JP2013154830A - Airbag device for steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device for a steering wheel capable of easily adjusting outflow direction of an inflation gas flowing from the gas outflow hole of a straightening member into a main part of the bag.SOLUTION: In an airbag device for a steering wheel, a straightening member 31 arranged inside a main part of the bag is shaped into an approximately square shaped sheet, attached to a storage portion side at four positions between adjoining edges, and an area in four edge sides is a gas outflow hole. The straightening member 31 consists of two sheets of single sided sheet parts 37 folded with a connection reference line CL as a reference and in an approximately rectangular form mutually overlapping. The single sided sheet part 37 is equipped with a joining part 38 tilting in the connection reference line CL side extending downward to the edge side in a direction along the connection reference line CL, and is equipped with a concave part 39 for forming the gas outflow hole in the center of the bottom edge. The edge part in the direction along the connection reference line CL is made as a peripheral edge of the other gas outflow holes.

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering wheel comprising: an airbag that is folded and stored in a storage portion of the steering wheel; an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag; and an airbag cover that covers the folded airbag. In particular, for an airbag device for a steering wheel, the airbag includes a substantially disc-shaped bag body that covers the upper surface side of the steering wheel when inflation is completed, and a rectifying member disposed in the bag body. The present invention relates to an airbag device.

  Conventionally, an airbag device for a steering wheel having an airbag in which a rectifying member is disposed inside a bag body is composed of a flexible sheet material as the rectifying member, There existed the thing of the structure arrange | positioned so that the upper direction of an entrance might be covered. In this conventional steering wheel airbag device, the rectifying member is attached to the storage site side along with the gas inlet peripheral edge of the bag body, and protrudes above the design surface of the airbag cover when the airbag is deployed and inflated. The configuration is such that the inflation gas flows out from the plurality of gas outflow holes into the bag body substantially radially around the gas inlet (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this conventional steering wheel airbag device, the rectifying member is stacked in a state where the vehicle body side seat portion on the gas inlet side and the driver side seat portion on the driver side are flatly deployed, In this configuration, the peripheral edges are partially coupled at radial positions, and the inflation gas is allowed to flow out substantially radially from a gas outflow hole formed by a gap between the vehicle body side seat portion and the driver side seat portion. It was. Specifically, in this conventional steering wheel airbag device, in the vehicle body side seat portion, a recess formed by denting the outer peripheral edge in a region between the coupling sites coupled to the driver side seat portion, The expansion gas that is formed and flows into the rectifying member flows out from the gas outflow hole into the bag body so as to go toward the outer peripheral edge of the ring portion of the steering wheel.

JP 2002-29354 A

  However, in the conventional steering wheel airbag device, the rectifying member partially couples the peripheral edges of the two vehicle body side seat portions and the driver side seat portion that are overlapped along the ring surface of the steering wheel. The expansion gas that has flowed into the rectifying member flows along the driver side seat portion that swells in a substantially hemispherical shape, and from the gap between the vehicle body side seat portion and the driver side seat portion. It will flow out in the bag main body from the gas outflow hole comprised. That is, in this conventional steering wheel airbag device, the outflow direction of the inflating gas flowing out from the gas outflow hole of the rectifying member into the bag body is curved by the inflow of the inflating gas into the driver side. Due to the amount of curvature of the base material, it is not easy to deflect the flow of the expansion gas flowing out from the gas outflow hole, and the outflow direction of the expansion gas flowing out from the gas outflow hole into the bag body is not easy There was room for improvement in the point of adjusting easily.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and can easily adjust the outflow direction of the inflation gas flowing out from the gas outflow hole of the rectifying member into the bag body. The purpose is to provide.

An airbag apparatus for a steering wheel according to the present invention includes an airbag that is folded and stored in a storage portion of the steering wheel, an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag, and an airbag that covers the folded airbag. And a cover.
Airbag
It is made into a flexible bag shape, and an inflating gas discharged from the inflator is introduced into the inside through a gas inflow port so that the upper surface of the steering wheel is covered over almost the entire surface. A bag body that inflates,
A rectifying member arranged in the bag main body so as to cover the upper part of the gas inlet of the bag main body while being made of a flexible sheet material,
An air bag device for a steering wheel having a configuration comprising:
The rectifying member is
It is made into a substantially quadrilateral sheet shape having four edges, and is attached to the storage site side together with the peripheral edge of the gas inlet in the bag body at the location of the mounting portion, with four locations between adjacent edges as the mounting portion. In addition, when the airbag is deployed and inflated, each of the four edge regions is positioned above the design surface of the airbag cover, and the inflation gas that has flowed into the interior through the gas inlet is used as a ring of the steering wheel. It is configured as a gas outflow hole that rectifies and flows out into the bag body so as to go to the outer peripheral edge side of the part,
Two sheets that overlap each other with the outer shape being substantially the same when folded in half with respect to the connection reference line passing through the center between the pair of edges so that the pair of edges facing each other in a flat deployed state overlap each other As a configuration consisting of one side sheet part of
When two one-side sheet portions are arranged on the upper edge side with the connection reference line as a reference, and overlap each other,
The upper edge side includes a coupling portion that is coupled to each other and is inclined so as to extend downward toward the edge portion on the direction side along the connection reference line,
In the center of the lower edge, provided with a recess that overlaps each other to form a gas outflow hole,
It is characterized in that the edge on the direction side along the connection reference line is configured to be the periphery of another gas outflow hole.

  In the steering wheel airbag device of the present invention, the rectifying member disposed in the bag body is formed into a substantially rectangular sheet shape having four edge portions, and four locations between the adjacent edge portions are arranged, Attached to the storage site side along with the peripheral edge of the gas inlet of the bag body, and the outer shape is substantially the same when folded in half with reference to a connection reference line passing through the center between a pair of opposing edges in a flatly deployed state It is comprised from the two one-side sheet | seat parts which mutually overlap. And in these one-side sheet portions in the state of being overlapped with each other, the coupling reference line side is coupled to each other and is inclined so as to extend downward toward the edge side on the direction side along the coupling reference line. The part is formed. That is, in the steering wheel airbag device of the present invention, the one-side seat portion constituting the rectifying member is configured to be overlapped on the direction side perpendicular to the ring surface of the steering wheel, and the one-side seat portions are coupled to each other. The coupling portion is disposed at a position above the design surface of the airbag cover so as to protrude upward from the storage portion when the airbag is inflated, with the center side positioned upward and both end sides downward. It is formed so as to be inclined so as to extend downward toward the edge side of the one-side sheet portion.

  In the steering wheel airbag device of the present invention, the inflation gas that has flowed into the rectifying member from the gas inlet flows along the connecting portion disposed above the gas inlet, and the one-side seat portion From the gas outflow hole on the edge side on the direction side along the connection reference line, the gas flows out into the bag main body toward the outer peripheral edge side of the ring portion of the steering wheel. Moreover, in the airbag apparatus for steering wheels of this invention, the recessed part which forms a gas outflow hole is formed also in the center of the lower edge of each one side sheet | seat part mutually piled up. That is, the gas outflow hole is not formed by cutting out the one-side sheet portion into a hole shape, but is formed by cutting out from the lower edge of the one-side sheet portion. The curvature of the region up to can be made to substantially coincide with the inclined state (curved shape) of the coupling portion at the time of expansion, and also from the gas outflow hole constituted by this concave portion, the expansion gas outflow direction with respect to the ring surface Inflating so that the inclination is substantially coincident with the gas outflow hole arranged on the edge side on the direction side along the connection reference line of the one-side seat portion, and toward the outer peripheral edge side of the ring portion of the steering wheel. Gas can flow out into the bag body.

  As a result, in the steering wheel airbag device according to the present invention, the inflow direction of the inflation gas flowing out from the gas outflow hole of the rectifying member into the bag body is that of the two one-side seat portions constituting the rectifying member. Due to the inclination of the coupling portion arranged in the vicinity of the connection reference line, the flow direction of the expansion gas flowing out from the gas outflow hole can be deflected only by changing the inclination amount of the coupling portion (expansion gas). The amount of inclination with respect to the ring surface in the outflow direction can be changed). Therefore, for example, even when used for a steering wheel having a different ring diameter, the outflow direction of the expansion gas flowing out from the gas outflow hole is caused to flow toward the outer peripheral edge side of the ring portion according to the steering wheel used. Thus, it can be adjusted easily.

  Therefore, in the steering wheel airbag device of the present invention, the outflow direction of the inflation gas flowing out from the gas outflow hole of the rectifying member can be easily adjusted.

  Further, in the steering wheel airbag device of the present invention, the rectifying member is configured so that the inflation gas that has flowed into the interior of the steering wheel ring passes through four gas outlet holes that are arranged substantially radially around the gas inlet. Since it is configured to flow out radially toward the outer peripheral edge side of the part, it is possible to prevent the bag body from excessively protruding toward the driver side at the initial stage of inflation of the airbag and to follow the ring surface of the steering wheel. Can be widely deployed.

Furthermore, in the airbag device for a steering wheel of the present invention, the mounting portions are arranged in the vicinity of the four corners of the rectifying member in a state of being flattened,
The width of the rectifying member from the mounting part to the recessed part is measured at the lower edge when the two one-side sheet parts are overlapped with each other on the basis of the connection reference line. It is preferable to set the dimensions so that the bag cover can be arranged so as to protrude upward from the design surface.

  If the airbag device for a steering wheel has the above-described configuration, when the airbag is deployed and inflated, the region of the peripheral edge of the recess in the rectifying member can be reliably projected upward from the storage portion, and the airbag cover The inflating gas can smoothly flow out into the bag body from the recess (gas outflow hole) located in the bag.

  Furthermore, in the steering wheel airbag apparatus having the above configuration, if the rectifying member is arranged so that the connection reference line is substantially along the front-rear direction, the ring portion of the steering wheel is gripped. In the vicinity of both arms of the driver, a gas outflow hole constituted by the peripheral edge of the concave portion of the one-side seat portion is arranged, and the gas outflow hole constituted by the peripheral edge of the concave portion of the one-side seat portion is Compared to the gas outflow hole that is configured by the edge, the amount of protrusion outward from the center of the steering wheel is small. It is preferable because it can be prevented from flowing out toward both arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a steering wheel airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which an airbag at the time of completion of inflation is indicated by a two-dot chain line. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view at the time of vehicle mounting of the airbag apparatus for steering wheels of FIG. 1, and the airbag at the time of completion | finish of inflation is shown with the dashed-two dotted line. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view along the front-back direction which shows the state which expanded the airbag used for the airbag apparatus of FIG. 1 alone. FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view along the left-right direction in a state where the airbag of FIG. 3 is inflated alone, and corresponds to the IV-IV portion of FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the cloth material which comprises the airbag of FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a state in which a rectifying member used in the airbag of FIG. 3 is flatly deployed. It is a front view of the state which folded the rectification | straightening member of FIG. 6 on the basis of the connection reference line so that the one-side sheet | seat part may mutually overlap. It is a top view which shows the state which attached the member for rectification | straightening of FIG. 6 to the retainer. It is a bottom view which shows the state which attached the rectification | straightening member of FIG. 6 to the retainer. It is a schematic side view of the state which attached the rectification | straightening member of FIG. In the steering wheel airbag device of the embodiment, it is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the airbag has been completely inflated. It is a figure which shows the member for rectification | straightening of the other form of this invention, and shows the front view of the state folded in half, and the schematic side view of the state which attached to the steering wheel and was expanded independently. It is a figure which shows the member for rectification | straightening of the further another form of this invention, and shows the front view of the state folded in half, and the schematic side view of the state which attached to the steering wheel and was expanded independently. It is a front view of the state which folded in half the rectification member which is the further another form of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The steering wheel airbag device (hereinafter simply referred to as “airbag device”) M of the embodiment is mounted on a steering wheel W as shown in FIGS.

  In the embodiment, the front-rear, up-down, left-right directions are based on the straight-ahead steering of the steering wheel W mounted on the vehicle unless otherwise specified, and the steering shaft SS (see FIG. 2), the vertical direction is the vertical direction, the longitudinal direction of the vehicle that is orthogonal to the steering shaft SS is the longitudinal direction, and the lateral direction of the vehicle that is orthogonal to the steering shaft SS is the lateral direction.・ It indicates the vertical and horizontal directions.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steering wheel W includes a steering wheel main body 1 and an airbag device M disposed on the upper portion of the boss B at the center of the steering wheel main body 1 in the embodiment. It is configured. The steering wheel body 1 includes an annular ring portion R that is gripped at the time of steering, a boss portion B that is disposed substantially at the center of the ring portion R and connected to the steering shaft SS, and connects the boss portion B and the ring portion R. And a plurality of (four in the case of the embodiment) spoke portions S.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the steering wheel main body 1 includes a cored bar 2 made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy, which is disposed so as to connect the ring part R, the boss part B, and the spoke part S. . A synthetic resin coating layer 5 is coated on the ring portion R of the core metal 2 and the ring portion R of each spoke portion S. Further, a steel boss 3 for inserting the steering shaft SS and fastening the nut N is disposed at the boss portion B of the cored bar 2. Further, a lower cover 7 made of a synthetic resin that covers the lower portion of the boss portion B is disposed at the lower portion of the steering wheel body 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the airbag apparatus M according to the embodiment is disposed at the boss B at the substantially center of the steering wheel W, and the airbag 22 is stored in a folded state. An inflator 10 that supplies inflation gas, a case 11 that houses and holds the airbag 22 and the inflator 10, an airbag cover 15 that covers the folded airbag 22, an airbag 22 and an inflator 10 and a retainer 9 for attaching to the case 11. Since the boss B is disposed at a position slightly rearward from the center of the ring part R in the steering wheel W, the center of the airbag 22 is also slightly rearward from the center of the ring part R. The airbag 22 is mounted at the position, and the airbag 22 is inflated so as to cover the substantially entire surface of the ring portion R with the center shifted slightly rearward from the center of the ring portion R (FIG. 1, FIG. 1). 2).

  The retainer 9 is configured by disposing bolts 9b projecting downward at the four corners of a substantially square annular presser plate portion 9a into which the cylindrical main body portion 10a of the inflator 10 can be inserted from below. The retainer 9 is housed in the airbag 22 in a state where the bolt 9b protrudes from a mounting hole 26 described later of the airbag 22, and each bolt 9b is attached to the bottom of the case 11 when attached to the case 11. By projecting from the flange portion 10c of the inflator 10 through the wall portion 12 and fastening with a nut (not shown), the periphery of the gas inlet 25 of the airbag 22 is held between the holding plate portion 9a and the bottom wall portion 12. However, the inflator 10 is attached and fixed to the case (storage part) 11.

  The inflator 10 includes a substantially cylindrical main body portion 10a in which a gas discharge port 10b for discharging an inflation gas is disposed at an upper portion, and a substantially square plate-like flange portion 10c disposed so as to protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 10a. And. A through hole (not shown) through which the bolt 9b of the retainer 9 passes is formed in the flange portion 10c.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the case 11 as a storage part is made of sheet metal, and includes a rectangular plate-like bottom wall portion 12 and a side wall portion 13 that extends vertically from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 12. ing. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom wall portion 12 is formed with an insertion hole 12 a that is circularly opened so that the main body portion 10 a of the inflator 10 can be inserted from below, and a bolt 9 b of the retainer 9 is passed through the periphery thereof. Four through holes 12b are formed (see FIG. 1). A mounting piece 13a extending outward is formed on the upper end of the side wall 13 (see FIG. 1), and a mounting board for a horn switch mechanism (not shown) is mounted on the mounting piece 13a. In the case of the embodiment, the case 11 is attached and fixed to the cored bar 2 of the steering wheel W using the mounting board (not shown), and the airbag apparatus M is mounted on the steering shaft SS. It will be mounted on the upper part of the boss B. A side wall 18 of the airbag cover 15 is attached to the side wall 13 of the case 11 using a rivet 19 or the like (see FIG. 2).

  The airbag cover 15 is made of synthetic resin, and includes a ceiling wall portion 16 that covers the upper portion of the airbag 20 housed in the case 11, and a substantially rectangular tubular side wall portion 18 that extends downward from the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion 16. And is configured. The ceiling wall portion 16 is formed with two door portions 17 that are pushed by an inflating airbag and open forward and backward. And in embodiment, the design surface 16a of the airbag cover 15 is comprised from the outer surface (upper side surface) of the ceiling wall part 16 (refer FIG. 2).

  The airbag 22 includes a bag-shaped bag body 23 having flexibility, and a rectifying member 31 disposed in the bag body 23.

  As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bag main body 23 is configured as an approximately disc shape that covers the entire upper surface of the steering wheel W over the entire upper surface of the steering wheel W. The bag body 23 is formed of a flexible sheet material, and is configured as an inflatable bag shape by allowing an inflation gas to flow therein. In the case of the embodiment, a polyamide yarn, a polyester yarn, etc. It is formed from the flexible woven fabric which consists of. In the case of the embodiment, the bag body 23 has the same substantially circular outer shape, the vehicle body side wall portion 24 arranged on the steering wheel W side when the inflation is completed, and the driver side wall portion arranged on the driver side when the inflation is completed. 29, and the outer peripheral edges of the vehicle body side wall portion 24 and the driver side wall portion 29 are sewn (coupled) using a suture thread to form a bag shape (FIG. 3, FIG. 3). 4).

  In the center of the vehicle body side wall 24, as shown in FIG. 5, the main body 10a of the inflator 10 is inserted from below, and the inflation gas discharged from the gas discharge port 10b of the inflator 10 is put into the bag main body 23. A gas inlet 25 for inflow is formed in a circular opening. Further, four mounting holes 26 through which the bolts 9b formed in the retainer 9 are inserted are formed in the periphery of the gas inlet 25 in the vehicle body side wall 24. Furthermore, vent holes 27 for exhausting excess inflation gas that has flowed into the bag body 23 are located in two symmetrical positions in the vehicle body side wall 24 in the region in front of the gas inlet 25. Is formed.

  The rectifying member 31 is composed of a flexible sheet material. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rectifying member 31 is provided in the bag main body 23 so as to cover the upper side of the gas inlet 25 of the bag main body 23. Is arranged. The rectifying member 31 has a substantially rectangular sheet shape having four edge portions (a front edge 31a, a rear edge 31b, a left edge 31c, and a right edge 31d). Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the rectifying member 31 has a substantially square shape that is flattened so that a later-described portion of the coupling portion 38 is tilted to one side. In addition, the front edge 31a and the rear edge 31b are attached to the bag body 23 so that the front edge 31a and the rear edge 31b are substantially along the left-right direction, and the left edge 31c and the right edge 31d are substantially along the front-rear direction. That is, in the rectifying member 31, a front edge 31a and a rear edge 31b intersecting with a connection reference line CL, which will be described later, are substantially straight and parallel to each other. The rectifying member 31 has four attachment portions 32 attached to the case 11 side between adjacent edges (front edge 31a, rear edge 31b, left edge 31c, right edge 31d). In the rectifying member 31 of the embodiment, the attachment portions 32 are arranged at the four corners, and attachment holes 32a into which the respective bolts 9b of the retainer 9 can be inserted are formed at the portions of the attachment portions 32 at the four corners. .

  Further, the rectifying member 31 of the embodiment is composed of a single sheet material. As shown in FIG. 6, a pair of left edge 31c and right edge 31d facing each other in a state of being flattened are provided. Two unilateral sheet portions 37, 37 that overlap each other as the same substantially rectangular shape when folded in half with respect to the connection reference line CP passing through the center between the left edge 31c and the right edge 31d so as to overlap. (See FIG. 7). In the case of the embodiment, the one-side sheet portions 37, 37 have a substantially rectangular shape that is wide on the front-rear direction side.

  In each of the one-side sheet portions 37, 37, the rectifying member 31 is folded in half with respect to the connection reference line CL, and the one-side sheet on the upper edge 37a side when the connection reference line CL is arranged on the upper edge side. A coupling portion 38 that couples the portions 37 and 37 to each other is disposed. In the case of the embodiment, the coupling portion 38 is formed by sewing the one-side sheet portions 37, 37 using a suture thread, and is formed over substantially the entire area before and after the one-side sheet portion 37. . Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the coupling portion 38 is formed to be inclined so as to extend downward toward the front and rear edge portions (end portions 38a and 38b). Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, the coupling portion 38 is symmetric with respect to the center in the front-rear direction, the front-rear center 38c is positioned upward, and the front and rear end portions 38a, 38b are directed downward. It is gently curved so as to be positioned. The coupling portion 38 is arranged so that the center 38c is brought close to the upper edge 37a of each one-side seat portion 37, and the inclination amount (bending amount) toward the end portions 38a and 38b is set to be equal to that of the airbag 22. The expansion gas that has flowed into the rectifying member 31 at the time of expansion and expansion is set to an inclination amount that can flow out from a first gas outflow hole 34 to be described later toward the outer peripheral side of the ring portion R of the steering wheel W. Yes.

  Further, in each one-side sheet portion 37, the lower edge 37 b is connected to the center of the lower edge 37 b in a state where the connection reference line CL (coupling portion 38) is arranged on the upper edge 37 a side so as to continue from the lower edge 37 b. A recess 39 is formed so as to be cut out in a substantially inverted V shape. In the embodiment, when the rectifying member 31 is expanded, the notch amount of the concave portion 39 is defined by the opening area of the second gas outflow hole 35 that is configured by the concave portion 39 as a first gas outflow hole 34 described later. Is set so as to substantially match the opening area. In the case of the embodiment, the rectifying member 31 is made of a flexible woven fabric made of polyamide yarn, polyester yarn, or the like, similarly to the vehicle body side wall portion 24 and the driver side wall portion 29 constituting the bag body 23. Is formed. In the rectifying member 31 of the embodiment, the connection reference line CL is coincident with the upper edge 37a of each one-side sheet portion 37 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the rectifying member 31 of the embodiment is configured to fold the region of the coupling portion 38 with a line that connects the end portions 38a and 38b while separating the left edge 31c and the right edge 31d from each other. The width dimension W1 on the left and right direction side (the direction side perpendicular to the connection reference line CL described later) is set slightly larger than the width dimension W2 on the front and rear direction side. Yes. In the case of the embodiment, the rectifying member 31 has the front and rear, left and right width dimensions W1, W2 as shown in FIG. 11 when the airbag 22 (bag body 23) is deployed and inflated. The four edge portions (front edge 31a, rear edge 31b, left edge 31c, right edge 31d) are set to dimensions that can be positioned above the design surface 16a of the airbag cover 15. . More specifically, each one-side sheet portion 37 has a width dimension W3 (see FIG. 7) from both ends on the lower edge 37b side constituting the attachment portion 32 to the recess 39, and is recessed when the airbag 22 is deployed. 39 is set to a dimension that allows the peripheral edge to protrude above the design surface 16 a of the airbag cover 15.

  In the rectifying member 31 of the embodiment, the regions on the four edge portions (front edge 31a, rear edge 31b, left edge 31c, right edge 31d) side, which are regions between the mounting portions 32 at the four corners, are gas outflow holes. As the (first gas outflow hole 34, second gas outflow hole 35), the expansion gas G that has flowed into the interior from these gas outflow holes (first gas outflow hole 34, second gas outflow hole 35) In the left and right sides and toward the outer peripheral edge of the ring portion R of the steering wheel W, the air flows into the bag body 23 by being rectified. Specifically, in the rectifying member 31, on the front edge 31a side and the rear edge 31b side, which are edges on the direction side along the connection reference line CL, as shown in FIGS. The front edge 31a and the rear edge 31b itself of 31 will comprise the periphery of the 1st gas outflow holes 34 and 34 which let the gas for expansion flow out to the front and back both sides. Further, in the rectifying member 31, on the left edge 31c side and the right edge 31d side which are edges on the direction side substantially orthogonal to the connection reference line CL, as shown in FIGS. The peripheral edge of the formed recess 39 constitutes the peripheral edge of the second gas outflow holes 35 and 35 through which the expansion gas flows out to the left and right sides.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the rectifying member 31 has the bolts 9 b of the retainer 9 inserted through the mounting holes 32 a of the mounting portions 32 arranged at the four corners, so Since the retainer 9 is used to shrink the region on the edge 37b side, the retainer 9 is attached to the bottom wall portion 12 of the case 11, so that when the inflator 10 is operated, the inflation gas is introduced into the interior, and both the front and rear sides are opened. It swells to be bent in the front-rear direction side so that the center in the front-rear direction largely protrudes upward. Therefore, in the expanded rectifying member 31, the coupling portion 38 is greatly curved so that the center protrudes further upward, and the front edge 31a and the rear edge 31b are vertically moved so that the upper side faces outward. Projecting upward from the design surface 16a of the airbag cover 15 while inclining with respect to the direction (inclining the opening surface of the first gas outflow hole 34 formed of the opening on both front and rear edges with respect to the vertical direction) It becomes. And in the airbag 22 of embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, it protrudes upwards from the design surface 16a of the airbag cover 15 in the opening by the front edge 31a side of the rectification | straightening member 31, and the rear edge 31b side. The region is defined as a first gas outflow hole 34, and is an opening constituted by a region of a recess 39 protruding above the design surface 16a of the airbag cover 15 on the left side and the right side in the vicinity of the center before and after the rectifying member 31. As a second gas outflow hole 35, the expansion gas G flows out from the first gas outflow hole 34 and the second gas outflow hole 36 in the front-rear and left-right directions.

  Next, the mounting of the airbag device M of the embodiment on a vehicle will be described. The retainer 9 with the rectifying member 31 attached is manufactured in advance so that the bolt 9b protrudes from the attachment hole 32a. The bag 9 is inserted into the bag body 23 using the gas inlet 25 and the bolts 9 b are projected from the mounting holes 26. At this time, each attachment portion 32 of the rectifying member 31 is interposed between the holding plate portion 9 a of the retainer 9 and the peripheral portion of the gas inlet 25. Thereafter, the bag body 23 is folded so as to be housed in the case 11 from a state where the bag body 23 is flatly deployed so that the vehicle body side wall portion 24 and the driver side wall portion 29 overlap, and the airbag 22 is folded so as not to collapse. Is wrapped around with a predetermined anti-collapse material. Next, the airbag 22 is housed on the bottom wall portion 12 of the case 11 so that each bolt 9b of the retainer 9 protrudes from the through hole 12b, and the main body portion 10a of the inflator 10 is further moved downward from the bottom wall portion 12. The air bag 22 and the inflator 10 can be attached to the case 11 by simultaneously inserting the bolts 9b of the retainer 9 through the flange portion 10c and fastening with nuts. 31 can be attached to the bottom wall portion 12 of the case 11. Further, by covering the case 11 with the airbag cover 15 and connecting the side wall portions 13 and 18 to each other using the rivet 19 or the like, the airbag cover 15 is attached to the case 11 and then attached to the case attachment piece 13a. If the horn switch mechanism (not shown) is assembled, the airbag apparatus M can be assembled. The airbag device M can be mounted on a vehicle if it is attached to the steering wheel body 1 that has been fastened to the steering shaft SS in advance using an attachment board (not shown) of the horn switch mechanism.

  If the traveling vehicle collides after the airbag device M is mounted on the vehicle, the inflator 10 operates to discharge the inflation gas from the gas discharge port 10b, and the airbag 22 (bag body 23) Then, the inflation gas is caused to flow inside to inflate, push open the door portion 17 formed on the airbag cover 15, protrude from the case 11, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 11. Further, the expansion is completed so as to cover the entire upper surface side of the steering wheel W.

  And in the airbag apparatus M of embodiment, the rectification | straightening member 31 arrange | positioned in the bag main body 23 is a substantially square which has four edge parts (The front edge 31a, the rear edge 31b, the left edge 31c, and the right edge 31d). As a sheet-like shape, four locations (four corners in the embodiment) between adjacent edges (front edge 31a, rear edge 31b, left edge 31c, right edge 31d) of the gas inlet 25 of the bag body 23 When attached to the case 11 side together with the peripheral edge and folded in half with respect to a connection reference line CL passing through the center between a pair of left edge 31c and right edge 31d facing each other in a flat developed state, the outer shape is made substantially the same. It is comprised from the two one-side sheet | seat parts 37 and 37 which mutually overlap. In the one-side sheet portions 37 in a state of being overlapped with each other, the connecting reference line CL side (upper edge 37a side) is coupled to each other and is the front-rear direction which is the direction side along the connecting reference line CL. A connecting portion 38 that is inclined so as to extend downward toward the edges (the front edge 31a and the rear edge 31b) is formed. That is, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the one-side seat portions 37 and 37 constituting the rectifying member 31 are configured to be overlapped on the direction side orthogonal to the ring surface Ra of the steering wheel W, and this one-side seat portion. The coupling portion 38 that couples 37 and 37 is disposed at a position above the design surface 16a of the airbag cover 15 so as to protrude upward from the case 11 when the airbag 22 is inflated, and at the center 38c. It is formed to be inclined so as to extend downward toward the edge side of the one-side sheet portion 37 so that the side is positioned upward and the both end portions 38a and 38b are positioned downward.

  In the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the inflation gas G that has flowed into the rectifying member 31 from the gas inlet 25 of the bag main body 23 is along the coupling portion 38 disposed above the gas inlet 25. The steering wheel W from the first gas outflow holes 34, 34 on the side of the front edge 31a and the rear edge 31b, which are edges on the direction side (front-rear direction side) along the connection reference line CL in the one-side seat portion 37. Inclined with respect to the ring surface Ra of the steering wheel W, it flows out into the bag main body 23 so as to go toward the outer peripheral edge side of the ring portion R of the steering wheel W. Further, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the concave portion 39 that forms the second gas outflow hole 35 also in the center of the lower edge 37b (the left edge 31c and the right edge 31d of the rectifying member 31) of each one-side seat portion 37. Is formed. Since the second gas outflow hole 35 is formed by cutting out the one-side sheet portion 37 in a hole shape and continuing from the lower edge 37b of the one-side sheet portion 37, the one-side sheet portion at the time of expansion is formed. The curvature of the region from the coupling portion 38 to the concave portion 39 of the 37 can be made to substantially coincide with the inclined state (curved shape) of the coupling portion 38 at the time of expansion, and the second gas outflow hole 35 constituted by this concave portion 39. Also, the inclination of the inflow direction of the expansion gas with respect to the ring surface Ra is made to substantially coincide with the first gas outflow hole 34 arranged on the end edge side of the one-side seat portion 37 so that the ring portion R of the steering wheel W The inflation gas G can flow out into the bag body 23 so as to go to the outer peripheral edge side.

  As a result, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the outflow direction of the inflation gas flowing out from the first gas outflow hole 34 and the second gas outflow hole 35 formed in the rectifying member 31 into the bag body 23 is This is due to the inclination of the coupling portion 38 arranged in the vicinity of the connection reference line CL of the two one-side sheet portions 37 constituting the rectifying member 31. Therefore, only by changing the inclination amount of the coupling portion 38, the first The direction of the flow of the expansion gas flowing out from the gas outflow hole 34 and the second gas outflow hole 35 can be deflected (the amount of inclination with respect to the ring surface Ra in the outflow direction of the expansion gas can be changed). For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the distance D2 from the upper edge 37a to the end portions 38a and 38b of the coupling portion 38A is set to the distance from the upper edge 37a to the end portions 38a and 38b of the coupling portion 38A. If the rectifying member 31A having a larger inclination amount of the coupling portion 38A than the distance D1 (see FIG. 7) is used, the expansion gas from the first gas outflow holes 34A and the second gas outflow holes 35A The amount of inclination with respect to the ring surface Ra in the outflow direction can be increased, which is suitable for the ring portion R1 having a small diameter shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 12B. Conversely, as shown in FIG. D3 from the upper edge 37a of the rectifying member 31 to the ends 38a, 38b of the coupling part 38A is made smaller than the distance D1 from the upper edge 37a of the rectifying member 31 to the end part 38a, 38b of the coupling part 38B. If the rectifying member 31B with a reduced amount is used, the amount of inclination of the expansion gas from the first gas outflow holes 34B and the second gas outflow holes 35B with respect to the ring surface Ra in the outflow direction can be reduced. This is suitable for the ring portion R2 having a large diameter indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Therefore, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, for example, even when used for a steering wheel having a different ring diameter, the air flows out from the first gas outflow hole 34 and the second gas outflow hole 35 according to the steering wheel to be used. The flow direction of the expansion gas is easily adjusted so as to flow toward the outer peripheral edge of the ring portion R.

  Therefore, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the outflow direction of the inflation gas G flowing out from the first gas outflow hole 34 and the second gas outflow hole 35 of the rectifying member 31 into the bag body 23 is easily adjusted. be able to.

  Further, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the rectifying member 31 includes four gas outflow holes (first gas outflow holes) in which the inflating gas that has flowed into the inside thereof is arranged substantially radially around the gas inlet 25. 34, since the second gas outflow hole 35) is configured to flow out radially in the front-rear and left-right directions toward the outer peripheral edge of the ring portion R of the steering wheel W. Thus, it is possible to suppress the protrusion to the driver side excessively and to widely develop the ring along the ring surface Ra of the steering wheel W.

  Furthermore, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, from the attachment portion 32 to the recess 39 in the rectifying member 31 at the lower edge 37b when the two one-side seat portions 37 are stacked on the basis of the connection reference line CL. The width dimension W3 is set to a dimension that allows the periphery of the recess 39 to protrude above the design surface 16a of the airbag cover 15 when the airbag 22 is deployed and inflated. Therefore, when the airbag 22 is deployed and inflated, as shown in FIG. 11, the entire region of the periphery of the recess 39 in the rectifying member 31 can be reliably projected upward from the case 11. The inflating gas can smoothly flow out into the bag body 23 from the concave portion 39 (second gas outflow hole 35) positioned above. Of course, if such a point is not taken into consideration, the width dimension from the mounting portion to the recess in the rectifying member is set small, and when the airbag is deployed and inflated, only a part of the periphery of the recess is designed on the design of the airbag cover. It is good also as a structure which makes it protrude more upwards.

  In the embodiment, the concave portion 39 constituting the second gas outflow hole 35 is formed by cutting out the lower edge 37b of the one-side sheet portion 37 into a substantially inverted V shape. For example, a slit may be formed in a slit shape from the lower edge, and the recess may be configured from the cut. In the embodiment, the notch amount of the concave portion 39 is defined as the opening area of the second gas outflow hole 35 constituted by the concave portion 39 when the straightening member 31 is expanded, and the opening area of the first gas outflow hole 34. However, the present invention is of course not limited to this, and the opening area of the second gas outflow hole whose peripheral edge is constituted by the recess is smaller than the opening area of the first gas outflow hole. As such, the notch amount of the recess may be set.

  Furthermore, in the airbag apparatus M of the embodiment, the rectifying member 31 is disposed so that the connection reference line CL is substantially along the front-rear direction, so that the ring portion R of the steering wheel W is gripped. The second gas outflow hole 35 constituted by the concave portion 39 of the one-side seat portion 37 is disposed in the vicinity of both the arms of the driver who is driving, and the second gas outflow hole 35 includes the front edge 31a and the rear edge. Compared with the first gas outflow hole 34 that is configured by the edge 31b, the amount of outward protrusion from the center of the steering wheel W is small. It is possible to suppress the outflow toward the driver's arms. Of course, if this point is not taken into consideration, the rectifying member 31 may be arranged so that the connection reference line CL is substantially along the left-right direction. In the embodiment, the coupling portion 38 formed in the one-side sheet portion 37 is symmetric in the front-rear direction, and the first gas outflow holes 34, 34 arranged in the front-rear direction are configured so that the opening areas are substantially the same. However, for example, in order to quickly deploy between the steering wheel and the abdomen of the driver in the early stage of expansion, the opening of the gas outflow hole arranged on the rear side is made different in the amount of inclination of the coupling part. You may set so that an area may be larger than the opening area of the gas outflow hole arrange | positioned at the front side.

  In addition, in embodiment, although the coupling | bond part 38 which couple | bonded the one-side sheet | seat parts 37 and 37 mutually is a structure curved gently, the external shape of a coupling | bond part is not restricted to this, For example, It is good also as a structure made to incline substantially linearly. In the embodiment, the coupling portion 38 is formed by sewing the one-side sheet portions 37, 37 using a suture thread, but the coupling means is not limited to this, and for example, the one-side sheet You may form a coupling | bond part by joining parts mutually using an adhesive agent etc. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the rectifying member 31 is composed of a single base material. However, as in the embodiment, in the case of a configuration in which the coupling portion is disposed over the entire front and rear side on the upper edge side of the one-side sheet portion. Alternatively, the rectifying member may be formed by sewing (joining) two one-sided sheet parts made of separate members at the joint part. Further, when the rectifying member is formed from one sheet material, as in the rectifying member 31C shown in FIG. 14, the stitching portions 43 and 43 for sewing the one-side sheet portions 37C and 37C to each other using a suture thread, It is good also as a structure arrange | positioned partially. Specifically, in the rectifying member 31C of FIG. 14, only a part of the front edge side and the rear edge side is provided on the upper edge side of the one-side sheet portion 37C that is in the vicinity of the connection reference line CL when the base material 42 is folded in half. The stitching portions 43 and 43 are arranged on a part of the front edge side and the rear edge side by sewing with a suture thread. Each stitched portion 43, 43 is formed to be inclined so as to intersect the connection reference line CL and extend downward toward the edge in the front-rear direction. In the rectifying member 31C having such a configuration, The coupling portion 38 </ b> C includes a portion 42 a around the connection reference line CL in the base material 42, and stitching portions 43 and 43.

9 ... Retainer,
10 ... Inflator,
11 ... Case (storage part),
12 ... bottom wall (mounting surface),
15 ... Airbag cover,
16 ... ceiling wall,
16a ... design surface,
22 ... Airbag,
23 ... Bag body,
25 ... Gas inlet,
31 ... Rectifying member,
32 ... Mounting part,
34. First gas outflow hole,
35 ... second gas outflow hole,
37 ... one side sheet part,
37a ... upper edge,
37b ... lower edge,
38 ... the coupling part,
39 ... recess,
CL: Connection reference line,
R ... Ring part,
Ra ... Ring surface,
W ... Steering wheel,
M: An airbag device for a steering wheel.

Claims (3)

An airbag that is folded and stored in a storage portion of the steering wheel, an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag, and an airbag cover that covers the folded airbag,
The airbag is
A flexible bag-like shape is formed, and an inflating gas discharged from the inflator is caused to flow into the inside through a gas inflow port so as to cover the entire upper surface of the steering wheel. A bag body that expands into a plate shape;
A rectifying member arranged in the bag main body so as to cover the upper side of the gas inlet of the bag main body while being made of a flexible sheet material,
An air bag device for a steering wheel having a configuration comprising:
The rectifying member is
The sheet is formed into a substantially quadrangular sheet shape having four edges, and the storage is carried out together with the peripheral edge of the gas inlet in the bag body at the attachment portion at four places between the adjacent edges. At the same time, the four edge regions are located above the design surface of the airbag cover and flow into the interior through the gas inlet when the airbag is deployed and inflated. The gas for inflating is configured to be the gas outflow hole that rectifies and flows out into the bag body so as to go to the outer peripheral edge side of the ring portion of the steering wheel,
When folded in half with respect to a connection reference line passing through the center between the pair of edges so as to overlap each other with a pair of opposite edges in a flat unfolded state, the outer shapes are substantially identical and overlap each other. As a structure consisting of one side sheet part,
When the two one-side sheet portions are arranged on the upper edge side and overlap each other with the connection reference line as a reference,
The upper edge side includes a coupling portion that is coupled to each other and is inclined so as to extend downward toward the edge portion on the direction side along the connection reference line,
In the center of the lower edge, provided with a recess that overlaps each other to form the gas outflow hole,
A steering wheel airbag apparatus, wherein an edge on a direction side along the connection reference line is configured as a peripheral edge of another gas outflow hole. The mounting portion is disposed in the vicinity of the four corners of the rectifying member in a state of being flatly developed,
Deploying and inflating the airbag according to the width of the rectifying member from the mounting portion to the recess at the lower edge when the two one-side sheet portions overlap each other with the connection reference line as a reference 2. The airbag apparatus for a steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the peripheral edges of the recesses is set to a dimension that can be disposed by protruding upward from a design surface of the airbag cover.   The airbag apparatus for a steering wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rectifying member is arranged so that the connection reference line is substantially along the front-rear direction.

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