JPH05170041A - Structure of air bag for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an air bag assume an efficient and a quick inflated state to protect the crew aboard a car for certain when the air bag is inflated in the car interior from a storage portion even if the air bag of relatively a large expansion capacity. CONSTITUTION:An air bag body 20 is in a contracted condition in an air bag storage portion 15 provided in a location in front of a crew in an automobile, and the air bag body 20 stored together with an inflator 18 and at least at two places in the interior of the air bag body 20 are connected together. Thus when the air bag body 20 is inflated, a strap member 21 regulating the air bag body 20 to inflate upward or downward inside the automobile, at least one place in the interior of the air bag body 20 and the air bag storage portion 15 are to be connected to each other and thus strap members 22/23, which regulate the air bag body 20 to incline upward inside the automobile, are equipped when the air bag body 20 is inflated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle body from a state in which the vehicle body is contracted and stored in a storage portion provided in a vehicle compartment forming portion of the vehicle body when a relatively large impact is applied to the vehicle body. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a structure of an airbag that is inflated into a room to protect an occupant in a vehicle compartment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automobile is equipped with an airbag that is stored in a retracted state in a storage portion provided in a vehicle compartment forming portion of the vehicle body in a normal state, and the vehicle body is relatively large from the outside. When an impact is applied to the airbag, the airbag in the contracted state is caused to suddenly inflate from the storage portion into the passenger compartment, and the inflated airbag absorbs the impact force and protects the passenger in the passenger compartment. It is proposed to restrain the occupant by restraining the occupant so as to protect the occupant.

Airbags mounted on such automobiles are often designed to protect passengers seated in a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, which are arranged in a front position in the passenger compartment. When the purpose is to protect the occupant seated in the seat, it is stored in a retracted state in a storage portion formed at the center of the steering wheel, and
For the purpose of protecting passengers seated in the passenger seat, for example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-5370,
The instrument panel portion provided in the vehicle compartment forming portion of the vehicle body is stored in a retracted state in a storage portion formed in a portion in front of the passenger seat. The airbag stored in the retracted state in the storage portion formed in the center portion of the steering wheel or in the front portion of the passenger seat in the instrument panel portion is accompanied by the inflator arranged in the storage portion. It is inflated into the vehicle compartment by the operation of the (bag inflator).

When the airbag is inflated from the storage portion into the passenger compartment, the direction in which the airbag is expanded is usually set so that the protection from the chest to the head of the occupant is particularly surely performed. In addition, in general, the distance from the storage part formed in the front part of the passenger seat in the instrument panel part to the occupant seated in the passenger seat is the distance from the storage part formed in the central part of the steering wheel to the passenger seat. Since the distance is larger than the distance to the seated occupant, the airbag stored in the storage part formed in the part of the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat is stored in the central part of the steering wheel. The inflation volume is larger than that of the airbag stored in the section.

[0005]

The airbag mounted on the automobile as described above absorbs the impact force applied to the vehicle body from the contracted state when the airbag is required to be inflated, and at the same time, the vehicle is inflated. It is desired that the occupant be reliably protected by rapidly shifting to an inflated state in which the occupant in the room is restrained. Therefore, for example, in an airbag having a relatively large inflatable volume, which is stored in a storage portion formed in the front portion of the passenger seat in the instrument panel portion, The occupant seated in the passenger compartment is inflated from the chest to the head, and the time required for the inflated state to reliably protect the occupant seated in the passenger seat is shortened. Is required.

[0006] However, from the storage portion formed in the front portion of the passenger seat in the instrument panel portion, the occupant seated in the passenger seat in the vehicle compartment is inflated from the chest to the head. The airbag is inflated from the storage portion on the upper side in the passenger compartment, and therefore, when the airbag has a relatively large inflation volume, the airbag has a front portion in the passenger compartment forming portion of the vehicle body. The situation in which it contacts the upper part of the front part such as the header part is mimicked, and it is not possible to effectively reduce the time required to take an inflated state that reliably protects the occupant sitting in the passenger seat. There is a risk of being lost.

In view of such a point, the present invention has a relatively large inflating volume which is stored in a retracted state in a storage section of an automobile in which a distance from an occupant seated in a vehicle compartment is relatively large. Even in such a case, it is possible to obtain an airbag that can efficiently and quickly take an inflated state that surely protects an occupant in the passenger compartment when inflated from the storage part to the passenger compartment to protect the occupant. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile airbag structure.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an airbag structure for an automobile according to the present invention is configured so that a retractable portion is provided in a storage portion provided in front of an occupant in a vehicle compartment forming portion of the automobile. An airbag main body that is brought into a state and stored together with the bag inflating means, and is brought into a state of being inflated into a vehicle compartment from a contracted state by the operation of the bag inflating means;
An inflation restricting means for interconnecting at least two locations on the inner surface of the airbag body and restricting the inflation of the airbag body in the up and down direction when the airbag body is inflated. Bias regulation for connecting at least one location on the inner surface of the airbag body to the storage section, and thereby regulating the bias of the airbag body toward the upper side of the vehicle compartment when the airbag body is inflated. And means.

[0009]

In the automobile airbag structure according to the present invention constructed as described above, the inflation restricting means and the bias restricting means are provided, for example, at least at two locations on the inner surface of the airbag body in the airbag body. And a flexible strap member that connects at least one location on the inner surface of the airbag body with the storage portion in the airbag body, and is a different step when the airbag body is in a contracted state. Will not be an obstacle. Then, when the airbag body is inflated, the inflation regulation means regulates the inflation of the airbag body in the vertical direction of the vehicle compartment, and
By the bias restricting means restricting the bias of the airbag main body to the upper side of the vehicle compartment, the airbag main body has a contracted state in the storage part where the distance from the occupant seated in the vehicle compartment is relatively large. Even in the case where it is stored and has a relatively large expansion volume, it is possible to avoid contact with the front upper portion of the vehicle compartment forming portion when inflated, and to efficiently enter the vehicle interior. The seated occupant is inflated from the chest to the head, and as a result, an inflated state that reliably protects the occupant in the vehicle interior is quickly achieved.

[0010]

FIG. 2 partially shows a vehicle compartment equipped with an airbag device to which an example of an automobile airbag structure according to the present invention is applied.

A passenger compartment forming portion of a vehicle body 2 of an automobile forming a passenger compartment 1 shown in FIG. 2 is a front header portion 4 which constitutes a front end portion of a floor portion 3, a roof portion 4 and a roof portion 4.
A, the front windshield 5, and the instrument panel portion 7 attached to the dash panel 6 and the like are included.
Divides the front end of the passenger compartment 1. The instrument panel section 7 is provided with a meter cluster section 8, and a steering wheel 9 projects from the lower portion of the meter cluster section 8.

In the passenger compartment 1, the driver's seat (not shown) and the passenger's seat 1 are arranged so as to be separated from the instrument panel portion 7 by a predetermined distance.
2 are arranged along the vehicle width direction. An opening 15A that opens toward the passenger seat 12 is provided in a portion of the instrument panel portion 7 that is in front of the passenger seat 12.
However, the upper lids 7 are arranged so as to face each other and can be opened and closed.
An airbag storage portion 15 is formed by being closed by A and the lower lid portion 7B. The upper lid portion 7A and the lower lid portion 7B arranged on the instrument panel portion 7 are connected to each other at opposite ends via a connecting member 14, and the connecting member 14 is pulled by a relatively small pulling force. It is supposed that a groove portion to be broken is provided.

The airbag storage portion 15 is supported by a bracket 17 attached to a support member 16 extending in the vehicle width direction that supports the steering wheel 9.
An inflator 18 having an ignition type gas generating agent or the like built therein is arranged therein, and further, between the inflator 18 and the opening 15A, an airbag body forming an example of an airbag structure of an automobile according to the present invention. 20 is stored in a contracted state by having one end thereof connected to the inflator 18 and being folded. The inflator 18, when a relatively large impact force is applied to the vehicle provided with the passenger compartment 1 from the outside thereof, ignites the gas generating agent to rapidly generate a relatively large amount of inert gas. The operation of supplying gas into the inside of the airbag body 20 is performed. As a result, when a relatively large impact force is applied to the vehicle provided with the vehicle interior 1 from the outside, the airbag body 20 stored in the airbag storage portion 15 suddenly shifts from the contracted state to the inflated state. As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag storage portion 15 is rapidly inflated into the vehicle compartment 1 through the opening 15A. At that time, the airbag body 20 in the inflating process
Disconnects the connecting member 14 that closes the opening 15A in the airbag storage portion 15 from the inside in the groove, and further rotates the upper lid 7A and the lower lid 7B at the upper end and the lower end respectively. Rotate outward as a part.

The airbag main body 20 is provided to an occupant seated in the passenger seat 12, which has a relatively large separation distance from the airbag storage portion 15 in which the airbag main body 20 is stored, particularly from the chest to the head. Therefore, the inflator 18 has a relatively large expansion volume when the inflator 18 is activated and inflated, and the expansion is arranged in the vehicle interior 1. It is supposed to be directed to the upper part of the passenger seat 12. The airbag main body 20 is provided with an inflation restricting means and a deviation restricting means, which will be described later, and the airbag main body 20 and the expansion restricting means and the deviation restricting means provide the air of the automobile according to the present invention. An example of a bag structure is constructed. Then, the airbag body 20 includes the inflator 18
Operation of the airbag 1 to open the opening 1
When the passenger seat 12 disposed in the vehicle compartment 1 is rapidly inflated through 5A, the expansion restricting means and the bias restricting means are regulated.

As shown in FIG. 1, which shows the inflated state of the airbag body 20, inside the airbag body 20,
Three pairs of strap members 21, 22, and 23 formed of a flexible and tough material are arranged. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, a portion 20A of the airbag body 20 that is an upper side portion in an inflated state and a lower portion 20A of the airbag body 20 that is in an inflated state. The two left inner surface portions of each of the portions 20B facing each other are interconnected by one of the pair of strap members 21, and the two portions of each of the portions 20A and 20B facing each other are connected to each other. The right inner surface portion is interconnected by the other of the pair of strap members 21.

Further, the left inner surface portion of the portion 20A which is the upper side portion of the airbag body 20 in the inflated state and the opening portion 15 of the airbag storage portion 15 are provided.
The upper portion of the left edge portion forming A is connected by one of the pair of strap members 22, and the right inner edge portion of the portion 20A and the right edge portion forming the opening 15A of the airbag storage portion 15 are formed. The upper part of
It is connected by the other of the pair of strap members 22. Furthermore, the left inner surface portion of the portion 20A that is the upper side portion of the airbag body 20 in the inflated state and the lower portion of the left edge portion that forms the opening portion 15A of the airbag storage portion 15 are paired. Strap member 2
3A and the part 20A
And the lower portion of the right end edge portion forming the opening 15A in the airbag storage portion 15 are connected by the other of the pair of strap members 23.

Three pairs of such strap members 21, 2
Of 2 and 23, the pair of strap members 21 constitutes an inflation restricting means provided in the airbag body 20,
In addition, the pair of strap members 22 and the pair of strap members 23 are configured to constitute a bias regulating means provided in the airbag body 20. Since each of the three pairs of strap members 21, 22 and 23 is formed of a flexible material, the airbag body 20 is folded and contracted so as to be stored in the airbag storage portion 15. There are no obstacles to doing so.

The airbag body 20 is actuated by the inflator 18 so that the airbag 1 is retracted from the retracted state in the airbag storing portion 15 to the opening 1 in the airbag storing portion 15.
When the vehicle 1 is moved to a state in which it is inflated toward the upper portion of the passenger seat 12 arranged in the passenger compartment 1 through 5A, the vertical expansion of the passenger compartment 1 is caused by the inner surface portion of the portion 20A and the inner surface portion of the portion 20B. Is regulated by a pair of strap members 21 that are interconnected with each other and extend in the up-down direction, and the upward displacement of the vehicle interior 1 is restricted by the inner surface portion of the portion 20A and the opening portion 15 of the airbag storage portion 15.
A pair of strap members 22 connecting the upper portions of the left and right edge portions forming A, and the inner surface portion of the portion 20A and the lower portions of the left and right edge portions forming the opening portion 15A of the airbag storage portion 15. Is restricted by the pair of strap members 23, and the rotation accompanied by the expansion is also restricted by the pair of strap members 22 and the pair of strap members 23.

As a result, in the airbag body 20, the inflator 18 is actuated, and the airbag storage portion 15 is actuated.
1 through the opening 15A toward the upper portion of the passenger seat 12 arranged in the passenger compartment 1,
As indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1, the vehicle interior 1 expands more than necessary in the vertical direction, and the front header portion 4 forming the front end portion of the roof portion 4 in the vehicle interior forming portion.
As shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, the occupant (M) seated on the passenger seat 12 is efficiently inflated from the chest to the head, as a result of being prevented from abutting against A or the like. It is assumed that the expanded state that protects M) is quickly taken.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an airbag device to which another example of the airbag structure for an automobile according to the present invention is applied. The airbag device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is as follows:
Similar to the airbag device shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, FIG.
And for passengers seated in the passenger seat in the passenger compartment, which is mounted in an automobile having a passenger compartment such as the passenger compartment 1 shown in FIG. 2 and has a relatively large distance from the airbag storage portion 15. It is said that it is intended to protect all of them, especially from the chest to the head. In FIGS. 4 and 5, parts similar to the parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 include:
The same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 3 are attached and shown, and duplicated description thereof will be omitted.

The airbag device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is provided with an airbag body 30 which is inflated by the operation of the inflator 18, and the inside of the airbag body 30 is made of a flexible and tough material. Two pairs of formed strap members 31 and 32 are arranged.
In addition, a portion 30A of the airbag main body 30 which is an upper side portion in the inflated state and a portion 30B of the airbag body 30 which is a lower side portion in the inflated state are The two left inner surface portions facing each other are interconnected by one of the pair of strap members 31, and the portions 30A and 3
In each of 0B, two right inner surface portions facing each other are interconnected by the other of the pair of strap members 31.

Further, the left inner surface portion of the portion 30A which is the upper side portion of the airbag body 30 in the inflated state and the opening portion 15 in the airbag storage portion 15 are provided.
The central portion of the left edge portion forming A is connected by one of the pair of strap members 32, and the right inner edge portion of the portion 30A and the right edge forming the opening portion 15A of the airbag storage portion 15 are formed. The central portion of the portion is connected by the other of the pair of strap members 32.

Of the two pairs of strap members 31 and 32, one pair of strap members 31 constitutes an inflation restricting means provided in the airbag body 30, and
The pair of strap members 32 constitutes a bias regulating means provided on the airbag body 30, and by the airbag body 30, the inflation regulating means and the bias regulating means,
Another example of an automobile airbag structure according to the present invention is constructed. Then, the airbag body 30 includes the inflator 1
When the vehicle interior is moved from the contracted state in the airbag storage portion 15 to the state in which the airbag storage portion 15 is inflated toward the upper portion of the passenger seat disposed in the vehicle compartment through the opening 15A in the airbag storage portion 15 by the operation of The expansion of the vehicle in the vertical direction is restricted by a pair of strap members 31 that interconnect the inner surface portion of the portion 30A and the inner surface portion of the portion 30B and extend in the vertical direction, and the upward displacement of the vehicle interior is prevented. , A pair of strap members 3 for connecting the inner surface portion of the portion 30A and the central portion of the left and right edge portions forming the opening portion 15A of the airbag storage portion 15.
Regulated by 2.

As a result, in the airbag body 30, the inflator 18 is actuated, and the airbag storage portion 15 is actuated.
From the upper part of the passenger seat disposed in the passenger compartment through the opening 15A, the upper end of the roof portion in the passenger compartment forming portion is expanded more than necessary in the vertical direction of the passenger compartment. It is prevented from abutting against the front header part, etc., which makes it possible to efficiently inflate from the chest of the occupant seated in the passenger seat toward the head, and as a result, the occupant is surely swiftly inflated to protect the occupant. To be taken.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an airbag device to which still another example of the airbag structure of an automobile according to the present invention is applied. The airbag device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is also shown in FIG. Similar to the airbag device shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the airbag device is equipped in a vehicle having a vehicle interior such as the vehicle interior 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the distance from the airbag storage portion 15 is relatively large. It is intended to protect the occupant sitting in the passenger seat, which is supposed to be, especially from the chest to the head. 6 and 7, parts that are similar to the parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 3, and redundant description thereof will be given. Is omitted.

The airbag device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is provided with an airbag body 40 which is inflated by the operation of the inflator 18, and the inside of the airbag body 40 is made of a flexible and tough material. Five pairs of strap members 41, 42, 43, 44 and 4 formed
Five are arranged. The portion 40 of the airbag body 40, which is the upper side portion under the inflated state,
A and a portion 40B of the airbag body 40, which is a lower portion of the airbag body 40 in an inflated state,
The two left inner surface portions facing each other are interconnected by one of the pair of strap members 41, and
In each of the portion 40A and the portion 40B, two right inner surface portions facing each other are interconnected by the other of the pair of strap members 41.

Further, each of the four left inner surface portions forming a row in the portion 40A which is the upper side portion of the airbag body 40 in the inflated state and the opening portion 15A in the airbag storage portion 15 are formed. The center part of the left end edge portion of the pair of strap members 42, one of the pair of strap members 42, one of the pair of strap members 43, and the pair of strap members 4 respectively.
4 and one of the pair of strap members 45, and each of the four right inner surface portions forming a row in the portion 40A and the airbag storage portion 15 are connected.
And the central portion of the right end edge portion forming the opening 15A in each of the pair of strap members 42, the other of the pair of strap members 43, the other of the pair of strap members 44, and the pair of strap members 44, respectively. It is connected by the other of the strap members 45.

Such five pairs of strap members 41 to 4
Of the five, one pair of strap members 41 constitutes an inflation restricting means provided in the airbag body 40, and the remaining four pairs of strap members 42 to 45 are restricting biases provided in the airbag body 40. The airbag main body 40, the inflation restricting means, and the bias restricting means constitute yet another example of the automobile airbag structure according to the present invention. And the airbag body 40 is
Due to the operation of the inflator 18, the airbag storage portion 15
In transitioning from the contracted state in the interior to the state in which it expands toward the upper part of the passenger seat arranged in the vehicle through the opening 15A in the airbag storage portion 15,
The expansion of the passenger compartment in the vertical direction is restricted by a pair of strap members 41 that interconnect the inner surface portion of the portion 40A and the inner surface portion of the portion 40B and extend in the up and down direction, and the upper side of the passenger compartment is increased. The bias is due to the inner surface portion of the portion 40A and the opening portion 15A of the airbag storage portion 15.
Are regulated by four pairs of strap members 42 to 45 that connect the central portions of the left and right edge portions forming the.

As a result, in the airbag body 40, the inflator 18 is actuated, and the airbag storage portion 15 is also activated.
From the upper part of the passenger seat disposed in the passenger compartment through the opening 15A, the upper end of the roof portion in the passenger compartment forming portion is expanded more than necessary in the vertical direction of the passenger compartment. It is prevented from abutting against the front header part, etc., which makes it possible to efficiently inflate from the chest of the occupant seated in the passenger seat toward the head, and as a result, the occupant is surely swiftly inflated to protect the occupant. To be taken.

In each of the above-mentioned examples, the expansion restricting means is composed of the pair of strap members 21, 31 or 41, but in the automobile airbag structure according to the present invention, the expansion restricting means. May be composed of two or more pairs of strap members.

[0031]

As is clear from the above description, according to the automobile airbag structure of the present invention, when the airbag main body is inflated into the vehicle compartment from the contracted state in the storage portion, for example, The inflation-regulating means formed of a flexible and tough material regulates inflation of the airbag body in the up-down direction of the vehicle compartment, and, for example,
Since the deviation of the airbag main body toward the upper side of the vehicle compartment is restricted by the deviation regulation means formed of a flexible and tough material, the distance between the airbag main body and the occupant seated in the vehicle interior is relatively large. Even in the case where it is stored in a retracted state in a retracted state and has a relatively large expansion volume, it is possible to avoid contact with the front upper part of the vehicle compartment forming part when inflated. Thus, the occupant seated in the passenger compartment is efficiently inflated from the chest to the head, and as a result, the inflated state that reliably protects the passenger in the passenger compartment is quickly obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an airbag device to which an example of an automobile airbag structure according to the present invention is applied together with a passenger compartment of an automobile equipped with the airbag device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view partially showing a passenger compartment of an automobile equipped with an airbag device to which an example of an automobile airbag structure according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an airbag device to which an example of an automobile airbag structure according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an airbag device to which another example of the automobile airbag structure according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an airbag device to which another example of the automobile airbag structure according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an airbag device to which still another example of the automobile airbag structure according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an airbag device to which still another example of the automobile airbag structure according to the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cabin 2 Vehicle Body 7 Instrument Panel 12 Passenger Seat 15 Airbag Storage 18 Inflator 20, 30, 40 Airbag Main Body 21-23, 31, 32, 41-45 Strap Member

Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Takashi Koki 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Mazda Motor Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A storage part provided in a front part of an occupant in a vehicle compartment forming part of an automobile, which is in a contracted state and is stored together with a bag inflating means, and is contracted by the operation of the bag inflating means. When the airbag main body is inflated into the vehicle interior from at least one state, and at least two points on the inner surface of the airbag main body are interconnected, the airbag main body is inflated when the airbag main body is inflated. When the airbag body is brought into an inflatable state, the airbag body is connected to at least one location on the inner surface of the airbag body and the storage section by coupling the inflation regulating means for regulating the inflation in the up-down direction of the chamber. Biasing means for controlling the bias of the vehicle to the upper side of the vehicle compartment, and the airbag structure of the vehicle.