JP6277733B2 - Pedestrian airbag device and automobile - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pedestrian airbag apparatus in which an airbag is inflated so as to cover an A pillar of an automobile and a left end side or a right end side of a cowl. The present invention also relates to an automobile provided with a pedestrian airbag device.

  Pedestrian airbag device that prevents pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and other occupants from directly hitting high-rigidity parts such as A-pillars and cowls of the vehicle body when a car collides with pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, etc. Patent Documents 1 and 2 include an airbag that expands in a substantially L shape so as to cover the left end side or the right end side of the A pillar and the cowl, a retainer that accommodates the folded body of the airbag, and the airbag. A pedestrian airbag device having an inflator for inflating a bag is described. This pedestrian airbag device is arranged on the left side and the right side of the rear part of the hood of the automobile.

  When a collision of a pedestrian, a two-wheeled vehicle, or the like is detected, the inflator is activated, and the cowl covering portion of the airbag covers the left end side or the right end side of the cowl, and the pillar covering portion expands so as to cover the A pillar.

  FIG. 11 of Patent Document 1 and FIG. 2 of Patent Document 2 describe a method of folding each airbag. In both of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the airbag is folded by folding to make the width substantially the same as that of the retainer and folding along a folding line parallel to the horizontal direction of the retainer. Therefore, when the airbag is inflated, the airbag is inflated in the left-right direction of the retainer and the direction perpendicular thereto.

JP 2006-44291 A JP 2008-265432 A

  The present invention provides a pedestrian airbag device that expands in the A-pillar direction or in the center of the vehicle width direction when the pillar covering portion is in the middle of inflation, and an automobile equipped with the pedestrian airbag device. Objective.

  A pedestrian airbag device according to the present invention includes an airbag having a pillar covering portion that inflates along the A pillar and a cowl covering portion that covers the left end side or the right end side of the cowl, and the airbag is folded and accommodated. In the pedestrian airbag apparatus having a retainer and an inflator for inflating the airbag, the airbag includes a lateral fold line extending in a direction including a lateral width direction of the retainer, Folded by a lateral fold line and a vertical fold line that is substantially orthogonal, at least a portion of the lateral fold line extends in the left-right width direction of the retainer so as to approach the retainer toward the vehicle width direction center side of the vehicle. On the other hand, it extends in the oblique direction.

  It is preferable that the crossing angle θ between the lateral fold line extending in the oblique direction and the lateral width direction of the retainer is 5 to 30 °.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the airbag is first folded along the longitudinal fold line, and then folded along a lateral fold line extending obliquely with respect to the lateral width direction of the retainer. It is accommodated in the retainer.

  In another aspect, the airbag is first folded along a first lateral fold line extending obliquely with respect to the lateral width direction of the retainer, and then folded along the longitudinal fold line. Then, it is folded along a second lateral fold line parallel to the first lateral fold line, and then accommodated in the retainer.

  In yet another aspect, the airbag is first folded along a lateral fold line parallel to the lateral width direction of the retainer, and then folded along a vertical fold line substantially orthogonal to the lateral fold line, Thereafter, the retainer is folded along a lateral fold line that obliquely intersects with the lateral width direction of the retainer and is accommodated in the retainer.

  The automobile according to one aspect of the present invention includes the pedestrian airbag apparatus according to the present invention.

  An automobile according to an aspect of the present invention includes an airbag having a pillar covering portion that expands along the A pillar and a cowl covering portion that covers the left end side or the right end side of the cowl, and the airbag is folded and accommodated. In an automobile provided with a pedestrian airbag apparatus having a retainer and an inflator for inflating the airbag, the airbag is a lateral fold line extending in a direction including a vehicle body width direction of the automobile. And a vertical fold line that is substantially orthogonal to the horizontal fold line, and at least a portion of the horizontal fold line is closer to the retainer toward the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle. It extends in an oblique direction with respect to the direction.

  In the present invention, the pedestrian airbag extends in the oblique direction with respect to the retainer left-right width direction or the vehicle body width direction so that at least a part of the lateral folding line approaches the retainer toward the center in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the airbag in the middle of inflation can be easily deployed in the A-pillar direction or in the center in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the pillar covering portion of the airbag extends along the A pillar in the deployed state. The pillar covering portion is prevented from flapping outward in the vehicle body width direction from the A pillar.

It is a top view of the automobile front part provided with the air bag device for pedestrians concerning an embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the folding method of the airbag of the airbag apparatus for pedestrians of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the folding method of the airbag of the airbag apparatus for pedestrians concerning another embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the folding method of the airbag of the airbag apparatus for pedestrians concerning another embodiment. It is sectional drawing which follows the plane parallel to the windshield of the airbag apparatus for pedestrians concerning another embodiment. (A) The figure is sectional drawing which follows the plane parallel to the windshield of the airbag apparatus for pedestrians concerning another embodiment, (b) The figure is the BB sectional drawing of (a) figure. (A) The figure is sectional drawing which follows the plane parallel to the windshield of the airbag apparatus for pedestrians concerning another embodiment, (b) A figure is a partial enlarged view of (a) figure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, front and rear and left and right represent front and rear and left and right of an automobile equipped with a pedestrian airbag device.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front portion of an automobile equipped with pedestrian airbag devices 10 and 10 'according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which the airbag is deployed. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the airbag folding method of the pedestrian airbag apparatus. Since the pedestrian airbag devices 10 and 10 'have a symmetrical structure, only the pedestrian airbag device 10 is shown in FIG.

  The automobile 1 includes a hood panel 2, a cowl 3, a windshield 4, an A pillar 5, and the like. Pedestrian airbag devices 10 and 10 ′ are installed below the rear portion of the hood panel 2. The pedestrian airbag devices 10 and 10 ′ may be attached to the lower surface of the rear portion of the hood panel 2, or may be installed separately from the hood panel 2.

  The airbag 11 of the pedestrian airbag apparatus 10 or 10 ′ may be deployed backward through the hood panel 2 and the cowl top panel, and the airbag is moved after the rear portion of the hood panel 2 is moved upward. 11 may be configured to expand. Further, an opening for installing a pedestrian airbag device and a lid covering the opening are provided in the hood panel 2 so that the lid is opened when the airbag is deployed, and the airbag is deployed through the opened portion. It may be configured. The pedestrian airbag devices 10 and 10 'may be installed on the cowl top panel. In this embodiment, the airbag 11 is configured to deploy between the rear edge of the hood panel and the cowl top panel.

  The pedestrian airbag apparatus 10, 10 ′ includes an airbag 11, a box-shaped retainer 12 that accommodates the folded airbag 11, an inflator 13 for inflating the airbag 11, and the like.

  The airbags 10 and 10 ′ have a pillar covering portion 11 a that covers the A pillar 5 and the vicinity thereof, and a cowl covering portion 11 b that covers the left end side or the right end side of the cowl 3 and the vicinity thereof. The pillar covering portion 11 a extends rearward and upward along the A pillar 5. The cowl covering portion 11b extends in the vehicle body width direction. The front part of the pillar covering part 11a and the outer part in the vehicle body width direction of the cowl covering part 11b are connected, so that the airbags 10 and 10 'are substantially L-shaped when inflated and deployed.

  The retainer 12 has a box shape made of metal or synthetic resin, and extends in the vehicle body width direction. At least the rear surface of the retainer 12 can be opened rearward by being pushed by the inflating airbag 11.

  The inflator 13 has a cylindrical shape and is attached to the retainer 12 by bolts 13 a and nuts 14. The bolt 13 a may be fixed to the inflator 13 or may be provided on a holding member that holds the inflator 13. A gas ejection part 13 b is provided on the longitudinal end side of the inflator 13. The inflator 13 is installed along the front surface of the retainer 12 so that the gas ejection portion 13b is located on the outer side in the vehicle body width direction.

In this embodiment, the front surface 12a of the retainer 12 is provided with a recessed portion 12b that is recessed toward the front of the vehicle body. The bottom surface of the recessed portion 12b is inclined so that the recessed portion 12b becomes deeper toward the center in the vehicle width direction. The bottom surface of the recessed portion 12b is preferably substantially parallel to the lateral fold lines F ₁ to F _n at the time of folding the air bag 11.

  The inflator 13 is disposed along the bottom surface of the recessed portion 12b. The inflator 13 is installed so that the end side in the longitudinal direction is in front of the vehicle body. Since the gas ejection direction from the gas ejection part 13b is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the inflator 13, the gas from the inflator 13 is ejected in a direction toward the center in the vehicle body width direction rather than the vehicle longitudinal direction. Become.

  A method of folding the airbag 11 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the retainer 12 and the airbag 11 are shown as a cross section along a plane parallel to the windshield 4.

In order to fold the airbag 11, as shown in FIG. 2A, the airbag 11 is spread on a horizontal work table (not shown). Then, the airbag 11 is first folded along the vertical fold lines L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ so as to have a lateral width that fits in the retainer 12 as shown in FIG. 2B, and then the lateral fold lines F ₁ , F _{2, F} 3 fold along · · · · · · _{F n,} Komu accommodated in the retainer 12. The folding along the horizontal fold lines F _{1 to} F _n may be a roll fold, a bellows fold, or a combination of both.

The lateral fold lines F _{1 to} F _n are parallel to each other and extend in an oblique direction with respect to the lateral width direction of the retainer 12 so as to approach the retainer 12 toward the center in the vehicle width direction. The crossing angle θ between the horizontal width direction of the retainer 12 and each of the lateral fold lines F _{1 to} F _n is preferably 5 to 30 °, particularly 7 to 20 °, particularly 10 to 15 °. The last transverse fold line F _n is a straight line passing through the rear end 12d or near the vehicle widthwise center side of the retainer 12.

The vertical fold lines L ₁ , L ₂ and L ₃ are substantially perpendicular to the horizontal fold lines F _{1 to} F _n . Longitudinal fold line L ₁ is a straight line through the rear end 12d or slightly retainer inside it from even the vehicle widthwise central side of the retainer 12, the longitudinal fold line L ₂ after the vehicle width direction outer side of the retainer 12 The straight line passes through the inside of the retainer slightly from the end 12c. The order of folding along the vertical folding lines L ₁ , L ₂ , and L ₃ is arbitrary, but it is preferable to fold in the order of L ₁ → L ₂ → L ₃ or L ₂ → L ₁ → L ₃ .

In FIG. 2 (b), but longitudinal fold line L ₃ becomes as overlapping longitudinal fold line L _1, the longitudinal fold line L _3, between the longitudinal fold lines L ₁ and L ₂ The airbag 11 may be folded so as to be positioned.

  After the airbag 11 is folded, the airbag folded body is preferably wrapped and held by a shape-retaining cloth (not shown) made of cloth, film, or the like. The shape retaining cloth is provided with a cleaving portion such as a perforated slit so that the air bag 11 is cleaved when the airbag 11 is inflated.

  When the automobile 1 equipped with the pedestrian airbag devices 10 and 10 ′ collides with a pedestrian or the like and the inflator 13 is activated, the airbag 11 is inflated and deployed, and the left end side or the right end side of the cowl 3 and the vicinity thereof are located. Covered with the cowl covering portion 11b, the A pillar 5 and its vicinity are covered with the pillar covering portion 11a, and a pedestrian or the like is prevented from directly hitting the cowl 3 or the A pillar 5.

In this airbag apparatus 10, 10 ′, since the airbag 11 is folded along the horizontal fold lines F _{1 to} F _n extending in the oblique direction with respect to the lateral width direction of the retainer 12, The airbag 11 is deployed toward the longitudinal direction of the A pillar 5 or toward the center in the vehicle body width direction. In particular, in this embodiment, since the inflator 13 ejects gas toward the vehicle width direction center side, the deployment of the airbag 11 toward the vehicle width direction center side is assisted.

  For this reason, the pillar covering portion 11a is prevented from flapping outward from the A pillar 5 during or after expansion.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of another folding method of the airbag 11. In this folding method, after expanding the airbag 11 on a horizontal work table, FIG. 3 (a), clamshell airbag 11 along the street first first transverse fold line F ₀ of (b) . The first transverse fold line _{F 0} is parallel to the lateral fold lines _F 1 to F _n. The transverse fold line F ₀ is corner portion 11c of the pillar covering portion 11a and the cowl covering portion 11b or above is also a straight line slightly through the retainer 12 side. Thereafter, the airbag 11 is folded along the longitudinal fold lines L ₁ , L ₂ , L ₃ to be in the intermediate folded state of FIG. 3C, and then the lateral fold lines F ₁ , F ₂ , F _3. Fold along the ... to make an airbag fold, and place it in the retainer 12.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of still another folding method of the airbag 11. In this method, after the airbag 11 is spread on a horizontal work table, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), first, the horizontal folding lines W ₁ , W ₂ , W ₃ ... W fold or bellow fold along W _n to obtain the first intermediate folded body of FIG. Next, the first intermediate folded body is folded back along the vertical folding lines V ₁ and V ₂ to form the second intermediate folded body of FIG. In FIG. 4C, the first intermediate folding body is folded along the vertical folding lines V ₁ and V ₂ , but the folding in this case may be roll folding or Z folding.

Note that the vertical folding lines V ₁ and V ₂ are perpendicular to the horizontal folding lines W _{1 to} W _n . Further, longitudinal fold line V ₁ was passes inside the slightly retainer 12 retaining the rear end 12c or more also, longitudinal fold line V ₂ passes through the inside of slightly retainer 12 retaining the rear end 12d or more even.

This second intermediate folded body is rolled or bellows folded along lateral folding lines F ₁ , F ₂ , F ₃ ... Extending in a direction oblique to the lateral width direction of the retainer 12. , Put in the retainer 12.

<Retainer with different shape>
In the embodiment described above, the recessed portion 12b is provided on the front surface 12a of the retainer 12. However, the inclined surface is formed on the front surface 12a, as shown in FIG. 12f may be provided, and the inflator 13 may be provided on the inclined surface 12f.

In the present invention, as in the retainer 12B of FIG. 6, a recess 12h may be provided in the retainer lower surface 12g, and the inflator 13 may be disposed in the recess 12h. The recess 12h extends in a direction including the left-right width direction of the retainer 12B, but extends in the oblique direction to the retainer left-right width direction so as to be closer to the vehicle body front side in the vehicle width direction center side. Thus, the inflator 13 is arranged to extend in the transverse fold line F ₁ to F _n substantially parallel direction oblique direction. A mounting bolt 13a of the inflator 13 is inserted through a small hole (not shown) in the airbag 11 and a small hole 12i on the bottom surface of the recess 12h, and is fastened with a nut 14.

  In FIG. 6, the airbag 11 is attached to the front surface 12 a of the retainer 12 by a fastening member 15. The fastening member 15 includes a plate 15a disposed in the airbag 11 and a bolt 15b erected from the plate 15a. The bolt 15b passes through the bolt insertion holes of the airbag 11 and the retainer 12, and the nut 15c is tightened. However, the fastening member 15 may be omitted, and the airbag 11 may be attached to the retainer 12B by the inflator 13.

In the retainer 12C of FIG. 7, an inclined plate 12k and an opening 12j are provided on the retainer front surface 12a. The inclined plate 12k is inclined so as to rise from the retainer front surface 12a into the retainer 12C toward the outer side in the vehicle body width direction. Inclined plate 12k extend in transverse fold line _F 1 to F _n substantially parallel direction. The opening 12j is provided between the outer side of the inclined plate 12k in the vehicle width direction and the retainer front surface 12a.

  The inflator 13 is disposed along the inclined plate 12k, and only the tip side including the gas ejection part 13b is inserted into the airbag 11. The inflator mounting bolt 13 protrudes into the airbag 11 through a small hole provided in the inclined plate 12k and a small hole provided in the airbag 11, and a nut 14 is tightened.

  Each of the above embodiments is an example of the present invention, and the present invention may be configured other than illustrated. For example, in this invention, you may provide the tether which connects the rear part of the pillar covering part 11a of the airbag 11 and the cowl covering part 11b or the vehicle width direction center side of the retainer 12. The tether has such a length that it is taut when the airbag 11 is inflated.

  In the present invention, a diffuser may be provided so that the gas from the inflator flows toward the center in the vehicle width direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car 2 Food panel 3 Cowl 4 Wind shield 5 A pillar 10, 10 'Pedestrian airbag device 11 Air bag 11a Cowl covering part 11b Pillar covering part 12, 12A, 12B, 12C Retainer 13 Inflator 15 Fastening member

Claims (8)

An airbag having a pillar covering portion inflating along the A pillar and a cowl covering portion covering the left end side or the right end side of the cowl;
A retainer in which the airbag is folded and accommodated;
An inflator for inflating the airbag;
I have a,
The retainer is a box-shaped airbag for a pedestrian that is installed in a vehicle so as to extend in the left-right width direction of the retainer, with the width direction of the vehicle body or a direction oblique to the width direction of the vehicle body as a retainer left-right width direction. an apparatus,
The airbag includes a transverse fold line Ru extend beauty in oblique direction with respect to the retail na left right width direction or the retainer lateral width direction, is folded by the longitudinal fold lines substantially perpendicular to said lateral fold line And
At least a portion of said lateral fold lines, the airbag pedestrian, characterized by being extended beauty the oblique direction with respect to the retainer lateral width direction so as to approach the vehicle widthwise center as side retainer automobile apparatus. A pedestrian airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the oblique direction extending beauty and has transverse fold line (F 1 _{to F n)} and the cross angle θ is 5 and retail na left right width direction A pedestrian airbag apparatus characterized by being 30 °. 3. The pedestrian airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is first folded along the longitudinal fold line (L _{1 to} L ₃ ), and then inclined relative to the lateral width direction of the retainer. transverse fold line was extended beauty intersection direction is folded along _(F 1 ~F _n), then pedestrian airbag apparatus characterized by said being accommodated in the retainer. A pedestrian airbag apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the airbag is first along a first transverse fold line was extended beauty oblique direction with respect to the retainer lateral width direction (F ₀₎ And then folded along the longitudinal fold line (L ₁ -L ₃ ) and then a second lateral fold line (F ₁ ) parallel to the first lateral fold line (F ₀ ). folded along to F _n), then, the pedestrian airbag apparatus characterized by being accommodated in the retainer. 3. The pedestrian airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is first folded along a lateral fold line (W _{1 to} W _n ) parallel to the lateral width direction of the retainer, and then folded along the direction fold line _(W 1 ~W _n) and longitudinal fold lines substantially orthogonal _(V 1, V _2), then transverse fold lines obliquely intersect with respect to the retainer lateral width direction _{(F 1} to F _n) along the folded and pedestrian airbag apparatus characterized by being accommodated in the retainer.   An automobile comprising the pedestrian airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. An airbag having a pillar covering portion inflating along the A pillar and a cowl covering portion covering the left end side or the right end side of the cowl;
A retainer in which the airbag is folded and accommodated;
An inflator for inflating the airbag;
In an automobile equipped with a pedestrian airbag device having
The airbag includes a transverse fold line Ru extend beauty in a direction oblique with respect to the vehicle body width direction or vehicle body width direction of the automobile, is folded by the longitudinal fold lines substantially perpendicular to said lateral fold line And
At least a portion of said lateral fold line, automobile, characterized by being extended beauty the oblique direction with respect to the vehicle body width direction so as to approach the vehicle widthwise center as side retainer automobile. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein, the crossing angle of the lateral fold line and _(F 1 ~F _n) and the vehicle body width direction are extended beauty to the oblique direction, characterized in that a 5 to 30 ° Automobile.

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