JP5337583B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide airbag and airbag device capable of quickly inflating and deploying a part for restraining an occupant and capable of inflating and deploying the airbag, regardless of a sitting state of the occupant. <P>SOLUTION: This airbag device includes the airbag 1 inflated and deployed in an emergency and an inflator 2 for supplying gas to the airbag 1. Gas is supplied to the inside of the airbag 1 and the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed between a vehicle body B and the occupant P. The airbag 1 includes an upper surface part 11 to be deployed to an upper side of the vehicle body B, a front surface part 12 to be deployed to a front surface of the occupant P, a lower surface part 13 to be deployed to a lower side of the vehicle body B, and a pair of side surface parts 14, 14 to be deployed from the upper surface part 11 up to both side parts of the front surface part 12 and the lower surface part 13. Each of the side surface parts 14 has an external shape formed with a recessed part 14a in a substantial center part on a side connected to the front surface part 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an airbag device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to an airbag device excellent in deployment performance.

  2. Description of the Related Art It has become common for vehicles such as automobiles to be equipped with an airbag device for restraining an occupant by inflating and deploying an airbag in a vehicle at the time of a collision or sudden deceleration. Such an airbag device includes an airbag device for a driver seat installed in a steering wheel, an airbag device for a passenger seat installed in an instrument panel, a side airbag device installed in a vehicle side or seat, and an upper door portion. Various types have been developed and adopted, such as an interior curtain airbag device and a knee airbag device for the occupant's knee.

  These airbag apparatuses generally include an airbag that is normally folded and inflated and deployed in an emergency, and an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag. (1) I want to end inflation and deployment of the airbag quickly, (2) Crew type (adult male, adult female, child, etc.), body type (large, medium, small), boarding position ( There is a demand for effective action under various conditions such as normal and shallow).

  In order to satisfy these requirements, airbags of various shapes have already been proposed. Here, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are conventional techniques showing a so-called passenger seat airbag. The airbag described in Patent Document 1 is a bag body formed by stitching a base fabric divided into upper and lower parts. Moreover, the airbag described in Patent Document 2 is a bag body formed by stitching two side surface portions together with a surrounding portion. The airbags described in these patent documents are different in the method of dividing the base fabric, but are common in that the base fabric on each side portion has a triangular shape.

  In addition, the airbag devices described in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 take into account so-called out-of-position (an irregular seating state in which an occupant is bent forward or a child is standing in front of a seat). It is a thing. In the airbag apparatus described in Patent Document 3, the seating state of an occupant is grasped by a pressure sensor arranged at a seating portion of a seat, and deployment and non-deployment of the airbag are controlled. Moreover, in the airbag apparatus described in patent document 4, the seating state of a passenger | crew is grasped | ascertained with the microwave transmission / reception apparatus arrange | positioned at the vehicle body, and the expansion | deployment and non-deployment of an airbag are controlled.

JP 2001-187554 A JP-A-9-20196 JP 2002-5761 A JP 2006-506626 A

  As a result of intensive studies on the deployment behavior of the airbag by the inventor in order to satisfy the above-described requirements of the airbag, (1) when the base fabric of the side surface portion has a triangular shape, gas is supplied. When the airbag is inflated, each deployment surface protrudes outward from the stitched portion, and the silhouette of the airbag tends to be rounded. (2) The airbag is inflated and deployed with the heavy stitched portion first. As a result, it has been found that each deployment surface is easily expanded and deployed as guided by the stitching portion.

  Therefore, like the airbag described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, when the base fabric of the side surface portion has a triangular shape, the amount of protrusion from the stitched portion of each deployment surface of the airbag is small. In many cases, it is difficult to control the shape of the airbag after inflation and deployment, and other parts such as a tether are required to inflate and deploy the airbag to a desired shape.

  Moreover, when connecting the base fabric divided | segmented up and down like the airbag described in patent document 1, the stitching | suture part which connects an upper and lower base fabric is expand | deployed first, and then each upper and lower deployment surface Will be inflated and deployed, and there is a possibility that the inflated and deployed portion of the part that restrains the passenger will be delayed.

  Furthermore, when a stitched portion extending in the left-right direction of the airbag is formed as in the airbag described in Patent Document 1, the stitched portion is inflated and deployed first, so that the stitched portion becomes a deployment surface. There is a possibility of coming into contact with the occupant earlier.

  Moreover, in the airbag apparatus described in patent document 3 and patent document 4, the apparatus for detecting a passenger | crew's seating state is required, the vehicle body weight will increase, and the cost of the airbag apparatus will increase. There are problems such as.

The present invention was devised in view of the above-described problems, and an airbag apparatus that can rapidly inflate and deploy a portion that restrains an occupant and that can inflate and deploy an airbag regardless of the seated state of the occupant. The purpose is to provide.

According to the present invention, in an airbag device having an airbag that is normally folded and inflated and deployed in an emergency, and an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag, the airbag has gas therein. is supplied is inflated and deployed between the vehicle body and the passenger, the upper surface portion that is deployed on the upper side of the front Symbol vehicle body, and the front portion that is deployed in front of the occupant, the lower surface that expands to the lower side of the vehicle body And a pair of side surface portions that are developed on both sides of the upper surface portion, the front surface portion, and the lower surface portion, and the side surface portion has a recess formed in a substantially central portion on the side connected to the front surface portion. have a been contour, the front portion has a convex portion bulged outwardly to match the recess, the expansion of the front portion in a substantially flat shape by suturing and said recess and said protrusion The shape of the airbag after inflated and deployed is substantially triangular prism And it is configured such that does not have a sensor that detects the seating state of the occupant, the inflator is inflated and deployed is not controlled by the seating state of the occupant, the airbag, characterized in that An apparatus is provided.

The outer shape of the side portion may be configured to approximate a triangle set in a space formed between a windshield and an instrument panel constituting the vehicle body and the occupant. The triangle is, for example, a regular triangle, a triangle in which the length on the windshield side and the side on the instrument panel side are equal, and the side on the windshield side is longer than the side on the instrument panel side. The triangle or the triangle on the side of the instrument panel is longer than the side on the side of the windshield.

  Further, the side surface portion may have an outer shape in which a concave portion is formed at a substantially central portion on a side connected to the upper surface portion or the lower surface portion.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said front part and the said upper surface part are comprised so that seams other than the stitching | suture part of the base fabric with the said side part may not be formed.

  Moreover, the base fabric of the front part may be composed of warp yarns oriented in a direction from the upper surface part toward the lower surface part, and weft yarns oriented substantially perpendicular to the warp yarns.

  In addition, the front portion has, for example, a substantially rectangular shape whose vertical width is longer than the horizontal width, a horizontal shape whose width in the horizontal direction is narrower from the head side of the occupant toward the abdominal side, or the vertical width is The vehicle body is configured to be inflated and expanded into a substantially rectangular shape that is narrowed from the indoor side to the window side.

  For example, after the airbag is flattened so that a boundary portion between the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion is disposed at a substantially center of the front surface portion, the lateral portion is folded to reduce the lateral width. The upper surface side is folded in a bellows shape, and the lower surface portion side is folded in a roll so that it can be folded.

  In addition, it is preferable that the airbag device does not have a sensor that detects the seating state of the occupant, and the inflator is not controlled in inflation and deployment by the seating state of the occupant.

According to the airbag device according to the present invention described above, the concave portion is formed on the front portion side of the side portion, whereby the front portion can be inflated and deployed in a substantially flat shape, and the protrusion amount of the front portion is reduced. The airbag can be inflated and deployed into a desired shape without using a tether or the like. By configuring the side surface portion having the recess without dividing the airbag vertically, the side surface portion having the stitched portion can be quickly inflated and deployed, and the shape can be quickly approximated to the shape after the airbag has been inflated and deployed. The front portion, which is a portion that restrains the occupant, can be quickly inflated and deployed. In addition, since the airbag can be inflated and deployed from the side, the shape of the airbag after inflation and deployment can be controlled, so that the airbag can be inflated and deployed even if the occupant is in a so-called out-of-position state. Can be made. Therefore, it is not necessary to detect the seating state of the occupant (whether or not it is out of position), and the weight of the vehicle body can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

In addition, by forming the concave portion on the side surface portion, the deployment surface of the inflated airbag can be configured in a substantially flat shape, and the airbag can be inflated and deployed in a substantially triangular prism shape that is effective for restraining the occupant. It is possible to restrain the occupant softly. In particular, an airbag device suitable for the passenger seat can be provided by forming the side surface portion to form a triangular deployment surface in the space formed in the passenger seat.

  In addition, by setting this triangle to a predetermined shape, the entire airbag can be inflated and deployed in a well-balanced manner, or the airbag can be inflated and deployed in accordance with the shape of the vehicle body, or inflated and deployed on the passenger's head side. The restraint force of the head can be improved by elongating the airbag, and the restraint force of the abdomen can be improved by lengthening the airbag inflated and deployed on the abdomen side of the occupant.

  Further, by forming a recess on the upper surface side or the lower surface portion side of the side surface portion, the upper surface portion or the lower surface portion can be expanded and deployed in a substantially flat shape, for example, an in-vehicle structure such as a windshield or an instrument panel. The pressure on the airbag due to contact with the airbag can be reduced, the amount of deformation of the airbag can be reduced, and the front portion can be stably inflated and deployed in a predetermined shape.

  Further, by not forming the stitched portions on the front portion and the upper surface portion, the stitched portions can be prevented from coming into contact with the occupant. Therefore, since the stitched portion does not come into contact with the occupant at any stage of the inflation and deployment of the airbag, the stitched portion hardly comes into contact with the occupant even when the occupant is in the so-called out-of-position. Furthermore, by giving a predetermined orientation to the base fabric of the front part, it is possible to reduce the elongation of the front part in the protruding direction, to reduce the amount of deformation of the airbag, and to fix the front part as planned. Can be inflated and deployed into shape.

  Further, by inflating and deploying the front portion into a predetermined substantially square shape, the entire airbag can be inflated and deployed quickly in a balanced manner, or the capacity of the airbag inflated and deployed on the occupant's head side can be increased. The restraining force of the vehicle can be improved, and the airbag can be inflated and deployed in accordance with the shape of the vehicle body.

  Also, by making the upper side of the airbag bellows folded and the lower side rolled, it is possible to quickly inflate and deploy the upper surface portion of the airbag and subsequently inflate and deploy the lower surface portion side. As a result, the airbag can be quickly inflated and deployed between the vehicle body and the abdomen while the airbag is rapidly inflated and deployed near the head that is easily moved forward. In particular, by inflating and deploying the airbag from the upper surface side of the airbag, the airbag can be inflated and deployed while avoiding the occupant even when the occupant is in a so-called out-of-position position.

  Furthermore, according to the above-described airbag device of the present invention, the airbag can be inflated and deployed regardless of whether the occupant is out of position, so a sensor for detecting the seating state of the occupant is unnecessary, and the weight of the vehicle body Can be effectively reduced in weight and cost.

It is a whole lineblock diagram showing the airbag device concerning the present invention, and shows the state where the airbag was inflated and developed. It is explanatory drawing of the airbag shown in FIG. 1, (A) is a perspective view, (B) is a base fabric block diagram. It is a side view which shows the airbag after inflation deployment, (A) is a 1st modification, (B) is a 2nd modification, (C) is a 3rd modification. It is a side view which shows the airbag after expansion | deployment, (A) is a 4th modification, (B) is a 5th modification, (C) is a 6th modification. It is a front view which shows the airbag after expansion | deployment, (A) is embodiment shown in FIG. 1, (B) is a 7th modification, (C) is an 8th modification, (D) is a 9th modification. An example. It is a figure which shows the base fabric block diagram of an airbag, (A) is a 10th modification, (B) is an 11th modification. It is explanatory drawing which shows the folding method of the airbag which concerns on this invention, (A) is a plane expansion | deployment process, (B) is a horizontal width folding process, (C) is a vertical width folding process, (D) shows a lapping process. ing. It is explanatory drawing which showed the expansion | deployment deployment step of an airbag, (A) is the state before expansion | deployment, (B) is the state immediately after expansion | deployment, (C) is the state under expansion | deployment, (D) is expansion | deployment expansion | deployment. The state after the end is shown. It is a perspective view which compares the airbag which concerns on this invention, and the airbag in a prior art, (A) has shown the airbag in a prior art, (B) has shown the airbag which concerns on this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an airbag apparatus according to the present invention, and shows a state in which the airbag is inflated and deployed. 2 is an explanatory view of the airbag shown in FIG. 1, in which (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a base fabric configuration diagram.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag apparatus according to the present invention includes an airbag 1 that is normally folded and inflated and deployed in an emergency, and an inflator 2 that supplies gas to the airbag 1. The airbag 1 is supplied with gas therein and inflated and deployed between the vehicle body B and the occupant P. The upper surface portion 11 is deployed on the upper side of the vehicle body B, and the front portion 12 is deployed on the front surface of the occupant P. And a lower surface portion 13 developed on the lower side of the vehicle body B, and a pair of side surface portions 14 and 14 deployed on both sides of the upper surface portion 11, the front surface portion 12, and the lower surface portion 13. The outer shape has a concave portion 14a formed at a substantially central portion on the side connected to the front surface portion 12. The occupant P shown in FIG. 1 is a dummy doll.

  The above-described airbag device is a so-called passenger-side airbag device, and the vehicle body B includes a windshield B1, an instrument panel B2, and the like. The illustrated airbag device is attached to an instrument panel B2 disposed in front of the passenger seat. Specifically, the airbag device includes a retainer 3 that accommodates the airbag 1, and an airbag cover 4 that locks the retainer 3 and forms a vehicle interior surface, and these are provided on the instrument panel B2. Is arranged.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a state in which the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. However, in a state before the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the surface of the airbag cover 4 forms a part of the instrument panel B2. . The airbag cover 4 includes a plate-like portion 41 that constitutes a vehicle interior surface, and an inner case 42 that is disposed on the back surface of the plate-like portion 41 and constitutes an inflation / deployment path of the airbag 1. The door 41 is formed in the portion 41 so as to be cleavable when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed.

  The retainer 3 is locked to a locking hole formed in the inner case 42 by a hook connected to the side surface portion, and is connected to the fixing member 6 via the joining member 5. In addition, about the structure of the inflator 2, the retainer 3, the airbag cover 4, the joining member 5, and the fixing member 6, since the thing of the same structure as what is used in the prior art can be used, it is detailed here. Description is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the airbag 1 has a substantially triangular prism shape in which the shape after inflating and deploying is composed of an upper surface portion 11, a front surface portion 12, a lower surface portion 13, and a pair of side surface portions 14, 14. ing. That is, the outer shape of the side surface portion 14 is configured such that the shape of the airbag 1 after being inflated and deployed has a substantially triangular prism shape. In the present invention, the concave portion 14a is formed in the outer shape of the side surface portion 14, whereby the front portion 12 sewn along the concave portion 14a can be inflated and deployed in a substantially flat shape, and the airbag 1 has a shape close to a triangular prism shape. Can be inflated and deployed. 2A, the stitched portion S is indicated by a dotted line, and the illustration of the inner bag 15 is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (B), the base fabric of the airbag 1 includes a long base fabric 1a constituting the upper surface portion 11, the front surface portion 12 and the lower surface portion 13, and a pair of triangles constituting the side surface portion 14. -Like base fabrics 1b and 1b. The long base cloth 1a is composed of a single base cloth. When the long base cloth 1a is sewn around the triangular base cloth 1b, the upper surface portion 11, the front surface portion 12, and the lower surface portion. 13 is configured. Therefore, the front portion 12 and the upper surface portion 11 are configured such that a seam other than the stitched portion of the base fabric (triangular base fabric 1b) with the side surface portion 14 is not formed. In the long base fabric 1a, an opening 13a connected to the inflator 2 is formed in a part constituting the lower surface part 13, and a convex part 12a bulging outward is formed in a part constituting the front part 12. Then, the inflator 2 is connected to the opening 13a, and the outer circumferences of the long base fabric 1a and the triangular base fabric 1b are stitched while the convex portion 12a and the concave portion 14a of the side surface portion 14 are aligned, and the upper surface portion 11 is sewn. 2 and the end portions of the lower surface portion 13 (both ends of the long base fabric 1a) are stitched to form a bag shape as shown in FIG.

  Moreover, in the airbag 1 shown in FIG. 1, the inner bag 15 is arrange | positioned inside. The inner bag 15 has a function of adjusting the flow of gas flowing into the airbag 1. As shown in FIG. 2 (B), the inner bag 15 is constituted by an inner base cloth 1c different from the long base cloth 1a and the triangular base cloth 1b constituting the outer shape of the airbag 1. The inner base fabric 1c is formed with an opening 15a through which gas passes, and a part of the outer periphery (joining side 15b) is joined around the opening 13a of the lower surface part 13 so that the opening 15a and the non-joining side Thus, the gas in the inflator 2 is guided into the airbag 1. The inner bag 15 may have a structure other than that shown in the figure, and may not be disposed if not necessary.

  A vent hole 16 is disposed on the side surface portion 14 of the airbag 1. The vent hole 16 has a function of relaxing the impact by releasing the gas in the airbag 1 when the occupant P comes into contact with the airbag 1. The arrangement location and the number of the vent holes 16 are appropriately changed according to conditions such as the type and capacity of the airbag 1. Further, the vent hole 16 may be a normally open type, or may be a first half open type in which the first half of the inflating and deploying is set in an open state or a second half open type in which the second half of the inflating and deploying is set in an open state. Good.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the triangular base fabric 1 b constituting the side surface portion 14 has an outer shape formed between the windshield B <b> 1 and the instrument panel B <b> 2 constituting the vehicle body B and the occupant P, as shown in FIG. 1. The shape is similar to the triangle T indicated by the alternate long and short dash line set in the space. That is, the triangle T is configured by a side Tb1 on the windshield B1 side, a side Tb2 on the instrument panel B2 side, and a side Tp on the occupant P side. By setting the side surface portion 14 to such a shape and forming the recess 14a, the airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed in a substantially triangular prism shape. The shape and size of the triangle T are appropriately set according to conditions such as the angle of the windshield B1, the angle of the instrument panel B2, the type of the occupant P (adult male, adult female, child, etc.) and the position of the waist. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the triangle T is set to an equilateral triangle. By setting the shape of the side surface portion 14 based on the triangle T that is a regular triangle, the airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed in a substantially regular triangular prism shape, and the entire airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed quickly in a balanced manner. Can do.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the long base fabric 1a is composed of warp yarns 1d oriented in a direction from the upper surface portion 11 to the lower surface portion 13, and weft yarns 1e oriented substantially perpendicular to the warp yarns 1d. And is constituted by. Therefore, the base fabric which comprises the front part 12 is also comprised by the same warp 1d and weft 1e. In this way, by providing the base fabric of the front portion 12 with the orientation along the vertical direction and the left-right direction, the elongation of the front portion 12 in the protruding direction can be reduced, and the deformation amount of the airbag 1 is reduced. The front portion 12 can be inflated and deployed into a predetermined shape.

  Here, a modified example of the airbag 1 will be described. 3A and 3B are side views showing the airbag after inflating and deploying, in which FIG. 3A is a first modification, FIG. 3B is a second modification, and FIG. 3C is a third modification. 4 is a side view showing the airbag after inflating and deploying, in which (A) is a fourth modification, (B) is a fifth modification, and (C) is a sixth modification. 5 is a front view showing the airbag after inflating and deploying, (A) is the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, (B) is the seventh modification, (C) is the eighth modification, D) is a ninth modification. FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams showing the configuration of the base fabric of the airbag, where FIG. 6A shows a tenth modification and FIG. 6B shows an eleventh modification. The same components as those in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. Moreover, in each figure, although the figure of the vent hole 16 is abbreviate | omitted, you may make it arrange | position the vent hole 16 as needed.

  In the first modified example shown in FIG. 3A, the side surface portion 14 has an outer shape in which a concave portion 14a is formed at a substantially central portion on the side connected to the upper surface portion 11 and the front surface portion 12. That is, the concave portion 14a is also formed on the upper surface portion 11 side of the side surface portion 14 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. With this configuration, in addition to the front surface portion 12, the upper surface portion 11 can be inflated and deployed in a substantially flat shape, and the pressure on the airbag 1 due to contact with the windshield B1 can be reduced, and the airbag 1 can be deformed. The amount can be reduced, and the front portion 12 can be stably inflated and deployed in a predetermined shape.

  In the second modification shown in FIG. 3B, the side surface portion 14 has an outer shape in which a concave portion 14a is formed at a substantially central portion on the side connected to the upper surface portion 11, the front surface portion 12, and the lower surface portion 13. That is, the concave portion 14a is also formed on the lower surface portion 13 side of the side surface portion 14 in the first modification shown in FIG. With this configuration, in addition to the upper surface portion 11 and the front surface portion 12, the lower surface portion 13 can also be inflated and deployed in a substantially planar shape, and the pressure on the airbag 1 due to contact with the instrument panel B2 can be reduced. The deformation amount of the airbag 1 can be reduced, and the front portion 12 can be stably inflated and deployed in a predetermined shape.

  In the third modification shown in FIG. 3C, the side surface portion 14 is formed in a substantially heart shape. That is, the bending point 14b is formed in the recess 14a of the embodiment shown in FIGS. The front portion 12 can be developed in a substantially planar shape even with such a shape. In addition, you may make it apply a 3rd modification to the 1st modification mentioned above and a 2nd modification.

  In the fourth modification shown in FIG. 4A, the airbag 1 is configured to have a shape approximating a triangle T in which the length of the side Tb1 on the windshield B1 side and the side Tb2 on the instrument panel B2 side are equal. It is. The airbag 1 is applied to, for example, a vehicle body B having a large angle formed by the windshield B1 and the instrument panel B2. Thus, by setting the shape of the triangle T according to the shape of the vehicle body B, the airbag can be inflated and deployed to a desired shape while suppressing deformation of the airbag. The length of each side of the illustrated triangle T has a relationship of Tb1 = Tb2 <Tp, but may be set to satisfy Tb1 = Tb2> Tp according to the shape of the vehicle body B. .

  In the fifth modification shown in FIG. 4B, the airbag 1 is configured in a shape that approximates a triangle T having a side Tb1 on the windshield B1 side that is longer than a side Tb2 on the instrument panel B2 side. Therefore, the length of each side of the illustrated triangle T has a relationship of Tb1> Tb2, and Tp is determined by the angle formed by Tb1 and Tb2. According to the airbag 1, the airbag 1 inflated and deployed on the head side of the occupant P can be lengthened, and the restraining force of the head can be improved.

  The sixth modified example shown in FIG. 4C is configured to have a shape that approximates a triangle T in which the side Tb2 on the instrument panel B2 side is longer than the side Tb1 on the windshield B1 side. Therefore, the length of each side of the illustrated triangle T has a relationship of Tb2> Tb1, and Tp is determined by the angle formed by Tb1 and Tb2. According to the airbag 1, the airbag 1 that is inflated and deployed on the abdomen side of the occupant P can be lengthened, and the restraining force of the abdomen can be improved.

  FIG. 5A shows a front view of the airbag 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and shows the front portion 12 from the occupant P side. As shown in the figure, the front surface portion 12 is configured to be inflated and deployed in a substantially rectangular shape in which the vertical width H is longer than the horizontal width W. Here, the term “substantially quadrilateral” is intended to include a quadrilateral with rounded corners, a quadrilateral with each side slightly expanded outward, and the like, and means that the entire outer shape approximates a quadrangle. By configuring the airbag 1 in such a shape, the entire airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed quickly in a balanced manner. Note that, depending on the shape of the vehicle body B, it may be configured such that the lateral width W is substantially longer than the vertical width H, or the vertical width H and the lateral width W are equal. You may comprise so that it may become a substantially square shape.

  The seventh modification shown in FIG. 5B is a substantially rectangular shape (trapezoid) in which the lateral width W of the front portion 12 of the airbag 1 is gradually narrowed from the head side of the occupant P toward the abdomen side. It is configured to be expanded and deployed. By configuring the airbag 1 in such a shape, the capacity of the airbag 1 that is inflated and deployed on the head side of the occupant P can be increased, and the restraining force of the head can be improved.

  The eighth modification shown in FIG. 5C is expanded into a substantially quadrangular shape (trapezoid) in which the vertical width H of the front portion 12 of the airbag 1 is gradually narrowed from the interior side of the vehicle body B toward the window side. It is configured to be deployed. By configuring the airbag 1 in such a shape, the airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed while avoiding the front pillar (A pillar) of the vehicle body B, or the airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed along the shape of the windshield B1. Thus, the airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed in accordance with the shape of the vehicle body B.

  The ninth modified example shown in FIG. 5D is a combination of the seventh modified example and the eighth modified example. That is, the lateral width W of the front portion 12 of the airbag 1 is gradually narrowed from the head side of the occupant P toward the abdomen side, and the vertical width H of the airbag 1 is from the interior side of the vehicle body B. It is configured to be inflated and expanded into a substantially rectangular shape that gradually narrows toward the window side. By configuring the airbag 1 in such a shape, the same effects as those of the seventh and eighth modifications described above can be obtained.

  In the tenth modification shown in FIG. 6A, the outer shape of the airbag 1 is constituted by two base fabrics. Specifically, the airbag 1 is a substantially butterfly in which a long base cloth 1a shown in FIG. 2B and a triangular base cloth 1b constituting the side surface portion 14 shown in FIG. It is comprised from the side part base fabric 1f of a shape. An opening 14c that is made to coincide with the opening 13a of the lower surface portion 13 at the time of sewing is formed at a substantially central portion of the side surface base fabric 1f.

  In the eleventh modification shown in FIG. 6B, the outer shape of the airbag 1 is configured by a single base fabric. Specifically, the airbag 1 is configured by a one-piece base cloth 1g having a shape obtained by combining the long base cloth 1a and the side surface base cloth 1f shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (B), FIG. 6 (A), and FIG. 6 (B), the outer shape of the airbag 1 according to the present invention is appropriately configured by one piece or two pieces or more of base fabric. For example, the 1-piece base fabric 1g shown in the fifth modification shown in FIG. 6B may be configured in a two-piece shape divided between the front face 12 and the lower face 13 and so on. Can be considered. However, it is preferable that the front surface portion 12 and the upper surface portion 11 are configured such that a seam other than the stitched portion with the triangular base fabric 1b constituting the side surface portion 14 is not formed.

  Next, a method for folding the airbag 1 described above will be described. Here, FIG. 7 is explanatory drawing which shows the folding method of the airbag which concerns on this invention, (A) is a plane expansion | deployment process, (B) is a horizontal width folding process, (C) is a vertical width folding process, (D ) Shows a lapping process. 7C and 7D show YY cross-sectional views of the airbag 1.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D, the airbag 1 according to the present invention has the airbag 1 such that the boundary portion between the upper surface portion 11 and the lower surface portion 13 is disposed at the approximate center of the front surface portion 12. After the side surface 14 is folded and the lateral width is reduced by reducing the lateral width, the upper surface portion 11 side is folded into a bellows, and the lower surface portion 13 side is folded into a size that can be accommodated. In each drawing, an inflator attachment 21 for connecting to the inflator 2 is shown connected to the opening 13a formed in the lower surface part 13 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, in the flattening step, the center portion of the front surface portion 12 and the inflator attachment 21 are substantially coincident with the boundary portion between the upper surface portion 11 and the lower surface portion 13 as an underlay. It is the process of developing on a plane. In addition, in XX sectional drawing of FIG. 7 (A), although the state expanded between the airbag 1 and the inflator attachment tool 21 which were plane-deployed is shown for convenience of explanation, it will be in this state. Such a jig may be used, or the air bag 1 that has been flattened may be placed on the inflator attachment 21 while being crushed.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the lateral width folding step is a step in which the lateral width of the airbag 1 is reduced by folding both ends of the flatly developed airbag 1, that is, portions corresponding to the side surface portions 14 in the X direction. It is. As shown in the XX sectional view of FIG. 7B, the lateral width of the airbag 1 is folded by, for example, accordion folding inside the airbag 1.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, the vertical width folding step is a step of folding the airbag 1 having a reduced width in the Y direction to reduce the vertical width of the airbag 1. At this time, the upper side 11Y (that is, the upper surface portion 11 side) of the airbag 1 is accordion-folded, and the lower side 13Y (that is, the lower surface portion 13 side) of the airbag 1 is roll-folded.

  As shown in FIG. 7D, the wrapping step is a step of wrapping the upper side 11Y folded in a bellows and the lower side 13Y rolled in a wrapping sheet 17. Thus, the folded shape of the airbag 1 can be maintained by wrapping the folded airbag 1 with the wrapping sheet 17.

  Then, the expansion | deployment deployment step of the airbag 1 is demonstrated. FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory views showing the steps of inflating and deploying the airbag, in which FIG. 8A is a state before inflating and deploying, FIG. 8B is a state immediately after inflating and deploying, FIG. ) Shows the state after the expansion and deployment.

  The state before inflating and deploying shown in FIG. 8 (A) shows a state in which the airbag 1 is folded by the folding method shown in FIG. 7 and accommodated in the retainer 3 (see FIG. 1) of the airbag device. . At this time, the airbag 1 is accommodated in the retainer 3 in a state where the folded shape is held by the wrapping sheet 17.

  The state immediately after inflating and deploying shown in FIG. 8B is that the inflator 2 is operated based on a command from the electronic control unit (ECU) in an emergency (when the vehicle body B collides or suddenly decelerates). The state where gas is supplied is shown. At this time, the wrapping sheet 17 is cleaved along the tear line by the inflation of the airbag 1. And the airbag 1 presses the airbag cover 4 (refer FIG. 1), cleaves the door part 43 by a tear line, and is open | released in the vehicle.

  The state during inflating and deploying illustrated in FIG. 8C indicates a state in which the upper side 11Y of the airbag 1 has been inflated and deployed first. Generally, in the bellows fold and the roll fold, the bellows fold is expanded and deployed faster. Utilizing this property, the upper side 11Y of the airbag 1 is rapidly inflated and deployed along the windshield B1 (see FIG. 1). In the event of an emergency such as a collision or sudden deceleration, in consideration of the fact that the head of the occupant P is likely to move forward before the waist due to inertial force, the upper side 11Y that restrains the head is inflated and deployed first. Yes. In particular, when the occupant is in a so-called out-of-position state, the head is often in a state close to the airbag 1. By inflating and deploying the airbag 1 from the upper side 11Y, The airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed while avoiding the head of a certain passenger P.

  The state after the inflation and deployment shown in FIG. 8D shows a state where the lower side 13Y of the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. As shown in FIG. 8C, after the upper side 11Y of the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the roll-folded lower side 13Y is quickly inflated and deployed, and inflated and deployed into a substantially triangular prism shape as shown. The By rolling the lower side 13Y, the airbag 1 can be effectively inflated and deployed in the gap (see FIG. 1) between the instrument panel B2 and the occupant P. In general, it is considered that the roll folding has the property of easily inflating and deploying the airbag 1 in a relatively narrow gap. Therefore, the abdomen which moves forward after the head can be restrained by the lower side 13Y of the airbag 1. Further, in the present invention, since the concave portion 14a is formed in the side surface portion 14, the front surface portion 12 can be inflated and deployed in a substantially flat shape, the amount of protrusion of the front surface portion 12 can be reduced, and a tether or the like is used. The airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed into a desired shape (substantially triangular prism shape) without doing so.

  Finally, the difference between the airbag 1 according to the present invention and the airbag 9 in the prior art will be described. Here, FIG. 9 is a perspective view comparing the airbag according to the present invention with the airbag according to the prior art, (A) is the airbag according to the prior art, and (B) is the airbag according to the present invention. Show.

  A conventional airbag 9 shown in FIG. 9A has the same form as the airbag described in Patent Document 1, and a base fabric is divided into upper and lower portions (upper portion 91 and lower portion 92). The base fabric of the upper portion 91 is composed of a single base fabric in which a front portion 91a, a side surface portion 91b, and an upper surface portion 91c are arranged in a substantially T shape. The portion 91a, the side surface portion 91b, and the upper surface portion 91c are three-dimensionally formed. Further, the base fabric of the lower portion 92 is composed of a single base fabric in which the front portion 92a, the side surface portion 92b, and the lower surface portion 92c are arranged in a substantially T shape, and by sewing the cut portion of the base fabric. The front portion 92a, the side surface portion 92b, and the lower surface portion 92c are three-dimensionally formed. The airbag 9 is formed into a bag shape as shown in FIG. 9A by sewing the upper portion 91 and the lower portion 92 together. Therefore, in the airbag 9, an annular stitched portion S is formed as shown.

  In the case of the airbag 9 having such an annular stitched portion S, the annular stitched portion S is first inflated and deployed in the α1 direction in the drawing, and then the front portion 91a and the front portion 92a are inflated and deployed in the α2 direction in the drawing. In other words, the expansion and deployment of the front portion 91a and the front portion 92a, which are deployment surfaces that restrain the occupant, are likely to be delayed. Further, since the gas pressure is equally applied to the annular stitching portion S, the stitching portion S is easily expanded and deployed in a circular shape, and the front portions 91a and 92a and the side portions 91b and 92b are expanded in a convex shape outward. The airbag 9 is easily expanded and deployed into a round silhouette as a whole. Therefore, in order to inflate and deploy the airbag 1 to a desired shape (for example, a substantially triangular prism shape), the amount of protrusion of the front portions 91a and 92a of the airbag 9 is large, it is difficult to control the airbag shape after inflation and deployment. Other parts such as tethers are required. Further, since the front portion 91a and the stitched portion S of the front portion 92a are formed in the left-right direction on the front surface that restrains the occupant P, the stitched portion S is expanded and deployed first, whereby the stitched portion S is formed. There is a possibility that the occupant P may come into contact with the front portion 91a and the front portion 92a.

  On the other hand, in the airbag 1 according to the present invention shown in FIG. 9B, a stitched portion S is formed along the outer periphery of the side surface portion 14, and an annular stitched portion disposed in the left-right direction of the airbag 1. Does not exist. Therefore, in the airbag 1 of this invention, it is going to expand | deploy the side part first. 7 and 8, since the upper side 11Y of the airbag 1 is bellows folded and the lower side 13Y is roll folded, the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed in the β1 direction in the figure. , Inflated and deployed in the β2 direction in the figure. Therefore, in the airbag 1 of the present invention, it is possible to inflate and deploy suitable for the movement of the occupant P (from forward movement of the head to forward movement of the abdomen) in an emergency (when the vehicle body B collides or suddenly decelerates). it can. In this way, by inflating and deploying the airbag 1, various types such as the type of the occupant P (adult male / adult female / children), body type (large / medium / small), boarding position (normal / shallow), etc. Under the conditions, the airbag 1 can be effectively operated.

  Further, since the annular stitching portion S as shown in FIG. 9A does not exist, the airbag 1 is not pulled in a circular shape in the left-right direction, and the airbag 1 is inflated into a substantially triangular prism shape as planned. Can be deployed. Further, since the stitched portion S does not exist in the front portion 12, the stitched portion S does not contact the occupant P when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. That is, the occupant P existing in front of the airbag 1 is configured so that the stitched portion S does not come into contact with the occupant P at any stage of inflation and deployment. Even if the occupant P is in a so-called out-of-position state, if the occupant P is present in front of the airbag 1, the stitched portion S does not contact the occupant P, and the stitched portion S and the occupant P It is possible to reduce the chance of contact.

  In addition, since the concave portion 14a is formed in the side surface portion 14 in the present invention, the front surface portion 12 can be inflated and deployed in a substantially flat shape, and a deployment surface that restrains the occupant P can be easily formed. . Further, since the front portion 12 is not inflated and deployed in a round silhouette, the amount of outward projection of the front portion 12 is small, and the airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed to a desired shape without using a tether or the like. The occupant P can be restrained softly.

  In the present invention, since the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed from the side surface portion 14 and the shape of the airbag 1 after inflated and deployed can be controlled, the occupant P is in a so-called out-of-position state. Even so, the airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed. In particular, by inflating and deploying the airbag 1 from the upper surface portion 11 side of the airbag 1, the airbag 1 can be inflated and deployed while avoiding the occupant P even when the occupant P is in a so-called out-of-position position. . Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange a sensor for detecting the sitting state of the occupant P (whether or not it is out-of-position), and it is not necessary to control the expansion and deployment of the inflator 2 according to the sitting state of the occupant P. Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange such a sensor on the vehicle body or the seat, the control of the inflator can be simplified, and the weight of the vehicle body can be reduced and the cost can be effectively reduced. The sensor that detects the seating state of the occupant P is a sensor that detects whether the occupant P is out-of-position, and a sensor that detects whether the occupant P is seated (for example, a buckle sensor) or a child seat. It is not intended to include a sensor (for example, a sensor disposed on the seat belt retractor) that detects the presence or absence of the vehicle.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the present invention can be applied to driver airbag devices, side airbag devices, curtain airbag devices, and knee airbag devices other than passenger airbag devices. Of course, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Airbag 1a ... Long base fabric 1b ... Triangular base fabric 1c ... Inner base fabric 1d ... Warp yarn 1e ... Weft yarn 1f ... Side surface base fabric 1g ... 1 piece base fabric 2 ... Inflator 3 ... Retainer 4 ... Air bag Cover 5 ... Joining member 6 ... Fixing member 9 ... Airbag 11 ... Upper surface part 11Y ... Upper side 12 ... Front part 12a ... Convex part 13 ... Lower surface part 13Y ... Lower part 13a ... Opening part 14 ... Side part 14a ... Concave part 14b ... Bending point 14c ... opening 15 ... inner bag 15a ... opening 15b ... joint side 16 ... vent hole 17 ... wrapping sheet 21 ... inflator attachment 41 ... plate-like part 42 ... inner case 43 ... door part 91 ... upper parts 91a and 92a ... Front part 91b, 92b ... Side part 91c ... Upper surface part 92 ... Lower part 92c ... Lower surface part

Claims (8)

In an airbag device having an airbag that is normally folded and inflated and deployed in an emergency, and an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag,
The airbag is inflated and deployed between a vehicle body and an occupant with gas supplied therein,
An upper surface portion that is developed on the upper side of the vehicle body, a front surface portion that is developed on the front surface of the occupant, a lower surface portion that is deployed on the lower side of the vehicle body, and both sides of the upper surface portion, the front surface portion, and the lower surface portion. A pair of side portions to be deployed,
The side portion has an outer shape in which a recess is formed in a substantially central portion on the side connected to the front portion,
The front portion has a convex portion that bulges outward to coincide with the concave portion,
The front portion is inflated and deployed in a substantially flat shape by stitching the concave portion and the convex portion, and the shape after the inflation and deployment of the airbag is configured to be a substantially triangular prism shape,
It does not have a sensor for detecting the seating state of the occupant, and the inflator is not inflated and deployed by the seating state of the occupant.
An airbag device characterized by that. The outer shape of the side portion is configured to have a shape approximate to a triangle set in a space formed between a windshield and an instrument panel constituting the vehicle body and the occupant. Item 2. The airbag device according to Item 1. The triangle is an equilateral triangle, a triangle in which the length on the windshield side and the side on the instrument panel side are equal, the triangle in which the side on the windshield side is longer than the side on the instrument panel side, or the instrument The airbag device according to claim 2 , wherein a side of the ment panel is a triangle longer than a side of the windshield. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the side surface portion has an outer shape in which a concave portion is formed in a substantially central portion on a side connected to the upper surface portion or the lower surface portion. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the front portion and the upper surface portion are configured such that a seam other than a stitched portion of a base fabric with the side surface portion is not formed. The base fabric of the front portion is composed of warp yarns oriented in a direction from the upper surface portion toward the lower surface portion, and weft yarns oriented substantially perpendicular to the warp yarns. The airbag apparatus according to 1 . The front portion has a substantially rectangular shape whose vertical width is longer than the horizontal width, the horizontal width is narrower from the occupant's head side toward the abdomen side, or the vertical width is the indoor side of the vehicle body. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is configured to be inflated and deployed into a substantially rectangular shape that narrows from the side toward the window side. The airbag is developed in a plane so that a boundary portion between the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion is disposed at a substantially center of the front portion, and the lateral portion is folded to reduce a lateral width. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is folded to a size that can be accommodated by folding the upper surface portion with a bellows and rolling the lower surface portion with a roll.