JP4051155B2 - Airbag device for automobile - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automotive airbag device, and more particularly to an automotive airbag device mounted on a steering wheel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, an airbag apparatus for an automobile has a structure in which an airbag module is mounted in the approximate center of a steering wheel. Therefore, an annular rim of the steering wheel is located around the airbag module. Airbag module, the inner surface is formed with cleavable cover case, and the airbag folded, has a structure that houses the inflator (as the similar technique, see real-Open 6-51023 JP) .
[0003]
In the event of a collision, the airbag is inflated by gas generated from the inflator, and the inflated airbag pushes the cover and deploys to the outside to receive and protect the occupant.
[0004]
In such an airbag device, in a normal state where the occupant is away from the steering wheel, the airbag is deployed from the inner space of the rim to the occupant side to protect the occupant.
[0005]
In addition, passengers , for example, drivers with short stature, may not be able to reach the pedals such as the accelerator pedal, so the seat may be slid to the foremost position. As a result, if the body is abnormally close to the steering wheel and the inner space of the rim is blocked by the occupant's body, the airbag cannot be deployed from the inner space of the rim and Try to expand from. In such an abnormal approach state, the most preferable deployment direction of the airbag is upward. If deployed upward, the passenger's head can be protected by the airbag.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the abnormal approach state, in order to make the airbag deployment direction upward, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for detecting the abnormal approach state with a sensor and changing the angle of the airbag module upward. A significant design change of the bag device is forced.
[0007]
The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a conventional technique, and is capable of reliably deploying an air bag upward in an abnormal approach state without greatly changing an existing structure. A bag device is provided.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Invention of claim 1 wherein, more air and a case having a passenger side cleavable cover, an inflator which is capable generating a gas to internally inflate the folded airbag and the airbag's formed by accommodating the expansion of the case it forms a bag module, fitted with the air bag module to the steering wheel, a motor vehicle airbag apparatus annular rim is present around the air bag module, the cover has a lateral The first cover portion is divided into an upper first cover portion and a lower second cover portion, with the opening portion of the airbag being inflated and deployed, and the first cover portion is a top surface of the inflator. mainly upper hinge on the side opposite an occupant position than in a state where the inner space of the rim is closed from the occupant side along with a possible open upward, the d With the inflation and deployment of the bag, by the cover which is cleaved without protruding to the outside of the rim, characterized in that Naru can guide the airbag itself upwards.
[0009]
According to the invention of claim 1 wherein, taken in abnormally close state inside space of the rim is closed from the occupant side, a structure capable of guiding the airbag itself upward by the first cover portion of the cover cleaved since there existing structure of the airbag device itself will be unnecessary to change significantly, so that the cost can be significantly reduced. Further, since the upper end hinge of the first cover part is located on the side opposite to the occupant from the top surface of the inflator, the upper end hinge part of the first cover part does not interfere with the airbag that is deployed upward. Securing the expandability to the upper side.
[0010]
The invention according to claim 2 is the automotive airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is composed of an upper surface portion, a passenger-side surface portion, and a lower surface portion, and the cleavage portion is a lower end of the surface portion. to be provided to form a first cover portion with the upper surface portion and the surface portion, it forms a second cover portion at the lower surface portion, said second cover unit is characterized in that it hardly opened downward .
[0011]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the lower second cover portion hardly opens downward, the lower second cover portion serves as a barrier, and the airbag is pushed upward. Since the large first cover portion is formed by the upper surface portion and the surface portion of the cover, opening the large first cover portion to the upper side ensures a wider deployment space on the upper side of the airbag, and the airbag is surely secured. Guided upward.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the invention, the cover includes a top portion, a surface portion of the occupant side and a lower surface, the cleavage in the transverse direction, is provided in the middle position of the surface portion, and the upper surface portion A first cover part is formed by a part of the surface part, a second cover part is formed by a part of the lower surface part and the surface part, and the lower surface part and the surface part of the second cover part when the airbag is inflated and deployed. It is characterized in that a part of the surface part can be opened toward the occupant side centering on a lower end hinge provided between the part and the part .
[0017]
According to invention of Claim 3 , since the 1st cover part is not so large, the 1st cover part opens quickly. Moreover, since only a part of surface part also opens the 2nd cover part, a part of the surface part opens quickly. Therefore, in a normal state where the occupant is not approaching the steering wheel, the airbag can be quickly deployed from the inner space of the rim to the occupant side. In the case of the present invention as well, since the lower surface portion of the second cover portion hardly opens downward, the airbag is deployed upward in an abnormally close state.
[0018]
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the airbag module is located on the side opposite to the occupant from the rim.
[0019]
According to the invention described in claim 4 , since the airbag module is positioned on the side opposite to the occupant from the rim, a large space is ensured in the front-rear direction between the airbag module and the rim, and the airbag in the abnormally approaching state is secured. Make sure the bag is deployed upwards.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are views showing a first embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a steering wheel, which is installed on an instrument panel 2 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) in the front part of the vehicle interior. An annular rim 3 for operating the steering wheel is provided around the steering wheel 1, and an airbag module 4 is provided at the center of the steering wheel 1. In the airbag module 4 and the rim 3, the airbag module 4 is positioned forward (on the opposite side of the occupant M), and a space S (in the front-rear direction) between the airbag module 4 and the rim 3 (see FIG. 2) is secured. In FIG. 2, the rim 3 is shown in a vertical state, but in actuality, it is slightly inclined as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 so that the steering wheel 1 can be easily operated.
[0021]
The airbag module 4 has a structure that houses the airbag 6 and the inflator 7 into the case 5. The case 5 includes a metal base plate 8 and a synthetic resin cover 9 attached to the occupant M side. The cover 9 has an upper surface portion 10, a surface portion 11, and a lower surface portion 12. A cleavage portion 13 having a predetermined width is provided in the lateral direction on the lower end of the surface portion 11, that is, on the inner surface of the boundary portion between the surface portion 11 and the lower surface portion 12. From the both ends of this cleavage part 13, another cleavage part 14 (refer FIG. 1) along the vertical direction is provided toward the upper side. Since the cleavage portion 14 is formed on the inner side, it should be originally shown by a broken line, but is shown by a solid line for easy understanding. And the part surrounded by the hatching of FIG. 1 between the two cleavage parts 14 along the vertical direction above the cleavage part 13 is the first cover part 15, and the lower surface part below the cleavage part 13 12, a width portion corresponding to the first cover portion 15 is a second cover portion 16. Therefore, since the first cover portion 15 is formed from the upper surface portion 10 and the surface portion 11, the size is large, and the second cover portion 16 is formed only from the lower surface portion 12, and thus the size is small.
[0022]
A portion of the first cover portion 15 attached to the base plate 8 is an upper end hinge 17, and the first cover portion 15 is located on the upper side as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. To open. The top surface 7a of the inflator 7 fixed to the base plate 8 protrudes to the inside of the case 5 from the base plate 8, and gas can be ejected from the side of the protruding portion. Accordingly, the upper end hinge 17 of the first cover portion 15 is positioned forward (on the opposite side of the occupant M) by the dimension d from the top surface 7a of the inflator 7. The hinge 17 is integrally formed of the same material as the case 5, but a separate and different material hinge may be integrated with the case 5.
[0023]
Next, the action when the airbag 7 is deployed will be described mainly based on FIGS. 3 and 4. 3 shows a normal state in which the occupant M is away from the steering wheel 1, and FIG. 4 shows a state in which the occupant M has abnormally approached the steering wheel 1.
[0024]
First, the normal state (FIG. 3) will be described. When a sensor (not shown) detects sudden acceleration due to a collision of the automobile, an ignition signal is sent from the sensor to the inflator 7, an ignition device in the inflator 7 is ignited, and gas is discharged from the airbag 6 by a known technique. Erupted inside. Due to the ejected gas, the airbag 6 is expanded in the case 5 and the cover 9 of the case 5 is raised. After the cover 9 is raised to some extent, it is cleaved from the cleaving parts 13 and 14 and divided into a first cover part 15 and a second cover part 16.
[0025]
And since the 1st cover part 15 opens to upper side centering on the upper end hinge 17, the airbag 6 expand | deploys straight toward the passenger | crew M side from the inner space 3a of the rim | limb 3, and receives the passenger | crew M which is falling to the front side Protect. The second cover portion 16, but it does not open on the lower side for vertical cleavage 14 there is no and the hinge in the lower end does not exist on both sides, the lower surface portion second cover portion 16 has straight faces an occupant M side 12 Therefore, the airbag 6 does not interfere with the deployment.
[0026]
Next, the case of the abnormal approach state (FIG. 4) will be described. In this state, since the inner space 3a of the rim 3 is blocked by the body of the occupant M, the airbag 6 cannot be deployed straight from the inner space 3a. Therefore, the airbag 6 is deployed upward through the outside of the rim 3 from the interval S between the airbag module 4 and the upper surface of the rim 3. This is because only the first cover portion 15 is opened and the second cover portion 16 is not opened, and the inner space 3a of the rim 3 is closed, and the airbag 6 that has lost its place of travel has a lower side. The second cover portion 16 serves as a barrier, and is produced by the effect of pushing the airbag 6 upward.
[0027]
When the airbag 6 is deployed upward, the upper end hinge 17 of the first cover portion 15 is positioned on the front side of the top surface 7a of the inflator 7, so that the upper end hinge 17 portion is deployed upward. 6, and the deployability to the upper side of the airbag 6 is ensured. And since the 1st cover part 15 is the big size formed of the upper surface part 10 and the surface part 11, by opening this big 1st cover part 15 to the upper side, the expansion space to the upper side of the airbag 6 is carried out. It is ensured more widely and the airbag 6 is reliably guided upward.
[0028]
The airbag 6 deployed upward receives and protects the head of the occupant M at a position above the rim 3. Since the chest and abdomen of the occupant M are in a state of approaching the rim 3 before the collision, there is little impact on the chest and abdomen.
[0029]
As described above, according to this embodiment, the structure of the cover 9 can guide the airbag 6 upward in an abnormally approaching state, so that the existing structure of the airbag device itself is not significantly changed. That's it.
[0030]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the position of the cleavage portion 18 is set at an intermediate position of the surface portion 11, the first cover portion 19 is formed by the upper surface portion 10 and a part 11 a of the surface portion 11, and the lower surface portion 12 and the surface portion The second cover part 20 was formed with a part 11 b of the part 11. Further, a thin-walled hinge 21 is provided between the lower surface portion 12 of the second cover portion 20 and a part 11 b of the surface portion 11. A longitudinal cleavage portion (not shown) is provided in a portion other than the lower surface portion 12 as in the previous embodiment.
[0031]
According to this embodiment, since the first cover portion 19 is not so large , that is, not as large as the first embodiment , the first cover portion 19 opens quickly. Moreover, since only the part 11b of the surface part 11 also opens from the lower end hinge 21, the part 11b of the surface part 11 also opens quickly. Therefore, in a normal state where the occupant is not approaching the steering wheel 22, the airbag 6 can be quickly deployed from the inner space 3a of the rim 3 to the occupant side. In the case of this embodiment as well, since the lower surface portion 12 of the second cover portion 20 is not opened downward, the airbag 6 is deployed upward in the abnormal approach state.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
According to the invention of claim 1 wherein, taken in abnormally close state inside space of the rim is closed from the occupant side, a structure capable of guiding the airbag itself upward by the first cover portion of the cover cleaved since there existing structure of the airbag device itself will be unnecessary to change significantly, so that the cost can be significantly reduced. Further, since the upper end hinge of the first cover part is located on the side opposite to the occupant from the top surface of the inflator, the upper end hinge part of the first cover part does not interfere with the airbag that is deployed upward. Securing the expandability to the upper side.
[0033]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the lower second cover portion hardly opens downward, the lower second cover portion serves as a barrier, and the airbag is pushed upward. Since the large first cover portion is formed by the upper surface portion and the surface portion of the cover, opening the large first cover portion to the upper side ensures a wider deployment space on the upper side of the airbag, and the airbag is surely secured. Guided upward.
[0036]
According to invention of Claim 3 , since the 1st cover part is not so large, the 1st cover part opens quickly. Moreover, since only a part of surface part also opens the 2nd cover part, a part of the surface part opens quickly. Therefore, in a normal state where the occupant is not approaching the steering wheel, the airbag can be quickly deployed from the inner space of the rim to the occupant side. In the case of the present invention as well, since the lower surface portion of the second cover portion hardly opens downward, the airbag is deployed upward in an abnormally close state.
[0037]
According to the invention described in claim 4 , since the airbag module is positioned on the side opposite to the occupant from the rim, a large space is ensured in the front-rear direction between the airbag module and the rim, and the airbag in the abnormally approaching state is secured. Make sure the bag is deployed upwards.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a steering wheel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an air bag module of Figure 1.
3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the development of the airbag in the normal state of FIG . 1. FIG.
4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the deployment of the airbag in the abnormal approach state of FIG . 1 ;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an airbag module according to a second embodiment of the invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,22 Steering wheel 3 Rim
3a Internal space of rim 4 Airbag module 5 Case 6 Airbag 7 Inflator 7a Top surface 8 Base plate 9 Cover 10 Upper surface portion 11 Surface portion 11a, 11b Part of surface portion 12 Lower surface portion 13, 18 Cleavage portion (lateral direction)
14 Cleavage (longitudinal direction)
15, 19 1st cover part 16, 20 2nd cover part 17 Upper end hinge 21 Lower end hinge M Crew

Claims (4)

Occupant side is formed a case having a cleavable cover the inflator more airbag modules and capable of generating a gas to the folded airbag and the airbag's made by housed inside the inflation and deployment of the case, An automotive airbag device in which the airbag module is mounted on a steering wheel, and an annular rim exists around the airbag module,
The cover is divided into an upper first cover portion and a lower second cover portion, with a cleavage portion in the lateral direction as a boundary,
When the airbag is inflated and deployed, the first cover portion can be opened upward, with the upper end hinge located on the side opposite to the occupant from the top surface of the inflator, and the inner space of the rim from the occupant side. In the closed state, as the airbag is inflated and deployed, the airbag itself can be guided upward by the cover that has been opened without protruding outside the rim. apparatus. The automobile airbag device according to claim 1,
The cover includes an upper surface portion, an occupant-side surface portion, and a lower surface portion, a cleaving portion is provided at a lower end of the surface portion, and a first cover portion is formed by the upper surface portion and the surface portion. it forms a second cover portion, said second cover portion, the airbag device for a motor vehicle, characterized in that hardly opened downward. The automobile airbag device according to claim 1 ,
It said cover consists of a top portion, a surface portion of the occupant side, a lower surface portion, the cleavage in the transverse direction, is provided in the middle position of the surface portion, the first part of the upper surface portion and the surface portion A cover part is formed, and a second cover part is formed by a part of the lower surface part and the surface part, and provided between the lower surface part of the second cover part and a part of the surface part when the airbag is inflated and deployed. An automotive airbag device characterized in that a part of the surface portion can be opened toward the occupant side with the lower end hinge at the center . The automotive airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The automobile airbag system the airbag module, characterized in that located on the counter-occupant side of the rim.

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