JP4909556B2 - Airbag - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag that is folded so that an occupant restraint surface is deployed substantially uniformly with respect to the occupant.

  An airbag that protects an occupant from impact when a car collides is formed by sewing a plurality of base fabric panels made of woven fabric such as nylon (trade name) into a bag shape in a folded state. Along with the inflator, for example, it is installed inside the instrument panel, at the center of the steering wheel, and the like.

  When the impact sensor detects an impact when the automobile collides, high-pressure gas is ejected from the inflator into the airbag, so that the airbag is instantly inflated and deployed toward the occupant side, and the occupant restraint surface facing the occupant By restraining the occupant, the occupant is protected from an impact at the time of collision.

  In the airbag having the above configuration, when the airbag is deployed toward the occupant, the upper part of the occupant restraint surface that restrains the occupant's head and the lower part of the occupant restraint surface that restrains the abdomen from the chest of the occupant are Ideally, it should be deployed uniformly.

  For this reason, conventionally, in order to approach the ideal deployment as much as possible, the shape of the airbag is devised, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of inflators are used, and the ignition timing of each inflator is shifted. In addition, measures such as providing a tether belt that regulates the deployment direction in the airbag, such as that described in Patent Document 2, are taken.

  However, each method has a problem that the number of parts is increased and it takes time to sew the airbag, which increases the cost of the airbag.

  On the other hand, for example, Patent Literature 3 discloses an airbag device that can be quickly deployed by devising how to fold an airbag.

The “passenger seat airbag device” described in Patent Document 3 is folded so that the ceiling wall portion facing the gas inlet approaches the gas inlet, and both front and rear edges are brought close to the center. The airbag is folded and folded in such a way that it is folded horizontally and the left and right edges are moved closer to the center, and it is housed and fixed in the case, reducing the impact and rubbing against the windshield (windshield) And has the effect of being able to be deployed quickly.
JP-A-9-263206 JP 2004-262427 A JP 2000-190798 A

The airbag apparatus described in Patent Document 3, an air bag folded in the upper side of the gas inlet, since the occupant restraint surface abutting the occupant is folded such that the upper side, in the airbags When high-pressure gas is introduced from the inflator, the upper and lower portions of the passenger restraint surface can be deployed to the passenger side almost simultaneously.

  However, since the instrument panel on which the airbag device is installed is inclined so that the occupant side is lowered, the upper and lower portions of the occupant restraint surface are almost simultaneously as in the airbag device described in Patent Document 3. If deployed, the occupant restraint surface is deployed in an inclined state with respect to the occupant, so an ideal deployment state cannot be obtained and the upper part of the occupant restraint surface is deployed later than the lower part. There is a case.

  The present invention has been made to remedy such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag structure that is folded so that an occupant restraint surface is deployed almost uniformly on the occupant.

An air bag according to the present invention constitutes an airbag body and a back surface having a position and a gas inlet at the front and the opposite side as the occupant restraint surface to face when the occupant inflated and deployed, the activated inflator the gas is an air bag without such inflated and deployed the airbag body is introduced therein from the gas inlet, a developed shape obtained by developing the air bag body in a flat shape, the gas inlet The lower side formed by the airbag body formed by winding the occupant side end portion, which is the occupant side from the gas introduction port, to the lower side, which is the opposite side to the occupant at the time of inflation and deployment , in the state of being on the lower side A left and right side folded portion formed by winding the left and right side portions of the vehicle body so as to overlap each other on the occupant side of the gas introduction port with respect to the lower folded portion with respect to the lower folded portion; ~ side An upper fold portion formed by folding an end portion on the windshield side opposite to the rim portion so as to overlap with an upper portion on the occupant side at the time of expansion and deployment of the gas introduction port. The upper folding portion is disposed on the upper stage on the occupant side during the expansion and deployment , and the lower folding section is disposed on the lower stage opposite to the occupant side during the expansion and deployment , and the upper folding portion and the by arranging the left and right side folded portions so as to be positioned between the lower folded portion, wherein the time of inflation and development of the air bag body, together with deployment of the right and left side folded portions are restrained by the upper folded portion, The deployment of the lower folding part is constrained by the left and right side folding parts , and the occupant restraining surface is deployed substantially vertically when the airbag body is inflated and deployed. Features and Is shall.

  With the above configuration, since the left and right folds are positioned between the upper fold and the lower fold, the lower fold having the gas inlet is folded into the left and right when the airbag body is inflated and deployed. Will be restrained by the upper part and the upper folding part, the deployment of the airbag main body, first, the upper folding part is deployed, and then the left and right folding parts that are restrained by the upper folding part are deployed, and then Even if the airbag module is attached to the instrument panel that inclines so that the lower folding part is lowered toward the occupant side, the occupant restraint surface of the airbag body that has been deployed is almost vertical. In other words, it becomes almost uniform to the occupant and restrains the occupant's head and chest almost simultaneously, and only the lower part of the occupant restraint surface of the airbag body is unfolded in advance. No longer be said to restrain the, will be improved restraint performance.

  In addition, since the lower folding part of the airbag body is deployed last, the lower part of the airbag body can easily enter the narrow space between the instrument panel and the abdomen of the occupant, thus reliably protecting the occupant's abdomen. be able to.

  The airbag of the present invention is formed by winding the lower folded portion into a roll shape.

  With the above-described configuration, the airbag body can be folded efficiently in a short time, and the airbag can be deployed smoothly.

  The airbag of the present invention is further formed by winding the lower folded portion into a roll shape.

  With the above configuration, the airbag body can be folded over more efficiently in a shorter time, and the airbag can be deployed smoothly.

  According to the airbag of the present invention, since the left and right folds are located between the upper and lower folds, the lower fold having the gas introduction port is folded left and right when the airbag body is inflated and deployed. Will be restrained by the upper part and the upper folding part, the deployment of the airbag main body, first, the upper folding part is deployed, and then the left and right folding parts that are restrained by the upper folding part are deployed, and then Even if the airbag module is attached to the instrument panel that inclines so that the lower folding part is lowered toward the occupant side, the occupant restraint surface of the airbag body that has been deployed is almost vertical. In other words, it becomes almost uniform for the occupant, and at the same time, restrains the head and chest of the occupant, and only the lower part of the occupant restraint surface of the airbag body is deployed in advance Part prevents that restrains the results in the improved restraint performance.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a perspective view of the airbag in an inflated and deployed state, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folded state, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a plan view in a state where the airbag is flatly developed, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing a procedure for folding the airbag, FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag module attached to the instrument panel, and FIGS.

  The airbag main body 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed by sewing around the two base fabric panels 1a and 1b formed by cutting a woven fabric made of nylon (trade name) of 315 denier, for example. It is formed in a bag shape.

  For example, two vent holes 2 for discharging a part of the high-pressure gas ejected into the airbag body 1 are formed in the base fabric panel 1a that is on the upper side when deployed, and the periphery of the vent hole 2 is a reinforcing cloth. 3 is reinforced by sewing.

  A gas introduction port 4 is opened in the lower base fabric panel 1b at the time of deployment, and high-pressure gas ejected from the inflator 5 when the automobile collides into the airbag body 1 from the gas introduction port 4. The gas inlet 4 is formed in substantially the same shape as the gas outlet 5a of the inflator 5 so as to correspond to, for example, a high output dual type inflator.

  Around the gas inlet 4, a plurality of reinforcing panels 6 are provided so as to sandwich the base fabric panel 1 b so as to withstand the high temperature and high pressure gas ejected from the inflator 5. By sewing around the gas inlet 4, the reinforcing panels 6 are sewn to the base fabric panel 1 b.

  The airbag body 1 is housed in the case 7 in a folded state as shown in FIG. 3, and the gas inlet 4 of the airbag body 1 is connected to the bottom of the case 7 via a retainer 8. The inflator 5 is attached in a horizontal state.

  In folding the airbag body 1 into the state shown in FIG. 3, the airbag body 1 is first deployed on a work table (not shown) as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (the inflator 5 is not attached at this time). However, the attachment position of the inflator 5 is indicated by a virtual line), and the retainer 8 is set in the airbag body 1 from the gas inlet 4.

  Next, when the airbag body 1 is inflated and deployed, the occupant restraint surface 1c that comes into contact with the occupant is on the outer side, and the occupant side end portion is wound downward as shown in FIG. Form.

  When the lower folded portion 1d reaches the vicinity of the gas inlet 4 as shown in FIG. 9, the left and right side portions are wound to form the left and right side folded portions 1e and 1f. The left and right side folded portions 1e and 1f are formed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, first, the left side (which may be the right side), which is one side, is folded so as to overlap the gas inlet 4 and then rolled up to the position shown in FIG. 1e is formed.

  Next, the right end is folded so as to overlap the gas inlet 4 as shown in FIG. 12, and then wound from the end in the same manner as the left folded portion 1e to form the right folded portion 1f as shown in FIG. To do. Note that the left and right folded portions 1e and 1f are not limited to winding in different directions as shown in the drawing, and may be wound in the same direction or may be folded in a zigzag shape.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14, when the end portion opposite to the lower folding portion 1d, that is, the windshield 9 side is folded so as to overlap the gas inlet 4, the end portion is wound as shown in FIG. 16, the upper folded portion 1g is formed. As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag body 1 folded as described above has the upper folded portion 1g in the upper stage and the lower folded portion. The part 1d is located at the lower stage, and the left and right folded parts 1e and 1f are located between the parts 1d.

Therefore, the folded airbag body 1 is formed by folding the front side, which is the occupant restraint surface 1c side, upward from the flattened deployed shape with the gas inlet 4 facing downward. The folding part g, the lower folding part 1d formed by folding the back side opposite to the front side downward, and the left and right folding parts located between the upper folding part 1g and the lower folding part 1d It has the parts 1e and 1f and is folded.

  The airbag body 1 that has been folded is wrapped with a covering film (not shown) or the like so that the folded shape is not collapsed, and then a gas inlet is provided to the gas outlet 5 a of the inflator 5 provided at the bottom of the case 7. 4, the peripheral portion of the gas inlet 4 is airtightly fixed to the inflator 5 by the retainer 8 previously stored in the airbag body 1, and the airbag body 1 is stored in the case 7 to The bag module 10 is configured.

  The airbag module 10 configured as described above is mounted on the vehicle body side so as to intersect a virtual plane X (see FIG. 8) configured from the front end of the occupant's head or abdomen. That is, for example, an instrument panel 12 provided in front of a passenger seat is used by being attached as shown in FIG. 17, but the airbag body 1 is attached to the cover 7 a and the instrument panel 12 that cover the upper surface of the case 7. A tear line (not shown) that is cleaved by the expansion pressure when expanded is provided.

  Next, the operation at the time of inflating and deploying the above-described airbag will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the case 7 of the airbag module 10, the airbag body 1 is accommodated with the upper folded portion 1 g as an upper stage. Is ejected from the gas inlet 4 into the airbag body 1.

  Since the high-pressure gas introduced into the airbag body 1 from the gas inlet 4 pushes up the base fabric panel 1a covering the upper surface of the gas inlet 4, the upper folded portion 1g wound on the base fabric panel 1a Deployment is started toward the windshield 10 as shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, since the left and right folded parts 1e and 1f, which are restrained from being deployed by the upper folded part 1g, are started, first, from the upper part of the airbag body 1 to the vicinity of the center part is deployed toward the occupant as shown in FIG. Is done.

  Next, since the lower folded portion 1d, which has been restrained by the left and right folded portions 1e, 1f, is deployed as shown in FIG. 20, the passenger restraint surface 1c of the airbag body 1 that has been deployed is substantially vertical. That is, the occupant comes into contact with the occupant in a substantially uniform unfolded state.

  Further, since the lower folded portion 1d of the airbag body 1 is deployed last, the lower portion of the airbag body 1 can easily enter the narrow space between the instrument panel 12 and the abdomen of the occupant.

  As a result, the occupant restraint surface 1c is deployed almost vertically to restrain the occupant's head and chest almost simultaneously, and only the lower portion of the airbag body 1 is deployed first to restrain the abdomen. And the restraint performance is improved.

  In the above embodiment, the upper folded portion 1g and the left and right windings 1e, 1f are formed on the upper side of the base fabric panel 1a, and the lower folded portion 1d is formed on the lower side of the base fabric panel 1b. Even with the folding pattern as described above, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  Pattern 1: The upper folded portion 1g is formed on the upper side of the base fabric panel 1a, and the left and right side folded portions 1e and 1f and the lower folded portion 1d are formed on the lower side of the base fabric panel 1b.

  Pattern 2: The upper folded part 1g and the left folded part 1e are formed on the upper side of the base fabric panel 1a, and the right folded part 1f and the lower folded part 1d are formed on the lower side of the base fabric panel 1b.

  Pattern 3: The upper folded portion 1g and the right folded portion 1f are formed on the upper side of the base fabric panel 1g, and the left folded portion 1e and the lower folded portion 1d are formed on the lower side of the base fabric panel 1b.

  By folding the airbag body 1 according to each pattern, the upper fold portion 1g first starts to be expanded by the high pressure gas ejected from the inflator 5 when the automobile collides, and then the left and right fold portions 1e and 1f are Finally, since the lower folding portion is deployed, even if the airbag module 10 is attached to the inside of the instrument panel 12 that is inclined to the occupant side, the occupant abuts the occupant. The airbag body 1 is deployed in an almost ideal state where the restraint surface 1c is substantially vertical, and the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

  Since the airbag according to the present invention has the left and right side folds positioned between the upper and lower side folds, the lower fold having the gas introduction port is provided with the left and right folds when the airbag body is inflated and deployed. The airbag body will be restrained by the upper folding portion, and the airbag body is first deployed, then the left and right folding portions that are restrained by the upper folding portion are deployed, and then the lower side Even if the airbag module is attached to the instrument panel that is inclined so as to be lowered toward the occupant when the folding portion is deployed, the occupant restraint surface of the airbag body that has been deployed is substantially vertical, i.e. It becomes almost uniform to the occupant and restrains the occupant's head and chest almost simultaneously, and only the lower part of the occupant restraint surface of the airbag body is deployed to advance the abdomen. Prevents that bundle, to improve restraining performance is optimal airbag to absorb the shock when the automobile collides.

It is the perspective view which looked at the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention from the passenger | crew restraint surface side. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the folded state of the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the BB line of FIG. It is an expanded view of the state which expand | deployed the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention in planar shape. It is sectional drawing which follows the CC line of FIG. It is action explanatory drawing at the time of forming a lower side folding part in the airbag main body which comprises the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is action explanatory drawing at the time of forming a lower side folding part in the airbag main body which comprises the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is action explanatory drawing at the time of forming a left side folding part in the airbag main body which comprises the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing at the time of forming a left side folding part in the airbag main body which comprises the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of forming a right side folding part in the airbag main body which comprises the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of forming a right side folding part in the airbag main body which comprises the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of forming an upper side folding part in the airbag main body which comprises the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of forming an upper side folding part in the airbag main body which comprises the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the state which formed the upper side folding part in the airbag main body which comprises the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the state which attached the airbag module provided with the airbag which becomes embodiment of this invention to the instrument panel. It is an operation explanatory view at the time of deployment of an air bag which becomes an embodiment of the invention. It is an operation explanatory view at the time of deployment of an air bag which becomes an embodiment of the invention. It is an operation explanatory view at the time of deployment of an air bag which becomes an embodiment of the invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Airbag main body 1a Base fabric panel 1b Base fabric panel 1c Passenger restraint surface 1d Lower side folding part 1e Left side folding part 1f Right side folding part 1g Upper side folding part 4 Gas introduction port 5 Inflator 12 Instrument panel

Claims (3)

The airbag main body is configured to have a front surface that is an occupant restraint surface facing the occupant during inflation and deployment, and a back surface that is located on the opposite side of the occupant restraint surface, and the gas of the activated inflator is the gas introduction port. said airbag body is introduced therein an air bag without as inflated and deployed, the deployment shape obtained by developing the air bag body in a flat shape, in a state in which the gas inlet and downward from, The airbag body is
A lower folding portion formed by winding an occupant side end portion which is the occupant side from the gas introduction port to a lower side which is an opposite side to the occupant during the expansion and deployment;
Left and right side folding parts formed by winding the left and right side parts of the vehicle body so as to overlap the upper side of the gas introduction port on the occupant side of the gas introduction port with respect to the lower folding part,
With the upper fold portion formed by folding and winding the end portion on the windshield side opposite to the lower fold portion so as to overlap the occupant side at the time of expansion and deployment of the gas introduction port,
Configured,
The upper folded portion to the top of the occupant side when the inflated and deployed, and with placing the lower on the side opposite the lower folded portion to the inflation and deployment during occupant side, the lower and the upper folding part by arranging the left and right side folded portions so as to be positioned between the folded portion, the at the time of inflation and deployment of the air bag body, together with deployment of the right and left side folded portions are restrained by the upper folding part, the lower The deployment of the side folds is constrained by the left and right side folds , and the occupant restraint surface is deployed substantially vertically when the airbag body is inflated and deployed. Airbag to do.   The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the lower folded portion is formed by winding in a roll shape.   The airbag according to claim 2, wherein the upper folded portion is formed by winding in a roll shape.

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