JP6519275B2 - Airbag and pedestrian airbag system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air bag inflated and deployed along the outer surface of a vehicle body, and a pedestrian air bag device having the air bag.

  There is known a pedestrian airbag apparatus in which an airbag is inflated along the vicinity of a cowl portion of a vehicle body to receive a pedestrian (such as a pedestrian or a bicycle occupant). As one form of this pedestrian airbag apparatus, an airbag is accommodated in a case, and when the airbag is inflated, the airbag is expanded along the outer surface of the vehicle body so as to spread out around the case. Is known.

  As a pedestrian airbag device, a portion of the airbag that spreads out around the case during inflation and deployment is connected to the case by means of a tether so that this portion is prevented from swinging during the inflation and deployment. Those are known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2004-299442 Patent No. 4893043

  The present invention provides an air bag and an air bag device that can easily fold the air bag as well as effectively suppress the swinging of a portion deployed along the outer surface of the vehicle so as to spread out around the case during expansion. To be a task.

  The air bag according to the present invention is an air bag which inflates and deploys along the outer surface of the vehicle body so as to extend from the case to the periphery of the case, and which extends in the vehicle width direction along the rear edge of the bonnet hood of the vehicle body. A covering portion and a front end are connected to the cowl covering portion, and a pillar covering portion extending in a substantially backward direction along an A-pillar of the vehicle body and a central portion in the vehicle width direction of the cowl covering portion are connected. A proximal end attached to the case, a first tether whose one end is connected to the front end of the pillar covering portion and whose other end is connected to the proximal end, and one end of the pillar covering portion And a second tether connected to the intermediate portion in the deployment direction and having the other end connected to the proximal end.

  In the airbag according to one aspect of the present invention, the other ends of the first tether and the second tether are connected to the end in the vehicle width direction of the base end.

  In the airbag according to one aspect of the present invention, the other end of the first tether and the other end of the second tether overlap each other.

  The airbag according to one aspect of the present invention has an upper panel and a lower panel facing the vehicle body, and the peripheral portions of the upper panel and the lower panel are sewn together by a peripheral suture portion, and the first tether and Both ends of the second tether are connected to the lower panel.

  In the air bag according to one aspect of the present invention, one end of the first tether is connected to the overhang portion projecting forward beyond the peripheral suture portion in the pillar covering portion.

  An air bag device according to the present invention comprises the folded air bag, an inflator for inflating the air bag, and a case for containing the air bag and the inflator.

  In the airbag device according to one aspect of the present invention, the other ends of the first tether and the second tether are connected to a portion of the base end portion of the airbag positioned outside the case at the time of the inflation and deployment. Be done.

  According to the present invention, one end of the first tether is connected to the front end of the pillar covering portion, and one end of the second tether is connected to the middle portion in the deployment direction of the pillar covering portion. Swinging of the pillar covering portion can be effectively suppressed. Also, the other end of the first tether and the other end of the second tether are connected to the airbag proximal end. That is, both ends of the first tether and the second tether are connected to the panel of the airbag. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the first tether and the second tether from being twisted when folding the airbag, and the folding operation of the airbag becomes easy. In addition, at the time of inflation and deployment of the air bag, the first tether and the second tether can be stretched in a desired direction without being twisted, and the swing of the pillar covering portion can be effectively suppressed.

It is a perspective view of a car provided with a pedestrian airbag device concerning an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1 when the air bag is inflated. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the top view which looked at the inflated airbag from the upper surface side. It is the top view which looked at the inflated airbag from the lower surface side. (A)-(c) is a figure which shows the example of how to attach a tether. It is sectional drawing of the airbag apparatus by a modification. It is the top view which looked at the inflated airbag by a modification from the lower surface side. It is a perspective view of a car at the time of air bag inflation by modification. It is a figure which shows how to attach the tether by a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view of an automobile equipped with a pedestrian airbag device according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the automobile of FIG. 1 when the airbag is inflated, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 4 is a plan view of the inflated airbag as viewed from the top, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the inflated airbag as viewed from the bottom. In the following description, the left-right direction refers to the vehicle body width direction, and the front-rear direction refers to the vehicle body front-rear direction.

  Although the automobile 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a four-door sedan, the present invention is not limited to a specific vehicle configuration. A pedestrian airbag device 4 is installed at the rear of the hood hood 3. As shown in FIG. 2, when the airbag 5 of the pedestrian airbag device 4 expands, at least a part of the cowl louver 2, the windshield 6 and the left and right A pillars 7 is covered by the airbag 5.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the pedestrian airbag device 4 includes a case 8 for storing the folded airbag 5, an inflator 9 for inflating the airbag 5, and an airbag 3 for passing the hood 3. A lid 10 or the like closing the opening 3a is provided.

  The case 8 is in the form of a long box extending in the vehicle width direction. The case 8 includes a bottom 8a, a front wall 8b, a rear wall 8c, and left and right end walls (not shown), and the upper side is open. The folded body of the air bag 5 extends from the right end side to the left end side of the case 8. In addition, the inflator 9 is disposed inside the airbag 5.

  Stud bolts project from the inflators 9 (or inflator holders (not shown) attached to the respective inflators 9). The stud bolt is inserted into a bolt insertion hole (reference numeral omitted) provided in the lower surface (lower side panel 12) of a base end 5c of the air bag 5 described later, and extends outside the air bag 5. Each stud bolt is inserted into a bolt insertion hole (reference numeral omitted) provided on the bottom surface 8 a of the case 8, and a nut is tightened from the back side of the bottom surface 8 a, whereby the proximal end 5 c of the inflator 9 and the airbag 5 The lower surface of is fixed to the bottom surface 8a.

  The lid 10 is fastened to the vehicle body by a hinge (not shown) on the rear edge side of the opening 3a of the hood 3 at the rear edge side of the vehicle body, and when the airbag 5 is inflated, it is rotated backward as shown by arrow θ in FIG. It is configured to open while moving. The front edge side of the lid 10 is fastened to the vehicle body at the front edge side of the opening 3a by a locking means (not shown) such as a clip. The locking means is configured to release the locking when the lid 10 is opened by being pushed by the air bag 5.

  Next, the configuration of the airbag 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In addition, in FIG. 5, illustration of case 8 and the inflator 9 is abbreviate | omitted for convenience of explanation.

  The air bag 5 is formed into a bag shape by overlapping the upper panel 11 and the lower panel 12 and connecting their peripheral portions. The lower side panel 12 is a panel which is located on the lower side when the air bag 5 is inflated and faces the vehicle body (the cowl louver 2, the windshield 6, the A pillar 7 and the like) of the automobile 1. In this embodiment, an elastic adhesive is applied to the inner side surface of the airbag at the peripheral portion of the upper panel 11 and the lower panel 12, and the peripheral portions of the upper panel 11 and the lower panel 12 are adhered by this elastic adhesive. Furthermore, these are sewn together by the peripheral suture portion (stitch) 13. Between the panels 11 and 12 are sealed by this elastic adhesive, and gas leak from between the panels 11 and 12 at the time of inflation of the airbag 5 is prevented.

The elastic adhesive preferably has an elongation of about 200%. Further, as the elastic adhesive, various types such as silicon type and urethane type can be used. For example, when the inner side surface of the air bag of the panels 11 and 12 is coated with silicon type, When a silicone-based adhesive is used as the elastic adhesive and a urethane-based coating is applied, it is preferable to use a urethane-based elastic adhesive. The elastic adhesive is preferably applied at a coating amount of about 0.01 to 0.05 g / cm ² over the width of 5 to 15 mm along the peripheral edge of the panels 11 and 12.

  The air bag 5 is connected to the left and right end sides of the cowl covering portion 5a covering the lower part of the cowl 2 and the windshield 6 and the left and right end sides of the cowl covering portion 5a, and developed toward the vehicle rear along the left and right A pillars 7 It forms a substantially U shape having pillar covering portions 5b, 5b covering at least the front end side of the pillars 7. In addition, the airbag 5 has a base end portion 5c in which the central portion in the vehicle body width direction of the cowl covering portion 5a is continuous. At least a part of the base end portion 5 c is positioned in the case 8 even when the air bag 5 is inflated. In addition, the first tether 14 and the second tether 20 are sewn on the lower panel 12 of the airbag 5. The first tether 14 and the second tether 20 are made of, for example, the same base cloth as the upper panel 11 and the lower panel 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the airbag 5, the width in the vehicle body width direction (left and right direction) of the cowl covering portion 5a in the inflated state is greater than the width in the vehicle body width direction of the case 8. It is getting bigger. The lower surface (lower panel 12) of the base end 5c is fixed to the bottom surface 8a of the case 8 by the inflator 9 as described above, and the left and right end sides of the cowl covering 5a (and each The pillar covering portions 5b are expanded so as to spread out to the side of the case 8 respectively.

  The tip end side (one end side) of the first tether 14 is sewed by the annular sewing portion 15 to the front end portion of the pillar covering portion 5 b developed in the substantially front and rear direction along the A-pillar 7. The base end side (the other end side) of the first tether 14 is sewed to the left-right direction end of the base end 5 c by an annular sewing portion (not shown). That is, the base end of the left first tether 14 sewed on the front end of the left pillar covering portion 5b is sewn on the left end of the base end 5c. Similarly, the proximal end of the right first tether 14 whose end is sewn to the front end of the right pillar covering portion 5b is sewn to the right end of the proximal end 5c.

  The tip end side (one end side) of the second tether 20 is sewed by the annular sewing portion 21 to the middle portion in the front-rear direction of the pillar covering portion 5 b developed in the substantially front-rear direction along the A-pillar 7. The proximal end side (the other end side) of the second tether 20 is sewn on the end of the proximal end 5 c in the left-right direction by the annular sewing portion 22. That is, the base end of the left second tether 20 which is sewn to the front-rear direction middle portion of the left pillar covering portion 5b is sewn to the left end of the base end 5c. Similarly, the proximal end of the right second tether 20 which is sewn to the front-rear direction middle portion of the right pillar covering portion 5b is sewn to the right end of the proximal end 5c.

  Here, if the length of the front end portion of the pillar covering portion 5b in the direction along the A pillar 7 of the pillar covering portion 5b is L, the distance from the front end of the pillar covering portion 5b to the rear side is within L / 4. Preferably within the range of L / 8. Further, the middle part of the pillar covering portion 5b means a range of L / 4 or less to the front side and the rear side from the center of the pillar covering portion 5b in the direction along the A pillar 7.

  The pillar covering portion 5b is deployed along the A-pillar 7, and the front side in the deployment direction corresponds to the vehicle front side, and the rear side in the deployment direction corresponds to the vehicle rear side.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, the base end of the left first tether 14 and the base end of the left second tether 20 overlap, and the base end of the right first tether 14 and the right The base end of the two-tether 20 is overlapped with each other, and sewed on the lower side panel 12 of the base end 5 c by the annular sewing portion 22.

  However, as shown in FIG. 6B, the proximal end of the first tether 14 and the proximal end of the second tether may be separated so as not to overlap. In this case, the proximal end side of the first tether 14 is directly sewn to the lower panel 12 by the annular sewing portion 16, and the proximal end side of the second tether 20 is the lower panel by the annular sewing portion 22. It is sewed directly on 12.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, a circular small panel 30, for example, is sewn on the lower panel 12 by the annular sewing part 31 at both ends in the left-right direction of the base end 5c. The proximal end of the first tether 14 and the proximal end of the second tether 20 may be sewn to the peripheral edge portion of the first tether 14 by the sewing portions 17 and 23, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the base end portion 5 c of the airbag 5, two inflators 9 </ b> L and 9 </ b> R are disposed as the inflator 9. One inflator 9L is disposed on the left side in the proximal end 5c, and the other inflator 9R is disposed on the right side in the proximal end 5c. In this embodiment, the inflator 9 is cylindrical, and is configured to eject gas in the radial direction from the gas injection portion 9a at one end side thereof.

  Harnesses (not shown) for energizing the initiators (not shown) of the respective inflators 9 are respectively connected to inflator control circuits (not shown). The initiator of each inflator 9 is activated based on the activation signal from the inflator control circuit, and each inflator 9 ejects gas.

  Although not shown, the automobile 1 equipped with the pedestrian airbag device 4 detects that the automobile 1 collides with a pedestrian or the like, or predicts a collision between the automobile 1 and a pedestrian or the like. Various sensors are provided to do this. Both a detection sensor and a prediction sensor may be provided. The inflator control circuit activates the initiator of each inflator 9 based on the detection or prediction signal from these sensors.

  The operation of the pedestrian airbag device 4 having such a configuration is as follows.

  When the sensor detects that the automobile 1 collides with a pedestrian or the like, or when a collision between the automobile 1 and a pedestrian or the like is predicted, each inflator is controlled from the inflator control circuit based on the detection or prediction signal. When an activation signal is input to the 9 initiators, the initiators are activated, and gas is ejected from each inflator 9. Then, the air bag 5 which is folded and accommodated in the case 8 is inflated by the gas from each inflator 9, pushes open the lid 10, and develops along the outer surface of the vehicle as shown in FIG.

  In this pedestrian air bag device 4, when the air bag 5 is inflated, the cowl covering portion 5a spreads out to the side of the case 8 and develops along the outer surface of the vehicle body, and further the pillar covering portion 5b develops behind along A pillar 7 on either side.

  As described above, the front end portion and the middle portion of the pillar covering portion 5b are connected to the base end portion 5c fixed to the case 8 by the first tether 14 and the second tether 20, respectively. Therefore, when the air bag 5 is inflated and deployed, tension is applied to the front end portion and the middle portion of the pillar covering portion 5b at substantially the same timing, and the lateral swing of the pillar covering portion 5b is suppressed.

  In addition, the tension applied to the front end portion and the middle portion of the pillar covering portion 5b by the first tether 14 and the second tether 20 at substantially the same timing includes the force for pulling the pillar covering portion 5b toward the windshield 6 as well. The upper and lower rocking such that the pillar covering portion 5b is lifted (lifted) from the A-pillar 7 is suppressed. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the swing of the airbag 5 when it is inflated and deployed along the outer surface of the vehicle body.

  In this embodiment, after both ends of the first tether 14 and the second tether 20 are sewn to the lower panel 12 of the airbag 5, the airbag 5 is folded and housed in the case 8. Therefore, regardless of how the air bag 5 is folded, when the air bag 5 is inflated and deployed, the first tether 14 and the second tether 20 are in the same state as at the time of sewing, that is, in a state without twist. It is stretched between the portion 5b and the proximal end 5c.

  Therefore, the airbag 5 can be folded without considering the twisting of the first tether 14 and the second tether 20, and the folding operation of the airbag 5 becomes easy.

  In addition, since the first tether 14 and the second tether 20 are stretched between the pillar covering portion 5b and the base end portion 5c in a state similar to that at the time of sewing, that is, without twisting, the pillar covering is Desired tension can be applied to the portion 5b in a desired direction, and rocking of the pillar capping portion 5b can be effectively suppressed.

  When the air bag 5 is inflated and deployed, the force by the gas from the inflator 9 acts on the pillar covering portion 5 b substantially rearward along the A pillar 7. In order to suppress the swing of the pillar covering portion 5b, it is preferable that the tension by the first tether 14 and the second tether 20 be applied on the opposite side to the force by the gas, that is, as forward as possible along the A-pillar 7. Therefore, it is preferable that the other end sides of the first tether 14 and the second tether 20 be connected to the end of the proximal end 5c as much as possible in the left-right direction.

  The above embodiment shows an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an inflated and deployed airbag device according to a modification. As shown in FIG. 7, the proximal ends of the first tether 14 (not shown) and the second tether 20 are attached to a portion of the proximal end 5 c located outside the case 8 when the airbag 5 is inflated and deployed. You may With such a configuration, the first tether 14 and the second tether 20 are not caught between the lower panel 12 and the rear wall 8 c of the case 8 when the airbag 5 is inflated and deployed, which is more desirable. The first tether 14 and the second tether 20 are stretched in the direction of (1), and a desired tension is applied to the pillar covering portion 5b to effectively suppress the swing.

  In the above embodiment, the tip end of the first tether 14 is sewn on the inner side of the peripheral seaming portion 13 at the front end portion of the pillar covering portion 5b, but as shown in FIG. In the front of the case, an overhanging portion 5d may be provided to project forward than the peripheral seaming portion 13, and the tip of the first tether 14 may be coupled to the overhanging portion 5d by the annular sewing portion 15. The overhanging portion 5 d may be integral with the lower panel 12, or another base cloth may be sewn to the lower panel 12.

  In the above embodiment, one airbag 5 is configured to cover the periphery of the cowl 2 of the vehicle body and the left and right A pillars 7, 7, but a plurality of airbags may be configured to cover them. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, two airbags 5L and 5R are provided, and one airbag 5L covers the left half side (and its periphery) of the cowl 2 and the A pillar 7 on the left side. The air bag 5R is configured to cover the right half side (and the periphery thereof) of the cowl 2 and the A pillar 7 on the right side.

  Of course, three or more airbags may be provided. As described above, an airbag may be provided to cover the periphery of the cowl 2 and portions other than the left and right A pillars 7.

  In the above-mentioned embodiment, although the lower panel 12 was sewn with the both ends of the 1st tether 14 and the 2nd tether 20, the upper panel 11 may also be sewed integrally.

  The first tether 14 and the second tether 20 may be coated with silicone resin or the like on the surface facing the lower panel 12. As a result, when the airbag 5 is inflated and deployed, the frictional resistance between the first tether 14 and the second tether 20 and the lower panel 12 can be suppressed, and the first tether 14 and the second tether 20 can be stretched smoothly.

  The deployment shape of the airbag 5 is not limited to the substantially U-shape. For example, the airbag 5 may have a substantially rectangular shape covering the whole of the windshield and the A-pillar from the cowl, and further extends forward from the left and right ends of the cowl covering 5a so as to cover the left and right fenders. It may be a substantially H-shape or the like having a pair of projecting fender covers.

  The first tether 14 and the second tether 20 may be configured by one tether to reduce the number of parts. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, one tether 40 is folded back, and the folded-back portion is sewn to the lower side panel 12 of the base end 5c by the annular sewing portion 41. One end of the tether 40 is sewed on the front end portion of the pillar covering portion 5b, and the portion from the one end to the folded portion becomes the first tether 14a. The other end of the tether 40 is sewn to the middle portion of the pillar covering portion 5b, and the second tether 20a from the other end to the folded portion.

2 Cowl louver 3 Bonnet hood 4 Pedestrian airbag device 5, 5L, 5R Airbag 5a Cowl cover 5b Pillar cover 5c Base end 8 Case 9 (9L, 9R) Inflator 10 Lid 14 1st tether 15, 16, 21, 22, 41 Ring-shaped sewing part 20 second tether

Claims (5)

An air bag inflating and deploying along an outer surface of a vehicle body so as to expand from the case to the periphery of the case,
A cowl covering that extends in the width direction of the vehicle along the trailing edge of the bonnet hood of the vehicle;
A front end is connected to the cowl covering portion, and the pillar covering portion extends in a substantially backward direction along an A pillar of the vehicle body;
A central portion in the vehicle body width direction of the cowl covering portion is continuous, and a base end portion attached to the case;
A first tether whose one end is connected to the front end of the pillar covering portion and whose other end is connected to the base end;
A second tether whose one end is connected to an intermediate portion in the deployment direction of the pillar covering portion and whose other end is connected to the proximal end portion;
Equipped with
The other end of the said 1st tether and a 2nd tether is connected with the vehicle body width direction edge part of the said base end part, The airbag characterized by the above-mentioned. The airbag according to claim 1 , wherein the other end of the first tether and the other end of the second tether overlap each other. An air bag inflating and deploying along an outer surface of a vehicle body so as to expand from the case to the periphery of the case,
A cowl covering that extends in the width direction of the vehicle along the trailing edge of the bonnet hood of the vehicle;
A front end is connected to the cowl covering portion, and the pillar covering portion extends in a substantially backward direction along an A pillar of the vehicle body;
A central portion in the vehicle body width direction of the cowl covering portion is continuous, and a base end portion attached to the case;
A first tether whose one end is connected to the front end of the pillar covering portion and whose other end is connected to the base end;
A second tether whose one end is connected to an intermediate portion in the deployment direction of the pillar covering portion and whose other end is connected to the proximal end portion;
Equipped with
Has an upper panel and a lower panel facing the vehicle body,
Peripheral portions of the upper and lower panels are sewn together by a peripheral suture portion,
Both ends of the first tether and the second tether are connected to the lower panel,
The airbag is characterized in that one end of the first tether is connected to an overhanging portion projecting forward than the peripheral seamed portion in the pillar covering portion. The airbag according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , which is folded.
An inflator for inflating the air bag;
A case for housing the air bag and the inflator;
An airbag device comprising: With folded airbags,
An inflator for inflating the air bag;
A case for housing the air bag and the inflator;
Equipped with
The air bag inflates and deploys along the outer surface of the vehicle so as to expand from the case to the periphery of the case,
A cowl covering that extends in the width direction of the vehicle along the trailing edge of the bonnet hood of the vehicle;
A front end is connected to the cowl covering portion, and the pillar covering portion extends in a substantially backward direction along an A pillar of the vehicle body;
A central portion in the vehicle body width direction of the cowl covering portion is continuous, and a base end portion attached to the case;
A first tether whose one end is connected to the front end of the pillar covering portion and whose other end is connected to the base end;
A second tether whose one end is connected to an intermediate portion in the deployment direction of the pillar covering portion and whose other end is connected to the proximal end portion;
Have
The other end of a said 1st tether and a said 2nd tether is connected with the location located in the exterior of the said case at the time of the said expansion | deployment of the said base end parts of the said airbag, The airbag apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

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