JP3752572B2 - Air bag and air bag folding method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an airbag that inflates and deploys when gas flows in, and an airbag folding method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an airbag device provided in a steering wheel of an automobile has been used. The airbag device includes a bag-shaped airbag, an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag, a cover body that covers the airbag stored in a folded state, and the like. For airbags, various folding methods have been proposed in order to reduce manufacturing costs and improve deployment characteristics. For example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-278184, an airbag in which two circular base fabrics are stitched together is designed to make the deployment more gentle, and the center of the airbag spread in a flat shape. A configuration is known in which a part is folded so as to be slender and then vertically long, and then the upper and lower parts are wound in a roll shape toward the center to be horizontally long, and the left and right parts are folded back toward the center to form a final shape. .
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional configuration, the airbag is deployed without any particular directionality with respect to the axis of the steering wheel, that is, the front side of the airbag device. A configuration for adjusting the above is considered.
[0004]
This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, and aims at providing the folding method of the airbag which can adjust a deployment characteristic easily, and an airbag.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The airbag folding method according to claim 1 includes an upper deployment portion corresponding to an occupant's head, a lower deployment portion corresponding to an occupant's chest, a left deployment portion located on the left side of the upper portion and the lower portion, and the upper portion. And a folding method for an airbag comprising a right deployment portion located on the right side of the lower portion and a central deployment portion located between the deployment portions, wherein the upper deployment portion is folded toward the passenger side of the central deployment portion. A first step of stacking;
A second step of folding either the left unfolding portion or the right unfolding portion to the left or right side of the occupant side of the unfolding portion folded in the first step, and the occupant side of the central unfolding portion. A third step of folding one of the left unfolded portion and the right unfolded portion that are not folded to the left or right side of the occupant side of the unfolded portion folded in the second step; And a fourth step of folding the lower development portion below the passenger side of the development portion folded in the step.
[0006]
In this configuration, when the airbag device provided with the airbag folded by the airbag folding method is operated and gas is supplied into the airbag and the airbag is deployed, The side deployment part quickly deploys from the chest of the occupant to the part corresponding to the abdomen. Therefore, before the occupant tilts forward, the airbag can be greatly deployed from the occupant's chest to the portion corresponding to the abdomen.
[0007]
The airbag folding method according to claim 2 is the airbag folding method according to claim 1, wherein the fourth step includes a step of winding the lower development portion.
[0008]
In this configuration, when the airbag is deployed, the lower deployment part is deployed in a predetermined direction while being unwound, and the lower deployment part is easily and quickly deployed from the chest of the occupant to the portion corresponding to the abdomen. To do. Therefore, before the occupant leans forward, it is easy to deploy the airbag largely from the occupant's chest to the portion corresponding to the abdomen.
[0009]
The airbag according to claim 3 includes an upper deployment portion corresponding to the occupant's head, a lower deployment portion corresponding to the occupant's chest, a left deployment portion located on the left side of the upper portion and the lower portion, and a right side of the upper portion and the lower portion. An airbag including a right deployment part located at the center and a central deployment part located between the deployment parts, each deployment part being located on the passenger side of the central deployment part, the upper deployment part and the left deployment parts, and the folded in an appropriate order to the upper expanded portion of the right deployment portion is located closest to the side opposite the occupant, further, on the lower side of the passenger side of the left deployment portion and the right deployment portion, a lower deployment portion It is folded and folded.
[0010]
In this configuration, when the airbag device provided with the airbag is operated and gas is supplied into the airbag and the airbag is deployed, first, the lower deployment portion is moved from the chest of the occupant to the abdomen. Quickly deploy to the corresponding part. Therefore, before the occupant tilts forward, the airbag can be greatly deployed from the occupant's chest to the portion corresponding to the abdomen.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the airbag according to the third aspect of the present invention, the lower deployment part is formed by winding at least a part thereof.
[0012]
In this configuration, when the airbag is deployed, the lower deployment part is deployed in a predetermined direction while being unwound, and the lower deployment part is easily and quickly deployed from the chest of the occupant to the portion corresponding to the abdomen. To do. Therefore, before the occupant leans forward, it is easy to deploy the airbag largely from the occupant's chest to the portion corresponding to the abdomen.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an airbag and an airbag folding method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an airbag, and the airbag 1 constitutes an airbag device (not shown). And this airbag apparatus is also called an airbag module, and is a thing for driver's seats. As shown in FIG. 2, it is a target part which comprises the steering wheel 3 of the motor vehicle as a vehicle, and steering as a to-be-attached member. It is attached to the wheel body 4 and protects the occupant A, which is an object to be protected, from an impact such as a collision. The steering wheel body 4 is normally attached to a tilted steering shaft and is used in a tilted state. Hereinafter, the steering wheel 3 is positioned at a position where the vehicle is caused to advance straight, that is, above the rear side of the vehicle. The front side of the airbag device is the occupant side (arrow + Z direction), the lower front side of the vehicle, that is, the vehicle body side that is the back side of the airbag device is the anti-occupant side (arrow -Z direction), and the upper front side of the vehicle, that is, the windshield side. The upper side (arrow + Y direction), the rear lower side of the vehicle, that is, the front side of the passenger A will be described as the lower side (arrow -Y direction). Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, the horizontal right side of the vehicle is described as the right side (arrow + X direction), and the horizontal left side of the vehicle is described as the left side (arrow -X direction).
[0015]
The steering wheel body 4 includes an annular rim portion 5, a boss portion 6 positioned inside the rim portion 5, and a plurality of spoke portions 7 that connect the rim portion 5 and the boss portion 6. A steering shaft is fitted and fixed to a boss (not shown) provided in the boss portion 6.
[0016]
The airbag device includes a base plate (base) that constitutes a support member, a bag-like airbag 1 attached to the base plate, an inflator that is a gas generator, a retainer that is an annular metal fitting, and a synthetic resin product. A cover body is provided. In the assembly process of the airbag device, for example, the airbag is folded with the retainer inserted inside the airbag 1, as will be described later, and the folded airbag is covered with a cover body and protruded from the retainer. These airbags, retainers, and inflators are fixed to the base plate using bolts.
[0017]
When a collision impact is applied to the automobile equipped with the airbag device, the inflator is activated by a control unit (not shown), and gas is rapidly injected into the airbag 1 from the gas injection port of the inflator. Then, the airbag 1 breaks the cover body due to the pressure of inflation to form a projecting opening, and as shown by a solid line in FIG. As shown, the final (maximum) shape is reached, the occupant leaning forward indicated by a two-dot chain line A1 is received, and the impact applied to the occupant A is mitigated.
[0018]
Next, the configuration of the airbag 1 and the folding method will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 9.
[0019]
First, the airbag 1 includes an occupant-side base cloth 11 that is a portion facing the occupant side (occupant side surface portion) and an anti-occupant side base that is an anti-occupant side surface portion facing the occupant side base fabric (front panel) 11. Cloth (back panel) 12 is provided. The two base cloths 11 and 12 are circular base cloths having substantially the same shape, and are formed into a flat bag shape by sewing the peripheral edges together. Further, the counter occupant side fabric 12 is provided with a circular gas introduction port 14 into which an inflator is inserted at the center, and is positioned above the gas introduction port 14 and a pair of both sides. A vent hole (exhaust port) 15 is formed. Although not shown, a plurality of attachment holes into which retainer bolts are inserted are formed around the gas introduction port 14, and a reinforcing cloth is attached around the gas introduction port 14.
[0020]
Next, the process of folding the airbag 1 will be described.
[0021]
This folding process includes the first to fourth processes shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, and the airbag 1 is overlapped on the passenger side at the center of the airbag 1 in a predetermined order. ing.
[0022]
That is, first, as shown in FIG. 3A, the airbag 1 is placed in a flat plate shape on a flat work table with the occupant-side base fabric 11 facing upward. In this state, the two straight lines intersecting at the center O become the reference axes X and Y, and define the left and right and up and down directions. Then, in the vicinity of the intersection between the reference axes X and Y and the outer peripheral portion of the airbag 1, the upper deployment portion 21 corresponding to the occupant A's head and the inflated portion corresponding to the occupant's A chest to the abdomen, respectively. A side development part 22, a left development part 23 located on the left side of the upper part and the lower part, a right development part 24 located on the right side of the upper part and the lower part, and a central development part 26 located between these development parts are defined. Yes.
[0023]
And in this Embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a 1st process is a process which folds the upper side expansion | deployment part 21 to the passenger | crew side of the center expansion | deployment part 26, First, as shown in FIG.3 (b), The upper development part 21 is folded on the central development part 26 at a predetermined first folding line 21a set close to the gas introduction port 14, and then shown in FIGS. 3 (c) to 3 (e) and FIG. As described above, the upper development portion 21 is folded back from the front end portion of the outer periphery so as to overlap the occupant side at predetermined fold lines 21b, 21c, and 21d.
[0024]
Next, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the second step is a step of folding the right side unfolding portion 24 to the center unfolding portion 26 and the occupant side of the folded upper unfolding portion 21. As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the right development part 24 is folded on the central development part 26 at a predetermined first folding line 24a set close to the gas introduction port 14, and then FIG. As shown in FIG. 8 (d) and FIG. 8, the right unfolding portion 24 is folded back from the front end portion of the outer periphery so as to be overlapped and wound on the occupant side at predetermined folding lines 24b, 24c, 24d.
[0025]
Next, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the third step is a step of folding the left unfolding portion 23 to the occupant side of the central unfolding portion 26, the folded upper unfolding portion 21 and the right unfolding portion 24. First, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the left development part 23 is folded on the central development part 26 at a predetermined first fold line 23a set close to the gas introduction port 14, and then, As shown in FIGS. 5 (b) to 5 (d) and FIG. 9, the left unfolding portion 23 is folded back from the front end portion of the outer periphery so as to be wound on the occupant side at predetermined folding lines 23b, 23c, 23d.
[0026]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the fourth step includes the lower development part 22 as a central development part 26, a folded upper development part 21, a right development part 24, and a left development part 23. In the step of folding to the occupant side, first, as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the lower development part 22 is placed on the central development part 26 at a predetermined first fold line 22 a set close to the gas inlet 14. Then, as shown in FIGS. 6 (b) to 6 (d), the lower development part 22 is overlapped on the occupant side at a predetermined folding line 22b, 22c, 22d from the front end of the outer periphery. Wrap.
[0027]
In this state, as shown in FIG. 1, the right side deployment part 24 and the left side development part 23 are overlapped on the passenger side of the central development part 26, and further, on the passenger side of these development parts 23, 24, 26, The lower development part 22 is overlaid.
[0028]
Therefore, the deployment characteristics when the gas is supplied to the airbag 1 are shown in FIG. 2 as solid lines: the portion from the chest to the abdomen of the occupant A before leaning forward and the steering wheel 3 that is the vehicle body part. In the meantime, the other direction is deployed to have a larger capacity (volume) more quickly.
[0029]
As described above, according to the airbag 1, the folding method of the airbag 1, the airbag apparatus, and the steering wheel 3 according to the present embodiment, the passenger-side base fabric 11 of the airbag 1 is center-deployed at the center portion. In the first to third steps, the lower unfolding portion 22 is not folded, the upper unfolding portion 21, the right unfolding portion 24 and the left unfolding portion 23 are folded. In the fourth step, focusing on the forward leaning behavior of the occupant A by folding the lower expanded portion 22 so as to be positioned on the occupant side over the portion folded in the previous step, The airbag 1 that can be inflated first from the chest to the abdomen and can be deployed between the occupant A and the vehicle body portion, for example, the steering wheel 3, and then the head can be inflated to protect the head can be provided.
[0030]
That is, as shown by a two-dot chain line C in FIG. 2, in the airbag according to the conventional technique, the final shape of the deployment is the same as the final shape of the airbag 1 of the present application shown by the broken line B. The steering wheel 3 is deployed without having a volume in a special direction at the center of the steering wheel 3. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the occupant A1 tilts forward as shown by a two-dot chain line, the airbag 1 reaches a predetermined final (maximum shape) as shown by a broken line B. According to the folding method of this form, with respect to the steering wheel 3 and the chest / abdomen of the occupant M, it is possible to easily realize a preferable deployment characteristic in terms of performing smoother and quicker deployment.
[0031]
Further, in the third step, the right deployment part 24 and the left deployment part 23 are always used, so that attention is paid to the forward leaning behavior of the occupant A, and the chest expands from the chest to the abdomen in the initial stage of deployment. Then, the effect of subsequently expanding the head in a protective manner can be reinforced.
[0032]
Further, at least the fourth folding step among the folding steps is accompanied by entrainment, so that the lower portion of the airbag 1 is deployed between the occupant A and the vehicle body portion during deployment by unwinding. The characteristics can be enhanced.
[0033]
Further, the folding work is easy, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced by simplifying the process for both manual work and machine folding.
[0034]
In the above-described embodiment, the first to third steps are the upper development part 21, the right development part 24, and the left development part 23 in this order. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The same effects can be obtained in the order of the unfolding part 21, the left unfolding part 23, or the order of the left unfolding part 23, the upper unfolding part 21, and the right unfolding part 24.
[0035]
Further, the airbag of the present invention is used for an airbag device for a driver attached to the steering wheel body, for a passenger seat provided in an instrument panel, and for a rear seat provided at a rear portion of the seat. The present invention can be applied to airbags, and can be widely applied to airbags of airbag devices that absorb the impact of passengers.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
According to the airbag folding method of claim 1, the airbag device provided with the airbag folded by the airbag folding method is operated, gas is supplied into the airbag, and the airbag is When deploying, first, the lower deployment part can be rapidly deployed from the chest of the occupant to the part corresponding to the abdomen. Therefore, before the occupant leans forward, the airbag can be largely deployed from the occupant's chest to the part corresponding to the abdomen.
[0037]
According to the airbag folding method of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the lower deployment part is deployed in a predetermined direction while being unwound, and the lower deployment part is used as the chest of the occupant. Can be easily and quickly deployed to the part corresponding to the abdomen. Therefore, before the occupant tilts forward, the airbag can be easily deployed widely from the chest of the occupant to the portion corresponding to the abdomen.
[0038]
According to the airbag of the third aspect, when the airbag device provided with the airbag is operated and gas is supplied into the airbag and the airbag is deployed, first, the lower deployment portion is placed on the occupant. Can be quickly deployed from the chest to the part corresponding to the abdomen. Therefore, before the occupant leans forward, the airbag can be largely deployed from the occupant's chest to the part corresponding to the abdomen.
[0039]
According to the airbag of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect of the third aspect, since the lower deployment portion is formed by winding at least a part thereof, the lower deployment portion is rewound toward the predetermined direction. The lower deployment part can be easily and quickly deployed from the chest of the occupant to the part corresponding to the abdomen. Therefore, before the occupant tilts forward, the airbag can be easily deployed widely from the chest of the occupant to the portion corresponding to the abdomen.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a folded state showing an embodiment of an airbag and an airbag folding method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the airbag.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a first step of the airbag folding method.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a second step of the airbag folding method.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a third step of the airbag folding method.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a fourth step of the airbag folding method same as above.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 3 (e) showing the airbag folding process.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 5 (d) showing the airbag folding process.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Airbag
21 Upper development part
22 Lower deployment part
23 Left deployment
24 Right side unfolding part
26 Crew Center A Crew

Claims (4)

An upper unfolding portion corresponding to the head of the occupant, a lower unfolding portion corresponding to the chest of the occupant, a left unfolding portion located on the left side of the upper portion and the lower portion, a right unfolding portion located on the right side of the upper portion and the lower portion, and these A method of folding an airbag with a central deployment portion located between deployment portions,
A first step of folding the upper development part on the passenger side of the central development part;
A second step of folding one of the left development part and the right development part on the left or right side of the occupant side of the development part folded in the first step;
The left unfolded part and the right unfolded part that are not folded on the passenger side of the central unfolded part are folded to the left or right side on the occupant side of the unfolded part folded in the second step. 3 steps,
And a fourth step of folding the lower unfolded portion on the lower side of the occupant side of the unfolded portion folded in the third step. The airbag folding method according to claim 1, wherein the fourth step includes a step of winding the lower development portion. An upper unfolding portion corresponding to the head of the occupant, a lower unfolding portion corresponding to the chest of the occupant, a left unfolding portion located on the left side of the upper portion and the lower portion, a right unfolding portion located on the right side of the upper portion and the lower portion, and these An airbag with a central deployment portion located between the deployment portions,
Each deploying portion is folded on the occupant side of the central deploying portion in an appropriate order in which the upper deploying portion, the left deploying portion, and the right deploying portion are located on the most anti- occupant side,
Furthermore, the airbag is characterized in that the lower deployment part is folded and folded below the passenger deployment side of the left deployment part and the right deployment part. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the lower deployment part is formed by winding at least a part thereof.

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