JP2021030854A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an airbag device that can protect not only an occupant who moves forward but also an occupant who moves obliquely forward, although the device is configured to be stored in a roof.SOLUTION: An airbag device comprises an airbag 20 which is stored at a roof RF side above an occupant MD seated on a seat DS and which can expand and inflate downward to protect the occupant when gas for inflation flows in. In the airbag are arranged a constraining surface 37 for a front collision, configured to be able to constrain an upper half of an occupant, which can protect the head MH of an occupant who moves forward at the time of a vehicle front collision at the rear surface side after the inflation is completed and protruding/inflating parts 35L and 35R which are formed to protrude rearward at both end sides in a lateral direction on the constraining surface for a front collision and which can protect the head of an occupant who moves obliquely forward at the time of a vehicle oblique collision or at the time of an off-set collision.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

The present invention relates to an airbag device that is housed on the roof side above an occupant seated in a seat and is provided with an airbag that expands and expands downward when an expansion gas flows in to protect the occupant.

Conventionally, some airbag devices are provided with an airbag that is folded and stored on the roof side and inflates on the front side of the occupant so as to protect the upper body of the occupant moving forward (for example, a patent). Refer to Documents 1 to 3).

Special Table 2002-508273 Gazette Japanese Patent No. 3583720 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/113646

All of these conventional airbag devices have a configuration in which the upper body of an occupant moving forward can be restrained by an airbag that has completed expansion, but diagonally forward in the event of a vehicle oblique collision or offset collision. There was room for improvement in that no consideration was given to occupants moving toward, and occupants moving diagonally forward were also protected.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and provides an airbag device capable of protecting not only a forward-moving occupant but also an obliquely forward-moving occupant even if the airbag is housed in a roof. The purpose is.

The airbag device according to the present invention includes an airbag that is housed on the roof side above the occupant seated on the seat and can expand and expand downward when the expansion gas flows in to protect the occupant. It ’s a device,
The airbag is configured to be able to restrain the upper body of the occupant, and on the rear side when the expansion is completed,
A restraint surface for frontal collision that can protect the head of an occupant who moves forward when the vehicle collides forward,
A protruding expansion part that is formed so as to project rearward on both ends in the left-right direction of the restraint surface for frontal collision and can protect the head of an occupant who moves diagonally forward in the event of a vehicle oblique collision or offset collision. ,
It is characterized in that it is configured to dispose of.

In the airbag device of the present invention, the airbag expands and expands downward from the housed roof side and is arranged so as to cover the front of the occupant. Then, in the airbag device of the present invention, the occupant moving forward is protected by the restraint surface for front collision of the airbag at the time of a front collision of the vehicle, and at the time of an oblique collision or offset of the vehicle. At the time of a collision, the occupant moving diagonally forward is protected from the head by a protruding expansion portion protruding rearward on both left and right ends of the front collision restraint surface in the airbag.

Therefore, in the airbag device of the present invention, it is possible to protect not only the occupant moving forward but also the occupant moving diagonally forward even if the airbag device is housed in the roof.

Further, in the airbag device of the present invention, the airbag is configured to control the expansion completed shape by the shape control mechanism.
Shape control mechanism,
A regulation belt whose tip side is connected to the front collision restraint surface side in the airbag,
A length adjusting means that connects the base side of the regulation belt on the storage part side for storing the airbag and can adjust the length from the storage part side to the tip side of the regulation belt in at least two modes of length and shortness. When,
The configuration is equipped with
When the airbag is inflated with the regulation belt shortened by the length adjusting means, it is possible to maintain the protruding state of the protruding expansion part from the front collision restraint surface, and the regulation belt is lengthened by the length adjusting means. It is preferable that the expansion can be completed so as to reduce the difference in unevenness between the front collision restraint surface and the protruding expansion portion at the time of expansion.

If the airbag device has such a configuration, the airbag can be inflated with a different outer shape by providing a change in the unevenness difference between the front collision restraint surface and the protruding expansion portion. Petite physique It is also possible to accurately protect occupants with different sitting postures, seating positions, physiques, etc. Specifically, when the airbag is inflated while the length from the storage portion side to the tip end side of the regulation belt is shortened and the unevenness between the front collision restraint surface and the protruding expansion portion is largely maintained, for example. , Small occupants and occupants sitting close to the storage part can be accurately protected, and the length from the storage part side to the tip side of the regulation belt is lengthened to restrain the front collision. When inflating the airbag with the unevenness between the surface and the protruding inflatable part reduced, for example, a large occupant, an occupant sitting away from the storage part, and a backrest are seated so as to be tilted backward. It is possible to accurately protect the occupants and the like.

Further, in the airbag device having the above configuration, for restraining the airbag by allowing the head of an occupant moving diagonally forward to enter and restrain the airbag between each protruding expansion portion and the front collision restraining surface. The recesses are arranged so that they are arranged.
It is preferable that the tip of the regulation belt is connected to the tip of the recess of the restraint recess.

If the airbag device has such a configuration, when the airbag is inflated with the length from the storage site side to the tip side of the regulation belt shortened by the length adjusting means, the protruding inflatable part and the front collision Since the restraint recess is arranged between the restraint surface and the restraint surface, the head of the occupant moving diagonally forward is brought into contact with the surface of the protruding expansion portion on the front collision restraint surface side, and this surface. As a result, the occupant's head can be guided into the restraint recess and can be received while entering the restraint recess. Therefore, the occupant's head can be softly restrained by the restraining recess. Further, in the airbag device having the above configuration, when the airbag is inflated in a state where the length from the storage portion side to the tip end side of the regulation belt is increased by the length adjusting means, the restraining recess is formed in front of the protruding inflated portion. The front protrusion restraint surface is arranged so as to be fed out while being inverted from the protrusion restraint surface, so that the film length of the front protrusion restraint surface is substantially increased, and the front protrusion restraint surface is provided. , It can be expanded so as to project further rearward, and it can be expanded so as to stably reduce the unevenness difference between the front collision restraint surface and the protruding expansion portion.

Further, in the airbag device having the above configuration, the airbag is used as a front collision restraint surface, and a driver front collision restraint surface capable of protecting the head of the driver seated in the driver's seat as the first occupant. It has a passenger seat passenger front collision restraint surface that can protect the head of the passenger seat passenger seated as a second passenger, and also has a driver front collision restraint surface and passenger seat boarding. It may be configured to include protruding expansion portions arranged on the left and right end sides of the restraint surface for front collision, and in such a configuration, the restraint surface for driver front collision for the first occupant It is preferable that the protruding expansion portion arranged between the passenger seat passenger front collision restraint surface for the second passenger and the passenger seat passenger front collision restraint surface is shared.

It is schematic cross-sectional view which shows the vicinity where the airbag device which is 1st Embodiment of this invention is mounted. It is a schematic enlarged sectional view of the airbag device of 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic perspective view of the case used in the airbag device of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view of the state in which the airbag used in the airbag device of 1st Embodiment is inflated by itself. It is a schematic cross-sectional view along the left-right direction of the airbag of FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view taken along the front-rear direction of the airbag of FIG. 4, and is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a front collision restraint surface. FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view taken along the front-rear direction of the airbag of FIG. 4, and is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a restraint recess. It is a top view which shows the base material which comprises the airbag of FIG. It is a top view which shows the rest of the base material which comprises the airbag of FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the airbag has completed expansion in the airbag device of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the airbag has completed expansion in the airbag device of the first embodiment. It is a schematic enlarged sectional view of the airbag device of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the locking member in the airbag device of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the left-right direction in a state in which the airbag used in the airbag device of the second embodiment is inflated by itself. It is a schematic vertical sectional view along the front-rear direction of the airbag of FIG. It is a top view which arranged the regulation belt which constitutes the airbag of FIG. 14 and the front panel part. It is a schematic side view which shows the state which completed the expansion of the airbag in the state which maintained the locking with the locking member of the regulation belt in the airbag device of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the airbag has completed expansion in a state in which the airbag device of the second embodiment is released from the locking member of the regulation belt. FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the left-right direction in a state in which the airbag of FIG. 14 is inflated by releasing the locking of the regulation belt from the locking member. It is a schematic plan view of the airbag device which is still another embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, the airbag device M1 for protecting the driver MD as a occupant seated in the driver's seat DS as a seat will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag device M1 of the first embodiment is mounted on the area above the driver's seat DS in the roof RF, and more specifically, is mounted on the front edge side of the roof RF. ing. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the airbag device M1 houses an airbag 20 that is folded and stored, an inflator 15 that supplies an expansion gas to the airbag 20, and the airbag 20 and the inflator 15. It includes a case 10 and an airbag cover 7 that covers the folded airbag 20.

The airbag cover 7 is composed of a portion of the roof head lining 5 made of synthetic resin that covers the inside of the roof RF on the front edge 5a side, so that the front edge faces downward when the airbag 20 is expanded and expanded. It is configured to have a door portion 7a capable of projecting the airbag 20 downward by being pushed open.

The case 10 has a substantially box shape made of sheet metal, and has a structure in which a protrusion opening 10a for projecting the airbag 20 is provided on the front end side. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the case 10 is formed so as to extend substantially along the horizontal plane at four locations, that is, the left and right edges on the front upper edge side and the vicinity of the left and right edges on the rear upper edge side. The mounting piece 11 to be attached to the cross member 3 on the body side is arranged, and the mounting piece 11 is mounted in a state where the upper surface side is close to the cross member 3 (see FIG. 2). In addition to the protruding opening 10a, the upper surface side is also notched. That is, the case 10 is configured to cover the left and right sides, the rear side, and the lower surface side of the folded airbag 20.

As the inflator 15, a cylinder type inflator having a substantially cylindrical outer shape is used. The inflator 15 is arranged so as to substantially follow the axial direction in the left-right direction in the region on the rear end side of the case 10. Specifically, the inflator 15 is provided with a gas discharge port (not shown in the figure) capable of discharging expansion gas on one end side, and the expansion gas discharged from the gas discharge port is discharged into the airbag 20. Is. In the case of the embodiment, the inflator 15 is housed in the airbag 20 so that the end portion protrudes from the insertion hole 22b described later and the bolt 15a as a mounting means protrudes to the outside through the mounting hole 22a described later. , The bolt 15a and the nut 16 are attached to the rear wall portion 12 of the case 10 together with the airbag 20 (see FIG. 2). In the embodiment, the operation of the inflator 15 is controlled by a control device (not shown) so as to operate in the case of a frontal collision, an oblique collision, and an offset collision of the vehicle.

In the case of the embodiment, the airbag 20 is arranged inside the bag body 21 and the bag body 21 to regulate the expansion completion shape of the bag body 21, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, tethers 50L, 50R, 52L, It is configured to include 52R.

The bag body 21 has a bag shape formed of a flexible seat body, and when expansion is completed, the bag body 21 protrudes downward from the case 10 and is a steering wheel in front of the driver MD and the driver MD. It is configured so as to close the gap between it and W (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 10 and 11). In the case of the embodiment, the bag main body 21 has a main body expansion portion 24, a mounting portion 22 arranged on the upper end 24a side of the main body expansion portion 24 when expansion is completed, and an expansion portion 22 when expansion is completed. It includes two protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R arranged so as to project from both left and right end sides on the rear surface side of the main body expansion portion 24.

The main body expansion portion 24 is a portion arranged so as to cover substantially the entire rear surface side of the steering wheel W when the expansion of the airbag 20 is completed. Specifically, the lower end 24b is a portion of the ring portion R of the steering wheel W. It is configured to be located below the lower end Ra. Further, the main body expansion portion 24 is configured such that the width dimension on the left-right direction side when the expansion is completed is set to be slightly smaller than the driver's seat DS so that the driver MD can be stably protected (FIG. 11). reference). The main body expansion portion 24 includes a front wall portion 26 and a rear wall portion 27 facing each other in the front-rear direction, and a left wall portion 28 and a right wall portion 29 arranged to face each other in the left-right direction side. Vent holes 32, 32 for exhausting excess expansion gas that has flowed into the inside of the left wall portion 28 and the right wall portion 29 are formed by opening in a substantially circular shape. In the case of the embodiment, the vent holes 32 and 32 are arranged near the rear end (near the boundary portion with the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R) at the upper and lower substantially centers of the left wall portion 28 and the right wall portion 29. .. The front wall portion 26 is arranged so as to substantially follow the ring surface Rf of the ring portion R of the steering wheel W when the expansion of the airbag 20 is completed (see FIG. 10), and when the driver MD is received, the front wall portion 26 is arranged. It is configured so that it can come into contact with the ring portion R of the steering wheel W, which is a member on the vehicle body side. When the expansion of the airbag 20 is completed, the rear wall portion 27 is arranged so as to substantially follow the front wall portion 26 on the rear surface side which is the driver MD side as a occupant, in other words, substantially along the vertical direction. In addition, projecting expansion portions 35L and 35R that expand so as to project rearward are arranged on both left and right end sides. In the airbag 20 of the embodiment, in the rear wall portion 27, the region arranged between the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R is for front collision capable of protecting the head MH of the driver MD that moves forward at the time of front collision of the vehicle. The restraint surface 37 is configured.

The mounting portion 22 is formed so as to project rearward and upward on the upper end 24a side of the main body expanding portion 24, and is a portion to be arranged in the case 10 when the expansion of the airbag 20 is completed. The width dimension of the mounting portion 22 on the vehicle width direction side (left-right direction side) is set smaller than the width dimension of the main body expansion portion 24 on the vehicle width direction side (left-right direction side), and the width on the vehicle width direction side is set. The dimensions and the thickness dimensions are set to the dimensions that can be arranged in the case 10. Further, insertion holes 22b for inserting the inflator 15 are formed on both left and right ends of the mounting portion 22 (see FIGS. 4, 6 and 7). A mounting hole 22a for projecting the bolt 15a of the inflator 15 is formed in the mounting portion 22 (see FIG. 4).

The protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R are arranged on the rear surface side of the main body expansion portion 24 when the expansion is completed. In the case of the embodiment, the width dimension on the vertical direction side is set to the main body expansion portion 24 (rear wall portion 27). It is configured to be slightly smaller than the width dimension on the vertical side of the main body and is arranged over substantially the entire upper and lower sides of the main body expansion portion 24. These projecting expansion portions 35L and 35R are arranged at positions diagonally forward to the left and diagonally to the right of the driver MD seated in the driver's seat DS when the expansion of the airbag 20 is completed (see FIG. 11). Each of the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R expands by inflowing expansion gas into the inside through the front end side communicating with the main body expansion portion 24, and the external shape at the completion of expansion is changed in the thickness direction in the left-right direction. It has a substantially trapezoidal shape with a narrow width toward the rear end side when viewed from the left-right direction side, as a substantially plate-like shape arranged so as to substantially follow. Each of the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R includes an inner wall portion 35b and an outer wall portion 35a that are arranged so as to face each other on the vehicle width direction side (left-right direction side) when the expansion is completed, and each outer wall portion 35a is shown in FIG. As shown in the above, the main body expanding portion 24 is configured to be continuous from the left wall portion 28 and the right wall portion 29. Each of the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R is configured to be able to protect the head MH of the driver MD that moves diagonally forward in the event of an oblique collision or an offset collision of the vehicle. Specifically, in the airbag 20 of the embodiment, the inner wall portions 35b of the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R move the head MH of the driver MD that moves diagonally forward at the time of an oblique collision or an offset collision of the vehicle. It constitutes a protective restraint surface for oblique collision 38L, 38R.

The protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R are configured to have the same outer shape when expansion is completed. Specifically, the external dimensions of the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R (the width dimension on the vertical direction side and the width dimension on the front-rear direction side (the amount of protrusion from the rear wall portion 27)) are the inner walls when the expansion of the airbag 20 is completed. The head MH of the driver MD that moves diagonally forward is brought into contact with the portion 35b (constraint surfaces for oblique collision 38L, 38R) to accurately receive the head MH of the driver MD, and the restraint described later. The dimensions are set so that they can be smoothly guided toward the recesses 40L and 40R.

In the airbag 20 of the embodiment, diagonally between the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R and the rear wall portion 27 (the boundary portion between the front collision restraint surface 37 and the oblique collision restraint surfaces 38L and 38R), respectively. Restraint recesses 40L and 40R for allowing the head MH of the driver MD moving forward to enter are formed. The restraint recesses 40L and 40R are formed at the boundary between the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R and the rear wall portion 27 in the main body expansion portion 24, respectively, so as to substantially follow the vertical direction. As shown in 5 and 7, the rear end 40b side is opened and the rear end 40b side is recessed forward in a pocket shape. The restraint recesses 40L and 40R are configured to have the same outer shape, and are wide in the vertical direction when viewed from the left-right direction side (vehicle width direction side) and slightly narrower toward the front end 40a side. The outer peripheral edges of the substantially trapezoidal outer wall portions 41L and 41R and the inner wall portions 42L and 42R are continuously connected (sewn) to each other except for the trailing edge side. In the case of the embodiment, each of the restraint recesses 40L and 40R has a vertical length dimension (opening width dimension) of the portion on the rear end 40b side, and the vertical side of the front end side portion of the protruding expansion portion 35L and 35R. It is set to be substantially the same as the width dimension of (see FIG. 7).

Further, in the airbag 20 of the embodiment, each of the restraint recesses 40L and 40R is connected to the recess tethers 50L and 50R arranged in the bag body 21 with the tip end (front end 40a) side of the recess connected to the airbag. When the expansion of 20 is completed, the recess tethers 50L and 50R are arranged in a state where the tip (front end 40a) side of the recess is pulled forward (see FIG. 5). In the case of the embodiment, each of the restraint recesses 40L and 40R has the inner wall portions 42L and 42R and the outer wall portions 41L and 41R in contact with each other over substantially the entire area when the expansion of the airbag 20 is completed, and the protruding expansion portions 35L, respectively. , 35R is arranged so as to be continuous with the inner wall portion 35b and slightly inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so that the front end 40a faces inward in the vehicle width direction.

As a tether that regulates the expansion completion shape of the bag body 21 in the bag body 21, in the case of the embodiment, recessed tethers 50L and 50R are arranged in the region of the body expansion portion 24, and each protruding expansion portion is provided. Thickness regulating tethers 52L and 52R are arranged in the area of 35L and 35R.

The recessed tethers 50L and 50R have a band shape, and when the expansion of the airbag 20 is completed, as shown in FIGS. It is arranged so as to connect each of the front wall portion 26 in the above, and is arranged symmetrically in the airbag 20 when the expansion is completed, and is connected to the front end portion 50a on the front end 50a side. Slightly in the front-rear direction so as to be located inward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the rear end 50b connected to the connection tab 40c provided at the tip (front end 40a) of each of the restraint recesses 40L and 40R. It is a configuration that is tilted and arranged. The recessed tethers 50L and 50R have a length dimension that allows the restraining recesses 40L and 40R to be pulled forward so as to substantially follow the recessed tethers 50L and 50R when the expansion of the airbag 20 is completed. Is set to.

The thickness-regulating tethers 52L and 52R have a vehicle width so as to connect the inner wall portion 35b and the outer wall portion 35a near the front end of each of the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R (near the boundary portion with the main body expansion portion 24), respectively. They are arranged along the direction (see FIG. 5). The thickness-regulating tethers 52L and 52R are arranged in a strip shape so as to substantially follow the width direction in the vertical direction, and are symmetrically arranged in the airbag 20 when the expansion is completed. Specifically, each of the thickness-regulating tethers 52L and 52R is composed of two strip-shaped tether base materials 53 and 53, respectively. The thickness regulating tethers 52L and 52R are arranged in order to regulate the thickness dimension (separation distance between the inner wall portion 35b and the outer wall portion 35a) of the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R in the airbag 20 when the expansion is completed. It is installed.

The bag body 21 is formed in a bag shape by joining the peripheral edges of a base cloth having a predetermined shape to each other, and in the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the left panel portion 65L and the right panel portion 65R It is composed of a front panel portion 60, a rear left panel portion 72L, a rear center panel portion 76, and a rear right panel portion 72R.

The front panel portion 60 has a substantially band shape in which the longitudinal direction is substantially along the front-rear direction, and the portion from the front wall portion 26 of the main body expansion portion 24 to the mounting portion 22 at the completion of expansion is formed. , Consists. In the case of the embodiment, the front panel portion 60 has a symmetrical shape, and the wide front wall portion constituent portion 61 constituting the front wall portion 26 and the narrow mounting portion constituent portion constituting the mounting portion 22 are formed. 62 and. The mounting portion component 62 is configured to be wider toward the tip side.

The left panel portion 65L constitutes a region on the left side of the mounting portion 22 from the left wall portion 28 of the main body expansion portion 24 to the outer wall portion 35a of the protruding expansion portion 35L when the expansion is completed. Specifically, the left panel portion 65L has a substantially semi-elliptical main body constituent portion 66L constituting the left wall portion 28 of the main body expanding portion 24, and a substantially strip-shaped mounting portion configuration protruding from the rear upper edge of the main body constituent portion 66L. A portion 67L and a projecting portion component 68L that partially protrudes from the trailing edge of the main body constituent portion 66L to form a projecting expansion portion are provided. The protruding portion component 68L has a substantially trapezoidal shape. The right panel portion 65R constitutes a region on the right side of the mounting portion 22 from the right wall portion 29 of the main body expansion portion 24 to the outer wall portion 35a of the protruding expansion portion 35R when the expansion is completed. The right panel portion 65R is symmetrical with the left panel portion 65L, and like the left panel portion 65L, the main body configuration portion 66R, the mounting portion configuration portion 67R, and the projecting portion configuration portion 68R are formed. I have.

The rear left panel portion 72L has a substantially band shape forming a portion on the left edge side of the rear wall portion 27 in the main body expansion portion 24 when expansion is completed, and the protruding portion constituent portion forming the inner wall portion 35b of the protruding expansion portion 35L. The 73L and the recessed portion 74L constituting the outer wall portion 41L of the restraining recess 40L are partially projected. Specifically, the protruding portion constituent portion 73L has the same outer shape as the protruding portion constituent portion 68L in the left panel portion 65L, and protrudes from the outer edge 72c in the rear left panel portion 72L in a flatly deployed state, and the concave portion constituent portion The 74L has a substantially rectangular outer shape and is formed so as to protrude from the inner edge 72d. The rear right panel portion 72R constitutes a portion on the right edge side of the rear wall portion 27 in the main body expansion portion 24 when the expansion is completed, and is symmetrical with the rear left panel portion 72L in the same manner as the rear left panel portion 72L. , A protruding portion forming portion 73R and a recessed portion forming portion 74R are provided.

The rear center panel portion 76 constitutes a region on the left and right center sides of the rear wall portion 27, and is configured as a band shape in which the longitudinal direction is substantially along the vertical direction, and is formed on the left edge 76c and the right edge 76d, respectively. The recessed components 77L, 77R constituting the inner wall portions 42L, 42R of the restraining recesses 40L, 49R are partially projected. The recessed components 77L and 77R have the same outer shape as the recessed components 74L and 74R in the rear left panel portion 72L and the rear right panel portion 72R, and the rear center panel portion 76 has a symmetrical shape. Has been done.

In the embodiment, the front panel portion 60, the left panel portion 65L, the right panel portion 65R, the rear left panel portion 72L, the rear right panel portion 72R, the rear center panel portion 76, the recessed tethers 50L, 50R, which constitute the bag body 21, The tether base material 53 constituting the thickness-regulated tethers 52L and 52R is formed of a flexible woven fabric made of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, or the like, respectively.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the bag body 21 of the embodiment has a front panel portion 60, a left panel portion 65L, a right panel portion 65R, a rear left panel portion 72L, a rear right panel portion 72R, and a rear center panel portion. The corresponding edges of the 76 are sewn (bonded) with each other using sutures to form a bag shape.

Specifically, the rear upper edge 60a of the front panel portion 60 is coupled to the rear left panel portion 72L, the rear center panel portion 76, and the upper edges 72a and 76a of the rear right panel portion 72R, and the rear lower edge 60b is the rear lower edge 60b. It is connected to the lower edges 72b and 76b of the left panel portion 72L, the rear center panel portion 76, and the rear right panel portion 72R. The left edge 60c of the front panel portion 60 is connected from the front edge 66a of the main body constituent portion 66L in the left panel portion 65L to the outer peripheral edge 67a of the mounting portion constituent portion 67L, and the right edge 60d is the main body in the right panel portion 65R. From the front edge 66a of the constituent portion 66R to the outer peripheral edge 67a of the mounting portion constituent portion 67R, they are connected. The trailing edge 66b of the main body constituent portion 66L and the peripheral edge 68a of the protruding portion constituent portion 68L of the left panel portion 65L are coupled to the outer edge 72c of the rear left panel portion 72L and the peripheral edge 73a of the protruding portion constituent portion 73L. The trailing edge 66b of the main body constituent portion 66R and the peripheral edge 68a of the protruding portion constituent portion 68R of the right panel portion 65R are coupled to the outer edge 72c of the rear right panel portion 72R and the peripheral edge 73a of the protruding portion constituent portion 73R. The inner edge 72d of the rear left panel portion 72L and the peripheral edge 74a of the recessed component 74L are coupled to the left edge 76c of the rear center panel 76 and the peripheral edge 77a of the recessed component 77L, and the inner edge 72d and the recess of the rear right panel 72R are coupled. The peripheral edge 74a of the constituent portion 74R is coupled to the inner edge 76d of the rear central panel portion 76 and the peripheral edge 77a of the recessed constituent portion 77R.

In the airbag device M1 of the first embodiment, if a frontal collision, an oblique collision, or an offset collision of the vehicle is detected while mounted on the vehicle, a control device (not shown) outputs an operation signal to the inflator 15. As a result, the airbag 20 causes the expansion gas discharged from the inflator 15 to flow into the inside to expand, and pushes the door portion 7a of the airbag cover 7 open. Then, the airbag 20 expands and expands while projecting forward and downward from the case 10 through the protruding opening 10a formed by pushing open the door portion 7a of the airbag cover 7, and the two-dot chain line of FIG. And, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the expansion is completed so as to cover the front of the driver MD.

Then, in the airbag device M1 of the first embodiment, the airbag 20 expands and expands downward from the housed roof RF side, and the front surface of the main body expanding portion 24 becomes the steering wheel W (particularly the ring portion R). As a supported state, it will be arranged so as to cover the front of the driver MD as a occupant. Then, in the airbag device M1 of the first embodiment, at the time of a front collision of the vehicle, the driver MD moving forward is headed by the front collision restraint surface 37 (rear wall portion 27) of the airbag 20. The driver MD, which moves diagonally forward in the event of an oblique collision or an offset collision of the vehicle, projects rearwardly on both left and right ends of the front collision restraint surface 37 in the airbag 20. The head MH is protected by the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R (oblique collision restraint surfaces 38L and 38R).

Therefore, in the airbag device M1 of the first embodiment, even if the airbag device M1 is housed in the roof RF, it is possible to protect not only the occupant moving forward but also the occupant moving diagonally forward.

Further, in the airbag device M1 of the first embodiment, the airbag 20 (main body expansion portion 24) is supported on the front side by the ring portion R of the steering wheel W, which is a member on the vehicle body side, when the driver MD is received. Therefore, the upper body MU of the driver MD that moves forward or diagonally forward can be stably restrained by the airbag 20 by suppressing further forward movement. Therefore, the driver MD as a occupant can be stably protected not only at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle but also at the time of an oblique collision or an offset collision.

In particular, in the airbag device M1 of the first embodiment, the airbag 20 has a configuration in which restraint recesses 40L and 40R are arranged between the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R and the front collision restraint surface 37. Therefore, the head MH of the driver MD that moves diagonally forward is composed of the surface on the front collision restraint surface 37 side of the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R (the inner wall portion 35b of the protruding expansion portions 37L and 35R). The slanting restraint surfaces 38L, 38R) are brought into contact with the slanting restraint surfaces 38L, 38R), and the restraint recesses 40L. The head MH of the driver MD can be guided into the 40R and received while entering the restraining recesses 40L and 40R (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 11). Therefore, the head MH of the driver MD can be softly restrained by the restraint recesses 40L and 40R.

Next, the airbag device M2 of the second embodiment will be described (see FIGS. 12 to 18). The airbag device M2 of the second embodiment is mounted on a vehicle capable of autonomous driving. The airbag device M2 of the second embodiment is also for protecting the driver MD as a occupant seated in the driver's seat DS, like the airbag device M1 of the first embodiment, and is for protecting the driver MD of the driver's seat DS. It is mounted on the front edge side of the roof RF on the upper side (see FIGS. 17 and 18). As shown in FIG. 12, the airbag device M2 of the second embodiment has the same configuration as the above-mentioned airbag device M1 except that it includes a shape control mechanism 87 that controls the expanded shape of the airbag 80. , The same member is designated by the same reference numeral, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 12 to 15, the shape control mechanism 87 includes a regulation belt 95 extending from the airbag 80 and a locking member 88 as a length adjusting means for adjusting the length of the regulation belt 95. Has been done.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the locking member 88 as the length adjusting means is arranged on the case 10 side as a storage portion for storing the airbag 80, and connects the base portion 95b of the regulation belt 95. In the case of the embodiment, the length of the regulation belt 95 from the case 10 side to the tip 95a side is adjusted in two modes of the locking maintenance state and the unlocking state of the base portion 95b of the regulation belt 95. It is said that. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the locking member 88 is arranged on the rear surface side of the rear wall portion 12 in the case 10. The rear wall portion 12 of the case 10 is formed with a through hole 12a through which the base portion 95b side of the regulation belt 95 can be inserted (see FIG. 13). As shown in FIG. 13, the locking member 88 is inserted into the locking hole 96 formed on the base portion 95b side of the regulation belt 95 and is inserted into the locking pin 89 to lock the base portion 95b side of the regulation belt 95. An actuator 90 that is attached to the rear surface side of the rear wall portion 12 and operates so as to retract the locking pin 89, and a locking pin that is configured to extend rearward from the rear wall portion 12 on the tip side of the locking pin 89. It is provided with a support bracket 91 capable of supporting the tip end side of the 89. The actuator 90 is configured to operate so as to pull in the locking pin 89 in response to an operation signal from the control device 100 (see FIGS. 17 and 18). When the actuator 90 operates to pull in the locking pin 89, the locking pin 89 shifts from the state in which the base portion 95b side of the regulation belt 95 is locked (connected) to the state in which the locking pin 89 is released. The regulation belt 95 will move (see the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 13). If the locking pin 89 can be moved by an electric signal from the control device 100, the actuator 90 is a piston cylinder that utilizes a fluid pressure including a case where an expanding gas pressure such as an inflator or an inflator is generated. Motors that utilize those fluid pressures and electricity, electromagnetic solenoids, springs that utilize the urging force at the time of restoration, and the like can be used. When the actuator 90 is not operating, the locking pin 89 is provided with a support bracket 91 at the tip end side so as to prevent the portion of the regulation belt 95 on the base 95b side from coming off from the locking pin 89 at the time of locking. It is supported.

In the case of the embodiment, the control device 100 that controls the operation of the actuator 90 of the locking member 88 includes a sensor (not shown) such as a camera that can detect the sitting posture of the driver MD seated in the driver's seat DS. It is said that.

The airbag 80 has the same configuration as the above-mentioned airbag 20 except that the regulation belt 95 is arranged instead of the concave tether, and the same member is designated by the same reference numeral to be detailed. The description is omitted (see FIGS. 14 and 15). That is, the airbag 80 is configured to include a bag main body 21, a regulation belt 95, and thickness regulation tethers 52L and 52R. The airbag 80 protrudes when expanded by the locking member 88 in a locked state (a state in which the length from the case 10 to the tip 95a of the regulated belt 95 is shortened) on the base portion 95b side of the regulated belt 95. It is possible to maintain the protruding state of the expansion portions 35L and 35R from the front collision restraint surface 37, and the locking member 88 is in an unlocked state on the base portion 95b side of the regulation belt 95 (from the case 10 to the tip 95a of the regulation belt 95). It is configured so that the expansion can be completed so as to reduce the difference in unevenness between the front collision restraint surface 37 and the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R when the expansion is performed in the state where the length is increased. Specifically, in the airbag 80 of the embodiment, when the original portion 95b of the regulation belt 95 is expanded by the locking pin 89 in a state of being released, the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R are used for front collision. The restraint recesses 40L and 40R formed between the restraint surface 37 and the restraint recesses 40L and 40R are arranged so as to be extended while being inverted from between the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R and the front collision restraint surface 37. As a result, the film length of the front collision restraint surface 37 is substantially increased, and the airbag 80 reduces the uneven state between the front collision restraint surface 37 and the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R. As a result, it expands (see FIG. 19).

The regulation belt 95 connects the tip 95a side to the front collision restraint surface 37 side of the airbag 80 (bag body 21). Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, the regulation belt 95 has the tip 95a. Two sides are arranged so as to be connected to the tip (front end 40a) of the recesses of the restraint recesses 40L and 40R (connecting tabs 40c arranged on the front end 40a side of the restraint recesses 40L and 40R). (See FIGS. 14 and 15). A locking hole 96 that can penetrate the locking pin 89 of the locking member 88 is formed in the base portion 95b of each regulation belt 95 (see FIGS. 13 and 16). In the bag body 21, a belt loop portion 98 that allows the regulation belt 95 to be inserted and whose orientation can be changed is arranged at a position substantially centered on the left and right sides of the front wall portion 26 (FIG. 14, FIG. 15). The belt threading portion 98 is penetrated in the front-rear direction side by connecting the left edge and the right edge of the substantially strip-shaped base material 99 (see FIG. 16) to the front wall portion, and inserts two restricting belts 95. It is configured to be possible. Then, the regulation belt 95 extending forward from the front end of each of the restraint recesses 40L and 40R is inserted through the belt threading portion 98 and is turned so as to substantially follow the vertical direction, and the original portion 96b side is the bag main body. It is arranged in the bag main body 21 so as to protrude from the attachment portion 22 arranged on the upper end side of the 21 (see FIG. 15). Each regulation belt 95 has an airbag in a state in which the locking pin 89 is inserted into the locking hole 96 to maintain the locking (connection with the locking member 88) with the locking pin 89. When the 80S (80) is expanded, the restraint recesses 40L and 40R are set to have dimensions that allow them to be accurately pulled forward.

In the airbag device M2 of the second embodiment, when the vehicle is automatically driven or the like, the control device 100 is used to operate the airbag device M2 while sitting on the driver's seat DS with the backrest SB tilted backward away from the roof RF. When the person MD'(state of comfortable posture, see FIG. 18) is detected, the control device 100 outputs an operation signal to the actuator 90 of the locking member 88 at substantially the same time as the operation of the inflator 15, and the locking member 88 will be actuated to pull in the locking pin 89.

Then, when the air bag 80 expands in a state where the original portion 95b of the regulation belt 95 is released by the locking pin 89 (a state in which the length from the case 10 to the tip 95a of the regulation belt 95 is increased). As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the state in which the locking pin 89 and the base portion 95b of the regulation belt 95 are maintained in the locked state (the length from the case 10 to the tip 95a of the regulation belt 95 is shortened). Compared with the case of expansion in the state) (see FIGS. 14 and 17), the expansion is performed so as to reduce the unevenness difference between the front collision restraint surface 37 and the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R. More specifically, in the airbag 80 of the embodiment, the restraint recesses 40L and 40R are arranged between the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R and the front collision restraint surface 37, and the regulation belt 95 is restrained. Since the configuration is such that it extends from the tip (front end 40a) of the recesses 40L and 40R, it is restrained when the original portion 95b of the regulation belt 95 is released by the locking pin 89. The recesses 40L and 40R are arranged so as to be fed out from between the protruding expansion portions 35L and 35R and the restraint surface 37 for front collision while being inverted, so that the film of the restraint surface 37 for front collision is extended. The length of the airbag 80L is substantially increased, and the airbag 80L expands so as to project the front collision restraint surface 37 rearward as a large volume (see FIG. 19). That is, the airbag 80L (large volume bag) that expands in a state where the base portion 95b of the regulation belt 95 is released by the locking pin 89 is engaged with the locking pin 89 and the base portion 95b of the regulation belt 95. Compared with the airbag 80S (small volume bag) when inflated while the stopped state is maintained (the length from the storage part side to the tip side of the regulation belt is shortened), the front wall portion 26 It expands thickly so as to increase the separation distance from the rear wall portion 27. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18, the driver MD', which is seated in a comfortable posture so as to tilt the backrest SB of the driver's seat DS backward, is thickly expanded so as to project relatively rearward. With the bag 80L, it can be accurately received and protected.

In the airbag device M2 of the second embodiment, when the control device 100 detects the driver MD (normal posture state) seated in the driver's seat DS with the backrest standing upright, the airbag is used. As shown in FIG. 17, the 80S is regulated in a state where the locking pin 89 and the regulation belt 95 are maintained in a connected state (the length from the storage portion side to the tip side of the regulation belt is shortened). The restraining recesses 40L and 40R by the belt 95 are expanded as a small volume in a state where the traction state is maintained. Also in the airbag device M2 of the second embodiment, the airbag 80S that expands while maintaining the traction state of the restraint recesses 40L and 40R by the regulation belt 95 has the front surface of the main body expansion portion 24 of the steering wheel W. As in the state of being supported by the ring portion R, the driver MD can be protected as in the airbag 20 of the first embodiment. Specifically, at the time of a front collision of the vehicle, the driver MD moving forward is protected by the front collision restraint surface 37 (rear wall portion 27) in the airbag 80S. At the time of an oblique collision or an offset collision of the vehicle, the driver MD, which moves diagonally forward, has a protruding expansion portion 35L that partially protrudes rearward from the left and right end sides of the front collision restraint surface 37 in the airbag 80S. , 35R (oblique collision restraint surfaces 38L, 38R) will protect the head.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, as the airbag 110, as a restraint surface for front collision, the head MH of the driver MD seated in the driver's seat DS as the first occupant can be protected for front collision. It has a restraint surface 111 and a passenger seat passenger front collision restraint surface 112 capable of protecting the head MH of the passenger seat passenger MP seated in the passenger seat PS as a second occupant, and also has a driver front collision. The structure is provided with the restraint surface 111 for front collision for the driver and the protruding expansion portions 113 arranged on the left and right ends of the restraint surface 112 for the front passenger seat passenger, respectively, and the restraint surface 111 for the front passenger seat and the front passenger seat passenger. Those shared by the protruding expansion portion 113C arranged between the protrusion restraint surface 112 and the protrusion restraint surface 112 may be used. When the expansion of the airbag 110 is completed, the front surface of the airbag 110 is supported by the ring portion R of the steering wheel W in front of the driver's seat DS and the instrument panel (instrument panel) 120 in front of the passenger seat PS. , Driver MD and passenger seat passenger MP can be protected. With such a configuration, the passenger seat airbag and the driver airbag can be integrated. Further, since the protruding expansion portion 113C arranged between the driver front collision restraint surface 111 and the passenger seat passenger front collision restraint surface 112 is shared, a separate protrusion expansion portion 113C is shared between the two. It is also possible to simplify the configuration as compared with the case of arranging. In the embodiment, the airbag 110 protects the driver MD as the first occupant and the passenger seat occupant MP as the second occupant. For example, the driver's seat and the passenger seat. When mounted on a vehicle having a center seat between the two, the driver as the first occupant and the center occupant seated in the center seat as the second occupant, or the center occupant and the second occupant as the first occupant. The airbag may be configured to protect the passenger seat occupant as a occupant.

In the embodiment, an airbag device for the driver's seat has been taken as an example and described, but the present invention also includes, of course, an airbag device for the passenger seat that can protect the passenger seat occupant seated in the passenger seat. It is applicable and is also applicable to airbag devices for protecting rear occupants seated in the rear seats.

Further, in the second embodiment, by controlling the shape control mechanism, the airbag is provided with the front collision restraint surface and the protruding inflated portion according to the seating posture (comfort posture state and normal sitting posture) of the occupant. Although it is expanded so as to make the outer shape different by providing a change in the unevenness difference, the control by the shape control mechanism is not limited to the embodiment, for example, the seating position and the physique of the occupant. Depending on the situation, control may be performed so as to make the outer shape different. Specifically, when the airbag is inflated while the unevenness between the front collision restraint surface and the protruding expansion portion is largely maintained, for example, the airbag is seated close to a small occupant or a storage portion. When the airbag can be inflated while the occupants and the like can be accurately protected and the unevenness between the front collision restraint surface and the protruding expansion portion is reduced, for example, the airbag is separated from a large occupant or a storage portion. It is possible to accurately protect the seated occupants and the like.

Further, in the airbag device M2 of the second embodiment, as the length adjusting means, a locking member 88 having a locking pin 89 that locks the base portion 95b side of the regulation belt 95 is used and operates. The locking pin 89 is sometimes pulled in to unlock the base 95b of the regulation belt 95, thereby adjusting the substantial length of the regulation belt 95 from the storage portion (case 10) to the tip 95a. However, the length adjusting means is not limited to the embodiment, and as a length adjusting means, the regulating belt itself is extended by feeding out the regulating belt while maintaining the connected state between the original portion and the storage portion side. A structure that changes the length dimension from the base side to the tip side may be used.

5 ... Roof head lining, 7 ... Airbag cover, 10 ... Case, 15 ... Inflator, 20 ... Airbag, 21 ... Bag body, 24 ... Body expansion part, 35L, 35R ... Protruding expansion part, 37 ... Front collision restraint Surface, 38L, 38R ... Oblique collision restraint surface, 40L, 40R ... Restraint recess, 80 (80S, 80L) ... Airbag, 97 ... Shape control mechanism, 88 ... Locking member (length adjusting means), 95 ... Regulatory belt, 95a ... tip, 95b ... base, 100 ... control device, 110 ... airbag, 111 ... driver front collision restraint surface, 112 ... passenger seat passenger front collision restraint surface, 113 (113C) ... protrusion Inflator, MD ... Driver (occupant), MH ... Head, MP ... Passenger seat Passenger (occupant), DS ... Driver's seat (seat), PS ... Passenger seat (seat), RF ... Roof, W ... Steering wheel , R ... Ring part, M1, M2 ... Airbag device.

Claims (4)

An airbag device that is housed on the roof side above the occupant seated on the seat and is provided with an airbag that can expand and expand downward when the expansion gas flows in to protect the occupant.
The airbag is configured to be able to restrain the upper body of the occupant, and is placed on the rear surface side when the expansion is completed.
A front collision restraint surface that can protect the head of the occupant who moves forward when the vehicle hits the front,
A protruding expansion that is formed so as to project rearward on both ends in the left-right direction of the front collision restraint surface and can protect the head of the occupant that moves diagonally forward at the time of a vehicle oblique collision or an offset collision. Department and
An airbag device characterized in that it is configured to dispose of. The shape of the airbag is controlled by a shape control mechanism.
The shape control mechanism
A regulation belt whose tip side is connected to the front collision restraint surface side in the airbag,
On the storage site side where the airbag is stored, the base side of the regulation belt is connected, and the length from the storage site side to the tip end side of the regulation belt can be adjusted in at least two modes of long and short. Length adjustment means and
It is configured to have
When the airbag is inflated in a state where the regulation belt is shortened by the length adjusting means, the protruding inflated portion can be maintained in a protruding state from the front collision restraint surface, and the length adjusting means makes it possible to maintain the protruding state. The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the expansion can be completed so as to reduce the difference in unevenness between the front collision restraint surface and the protruding expansion portion when the regulation belt is expanded in a long state. Described airbag device. A restraint recess for allowing the head of the occupant, which moves diagonally forward, to enter and restrain the airbag is provided between each of the protruding expansion portions and the front collision restraint surface. It is configured to be
The airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the regulation belt is arranged by connecting the tip end to the tip end of the recess of the restraint recess. As the front collision restraint surface, the airbag can protect the head of the driver seated in the driver's seat as the first occupant, and the driver front collision restraint surface and the passenger seat as the second occupant. It has a passenger seat passenger front collision restraint surface that can protect the head of the passenger seat passenger seated in, and further, the driver front collision restraint surface and the passenger seat passenger front collision restraint surface. It is configured to include the protruding expansion portion disposed on each of the left and right ends of the above.
Any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protruding expansion portion arranged between the driver's front collision restraint surface and the passenger seat-mounted vehicle front collision restraint surface is shared. The airbag device according to item 1.

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