JP6404542B2 - Curtain airbag and curtain airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a curtain airbag and a curtain airbag device used in a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to a curtain airbag and a curtain airbag device that are bent and inflated and deployed inside the vehicle.

  In vehicles such as automobiles, it has become common to have an airbag device for inflating and deploying an airbag in a vehicle to absorb an impact generated by an occupant in an emergency such as a collision or sudden deceleration. ing. In particular, a curtain airbag device that covers the side window is often mounted in order to suppress the release of passengers during rollover (rollover) of the vehicle.

  Such a curtain airbag device is generally folded in a normal state and stored in the upper part of the vehicle body, and inflated and deployed along a side window in an emergency, an inflator for supplying gas to the curtain airbag, Have In an emergency, gas is supplied from the inflator to the curtain airbag, and the curtain airbag is inflated, released into the vehicle along the side window, and inflated and deployed.

  By the way, the curtain airbag must be inflated and deployed instantaneously in a narrow gap between the occupant and the side window, and must absorb the impact generated on the occupant. At this time, if the internal pressure of the curtain airbag is excessively increased, the cushioning property is deteriorated, and if the internal pressure of the curtain airbag is excessively decreased, the impact absorbing power is decreased. In view of this, a curtain airbag device has been proposed that improves impact absorption by bending and inflating a curtain airbag toward the vehicle interior (see, for example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2).

  The curtain airbag device described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 includes an inflating portion (bag main body) that covers the side window, and a guide panel that connects the upper end and the lower end of the inflating portion (bag main body). The guide panel is formed so that the vertical length of the guide panel is shorter than the vertical length of the inflatable portion (bag body). Therefore, when gas is supplied to the inflating part (bag body) of the curtain airbag, the guide panel is tensioned in the vertical direction before the inflating part (bag body), and the upper and lower ends of the inflating part (bag body) The position is constrained, and the intermediate part of the inflating part (bag body) is bent and inflated and deployed so as to protrude toward the inside of the vehicle.

JP 2006-137413 A JP 2011-246078 A

  In the curtain airbag device described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, in order to inflate and deploy the curtain airbag along the side window, an inflating portion (bag main body) and a vehicle body (for example, an A pillar) are provided. They are connected by connecting members such as straps and tethers. However, when the connecting member for the vehicle body is arranged in the inflatable portion (bag main body) that can be bent on the inside of the vehicle, the inflating portion (bag main body) is pulled by the connecting member when the curtain airbag is inflated and deployed, and the curtain airbag There was a problem that the expanded and unfolded shape was unstable.

  The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a curtain airbag and a curtain airbag device that can stabilize the inflated and deployed shape of the curtain airbag.

According to the present invention, in a curtain airbag having an inflating portion that is normally folded and stored in the upper part of a vehicle body and inflated and deployed along a side window in an emergency, the bag body that forms the inflating portion; A guide panel that is connected to the upper and lower parts of the bag body and is shorter in the vertical direction than the bag body, and disposed at a front end portion or a rear end portion of the guide panel, and the vehicle pillar and the guide panel A connecting member that connects the vehicle body in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of coupling pieces that are disposed on the upper portion of the bag body from the front end portion to the rear end portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and are fixed to the upper portion of the vehicle body. has the guide panel, the are arranged in the side window side surface of the bag body, upper end of the bag body during inflation and deployment of the bag body and Restraining the position of the edge, it said has a vertically intermediate portion of the bag body is configured to be bent in the vehicle side, there is provided a curtain airbag, characterized in that.

Further, according to the present invention, a curtain airbag having an inflating portion that is normally folded and stored in the upper part of the vehicle body and is inflated and deployed along a side window in an emergency, and gas is supplied to the inflating portion In the curtain airbag device having the inflator, the curtain airbag is connected to a bag main body forming the inflating portion, and an upper portion and a lower portion of the bag main body, and has a length in the vertical direction as compared with the bag main body. A short guide panel, a connecting member that is disposed at a front end portion or a rear end portion of the guide panel, and that connects the pillar and the guide panel of the vehicle in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; is disposed over the rear end from the front and rear direction of the front end portion has a plurality of coupling pieces attached to the upper body, the guide panel, the Is located on the side window side surface of the bag body, restrains the positions of the upper and lower ends of the bag body when the bag body is inflated and deployed, and bends the middle part in the vertical direction of the bag body toward the vehicle interior side. is configured as a curtain airbag device is provided, characterized in that.

In the curtain airbag and the curtain airbag device according to the present invention described above, the guide panel may have a plurality of openings that allow air to flow between the bag body and the bag body during inflation and deployment. Further, the connection member may be disposed on a side portion in the vicinity of the central portion in the vertical direction of the guide panel. Further, the guide panel, but it may also be formed by a thin base fabric than the bag body.

  According to the curtain airbag and the curtain airbag device according to the present invention described above, the connecting member for inflating and deploying the curtain airbag along the side window is connected to the guide panel, whereby the curtain airbag is inflated and deployed. The tension generated in the bag body sometimes can be reduced, and the inflated and deployed shape of the bag body having the inflating portion, that is, the curtain airbag can be stabilized.

  In addition, by forming a plurality of openings in the guide panel, air can smoothly flow between the guide panel and the bag body when the curtain airbag is inflated and deployed, and the guide panel and the bag body are attached to each other. It is possible to suppress the inflated and deployed behavior of the curtain airbag.

  In addition, by arranging the connecting member near the center of the guide panel in the vertical direction, the twist of the connecting member when the curtain airbag is folded is reduced compared to the case where the connecting member is arranged on the lower end side. The damage of the connecting member can be suppressed, and compared with the case where the connecting member is arranged on the upper end side, it is possible to generate a tension on the curtain airbag on the side window to improve the impact absorbing force and the occupant restraining force. it can.

  In addition, by forming the guide panel with a base fabric thinner than the bag body, the package size when the curtain airbag is folded can be reduced, and the weight of the curtain airbag can be reduced.

It is a figure which shows the curtain airbag which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, (A) is a top view of a bag main body and a guide panel, (B) has shown the longitudinal cross-sectional view of a bag main body and a guide panel. It is a use condition figure which shows the curtain airbag apparatus which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, (A) has shown before expansion | deployment, (B) has shown after expansion | deployment. It is sectional drawing of the curtain airbag shown to FIG. 2 (B), (A) is AA sectional drawing, (B) has shown BB sectional drawing. It is a top view which shows the guide panel used for the curtain airbag which concerns on other embodiment of this invention, (A) is 2nd embodiment, (B) is 3rd embodiment, (C) is 4th embodiment. Form.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a view showing the curtain airbag according to the first embodiment of the present invention, (A) is a plan view of the bag body and the guide panel, and (B) is a longitudinal section of the bag body and the guide panel. FIG. FIG. 2 is a use state diagram showing the curtain airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) shows before inflation and deployment, and (B) shows after inflation and deployment. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views of the curtain airbag shown in FIG. 2B, wherein FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the curtain airbag 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is normally folded and stored in the upper part of the vehicle body of the vehicle M, and along the side window W in an emergency. A curtain airbag having an inflatable part 21 to be inflated and deployed, which is connected to the bag main body 2 forming the inflatable part 21 and the upper and lower parts of the bag main body 2 and has a vertical length Lg greater than that of the bag main body 2. A short guide panel 3 and a connecting member 4 that connects the pillar P of the vehicle M and the guide panel 3 are provided.

  2 (A) and 2 (B), the curtain airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention supplies gas to the curtain airbag 1 and the inflating portion 21 of the bag body 2 described above. And an inflator 5 to be supplied.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the vehicle M has three side windows W on the side, and a roof side rail R is disposed along the upper portion of the side window W. Further, the pillars P that support the roof of the vehicle M have four pillars of A pillars P1, B pillars P2, C pillars P3, and D pillars P4 from the front side. The configuration of the vehicle M is merely an example, and the number of side windows W may be two, and the number of pillars P may be three.

  The inflator 5 has a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and a gas outlet is formed at the tip end included in the curtain airbag 1. The inflator 5 is fixed in the roof side rail R as shown in FIG. The inflator 5 is connected to an ECU (electronic control unit) (not shown) and is controlled based on measurement values of an acceleration sensor or the like. When the ECU detects an emergency such as a vehicle collision, sudden deceleration, or rollover (rollover), the inflator 5 is ignited by the ignition current from the ECU, and the chemical stored in the inflator 5 is burned. Gas is generated and supplied to the curtain airbag 1. In addition, the shape and fixing method of the inflator 5 are not limited to what was illustrated, For example, you may be fixing to the inside of a roof or D pillar P4.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the curtain airbag 1 is connected to a bag body 2 that forms an inflating portion 21 that can cover substantially the entire side window W, and one surface (window side surface) of the bag body 2. A guide panel 3. Here, a broken line surrounding the inflating portion 21 indicates a suture line. Moreover, the bag main body 2 has a horizontally long and substantially rectangular shape as a whole, and the inflating portion 21 is often divided into a front side and a rear side. The length of the bag body 2 in the front-rear direction varies depending on the configuration of the side window W.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (B), the bag body 2 has a first panel 2a that constitutes a surface on the inner side of the vehicle, and a second panel 2b that constitutes a surface on the window side. A bag body is formed by stitching 2a and the second panel 2b, and an inflatable portion 21 is formed. The inflating part 21 is generally formed in the vertical direction, and is formed so that gas is supplied from the upper side to the lower side. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), the inflating portion 21 is configured to be bendable, so that a stepped portion 21a is formed in the vicinity of the central portion in order to facilitate the formation of the bent portion. May be. Further, a part of the inflating portion 21 is formed so that gas is supplied from the lower side to the upper side so that the inflating and deploying can be performed after being released from the storage portion (pillar P or roof side rail R) into the vehicle. May be.

  A plurality of connecting pieces 22 for fixing the curtain airbag 1 to the upper part of the vehicle M (the roof side rail R or the A pillar P1) is connected to the upper part of the bag body 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, the coupling piece 22 is connected to the bag body 2 by being sewn together while being sandwiched between the first panel 2a and the second panel 2b. . The number and arrangement of the coupling pieces 22 are arbitrary and are not limited to the illustrated configuration.

  The bag body 2 has a nozzle portion 23 connected to the inflator 5. The nozzle part 23 constitutes an opening formed in a cylindrical shape, and is formed so that a part of the inflator 5 can be inserted therein. Here, although the nozzle part 23 is arrange | positioned in the front-back direction center part vicinity of the bag main body 2, you may make it arrange | position the nozzle part 23 in the rear end of the bag main body 2. FIG. That is, the arrangement of the nozzle portion 23 is appropriately changed depending on the storage location of the inflator 5.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the guide panel 3 has a horizontally long and substantially rectangular shape as a whole, and the length in the front-rear direction is the same as the length in the front-rear direction of the bag body 2. As shown in FIG. 2B, the guide panel 3 is formed of a single base cloth, and is preferably formed of a base cloth thinner than the bag body 2. By forming the guide panel 3 with a base fabric thinner than the bag body 2, it is possible to reduce the package size when the curtain airbag 1 is folded and to reduce the weight of the curtain airbag 1. it can. Although not shown, the guide panel 3 may be divided into a plurality of parts in the front-rear direction of the bag body 2.

  The guide panel 3 has a plurality of openings 31 through which air flows between the guide panel 3 and the bag body 2 when the curtain airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. It is preferable that the openings 31 are substantially uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the guide panel 3. In addition, since a constant tension is generated in the guide panel 3 when the curtain airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the opening 31 is preferably formed in a circular shape in order to reduce stress concentration in the opening 31. However, the shape of the opening 31 can be appropriately changed according to the strength of the base fabric and the magnitude of the tension generated in the guide panel 3, and is not limited to a circular shape.

  The opening 31 is provided to make the bag body 2 and the guide panel 3 that are in close contact during storage easy to unfold when the curtain airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. That is, it is intended to prevent a negative pressure from being generated between the bag body 2 and the guide panel 3 when the curtain airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. By forming the opening 31, air can smoothly flow between the guide panel 3 and the bag body 2 when the curtain airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, and the guide panel 3 and the bag body 2 are attached to each other. It is possible to suppress the inflated and deployed behavior of the curtain airbag 1. Note that the number, arrangement, and opening ratio of the openings 31 can be appropriately changed according to conditions such as the size of the curtain airbag 1, the gas pressure of the inflator 5, the degree of bending of the bag body 2, and the like, and are limited to the illustrated configuration. Is not to be done.

  Further, a non-sewn portion 32 is formed at the upper front end of the guide panel 3. This non-sewn portion 32 has a function of relaxing the restraining force of the front portion of the bag body 2 and reducing the degree of bending when the curtain airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. Thus, by reducing the degree of bending of the front portion of the bag body 2, the front portion of the bag body 2 can be inflated and deployed to a position below the lower end of the side window W. It can be locked to (the frame of the door part).

  Here, assuming that the vertical length of the bag body 2 is Lb and the vertical length of the guide panel 3 is Lg, the vertical length Lg of the guide panel 3 is as shown in FIG. It is formed shorter than the length Lb. That is, the curtain airbag 1 has a relationship of Lg <Lb. And the bag main body 2 and the guide panel 3 are stitched | sutured by the 1st sewing planned line S1 and a lower end part is stitch | sewed by the 2nd sewing planned line S2.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1B, the bag body 2 has a margin in the vertical direction with respect to the guide panel 3. With this configuration, when gas is supplied to the bag body 2, the guide panel 3 is tensioned in the vertical direction prior to the bag body 2, and the positions of the upper and lower ends of the bag body 2 are restrained by the guide panel 3. The intermediate portion (the margin) of the wing is bent and expanded so as to protrude toward the inside of the vehicle.

  Further, the guide panel 3 has a connecting member 4 connected to the A pillar P1 of the vehicle M. The connecting member 4 is a string member (strap or tether) formed in the shape of an elongated strip with the same base fabric as the base fabric constituting the bag body 2 and the guide panel 3. The connection member 4 is constituted by a separate part from the guide panel 3 and has a connection surface 41 for connecting to the guide panel 3. The connection surface 41 is wider than other portions, and the strength is improved by taking a large connection portion with the guide panel 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the connection member 4 includes, for example, a first connection panel 4a disposed on the front surface of the guide panel 3, a second connection panel 4b disposed on the back surface of the guide panel 3, The first connecting panel 4a and the second connecting panel 4b are sewn together with the guide panel 3, thereby connecting the connecting member 4 to the guide panel 3 and improving the strength of the connecting member 4. ing.

  Further, the connection member 4 is connected to a side portion in the vicinity of the center portion in the vertical direction of the guide panel 3. The curtain airbag 1 is often rolled and housed in the upper part of the vehicle M. When the connecting member 4 is disposed on the lower end side of the guide panel 3, the connecting member 4 is greatly twisted, The load on the connecting member 4 is increased. Therefore, it is preferable that the connection member 4 is connected to the upper side as much as possible. On the other hand, when the side window W is opened when the curtain airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the curtain airbag 1 is inflated and deployed in a hammock state with respect to the side window W so that the curtain airbag 1 is not released outside the vehicle. There is a need. Therefore, it is preferable that the connection member 4 is connected to the lower side as much as possible.

  Considering these conditions, it is preferable to arrange the connecting member 4 in the vicinity of the central portion of the guide panel 3 in the vertical direction. With this configuration, compared to the case where the connecting member 4 is disposed on the lower end side, the twist of the connecting member 4 when the curtain airbag 1 is roll-folded can be reduced, and damage to the connecting member 4 can be suppressed. Compared with the case where the connecting member 4 is arranged on the upper end side, it is possible to improve the shock absorbing force and the occupant restraining force by generating tension on the curtain airbag 1 on the side window W. When the curtain airbag 1 is folded in a bellows, the connecting member 4 is not twisted, so the connecting member 4 may be disposed on the lower end side of the guide panel 3.

  Next, the effect | action of the curtain airbag 1 mentioned above is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 2A, the curtain airbag 1 is fixed to the vehicle M by a plurality of coupling pieces 22 along the roof side rail R and the A pillar P1. The connection member 4 is disposed at the front end of the guide panel 3 and is connected to the A pillar P1. The curtain airbag 1 is folded into a substantially rod shape by being roll-folded, and is housed inside the vehicle M (the roof side rail R and the A pillar P1). At this time, the curtain airbag 1 is held in a folded shape by disposing a plurality of tape members 24 at important points. Note that the shape maintaining member of the curtain airbag 1 may be a cylindrical member into which the folded curtain airbag 1 can be inserted.

  When the ECU senses an emergency such as a vehicle collision, sudden deceleration, or rollover (rollover), gas is supplied from the inflator 5 to the inflating portion 21 of the bag body 2 and the bag body 2 is inflated and deployed. . At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, since the guide panel 3 is formed to have a shorter vertical length Lg than the bag body 2, the guide panel 3 is moved in the vertical direction before the bag body 2. The position of the upper end and the lower end of the bag body 2 is restrained by the guide panel 3, and the intermediate portion (the margin) of the bag body 2 is bent so as to protrude toward the vehicle interior side. In the present embodiment, “bending” means a shape in which the bag body 2 protrudes in one direction and is deformed, and includes “curving” and “flexing”.

  In this way, by bending the curtain airbag 1 inward of the vehicle, the contact time with the occupant can be shortened, and even when the internal pressure of the curtain airbag 1 is increased, the occupant is in contact with the bent portion. The impact at the time can be alleviated, and the impact absorbing power of the curtain airbag 1 can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, a guide panel 3 is connected to the back surface (window side) of the bag body 2, and a connecting member 4 is connected to the guide panel 3. Therefore, when the curtain airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the bag body 2 is regulated by the connecting member 4 as shown in FIG. The main body 2 is not pulled directly. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (A), a non-sewn portion 32 is formed at the upper front end of the guide panel 3, so that the guide panel 3 is pulled by the connecting member 4. However, the tension is difficult to transmit to the bag body 2.

  Therefore, tension can be generated on the side window W by the guide panel 3 and the connecting member 4, a hammock state can be formed, and the front portion of the bag body 2 can be formed along the side window W. The bag body 2 can be inflated and deployed downward, and the front portion of the bag body 2 can be inflated and deployed to a position below the lower end of the side window W and locked to the vehicle M (the frame of the door portion).

  That is, according to the curtain airbag 1 according to the present embodiment, the tension in the front-rear direction (tension) can be generated mainly by the guide panel 3 and the connection member 4 on the side window W, and the tension in the vertical direction (tension). ) Can be generated mainly by the bag body 2. Thus, by sharing the function of the tension generation state of the curtain airbag 1, the bag body 2 can be prevented from being pulled directly by the tension of the connecting member 4, and the curtain airbag 1. It is possible to stabilize the inflated and deployed shape.

  Next, a curtain airbag 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a guide panel used in a curtain airbag according to another embodiment of the present invention, (A) is the second embodiment, (B) is the third embodiment, (C) shows the fourth embodiment. In addition, about the same component as 1st embodiment mentioned above, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The guide panel 3 shown in FIG. 4A has a connecting member 4 arranged on the rear side. In this case, the front end of the connection member 4 is connected to the rearmost pillar P of the vehicle M. For example, in the vehicle M shown in FIG. 2A, the connection member 4 connects the guide panel 3 and the D pillar P4.

  The guide panel 3 shown in FIG. 4B has the connection member 4 arranged on both the front side and the rear side. In this case, the front end of the connection member 4 on the front side is connected to the A pillar P1 of the vehicle M, and the front end of the connection member 4 on the rear side is connected to the last pillar P of the vehicle M. For example, in the vehicle M shown in FIG. 2A, the front connection member 4 connects the guide panel 3 and the A pillar P1, and the rear connection member 4 connects the guide panel 3 and the D pillar P4. Connect.

  The guide panel 3 shown in FIG. 4C is obtained by integrally forming the guide panel 3 and the connecting member 4. Even the curtain airbag 1 having the guide panel 3 has the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above. In addition, when the guide panel 3 and the connection member 4 are formed as separate parts as in the first embodiment, it is efficient to remove the base fabric when the guide panel 3 and the connection member 4 are cut from one base fabric. This can be performed well, and the amount of the base fabric to be discarded can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the present invention can be applied to a vehicle having two or less side windows W or four or more vehicles, and the like without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Of course, various modifications are possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Curtain airbag 2 Bag main body 2a 1st panel 2b 2nd panel 3 Guide panel 4 Connection member 4a 1st connection panel 4b 2nd connection panel 5 Inflator 21 Inflating part 21a Step part 22 Joining piece 23 Nozzle part 24 Tape material 31 Opening Part 32 Non-sewn part 41 Connection surface

Claims (5)

In a curtain airbag having an inflatable portion that is normally folded and stored in the upper part of the vehicle body and inflated and deployed along the side window in an emergency,
A bag body forming the inflatable portion;
A guide panel connected to the upper and lower portions of the bag body and having a shorter vertical length than the bag body;
A connecting member that is disposed at a front end portion or a rear end portion of the guide panel, and connects the pillar of the vehicle and the guide panel in the front-rear direction of the vehicle ;
A plurality of coupling pieces arranged on the upper portion of the bag body from the front end portion to the rear end portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and fixed to the upper portion of the vehicle body ,
The guide panel is disposed on the side window side surface of the bag main body, restrains the positions of the upper and lower ends of the bag main body when the bag main body is inflated and deployed, and sets the middle portion in the vertical direction of the bag main body. Configured to bend inward of the car ,
Curtain airbag characterized by that.   The curtain air bag according to claim 1, wherein the guide panel has a plurality of openings through which air flows between the guide panel and the bag body when inflated and deployed.   The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the connection member is connected to a side portion in the vicinity of a central portion in the vertical direction of the guide panel.   The curtain airbag according to claim 1, wherein the guide panel is formed of a base fabric thinner than the bag body. Curtain air having a curtain airbag having an inflating portion that is normally folded and stored in the upper part of the vehicle body and is inflated and deployed along a side window in an emergency, and an inflator that supplies gas to the inflating portion In the bag device,
The curtain airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the curtain airbag is the curtain airbag device.