JPH1081183A - Air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the tear of the opening of the lids of an air bag device against an external load applied and smoothly tear the opening by the expansion of the air bag. SOLUTION: An air bag device comprises an expandable air bag 7, lids 5 which is arranged on the expanded side of the air bag 7 and has an opening 8 normally closed and adapted to be torn by the expansion of the air bag 7, and a protection member 9 which is arranged on the side of the air bag 7 with respect to the lids 5 and is engaged with the lids 5 by means of a hook- and-loop fastener 10 for checking the tear of the lids 5 against an external load as well as allowing the tear of the lids 5 by the expansion of the air bag 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device which inflates and protects an occupant during a collision, and more particularly to an airbag device which is attached to a side surface of a seat and inflates and protects the side surface of the seat during a side collision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-64491 describes a basic structure of an airbag device for protecting an occupant by rapidly inflating an airbag in a side collision of a vehicle. This airbag device has a structure in which a folded airbag and an inflator for inflating the airbag are housed inside a seat.

[0003] Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 6-45876 discloses an airbag module that can be attached to a vehicle.

In this airbag module, a folded airbag is housed in an airbag case,
A protective cover is provided to prevent the opening of the airbag case from being carelessly opened.

[0005] The protective cover extends the distal end of the airbag and engages the extended distal end with each other.
A hook-and-loop fastener is used as this engagement means.

This airbag module is used by being housed in an instrument cover of a vehicle, and the instrument cover always protects the airbag without being torn, but when the airbag is inflated, the airbag inflates. A lid that cleaves is provided at a position facing the airbag module.

[0007]

In such a conventional airbag apparatus, the airbag and related parts are arranged on the side surface of the seat, and the lid facing the airbag is provided at the airbag mounting portion. It is known to provide bag protection.

[0008] However, the lid is not protected, and when an external force acts on the lid, the lid is inadvertently torn, resulting in deterioration of the appearance or damage to the airbag disposed behind the lid. There is a possibility that.

For this reason, it is conceivable to prevent the inadvertent tearing by firmly joining the opening of the lid, but in this case, even if the airbag is inflated, the lid does not tear quickly, and the occupant does not have to tear open. Protection is inadequate.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such a conventional problem, and the lid is not inadvertently opened in a normal state, but is smoothly opened when the airbag is inflated. It is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag device capable of ensuring stable operation.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 comprises an inflatable airbag, an airbag disposed in the inflation direction of the airbag, normally closed, and A lid having an opening that is cleaved by inflation, and disposed on the airbag side of the lid,
While preventing tearing of the opening against external load,
A protection member engaged with the lid so as to allow the opening to be split by the inflation of the airbag.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the protection member is engaged with a portion of the lid sandwiching the opening, and this engagement is applied to a load from the outside. On the other hand, while maintaining the engaged state, the air bag is released by inflation of the airbag.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the protective member includes a pair of first members attached to portions of the lid sandwiching the opening, and a pair of the first members. A second member which is detachably engaged with the outside of the first member so as to connect the one member and holds the engagement against a load from the outside, while being disengaged by inflation of the airbag; It is characterized by having.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the protection member includes a first engagement member and a second engagement member respectively engaged with portions of the lid sandwiching the opening.
And an engagement mechanism that is engaged with each other by a load from the outside and is disengaged by inflation of the airbag. .

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the lid is a skin of a seat.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the protective member prevents the opening of the lid from being torn by an external load, the opening is not opened carelessly. On the other hand, when the airbag is inflated, the protection member does not prevent the opening of the lid from being split, so that the lid is smoothly split and the airbag can be quickly expanded.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the structure of the protection member is simplified, and the assembly is facilitated.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the lid is inadvertently split by a load from the outside by the second member engaging the outside of the first member. To prevent On the other hand, when the airbag is inflated, the second member is disengaged from the first member.
The inflation force of the airbag acts on the lid to break it.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the engagement mechanisms provided on the first engagement member and the second engagement member prevent the lid from being inadvertently split. On the other hand, since the engagement is released by the inflation of the airbag, the lid can be smoothly torn.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first to fourth aspects, since the lid is a skin of the seat,
There is no need to separately provide a lid, and the number of parts is reduced.

[0021]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view from a plane.

On the side of the seat 1 such as a seat back used for a driver's seat or a passenger's seat on the door side of the vehicle,
The recess 2 is formed, and the airbag module 3 is housed in the recess 2.

In such a structure, the airbag module 3 can be retrofitted to the seat 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer surface of the seat 1 containing the airbag module 3 is covered with a skin 4.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a lid formed on the skin 4 so as to face the airbag module 3, and is a part of the skin 4 as described later.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the operation, and an airbag 7 is housed in a folded state inside the case 6 of the airbag module 3.

Although not shown, an inflator for rapidly inflating the airbag 7 when a side collision is detected is mounted inside the case 6.

The airbag module 3 is inserted into the recess 2 of the seat 1 so that the airbag 7 is located on the skin 4 side.

The lid 5 constituting a part of the skin 4 is provided on the skin 4 so as to be located in the direction in which the airbag 7 inflates. Further, a slit-shaped opening 8 is formed in a portion of the lid 5 facing the airbag 7, and the opening 8 is normally closed, but when the airbag 7 is inflated, its inflation force is increased. As a result, the airbag 7 can inflate to the side of the seat 1.

A protective member 9 is engaged with such a lid 5. The protection member 9 is located on the side of the airbag 7 in the lid 5, and is bridged between the lids 5 on both sides of the opening 8 so as to sandwich the opening 8, and engages with the lid 5 in this bridged state. ing. The protection member 9 is made of a flexible sheet, and is engaged with the lid 5 so as to be freely detachable.

In this embodiment, the protection member 9 and the lid 5 are engaged by attaching the surface fasteners 10 to their facing surfaces and engaging the surface fasteners 10 with each other.

In this embodiment, when a load in the direction indicated by the arrow F1 acts on the lid 5 from the outside, the protection member 9 is engaged with the lid 5 on both sides of the opening 8 in a bridging manner. The member 9 does not peel off, and the opening 8 does not tear.

As a result, the opening 8 is not inadvertently cleaved, the appearance is not deteriorated due to the opening 8 being cleaved, and the airbag 7 is not damaged.

On the other hand, when the airbag 7 is inflated as shown in FIG. 4, the airbag 7 pushes the protection member 9 in the direction of the opening 8, so that the engagement by the hook-and-loop fastener 10 is easily released.

For this reason, the airbag 7 inflates smoothly,
It bulges out to the side of the seat 1 to reduce the impact of a side collision.

Accordingly, the protection member 9 prevents the opening 8 of the lid 5 from being ruptured in a normal state.
Since the opening 8 is not prevented from being cleaved at the time of inflation, stable cleavage can be ensured.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the operation.

In this embodiment, a protective member is formed by a pair of first members 11, 12 and a second member 13, both of which are made of a synthetic resin plate.

The first members 11, 12 are located closer to the airbag 7 than the second member 13, and the ends of the first member 11, 12 away from the opening 8 are connected to the lid 5 (skin 4) by connecting members 14, 15, respectively. ).

The first members 11 and 12 are provided on both sides of the opening 5 of the lid 5, and the ends on the opening 8 side are separated from each other.

The separated ends are bent toward the second member 13 to form bent portions 11a and 12a.

The second member 13 is arranged on the lid 5 side. The second member 13 includes contact portions 13a and 13b that contact the first members 11 and 12, respectively, and a connecting portion 13d that is provided between the contact portions 13a and 13b via a step 13c. Is formed.

The step portion 13c and the connecting portion 13d enclose the bent portions 11a and 12a of the first members 11 and 12, respectively.
This wrapping connects the pair of first members 11 and 12.

The second member 13 is connected to the lid 5. This connection is performed by passing a connecting member 15 for connecting the first member 12 and the lid 5 through the one contact portion 13b of the second member.

In this case, the other first member 11 and the other abutting portion 13a of the second member are in a free state without being connected.

Then, the first member 1 which is not connected
The contact portions 13a of the first and second members are located on the front side of the seat 1, and the connected contact portions 13b of the first and second members 12 and 13 are located on the rear side of the seat 1. You.

With this arrangement, when the airbag 7 is inflated, the second member 13 can restrict the inflation direction of the airbag 7 to the front side of the seat 1.

In this embodiment, since the second member 13 is engaged from the outside so as to connect the first members 11 and 12, even if a load from outside acts on the lid 5, the second member 13 The engagement force between the first member 11 and the second member 12 is increased and the lid 5
I support.

Therefore, the opening 8 of the lid 5 does not break during normal times.

On the other hand, when the airbag 7 is inflated as shown in FIG.
And the second member 13 is pressed so as to be pushed out.
When the contact portion 13a of the member 13 in the free state is disengaged from the first member 11, the lid 8 is pushed out, so that the opening 8 is torn.

When the airbag 7 is inflated, the contact portion 13b of the second member 13 is connected to the first member 1 by the connecting member 15.
2, the contact portion 13a is in a free state, and the contact portion 13a in this free state and the connecting portion 13d provided continuously change the inflation direction of the airbag 7 in front of the seat. Guide to the side.

Therefore, the airbag 7 can be reliably inflated to the side of the seat, and the safety is further improved.

FIGS. 7 to 11 show a third embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view thereof.

In this embodiment, the first engaging member 17 and the second engaging member 18 form a protection member.

The engaging members 17 and 18 are provided in the opening 8
Are attached to the lid 5 so as to sandwich the same, and the respective engaging members 17 and 18 are attached to the lid 5 by connecting members 19 and 20.

The engagement members 17 and 18 are provided with engagement mechanisms for performing respective engagements.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG.
The slit 21 formed in the first engaging member 17 and the second
Projecting piece 22 which is formed in the engaging member 18 of the first engaging member 17 and is engaged by being inserted into the slit 21 of the first engaging member 17.
And

Further, the slit 21 of the first engagement member 17
Inside the protruding piece 22 of the second engaging member 18 and an engaging piece 23 extending in the opposite direction are formed, and the protruding piece 22 of the second engaging member 18 has Are formed and the engagement slit 24 is formed.

In this engagement mechanism, the projection 22 of the second engagement member 18 is inserted into the slit 21 of the first engagement member 17 and the engagement of the projection 22 of the second engagement member 18 is performed. The engaging piece 23 from the slit 22 of the first engaging member 17 is inserted into the mating slit 24.

In this mutual insertion, the inserting direction of the slit 21 and the projecting piece 22, the engaging slit 24 and the engaging piece 2
3 is in an engagement state in which the insertion direction is opposite.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, when a load is applied from the outside in the direction of arrow F2, the first engagement member 1
Since the bit 7 penetrates into the second engagement member 18, the opening 8 of the lid 5 does not break.

Also, when an external force acts in the direction of arrow F3, the second engaging member 18 bites into the first engaging member 17, so that the opening 8 of the lid 5 does not tear.

On the other hand, when the airbag 7 is inflated, a stress in the direction of arrow F4 acts due to the inflation, and the stress in this direction is applied to the first and second engagement members 17, 1 and 2.
The opening 8 of the lid 5 is easily torn due to the direction of releasing the engagement, not the direction of engaging the 8. For this reason,
As shown in FIG. 11, the inflation of the airbag 7 can be ensured.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified. For example, the lid 5 may be attached to the outer skin 4 as a separate body without being integrated with the outer skin 4.

In addition to protection against side collisions,
Can be used as protection against head-on collisions, in which case
This is made possible by arranging it on the instrument panel of the vehicle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view from a plane of a seat.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part of the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a main part of the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation of the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 seat 3 airbag module 4 skin 5 lid 7 airbag 8 opening 9 protection member 10 surface fastener 11, 12 first member 13 second member 17 first engagement member 18 second engagement member

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An inflatable airbag, a lid disposed in the inflation direction of the airbag, closed at normal times, and having an opening that is torn by inflation of the airbag, and an airbag side of the lid. A protection member engaged with the lid so as to prevent the opening from being split by an external load while allowing the opening to be split by the inflation of the airbag. Airbag device. 2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the protection member is engaged with a portion of the lid sandwiching the opening, and this engagement is in an engagement state against a load from the outside. The airbag device is characterized in that the airbag device is detached by inflating the airbag while holding the airbag. 3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the protective member includes a pair of first members attached to portions of the lid sandwiching an opening, and the pair of first members.
A second member which is detachably engaged with the outside of the first member so as to connect the members, and which holds the engagement against a load from the outside while being disengaged by inflation of the airbag. An airbag device, comprising: 4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the protection member includes a first engagement member and a second engagement member respectively engaged with portions of the lid sandwiching an opening. An airbag device, characterized in that these engagement members are provided with an engagement mechanism that engages with each other by a load from the outside and releases the engagement by inflation of the airbag. 5. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the lid is a skin of a seat.