulling of the occupant-facing surface 21 by means of the pulling member 25 and the joining of the occupant-facing surface 21 by means of the sewing part 27 are opened.

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag having a bag-like airbag body that is inflated and deployed by introducing inflation gas, and an airbag apparatus including the airbag.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an airbag device for a passenger in a passenger seat provided in an instrument panel portion of an automobile is known. The airbag device includes an inflator that supplies inflation gas, and an airbag having a bag-like airbag body that is folded into a predetermined shape. In the event of a car collision, etc., an inflation gas is supplied from the inflator, the airbag is inflated and deployed in front of the occupant, which is a protected object located in the passenger seat, and the occupant is restrained to mitigate the impact. It is like that.

  Such an airbag includes a thin first bag portion that is deployed along a windshield that is a windshield, and a thin second bag portion that is deployed along an instrument panel portion. In the case where a seat belt is worn, one that is set so as to protect only the head of the occupant is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  However, in the case of this configuration, there is room for improvement in protecting the occupant who does not wear the seat belt.

  Further, for example, one end of a belt disposed inside the airbag main body is connected to the occupant-facing surface portion, and the other end is connected to the proximal end of the airbag main body, and the belt follows the inflation of the airbag main body. A configuration is known in which the occupant-facing surface portion flexibly contacts the occupant by gradually extending (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  However, in this configuration, while the belt length is controlled by the internal pressure of the airbag body, the output from the inflator is constant, so the final shape and internal pressure of the airbag are constant, and the seat belt is worn. It is not easy to efficiently restrain the occupant for each of the occupant who is and the occupant who is not wearing it.

JP 2007-145098 A (Page 5-7, FIG. 1-2) JP-A-6-191366 (Page 5-6, Fig. 1-3)

  As described above, there is a demand for an airbag that can be appropriately restrained according to the form of the occupant.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the airbag which can restrain a passenger | crew more appropriately according to the form, and an airbag apparatus provided with the same.

  The airbag according to claim 1 has an occupant-facing surface portion that can face an occupant and has a bag-like airbag body portion that is inflated and deployed by introduction of inflation gas, and a part of the occupant-facing surface portion of the airbag body portion. One end side is connected to the occupant-facing surface portion, and the occupant-facing surface portion is connected to the occupant-side by pulling the occupant-facing surface portion, and a part of the occupant-facing surface portion of the airbag body portion is releasably joined. And a portion of the occupant-facing surface portion of the airbag main body portion is pulled and bent by the pulling member to restrict deployment to the occupant side and the bent occupant-facing surface portion The first unfolded state joined by the joining portion, the pulling of the occupant facing surface portion by the pulling member, and the joining of the occupant facing surface portion by the joining portion are each released. In a second deployed state are those being selectively expanded.

  The airbag device according to claim 2 is configured such that an occupant-facing surface portion faces an occupant seated in a seat provided with a seat belt, and the occupant-facing body portion of the airbag is placed on the seat. A control unit configured to be in a first deployed state when the belt is worn and in a second deployed state when the occupant is not wearing the seat belt.

  The airbag device according to claim 3 is the airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the control portion locks the other end side of the pulling member in the first deployed state of the airbag body portion of the airbag, In the second deployed state of the airbag body, an actuator is provided that releases the locking of the other end of the pulling member.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the airbag apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the control unit is based on the supply amount of the inflation gas in the first deployed state with respect to the airbag main body of the airbag. Is also provided with an inflator device that supplies a large amount of inflation gas in the second deployed state.

  According to the airbag of the first aspect, in the first deployed state, the capacity of the deployed airbag main body and the area of the occupant-facing surface portion are reduced. In the second deployed state, the capacity of the deployed airbag main body and the area of the occupant-facing surface portion can be increased as compared with the first deployed state, and for example, a passenger who is not wearing a seat belt can be restrained appropriately. For example, the occupant can be restrained more appropriately according to the form.

  According to the airbag device of the second aspect, the control unit sets the airbag main body of the airbag to the first deployed state in a state where the occupant is wearing the seat belt, and the occupant is wearing the seat belt. Since the second deployed state is set in the absence, the occupant can be more appropriately restrained depending on the wearing state of the seat belt.

  According to the airbag device of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the airbag device of the second aspect, the control unit locks the other end side of the pulling member in the first deployed state of the airbag main body. In the second deployed state of the airbag main body, an actuator for releasing the locking of the other end of the tension member is provided, so that the airbag main body is moved from the first deployed state to the second deployed by the operation of the actuator. You can easily switch to the state.

  According to the airbag device of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the airbag device of claim 2 or 3, the supply amount of the inflation gas in the first deployed state with respect to the airbag body portion of the airbag By providing an inflator device with a larger amount of inflation gas supply in the second deployed state than in the first deployed state and the second deployed state, the internal pressure of the airbag body can be more appropriately set, When the airbag main body is in the second deployed state, the joint can be opened using the internal pressure of the airbag main body.

1 shows a part of an embodiment of an airbag and an airbag apparatus according to the present invention, in which (a1) is a perspective view showing a first deployed state of an airbag body, and (a2) is a first view of the airbag body. FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a second deployed state of the airbag body, and FIG. 2B is a plan view showing a second deployed state of the airbag body. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the deployment behavior of an airbag main-body part same as the above in order of (a) thru | or (e). It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the passenger | crew's restrained state in the 1st deployment state of an airbag main-body part same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the passenger | crew's restrained state in the 2nd deployment state of an airbag main-body part same as the above. It is a table | surface which shows the relationship between the operation state of the inflator apparatus and actuator in the 1st deployment state of a airbag main-body part, and a 2nd deployment state, and the capacity | capacitance of an airbag main-body part.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an airbag and an airbag device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 4, reference numeral 10 denotes an airbag device. The airbag device 10 is a front seat of an occupant D of a passenger seat of an automobile as a vehicle, that is, a passenger seat as a protected object. An airbag device 10 for a passenger in a passenger seat is arranged inside an instrument panel portion 11 as an installation portion. Hereinafter, the front-rear direction, the both-side direction, and the up-down direction will be described based on the straight-ahead direction of the automobile with the airbag device 10 attached to the automobile.

  The airbag device 10 can also be referred to as an airbag module. The airbag 14 includes an airbag main body 13 that is a bag-like outer shell formed of a base fabric, and the airbag main body 13. Operation of the inflator device 15 for supplying gas, a case body (not shown) to which the airbag 14 and the inflator device 15 are attached, a retainer (not shown), a cover body (not shown) covering the airbag 14 before deployment, and the inflator device 15 Control means (not shown) for controlling Further, the airbag device 10 is attached to an instrument panel unit 11 of an automobile and electrically connected to a control device 16.

  The case body is formed in a substantially box shape, and the upper side toward the windshield 18 that is a windshield continuous above the front side or the instrument panel section 11 is a rectangular projecting opening that is an opening, and the inside is folded The airbag main body portion 13 (airbag 14) is an airbag storage portion. An attachment hole for attaching the inflator device 15 is formed at the bottom of the case body. And this protrusion is normally covered with the cover body.

  The inflator device 15 can have various shapes. In the present embodiment, the first and second inflators 15a and 15b are set. The first and second inflators 15a and 15b contain an igniter and a medicine inside, and the igniter burns the medicine by an electric signal transmitted from a control means transmitted via a connector (not shown), so that the gas injection port The gas for expansion is supplied rapidly. The first and second inflators 15a and 15b are disposed, for example, at the bottom of the case body, and can supply inflation gas from the gas injection port to the inside of the airbag main body 13. The first and second inflators 15a and 15b may be formed in a columnar shape and disposed inside the airbag main body 13, for example.

  Further, the retainer is formed in a frame shape, and mounting bolts (not shown) for mounting the inflator device 15 (first and second inflators 15a and 15b) together with the airbag main body 13 (airbag 14) project. Has been.

  The cover body is formed of resin so as to be integrated with or separate from the instrument panel portion 11, and a tear line that is thinner than other portions and easily breaks is formed in a substantially H-shaped plane.

  The airbag main body 13 is formed into a bag shape as a whole by joining a single or a plurality of base fabrics in combination by sewing, adhesion or welding, etc., and deployment with reduced capacity and internal pressure compared to a fully opened state The first deployment state (FIG. 3), which is a state, and the second deployment state (FIG. 4), which is fully open and has an internal pressure higher than that of the first deployment state, can be selectively deployed. The airbag main body portion 13 has an occupant restraint surface portion 21 that is an occupant facing surface portion that extends in the vertical direction and the left-right direction (width direction) facing the occupant D in the second deployed state at the rear end portion. Side surfaces 22 and 22 extending along the front-rear direction are continuous from both sides of the restraint surface portion 21 to the side opposite to the occupant D, that is, the side opposite to the occupant D side, in other words, the front side. An upper surface portion 23 extending along the front-rear direction is continuous between the upper portions, and a lower surface portion 24 extending along the front-rear direction is continuous between the lower portions of the occupant restraint surface portion 21 and the side surface portions 22, 22. Further, a pulling member 25 is joined to the inside of the air bag main body 13 and on the side opposite to the occupant D of the occupant restraining surface portion 21, and the occupant is retained by the pulling member 25 by the actuator 26. The central portion in the vertical direction of the restraint surface portion 21 is pulled forward and bent, and the occupant D side of the occupant restraint surface portion 21 is joined (sewn) so as to be openable (breakable) by the stitching portion 27 as a joint portion. Is configured to be in the first expanded state.

  In the first deployed state of the airbag main body 13, the occupant restraint surface portion 21 is bent and folded by the pulling member 25 toward the front side, which is the side opposite to the occupant D, and the deployment to the occupant D side is restricted. In other words, in this embodiment, the passenger restraint surface portion 21 has a vertically central portion 21a as a joined portion joined to the pulling member 25 in the first deployed state of the airbag main body portion 13 to the front side. By being pulled, the upper part of the central part 21a, that is, the upper continuous part 21b as one constraining surface part continuing from the central part 21a to the upper surface part 23, and the lower part of the central part 21a That is, the lower continuous portion 21c as the other constraining surface portion that continues from the central portion 21a to the lower surface portion 24 is folded into the inside of the airbag body 13 so as to face each other vertically (tucked), The air bag body 13 is not exposed to the outside. Therefore, due to the bending of the occupant restraint surface portion 21, the airbag main body portion 13 is in a state in which the upper surface portion 23 and the lower surface portion 24 are adjacent to each other, and the vertical capacity in the first deployed state is suppressed. Further, the occupant restraint surface portion 21 gives a reaction force when the occupant D who does not wear the seat belt SB (not worn) moves forward in the second deployed state of the airbag main body portion 13. The occupant D is restrained. That is, the occupant restraint surface portion 21 has an area extending over the head H, the chest C, and the abdomen A of the occupant D in a fully unfolded state.

  Each side surface portion 22 is formed with a circular vent hole 29 that allows the discharge of the inflation gas at a position closer to the upper side in the vertical direction. These vent holes 29 appropriately set the internal pressure of the airbag main body 13 by discharging excess inflation gas when the airbag 14 (airbag main body 13) is deployed.

  The upper surface portion 23 connects the occupant restraint surface portion 21 and the lower sides of the side surface portions 22, 22, and the occupant head restrains the head H of the occupant D in the first deployed state of the airbag main body portion 13. In the second deployed state of the airbag main body portion 13, the portion becomes a part restraining surface portion, which is in contact with the windshield 18 and supports the airbag main body portion 13 in the front-rear direction.

  The lower surface portion 24 connects the occupant restraint surface portion 21 and the lower sides of the side surface portions 22 and 22, and in contact with the instrument panel portion 11 in each deployed state of the airbag main body portion 13. This is the part that supports 13 in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. Further, the lower surface portion 24 has an air bag body in which inflation gas injected from the gas injection ports of the first and second inflators 15a and 15b of the inflator device 15 is disposed on the front side, which is a position facing the instrument panel portion 11. A gas inlet (not shown) to be supplied to the inside of the part 13 is formed. Further, the lower surface portion 24 is integrally fixed to the airbag housing portion of the case body together with the inflator device 15 (first and second inflators 15a and 15b) at the peripheral portion of the gas inlet.

  The pulling member 25 includes a triangular triangular cloth 31 in a plan view as one end side member on the rear side (occupant D side) as one end side, and as the other end side member connected to the triangular cloth 31. The strap 32 is provided on the front side (anti-occupant D side) which is the other end side.

  The triangular cloth 31 has one end, that is, the occupant D side joined to the surface on the side opposite to the occupant D of the center portion 21a of the occupant restraint surface portion 21 by, for example, sewing and extending in the vehicle width direction along the horizontal direction. The tension member joining portion 33 is (stitched), and is formed so that the width dimension gradually decreases from one end side to the other end side, that is, the side opposite to the occupant D. The connected portion is the apex portion 34. That is, the triangular cloth 31 is formed in a substantially isosceles triangle shape that gradually expands in the vehicle width direction from the non-occupant D side to the occupant D side.

  Further, the strap 32 is formed in a string shape, and the front side (the opposite occupant D side), which is the other end side, is led out of the airbag body 13 from a lead-out port 35 formed in the lower surface part 24, for example. And is locked to the actuator 26. As the outlet 35, a gas inlet or the like can be used.

  Further, the actuator 26 includes an extendable holding portion 36 to which the strap 32 of the pulling member 25 is locked. For example, the actuator 26 is disposed in the instrument panel portion 11 and operates by an electric signal from the control device 16. Is controlled.

  The control device 16 includes various sensors such as a detection sensor that detects whether or not the occupant D is wearing the seat belt SB, and the occupant D's seat belt SB detected or not is detected by the detection sensor. Accordingly, the supply amount of the expansion gas from the inflator device 15 can be changed. Specifically, in the present embodiment, only the first inflator 15a is operated when the airbag main body 13 is set in the first deployed state, and the first and second inflators 15a are set when set in the second deployed state. 15b and the actuator 26 are operated (FIG. 5). That is, the number of inflators that operate is different between the first deployed state and the second deployed state of the airbag main body 13, and the first deployed state is the one when the second deployed state is achieved. It is set so that the number of operating inflators is larger than the time and the amount of inflation gas supplied from the inflator device 15 is larger. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that a dummy (AF05) imitating a relatively small female occupant or a dummy (AM50) imitating a relatively large male occupant is used as the occupant D. Then, with the control device 16, the inflator device 15 (first and second inflators 15a and 15b), the actuator 26, the control means, etc., the airbag main body 13 and the occupant D wearing the seat belt SB are attached. The control unit 38 is configured to be in the first deployed state and in the second deployed state when the occupant D is not wearing the seat belt SB.

  Further, the stitched portion 27 maintains a joined (stitched) state with the internal pressure of the airbag main body 13 in the first deployed state, and opens (breaks) with the internal pressure of the airbag main body 13 in the second deployed state. It is formed to do.

  Next, the deployment behavior of the airbag device 10 will be described.

  As an outline of the operation of the airbag device 10, the control device 16 activates the inflator device 15 via the control means in the event of a car collision, and when the inflation gas is injected from the inflator device 15, the folded state The airbag body 13 stored in the airbag storage part is inflated and deployed in response to the inflow of inflation gas from the gas introduction port, breaks the tear line of the cover body, protrudes from the projection opening, and deploys to the occupant D side To do.

  For example, when the occupant D is wearing the seat belt SB, the chest C and the abdomen A of the occupant D are restrained by the seat (passenger seat) due to the reaction force applied by the seat belt SB. The body falls to the front lower side so as to bow, so to speak, with the abdomen A as a fulcrum.

  Therefore, the control device 16 operates only the first inflator 15a of the inflator device 15 so that the airbag main body portion 13 is pulled by the occupant restraint surface portion 21 and the strap 32 held by the holding portion 36 of the actuator 26. The state of being pulled forward by the member 25 and being sewn by the stitching portion 27 is maintained, and is deployed in the first deployed state where the internal pressure is relatively low and the capacity is small. A relatively weak reaction force is applied to the head H, and the head H is reliably restrained. At this time, the airbag main body 13 does not come into contact with the chest C of the occupant D restrained by the seat belt SB, and there is no input from the airbag main body 13 to the chest C.

  On the other hand, when the occupant D is not wearing the seat belt SB, the occupant D is not restrained by the seat (passenger seat) and moves forward from the seat in the event of a car collision or the like.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2E, the control device 16 operates the actuator 26 to contract the holding portion 36 to open the strap 32 of the pulling member 25 and to inflate the inflator device 15. By operating each of the first and second inflators 15a and 15b, more inflation gas is introduced into the airbag body 13 than in the first deployed state, and the internal pressure is increased from the first deployed state. The airbag main body 13 is deployed in a high state. As a result, the stitching portion 27 is broken by the internal pressure, the occupant restraint surface portion 21 is opened, and the airbag body portion 13 is expanded to the maximum, and the airbag main body portion 13 has the maximum capacity. The part H, the chest part C, and the abdomen A are surely restrained.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 38 causes the airbag main body 13 to be in the first deployed state with the occupant D wearing the seat belt SB, and the occupant D removes the seat belt SB. It will be in the 2nd deployment state in the state where it is not wearing. In the first deployed state, the capacity of the airbag main body 13 and the area of the occupant restraint surface portion 21 are reduced, and in this embodiment, the occupant restraint surface portion 21 does not face the occupant D. Only the head H of the occupant D who deploys and wears the seat belt SB can be restrained properly, and the influence on the chest C restrained by the seat belt SB can be reduced. Further, in the second deployed state, the capacity of the deployed airbag main body 13 and the area of the occupant restraint surface portion 21 are larger than those in the first deployed state, and the occupant D who is not wearing the seat belt SB is restrained appropriately. it can. Therefore, the occupant D can be restrained more appropriately according to the form, in the present embodiment, depending on the wearing state of the seat belt SB.

  In particular, not only the occupant restraint surface portion 21 is folded inside the airbag body portion 13, but also the upper continuous portion 21b and the lower continuous portion 21c are joined (sewn) by the stitching portion 27, so that these continuous portions 21b, 21c Are pushed upward and downward, and the opening angle between the upper continuous portion 21b and the lower continuous portion 21c becomes smaller compared to the case where the upper continuous portion and the lower continuous portion are not joined to each other. The capacity of the airbag main body 13 in the state can be further reduced, and the head H can be prevented from entering the recess between the upper continuous portion and the lower continuous portion.

  Further, the actuator that locks the strap 32 of the pulling member 25 in the first deployed state of the airbag body 13 and releases the locking of the strap 32 of the pulling member 25 in the second deployed state of the airbag body 13. 26 is provided in the control unit 38, the airbag body 13 can be easily switched from the first deployed state to the second deployed state by the operation of the actuator 26.

  Further, the supply amount of the inflation gas from the inflator device 15 in the second deployment state of the airbag body 13 is larger than the supply amount of the inflation gas from the inflator device 15 in the first deployment state of the airbag body portion 13. When the air bag body 13 is in the second deployed state, the internal pressure of the airbag body 13 can be more appropriately set in the first deployed state and the second deployed state. The suture part 27 can be opened using the internal pressure of the airbag main body part 13. That is, in the first deployed state in which the head H of the occupant D is restrained, the internal pressure can be set relatively weak, and the second deployed state in which the head H, the chest C, and the abdomen A of the occupant D are restrained. Then, the occupant D can be reliably received and restrained by a relatively large reaction force.

  In addition, the inflator device 15 changes the number of inflators to be operated (first and second inflators 15a and 15b) so that the inflation gas in the first deployed state and the second deployed state of the airbag main body 13 is changed. By changing the supply amount, it is only necessary to control the operation of each inflator 15a, 15b, and the control can be further simplified.

  In the above-described embodiment, if the tension member 25 is configured to maintain the tension of the occupant restraint surface portion 21 in the first deployed state and to release the tension in the second deployed state, For example, without using the actuator 26, the other end side is locked to the position on the proximal end side of the airbag body 13, and the tension member joint 33 is opened by the internal pressure of the airbag body 13 in the second deployed state. A simpler configuration such as joining (sewing) to the occupant restraint surface 21 so as to (break) may be adopted.

  Further, in the first deployed state of the airbag main body 13, the occupant restraint surface portion 21 is completely folded inside the airbag main body 13, but the capacity of the airbag main body 13 required in the first deployed state is reduced. Depending on this, a part may be exposed to the occupant D side.

  Further, instead of the stitched portion 27, the occupant D side of the occupant restraint surface portion 21 may be joined using, for example, an adhesive or welding.

  The inflator device 15 includes not only a configuration for changing the supply amount of the expansion gas in the first deployed state and the second deployed state by changing the number of inflators, but also a variable capacity inflator, for example. Control may be performed so as to change the supply amount of the expansion gas from the inflator, or these may be combined.

  The airbag 14 is configured to switch between the first deployed state and the second deployed state in accordance with whether the passenger D is wearing or not wearing the seat belt SB. It may be configured to switch in accordance with.

  The present invention can be suitably used, for example, as an airbag provided in an instrument panel for a passenger on the passenger seat.

10 Airbag device
13 Airbag body
14 Airbag
15 Inflator device
21 Passenger restraint surface, which is the occupant facing surface
25 Tensile member
26 Actuator
27 Sutures that are joints
38 Control part D Crew
SB seat belt

Claims (4)

A bag-like airbag body portion that has an occupant-facing surface portion that can face the occupant and that is inflated and deployed by introducing inflation gas;
One end side is connected to a part of the occupant-facing surface portion of the airbag main body portion, and pulling the occupant-facing surface portion to thereby restrict the deployment of the occupant-facing surface portion to the occupant side; and
A joint portion that joins a part of the occupant-facing surface portion of the airbag main body portion so as to be openable,
A part of the occupant-facing surface portion of the airbag main body is pulled by the pulling member and bent to restrict the deployment to the occupant side, and the first portion joined by the joint portion of the bent occupant-facing surface portion. The air can be selectively deployed in an unfolded state and a second unfolded state in which the occupant facing surface portion is pulled by the pulling member and the occupant facing surface portion is joined by the joint portion. bag. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the occupant-facing surface is opposed to an occupant seated in a seat provided with a seat belt;
A control unit configured to set the airbag main body of the airbag in a first deployed state when an occupant is wearing the seat belt, and in a second deployed state when the occupant is not wearing the seat belt; An air bag device comprising: The control unit locks the other end side of the tension member in the first deployed state of the airbag body portion of the airbag, and engages the other end side of the tension member in the second deployed state of the airbag body portion. The airbag device according to claim 2, further comprising an actuator that releases the stop. The control unit includes an inflator device in which the supply amount of the inflation gas in the second deployed state is larger than the supply amount of the inflation gas in the first deployment state with respect to the airbag body portion of the airbag. The airbag device according to claim 2 or 3.

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