JP5541256B2 - Air bag device for knee protection - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is arranged in front of an occupant's knee seated on a seat, and has an air bag that inflates gas into the interior so as to protect the occupant's knee so that the outer shape is substantially cylindrical. The present invention relates to a knee protection airbag apparatus comprising: an inflator that supplies inflation gas to an airbag; and a case in which the airbag and the inflator are housed inside and the vehicle rear side is opened.

  Conventionally, as a knee protection airbag device, the outer shape is a substantially cylindrical shape, and a gas discharge port is arranged on one end side, and the gas discharge portion having the gas discharge port is set to be smaller in diameter than the main body portion. Some inflators are configured to be attached to the outside of the bottom wall of the case. In this conventional knee protection airbag device, the inflator has a protruding piece that protrudes outward over the entire region along the circumferential direction of the main body between the gas discharge portion and the main body. . The retainer for attaching the airbag to the bottom wall portion of the case includes a cover portion that penetrates the case and protrudes to the outside and covers the outer peripheral side of the gas discharge portion. An insertion hole that can be inserted is provided. And in the conventional knee protection airbag device, the gas discharge part of the inflator is inserted into the insertion hole formed in the cover part so that the end surface of the protruding piece abuts on the periphery, and the cover part By holding the projecting piece between the holding auxiliary member that covers the outer peripheral side and the cover portion, the escape of the inflation gas from the periphery of the insertion hole during operation of the inflator was prevented (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).

  Further, as an airbag device for knee protection having a configuration in which an inflator in which an outer shape is a substantially columnar shape and a gas discharge portion having a smaller diameter than the main body portion is disposed on one end side is attached to the outside of the bottom wall portion of the case, There is a configuration in which a guide path capable of guiding the expansion gas discharged from the gas discharge port into the case is disposed on the retainer attached to the bottom wall portion of the case. The guide path had a cylindrical shape that penetrates the case and protrudes to the outside on the inflator side. In this knee protection airbag device, the outer peripheral side of the gas discharge part of the inflator is configured to be covered with a cap that can be fitted to the end part near the gas discharge part in the main body part, and the guide path is It is arranged through the cap so that the tip can enter the cap. The structure of this guide path and the fitting structure of the cap to the inflator can be removed from the cap and case when the inflator is activated. The expansion gas was prevented from escaping (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-2005-238868 JP 2005-263153 A

  The airbag devices for knee protection described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are each configured to attach an airbag and an inflator in a folded state in a state where the retainer is housed inside, respectively. For this reason, the airbag folded in a state in which the retainer is housed therein and the inflator can be stored in different places until the airbag device is assembled, which is suitable for storing the inflator.

  However, the knee protection airbag device described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 has a configuration in which an inflator is disposed outside the case, and in addition to the case and the retainer, a holding auxiliary member, a separate member such as a cap, is required, There was room for improvement in terms of reducing the number of parts. If the inflator storage part is provided in the case, and the inflator is attached to the case by being sandwiched between the inflator storage part and the retainer for attaching the airbag to the case, the number of parts can be reduced. When using an inflator having a gas discharge port on the side, there is a problem in that gas leakage is suppressed and the inflator is sandwiched between the inflator storage portion and the retainer.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and even if the inflator is sandwiched between the retainer and the inflator storage portion and attached to the case, as a simple configuration, the inflator can be moved out of the case during operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a knee protection airbag device capable of suppressing leakage of inflation gas.

The airbag device for knee protection according to the present invention is disposed in front of the knee of an occupant seated in a seat,
A knee provided with an airbag for inflating an inflatable gas to protect the occupant's knee, an inflator for supplying the airbag with the inflation gas, and a case for accommodating the airbag and the inflator A protective airbag device,
Case
It has a substantially rectangular tube-shaped peripheral wall portion and a bottom wall portion that closes one end of the peripheral wall portion, and has a substantially box shape with a protruding opening for protruding the airbag, and is folded. An airbag storage section for storing the airbag,
An inflator storage portion formed by recessing a part of the bottom wall portion of the airbag storage portion into a substantially semicircular arc shape so that the inflator can be stored;
It is set as the composition provided with,
The inflator has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and is configured by disposing a gas discharge port capable of discharging an expansion gas on the tip side which is one end side along the axial direction,
The retainer that holds the airbag and the inflator in the airbag and presses the periphery of the gas inlet that allows the inflation gas to flow into the airbag is attached to the bottom wall portion using a fixing means. It is supposed to be installed configuration,
The retainer
As a substantially flat plate shape that is arranged on the outer peripheral edge side along the bottom wall portion, a substantially square annular presser portion that sandwiches the peripheral edge of the gas inlet in the airbag with the bottom wall portion;
The cross-sectional shape of the inflator in the direction orthogonal to the axis is curved in a substantially semicircular arc so that the inflator can be sandwiched between the inflator storage part and the retainer and is arranged in the inner peripheral region of the presser part. A cover portion configured to have a gas outlet that allows the inflation gas from the discharge port to flow into the airbag;
And is configured to include
In the inflator storage portion, the bottom wall portion has a case-side seal portion configured to protrude toward the inflator side in a region near the base portion side of the gas discharge port in the inflator and to have the tip surface abut against the outer peripheral surface of the inflator. In the region between, it is continuously formed over the entire region along the circumferential direction of the inflator,
In the cover part, the retainer side of the structure which protrudes toward the inflator side at the position facing the case side seal part at the peripheral edge of the gas outlet and the axial direction side of the inflator and makes the front end face abut on the outer peripheral surface of the inflator The seal part is formed continuously over the entire region along the circumferential direction of the inflator in the region between the presser parts.

  In the knee protection airbag device of the present invention, the base part of the gas discharge port disposed on the tip side of the inflator in the inflator storage part of the case that covers the outer periphery side of the inflator substantially in half and the cover part of the retainer A case-side seal portion and a retainer-side seal portion, which are configured to protrude toward the inflator side and have a tip end surface abutting against the outer peripheral surface of the inflator, are disposed at positions near the side. The case-side seal portion and the retainer-side seal portion are continuously disposed over the entire region along the circumferential direction of the inflator, and are disposed at positions facing each other on the axis orthogonal direction side of the inflator. ing. That is, in the knee protection airbag device of the present invention, the outer peripheral side in the vicinity of the base part side of the gas discharge port of the inflator is sealed over substantially the entire region along the circumferential direction by the case side seal part and the retainer side seal part. It is a configuration. And in the knee protection airbag device of the present invention, the retainer stored in the inflator storage portion of the case and then stored in the airbag is used to fix the airbag storage portion of the case using the fixing means. If the airbag and the inflator are attached to the case, the case side seal part and the retainer side seal part are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inflator so that the outer peripheral side of the inflator is Thus, sealing is performed in a substantially linear shape over substantially the entire area in the circumferential direction.

  That is, in the knee protection airbag device of the present invention, the case-side seal portion and the retainer-side seal portion are formed so as to be partially recessed in the inflator storage portion of the case and the retainer, respectively. The outer peripheral side of the inflator can be sealed, and the expansion gas can be prevented from leaking out of the case during operation, reducing the number of parts as a conventional knee protection airbag device using a separate member. The manufacturing cost can be reduced. In the knee protection airbag device of the present invention, when the inflator and the airbag are attached to the case, the case side seal portion and the retainer side seal portion are simultaneously brought into pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface side of the inflator. Since the outer peripheral side can be sealed, the number of manufacturing steps can be reduced.

  Therefore, in the knee protection airbag device of the present invention, even if the inflator is sandwiched between the retainer and the inflator storage portion and attached to the case, the inflator is inflated outside the case during operation as a simple configuration. Leakage of working gas can be suppressed.

Further, in the knee protection airbag device of the present invention, the gas inflow port is disposed at a position facing the gas discharge port of the inflator,
It is preferable that a peripheral portion of the gas inlet in the airbag is interposed between the retainer side seal portion and the outer peripheral surface of the inflator.

  In the knee protection airbag device having the above-described configuration, the peripheral portion of the gas inlet in the airbag is pressed substantially linearly by the retainer-side seal portion, so that the gas inlet of the airbag is the gas of the inflator. Even if the gas inlet is disposed at a position deviated on the axial direction side of the inflator corresponding to the discharge port, it is possible to prevent the gas inlet from being displaced relative to the inflator during the operation of the inflator.

Furthermore, in the airbag apparatus for knee protection of the said structure, a retainer is
While arranging bolts as fixing means near the four corners of the presser part,
In the area of the cover part, at two locations along the axial direction of the inflator, each is formed so as to protrude toward the inflator at one location that is approximately the center in the circumferential direction of the inflator, and stealing the surroundings When the inflator is attached to the case, a deforming contact part that is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inflator is disposed and configured.
In the region sandwiched by the presser portion in the airbag, the insertion hole through which the bolt can be inserted is disposed, and at least one of the airbag itself or the cover portion is disposed on the periphery of the gas inlet inside the region, It is preferable that the gas leakage from the airbag is prevented.

  In the knee protection airbag device configured as described above, since the retainer has the deformed contact portion disposed in the region of the cover portion, when attaching the airbag and the inflator to the case using the retainer, The deforming projection that protrudes toward the inflator comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inflator and is pressed while being bent, so that the inflator can be stably held between the retainer and the inflator storage unit. It can be attached to the inflator storage part in a state where rattling is suppressed. In the airbag apparatus for knee protection having the above-described configuration, the gas inlet is disposed inside the region sandwiched between the retainer pressing portion and the bottom wall portion of the airbag storage portion in the airbag. In the four corners of the region, insertion holes through which the bolts of the retainer can be inserted are formed, and the two deforming contact portions are arranged on the cover portion arranged inside the retainer holding portion of the inflator. Since it is arranged along the axial direction, even if the gas inlet is arranged so as to be biased on the axial direction side of the inflator, the inflator can be connected to the case by the four bolts and the two deforming contact portions. Can be attached firmly. Furthermore, in the airbag, at least one of the airbag itself or the cover portion is arranged at the periphery of the gas inlet inside the region sandwiched by the presser portion, thereby suppressing gas leakage from the airbag as much as possible. can do.

It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle front-back direction which shows the use condition of the airbag apparatus for knee protection which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a general | schematic expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle front-back direction of the airbag apparatus for knee protection of embodiment. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle right-left direction of the airbag apparatus for knee protection of embodiment. It is the schematic front view seen from the vehicle back side which shows the use condition of the airbag apparatus for knee protection of embodiment. It is the perspective view which looked at the case used in the airbag apparatus for knee protection of an embodiment, an inflator, and a retainer from the vehicles back side. It is a front view of the case used for the airbag apparatus for knee protection of embodiment. It is a cross-sectional view of the case of FIG. It is a front view of the retainer used for the airbag apparatus for knee protection of embodiment. It is a cross-sectional view of the retainer of FIG. It is a rear view of the airbag used for the airbag apparatus for knee protection of embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag of FIG. 10, and respond | corresponds to the XI-XI site | part of FIG. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of a portion XII-XII in FIG. 3. It is sectional drawing of the XIII-XIII site | part of FIG. In the knee protection airbag device of the embodiment, it is a partially enlarged schematic longitudinal sectional view along the left-right direction showing the vicinity of the gas discharge portion of the inflator. It is sectional drawing of the XV-XV site | part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the XVI-XVI site | part of FIG. It is a partial expanded schematic sectional drawing of the XVII-XVII site | part of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the XVIII-XVIII site | part of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The knee protection airbag device (hereinafter abbreviated as “airbag device”) S of the embodiment can protect the knee K (KL, KR) of the driver D as an occupant as shown in FIGS. The driver D is disposed below the steering column 6 on the vehicle front side. In addition, the up-down, left-right, and front-rear directions in this specification correspond to the up-down, left-right, front-rear directions of the vehicle when the airbag apparatus S is mounted on the vehicle.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the steering column 6 includes a column main body 7 and a synthetic resin column cover 10 that covers the outer peripheral side of the column main body 7. As shown in FIG. 1, the column main body 7 includes a main shaft 8 and a column tube 9 that covers the periphery of the main shaft 8.

  The airbag device S includes a folded airbag 69, an inflator 25 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 69, a case 34 that houses the airbag 69 and the inflator 25, an airbag 69 and the inflator 25. And the airbag cover 15 that covers the vehicle rear side of the case 34.

  The airbag cover 15 is made of an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer and is configured to cover the rear side of the case 34 with respect to the vehicle. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the airbag cover 15 is disposed on the lower panel 11 b side of an instrument panel (hereinafter abbreviated as “instrument panel”) 11 including an upper panel 11 a and a lower panel 11 b. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag cover 15 includes a door disposition portion 16 disposed in the vicinity of the protrusion opening 35 a of the case 34 and a peripheral edge portion 23 extending around the door disposition portion 16. Yes.

  The door arrangement portion 16 includes a door portion 17 that covers the protrusion opening 35 a of the case 34, and an attachment piece portion 20 that extends forward from both the upper and lower sides of the door portion 17 to attach the airbag cover 15 to the case 34. , 21. The door portion 17 is formed to be slightly larger than the protrusion opening 35a of the case 34, and has a substantially rectangular plate shape covering the vehicle rear side (rear lower side in the embodiment) of the protrusion opening 35a. And in the embodiment, the door portion 17 is formed in a thin, substantially reverse U-shape when viewed from the rear side of the vehicle, and has a thin rupture-scheduled portion 18, and a rotation center disposed at the lower edge side when opened. The hinge portion 19 is arranged so as to open downward when opened (see the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 2). The mounting pieces 20 and 21 are adjacent to the outer peripheral sides of an upper side wall 37 and a lower side wall 38, which will be described later, of the airbag storage portion 35 in the case 34, respectively, so as to protrude to the vehicle front side (front upper side). Lock holes 20a and 21a opened in a rectangular shape for locking the locking claws 37a and 38a formed on the upper and lower side walls 37 and 38 of the case 34 on the front end side, Corresponding to the locking claws 37a and 38a, five are provided along the left-right direction.

  The peripheral portion 23 is configured as a stepped shape that is recessed toward the front of the vehicle one step from the door portion 17 at the left and right portions of the door arrangement portion 16, and the portions disposed on the left and right sides of the door portion 17 in the lower panel 11 b. The door 17 and the lower panel 11b are configured so that the surfaces of the vehicle rear side are substantially flush with each other (see FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the inflator 25 is formed in a substantially columnar shape that is arranged so that the axial direction is substantially along the left-right direction. And a small-diameter gas discharge portion 28 protruding from the tip side. In the gas discharge portion 28, a large number of gas discharge ports 28a capable of discharging the expansion gas are formed radially along the circumferential direction. In the case of the embodiment, the gas discharge portion 28 is disposed on the left end 26 d side of the main body portion 26. On the right end 26a side of the main body portion 26, a connection port portion 29 for connecting a connector 31 to which an operation signal input lead wire 32 is connected is formed (see FIGS. 3, 5, and 17).

  In the main body portion 26 of the inflator 25, in the case of the embodiment, a position near the end portion (right end 26a) on the connection port portion 29 side is formed in an inflator storage portion 41 described later in the case 34 as shown in FIG. A recessed portion 27 that can be locked by inserting the protruding portion 47 is formed so that the outer peripheral surface 26c is recessed. As shown in FIG. 12, the concave portions 27 are arranged at two locations that are symmetric about the axis C1 of the main body portion 26. In the embodiment, a part of the outer peripheral surface 26c of the main body portion 26 is The inflator 25 is formed so as to be cut out substantially along the direction orthogonal to the axis (the storing direction of the inflator 25 in the case 34). More specifically, each of the recesses 27 is cut out so that the bottom surface 27a has a substantially flat shape by a length that is approximately the same as the radius of the main body 26. Further, in the inflator 25 of the embodiment, the main body portion 26 is provided with a concave groove 26e formed by cutting out the outer peripheral surface 26c over the entire circumference. In the embodiment, the concave portion 27 is formed as shown in FIGS. , 13, adjacent to the right side of the groove 26 e (on the connection port 29 side), it is formed so as to continue from the groove 26 e. And the recessed part 27 is formed so that the right side surface 27b (surface by the side of the connection port part 29) which latches the projection part 47 may be made substantially orthogonal to the bottom face 27a.

  In the case of the embodiment, the case 34 is configured by opening the vehicle rear side. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the case 34 includes an airbag storage portion 35 for storing a folded airbag 69. And an inflator storage portion 41 for storing the inflator 25. In the case of the embodiment, the case 34 is made of sheet metal, and the airbag storage portion 35 and the inflator storage portion 41 are integrally formed by pressing. Further, in the case of the embodiment, the case 34 is mounted on the vehicle so that the axial direction of the peripheral wall portion 36 in the airbag storage portion 35 is inclined rearward and downward with respect to the front-rear direction (FIGS. 1 and 2). reference).

  The airbag storage part 35 has a substantially square cylindrical peripheral wall part 36 and a bottom wall part 39 that closes the front end side of the peripheral wall part 36, and causes the airbag 69 to protrude on the rear end side. It has a substantially box shape having a projection opening 35a. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the airbag storage portion 35 is set such that the width dimension in the left-right direction (the axial direction side of the inflator 25) is larger than the length dimension of the inflator 25. As described above, the peripheral wall portion 36 is arranged so that the axial direction is inclined rearward and downward with respect to the front-rear direction, and the rear edge side of the upper side wall 37 and the lower side wall 38 facing each other in the vertical direction in the peripheral wall portion 36. Are provided with locking claws 37a and 38a for locking the peripheral edges of the locking holes 20a and 21a formed in the attachment pieces 20 and 21 of the airbag cover 15. The locking claws 37a, 38a are formed by projecting outward in the vertical direction and bent into a substantially L-shaped cross section so that the tip is inverted toward the front side of the vehicle. 37 and the lower side wall 38 are formed at five locations along the left-right direction, respectively (see FIG. 5).

  In the case of the embodiment, the bottom wall portion 39 closes a part of the front end side of the peripheral wall portion 36 and extends inward from the entire area of the front edge side of the peripheral wall portion 36 as shown in FIGS. Such a substantially quadrangular annular region is used. In the vicinity of the four corners of the bottom wall portion 39, insertion holes 39a for inserting bolts 65 as fixing means (described later) of the retainer 51 are formed (see FIG. 6). The bottom wall 39 is formed in a flat shape corresponding to a later-described presser 53 of the retainer 51 as a mounting seat for attaching a peripheral edge of a later-described gas inlet 71 in the airbag 69.

  The inflator storage portion 41 is formed by denting a central region, which is a part of the bottom wall portion 39 of the airbag storage portion 35, in the front upper side. The bottom wall 39 is recessed in a substantially semicircular arc shape. In the inflator storage portion 41, the left end region in which the gas discharge portion 28 of the inflator 25 is stored is gently extending toward the bottom wall portion 39 of the airbag storage portion 35 in the cross section along the axial direction (left-right direction) of the inflator 25. (See FIGS. 3 and 7). Further, in the inflator storage portion 41, the right region where the connection port portion 29 of the inflator 25 is disposed is cut out so that the connection port portion 29 can be exposed when the inflator 25 is stored. That is, the inflator storage portion 41 is provided with an opening 41b for connecting the connector 31 to the connection port portion 29 by exposing the connection port portion 29 of the inflator 25 in the region on the right end side (FIG. 5). , 7). The area where the opening 41b is arranged is formed by cutting out the bottom wall 39 as well (see FIGS. 5 to 7). In the case of the embodiment, the inflator 25 has a front upper half portion on the end portion (right end 26a) side on the connection port portion 29 side in the main body portion 26, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. It is accommodated in the inflator accommodating portion 41 so as to largely protrude (expose) from the opening 41b.

  And in the case of embodiment, the inflator accommodating part 41 has arrange | positioned the substantially rectangular opening 41a which made the longitudinal direction substantially along the axial direction of the inflator 25 in the center side of right and left for the weight reduction. (See FIGS. 6 and 7). That is, the inflator storage part 41 is a discharge part side part 42 that covers the front upper half area of the area from the gas discharge part 28 of the inflator 25 to the left end 26d side (gas discharge part 28 side) of the main body part 26 including the left side. And a main body side portion 46 that covers the front upper half region of the left side region of the connection port portion 29 in the main body portion 26 of the inflator 25.

  The discharge part side portion 42 has a semi-cylindrical shape on the right side so as to cover the outer peripheral side of the front upper half of the inflator 25, and the left side area disposed on the left side of the gas discharge part 28 is an airbag storage part. The bottom wall portion 39 is gently inclined toward the bottom wall portion 39 so as to continue to the bottom wall portion 39. 5-7, the discharge part side part 42 protrudes toward the inflator 25 side (main part 26 side) at a part arranged in the vicinity of the left end 26d of the main part 26 in the inflator 25. A case-side seal portion 43 that seals the surface 43 a against the outer peripheral surface 26 c of the main body portion 26 is disposed over the entire region along the circumferential direction of the inflator 25. In the case of the embodiment, the case-side seal portion 43 has a substantially trapezoidal shape in which the cross-sectional shape along the axial direction of the inflator 25 is narrowed toward the distal end surface 43a side. In detail, the case-side seal portion 43 is continuously formed over the entire region along the circumferential direction of the inflator 25 in the region between the bottom wall portions 39 (see FIG. 16). The case-side seal portion 43 is formed by recessing a part of the discharge portion-side portion 42, and the case 34 (inflator housing) of the inflation gas discharged from the gas discharge port 28a when the inflator 25 is operated. Part 41) and the body part 26 of the inflator 25 are arranged in order to prevent them from coming off. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the case-side seal portion 43 is formed at a position facing a retainer-side seal portion 56, which will be described later, formed on the retainer 51 on the axial orthogonal direction side of the inflator 25.

  In the case of the embodiment, the inflator 25 is a region on the left side of the case side seal portion 43 and the retainer side seal portion 56, that is, the discharge portion side portion 42 in the inflator storage portion 41 and the discharge portion cover portion 54 in the retainer main body 52. The space around the left region from the vicinity of the left end 26d of the main body portion 26 housed in the region is held by the pressing portion 53 and the bottom wall portion 39, and the case side seal portion 43 and the retainer side seal portion 56. It is sealed and stored in the case 34.

  Further, on the right edge 42a side of the discharge portion side portion 42, the position that is substantially in the center in the circumferential direction is slightly inward of the case 34 (on the inflator 25 side), as shown in FIGS. The support part 44 which receives the main-body part 26 at the time of attaching to the case 34 of the inflator 25 by the retainer 51 is formed in a flat plate shape. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 14, the support portion 44 is formed at a position facing the deformation contact portion 57 (described later) of the retainer 51 on the side perpendicular to the axis of the inflator 25. When the inflator 25 is attached to the case 34 with the nut 65 fixed to the nut 66, the main body portion 26 of the inflator 25 is received and the deformation contact portion 57 formed on the retainer 51 is easily bent.

  The main body side portion 46 is disposed between the openings 41a and 41b and covers the outer peripheral side of the front upper half region of the main body portion 26 of the inflator 25 that is on the right side of the left and right center and excluding the vicinity of the right end 26a. A substantially semi-cylindrical shape is possible. The main body side portion 46 is partially recessed at two opposite locations near the center of the main body side portion 46 along the axial direction of the inflator 25 and near the bottom wall 39. Thus, a protrusion 47 that partially protrudes toward the inflator 25 is formed (see FIGS. 5 to 7). In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, each protrusion 47 is formed so as to continue from the bottom wall 39, and has a cross-sectional shape on the direction side (left-right direction side) along the axial direction of the inflator 25. In a substantially rectangular shape (see FIG. 13), the left and right side surfaces are substantially orthogonal to the main body side portion 46 so as to be along the axis orthogonal direction of the inflator 25 (the storage direction of the inflator 25 in the case 34), The flat distal end surface 47 a is configured to be substantially orthogonal to the bottom wall portion 39. These protrusions 47 are formed by partially denting the outer peripheral surface 26c of the main body 26 of the inflator 25 when the inflator 25 is stored in the inflator storage 41 of the case 34 from the projection opening 35a. While being inserted into the recess 27, the right side surface 47b (the surface on the connection port portion 29 side) and the front end surface 47a are brought into contact with the right side surface 27b (the surface on the connection port portion 29 side and the bottom surface 27a), respectively. In this manner, the inflator storage portion 41 when the inflator 25 is stored in the inflator storage portion 41 by engaging the right side surface 47b with the right side surface 27b of the recess portion 27 is engaged with the recess portion 27. The gas discharge portion 28 is positioned with respect to the projection portion 47. Further, in the embodiment, the protrusion portions 47 are formed at two locations along the circumferential direction of the inflator 25. Since the front end surface 47a is in contact with the bottom surface 27a of the recess 27, the inflator 25 is restrained from rotating in the circumferential direction with respect to the inflator storage portion 41, and the inflator storage portion. 12 and 13, the inflator 25 is inflated with the projection 47 formed on the inflator storage 41 being inserted into the recess 27, as shown in FIGS. It is housed inside and attached to the case 34.

  Further, on the right edge 46a side of the main body side portion 46, a position substantially at the center in the circumferential direction is similar to the support portion 44 formed in the discharge portion side portion 42 as shown in FIGS. A support portion 48 that receives the main body portion 26 when the inflator 25 is attached to the case 34 by the retainer 51 is disposed so that it is located slightly inward of the case 34 (on the inflator 25 side) and is partially flat. Has been. The support portion 48 is formed at a position facing the deformation contact portion 60 of the retainer 51 on the side perpendicular to the axis of the inflator 25 (see FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIGS. 5, 8, and 9, the retainer 51 includes a retainer body 52 made of sheet metal, and a bolt 65 as a fixing unit protruding from the retainer body 52. The retainer main body 52 has an elongated shape whose outer shape is slightly smaller than the bottom wall portion 39 of the airbag storage portion 35 so that it can be stored in the airbag storage portion 35 of the case 34. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the retainer body 52 is set such that the width dimension on the left and right direction side (the axial direction side of the inflator 25) is larger than the length dimension of the inflator 25. In the case of the embodiment, the retainer main body 52 projects bolts 65 as fixing means for attaching to the airbag storage portion 35 at four corners of a presser portion 53 described later. That is, the bolts 65 are respectively along the direction orthogonal to the axis of the inflator 25 on both ends of the retainer main body 52 in the longitudinal direction (the direction along the axial direction of the inflator 25) and of the inflator 25 (main body portion 26). They are arranged at two locations with the axis C1 in between (see FIG. 8). In the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, the retainer 51 in a state where the retainer main body 52 is accommodated inside the airbag 69 so that the bolt 65 protrudes to the outside is combined with the airbag 69 in the airbag accommodating portion 35. And the bolt 65 is inserted into the insertion hole 39a formed in the bottom wall 39 of the case 34 in a state where the inflator 25 is stored in the inflator storage 41, and the retainer main body 52 is placed on the bottom wall 39. The airbag 69 and the inflator 25 are attached to the case 34 by placing the nut 66 on the bolt 65 projecting from the bottom wall 39. Further, in the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, separate brackets 81 and 81 for attaching the case 34 to the body 1 side of the vehicle are fastened together using the bolts 65 of the retainer 51 (see FIG. 3). ). As shown in FIG. 4, the brackets 81 and 81 are connected to brackets 3 and 3 extending from the instrument panel reinforcement 2 on the body 1 side.

  The retainer main body 52 covers the rear lower side of the inflator 25 by making the outer peripheral edge side region substantially flat over the entire circumference so that the periphery of the gas inlet 71 of the airbag 69 can be pressed between the bottom wall 39. The central region is configured to be curved so as to protrude rearwardly. Specifically, the retainer main body 52 includes a substantially flat plate-like, substantially square-shaped presser portion 53 disposed on the outer peripheral edge side, and two cover portions (discharge portion cover portions) disposed in the inner peripheral side region of the presser portion 53. 54, a main body cover portion 59) and a presser plate portion 63 (see FIGS. 8, 9, 12, and 15). Further, in the retainer 51 of the embodiment, in order to reduce the weight, the longitudinal direction is inflated between the discharge portion cover portion 54 and the main body portion cover portion 59 and between the main body portion cover portion 59 and the presser plate portion 63. The substantially rectangular openings 52a and 52b that are substantially along the 25 axial directions are arranged (see FIGS. 8 and 9). The pressing portion 53 is a portion that sandwiches the periphery of the gas inlet 71 of the airbag 69 with the bottom wall portion 39, and on the protruding opening 35 a side on the outer peripheral edge side over the entire periphery in order to maintain strength. The rib 53a which protrudes toward is arranged (see FIGS. 5 and 9).

  The discharge portion cover portion 54 and the main body portion cover portion 59 are extended from the inner peripheral edge side of the pressing portion 53, and the inflator 25 (main body portion 26) can be sandwiched between the inflator storage portion 41 and the retainer 51. The cross-sectional shape of the 25 axis orthogonal direction side is configured to be curved in a substantially semicircular arc shape (see FIGS. 12 and 15). The discharge part cover part 54 is configured to cover the lower half of the area from the gas discharge part 28 of the inflator 25 to the left end 26d side (gas discharge part 28 side) of the main body part 26 including the left side. The part cover part 59 is configured to cover the rear lower half area of the left side area of the connection port part 29 in the main body part 26 of the inflator 25.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge portion cover portion 54 is disposed at a position facing the discharge portion side portion 42 of the inflator storage portion 41 in the case 34 on the axis orthogonal direction side of the inflator 25. It is formed to project in a semi-cylindrical shape toward the rear lower side so as to cover the outer peripheral side of the rear lower half (projection opening 35a side), and the vicinity of the left end also projects toward the rear lower side. Further, it is configured to be curved in a substantially spherical shape. In the discharge portion cover portion 54, a gas outlet that allows the inflation gas discharged from the gas discharge port 28 a to flow into the airbag 69 is provided in the region of the gas discharge portion 28 on the protruding opening 35 a side (rear lower side). 55 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape (see FIG. 8). This gas outlet 55 is arranged corresponding to the gas outlet 28 a of the inflator 25 that is positioned and arranged in the inflator housing 41 when attached to the case 34, and communicates with the gas inlet 71 of the airbag 69. Therefore, in the case of the embodiment, the retainer body 52 is arranged in a biased manner on the left side which is one end side in the longitudinal direction.

  In the airbag device S of the embodiment, the periphery of the gas discharge part 28 in the inflator 25 on the side perpendicular to the axis is the periphery of the gas outlet 55 in the discharge part cover part 54 of the retainer 51 as shown in FIG. The expansion gas discharged from the gas discharge ports 28a provided radially in the gas discharge portion 28 is covered with a substantially cylindrical member including the portion and the discharge portion side portion 42 in the inflator storage portion 41. G is smoothly guided into the airbag 69 through the gas outlet 55 by the inner peripheral surfaces of the discharge portion side portion 42 and the discharge portion cover portion 54.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the discharge portion cover portion 54 is located near the left end 26 d of the main body 26 in the inflator 25 at the periphery of the gas outlet 55, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. A retainer-side seal portion 56 that projects toward the outer periphery and seals the tip end surface 56 a against the outer peripheral surface 26 c of the main body portion 26 is disposed over the entire region along the circumferential direction of the inflator 25. In the case of the embodiment, the retainer-side seal portion 56 has a substantially trapezoidal shape in which the cross-sectional shape along the axial direction of the inflator 25 is narrowed toward the distal end surface 56a side. In detail, the retainer-side seal portion 56 is continuously formed in the region between the presser portions 53 over the entire region along the circumferential direction of the inflator 25 (see FIG. 16). The retainer-side seal portion 56 is formed by recessing a part of the discharge portion cover portion 54, and the airbag 69 and the inflator of the inflation gas discharged from the gas discharge port 28a when the inflator 25 is operated. It is arranged to prevent the 25 main body portions 26 from coming off.

  As described above, the retainer-side seal portion 56 is formed at a position facing the case-side seal portion 43 formed in the inflator storage portion 41 of the case 34 on the axially orthogonal direction side of the inflator 25 (FIG. 14). 16). That is, in the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the inflator 25 is configured so that the outer peripheral side of the region in the vicinity of the left end 26 d of the main body portion 26 in the vicinity of the gas discharge portion 28 is substantially the entire area in the circumferential direction. Thus, the case-side seal portion 43 and the retainer-side seal portion 56 are sealed, and the expansion gas can be prevented from leaking out of the case 34 as much as possible. In the case of the embodiment, between the retainer-side seal portion 56 and the main body portion 26, as shown in FIG. 14, there is a peripheral portion (portion on the right edge 71 a side) of the gas inlet 71 of the airbag 69. Intervened.

  Further, on the right edge 54a (left edge of the opening 52a) side of the discharge portion cover portion 54, the inflator storage portion is formed such that the discharge portion cover portion 54 is partially recessed at a position substantially at the center in the circumferential direction. A deforming contact portion 57 that protrudes toward the 41 side (the inflator 25 side) is formed (see FIGS. 8 and 9). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 14, the deforming contact portion 57 is opposed to the support portion 44 formed in the discharge portion side portion 42 of the inflator storage portion 41 in the case 34 on the axial orthogonal direction side of the inflator 25. It has a substantially flat pressing surface 57a on the tip side. Further, around the deformation contact portion 57 in the discharge portion cover portion 54, the discharge portion cover portion 54 is notched so that the deformation contact portion 57 can be bent when pressed against the main body portion 26 of the inflator 25. A meat stealing portion 58 formed in this manner is provided. In the case of the embodiment, the meat stealing portion 58 is formed in a substantially U-shaped groove shape so as to surround the left side of the deformation contact portion 57 as shown in FIGS. In a state before the deformation contact portion 57 is attached to the case 34, the main body portion in a state in which the inflator 25 is attached to the case 34 by using the retainer 51 and the projection amount h <b> 1 from the surrounding discharge portion cover portion 54. 26 is set to be larger than the gap t1 between the outer peripheral surface 26c of the nozzle 26 and the discharge portion cover portion 54 (see FIG. 14).

  When the nut 66 is fastened to the bolt 65 protruding from the bottom wall 39 of the case 34, the deformation contact portion 57 is in a state where the presser surface 57 a is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 26 c of the main body portion 26 in the inflator 25. Thus, it is pressed against the outer peripheral surface 26c of the main body 26 so as to bend the portion around the pressing surface 57a (see FIGS. 14 and 15). In the airbag device S according to the embodiment, the support portion 44 is disposed at a position corresponding to the deformation contact portion 57 of the inflator storage portion 41 in the case 34. The main body portion 26 of the inflator 25 pressed by the contact portion 57 can be received, and the deformation contact portion 57 can be firmly pressed against the outer peripheral surface 26c of the main body portion 26. The support portion 44 and the deformation contact portion 57, the inflator 25 can be firmly held.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main body cover portion 59 is disposed at a position facing the main body side portion 46 of the inflator storage portion 41 in the case 34 on the axial orthogonal direction side of the inflator 25. It is formed so as to protrude in a semi-cylindrical shape toward the rear lower side so as to cover the outer peripheral side of the rear lower half (projection opening 35a side). On the right edge 59a (the left edge of the opening 52b) side of the main body cover 59, the meat stealing portion 61 is also arranged around the periphery in the same manner as the discharge portion cover 54 at the position that is substantially the center in the circumferential direction. A deformation contact portion 60 is formed (see FIGS. 8 and 9). Similar to the deformation contact portion 57 described above, the deformation contact portion 60 is formed by projecting toward the inflator storage portion 41 side (inflator 25 side) so that the main body cover portion 59 is partially recessed. The support portion 48 formed in the main body side portion 46 of the inflator storage portion 41 in the case 34 and the axis orthogonal direction side of the inflator 25 are configured to have a substantially flat pressing surface 60a on the distal end side. Are formed at positions facing each other (see FIG. 3).

  In the retainer main body 52, the retainer plate portion 63 is located on the right side of the main body portion cover portion 59 (on the right side of the opening 52b) and on the right side of the inflator 25 when mounted on the vehicle (on the connection port portion 29 side of the inflator 25). Formed in the region between the right end 26a and the bolt 65) so that the amount of protrusion to the rear side of the main body cover portion 59 is smaller and substantially parallel to the presser portion 53 (see FIG. (See FIGS. 8 and 9). As shown in FIG. 17, the presser plate portion 63 is disposed in a region overlapping with the main body portion 26 of the inflator 25 when viewed from the axial direction side of the inflator 25. In order to control the removal of the inflator 25 from the inflator storage part 41 in contact with the right end surface 26b of the main body part 26 when trying to move along the axial direction starting from the 29th side (right end 26a side), Is formed.

  In the case of the embodiment, the airbag 69 is formed from a woven fabric made of flexible polyester, polyamide yarn or the like, and the shape when the inflation is completed is shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. In addition, the left and right knees K (KL, KR) of the driver D can be protected as a substantially rectangular plate shape. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the airbag 69 includes an occupant side wall portion 69 a disposed on the occupant side (driver D side) upon completion of inflation, and a vehicle body side wall portion 69 b disposed on the vehicle body side. And a peripheral portion of each of the front and rear ends of the bag 34. The mounting portion 70, which is a portion on the front end side and is disposed in the airbag storage portion 35 of the case 34 when the inflation is completed, And a protective inflating portion 75 that is wide on the left and right sides and protects the knee K (KL, KR) of the driver D when the inflation is completed.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a gas inflow port 71 that is opened in a substantially rectangular shape, four insertion holes 72, and two through holes 73 are formed in the region of the attachment portion 70 in the vehicle body side wall 69 b. ing. The gas inlet 71 is disposed at a position facing the gas outlet 28 a of the inflator 25 and corresponding to the gas outlet 55 of the retainer 51, and is discharged from the gas outlet 28 a of the inflator 25. This is a part for allowing the inflation gas to flow into the airbag 69. In the case of the embodiment, the left edge 71b of the gas inlet 71 is disposed to the left of the left edge 55b of the gas outlet 55 formed in the discharge portion cover portion 54 of the retainer 51, and the right edge 71a is The outlet 55 is disposed at a position substantially coincident with the right edge 55a of the outlet 55. That is, a portion of the attachment portion 70 near the right edge 71a of the gas inlet 71 is interposed between the retainer side seal portion 56 disposed on the right side of the gas outlet 55 and the main body portion 26 of the inflator 25. Yes. In addition, the gas inlet 71 is configured such that the front and rear edges are located slightly outside the front and rear edges of the gas outlet 55 (see FIG. 18). The four insertion holes 72 are for inserting the respective bolts 65 of the retainer 51, and are arranged in a region sandwiched by the pressing portion 53 of the retainer main body 52. The two through-holes 73 allow the deformation contact portions 57 and 60 formed in the retainer main body 52 to pass therethrough so that the deformation contact portions 57 and 60 directly contact the outer peripheral surface 26 c of the main body portion 26 of the inflator 25. For this reason, they are arranged in parallel along the axial direction (left-right direction) of the inflator 25.

  The airbag 69 according to the embodiment includes an insertion hole 72 on the outer peripheral side of the gas inlet 71 and the through hole 73 (periphery of the gas inlet 71) in the vehicle body side wall 69 b in the region of the attachment portion 70. A substantially square annular area AR (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 10) is sandwiched between the bottom wall 39 of the airbag storage part 35 and the holding part 53 of the retainer 51 in the case 34. The attachment portion is attached to the portion 39. That is, in the airbag 69 of the embodiment, the insertion hole 72 through which the bolt 65 can be inserted is arranged in the region AR sandwiched between the presser portion 53 and the bottom wall portion 39 in the vehicle body side wall portion 69b in the region of the attachment portion 62. The gas inflow port 71 and the two through holes 73 and 73 into which the deformation contact portions 57 and 60 can be inserted are provided along the axial direction (left and right direction) of the inflator 25 inside the area AR. Are arranged side by side. In other words, the vehicle body side wall 69b of the airbag 69 is disposed on the periphery of the gas inlet 71 inside the region AR, except for the through holes 73 and 73 through which the deformation contact portions 57 and 60 are inserted. The deforming contact portions 57 and 60 (the discharge portion cover portion 54 and the main body portion cover portion 59) are arranged at positions corresponding to the through holes 73 and 73.

  In the airbag 69 of the embodiment, two tethers 77 and 78 that connect the vehicle body side wall portion 69b and the occupant side wall portion 69a are separated in the vertical direction in the airbag 69 and are arranged substantially along the left-right direction. It is installed. The tether 78 is disposed so as to partition the attachment portion 70 and the protective expansion portion 75, and the tether 77 is disposed so as to partition the region of the protective expansion portion 75 vertically. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, each of the tethers 77 and 78 has a coupling portion with the vehicle body side wall portion 69b on the front side (mounting portion 70 side) with respect to the coupling portion with the passenger side wall portion 69a. It is arranged so as to be inclined. These tethers 77 and 78 are arranged substantially along the front-rear direction as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

  Next, mounting of the airbag device S of the embodiment on a vehicle will be described. First, the retainer 51 is inserted into the airbag 69 from the gas inlet 71 and the bolt 65 is protruded from the insertion hole 72 so that the retainer body 52 is accommodated in the airbag 69. Is folded so that it can be stored in the airbag storage portion 35 of the case 34, and the surroundings are wrapped around by a wrapping material (not shown) that can be broken to prevent collapse. At this time, the bolt 65 of the retainer 51 is protruded from the wrapping material, and the gas inlet 71 and the through hole 73 are exposed from the wrapping material. Next, the inflator 25 is inserted into the case 34 through the opening 35a for protrusion, and the protrusion 47 formed in the main body side portion 46 is inserted into the concave portion 27 formed in the main body portion 26 so that the inflator 25 is inserted. Is stored in the inflator storage 41 in the case 34. Thereafter, the folded airbag 69 is accommodated in the airbag accommodating portion 35 of the case 34 so that the bolt 65 is inserted into the insertion hole 39 a of the bottom wall portion 39, and the bolt protruding from the bottom wall portion 39. A spring washer (not shown) is fitted into 65.

  Next, the airbag cover 15 is assembled to the case 34 so that the locking claws 37a and 38a are locked to the peripheral edges of the locking holes 20a and 21a, and the bolts 65 are inserted into the brackets 81 and 81. If the nut 66 is fastened to the air bag assembly, the airbag assembly can be assembled. When the nut 66 is fastened to the bolt 65, the retainer 51 is connected to the case 34, so that the inflator 25 and the airbag 69 can be attached to the case 34. In detail, in the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, when the nut 66 is fastened to the bolt 65, the deforming contact portions 57 and 60 formed on the retainer main body 52 bend the surrounding portions and The presser surfaces 57 a and 60 a are pressed against the outer peripheral surface 26 c of the main body portion 26 of the inflator 25, and the inflator 25 connects the main body portion 26 to the deforming contact portions 57 and 60 and the inflator storage portion 41 of the case 34. It is attached to the case 34 so as to be sandwiched between the support portions 44 and 48 arranged at the corresponding positions.

  Then, the brackets 81, 81 of the airbag assembly are attached and fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement 2 on the body 1 side using the bracket 3, and the connection of the inflator 25 exposed from the inflator storage part 41 of the case 34 is connected. A connector 31 connected with a lead wire 32 extending from the airbag operating circuit is connected to the mouth portion 29. Thereafter, if the instrument panel 11 or the under cover 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) is attached, the airbag device S can be mounted on the vehicle.

  After the airbag device S is mounted on the vehicle, if an operation signal is input to the inflator 25 via the lead wire 32, the inflation gas is discharged from the gas discharge port 28a of the inflator 25 and flows into the airbag 69. Will be. The airbag 69 is inflated by infusing an inflating gas into the interior, breaking a wrapping material (not shown), pressing the door portion 17 of the airbag cover 15, and the door portion 17 being a surrounding fracture planned portion. While breaking 18, the hinge portion 19 is opened downward with the center of rotation. The airbag 69 projects toward the vehicle rear side from the projecting opening 35a of the case 34, and the inflation is completed as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS.

  And in the airbag apparatus S of embodiment, in the inflator accommodating part 41 (discharge part side site | part 42) of the case 34 which covers the outer peripheral side of the inflator 25 substantially in half, and the discharge part cover part 54 of the retainer 51, Projecting toward the inflator 25 side at positions near the base part side of the gas discharge port 28a (gas discharge part 28) arranged on the left end 26d side of the inflator 25, the front end surfaces 43a and 56a are formed in the inflator 25. A case side seal portion 43 and a retainer side seal portion 56 configured to contact the outer peripheral surface 26c of the main body portion 26 are disposed. The case-side seal portion 43 and the retainer-side seal portion 56 are continuously arranged over the entire region along the circumferential direction of the inflator 25 and are opposed to each other on the axis-orthogonal direction side of the inflator 25. Is arranged. That is, in the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, the outer peripheral side in the vicinity of the base part side (near the left end 26d of the main body part 26) of the gas discharge port 28a of the inflator 25 is formed by the case side seal part 43 and the retainer side seal part 56. It is the structure sealed over substantially the whole region along the circumferential direction. And in the airbag apparatus S of embodiment, the retainer 51 which accommodated the inflator 25 in the inflator accommodating part 41 of the case 34, and was accommodated in the inside of the airbag 69 after that is used with the volt | bolt 65 as a fixing means. When the airbag 69 and the inflator 25 are attached to the case 34 when the airbag 34 and the inflator 25 are attached to the case 34, the case-side seal portion 43 and the retainer-side seal portion 56 are connected to the distal end surface. 43a and 56a are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface 26c of the inflator 25, and the outer peripheral side of the inflator 25 is sealed in a substantially linear shape over substantially the entire region in the circumferential direction.

  That is, in the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, the case-side seal portion 43 and the retainer-side seal portion 56 are formed so as to be partially recessed in the inflator storage portion 41 and the retainer 51 of the case 34, respectively. If formed, the outer peripheral side of the inflator 25 can be sealed, and the inflation gas can be prevented from leaking out of the case 34 during operation. Therefore, as a conventional knee protection airbag device using a separate member The number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, in the airbag device S of the embodiment, when the inflator 25 and the airbag 69 are attached to the case 34, the case side seal portion 43 and the retainer side seal portion 56 are simultaneously connected to the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 26 in the inflator 25. Since the outer peripheral side of the main body portion 26 of the inflator 25 can be sealed by press-contacting to the 26c side, the number of manufacturing steps can be reduced.

  Therefore, in the airbag device S of the embodiment, even if the inflator 25 is sandwiched between the retainer 51 and the inflator storage portion 41 and attached to the case 34, the simple configuration of the outside of the case 34 at the time of operation is provided. It is possible to suppress the leakage of the expansion gas to the.

  Further, in the airbag device S of the embodiment, the peripheral portion of the gas inlet 71 in the airbag 69 (on the right edge 71a side) between the retainer side seal portion 56 and the outer peripheral surface 26c of the main body portion 26 in the inflator 25. Therefore, the peripheral portion of the gas inflow port 71 in the airbag 69 is pressed substantially linearly by the retainer-side seal portion 56, and the gas flow of the airbag 69 is reduced. Even when the inlet 71 is disposed at a position corresponding to the gas discharge port 28a of the inflator 25 so as to be deviated on the axial direction side (left-right direction side) of the inflator 25, the gas inlet 71 is connected to the inflator when the inflator 25 is operated. It is possible to suppress displacement from the position 25. Of course, if this point is not taken into consideration, the peripheral portion of the gas inlet of the airbag does not have to be interposed between the retainer side seal portion and the inflator.

  Furthermore, in the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, the retainer 51 is provided with the deforming contact portions 57 and 60 in the region of the discharge portion cover portion 54 and the main body portion cover portion 59. When the inflator 25 is attached to the case 34 using the retainer 51, the deformation contact portions 57 and 60 projecting toward the inflator 25 are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface 26 c of the main body portion 26 in the inflator 25. Therefore, the inflator 25 can be held in a stable manner by the retainer 51 and the inflator storage part 41 and attached to the inflator storage part 41 in a state in which rattling is suppressed. it can. In particular, in the embodiment, since the through holes 73 and 73 for inserting the deformation contact portions 57 and 60 are formed in the airbag 69, the deformation contact portions 57 and 60 are the main body in the inflator 25. The inflator 25 is directly brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface 26 c of the portion 26, and the inflator 25 can be clamped more firmly by the retainer 51 and the inflator storage portion 41.

  Further, in the airbag device S of the embodiment, the gas inlet 71 is disposed in the airbag 69 in the area AR sandwiched between the holding portion 53 of the retainer 51 and the bottom wall portion 39 of the airbag storage portion 35. Since the insertion holes 72 into which the bolts 65 of the retainer 51 can be inserted are formed at the four corners of the area AR, the gas inlet 71 is arranged in a biased manner on the axial direction side (left and right direction side) of the inflator 25. Even in such a configuration, the inflator 25 can be firmly attached to the case 34 by the four bolts 65 and the two deformation contact portions 57 and 60. Furthermore, in the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, the side wall of the vehicle body 69 of the airbag 69 except for the portions of the through holes 73 and 73 at the periphery of the gas inlet 71 inside the area AR sandwiched by the pressing portion 53. 69b is disposed, and the deformation contact portions 57 and 60 (the discharge portion cover portion 54 and the main body portion cover portion 59) are disposed at the portions of the through holes 73 and 73. Gas leakage can be prevented as much as possible.

  In addition, as an airbag, it does not have the through-hole for allowing a deformation | transformation contact part to penetrate, but the airbag itself (airbag is comprised in the peripheral edge of the gas inlet in the area | region pinched | interposed by the holding | suppressing part. You may use the thing of the structure which arrange | positions a base fabric.

  Moreover, in the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, the retainer 51 is connected to the gas inlet 71 and the gas outlet 55 through which the inflation gas discharged from the gas outlet 28a flows out is on one side in the longitudinal direction. The retainer side seal portion 56 is disposed in the vicinity of the gas outlet 55, although it is biased toward the left side. When the airbag 69 projects from the projecting opening 35a during operation, the retainer side seal portion 56 is disposed in the vicinity of the gas outlet 55. In addition, even when the longitudinal center side of the retainer 51 (retainer main body 52) is pulled toward the protruding opening 35a, the gas inlet 71 and the gas outlet 55 can be prevented from being displaced. Thus, the inflation gas can smoothly flow into the airbag 69 from the gas inlet 71.

  Furthermore, in the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, the airbag 69 is folded with only the retainer 51 inserted therein, and the folded airbag 69 is stored in the inflator storage portion 41. The inflator 25 and the air bag 69 are accommodated in the air bag housing portion 35 of the case 34 and attached to the bottom wall 39 of the air bag housing portion 35 by using bolts 65 as fixing means. Therefore, the folding operation of the airbag 69 and the mounting operation of the airbag 69 and the inflator 25 to the case 34 can be performed in different places. That is, also in the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, the airbag 69 and the inflator 25 folded in a state where the retainer 51 is housed inside can be stored in different places until the airbag apparatus is assembled. Therefore, in the airbag apparatus S of the embodiment, the airbag 69 can be folded even in a place where no facility for handling the inflator is provided, and the folded airbag 69 can be easily transported. Therefore, the degree of freedom in the manufacturing process of the airbag device S can be increased.

15 ... Airbag cover,
25 ... Inflator,
26 ... body part,
26c ... outer peripheral surface,
26d ... left end,
28 ... gas discharge part,
28a ... Gas outlet,
34 ... Case,
35 ... Airbag storage unit,
39 ... bottom wall,
41. Inflator storage,
43. Case side seal part,
43a ... tip surface,
51 ... Retainer,
53. Presser part,
54 ... discharge part cover part (cover part),
55 ... gas outlet,
56 ... Retainer side seal,
56a ... tip surface,
57, 60 ... deformation contact part,
59 ... Main body cover part (cover part),
65 ... bolt (fixing means),
69 ... Airbag,
71: Gas inlet,
72 ... insertion hole,
73 ... through hole,
D ... Driver (occupant),
K (KL, KR) ... knees,
S: Air bag device for knee protection.

Claims (3)

Placed in front of the knees of the occupant seated in the seat,
An airbag that inflates the inflatable gas so as to protect the occupant's knees; an inflator that supplies the inflating gas to the airbag; and a case that houses the airbag and the inflator. A knee protection airbag device comprising:
The case is
A substantially rectangular tube-shaped peripheral wall portion and a bottom wall portion that closes one end of the peripheral wall portion, and a substantially box shape having a protruding opening for protruding the airbag. An airbag storage portion for storing the folded airbag;
An inflator storage portion formed by recessing a part of the bottom wall portion of the airbag storage portion into a substantially semicircular arc shape so that the inflator can be stored;
It is set as the composition provided with,
The inflator is configured by arranging a gas discharge port capable of discharging the inflation gas on the distal end side, which is one end side along the axial direction, with the outer shape being substantially cylindrical.
A retainer that holds the airbag and the inflator in the airbag and presses the periphery of the gas inlet that allows the inflation gas to flow into the airbag is attached to the bottom wall portion using fixing means. By being configured to be attached to the case,
The retainer is
A substantially square annular presser part that is disposed on the outer peripheral side and has a substantially flat plate shape along the bottom wall part, and sandwiches the peripheral edge of the gas inlet in the airbag with the bottom wall part,
The cross-sectional shape of the inflator in the direction orthogonal to the axis is curved in a substantially semicircular arc shape so that the inflator can be sandwiched between the inflator storage portion and the retainer. And a cover portion configured to have a gas outlet that allows the inflation gas from the gas outlet of the inflator to flow into the airbag,
And is configured to include
In the inflator storage portion, a case-side seal portion configured to protrude toward the inflator side in a region in the vicinity of the base portion side of the gas discharge port in the inflator and have a tip surface abut against the outer peripheral surface of the inflator Is continuously formed over the entire region along the circumferential direction of the inflator in the region between the bottom walls,
The cover portion protrudes toward the inflator at a position facing the case-side seal portion at the periphery of the gas outlet on the axially orthogonal direction side of the inflator, and a front end surface is abutted against the outer peripheral surface of the inflator. A knee-protecting airbag device, wherein the retainer-side seal portion configured to contact is continuously formed over the entire region along the circumferential direction of the inflator in the region between the presser portions. The gas inlet is disposed at a position facing the gas outlet of the inflator;
2. The knee protection air according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral portion of the gas inlet of the airbag is interposed between the retainer-side seal portion and the outer peripheral surface of the inflator. Bag device. The retainer is
While arranging the bolt as the fixing means near the four corners in the presser part,
In the region of the cover portion, at two locations along the axial direction of the inflator, each is formed so as to protrude toward the inflator at one location that is substantially the center on the circumferential side of the inflator, When a meat stealing part is provided around and the inflator is attached to the case, a deforming contact part that is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inflator while being bent is arranged, and is configured.
An insertion hole through which the bolt can be inserted is disposed in a region where the airbag is clamped by the pressing portion, and the airbag itself or the cover portion is provided at the periphery of the gas inlet inside the region. The knee protection airbag device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the two is arranged to prevent gas leakage from the airbag.

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