JP4013661B2 - Outer surface deployment type airbag and outer surface deployment type airbag device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention prevents a pedestrian, an occupant of a bicycle, a motorcycle, or the like (hereinafter referred to as a pedestrian) from directly hitting the vehicle body when the automobile collides with a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorcycle, or the like. The present invention relates to an outer surface deployable airbag and an outer surface deployable airbag device for protecting pedestrians and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a means for protecting pedestrians and the like from collisions between pedestrians and the body of automobiles, an externally deployed airbag that expands when gas is introduced from an inflator (gas generator) is provided, and a collision is detected or predicted. The air bag is inflated and deployed so as to cover the outer surface of the vehicle body such as an engine hood by operating a gas jetting operation of the inflator, and this airbag prevents the pedestrian or the like from directly hitting the vehicle body. An outer surface deployable airbag device has been proposed.
[0003]
By the way, in general, when gas is introduced into a bag-like body and inflated, the bag-like body tends to expand so as to increase in thickness. When the airbag is inflated so as to have a large thickness in the outer surface deployable airbag device, the area of the airbag covering the outer surface of the vehicle body is reduced.
[0004]
In order to increase the area of the airbag covering the outer surface of the vehicle body, there has been proposed an airbag for an outer surface deployment type airbag apparatus in which the airbag is inflated flat. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional perspective views showing examples of the structure of such an airbag, respectively.
[0005]
The airbag 10 shown in FIG. 7 overlaps a lower base fabric 10a that forms a surface along the outer surface of the vehicle body and an upper base fabric 10b that forms a surface opposite to the lower base fabric 10a. In this manner, a bag-like body is formed by sewing along the suture line 11. The lower base fabric 10a and the upper base fabric 10b are connected by a connecting base fabric 12 so that the airbag 10 is flattened when inflated. Reference numeral 13 in FIG. 7 indicates a suture line between the lower end portion of the connecting base fabric 12 and the lower base fabric 10a, and reference numeral 14 indicates a suture line between the upper end portion of the connecting base fabric 12 and the upper base fabric 10b. Show.
[0006]
In the airbag 10, the lower base fabric 10 a and the upper base fabric 10 b are connected by the connection base fabric 12 in a region inside the peripheral edge portion, so that the gas from the inflator is gas from the airbag 10. When the airbag 10 is inflated, the airbag 10 is deployed in a flat shape along the outer surface of the vehicle body. As a result, the airbag 10 has a large area covering the outer surface of the vehicle body when inflated.
[0007]
The airbag 20 in FIG. 8 also overlaps the lower base fabric 20a that forms a surface along the outer surface of the vehicle body and the upper base fabric 20b that forms the surface opposite to this, and circulates between the peripheral portions. Thus, a bag-like body is formed by suturing along the suturing line 21. In the airbag 20, the lower base fabric 20 a and the upper base fabric 20 b are connected to the suture line 22 in the region inside the peripheral portion so that the airbag 20 becomes flat when the airbag 20 is inflated. 23 is sewn along. Tube-like small chambers 24, 25, and 26 are formed inside the airbag 20 by the suture lines 22 and 23.
[0008]
Even in this outer surface deployable airbag 20, when the gas from the inflator is introduced into the airbag 20 and the airbag 20 is inflated, the airbag 20 is deployed in a flat shape along the outer surface of the vehicle body. Large area covering the outer surface of the vehicle body.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the airbag 10 of FIG. 7, it takes time to sew the connecting base fabric 12 from the inside of the airbag 10 to the lower base fabric 10a and the upper base fabric 10b. For this reason, the airbag 10 is difficult to manufacture and the productivity is low.
[0010]
On the other hand, the airbag shown in FIG. 8 is a simple flat surface along the suture lines 21, 22, and 23 in the state in which the base fabrics 20a and 20b are spread and overlapped with each other. What is necessary is just to repeat sewing, the airbag 20 can be manufactured very easily, and productivity is high. However, in the outer surface deployable airbag 20, the lower base fabric 20a and the upper base fabric 20b are stitched together by the stitching lines 21, 22, 23, and therefore the thickness of the airbag near the stitching line is small. .
[0011]
An object of the present invention is to provide an outer surface deployable airbag and an outer surface deployable airbag device that are excellent in impact absorption capability over the entire surface and that have high productivity.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An outer surface deployable airbag of the present invention is an outer surface deployable airbag that inflates into a flat shape along the outer surface of a vehicle body, and includes an airbag body and a bag skin disposed along the outer surface of the airbag body. The airbag body is formed with a recessed portion on the outer surface in an inflated state, and the bag outer skin is an outer surface-deployable airbag arranged to be tensioned across the recessed portion , The airbag main body has a substantially square plan view shape, and the bag outer skin is composed of two outer skin base fabrics, and the airbag main body is sandwiched between the two outer skin base fabrics. The corner portion of the airbag main body is connected to a base fabric . The outer surface deployable airbag device of the present invention includes the outer surface deployable airbag and an inflator for deploying the airbag.
[0013]
Such an externally deployable airbag has a bag skin that is tensioned across the recessed portion, so that when a pedestrian hits the recessed portion, the pedestrian or the like is received by the bag skin and the impact is sufficient. To be absorbed. Further, the outer surface deployable airbag of the present invention does not need to sew the connecting base fabric 12 as shown in FIG. 7 , and its manufacture is easy. Therefore, productivity can be increased and manufacturing costs can be reduced.
[0014]
In the present invention, since the bag skin is disposed on both surfaces of the airbag body , when a pedestrian or the like hits the vicinity of the recessed portion on one surface, the bag skin on the other surface is the other surface of the airbag body. The stretch of the airbag main body on the surface is constrained, and tension is applied to the bag skin on the one surface. Therefore, the impact is sufficiently absorbed when a pedestrian or the like hits the vicinity of the recessed portion of the one surface.
[0015]
In the present invention, since the bag skin is connected to the airbag body , the bag skin is prevented from being displaced with respect to the airbag body .
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Below, with reference to the drawings reference examples and embodiments will be described.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outer surface deployable airbag according to a reference example , FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the outer surface deployable airbag. It is.
[0018]
The outer surface deployable airbag (hereinafter sometimes referred to simply as “airbag”) 30 includes an airbag body 31 that is inflated when gas is introduced from an inflator (not shown), and the airbag body 31. And a bag outer shell 32 that wraps the bag.
[0019]
The airbag main body 31 is formed by superposing a lower base fabric 31a that constitutes a lower surface along the outer surface of the vehicle body and an upper base fabric 31b that constitutes an upper surface that bulges away from the outer surface of the vehicle body, A bag is formed by stitching along the stitching line 33 so as to go around each peripheral edge. An opening (not shown) for introducing a gas from the inflator is provided in the lower base fabric 31a.
[0020]
The peripheral portions of the base fabrics 31 a and 31 b sewn along the stitching line 33 are disposed inside the airbag body 31. The lower base fabric 31a and the upper base fabric 31b are sewn lines 34 and 35 in a region on the inner side of the peripheral edge so that the airbag 30 is flattened along the outer surface of the vehicle body when the airbag 30 is inflated. Is sewn along.
[0021]
In this reference example , as shown in FIG. 3, the lower base fabric 31a and the upper base fabric 31b are substantially rectangular, and the suture lines 34 and 35 are respectively connected to the base fabrics 31a and 31b. The airbag body 31 is extended so as to cross the airbag body 31 in a direction substantially parallel to the long side direction of each of the base fabrics 31a and 31b so that the airbag body 31 is divided into approximately three equal parts in the short side direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, tube-like small chambers 36, 37, 38 extending in the long side direction are formed inside the airbag body 31 by the stitched lines 34, 35. Yes.
[0022]
Note that both ends of each suture line 34, 35 are not in contact with the suture line 33. Thereby, each small chamber 36-38 is connected by the both end sides, and the distribution | circulation of the gas between these is permitted. Further, both ends of each suture line 34, 35 are connected to annular suture lines 34 ', 35', respectively, thereby reinforcing the vicinity of both ends of each suture line 34, 35.
[0023]
The bag skin 32 includes a lower skin base fabric 32a that overlaps the lower base fabric 31a of the airbag body 31, and an upper skin base fabric 32b that overlaps the upper base fabric 31b of the airbag body 31. As shown in the figure, the lower outer skin base fabric 32a and the upper outer skin base fabric 32b are overlapped so as to sandwich the airbag body 31, and are sewn along the suture line 39 so as to go around each peripheral portion. Thus, the air bag body 31 is wrapped. As shown in FIG. 2, when the airbag body 31 is inflated, the bag shell 32 envelopes the maximum portions on the upper surface side and the maximum portions on the lower surface side of the small chambers 36, 37, 38. It is said to be tense.
[0024]
The base cloths 32a and 32b of the bag outer skin 32 may be made of the same material as the base cloths 31a and 31b of the airbag body 31 or may be made of different materials. Further, different materials may be used for the lower skin base cloth 32a and the upper skin base cloth 32b.
[0025]
Below, the manufacturing procedure of this outer surface deployment type airbag 30 is demonstrated.
[0026]
First, the lower base fabric 31a and the upper base fabric 31b are spread and overlapped so that the respective outer surfaces (the surfaces facing the outside when an airbag product is formed) face each other, and the peripheral portions thereof. The airbag body 31 is turned upside down by stitching together along the suture line 33. Next, the lower base fabric 31a and the upper base fabric 31b are turned upside down through the gas introduction opening (not shown) of the lower base fabric 31a, and the suture line 33 is arranged inside the airbag body 31. . Further, the lower base fabric 31a and the upper base fabric 31b are stitched along the stitching lines 34, 34 'and 35, 35' in a state where the airbag main body 31 is flattened, whereby the small chambers 36 to 38 are sewn. The airbag body 31 is completed.
[0027]
Next, the lower outer skin base cloth 32a and the upper outer skin base cloth 32b are spread and overlapped so as to sandwich the airbag main body 31, and the peripheral edges thereof are sewn along the stitching line 39 to form the air bag. By creating the bag outer skin 32 that wraps the bag main body 31, the outer surface deployable airbag 30 is completed.
[0028]
In the outer surface deployable airbag 30 configured as described above, the lower base fabric 31a and the upper base fabric 31b are stitched together by the stitching lines 34 and 35, so that the gas from the inflator is introduced into the airbag body 31. When the airbag main body 31 is inflated, the airbag 30 is inflated and deployed in a flat shape along the outer surface of the vehicle body as shown in FIG.
[0029]
In the outer surface deployable airbag 30, when the airbag main body 31 is inflated, a concave portion (space portion) S is formed along the suture lines 34 and 35 on the outer surface of the airbag main body 31. The bag outer skin 32 is tensioned so as to straddle the recessed portion S. Therefore, when a pedestrian or the like has plunged into the vicinity of the recessed portion S, the bag outer skin 32 receives the pedestrian or the like and retreats to the recessed portion S to absorb the impact to the pedestrian or the like. Thereby, even if a pedestrian etc. hits any site | part of the airbag 30, an impact is fully absorbed.
[0030]
As described above, the outer surface deployable airbag 30 is formed by spreading the base fabrics 31a and 31b and the outer base fabrics 32a and 32b in a flat and overlapping manner along the suture lines 33, 34, 35, and 39. It is manufactured by sewing. Therefore, when manufacturing the outer surface deployable airbag 30, the sutures 33, 34, 35 are formed in a state where the base fabrics 31a, 31b and the outer base fabrics 32a, 32b are spread and overlapped. , 39 can be repeated, and the airbag 30 can be manufactured very easily, resulting in high productivity.
[0031]
In the outer surface deployable airbag device 30, since the bag outer skin 32 is disposed on both surfaces of the airbag main body 31, a pedestrian or the like is placed on one surface (for example, the outer skin base cloth 32b) of the airbag main body 31. When hit, the outer skin base fabric 32a on the other surface restrains the extension of the other surface of the airbag body 31, and gives sufficient tension to the outer skin base fabric 32b. For this reason, when a pedestrian or the like hits the bag skin 32 in the vicinity of the recessed portion S on the one surface, the outer skin base fabric 32b firmly receives the pedestrian or the like, and the impact of the pedestrian or the like is sufficiently absorbed. Is done.
[0032]
In an outwardly deploying air bag of the present invention includes an airbag body and the bag outer skin are connected. FIGS. 4 to 6 are configuration diagrams showing embodiments of the connection structure between the airbag main body and the bag outer cover, respectively. In addition, in these 4-6, (a) figure is a top view of the corner | angular corner part vicinity of an airbag main body and a bag outer skin, respectively, (b) figure is a BB sectional drawing of (a) figure. FIG.
[0033]
In the connection structure of FIG. 4, both ends of a strap-like connection piece 50 are connected to each corner of the airbag body 31 and each corner of the bag shell 32, and the air is connected via the connection piece 50. The bag body 31 and the bag outer skin 32 are connected.
[0034]
One end of the connecting piece 50 is sandwiched between the corners of the lower base fabric 31 a and the upper base fabric 31 b of the airbag body 31, and the base fabrics 31 a and 31 b are sewn along the suture line 33. When it is done, it is connected to each corner of the airbag body 31 by being sewn together. The other end of the connecting piece 50 is sandwiched between the corners of the lower skin base cloth 32a and the upper skin base cloth 32b of the bag skin 32, and the base cloths 32a and 32b are connected to each other by a suture line 39. Are connected to each corner of the bag skin 32 by being sewn together.
[0035]
The airbag main body 31 and the bag shell 32 of FIG. 4 have the same configuration as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 except that they are connected by the connecting piece 50. In the figure, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 to 3 indicate the same parts.
[0036]
5 and FIG. 6, the airbag body 31 ′, 31 ″ is provided with connection pieces 51, 52 extending integrally from the respective corners of the airbag body 31 ′, 31 ″. The airbag main bodies 31 ′ and 31 ″ are respectively connected to the bag outer skin 32 by connecting the front end side to each corner of the bag outer skin 32.
[0037]
The airbag main bodies 31 ′ and 31 ″ are respectively connected to the peripheral portions of the lower base fabric 31 ′ a and the upper base fabric 31 ′ b, and the lower base fabric 31 ″ a and the upper base fabric. The peripheral portions of the cloth 31 ″ b are arranged outside the airbag body 31 ′, 31 ″, and the connecting pieces 51, 52 are respectively connected to the base cloth 31′a, 31′b as shown in the figure. And the corners of both 31 ″ a and 31 ″ b are projected outward.
[0038]
In the connecting structure of FIG. 5, the leading end side of the connecting piece 51 is sandwiched between the corners of the lower outer skin base fabric 32a and the upper outer skin base fabric 32b of the bag outer skin 32, and the base fabrics 32a and 32b are connected to the suture line 39. By being sewn together with these when being sewn together, they are connected to the corners of the bag skin 32. In the connecting structure of FIG. 6, the connecting piece 52 is interposed between the lower outer skin base cloth 32 a and the upper outer skin base cloth 32 b inside the suture line 39, and these bases are arranged along the suture line 53. The connecting piece 52 is connected to the bag skin 32 by stitching the connecting piece 52 to the cloths 32a and 32b.
[0039]
By connecting the airbag main body and the bag outer cover in this way, the airbag main body and the bag outer cover are prevented from being displaced.
[0040]
The other structures of the airbag main bodies 31 ', 31 "and the bag outer shell 32 in FIGS. 5 and 6 are exactly the same as those shown in FIGS. In FIG. 1, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 denote the same parts .
[0041]
Each of the embodiments above SL, respectively, showing an example of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiments, the base fabrics are joined together by stitching, but may be joined by other joining methods such as adhesion. Each base fabric can be made of various materials such as a fabric material such as a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, and a nonwoven fabric, and a synthetic resin sheet. When each base fabric is composed of a synthetic resin sheet, the base fabrics may be joined together by welding . Airbags number of chambers of the body is not limited to 2 or 3, may be 4 or more.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there is provided an outer surface deployable airbag and apparatus that guarantees sufficient cushioning properties over the entire surface and has high productivity.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outer surface deployable airbag according to a reference example .
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.
3 is an exploded perspective view of the outer surface deployable airbag of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a connection structure between an airbag main body and a bag outer cover.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing another embodiment of a connection structure between an airbag body and a bag outer cover.
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing still another embodiment of a connection structure between an airbag main body and a bag outer cover .
7 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a configuration example of an airbag according to the slave come example.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a configuration example of an airbag according to a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 0 Outer surface deployment type airbag 3 1 Airbag body 3 2 Bag outer skin 34, 3 5 Suture line 36, 37, 3 8 Small chamber 50, 51, 52 Connecting piece S Recess

Claims (4)

In the outer surface deployable airbag that inflates into a flat shape along the outer surface of the vehicle body,
An airbag body, and a bag skin disposed along the outer surface of the airbag body,
The airbag body is formed with a recessed portion on an outer surface in an inflated state, and the bag outer skin is an outer surface deployable airbag arranged to be tensioned across the recessed portion ,
The airbag body has a substantially square planar shape,
The bag skin consists of two outer skin base fabrics,
An outer surface deployable airbag characterized in that the airbag main body is sandwiched between the two outer skin base fabrics, and corner portions of the airbag main body are connected to the outer skin base fabrics . 2. The outer surface deployable airbag according to claim 1, wherein corner portions of the airbag main body are connected to the bag outer skin through connecting pieces. The outer surface deployable airbag according to claim 2, wherein the connecting piece is provided integrally with a base fabric constituting the bag body. 4. An outer surface deployable airbag device having an outer surface deployable airbag and an inflator for deploying the outer surface deployable airbag, wherein the outer surface deployable airbag is the one according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An outwardly deployable airbag device as a feature.

Images