JP3888134B2 - Side collision occupant protection device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a side collision occupant protection device that protects an occupant when an impact is applied to a side of a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An automobile (vehicle) is likely to be subjected to an impact on a passenger's head or the like in a side collision. Therefore, recently, a curtain-type airbag device is adopted as a side collision occupant protection device, and an airbag is deployed in a curtain shape at the time of a side collision of an automobile.
[0003]
This curtain-type airbag device stores a folded airbag between the roof side rail member of the vehicle body and the roof trim, and stores an inflator that inflates the airbag between the pillar and the trim following the roof rail member. When the structure is used and an impact is applied to the side of the vehicle, the inflator is activated and high-pressure gas is sealed in the airbag. And by this high-pressure gas sealing, the airbag is inflated, led out from the mating portion of the roof side rail member and the roof trim and deployed in a curtain shape, blocking between the head of the occupant and the side window, An inflatable airbag reduces the impact on the passenger's head.
[0004]
By the way, in order to effectively relieve the impact by the curtain airbag device, it is required to maintain the tension of the airbag deployed in a curtain shape.
[0005]
Therefore, in the curtain airbag device, a strap is attached to the end portion of the airbag, and the deployed airbag is stretched.
[0006]
Normally, the strap is stored between a pillar member (such as a front pillar or a rear pillar) that is formed on the roof side rail member and a pillar trim that is formed on the roof trim. The end portion (terminal portion) of the strap is fixed to the side surface of the pillar member, and as the airbag is deployed, the strap is led out from the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim into the vehicle interior, and the movement of the end portion of the airbag is controlled. Regulations are made to ensure tension in the deployed airbag.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In order for the airbag to be smoothly deployed, the strap is required to be smoothly pulled out from the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim.
[0008]
By the way, normally, the pillar member is a member having a closed cross-section structure by joining an outer panel like the substantially U-shaped inner panel having flanges at both ends.
[0009]
In other words, due to the structure of the pillar member, the mating portion with the pillar trim is formed near the flange, whereas the fixing of the end portion of the strap is inevitably performed at the panel portion that is stepped from the flange. .
[0010]
For this reason, even if the vicinity of the airbag of the strap is arranged along the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim, the vicinity of the end portion of the strap is easily shifted from the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim toward the pillar trim. .
[0011]
For this reason, when the airbag is deployed, when the strap is pulled out from the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim, the end portion of the strap is excessively in contact with the pillar trim, preventing the airbag from being deployed, and the airbag is smooth. There is a risk of not expanding.
[0012]
In particular, in the pillar structure in which a curved portion is formed in the pillar member or the pillar trim immediately above the triangular window portion due to the influence of the formation of the triangular window portion and the upper portion is strongly inclined from the curved portion to the vehicle interior, the strap Due to the length relationship, the end of the strap is restricted to be fixed at a lower point from the curved portion. Therefore, when the strap is pulled out from the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim, the portion on the end side of the strap However, it is easy to be caught by the pillar trim that forms the mating portion in the vicinity of the curved portion, and the deployment of the airbag is likely to be hindered.
[0013]
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a side collision occupant protection device in which the strap is smoothly pulled out from the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim when the airbag is deployed. Is to provide.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is provided with a molding portion on the end side of the strap which is housed between the pillar member and the pillar trim and the end portion is fixed to the pillar member, and between the pillar member and the pillar trim. The shape from the terminal portion of the strap when it is stored is formed into a specific shape that can match the mating portion at a point close to the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim.
[0015]
As a result, the strap stored between the pillar member and the pillar trim is arranged along the mating portion without shifting as well as the other portions up to the terminal portion side. Thereby, the whole strap stands by at a position where it can be easily pulled out from the mating portion into the vehicle interior.
[0016]
Therefore, when the airbag is deployed, the strap is smoothly pulled out from the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim into the vehicle interior without excessive contact with the pillar trim according to the deployment of the airbag. Without compromising development.
[0017]
In addition to the above object, the invention of claim 2 is supported by the pillar member so that the strap can be molded with a simple molded portion structure, and one end of the molded portion is rotatably supported by the pillar member together with the end portion of the strap. A guide member having the other end portion approaching the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim, a guide member extending from the approaching location according to the shape of the mating portion, and a strap end portion on the guide member according to the shape of the guide member It is in having comprised the fixing member to fix.
[0018]
In addition to the above object, the invention of claim 3 is a curtain so that the above effect can be exhibited particularly in a structure in which the end of the strap is forced to be fixed below the curved portion where the strap is hardly pulled out from the mating portion. The type airbag device has a structure in which a strap is stored by fixing a terminal portion at a point of a pillar member below the bending portion between a pillar member and a pillar trim in which the bending portion is formed in the middle, Is that at least the shape of the terminal portion side of the strap reaching the upper side of the curved portion is a specific shape that follows the mating portion.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 9.
[0020]
FIG. 1 shows a front appearance of an automobile (vehicle), FIG. 2 shows a skeleton of a side and a plane of the automobile, FIG. 3 shows a skeleton of the front of the automobile, and 1 in the figure is a vehicle body.
[0021]
The vehicle body 1 is configured, for example, by being assembled to a pair of side panel portions 4 on both sides in the vehicle width direction of a roof panel member 2 and a floor panel member (not shown) arranged so as to face each other in the vertical direction. Specifically, each of the pair of side panel portions 4 includes a fender panel portion 6 and a front pillar 7 (both ends) inclined between a roof side rail member 5 and a side sill member (not shown) arranged in the vertical direction. In the same manner as the substantially U-shaped inner panel 7x having the flange 7c at the part, the outer panel 7y is joined to form a closed cross section), the center pillar 8 (shown in FIG. 2), the rear pillar 9 inclined rearward, and the quarter panel part (shown) Not)). The roof side rail members 5 of the side panel portion 4 are assembled to both sides of the roof panel member 2 in the vehicle width direction, and the side sill members (not shown) are assembled to both sides of the floor panel member 3 in the vehicle width direction. I am doing. Inside the skeleton are various boards that partition the space (not shown), a roof trim 2a (shown in FIG. 4) that covers the inner surface of the roof panel member 2, and a carpet member (not shown) that covers the floor surface of the floor panel member 3. A large number of members such as pillar trims 10 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) that cover the inner surfaces of the front pillars 7 to 9 are assembled, and the vehicle compartment 12 is placed between the roof panel member 2 and the floor panel member 3. The engine room 13 is configured on the front side of the passenger compartment 12, and the trunk room (not shown) is configured on the rear side of the passenger compartment 12. Reference numeral 11a denotes a front window, and 11b denotes a rear window. A front seat 15 is installed on the front side of the vehicle compartment 12, and a rear seat 16 is installed on the rear side of the vehicle compartment 12. A front door 17 and a rear door 18 (both having a lifting window 20 on the upper side of the door body 19) are assembled to the entrances formed between the pillars 7 to 9, respectively, so as to be opened and closed. Further, in each of the front pillars 7 on both sides in the vehicle width direction, stays 7a for forming, for example, a triangular window 21a protrude from the lower side. A curved portion 21 that bends into the passenger compartment 12 as shown in FIG. 1 is formed at a location in the middle of each front pillar 7, for example, a location directly above the stay 7 a. The pillar portion is tilted into the passenger compartment 12. In addition, (theta) in the figure has shown the curve angle which the pillar part of the upper side goes into the vehicle interior 12. FIG.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, curtain-type airbag devices 30 (corresponding to side collision occupant protection devices) are assembled to the left and right side panel portions 4 of the vehicle body 1, respectively. The left and right curtain airbag devices 30 have the same structure.
[0023]
Therefore, only one of them will be described. The curtain-type airbag device 30 includes a slender airbag 31 folded in a curtain-like manner and an inflator 32 for inflating the airbag 31 (for example, a signal from an airbag sensor, The igniter generates heat, ignites the transfer agent, the compressed gas is expanded by combustion of the transfer agent, and is ejected to the airbag), and a strap 33 (for example, a string-like object) for maintaining the tension of the deployed airbag 31 It is composed of a rope member). The inflator 32 is disposed on one side of the airbag 31 and connected to the base end of the airbag 31, and one end of the strap 33 is on the side opposite to the inflator 32 of the airbag 31. Arranged and connected to the terminal portion of the airbag 31.
[0024]
Of these, the airbag 31 is stored between the roof side rail member 5 and the end of the rail member 5 in the vehicle width direction of the roof trim 2a covering the vehicle compartment 12 side as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the roof side rail member 5 is accommodated in almost the entire portion, for example, in a section from the front end portion to the rear pillar 9. In addition, 31a in a figure shows the bolt stop part which fixes the airbag 31 to the roof side rail member 5. FIG. The inflator 32 is housed in, for example, a space between the rear pillar 9 and a pillar trim (not shown) that covers the rear pillar 9 on the vehicle compartment 12 side. Thereby, when the inflator 32 is actuated by receiving an impact applied from the side of the vehicle body 1, the airbag 31 is inflated by the high-pressure gas ejected from the inflator 32, and is adjusted by the opening trim 35 as shown in FIG. 4. The ends of the roof side rail member 5 and the roof trim 2a, that is, the mating portion 36, into the vehicle compartment 12, specifically, the end of the roof trim 2a is pushed downward to open in a curtain shape. .
[0025]
Further, the strap 33 extending from the terminal portion of the airbag 31 includes a front pillar 7 shown in FIG. 5 and a pillar trim 10 covering the vehicle compartment 12 side of the rear pillar 7, following the space between the roof side rail member 5 and the roof trim 2 a. Extending into the space between. That is, the terminal side of the strap 33 is inserted along the opening trim 40 that forms the mating portion 42 of the front pillar 7 and the pillar trim 10. The terminal portion 33a of the trap 33 is fixed at a point optimal for airbag deployment on the front pillar 7. By attaching the strap 33, an appropriate tension is secured to the airbag 31 to be deployed.
[0026]
That is, in order to generate an appropriate tension on the airbag 31, the distance (length) from the point (fixed point) where the terminal portion 33a of the strap 33 is fixed to the terminal portion of the airbag 31 is in the retracted state. It is required to be isometric (almost) between the time and the deployed state.
[0027]
In order to establish this relationship, the strap 33 is inserted through the bending portion 21 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, and the terminal portion 33 a is connected to the flat portion 7 z ( The center pillar 7 is rotated by a fixing tool, for example, a bolt 37, on the side of the vehicle interior side of the center pillar 7.
[0028]
Thus, the strap 33 is moved from the mating portion 42 (the portion where the opening trim 40 is provided) between the front pillar 7 and the pillar trim 10 into the passenger compartment 12 as the airbag 31 is deployed, specifically, the end portion of the pillar trim 10. Is pushed open and pulled out into the vehicle compartment 12. That is, the movement of the terminal portion of the airbag 31 is regulated by the strap 33 so that an appropriate tension can be obtained by the airbag 31.
[0029]
At this time, the strap 33 is disposed along the mating portion 42 in the vicinity of the airbag 31, but the terminal side of the strap 33 is fixed by a flat portion 7z where the end portion 33a of the strap 33 is stepped from the flange 7c. For this reason, it is displaced from the mating portion 42 toward the pillar trim 10. For this reason, the strap 33 pulled out from the mating portion 42 tends to contact the pillar trim 10 excessively. In addition, if the end portion side of the strap 33 is inserted through the bending portion 21, the bending direction of the front pillar 7 changes abruptly at the bending portion 21, so that the strap 33 is pulled out from the mating portion 42. Is easily caught by the pillar trim 10.
[0030]
Therefore, the strap 33 uses the molding part 43 as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6 to match the shape of the terminal part side to the posture in which it can be easily pulled into the passenger compartment 12, that is, the shape of the mating part 42. It is formed into a specific shape. 7 and 8 show the structure of the forming portion 43 that is formed into this specific shape.
[0031]
To explain the structure, the molding portion 43 has a guide member 45. The guide member 45 is formed of, for example, a strip-shaped member having a generally U shape from a metal member, a resin member, or the like, and a step and an inclination formed in the middle.
[0032]
Specifically, a fixing hole 46 is formed at the distal end portion on the short side 45a (one end portion) of the strip-shaped guide member 45. The fixing hole 46 is rotatably fixed to the flat portion 7z of the pillar portion, which is a fixed point previously defined below the bending portion 21, together with the terminal portion 33a of the strap 33, by the bolt 37 and the collar 37a. It is. Reference numeral 47 denotes a nut that is attached to the back surface of the flat portion 7z and is combined with the bolt 37. The short side 45a extends from the fixed point toward the mating portion 42 adjacent to the fixed point. The long side 45b (the other end) of the guide member 45 extends from the point closest to the mating part 42 on the short side 45a to the point above the curving part 21 along the mating part 42, following the bending of the curving part 21. It extends. A crank-shaped stepped portion 48 for allowing the guide member 45 to turn with the bolt 37 as a fulcrum is formed on the long side 45b. Further, a bent portion 49 (curved portion) is formed on the long side 45b so that the entire long side 45a is bent along the mating portion 42 to the vehicle compartment 12 side along the curved shape of the curved portion 21. By the stepped portion 48 and the bent portion 49, almost the entire longitudinal side 45b is positioned at a position close to (in the vicinity of) the opening trim 40 at a position approaching the flange 7c. That is, the long side 45b is disposed in the vicinity of the mating portion 42 in a posture that follows the shape of the mating portion 42.
[0033]
A strap portion extending from the terminal portion 33a is provided along one side surface of the short side 45a and the long side 45b so as to follow the shape of the guide member 45. Each part of the strap portion is fixed to the short side 45a and the long side 45b by a fixing member, for example, an adhesive tape member 50, and the shape of the end portion side of the strap 33 is close to the mating portion 42. Are formed into a specific shape following the mating portion 42, that is, a certain shape that can be smoothly pulled out from the mating portion 42.
[0034]
When the curtain airbag device configured as described above receives an impact of a predetermined value or more from the side of the vehicle, the air that is contained between the roof side rail member 5 and the roof trim 2a is actuated by the inflator 32. The bag 31 is inflated with high pressure gas. Then, the airbag 31 is led out from the mating portion 36 of the roof side rail member 5 and the roof trim 2a as shown in FIG. 5 (two-dot chain line) and FIG. 9, specifically, the end portion of the roof trim 2a is It is led out into the passenger compartment 12 while being pushed downward and developed into a curtain shape.
[0035]
On the other hand, the strap 33 stored between the front pillar 7 and the pillar trim 10 receives the movement of the airbag 31 to be deployed together with the guide member 45 as shown in FIG. 37), the front pillar 7 and the pillar trim 10 are sequentially pulled out from the mating portion 42 into the vehicle compartment 12 while being rotationally displaced about the fulcrum 37).
[0036]
At this time, the pulled-out strap 33 is corrected by the guide member 45 so that the terminal portion 33a side conforms to the shape of the mating portion 42 to eliminate the deviation from the mating portion 42. Thereby, the whole from the base part of the strap 33 to the terminal side stands by at a position where it can be easily pulled out from the mating part 42.
[0037]
Therefore, as the airbag 31 is deployed, the strap 33 is smoothly pulled out from the mating portion 42 into the vehicle compartment 12 without excessively contacting the pillar trim 10.
[0038]
Therefore, the airbag 33 can be smoothly deployed without being obstructed by the pillar trim 10. In particular, the airbag device 30 in which the curved portion 21 is provided in the middle of the front pillar 7 due to the formation of the triangular window 21a and the terminal portion 33a of the strap 33 is forced to be fixed to the lower side of the curved portion 21 is at least. The strap 33 is smoothly pulled out from the mating portion 42 without being caught by the pillar trim 10 at the curving portion 21 by forming the end portion side reaching the upper side of the bending curved portion 21 into a shape that follows the mating portion 42. In other words, the structure in which the terminal portion side of the strap 33 is corrected (by molding) allows the airbag 33 to be smoothly deployed even in a situation where it is easily hooked.
[0039]
In addition, since the strap 33 has a shape in which the end portion 33a of the strap 33 is fixed along the guide member 45 having a shape similar to the mating portion 42, the structure can be simplified. . In particular, the guide member 45 made of metal or resin has high rigidity and strength, so that the guide member 45 can be reliably pulled out from the mating portion 42 to promise a smoother and more reliable deployment of the airbag 33.
[0040]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, the end of the strap is fixed to a shape that follows the mating portion using a strip-shaped guide member that is shaped like the mating portion and a tape. Even if the strap is fixed to the guide member using an agent, the strap can be impregnated with resin and the strap can be hardened into a specific shape (solidification) using the hardening of the resin. It may be hardened into a shape. In one embodiment, only the end portion side of the strap is formed into a shape that follows the mating portion, but other portions may be formed into a shape that conforms to the mating portion. In one embodiment, the structure in which the strap is housed in the front pillar is taken as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a structure in which the strap is housed in another pillar member, for example, the rear pillar.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the deviation of the end portion side of the strap from the mating portion is eliminated by the molding portion. As a result, the strap is positioned at a position where it can be easily pulled out from the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim into the vehicle interior.
[0042]
Therefore, as the airbag is deployed, the strap can be smoothly pulled out from the mating portion without excessive contact with the pillar trim, and the airbag can be satisfactorily deployed.
[0043]
According to invention of Claim 2, in addition to the said effect, there exists an effect that the shape of a strap can be made to match the shape of a mating part with a simple structure.
[0044]
According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the above effect, even if the strap is housed between the pillar member having a curved portion that is easily hooked and the pillar trim, the strap does not catch on the pillar trim as the airbag is deployed. In addition, the airbag can be smoothly pulled out from the mating portion, and the airbag can be smoothly deployed even in a situation where it is easily hooked.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a front portion of a vehicle on which a side collision occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted.
FIG. 2A is a side view showing a side collision occupant protection device stored in the vehicle.
(B) is also a plan view.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the same.
4 is a cross-sectional view of a roof side rail member taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a partially cross-sectional perspective view showing the structure of a trap stored between a pillar member and a pillar trim.
6 is a cross-sectional view of the pillar member taken along line BB in FIG.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure in which the shape of the end portion side of the trap is formed according to the mating portion.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the entire assembly.
FIG. 9A is a front view for explaining the behavior in which the trap is pulled out from the mating portion;
(B) is a side view of the same.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle body 2a ... Roof trim 5 ... Roof side rail member 7 ... Front pillar (pillar member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Pillar trim 12 ... Car compartment 21 ... Curve part 30 ... Curtain type airbag apparatus 31 ... Air bag 32 ... Inflator 33 ... Straps 36, 42 ... Matching part 37 ... Bolt 45 ... Guide member 48 ... Step part 49 ... Bending part 50 ... tape member (fixing member).

Claims (3)

An airbag that can be deployed in a curtain shape is stored between a roof side rail member and a roof trim, and a pillar member that extends from a terminal portion of the airbag is a pillar member that is connected to the roof side rail portion, and a pillar trim that is connected to the roof trim. And the end portion of the strap is fixed to the pillar member, and when an impact is applied to the side of the vehicle, the airbag is moved from the mating portion of the roof side rail portion and the roof trim. A curtain-type airbag device that is deployed in a curtain shape indoors, and that the strap is led out from the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim to the vehicle interior according to the deployment of the airbag;
When the strap is provided at least on the terminal portion side and stored between the pillar member and the pillar trim, the shape of at least the end portion side of the strap is close to the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim . A side collision occupant protection device , comprising: a molding portion that is shaped into a specific shape that conforms to the mating portion . The molded part is
One end portion is rotatably supported by the pillar member together with the end portion of the strap, and the other end portion approaches the mating portion of the pillar member and the pillar trim, and the shape of the mating portion from the approaching point. A guide member formed so as to extend,
2. The side collision occupant protection device according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing member that fixes the end portion side of the strap to the guide member according to the shape of the guide member. In the curtain airbag device, the strap is housed by fixing a terminal portion at a point of the pillar member below the curved portion between the pillar member and the pillar trim formed in the middle of the curved portion. ,
2. The side collision occupant protection according to claim 1, wherein the forming portion is configured to shape the shape of at least the end portion of the strap reaching the upper side of the curved portion into a specific shape following the mating portion. apparatus.

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