JP3385853B2 - Vehicle airbag device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle air bag device for protecting an occupant by relaxing an impact load by deploying the air bag in the event of a vehicle collision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in the case of a side collision of a vehicle, in order to avoid a direct impact between a side wall of a vehicle body such as a door and a seated person, which is deformed by the impact load thereof, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
Various airbag devices as known from Japanese Patent No. 50052 and the like have been proposed.

Generally, in this type of airbag device, a side bracket is fixed to a seatback frame located outside the seatback in the vehicle width direction,
An air bag module having an air bag body and an inflator is attached to the side bracket.

Recently, in order to suppress the lateral protrusion of the seat back, the inflator is located on the rear surface side of the seat back, and a deployment direction of the airbag main body which is inflated by the gas from the inflator is built in. An airbag module having a structure in which it is converted to the front side by a guide has been proposed. The guide of this airbag module is integrally or separately attached to a metal base, and the inflator and the airbag body are housed in the space between the guide and the base. The outside of the airbag module is covered with a curved resin sheet cover having a predetermined thickness, and the front side of the cover is cleaved and opened when the airbag body is deployed.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional technique, since the cover only covers the outside of the inflator or the airbag body,
The rigidity is poor and the cover easily dents when pressed from the outside. Moreover, recently, there is a tendency that the base and the guide are formed of a metal extruded material having the same cross-sectional shape in the vertical direction, and in such a case, the upper and lower sides of the space for accommodating the inflator and the airbag body are open. The rigidity problem as described above is particularly likely to occur.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a conventional technique, and provides an air bag device for a vehicle having a cover having a feeling of rigidity.

[0007]

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The invention according to claim 1,
A vehicle airbag device in which a bracket is fixed to an appropriate portion of a vehicle and an airbag module is mounted to the bracket, wherein the airbag module is a base attached to the bracket and a gas generating device attached to the base. Of the inflator, an airbag body that is deployed by the gas generated from the inflator, a guide that regulates the deployment direction of the airbag body, and a resin cover that is cleaved and opened when the airbag body is deployed. A pair of ribs for integrally closing both ends of the cover except for a developing direction of the airbag body in a space defined by the base and the guide are integrally formed, and an edge portion of the rib and an end portion of the base are formed in an opening direction of the cover. The notch formed at the edge of the rib for easy separation in the base.
It is attached by a screw to the receiving groove formed at the end of the.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the cover of the airbag module is integrally formed with a pair of ribs for closing both ends of the airbag body in the space defined by the base and the guide, and the edge portion of the ribs. Since the is attached to the end of the base, the rigidity of the surface of the cover is improved. Also,
Since the edge portion of the rib is attached to the end portion of the base so as to be easily separated in the opening direction of the cover, the opening operation of the cover when the airbag body is deployed is not hindered.

Further, since the ribs are made of resin integrally formed, the ribs swell toward both ends when the airbag main body is deployed to prevent abnormal pressure rise in the internal space. That is, it is not preferable that the pressure in the internal space rises too much when the airbag body is deployed, so that the resin rib swells to reduce the pressure rise. Furthermore, since the rib is formed integrally with the cover, even if such a rib is provided,
The number of parts of the entire airbag module does not increase.

[0011]

Further, since the notch formed in the edge portion of the rib is attached to the receiving groove formed in the end portion of the base with a screw, the notch and the attaching portion with the screw force the cover in a direction pushing the cover laterally. However, a large reaction force (rigidity) is generated, but when a force is applied in the direction to open the cover, the cover easily separates.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the invention, to form an easy thin portion cut portion between the hole and the edge which is formed near the edge of the re-drive.

According to the second aspect of the present invention , the hole formed near the edge of the rib is attached to the receiving groove formed at the end of the base with a screw. A large reaction force (rigidity) is generated against the force of pushing the cover from the side, but when a force is applied in the direction of opening the cover, the thin portion is easily cut by the screw and separated.

According to the third aspect of the invention , the base and the guide are formed of extruded material.

According to the third aspect of the invention , the base and the guide are extruded materials, and therefore can be easily formed. Further, since both ends openings formed in the pushing direction are closed by the ribs, even if the airbag main body is positioned between these both ends openings, it does not fall off the both ends openings.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the figure, A indicates the left side (outside in the vehicle width direction) and B indicates the right side (inside in the vehicle width direction).

1 to 6 are views showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a left front seat 1 of an automobile, which is a seat cushion 2 fixed to a floor.
And a seat back 3 which can be tilted forward. The seatback 3 is provided with a pipe-shaped seatback frame 4. The seat back frame 4 has a generally downward U-shape, and the vertical portions of the seat back frame 4 are located on the left and right sides of the seat back 3, respectively.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, a side bracket 5 is welded to the seat back frame 4 located on the left side. The side bracket 5 includes a side panel 6 facing forward and a rear panel 7 facing right.
And has a substantially L-shaped cross section. Two welding bolts S ₁ are provided at the right end of the rear panel 7 in the vertical direction as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The recess 7a in order to avoid interference between the rivet R ₂ to be described later is formed in the central portion of the rear surface panel 7. An S-shaped seat spring 8 and a lumbar support mechanism (not shown) are provided between the left and right side brackets 5.

Pads 9 are provided on the front and side surfaces of the seat back 3 to obtain cushioning properties. A skin 10 is applied to the pad 9. Then, in a portion of the seat back 3 corresponding to the side bracket 5, a region where the pad 9 and the outer skin 10 do not exist is set,
The side bracket 5 is exposed from this area.
The airbag module M is attached to the side bracket 5 exposed in this region.

The structure of the airbag module M is shown below.
It will be described based on 5. 11 is made of aluminum alloy extruded material
At the base, make a shape that almost corresponds to the side bracket 5
Since it is an extruded material, it can be easily shared left and right by turning it upside down
Can be achieved. That is, this base 11 is a side surface
A general L-shaped section having a corresponding portion 12 and a rear surface corresponding portion 13
is doing. A rearward-facing projection is provided at an intermediate position of the rear surface corresponding portion 12.
14 is formed. This protrusion 14 has a left side surface at the base
A ridge 15 is formed along the vertical direction at and near the
There are two holes h above and below₂Are formed. Also this
The side bracket 5 is welded to the right end of the base 11.
Bolt S₁2 mounting holes h corresponding to₁, And later
Mounting hole h for fixing the cover 26₃Is formed
It Further, at the right end of the base 11, the mounting hole h₁, H
₃Besides, two clip holes h _FourAre formed.
This clip hole h_FourIs a fixed clip for the harness 16 described below.
It is for inserting a lip (not shown).

On the other hand, the front end portion 17 of the side surface corresponding portion 12 of the base 11 has a hollow distal end curved shape and has a shape projecting forward from the side surface panel 6 of the side bracket 5. Four holes h ₅ are formed on the right side surface of the front end portion 17. Further, the front end portion 17 is inclined leftward with respect to the side panel 6 of the side bracket 5. A receiving groove 18 for screwing a screw C ₁ described later is continuously formed at the base of the front end portion 17 in the vertical direction.
Incidentally, these mounting holes h ₁ to h ₅ is formed vertically symmetrically to correspond to the right and left shared.

Reference numeral 19 is a guide made of aluminum alloy, which is curved in a substantially U shape, and its thickness gradually decreases from the base end portion to the tip end portion. The tip is formed thinnest, and is in a state of facing straight forward. In addition, the proximal end portion has a hole h in the front-rear direction that corresponds to the hole h _{2 of the} protrusion 14.
₆ is formed, and in the vicinity thereof, a locate groove 22 which engages with the protrusion 15 and positions the holes h ₂ and h ₆ is formed. This guide 19 also has a base 11
It is formed by extrusion molding similarly to.

Reference numeral 23 denotes an inflator, which has a columnar shape, and has a gas ejection hole 2 at its upper end.
3a is provided. The harness 16 is connected to the lower end of the inflator 23, and the harness 16 is fixed to the clip hole h ₄ of the base 11 by the clip (not shown) as described above. The inflator 23 is of a type in which a high-pressure gas is previously sealed.

The inflator 23 is fixed to the base 11 while being inserted into the housing 24. The housing 24 has a cylindrical shape in which the upper and lower parts are cut out in half, and two bolts C ₂ project from the side surface. Pass the bolt C ₂ through the hole h _{6 of the} guide 19 and then the protrusion 1 of the base 11.
It is inserted in the hole h ₂ of No. 4 and fixed by the lock nut N ₂ . Since the hole h ₆ has a long hole shape, the guide 19
The inflator 23 can be easily inserted into the recessed portion of the.

Reference numeral 25 denotes an airbag body, which is folded and stored for easy deployment. The airbag body 25 includes the inflator 23 and the housing 2.
4 is included inside.

The inflator 23 and the housing 24, which are wrapped in the airbag body 25, are set at the base end of the guide 19, and the bolt C _{2 of the} housing 24 is passed through the hole h _{6 of the} guide 19 and then the protrusion 14 of the base 11 is inserted. Insert into hole h ₂ and fix with lock nut N ₂ . By doing so, the airbag body 25 and the inflator 2
3. The housing 24 is in a state of being housed and attached in the space defined between the guide 19 and the base 11.

Reference numeral 26 is a resin cover for the seat back 3
It has a curved shape where the side surface wraps around the back from the rear surface,
The base end 27 has a mounting hole h₃3 mountings to accommodate
Hole h ₇Are formed. In addition, the base end 27 has a mounting hole.
h₁A notch 27a for exposing
It

Flat ribs 28 are integrally formed on the upper and lower inner surfaces of the cover 26, respectively. This rib 28
Is an airbag body 25 in the space defined by the guide 19 and the base 11, and in particular, the airbag body 25.
It has a shape that closes the top and bottom of the folding storage part 25a of
A notch 28a, which is open on one side and which corresponds to the receiving groove 18 of the base 11, is formed at the edge thereof. The notch 28a preferably has a shape with a narrow opening and a large depth as shown in FIG. In addition, the front end 29 of the cover 26 has four tongues 3
0 is formed. A thin notch portion 30a is provided on the inner side of the base of the tongue piece 30.

Therefore, the base 11 has guides 19,
Inflator 23, housing 24, airbag body 2
5 is assembled, the notch 28a of the rib 28 formed in the cover 26 is screwed into the receiving groove 18 of the base 11 with the screw C ₁ .
And each tongue piece 30 is fastened with a rivet R ₁ to the h ₅ formed on the front end portion 17 of the base 11,
7 is overlapped with the rear surface corresponding portion 13 so that the mounting holes h ₃ and h ₇ are aligned with each other, and is fixed with the rivet R ₂ via the bracket 31 having the same shape as the base end portion 27 of the cover 26, it becomes a component. The airbag module M is completed.

The airbag module M is attached from the rear side to the side bracket 5 exposed in the region of the seat back 3 where the pad 9 and the like are omitted. That is, the rear surface corresponding portion 13 and the side surface corresponding portion 12 in the base 11 of the airbag module M are brought into close contact with the rear surface panel 7 and the side surface panel 6 of the side bracket 5, respectively, and the seat back 4 is provided inside the corner portion of the base 11. Position the mounting hole h ₁ on the side of the airbag module M to match the welding bolt S ₁ on the side of the side bracket 5, and tighten the nut N.
Tighten with ₁ . After attaching the airbag module M, the trim 32 is finally attached to the back surface of the seat back 3 by a clip means (not shown).

With the air bag module M attached in this manner, the inflator 23 in the air bag module M is attached to the rear panel 7 of the side bracket 5.
Is located along the rear of the seat back frame 4 on the side and only the soft airbag body 25 is present on the side panel 6 side. I won't. That is, even if the airbag body 25 is positioned on the side panel 6 side as in the conventional case,
Since the airbag body 25 itself is soft, the airbag body 25 can be folded and stored to sufficiently suppress the lateral protrusion. Further, since the rearward projection is only on the rear side of the side portion of the seat back 3, a sufficient clearance for the rear seat occupant can be secured.

Next, the deployed state of the airbag body 25 will be described with reference to FIG. When the vehicle collides, the signal is sent to the inflator 23 via the harness 16 and a large amount of gas is ejected from the inflator 23. Then, since the airbag body 25 is inflated in the cover 26 by the injected gas, the inflating force causes the notch portion 30a of the tongue piece 30 at the front end portion 29 of the cover 26 to cleave, and the rib 28 of the cover 26 Since it is fixed by the notch 28a and the screw C ₁ , it can be easily detached and the front side of the cover 26 is opened. When the cover 26 is opened, the expanding direction of the airbag body 25 is restricted to the front by the opened cover 26 and the guide 19, and the airbag body 2 is opened.
5 is a side of the seat back 3 and is deployed while inflating forward. Since the guide 19 is deformed to the left by the deploying force of the airbag body 25, the space between the guide 19 and the base 11 is enlarged, and the space required for deploying the airbag body 25 is secured. In this way, the airbag body 25 can be surely deployed to the front, and the occupant can be protected. Further, the reaction force at the time of deployment (reaction force from the inflator 23 to the base 11 side) is effectively transmitted to the seat back frame 4 by the base 11 having a substantially L-shaped cross section.

The advantages of the present invention will be described below.

Improvement of rigidity of cover 26 : A pair of upper and lower ribs 28 are formed on the cover 26, and notches 28a formed at the edges of the ribs 28 are formed in the receiving groove 1 formed at the upper and lower ends of the base 11.
Since it is attached to the screw 8 by the screw C ₁ , a large reaction force (rigidity) is generated against the force in the direction of pushing the cover 26 from the side.

Reliable opening of the cover 26: Since the notch 28a and the mounting portion by the screw C ₁ can be easily detached in the opening direction of the cover 26, the expanding force of the airbag body 25 surely opens the cover 26.

Suppression of pressure rise in the internal space: When the internal pressure of the space defined by the guide 19 and the base 11 rises when the airbag body 25 is deployed, the cover 26 swells to the outside and the ribs 28 as well. Since it swells up and down, the pressure rise in the internal space is moderated, and the pressure inside the internal space is maintained at an appropriate pressure for deployment of the airbag body 25.

Others: Prevents foreign matter from entering the folding storage portion 25a of the airbag body 25. In addition, the folded airbag body 25 does not fall off during installation or the like.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the holes 33 are provided near the edges of the ribs 33.
a was formed, and the hole 33a was attached to the receiving groove 18 of the base 11 with the screw C ₁ . Further, a thin portion 34 that is easy to cut is formed between the hole 33a and the edge portion. Therefore, the hole 33
As in the previous embodiment, a large reaction force (rigidity) is generated in the mounting portion formed by a and the screw C ₁ against the force pushing the cover from the side, but when the force is applied in the opening direction of the cover. The thin portion 34 is easily cut and separated by the screw C ₁ . Other configurations and operational effects are the same as in the previous embodiment, common parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description will be omitted.

In the above, the embodiment applied to the vehicle seat has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and is also applied to an airbag device which requires regulation of the deployment direction of the airbag body, for example, a passenger airbag device. It is possible.

[0041]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the cover of the airbag module is integrally formed with a pair of ribs for closing both ends of the airbag body in the space defined by the base and the guide, and the rib Since the edge is attached to the end of the base, the rigidity of the surface of the cover is improved. Further, since the edge portion of the rib is attached to the end portion of the base so as to be easily detached in the opening direction of the cover,
The opening operation of the cover is not obstructed when the airbag body is deployed.

Further, since the ribs are made of resin integrally formed, the ribs swell toward both ends when the airbag main body is deployed to prevent abnormal pressure rise in the internal space. That is, it is not preferable that the pressure in the internal space rises too much when the airbag body is deployed, so that the resin rib swells to reduce the pressure rise. Furthermore, since the rib is formed integrally with the cover, even if such a rib is provided,
The number of parts of the entire airbag module does not increase.

Further , since the notch formed at the edge of the rib is attached to the receiving groove formed at the end of the base with a screw, the notch and the attaching portion by the screw have a force in the direction of pushing the cover from the side. However, a large reaction force (rigidity) is generated, but when a force is applied in the direction to open the cover, the cover easily separates.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the hole formed near the edge portion of the rib is attached to the receiving groove formed at the end portion of the base with a screw. A large reaction force (rigidity) is generated against the force of pushing the cover from the side, but when a force is applied in the direction of opening the cover, the thin portion is easily cut by the screw and separated.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the base and the guide are extruded materials, they can be easily formed. Further, since both ends openings formed in the pushing direction are closed by the ribs, even if the airbag main body is positioned between these both ends openings, it does not fall off the both ends openings.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle seat showing an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line SA-SA shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing a developed state of the airbag body.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a welding bolt portion showing how to install the airbag module.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing an airbag module.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a mounting portion between a notch and a screw.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 seat back 4 seat back frame 5 side bracket 6 side panel 7 rear panel 11 base 18 receiving groove 19 guide 23 inflator 25 airbag body 26 cover 28, 33 rib 28a notch 30 tongue piece 33a hole M airbag module C ₁ screw A Left side (vehicle width direction outer side) B Right side (vehicle width direction inner side)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --Continued from the front page (56) References JP-A-8-127302 (JP, A) JP-A-6-328991 (JP, A) JP-A-7-186869 (JP, A) JP-A-6- 115404 (JP, A) Registered utility model 3014035 (JP, U) Registered utility model 3014012 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60R 21/16-21/32

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A vehicle airbag device in which a bracket is fixed to an appropriate portion of a vehicle and an airbag module is attached to the bracket, wherein the airbag module is a base mounted on the bracket, and the base is mounted on the base. An attached inflator for generating gas, an airbag main body that is inflated by the gas generated from the inflator, and a guide that regulates the deployment direction of the airbag main body,
A cover made of resin that cleaves and opens when the airbag body is deployed, and a pair of ribs that close the openings at both ends of the space defined by the base and the guide except the deployment direction of the airbag body are integrally formed on the cover. A notch is formed in the edge of the base so that the edge of the rib and the edge of the base are easily separated from each other in the opening direction of the cover.
A vehicle air bag device characterized by being mounted in a formed receiving groove with a screw . 2. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an easily cut thin portion is formed in a portion between the hole formed near the edge of the rib and the edge. 3. A base and guides the airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2 are formed by extruded material.