JP2021154999A - Air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

To surely protect an occupant from an impact by suppressing the oscillation of an airbag.SOLUTION: An airbag device has a sidewall part 18 at a sideway of a vehicle seat in a vehicle width direction, also has a ceiling part in a state of being connected to the sidewall part 18 at an upper part of the vehicle seat, and is employed to a vehicle in which the sidewall part 18 comprises a pillar part 21. The airbag device comprises an airbag 35 which is deployed and expanded by an expansion gas, and a vehicle inside tether 61 which is brought into a tension state accompanied by the deployment and expansion of the airbag 35. The airbag 35 is attached to the pillar part 21 at an attachment part 46 which is set at a rear end part in a vehicle fore-and-aft direction, and deployed and expanded by the expansion gas to a vehicle front side being a side far from the attachment part 46 out of the vehicle fore-and-aft direction with the attachment part 46 as a starting point. The vehicle inside tether 61 is bridged between a main body cloth part 37 of the airbag 35 and the pillar part 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

According to the present invention, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the side in the vehicle width direction, or when an impact is expected to be applied, the airbag is deployed and inflated in the vehicle interior to protect the occupant from the impact. Regarding bag equipment.

Gas as a device that protects the occupants seated in the vehicle seat when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the side in the vehicle width direction due to a side collision or the like, or when an impact is expected to be applied. An airbag device including an generator and an airbag that is deployed and expanded by an expansion gas generated by the gas generator is widely known.

As one form of this airbag device, for example, in the one described in Patent Document 1, the airbag is sideways between the front seat (front seat) and the rear seat (rear seat) together with the gas generator (inflator). Is attached to the center pillar portion that connects the floor and ceiling of the vehicle body.

Then, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the side due to a side collision or the like, or when it is predicted that an impact will be applied, expansion gas is generated by the gas generator and supplied to the airbag. The airbag deploys and expands forward from the center pillar section between the side door and the occupant seated in the front seat to protect the occupant from the impact of a collision.

In the description of Patent Document 1, the name in parentheses following the member name is the member name used in Patent Document 1.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-38993

However, in the airbag device described in Patent Document 1, even when the position of the vehicle seat in the front-rear direction is adjusted, if the airbag is to be deployed and expanded on the side of the occupant, the airbag will be used as an airbag. , The one that is long in the front-back direction is used. Moreover, the airbag is attached to the center pillar portion at the rear end portion. Further, the expansion gas is supplied to the airbag from the rear end portion. Therefore, the airbag expands and expands while swinging around the rear end portion attached to the center pillar portion as a fulcrum. If the airbag deviates from the predetermined deployment area due to this swing, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately protect the occupant from the impact.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device capable of suppressing the swing of an airbag and accurately protecting an occupant from an impact. be.

The airbag device that solves the above problems has a side wall portion on the side of the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction, and has a ceiling portion above the vehicle seat that is connected to the side wall portion. An airbag device applied to a vehicle having a pillar portion on the side wall portion, the airbag device is provided with an airbag that expands and expands by an expansion gas, and a tether that becomes tense as the airbag expands and expands. The airbag is attached to the pillar portion at a mounting portion set at one end portion in the vehicle front-rear direction, and is supplied from the end portion of the vehicle front-rear direction on the same side as the mounting portion by the expansion gas. The tether is deployed and expanded from the mounting portion to the side away from the mounting portion in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the tether is bridged between the airbag and the pillar portion.

According to the above configuration, when the expansion gas is supplied to the airbag from the end of the front-rear direction of the vehicle on the same side as the mounting portion, the airbag starts from the mounting portion and is in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. It expands and expands toward the side away from the mounting part. During this deployment and expansion, the airbag attempts to swing with the attachment as a fulcrum. However, the tether spanned between the pillars and the airbag is pulled by the deploying and expanding airbag. The tether becomes tense between the pillar portion and the airbag to regulate the above-mentioned swing of the airbag. As a result, the airbag can be deployed and inflated in a predetermined deployment area, and the performance of protecting the occupant from impact is improved as compared with the case where the tether is not used.

In the airbag device, it is preferable that the airbag expands and expands between the vehicle seat and the side wall portion.
According to the above configuration, the deployment and expansion of the airbag is performed in a state where the swing in the vehicle width direction is regulated by the vehicle seat and the side wall portion.

In the airbag device, it is preferable that the tether includes a vehicle inner tether arranged inside the vehicle than the airbag and a vehicle outer tether arranged outside the vehicle than the airbag.

According to the above configuration, when the airbag is deployed and expanded, both the inside-vehicle tether inside the vehicle and the outside-vehicle tether outside the vehicle are pulled by the airbag. Both the vehicle inner tether and the vehicle outer tether are in a tense state between the pillar portion and the airbag, and regulate the above-mentioned swing of the airbag. Since the tether regulates the swing on both the inside and outside of the vehicle rather than the airbag, the swing of the airbag, especially the swing in the width direction, is further suppressed as compared with the case where it is performed on only one side. NS.

In the airbag device, it is preferable that the vehicle outer tether is set shorter than the vehicle inner tether.
According to the above configuration, when the airbag is deployed and expanded, both the inside tether and the outside tether are pulled by the airbag, but the outside tether is shorter than the inside tether, so that the inside tether is shorter than the inside tether. Also becomes tense early. Therefore, in the initial stage of deployment and expansion of the airbag, it is possible to direct the airbag toward the side wall portion by the tether on the outside of the vehicle in a tense state. As a result, the airbag can be deployed and inflated even if the space between the vehicle seat and the side wall is narrow.

The airbag device that solves the above problems has a side wall portion on the side of the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction, and has a ceiling portion above the vehicle seat that is connected to the side wall portion. An airbag device in which the side wall portion is applied to a vehicle having a pillar portion, the airbag is provided with an airbag that is deployed and expanded by an expansion gas, and the airbag is set at one end in the vehicle front-rear direction. In the mounting portion, the mounting portion is started by the expansion gas that is mounted on at least the pillar portion of the pillar portion and the ceiling portion and is supplied from the end portion of the vehicle front-rear direction on the same side as the mounting portion. As a vehicle, the airbag expands and expands toward the side away from the mounting portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the airbag expands and expands between the vehicle seat and the ceiling portion, and the upper expanding portion for the vehicle. A side expansion portion that expands and expands between the seat and the side wall portion is provided, and the upper expansion portion and the side expansion portion are connected to each other inside the vehicle at a boundary portion between the ceiling portion and the side wall portion. It is preferable to have.

According to the above configuration, when the expansion gas is supplied to the airbag from the end of the front-rear direction of the vehicle on the same side as the mounting portion, the airbag starts from the mounting portion and is in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Of these, it expands and expands toward the side away from the above mounting portion. During this deployment and expansion, the airbag attempts to swing with the attachment as a fulcrum. However, the upper expansion portion and the side expansion portion of the airbag are connected to each other inside the vehicle at the boundary portion between the ceiling portion and the side wall portion. The upper inflatable portion expands and expands between the vehicle seat and the ceiling portion, and the side inflatable portion expands and expands between the vehicle seat and the side wall portion. The upper expansion portion regulates the side expansion portion from swinging in the vertical direction, and the side expansion portion regulates the upper expansion portion from swinging in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the airbag can be deployed and inflated in a predetermined deployment area to accurately protect the occupant from impact.

In the airbag device, it is preferable that the upper inflatable portion expands and expands between the head of the occupant seated on the vehicle seat and the ceiling portion.
According to the above configuration, the upper expansion portion expands and expands in a narrow space in the vertical direction such as between the ceiling portion and the vehicle seat, such as between the ceiling portion and the head of the occupant. The upper expansion portion is further restricted from swinging in the vertical direction by the ceiling portion and the occupant's head. Therefore, the vertical swing of the side expansion portion connected to the upper expansion portion is also more effectively regulated by the upper expansion portion.

In the airbag device, the vehicle includes a side wall portion including the pillar portion, the ceiling portion, and a canopy door that opens and closes the passenger compartment by tilting with the front end portion as a fulcrum. Is preferably mounted while being housed in the canopy door.

In the case of a vehicle equipped with a canopy door that opens and closes the passenger compartment by tilting with the front end as a fulcrum, there is little extra space in which other parts such as airbags can be placed. The pillar portion has more space than the other portion of the side wall portion, although the surplus space in which other parts can be arranged is small. Therefore, as described above, the airbag can be attached to the canopy door by attaching the airbag to the pillar portion or attaching it to at least the pillar portion of the pillar portion and the ceiling portion.

According to the above-mentioned airbag device, it is possible to suppress the swing of the airbag and accurately protect the occupant from the impact.

The partial perspective view which shows the canopy door in 1st Embodiment. The partial front view explaining the schematic structure of the airbag device in 1st Embodiment. The partial side view which shows the airbag in 1st Embodiment together with a vehicle seat and an occupant. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 when the airbag of FIG. 5 is inflated. The side view which shows the airbag in the non-expanded deployment state in 1st Embodiment together with the car interior tether. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 when the airbag of FIG. 5 is inflated. It is a figure which shows the airbag device of 2nd Embodiment, and is the partial plan view explaining the positional relationship between the expanded and expanded airbag, the car inner tether and the car outer tether. It is a figure which shows the 2nd Embodiment, and is the partial schematic cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 7 in the 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 3rd Embodiment, and is the partial front view corresponding to FIG. 2 in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 5, and is the side view which shows the modification of the arrangement mode of the tether inside a car. Similarly, it is the figure corresponding to FIG. 5, and is the side view which shows the modification of the arrangement mode of the car inner tether.

(First Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the airbag device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.
In the following description, the forward direction of the vehicle will be described as the front, and the reverse direction of the vehicle will be described as the rear. Further, the vertical direction means the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the horizontal direction is the vehicle width direction, which coincides with the horizontal direction when the vehicle moves forward. Further, the central portion in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle is used as a reference, the side approaching the central portion is referred to as "inside the vehicle", and the side away from the central portion is referred to as "outside the vehicle". Further, it is assumed that an occupant having the same physique as the dummy for the collision test is seated on the vehicle seat in a predetermined proper posture.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in the vehicle 10 of the first embodiment, a door having a special structure called a canopy door 12 is used as a door for opening and closing the passenger compartment 11. The canopy door 12 includes a base portion 13 constituting the lower portion thereof and a front window 14 fixed on the base portion 13. Protruding portions 15 are formed on both side portions of the base portion 13 in the vehicle width direction so as to project more outward than other portions on the same side portion. The base portion 13 is supported by a hinge portion (not shown) provided at its front end portion so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body. In FIG. 1, the front end portion of the base portion 13 is shown in a broken state.

The canopy door 12 includes a pair of swing door portions 16 having a symmetrical shape in the vehicle width direction. Each swing door portion 16 includes a ceiling portion 17 forming an upper portion and a side wall portion 18 forming a side portion and integrally formed with the ceiling portion 17. The side wall portion 18 includes a side window 19. The canopy door 12 is provided with a central frame portion (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction at the upper end portion thereof and at the central portion in the vehicle width direction. Each swing door portion 16 is supported by a hinge portion (not shown) provided at an end portion of the ceiling portion 17 inside the vehicle so as to be tiltable in the vertical direction with respect to the central frame portion.

The rear end portion of the side wall portion 18 of each swing door portion 16 is composed of pillar portions 21 extending substantially in the vertical direction. The pillar portion 21 has a higher strength than the other portions of the side wall portion 18. Further, the pillar portion 21 has a thickness larger than that of the other portion of the side wall portion 18, and has a larger amount of extra space in which other parts can be arranged than the other portion. There is. Pins 23 are fixed at two positions separated in the vertical direction in the upper part of the pillar portion 21 (see FIGS. 5 and 7).

The rear end portion of the ceiling portion 17 of each swing door portion 16 is composed of a horizontal frame portion 22 extending in the vehicle width direction. The horizontal frame portion 22 has higher strength than other portions of the ceiling portion 17. Further, the horizontal frame portion 22 has a thickness larger than that of the other portion of the ceiling portion 17, and has a larger surplus space for arranging other parts than the other portion, although it is small. ing.

Each of the pillar portion 21 and the horizontal frame portion 22 on the vehicle interior side is composed of a trim portion 29 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The pillar portion 21 and the horizontal frame portion 22 of each swing door portion 16 are integrally formed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a vehicle seat 25 is arranged in the vehicle interior 11. The vehicle seat 25 is located inside the side wall 18 and below the ceiling 17. The vehicle seat 25 includes a seat cushion 26 (see FIG. 8), a seat back 27, and a headrest 28. The seat cushion 26 is attached to a rail (not shown) installed on the floor of the vehicle body so that the front-rear position can be adjusted. The seat back 27 stands up in an inclined state so as to be located rearward from the rear portion of the seat cushion 26 toward the upper side, and is formed integrally with the seat cushion 26. The headrest 28 is integrally formed on the upper side of the seat back 27.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an airbag module ABM, which is a main part of the airbag device, is incorporated in the rear end portion of the canopy door 12. The airbag module ABM includes a gas generator 31 and an airbag 35 connected to the gas generator 31 via a tube 33 as main constituent members. Next, each of these constituent members will be described. In FIG. 3, the pillar portion 21 is not shown, and the pillar portion 21 is shown in a state where a part of the tube 33 and the airbag 35 are exposed.

<Gas generator 31>
As shown in FIG. 2, the gas generator 31 is composed of an inflator having an elongated shape in the vehicle width direction as a whole. A bolt 32 for attaching the gas generator 31 to the horizontal frame portion 22 is fixed to the gas generator 31.

Inside the gas generator 31, a gas generator (not shown) that generates expansion gas is housed. The gas generator 31 has a gas ejection portion (not shown) at its left end. Further, a harness (not shown) that serves as an input wiring for an operation signal to the gas generator 31 is connected to the right end of the gas generator 31.

The gas generator 31 is a type (hybrid type) in which the partition wall of the high-pressure gas cylinder filled with high-pressure gas is broken by explosives or the like to eject expansion gas instead of the pyrotype using the above-mentioned gas generator. May be used.

One end of the tube 33 described above is attached to the end of the gas generator 31 on the gas ejection portion side in a state of covering the gas ejection portion.
<Airbag 35>
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the airbag 35 includes an airbag body 36 and an expansion thickness regulating portion 51.

<Airbag body 36>
The airbag body 36 constitutes the outer shell portion of the airbag 35. FIG. 5 shows an airbag 35 in a state in which the airbag body 36 is only expanded and not inflated (hereinafter referred to as “non-expandable deployed state”). Further, FIG. 6 shows the internal structure of the airbag 35 in a state where the airbag main body 36 is inflated. More precisely, FIG. 6 shows the cross-sectional structure along line 6-6 in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a pair of main body cloth portions (also referred to as base cloth, panel cloth, etc.) overlapped in the vehicle width direction are used for forming the airbag main body 36. Here, in order to distinguish between the two main body cloth portions, the one located inside the vehicle is referred to as the main body cloth portion 37, and the one located outside the vehicle is referred to as the main body cloth portion 38. As the main body fabrics 37 and 38, a material having high strength, flexibility, and easily foldable material, for example, a woven fabric formed by using polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, or the like is suitable.

The airbag body 36 may be formed of a single piece of cloth. In this case, for example, a fold line extending in the vertical direction is set at the central portion of the cloth piece in the vehicle width direction. Then, the cloth pieces are folded in half along the fold line and overlapped in the vehicle width direction.

Both main body cloth portions 37 and 38 are connected by a peripheral edge connecting portion 39 provided along their peripheral peripheral portions. The peripheral edge connecting portion 39 is formed by sewing (suture with suture) the peripheral edges of the cloth portions 37 and 38 of both main bodies. This point also applies to the coupling portions 47, 48, 54, 55, 56 and the cyclic coupling portion 62, which will be described later.

Regarding the above sewing, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sewn portion is represented by three line types. The first line type is a line (a type of broken line) in which thick lines of a certain length are arranged intermittently, and this shows a state in which the sutured portion is viewed from the side (periphery in FIG. 5). See joint 39 and the like). The second line type is a line (a type of broken line) that is expressed by intermittently arranging thin lines of a certain length (longer than a general broken line). It shows the state of the sewing thread that is located in the back and cannot be seen (hidden) directly (see the joints 47, 56, etc. in FIG. 5). The third line type is a line (a type of broken line) in which points are arranged at regular intervals to represent the state of the suture between the main body cloth portions 37 and 38 to be sutured (a type of broken line). See peripheral coupling portion 39 and the like in FIG. 6). That is, the figure in which sewing is represented by the third line type shows a cross-sectional structure along a cross section passing through the sewn portion. The above items regarding the expression of the sewn portion are the same for FIGS. 11 and 12 for explaining the modified example.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the portion between the cloth portions 37 and 38 of both main bodies and surrounded by the peripheral coupling portion 39 constitutes the expansion portion 41 that expands and expands by the expansion gas. ..
The peripheral connection portion 39 may be formed by means different from the suture using the suture, for example, adhesion using an adhesive. This point is the same for the joint portions 47, 48, 54, 55, 56 and the cyclic joint portion 62.

As the main body cloth portions 37 and 38, those satisfying the following conditions are used. The condition is that the dimensions of the airbag body 36 in the deployed and inflated state in the front-rear direction are such that the airbag of a general side airbag device attached to the seat back of a general vehicle seat is expanded and inflated. It is longer than the anteroposterior dimension of the airbag when.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a tubular gas introduction portion 44 is formed at the rear upper ends of the cloth portions 37 and 38 of both main bodies. At the upper end of the gas introduction portion 44, the peripheral coupling portion 39 is not bonded. This portion constitutes an insertion port 45, and the end portion of the tube 33 is inserted into the gas introduction portion 44 through the insertion port 45. The end of the inserted tube 33 is fastened to the gas introduction portion 44 by a clamp (not shown) mounted around the gas introduction portion 44.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, there are a plurality of locations (two locations) separated from each other in the vertical direction in the seam allowance on the rear side of the peripheral joint portions 39, which are the trailing edges of the cloth portions 37 and 38 of both main bodies. A mounting portion 46 composed of a plurality of (two) pieces of cloth is connected to each by a connecting portion 47. In each mounting portion 46, a plurality of cloth pieces constituting the mounting portion 46 are connected to each other by a connecting portion 48 extending in the vertical direction. In each mounting portion 46, a through hole 49 is formed at a portion between the two connecting portions 47 and 48.

<Expansion thickness regulation part 51>
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the expansion thickness regulating unit 51 regulates the expansion thickness, which is the thickness in the vehicle width direction when the airbag main body 36 is deployed and expanded. The expansion thickness regulating portion 51 is an intermediate portion in the airbag main body 36 in the vertical direction, and is located in the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction.

The expansion thickness regulating portion 51 is made of the same material as the main body cloth portions 37 and 38, and includes a pair of regulating cloth portions 52 and 53 arranged in the vehicle width direction. Each of the regulation cloth portions 52 and 53 has an elongated strip shape in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 5). The front ends of the restricting cloth portions 52 and 53 are separated rearward from the front end portion of the peripheral edge joint portion 39, and the rear end portions of the regulated cloth portions 52 and 53 are separated from the rear end portion of the peripheral edge joint portion 39 to the front. It is separated. The regulation cloth portion 52 on the inside of the vehicle is connected to the main body cloth portion 37 on the inside of the vehicle adjacent to the regulation cloth portion 52 by a coupling portion 54. The connecting portion 54 is provided along one of a pair of side edge portions extending in the front-rear direction opposite to each other in the width direction in the regulation cloth portion 52, and has an elliptical shape elongated in the front-rear direction rather than the up-down direction. I'm doing it. Similarly, the regulation cloth portion 53 on the outer side of the vehicle is connected to the main body cloth portion 38 on the outer side of the vehicle adjacent to the regulation cloth portion 53 by the joint portion 55. The connecting portion 55 is provided along one of a pair of side edge portions extending in the front-rear direction opposite to each other in the width direction in the regulation cloth portion 53, and has an elongated oval shape in the front-rear direction rather than the up-down direction. I'm doing it.

The side edge portion of the regulation cloth portion 52 on the inside of the vehicle opposite to the joint portion 54 and the side edge portion of the regulation cloth portion 53 on the outside of the vehicle opposite to the joint portion 55 are in the vehicle width direction. It is overlapped with each other and is connected by a connecting portion 56 extending in the front-rear direction. According to such a coupling mode, the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 is bridged between the main body cloth portion 37 on the inside of the vehicle and the main body cloth portion 38 on the outside of the vehicle.

In the expansion thickness regulating portion 51, when the airbag main body 36 is in the non-expanding deployment state, both the regulation cloth portions 52 and 53 are in a state of being overlapped in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 5). Further, the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 becomes tense as the airbag main body 36 expands and expands, thereby regulating the expansion thickness of the portion of the airbag main body 36 in the vicinity of the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 in the vehicle width direction. (See Fig. 4).

Further, the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 divides the expansion portion 41 of the airbag main body 36 into an upper expansion portion 42 above the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 and a lower expansion portion 43 below the expansion thickness regulating portion 51. The upper expansion portion 42 and the lower expansion portion 43 communicate with each other on the front side of the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 in the airbag main body 36, and communicate with each other on the rear side of the expansion thickness regulating portion 51.

The maximum expansion thickness of the upper expansion portion 42 and the maximum expansion thickness of the lower expansion portion 43 differ depending on the position of the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 in the vertical direction. In the first embodiment, the above-mentioned position of the expansion thickness regulating unit 51 is set to a position satisfying the following conditions.

The upper expansion portion 42 has a maximum expansion thickness suitable for protecting the head PH of a large occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 25.
The lower expansion portion 43 has a maximum expansion thickness suitable for protecting the head PH of the small occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 25.

In the first embodiment, the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 is arranged below the central portion in the vertical direction. With this arrangement, the maximum expansion thickness of the upper expansion portion 42 is set to be larger than the maximum expansion thickness of the lower expansion portion 43.

The airbag 35 of FIG. 5, which includes the airbag body 36 and the expansion thickness regulating portion 51, is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 because a portion on the front side of the rear upper end portion after the tube 33 is inserted is folded. As described above, it is made into a compact storage form that is elongated in the vertical direction. This is to make the airbag 35 suitable for storage in the extra space of a limited size in the pillar portion 21. As a mode of folding the airbag 35 in the non-expanded deployed state, for example, roll folding, bellows folding and the like are suitable. Roll folding is a folding mode in which one end of the airbag 35 is centered and the other portion is wound around the one end. The bellows fold is a folding mode in which the airbag 35 is folded back while alternately changing the folding direction by a fixed width. Then, binding tape (not shown) is wrapped around a plurality of places of the airbag 35 which has been folded and made compact as described above. These binding tapes keep the airbag 35 in a folded state.

The airbag module ABM includes a tether in addition to the gas generator 31, tube 33, and airbag 35. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, in the first embodiment, the tether is composed of a vehicle inner tether 61 arranged inside the vehicle with respect to the airbag 35. The vehicle inner tether 61 is formed of the same material as the main body cloth portions 37 and 38 of the airbag main body 36 in an elongated shape in the front-rear direction rather than the vertical direction. The front end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61 is coupled to the airbag 35 at the vehicle inner body cloth portion 37. In the first embodiment, the front end portion is connected to the rear end portion of the region surrounded by the connecting portion 54 in the main body cloth portion 37 by the annular connecting portion 62 in an annular shape.

The airbag module ABM configured as described above is incorporated in the rear end portion of the canopy door 12 as follows.
As shown in FIG. 2, the gas generator 31 is arranged at a position closer to the pillar portion 21 in the lateral frame portion 22 in a posture extending in the vehicle width direction. The bolt 32 of the gas generator 31 is inserted into a strength member (not shown) in the horizontal frame portion 22. The gas generator 31 is fastened to the lateral frame portion 22 by tightening a nut (not shown) to the bolt 32. The gas generator 31 may be fastened or otherwise fixed to the horizontal frame portion 22 by a member different from the bolt 32 and the nut.

Further, the airbag 35, which is held in the storage form as described above and is connected to the gas generator 31 via the tube 33, is arranged at the upper part in the pillar portion 21. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the pin 23 in the pillar portion 21 is inserted into the through hole 49 for each mounting portion 46. By these insertions, each mounting portion 46 is locked to the corresponding pin 23.

Further, the pin 23 is inserted into the rear end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61, so that the rear end portion is locked to the pin 23. The vehicle inner tether 61 is bridged between the pillar portion 21 and the main body cloth portion 37 by the locking to the pin 23 and the coupling to the main body cloth portion 37 by the annular connecting portion 62.

Further, by attaching the fastener 24 to the pin 23, the vehicle inner tether 61 is attached to the pillar portion 21 via the pin 23 together with the attachment portion 46 (airbag 35).
As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag device includes an impact sensor 71 and a control device 72 in addition to the above-mentioned airbag module ABM. The impact sensor 71 is composed of an acceleration sensor or the like, and detects an impact applied to the vehicle 10 from the side. The control device 72 controls the operation of the gas generator 31 based on the detection signal from the impact sensor 71.

Further, the vehicle 10 is equipped with a seatbelt device for restraining the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 25 to the vehicle seat 25. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the seatbelt device is provided. Is omitted.

Next, the operation of the airbag device of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. In addition, the effects caused by the action will also be described.
When an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the vehicle 10 from the side due to a side collision or the like while the vehicle 10 is running, and this is detected by the impact sensor 71, gas is generated from the control device 72 based on the detection signal. An operation signal for operating the device 31 is output to the device 31. In response to this operation signal, expansion gas is ejected from the gas ejection portion of the gas generator 31. This expansion gas flows through the tube 33 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, and is supplied into the airbag main body 36 through the gas introduction portion 44 at the rear upper end portion of the airbag main body 36. The internal pressure of the airbag body 36 rises due to the supply of the expansion gas, and the airbag 35 starts expansion while canceling (deploying) the folded state. As the airbag 35 expands and expands, the expansion thickness regulating portions 51 shown in FIG. 4 are pulled to both sides in the vehicle width direction.

As described above, the airbag 35 presses and deforms the trim portion 29 of the pillar portion 21 shown in FIG. 2 in the process of deploying and expanding. The airbag 35 protrudes from the pillar portion 21 with the mounting portion 46 and its peripheral portion left in the pillar portion 21. After that, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the airbag 35 expands and expands forward. As shown in FIG. 4, when the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 is in a tense state, the expansion thickness of the airbag 35 in the vehicle width direction is regulated. As described above, the airbag 35 whose expansion thickness in the vehicle width direction is regulated is directed forward mainly between the headrest 28 and the side wall portion 18 of the vehicle seat 25, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Deploy and expand. The airbag 35 is interposed between the head PH of the occupant P and the side wall portion 18 to protect the head PH from impact.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the expansion gas is supplied from above to the rear end portion of the airbag 35, and the airbag 35 is attached to the pillar portion 21 at the attachment portion 46 of the rear end portion. The airbag 35 tends to swing upward with the attachment portion 46 to the pillar portion 21 as a fulcrum because the airbag 35 is long in the front-rear direction and the like. However, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the vehicle inner tether 61 bridged between the pillar portion 21 and the airbag 35 is pulled by the deploying and expanding airbag 35. The vehicle inner tether 61 is in a tense state between the pillar portion 21 and the airbag 35, and regulates the above-mentioned swing of the airbag 35. As a result, the airbag 35 can be deployed and expanded in a predetermined deployment region. The airbag 35 deploys and expands in the vicinity of the side of the head PH of the occupant P to accurately protect the head PH from impact.

Further, the airbag 35 is deployed and expanded in a state where the headrest 28 and the side wall portion 18 of the vehicle seat 25 regulate the swing in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 2). Therefore, the airbag 35 can be deployed and expanded at a position close to the head PH of the occupant P, and in this respect as well, the performance of protecting the head PH from impact can be enhanced.

According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the above.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the rear end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61 is attached to the pillar portion 21 by being hooked on the pin 23 which is a strength member in the pillar portion 21. Therefore, the vehicle inner tether 61 can be firmly attached to the pillar portion 21 at the rear end portion.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, in the main body cloth portion 37 inside the vehicle of the airbag 35 formed of the cloth pieces, the portion to which the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 is attached is in the main body cloth portion 37. It is considered to have the highest rigidity. This is because it is connected to the adjacent main body cloth portion 38 via the expansion thickness regulating portion 51. In this respect, in the first embodiment, the front end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61 is connected to the region of the vehicle inner main body cloth portion 37 surrounded by the joint portion 54. Therefore, when the vehicle inner tether 61 is in a tense state, it is possible to prevent the portion of the main body cloth portion 37 where the front end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61 is joined and the portion around the portion from being deformed more than other portions. However, the effect of restricting the swing of the airbag 35 can be efficiently exerted by the vehicle inner tether 61.

-As shown in FIG. 1, in the case of the vehicle 10 provided with the canopy door 12 that opens and closes the passenger compartment 11 by tilting with the hinge portion provided at the front end as a fulcrum, other parts such as the airbag module ABM are attached. There is little excess space. However, as in the first embodiment, the airbag 35 is housed in the pillar portion 21 and mounted, and the gas generator 31 is housed and mounted in the lateral frame portion 22, so that the airbag module ABM is housed in the canopy door 12 and mounted. It can be attached to. This point is the same in the second embodiment described later.

-As shown in FIG. 3, in the first embodiment, the airbag 35 is longer in the front-rear direction of the vehicle than the airbag for a general side airbag device attached to the seat back of a general vehicle seat. The thing is used. Therefore, even if the front-rear position of the vehicle seat 25 is adjusted, the airbag 35 can be deployed and expanded on the side of the head PH of the occupant P.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, by adjusting the position of the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 in the vertical direction, the maximum expansion thickness of the upper expansion portion 42 is a size suitable for protecting the head PH of the large occupant P. The maximum expansion thickness of the lower expansion portion 43 is set to a size suitable for protecting the head PH of the small occupant P. Therefore, even when any of the above occupants P is seated on the vehicle seat 25, the head PH can be protected from the impact by the upper expansion portion 42 or the lower expansion portion 43 having an appropriate maximum expansion thickness.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the airbag device will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.
In the second embodiment, as the tether, in addition to the vehicle inner tether 61 similar to that in the first embodiment, the vehicle outer tether 63 arranged on the vehicle outer side of the airbag 35 is used.

The vehicle outer tether 63 is formed of the same material as the main body cloth portions 37 and 38 of the airbag main body 36 in an elongated shape in the front-rear direction rather than the vertical direction. However, as the vehicle outer side tether 63, one having a length shorter than that of the vehicle inner side tether 61 is used.

By inserting the pin 23 through the rear end portion of the vehicle outer tether 63, the rear end portion is locked to the pin 23. Further, by attaching the fastener 24 to the pin 23, the vehicle outer tether 63 is attached to the pillar portion 21 via the pin 23 together with the mounting portion 46 and the vehicle inner tether 61. On the other hand, the front end portion of the vehicle outer side tether 63 is the vehicle outer body cloth portion 38, which is connected by the annular joint portion 62 at a position closer to the mounting portion 46 than the joint portion 55. The annular connecting portion 62 has an annular shape like the annular connecting portion 62 that connects the front end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61 to the vehicle inner body cloth portion 37. Then, by these locking and coupling, the vehicle outer side tether 63 is bridged between the main body cloth portion 38 and the pillar portion 21 of the airbag main body 36.

The configuration other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the same elements as those described in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.
Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the same actions and effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, when the airbag 35 is deployed and expanded, both the vehicle inner tether 61 inside the vehicle and the vehicle outer tether 63 outside the vehicle are pulled by the airbag 35. Both the vehicle inner tether 61 and the vehicle outer tether 63 are in a tense state between the pillar portion 21 and the airbag 35, and regulate the swing of the airbag 35. Since the swing regulation by the vehicle inner tether 61 and the vehicle outer tether 63 is performed on both the vehicle inner side and the vehicle outer side of the airbag 35, the airbag 35 is further compared with the first embodiment in which only one side is used. It is possible to suppress rocking, especially rocking in the vehicle width direction.

In particular, in the second embodiment, as the vehicle outer side tether 63, one shorter than the vehicle inner side tether 61 is used. Therefore, as described above, when the vehicle inner tether 61 and the vehicle outer tether 63 are both pulled by the airbag 35 as the airbag 35 is deployed and expanded, the vehicle outer tether 63 becomes tense earlier than the vehicle inner tether 61. Become in a state. Therefore, at the initial stage of deployment and expansion of the airbag 35, the airbag 35 can be directed toward the side wall portion 18 by the vehicle outer tether 63 in a tense state. As a result, the airbag 35 can be deployed and expanded even if the space between the vehicle seat 25 and the side wall portion 18 is narrow.

(Third Embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the airbag device will be described with reference to FIG.
The airbag device of the third embodiment is applied to the vehicle 10 provided with the canopy door 12 similar to that of the first embodiment.

As shown by the broken line in FIG. 10, the airbag 65 of the third embodiment is attached to at least the pillar portion 21 of the pillar portion 21 and the lateral frame portion 22 at the attachment portion 46 set at the rear end portion. .. In the third embodiment, the mounting portion 46 is mounted on both the pillar portion 21 and the lateral frame portion 22. As the mounting portion 46 at the rear end of the airbag 65, the same mounting portion 46 as that in the first embodiment is used. Each of the attachment portions 46 is attached to the pillar portion 21 and the horizontal frame portion 22 via a pin (not shown) similar to that of the first embodiment.

As shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 10, the airbag 65 is formed between the upper expansion portion 66 that expands and expands between the headrest 28 and the ceiling portion 17 of the vehicle seat 25 and the headrest 28 and the side wall portion 18. It includes a side expansion portion 67 that expands and expands. In particular, the upper expansion portion 66 expands and expands between the head PH of the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 25 and the ceiling portion 17. The upper expansion portion 66 and the side expansion portion 67 are connected to each other inside the vehicle at the boundary portion between the ceiling portion 17 and the side wall portion 18. Although not shown, the gas generator 31 is housed and fixed in the horizontal frame portion 22 of the ceiling portion 17 as in the first embodiment.

In the third embodiment, the vehicle inner tether 61 and the vehicle outer tether 63 are not used. Further, in the third embodiment, the expansion thickness regulation unit 51 may be used or may be omitted.

In FIG. 10, the same elements as those described in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.
According to the third embodiment configured as described above, when the expansion gas is supplied to the airbag 65, the airbag 65 starts from the mounting portion 46 set at the rear end portion in the vehicle front-rear direction. Of these, it expands and expands toward the front side of the vehicle, which is the side away from the mounting portion 46. During this deployment and expansion, the airbag 65 attempts to swing with the mounting portion 46 as a fulcrum.

However, the upper expansion portion 66 that expands and expands between the headrest 28 and the ceiling portion 17 restricts the side expansion portion 67 from swinging in the vertical direction. The side expansion portion 67 that expands and expands between the headrest 28 and the side wall portion 18 regulates the upper expansion portion 66 from swinging in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the airbag 35 can be deployed and expanded in a predetermined deployment region to accurately protect the head PH of the occupant P from impact.

In particular, in the third embodiment, the upper expansion portion 66 is deployed in a narrow space in the vertical direction, such as between the ceiling portion 17 and the vehicle seat 25, between the ceiling portion 17 and the head PH of the occupant P. And expand. Therefore, the upper expansion portion 66 is further restricted from swinging in the vertical direction by the ceiling portion 17 and the head PH. The vertical swing of the side expansion portion 67 connected to the upper expansion portion 66 can also be more effectively regulated by the upper expansion portion 66.

According to the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the above.
-In the case of the vehicle 10 provided with the canopy door 12, as described above, there is little extra space for mounting other parts such as the airbag module ABM. However, as in the third embodiment, the airbag module ABM is attached to the canopy door 12 by attaching the airbag 35 to the pillar portion 21 and the lateral frame portion 22 and attaching the gas generator 31 to the lateral frame portion 22. Is possible.

It should be noted that the above embodiment can also be implemented as a modified example in which this is modified as follows. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.

<Gas generator 31>
The gas generator 31 may be arranged and mounted in the pillar portion 21 instead of the horizontal frame portion 22. In this case, the gas generator 31 may be arranged at a position different from the airbag 35, for example, below the airbag 35, and may be connected to the airbag 35 by the tube 33 as in each of the above embodiments. Further, the gas generator 31 may be arranged in the airbag 35. In this case, the tube 33 becomes unnecessary.

-In the first and second embodiments, the gas generator 31 may be housed and fixed in a portion of the ceiling portion 17 different from the horizontal frame portion 22.
<About airbag 35>
The gas introduction portion 44 may be provided at a portion of the airbag main body 36 different from that of the first embodiment, for example, at the rear lower end portion or at the rear end portion at the intermediate portion in the vertical direction.

The airbag main body 36 may be substantially entirely inflated as in each of the above-described embodiments, but has a non-expandable portion that is not supplied with expansion gas and does not expand. It may be.

-The expansion thickness regulating portion is configured by joining the main body cloth portion 37 on the inside of the vehicle and the main body cloth portion 38 on the outside of the vehicle by means such as suturing in a state of being in contact with each other without using the regulating cloth portions 52 and 53. May be done. In this case, the expansion thickness of the airbag 35 becomes the minimum (zero) that can be taken at the joined portion.

-Expansion thickness regulating portions 51 may be provided at a plurality of locations in the airbag main body 36.
The airbag 35 protects the upper body of the occupant P from impact by deploying and expanding in addition to or instead of the head PH of the occupant P on the side of a portion below the head PH of the occupant P. It may be.

-In the case of a vehicle in which the vehicle seat is mounted behind the pillar portion 21 in the vehicle front-rear direction, the mounting portion 46 is set at the front end portion of the airbag body 36, and the airbag 35 is mounted on the pillar portion 21 at the mounting portion. May be done. In this case, the airbag 35 expands and expands toward the rear of the vehicle starting from the mounting portion 46 by the expansion gas supplied from the gas generator 31.

<About tether>
-The rear end portion of at least one of the vehicle inner tether 61 and the vehicle outer tether 63 may be attached to a member different from the pin 23 and having high strength, provided that it is a constituent member of the pillar portion 21.

-In the first embodiment, the vehicle outer tether 63 similar to the vehicle outer tether 63 in the second embodiment may be used instead of the vehicle inner tether 61. In other words, the one in which the vehicle inner tether 61 in the second embodiment is omitted may be regarded as the first embodiment.

-At least one front end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61 and the vehicle outer tether 63 may be coupled to a portion of the airbag 35 different from that of the second embodiment. 11 and 12 show examples of deformation of the joint position of the front end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61, respectively. In addition, in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements as those in the first embodiment.

In the modified example of FIG. 11, the front end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61 is upwardly separated from the portion (joining portion 54) to which the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 is joined in the main body cloth portion 37 inside the vehicle. , Are coupled by a cyclic coupling portion 62. The tether 61 on the inside of the vehicle is pulled by the airbag 35 that expands and expands, so that the tether 61 is in a tense state in an inclined state so as to be higher toward the front side.

In the modified example of FIG. 12, the front end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61 is located at a portion of the main body cloth portion 37 inside the vehicle, which is separated from the portion where the expansion thickness regulating portion 51 is joined (joining portion 54) to the rear lower side. It is combined.

In any of the modified examples, the same actions and effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained.
-At least one rear end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61 and the vehicle outer tether 63 may be locked to a pin 23 different from that of the first embodiment. FIG. 12 shows a modified example of the mounting position of the rear end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61, and the rear end portion is locked to the upper pin 23.

The modified example includes a modified example in which the rear end portion of the vehicle inner tether 61 and the rear end portion of the vehicle outer tether 63 are locked to different pins 23.
-In the first and second embodiments, a plurality of vehicle inner tethers 61 may be used, and a plurality of vehicle inner tethers 61 may be bridged between the pillar portion 21 and the vehicle inner body cloth portion 37.

-In the second embodiment, a plurality of vehicle outer tethers 63 may be used, and a plurality of vehicle outer tethers 63 may be bridged between the pillar portion 21 and the vehicle outer body cloth portion 38.
<Others>
The airbag device may be applied to a canopy door in which the portion corresponding to the swing door portion 16 does not tilt.

-The canopy door described above is a form of a so-called upwardly deployable door that opens in a manner that deploys substantially perpendicular to the ground.
The airbag device can also be applied to a vehicle provided with an upwardly deployable door of a type different from the canopy door, for example, a gull wing door, a scissor door, a raptor door, a butterfly door, or the like.

-The airbag device can be applied to a vehicle provided with a door different from a special door such as the canopy door 12 described above, or a general door.
The control device 72 may be changed to a specification that outputs an operation signal to the gas generator 31 when it is predicted that an impact from the side will be applied to the vehicle 10.

10 ... Vehicle 11 ... Car room 12 ... Canopy door 17 ... Ceiling 18 ... Side wall 21 ... Pillar 25 ... Vehicle seat 35, 65 ... Airbag 46 ... Mounting 61 ... Inside tether (tether)
63 ... Tether on the outside of the car (tether)
66 ... Upper expansion part 67 ... Side expansion part P ... Crew PH ... Head

Claims (7)

A vehicle having a side wall portion on the side of the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction, a ceiling portion connected to the side wall portion above the vehicle seat, and further having a pillar portion on the side wall portion. Is an airbag device applied to
Airbags that expand and expand with expansion gas,
It is equipped with a tether that becomes tense as the airbag expands and expands.
The airbag is attached to the pillar portion at a mounting portion set at one end portion in the vehicle front-rear direction, and is supplied from the end portion of the vehicle front-rear direction on the same side as the mounting portion by the expansion gas. , The mounting portion is used as a starting point, and the vehicle expands and expands in the front-rear direction of the vehicle toward the side away from the mounting portion.
The tether is an airbag device that is bridged between the airbag and the pillar portion. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag expands and expands between the vehicle seat and the side wall portion. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tether includes a vehicle inner tether arranged inside the vehicle from the airbag and a vehicle outer tether arranged outside the vehicle from the airbag. The airbag device according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle outer tether is set shorter than the vehicle inner tether. A vehicle having a side wall portion on the side of the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction, a ceiling portion connected to the side wall portion above the vehicle seat, and further having a pillar portion on the side wall portion. Is an airbag device applied to
Equipped with an airbag that expands and expands with expansion gas
The airbag is attached to at least the pillar portion of the pillar portion and the ceiling portion at a mounting portion set at one end in the vehicle front-rear direction, and is on the same side as the mounting portion in the vehicle front-rear direction. The expansion gas supplied from the end expands and expands from the mounting portion to the side away from the mounting portion in the vehicle front-rear direction.
The airbag includes an upper expansion portion that expands and expands between the vehicle seat and the ceiling portion, and a side expansion portion that expands and expands between the vehicle seat and the side wall portion.
An airbag device in which the upper expansion portion and the side expansion portion are connected to each other inside the vehicle at a boundary portion between the ceiling portion and the side wall portion. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein the upper inflatable portion expands and expands between the head of an occupant seated on the vehicle seat and the ceiling portion. The vehicle includes a side wall portion provided with the pillar portion, the ceiling portion, and a canopy door that opens and closes the passenger compartment by tilting with the front end portion as a fulcrum.
The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the airbag is attached while being housed in the canopy door.

Images