JP2020093756A - Vehicle airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle airbag device which can properly and sufficiently secure reaction force, which supports a driver seat airbag and receives an occupant, for the driver seat airbag regardless of diversification of design of a steering handle and enables the driver seat airbag to be properly installed and achieve a proper occupant protection function regardless of whether or not a steering mechanism is installed in a vehicle cabin.SOLUTION: A vehicle airbag device includes: a steering mechanism having a steering handle 5 and installed in a manner that the steering mechanism can be stored into a dashboard 3 relative to a driver seat; a first storage space As which is provided between a front windshield 2 and the steering handle and stores a first driver seat airbag A; an inflator 6 which is provided at the first storage space and introduces inflator gas for inflation and deployment into the first driver seat airbag; and a first reaction force receiving wall 10 which is fixedly provided between the first storage space and the front windshield and has a standing surface 10a facing the driver seat.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention makes it possible to appropriately and adequately secure a reaction force for a driver airbag, which supports the driver airbag and receives an occupant, regardless of diversification of steering handle designs. In addition to the case where the steering mechanism is installed in the passenger compartment, or when the steering mechanism is not installed, it is possible to properly install the driver's seat airbag and perform an accurate occupant protection function. Regarding the device.

Various types of vehicle airbag devices are known in which an airbag is deployed and inflated from various positions in front of the seat toward the rear of the vehicle so as to protect an occupant seated in the seat. ..

For example, in Patent Document 1, the airbag is inflated and deployed from the upper surface of the instrument panel toward the seat behind the vehicle body.

German Laid-Open Publication No. 10 2016 219 071 A1

Of the airbags that protect the occupants moving from their seats during a vehicle collision, the passenger airbag that expands and inflates from the dashboard is mainly supported by the dashboard and the front windshield, and a reaction force is applied to these. And catch the crew coming in.

Among the airbags, for example, a driver's airbag that expands and inflates from the steering wheel, such as a horn button, receives a supporting action mainly from the steering wheel and the front windshield, takes a reaction force to them, and enters the airbag. Receiving incoming passengers.

Thus, the occupant protection is achieved by supporting the airbag at each part of the vehicle body and allowing the airbag to receive the occupant.

In recent years, the development of automobiles driven by automatic driving has been promoted. In automatic driving, steering operation is reduced. Therefore, it suffices for the steering wheel to be capable of a simple steering operation, and it is conceivable that the design will be diversified from the conventional large wheel-shaped steering wheel to, for example, a small rectangular steering handle.

When a small steering wheel has been adopted instead of the steering wheel, unlike the past, with this type of small steering wheel, the reaction force that supports the driver airbag and receives the occupant with the driver airbag It is conceivable that the In addition, it is considered difficult to incorporate and store the driver's seat airbag in the small steering wheel.

Furthermore, if the development of autonomous driving progresses, the need to install the steering mechanism itself inside the vehicle at all times will decrease, and the steering mechanism can be stored anywhere in the vehicle body so that it can be removed from the vehicle interior. Can also be considered.

If this happens, it will no longer be possible to install the driver airbag in combination with the steering wheel of the steering mechanism, etc. as before, and the installation of the airbag module consisting of the driver airbag and inflator, etc. It will be necessary to review, including how to secure the occupant protection function.

Considering the shift to automatic driving of automobiles, measures against the above problems are desired. Then, such a measure for solving the problem is also a solution in the case where the steering operation by the driver is completely unnecessary and the steering mechanism itself is lost.

The present invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and, despite the diversification of the design of the steering wheel, the reaction force of the driver seat airbag that supports the driver seat airbag and receives the occupant. It is possible to ensure that the driver's seat airbag is installed properly and not only when the steering mechanism is installed in the vehicle interior, but also when it is not installed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle airbag device capable of exhibiting an occupant protection function.

A vehicle airbag apparatus according to the present invention is a vehicle airbag apparatus having a driver airbag that is deployed and inflated from a dashboard side in front of a vehicle body to a driver's side in a vehicle body rear side. A steering mechanism that is installed in the dashboard so that it can be stored in the dashboard, and is provided at a predetermined position between the windshield in front of the driver seat and the installation position of the steering wheel. A storage space for storing the driver airbag, an inflator provided in the storage space for introducing an inflator gas to deploy and inflate the driver airbag, the storage space and the windshield. And a reaction force receiving wall having an upright surface facing the driver's seat, and the driver's seat airbag is supported at least on the upright surface of the reaction force receiving wall when deployed and inflated. It is characterized by being in a closed state.

It is desirable that the predetermined location of the storage space is inside the dashboard on the front side of the vehicle body from the installation position of the steering handle. The reaction force receiving wall is preferably provided on the dashboard on the vehicle body front side from the storage space.

It is desirable that the predetermined location of the storage space is inside the steering mechanism column cover on the front side of the vehicle body from the installation position of the steering handle. The reaction force receiving wall is at least the portion of the dashboard that faces the storage space on the front side of the vehicle body from the storage space, or is the front side of the vehicle body from the storage space on the steering mechanism column cover. Is preferably provided in the.

It is preferable that the driver airbag has a configuration in which a recessed portion facing the lower side of the vehicle body appears on the lower surface when the airbag is deployed and inflated. It is preferable that the recessed portion is set so as to cover the steering handle and accommodate the steering handle when the steering mechanism is installed.

It is desirable that the driver seat airbag has a form in which a downward convex portion that protrudes downward appears on the lower surface of the concave portion on the front side of the vehicle body when the airbag is deployed and inflated. It is preferable that the driver airbag is set such that, when the steering mechanism is installed, the downward convex portion faces the steering mechanism column cover when deployed and inflated.

In the driver's seat airbag, the steering wheel surface of the steering wheel when the steering mechanism is installed is used as a reference surface, and the vehicle body front side and the vehicle body rear side are arranged along the reference surface or its vicinity. It is preferable that a partition member is provided in the partition member, and a communication hole that allows the inflator gas to flow therethrough is formed in the partition member. It is preferable that a vent hole for discharging the inflator gas to the outside is formed in the driver airbag in front of the partition member from the vehicle body.

It is preferable that the driver airbag has a side chamber that at least partially covers the steering handle in the vehicle body width direction when the steering mechanism is installed and when inflated.

When the steering mechanism is installed, the driver seat airbag has a configuration in which, when deployed and inflated, the vehicle body rear side portion located on the driver seat side reaches below the lower end of the steering wheel. Is preferred.

It is desirable that the driver airbag be in a state of being supported by the steering handle during deployment and inflation when the steering mechanism is installed.

In the vehicle airbag device according to the present invention, the reaction force for supporting the driver seat airbag and receiving the occupant is appropriately set for the driver seat airbag regardless of the diversification of the design of the steering wheel. The driver's seat airbag can be properly installed to provide an accurate occupant protection function, not only when the steering mechanism is installed in the passenger compartment but also when it is not installed. be able to.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a case where a steering mechanism is installed in a driver's seat in a passenger compartment of an automobile to which a preferred embodiment of a vehicle airbag device according to the invention is applied. It is a side view which shows the 1st operation mode of the airbag apparatus for vehicles applied to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a steering handle installed in the vehicle compartment of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic side sectional view of the vehicle airbag device shown in FIG. 2. It is explanatory drawing explaining the driver's seat airbag applied to the airbag apparatus for vehicles shown in FIG. It is a side view which shows the 2nd actuation mode of the airbag apparatus for vehicles applied to FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic side sectional view of the vehicle airbag device shown in FIG. 6. It is a front view which shows the partition member employ|adopted for the airbag apparatus for vehicles applied to FIG. It is a vehicle airbag apparatus applied to FIG. 1, and is a side view which shows the 3rd operation mode when a steering mechanism is stored.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a vehicle airbag device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the vehicle 1 has a configuration in which a vehicle is laid out immediately below the front windshield 2 in the front in the traveling direction (hereinafter, referred to as the front of the vehicle) to the rear in the traveling direction (hereinafter, referred to as the rear of the vehicle). A dashboard 3 made of hard synthetic resin is provided.

A driver's seat and a passenger's seat (neither is shown) are provided at a position away from the dashboard 3 to the rear of the vehicle body.

The dashboard 3 includes an upper surface 3a facing the front windshield 2, a front surface 3b formed downward from an edge of the upper surface 3a on the rear side of the vehicle body, facing the driver's seat rear side of the vehicle body, and a lower edge of the front surface 3b. And a lower surface 3c that is formed toward the front of the vehicle body and surrounds the feet of an occupant seated in the driver's seat or the like. The dashboard 3 is provided in front of the vehicle body with respect to the driver's seat. The driver's seat is provided on the rear side of the vehicle body with respect to the dashboard 3.

As for the driver's seat, a steering mechanism column cover 4 is provided so as to project from the front surface 3b of the dashboard 3 toward the driver's seat and toward the rear of the vehicle body.

The column cover 4 accommodates various parts constituting the steering mechanism. A steering handlebar 5 forming a part of a steering mechanism is provided at an end of the column cover 4 on the rear side of the vehicle body. The steering operation by the steering wheel 5 is transmitted to the wheels of the automobile 1 via the steering mechanism in the column cover 4.

The steering wheel 5 is formed in various designs. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the steering wheel 5 is formed in a rectangular compact shape that is laterally long in the vehicle width direction at the neutral position of the wheel. Is provided with a horn button 5a.

The entire steering mechanism including the steering handle 5 is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body (indicated by arrow X in FIG. 2) via a hole 3d formed in the front surface 3b of the dashboard 3.

As a result, the steering mechanism can be stored in the dashboard 3 in the driver's seat, that is, in a state in which the steering mechanism is installed and in a state in which the steering mechanism is pushed in and stored in the dashboard 3, as shown in FIG. 9. It is configured so that it can be fixed in position.

The driver seat airbags A and B provided in the automobile 1 are deployed and inflated from the dashboard 3 side in front of the vehicle body to the driver seat side in the rear of the vehicle body.

For the driver's seat, the steering mechanism (column cover 4) and the steering wheel 5 can be installed or stored in the dashboard 3 as described above. Unless otherwise stated, the following description regarding the configuration of the driver seat airbags A and B is based on the state in which the steering mechanism including the steering wheel 5 is installed in the driver seat. However, the operation of the driver seat airbags A and B does not matter whether the steering mechanism is installed or stored in the driver seat.

As shown in FIG. 1, the folded and stowed driver's seat airbags A and B are located at a predetermined position between the front windshield 2 in front of the driver's seat and the installation position of the steering wheel 5. It is stored in the storage spaces As and Bs provided.

The storage spaces As and Bs are provided with an inflator 6 that introduces inflator gas into the driver airbags A and B to deploy and inflate the driver airbags A and B. The inflator 6 is installed in the driver airbags A and B.

When the collision signal is input to the inflator 6 via the harness 7, the inflator 6 releases the inflator gas into the driver airbags A and B, and the driver airbags A and B are expanded and inflated.

In the present embodiment, the predetermined locations of the storage spaces As and Bs are set at two locations corresponding to when the steering mechanism is installed and when it is stored.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first storage space As is in the dashboard 3 on the front side of the vehicle body from the installation position of the steering wheel 5.

The first storage space As is provided on the upper surface 3a of the dashboard 3 that faces the front windshield 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the opening 8 for deploying the first driver airbag A. The opening 8 is openably closed by a movable lid (not shown).

Further, the second storage space Bs is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, within the column cover 4 on the front side of the vehicle body from the installation position of the steering wheel 5.

In the second storage space Bs, an opening 9 for deploying the second driver airbag B is provided on the upper surface of the column cover 4 facing the front windshield 2 or the roof. The opening 9 is openably closed by a movable lid (not shown).

The second storage space Bs and the second driver airbag B housed inside the second storage space Bs can be used correspondingly when the steering mechanism is installed on the driver seat.

On the other hand, the first storage space As and the first driver's seat airbag A stored in the first storage space As can be used corresponding to both when the steering mechanism is installed and when the steering mechanism is stored.

Therefore, the first storage space As and the first driver seat airbag A are indispensable, and the second storage space Bs and the second driver seat airbag B are additionally provided. The second storage space Bs and the second driver airbag B may not be provided.

When the steering mechanism is installed in the driver's seat, one of the first and second driver airbags A, B is deployed and inflated from one of the first and second storage spaces As, Bs. It

When the steering mechanism is stored, the first driver airbag A is deployed and inflated from the first storage space As.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, between the first storage space As and the front windshield 2 in response to the expansion and expansion of the first driver's seat airbag A stored in the first storage space As. The first reaction force receiving wall 10 is provided in the.

The first storage space As is provided on the upper surface 3a of the dashboard 3, and the first reaction force receiving wall 10 is located on the upper surface 3a of the dashboard 3 on the front side of the vehicle body from the first storage space As. It will be provided.

The first reaction force receiving wall 10 supports the expanded and inflated first driver's seat airbag A together with the front windshield 2, and receives the driver who enters the driver's seat airbag A in front of the vehicle body. In order to secure the reaction force of, it is firmly fixed to the dashboard 3 and provided.

The first reaction force receiving wall 10 is formed with an upright surface 10a facing the driver's seat in order to direct the direction of the reaction force generated when supporting the first driver's seat airbag A to the driver's seat. The first reaction force receiving wall 10 may be provided with various instruments and indicators for driving assistance.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, between the second storage space Bs and the front windshield 1 in response to the expansion and expansion of the second driver airbag B stored in the second storage space Bs. The second reaction force receiving wall 11 is provided in the.

The second storage space Bs is provided on the upper surface of the column cover 4, and the second reaction force receiving wall 11 is at least the second of the dashboards 3 on the vehicle body front side from the second storage space Bs. The front surface 3b of the dashboard 3 faces the storage space Bs.

The second reaction force receiving wall 11 supports the expanded and inflated second driver's seat airbag B together with the front windshield 1, and the second driver's seat airbag B enters the front of the vehicle body. It is configured by the dashboard 3 in order to secure a reaction force for receiving the force.

The second reaction force receiving wall 11 is the front surface 3b of the dashboard 3, and the front surface 3b directs the direction of the reaction force generated when supporting the second driver's seat airbag B to the driver's seat. It will be an elevation facing the driver's seat.

Although not shown, the second reaction force receiving wall 11 is located on the upper surface of the column cover 4 in the same installation mode as the first reaction force receiving wall 10 and is located on the front side of the vehicle body from the second storage space Bs. It may be provided. In this case, similarly to the first reaction force receiving wall 10, the second reaction force receiving wall 11 directs the direction of the reaction force generated when supporting the second driver's seat airbag B to the driver's seat. Therefore, an elevation facing the driver's seat is provided.

In the configuration including the first reaction force receiving wall 10 and the second reaction force receiving wall 11, the driver seat airbags A and B are provided with at least the vertical surfaces of the reaction force receiving walls 10 and 11 when the airbags are deployed and inflated. The state of being supported by 10a (the front surface 3b of the dashboard 3) is secured, and the driver is received by the reaction force from the vertical surface due to such a supporting state.

On the other hand, unlike the movable lid that is required to move, the first and second reaction force receiving walls 10 and 11 are preferably fixed and provided in an immovable state.

In each of the first and second driver airbags A and B, as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. It is configured in such a manner that the recessed portion 13 that faces to appears.

FIG. 5 shows the outer shape of the driver airbags A and B when they are deployed and inflated. 5A shows a side view, FIG. 5B shows a bottom view, and FIG. 5C shows a front view.

The recess 13 is formed as follows.

A rectangular opening 14a is formed in the bottom cloth 14 that forms the bottom surface 12 of the driver airbag A, B.

With respect to the opening 14a of the bottom cloth 14, a pair of side cloths 15 each having a substantially triangular shape in which a bottom 15a is sewn to each of a pair of edges 14b on both sides of the opening 14a in the vehicle width direction, and a pair of openings 14a on both sides in the vehicle front-rear direction. An end edge 16a is sewn to the edge 14c of the belt-shaped cloth 16 and the side edge 16b is sewn over the two sides 15b and 15c of the side cloth 15.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the triangular shape of the side cloth 15 has a height dimension which is larger than the vertical dimension of the steering wheel 5 in the vehicle body when viewed from the vehicle body width direction. Of the two sides 15b and 15c other than 15a, one side 15b on the rear side of the vehicle body is set such that the belt-shaped cloth 16 is along the handle surface S (see FIGS. 4 and 6) of the steering wheel 5.

One side 15c of the front side of the triangular vehicle body is bent downward so that the belt-shaped cloth 16 curves downward on the lower surface of the recessed portion 13 on the front side of the vehicle body so that the belt-shaped cloth 16 is tensioned around the apex angle of the triangle. It is set to a curved curve downward so that the convex portion 17 appears.

A rectangular opening 14a is formed in the bottom cloth 14 of each of the driver airbags A and B, and a pair of side cloths 15 is sewn to the pair of edges 14b on both sides of the opening 14a in the vehicle width direction. Each of the pair of end edges 16a is sewn to the pair of edges 14c of the opening 14a on both sides in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the recessed portion 13 formed by sewing the band-shaped cloth 16 and the side cloth 15 to each other is shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, when expanded and expanded from the first storage space As and the second storage space Bs, the steering handle 5 is provided with the capacity of the recess 13 mainly obtained by the outer dimensions of the side cloth 15. The steering handle 5 is adapted to be housed in the recess 13 so as to cover it.

Further, due to the downward convex portion 17 of the concave portion 13 of the side cloth 15 on one side 15c, which is set by the curved downward curve, when the driver seat airbags A and S are inflated and inflated, the steering handle 5 moves forward from the vehicle body. The strip-shaped cloth 16 is set so as to face the upper surface of the column cover 4 which is continuously positioned.

As shown in FIG. 5, the driver's seat airbags A and B are set to have large capacities on at least one side, preferably on both sides in the vehicle body width direction on the side of the recess 13 provided so that the steering wheel 5 can be housed. As a result, the steering handlebar 5 is configured to have the side chamber 18 that covers at least a part of the steering handlebar 5 in the width direction of the vehicle body, preferably the whole of the steering handlebar 5 at the time of deployment and expansion.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, the driver's seat airbags A and B are related to the outer shape at the time of deployment and expansion in which the upper end of the steering handle 5 is housed at the apex position of the side cloth 15 forming the recessed portion 13. Chamber portions Az and Bz defined by a belt-like cloth 16 whose position is defined by the side cloth 15 and a rear surface 19 on the vehicle body rear side located on the driver seat side of the driver airbags A and B, which face each other. Is reached below the lower end of the steering wheel 5 (indicated by dimension Z in the figure).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, inside the driver-seat airbags A and B, the interiors of the driver-seat airbags A and B are located inside the vehicle body front chambers Af and Bf and the vehicle body rear chambers Ar and Br. A partition member 20 for partitioning into and is provided.

The partition member 20 is provided so as to be along the reference surface with the handle surface S of the steering handle 5 when the steering mechanism is installed as a reference surface, or along the vicinity of the reference surface.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8, in the partition member 20, the inflator gas introduced into the driver's seat airbags A, B at the storage spaces AS, BS on the vehicle front side is introduced into the vehicle front chamber Af. , Bf to the vehicle rear chambers Ar, Br on the driver's seat side (indicated by an arrow Ff in the drawing), or the pressure rises when the driver receives the inflator from the vehicle rear chambers Ar, Br. A communication hole 21 that allows the gas to flow toward the front chambers Af and Bf of the vehicle body (indicated by Fr in the drawing) is formed.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the driver airbags A and B are positioned in the vehicle body front chambers Af and Bf on the vehicle front side from the partition member 20, and the pressure in the driver airbags A and B is increased. A vent hole 22 for discharging the inflator gas to the outside of the driver airbag A and B is formed to mitigate the rise.

In the vehicle airbag device according to the present embodiment, when the steering mechanism including the steering wheel 5 is installed in the driver's seat, either the first or second driver's seat airbag A or B is The dashboard 3 which is the first reaction force receiving wall 10 or the second reaction force receiving wall 11 on the dashboard 3 having the standing surface 10a which is expanded and inflated from the first storage space As or the second storage space Bs. In addition to the front surface 3a of the vehicle and the front windshield 2, the steering wheel 5 is supported so that a reaction force can be obtained against the driver airbag A and B when the driver receives the driver. Is becoming

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, when the steering mechanism is stored in the driver's seat, the first driver's airbag A that expands and inflates from the first storage space As has the dashboard 3 having the upright surface 10a. It is in a state of being supported by the upper first reaction force receiving wall 10 and the front windshield 2, so that a reaction force can be obtained with respect to the first driver airbag A when the driver receives the driver. Is becoming

Next, the operation of the vehicle airbag device according to the present embodiment will be described.

First, when the steering mechanism is installed in the driver's seat and the first driver's airbag A stored in the first storage space As in the dashboard 3 is operated, 2 and FIG. 4, inflator gas is introduced from the inflator 6 into the first driver's seat airbag A, the movable lid is opened by the first driver's seat airbag A, and the vehicle body front chamber Af is opened. It expands and expands first, and subsequently, the inflator gas flowing through the communication hole 21 of the partition member 20 expands and expands the vehicle rear chamber Ar.

When the first driver's seat airbag A is deployed and inflated, the first reaction force receiving wall 10 having the elevation 10a facing the driver's seat on the dashboard 3, the front windshield 2, and the steering wheel 5 are provided. In the state of being supported by, the vehicle is oriented from the dashboard 3 side in front of the vehicle body to the driver's seat side in the rear side of the vehicle body and expanded and inflated.

That is, the first reaction force receiving wall 10 combined with the front windshield 2 can prevent the driver airbag A from escaping to the upper side of the vehicle body or escaping to the front side of the vehicle body.

The first driver's seat airbag A has a form in which a recessed portion 13 appears on the lower surface 12 thereof, and the recessed portion 13 is set so as to cover the steering handlebar 5 and accommodate the steering handlebar 5 therein. Therefore, even if the first driver's airbag A is expanded and inflated from the first storage space As in the dashboard 3, the driver in the driver's seat can handle the steering handle 5 by overcoming the steering handle 5. The vehicle can be blocked and the driver can be protected. Further, the recess 13 allows the steering handlebar 5 to generate a supporting reaction force of the first driver airbag A.

In the first driver's seat airbag A, the downward convex portion 17 appears on the lower surface on the vehicle body front side of the concave portion 13, and the downward convex portion 17 comes into contact with the column cover 4 or the like to perform the first driving operation. The action of the seat airbag A getting over the steering wheel 5 can be promoted.

Further, since the downward convex portion 17 is set so as to face the column cover 4, the downward convex portion 17 comes into contact with the column cover 4 from above or the like. The posture of the first driver's seat airbag A can be stabilized, and the driver's protection function can be enhanced.

The first driver airbag A has a configuration in which the vehicle body rear chamber Ar located on the driver side reaches below the lower end of the steering wheel 5, so that the vehicle body is located between the driver and the steering wheel 5. It is possible to prevent the rear chamber Ar from stopping, and thereby to prevent the driver from pushing up his/her neck, thereby reducing the occupant injury value.

The first driver's airbag A thus expanded and inflated receives a supporting action from the first reaction force receiving wall 10, the front windshield 2, and the steering wheel 5 to generate a reaction force on them. Therefore, it is possible to reliably and adequately catch the driver who is approaching, and to exert an excellent occupant protection function.

Further, in the first driver's seat airbag A, the inflator gas can move back and forth between the vehicle body front side chamber Af and the vehicle body rear side chamber Ar through the communication hole 21 of the partition member 20, so that the driver's approach can be prevented. The inflator gas can be returned from the vehicle-body rear side chamber Ar with the increased internal pressure to the vehicle body front-side chamber Af, whereby a pressure holding effect can be obtained and the occupant injury value can be reduced.

Since the vent hole 22 is formed in the front chamber Af of the vehicle body, when the driver's position is close to the steering wheel 5, the inflator gas can be discharged quickly, and the occupant is injured. The value can be reduced.

The first driver airbag A has the side chambers 18 on both sides of the steering wheel 5 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the driver's entry into the first driver airbag A is not straight toward the front of the vehicle. Even in such a case, it is possible to properly receive the driver and prevent the driver from interfering with the steering wheel 5.

Further, the driver-seat airbags A and B having the side chamber 18 can be used as a passenger-seat airbag.

Next, a case where the second driver airbag B housed in the second housing space Bs in the column cover 4 is deployed and inflated will be described. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the movable lid is opened. The second driver airbag B includes a second reaction force receiving wall 11 that is a portion (elevation surface) of the front surface 3b of the dashboard 3 located on the vehicle front side of the second storage space Bs, and a front windshield. 2 is supported by the steering wheel 5 and is inflated by being directed from the dashboard 3 side in front of the vehicle body to the driver's seat side in the rear side of the vehicle body.

Also in this case, the second reaction force receiving wall 11 combined with the front windshield 2 can prevent the second driver airbag B from escaping to the upper side of the vehicle or escaping to the front of the vehicle.

Even in the case of the second driver airbag B that is housed in the column cover 4 and expanded and inflated from the column cover 4, the second reaction force receiving wall 11, the front windshield 1, and the steering wheel 5 provide support action. In response to this, it is possible to reliably and adequately catch the ingressing driver by taking a reaction force against them, and it is possible to exert an excellent occupant protection function.

The second driver's seat airbag B has the same configuration as the first driver's seat airbag A, such as the recessed portion 13, so that the above-described effects obtained by the first driver's seat airbag A are achieved. Of course.

On the other hand, when the steering mechanism is stored in the driver's seat, as shown in FIG. 9, the first driver's seat airbag A that expands and inflates from the above-described first storage space As causes the first reaction force. By receiving a supporting action from the receiving wall 10 and the front windshield 1 and taking a reaction force to these, the entering driver can be reliably and sufficiently received, and an excellent occupant protection function can be exhibited.

In the vehicle airbag apparatus according to the present embodiment described above, the driver seat airbags A and B are supported for the driver seat airbags A and B regardless of the diversification of the design of the steering wheel 5. Therefore, the reaction force for receiving the driver can be properly and adequately secured.In addition to the case where the steering mechanism is installed in the vehicle compartment, even when the steering mechanism is not installed, either driver's seat It is possible to properly install the airbags A and B to exert an accurate occupant protection function.

The vehicle airbag device described above is a preferred example of the present invention, and other embodiment examples can be implemented or performed by various methods. In particular, the present invention is not limited to the detailed shapes, sizes, and arrangements of components shown in the accompanying drawings unless otherwise specified. Further, the expressions and terms used in the specification of the present application are for the purpose of explanation, and are not limited thereto unless otherwise stated.

2 Front windshield 3 Dashboard 3b Front of dashboard 4 Steering mechanism column cover 5 Steering handle 6 Inflator 10 First reaction force receiving wall 10a Elevation surface 11 Second reaction force receiving wall 12 Lower surface of driver airbag 13 Depression 17 Downward projection 18 Side chamber 20 Partition member 21 Communication hole 22 Vent hole A First driver airbag B B Second driver airbag As First storage space Bs Second storage space Az, Bz Steering Chamber part reaching below the lower end of the steering wheel S Steering wheel handle surface

Claims (15)

A vehicle airbag device having a driver airbag that is deployed and inflated from a dashboard side in front of a vehicle body toward a driver's seat side in a vehicle rear side,
A steering mechanism that has a steering handle and is installed so that it can be stored in the dashboard with respect to the driver's seat,
A storage space provided at a predetermined position between the windshield in front of the driver's seat and the installation position of the steering wheel, and a storage space for storing the driver's airbag,
An inflator which is provided in the storage space and introduces an inflator gas to deploy and inflate the airbag in the driver seat,
Fixedly provided between the storage space and the windshield, and provided with a reaction force receiving wall having an upright surface facing the driver's seat,
The vehicle airbag apparatus, wherein the driver airbag is in a state of being supported by at least the vertical surface of the reaction force receiving wall when deployed and inflated. The vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined location of the storage space is inside the dashboard on the vehicle body front side from the installation position of the steering handle. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the reaction force receiving wall is provided on the dashboard on a vehicle body front side from the storage space. The vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined location of the storage space is inside a steering mechanism column cover on the front side of the vehicle body from the installation position of the steering handle. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the reaction force receiving wall is the dashboard at a portion facing the storage space on a front side of the vehicle body from the storage space. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the reaction force receiving wall is provided on the steering mechanism column cover on the vehicle body front side from the storage space. 7. The vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driver seat airbag has a configuration in which a recessed portion that faces the lower side of the vehicle body appears on the lower surface when the airbag is deployed and inflated. 8. The vehicle airbag according to claim 7, wherein the recessed portion is set so as to cover the steering handle and accommodate the steering handle when the steering mechanism is installed. apparatus. 9. The driver's seat airbag has a form in which a downward convex portion that protrudes downward appears on the vehicle body front side lower surface of the concave portion when deployed and inflated. Vehicle airbag device. 10. The driver's seat airbag is set such that, when the steering mechanism is installed, the downward convex portion faces the steering mechanism column cover when deployed and inflated. The vehicle airbag device described. In the driver's seat airbag, the steering wheel surface of the steering wheel when the steering mechanism is installed is used as a reference surface, and the vehicle body front side and the vehicle body rear side are arranged along the reference surface or its vicinity. 11. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a partition member is provided in the partition, and the partition member is formed with a communication hole for allowing the inflator gas to flow therethrough. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 11, wherein the driver airbag is provided with a vent hole that is located in front of the vehicle body from the partition member and discharges inflator gas to the outside. The driver airbag is characterized in that it has a side chamber that at least partially covers the steering handle in the vehicle body width direction when the steering mechanism is installed and when inflated. The vehicle airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 12. When the steering mechanism is installed, the driver seat airbag has a configuration in which, when deployed and inflated, the vehicle body rear side portion located on the driver seat side reaches below the lower end of the steering wheel. The airbag device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein: 15. The vehicle airbag according to claim 1, wherein the driver airbag is in a state of being supported by the steering handle during deployment and inflation when the steering mechanism is installed. Bag device.

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