KR101169570B1 - Airbag system for knee - Google Patents

Abstract

The cushion of the knee airbag device according to the present invention is a pair of lower panels which are combined with each other to form a lower expansion space having an open top surface, and both lower panels and both ends thereof, which are integrated with both lower panels. A lower section unit consisting of a lower suppression tether formed; A pair of intermediate panels, which are combined with each other to form an intermediate expansion space having an open top and bottom, and the intermediate panels and both ends thereof, are composed of an intermediate suppressing tether integrally formed with both lower panels and the lower section unit. An intermediate section unit disposed above the middle section unit; Composed of a pair of upper panels combined with each other to form an upper expansion space of the open shape, and comprises an upper section unit disposed above the intermediate section unit.
The cushion of the knee airbag device according to the present invention has the advantage that the production efficiency is improved because a separate jig for coupling the suppression tether is not necessary at the time of manufacturing due to the characteristics of the panel and the suppression tether is integrally configured for each section unit. have.
In addition, since there is a very low possibility that a problem such as breakage of the coupling portion of the suppression tether and the panel during the expansion process, the expansion operation is made correctly, there is also an advantage that the operational safety is high.

Description

Airbag system for knee

The present invention relates to a knee airbag device for mitigating the impact a passenger receives on a knee in a car crash.

In general, an airbag device of a vehicle is a safety means for preventing a driver and a passenger in a vehicle from being injured by hitting a steering wheel, an instrument panel, a windshield, etc. in the event of an accident. , Side airbags and knee airbags.

Such an airbag device is basically an inflator for ejecting gas, a cushion inflated and deployed by the gas ejected from the inflator, a shock sensor for generating a shock signal by detecting a collision of the vehicle, and a primer of the inflator according to the shock signal. It is configured to include a control module for igniting.

The operation of the airbag device is that the impact sensor detects a crash in the vehicle and sends a signal to the control module. The control module triggers the inflator, and the gas filled in the inflator is ejected to expand the cushion by the gas. Is done in such a way.

Accordingly, when the vehicle collides, the inflated cushion protects the occupant by preventing direct collision between the vehicle body and the occupant.

Among the airbag devices as described above, the knee airbag device is to protect the knees of the passengers in the driver's seat and the passenger seat, and in the case of the driver's seat, it is installed on the lower dashboard (B) of the steering wheel (W) as shown in FIG. 1. When the frontal collision of the vehicle, the cushion 10 is inflated and interposed between the passenger's knee and the dashboard B to prevent the passenger's knee and the dashboard B from directly colliding.

On the other hand, the cushion 10 of the knee airbag device has an operating characteristic that must be interposed at a narrow gap between the driver's knees and the dashboard (B) soaring and inflating in a very short time during the collision of the vehicle.

In order to satisfy such operating characteristics, the cushion 10 is a plurality of panels 12, 12 'and a plurality of interposed between the two panels 12, 12' sealed together as shown in FIG. It consists of two suppression tethers (14, 14 '), each of the suppression tethers (14, 14') are arranged at regular intervals up and down the interior of the cushion 10 as shown in Figure 3 the lower expansion space 12a, the intermediate expansion space 12b, and the upper expansion space 12c.

Here, the interior of the cushion 10 is divided into three spaces, the lower expansion space 12a, the middle expansion space 12b, the upper expansion space 12c is an example, the number formed of each expansion space is suppressed It depends on the number of tethers.

 The suppressing tethers 14 and 14 'are shorter than the transverse lengths of the panels 12 and 12', thereby forming gaps through which the gas can flow in both sides, or vents through which the gas can flow. It consists of a hall (not shown).

Accordingly, according to the related art, the interior of the cushion 10 is partitioned by the suppressing tethers 14 and 14 ', so that the cushion 10 is divided into a lower expansion space 12a, an intermediate expansion space 12b, and an upper expansion space 12c. When the gas is introduced, the cushion 10 is expanded in a form in which the upper expansion space 12c is expanded through the middle expansion space 12b and starts to expand from the lower expansion space 12a, thereby satisfying the operating characteristics as described above. will be.

However, in the cushion 10 of the knee airbag device according to the prior art, as described above, a plurality of suppression tethers 14, 14 'between both panels 12, 12' at regular intervals up and down. Arranged, the suppression tether 14, 14 'is sewn coupled to the inner surface of both panels 12, 12', causing some problems in the structural characteristics, which will be described below. same.

First, due to the property that the suppression tethers 14 and 14 'are coupled to the inner surfaces of both panels 12 and 12, one side of the panel 12 and one end of each suppressor tether 14 and 14' are manufactured during the manufacturing process. First, the other panel 12 'and the other end of each suppressor tether 14, 14' must be joined, and then both panels 12, 12 'must be sealed together.

At this time, in the process of coupling the suppression tethers 14 and 14 'to both panels 12 and 12', the coupling positions of both ends of the suppression tethers 14 and 14 'are the panel 12 and 12'. It should be located at the same height relative to this, and for this purpose, a separate jig should be used to set the exact coupling position.

Therefore, according to the prior art there is a lot of equipment required for the manufacture of the cushion, there is a problem that the production cost of the airbag device is increased.

In addition, there is also a fear that the shock-absorbing effect is insufficient because the coupling portion (seam) of the suppression tether and the panel is broken by the strong gas pressure during the expansion of the cushion, so that the cushion does not achieve proper operating characteristics.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, the cushion of the knee airbag device to improve the production efficiency and operation stability by being made of a structure in which a plurality of section units integrally formed with the panel and the suppression tether is combined It is for the purpose of providing.

Cushion of the knee airbag device according to the present invention provided to solve the above problems, a pair of lower panels which are combined with each other to form a lower expansion space of the upper surface open, the both lower panels and both ends are connected A lower section unit comprising a lower suppression tether integrally formed with both lower panels; A pair of intermediate panels, which are combined with each other to form an intermediate expansion space having an open top and bottom, and the intermediate panels and both ends thereof, are composed of an intermediate suppressing tether integrally formed with both lower panels and the lower section unit. An intermediate section unit disposed above the middle section unit; Composed of a pair of upper panels combined with each other to form an upper expansion space of the open shape, and comprises an upper section unit disposed above the intermediate section unit.

As described above, the cushion of the knee airbag device according to the present invention has a combination of a plurality of panels, each section unit is made, due to the characteristics of the panel and the suppression tether is integrally configured for each section unit, coupling of the suppression tether during production Since there is no need for a separate jig for the advantage that the production efficiency is improved.

In addition, since there is a very low possibility that a problem such as breakage of the coupling portion of the suppression tether and the panel during the expansion process, the expansion operation is made correctly, there is also an advantage that the operational safety is high.

1 is an exemplary view showing the configuration of a general knee airbag device.
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a cushion structure of a knee airbag device according to the prior art.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cushion structure of the knee airbag device according to the prior art.
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a cushion structure of the knee airbag device according to the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view showing a cushion structure of the knee airbag device according to the present invention.
6a and 6b are exemplary views showing a cushion manufacturing method of a knee airbag device according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, the specific contents of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6B.

4 and 5, the cushion 20 of the knee airbag device according to the present invention, the lower section unit 22, the middle section unit 24, the upper section unit 26 is combined.

The lower section units 22 are combined with each other to form a pair of lower panels 221 and 221 ′ which form a lower expansion space 22 a having an upper surface, and the lower panels 221 and 221 ′. It consists of a lower suppression tether 223 is connected to both ends.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6A, the lower section unit 22 cuts one fabric so that the lower panel 221 and 221 ′ are symmetrical with respect to the lower suppressing tether 223. The lower panels 221 and 221 ′ are made by sewing in a state facing each other.

The intermediate section unit 24 is combined with each other to form a pair of intermediate panels 241 and 241 ', which form an intermediate expansion space 24a having an open top and bottom surfaces, and the intermediate panels 241 and 241'. The intermediate suppression tether 243 is connected to both ends thereof.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6B, the middle section unit 24 cuts one fabric in the same manner as the lower section unit 22, so that both lower panels 241 and 241 are based on the middle restraint tether 243. ') Is formed in a symmetrical form, and then the lower panels 241 and 241' are sealed to each other.

The upper section unit 26 is composed of a pair of upper panels 261 and 261 ′ which are combined with each other to form an upper expansion space 26a having an open bottom surface.

According to the present invention, the middle section unit 24 is disposed above the lower section unit 22, and the upper section unit 26 is disposed above the middle section unit 24. 22) (24) (26) are combined to form one expansion space.

In the combined state of each of the section units 22, 24 and 26, the inside of the cushion 20 is partitioned into a plurality of expansion spaces by the respective suppression tethers 223 and 243.

According to the present invention as described above, the lower section unit 22 and the middle section unit 24 are constituted by one fabric, so that a separate jig for attaching a suppression tether separate from the panel to the panel as in the related art is provided. There is no need to use.

In addition, since there is no seam connecting the suppression tether and the panel due to the nature of the suppression tether integrated with each panel, the engaging portion (seam) of the suppression tether and the panel is broken during the expansion of the cushion as in the prior art, thereby expanding the cushion. The fear of not doing this correctly is greatly reduced.

20: cushion 22: lower unit
223: lower suppression tether 24: intermediate unit
243: intermediate suppression tether 26: upper unit

Claims (3)

A lower section unit including a pair of lower panels which are combined with each other to form a lower expansion space having an open upper surface, and a lower suppression tether integrally formed with both lower panels as a form in which both lower panels and both ends thereof are connected;
Composed of a pair of intermediate panels combined with each other to form an intermediate expansion space of the open top and bottom, and the intermediate panel and the both ends of the intermediate suppression tether integrally formed with both lower panels and the lower section unit An intermediate section unit disposed above;
An upper section unit composed of a pair of upper panels which are combined with each other to form an upper expansion space having an open shape, the upper section unit disposed above the middle section unit;
, ≪ / RTI >
Cushion of the knee airbag device is partitioned into a plurality of expansion spaces by the lower suppression tether, the middle suppression tether, the lower section unit, the middle section unit and the upper section unit is coupled.
The method of claim 1,
Both lower panels and the lower suppression tether constituting the lower section unit are one fabric is cut
Cushion of the knee airbag device, characterized in that.
The method of claim 1,
The intermediate panel and the intermediate suppression tether constituting the intermediate section unit are made of one fabric cut
Cushion of the knee airbag device, characterized in that.

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