JP3436046B2 - Airbag module mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has an air bag module having an inflator and an air bag body, which is built in a seat back side portion of a seat and inflates and deploys the air bag body in a side collision of a vehicle. Regarding mounting structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an airbag device for a vehicle, an airbag bag body is built in a steering wheel or an instrument panel on the passenger side, and the airbag bag body is instantly inflated when a frontal collision of the vehicle is applied to an occupant. A technique has been put into practical use that buffers inertial force in the forward direction and prevents a secondary collision of an occupant with a steering wheel, an instrument panel, or the like.

When a vehicle receives a collision force from its side, the side wall of the vehicle body moves to the anti-collision side, which is the center side of the passenger compartment, and the seat cushion of the seat is moved to the center of the passenger compartment through the side sill and the floor. Let Since the occupant is not fixed to the seat cushion, the occupant may try to stay in place due to inertia, which may cause a secondary collision due to contact between the passenger compartment upper wall and the passenger compartment inner wall moving toward the center of the passenger compartment. . Therefore, the airbag module is installed in the vehicle interior wall,
For example, there is a side air bag device that is built into the inner wall of a door or a seat and that instantaneously bulges the airbag bag during a side collision of a vehicle to prevent a secondary collision between the upper body of the occupant and the inner wall of the door. Being developed.

The airbag module described above includes an airbag bag body, an inflator for ejecting gas into the airbag bag body during a side collision, an inner can for guiding the flow of gas ejected from the inflator, and an airbag bag body. It is mainly composed of an outer can that regulates expansion and deployment.
In FIG. 13, the airbag module 50 is attached to the seat 51.
The case of being built in the seat back side portion 52 of will be described. First, the inflator 54 is attached to the base end of the airbag bag 53 in the folded state, and is held by the inner can 55. Then, the airbag bag 53 and the inflator 54 are stored inside the outer can 56. The assembled air bag module 50 is fixed to a bracket 59 made of sheet metal fixed to the seat frame 58 by bolts 57a and nuts 57b.

[0005]

As described above, when attaching the airbag module to the seat frame,
A mounting member such as a bracket or an inner can for mounting the airbag module is required. However, in the above-described air bag module mounting structure, in addition to the mounting member, an outer can that restricts the deployment direction of the air bag body, in particular, the deployment of the air bag body to the occupant side is also required. Since the outer can is not involved in the attachment of the airbag module, it causes problems such as an increase in weight of the airbag module and an increase in the number of parts.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an air bag module mounting structure which can reduce the weight of the air bag module and reduce the number of parts of the air bag module.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air bag module having an inflator and an air bag body, the air bag module being attached to a seat back side frame of a seat mounted on a vehicle. In the mounting structure, the frame is fixed to the fixing part fixed to the frame.
Perpendicular to the deployment direction of the airbag bag from one end of the section
Bent and formed continuously with the inflator is a mounting portion to be mounted directly, extending along the deployment direction of the air bag body from one end of the attachment portion covers the occupant side of the airbag module formed such A sheet metal having a shielding part
This is a configuration including a plate-shaped member made of metal .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the air bag module mounting structure according to the first aspect, an airbag for guiding the airbag bag together with the plate member in a predetermined deployment direction when the airbag bag is inflated and deployed. It has a bag guide member, and this airbag bag guide member is extended along the deployment direction of the airbag bag so as to cover the vehicle door side of the airbag module.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the air bag module attachment structure according to the first aspect, one end supports the inflator and attaches the inflator to the plate member, and the other end has the air bag module. The vehicle side of the vehicle extends along the deployment direction of the airbag bag, and has a gas guide member for guiding the flow of gas injected from the inflator in a predetermined direction.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a passenger seat on the left side of the vehicle. The seat 1 is mainly composed of a seat cushion portion 2 and a seat back portion 3. The seat back portion 3 is mainly composed of a seat frame 4 forming a skeleton of the seat back portion 3, a cushion material 6 fixed to the seat frame 4 together with a spring material 5, and a skin member 7 covering these. ing.

As shown in FIG. 2, side support portions 3a, 3a for holding the lateral chest of the occupant 90 are provided on both sides of the seat back portion 3 (only the entry / exit door side is shown). A sewn portion 3b is provided at a tip end portion of the side support portion 3a on the entrance / exit door side so that an airbag bag 11 described later can be deployed in a predetermined deployment direction A. Here, the unfolding direction A is a direction diagonally left front (in FIG. 2) between the occupant 90 and a vehicle compartment wall (not shown). The tear strength of the sewn portion 3b is formed to be weaker than the strength of the skin member 7 that constitutes the side support 3a, and the side support portion 3a is ruptured from the sewn portion 3b when the airbag bag 11 swells and expands. To do.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, at a substantially middle portion of the side support portion 3a on the entrance / exit door side, that is, at a portion corresponding to a lateral chest portion of the occupant 90 when the occupant 90 is seated on the seat cushion portion 2. Is the airbag module 10
Is built in.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the air bag module 10 has an air bag bag 11 that expands and bulges obliquely forward between a passenger compartment 90 and a passenger compartment wall during a side collision.
And an inner can 13 as a gas guide member that guides the flow of gas ejected from the inflator 12 and holds the inflator 12 when a side collision occurs. There is.

The airbag bag 11 is folded in a bellows shape. The inflator 12 is elongated in the vertical direction along the seat frame 4 and is formed in a columnar shape. A gas ejection port 12a for ejecting gas is provided at the lower end of the inflator 12. The inner can 13 is formed by curving a metal plate so that its cross section has a semicircular shape, and the curved portion holds the inflator 12. In the vicinity of the gas ejection port 12a of the inflator 12 of the inner can 13, a guide portion 13a for guiding the gas ejected from the gas ejection port 12a in the deployment direction A of the airbag bag 11 is formed. Bolts 14 a, 14 a for mounting the airbag module 10 are provided on the back surface of the inner can 13.

The airbag module 10 is fixed to the seat frame 4 via a sheet metal base 8 as a plate member extending along the seat frame 4. The base 8 has a fixed portion 8a fixed to the seat frame 4.
A mounting portion 8b to which the airbag module 10 is mounted, and a shielding portion 8c that covers the occupant 90 side of the airbag module 10 are provided.

The base 8 is formed by bending a flat metal plate at a plurality of points, and includes a fixing portion 8a and a mounting portion 8a.
b and the shielding portion 8c are continuously formed. Fixed part 8
The cross section of a is formed in a substantially L shape, and is fixed to the seat frame 4 at this bent portion. The attachment portion 8b is formed continuously from one end of the fixed portion 8a, and is bent so as to be orthogonal to the deployment direction A. The mounting portion 8b has insertion holes 8d, 8d for the bolts 14a, 14a.
Are provided respectively. The shielding portion 8c is the mounting portion 8b.
Is formed continuously from one end of the airbag bag body 1
1 extends along the unfolding direction A, that is, toward the sewing portion 3b.

The attachment of the air bag module 10 to the base 8 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
First, in FIG. 3, the inflator 12 is gripped by the inner can 13 with the base end portion of the airbag bag 11 in a contracted and folded state interposed between the inflator 12 and the inner can 13, and the airbag module is held. 10 is assembled.

On the other hand, the fixed portion 8a of the base 8 has a mounting portion 8a.
It is fixed to the side portion of the seat frame 4 so that b is orthogonal to the bulging development direction A and the shielding portion 8c is parallel to the bulging development direction A. The assembled air bag module 10 has the bolts 14a, 14a attached to the insertion hole 8 of the mounting portion 8b.
the nuts 14b and 1 from the rear side.
By being fastened at 4b, it is attached and fixed to the attachment portion 8b.

Next, the expansion and deployment of the above air bag module will be briefly described. When the vehicle receives a collision force from its side, a sensor (not shown) detects the collision force and the sensor outputs an operation command to the inflator 12. Along with this, the gas ejected from the inflator 12 is guided into the airbag bag 11 by the guide portion 13a and is instantaneously sent into the airbag bag 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, since the air bag module 10 is attached to the attaching portion 8b,
The airbag bag 11 is arranged so as to face the deployment direction A. When the gas is sent into the airbag bag body 11, the airbag bag body 11 is inflated and deployed in the deployment direction A. Further, the occupant 90 side of the airbag module 10 is covered with the shield portion 8c, and the shield portion 8c extends along the deployment direction A. Therefore, when the airbag bag body 11 is inflated and deployed, the airbag bag 11 is inflated. The deployment of the body 11 to the occupant 90 side is restricted, and the airbag bag body 11 is guided in the deployment direction A.

Therefore, the base 8, particularly the shielding portion 8c, has the function of restricting the expanding direction of the airbag bag 11 by the conventional outer can instead, and the conventional outer can can be omitted. By omitting the outer can, the airbag module 10 can be downsized, the number of parts of the airbag module 10 can be reduced, and the weight thereof can be reduced.

A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, and this embodiment will be described. In these figures, the same members as those shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. 2 to 4, and the description thereof is omitted. Differences will be described. The second embodiment differs from the mounting structure of the air bag module of the first embodiment in that an air bag bag guide member for restricting the deployment direction of the air bag body is used. Except for the back bag guide member, the air bag module has the same mounting structure as that of the first embodiment.

On the door side of the air bag module 10, that is, on the side of the vehicle interior wall, an outer can 15 is provided as an air bag bag guiding member for guiding the air bag bag 11 in the deployment direction A. The outer can 15 is formed to have a substantially L-shaped cross section. The outer edge 15a of the outer can 15 is provided with notches 15c, 15c through which the bolts 14a, 14a are inserted.
5a is sandwiched between the inner can 13 and the attachment portion 8b and attached to the attachment portion 8b. The long edge portion 15b of the outer can 15 extends along the deployment direction A so as to cover the vehicle compartment inner wall side of the airbag module 10.

Since the outer can 15 has a shape in which the conventional outer can is divided into approximately half in the longitudinal direction, the outer can 15 has approximately half the weight of the conventional outer can, and the weight of the airbag module 10 can be reduced. Further, due to the long edge portion 15b of the outer can 15 and the shielding portion 8c, when the airbag bag body 11 is inflated and deployed, the airbag bag body 11 is expanded.
Is reliably guided in the deployment direction A, and the airbag bag 11 can be reliably deployed in the deployment direction A.

A third embodiment is shown in FIGS. In this embodiment, since the shape of the inner can is different from that in the first embodiment, the inner can will be described. In these figures, members similar to those shown in FIGS.
The same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. The inner can 16 according to the present embodiment has a substantially J-shaped cross section.
2, a grip portion 16a for gripping 2, a guide portion 16b for guiding the airbag bag 11 in the deployment direction A, and a gas ejection port 12a.
The gas ejected from the airbag bag 11 is deployed in the direction A.
And a guide portion 16a that guides to the. The grip portion 16a is configured by a curved portion of the inner can 16, and the extending portion 16b is configured by a flat portion of the inner can 16. The extending portion 16b extends in the deployment direction A so as to cover the interior wall side of the airbag module 10.
Has been extended along.

By configuring the inner can 16 as described above, the guide portion 16b and the shielding portion 8 of the inner can 16 are formed.
With c, when the airbag bag 11 is inflated and deployed, the airbag bag 11 is reliably guided in the deployment direction A, and the airbag bag 11 can be reliably deployed in the deployment direction A. It can be omitted. Airbag module 1 by omitting the outer takan
The number of zero components can be reduced, and the weight can be reduced.

A fourth embodiment is shown in FIGS. In this embodiment, a case where the mounting structure of the airbag module of the present invention is applied to a frame different from the frame 4 of the seat back portion 3 in the first embodiment will be described.
In these drawings, the same members as those shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 are given the same reference numerals as those used in FIGS. 2 to 4 and their explanations are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, the frame 20 of the seat
Is composed of a frame 21 of a seat cushion portion and a frame 22 of a seat back portion. The frame 21 of the seat cushion portion is formed by sheet metal molding. That is, it is formed by pressing a metal plate and welding each part. The frame 22 of the seat back portion is also formed similarly to the frame 21 of the seat cushion portion.

The frame 22 of the seat back portion will be described in detail. The frame 22 is formed by bending a sheet metal member having a substantially U-shaped cross section into a substantially U-shaped shape in accordance with the shape of the seat back portion. , Both side frames 22a,
22a and an upper frame 22b are formed. A plurality of elastic wire members 23 are installed between the side frames 22a, 22a.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the portion corresponding to the side support portion of the side frame 22a projects toward the front of the seat. The airbag module 10 is attached to the protrusion 24. Protrusion 24
The portion to which the air bag module 10 is attached is first bent toward the occupant side and then bent in the deployment direction A so that the cross-sectional shape is substantially L-shaped, In this portion, the mounting portion 8 in the first embodiment
b and the shielding portion 8c, the same mounting portion 24a and the shielding portion 24
b are formed respectively. The airbag module 10 is attached to the attachment portion 24a. Shield 2
4b covers the occupant side of the airbag module,
It extends along the unfolding direction A. In addition, in FIG. 12, reference numeral 25 indicates a seat back portion.

Therefore, like the first embodiment, the shielding portion 2
When the airbag bag 11 is inflated and deployed, the deployment of the airbag bag 11 to the occupant side is restricted by the 4b, and the airbag bag 11 is guided in the deployment direction A, so that the airbag bag 11 is protected. It can be surely deployed in the deployment direction A. Therefore, the conventional outer can can be omitted, the number of parts of the airbag module 10 can be reduced, and the weight thereof can be reduced.

Further, the protrusion 24 to which the airbag module 10 is attached is previously provided with the side frames 22a, 22.
By symmetrically providing the side support portions of a, the seat can be shared between the driver's seat and the passenger seat, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, it goes without saying that the air bag module mounting structure described in the second and third embodiments may be applied to the frame 22 of the seat back portion described in the fourth embodiment.

In the embodiment described above, the case where the air bag module is attached to the seat back portion of the passenger seat has been described, but the air bag module attachment structure of the present invention is also attached to the seat back portion of the driver's seat. Can be applied. In this case, the structure for mounting the airbag module may be symmetrical to the structure for mounting on the seat back portion of the passenger seat.

[0034]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, at least the frame on the seat back side of the seat is fixed to the frame and one end of the fixed part.
Fold it so that it is orthogonal to the deployment direction of the airbag bag.
A mounting portion for the inflator are continuously formed by tracks is attached directly to one end from extending along the deployment direction of the air bag body to cover the occupant side of the airbag module formed shielding portion of the mounting portion , A plate made of sheet metal having
Since the member is provided, when the airbag bag body is inflated and deployed, the airbag bag body is restrained from being deployed toward the occupant, and the airbag bag body is guided in a predetermined deployment direction. Therefore, the regulation of the deployment direction of the air bag body by the conventional outer can is performed by the plate member instead, and the conventional outer can can be omitted. By omitting the outer can, the airbag module can be downsized, the number of components of the airbag module can be reduced, and the weight thereof can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the airbag bag body is inflated and deployed, the airbag bag body guiding member for guiding the airbag bag body in a predetermined deployment direction together with the plate member is provided.
Since the airbag bag guide member extends along the deployment direction of the airbag bag so as to cover the door side of the airbag module, the airbag bag guide member expands the airbag bag. At the time of deployment, the airbag bag is surely guided in the predetermined deployment direction, and the airbag bag can be reliably deployed in the predetermined deployment direction.

According to the invention of claim 3, there is provided a gas guide member for guiding the flow of gas injected from the inflator in a predetermined direction, one end of the gas guide member supporting the inflator and the other end thereof. Is extended along the deployment direction of the airbag bag so as to cover the door side of the airbag module, so that when the airbag bag is inflated and deployed, the other end portion of the gas guide member causes the airbag bag body to expand. Is reliably guided in the predetermined deployment direction, the airbag bag can be reliably deployed in the predetermined deployment direction, and the conventional outer can can be omitted. By omitting the outer takan,
The number of parts of the airbag module can be reduced, and the weight thereof can also be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a seat having an air bag module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a seat in which an airbag module according to the first embodiment is built.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the airbag module according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the airbag module according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a seat in which an airbag module is built, showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an airbag module according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an assembled perspective view of an airbag module according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a seat in which an airbag module is built, showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an airbag module according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an assembled perspective view of an airbag module according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a seat frame showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a seat showing a conventional air bag module mounting structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 seat 2 Seat cushion 3 Seat back section 3a Side support part 4 frames 8 base 8a Fixed part 8b mounting part 8c shield 10 Airbag module 11 Air bag body 12 inflator 13,16 Innakan 15 Outtakan 15a short edge 15b Long edge 16a gripping part 16b extension part 90 crew

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Junichi Nakamura 5-3-8, Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (56) Reference JP-A-8-258660 (JP, A) Kaihei 7-215159 (JP, A) JP 9-226505 (JP, A) JP 9-315255 (JP, A) JP 9-254733 (JP, A) JP 9-11841 ( JP, A) JP 9-323607 (JP, A) JP 7-228213 (JP, A) JP 9-315256 (JP, A) JP 10-157549 (JP, A) (58 ) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60R 21/16-21/32 B60N 2/42

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An inflator and an air bag body,
In a mounting structure of an airbag module mounted on a seat back side frame of a seat mounted on a vehicle, the frame includes a fixing portion fixed to the frame and the airbag from one end of the fixing portion. Directly in the unfolding direction of the bag
Intersect each a mounting portion for the inflator is continuously formed is attached directly by bending the, extends along the deployment direction of the air bag body from one end of the attachment portion covers the occupant side of the airbag module formed An air bag module mounting structure comprising a sheet metal plate-shaped member having the shielded portion. 2. An airbag bag guide member for guiding the airbag bag body in a predetermined deployment direction together with the plate-like member when the airbag bag body is inflated and deployed. 2. The mounting structure for an airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the airbag module is extended along the deployment direction of the airbag bag so as to cover the side of the vehicle door of the airbag module. 3. One end of the inflator supports the inflator and attaches the inflator to the plate-shaped member, and the other end of the airbag module extends toward the vehicle door side in the direction of deployment of the airbag bag. 2. The mounting structure for an airbag module according to claim 1, further comprising a gas guide member extending along the air guide member for guiding the flow of gas injected from the inflator in a predetermined direction.