JP3012892B2 - Side cushion air bag device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air bag provided on a side wall or a side door of a vehicle at a side of a vehicle seat so as to be almost completely widened, and gas is introduced in a side collision of the vehicle. And immediately inflated to act on the side of the passenger on the seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Airbag devices are known in principle and are already incorporated in vehicles as standard equipment. Airbags as standard equipment are front shock absorbers that protect drivers or passengers, such as passenger cars, against collision with windshields or instrument panels. In such an airbag device, a gas generator is combined with a folded airbag,
The airbag is generally provided beneath a protective shroud, and upon inflation of the airbag, the protective shroud is opened or ruptured so that the unfolded airbag is oriented in a desired direction.

[0003] In connection with a front cushioning airbag device for protecting passengers, German patent application DE-A-2063 is filed.
From U.S. Pat. No. 478, it is known to fold a folded airbag into a front wall or a panel of an instrument panel so that the surfaces of these parts are in a common plane. In this way, a particularly large airbag is realized in the inflated state, and in an emergency the space between the passenger and the vehicle front wall or the instrument panel can be filled. In an airbag device that protects the driver in the event of a head-on collision, the airbag can be spread in a relatively small free space between the steering wheel and the driver,
A small size is sufficient.

[0004] From GB-A-2 220 620 it is known in principle that an airbag device can be provided on the side wall or side door of a vehicle to improve the protection of passengers in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. This UK Patent Application Publication No. 22
According to US Pat. No. 20,620, the airbag has a relatively large volume after being inflated and unfolded and, in effect, extends over the entire height of the side wall or side door, also covering the window opening.

According to DE-A-41 19 788, which has not yet been published, but relates to an earlier application, an airbag which serves for protection in the event of a side collision is disclosed in US Pat.
It is provided in the lower part of the side wall or side door behind the upper part, and when the airbag inflates, this upper part is pushed and swings toward the interior space of the vehicle, opening an upward opening in the side wall or side door. The part of the airbag, which is normally folded out, emerges from this opening and can form a cushion.

A similar device is known from US Pat. No. 4,966,388, in which an airbag is also provided behind the overhang, which at the beginning of the inflation process of the airbag is lifted by the airbag into the interior of the vehicle. It is pushed toward. The first folded portion of the airbag is then inflated to form a cushion.

From US Pat. No. 3,791,667,
It is known to provide a large number of small airbags in the interior space of a vehicle and also on the side walls or side doors of the vehicle. The air bag is formed by strongly extensible membranes, which usually form the smooth side walls of the hollow body, into which air is introduced.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-249740 discloses that an air tank is provided in a side wall or a side door of a vehicle to compress the air tank in the event of a side collision of the vehicle and to inflate an air bag communicating with the air tank. It is known.

The side cushion airbags envisioned hitherto do not produce satisfactory results. This is due to the fact that the time required to bring the airbag into a state effective for protection is much greater than the time available. In this case, consideration must be given to the fact that the vehicle has, in the lateral direction, only the first plastic deformation zone which can mitigate the effect of the collision on the passengers. In this respect, there is a situation in which the side cushion airbag apparatus is different in principle from the front cushion airbag apparatus.

From GB 1 441 598 it is known to provide a thick pad section on the side walls or side doors of the interior space of the vehicle. Although this pad is always effective, its protection is significantly lower than that of an airbag device. The always present pad portion significantly limits the free space in the vehicle interior space.

[0011]

The problem to be solved by the present invention is as follows.
A significant improvement in the effectiveness of the side cushion airbag device.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, an air bag provided on the back side of an extensible film-like overlay for a side wall or a side door.

[0013]

According to the present invention, since the air bag is stored in the initial position in a state where it is practically completely spread,
Only a small amount of time is required to inflate the airbag.

According to the present invention, since the air bag is provided on the film-like side wall or the back side of the side door overlay, the presence of the air bag does not impair the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle interior. Moreover, since the film-like overlay can be extended, there is no hindrance when the airbag inflates.

According to the invention, the maximum volume of the airbag which is inflated in the event of a collision is only less important than the speed at which the airbag is inflated in the event of a collision, in order to obtain a good protection of the side cushion airbag device. Not. According to the invention, the outer shell of the airbag is practically immediately tensioned upon introduction of the gas, and is subsequently stretched under tension to increase the airbag volume.

[0016]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of embodiments shown in the drawings.

A side cushion air bag device 2 is provided in the space between the film-like inner covering 1 and the outside of the door inside the side wall or side door of the vehicle as shown in the drawing, in the range of a vehicle seat (not shown). I have. The airbag device 2 comprises a gas generator 3 extending parallel to the lower edge of the door, and at least initially from an initial position allowing the airbag to inflate toward the side of the passenger on the seat by filling with gas. And an air bag 4 which is housed in an almost completely spread state. Therefore, since the airbag 4 is provided in a state where it can be practically used immediately, it is only necessary to supply gas in order to inflate the airbag outer skin and expand while increasing the volume of the airbag 4.

In order not to prevent the airbag 4 from being inflated by the inner overlay 1, the inner rung 1 can be connected to the side wall or side door so that it can be separated therefrom. Alternatively, a gap 5 can be provided between the inner overlay 1 and the side wall or side door so that the inflatable airbag 4 allows the inner overlay 1 to move relatively easily into the vehicle interior space. .

In some cases, the inner overlay 1 can be made from a material that is sufficiently flexible to allow the stretching motion to be with the airbag 4.

It is also possible in principle to provide or configure the airbag 4 as part of the inner overlay 1.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle side door provided with a side assistance air bag device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Side cushion air bag device 4 Air bag

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Manfred Müller, Germany Daituisau ob der der Schyuteige, 17 (72) Inventor Guido Vetzuel, Germany References JP-A-3-167312 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 59-155257 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-158542 (JP, U) Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-17936 (JP, B1) U.S. Pat. (US, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60R 21/16-21/32

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A airbag is on the side walls or lateral doors of Oite <br/> vehicle on the side of the vehicle seat, set in a state of being spread almost completely
As soon as gas is introduced during a side collision of the vehicle.
Inflatable and acting on the side of the passenger on the seat , characterized in that said airbag is provided on the back side of an extensible film-like overlay for side walls or side doors ,
Side buffer air bag device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the film-like overlay is connected to the side wall or the side door so as to be able to be separated from the side wall or the side door , or is provided with a gap to the side wall or the side door. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is characterized in that: