JP6737217B2 - Occupant protection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is an airbag that is folded and stored in a storage portion provided in an instrument panel arranged in front of a front seat in a vehicle, and inflates by inflating an inflation gas discharged from an inflator into the inside, The present invention relates to an occupant protection device.

Conventionally, as an occupant protection device, an airbag that inflates so as to cover the front area from the passenger seat to the driver seat, a passenger seat passenger seated in the passenger seat, and a driver seated in the driver seat, Some of them can be protected at the same time (for example, see Patent Document 1).

In these conventional occupant protection devices, the gas conduit portion that is connected to the inflator and guides the inflation gas to the inside of the airbag is arranged over substantially the entire area in the left-right direction of the airbag when the inflation is completed. , Is configured to extend substantially along the left-right direction, and is configured to allow the inflation gas to flow into the airbag from the plurality of outflow holes provided on the left-right direction side to inflate the airbag. ..

JP-A-49-58546

However, in the conventional occupant protection device, since the bag-shaped airbag is simply inflated in the front area from the driver's seat to the passenger seat, the center side in the left-right direction at the time of an oblique collision or an offset collision of the vehicle. There is room for improvement in protecting the passenger seat driver and the driver who move diagonally forward.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by an airbag that has completed the inflation, it moves quickly and smoothly toward the diagonally front side which is the center side in the left-right direction at the time of an oblique collision or an offset collision of a vehicle. An object of the present invention is to provide an occupant protection device capable of protecting a passenger seat passenger and a driver.

The inflating gas discharged from the inflator is stored inside after being folded and stored in the storage area that is provided over the front side area from the passenger seat to the driver seat of the instrument panel located in front of the front seat in the vehicle. A passenger protection device comprising an airbag that inflates so as to cover the front area from the passenger seat to the driver's seat, the airbag being arranged in front of the passenger seat to receive the passenger in the passenger seat. Passenger seat receiving inflating part that expands as much as possible, driver seat receiving inflating part that is placed in front of the driver seat and inflates so that the driver can be received, and passenger seat receiving inflating part On the front side of the region extending to the use receiving inflating portion, the inflow side inflating portion that is continuously formed substantially along the left-right direction and that inflates by inflowing the inflation gas discharged from the inflator into the inside, Between the passenger seat receiving inflating portion and the driver seat receiving inflating portion, when the inflation is completed, the driver seat receiving inflating portion and the passenger seat receiving inflating portion are projected rearward. The protruding inflatable part is formed so that the outer shape of the protruding inflatable part at the time of completion of inflation is a substantially trapezoidal shape with the rear end side narrowed when viewed from the left-right direction, A lower recess for recessing the lower edge side is formed between the receiving inflating portion and the driver's seat receiving inflating portion, and the lower wall portion of the protruding inflating portion that extends downward from the vehicle from the rear wall portion side of the protruding inflating portion. An occupant protection device having a lower edge extending to a lower recess .

In the occupant protection device of the present invention, the airbag causes the inflation gas that has flowed into the inflow side inflating section to flow into the passenger seat receiving inflating section and the driver seat receiving inflating section, and the passenger seat receiving section. It is configured to inflate the static expansion part and the driver seat receiving expansion part. Therefore, the airbag has a passenger seat receiving inflating portion arranged in front of the passenger seat and a driver seat receiving inflating portion arranged in front of the driver's seat, and has an inflation completion shape left and right. Even if it is configured to be wide, the passenger seat receiving inflating portion and the driver seat receiving inflating portion can be quickly inflated in a balanced manner on the left and right.

Further, in the occupant protection device having the above configuration, between the passenger seat receiving inflating portion and the driver seat receiving inflating portion, when the inflation is completed, the driver seat receiving inflating portion and the passenger seat receiving inflating portion The projecting inflating section is arranged so as to project in, and the projecting inflating section has an external shape at the time of completion of expansion , which is a substantially trapezoidal shape in which the rear end side is narrowed when viewed from the left-right direction side, A lower recess for recessing the lower edge side is formed between the passenger seat receiving expansion portion and the driver seat receiving expansion portion. By configuring the lower edge of the lower wall to extend to the lower concave part, the protruding inflating section accurately protects the passenger seat driver and the driver moving diagonally forward, which is the center side in the left-right direction. In addition, it is possible to reduce the capacity of the peripheral portion of the lower wall portion of the protruding expansion portion.

Therefore, in the occupant protection device of the present invention, it is possible to suppress an increase in the volume of the airbag, and to protect the passenger seat driver and the driver quickly and smoothly by the airbag that has completed inflation, and At the time of an oblique collision or an offset collision, it is possible to protect the passenger seat driver and the driver who move diagonally forward toward the center side in the left-right direction.

Also, the angle of the rear wall and the top wall portion of the impact out expansion portion, by which is smaller than the angle between the rear wall and the lower wall portion of the projecting inflatable portion, an oblique collision or an offset collision of the vehicle At this time, it is possible to set the size of the head of the passenger seat driver or the driver who moves diagonally downward and forward, which is the center side in the left-right direction, to a size that can be smoothly restrained, and to protect it more accurately. possible and that Do not.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which an occupant protection system according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle. It is a schematic plan view of a state in which the vehicle occupant protection device of the embodiment is mounted on a vehicle. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the airbag used in the occupant protection system according to the embodiment, which is inflated by itself and is viewed from the left front. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the airbag of FIG. 3 is inflated by itself, as viewed from the right rear side. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where the airbag of FIG. 3 is inflated by itself. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag of FIG. 5, and is a figure which shows the VI-VI site|part of FIG. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag of FIG. 5, and is a figure which shows the VII-VII site|part of FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a portion of a protruding inflatable portion in the airbag of FIG. 5. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag of FIG. 5, and is a figure which shows the VIII-VIII site|part of FIG. It is a top view which shows the state which expanded the airbag of FIG. 3 flatly. It is a top view which shows the base material which comprises the airbag of FIG. In the occupant protection system of the embodiment, it is a schematic front view showing a state in which the airbag has completed inflation. In the occupant protection system of the embodiment, it is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a portion in front of the driver's seat showing a state where the airbag has completed inflation. In the occupant protection system of the embodiment, it is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a portion in front of a passenger seat showing a state in which the airbag has completed inflation. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion of a protruding and inflating portion in the airbag of FIG. 5.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an occupant protection device M of the embodiment has an instrument panel (hereinafter abbreviated as “instrument panel”) arranged in front of a front seat (driver's seat DS, passenger seat PS) of a vehicle V. It is provided inside 1. In the case of the embodiment, the occupant protection device M is of a top mount type arranged inside the upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1. In the embodiment, the front/rear/up/down/left/right directions correspond to the front/rear/up/down/left/right directions of the vehicle V unless otherwise specified. The vehicle V on which the occupant protection device M of the embodiment is mounted is a left-hand drive vehicle with the driver's seat DS arranged on the left side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the occupant protection system M of the embodiment includes a folded airbag 15, two inflators 8 (8L, 8R) for supplying inflation gas to the airbag 15, and an airbag 15. And a case 12 as a storage portion for storing and holding the inflator 8 (8L, 8R), two retainers 9 (9L, 9R) for attaching the airbag 15 and each inflator 8 (8L, 8R) to the case 12, And an airbag cover 6 that covers the folded airbag 15 from above.

The airbag cover 6 is formed integrally with the instrument panel 1 made of synthetic resin so that when the airbag 15 is deployed and inflated, the front and rear two door portions 6a and 6b are pushed by the airbag 15 and opened. It is configured. A connecting wall portion 6c connected to the case 12 is formed around the door portions 6a and 6b of the airbag cover 6.

In the case of the embodiment, the two inflators 8L and 8R are arranged on the left and right sides of left and right sides of an inflow side inflatable portion 21 of the airbag 15, which will be described later, as shown in FIGS. Are installed side by side. The two inflators 8L and 8R are of the same output type and have the same outer shape. As shown in FIGS. 1, 13 and 14, each inflator 8 (8L, 8R) has a substantially cylindrical main body portion 8a having a plurality of gas discharge ports 8b, and a flange portion for attaching the inflator 8 to the case 12. 8c, and is comprised. In the case of the embodiment, each inflator 8 (8L, 8R) is configured to operate during a frontal collision of the vehicle V, an oblique collision, and an offset collision.

The case 12 serving as a storage portion is arranged over the front region from the passenger seat PS to the driver seat DS so that the folded airbag 15 can be stored therein (see FIG. 2 ). Specifically, the width dimension of the case 12 in the left-right direction is set smaller than the area from the left edge of the driver seat DS on the left side to the right edge of the passenger seat PS on the right side in the vehicle V in the left-right direction. It is configured as a long shape that is arranged substantially along. The case 12 is formed in a long and substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape made of sheet metal having an opening on the upper end side, and as shown in FIG. 1, the long bottom wall portion 12a to which the respective inflators 8 are inserted from below and attached. And a peripheral wall portion 12b that extends upward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 12a and locks the connecting wall portion 6c of the airbag cover 6. The airbag 15 and the inflator 8 (8L, 8R) are attached to the retainer 9 (9L, 9R) arranged in the airbag 15 by using the bolts 9a of the retainer 9 (9L, 9R) as attachment means, which will be described later. The peripheral portion 24 (mounting hole 25) of 23L, 23R), the bottom wall portion 12a of the case 12, and the flange portion 8c of the inflator 8 (8L, 8R) are passed through and the nut 10 is fixed, so that the case 12 is secured. Is attached to the bottom wall 12a (see FIGS. 1, 13 and 14). A bracket (not shown) connected to the body side of the vehicle V is disposed on the bottom wall portion 12a of the case 12.

The airbag 15 has a bag shape formed of a flexible sheet body, and as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the inflation completion shape in a state viewed from the up and down direction side is a substantially rectangular shape. Further, the region on the rear end side at the time of completion of expansion is configured to be wider in the vertical direction toward the rear end side. The front end 15a side of the airbag 15 at the time of completion of inflation is attached to the case 12 side to allow the inflation gas discharged from the inflator 8 to flow into the inside of the airbag 15 and to expand and inflate while projecting rearward and upward from the case 12. However, when the expansion is completed, as shown by the alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 2 and FIG. 12, it is arranged so as to cover the front area from the passenger seat PS to the driver seat DS.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 10, the airbag 15 has an inflated shape in which the front region has a substantially rectangular plate shape, and the rear region has a wide width in the vertical direction toward the rear end 15b side and is substantially along the left-right direction. And a lower wall portion 17 arranged on the side of the instrument panel 1 and an occupant (driver MD, The rear wall portion 18 disposed on the passenger seat passenger MP side is provided. Further, the airbag 15 has an inflow side inflating portion 21 arranged on the front end 15a side and attached to the case 12 side when the inflation is completed, an occupant protection portion 28 arranged on the rear end 15b side when the inflation is completed, and an inflow side. The end side flow passages 42L and 42R and the center side flow passage 43 arranged in a region between the inflating portion 21 and the occupant protection portion 28 are provided. Specifically, in the flat state of the airbag 15, the front region from the front-rear center of the end-side flow passage portions 42L and 42R to the inflow-side inflatable portion 21 has a slightly narrow width toward the front edge side. Thus, the left edge 15c and the right edge 15d are inclined toward the front end 15a (see FIG. 10).

The inflow-side inflatable portion 21 is formed continuously along the left-right direction on the front end 15a side of the airbag 15, and has an outer shape when inflation is completed with the axial direction substantially along the left-right direction. It is configured as a substantially rod shape. The inflow-side inflating portion 21 has a width dimension in the left-right direction at the time of completion of inflation substantially matched with a width dimension in the left-right direction of the occupant protection portion 28 at the time of completion of inflation. It is configured to be slightly narrower than the width dimension on the left-right direction side. The left end 21a side and the right end 21b side of the inflow side inflating part 21 are attached to the case 12, and in the case of the embodiment, the left end 21a side and the right end 21b side are formed on the lower surface side (lower wall part 17 side) inside. A substantially circular opening for allowing the inflation gas to flow into, and a peripheral edge of the mounting opening 23 (23L, 23R) attached to the bottom wall 12a of the case 12 using the retainer 9 (9L, 9R). It is arranged. Specifically, the mounting opening 23 is formed in a region near the left end 21a and the right end 21b of the inflow-side inflatable portion 21 and on the front side of the later-described left joint portion 37 and right joint portion 40. In other words, the mounting openings 23 (23L, 23R) are formed in the front area between the end-side flow passage portions 42L, 42R and the central-side flow passage portion 43. Each of the mounting openings 23 is formed by opening the inner diameter of the retainer 9 (9L, 9R) into a substantially circular shape so that the main body portion 8a of the inflator 8 can be inserted therethrough. Thus, a plurality (four in the case of the embodiment) of mounting holes 25 for mounting the peripheral edge portion 24 to the bottom wall portion 12a of the case 12 are provided.

The occupant protection unit 28 is arranged in a region from the front of the passenger seat PS to the front of the driver seat DS when the inflation is completed. In the case of the embodiment, the occupant protection unit 28 has an inflation region in which the inflation gas is introduced to inflate the inflation region. , Are configured to be connected on the left and right sides. Specifically, the occupant protection unit 28 is arranged in front of the driver's seat DS on the left side when the inflation is completed, and the driver seat receiving inflating unit 29 that inflates so as to protect the driver MD and the right side when the inflation is completed. A passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30, a driver seat receiving inflating portion 29, and a passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30, which are arranged in front of the passenger seat PS which expands so as to protect the passenger seat-mounted person MP. And a communication portion 34 that expands so as to communicate with each other.

The driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 has a steering wheel W arranged in front of the driver seat DS inserted through an opening portion 38, which will be described later, arranged on the front side, so that the upper surface of the steering wheel W ( The rear surface is arranged so as to cover substantially the entire surface (see FIG. 13). The passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 is arranged in front of the passenger seat PS such that the front lower surface side is brought closer to the instrument panel 1 when the inflation is completed (see FIG. 14 ). As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the driver seat receiving and expanding portion 29 and the passenger seat receiving and expanding portion 30 have their rear surfaces 29a and 30a (rear wall portion 18) substantially flush with each other when the expansion is completed. , Are arranged substantially along the vertical direction. Further, the passenger seat receiving expansion portion 30 is arranged so that the width dimension in the front-rear direction side at the time of completion of expansion covers the steering wheel W protruding from the instrument panel 1 at the time of completion of expansion. It is set to be larger than the portion 29 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) and is arranged such that the front lower surface side when the expansion is completed is brought closer to the instrument panel 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 includes a rear seat edge 40b formed on the front side of the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 at the driver seat receiving portion. By arranging it on the front side with respect to the rear edge 37b of the left side coupling portion 37 forming the peripheral edge of the opening 38 formed on the front side of the static expansion portion 29, the width dimension on the front-rear direction side at the time of completion of expansion, It is set to be larger than the driver's seat receiving expansion section 29.

Further, in the occupant protection unit 28 of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper edge 28a side and the lower edge 28b are provided in the region between the driver seat receiving expansion portion 29 and the passenger seat receiving expansion portion 30. An upper concave portion 32 and a lower concave portion 33 are formed so as to make the sides concave. The upper concave portion 32 and the lower concave portion 33 are provided in order to bypass the protrusions arranged in the region around the instrument panel 1 in the vehicle interior, and for example, protrude downward from a roof (not shown). It bypasses members such as a rearview mirror (not shown) and a shift lever (not shown) protruding rearward from the instrument panel 1. (See Figure 5).

Further, the passenger protection section 28 is provided with a projecting inflating section 60 arranged between the passenger seat receiving inflating section 30 and the driver seat receiving inflating section 29 so as to project rearward when the inflation is completed. (See FIG. 4).

The projecting inflatable section 60 is located at a substantially central position in the left-right direction of the occupant protection section 28 between the passenger seat receiving inflating section 30 and the driver seat receiving inflating section 29. 30 and the rear surface 29a, 30a of the driver's seat receiving/expanding portion 29 are arranged so as to project rearward from the driver's seat receiving/expanding portion and the passenger's seat receiving/expanding portion. The outer shape at that time is substantially trapezoidal with the rear end side narrowed when viewed from the left-right direction side, and the width dimension on the left-right direction side is substantially constant (see FIGS. 8 and 15). The protruding inflatable section 60 is configured to receive the heads PH and DH of the passenger seat passenger MP or the driver MD by the left wall portion 60c or the right wall portion 60d which are arranged so as to face each other in the left-right direction when the inflation is completed. The left wall portion 60c and the right wall portion 60d are arranged substantially along the front-rear direction when the airbag 15C is completely inflated, as shown in FIG. The lower edge of the lower wall portion 60b of the protruding inflatable portion 60 extending downward from the rear wall portion 60e side of the protruding inflatable portion 60 in the state viewed from the left-right direction has a lower edge for the passenger seat. It extends to a lower concave portion 33 formed on the lower edge 28b side of the region between the static expansion portion 30 and the driver's seat static expansion portion 29 (see FIGS. 4 and 8). It is configured such that the amount of protrusion to the rear side of the upper end side area in which the heads PH and DH of the passenger seat passenger MP and the driver MD are arranged is maximized and converges toward the lower end side. The projecting inflating section 60 moves the amount of projecting rearward of the region on the upper end side toward the diagonally front, which is the center side in the left-right direction, when the vehicle V is in an oblique collision or an offset collision, and is in the front passenger seat MP. The heads PH and DH of the driver MD are set to a size that allows the heads PH and DH to be smoothly restrained when they are received by the left wall portion 60c or the right wall portion 60d. Specifically, in the airbag 15, as shown in FIG. 2, in a diagonal collision or an offset collision of the vehicle V, the head PH of the passenger seat passenger MP moving diagonally forward left is projected. While being received by the right wall portion 60d of the inflatable portion 60, it is guided by the right wall portion 60d and moves forward, and is restrained by a portion near the boundary between the passenger seat receiving inflatable portion 30 and the protruding inflatable portion 60. Becomes

When the airbag 15C having such a configuration is used, in the case of an oblique collision or an offset collision of the vehicle, the passenger seat mounter MP and the driver MD moving diagonally forward toward the center side in the left-right direction are set to the passenger seat. The projecting inflating section 60 arranged so as to project rearward between the vehicle receiving inflating section 30C and the driver's seat receiving inflating section 29C enables more accurate protection.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the angle α formed by the upper wall portion 60a and the rear wall portion 60e in the protruding inflatable portion 60 is smaller than the angle β formed by the lower wall portion 60b in the protruding inflatable portion 60 and the rear wall portion 60e. Accordingly, the protruding inflatable portion 60 is properly protected in the area extending from the upper wall portion 60a of the protruding inflatable portion 60 to the rear wall portion 60e while the heads PH and DH of the passenger seat passenger MP and the driver MD are accurately protected. It is possible to reduce the capacity of the area around the lower wall portion of 60.

In the airbag 15 of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, at the position in front of the driver's seat receiving inflating portion 29, the driver's seat receiving inflating portion 29 and the inflow-side inflating portion 21 are provided. In the meantime, a left side joint portion 37 formed by joining (sewn) the upper wall portion 16 and the lower wall portion 17 is formed. The left-side connecting portion 37 is formed such that a gap is provided between the left-side connecting portion 37 and the left edge 15c of the airbag 15 in a region on the left side of the left and right center of the airbag 15. The side width is set to be slightly larger, and the corners are chamfered into a substantially rectangular shape. Further, the right edge 37d of the left-side coupling portion 37 is configured to be inclined with respect to the front-rear direction so that the rear region is directed to the left toward the rear edge. Then, an opening 38 is formed so as to penetrate in the vertical direction so as to cut out the upper wall portion 16 and the lower wall portion 17 in a region surrounded by the left side coupling portion 37. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the opening 38 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape so that the ring portion R of the steering wheel W arranged in front of the driver's seat DS can be inserted therethrough. In the airbag 15 of the embodiment, when the inflation is completed, the upper end side portion of the ring portion R of the steering wheel W is configured to project from the opening portion 38, and the opening portion 38 has an opening width dimension in the left-right direction, It is set to be smaller than the outer diameter dimension of the ring portion R of the steering wheel W.

Further, at a position in front of the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 and between the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 and the inflow side inflating portion 21, as shown in FIGS. A right side joint portion 40 (non-expansion region) formed by joining (sewn) the portion 16 and the lower wall portion 17 is formed. The right side connecting portion 40 is formed so as to have a gap between the right side of the airbag 15 and the right edge 15d of the airbag 15 in the region on the right side of the left and right center of the airbag 15. Has a large width dimension, and has a substantially rectangular shape with chamfered corners. The right side joint portion 40 has a width dimension in the left-right direction larger than that of the left side joint portion 37 and a width dimension in the front-rear direction side smaller than that of the left side joint portion 37. The right side binding site 40 and the left side binding site 37 are arranged so that the front edges 37a, 40a are aligned in the left-right direction side, and the rear edge 40b of the right side binding site 40 is, as described above, the left side binding site. It is arranged at a position that is in front of the rear edge 37b of 37.

Then, in the airbag 15 of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the region between the left edge 15c of the airbag 15 and the left edge 37c of the left coupling portion 37 is located on the left side of the end side flow path portion. 42L, the region between the right edge 15d and the right edge 40d in the right side coupling portion 40 constitutes the end side flow passage portion 42R arranged on the right side, and the right edge 37d of the left side coupling portion 37 and the right side coupling portion The region between the left edge 40c of the portion 40 constitutes the central side flow passage portion 43.

As shown in FIG. 5, the end-side flow passage portion 42L arranged on the left side includes the left end 21a of the inflow-side inflating portion 21 and the passenger seat receiving inflating portion in the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 when the inflation is completed. 30 is arranged substantially along the front-rear direction at the time of completion of expansion so as to connect the end edge (left edge 29b in the case of the embodiment) separated from the left-right direction side. The end side flow passage portion 42R arranged on the right side is separated from the right end 21b of the inflow side inflating portion 21 and the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 in the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 at the time of completion of the inflation on the left and right sides. When the expansion is completed, it is arranged substantially along the front-rear direction so as to connect the end edge (the right edge 30c in the case of the embodiment) side. Each of the end side flow passage portions 42L, 42R is configured such that the expansion completion shape is a rod shape that is substantially along the front-rear direction, and in the case of the embodiment, the width dimensions in the left-right direction are made substantially the same, and The inflation gas G that has flowed into the inflow-side inflating portion 21 is caused to flow out to the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 and the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29, respectively, and when the inflation is completed, the passenger seat receiving inflation The right edge 30c side of the portion 30 and the left edge 29b side of the driver seat receiving and expanding portion 29 are configured to be supported.

The center-side flow path portion 43 is close to the inflow-side expansion portion 21, the passenger seat receiving expansion portion 30, and the driver seat receiving expansion portion 29 in the region between the end side flow path portions 42L and 42R. The near edge side (the right edge 29c side of the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 and the left edge 30b side of the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30) is connected substantially along the front-rear direction when the inflation is completed. It is configured to be arranged. The center-side flow passage portion 43 is configured such that the expansion completion shape is a rod shape substantially along the front-rear direction, and in the case of the embodiment, the width dimension in the left-right direction is slightly smaller than that of the end-side flow passage portions 42L and 42R. Is set to a large value. Then, the center-side flow path portion 43 causes the inflation gas G that has flowed into the inflow-side inflating portion 21 to flow out to the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 and the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29, and the inflation is completed. At the time, the right edge 29c side of the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 and the left edge 30b side of the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 are configured to be supported.

The airbag 15 is formed in a bag shape by joining the peripheral edges of base fabrics of a predetermined shape to each other, and in the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. An upper panel 47 constituting the above, a lower panel 48 arranged at the lower side when the expansion is completed to form the lower wall portion 17, and a rear panel 49 arranged at the rear side when the expansion is completed to form the rear wall portion 18, It is configured to include.

The upper panel 47 and the lower panel 48 are configured to have a substantially rectangular outer shape. The upper panel 47 is formed with a cutout portion (not shown in the figure) that forms the opening portion 38 and the upper recessed portion 32, and the lower panel 48 is formed with a cutout portion that forms the opening portion 38 and the lower side recessed portion 33 ( (The reference numeral omitted). Specifically, the lower panel 48 is configured to have the same width dimension in the left-right direction toward the rear edge 48b side, but the upper panel 47 is a rear region joined to the upper region of the rear panel 49. Is slightly narrower than the front area, and the rear side portion 47cb of the left edge 47c and the rear side portion 47db of the right edge 47d are compared with the front side portions 47ca and 47da of the left edge 47c and the right edge 47d. And is arranged on the inner side in the left-right direction.

The rear panel 49 has a substantially rectangular outer shape, and in the case of the embodiment, is divided into three on the left-right direction side. The rear panel 49 sews adjacent edge portions of a left side portion 51 and a right side portion 52 arranged on both left and right sides, and a central side portion 53 arranged between the left side portion 51 and the right side portion 52. It is configured by (coupling), and the upper portions 49ca and 49da of the left edge 49c and the right edge 49d correspond to the left edge 47c and the rear side portions 47cb and 47db of the upper panel 47, respectively. , Are arranged on the inner side in the left-right direction. A notch (not shown in the figure) that forms the upper recess 32 and the lower recess 33 is formed in the central portion 53 of the rear panel 49. The upper panel 47, the lower panel 48, and the rear panel 49 that form the airbag 15 of the embodiment are each formed of a flexible woven fabric made of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 11, the central portion 53 is provided on the rear surface 29 a of the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 and the protruding portion forming portion 64 which is disposed on the center side in the left-right direction and constitutes the protruding inflating portion 60. It is configured to include a central left side portion 69 forming a right side area and a central right side portion 70 forming a left side area on the rear surface 30a of the passenger seat receiving expansion portion 30. The central left side portion 69 and the central right side portion 70 have a substantially rectangular outer shape.

The protruding portion forming portion 64 is arranged on the center side in the left-right direction and spreads flat with a belt-like portion 65 that constitutes a region from the upper wall portion 60a to the rear wall portion 60e to the lower wall portion 60b in the protruding inflating portion 60. Side wall forming portions 66 and 67 that are formed so as to project to the left and right sides from positions slightly above the upper and lower centers of the strip-shaped portion 65 and that form the left wall portion 60c and the right wall portion 60d. Each of the side wall constituent parts 66, 67 is configured to be continuous with the center left side part 69 or the center right side part 70, and is configured as a substantially trapezoidal shape that is expanded to the center left side part 69 or the center right side part 70. .. The protruding portion forming portion 64 has a bilaterally symmetrical shape.

The airbag 15 is formed in a bag shape by sewing (bonding) the corresponding edges of the upper panel 47, the lower panel 48, and the rear panel 49 to each other with a suture thread. Specifically, although not shown in detail, first, the upper edge 49a and the lower edge 49b of the rear panel 49 in a state where the corresponding edges of the left side portion 51, the central side portion 53, and the right side portion 52 are attached to each other. Are sewn to the rear edges 47b and 48b of the upper panel 47 and the lower panel 48 with sutures, respectively, and the upper margin 49a of the rear panel 49 and the rear edge of the upper panel 47 are sewn while the seam allowance is directed inward. 47b, the rear panel 49 and the upper panel 47 are overlapped with each other by folding back at the portion where they are sewn together, so that the left edge 49c and the upper edge 49ca of the right edge 49d of the rear panel 49, 49da and the left edge 47c and the rear side portion 47cb, 47db of the right edge 47d of the upper panel 47 are sewn with sutures, respectively. Next, the upper panel 47 is opened so that the front edge 47a side is separated from the rear panel 49, and the remaining outer peripheral edge is overlapped so as to match the outer peripheral edge of the lower panel 48. From 48c to the right edge 48d via the front edge 48a, the lower side portion 49cb at the left edge 49c of the rear panel 49, the front side portion 47ca at the left edge 47c of the upper panel 47, the front edge 47a, the front side portion 47da at the right edge 47d. And a lower portion 49db on the right edge 49d of the rear panel 49, which is sewn (joined) by continuously forming a sutured portion using a suture thread, and at the same time, the left jointed portion 37, the right side The joining portion 40, the upper concave portion 32, and the lower concave portion 33 are sewn (joined) with a suture thread, and the protruding portion forming portion 64 is the upper left edge 65a of the strip portion 65 and the left side wall constituting portion 66. The upper edge 66a, the lower left edge 65b of the strip-shaped portion 65 and the lower edge 66b of the left side wall forming portion 66, the upper right edge 65c of the strip-shaped portion 65 and the upper edge 67a of the right side wall forming portion 67, the lower right edge 65d of the strip-shaped portion 65. The airbag 15 can be manufactured by constructing the projecting inflatable portion 60 by sewing (joining) the lower edge 67b of the side wall constituent portion 67 on the right side and the lower edge 67b of the side wall constituent portion 67 with a suture thread. In the airbag 15 of the embodiment, the area of the rear wall portion 18 that is located on the passenger seat passenger MP side or the driver MD side when the inflation is completed includes the upper edge side and the lower edge side (left edge side and right edge side). Except for the edge side), it is sewn so that the seam allowance is not exposed to the outside, and the remaining region is sewn so that the seam allowance is exposed to the outside (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

Next, mounting of the occupant protection device M of the embodiment on the vehicle V will be described. First, the airbag 15 is folded so that it can be stored in the case 12 with the retainers 9L and 9R inserted therein. Specifically, in the airbag 15, the upper wall portion 16 and the lower wall portion 17 are overlapped with each other so that the upper edge of the rear wall portion 18 faces the inflow side inflating portion 21 side (the front end 15a side of the airbag 15). From the flattened state, the front, rear, left and right width dimensions are folded so as to be retractable so as to be stored in the case 12. In the embodiment, in the airbag 15, the rear wall portion 18 is roll-folded so as to be wound from the lower edge side to the lower wall portion 17 side, the roll-folded portion is placed on the attachment opening 23, and the attachment opening 23 The region on the front side is arranged on the front side of the roll-folding portion and is folded so as to reduce the width dimension in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 1 ). After the airbag 15 is folded, the folded airbag 15 is wrapped with a rupturable wrapping sheet (not shown) so as not to collapse. Next, the folded airbag 15 is placed on the bottom wall portion 12a of the case 12. The main body 8a of the inflator 8L, 8R is inserted into the case 12 from below the bottom wall 12a, and the bolts 9a of the retainers 9L, 9R protruding downward from the bottom wall 12a are attached to the inflator 8L, 8R. The flange portion 8c. After that, if the nuts 10 are fastened to the bolts 9a protruding from the flange portions 8c of the inflators 8L and 8R, the folded airbag 15 and the inflators 8L and 8R can be attached to the case 12. Further, at this time, the airbag 15 uses the inflator 8 (8L, 8R) and the retainer 9 (9L, 9R) to move the peripheral edge portion 24 of the mounting opening 23 (23L, 23R) to the case 12 side. It is a structure that can be attached.

Then, the peripheral wall portion 12b of the case 12 is locked to the connecting wall portion 6c of the airbag cover 6 in the instrument panel 1 mounted on the vehicle V, and the bracket (not shown) of the case 12 is fixed to the body side of the vehicle V. Thus, the passenger protection device M can be mounted on the vehicle V.

In the occupant protection device M of the embodiment, when mounted on the vehicle V, the expansion gas is supplied from the gas discharge port 8b of the inflator 8 (8L, 8R) during a frontal collision, a diagonal collision, or an offset collision of the vehicle V. Is discharged, the airbag 15 is caused to inflate the inflation gas therein and inflates, thereby pushing the door portions 6a and 6b of the airbag cover 6 open. Then, the airbag 15 protrudes upward from the case 12 through an opening formed by pushing open the door portions 6a and 6b of the airbag cover 6, and expands and inflates while protruding toward the vehicle rear side. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the expansion is completed so as to cover the front region from the passenger seat PS to the driver seat DS while closing the space between the upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1 and the windshield 4 above the instrument panel 1. It will be.

In the occupant protection device M of the embodiment, the airbag 15 has an edge side (in the case of the embodiment, the driver's seat) of the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 and the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 that are separated from each other in the left-right direction. End side flow passage portions 42L and 42R arranged on the left edge 29b side of the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 29 and on the right edge 30c side of the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 and the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30. And the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 close to each other (the right edge 29c side of the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 and the left edge 30b side of the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30). The central side flow path portion 43 causes the expansion gas G flowing into the inflow side expansion portion 21 to flow into the passenger seat receiving expansion portion 30 and the driver seat receiving expansion portion 29, The passenger seat receiving expansion portion 30 and the driver seat receiving expansion portion 29 are configured to expand. Therefore, the airbag 15 has a passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 arranged in front of the passenger seat PS and a driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 arranged in front of the driver seat DS. Even if the expansion completion shape is configured to be wide left and right, the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 and the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 can be quickly inflated left and right in a well-balanced manner. Further, in the occupant protection device M of the embodiment, the airbag 15 has a configuration in which the left end 21a side and the right end 21b side of the inflow-side inflatable portion 21 at the time of completion of inflation are attached to the case 12, and therefore the inflow-side inflation is performed. The configuration in which the portion 21 is continuously disposed substantially along the left-right direction so as to extend from the front passenger seat PS to the driver seat DS, in other words, when the expansion is completed, the portion 21 is disposed substantially along the left-right direction in a rod shape. Even with such a configuration, the inflow-side inflatable portion 21 can be arranged while suppressing the left end 21a side and the right end 21b side from floating. Further, in the airbag 15 at the time of completion of inflation, the end-side flow passage portions 42L and 42R include the left end 21a and the right end 21b of the inflow-side inflation portion 21, the passenger seat receiving inflation portion 30, and the driver seat receiving inflation portion. 29, the edge side (left edge 29b side, the right edge 30c side) separated in the left-right direction side is connected, respectively, and the right edge 30c side of the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 and the driver seat receiving inflating. The central side flow path portion 43 supports the left edge 29b side of the portion 29, and the central side flow path portion 43 is close to the adjacent edge portions of the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 and the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 ( The right edge 29c side and the left edge 30b side) are supported. Therefore, when the inflation of the airbag 15 is completed, the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30 and the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29 respectively move the left edge 29b, 30b side and the right edge 29c, 30c side in the front-rear direction. It is supported by the end-side flow path portions 42L and 42R and the central-side flow path portion 43 that expand in a substantially rod shape, and the left and right sides of the forward-moving passenger seat passenger MP and the driver MD are supported. The passenger seat receiving and expanding portion 30 and the driver seat receiving and expanding portion 29 can provide smooth protection.

Therefore, in the occupant protection device M of the embodiment, the increase in the volume of the airbag 15 can be suppressed, and the inflated airbag 15 protects the passenger seat passenger MP and the driver MD quickly and smoothly. can do.

Further, in the occupant protection system M of the embodiment, the airbag 38 is formed so as to pass through the steering wheel W arranged in front of the driver's seat DS at the time of completion of the inflation so that the airbag 38 can be penetrated in the vertical direction. Since it is configured to include, it is possible to suppress the inflating airbag 15 from interfering with the steering wheel W when the airbag 15 is deployed and inflated, and to inflate the airbag 15 more quickly and smoothly. You can Further, by providing the opening 38, the volume of the airbag 15 itself can be reduced as compared with the case where the configuration does not include the opening. If such a point is not taken into consideration, the airbag may be configured not to have an opening for inserting the steering wheel, but to have, for example, a sheet-like portion that covers the upper side of the steering wheel when the inflation is completed.

Further, in the occupant protection device M of the embodiment, the airbag 15 is located in front of the passenger seat receiving and inflating portion 30 and in a region between the end side flow passage portion 42R and the center side flow passage portion 43. The volume of the airbag 15 can be reduced because it is configured to have the right side connecting portion 40 as a non-inflatable region in which the inflation gas does not flow inside. If such a point is not taken into consideration, an airbag having a configuration in which a non-inflatable region is not provided in front of the passenger seat receiving inflating portion may be used. In the airbag 15 of the embodiment, the upper wall portion 16 is provided in the region between the occupant protection portion 28 (the driver seat receiving inflating portion 29, the passenger seat receiving inflating portion 30) and the inflow side inflating portion 21. And a lower wall portion 17 are brought into contact with each other and sewn together to form a left side binding portion 37 and a right side binding portion 40, which are formed between the left side binding portion 37 and the right side binding portion 40 and the left side binding portion 37. And the left edge 15c, and the gap area between the right side coupling portion 40 and the right edge 15d constitutes the end side flow passage portions 42L, 42R and the center side flow passage portion 43. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the increase in the volume of the airbag 15 as much as possible and also to form the end side flow passage portions 42L and 42R and the center side flow passage portion 43. When the airbag is configured not to have the non-inflatable region, for example, the region between the end side flow passage portion and the center side flow passage portion is regulated in the separation distance between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion. Such a tether may be used for connection, or a separate cylindrical inner tube may be provided in the airbag, and the inner tube may constitute the end-side flow passage portion and the center-side flow passage portion. ..

Further, in the occupant protection device M of the embodiment, the left end 21a side and the right end 21b side of the inflow side inflatable portion 21 are fixed to the case 12 side by using the inflators 8L and 8R, so that the inflow side inflatable portion is formed. The mounting member for mounting 21 on the case 12 can be shared by the retainer 9 as a mounting member for mounting the inflator 8 on the case 12, and the increase in the number of parts and the mounting man-hour can be suppressed. Further, by disposing the inflators 8L and 8R at two positions on both the left and right sides, the airbag 15 is configured to be wide in the left and right so as to cover a front side region from the passenger seat PS to the driver seat DS. However, the airbag 15 can be quickly inflated in a well-balanced manner on the left and right. If such a point is not taken into consideration, the inflator may be arranged not at the left and right end sides of the inflow side expansion section but only at one position substantially in the center of the left and right direction. The inflatable part is attached to the case side by the inflator at the center side in the left-right direction, and is attached to the case side at the left and right ends by another attaching member.

Particularly, in the occupant protection device M of the embodiment, a disk type is used as the inflator 8, and the peripheral portion of the attachment opening 23 formed in the lower wall portion 17 of the inflow side inflating portion 21 of the airbag 15 is The retainer 9 for fixing the inflator 8 to the case 12 side is used to attach the inflator 8 to the case 12 side. That is, in the occupant protection device M of the embodiment, the retainer 9 is used to press the peripheral portion 24 of the attachment opening 23 formed in the inflow-side inflatable portion 21 in a planar manner so that the inflow-side inflatable portion 21. Since it is configured to be attached to the case 12, the inflow-side inflatable portion 21 can be attached to the case 12 with a wider surface than in the case where a cylinder type inflator is used. If such a point is not taken into consideration, a cylinder type inflator may be used. The cylinder type inflator has a mounting member (bolt) or the like for mounting on the case protruding so as to be housed inside the airbag or a cylindrical inlet portion formed so as to project from the airbag. By connecting using a connecting means such as a clamp, it is connected to the airbag.

1 Instrument panel (instrument panel)
4 Windshield 6 Airbag cover 8 Inflator 9 Retainer 12 Case (storage area)
15 Airbag 15c Left edge 15d Right edge 21 Inflow side expansion part 21a Left end 21b Right end 23 Mounting opening 24 Peripheral part 29 Driver seat receiving inflating part 29a Rear surface 29b Left edge 29c Right edge 30 Passenger seat receiving inflating part 30a Rear surface 30b Left edge 30c Right edge 34 Communication portion 34a Rear surface 37 Left side binding site 38 Opening 40 Right side binding site (non-inflatable region)
42 End-side flow passage portion 43 Central-side flow passage portion 60 Protruding expansion portion 60a Upper wall portion 60b Lower wall portion 60e Rear wall portion MP Passenger seat driver MD Driver DH Head PH head W Steering wheel PS Passenger seat DS Driving Seat V Vehicle M Occupant protection device

Claims (2)

The inflating gas discharged from the inflator is stored inside after being folded and stored in the storage area that is provided over the front side area from the passenger seat to the driver seat of the instrument panel located in front of the front seat in the vehicle. An occupant protection device comprising an airbag that is inflated to cover a front area from a passenger seat to a driver's seat,
The airbag is
A front passenger seat receiving and expanding portion which is arranged in front of the front passenger seat and expands so as to be able to receive a passenger seat passenger,
A driver seat receiving inflating portion which is disposed in front of the driver seat and inflates so as to be capable of receiving a driver,
On the front side of the region from the passenger seat receiving inflating portion to the driver seat receiving inflating portion, the inflation gas is continuously formed substantially along the left-right direction and is discharged inside from the inflator. An inflow-side inflating section for inflowing and inflating
Between the passenger seat receiving inflating portion and the driver seat receiving inflating portion, it is arranged so as to project rearward from the driver seat receiving inflating portion and the passenger seat receiving inflating portion when the inflation is completed. It is formed with a protruding inflated part,
The projecting inflatable portion has an outer shape at the time of completion of inflating, and has a substantially trapezoidal shape in which the rear end portion side is narrowed when viewed from the left-right direction side,
Between the passenger seat receiving inflating portion and the driver seat receiving inflating portion, a lower recess for recessing the lower edge side is formed,
The occupant protection device , wherein a lower edge of a lower wall portion of the protruding inflating portion extending downward from the rear wall portion side of the protruding inflating portion extends to the lower recess . That the upper wall portion an angle of the rear wall portion is smaller than the angle between the rear wall and the lower wall portion of the projecting inflatable portions to claim 1, wherein before Symbol protruding inflatable portion Occupant protection device described

Images