KR100512853B1 - Driver air bag for car - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a driver's seat airbag, and in particular, the driver's face response area is not fully deployed at the beginning of the airbag cushion deployment, thereby preventing the driver's injury from impact on the driver's face and other body parts at the beginning of deployment. It is about a driver's seat airbag.

Description

Driver air bag for car {Driver air bag for car}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a driver's seat airbag, and in particular, the driver's face response area is not fully deployed at the beginning of the airbag cushion deployment, thereby preventing the driver's injury from impact on the driver's face and other body parts at the beginning of deployment. It is about a driver's seat airbag.

The driver's body is suddenly leaned forward by inertia in the event of a car crash, and in some cases, the upper body of the driver may hit the steering wheel and serious injury may occur.

In order to prevent such injuries, recently, an airbag is installed at the center of the steering wheel to be deployed during a frontal collision to promote driver safety.

The airbag includes an inflator with a gunpowder embedded therein, an airbag cushion that is developed by the air expanding when the explosive is exploded in the inflator, an airbag cover surrounding the airbag cushion, a mounting plate coupled to the airbag cover, and the airbag cushion on the mounting plate It consists of a retainer fixed to it.

The airbag cushion comprises a front face contacting the driver and a rear face disposed opposite the driver.

In addition, the inside of the airbag cushion is provided with an internal tether connected to the inside of the front of the airbag cushion and the fixed bar in the inflator to maintain the airbag shape when fully deployed.

Therefore, when a collision with a certain intensity or more occurs, an operation signal from the airbag controller activates the detonator inside the inflator through a wire to explode the gunpowder. Will be prevented.

Recently, various convenience devices have been added to such a driver's seat airbag module to directly mount the membrane or floating horn structure.

In addition, recent legislation in North America has legalized the satisfaction of injuries in the driver's Out Of Position (OOP) seating. It requires a highly safe design and development that does not injure the driver.

On the other hand, the time when the driver's upper body is leaned down in a collision is very short, and the deployment of the airbag is instantaneously made even faster.

However, when the driver is in an accident such as a frontal collision in the OOP posture, the deployment speed of the airbag is too fast, and the front of the airbag cushion pops up toward the driver at the beginning of the deployment, so that the pressure of the airbag cushion is applied to the driver. Directly transmitted, the driver's bowed face struck the face, rather, the driver's neck flipped back, causing serious injuries.

In addition, a conventional airbag cushion having an internal tether causes the driver to be released from the airbag cushion by a sudden impact such as a force of deployment (punch out force) generated in the airbag cushion by the air inflated by the explosive explosion in the inflator. Because it is thrown out, there was a disadvantage that can not protect the driver safely.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, the overall deployment of the airbag cushion is fully deployed to support the upper body of the driver quickly, at the beginning of the deployment temporarily the pressure applied to the driver's face response area of the airbag cushion The purpose of the present invention is to provide a driver's seat airbag for automobiles that can be prevented from injuring the driver's face and other body parts by preventing the driver's face shock caused by the airbag by delaying the expansion of the face corresponding part.

In order to achieve the above object, the driver's seat airbag of the present invention includes: a front surface contacting the driver when the airbag cushion is inflated; A rear surface disposed opposite the front surface and having an inflator hole or a vent hole; An upper outer tether having one side attached to an upper rear side of the airbag cushion with respect to the inflator hole; A lower outer tether having one side attached to a lower rear side of the airbag cushion; The upper outer tether and the lower outer tether are made to include a velcro (velcro) formed on each other side so as to surround and support the center of the airbag cushion.

The upper and lower parts of the upper and lower outer tethers indicate upper and lower parts when the driver's seat airbag is mounted on the steering wheel, respectively.

The upper and lower outer tethers are attached to the rear of the airbag cushion using sewing or adhesives.

The velcro is formed on each of the upper outer tether and the lower outer tether, and the upper and lower outer tethers are stacked and combined to surround the deployment center of the airbag cushion.

In this way, when the airbag cushion is deployed, the velcro initially distributes the pressure applied to the deployment center portion to both end portions so that both ends are first developed, and then the velcro is separated to develop the entire airbag cushion.

And, if a stronger coupling force is required for the velcro, the wing portion formed with a velcro is further provided on the other side of any one of the upper outer tether and the lower outer tether, the other side of the outer tether Velcro on both sides To form a multi-layer laminated combination of the central portion of the airbag cushion.

At this time, the wing is preferably formed on both sides of the outer tether.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a plan view showing the front (2) and rear (3) of the driver's seat airbag cushion (1) of the present invention, Figure 2 is a top and bottom outer tethers (11, 12) of Figure 1 Velcro 13 , 14) is a perspective view, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the driver's seat airbag of the present invention comprises a front (2) and rear (3) of the airbag cushion (1); Upper and lower outer tethers (11, 12) attached to the rear surface (3); The upper outer tether 11 and the lower outer tether 12 is composed of a Velcro (13, 14).

The front surface 2 of the airbag cushion 1 refers to a surface contacting the driver in the event of a collision, and the rear surface 3 refers to a surface disposed opposite to the driver.

In addition, an inflator hole 5 through which the gas generated from the inflator 4 flows is formed at the center of the rear surface 3 of the airbag cushion 1, and adjusts the pressure of the gas introduced into the airbag cushion 1. To this end, a plurality of vent holes 6 are formed in the rear surface 3 of the airbag cushion 1.

The upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 have one side attached to the upper and lower sides of the back 3 of the airbag cushion 1, respectively, around the inflator hole 5.

In this case, a method of attaching the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 to the rear surface 3 of the airbag cushion 1 uses sewing or adhesive.

The velcro 13, 14 is called a squeaker or adhesive tape, the elastic hook (hook) surface and the oval-shaped loop (loop) surface is bonded to each other by bonding.

The Velcros 13 and 14 are formed to have hook and loop surfaces on the other side of the upper outer tether 11 and the lower outer tether 12, respectively, so as to surround and support the center of the airbag cushion 1. To combine.

In this case, the Velcro 13 and 14 should be formed on the surface of the upper outer tether 11 and the lower outer tether 12 in contact with each other, so as to surround and support the center of the airbag cushion 1, the air bag Engage in the front (2) of the cushion (1).

In addition, the Velcro (13, 14) is a part of the surface according to the purpose of the hook structure and the remaining part is made of a loop structure, can be used to maximize the adhesive strength for industrial or special operations.

In addition, the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 temporarily distribute the pressure applied to the center of deployment, which is the face corresponding part of the driver, when the airbag cushion 1 is deployed by the Velcro 13 and 14 to both ends. In such a way, the airbag cushion 1 is enclosed with the deployment center portion so that both end portions are first deployed while the expansion of the deployment center portion is delayed for a predetermined time.

At this time, the upper and lower outer tethers (11, 12) is to cover only the deployment center portion, not the entire airbag cushion (1), so that the pressure of the deployment center portion is dispersed in the unwrapped portion, that is, both ends It is desirable to allow this to expand first.

The upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 thus combined are separated by the deployment pressure inside the airbag cushion 1 when a predetermined time or a constant deployment (about 50% of deployment) is performed, and the entire airbag cushion 1 is deployed. Be sure to

By doing so, that is, the expansion of the deployment center portion is delayed at the beginning of deployment, leading the cushion 1 deployment direction to both ends, thereby preventing the driver's face and other body parts from being injured by the airbag deployment pressure. .

In addition, the upper and lower outer tethers (11, 12) to wrap the other portion other than the deployment center portion of the airbag cushion (1), the shape of the initial deployment of the airbag cushion (1) according to the portion for preventing shock It can be used in various modifications.

That is, when the airbag cushion 1 requires to be deployed in the vertical direction at the beginning of the deployment, the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 surround the airbag cushion 1 in the left and right directions, In the case where the airbag cushion 1 is required to be deployed in the left and right directions at the beginning of deployment, the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 surround the airbag cushion 1 in the up and down direction so as to cover the airbag cushion 1. Can satisfy.

The upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 may be installed in a plurality of directions to prevent injuries of the driver.

Figure 4 is a view from above of the deployment process of the driver's seat airbag according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 (a) shows that the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12, which are in a mounted state before the automobile driver's seat airbag according to the present invention is deployed, surround the airbag cushion 1, and FIG. 4 (b) Indicates that the deployment center portion of the airbag cushion 1 is suppressed by the Velcro 13 and 14 of the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 at the initial deployment, so that the pressure is distributed to the left and right ends.

4 (c) shows a predetermined pressure applied to the airbag cushion 1 so that the velcros 13 and 14 of the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 are separated and the airbag cushion 1 is deployed. 4 (d) shows that the airbag cushion 1 is fully deployed.

Here, the development timing which affects the OOP performance is when FIG. 4 (b).

In order to accelerate the development timing, the coupling force of the velcro 13 and 14 of the upper and lower external tethers 11 and 12 is weakened to be released even at a weak expansion pressure, and the upper and lower external tethers may be used to delay the development timing. The coupling force of the velcro 13, 14 of 11, 12 is strengthened to be separated by a strong expansion pressure.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a rear surface 3 of a driver's seat airbag cushion 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view in which the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 13 of FIG. 5 are combined, and FIG. Is sectional drawing which looked at the BB line of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, when a stronger bonding force is required for the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12, the wing 20 is further installed on the other side of the lower outer tether 12. And, the other side of the upper outer tether 11 is provided with velcro (13, 15) on both sides.

At this time, the wing portion 20 has a separate Velcro (21, hereinafter wing Velcro) is formed.

Looking at the coupling method, the Velcro 14 of the lower outer tether 12 and the Velcro 13 of the upper outer tether 11 so as to surround the center of the airbag cushion (1) the front of the airbag cushion (1) In the first step 2), the wing portion 20 to surround the upper outer tether 11 so that the wing Velcro 21 and the Velcro 15 of the other side of the upper outer tether is coupled.

In this way, a stronger bonding force of the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 can be obtained.

If it is necessary to obtain a stronger bonding force than this, it can be obtained by lengthening the wing portion 20 to both sides to laminate the wing portions 20 formed on both sides.

At this time, the Velcro 21 should be formed on both sides of the wing portion 20, like the upper outer tether 11.

The length of the velcro 13 and 14 of the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 may be lengthened without doing as described above in order to strengthen the coupling force. However, the length of the velcro 13 and 14 may be increased. The lengths of the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 are also required to be longer, and the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 13 are separated due to the state as shown in FIG. 4 (c), that is, the deployment of the airbag cushion 1. When the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 are too long, there is a risk of injury to the driver's face due to the fluctuations of the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12.

Therefore, when strong bonding force is required for the upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12, it is preferable to use upper and lower outer tethers 11 and 12 having the wing portion 20 of the present invention.

The driver's seat airbag of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified in various ways within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

According to the driver's seat airbag of the present invention as described above has the following advantages.

First, by restricting the direction of the driver's front direction due to the adjustment of the cushion deployment pressure in the early stage of deployment of the airbag cushion, there is an effect that can reduce the injury caused by the airbag of the OOP posture driver.

Second, by allowing the upper and lower outer tether to wrap around and support the deployment center portion of the airbag cushion, the pressure applied to the deployment center portion during the initial deployment of the airbag cushion is temporarily distributed to both ends to delay the expansion of the deployment center portion. Thus, there is an effect of eliminating the risk of injury to the driver from accidental impacts such as punch out force applied to the driver's face and other body parts at the beginning of deployment.

 In addition, the Velcro formed on the other side of the upper and lower outer tether is separated after a certain time or a certain amount of development (development of about 50%) to suppress the expansion of the deployment center only at the beginning of deployment and at the end of deployment the entire airbag cushion is inflated. As it is deployed, it is possible to quickly support the upper body of the driver to prevent the impact.

Third, since it is easy to variously adjust the strength of the adhesive force according to the width of the Velcro, there is an effect that can be controlled variously the deployment timing of the airbag cushion according to the driver.

Fourth, by installing a wing portion with a wing Velcro, it can be used when the bonding force of the upper and lower outer tether is strongly required.

Although the length of the velcro of the upper and lower outer tethers may be increased in order to strengthen the coupling force of the upper and lower outer tethers, this requires the length of the upper and lower outer tethers to be as long as the length of the velcro, and the airbag cushion When the upper and lower outer tethers are separated due to the development of the upper and lower outer tethers, the length of the upper and lower outer tethers becomes too long, which may injure the driver's face due to the shaking of the upper and lower outer tethers. The use of an external tether formed by the wing has the effect of preventing the risk of injury as well as a strong bonding force.

Fifth, by forming the wing portion on both sides, the upper outer tether and the lower outer tether can be separated more easily, and when the stronger bonding force of the upper and lower outer tether is required, the wings are laminated There is an effect that can be obtained by combining.

1 is a plan view showing the front and rear of the driver's seat airbag cushion of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upper and lower external tethers of FIG. 1 coupled thereto; FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.

Figure 4 is a process of deployment of the driver's seat airbag according to the present invention,

5 is a plan view showing the rear of the driver's seat airbag cushion of another embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a perspective view of the upper and lower outer tethers of FIG. 5 are combined;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 6; FIG.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: airbag cushion, 2: front of the airbag cushion,

3: rear of airbag cushion, 4: inflator

5: inflator hole, 6: vent hole,

11: upper outer tether, 12: lower outer tether,

13,14,15: Velcro, 20: wing,

21: (wing) Velcro.

Claims (3)

A front contacting the driver when inflating the airbag cushion; A rear surface disposed opposite the front surface and having an inflator hole formed therein; An upper outer tether having one side attached to the rear upper portion of the airbag cushion with respect to the inflator hole; A lower outer tether having one side attached to a lower rear side of the airbag cushion; The upper outer tether and the lower outer tether is made to include a velcro (velcro) formed on each other side so as to surround and support the center of the airbag cushion, When deploying the airbag cushion, the velcro initially distributes the pressure applied to the center of deployment to both end portions so that both ends are deployed first, and then the velcro is separated and the whole is deployed. . The method of claim 1, The other side of the outer tether of the upper outer tether and the lower outer tether is further formed with a wing portion formed with velcro, the other side of the outer tether is formed with velcro on both sides, the center portion of the airbag cushion Car driver's seat airbag, characterized in that. The method of claim 2, The wing portion of the vehicle driver's seat, characterized in that formed on both sides of the other side of the outer tether.