JPH1191471A - Folding structure of air bag - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To favorably expand an air bag by forming a belt-like body extended in a direction crossing the cross direction of a vehicle so as to ride over a case opening part, and folding one end and the other end of this belt-like body so as to be housed in a case. SOLUTION: A belt-like body 20 is extended in a case opening part 3a in the fore and aft direction of a vehicle so as to ride over the case opening part 3a, and a ratio of a distance from the center in the fore and aft direction of the case opening part 3a to a front end 22a of the belt-like body 20 and a distance from the center to a rear end 24a is decided by positional setting of the predetermined position. Since both side parts of an air bag in the cross direction of the vehicle are folded inside of the air bag so as to form a bellows part 26 in both sides of the belt-like body 20, expansion of the air bag in both sides thereof is promoted. Expansion of the air bag housed in a case 3 in the folded condition in the cross direction of vehicle is promoted so as to delay the expansion of the air bag rearward of the vehicle. The air bag is thereby favorably expanded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a folding structure of an airbag in an airbag device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an airbag apparatus houses an inflator, which is a gas generator, and an airbag in a case, such as an instrument panel, disposed on the front of a vehicle compartment.

The airbag is housed in a folded state in a case, and when the vehicle collides, is inflated and deployed toward the rear of the vehicle from a case opening by gas generated by an inflator, thereby receiving the occupant's body. It is configured as follows.

[0004]

Various structures have been proposed as the folding structure of the airbag. However, in the conventional folding structure, it is generally impossible to control the deployment behavior of the airbag by the folding structure itself. Not much.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to obtain a good airbag deployment behavior by a folded structure of an airbag.

[0006]

The folding structure of the airbag according to the present invention is stored in a folded state in a case provided in the front part of the vehicle interior, and is provided from the case opening to the rear of the vehicle at the time of a vehicle collision. A folding structure of the airbag that expands and expands toward the front, wherein both sides of the airbag in the vehicle width direction are folded in a bellows shape so as to have substantially the same opening width in the vehicle width direction of the case, A band extending in a direction perpendicular to the vehicle width direction is formed so as to straddle the case opening, and one end and the other end of the band are folded and stored in the case.

In the folding structure of the airbag, since both sides of the airbag in the vehicle width direction are folded to form a bellows portion of the belt-like body, the bellows portion is quickly deployed when the airbag is deployed. Therefore, deployment of the airbag in the vehicle width direction can be promoted and deployment behind the vehicle can be delayed. Therefore, a good deployment behavior of the airbag can be obtained.

Further, the band extends so as to straddle the case opening, and one end of the band extending to one side of the case opening and the other end of the band extending to the other side are formed. The airbag deployment behavior is adjusted according to the vehicle model by appropriately selecting the length ratio and folding method of the one end side and the other end side as they are configured to be folded. Can be easily performed.

In the folding structure of the present invention, the one end side of the band-shaped body is an upper surface side in an expanded shape of the airbag, the other end side is a lower surface side in the expanded shape, and the one end side is a bellows-like shape. And the other end side may be folded in a roll shape. In this case, the deployment of the upper surface portion of the airbag can be promoted more than the lower surface portion.

[0010] The folding method of the belt-like body can be appropriately selected according to the type of vehicle mounted. The one end side is folded in a bellows shape or a roll shape, and the other end side is folded in a bellows shape or a roll shape. May be.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, a folding structure of an airbag 10 in a passenger airbag device 1 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

This airbag 10 is housed in a case 3 together with a substantially cylindrical inflator 2 in a folded state, is disposed in an instrument panel 9 in front of a passenger seat, and is provided in a passenger seat airbag device. 1.

Specifically, the case 3 has a rectangular opening 3a.
And the inflator 2 is stored in the bottom of the box-shaped container. The airbag 10 is a bag body having an attachment opening formed of a synthetic resin woven cloth or the like, and the attachment opening is attached to the case opening 3a via a bag retainer 4 with rivets, bolts, nuts, or the like. Have been. A diffuser 5 that regulates the flow of gas generated by the inflator 2 is provided between the inflator 2 and the airbag 10.
Is arranged. A rectangular opening 9a is provided on the upper surface of the instrument panel 9, and the case 3 is arranged with the opening 3a facing upward below the opening 9a. And the instrument panel 9
The opening 9a is closed by an airbag door 6 that covers the upper part of the airbag 10. In addition, in FIG. 3, the code | symbol 8 has shown the windshield.

Here, the airbag 10 is formed by sewing one or three panels into a three-dimensional shape. That is, a single panel cut into a predetermined shape is sewn on each of the left and right side portions to sew three-dimensionally, or a center panel for connecting the two side panels forming the left and right side surfaces of the airbag 10 and the both. Are formed by sewing.

The folding structure when the airbag 10 is stored in the case 3 in a folded state will be described.

[0017] Predetermined portions 12a, 14a of the upper surface portion 12 and the lower surface portion 14 in the deployed shape of the airbag 10.
Are pulled outward, that is, in the vehicle front-rear direction, so that the airbag 10 is expanded in a plane, that is, flattened (a state shown by a two-dot chain line N in FIG. 4).

Here, the predetermined portions 12a, 14a
Is a vehicle front-side portion 22 of a belt-shaped body 20 to be described later.
Of the front portion 22 of the belt 20 and the length of the rear portion 24 by setting the positions of these portions 12a and 14a. The ratio with T is determined. The length ratio (S: T) can be determined as appropriate according to the type of vehicle mounted.

Normally, as shown in FIG. 3, a predetermined portion 12a on the upper surface portion 12 of the airbag is larger than a predetermined portion 14a on the lower surface portion 14 so that the length T of the rear portion 24 is longer. It is preferable to be located near the mounting opening of the airbag 10.

Next, in this flat state, the both sides 16, 16 of the airbag 10 in the vehicle width direction are each folded in a bellows shape up and down toward the inside of the airbag, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. As shown in (b), a band 20 having substantially the same width as the opening width of the case 3 in the vehicle width direction and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction of the case opening 3a is formed.

That is, both side portions 16, 16 in the vehicle width direction
As shown in FIGS. 2B and 4, a plurality of folds 18a, 18b, and 18c extending in the front-rear direction are folded up and down toward the inside of the airbag 10 in multiple stages. A bellows portion 26 having valleys 18b and 18c and ridges 18d, 18e and 18f bent outside is formed. At this time, the outer folds 18d, 18
e, 18f are positioned slightly inside the left and right side walls 3b of the case 3 so that the width of the band 20 is substantially equal to or less than the opening width of the case 3 in the vehicle width direction.

As described above, the belt-shaped body 20 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction across the case opening 3a, that is, over the case opening 3a, and extends from the center in the front-rear direction of the case opening 3a. Front end 2 of band 20
The ratio of the distance S to 2a and the distance T to the rear end 24a is determined by the position setting of the predetermined locations 12a and 14a described above.

In the above, the predetermined portions 12a, 14a are not expanded without expanding the airbag 10 in a plane.
The belt-like body 20 may be formed by folding the both sides 16 and 16 while pulling a.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5, the front side portion 22 of the belt-shaped body 20 is folded in a bellows shape, and the rear side portion 24 is folded in a roll shape.

More specifically, the front portion 22 is folded at a series of folds 28a, 28b, 28c located between the case-side end and the tip 22a.
A plurality of folding pieces are sequentially stacked. On the other hand, the rear side portion 24
Is folded in such a manner that its tip 24a is inside. In detail, the rear side portion 24 is folded such that the upper surface of the belt-shaped body 20 is wound inside and the lower surface is wound outward, that is, the rear side portion 24 is rolled toward the opposite side of the case 3.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, a roll-shaped rear part 24 is stored in the case 3, and a bellows-shaped front part 22 is placed thereon and stored in the case 3.

In FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 showing the above-mentioned steps, particularly, the respective steps, the airbag 10 is shown as being folded while being attached to the peripheral edge of the case opening 3a. Usually, after the airbag 10 is folded in the above, the mounting opening is mounted on the opening 3a of the case 3, and then the airbag 10 is stored in the case 3 as described above.

In the above-described folding structure of the present embodiment, the both sides 16, 16 of the airbag 10 in the vehicle width direction are folded inside the airbag to form the bellows portions 26 on both sides of the band 20. Both sides 1 of airbag 10
The development of 6,16 is promoted. Therefore, when the airbag 10 housed in the folded state in the case 3 is inflated by the gas generated by the inflator 2 at the time of a vehicle collision, the airbag 10 is expanded in the vehicle width direction, and is expanded rearward of the vehicle. Can be slowed down. Therefore, a good deployment behavior of the airbag 10 can be obtained.

Also, since the belt 20 extends not only to the rear of the vehicle but also to the front, the front part 22 and the rear part 24 are each folded so that the front part of the belt 20 can be folded. By appropriately selecting the length ratio and the folding method of the 22 and the rear side portion 24, the deployment behavior of the airbag 10 can be easily adjusted according to the type of vehicle mounted. That is, as described above, the front portion 22 is folded in a bellows shape and the rear portion is folded in a roll shape, whereby the deployment of the upper surface portion 12 of the airbag 10 can be promoted more than the lower surface portion 14. Further, the length S of the front portion 22 can be adjusted according to the distance between the opening 9a of the instrument panel 9 and the windshield 8.

Since the front portion 22 of the band 20 is placed on the rear portion 24 and housed in the case 3, deployment to the rear of the vehicle can be further delayed.

FIG. 7 shows another example in which the band-like body 20 is formed by folding both sides 16, 16 of the airbag 10 in a bellows shape in the above embodiment.

In the example shown in FIG.
The left and right side portions 16, 16 of the airbag 10 are folded such that the left and right folded pieces forming the left and right bellows portions 26 are alternately stacked. By folding the left and right bellows portions 26 in such a manner as to wrap, the airbag 10 can be easily folded and, at the same time, deployment in the vehicle width direction can be promoted.

FIG. 8 shows a modification of the example shown in FIG. 7 in which the wrap margin of the left and right bellows portions 26 is changed. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the wrap margin is set to be large so that the left and right folded pieces wrap over substantially the entire width of the belt-shaped body 20, but in the example shown in FIG. The wrap margin is set to be small so as to wrap only at the center in the width direction of No. 20. Thus, the bellows parts 2 on the left and right
The lap allowance for No. 6 can be appropriately selected according to the type of vehicle mounted.

FIG. 9 shows the belt-like body 2 in the above embodiment.
10 shows another example of the folding method of the front side portion 22 and the rear side portion 24 of FIG.

In the example shown in FIG.
The front part 22 and the rear part 24 of the
Folded into a roll on the side. That is, the front part 2
2 and the rear side portion 24 are respectively provided with the tip portions 22a, 2a.
4a is folded so as to be inside, and the upper surface of the belt-shaped body 20 is outwardly directed to the lower surface instead of being wound around the opposite side of the case 3 as in the rear portion 24 shown in FIG. Is wound on the case 3 side so as to be wound inside.
By adopting such a folding system, it is possible to control the behavior of the airbag 10 in accordance with the situation while promoting the deployment in the vehicle width direction.

The folding method of the front portion 22 and the rear portion 24 of the belt 20 is not limited to the above, and for example, both the front portion 22 and the rear portion 24 may be bellows.

In the above embodiment, the so-called upper mount type in which the opening 3a of the case 3 is disposed in the vehicle with the opening 3a facing upward has been described. In this case, as described above, the belt-shaped body 20 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction of the case opening 3a, and the front side portion 22 and the rear side portion 24 are configured to be folded. The present invention is not limited to such an upper-mount type, and can be applied to, for example, a so-called mid-mount type in which the opening 3a of the case 3 is horizontally oriented toward the rear of the vehicle. In this case, the belt-like body 20 is configured to extend over the case opening 3a in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and to fold the upper part and the lower part thereof.

[0038]

According to the folded structure of the airbag of the present invention, when the airbag is deployed, the bellows portion of the belt-like body is quickly deployed, so that the deployment of the airbag in the vehicle width direction is promoted and the rear of the vehicle is promoted. Deployment can be slowed down. Therefore, a good deployment behavior of the airbag can be obtained.

Further, the band extends so as to straddle the case opening, and one end of the band extending to one side of the case opening and the other end of the band extending to the other side are formed. Since each is configured to be folded, it is possible to easily adjust the deployment behavior of the airbag according to the type of vehicle mounted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a band 20 is formed in one embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where an airbag 10 of the airbag device 1 is deployed in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the airbag 10 is spread in a planar shape and both sides 16, 16 are being folded in a bellows shape in the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front side portion 2 of the band 20 in the present embodiment.
It is sectional drawing which shows the state which has folded 2 and the back side part 24, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the folded airbag 10 is stored in a case 3 in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of forming the belt-shaped body 20 in the embodiment, and shows a cross section corresponding to BB in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing still another example of forming the belt-shaped body 20 in the embodiment, and shows a cross section corresponding to BB in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another folding method of the front side portion 22 and the rear side portion 24 of the belt-shaped body 20 in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Airbag apparatus 3 ... Case 3a ... Case opening 9 ... Instrument panel 10 ... Airbag 16 ... Side part of the airbag in the vehicle width direction 20 ... Band 22 ... Front of the band Side part 24: Rear part of band 26: Bellows part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A folded structure of an airbag which is stored in a folded state in a case disposed in a front portion of a vehicle interior, and expands and deploys toward the rear of the vehicle from a case opening at the time of a vehicle collision. The airbag is folded in a bellows shape on both sides in the vehicle width direction so as to have substantially the same width as the opening width in the vehicle width direction of the case, and is orthogonal to the vehicle width direction so as to straddle the case opening. A folding structure of an airbag formed by forming a band extending in a direction, and folding one end and the other end of the band into the case. 2. The one end side of the band-shaped body is an upper surface side in an expanded shape of the airbag, the other end side is a lower surface side in the expanded shape, and the one end side is folded in a bellows shape or a roll shape. The airbag folding structure according to claim 1, wherein the other end is folded in a bellows shape or a roll shape.