JP4019963B2

JP4019963B2 - Head protection airbag

Info

Publication number: JP4019963B2
Application number: JP2003031108A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 雅夫木野; 栄七中村
Original assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
Current assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-07
Filing date: 2003-02-07
Publication date: 2007-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-07
Also published as: JP2004237915A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、頭部保護エアバッグ装置のエアバッグに関し、詳しくは、膨張用ガスを流入させた膨張完了時に、車両の前席側方の窓を覆い可能な前席用膨張部を備えた頭部保護エアバッグに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来、頭部保護エアバッグでは、膨張用ガスを流入させた膨張完了時に、車両の前席側方の窓を覆い可能な前席用膨張部を備えるとともに、前席用膨張部における車内側と車外側との壁部相互の離隔距離を規制可能に、車内側壁部と車外側壁部とに連結されるテザーを備えて構成されるものがあった（例えば、特許文献１）。
【０００３】
このようなエアバッグでは、袋織りで形成するエアバッグに比べて、膨張部のエリアでは、車内側壁部と車外側壁部との厚さが極めて薄くするような部位が配設されず、前席の乗員をクッション性良く保護できる。
【０００４】
すなわち、頭部保護エアバッグでは、膨張完了時に、円柱状等の厚く丸く膨張するのではなく、乗員と窓との狭い隙間で、かつ、窓に沿って広い範囲で、板状に膨張できるように、車内側壁部と車外側壁部とを部分的に連結する必要があるが、その場合、袋織りで形成する膨張部では、内部に、車内側壁部と車外側壁部とを離して連結させるようなテザーを設けることができず、車内側壁部自体と車外側壁部自体とを、相互に、直接、結合させるように袋織りすることとなって、その結合部位には、ガスが流入せず、クッション性を確保できない。
【０００５】
これに対し、車内側壁部と車外側壁部とに連結されるテザーを備えたエアバッグでは、車内側壁部と車外側壁部とを離して連結できることから、膨張部のエリア内に、ガスの非流入部位がなく、クッション性が良好となる。
【０００６】
【特許文献１】
特開平１０−１３８８６０号公報
【０００７】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかし、車内側壁部と車外側壁部とに連結されるテザーを備えた従来の頭部保護エアバッグでは、膨張部の厚さを、車両の前後方向に沿って略均一にしているだけであることから、前席に着座する乗員の体格等に対応させて、最適に保護する点に、改善の余地がった。
【０００８】
本発明は、上述の課題を解決するものであり、前席に着座する乗員に対応して、適切に保護可能な頭部保護エアバッグを提供することを目的とする。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明に係るエアバッグは、膨張用ガスを流入させた膨張完了時に、車両の前席側方の窓を覆い可能な前席用膨張部を備えるとともに、前席用膨張部における車内側と車外側との壁部相互の離隔距離を規制可能に、車内側壁部と車外側壁部とに連結されるとともに略前後方向に沿って配設されるテザーを備えて構成される頭部保護エアバッグであって、
エアバッグの下縁側からテザーまでの車内側壁部と車外側壁部とのそれぞれの上下方向の膜長に関して、前席用膨張部の前部側の膜長より後部側の膜長を長くするように、テザーが、後端を後上がりとするように配設されるとともに、
テザーが、車内側壁部と車外側壁部との連結部位相互の離隔距離を、後方側に向かって広げるように、配設されていることを特徴とする。
【００１０】
本発明に係る頭部保護エアバッグの前席用膨張部では、膨張完了時、少なくともテザーの下方のエリアにおいて、前部側下部から後斜め上方に延びた位置の後部側上部が、前部側下部に比べて、厚く膨張する。そして、前席に着座する乗員が大柄な人であれば、その大柄な乗員は、通常、前席を車両後方側にスライドさせ、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部の後部側に、シートを配置させる場合が多く、その場合、その大柄な乗員の頭部は、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部の後部側における上部側に位置し、かつ、車両の側面衝突時の車外側への運動エネルギーも大きい。そして、本発明に係る頭部保護エアバッグの前席用膨張部では、膨張完了時、後部側上部が前部側下部に比べて厚く膨張することから、大柄な乗員の頭部を、適切に保護することが可能となる。
【００１１】
一方、前席に着座する乗員が小柄な人であれば、その小柄な乗員は、通常、前席を車両前方側にスライドさせ、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部の前部側に、シートを配置させる場合が多く、その場合、その小柄な乗員の頭部は、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部の前部側における下部側に位置し、かつ、車両の側面衝突時の車外側への運動エネルギーも、大柄な人に比べて、小さい。そして、本発明に係る頭部保護エアバッグの前席用膨張部では、膨張完了時、前部側下部が、後部側上部に比べて薄いものの、所定の厚さで膨張できることから、その小柄な乗員の頭部を、適切に保護することが可能となる。
【００１２】
そして勿論、前席に着座する乗員が平均的な体格の人であれば、その乗員は、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部の前後方向の中間部位に位置し、また、その頭部の高さも大柄な乗員と小柄な乗員との略中間の高さで、かつ、その頭部の運動エネルギーも大柄な乗員と小柄な乗員との略中間となるが、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部では、前部側下部から後部側上部にかけるエリアが、略連続的に、順次、厚さを厚くしており、その平均的な体格の乗員の頭部を、的確に保護することができる。
【００１３】
以上のように、本発明に係る頭部保護エアバッグでは、前席に着座する乗員に対応させて、前席用膨張部の膨張完了形状が設定されており、膨張完了時、前席に着座する乗員を適切に保護することができる。また、本発明に係る頭部保護エアバッグでは、前席用膨張部の全域を厚く膨張させるわけではないことから、ガスを流入させる部位の容積を不必要に大きくせず、膨張開始から膨張完了までの時間が長くなることを防止できる。さらに勿論、本発明に係る頭部保護エアバッグでは、車内側壁部と車外側壁部とに連結されるテザーを備えて構成されており、前席用膨張部のエリアでは、クッション性を確保できないような車内側壁部と車外側壁部とを直接結合させる部位がなく、前席の乗員をクッション性良く保護できる。
【００１４】
さらに、前席用膨張部に配設されるテザーは、車内側壁部と車外側壁部との連結部位相互の離隔距離を、後方側に向かって広げるように、配設されており、膨張完了時の前席用膨張部において、後部側を厚くし、前部側を後部側に比べて薄くすることができる。そのため、テザー自体の車内側・車外側壁部との連結部位相互の幅寸法をさらに調整することにより、前席の乗員を適切に保護可能なエアバッグを、容易に、製造することができる。
【００１５】
また、請求項２に記載したように、前席用膨張部に配設させるテザーを、上下に複数段配設させるとともに、それぞれ、略前後方向に延びるように配設させて、さらに、各テザーにおける上下方向の相互の間隔を、後方側に向かって広げて、テザー相互間の車内側壁部と車外側壁部との上下方向の膜長を、前部側より後部側を長くするように、配設させるとともに、
エアバッグの下縁側から下段のテザーまでの車内側壁部と車外側壁部とのそれぞれの上下方向の膜長に関して、前席用膨張部の前部側の膜長より後部側の膜長を長くするように、下段の前記テザーを、後端を後上がりとするように配設させる。このように構成すれば、膨張完了時の前席用膨張部における上段のテザーの下方領域において、後部側を厚くし、前部側を後部側に比べて薄くすることができて、複数のテザーの配置位置を所定位置に設定するだけで、前席の乗員を適切に保護可能なエアバッグを、容易に、製造することができる。
【００１６】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の一実施形態を図面に基づいて説明すると、実施形態の頭部保護エアバッグ２０が使用される頭部保護エアバッグ装置ＨＰは、図１に示すように、車両Ｖの窓（サイドウィンド）Ｗ１・Ｗ２及びリヤピラー部ＲＰの上縁側におけるフロントピラー部ＦＰやルーフサイドレール部ＲＲに、搭載されている。なお、この車両Ｖは、フロントピラー部ＦＰとリヤピラー部ＲＰとの間に、略上下方向に沿うセンターピラー部ＣＰを配設させるとともに、リヤピラー部ＲＰの後方に後壁部ＢＰを配設させて、前席ＦＳと後席ＢＳとの二列シートのピックアップ車である。
【００１７】
頭部保護エアバッグ装置ＨＰは、図１に示すように、インフレーター８、取付ブラケット９・１３、取付ボルト１０・１４、及び、エアバッグ２０、を備えて構成され、車両Ｖへの搭載時に、車内側をエアバッグカバー１６に覆われて収納されている。エアバッグカバー１６は、実施形態の場合、フロントピラー部ＦＰの車内側を覆うフロントピラーガーニッシュ３の下縁側部位と、ルーフサイドレール部ＲＲの車内側を覆うルーフヘッドライニング４の下縁側部位と、から構成されている。
【００１８】
フロントピラーガーニッシュ３やルーフヘッドライニング４は、合成樹脂製として、図示しない取付手段によって、フロントピラー部ＦＰやルーフサイドレール部ＲＲにおけるボディ１側の部材であるインナパネル２の車内側に、取り付けられている。そして、これらの下縁側部位は、展開膨張時のエアバッグ２０を突出可能に、下端側を車内側に開くように、構成されている。
【００１９】
インフレーター８は、略円柱状とされて、先端（前端）側に、膨張用ガスを吐出可能な図示しないガス吐出口が、配設されている。そして、このインフレーター８は、ガス吐出口付近を含めた先端付近をエアバッグ２０の接続口部３７に挿入させ、接続口部３７の後端付近に外装されるクランプ１１を利用して、エアバッグ２０に対して、連結されている。また、インフレーター８は、インフレーター８を保持する取付ブラケット９と、取付ブラケット９をボディ１側のインナパネル２に固定するための取付ボルト１０とを利用して、インナパネル２に取り付けられている。
【００２０】
なお、このインフレーター８の車両Ｖへの搭載は、インフレーター８とエアバッグ２０とを組み付けた状態のエアバッグ組付体として、行なわれる。
【００２１】
エアバッグ２０は、図１〜６に示すように、折り畳まれた状態で、斜め上方に延びるように配設されたフロントピラー部ＦＰから、センターピラー部ＣＰの上方を越えて、リヤピラー部ＲＰの上方となる位置までのルーフサイドレール部ＲＲに、収納されている。そして、エアバッグ２０は、展開膨張時、図１の二点鎖線に示すように、前席ＦＳの側方における窓Ｗ１、後席ＢＳの側方における窓Ｗ２、さらには、センターピラー部ＣＰ・リヤピラー部ＲＰ、のそれぞれの車内側を覆うように、構成されている。
【００２２】
このエアバッグ２０は、膨張用ガスＧを流入させて膨らむ膨張部として、前席ＦＳの側方の窓Ｗ１を覆う前席用膨張部２１と、後席ＢＳの側方の窓Ｗ２を覆う後席用膨張部３１と、を備えている。前席用膨張部２１と後席用膨張部３１とは、エアバッグ２０の上縁２０ａ側で前後方向に沿って延びるように配置される連通膨張部３０によって、連通されている。そして、エアバッグ２０は、上縁２０ａ側における前後方向の中央付近に、インフレーター８からの膨張用ガスＧを膨張部２１・３０・３１内に導入できるように、インフレーター８の前端に外装される筒状の接続口部３７を、配設させている。
【００２３】
連通膨張部３０の下方には、前席用・後席用膨張部２１・３１の間に位置して、膨張用ガスＧを流入させない非流入部３８が配設されている。この非流入部３８は、乗員Ｍが位置しない領域、すなわち、センターピラー部ＣＰの後方側における窓Ｗ２の前部側に配置されている。この非流入部３８は、エアバッグ２０の全体形状を確保するとともに、膨張用ガスＧを流入させる部位の容積を減らして、エアバッグ２０の膨張開始から膨張完了前の時間を極力短くするために配設されている。
【００２４】
また、エアバッグ２０の上縁２０ａ側には、エアバッグ２０をインナパネル２にボルト１４止めするための複数の取付部３９が、上方へ突出するように配設されている。各取付部３９は、ボルト１４を挿通させる取付孔３９ａを備えるとともに、当板としての取付ブラケット１３を取り付けられて、ブラケット１３ごと、インナパネル２にボルト１４止めされている。
【００２５】
さらに、前席用・後席用膨張部２１・３１内には、車内側壁部２２・３２と車外側壁部２３・３３との離隔距離を規制して、各膨張部２１・３１を略板状に膨張させるためのテザー２５・３５が、略前後方向に沿って配設されている。
【００２６】
前席用膨張部２１内に配設されるテザー２５は、膨張完了時の前席用膨張部２１が、前部２１ａ側の下部２１ｄ側の部位２７から後部２１ｂ側の上部２１側の部位２８にかけるエリアにおいて、順次、車内側Ｉと車外側Ｏとを結ぶ車内外方向の厚さを、順次、厚くするように、配設されている。なお、実施形態の場合、このように厚くなる部位２７・２８は、テザー２５の下方におけるエアバッグ２０の下縁２０ｂ側の領域において、順次、厚くなるように、設定されている。
【００２７】
そして、テザー２５は、前端２５ａを、前席用膨張部２１の前部２１ａ側における上下方向の略中間部位に、配置させて、後端２５ａを、後上がりとするように、前席用膨張部２１の後部２１ｂ側における上部２１ｃ側に、配置させている。すなわち、エアバッグ２０の下縁２０ｂからテザー２５までの車内側壁部２２と車内側壁部２３とのそれぞれの上下方向の膜長ＬＩ（ＬＩＦ・ＬＩＢ）・ＬＯ（ＬＯＦ・ＬＯＢ）に関して、前部２１ａ側の膜長ＬＩＦ・ＬＯＦより後部２１ｂ側の膜長ＬＩＢ・ＬＯＢを、長くするように、設定して、膨張完了時の前席用膨張部２１が、前部２１ａ側の下部２１ｄ側の部位２７から後部２１ｂ側の上部２１側の部位２８にかけて、順次、連続的に厚くなるように、構成されている。
【００２８】
さらに、このテザー２５は、前席膨張部２１の膨張完了時における車内側壁部２２と車外側壁部２３との連結部位２５ｃ・２５ｄ相互の離隔距離に関して、前部２１ａ側より後部２１ｂ側が広くなるように、前部２５ａ側から後部２５ｂ側にかけて、車内側端部２５ｃと車外側端部２５ｄとの間の幅寸法ＦＷ・ＢＷをテーパ状に広げるように、構成されている。すなわち、テザー２５自体による車内側壁部２２と車外側壁部２３との離隔距離の調整によって、前部２１ａ側の下部２１ｄ側の部位２７から後部２１ｂ側の上部２１側の部位２８にかけて、順次、厚くなるように、構成されている。
【００２９】
そして、これらの構成によって、前席用膨張部２１のテザー２５の下方エリアでは、膨張完了時の縦断面での厚さの最も厚い頂部が、前部２１側では、厚さＢ１として下縁２０ｂからの高さをｈ１とした部位２７となり、後部２１ｂ側では、厚さをＢ２として下縁２０ｂからの高さをｈ２とした部位２８となって、それらの部位２７・２８を結ぶ直線ＬＴが、後方に向かうに従って斜め上方向に延び、かつ、その直線ＬＴの部位が、順次、後方に向かうにつれて、連続的に厚さを厚くするように、構成されている（ｈ１＜ｈ２でかつＢ１＜Ｂ２としている）。
【００３０】
後席用膨張部３１内に配設されるテザー３５は、前端３５ａを、後席用膨張部３１の前部３１ａの上部３１ｃ側に、配置させて、後端３５ｂを、後席用膨張部３１の後部３１ｂの上下方向の略中間部位に、配置させている。また、このテザー３５は、車内側端部３５ｃと車外側端部３５ｄとの連結部位３５ｃ・３５ｄ相互の離隔距離を略等しくするように、長方形板状としている（図５参照）。
【００３１】
なお、各テザー２５・３５は、上下に貫通する複数の挿通孔２５ｅ・３５ｅを備えている。
【００３２】
エアバッグ２０の製造について述べれば、このエアバッグ２０は、袋織りで製造するものでなく、可撓性を有したポリアミド糸やポリエステル糸等を使用した織布の所定部位を結合させて製造するものであり、実施形態の場合、縫合糸４６を使用した縫製エアバッグとしている。さらに、実施形態の場合、図５・６に示すように、エアバッグ２０は、二つ折りして使用する本体布４１、本体布４１の前端側に連結される前側布４２、及び、各テザー２５・３５を形成するテザー用布４３・４４の計４枚の織布を使用している。本体布４１は、前席用膨張部２１、後席用膨張部３１、連通膨張部３０、及び、接続口部３７、を形成するものである。そして、本体布４１は、エアバッグ２０の下縁２０ｂとなる位置に、折目Ｆ０を入れて、二つ折りし、重ねた部位における膨張部２１・３０・３１や接続口部３７の外周縁となる箇所を、縫合糸４６によって、縫合することによって、前席用膨張部２１、後席用膨張部３１、連通膨張部３０、及び、接続口部３７、を形成している。なお、縫合時には、各テザー２５・３５の車内側端部２５ａ・３５ａや車外側端部２５ｂ・３５ｂを、本体布４１における前席用膨張部２１の車内側壁部２２や車外側壁部２３、あるいは、後席用膨張部３１の車内側壁部３２や車外側壁部３３となる部位に、縫合して、テザー２５・３５を各膨張部２１・３１内に配設させている。
【００３３】
本体布４１の前端側に連結される前側布４２は、エアバッグ２０の膨張完了時、フロントピラー部ＦＰからその下方に展開して配置されるもので、上縁側に二つの取付部３９を配置させている。これらの取付部３９は、二枚重ねとなるように、構成されており、平らに展開された状態から折り返して、縫合糸４６によって縫合されて、形成されている。なお、この取付部３９の形成時、図６のＡ・Ｂに示すように、同時に、前側布４２は、本体布４１の前端側に、縫合糸４６によって縫合されている。
【００３４】
そして、このように製造したエアバッグ２０は、非膨張状態の平らに展開した状態から、図２の二点鎖線に示すように、上縁２０ａと平行な折目Ｆ１を付けて、下縁２０ｂ側が上縁２０ａ側に接近するように略上下方向に折り重ねる蛇腹折りにより、折り畳む。折り畳んだ後には、エアバッグ２０の周囲に、破断可能な図示しないラッピング材を巻き付ける。その後、各取付部３９を引き出して、所定の取付ブラケット１３を取り付けるとともに、接続口部３７に、取付ブラケット９を取付済みのインフレーター８を挿入して、クランプ１１により、接続口部３７とインフレーター８とを連結して、エアバッグ組付体を形成する。そして、各取付ブラケット９・１３を、インナパネル２の所定位置に配置させてボルト１０・１４止めすれば、エアバッグ組付体を車両Ｖに搭載することができる。
【００３５】
その後、さらに、インフレーター８に、所定のインフレーター作動用の制御装置から延びる図示しないリード線を結線し、フロントピラーガーニッシュ３やルーフヘッドライニング４を、ボディ１に取り付け、さらに、センターピラーガーニッシュ５やリヤピラーガーニッシュ６を、ボディ１に取り付ければ、頭部保護エアバッグ装置ＨＰを、車両Ｖに搭載させることができる。
【００３６】
エアバッグ装置ＨＰの車両Ｖへの搭載後、インフレーター８が作動されれば、膨張用ガスＧが、インフレーター８から吐出され、接続口部３７を経て、さらに、前席用膨張部２１・連通膨張部３０・後席用膨張部３１に流れることから、エアバッグ２０は、図示しないラッピング材を破断させ、さらに、フロントピラーガーニッシュ３やルーフヘッドライニング４の下縁側からなるエアバッグカバー１６を押し開き、図１の二点鎖線で示すように、窓Ｗ１・Ｗ２やセンターピラー部ＣＰ・リヤピラー部ＲＰの車内側を覆うように、大きく膨張することとなる。
【００３７】
この時、実施形態のエアバッグ２０の前席用膨張部２１では、エアバッグ２０の下縁２０ｂからテザー２５までの車内側壁部２２と車内側壁部２３とのそれぞれの上下方向の膜長ＬＩ・ＬＯに関して、前部２１ａ側の膜長ＬＩＦ・ＬＯＦより後部２１ｂ側の膜長ＬＩＢ・ＬＯＢを長くしていることから、膨張完了時、前部側下部２７から後部側上部２８の直線ＬＴのエリアにかけて、順次、厚くなる。さらに、テザー２５が、前席膨張部２１の膨張完了時における車内側壁部２２と車外側壁部２３との連結部位２５ｃ・２５ｄ相互の離隔距離に関して、前部２１ａ側より後部２１ｂ側が広くなるように、車内側端部２５ｃと車外側端部２５ｄとの間の幅寸法ＦＷ・ＢＷをテーパ状に広げるように、構成されている。
【００３８】
そのため、前席用膨張部２１では、膨張完了時、略前後方向に沿って配設されているテザー２５の下方領域においては、後部側上部２８の領域が、一番厚く膨張する。そして、前席ＦＳに着座する乗員ＭＢが大柄な人であれば、その大柄な乗員ＭＢは、通常、前席ＦＳを車両後方側にスライドさせ、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部２１の後部２１ｂ側に、シートＦＳを配置させる場合が多く、その場合、その大柄な乗員ＭＢの頭部Ｈは、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部２１の後部側上部２８に位置し、かつ、車両Ｖの側面衝突時の車外側への運動エネルギーも大きい。そして、実施形態の頭部保護エアバッグ２０の前席用膨張部２１では、膨張完了時、後部側上部２８が一番厚く膨張することから、大柄な乗員ＭＢの頭部Ｈを、適切に保護することができる。
【００３９】
一方、前席ＦＳに着座する乗員ＭＳが小柄な人であれば、その小柄な乗員ＭＳは、通常、前席ＦＳを車両前方側にスライドさせ、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部２１の前部２１ａ側に、シートＦＳを配置させる場合が多く、その場合、その小柄な乗員ＭＳの頭部Ｈは、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部２１の前部側下部２７の領域に位置し、かつ、車両Ｖの側面衝突時の車外側への運動エネルギーも、大柄な人ＭＢに比べて、小さい。そして、実施形態の頭部保護エアバッグ２０の前席用膨張部２１では、膨張完了時、前部側下部２７の領域が、後部側上部２８に比べて薄いものの、所定の厚さＢ１で膨張できることから、その小柄な乗員ＭＳの頭部Ｈを、適切に保護することができる。
【００４０】
以上のように、実施形態の頭部保護エアバッグ２０では、前席ＦＳに着座する乗員ＭＢ・ＭＳに対応させて、前席用膨張部２１の膨張完了形状が設定されており、膨張完了時、前席ＦＳに着座する乗員ＭＢ・ＭＳを適切に保護することができる。
【００４１】
勿論、前席ＦＳに着座する乗員Ｍが平均的な体格の人であれば、その乗員Ｍは、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部２１の前後方向の中間部位に位置し、また、その頭部の高さも大柄な乗員ＭＢと小柄な乗員ＭＳとの略中間の高さで、かつ、その頭部の運動エネルギーも大柄な乗員ＭＢと小柄な乗員ＭＳとの略中間となるが、膨張を完了させた前席用膨張部２１では、前部側下部２７から後部側上部２８にかける直線ＬＴのエリアが、連続的に、順次、厚さを厚くしており、その平均的な体格の乗員Ｍの頭部を、的確に保護することができる。
【００４２】
また、実施形態の頭部保護エアバッグ２０では、前席用膨張部２１の全域を厚く膨張させるわけではないことから、ガスＧを流入させる部位の容積を不必要に大きくせず、膨張開始から膨張完了までの時間が長くなることを防止できる。さらに勿論、実施形態の頭部保護エアバッグ２０では、車内側壁部２２と車外側壁部２３とに連結されるテザー２５を備えて構成されており、前席用膨張部２１のエリアでは、クッション性を確保できないような車内側壁部２２と車外側壁部２３とを直接結合させる部位がなく、前席ＦＳの乗員ＭＢ・ＭＳをクッション性良く保護できる。
【００４３】
そして、実施形態では、テザー２５自体の車内側・車外側壁部２２・２３との連結部位２５ｃ・２５ｄ相互の幅寸法ＦＷ・ＢＷを調整するだけで、前席ＦＳの乗員ＭＢ・ＭＳを適切に保護可能なエアバッグ２０を、容易に、製造することができる。
【００４４】
なお、実施形態では、一つのテザー２５を前席用膨張部２１内に配設させたが、前後方向に複数のテザーを配設させ、それらのテザーが、車内側壁部２２と車外側壁部２３との連結部位相互の幅寸法を、順次、後方に向かうにしたがって、幅広となるように、設定してもよい。
【００４５】
また、実施形態の場合、膨張完了時の前席用膨張部２１が、前部２１ａ側の下部２１ｄ側の部位２７から後部２１ｂ側の上部２１側の部位２８にかけるエリアにおいて、順次、厚くするために、まず、テザー２５の前端２５ａを、前席用膨張部２１の前部２１ａ側における上下方向の略中間部位に、配置させ、かつ、後端２５ａを、後上がりとするように、前席用膨張部２１の後部２１ｂ側における上部２１ｃ側に、配置させて、エアバッグ２０の下縁２０ｂからテザー２５までの車内側壁部２２と車内側壁部２３とのそれぞれの上下方向の膜長ＬＩ・ＬＯに関して、前部２１ａより後部２１ｂ側を、長くするように、設定した。また、テザー２５の幅寸法に関し、前部２１ａ側より後部２１ｂ側が広くなるように、車内側端部２５ｃと車外側端部２５ｄとの間の寸法を広げるように、構成した。しかし、どちらか一方の構成だけで、エアバッグを構成してもよい。
【００４６】
さらに、実施形態では、テザー２５自体の配置されていない部位２７・２８を結ぶ直線ＬＴの位置するエリアに関して、厚さを、順次、連続的に厚くする場合を示したが、前席用膨張部において、テザーが配置されている部位を交差して、前部側の下部側から、少なくとも、後方に向かう斜め上方向に、厚さを順次厚くするように、構成しても良い。この場合、膨張完了時の前席用膨張部では、テザーの配置部位が、厳密には、周囲より部分的に厚さを小さくなることが避けられない。しかし、その近傍のテザーの配置されていない部位で、前部側の下部側から、少なくとも、後方に向かう斜め上方向に、厚さを順次厚くするように、構成されておれば、乗員の頭部自体を保護できることから、本発明の作用・効果を達成でき、このような構成でも、本発明の特許請求の範囲内の構成となる。
【００４７】
さらに、図７〜９に示す頭部保護エアバッグ２０Ａのように構成してもよい。このエアバッグ２０Ａは、前席用膨張部２１内に、上下二段に配置される二つのテザー５５・５６を備えて、構成されている。これらのテザー５５・５６は、それぞれ、略前後方向に延びて後上がりとするように配設されている。そして、各テザー５５・５６が、上下方向の相互の間隔を、後方側に向かって広げるように、配設されている。なお、下段のテザー５６は、平らに展開したエアバッグ２０Ａの下縁２０ｂとの間の間隔も、後方側に向かって広げるように、前端５６ａ側より後端５６ｂ側を上方に配置させている。
【００４８】
このエアバッグ２０Ａでは、他の構成は、エアバッグ２０と同様であり、エアバッグ２０と同様の部位には、同一符号を付して、説明を省略する。また、このエアバッグ２０Ａは、エアバッグ２０と同様にインフレーター８と組み付けられて車両Ｖに搭載される。
【００４９】
そして、このエアバッグ２０Ａでも、膨張用ガスＧを流入させて膨張を完了させれば、各テザー５５・５６間の車内側壁部２２と車外側壁部２３との上下方向の膜長ＬＩＵＦ・ＬＩＵＢ・ＬＯＵＦ・ＬＯＵＢ、あるいは、テザー５６と下縁２０ｂ間の車内側壁部２２と車外側壁部２３との上下方向の膜長ＬＩＤＦ・ＬＩＤＢ・ＬＯＤＦ・ＬＯＤＢを、前席用膨張部２１の前部２１ａ側では短く、前席用膨張部２１の後部２１ｂ側では長くできる。そのため、このように構成すれば、膨張完了時の前席用膨張部２１のテザー５５付近の下方領域において、後部２１ｂ側の上部２１ｃ側の部位２８を厚くし、前部２１ａ側の下部２１ｄ側の部位２７を後部側上部２８に比べて薄くすることができて（Ｂ３＜Ｂ４）、直線ＬＴのエリアを、後方に向かって順次厚くしていることから、前席ＦＳの乗員ＭＢ・ＭＳを適切に保護することができる。
【００５０】
そして、この場合でも、複数のテザー５５・５６の配置位置を所定位置に設定するだけで、前席ＦＳの乗員ＭＢ・ＭＳを適切に保護可能なエアバッグ２０Ａを、容易に、製造することができる。
【００５１】
なお、実施形態のエアバッグ２０・２０Ａでは、本体布４１・前側布４２・テザー用布４３・４４・５５・５６の結合を、縫合によって行なう場合を示したが、接着や熱融着等を利用して、エアバッグを製造してもよい。
【００５２】
また、実施形態のエアバッグ２０・２０Ａでは、前席用膨張部２１と後席用膨張部３１とを備えた二列シート用の車両に搭載する場合を示したが、前席だけの一列シートの車両に対応するエアバッグ、二列シートの前席だけの乗員を保護するエアバッグ、あるいは、三列シート等の複数列のシートに着座した各乗員を保護可能な膨張部を備えたエアバッグに、本発明を適用することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る実施形態のエアバッグを使用した頭部保護エアバッグ装置を車内側から見た正面図である。
【図２】実施形態のエアバッグの正面図である。
【図３】実施形態のエアバッグの膨張時の縦断面図であり、図２のIII−III部位に対応する。
【図４】実施形態のエアバッグの膨張時の縦断面図であり、図２のIV−IV部位に対応する。
【図５】実施形態のエアバッグを構成する布材の分解平面図である。
【図６】実施形態のエアバッグの製造時を示す説明図である。
【図７】他の実施形態のエアバッグの正面図である。
【図８】図７に示すエアバッグの膨張時の縦断面図であり、図７のVIII−VIII部位に対応する。
【図９】図７に示すエアバッグの膨張時の縦断面図であり、図７のIX−IX部位に対応する。
【符号の説明】
２０・２０Ａ…エアバッグ、
２１…前席用膨張部、
２１ａ…前部、
２１ｂ…後部、
２１ｃ…上部、
２１ｄ…下部、
２２…車内側壁部、
２３…車外側壁部、
２５・５５・５６…テザー、
２５ａ…前端、
２５ｂ…後端、
２５ｃ…（車内側）端部、
２５ｄ…（車外側）端部、
２７…前部側下部、
２８…後部側上部、
Ｖ…車両、
ＦＳ…前席、
Ｗ１…窓、
Ｉ…車内側、
Ｏ…車外側、
Ｍ…乗員、
ＭＢ…（大柄な）乗員、
ＭＳ…（小柄な）乗員、
Ｈ…頭部、
ＨＰ…頭部保護エアバッグ装置。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an airbag of a head protection airbag device, and more particularly, to a head including an inflatable portion for a front seat that can cover a window on the side of the front seat of the vehicle when the inflation is completed with inflow of an inflation gas. It relates to a part protection airbag.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, the head protection airbag has a front seat inflatable portion that can cover a window on the side of the front seat of the vehicle at the time of completion of inflating with an inflating gas, There is one configured to include a tether connected to the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion so that the separation distance between the wall portions from the vehicle outer side can be regulated (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
In such an airbag, in comparison with an airbag formed by bag weaving, in the area of the inflated portion, there is not provided a portion where the thickness of the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion is extremely thin. Protects passengers in the seat with good cushioning.
[0004]
In other words, the head protection airbag does not inflate in a thick and round shape such as a columnar shape at the completion of inflation, but can be inflated in a plate shape in a narrow space between the passenger and the window and along the window. In addition, it is necessary to partially connect the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion, but in that case, in the inflatable portion formed by bag weaving, the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion are connected separately. In such a case, the inner wall portion of the vehicle itself and the outer wall portion of the vehicle itself are woven into a bag so as to be directly connected to each other, and gas flows into the connecting portion. Without cushioning.
[0005]
On the other hand, in an airbag having a tether connected to the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion, the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion can be separated from each other, so that the gas is introduced into the area of the inflatable portion. There is no non-inflow portion, and cushioning is good.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-138860
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional head protection airbag having a tether connected to the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion, the thickness of the inflating portion is merely made substantially uniform along the vehicle front-rear direction. Therefore, there was room for improvement in terms of optimal protection in accordance with the physique of the occupant seated in the front seat.
[0008]
The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a head protection airbag that can be appropriately protected in response to an occupant seated in a front seat.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The airbag according to the present invention includes a front seat inflatable portion capable of covering a window on the side of the front seat of the vehicle at the time of completion of inflating with the inflating gas flowing therein. Connected to the vehicle inner wall and the vehicle outer wall so that the separation distance between the wall and the outside can be regulated.And disposed substantially along the front-rear direction.Head protection airbag configured with tethersoThere,
  The film length on the rear side is made longer than the film length on the front side of the front seat inflating part with respect to the film length in the vertical direction of the vehicle inner wall part and the vehicle outer wall part from the lower edge side of the airbag to the tether. In addition, the tether is disposed so that the rear end is rearwardly raised,
  The tether is disposed so as to widen the separation distance between the connecting portions of the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion toward the rear side.It is characterized by being.
[0010]
In the front seat inflatable portion of the head protection airbag according to the present invention, at least when the inflation is completed,In the area below the tether,The rear side upper portion at a position extending obliquely upward from the front side lower portion expands thicker than the front side lower portion. If the occupant seated in the front seat is a large person, the large occupant usually slides the front seat to the rear side of the vehicle, and the rear seat side of the front seat inflatable part, which has completed the expansion, In that case, the head of the large occupant is located on the upper side of the rear part of the front seat inflatable part that has been inflated, and to the outside of the vehicle at the time of a side collision of the vehicle Has a large kinetic energy. And, in the front seat inflatable part of the head protection airbag according to the present invention, when the inflation is completed, the rear side upper part is inflated thicker than the front side lower part. It becomes possible to protect.
[0011]
On the other hand, if the occupant seated in the front seat is a small person, the small occupant usually slides the front seat to the front side of the vehicle and completes the expansion on the front side of the front seat expansion part. In many cases, the seat of the small occupant is positioned on the lower side of the front portion of the inflatable portion for the front seat that has been inflated, and the vehicle at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. The kinetic energy to the outside is also small compared to large people. And, in the front seat inflatable part of the head protection airbag according to the present invention, when the inflation is completed, the front side lower part is thinner than the rear side upper part, but can be inflated with a predetermined thickness. It is possible to appropriately protect the head of the occupant.
[0012]
And of course, if the occupant seated in the front seat is a person of average physique, the occupant is located in the front-rear direction intermediate part of the inflatable part of the front seat that has been inflated, For front seats that have been inflated, although the height is approximately halfway between the large and small occupants, and the kinetic energy of the head is approximately halfway between the large and small occupants. In the inflating part, the area from the lower part on the front side to the upper part on the rear side is increased in thickness almost continuously and sequentially, and it is possible to accurately protect the head of an occupant with an average physique. it can.
[0013]
As described above, in the head protection airbag according to the present invention, the inflating completion shape of the inflating portion for the front seat is set in correspondence with the occupant seated in the front seat. It is possible to properly protect the passenger. Further, in the head protection airbag according to the present invention, since the entire area of the inflatable portion for the front seat is not inflated thickly, the volume of the portion into which the gas flows is not increased unnecessarily, and the inflation is completed from the start of the inflation. It can be prevented that the time until is long. Further, of course, the head protection airbag according to the present invention includes a tether connected to the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion, and cannot provide cushioning properties in the area of the front seat inflating portion. There is no part that directly connects the vehicle interior side wall and the vehicle exterior wall, and the front seat passenger can be protected with good cushioning properties.
[0014]
  further,A tether disposed in the front seat expansion sectionIsThe distance between the connecting parts of the inner wall and the outer wall of the vehicle is widened toward the rear side.AndIn the inflatable portion for the front seat when the inflation is completed, the rear side can be made thicker and the front side can be made thinner than the rear side. For this reason, the width dimension of the tether itself connected to the inside and outside walls of the vehiclefurtherAdjustByAn airbag that can appropriately protect the passenger in the front seat can be easily manufactured.
[0015]
  Claims2As described above, the tethers to be disposed in the front seat inflating portion are disposed in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, and are disposed so as to extend substantially in the front-rear direction. Widen the gap toward the rear sideThe vertical film length between the vehicle inner side wall and the vehicle outer wall between the tethers is arranged so that the rear side is longer than the front side,
  The membrane length on the rear side is longer than the membrane length on the front side of the front seat inflating portion with respect to the membrane length in the vertical direction of the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion from the lower edge side of the airbag to the lower tether. As described above, the lower tether is disposed so that the rear end is rearwardly raised.If comprised in this way, in the expansion part for front seats at the time of expansion completionLower area of upper tetherIn this case, the rear side can be made thicker and the front side can be made thinner than the rear side, and the air can be appropriately protected by simply setting the positions of the plurality of tethers at predetermined positions. The bag can be easily manufactured.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A head protection airbag device HP in which the head protection airbag 20 of the embodiment is used is shown in FIG. Side windows W1 and W2 are mounted on the front pillar portion FP and the roof side rail portion RR on the upper edge side of the rear pillar portion RP. The vehicle V has a center pillar portion CP that is disposed substantially in the vertical direction between the front pillar portion FP and the rear pillar portion RP, and a rear wall portion BP that is disposed behind the rear pillar portion RP. This is a two-row pickup vehicle with a front seat FS and a rear seat BS.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, the head protecting airbag device HP includes an inflator 8, mounting brackets 9 and 13, mounting bolts 10 and 14, and an airbag 20, and when mounted on the vehicle V, The inside of the vehicle is covered and stored by the airbag cover 16. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag cover 16 includes a lower edge side portion of the front pillar garnish 3 that covers the vehicle inner side of the front pillar portion FP, a lower edge side portion of the roof head lining 4 that covers the vehicle inner side of the roof side rail portion RR, and It is composed of
[0018]
The front pillar garnish 3 and the roof head lining 4 are made of synthetic resin and are attached to the inner side of the inner panel 2 that is a member on the body 1 side of the front pillar portion FP and the roof side rail portion RR by attachment means (not shown). ing. And these lower edge side parts are comprised so that the airbag 20 at the time of expansion | deployment may protrude, and a lower end side is opened inside a vehicle.
[0019]
The inflator 8 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a gas discharge port (not shown) capable of discharging an inflation gas is disposed on the tip (front end) side. Then, the inflator 8 inserts the vicinity of the tip including the vicinity of the gas discharge port into the connection port portion 37 of the airbag 20, and uses the clamp 11 that is externally installed near the rear end of the connection port portion 37. 20 is connected. The inflator 8 is attached to the inner panel 2 using a mounting bracket 9 for holding the inflator 8 and a mounting bolt 10 for fixing the mounting bracket 9 to the inner panel 2 on the body 1 side.
[0020]
The inflator 8 is mounted on the vehicle V as an airbag assembly in which the inflator 8 and the airbag 20 are assembled.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the airbag 20 is folded from the front pillar portion FP disposed so as to extend obliquely upward, beyond the center pillar portion CP and beyond the rear pillar portion RP. It is housed in the roof side rail portion RR up to the upper position. When the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the window W1 on the side of the front seat FS, the window W2 on the side of the rear seat BS, and the center pillar portion CP · The rear pillar portion RP is configured to cover the inside of each vehicle.
[0022]
The airbag 20 has a front seat inflatable portion 21 that covers the side window W1 of the front seat FS and a side window W2 of the rear seat BS as inflatable portions that are inflated by the inflow of the inflation gas G. A seat inflating portion 31. The front seat inflatable portion 21 and the rear seat inflatable portion 31 are communicated with each other by a communication inflatable portion 30 arranged so as to extend along the front-rear direction on the upper edge 20a side of the airbag 20. The airbag 20 is externally mounted on the front end of the inflator 8 so that the inflation gas G from the inflator 8 can be introduced into the inflating portions 21, 30, 31 in the vicinity of the center in the front-rear direction on the upper edge 20 a side. A cylindrical connection port portion 37 is provided.
[0023]
A non-inflow portion 38 that does not allow the inflating gas G to flow in is disposed between the front seat and rear seat inflating portions 21 and 31 below the communication inflating portion 30. The non-inflow portion 38 is disposed in a region where the occupant M is not located, that is, on the front side of the window W2 on the rear side of the center pillar portion CP. The non-inflow portion 38 secures the overall shape of the airbag 20 and reduces the volume of the portion into which the inflation gas G is introduced to shorten the time from the start of inflation of the airbag 20 to the completion of inflation as much as possible. It is arranged.
[0024]
A plurality of attachment portions 39 for fastening the airbag 20 to the inner panel 2 with bolts 14 are disposed on the upper edge 20a side of the airbag 20 so as to protrude upward. Each mounting portion 39 is provided with a mounting hole 39a through which the bolt 14 is inserted, and a mounting bracket 13 as a contact plate is mounted, and the bolt 14 is fixed to the inner panel 2 together with the bracket 13.
[0025]
Further, in the inflatable portions 21 and 31 for the front seats and the rear seats, the separation distance between the inner side wall portions 22 and 32 and the outer side wall portions 23 and 33 is regulated so that the inflatable portions 21 and 31 are substantially plate-shaped. The tethers 25 and 35 for inflating into a shape are disposed substantially along the front-rear direction.
[0026]
The tether 25 disposed in the front seat inflating part 21 is such that the front seat inflating part 21 when the inflating is completed is a part 28 on the upper part 21 side on the rear part 21b side from a part 27 on the lower part 21d side on the front part 21a side. In the area over the vehicle, the vehicle interior and exterior directions connecting the vehicle interior I and vehicle exterior O are sequentially arranged so as to increase in thickness. In the case of the embodiment, the thickened portions 27 and 28 are set so as to be sequentially thickened in the region on the lower edge 20b side of the airbag 20 below the tether 25.
[0027]
Then, the tether 25 disposes the front end 25a at a substantially intermediate portion in the vertical direction on the front portion 21a side of the front seat inflating portion 21, and expands the front seat so that the rear end 25a is rearwardly raised. The portion 21 is arranged on the upper portion 21c side on the rear portion 21b side. That is, the front portion 21a is related to the film lengths LI (LIF · LIB) · LO (LOF · LOB) in the vertical direction of the inner wall portion 22 and the inner wall portion 23 from the lower edge 20b of the airbag 20 to the tether 25. The film length LIB / LOB on the rear part 21b side is set to be longer than the film length LIF / LOF on the side, so that the front seat inflating part 21 at the completion of the inflation is a part on the lower part 21d side on the front part 21a side. From 27 to the part 28 of the upper part 21 side of the rear part 21b, it is comprised so that it may become thick continuously sequentially.
[0028]
Further, in the tether 25, the rear portion 21b side is wider than the front portion 21a side with respect to the separation distance between the connecting portions 25c and 25d of the vehicle inner wall portion 22 and the vehicle outer wall portion 23 when the front seat expansion portion 21 is completely expanded. As described above, the width dimension FW / BW between the vehicle inner end portion 25c and the vehicle outer end portion 25d is configured to be tapered from the front portion 25a side to the rear portion 25b side. That is, by adjusting the separation distance between the vehicle inner wall portion 22 and the vehicle outer wall portion 23 by the tether 25 itself, from the lower portion 21d side portion 27 on the front portion 21a side to the upper portion 21 side portion 28 on the rear portion 21b side, It is configured to be thick.
[0029]
With these configurations, in the area below the tether 25 of the front seat inflating portion 21, the thickest top portion in the longitudinal section at the time of completion of the inflating is the lower edge 20b as the thickness B1 on the front portion 21 side. From the rear portion 21b side, the height 27 is a portion 27 having a thickness B2 and the height from the lower edge 20b is h2, and a straight line LT connecting these portions 27 and 28 is formed. , Extending obliquely upward toward the rear, and the portion of the straight line LT is sequentially configured to increase in thickness continuously toward the rear (h1 <h2 and B1 < B2).
[0030]
The tether 35 disposed in the rear seat inflating portion 31 has the front end 35a disposed on the upper portion 31c side of the front portion 31a of the rear seat inflating portion 31 and the rear end 35b in the rear seat inflating portion. The rear portion 31b of the 31 is arranged at a substantially intermediate portion in the vertical direction. Further, the tether 35 has a rectangular plate shape so that the distances between the connecting portions 35c and 35d between the vehicle inner end portion 35c and the vehicle outer end portion 35d are substantially equal (see FIG. 5).
[0031]
Each tether 25 and 35 includes a plurality of insertion holes 25e and 35e penetrating vertically.
[0032]
If the manufacture of the airbag 20 is described, the airbag 20 is not manufactured by bag weaving, but is manufactured by combining predetermined portions of a woven fabric using a flexible polyamide yarn or polyester yarn. In the case of the embodiment, a sewing airbag using the suture thread 46 is used. Further, in the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the airbag 20 includes a main body cloth 41 that is folded in two, a front cloth 42 that is connected to the front end side of the main body cloth 41, and each tether 25.・ A total of four woven fabrics of tether fabrics 43 and 44 forming 35 are used. The main body cloth 41 forms the front seat expansion portion 21, the rear seat expansion portion 31, the communication expansion portion 30, and the connection port portion 37. And the main body cloth 41 puts the fold F0 in the position which becomes the lower edge 20b of the airbag 20, folds it in half, and the outer peripheral edges of the inflated portions 21, 30, 31 and the connection port portion 37 in the overlapped portions. The front seat inflating part 21, the rear seat inflating part 31, the communication inflating part 30, and the connection port part 37 are formed by stitching these portions with the suture thread 46. At the time of sewing, the vehicle inner side end portions 25a and 35a and the vehicle outer side end portions 25b and 35b of the respective tethers 25 and 35 are connected to the vehicle interior side wall portion 22 and the vehicle outer side wall portion 23 of the front seat inflating portion 21 in the main body cloth 41. Alternatively, the tethers 25 and 35 are placed in the respective inflatable portions 21 and 31 by stitching to the inner wall portion 32 and the outer wall portion 33 of the inflatable portion 31 for the rear seat.
[0033]
The front cloth 42 connected to the front end side of the main body cloth 41 is arranged to be deployed below the front pillar portion FP when the airbag 20 is completely inflated, and the two attachment portions 39 are arranged on the upper edge side. I am letting. These attachment portions 39 are configured so as to overlap each other, and are formed by being folded back from a flatly deployed state and stitched with a suture thread 46. When the attachment portion 39 is formed, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, at the same time, the front cloth 42 is sewn to the front end side of the main body cloth 41 with a suture thread 46.
[0034]
And the airbag 20 manufactured in this way attaches the crease | fold F1 parallel to the upper edge 20a as shown to the dashed-two dotted line of FIG. It folds by the bellows fold which folds up substantially up and down so that the side may approach the upper edge 20a side. After folding, a wrapping material (not shown) that can be broken is wound around the airbag 20. Thereafter, each attachment portion 39 is pulled out to attach the predetermined attachment bracket 13, and the inflator 8 with the attachment bracket 9 already attached is inserted into the connection port portion 37, and the connection port portion 37 and the inflator 8 are inserted by the clamp 11. To form an airbag assembly. And if each mounting bracket 9 * 13 is arrange | positioned in the predetermined position of the inner panel 2, and bolts 10 * 14 are stopped, an airbag assembly | attachment body can be mounted in the vehicle V. FIG.
[0035]
Thereafter, lead wires (not shown) extending from a predetermined control device for inflator operation are connected to the inflator 8, and the front pillar garnish 3 and the roof head lining 4 are attached to the body 1, and further, the center pillar garnish 5 and the rear pillar are attached. If the garnish 6 is attached to the body 1, the head protection airbag device HP can be mounted on the vehicle V.
[0036]
If the inflator 8 is actuated after the airbag device HP is mounted on the vehicle V, the inflation gas G is discharged from the inflator 8, passes through the connection port 37, and further expands to the front seat inflating part 21. The airbag 20 breaks the wrapping material (not shown) and further opens the airbag cover 16 formed on the lower edge side of the front pillar garnish 3 and the roof head lining 4. As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the vehicle expands greatly so as to cover the insides of the windows W1 and W2 and the center pillar portion CP and the rear pillar portion RP.
[0037]
At this time, in the inflating portion 21 for the front seat of the airbag 20 of the embodiment, the film lengths LI in the vertical direction of the vehicle inner wall portion 22 and the vehicle inner wall portion 23 from the lower edge 20b of the airbag 20 to the tether 25 are respectively Regarding the LO, since the film length LIB / LOB on the rear part 21b side is made longer than the film length LIF / LOF on the front part 21a side, when the expansion is completed, the area of the straight line LT from the front side lower part 27 to the rear side upper part 28 It becomes thicker gradually. Further, the tether 25 is configured such that the rear portion 21b side is wider than the front portion 21a side with respect to the separation distance between the connecting portions 25c and 25d between the vehicle inner wall portion 22 and the vehicle outer wall portion 23 when the front seat expansion portion 21 is completely expanded. Further, the width dimension FW / BW between the vehicle inner end portion 25c and the vehicle outer end portion 25d is configured to be tapered.
[0038]
Therefore, in the front seat inflating portion 21, the region of the rear side upper portion 28 expands most thickly in the lower region of the tether 25 disposed substantially along the front-rear direction when the expansion is completed. If the occupant MB seated in the front seat FS is a large person, the large occupant MB usually slides the front seat FS to the vehicle rear side to complete the expansion of the front seat inflating portion 21. In many cases, the seat FS is disposed on the rear portion 21b side, and the head H of the large occupant MB is located on the rear side upper portion 28 of the front seat inflating portion 21 that has been inflated, and The kinetic energy to the outside of the vehicle at the time of a side collision of the vehicle V is also large. And in the front seat inflatable part 21 of the head protection airbag 20 of the embodiment, the rear side upper part 28 inflates the thickest when the inflation is completed, so that the head H of the large occupant MB is appropriately protected. can do.
[0039]
On the other hand, if the occupant MS seated in the front seat FS is a small person, the small occupant MS usually slides the front seat FS forward of the vehicle to complete the expansion of the front seat inflating portion 21. In many cases, the seat FS is disposed on the front portion 21a side. In this case, the head H of the small occupant MS is located in the region of the front side lower portion 27 of the front seat inflating portion 21 that has been inflated. Moreover, the kinetic energy to the outside of the vehicle at the time of a side collision of the vehicle V is also smaller than that of the large person MB. In the front seat inflating portion 21 of the head protection airbag 20 according to the embodiment, when the inflation is completed, the area of the front side lower portion 27 is thinner than the rear side upper portion 28 but is inflated with a predetermined thickness B1. Therefore, the head H of the small occupant MS can be appropriately protected.
[0040]
As described above, in the head protection airbag 20 according to the embodiment, the inflating completion shape of the inflating portion 21 for the front seat is set corresponding to the occupant MB · MS seated in the front seat FS, and when the inflating is completed. The occupant MB / MS seated in the front seat FS can be appropriately protected.
[0041]
Of course, if the occupant M seated in the front seat FS is a person with an average physique, the occupant M is located at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the front seat inflating portion 21 that has been inflated, The height of the head is approximately halfway between the large occupant MB and the small occupant MS, and the kinetic energy of the head is approximately halfway between the large occupant MB and the small occupant MS, but the expansion In the front seat inflating portion 21 that has been completed, the area of the straight line LT extending from the front side lower portion 27 to the rear side upper portion 28 is successively increased in thickness, and its average physique is increased. The head of the occupant M can be protected accurately.
[0042]
Further, in the head protection airbag 20 of the embodiment, since the entire area of the front seat inflating portion 21 is not inflated thickly, the volume of the portion into which the gas G is introduced is not unnecessarily increased, and the expansion starts. It can be prevented that the time until the expansion is completed becomes long. Further, of course, the head protection airbag 20 of the embodiment is configured to include the tether 25 connected to the vehicle inner wall portion 22 and the vehicle outer wall portion 23, and in the area of the front seat inflating portion 21, the cushion is provided. Therefore, there is no portion where the vehicle interior side wall portion 22 and the vehicle exterior wall portion 23 can be directly connected, and the occupant MB / MS of the front seat FS can be protected with good cushioning properties.
[0043]
In the embodiment, the passenger MB / MS of the front seat FS can be appropriately adjusted only by adjusting the width dimensions FW / BW of the connecting portions 25c / 25d of the tether 25 itself with the vehicle interior / vehicle exterior walls 22/23. The air bag 20 that can be protected easily can be manufactured easily.
[0044]
In the embodiment, one tether 25 is disposed in the front seat inflating portion 21. However, a plurality of tethers are disposed in the front-rear direction, and these tethers are formed on the vehicle inner wall portion 22 and the vehicle outer wall portion. You may set the width dimension of connection parts with 23 so that it may become wide gradually toward back.
[0045]
Further, in the case of the embodiment, the front seat inflating part 21 at the time of completion of the expansion is sequentially thickened in an area extending from the part 27 on the lower part 21d side on the front part 21a side to the part 28 on the upper part 21 side on the rear part 21b side. Therefore, first, the front end 25a of the tether 25 is disposed at a substantially intermediate portion in the vertical direction on the front portion 21a side of the front seat inflating portion 21, and the front end 25a is raised rearward. The film lengths LI in the vertical direction of the vehicle interior side wall portion 22 and the vehicle interior side wall portion 23 from the lower edge 20b of the airbag 20 to the tether 25 are arranged on the upper portion 21c side on the rear portion 21b side of the seat inflating portion 21. -Regarding LO, the rear part 21b side was set longer than the front part 21a. In addition, the width dimension of the tether 25 is configured to increase the dimension between the vehicle inner end 25c and the vehicle outer end 25d so that the rear 21b side is wider than the front 21a side. However, the airbag may be configured with only one of the configurations.
[0046]
Furthermore, in the embodiment, the case where the thickness is sequentially and continuously increased with respect to the area where the straight line LT connecting the portions 27 and 28 where the tether 25 itself is not arranged is shown. In this case, the thickness may be increased in order from the lower part on the front side, at least in a diagonally upward direction toward the rear, crossing the part where the tether is disposed. In this case, in the inflatable portion for the front seat at the completion of the expansion, strictly speaking, it is inevitable that the location of the tether is partially smaller than the surrounding area. However, if it is configured so that the thickness is gradually increased from the lower part on the front side to the diagonally upward direction toward the rear at a part where the tether in the vicinity thereof is not disposed, the occupant's head Since the portion itself can be protected, the operation and effect of the present invention can be achieved, and such a configuration is also within the scope of the claims of the present invention.
[0047]
Furthermore, you may comprise like the head protection airbag 20A shown to FIGS. The airbag 20 </ b> A includes two tethers 55 and 56 arranged in two upper and lower stages in the front seat inflating portion 21. These tethers 55 and 56 are arranged so as to extend substantially in the front-rear direction and to rise rearward. And each tether 55 * 56 is arrange | positioned so that the mutual space | interval of an up-down direction may be extended toward a back side. The lower tether 56 is arranged such that the rear end 56b side is positioned higher than the front end 56a side so that the space between the lower edge 20b of the airbag 20A that is flatly deployed is also widened toward the rear side. .
[0048]
The other configuration of the airbag 20A is the same as that of the airbag 20, and the same parts as those of the airbag 20 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Further, the airbag 20 </ b> A is mounted on the vehicle V by being assembled with the inflator 8 in the same manner as the airbag 20.
[0049]
Even in the airbag 20A, if the inflation gas G is introduced to complete the inflation, the membrane lengths LIUF and LIUB in the vertical direction between the vehicle inner wall portion 22 and the vehicle outer wall portion 23 between the tethers 55 and 56 will be described. LOUF / LOUB or the film lengths LIDF / LIDB / LODF / LODB in the vertical direction between the vehicle inner side wall portion 22 and the vehicle outer side wall portion 23 between the tether 56 and the lower edge 20b, and the front portion of the front seat inflating portion 21 It can be short on the 21a side and long on the rear 21b side of the front seat inflatable portion 21. Therefore, with this configuration, in the lower region near the tether 55 of the front seat inflating portion 21 when the inflating is completed, the portion 28 on the upper portion 21c side on the rear portion 21b side is thickened, and the lower portion 21d side on the front portion 21a side Can be made thinner than the rear upper portion 28 (B3 <B4), and the area of the straight line LT is gradually increased toward the rear, so that the occupant MB / MS of the front seat FS can be reduced. Can be properly protected.
[0050]
Even in this case, it is possible to easily manufacture the airbag 20A that can appropriately protect the occupant MB • MS of the front seat FS by simply setting the arrangement positions of the plurality of tethers 55, 56 to predetermined positions. it can.
[0051]
In the airbags 20 and 20A of the embodiment, the case where the main body cloth 41, the front cloth 42, and the tether cloths 43, 44, 55, and 56 are joined by sewing is shown. The airbag may be manufactured by using it.
[0052]
Further, in the airbags 20 and 20A of the embodiment, the case where the airbag 20 / 20A is mounted on a vehicle for a two-row seat including the front seat inflating portion 21 and the rear seat inflating portion 31 has been shown. Airbags corresponding to other vehicles, airbags protecting only occupants in the front row of two-row seats, or airbags having inflatable portions capable of protecting each occupant seated in a plurality of rows of seats such as three-row seats In addition, the present invention can be applied.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a head protection airbag device using an airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the inside of a vehicle.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the airbag according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the airbag according to the embodiment when the airbag is inflated, and corresponds to a III-III portion in FIG.
4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the airbag according to the embodiment when the airbag is inflated, and corresponds to the IV-IV portion in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an exploded plan view of a cloth material constituting the airbag of the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing when the airbag of the embodiment is manufactured.
FIG. 7 is a front view of an airbag according to another embodiment.
8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the airbag shown in FIG. 7 when inflated, and corresponds to the VIII-VIII portion of FIG.
9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag shown in FIG. 7 when inflated, corresponding to the IX-IX portion of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
20.20A ... Airbag,
21 ... Front seat inflatable part,
21a ... front part,
21b ... rear part,
21c ... upper part,
21d ... the lower part,
22 ... Inner side wall,
23 ... the outer wall of the vehicle,
25, 55, 56 ... tether,
25a ... front end,
25b ... rear end,
25c ... (inner side) end,
25d ... (outside) end,
27 ... Lower front side,
28 ... the rear side upper part,
V ... Vehicle,
FS ... Front seat,
W1 ... window,
I ... Inside the car,
O ... the outside of the car,
M ... Crew,
MB ... (large) crew,
MS ... (small) crew,
H ... head,
HP: Head protection airbag device.

Claims

A front seat inflatable portion capable of covering a window on the side of the front seat of the vehicle at the time of completion of inflating with an inflating gas, and a wall portion between the vehicle inner side and the vehicle outer side of the front seat inflatable portion; possible regulating the separation distance, a head protection air bag configured with a tether that is disposed along a substantially longitudinal direction while being connected to said said inner wall outer wall,
With respect to the film length in the vertical direction of the vehicle inner side wall part and the vehicle outer side wall part from the lower edge side of the airbag to the tether, the film on the rear side from the film length on the front side of the front seat inflating part In order to increase the length, the tether is disposed so that the rear end is rearwardly raised,
The head protection airbag according to claim 1, wherein the tether is disposed so as to widen a separation distance between connecting portions of the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion toward the rear side .

A front seat inflatable portion capable of covering a window on the side of the front seat of the vehicle at the time of completion of inflating with an inflating gas, and a wall portion between the vehicle inner side and the vehicle outer side of the front seat inflatable portion; A head protection airbag configured to include a tether that is connected to the vehicle inner wall portion and the vehicle outer wall portion and arranged along a substantially front-rear direction so that a separation distance can be regulated,
The tether is disposed in the front seat inflating portion is a plurality of stages arranged vertically,
Each of the tethers expands the vertical distance toward the rear side, and the vertical film length between the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion of the vehicle between the tethers is set to the rear side from the front side. the long to so that, disposed to Rutotomoni,
With respect to the vertical film lengths of the vehicle inner side wall and the vehicle outer side wall from the lower edge side of the airbag to the lower tether, the rear side of the film length on the front side of the front seat inflating part as long film length, the lower the tether, the head protection air bag, characterized in that it is arranged to the rear up to rear end.