JPH10166991A - Air bag device for side - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inflate an air bag in such a condition as it runs along a window by forming sagging at an air bag end part for fixing so that the length of the air bag which diagonally-connects the section between a plurality of fixed parts at the window periphery part of a vehicle may be equivalent to the length of the window periphery part, and folding and storing the air bag in the window periphery part. SOLUTION: The end part 2 of an air bag 1 is fixed at the window periphery parts 3, 4 of a vehicle with a plurality of fixing parts 5a-5e. Sagging 9 is formed and fixed at the upper end part 2 of the air bag 1 so that the lengths Al, A2, A3, A4 of the air bag 1 which diagonally-connects respective sections 5a-5e, 5a-5d, 5b-5e, 5b-5d between the fixing parts may be equivalent to or more than those of the window periphery parts 3, 4 of sections 5a-5e, 5a-5d, 5b-5e, 5b-5d between the fixing parts, and the air bag 1 is folded and stored in the window periphery parts 3, 4. It is thus possible to inflate the air bag 1 in such a prescribed condition as it runs along the window part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention
The present invention relates to a side airbag device for deploying an airbag from a pillar portion or a roof side rail portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An airbag device is a device for restraining an occupant by inflating an airbag at the time of a vehicle collision, and generally includes an inflator which is a gas generator and an airbag which is inflated by the gas of the inflator. ing.

In such an airbag device, when a predetermined impact is detected when the vehicle receives a side impact, the airbag accommodated in a pillar portion, a roof side rail portion, or the like of the vehicle is placed near the side door window portion. There is a side airbag device that inflates between occupants and restrains occupants moving in the lateral direction of the vehicle.

[0004] The side airbag device is a sensor that detects a predetermined impact, is connected to the sensor, and starts operating according to a signal from the sensor to generate gas for inflating the airbag. It is composed of a connecting member to be connected, an airbag that expands by receiving gas supply, a cover body that covers the airbag housed and fixed in the pillar portion and the roof side rail portion, and the like.

[0005] For example, in the case of an airbag for a front seat, the side airbag inflates to a range surrounded by a side door window of the front seat, ie, a front pillar portion, a roof side rail portion, a center pillar portion, and an upper portion of a door trim portion. I do. Generally, in the center pillar portion, the airbag covers the area behind the center pillar portion behind the vehicle. The airbag, which covers this side area and inflates between the occupant and the side door, has a substantially parallelogram, relatively flat, mat-like shape.

In order to restrain an occupant with such a side airbag, a predetermined internal pressure and tension are required to receive the occupant in the airbag. These internal pressures and tensions are interrelated. That is, there is a type of the front side airbag of the above-mentioned front seat that is stored in the front pillar portion and the roof side rail portion, and the corresponding two sides for storing the substantially parallelogram are fixed ends, and the other sides are the other sides. Although there are free ends, in the case of this type of airbag, the area of the airbag that is surrounded by these fixed ends first has the front pillar part and the roof side rail part curved (bent) in a normal U-shape. Therefore, when the upper portion of the airbag is applied to these curved members and fixed as it is, as shown in FIG. 7, the airbag 1 is interposed between the fixed portions L ₁ , L ₂ , L _{3 and the} like sandwiching the curved portion 8.
However, it is difficult to fold and store the airbag 1 because it is diagonally stretched.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention addresses the above-mentioned situation and is directed to a side part which is fixed to a roof side rail part from a curved pillar part around a side door window by a plurality of fixing parts and stored. An object of the present invention is to improve the storability of the airbag and to apply a predetermined internal pressure and tension to a free end of the airbag when the airbag is inflated, so that the airbag is inflated to a predetermined state along the window. Is what you do.

[0008]

That is, a side airbag apparatus according to the present invention, which meets the above objects, has an edge portion of an airbag fixed to a periphery of a window of a vehicle by a plurality of fixing portions. Side airbag device for deploying the airbag to the side of the window, between the fixed portions of the airbag straddling the curved portion of the periphery of the window, the length of the airbag diagonally connecting the fixed portion between the airbag. A required slack is formed in the edge portion of the airbag so as to be equal to or longer than the length of the window peripheral portion between the fixing portions, and the airbag is folded around the window peripheral portion (including winding). It is characterized by being stored. The second side airbag device according to the present invention also includes a side airbag device for fixing the edge of the airbag to a periphery of a window of the vehicle with a plurality of fixing portions, and deploying the airbag to the side of the window. In the airbag device, the length of the airbag that diagonally connects the fixed portions between the fixed portions of the airbag straddling the curved portion of the window peripheral portion is the length of the window peripheral portion between the fixed portions. The angle of the portion corresponding to the curved portion of the airbag is formed to be larger than the angle of the curved portion at the periphery of the window so as to be equal to or more than the same, and the edge of the airbag is fixed to the periphery of the window while The airbag is folded and stored around the window. In the side airbag device of the present invention, the window peripheral portion may be a front pillar portion and a roof side rail portion of the vehicle.

[0009]

In the first side airbag device of the present invention, since the required slack is formed at the edge of the airbag and fixed, the window peripheral portion is curved between the fixed portions as described above. Even when the airbag is present, the airbag forms a diagonal slack between the fixing portions, so that the airbag does not stretch and can be easily stored in the periphery of the window, and the degree of freedom of the folding method is increased. In the second side airbag device of the present invention, the angle of the portion corresponding to the curved portion of the window peripheral portion is formed to be large, so that the edge of the airbag is fixed to the window peripheral portion. The airbag forms a diagonal slack between the fixed parts that straddle the curved part, which eliminates diagonal tension, simplifies storage in the window peripheral area, and provides flexibility in the folding method. It is possible to increase.

[0010] On the other hand, when inflated, the airbag changes from a planar shape before inflation to a mat-like three-dimensional shape, so that when viewed two-dimensionally, the airbag is in a contracted state. At this time, if the airbag is fixed without slack, the airbag is curved and inflated, but the airbag is curved and inflated. The slack formed on the diagonal line is consumed, and the airbag can be inflated into a predetermined shape.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an attached state of a side airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing an airbag inflated of the airbag device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing an airbag of the apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3.

In the above airbag device, the upper edge portion 2 of the airbag 1 is fixed from the front pillar portion 3 of the vehicle to the roof side rail portion 4 with five fixing portions 5a to 5e,
This airbag 1 is moved by an inflator (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 2, it is deployed to the side of the window 6 in the front seat. The airbag 1 has a substantially parallelogram shape in this example, and has a plurality of vertical air chambers 7 defined by sewing in the lower half of the airbag as shown in FIGS.

In this airbag device, as shown in FIG. 1, a curved portion 8 formed between the front pillar portion 3 and the roof side rail portion 4 has an airbag 1 straddling the curved portion 8. Between fixed parts 5a-5e, 5a-5
d, 5b-5e, in 5b-5d, the length A ₁ of the air bag 1 connecting the these fixing portions respectively diagonally, A _2, A _3,
A ₄ all respectively, between the fixed portion 5a-5e, 5a-5
d, 5b-5e, 5b-5d of the front pillar portion 3
And the length B ₁ , B ₂ ,
A slack 9 is provided at the upper edge 2 of the airbag 1 so as to be equal to or more than B ₃ and B ₄ (see FIG. 5). In this case, the length A _{1 of the} airbag at the diagonal position described above.
A to A ₄ may or may not allow for elongation of a material such as cloth constituting the airbag 1. In addition, the slack 9 of the upper edge portion 2 of the airbag may not be uniform between the adjacent fixing portions 5a to 5e, and the intervals between the fixing portions 5a to 5e do not need to be equal.

As described above, when the airbag upper edge 2 is fixed with a predetermined slack 9, the airbag material is fixed to the front pillar portion 3 and the roof side rail portion 4, including whether the material of the airbag is expanded. Since the corresponding diagonal length of the airbag 1 which is equal to or more than the total length between the portions 5a to 5e can be obtained in a state where the airbag is slackened, the airbag 1 can be provided with these front pillar portions 3 and the roof side. It is possible to easily and fold the rail portion 4 and store it with a higher degree of freedom.

When the airbag 1 is inflated,
(A) As shown in (B), since the planar shape before expansion is changed to a mat-like three-dimensional shape, when viewed two-dimensionally, it is in a contracted state. At this time, if the upper edge portion 2 of the airbag is fixed without the slack 9, the airbag is curved and inflated due to tension between the fixing portions. However, in the airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. As shown, the slack 9 is slack, and the diagonal slack of the airbag is not shown (not shown).
Is consumed, and the airbag 1 can be inflated to a predetermined appropriate shape.

FIG. 6 is an exploded front view showing a side airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this airbag device, as shown in the figure, a curved portion 8 formed between the front pillar portion 3 and the roof side rail portion 4 is provided.
On the other hand, between the fixed portions 5a-5e, 5a-5d, 5b-5e, 5b-5d of the airbag 1 'straddling the curved portion 8,
The lengths A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₃ , and A _{4 of the} airbag 1 ′ connecting these fixed portions in an equidiagonal shape are all between the fixed portions 5 a-5 e, 5 a-5 d, 5 b-5 e, 5 b. −5d front pillar portion 3 and roof side rail portion 4
The angle α of the corner 10 corresponding to the curved portion 8 of the airbag 1 ′ is set to be equal to or greater than the lengths B ₁ , B ₂ , B ₃ , B ₄ (see FIG. 5). Angle of part 8 β
It is larger than required. Then, the upper edge portion 2 of the airbag 1 'is fixed to the front pillar portion 3 and the roof side rail portion 4, and the airbag 1' is folded into the front pillar portion 3 and the roof side rail portion 4. To store. At this time, the slack 9 as in the first embodiment can be formed on the airbag edge 2 between the fixing portions, but the slack 9 can be eliminated.

However, in the side airbag device of the second embodiment, the angle α of the corner 10 corresponding to the curved portion 8 is formed large, so that the edge 2 of the airbag 1 is formed in the window. When fixed to the peripheral portions 3 and 4, the airbag forms a diagonal slack between the fixed portions straddling the curved portion 8, thereby eliminating diagonal tension and allowing storage in the window peripheral portion. In addition to simplicity, the degree of freedom of the folding method can be increased.

When the airbag 1 'is inflated, the airbag 1' changes from a planar shape before inflation to a mat-like three-dimensional shape as shown in FIGS. It will be in a state of contraction. At this time, if the airbag is fixed without sagging, the airbag is curved and inflated due to tension, but in the airbag of the above embodiment, the slack is consumed by the diagonal slack of the airbag in the airbag. The airbag 1 can be inflated into a predetermined shape.

As the structure of the airbag, there is a structure in which a bag portion, that is, a single air chamber, or a structure having a plurality of air chambers communicating with each other. The latter includes, as in this embodiment, an air chamber group 7 divided into a substantially cylindrical shape having an axis in the height direction when inflated.
However, if the fixing portion of the airbag is preliminarily slackened as described above, each air chamber 7 is inflated to a predetermined shape, and the rear of these vehicles is generally arranged across a center pillar. With the prescribed internal pressure and tension,
There is an advantage that the occupant can be restrained. These are effective even in a linear storage state.

[0021]

As described above, in the first side airbag device of the present invention, the edge of the airbag is fixed to the periphery of the vehicle window by a plurality of fixing portions, and the airbag is attached to the window portion. A side airbag device to be deployed laterally, wherein the length of the airbag that diagonally connects the fixed portions of the airbag between the fixed portions of the airbag straddling the curved portion around the window is the fixed portion. A required slack is formed at the edge of the airbag so as to be equal to or longer than the length of the window peripheral portion therebetween, and fixed, and the airbag is folded and stored at the window peripheral portion. Since the required slack is formed at the edge and fixed, even when the window peripheral portion is curved between the fixed portions, the airbag does not stretch diagonally between the fixed portions, and It can be easily stored,
In addition, a remarkable effect of increasing the degree of freedom of the folding method is achieved. Further, the second side airbag device of the present invention is characterized in that, between the fixed portions of the airbag straddling the curved portion around the window, the length of the airbag connecting the fixed portions diagonally is between the fixed portions. The angle of the portion corresponding to the curved portion of the airbag is formed to be larger than the angle of the curved portion of the window peripheral portion so as to be equal to or longer than the length of the window peripheral portion of the airbag,
The edge of the airbag is fixed to the periphery of the window, and is folded and housed in the periphery of the window. By forming a large angle of the corner of the airbag corresponding to the curved portion of the periphery of the window. When the edge of the airbag is fixed to the periphery of the window, the airbag forms a diagonal slack between the fixed portions straddling the curved portion, thereby eliminating diagonal tension and preventing the window periphery from being bent. This has the remarkable effect of simplifying storage in the section and increasing the degree of freedom of the folding method. Further, when the airbag is inflated, the airbag changes from a planar shape before inflation to a mat-like three-dimensional shape. If the airbag is fixed in a state where no airtightness occurs, the airbag is curved and inflated, but in each of the first and second airbag devices of the present invention, the airbag is consumed by the slack of the airbag. It is possible to inflate the airbag into a predetermined shape.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an attached state of a side airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state where an airbag of the airbag device is inflated.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an airbag of the airbag device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.
(B) is sectional drawing which shows the state before expansion, respectively.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a length between a fixed portion of a front pillar portion and a roof side rail portion.

FIG. 6 is a partial front view showing a side airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing an example of fixing a conventional side airbag.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,1 'length between the fixed part of the airbag 2 upper unit 3 front pillar 4 roof side rail portion 5a~5e fixing portion 6 window 7 air chamber 8 the bending portion 9 sag 10 sag A ₁ to A ₄ airbag is B ₁ .about.B ₄ length between the fixed portion of the front pillar and the roof side rail portion

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A side airbag device for fixing an edge of an airbag to a periphery of a window of a vehicle with a plurality of fixing portions, and deploying the airbag to the side of the window. Between the fixed portions of the airbag straddling the curved portion of the airbag so that the length of the airbag diagonally connecting the fixed portions is equal to or greater than the length of the window peripheral portion between the fixed portions. A side airbag device, characterized in that a required slack is formed in the portion and fixed, and the airbag is folded and stored in the periphery of the window. 2. A side airbag device for fixing an edge of an airbag to a periphery of a window of a vehicle with a plurality of fixing portions, and deploying the airbag to a side of the window. Between the fixed portions of the airbag straddling the curved portion of the airbag so that the length of the airbag diagonally connecting the fixed portions is equal to or greater than the length of the window peripheral portion between the fixed portions. The angle of the portion corresponding to the curved portion is formed to be larger than the angle of the curved portion around the window, the edge of the airbag is fixed to the window periphery, and the airbag is folded around the window. An airbag device for a side portion, wherein the airbag device is housed. 3. The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the window peripheral portion is a front pillar portion and a roof side rail portion of the vehicle.