JPH11301400A - Arranging structure of head protective air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly develop an air bag element. SOLUTION: Respective flanges 40A, 42A of a metallic spacer are formed into approximately semicircular shapes so as to widely cover attaching parts 35 of an air bag element 16, and elongated holes 41 through which bolts 39 are to be inserted are formed on the central parts. One of a plurality of attaching parts 35 of the air bag element 16 is set in the connecting part (near a parting line 44) for the front end of a pillar inner panel 34 and the front end of a roof side rail inner panel 43. In the attaching part, the upper end 26D of a front pillar garnish 26 is fastened together by a bolt 39.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inflator in which gas is blown out from an inflator when a predetermined high load is applied to a side of a vehicle body, and the airbag bag housed from a pillar portion along a roof side rail portion by this gas. The present invention relates to a head protection airbag device that inflates in a curtain shape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to improve the performance of protecting the head of an occupant seated in a front seat when a predetermined high load is applied to the side of a vehicle body, the occupant is folded over from a front pillar to a roof side rail. A head protection airbag device has been proposed in which the stored airbag body is inflated in a curtain shape along the side window glass. Hereinafter, WO 96/2 which discloses this type of head protection airbag device.
The configuration disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6087 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, a head protection airbag device 100 includes a long duct 106 disposed from a front pillar portion 102 to a roof side rail portion 104, and a duct 106. The front end fixed point 108 and the rear end fixed point 110 are stored in a folded state inside.
An airbag bag body 112 fixed to the vehicle body side at, and an inflator 116 connected to the rear end of the duct 106 via a hose 114 and blowing out gas when a predetermined high load acts on the vehicle body side, A belt-shaped strap 118 having one end fixed to the vehicle body and the other end fixed to the rear end of the airbag bag 112 is a main component. Further, the airbag bag body 112 is formed by connecting a plurality of cells 120 each formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and arranged with the longitudinal direction substantially in the vehicle vertical direction.

According to the above configuration, when a predetermined high load is applied to the side of the vehicle body, gas is ejected from the inflator 116. Therefore, the ejected gas is supplied to the hose 114.
Then, the air flows into each cell 120 of the folded airbag bag 112 via the duct 106. As a result, each cell 120 expands in a substantially cylindrical shape with the longitudinal direction substantially in the vehicle vertical direction, whereby the airbag bag body 112 expands in a curtain shape along the window glass 122. Further, the rear end of the airbag bag body 112 has a strap 118.
, The rear end side of the airbag bag body 112 is surely arranged inside the upper part of the center pillar portion 124.

[0005]

However, in such an arrangement structure of the head protection airbag device, the airbag bag body 112 is stored in the front pillar garnish, and the airbag bag body 112 is deployed. A predetermined portion of the front pillar garnish is cleaved and developed by the pressure. For this reason, it is conceivable that a predetermined portion of the front pillar garnish can be easily deployed by making the cleavage deployment portion of the front pillar garnish thin or made of a soft material, and the front pillar garnish falls off from the front pillar. It is also necessary to fix it so that it does not. On the other hand, conventionally, the upper fixed position of the front pillar garnish is set to a position separated from the upper end of the front pillar garnish by a predetermined distance downward.

As a result, when the airbag bag is deployed, the intermediate portion between the upper and lower fixed points of the front pillar garnish is curved so as to protrude toward the vehicle compartment due to the inflation force of the airbag bag, and is shaped like a letter. Deformed into a shape. For this reason, the portion above the upper fixing point of the front pillar garnish is deformed outwardly of the vehicle, contrary to the intermediate portion, and this deformation exerts a pressing force on the airbag bag, so that the airbag bag is deployed. May be inhibited.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to obtain an arrangement structure of a head-protecting airbag device that can deploy an airbag body more smoothly.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a curtain-shaped head protection airbag bag which is provided so as to extend from a front pillar to a roof side rail and is inflated and deployed under predetermined conditions. A head protection airbag device covering the front pillar garnish and the roof head lining, wherein an upper end of the front pillar garnish is fixed to a connecting portion between the front pillar and the roof side rail. Features.

Therefore, since the upper end of the front pillar garnish is in the upper fixed position, the middle portion between the upper and lower fixed points of the front pillar garnish due to the inflation force of the airbag when the airbag is deployed. However, even if it curves so as to protrude toward the cabin and is deformed in a U-shape, there is almost no portion above the upper fixed point of the front pillar garnish, and it is deformed outwardly, contrary to the middle part. There are almost no parts. As a result, the amount of overhang of the portion above the fixed point to the outside of the vehicle is reduced, and the pressing force acting on the airbag body due to the overhang can be almost eliminated, so that the deployment of the airbag body is hindered. Therefore, the airbag body can be deployed more smoothly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the head protection airbag device according to the first aspect, an upper end portion of the front pillar garnish is provided with a reinforcing member for sandwiching and fixing a mounting portion of the airbag body. The joint is fastened together by fastening means.

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in the first aspect, the connecting portion between the front pillar and the roof side rail is a portion where the deployment direction changes from the rear obliquely upward to the rear due to the shape of the airbag bag. However, since a large force acts on the airbag bag when the airbag is deployed, fixing the airbag bag at this location ensures that the airbag bag is securely fixed to the vehicle body. The deployment performance of the bag bag body can be secured. In addition, since the front pillar garnish and the airbag bag are fastened together via the reinforcing member, the fastening means for attaching the front pillar garnish and the fastening means for attaching the airbag can be used. As a result, the number of fastening means for mounting the front pillar garnish can be reduced, the number of parts can be reduced, and the assembling workability can be improved.

Further, when the fastening means is tightened, the tightening torque of the fastening means can be received by the reinforcing member which clamps and fixes the mounting portion of the airbag body, so that the tightening torque does not act on the airbag body. . As a result, the mounting portion of the airbag body can be prevented from being twisted, so that the mounting portion of the airbag body can be effectively prevented from being damaged when the airbag body expands and deploys.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a structure for arranging a head protection airbag device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the drawings, an arrow FR indicates a vehicle forward direction, an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upward direction, and an arrow IN indicates a vehicle width inside direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the head protection airbag apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a sensor 12 for detecting a side collision state, a column-shaped inflator 14 for ejecting gas when activated. And an airbag body 16 as main components. The sensor 12 is disposed near the lower end of the center pillar (B pillar) 18 and detects a side collision state when a side collision load of a predetermined value or more acts on the vehicle body side.

The inflator 14 is disposed near the connection between the front pillar (A-pillar) 20 and the instrument panel 22 and is connected to the sensor 12 described above. Therefore, when the sensor 12 detects the side collision state, the inflator 14 is operated.

In the middle part of the airbag body 16 in the vertical direction when viewed from the side, a tension line T connecting the front end fixed point and the rear end fixed point of the airbag body 16 is crossed, and the vertical direction of the airbag body 16 is set in the longitudinal direction. Are formed at predetermined intervals, and these non-inflated portions 24 form a plurality of substantially parallel cylindrical inflatable portions that cross the tension line T when the airbag body is deployed. It has become.

The front end 16A of the airbag bag 16 is also provided.
Are arranged at the inflator arrangement position so that gas ejected from the inflator 14 flows in. The upper end edge of the intermediate portion 16B is arranged along the front pillar 20 and the roof side rail 28, and the rear end The upper edge of 16C is arranged near quarter pillar (C pillar) 30.

As shown in FIG. 6, the air bag 16
Are folded in a bellows shape in a substantially vertical direction to be elongated, and are housed over the front pillar garnish 26 and the roof side rail garnish 27 or the roof head lining.

As shown in FIG. 4, the air bag 16
Is formed by folding a single base cloth 17 at the lower end, and sewing the upper end edge 17A and the rear part 17B, which are overlapped, with a suture thread 19. Airbag bag 16
Is formed in a substantially parallelogram shape, and the upper edge portion 17A
Is formed with a rectangular tongue-shaped mounting portion 35. At the substantially central portion of these mounting portions 35, mounting holes 36 are formed. The pitch of these mounting holes 36 is longer than the pitch of the mounting holes on the body side, and when the airbag bag is deployed. The length is set to a length that can cover the front pillar 20 and the roof side rail 28 without any gap.
The non-inflated portion 24 of the airbag bag 16 is
5 and formed by applying a sealant.

As shown in FIG. 3, the front pillar 20
Is a pillar outer panel 32 having a hat-shaped cross section disposed outside the vehicle compartment, a substantially flat pillar inner panel 34 disposed inside the vehicle compartment, and a pinched state between the pillar outer panel 32 and the pillar inner panel 34. The pillar reinforcement 33 having a substantially hat-shaped cross section is arranged to form a closed cross-sectional structure. An opening weather strip 38 is elastically fitted to the rear end flange of the front pillar 20.

A pillar garnish 26 made of resin is disposed on the interior side of the pillar inner panel 34 of the front pillar 20 described above. The pillar garnish 26 includes a thin-walled bag storage section 26A and a thick-walled base 26B.
The bag storage section 26A is configured to elastically deform and open around a hinge section 26C which is a boundary with the base section 26B. Note that the terminal portion on the bag storage portion 26A side is elastically locked to the above-mentioned opening weather strip 38.

As shown in FIG. 2, the air bag 16
Of the metal spacer 4 as a reinforcing member
The flanges 40A, 42A of the first and second flanges 40A, 42A are clamped by a weld nut 37 and bolts 39 as fastening means to the pillar inner panel 34 via the metal spacers 40, 42.

Similarly, the mounting portion 35 of the airbag body 16 is mounted on the inner panel of the roof side rail 28 via metal spacers 40 and 42.

As shown in FIG. 1, the metal spacer 4
Each of the flanges 40A, 42A of 0, 42 is formed in a substantially semicircular shape that widely covers the mounting portion 35 of the airbag bag body 16, and a long hole 41 through which a bolt 39 is inserted is formed in the center. . Also, the mounting portions 3 of the plurality of airbag bags 16 are provided.
One of the reference numerals 5 is set at a connection portion (near the parting line 44) between the upper end portion of the pillar inner panel 34 and the front end portion of the roof side rail inner panel 43. In addition, the code | symbol 45 of FIG. 1 has shown the windshield glass.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end 26 of the front pillar garnish 26
D is fastened to the bolt 39 together. In addition, bolt 3
The head 39A of the ninth is accommodated in a concave portion 26E formed on the design surface side of the front pillar garnish 26.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

In the arrangement structure of the head protection airbag device of this embodiment, the upper end 26D of the front pillar garnish 26 is connected to the upper end of the pillar inner panel 34 and the front end of the roof side rail inner panel 43. (Fixed to the parting line 44). For this reason, when the airbag bag is deployed, the intermediate portion between the upper and lower fixed points of the front pillar garnish 26 is curved so as to protrude toward the vehicle compartment due to the inflation force of the airbag bag 16, and has a V-shape. Even if deformed, front pillar garnish 2
There is hardly any portion above the upper fixing point of No. 6 and, contrary to the middle portion, hardly any portion that deforms to the outside of the vehicle. As a result, the amount of overhang of the portion above the upper fixed point of the front pillar garnish 26 to the outside of the vehicle is reduced, and the overhang can substantially eliminate the pressing force acting on the airbag body 16. The air bag 16 can be more smoothly deployed without hindering the deployment of the bag 16.

The connecting portion between the upper end portion of the pillar inner panel 34 and the front end portion of the roof side rail inner panel 43 changes its deployment direction from the rear obliquely upward to the rear from the shape of the airbag bag body 16. This is a region where a large force acts on the airbag bag 16 when the airbag bag is deployed. For this reason, by fixing the airbag bag body 16 at this portion, the airbag bag body 16 is securely fixed to the vehicle body, and the deployment performance of the airbag bag body 16 can be secured.

Further, since the front pillar garnish 26 and the airbag bag 16 are fastened together via the metal spacers 40 and 42, fastening means for attaching the front pillar garnish and fastening means for attaching the airbag bag are provided. Can also be used. As a result, the number of fastening means for mounting the front pillar garnish can be reduced, the number of parts can be reduced, and the assembling workability can be improved.

When the bolt 39 is tightened to the weld nut 37, a tightening torque can be received by the flanges 40A, 42A of the metal spacers 40, 42 for holding and fixing the mounting portion 35 of the airbag body 16. Therefore, the tightening torque does not act on the mounting portion 35 of the airbag body 16. As a result, it is possible to prevent the mounting portion 35 of the airbag bag 16 from being twisted, so that it is possible to effectively prevent damage to the mounting portion of the airbag bag 16 when the airbag 16 is inflated and deployed. it can.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to a specific embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various other embodiments are included in the scope of the present invention. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that is possible. For example, instead of the metal spacers 40 and 42, another reinforcing member such as a hard resin having a predetermined strength or more may be used. Further, instead of the weld nut 37 and the bolt 39, another fastening means such as a screw may be used.

[0033]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a curtain-shaped head protection airbag bag which is provided to extend from a front pillar to a roof side rail and is inflated and deployed under predetermined conditions. The structure of the head protection airbag device covered with the roof headlining and the upper end of the front pillar garnish is fixed to the connection between the front pillar and the roof side rail, making the airbag bag more smooth It has an excellent effect that it can be developed in

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the head protection airbag device according to the first aspect, the upper end of the front pillar garnish is connected via a reinforcing member for holding and fixing the mounting portion of the airbag body. The parts are jointly fastened to each other by fastening means, so that in addition to the effect of claim 1, the deployment performance of the airbag body is ensured, and the parts are also used as a fastening means between the upper end of the front pillar garnish and the airbag body attachment part. There is an excellent effect that the number of points can be reduced and assembling workability can be improved. In addition, there is an excellent effect that damage to a mounting portion of the airbag body when the airbag body is inflated and deployed can be effectively prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a main portion of an arrangement structure of a head protection airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the inside of a vehicle, partially shown by phantom lines.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing an expanded state of an airbag body in the arrangement structure of the head protection airbag device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing an inflated and deployed state of an airbag body in the arrangement structure of the head protection airbag device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a stored state of an airbag body in the arrangement structure of the head protection airbag device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a completed deployment state of an airbag body in a head protection airbag device according to a conventional embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 head protection airbag device 14 inflator 16 airbag bag body 18 center pillar 20 front pillar 26 front pillar garnish 26D upper end of front pillar garnish 27 roof side rail garnish 28 roof side rail 32 pillar outer panel 34 pillar inner panel 35 airbag Attachment portion of bag body 36 Attachment hole of airbag bag body 37 Weld nut (fastening means) 39 Bolt (fastening means) 40 Metal spacer (reinforcing member) 40A Metal spacer flange 42 Metal spacer (reinforcing member) 42A Metal 44 of the pillar inner panel and the roof side rail inner panel

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yusuke Umetani 1st Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Motor Corporation

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A head in which a curtain-shaped head-protecting airbag bag, which extends from a front pillar to a roof side rail and is inflated and deployed under predetermined conditions, is covered with a front pillar garnish and a roof head lining. An arrangement structure of a head protection airbag device, wherein an upper end of the front pillar garnish is fixed to a connecting portion between the front pillar and a roof side rail. . 2. An upper end of the front pillar garnish is jointly fastened to the connecting portion by a fastening means via a reinforcing member for holding and fixing a mounting portion of the airbag body. Arrangement structure of head protection airbag device.