JP5031349B2 - Airbag device for passenger seat - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an airbag device for a passenger seat for protecting a vehicle occupant.

  Various airbag devices have been proposed as devices for protecting an occupant in an emergency such as a vehicle collision. Such an airbag apparatus has a structure in which an airbag is inflated to protect an occupant by filling the airbag with gas when the vehicle collides.

  By the way, in the airbag device for the passenger seat, since a relatively large space is formed between the dashboard and the occupant, it is necessary to use an airbag having a relatively large capacity.

  As an airbag device suitable for such a passenger seat, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an airbag that is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape by superimposing two long base fabrics and sewing the edges on both sides. Such an air bag is usually attached to the upper surface of the dashboard.

JP-A-9-109814

  However, the airbag apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the entire airbag is suddenly and rapidly deployed above the dashboard due to gas supply from the inflator.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable the airbag to be inflated and deployed to a size and shape sufficient to absorb an impact while suppressing the airbag from rapidly and rapidly expanding in a predetermined direction.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the passenger-seat airbag apparatus is a passenger-seat airbag apparatus incorporated in a dashboard of a vehicle, the airbag main body being inflatable and deployable above the dashboard, and the airbag An inflator that supplies gas into the body, and the airbag main body includes a first air chamber forming portion that forms a first air chamber to which gas from the inflator is directly supplied, and an inflator from the inflator A second air chamber forming portion that forms a second air chamber to which gas is supplied via the first air chamber; a narrow portion that restricts a gas flow path from the first air chamber to the second air chamber; Both end portions are connected to the first air chamber forming portion and the second air chamber forming portion, and the first air chamber forming portion and the second air chamber are in an inflated and deployed form of the airbag body. and a forming portion by bending at the narrow portion, the dash A pair of holding members to maintain upward inflated expanded first air chamber forming part of the second air chamber forming portion forms folded in contact with the occupant side of the board is provided, said pair of holding members Each of the both end portions excludes an end portion of the first air chamber forming portion and an end portion of the second air chamber forming portion, and a side portion of the first air chamber forming portion and a side of the second air chamber forming portion. It is connected to the part.

  In this case, in the inflated and deployed form of the airbag body, the narrow portion may be provided at a position that is substantially horizontal or downward from the substantially horizontal direction with respect to the first air chamber forming portion.

  Moreover, the said airbag main body may be formed by joining the peripheral part of two base fabrics.

  Further, the airbag body is formed by joining the peripheral portions of two base fabrics, and each of the portion forming the first air chamber forming portion and the portion forming the second air chamber forming portion. A band-shaped member is formed, and the holding member may be formed by connecting leading ends of the band-shaped members.

  According to this airbag apparatus, the airbag main body includes a first air chamber forming portion that forms a first air chamber to which gas from the inflator is directly supplied, and gas from the inflator is the first air chamber. Because it has a second air chamber forming portion that forms a second air chamber supplied through the chamber, and a narrow portion that narrows the gas flow path from the first air chamber to the second air chamber, When gas is supplied from the inflator, the first air chamber forming portion expands and expands to some extent, and then the second air chamber forming portion expands and expands. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the airbag from being inflated and deployed suddenly in a predetermined direction.

  Further, both end portions are connected to the first air chamber forming portion and the second air chamber forming portion, and the first air chamber forming portion and the second air chamber forming portion are in an inflated and deployed form of the airbag body. If the holding member is bent and folded at the narrow portion, the airbag body expands to a size and shape sufficient to absorb the impact while reducing the actual capacity of the airbag body. Can be deployed.

  In the inflated and deployed form of the airbag main body, the narrowed portion is inflated and expanded upward when provided at a position substantially downward from the horizontal direction or from the horizontal direction with respect to the first air chamber forming portion. It is possible to quickly deploy to the occupant side, for example, from the substantially horizontal direction or from the substantially horizontal direction downward.

  Moreover, when the airbag main body is formed by joining the peripheral portions of two base fabrics, the airbag main body can be easily manufactured, and automation of the airbag main body is also facilitated.

  The airbag main body is formed by joining the peripheral portions of two base fabrics, and each of the portion forming the first air chamber forming portion and the portion forming the second air chamber forming portion. When the belt-shaped member is formed and the tip portions of the belt-shaped member are connected to each other, the protrusion amount of the belt-shaped member from the base fabric can be reduced when the holding member is formed. The shape including the base fabric and the belt-like member can be effectively molded without waste.

  Further, when both end portions of the holding member are connected to the side portion of the first air chamber forming portion and the side portion of the second air chamber forming portion, the first air chamber forming portion and the second air chamber The formation portion can be reliably maintained by a predetermined form that is bent and folded at the narrow portion.

  Hereinafter, the airbag apparatus according to the embodiment will be described.

  1 is a side view showing the airbag device, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the airbag device, FIG. 3 is a front view showing the airbag device, and FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the airbag device. is there.

  The airbag device 10 is a device that is incorporated in a dashboard 50 in front of a passenger seat of a vehicle, deploys in front of the passenger in the passenger seat at the time of a vehicle collision, etc., receives the passenger in the passenger seat, and absorbs the impact. . Of course, this airbag apparatus is applicable also to other locations, such as a backseat.

  The airbag device 10 includes an airbag body 20 and an inflator 12.

  The inflator 12 is configured to be able to supply gas into the airbag body 20 at the time of a vehicle collision or the like. More specifically, the inflator 12 has an ignition device, a gas generating agent, etc., receives an ignition command signal from an impact detection unit of a vehicle, etc., and ignites the ignition device, and gas is generated by this ignition. It is configured to burn the agent and supply the generated gas into the airbag body 20. The inflator 12 is attached to an outer portion of a gas supply hole 22h, which will be described later, in the airbag main body 20 using a screw or the like in such a manner that gas can be supplied into the airbag main body 20 through the gas supply hole 22h.

  The airbag body 20 is configured to be inflatable and deployable in a form in which a bag inflated in a bowl shape as a whole is folded in two, and more specifically, the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second It has an air chamber forming part 24 and a narrow part 26 interposed therebetween.

  The first air chamber forming portion 22 is formed in a bag shape that can be inflated and deployed so as to form the first air chamber 22R. In addition, the gas from the inflator 12 is supplied to one side of the first air chamber forming portion 22, more specifically, to a portion located in the lower portion in a state where the airbag device 10 is incorporated in the dashboard 50. A gas supply hole 22h is formed. Thereby, the gas from the inflator 12 is directly supplied to the first air chamber 22 </ b> R in the first air chamber forming portion 22. The first air chamber 22R is preferably spherical.

  The second air chamber forming portion 24 is formed in a bag shape that forms the second air chamber 24R, here, in a slightly elongated and flat bag shape. The gas from the inflator 12 is supplied to the second air chamber 24R through the first air chamber 22R, more specifically, from the first air chamber 22R through the narrow portion 26. It has become.

  Further, the narrow portion 26 is provided between the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24, and a gas flow between the first air chamber 22R and the second air chamber 24R. A path 26R is formed (see FIG. 7). The flow passage cross-sectional area of the gas flow passage 26R is smaller than the opening cross-sectional area of the portion adjacent to the gas flow passage 26R in the first air chamber 22R and the second air chamber 24R, and the first air chamber 22R. To the second air chamber 24R. In other words, the bag body 20 has a bag shape squeezed by the narrow portion 26 when viewed as a whole.

  The narrowed portion 26 is an inflated and deployed form of the airbag body 20 and is provided at a position that is substantially horizontal or downward from the substantially horizontal direction with respect to the first air chamber forming portion 22 (see FIG. 1). In particular, in a state in which the airbag device 10 is incorporated in the dashboard 50, the narrow portion 26 is positioned downward from the first air chamber forming portion 22 in the substantially horizontal direction or the substantially horizontal direction. The two air chamber forming part 24 is inflated and deployed toward the occupant P side (see FIG. 11).

  Further, the airbag body 20 has a holding member 28. Here, a pair of holding members 28 are provided on both sides of the airbag body 20. Each holding member 28 is a long belt-like member, and one end portion thereof is connected to the side portion of the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the other end portion thereof is connected to the side portion of the second air chamber forming portion 24. ing. The length dimension of each holding member 28 is the inflated and deployed form of the airbag body 20, and the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24 are bent and folded at the narrow portion 26. In this embodiment, the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24 are formed so as to be bent and folded so as to be in contact with each other. It should be noted that by adjusting the length dimension of the holding member 28, it is possible to finely adjust the extent to which the airbag body 20 is inflated toward the occupant, the internal pressure thereof, and the like. Each holding member 28 is connected to the side portion of the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the side portion of the second air chamber forming portion 24, so that the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24 can be further connected. It is possible to reliably maintain the bent and folded shape at the narrow portion 26.

  The airbag main body 20 as described above is formed, for example, by appropriately sewing a plurality of cloths. 5 and 6 are views showing examples of the base fabric for forming the airbag main body as described above.

  The base fabric 32 shown in FIG. 5 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in one direction. Further, the base fabric 34 shown in FIG. 6 is formed in a long shape with both ends wide and the middle in the longitudinal direction being narrow, and a gas is provided at a substantially central portion of one end (the left end in FIG. 6). A supply hole 22h is formed.

  In addition, strip members 29 are integrally formed on both side portions of both ends of the base fabric 32. The belt-shaped member 29 is cut together with the parts constituting the base fabric 32. These band-shaped members 29 are configured as holding members 28 by connecting the tip portions of corresponding ones as described later. Thereby, the shape including the base cloth 32 and the belt-like member 29 can be effectively modeled without waste from the original cloth by reducing the projecting dimension of the formation part of the belt-like member 29 from the base cloth 32. Moreover, since the connection part of the edge part of the holding member 28 and the airbag main body 20 can be set as the structure integrated by one sheet cloth instead of the sewing structure after, the said connection structure is solid. There is an advantage that can be made.

  Then, in a state in which the belt-like member 29 is folded inward, the peripheral portions of both base fabrics 32 and 34 are joined together by sewing or the like, and thereafter the front and back are reversed using the gas supply holes 22h and the like. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, a bag-like airbag body 20 that is inflatable like a bag is formed.

  In the airbag body 20, the first air chamber forming portion 22 is formed at a portion where the peripheral portions of one end portions (the left end portions in FIGS. 5 and 6) of the base fabrics 32 and 34 are joined together. Moreover, the 2nd air chamber formation part 24 is formed in the part which joined the peripheral parts of the other end part (right end part of FIG.5 and FIG.6) of the base fabrics 32 and 34. FIG. Moreover, the narrow part 26 is formed in the part which joined the peripheral parts of the longitudinal direction intermediate part of the base fabrics 32 and 34. FIG.

  In this state, each belt-like member 29 extends outward from both side portions of each of the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24, so that the corresponding belt-like members 29 are stitched together. The holding member 28 is configured by being connected to each other. Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the airbag main body 20 is controlled so as to be inflated and deployed in the shape of a folded bag.

  The airbag device 10 is incorporated into the dashboard 50 in a manner as shown in FIG. 8, for example.

  That is, the airbag case 52 is fixed inside the upper surface of the dashboard 50 in front of the passenger seat. The inflator 12 is fixed to the airbag case 52, and the airbag main body 20 is accommodated in the airbag case 52 by being folded or the like while being attached to the inflator 12.

  Note that the peripheral portion of the upper portion of the dashboard 50 and the upper portion of the airbag case 52 is formed in a thin crack line. When the airbag body 20 is inflated and deployed, the dashboard 50 is affected by the impact of the inflation and deployment. The airbag body 20 can be inflated and deployed above the dashboard 50 so that the upper surface is split open at the crack line. Further, above the dashboard 50, a front window W is disposed in a forward and downward inclined posture.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the inflator 12 generates gas at the time of a vehicle collision or the like, first, the gas is directly supplied into the first air chamber 22 </ b> R in the first air chamber forming portion 22. The Here, since the narrowed portion 26 exists between the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24, the second air chamber forming is performed in the initial stage or middle stage of the first air chamber forming portion 22. Gas supply to the unit 24 is suppressed.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the first air chamber forming portion 22 is in a later stage where the air chamber forming portion 22 has expanded to some extent, and the gas from the inflator 12 is narrowed from the first air chamber 22R in the first air chamber forming portion 22. The gas is supplied to the second air chamber forming unit 24 in the second air chamber forming unit 24 through the gas flow path 26R in the H. 26.

  At this time, if the first air chamber 22R has a spherical shape, the gas supplied into the first air chamber 22R is smoothly guided toward the narrow portion 26 along the spherical surface partitioning the first air chamber 22R. (See arrow A in FIG. 10).

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 11, the narrow portion 26 and the second air chamber forming portion 24 are inflated and deployed in a substantially horizontal direction of the first air chamber forming portion 22 or in a downward direction from the substantially horizontal direction. At this time, the holding member 28 is inflated so that the second air chamber forming portion 24 is folded on the side of the first air chamber forming portion 22 inflated and deployed above the dashboard 50, that is, on the passenger P side. Regulated in the deployed form. Then, when the posture is changed so that the passenger seat occupant P tilts forward due to the impact of the vehicle (see arrow B in FIG. 11), the head, chest, etc. of the passenger seat occupant P are occupants of the second air chamber forming unit 24. The impact applied to the occupant by absorbing the airbag body 20 from the side portion is absorbed.

  According to the airbag device configured as described above, the inflator 12 includes the first air chamber forming portion 22, the second air chamber forming portion 24, and the narrowed portion 26 provided therebetween. When the gas from is introduced, the first air chamber forming portion 22 expands and expands to some extent, and then the second air chamber forming portion 24 expands and expands. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the airbag body 20 from being inflated and deployed suddenly in a predetermined direction. More specifically, it is possible to suppress the airbag body 20 from being inflated and deployed rapidly and at a stretch above the dashboard 50.

  In addition, in the inflated and deployed form of the airbag body 20, the narrow portion 26 is set so as to be positioned substantially horizontally or substantially horizontally downward with respect to the first air chamber forming portion 22. While restraining the deployment, it is possible to quickly deploy the vehicle toward the occupant side in a substantially horizontal direction or a substantially horizontal direction downward, and to more reliably receive an impact applied to the occupant.

  In order to obtain the above-described effects, it is not necessary to fold the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24 into two narrow portions 26. That is, the airbag main body may be configured by forming the narrowed portion 26 between the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24.

  However, both the end portions of the holding member 28 are connected to the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24 so that the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber 20 are inflated and deployed. By maintaining the air chamber forming portion 24 in a bent shape at the narrow portion 26, the size and shape sufficient to absorb the impact, that is, the impact is absorbed between the dashboard 50 and the passenger seat passenger P. It can be inflated and deployed in a size sufficient to do so. In addition, the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24 are folded so that a gap is formed between the peripheral portions of the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the actual air bag body 20 is reduced in size and quickly inflated and deployed. be able to.

  Moreover, since the airbag main body 20 is formed by joining the peripheral portions of the two base fabrics 32 and 34, the airbag main body 20 can be easily manufactured, and as a result, the airbag main body 20 is manufactured. It becomes easy to automate.

  Furthermore, since the holding members 28 are integrally formed on the base fabrics 32 and 34, it is easy to incorporate the holding members 28 that maintain the airbag body 20 in a predetermined inflated and deployed configuration.

  In the present embodiment, both end portions of the holding member 28 are connected to both side portions of the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24, but the first air chamber forming portion 22 and the second air chamber forming portion 24 are connected. It may be connected to other parts such as an end of the air chamber forming part 24.

  Of course, the airbag body 20 may be provided with a vent hole for exhausting air after inflation and deployment. In this case, it is preferable to form a vent hole in the second air chamber forming portion 24 in order to quickly deploy the airbag body 20.

It is a side view which shows the airbag apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a top view which shows an airbag apparatus same as the above. It is a front view which shows an airbag apparatus same as the above. It is a rear view which shows an airbag apparatus same as the above. It is a figure which shows the example of the base fabric for forming an airbag main body. It is a figure which shows the example of the base fabric for forming an airbag main body. It is a side view which shows the state in the middle of manufacture of an airbag main body. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the airbag apparatus was integrated in the dashboard. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in the middle of expansion | deployment of the airbag main body. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in the middle of expansion | deployment of the airbag main body. It is explanatory drawing which shows the expansion | deployment final state of an airbag main body.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Airbag apparatus 12 Inflator 20 Airbag main body 22 1st air chamber formation part 22h Gas supply hole 22R 1st air chamber 24 2nd air chamber formation part 24R 2nd air chamber 26 Narrow part 26R Gas flow path 28 Holding member 29 Band shape Member 32, 34 base fabric

Claims (4)

An airbag device for a passenger seat incorporated in a dashboard of a vehicle,
An airbag body that can be inflated and deployed above the dashboard;
An inflator for supplying gas into the airbag body;
With
The air bag body includes a first air chamber forming portion that forms a first air chamber to which gas from the inflator is directly supplied, and gas from the inflator is supplied through the first air chamber. A second air chamber forming portion that forms a second air chamber, and a narrow portion that restricts a gas flow path from the first air chamber to the second air chamber,
Both end portions are connected to the first air chamber forming portion and the second air chamber forming portion, and the first air chamber forming portion and the second air chamber forming portion are connected in the inflated and deployed form of the airbag body. A pair of holding members that are bent at the narrow portion and maintained in a folded state by bringing the second air chamber forming portion into contact with an occupant side of the first air chamber forming portion inflated and deployed above the dashboard Is provided,
Each of the two end portions of the pair of holding members includes a side portion of the first air chamber forming portion and a second portion excluding an end portion of the first air chamber forming portion and an end portion of the second air chamber forming portion . An airbag device for a passenger seat connected to a side portion of the air chamber forming portion. The airbag device for a passenger seat according to claim 1,
In the inflated and deployed form of the airbag main body, the narrowed portion is provided in a passenger seat airbag device provided at a position substantially downward in the horizontal direction or in the horizontal direction with respect to the first air chamber forming portion. The airbag device for a passenger seat according to claim 1 or 2,
The airbag body is an airbag device for a passenger seat, which is formed by joining peripheral edges of two base fabrics. The airbag device for a passenger seat according to claim 1 or 2,
The airbag body is formed by joining the peripheral portions of two base fabrics,
Of these, a band-shaped member is formed on each of the portion forming the first air chamber forming portion and the portion forming the second air chamber forming portion, and the holding member is connected by connecting the tip portions of the band-shaped members to each other. A passenger-side airbag device formed.

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