JPH10203288A - Side part air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the degree of freedom for an insertion of an air bag device assembling process on a vehicle assembly line by attaching a single air bad to a vehicle structure material. SOLUTION: A side part air bag device housing a folded air bag 1 in the window peripheral part of a vehicle comprises an air bag holder 3 including an elastic resin or rubber cylindrical holding part 4 for holding the air bag 1 folded thin and long and a fixed part 5 extended from the holding part 4 and fixed in the vehicle structure material of a window peripheral part. Then, a slit-like opening part 6 pushed open by the developing pressure of the air bag 1 is formed in the air bag developing side of the holding part 4.

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 for deploying an airbag between a passenger compartment side wall and an occupant.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a predetermined impact from the side of a vehicle is detected, an airbag housed and fixed in a pillar portion of a body or a roof side rail portion inflates between an occupant and a side door window portion, and the occupant is inflated. There is a restraining side airbag device.

[0003] The airbag of the above airbag device is housed in a vehicle body member around a side door frame such as a front pillar portion, a roof side rail portion, a center pillar portion, a quarter pillar portion and the like in an elongated and folded state.
It is covered with garnish and the like.

In the side airbag device, when a predetermined impact from the side is detected by the sensor, an operation signal is transmitted to the gas generator, and the gas generator generates gas for inflating the airbag. The airbag supplied with the gas generally inflates into a mat covering the window of the side door. The airbag generally has a bag portion that is inflated by gas supply and an attachment portion formed by extending an edge of the bag portion as required and fixing the bag portion to a vehicle structural member. .

[0005]

By the way, as a method of mounting the side airbag to a vehicle, for example, a hole is provided in the mounting portion, a bolt is passed through, a body-side nut is tightened, and then the airbag is folded. , There is a way to cover with garnish. There is also a method in which a folded airbag is stored on the back surface of the garnish and attached to the boat.

However, in the former case, the folding takes a relatively long time, so it is more efficient to fix the airbag folded in advance on the vehicle assembly line, and in the latter case, the garnish assembling step becomes the airbag assembling step. In addition, there are restrictions on the process order and component configuration. Specifically, for example, after the airbag is fixed to the body, it becomes difficult to fix the ceiling material so as to partially cover the airbag and to attach the garnish so as to cover the edge of the ceiling material.

[0007] The present invention addresses the actual situation as described above, and the above airbag is configured as a component that can be fixed as a single item, so that the degree of freedom such as when the airbag assembly process is inserted between the processes of the vehicle assembly line. It is an object of the present invention to form an efficient process without largely changing the layout of the current process.

[0008]

That is, a side airbag device according to the present invention which meets the above objects has at least one of the following.
In a side airbag device for storing a folded airbag in the periphery of a window of a vehicle, a tubular holding portion made of elastic resin or rubber for holding an elongated folded airbag, and extending from the holding portion An airbag holder having a fixing portion fixed to a vehicle structural material around the window, and a slit-shaped opening which is pushed open by the airbag deployment pressure on the airbag deployment side of the holding portion. Is formed.

A second side airbag device according to the present invention is a side airbag device for storing a folded airbag in a periphery of a window of a vehicle, and has elasticity for holding the elongated and folded airbag. An airbag holder comprising: a cylindrical holding portion made of resin or rubber; and a fixing portion extending from the holding portion and fixed to a vehicle structural member around the window. On the deployment side,
An opening having a lid that is pushed open by the deployment pressure of the airbag is formed.

Further, the third side airbag device according to the present invention is a side airbag device for storing the folded airbag in the periphery of a window of a vehicle, wherein the side airbag device has elasticity for holding the elongated folded airbag. An airbag holder including a cylindrical holding portion made of resin or rubber having the fixing portion extending from the holding portion and fixed to a vehicle structural member around the window. On the bag deployment side, a rupture portion that is torn by the deployment pressure of the airbag is formed, and a slit portion for inserting the airbag is formed near the fixing portion of the holding portion, and the fixing portion is formed from the holding portion near the slit portion. The flap is extended substantially in parallel with the portion, and the flap is fixed to the vehicle structural member together with the fixing portion.

In the airbag device for each side of the present invention, the elastic material constituting the holding portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, ethylene propylene rubber,
Alternatively, silicon rubber can be used.

Further, the fixing portion is formed of a tongue-shaped piece extending substantially in parallel with the cylinder axis of the holding portion, and has a through-hole for a fixing bolt screwed into the vehicle structural material. In the above device, it is also possible to form a hinge portion at the extension end of the fixing portion, extend a folded piece from the hinge portion, and form a part of the holding portion with the folded piece. In this case, the mounting portion of the edge portion of the airbag, in which the fixing bolt insertion hole is formed, is overlapped with the fixing portion, and a retainer is further overlapped with the mounting portion, so that the bolt insertion hole of the airbag attachment portion has a required size. It is also possible to make the airbag mounting portion to have an allowance in the axial direction and the radial direction of the bolt in the airbag mounting portion while being formed to have a diameter, and fastening the fixing bolt with a margin.

It is also possible to integrate the airbag holder with the opening trim fitted to the joint of the outer panel and the inner panel of the pillar portion and the roof side rail portion of the vehicle. In addition, the folding of the airbag mentioned here also includes the thing by winding.

[0014]

In the first side airbag device of the present invention, the slit is pushed open by resisting the elasticity of the holder, the folded airbag is held in the holding portion, and the slit is again restored by the elasticity of the holder. Restore to shape.

In the second side airbag device of the present invention, the lid of the holder is opened to hold the airbag in the holding portion, and the lid is closed again. Further, in the third airbag device of the present invention, the slit portion is opened to hold the airbag in the holding portion, and the slit portion is restored to its original shape by the elasticity of the holder. After the holder is attached to the shaft, the slit is not pushed open because the flap is fixed together with the fixing portion. That is, in each of the above airbag devices of the present invention, since the airbag can be attached to the vehicle structural material as a single item, the degree of freedom of insertion of the airbag device assembly process in the vehicle assembly line increases, and the layout of the current process increases. It is possible to form an efficient process without changing.

[0016]

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a side airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this device, a folded airbag 1 is accommodated from a front pillar portion of a vehicle to a roof side rail portion. ing. The airbag 1 has a mounting portion 2 at a predetermined interval at an upper edge of a bag main body inflated by an inflator (not shown).

The airbag device has an airbag holder 3 for fixing the airbag 1 to the front pillar portion or the roof side rail portion.
Is a cylindrical holding portion 4 for holding the airbag 1 which has been folded into a bellows or roll shape about 20 mm square, and a tongue-shaped fixing member extending integrally from the holding portion 4 and fixed to the front pillar portion or the like. Unit 5. This holder 3
Is continuously molded by extrusion molding using a highly elastic and flexible resin or rubber such as thermoplastic elastomer, ethylene propylene rubber, silicon rubber, etc., and has the property of easily conforming to the curved surface of the body. doing.

The holding portion 4 has a slit 6 in the lower portion, that is, on the side where the airbag 1 is deployed, in the axial direction. The slit 6 is provided with elasticity so that it is pushed open by the deployment pressure of the stored airbag 1. Have been. In addition, a plurality of cutouts 7 through which the mounting portion 2 of the airbag 1 is inserted are formed in an upper portion of the holding portion 4.

On the other hand, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example in which the airbag holder 3 of the above embodiment is extruded and formed integrally with the opening trim 8, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same. Also,
FIG. 4 shows the opening trim 7 formed separately as a claw fitting 1.
It is integrated with the airbag holder 3 by 0 or the like.

That is, the opening trim 8 is mounted on a joint flange of an outer panel 9a and an inner panel 9b which constitute a pillar portion or a roof side portion.
Although they are members that cover these, since the airbag is mounted on the same part, they are integrated so that they can be operated in the same process.

Further, if the airbag holder 3 is claw-fitted with the opening trim 8, the holder 3 can be temporarily fixed to the body with the opening trim fitting force, and the fixing of the airbag can be waited until the subsequent steps. . The claw fitting 10 is particularly effective when the holder 3 is divided as shown in FIG. 4 and the like. However, when the holder 3 is continuous over the entire airbag storage portion, the opening trim 8 and the holder 3 are integrally extruded. And can be
Cost reduction is possible.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a main part of a side airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a holder of the airbag device, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the holder. It is.

The airbag device includes a cylindrical holding portion 4 for holding the folded airbag 1, and a tongue-shaped fixing portion 5 integrally extending from the holding portion 4. That is, an opening 12 having a lid 11 which is pushed open by the deployment pressure of the airbag on the deployment side of the airbag.
have. This holder 3 is also made of resin or rubber having the same elasticity as the previous example, and the lid 11 is
As shown in the figure, the opening and closing can be performed by fitting the claw 13 and the hole 14.

The holder 3 is formed by cutting an extruded and continuously formed product and disposing the same at intervals as shown in FIG. The mounting portion 2 of the airbag 1 is fixed to the body structural member between the holders 3 as shown in FIG. The mounting portion 2 and the fixing portion 5 of the holder are provided with fixing bolt insertion holes, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an application example of the second embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the same device, in which a fixing portion 5 extending substantially parallel to the cylinder axis of the holding portion 4 is shown. An integral hinge 15 is formed at the extension end of the holding part 4, and a folded piece 16 is extended from the hinge part, and the folded piece 16 constitutes about half of the holding part 4. Further, since the mounting portion 2 of the airbag is sandwiched between the fixing portion 5 and the folded piece 16, there is no need to pull out the mounting portion 2 from the cutout portion 7 of the holder as in the first embodiment, and the retainer 18 is also together. The airbag 1 and the holder 3 are sandwiched through the through holes 21.
Can be co-fastened by the fixing bolt 16.

Further, as shown in each figure, the mounting portion 2 of the edge portion of the airbag in which the insertion hole 17 of the fixing bolt 16 is formed is overlapped with the fixing portion 5 of the holder 3, and furthermore, this mounting portion 2 The retainer 18 is polymerized to form the bolt insertion hole 17 of the airbag attachment portion 2 to have a required large diameter, and the fixing bolt 16 is fixedly fastened with a margin.
The airbag mounting portion 2 allows play of the bolt 16 in the axial and radial directions.

In this structure, as shown in FIG. 10, a collar 19 is inserted into the fixing bolt 16 to form a gap in the axial direction between the bolt seating surface and the vehicle structural member 20, and an airbag mounting portion is provided. The second bolt insertion hole 17 and the bolt insertion hole 3a of the holder 3 may be formed to have a required diameter larger than the outer diameter of the collar 19. In this case, if the bolts are tightened without the intervention of the holder 3, the tightening management of the bolts 16 becomes advantageous.

These configurations allowing play are related to the workability at the time of mounting the airbag and the tension at the time of inflation of the airbag, and it has been proposed by the applicant of the present invention that the airbag has slackness when mounted on the body. .
By giving the engagement part play in addition to this slack,
In addition to improving workability, when the flat bag portion is inflated, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the airbag are contracted, and the slack portion and this play absorb this contraction. In the case of simply giving a slack, it was necessary to observe the shape of the airbag at the time of inflation and repeat the feedback to the planar shape so as to obtain the predetermined shape. There is a degree of freedom that the bag formed in a planar shape can be contracted and expanded as it is, and there is an effect of relaxing the tension of the fixing portion to the expanding bag. Further, when there is a shielding object or the like which gives a reaction force to the inflation of the airbag in some way, the airbag moves in the direction of the reaction force by the amount of the play, and has an effect of reducing the reaction force.

Finally, the holder of the side airbag device according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, these holders 3 include a rectangular cylindrical holding portion 4 made of elastic resin or rubber for holding an elongated folded airbag (not shown), and a holding portion 4. And a fixing portion 5 extending integrally from the vehicle and fixed to the vehicle structural material around the window. And the lower part of the holding part 4,
That is, on the deployment side of the airbag, a rupture portion 22 that is torn by the deployment pressure of the airbag is formed, and a slit portion 23 for inserting the airbag near the fixing portion 5 of the holding portion 4 is formed. Holder 4 near 23
The flap 24 extends substantially parallel to the fixing portion 5 from above, and the flap 24 is fixed together with the fixing portion 5 to a vehicle structural material by a bolt or the like.

Further, it is also possible to fasten the airbag mounting portion 2 and the retainer 18 between the flap 24 and the fixing portion 5 as shown in FIG. 8, for example. As the breaking portion 22, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to form the tear line 25 by providing a part of the bottom wall with a thin wall, but as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to form V-shaped cut grooves 26 at both ends of the bottom wall.

In the case where the cut portion 22 is formed by the cut groove 26, a perforation or a thin portion may be provided between the one cut groove 26 and the other cut groove 26. Even when the thickness is not particularly processed, the break portion 22 is neatly split by the guide of the cut groove 26.

In a side frame airbag device of a window frame mounting type, an airbag having a shape in which an inflator is provided at one end, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, is often used. The elongated airbag is inflated sequentially from the inflator side. That is, the cut groove 26 of the holder 3 is formed larger or deeper on the inflator side of the airbag to be held, so that the rupture of the rupture portion 22 can be performed more smoothly with directivity. Becomes

In the airbag apparatus of the third embodiment, however, the slit 23 is opened to hold the airbag in the holding section from between the fixing section 5 and the flap 24, and the slit section 23 is again formed by the elasticity of the holder 3. Is restored to the original shape. After the holder 3 is attached to the vehicle together with the airbag, the flap 24 is fixed together with the fixing portion 5, so that the slit 23 is not pushed open, and the folded portion of the airbag comes off the holder 3. Nothing.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, each of the airbag holders can be manufactured by extrusion, and the airbag holder can be cut to an appropriate length for use, thereby reducing costs. It is possible.
In this case, the claw 13 and the hole 14 of the holding portion can be formed by a cutter drill or the like synchronized with the line speed.

[0036]

As described above, the side airbag device according to the present invention is a side airbag device for storing the folded airbag in the periphery of the window of the vehicle, and holds the elongated folded airbag. An airbag holder having a cylindrical holding portion made of resin or rubber having elasticity and a fixing portion extending from the holding portion and fixed to a vehicle structural material around the window. The opening that is pushed open by the deployment pressure of the airbag on the airbag deployment side of the part is formed with a slit or a broken portion or a lid, and the airbag is attached to the vehicle structural material as a single item Can increase the degree of freedom in inserting the airbag device assembly process in the vehicle assembly line, making it possible to form efficient processes without greatly changing the layout of the current process. Moreover, since the airbag holder can be manufactured by continuous extrusion molding, the holder itself can be manufactured at low cost, and by allowing a required play to the holder and the mounting portion of the airbag, the airbag holder can be manufactured at the time of inflation. It has many practical effects, such as dimensional shrinkage of the airbag and the reaction force associated therewith.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a side airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example in which a holder of the apparatus is integrally formed with an opening trim.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example in which a separate opening trim and a holder are integrated.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of a side airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a holder of the device.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the holder.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a main part showing an application example of the side airbag device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the same device.

FIG. 10 is a sectional perspective view of the same device in which a collar is inserted into a bolt.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a holder of the side airbag device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another example of a broken portion of the holder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Airbag 2 Attachment part 3 Airbag holder 4 Holding part 5 Fixing part 6 Slit 7 Notch part 8 Opening trim 9 Pillar part, roof side rail part 9a Outer panel 9b Inner panel 10 Claw fitting part 11 Cover 12 Opening 13 Claw 14 hole 15 hinge part 16 fixing bolt 17 insertion hole 18 retainer 19 collar 20 vehicle structural material 21 through hole 22 break part 23 slit part 24 flap 25 tear line 26 cut groove

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A side airbag device for storing a folded airbag in a periphery of a window of a vehicle, comprising: a tubular holding portion made of resin or rubber having elasticity for holding an elongated folded airbag; An airbag holder having a fixing portion extending from the holding portion and fixed to a vehicle structural material around the window, and is pushed open to the airbag deploying side of the holding portion by the deployment pressure of the airbag. An airbag device for a side portion, wherein a slit-shaped opening is formed. 2. A side airbag device for storing a folded airbag in a periphery of a window of a vehicle, comprising: a tubular holding portion made of an elastic resin or rubber for holding an elongated folded airbag; An airbag holder having a fixing portion extending from the holding portion and fixed to a vehicle structural material around the window, and is pushed open to the airbag deploying side of the holding portion by the deployment pressure of the airbag. An airbag device for a side portion, wherein an opening having a lid is formed. 3. A side airbag device for storing a folded airbag in a periphery of a window of a vehicle, comprising: a tubular holding portion made of an elastic resin or rubber for holding the elongated folded airbag; An airbag holder having a fixing portion extending from the holding portion and fixed to the vehicle structural material around the window, wherein the airbag deployment side of the holding portion is cleaved by the airbag deployment pressure. Forming a slit portion for inserting an airbag near the fixed portion of the holding portion, and extending a flap substantially parallel to the fixed portion from the holding portion near the slit portion, and removing the flap. An airbag device for a side portion, wherein the airbag device is fixed to a vehicle structural member together with the fixing portion. 4. An elastic material constituting the holding portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, ethylene propylene rubber,
4. The side airbag device according to claim 1, which is made of silicone rubber. 5. A fixing part comprising a tongue-like piece extending substantially parallel to a cylinder axis of a holding part, and having a through-hole for a fixing bolt screwed into the vehicle structural material. Or the side airbag device according to 4. 6. A hinge part is formed at an extension end of the fixing part, and a folded piece is extended from the hinge part, and a part of the holding part is formed by the folded piece.
6. The side airbag device according to 4 or 5. 7. The mounting portion of the edge portion of the airbag in which the fixing bolt insertion hole is formed is superimposed on the fixing portion, and a retainer is superposed on the mounting portion. While forming the hole to the required large diameter,
7. The side airbag device according to claim 6, wherein the fixing bolts are tightened with a margin so that play in the bolt axial direction and the radial direction is allowed in the airbag mounting portion. 8. The airbag holder according to claim 1, wherein the airbag holder is integrated with an opening trim fitted to a flange portion of a joint between an outer panel and an inner panel of a pillar portion and a roof side rail portion of a vehicle. An airbag device for a side portion according to any of the above items.