JPH0558244A - Side air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the intrusion to the car room inside by forming a cover member which shields the opened port part of an air bag accommodated into the side wall in the car room of a side door, etc., in opening/closing enabled form, to a circular section and holding the opened port part so as to be opened by the turn around the part close to the center of curvature. CONSTITUTION:The cover member 21 of a side air bag device is arranged inside an arm rest 24 so as to cover the opened port part 25 of the arm rest 24 which is projectingly formed on the car room inside of the door trim 23 of a side door. In this case, the cover member 21 is formed to a circular section, and formed to a curvature conforming to the curvature of the opened port 25 part of the arm rest 24. While, in the arm rest 24, a side air bag module 28 in which the side air bag 27 and an inflator are accommodated in the cylinder case 26 having an opened port part 26a is arranged so that the opened port parts 25 and 26a coincide with each other. The cover member 21 is always urged in an opening operation direction by the elastic force of a spring 29.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a side airbag device which protects an occupant from a secondary collision with a side door, a center pillar or the like of a side wall of a vehicle compartment during a side collision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a side airbag device for a side collision is that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,388. As shown in FIG. 7, a side collision is detected by a collision sensor 4 which is provided in an upper part of a side door 1 of a vehicle and accommodates an airbag 2 and which is supported by a foam material 3 in the side door 1. Then, the inflator 5 is ignited to generate gas,
The airbag 2 is configured to be inflated. The inflating airbag 2 pushes open the cover member 6 that closes the opening for inflating the airbag, which is formed inside the side door 1 toward the inside of the passenger compartment, to the inside of the passenger compartment. Between the window glass 1a and the occupant D,
It is designed to protect passengers from secondary collisions.

[0003]

In the case of the side air bag device described in the above-mentioned patent specification, the cover member 6 that closes the opening of the side door 1 accommodating the air bag 2 inside the vehicle compartment. Is formed at almost the same height as the height of the door inner panel that covers the vehicle interior side of the side door 1. Therefore, since the cover member 6 is rotated around the lower end side as a fulcrum, it is opened. If the space between the side wall and the occupant D is small, the cover member 6 that has been opened may come into contact with the occupant D. Therefore, the opening angle of the cover member 6 may be limited to the inside of the cover member 6. It is necessary to reduce the amount of protrusion to the side and secure a space for opening the cover member 6 between the side door 1 and the occupant D.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a side member having a structure in which the cover member for shielding the inflation opening of the airbag housed in the side door does not project to the inside of the vehicle compartment during the opening operation. An object is to provide an airbag device.

[0005]

As a means for solving the above problems, the present invention shields a bulging opening of an airbag housed in a side wall of a vehicle compartment such as a side door so as to be opened and closed by a cover member. In the side airbag device described above, the cover member is formed in an arcuate shape in cross section, and is held so as to rotate around the center of curvature thereof to open the bulging opening. ..

[0006]

As described above, the cover member that shields the inflation opening of the airbag formed on the side wall of the passenger compartment such as the side door of the side airbag device is formed in an arcuate cross section and has a curvature. Since it is held so as to rotate around the center to open the bulging opening, the cover member does not project into the vehicle interior during the opening operation.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the side airbag device of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which a cover member 21 of the side airbag device is formed with an armrest 24 projecting toward a vehicle interior side of a door trim 23 of a side door 22. It is provided inside the armrest 24 so as to shield the opening 25 for inflating the airbag formed in the. This cover member 21 is
The armrest 24 is formed in a circular arc shape in cross section, and is formed to have a curvature that matches the curved surface of the portion where the opening 25 of the armrest 24 is formed. A bulging opening 26a is provided in the armrest 24, and a side airbag 27 and an inflator (not shown) are integrally formed in a cylindrical case 26 having an outer diameter inscribed in the cover member 21. The side airbag module 28 accommodated in the armrest 2 is placed at the position of the bulging opening 26a.
The openings 25 formed in 4 are attached so as to coincide with each other. Further, the cover member 21 is provided with both the openings 25, 2
6a is shielded at the same time, and is constantly urged in the opening operation direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 1) by the elastic force of a spring 29 stretched between the lower end of the 6a and the cylindrical case 26.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

At the time of a side collision, when a collision sensor (not shown) arranged inside the side door 22 detects a side collision, the stopper of the cover member 21 which shields the opening 25 is released and the cover is released. Member 21 is spring 29
Opening operation by the elastic force of the
a is opened, the inflator is ignited, and a large amount of inert gas generated causes the side airbag 27.
Expands and expands into the vehicle compartment from the opened bulging openings 25 and 26 (see FIG. 2). In addition, in this embodiment, the case where the side airbag module 28 in which the side airbag 27 and the inflator are integrally housed in the cylindrical case 26 is used is described, but the side airbag and the inflator which are not modularized are used. May be provided separately.

Therefore, according to the side airbag device of this embodiment, when the opening 25 for inflating the airbag is opened, the cover member 21 rotates in the armrest 24 to open the door, so that the cover member is opened. Does not project into the vehicle compartment, and it is not necessary to secure a space for the cover member to open. Further, since the cover member 21 can be formed of a hard resin or the like, when the cover member that covers the opening for bag bulging due to its softness is pushed, like a cover member that expands and closes in a bellows shape and opens and closes, for example. There are no problems such as dents.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this side airbag device, as in the first embodiment, the armrest 24 formed in the door trim 23 is formed in a protruding manner. A cylindrical side airbag module 31 is housed, and an opening 25 for inflating the airbag is formed in the armrest 24.
Further, in the side airbag module 31, a side airbag 33 and an inflator (not shown) are integrally housed in a cylindrical case 32 having an opening 32a for inflating the bag.

Cylindrical side airbag module 31
Is rotatably supported inside the armrest 24 about its axis, and the cylindrical case 32 also serves as a cover member that shields the bulging opening 25, and is provided at both ends of the cylindrical case 32. The respective spiral springs 34 are elastically biased clockwise in FIG. 5, and when the elastic springs 34 rotate clockwise, they are positioned at the position of the opening 25 of the armrest 24.
The clockwise rotation limit is defined so that the openings 32a of the cylindrical case 32 coincide with each other. And, in the normal state, the side airbag module 31 includes the spiral spring 3
4 is rotated counterclockwise by a predetermined amount against the elastic force of 4, the engagement piece 35 provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical case 32 is
The hook 36 provided on the armrest 24 side is engaged to regulate the return direction, that is, the clockwise rotation, and the rotation is regulated by a signal emitted when the sensor detects a collision during a side collision. 36 is designed to come off.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described.

At the time of a side collision, when a collision sensor (not shown) arranged in the side door or the like detects the side collision, the hook 36 which restricts the clockwise rotation is disengaged from the locking piece 35 and the side air is released. The bag module 31 is rotated by a predetermined amount by the elastic force of the spiral spring 34, the opening 32a of the cylindrical case 32 is opened correspondingly to the position of the opening 25, and the inflator is ignited, which causes a large amount of inactivity. The side airbag 33 is inflated by the gas and deployed into the vehicle compartment through the opened bulging openings 25 and 32 (see FIG. 6). Therefore, according to the side airbag device of this embodiment, when the opening 25 for inflating the airbag is opened, the side airbag module 31 also serving as a cover member rotates in the armrest 24 to open the door. The cover member does not project into the passenger compartment, and it is not necessary to secure a space for opening the cover member.

In this embodiment, the case where the side airbag 33 and the inflator are housed in the cylindrical case 32 and integrally rotated is described. However, the inflator is taken out of the case to serve as a non-rotating member. The gas generated in step 3 may be configured to be supplied to the side airbag 33 via a hollow rotating shaft.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the side airbag device in which the bulging opening of the airbag housed in the side wall of the vehicle interior such as the side door is shielded by the cover member so as to be openable and closable. Since the member is formed in an arcuate shape in cross section and is held so as to open the bulging opening around the center of curvature thereof, the cover member is opened without protruding toward the vehicle interior when opening. Therefore, the airbag can be smoothly inflated and deployed in a narrow space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a first embodiment of a side airbag device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the side airbag is also deployed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a mounted state of the side airbag module.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the same side airbag module.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the side airbag is also deployed.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a conventional side airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Cover Member 25 Airbag Inflating Opening 26 Cylindrical Case 27 Side Airbag 28 Side Airbag Module 29 Spring 31 Side Airbag Module 32 Cylindrical Case 33 Side Airbag 34 Swirl Spring 35 Locking Piece 36 Hook

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A side airbag device in which a cover member occludes a bulging opening of an airbag housed in a vehicle interior side wall such as a side door so as to be openable and closable, wherein the cover member has an arcuate cross section. Along with
A side airbag device which is held so as to rotate around a center of curvature thereof to open the bulging opening.