JP5922063B2 - Curtain airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a curtain airbag device attached to a roof side rail of a vehicle.

  As an airbag device for a vehicle, in order to prevent an occupant's head from crashing into a side window or the like in the event of an accident from the side, an airbag is deployed from the roof side rail of the vehicle in a curtain shape. Are known. Such an airbag device is also referred to as a curtain airbag device.

  In the curtain airbag device, the airbag is attached along the roof side rail while being folded in an elongated shape. Further, a protective cover for protecting the airbag from above is disposed between the airbag and the roof side rail. The protective cover is for preventing the airbag from being damaged by hitting the roof side rail or the like.

  In general, a curtain airbag device before being attached to a vehicle has an airbag folded in a slender shape and a protective cover. For example, a curtain airbag device is delivered to a vehicle manufacturer in a state where an airbag and a protective cover are integrated. In the vehicle manufacturer, the airbag and the protective cover are not separated from each other but are attached to the vehicle at the same time while being integrated (see Patent Document 1 below).

JP 2011-46349 A

  Since the airbag is formed of a cloth, the airbag may be twisted in a state of being elongated and folded. In particular, since the portion of the airbag that is not covered with the protective cover is not fixed at all, it is likely to be twisted before being attached to the vehicle. If the curtain airbag device is attached to the vehicle while the airbag is twisted, the airbag will not be properly deployed in the event of an accident and the head of the occupant cannot be reliably protected. .

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a curtain airbag device that can prevent the airbag from being attached to a vehicle while being twisted. is there.

  In order to solve the above problems, a curtain airbag device according to the present invention is a curtain airbag device that is attached to a roof side rail of a vehicle, and generates an inflation gas and an airbag that is folded into an elongated state. And an inflator for supplying the inflation gas to the airbag, and a protective cover disposed between the roof side rail and the airbag so as to protect the airbag. Is a cylindrical cloth piece projecting in a direction different from the longitudinal direction thereof, and a gas introduction part which is a part for receiving the supply of the expansion gas from the inflator is formed, and the protective cover is Arranged at a position adjacent to the gas introduction part in the longitudinal direction of the airbag, at the end of the protective cover on the gas introduction part side A protrusion protruding toward the gas introduction part is formed, and the protrusion comes into contact with the gas introduction part when the airbag is twisted between the protective cover and the gas introduction part. It is characterized by being.

  A curtain airbag device according to the present invention is a safety device attached to a roof side rail of a vehicle, and includes an airbag, an inflator, and a protective cover. The air bag is deployed in a curtain shape from the roof side rail to protect the head of the occupant when an accident occurs from the side. In a normal state, the airbag is folded so as to be elongated, and is arranged so that its longitudinal direction follows the roof side rail.

  The inflator generates inflation gas and supplies the inflation gas to the airbag. The airbag is deployed by receiving supply of inflation gas from the inflator.

  The protective cover protects the airbag from at least the upper side or the side. The protective cover is mainly disposed between the roof side rail and the airbag. For this reason, when the airbag is deployed, the airbag is prevented from being damaged by hitting the roof side rail or the like.

  The airbag is formed with a gas introduction portion that is a portion that receives supply of inflation gas from the inflator. The gas introduction part is a cylindrical cloth piece, and protrudes in a direction (for example, upward direction) different from the longitudinal direction from the airbag folded in an elongated shape.

  The protective cover is not disposed over the entire airbag, but is disposed at a position adjacent to the gas introduction portion in the longitudinal direction of the airbag. That is, it is disposed at a position on the front side of the vehicle from the gas introduction part, a position on the rear side of the vehicle from the gas introduction part, or both.

  In the curtain airbag device having such a configuration, the airbag is particularly easily twisted at a position between the gas introduction portion and the protective cover. For this reason, for example, the part covered with the protective cover can be rotated along the circumferential direction (with the protective cover) without moving the part where the gas introduction part is formed in the airbag. Seems also. Further, it seems that the curtain airbag device can be attached to the vehicle while the airbag is twisted 360 degrees.

  However, in the curtain airbag device according to the present invention, a protrusion is formed at the end of the protective cover on the gas introduction part side, and the twist of the airbag is suppressed by the protrusion. Specifically, the protrusion protrudes toward the gas introduction part along the longitudinal direction of the airbag, and when the airbag is twisted between the protective cover and the gas introduction part, the protrusion becomes the gas introduction part. It becomes the composition which hits.

  For this reason, it is prevented by the protrusion that the part covered with the protective cover is rotated along the circumferential direction without moving the part where the gas introduction part is formed in the airbag. As a result, the curtain airbag device is prevented from being attached to the vehicle while the airbag is twisted.

  In the curtain airbag device according to the present invention, it is also preferable that the protrusion is formed in a plate shape.

  In this preferred embodiment, the protrusion is formed in a plate shape. For this reason, it is possible to arrange the protrusions in a limited space near the airbag while ensuring sufficient strength of the protrusions necessary to prevent the airbag from being twisted, thereby increasing the size of the curtain airbag device. Can be suppressed.

  In the curtain airbag device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the protrusion is formed so as to extend along a side surface of the airbag outside the vehicle.

  In this preferred embodiment, the protrusion is formed so as to extend along the side surface of the airbag outside the vehicle. With such a configuration, the plate-like protrusion is disposed in the gap between the airbag and the vehicle body and is not exposed to the inside of the vehicle. For this reason, when arrange | positioning another structure around a curtain airbag apparatus, a processus | protrusion does not become the hindrance.

  In the curtain airbag device according to the present invention, it is also preferable that the tip of the protrusion is formed in a curved shape.

  In this preferred embodiment, the tip of the protrusion is formed in a curved shape. With such a configuration, the airbag is prevented from being damaged when the airbag is twisted and the protrusion hits a part of the airbag (the gas introduction portion or the vicinity thereof).

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the curtain airbag apparatus which can prevent attaching to a vehicle in the state which twisted the airbag is provided.

It is a figure which shows the state which attached the curtain airbag apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention to the vehicle. FIG. 2 is an exploded view for explaining the configuration of the curtain airbag device shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which expands and shows a part among the protective covers of the curtain airbag apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which expands and shows the vicinity of an inflator among the curtain airbag apparatuses shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In order to facilitate the understanding of the description, the same constituent elements in the drawings will be denoted by the same reference numerals as much as possible, and redundant description will be omitted.

  A curtain airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1A is a view of the curtain airbag device AA attached to the right side in the traveling direction of the vehicle C as viewed from the vehicle interior side. FIG. 1B is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the airbag 10 is deployed by operating the curtain airbag device AA from the state of FIG. In FIG. 1, the x-axis is set with the direction from the front to the rear of the vehicle C as the x direction, the y-axis is set with the direction from the bottom to the top of the vehicle C as the y direction, and from the right side in the traveling direction of the vehicle C. The z axis is set with the direction toward the left in the traveling direction as the z direction. In the subsequent drawings, the x axis, the y axis, and the z axis are similarly set.

  The curtain airbag device AA is a device that deploys the airbag 10 in the vicinity of the side window of the vehicle C. Although all the embodiments will be described as a curtain airbag device for the right side in the traveling direction of the vehicle C, the curtain airbag device for the left side in the traveling direction of the vehicle C has a similar and symmetric structure.

  As shown to FIG. 1 (A), curtain airbag apparatus AA is accommodated in the vehicle compartment side surface upper direction. The curtain airbag device AA is attached to the roof side rail SL of the vehicle C. A plurality of pillars are provided in the vehicle C, and are provided in order from the front as an A pillar AP, a B pillar BP, a C pillar CP, and a D pillar DP. The inner sides of the A pillar AP, B pillar BP, C pillar CP, and D pillar DP are covered with a pillar trim formed of resin or the like. In the case of this embodiment, the curtain airbag device AA is provided from the A pillar AP to the D pillar DP.

  The curtain airbag device AA includes an airbag 10, a protective cover 20, and an inflator 30. The airbag 10 is formed into a bag shape by spinning using an OPW (One-Piece Waven). That is, it is not formed into a bag shape by sewing two base fabrics on the front and back, but the airbag 10 which is a bag-like fabric from the beginning is directly formed by spinning.

  The protective cover 20 is a plate-like cover formed by resin injection molding, and is disposed between the airbag 10 and the roof side rail SL. The protective cover 20 protects the airbag 10 from at least the upper side or the side in order to prevent the airbag 10 from being damaged by hitting the roof side rail SL or the like. The protective cover 20 plays a role of regulating the deployment direction of the airbag 10 in addition to the role of protecting the airbag 10 from above.

  The protective cover 20 is divided into a plurality along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle C. In the present embodiment, the two protective covers 21 and 22 attached so as to be aligned along the front-rear direction of the vehicle C protect the airbag 10.

  The inflator 30 is a cylinder-type inflator, and supplies inflation gas to the airbag 10 from a suitably determined position (described later) at the upper end of the airbag 10. When a side collision or rollover (rollover) occurs in the vehicle C, the inflator 30 is configured to operate. Specifically, when a side collision or rollover occurs, a sensor (not shown) provided in the vehicle C senses an impact and transmits an ignition signal to the inflator 30. Then, the explosive in the inflator 30 burns, and the generated inflation gas is supplied to the airbag 10.

  The configuration of the curtain airbag device AA will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded view for explaining the configuration of the curtain airbag device AA. 2, the curtain airbag device AA in the state shown in FIG. 1A, that is, in a state where the airbag 10 is folded long and narrow (a state where the airbag 10 is not deployed) is shown in an exploded manner.

  In the airbag 10, five fixing tabs 110 (111 to 115) are provided at the upper position in the folded state (in the present embodiment, equal to the upper position in the deployed state). It is formed so as to be aligned along the front-rear direction of C. Each fixing tab 110 is a substantially rectangular cloth piece made of the same material as the airbag 10 and is formed integrally with the airbag 10 during OPW spinning. The fixing tab 110 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the airbag 10. Each fixing tab 110 is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to the front-rear direction (x direction) of the vehicle C. In other words, all the fixing tabs 110 are arranged such that the normal direction thereof is along the z direction.

  Each fixing tab 110 is formed with a through hole HL1 so as to penetrate the substantially center thereof. In the roof side rail SL to which the curtain airbag device AA is attached, insertion holes are formed at positions corresponding to the respective through holes HL1. When the curtain airbag device AA is attached, the resin clips CL are inserted into the through holes HL1 and the insertion holes from the vehicle inner side (in the −z direction) in a state where the through holes HL1 and the insertion holes are overlapped. As a result, each fixing tab 110 is fixed to the roof side rail SL.

  A fixing plate 201 protruding upward is formed at a position corresponding to the fixing tab 112 in the protective cover 21. The fixing plate 201 is a substantially rectangular plate that is slightly larger than the fixing tab 112, and a through hole HL2 is formed so as to penetrate the substantially center thereof. When fixing the fixing tab 112 to the roof side rail SL, the fixing plate 201 is overlapped on the outside (−z direction side) of the fixing tab 112, and the through hole HL1 of the fixing tab 112 and the through hole of the fixing plate 201 are set. The clip CL is inserted from the vehicle inner side (toward the −z direction) so as to penetrate the insertion holes of the HL2 and the roof side rail SL.

  Further, a fixing plate 202 protruding upward is formed at a position corresponding to the fixing tab 113 in the protective cover 21. The fixing plate 202 is a substantially rectangular plate that is slightly larger than the fixing tab 113, and a through hole HL2 is formed so as to penetrate the substantially center thereof. When fixing the fixing tab 113 to the roof side rail SL, the fixing plate 202 is overlapped on the outside (−z direction side) of the fixing tab 113, and the through hole HL 1 of the fixing tab 113 and the through hole of the fixing plate 202 are set. The clip CL is inserted from the vehicle inner side (toward the −z direction) so as to penetrate the insertion holes of the HL2 and the roof side rail SL.

  Thus, the protective cover 21 is fixed to the roof side rail SL by the clip CL.

  The fixing of the protective cover 22 has the same configuration. A fixing plate 221 that protrudes upward is formed at a position corresponding to the fixing tab 114 in the protective cover 22. The fixing plate 221 is a substantially rectangular plate that is slightly larger than the fixing tab 114, and a through hole HL2 is formed through the fixing plate 221. When the fixing tab 114 is fixed to the roof side rail SL, the fixing plate 221 is overlapped on the outside (−z direction side) of the fixing tab 114, and the through hole HL1 of the fixing tab 114 and the through hole of the fixing plate 221 are set. The clip CL is inserted from the vehicle inner side (toward the −z direction) so as to penetrate the insertion holes of the HL2 and the roof side rail SL.

  Thus, the protective cover 22 is also fixed to the roof side rail SL by the clip CL.

  In the upper part of the airbag 10, the inflator 30 is inserted into the rear side of the fixing tab 113 arranged at a substantially central position in the front-rear direction, and the gas from the inflator 30 is supplied to the airbag 10. A gas introduction part 120 which is a part for leading to the inside is formed. The gas introduction part 120 is a cylindrical cloth piece made of the same material as the airbag 10 and is formed integrally with the airbag 10 during OPW spinning. As a result, it protrudes from the upper surface of the airbag 10. The cylindrical gas introduction part 120 communicates with the interior of the airbag 10. An opening 121 is formed at the upper end of the gas introduction part 120.

  The direction in which the gas introduction part 120 protrudes from the upper surface of the airbag 10, that is, the direction in which the central axis of the gas introduction part 120 that is cylindrical is directed is the direction toward the upper side and the vehicle rear side, as shown in FIG. It has become.

  A lower end of the inflator 30, that is, a portion of the inflation gas injection port 31 side is inserted from the opening 121 toward the inside of the gas introduction unit 120. The space between the outer peripheral surface of the inflator 30 and the inner surface of the gas introduction unit 120 is hermetically sealed. For this reason, when the inflation gas is injected from the inflator 30, almost all of the inflation gas is supplied to the inside of the airbag 10 without flowing out to the outside.

  The protective cover 21 and the protective cover 22 are separated from each other. The gas introduction part 120 and the inflator 30 are disposed at a position between the protective cover 21 and the protective cover 22. In other words, the protective cover 22 is disposed at a position adjacent to the gas introduction unit 120 along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

  A specific shape of the protective cover 22 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the protective cover 22 that is near the front end (−x direction side) end portion. As shown in FIG. 3, a protrusion 260 that protrudes further toward the front side (the gas introduction unit 120 side) is formed at the front side end of the protective cover 22. The protrusion 260 is a plate-like protrusion, and is formed so as to extend toward the front side of the vehicle through a gap between the vehicle body (the roof side rail SL or a lower portion thereof) and the airbag 10. When viewed along the z direction, the protrusion 260 has a tip 261 formed in a curved shape (and a convex shape). Further, the root 262 of the protrusion 260 is also formed in a curved shape (and a concave shape).

  FIG. 4A is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the inflator 30 in the curtain airbag device AA. FIG. 4A illustrates a state in which the vicinity of the inflator 30 is viewed from the outside of the vehicle along the z direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the protrusion 260 extends in the −x direction along the lower side surface of the airbag 10. The position of the tip 261 of the protrusion 260 is slightly forward than the position of the rear end of the gas introduction part 120.

  At a position slightly behind the root 262 of the protrusion 260, an adhesive tape TP1 is wound around the protective cover 22 and the airbag 10 from the outside, and these are fixed to each other. Further, an adhesive tape TP2 is wound around the base of the gas introduction part 120 from the outside, and the inflator 30 and the airbag 10 partially inserted into the gas introduction part 120 are fixed to each other. When the airbag 10 is deployed, the adhesive tapes TP1 and TP2 are easily cleaved. For this reason, the adhesive tapes TP1 and TP2 do not hinder the deployment of the airbag 10.

  In the curtain airbag device AA having such a configuration, the airbag 10 is particularly easily twisted at a position between the gas introduction unit 120 and the protective cover 22. In other words, it is particularly easily twisted at a position between the adhesive tape TP1 and the adhesive tape TP2. For this reason, for example, the part (the part on the front side from the adhesive tape TP2) where the gas introduction part 120 is formed in the airbag 10 is not moved, and the part covered with the protective cover 22 (the part on the rear side from the adhesive tape TP1). It seems that the portion) can be rotated once along the circumferential direction. Furthermore, it seems that the curtain airbag device AA can be attached to the vehicle while the airbag 10 is twisted 360 degrees.

  However, in the curtain airbag device AA according to the present embodiment, the twist of the airbag 10 is suppressed by the protrusions 260 formed on the protective cover 22. The function of the protrusion 260 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4B shows a state in which the rear portion from the adhesive tape TP1 is rotated along the circumferential direction without moving the front portion from the adhesive tape TP2 in the curtain airbag device AA. Show. The direction of rotation is the direction of right rotation when viewed from the front side of the vehicle C, that is, the direction indicated by the arrow AR1 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the protrusion 260 moves upward with the rotation, and finally the protrusion 260 hits the outer side surface of the gas introduction unit 120. As a result, the protective cover 22 cannot be further rotated (the airbag 10 is twisted). Accordingly, the airbag 10 is twisted at a portion between the adhesive tape TP1 and the adhesive tape TP2, but is not twisted 360 degrees. As a result, the curtain airbag device AA is prevented from being attached to the vehicle C when the airbag 10 is twisted 360 degrees.

  As is apparent from the above description and FIG. 4, even when the airbag 10 and the protective cover 22 are rotated in the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow AR1, the airbag 10 is twisted 360 degrees. There is no end. Before the airbag 10 is twisted 360 degrees, the projection 260 hits the inner side surface of the gas introduction part 120, and further rotation (twist) is suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the protrusion 260 is formed in a plate shape, and is arranged such that the normal direction thereof is along the z direction. For this reason, it is possible to arrange the protrusion 260 in a limited space near the airbag 10 while sufficiently securing the strength of the protrusion 260 necessary to prevent the twist of the airbag 10. An increase in the size of the curtain airbag device AA is suppressed. Further, the protrusion 260 is formed so as to extend along the side surface of the airbag 10 outside the vehicle. As a result, the plate-like protrusion 260 is disposed in the gap between the airbag 10 and the vehicle body (the roof side rail SL or its lower portion) and is not exposed to the inside of the vehicle. For this reason, when arrange | positioning another structure around the curtain airbag apparatus AA, it is suppressed that the protrusion 260 becomes the obstruction.

  Further, the tip 260 of the protrusion 260 is formed in a curved shape (and a convex shape). For this reason, when the airbag 10 is twisted and the protrusion 260 hits a part of the airbag 10, the portion of the airbag 10 is prevented from being damaged. In addition, as for the protrusion 260, it is desirable to make all the corner | angular parts which may hit the airbag 10 into curved shape.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to these specific examples. In other words, those specific examples that have been appropriately modified by those skilled in the art are also included in the scope of the present invention as long as they have the characteristics of the present invention. For example, the elements included in each of the specific examples described above and their arrangement, materials, conditions, shapes, sizes, and the like are not limited to those illustrated, but can be changed as appropriate. Moreover, each element with which each embodiment mentioned above is provided can be combined as long as technically possible, and the combination of these is also included in the scope of the present invention as long as it includes the features of the present invention.

AA: curtain airbag device CL: clip 10: airbag HL1: through-hole 110 (111, 112, 113, 114, 115): fixing tab 120: gas introduction part 121: opening 20 (21, 22): protective cover 201 , 202, 221: fixing plate 260: protrusion 261: tip 262: root HL2: through hole 30: inflator 31: injection port TP1, TP2: adhesive tape C: vehicle AP, BP, CP, DP: pillar SL: roof side rail

Claims (4)

A curtain airbag device attached to a roof side rail of a vehicle,
An airbag folded into an elongated state;
An inflator that generates inflation gas and supplies the inflation gas to the airbag;
A protective cover disposed between the roof side rail and the airbag so as to protect the airbag;
The airbag is a cylindrical cloth piece that protrudes in a direction different from the longitudinal direction thereof, and a gas introduction portion that is a portion that receives supply of the inflation gas from the inflator is formed,
The protective cover is disposed at a position adjacent to the gas introduction portion in the longitudinal direction of the airbag,
A protrusion protruding toward the gas introduction part is formed at an end of the protective cover on the gas introduction part side,
A curtain airbag device configured such that when the airbag is twisted between the protective cover and the gas introduction part, the projections abut against the gas introduction part.   The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed in a plate shape.   The curtain airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is formed to extend along a side surface of the airbag outside the vehicle.   The curtain airbag device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a tip portion of the protrusion is formed in a curved shape.

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