JP3999475B2 - Crew restraint system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a folded airbag is disposed along the upper edge of the door opening of the vehicle body, and the airbag is inflated with gas generated by an inflator at the time of a vehicle collision so that a curtain is formed along the inner surface of the side portion of the passenger compartment. The present invention relates to an occupant restraint device that is deployed in a shape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Such an occupant restraint device is known, for example, from Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-33847 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-235965. The airbag of this type of passenger restraint device is folded zigzag along a fold line extending in the longitudinal direction, and the airbag supplies gas to a plurality of cells extending downward from an upper communication path connected to the inflator. It comes to expand with.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the cell of the airbag is partitioned by sewing two overlapped base fabrics, and a portion sandwiched between adjacent sewing becomes a cell and expands due to inflow of gas. Therefore, the end portion of the cell constituted by the sewing stop points cannot expand sufficiently because the two base fabrics are integrated by sewing, and the impact absorbing effect of the portion may be insufficient. was there.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to compensate for a lack of an impact absorption effect at an end portion of an airbag cell.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a folded airbag is arranged along the upper edge of the door opening of the vehicle body, and the airbag is inflated with a gas generated by an inflator when the vehicle collides. In the occupant restraint device that deploys in the form of a curtain along the inner side surface of the passenger compartment, the interior of the airbag is partitioned by a connecting portion that integrally connects the two base fabrics that overlap each other. And an upper communication path connected to the inflator and a plurality of cells that branch downward from the upper communication path and expand with gas from the inflator. includes direct communication pair of cell through the ends of the upper end and the lower side of the connection portion for partitioning between the pair of cells, distribution on the center pillar garnish impact absorbing ribs are formed on the inner surface Is the fact characterized.
[0006]
According to the above configuration, the plurality of cells inflated with a gas inflator is generated, includes a pair of cells adjacent the lower end mutually communicated directly to each other in a cross, the upper connecting portion for partitioning between the pair of cells The upper and lower ends of the pair of cells are arranged on the center pillar garnish having the shock absorbing ribs formed on the inner surface, so that the upper end and the lower end of the pair of cells are Even if the shock absorbing effect is not exhibited due to insufficient expansion, the center pillar garnish can protect the passenger by exhibiting the shock absorbing effect instead .
[0007]
In addition, the sewing 27 of an Example respond | corresponds to the connection part of this invention.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings. 1 to 12 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the interior of an automobile. FIG. 2 shows a state in which an airbag of an occupant restraint device is deployed. FIG. 3 is a corresponding view, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the occupant restraint device in which the airbag is deployed, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the occupant restraint device, FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 1, FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 1, FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 5, FIG. 11 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 11 in FIG. 4, and FIG. 12 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 12 in FIG.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 1, a door opening 14 to which a front door 13 is attached is formed between a front pillar 11 and a center pillar 12 on a side surface of the vehicle body, and a rear door 16 is attached between the center pillar 12 and the rear pillar 15. An opening 17 is formed. A roof side rail 18 (see FIG. 5) extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body so as to connect the upper end of the front pillar 11 and the upper end of the rear pillar 15 defines the upper edges of the door openings 14 and 17 of the front door 13 and the rear door 16. An occupant restraint device C is provided along the roof side rail 18. The occupant restraint device C having substantially the same structure is provided on each of the left and right sides of the vehicle body. Hereinafter, the occupant restraint device C provided on the right side of the vehicle body will be described.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 2, when acceleration of a predetermined value or more is detected at the time of side collision or rollover of the vehicle, the inner side of the vehicle body, that is, the front pillar 11, the center pillar 12, the rear pillar 15, and the door glass of the front door 13. The air bag 21 of the occupant restraint device C is curtained downward from the upper edges of the door openings 14 and 17 so as to block between the door glass 16a of the door 13a and the rear door 16 and the occupant sitting on the front seat and the rear seat. expand. As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag 21 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body is formed by stitching 27 the first base fabric 25 and the second base fabric 26 (see FIG. 9) having substantially the same shape overlapped with each other. By the sewing 27, a plurality of (for example, six) cells 28a to 28f and an upper communication path 29 are formed. The shapes of the cells 28a to 28f are not constant, and are formed into a J shape or a U shape by the curved sewing 27. The front end of the gas supply pipe 31 extending forward from the inflator 30 housed in the rear pillar 15 is inserted into the upper communication path 29, and the six cells 28 a to 28 f branch downward from the upper communication path 29. The portion where the gas supply pipe 31 is inserted into the upper communication passage 29 is fixed with a metal band or the like, and sealed so as not to leak gas. The ends af of the six cells 28a-28f are sewn into small circles in order to prevent the sewing thread from breaking and increase the strength.
[0011]
Non-inflatable portions 21b and 21c in which the cells 28a to 28f are not formed are provided at a position corresponding to the rear side of the front pillar 11 of the airbag 21 and a position corresponding to the rear side of the center pillar 12.
[0012]
A plurality of (for example, five) shock absorbing member supporting portions 21a... Are provided along the upper edge of the airbag 21, and the shock absorbing member 33 made of a corrugated pipe is air-operated by the shock absorbing member supporting portions 21a. It is integrated with the bag 21. As shown in FIG. 10, the shock absorbing member 33 is formed by laminating a central aluminum body portion 33a and inner and outer paper coatings 33b and 33c to form a bellows shape having a circular cross section. It can be crushed and exhibits an effective shock absorbing effect. The roof 34 is composed of an outer member 35, a center member 36, and an inner member 37. The upper ends of the four shock absorbing member support portions 21a on the rear side of the airbag 21 are connected by two bolts 38, 38 respectively. It fixes to the member 37 (refer FIGS. 5-7). The front pillar 11 includes an outer member 39, a center member 40, and an inner member 41. The upper end of the shock absorbing member support portion 21a at the front end of the airbag 21 is fixed to the inner member 41 with two bolts 38 and 38. (See FIG. 8).
[0013]
As described above, since the folded airbag 21 and the shock absorbing member 33 are integrated in advance to form a module, the mounting work becomes easier compared to the case where they are separately mounted on the vehicle body, and the working efficiency is improved and the assembly is improved. It is possible to improve the attachment accuracy. Moreover, since the shock absorbing member 33 is both flexible from the folded airbag 21 and corrugated pipe, it can be easily arranged along the curved roof side rail 18.
[0014]
As is clear from FIG. 4, the folded airbag 21 is housed inside an airbag cover 42 formed of a nonwoven fabric. The airbag cover 42 is formed by making a rectangular cloth piece into a cylindrical shape and sewing it along the lower edge, and slits 42a... That are easily broken on the side surface facing the roof side rail 18 are formed in a perforated shape. Further, the shock absorbing member support portions 21a projecting from the upper end of the airbag 21 project upward through the openings 42b formed on the upper surface of the airbag cover 42.
[0015]
As is clear from FIG. 5, a weather strip 46 capable of contacting the rear door 16 (or the front door 13) is provided at the lower end of the roof side rail 18 composed of the outer member 43, the center member 44, and the inner member 45. It is done. The edge of the synthetic resin roof garnish 47 arranged along the lower surface of the roof 34 is locked to the edge of the weather strip 46 projecting from the lower end of the roof side rail 18 toward the vehicle compartment. The lower surface of the roof garnish 47 facing the passenger compartment is covered with a skin material 49, and the skin material 49 wraps around the edge of the roof garnish 47 from the lower surface side to the upper surface side. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the edge of the synthetic resin roof garnish 47 from being broken and scattered when an impact is applied.
[0016]
As apparent from FIGS. 4 and 6, the center pillar 12 extending downward from the roof side rail 18 includes an outside panel 65, a stiffener 66, and a center pillar inner 67. The front bracket 50 is mounted across the 12 center pillar inners 67. The front bracket 50 is formed by bending a metal plate, and is fixed with two bolts 38 and 38 together with the shock absorbing member support portion 21a of the airbag 21 in a state where the upper portion thereof is overlapped with the inner member 37 of the roof 34. The lower part is fixed to the center pillar inner 67 of the center pillar 12 with two bolts 51, 51.
[0017]
A protrusion 52 that protrudes toward the passenger compartment is formed in the middle of the front bracket 50, and a guide surface 52 a formed on the upper surface of the protrusion 52 faces the lower end of the folded airbag 21. Locking claws 53a and 53a projecting from the upper inner surface of the center pillar garnish 53 are engaged with the two locking holes 52b and 52b formed on the lower surface. A large number of shock absorbing ribs 53b (see FIGS. 2 and 6) are formed on the inner surface of the center pillar garnish 53 to absorb the impact of the occupant's secondary collision.
[0018]
Thus, the upper portion of the center pillar garnish 53 can be fixed to the center pillar 12 without using a special clip or the like, and the center pillar garnish 53 can be firmly fixed as compared with the case where the clip is used. . The lower edge of the roof garnish 47 is sandwiched and fixed between the top surface 52c of the protrusion 52 of the front bracket 50 and the upper end inner surface of the center pillar garnish 53.
[0019]
4, 7, and 12, the rear pillar 15 extending downward from the roof side rail 18 includes an outer member 54, a center member 55, and an inner member 56, and the inner member 37 and the rear pillar of the roof 34. A rear bracket 57 is mounted across the 15 inner members 56. The rear bracket 57 has substantially the same shape as the front bracket 50, and is fixed with two bolts 38, 38 together with the shock absorbing member support portion 21 a of the airbag 21, with the upper portion thereof being superimposed on the inner member 37 of the roof 34. The lower part is fixed to the inner member 56 of the rear pillar 15 with two bolts 58 and 58. A projecting portion 59 projecting toward the passenger compartment is formed in the middle of the rear bracket 57, and a guide surface 59a formed on the upper surface of the projecting portion 59 faces the lower end of the folded airbag 21.
[0020]
The rear pillar garnish 61 fixed to the inner member 56 of the rear pillar 15 with a clip 60 is provided with a flange 61a bent at the outer side of the vehicle body at the upper end thereof, and the lower edge of the roof garnish 47 also projects into the flange 61a of the rear pillar garnish 61. A mating flange 47a is formed. The flange 47a of the roof garnish 47 is provided with a plurality of (five in the embodiment) locking claws 47b... That project downward, and these locking claws 61b are engaged with the rear surface of the flange 61a of the rear pillar garnish 61. Match. A number of shock absorbing ribs 61c (see FIGS. 2 and 7) are formed on the inner surface of the rear pillar garnish 61 in order to absorb the impact of the occupant's secondary collision.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 2, 8 and 11, a side edge of the windshield 63 is supported on the front surface of the front pillar 11 via a rubber member 62, and is provided on the rear surface of the rubber member 62 and the front pillar 11. A front pillar garnish 64 whose section is curved in an arc shape is attached between the weather strip 48 and the weather strip 48. The upper half portion of the front pillar garnish 64 is hollow, and the folded non-inflatable portion 21b at the front end of the airbag 21 and the front end portion of the shock absorbing member 33 are accommodated therein. On the inner surface of the lower half of the front pillar garnish 64 where the airbag 21 and the shock absorbing member 33 are not accommodated, a large number of shock absorbing ribs 64a... For shock absorption are integrally formed.
[0022]
As described above, the shock absorbing member 33 is housed in the upper half of the front pillar garnish 64, and a large number of shock absorbing ribs 64a are formed in the lower half of the front pillar garnish 64. The impact absorbing effect can be exhibited over the entire length of the front pillar 11 while storing the front end portion of 21. Moreover, since the shock absorbing ribs 64a... Are not formed in the upper half of the front pillar garnish 64 that houses the front end portion of the airbag 21, the front pillar garnish 64 is easily bent when the airbag 21 is deployed. Can be smoothly developed, and a part of the front pillar garnish 64 can be reliably prevented from being broken and scattered.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, a front side collision sensor 71 and a rear side collision sensor 72 are connected to an electronic control unit 73, and the electronic control unit 73 is connected to the side surface of the vehicle based on signals from both acceleration sensors 71 and 72. When a collision (or vehicle rollover) 1 is detected, an operation signal is output to the inflator 30 to deploy the airbag 21.
[0024]
Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
[0025]
When a side collision of the vehicle is detected, the inflator 30 is activated, and the gas accumulated in the inflator 30 flows into the six cells 28a to 28f via the gas supply pipe 31 and the upper communication passage 29, and the six of them. The cells 28a to 28f are expanded. Due to the expansion of the airbag 21, the slits 42a of the airbag cover 42 are broken, and the airbag 21 released from the restraint is deployed downward.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 5, at the door openings 14 and 17 of the front door 13 and the rear door 16, the lower edge of the roof garnish 47 is pushed downward by the pressure of the deploying airbag 21 to engage with the weather strip 46. The airbag 21 is released, and the airbag 21 is deployed downward into the passenger compartment through the opening formed there.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 6, at the position of the center pillar 12, the lower edge of the roof garnish 47 is pushed downward by the pressure of the deploying airbag 21 to disengage from the upper end of the center pillar garnish 53. The airbag 21 is deployed downward through the formed opening into the passenger compartment.
[0028]
By the way, the center pillar garnish 53 covering the side surface of the center pillar 12 on the passenger compartment side is fixed to the front bracket 50 instead of the center pillar 12, so that the vehicle collides with the roof side rail 18 due to a side collision. Even if the upper portion is deformed, the positional relationship between the airbag 21 supported on the upper portion of the front bracket 50 and the center pillar garnish 53 is difficult to change. Therefore, coupled with the fact that the center pillar garnish 53 is firmly fixed to the front bracket 50 by the locking claws 53 a and 53 a instead of the clip, the deploying airbag 21 is not easily caught on the upper end of the center pillar garnish 53 and is surely secured. Can be guaranteed.
[0029]
In addition, since the airbag 21 to be deployed is guided by the inclined guide surface 52a of the projecting portion 52 of the front bracket 50 and is directed obliquely downward toward the vehicle interior, the interference with the center pillar garnish 53 is avoided. The airbag 21 can be deployed more smoothly.
[0030]
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, at the position of the rear pillar 15, the lower edge of the roof garnish 47 is pushed downward by the pressure of the developing airbag 21, and the engagement with the upper end of the rear pillar garnish 61 is released and formed there. The airbag 21 is deployed downward in the vehicle interior through the opened opening. At this time, the deploying airbag 21 is guided by the inclined guide surface 59a of the projecting portion 59 of the rear bracket 57 and obliquely downward toward the vehicle interior, thereby avoiding interference with the rear pillar garnish 47. The airbag 21 can be smoothly deployed.
[0031]
Further, since the vicinity of the lower edge of the roof garnish 47 is positioned by being sandwiched from both sides by the top surface 59b of the protrusion 59 and the flange 61a of the rear pillar garnish 61, the flanges 47a and 61a of both of them protrude without generating a step. Combined to improve aesthetics. Moreover, when the airbag 21 is deployed, the locking claws 47b of the roof garnish 47 are bent and easily disengaged from the flange 61a of the rear pillar garnish 61. It can be reliably formed. If the entire lower edge of the roof garnish 47 is engaged with the back surface of the upper edge of the rear pillar garnish 61, the lower edge of the roof garnish 47 can be smoothly separated from the upper edge of the rear pillar garnish 61 when the airbag 21 is deployed. It becomes difficult.
[0032]
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, at the position of the front pillar 11, the rear edge of the front pillar garnish 64 is pushed downward by the pressure of the developing airbag 21, and is disengaged from the weather strip 48 to be formed there. The airbag 21 is deployed downward in the vehicle interior through the opened opening.
[0033]
When the airbag 21 is deployed in the vehicle interior as described above, as is apparent from FIG. 2, the six end portions a to f (that is, the adjacent cells are partitioned between the cells 28a to 28f of the airbag 21). Among the end portions a to f) of the sewing 27 as connecting portions, the end portion b is disposed in the vicinity of the center pillar garnish 53, the end portions c and d are disposed on the center pillar garnish 53, and the end portion e is It is arranged in the vicinity of the rear pillar garnish 61.
[0034]
FIG. 9 shows two ends b and c located near the center pillar garnish 53 and above the center pillar garnish 53, and the airbag 21 is sufficiently near the non-inflatable ends b and c. Even if the shock absorbing effect cannot be exhibited, the necessary shock absorbing effect can be ensured by crushing the shock absorbing ribs 53b provided on the center pillar garnish 53 located on the rear side. The above-described effects can also be obtained for the other two end portions d and e corresponding to the center pillar garnish 53 or the rear pillar garnish 61.
[0035]
When the acceleration generated by the side collision is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the occupant restraint device C does not operate. However, the occupant restraint device C does not operate on the lower edge of the roof garnish 47 facing the roof side rail 18 due to the impact or In the case of a next collision, the impact absorbing member 33 made of a corrugated pipe is crushed and absorbs the impact, and the folded airbag 21 also exhibits a function of enhancing the impact absorbing effect. At this time, since the shock absorbing member 33 is supported in a state of contacting the inner member 37 of the roof 34 or the inner member 41 of the front pillar 11 (see FIGS. 5 to 8), it is pressed against the inner members 37 and 41. It can be surely crushed and the impact of secondary collision can be absorbed effectively.
[0036]
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention can perform a various design change in the range which does not deviate from the summary.
[0037]
For example, the shape of the cells 28a to 28f of the airbag 21 is not limited to that of the embodiment, and any shape can be adopted. Moreover, although the connection part of the airbag 21 is comprised by the sewing 27 in the Example, it can be comprised by adhesion | attachment or a jacquard weave (seamless).
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality of cells that are expanded by the gas generated by the inflator include a pair of cells that are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction and that directly communicate with each other at the lower ends. Since the upper end and the lower end of the connecting part that divides the gap are arranged on the center pillar garnish having the inner surface formed with the shock absorbing rib , the upper end and the lower side of the pair of cells However, the center pillar garnish can protect the occupant by exhibiting the impact absorbing effect instead of exhibiting the impact absorbing effect because the end portion of the center cannot be sufficiently expanded by the connecting portion .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the interior of an automobile interior. FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a state in which an airbag of an occupant restraint device is deployed. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the occupant restraint device. FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 3. FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrow 11 in FIG. 4 [FIG. 12] is a view in the direction of arrow 12 in FIG.
14 Door opening 17 Door opening 21 Air bag
25 fabrics
26 base cloth 27 sewing (connection part)
28a-28f cells
29 upper passage 30 inflator 53 center pillar gar Nissi Interview
53b Shock absorbing ribs a to f End

Claims (1)

A folded airbag (21) is disposed along the upper edge of the door opening (14, 17) of the vehicle body, and the airbag (21) is inflated with gas generated by the inflator (30) when the vehicle collides. In an occupant restraint device that deploys in the form of a curtain along the inner side of the passenger compartment,
The interior of the airbag (21) is partitioned by a connecting portion (27) that integrally connects the two base fabrics (25, 26) overlapped with each other, and is connected to the inflator (30). An upper communication passage (29) and a plurality of cells (28a to 28f) that branch downward from the upper communication passage (29) and expand with gas from the inflator (30),
These cells (28a-28f) include a pair of cells (28c, 28d) that are adjacent to each other in the front and rear and whose bottom ends are in direct communication with each other,
The upper end portion (c) and the lower end portion (d) of the connecting portion (27) partitioning between the pair of cells (28c, 28d) have a center on which an impact absorbing rib (53b) is formed on the inner surface. An occupant restraint device arranged on a pillar garnish (53) .

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