JPH09156441A - Air bag for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely accept the head and body of a driver in the straight state, protect the driver from a shock, and prevent the occurrence of the secondary disaster by forming an air bag expanded when an automobile collides so that its surface is made flat when it is expanded. SOLUTION: A circular air bag 1 is provided with surface outside sections 1B largely expanded at the time of a collision on both the right and left sides of the surface and a vertical release type surface center section 1C' expanded in the slightly recessed state from both outside sections 1B' or in the flat state at the time of the collision. The surface center section 1C' is prevented from being expanded to the front side from the surface outside sections 1B' on both the right and left sides by a reinforcing member when the air bag 1 is vigorously expanded. The head and body of a driver are surely accepted in the straight state without being jumped to the right and left sides or to both the upper and lower sides, the driver is protected from a shock, and the occurrence of the secondary disaster can be prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile air bag which protects a driver and passengers (hereinafter simply referred to as a driver) by expanding due to the impact of a collision when the automobile collides.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automotive air bags currently in use are
Most of them are configured to expand into a circular shape or a rectangular shape when they collide, and also, the surface that protects the driver is expanded to a spherical shape (arcuate shape) as shown in FIG. Has been done.

Since an air bag is made entirely of a hollow (balloon-like) sheet material or fibrous material that is strong and has flexibility, when compressed air is blown vigorously by a collision, The function of momentarily inflating the sphere as much as possible works, and as a result, the surface swells into a spherical shape to protect the driver or the like.

In FIG. 8, X is an air bag inflated due to a collision, Y is a blown port of compressed air, and Xa.
Is a surface (cushion surface) of the air bag X which is inflated in a spherical shape.

[0005]

As described above, the spherically expanded surface Xa of the air bag X exerts a sufficient cushioning effect and can protect the driver or the like from the impact of collision. However, depending on the angle at which the driver hits the air bag X, there is a problem that the spherically inflated surface Xa rather causes disaster.

That is, in FIG. 8, T, T ', and T "are abstract representations of the positions of the head and body of the driver or the like hitting the air bag X. Head T
When the vehicle hits the central portion of the spherically inflated surface Xa of the air bag X, a sufficient cushioning effect is exerted and the driver or the like can be surely protected.

However, the head and the bodies T'and T "in the state of being positioned on the left and right sides are inflated spherically as shown in FIG.
When hitting the left and right side portions of a, the head and the bodies T ′, T ″ are slanted sideways as indicated by the arrows Ta, Ta due to the cushioning effect of the air bag X and the hitting angle. As a result, there has been a problem that a secondary disaster occurs such that the neck is hurt or the head and the body T ′, T ″ are struck on the side of the vehicle to cause an injury.

Also, when the driver's head and body hit a position that is offset from the center of the spherically expanded surface Xa to the upper and lower sides, the head and body also fly to the upper and lower sides. There was a problem that caused a secondary disaster.

Therefore, the technical problem of the present invention is to prevent the driver's head and body from moving to the left and right or to the outside even when the driver hits the outside of the inflated airbag other than the center of the surface at the time of a collision. It is to prevent the occurrence of secondary disasters while protecting the driver etc. from the shock by accepting in a straight state without hitting the upper and lower sides.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Means taken in the present invention for solving the above technical problems are as follows.

(1) The surface of an air bag which is inflated when a vehicle collides is constructed so as to be flat or nearly flat when inflated.

(2) The surface of the air bag which is inflated when the vehicle collides is constructed so that the center portion of the air bag is indented more than the outer portion when inflated.

Each means described in the above (1) and (2) operates as follows.

According to the means described in the above (1), when the air bag is inflated due to a collision, the surface thereof is inflated to a flat or nearly flat state. Even if the driver's head or body hits the positions of the upper and lower sides, it does not fly diagonally to the sides or to the upper and lower sides, and is received in a straight state as in the case of hitting the center. It can be stopped to exert a sufficient cushioning effect, protect the driver etc. from the shock, and prevent the occurrence of secondary disasters.

According to the above-mentioned means (2), when the air bag is inflated due to a collision, the surface of the air bag is inflated such that the central portion is recessed from the outer portion. Even if the driver's head or body hits the position of the upper part or both upper and lower parts, it does not fly diagonally on both sides or on both upper and lower sides, and the angle is in the central direction as if it hits the central part. Since it can be received in a straight state after being corrected, it is possible to exert a sufficient cushioning effect to protect the driver and the like from the shock and prevent the occurrence of a secondary disaster.

As described above, the technical problems described above can be solved by the means described in the above (1) and (2), and the problems of the conventional art can be solved.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an automobile air bag according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a circular airbag 1 constructed so that the overall shape when inflated due to a collision is circular, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof. In the figure, 1A is a jet of compressed air, 1B is a large outer surface of the surface inflated in a circular shape, 1C is a central part of the surface that is slightly inwardly recessed from the outer part 1B, and the central part of the surface. 1C is configured by the reinforcing member shown in FIG. 7 so as not to bulge to the front side of the outer surface portion 1B when the airbag 1 inflates vigorously.

That is, in FIGS. 2 and 7, reference numeral 2 denotes a ring-shaped upper reinforcing member adhered to the inner surface of the upper portion of the air bag 1 so as to surround the central portion 1C of the surface, and in FIG. Reference numeral 2a denotes a ring-shaped lower reinforcing material which is adhered to the inner surface of the bottom portion of the airbag 1 so as to surround the ejection port 1A, and 4 ... a plurality of elastic members stretched between the upper and lower reinforcing materials 2 and 2a. When the airbag 1 is inflated vigorously due to a collision due to the pulling action of the plurality of tension members 4 formed in a tape shape or a string shape, the surface central portion 1C is more than the surface outer portion 1B. It is configured so as not to bulge to the front side.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a rectangular air bag 1'having a rectangular shape (rectangular shape) when inflated due to a collision. The structure of the reinforcing member is the circular air bag 1 described above.
Since it is the same as the above, a detailed description of the configuration will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a circular airbag 1 constructed so that the entire shape when inflated by a collision is circular.
The circular airbag 1 described here is provided with outer surface portions 1B 'and 1B' which greatly expand when colliding with the left and right sides of the surface thereof. Similarly, in the middle of the outer portions 1B ', 1B', there is provided a vertically open type surface central portion 1C 'which expands in a state of being slightly recessed from both outer portions 1B', 1B 'at the time of a collision. The central portion 1C 'of the surface is made of a reinforcing member similar to the reinforcing member shown in FIG. 7, and even if the airbag 1 inflates vigorously, the outer surface portions 1B', 1B 'on the left and right sides are formed.
It is configured so as not to bulge to the front side of B '.

That is, in FIG. 5, 3 and 3 are surface central portions 1
A reinforcing material which is adhered in parallel to the left and right of the inner upper surface of the air bag 1 so as not to bulge out C ', which corresponds to the upper reinforcing material 2 shown in FIG. 7, and in FIG. Three
a and 3a are lower reinforcing members that are bonded in parallel to each other on the left and right, and a plurality of tape-shaped or string-shaped elastic members 4 are stretched between the upper and lower reinforcing members 3 and 3a and 3a, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, even if the airbag 1 inflates vigorously, the front surface center portion 1C ′ is left and right outer surface portions 1B ′, 1
It is designed so that it does not bulge to the front side of B '.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a rectangular air bag 1'having a rectangular shape (rectangular shape) when inflated due to a collision.
Since the internal structure and the structure of the reinforcing member are the same as those of the circular airbag 1 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 described above, the description of the specific configuration thereof will be omitted.

Since the automobile air bag according to the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, it has a circular or rectangular air bag 1, 1'which is swollen by the collision of the automobile.
Of the surface center portions 1C and 1C 'are outer portions 1B and 1B'.
Even if the driver's head or body hits the outside of the airbag 1, 1'outside the center, the angle of the hit is corrected toward the center because it inflates slightly more inward than the center. As a result, the head and body can be protected from the impact by reliably exerting a cushioning effect without being blown to the left and right outer sides of the air bags 1, 1'or the both upper and lower outer sides.

In the drawing, when the airbags 1 and 1 ′ are inflated due to a collision, the central portion of the airbag is slightly recessed from the outer portion to prevent splashing outward, but the airbag 1 , 1'is inflated vigorously, the surface is kept flat or almost flat as shown by line E in FIG. 1 to prevent the splashing to the outside at the time of collision. Thus, a safe cushioning effect can be exerted, and the present invention claims that the surface is kept flat or nearly flat.

[0026]

As described above, according to the air bag for an automobile of the present invention, when the air bag is inflated due to the collision of the automobile, the surface side thereof is flat or nearly flat, or the center thereof. Since the part is kept slightly recessed from the outer part, there is no concern that the driver's head and body will be blown to the side of the airbag and a secondary disaster will occur, and the position is slightly off the center part. Even if it hits, the cushioning effect of the airbag can be fully received, and the safety of the driver can be protected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a circular air bag according to the present invention when inflated.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same inflated circular airbag.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the rectangular airbag according to the present invention when inflated.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a circular airbag according to another embodiment of the present invention when the airbag is inflated.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a circular airbag according to another embodiment when the airbag is inflated.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a rectangular air bag according to another embodiment of the present invention when inflated.

FIG. 7 is a front sectional view showing the internal structure of an airbag according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view illustrating the configuration of a conventional airbag.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,1 'Air bag 1B, 1B' Surface outer part 1C, 1C 'Surface center part E Flat or near-flat surface line

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An air bag for an automobile, characterized in that the surface of the air bag, which is inflated when the automobile collides, is configured to be flat or nearly flat when inflated. 2. An air bag for an automobile, characterized in that the surface of the air bag which is inflated when the automobile collides is formed such that, when inflated, the central portion is recessed from the outer portion.