JP2017226395A - Airbag device for front passenger seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively constrain an occupant who is seated on a front passenger seat by using a center bag part at an oblique collision of a vehicle even if a vent hole is formed at the center bag part.SOLUTION: In an airbag device 20 for a front passenger seat, an airbag 24 has a main body bag part 26 and a center bag part 28, and a protrusion 28B of the center bag part 28 is protruded to a rear side rather than the main body bag part 26. Furthermore, a second tither 36 is arranged in the center bag part 28, and the second tither 36 connects a sewing part 24A1 of a boundary 24A between the main body bag part 26 and the protrusion 28B and a side part of the center bag part 28 to each other. Here, a second vent hole 28H formed at the center bag part 28 is arranged at a rear side rather than the second tither 36. Therefore, even if a head part H of an occupant P seated on a front passenger seat abuts on the protrusion 28B at an oblique collision, it can be avoided that the center bag part 28 is bent with a region at a front side rather than the second tither 36 as a starting point. By this constitution, the head part H can be effectively constrained by the center bag part 28.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a passenger seat airbag device.

  In the passenger seat airbag device described in Patent Document 1 below, a cushion (airbag) is inflated and deployed on the front side of the passenger's occupant's vehicle, and the vehicle width of the passenger bag. And a center bag (center bag portion) that is inflated and deployed on the center side in the direction. As a result, the head of the passenger in the passenger seat who moves diagonally forward in the center in the vehicle width direction when the vehicle collides obliquely can be restrained by the center bag. In addition, there exist some which were described in following patent document 2-patent document 4 as an airbag apparatus provided with the airbag containing a center bag.

International Publication No. 2016/002384 JP, 2006-040160, A JP, 2006-0410155, A JP 2006-037131 A

  By the way, in the above-described passenger airbag device, a pair of vent holes (exhaust ports) are formed on the outer side surface of the passenger bag in the vehicle width direction. However, from the viewpoint of exhausting the gas in the cushion in a well-balanced manner, it is desirable to form vent holes in each of the passenger bag and the center bag, but in this case, the following points are concerned. In other words, when the vent hole is formed in the center bag, the center bag falls to the center side in the vehicle width direction starting from the vent hole formation site when the head of the passenger seat passenger is restrained by the center bag in the event of an oblique vehicle collision. There is a case. For this reason, in this case, there is a possibility that the head or the like of the passenger in the passenger seat cannot be effectively restrained by the center bag.

  In view of the above facts, the present invention provides a passenger seat airbag device that can effectively restrain a passenger in a passenger seat by the center bag portion even when a vent hole is formed in the center bag portion, at the time of an oblique vehicle collision. With the goal.

  An airbag device for a passenger seat of the present disclosure that solves the above-described problems is inflated and deployed by receiving gas supplied from an inflator, and inflated and deployed on the front side of a passenger of a passenger in the passenger seat, and the body bag A center bag that is inflated and deployed on the center side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rear portion, and whose rear end portion projects obliquely forward in the vehicle width direction center side with respect to the passenger seat occupant head more toward the vehicle rear side than the main body bag portion An airbag configured to include a portion, and a boundary portion between the main body bag portion and the center bag portion at a rear portion of the airbag, and the main body bag portion and the center bag portion are separated in the vehicle width direction. The boundary portion where the slit is formed, and one end portion are coupled to a portion of the boundary portion closer to the vehicle front side than the slit, and the other end extends from the one end portion toward the center in the vehicle width direction. A tether coupled to the center bag portion, a first vent hole formed in the main body bag portion, and a second vent hole formed in the center bag portion and disposed on the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the tether. It is equipped with.

  In the passenger seat airbag device configured as described above, the airbag that is inflated and deployed upon supply of gas from the inflator has a main body bag portion that is inflated and deployed on the front side of the passenger seat occupant, and a main body bag portion. And a center bag portion that is inflated and deployed on the center side in the vehicle width direction. Further, the rear end portion of the center bag portion protrudes toward the vehicle rear side from the main body bag portion, and is disposed obliquely forward in the vehicle width direction center side with respect to the head of the passenger on the passenger seat.

  Furthermore, a slit is formed in a boundary portion that constitutes a boundary portion between the main body bag portion and the center bag portion in the rear portion of the airbag, and the main body bag portion and the center bag portion are separated in the vehicle width direction by the slit. Yes. For this reason, when the head of the passenger seat occupant moves diagonally forward in the center in the vehicle width direction when the vehicle collides obliquely, the head enters the slit and is sandwiched between the main body bag portion and the center bag portion. As a result, the head of the passenger seat occupant can be prevented from rotating around the neck line.

  Furthermore, one end portion of the tether is coupled to the vehicle front side portion of the slit at the boundary portion, the tether extends from the one end portion in the vehicle width direction, and the other end portion of the tether is the side portion of the center bag portion. Is bound to. For this reason, when the head of the passenger in the passenger seat that has entered the slit reaches the bottom of the slit, the tension of the tether acting in the extending direction of the tether (vehicle width direction) increases, and the tether moves the center bag portion. Pull outward in the width direction (center bag side). As a result, the center bag portion is prevented from falling toward the center in the vehicle width direction (the side opposite to the center bag) by the tether, and the center bag portion and the main body bag portion maintain the restrained state of the passenger seat occupant's head. The

  In addition, a first vent hole is formed in the main body bag portion, and a second vent hole is formed in the center bag portion. For this reason, it is suppressed that the gas in an airbag is discharged | emitted from the right and left 1st vent holes and the 2nd vent hole with sufficient balance, and the internal pressure in an airbag becomes high too much.

  By the way, when the head of the passenger seat occupant moving diagonally forward in the vehicle width direction at the time of an oblique vehicle collision hits the rear end portion of the center bag portion, the load in the vehicle width direction central side obliquely forward is applied to the rear end portion. Works.

  Here, the second vent hole is arranged on the rear side of the vehicle with respect to the tether. In other words, the second vent hole forming portion having a relatively low bending rigidity is not arranged on the vehicle front side of the tether. For this reason, compared with the case where the 2nd vent hole is arrange | positioned ahead of a vehicle rather than a tether, the formation site | part of the 2nd vent hole when the said load acts on the rear-end part of a center bag part at the time of the diagonal collision of a vehicle It is possible to suppress the center bag portion from falling toward the center in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, even if the vent hole is formed in the center bag portion, the passenger in the passenger seat can be effectively restrained by the center bag portion at the time of the oblique collision of the vehicle.

  As described above, according to the airbag device for a passenger seat of the present disclosure, even if a vent hole is formed in the center bag portion, the passenger in the passenger seat can be effectively restrained by the center bag portion at the time of an oblique collision of the vehicle. it can.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway plan view showing an inflated and deployed state of an airbag in a passenger seat airbag device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a right side portion of the front portion of the cabin of the vehicle to which the passenger seat airbag device shown in FIG. 1 is applied, and is a view showing an inflated and deployed state of the airbag. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the airbag shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a partially broken state in which the head of the passenger in the passenger seat is restrained by the airbag shown in FIG. 1 when the vehicle collides obliquely. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a state where the head of the passenger in the passenger seat is restrained by the airbag of the airbag device for the passenger seat in the comparative example at the time of the oblique collision of the vehicle.

  Hereinafter, the airbag device 20 for a passenger seat according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, arrow FR, arrow UP, and arrow RH, which are appropriately shown in the drawings, respectively indicate the front, upper, and right sides of an automobile (vehicle) V (see FIG. 2) to which the passenger seat airbag device 20 is applied. . Hereinafter, when simply using the front-rear, up-down, left-right directions, unless otherwise indicated, the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the up-down direction of the vehicle, the left-right direction of the vehicle (vehicle width direction) are shown. To do. In the following description, first, a schematic configuration inside the automobile V and a schematic configuration of the passenger seat airbag device 20 will be described, and then a main part of the passenger seat airbag device 20 will be described.

(Schematic configuration inside the automobile V)
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the right side portion of the front portion in the cabin C of the automobile V to which the passenger seat airbag device 20 is applied. FIG. 2 shows a state in which an airbag 24 of a passenger seat airbag device 20 described later is inflated and deployed. As shown in this figure, a vehicle seat 10 for a passenger seat is disposed on the right side of the front portion of the cabin C. The vehicle seat 10 includes a seat cushion 10A on which an occupant P (hereinafter referred to as “passenger seat occupant P”) is seated, and a seat back 10B that supports the back of the passenger occupant P. The lower end portion of the back 10B is connected to the rear end portion of the seat cushion 10A.

  The vehicle seat 10 is provided with a seat belt device (not shown) for restraining passengers, and the seat belt device is a so-called three-point seat belt device. Therefore, the waist of the passenger seat occupant P is restrained by the lap belt, and the upper body of the passenger seat occupant P is restrained by the shoulder belt. The passenger seat P described above is a dummy doll of AM50 (50th percentile of an American adult male). Hereinafter, the passenger seat passenger P may be referred to as “AM50 dummy P”.

  A vehicle seat for a driver's seat (not shown) is disposed on the left side of the vehicle seat 10. That is, the vehicle V of the present embodiment is a left-hand drive specification vehicle. A center console 12 is disposed in the center of the vehicle V in the vehicle width direction (specifically, between the vehicle seat for the driver's seat and the vehicle seat 10 for the passenger seat). That is, the automobile V of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the central seat is not disposed between the vehicle seat for the driver's seat and the vehicle seat 10 for the passenger seat. The vehicle V may be configured not to include the center console 12 (for example, a configuration in which the path between the left and right vehicle seats 10 can be used).

  An instrument panel 14 extending in the vehicle width direction is provided on the front side of the vehicle seat 10, and a center panel 14 </ b> A is provided in the center of the instrument panel 14 in the vehicle width direction. The front end of the center console 12 described above is connected to the center panel 14A.

(Schematic configuration of passenger seat airbag device 20)
As shown in FIG. 2, the passenger airbag device 20 includes a module case 22, an airbag 24, and an inflator 40 that is a gas generator. The passenger seat airbag device 20 includes a first tether 34 and a second tether 36 as a “tether” disposed inside the airbag 24. Hereinafter, each structure of the airbag apparatus 20 for passenger seats is demonstrated. The first tether 34 and the second tether 36 will be described in the main part of the passenger seat airbag device 20.

  The module case 22 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape opened upward. The module case 22 is disposed inside the instrument panel 14 on the front side with respect to the vehicle seat 10 (on the side opposite to the cabin C). Further, the center line (not shown) in the vehicle width direction of the module case 22 is set at a position substantially coincident with the center line (not shown) in the seat width direction of the vehicle seat 10. Further, the module case 22 is supported by an instrument panel reinforcement (not shown) or the like extending in the vehicle width direction inside the instrument panel 14. The instrument panel 14 is formed with an airbag door (not shown) at a portion covering the module case 22 from above.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag 24 is formed in a bag shape by sewing a plurality of base fabrics with each other at the outer periphery. The airbag 24 is stored in the module case 22 in a normally folded state. And the gas which generate | occur | produces by the inflator 40 mentioned later is supplied to the inside of the airbag 24, and the airbag 24 is the structure expand | swelled and deployed on the outer side (cabin C side) of the instrument panel 14. FIG. The airbag 24 includes a main body bag portion 26 that is inflated and deployed in front of the passenger seat occupant P, and a center bag portion 28 that is inflated and deployed on the center side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the main body bag portion 26. Has been.

  The main body bag portion 26 includes a left bag portion 26L that constitutes the left side portion of the main body bag portion 26 and a right bag portion 26R that constitutes the right side portion of the main body bag portion 26, and is substantially in plan view. Inflated and deployed in a symmetrical shape. Further, the boundary line between the left bag portion 26L and the right bag portion 26R (that is, the center line in the vehicle width direction of the main body bag portion 26) is configured to substantially coincide with the center line in the vehicle width direction of the module case 22. In addition, a recessed portion 26B that is open to the rear side is formed at the center in the vehicle width direction (the portion between the left bag portion 26L and the right bag portion 26R) at the rear end portion of the inflated and deployed main body bag portion 26. Thus, the recess 26B is positioned in front of the head H of the passenger seat occupant P. A surface facing the rear of the left bag portion 26L and the right bag portion 26R in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 24 is an occupant restraint surface 26A, and the passenger seat occupant P moves to the front side at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle V. The upper body (including the head H) is restrained by the occupant restraint surface 26A.

  The main body bag portion 26 in the inflated and deployed state is configured to abut against the windshield glass (not shown) of the automobile V and the instrument panel 14. Accordingly, the inflated and deployed main body bag portion 26 is configured to be supported from the front side by the windshield glass and the instrument panel 14.

  The center bag portion 28 communicates with the main body bag portion 26 and is inflated and deployed in the front-rear direction adjacent to the main body bag portion 26 on the center side in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the center bag portion 28 is disposed at a position offset toward the center in the vehicle width direction with respect to an inflator 40 described later, and is inflated and deployed in the front-rear direction on the upper side of the center console 12. As a result, the airbag 24 is expanded toward the center in the vehicle width direction, and is inflated and deployed into a shape that is asymmetrical in plan view.

  The center bag portion 28 is formed to have a substantially rectangular shape with the front-rear direction as the longitudinal direction in plan view when inflated and deployed. Further, the rear end portion of the center bag portion 28 is a protruding portion 28B, and the protruding portion 28B protrudes rearward from the occupant restraining surface 26A of the main body bag portion 26. The protruding portion 28B protrudes rearward at a position offset upward from the center in the vertical direction of the inflated and deployed main body bag portion 26, and is positioned diagonally to the left front with respect to the head H of the passenger seat occupant P. Is formed. The surface facing the right side (vehicle width direction outer side: main body bag portion 26 side) of the projecting portion 28B in the inflated and deployed state is a slanted constraining surface 28A. The head H of the passenger seat occupant P moving to is constrained by the oblique constraining surface 28A. In addition, when the vehicle V obliquely collides to the left side, the vertical position of the lower end of the protruding portion 28B is set so that the left shoulder of the passenger seat occupant P moving diagonally to the left enters the space below the protruding portion 28B. ing.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the center bag portion 28 is configured to abut against the center panel 14 </ b> A of the instrument panel 14 in the inflated and deployed state of the center bag portion 28. As a result, the center bag portion 28 is supported from the front side by the instrument panel 14 in the inflated and deployed state of the center bag portion 28.

  The inflator 40 is disposed at the center of the module case 22 in the vehicle width direction. The inflator 40 is a so-called disk-shaped inflator, is formed in a hollow substantially cylindrical shape, and is fixed to the bottom wall of the module case 22 with the vertical direction as an axial direction. The upper portion of the inflator 40 is a gas ejection portion and is accommodated in the front end portion of the main body bag portion 26. A plurality of gas ejection holes (not shown) are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the gas ejection portion, and the plurality of gas ejection holes are arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction of the inflator 40. Thereby, the gas generated by the inflator 40 is ejected radially from the inflator 40 in plan view.

  The inflator 40 is electrically connected to the airbag ECU 42 (control device). When the inflator 40 is actuated by the airbag ECU 42, the airbag 24 is inflated and deployed by receiving gas supply from the inflator 40. At this time, an airbag door (not shown) provided on the instrument panel 14 is configured to be opened by receiving the inflation pressure of the airbag 24.

  Further, a collision sensor (or sensor group) 44 is electrically connected to the airbag ECU 42. The airbag ECU 42 can detect or predict a frontal collision of the automobile V based on information from the collision sensor 44. When the airbag ECU 42 detects or predicts a frontal collision based on information from the collision sensor 44, the inflator 40 is activated. Note that the form of the frontal collision includes an oblique collision and the like. Here, the oblique collision (MDB oblique collision, oblique collision) is, for example, an oblique forward defined by NHSTA (for example, a collision with a relative angle of 15 ° with the collision partner and a lap amount of about 35% in the vehicle width direction). It is said that. In this embodiment, an oblique collision at a relative speed of 90 km / hr is assumed as an example.

  Next, the main part of the airbag device 20 for passenger seats of this embodiment is demonstrated. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the airbag device 20 for the passenger seat, a boundary portion between the main body bag portion 26 and the center bag portion 28 at the rear end portion of the airbag 24 is a boundary portion 24A. . In the boundary portion 24A, the base fabric 30 (see FIG. 1) constituting the main body bag portion 26 and the base fabric 32 (see FIG. 1) constituting the center bag portion 28 overlap with each other with the substantially vehicle width direction as the thickness direction. And is extended in the vertical direction at a position on the front side with respect to the occupant restraining surface 26A and the protruding portion 28B. Further, the front end portion of the boundary portion 24A is a sewing portion 24A1, and the base fabric 30 and the base fabric 32 are joined by sewing in the sewing portion 24A1. Further, the boundary portion 24A is formed with a slit 24A2 that is open to the rear side and extends in the vertical direction on the rear side with respect to the sewing portion 24A1. Thus, in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 24, the slit 24A2 is disposed on the front side with respect to the occupant restraining surface 26A and the protruding portion 28B. In addition, the code | symbol of the base fabrics 30 and 32 is abbreviate | omitted except FIG.1 and FIG.4.

  The slit 24A2 is formed so as to open to the lower side in addition to the rear side in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 24. That is, the upper end portion of the boundary portion 24A is joined by sewing or the like, and the rear end portion and the lower end portion of the slit 24A2 are opened, while the upper end portion of the slit 24A2 is closed. In addition, in the said expansion | deployment deployment state, you may make it the structure by which the lower end part of slit 24A2 was obstruct | occluded. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 24 is viewed in a plan view, the slit 24 </ b> A <b> 2 (boundary portion 24 </ b> A) is It is formed so as to extend along the moving direction of the center of gravity G of the head H. For this reason, when the passenger seat occupant P moves diagonally to the left in the oblique collision to the left side, the head H of the passenger seat occupant P enters the slit 24A2.

  Note that, as described above, the relative angle between the automobile V and the other party of the collision is set to 15 ° according to the regulations of NHSTA in the oblique collision of the automobile V. And in the oblique collision test of the automobile using the dummy doll based on this rule, it has been found that the moving direction of the head H of the passenger occupant P is inclined by about 25 ° in a plan view with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction. ing. For this reason, in this embodiment, when the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 24 is viewed in a plan view, the inclination angle θ of the slit 24A2 with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction is set within a range of 20 degrees to 30 degrees, for example. Also, the alternate long and short dash line D shown in FIG. 1 indicates the moving direction of the center of gravity G of the head H when the above-described oblique collision test is performed on the left side of the vehicle V (intrusion direction of the head H into the slit 24A2). And a virtual line passing through the center of gravity G in plan view.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a first tether 34 is disposed in the main body bag portion 26 of the airbag 24. The first tether 34 is formed by cutting a flexible sheet-like material (here, the same fabric material as the base fabric of the airbag 24) into a long band shape. The first tether 34 extends in the substantially vehicle width direction at the upper part in the main body bag portion 26 with the substantially vertical direction as the width direction. Specifically, one longitudinal end portion 34A (vehicle width direction outer end portion) of the first tether 34 is bent forward and joined to the side portion of the main body bag portion 26 on the vehicle width direction outer side by sewing. Yes. On the other hand, the other longitudinal end 34B (end in the vehicle width direction center side) of the first tether 34 is bent forward and disposed adjacent to the outside in the vehicle width direction of the sewing portion 24A1 of the boundary 24A. And is coupled to the sewing portion 24A1 by sewing. As a result, the sewing portion 24A1 of the boundary portion 24A is connected to the side portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the main body bag portion 26 by the first tether 34, and the inside of the main body bag portion 26 is partitioned back and forth by the first tether 34. It is configured. Hereinafter, the front space in the main body bag portion 26 partitioned by the first tether 34 is referred to as a front space portion 26C, and the rear space in the main body bag portion 26 partitioned by the first tether 34 is referred to as a rear space portion. 26D.

  Furthermore, in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 24, the longitudinal direction one end portion 34 </ b> A of the first tether 34 is set to be positioned on the front side of the longitudinal direction other end portion 34 </ b> B of the first tether 34. That is, the first tether 34 is slightly inclined forward as it goes outward in the vehicle width direction in plan view. Then, in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 24, the first tether 34 is stretched in the longitudinal direction (the first tether 34 is stretched with a pin that does not sag from the longitudinal one end 34A to the longitudinal other end 34B. The length of the first tether 34 is set.

  As described above, the inside of the main body bag portion 26 is configured to be divided forward and backward by the first tether 34. However, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the first tether 34 (that is, the first tether 34) Both end portions in the width direction are disposed away from the main body bag portion 26. That is, gaps are respectively provided between the upper and lower ends of the first tether 34 and the main body bag portion 26, and the front space portion 26C and the rear space portion 26D in the main body bag portion 26 are It communicates with the gap. As a result, the gas supplied to the front space portion 26C by the inflator 40 is supplied to the rear space portion 26D through the gap.

  On the other hand, a second tether 36 is disposed in the center bag portion 28 of the airbag 24. Similar to the first tether 34, the second tether 36 is formed by cutting a flexible sheet-like material (here, the same fabric material as the base fabric of the airbag 24) into a long strip shape. . Further, the second tether 36 extends in the vehicle width direction with the substantially vertical direction as the width direction at the center in the vertical direction in the center bag portion 28. Specifically, one longitudinal end portion 36A (vehicle width direction outer end portion) of the second tether 36 is bent forward and disposed adjacent to the center side in the vehicle width direction of the sewing portion 24A1 of the boundary portion 24A. At the same time, it is coupled to the sewing portion 24A1 by sewing. Thereby, in the sewing part 24A1 of the boundary part 24A, the first tether 34, the base cloths 30 and 32, and the second tether 36 are joined by sewing in a state where they overlap each other (see FIG. 1). On the other hand, the other end portion 36B in the longitudinal direction of the second tether 36 (the end portion on the center side in the vehicle width direction) is bent rearward to the side portion on the center side in the vehicle width direction in the protruding portion 28B of the center bag portion 28. Combined by sewing. As a result, the sewing portion 24A1 of the boundary portion 24A is connected to the side portion on the center side in the vehicle width direction of the protruding portion 28B by the second tether 36, and the inside of the center bag portion 28 is partitioned back and forth by the second tether 36. It is configured. Hereinafter, the front space in the center bag portion 28 partitioned by the second tether 36 is referred to as a front space portion 28C, and the rear space in the center bag portion 28 partitioned by the second tether 36 is referred to as a rear space portion. It is called 28D.

  Further, in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 24, the other end portion 36B in the longitudinal direction of the second tether 36 is set to be located on the rear side of the one end portion 36A in the longitudinal direction of the second tether 36. Specifically, the front / rear position of the front end of the second tether 36 in the longitudinal direction other end 36 </ b> B is set so as to substantially match the front / rear position of the occupant restraint surface 26 </ b> A of the main body bag part 26. Thereby, the 2nd tether 36 is set to incline to the rear side as it goes to the vehicle width direction center side in a plan view. Then, in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 24, the second tether 36 is stretched in the longitudinal direction (the second tether 36 is stretched with a pin that is not slack from the longitudinal one end 36A to the longitudinal other end 36B. The length of the second tether 36 is set.

  In addition, the second tether 36 is configured such that when the head H of the passenger seat occupant P (here, AM50 dummy P) has entered the slit 24A2 of the inflated airbag 24 from the diagonally left front, It is provided so that it may be located in the height which laps with part H. Even when the passenger seat occupant P is an AF05 dummy (fifth percentile of an American adult female), the head and the second tether in the state where the head of the AF05 dummy has entered the slit 24A2 as described above. 36 is preferably configured to wrap as described above.

  Furthermore, as described above, the inside of the center bag portion 28 is configured to be divided forward and backward by the second tether 36, but the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the second tether 36 (that is, the width of the second tether 36). Both end portions in the direction) are spaced apart from the center bag portion 28. That is, gaps are respectively provided between the upper and lower ends of the second tether 36 and the center bag portion 28, and the front space portion 28C and the rear space portion 28D in the center bag portion 28 are It communicates with the gap. As a result, the gas supplied into the front space 28C by the inflator 40 is supplied to the rear space 28D through the gap.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a substantially circular first vent hole 26H is formed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the main body bag portion 26, and the first vent hole 26H is the first tether. 34 (the one end 34A in the longitudinal direction) is arranged on the rear side. Thereby, it is the structure which suppresses that the gas in the main body bag part 26 is discharged | emitted from the 1st vent hole 26H, and the internal pressure in the main body bag part 26 becomes high too much.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a substantially circular second vent hole 28H is formed on the side portion on the center side in the vehicle width direction of the protruding portion 28B of the center bag portion 28, and the second The vent hole 28H is arranged on the rear side with respect to the second tether 36 (the other end 36B in the longitudinal direction). That is, the second vent hole 28 </ b> H is not formed in the front portion of the center bag portion 28 with respect to the second tether 36. Thereby, the gas in the center bag part 28 (rear side space part 28D) is discharged from the second vent hole 28H, and the internal pressure in the center bag part 28 is prevented from becoming excessively high. The size (opening area) of the first vent hole 26H and the second vent hole 28H is appropriately set so that the internal pressure of the airbag 24 becomes a predetermined internal pressure when the passenger seat passenger P is restrained by the airbag 24. Has been.

(Function and effect)
Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

  In the passenger seat airbag device 20 configured as described above, when the airbag ECU 42 detects or predicts a frontal collision to the vehicle V based on a signal from the collision sensor 44, the airbag ECU 42 activates the inflator 40. As a result, the airbag 24 that is supplied with gas from the inflator 40 is inflated and deployed while the airbag door provided on the instrument panel 14 is cleaved. The main body bag portion 26 is inflated and deployed in front of the passenger seat occupant P, the center bag portion 28 is inflated and deployed on the center side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the main body bag portion 26, and the protruding portion 28B of the center bag portion 28 is the main body. It projects rearward from the bag portion 26.

  In addition, when the inflation and deployment of the airbag 24 is completed, the first tether 34 disposed in the main body bag portion 26 of the airbag 24 is extended, and the sewing portion 24A1 of the boundary portion 24A and the main body bag portion 26 are The side part of the vehicle width direction outer side is connected. Further, the second tether 36 disposed in the center bag portion 28 of the airbag 24 is extended, and the sewing portion 24A1 of the boundary portion 24A and the side portion of the center bag portion 28 on the center side in the vehicle width direction Are connected. Thereby, the position in the vehicle width direction and the front-rear direction of the boundary portion 24A (sewing portion 24A1) in the airbag 24 is determined by the first tether 34 and the second tether 36, and the slit 24A2 is seen in the vehicle width direction in plan view. It is arranged in a state of tilting obliquely forward on the center side.

  Further, the airbag 24 is inflated and deployed in a state where gas is discharged from the pair of left and right first vent holes 26H and second vent holes 28H in the airbag 24 and the internal pressure of the airbag 24 is prevented from becoming excessively high. Is done.

(Front collision of car V)
When the frontal collision is a frontal collision (full lap frontal collision), the passenger seat occupant P moves forward by inertial force (see arrow A in FIG. 2). Since the passenger seat occupant P is equipped with a three-point seat belt device, the upper body of the passenger seat occupant P tilts forward about the waist. . Then, the head H of the passenger occupant P that moves forward contacts the occupant restraining surface 26 </ b> A of the main body bag portion 26. At this time, since a reaction force acts on the main body bag portion 26 from the instrument panel 14 and the windshield glass, the head portion H of the passenger occupant P is supported by the main body bag portion 26 and the head portion H is moved. Limited. As a result, at the time of a frontal collision of the automobile V, the head H of the passenger seat occupant P that moves forward can be restrained (protected) by the main body bag portion 26.

  Further, when the head portion H of the passenger occupant P is restrained by the main body bag portion 26, the inside of the airbag 24 is formed from the first vent hole 26H and the second vent hole 28H respectively formed on both sides of the airbag 24 in the vehicle width direction. Gas is exhausted. For this reason, while maintaining the balance of the shape of the airbag 24 in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction), the gas in the airbag 24 is discharged and the head portion H of the passenger occupant P is restrained by the main body bag portion 26. Can do. Therefore, the passenger seat occupant P can be effectively restrained by the main body bag portion 26.

(An oblique collision to the left side of the car V)
Next, a case where the front collision is an oblique collision to the left side (driver's seat side) will be described in comparison with a passenger seat airbag device of a comparative example. The passenger seat airbag device of this comparative example is configured in the same manner as the passenger seat airbag device 20 of the present embodiment, except for the following points. That is, in the passenger seat airbag device of the comparative example, the second vent hole 28H formed in the center bag portion 28 is located on the front side of the second tether 36 (specifically, as shown in FIG. It is arranged at site E). More specifically, the second vent hole 28H is set on the alternate long and short dash line D in plan view.

  Then, in an oblique collision to the left side of the automobile V, the passenger seat occupant P moves forward by the inertia force to the left side which is the collision side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vehicle body, as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. Moving. That is, the passenger seat occupant P moves to the left diagonally forward (center side in the vehicle width direction and forward). In this case, the head H of the passenger seat occupant P is in contact with the protruding portion 28B (obliquely constraining surface 28A) of the center bag portion 28 and is in contact with the rear portion (occupant restricting surface 26A) of the main body bag portion 26 ( (See the head H indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1). For this reason, a collision load to the left diagonally forward acts on the protrusion 28 </ b> B of the center bag portion 28 from the head H. Accordingly, a clockwise moment (clockwise: see arrow F in FIG. 1) about the front end portion acts on the center bag portion 28. That is, the center bag portion 28 falls down so that the protruding portion 28B is displaced to the left side.

  Here, in the passenger seat airbag device of the comparative example, the second vent hole 28 </ b> H is formed in the front portion E of the second tether 36 in the center bag portion 28. And the center bag part 28 is comprised so that the bending rigidity in the site | part E in which the 2nd vent hole 28H was formed becomes low compared with another site | part. That is, in the comparative example, the formation site E of the second vent hole 28H having relatively low bending rigidity is arranged on the vehicle front side with respect to the second tether 36. For this reason, when a collision load on the left oblique front acts on the protruding portion 28B of the center bag portion 28, the center bag portion 28 bends (falls) to the left starting from the formation site E of the second vent hole 28H, The protruding portion 28B of the center bag portion 28 is displaced to the left side.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, as the head H of the passenger occupant P enters the slit 24A2, and the intrusion of the head H into the slit 24A2 proceeds, the protruding portion 28B of the center bag portion 28 Further displacement to the left. Thereby, the restraint property with respect to the head H of the passenger seat passenger | crew P by the center bag part 28 (projection part 28B) falls, and there exists a possibility that the head H of the passenger seat passenger | crew P may rotate around the axis line of a neck. . Thus, in the passenger seat airbag device of the comparative example, in the oblique collision of the automobile V, the center bag portion 28 falls to the left starting from the formation site E of the second vent hole 28H. Therefore, there is a possibility that the head H of the passenger seat occupant P cannot be effectively restrained by the center bag portion 28.

  On the other hand, in the passenger seat airbag device 20 of the present embodiment, the second vent hole 28H formed in the center bag portion 28 is disposed rearward of the second tether 36. That is, the second vent hole 28H where the bending rigidity is relatively low is not arranged on the vehicle front side of the second tether 36. For this reason, in the oblique collision of the automobile V, even if a collision load on the diagonally left front acts on the protruding portion 28B of the center bag portion 28, the center bag portion 28 is left on the left side starting from the portion in front of the second tether 36. Bending to the side is suppressed. As a result, the center bag portion 28 as a whole is prevented from falling to the left side, and the center bag portion 28 is prevented from being displaced to the left side from the protruding portion 28B.

  Then, when the head H of the passenger seat occupant P further moves obliquely left frontward, the head H enters the slit 24A2. As a result, the head H is sandwiched in the vehicle width direction by the protruding portion 28 </ b> B and the main body bag portion 26. Therefore, the head H can be restrained by the airbag 24 while suppressing the head H of the passenger seat occupant P from rotating about the axis of the neck.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the head H further enters the slit 24A2 and reaches the bottom of the slit 24A2 (when the bottom is attached), the head H becomes the boundary portion 24A (sewing) of the airbag 24. Acts so as to push the portion 24A1) diagonally left forward. For this reason, the tension acting in the longitudinal direction of the second tether 36 is increased, and the other longitudinal end 36B of the second tether 36 is located on the lateral side of the protruding portion 28B on the center side in the vehicle width direction (main body). It acts to pull the bag part 26 side). At this time, in the second tether 36, the other end portion 36B in the longitudinal direction is located on the rear side with respect to the one end portion 36A in the longitudinal direction, so that the protruding portion 28B pulled outward in the vehicle width direction by the second tether 36 is the first. The two tethers 36 act so as to rotate toward the main body bag portion 26 side (see arrow J in FIG. 4) around one end portion 36A in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the protruding portion 28B is wound around the head H side and is wound around the head H from the center in the vehicle width direction, and the head H is restrained by the protruding portion 28B and the main body bag portion 26. The Therefore, the head H can be restrained by the airbag 24 while maintaining the rotation suppression effect of the airbag 24 with respect to the head H of the passenger seat occupant P.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, as described above, the second vent hole 28H formed in the center bag portion 28 is disposed on the rear side of the second tether 36. For this reason, in the oblique collision of the automobile V, even if a collision load on the left oblique front acts on the protruding portion 28B of the center bag portion 28, the center bag portion 28 bends starting from a portion on the front side of the second tether 36. It is possible to prevent the protrusion 28B of the center bag portion 28 from being displaced to the left side. Therefore, the head H of the passenger seat occupant P can be effectively restrained by the center bag portion 28.

  Further, as described above, the second vent hole 28H is formed on the side portion on the center side in the vehicle width direction of the protruding portion 28B of the center bag portion 28. For this reason, when the gas in the center bag part 28 is discharged | emitted from the 2nd vent hole 28H, it acts so that the internal pressure of 28 A of back side space parts may become low compared with the internal pressure of 28 C of front side space parts in the center bag part 28. . Thereby, the reaction force which acts on the head H from the protrusion 28B when restraining the head H of the passenger occupant P by the protrusion 28B can be made lower than that in the comparative example. As a result, when the head portion H of the passenger seat occupant P is restrained by the protruding portion 28B, the protruding portion 28B can be caused to wind around the head H from the center side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the restraining performance with respect to the head H can be further improved.

  Further, by forming the second vent hole 28H on the side portion on the center side in the vehicle width direction of the projecting portion 28B of the center bag portion 28, the hazard inside the passenger seat occupant P is reduced and the inside of the center bag portion 28 is reduced. The gas can be discharged well from the second vent hole 28H. That is, if the second vent hole 28H is formed on the right side surface of the projecting portion 28B (the oblique restraining surface 28A), the gas discharged from the second vent hole 28H is the head of the passenger seat occupant P. It is discharged toward H. Further, even if the second vent hole 28H is formed on the rear surface or the lower surface of the protruding portion 28B, the gas discharged from the second vent hole 28H may be discharged toward the passenger seat passenger P. For this reason, in the arrangement of the second vent holes 28H as described above, there is a concern that the danger to the passenger on the passenger seat P may deteriorate. Also, if the second vent hole 28H is formed on the upper surface of the protruding portion 28B, the second vent hole 28H is blocked by the roof of the automobile V and the like, and the gas is discharged from the second vent hole 28H satisfactorily. You may not be able to. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the second vent hole 28H is formed on the side portion on the center side in the vehicle width direction of the protruding portion 28B of the center bag portion 28. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the gas discharged from the second vent hole 28H from being discharged toward the passenger seat occupant P, and it is possible to suppress the second vent hole 28H from being blocked by the roof of the automobile V or the like. Therefore, by forming the second vent hole 28H on the side portion on the center side in the vehicle width direction of the projecting portion 28B of the center bag portion 28, the hazard inside the passenger seat occupant P is reduced and the inside of the center bag portion 28 is reduced. The gas can be discharged well from the second vent hole 28H.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the first vent hole 26 </ b> H formed in the side portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the main body bag portion 26 is disposed on the rear side with respect to the one end portion 34 </ b> A in the longitudinal direction of the first tether 34. Yes. For this reason, compared with the case where the 1st vent hole 26H is arrange | positioned ahead with respect to the 1st tether 34 (its longitudinal direction one end part 34A), the front-back position of the 1st vent hole 26H is 2nd vent hole 28H. It can be brought close to the front and rear position. In other words, the amount of deviation between the first vent hole 26H and the second vent hole 28H in the front-rear direction can be reduced. Thereby, the gas in the airbag 24 can be discharged | emitted, maintaining the balance of the shape of the airbag 24 in a vehicle width direction (left-right direction).

  Further, in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 24, the sewing portion 24A1 of the boundary portion 24A is connected to the side portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the main body bag portion 26 by the stretched first tether 34, and is stretched. The two tethers 36 are connected to the side portion of the center bag portion 28 on the center side in the vehicle width direction. For this reason, the position in the vehicle width direction and the front-rear direction of the boundary portion 24A (sewing portion 24A1) in the airbag 24 can be determined by the first tether 34 and the second tether 36. Thereby, after completion of inflation and deployment of the airbag 24, the slit 24A2 can be favorably disposed at a predetermined position.

  In the present embodiment, the front / rear position of the front end of the other end 36B in the longitudinal direction of the second tether 36 is set so as to substantially match the front / rear position of the occupant restraining surface 26A of the main body bag part 26. The longitudinal position of the other end 36B in the longitudinal direction of the two tethers 36 may be arbitrarily changed.

  For example, the other end 36 </ b> B in the longitudinal direction of the second tether 36 may be set on the front side of the occupant restraining surface 26 </ b> A of the main body bag portion 26. Even in this case, for example, a collision test or the like is performed, so that the second tether 36P is wound around the head H of the passenger occupant P at the time of the oblique collision of the automobile V. The longitudinal position of the other longitudinal end 36B is set.

  Further, for example, the other end portion 36 </ b> B in the longitudinal direction of the second tether 36 may be set behind the occupant restraining surface 26 </ b> A of the main body bag portion 26. In this case, the other end 36B in the longitudinal direction of the second tether 36 is set on the rear side of the occupant restraining surface 26A of the main body bag portion 26, so that the center bag portion 28 protrudes at the time of the oblique collision of the automobile V. The portion 28P is easily wound around the head H of the passenger seat passenger P. Therefore, the restraining performance with respect to the head H of the passenger seat occupant P can be further improved.

  Further, for example, the other longitudinal end 36B of the second tether 36 is connected to the center of gravity G of the head H of the passenger seat occupant P in contact with the occupant restraining surface 26A of the main body bag portion 26 (in FIG. You may set to the back side rather than the reference line L) which passed the gravity center G of the head H and extended along the vehicle width direction. As a result, the other end portion 36B in the longitudinal direction of the second tether 36 is compared to the case where the other end portion 36B of the second tether 36 is located on the front side of the center of gravity G of the head H of the passenger seat occupant P contacting the occupant restraint surface 26A of the main body bag portion 26 Thus, when the head H reaches the bottom of the slit 24A2, the tension acting on the second tether 36 can be quickly increased. In this case, the second vent hole 28 </ b> H may be arranged on the rear side of the second tether 36 by appropriately extending the rear end of the center bag portion 28 to the rear side.

  In the present embodiment, the first vent hole 26H is disposed on the rear side with respect to the longitudinal end portion 34A of the first tether 34. However, the first vent hole 26H is disposed at one longitudinal end of the first tether 34. You may make it the structure arrange | positioned ahead with respect to the part 34A.

  In the present embodiment, the first tether 34 and the second tether 36 are attached to the airbag 24. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, you may comprise the 1st tether 34 and the 2nd tether 36 by the extension part by which a part of base fabric of the airbag 24 was extended.

  In the present embodiment, the main body bag portion 26 includes the left bag portion 26L and the right bag portion 26R. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration of the main body bag portion 26 can be changed as appropriate. .

  In the present embodiment, the passenger seat airbag device 20 is applied to the left-hand drive specification vehicle V. However, the passenger seat airbag device 20 may be applied to the right-handle specification vehicle V.

  In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

20 Airbag Device 24 for Passenger Seat 24 Airbag 24A Boundary Portion 24A2 Slit 26 Main Body Bag Portion 26H First Vent Hole 28 Center Bag Portion 28B Projection (Rear End of Center Bag Portion)
28H 2nd vent hole 36 2nd tether (tether)
36A Longitudinal end (one end of tether)
36B Longitudinal other end (the other end of the tether)
40 Inflator H Head P Passenger seat passenger

Claims (1)

A main body bag portion that is inflated and deployed in response to the supply of gas from the inflator and that is inflated and deployed on the front side of the passenger in the passenger seat, and that is inflated and deployed on the center side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the main body bag portion, and a rear end An air bag including a center bag portion that protrudes toward the rear side of the vehicle from the main body bag portion at a diagonally forward side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the passenger seat passenger's head;
A boundary part between the main body bag part and the center bag part in the rear part of the airbag, and a boundary part formed with a slit for separating the main body bag part and the center bag part in the vehicle width direction;
A tether having one end coupled to the vehicle front side of the slit in the boundary and extending from the one end to the center in the vehicle width direction, and the other end coupled to the center bag portion;
A first vent hole formed in the body bag portion;
A second vent hole formed in the center bag portion and disposed on the vehicle rear side of the tether;
Air bag device for passenger seat equipped with

Images