JP4123048B2 - Head protection airbag device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a head protection airbag device that protects the head of a vehicle occupant.
[0002]
[Prior art]
It relates to an airbag device that protects the heads of occupants in the front and rear seats of a vehicle, and is stored in the upper side of the vehicle interior when not in operation. There was what was folded in the shape of a bellows toward the upper part (for example, refer to patent documents 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-270413 A (FIGS. 11 and 12)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the airbag device stored in the upper part of the side surface of the vehicle interior when not in operation, the rear end of the airbag extends rearward from the storage part on the side surface of the vehicle roof in order to protect the head of the passenger in the rear seat of the vehicle. In order to store in the storage unit, it is necessary to fold the rear end portion of the airbag forward, and this is also the case with the above-described prior art.
[0005]
According to the above-described conventional airbag device, the airbag is first deployed downward from the upper part of the vehicle interior, and then the folded portion of the rear end part is deployed toward the rear of the vehicle. Once the airbag is deployed downward from the upper part of the passenger compartment, the inside of the airbag is filled with a certain amount of gas and the outer dimension increases, and the side of the airbag approaches the passenger's head in the vehicle width direction. Since the rear end portion is developed rearward (the rear end portion draws a trajectory toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction), the rear end portion developed rearward will draw a trajectory that is considerably closer to the passenger's head. In a vehicle in which the space in the vehicle width direction is small between the vehicle side surface and the occupant, the rear end of the airbag being deployed contacts the occupant head during deployment, and thus there is a design limitation in mounting.
[0006]
The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and provides a head protection airbag device that can be mounted on a vehicle having little space in the vehicle width direction without contacting an occupant during deployment. For the purpose.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a means for achieving the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 includes an airbag connected to an inflator and into which inflation gas discharged from the inflator is introduced, and the airbag is formed at an upper end portion thereof. A gas inlet connected to the inflator, and an internal portion communicating with the gas inlet, including an inflating portion that expands when an expansion gas is introduced during operation, and is folded and stored at the upper side of the vehicle interior when not in operation. In addition, when the vehicle collides, the inflator fills the expansion part with the expansion gas to expand the side surface of the vehicle interior downward to protect at least the head of the passenger in the rear seat of the vehicle in the air bag device, wherein when storing the air bag into the passenger compartment, after folding like bellows toward the upper portion from the lower end of the inflatable portion, the lower its rear end And a head protection air bag device characterized by folding forward an arc-shaped trajectory which faces.
[0008]
The invention of claim 2 includes an airbag connected to an inflator and into which inflation gas discharged from the inflator is introduced, the airbag being formed at an upper end thereof, and a gas inlet connected to the inflator; Including an inflating portion in which the inside communicates with the gas introduction port and expands when an expanding gas is introduced during operation, and is folded and stored on the upper side of the vehicle interior during non-operation, and from the inflator during a vehicle collision In a head protection airbag device that protects at least the head of an occupant in the front seat of a vehicle by expanding the side of the vehicle interior downward by filling the inflation portion with inflation gas, the airbag is mounted on the vehicle. when storing the room, after folding like bellows toward the upper portion from the lower end of the expansion portion, tatami folding backwards an arc-shaped trajectory which faces the front end portion thereof downward It was the head protection air bag device, characterized in that.
[0009]
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that a notch is provided in at least one of the front edge and the rear edge of the airbag. A bag device was obtained.
[0010]
[Action and effect of the invention]
<Invention of Claim 1>
Folding in a bellows shape from the lower end to the upper end of the inflatable part, and then folding the rear end in an arc-like locus downward and storing it forward, At the initial stage of deployment when the outer dimensions of the bag are not so large, the rear end of the airbag is deployed rearward at the upper part of the side of the vehicle interior (the rear end traces backward at a certain position in the vehicle width direction). Afterwards, the rear end of the airbag is deployed at the rear seat of the vehicle during deployment of the airbag even in a vehicle where there is little space in the vehicle width direction between the side of the vehicle and the occupant. Can be mounted without contacting the occupant's head.
[0011]
<Invention of Claim 2>
Folding in a bellows shape from the lower end to the upper end of the inflatable part, and then folding the front end downward along an arcuate trajectory and storing it backwards, In the initial stage of deployment when the outer size of the bag is not so large, the front end of the airbag is deployed forward at the upper side of the side of the vehicle interior (the front end is drawn forward at a certain position in the vehicle width direction). ) After that, even in a vehicle where there is little space in the vehicle width direction between the side of the vehicle and the occupant, the front end of the airbag is positioned at the front seat of the vehicle while the airbag is deployed. Mounting is possible without contacting the head.
[0012]
<Invention of Claim 3>
By providing a notch in at least one of the upper edge of the front end and the upper edge of the rear end of the airbag, the gas filled in the airbag can be reduced by the notched volume, and the airbag Can be deployed in a short time. The front edge upper edge or rear edge upper edge of the airbag provided with the notch is a portion where the occupant's head is not positioned during deployment, and thus there is no functional problem.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the left side indicates the front side of the vehicle, and in FIG. 1, the left side portion is attached to the front side of the vehicle. 3 and 5, the right side indicates the outside in the vehicle width direction.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag 2 used in the head protection airbag device 1 according to the present embodiment is formed by connecting the peripheries of the outer shells on both sides, and has a bag shape as a whole. , An introduction portion 3 including a gas introduction port 3a formed at the upper end portion and connected to the inflator 7, and an expansion chamber 4a formed integrally below the introduction portion 3 and communicating with the gas introduction port 3a. It is comprised by the expanded part 4 included. In the expansion chamber 4a, there are provided a plurality of connection walls 4b that connect the outer and outer skins to form a passage through which the expansion gas from the inflator 7 is introduced.
[0015]
At the upper end of the airbag 2, mounting pieces 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d and 5e for mounting the airbag 2 to the vehicle are formed. The mounting pieces 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d and 5e are provided with mounting holes 5a1, 5b1, 5c1, 5d1 and 5e1, respectively. After being folded, the airbag 2 is bundled by a plurality of binding tapes 6, and the attachment pieces 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, and 5e are respectively crimped to the five brackets 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e (see FIG. 2). Further, the rear end portion 4 c of the inflatable portion 4 is folded forward to be folded in half and bundled by a binding tape 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag 2 is connected to the inflator 7 by the gas inlet 3 a of the introduction part 3 at the substantially central part in the front-rear direction, and the inflation gas discharged by the inflator 7 can be introduced. .
[0016]
Based on FIG. 3, the attachment method to the vehicle 10 of the airbag 2 by the bracket 11e is demonstrated. The mounting piece 5e of the airbag 2 is caulked by the bracket 11e, and the mounting bolt 12 is inserted into the bracket 11e so as to pass through the mounting hole 5e1 formed in the mounting piece 5e, and then inserted into the inner panel 14 of the vehicle 10. . By tightening the nut 13 to the mounting bolt 12, the mounting piece 5e of the airbag 2 is fixed to the inner panel 14 together with the bracket 11e, and is stored inside the outer peripheral portion of the roof head lining 20 that covers the ceiling of the vehicle 10.
[0017]
The mounting pieces 5a and 5b caulked by the other brackets 11a and 11b of the airbag 2 are housed inside the front pillar garnish 15, and the mounting pieces 5c and 5d caulked by the brackets 11c and 11d are the roof head lining 20. (Shown in FIG. 2). Since the attachment parts by the other brackets 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d are the same as the attachment parts by the bracket 11e described above, description thereof will be omitted. As described above, the airbag 2 is folded and stored in the upper part of the side surface of the vehicle 10 by the five brackets 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e when the airbag 2 is not in operation.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the airbag 2 is filled with the inflation gas from the inflator 7 to the inflatable portion 4 at the time of the collision of the vehicle 10, and the attachment portion of the front pillar garnish 15 and the roof head lining 20 is removed. With the side surface of the vehicle interior extended downward, the front side window glass 16 of the vehicle 10 covers the center pillar garnish 17 and the rear pillar window garnish 19 via the rear side window glass 18, and the front seat passenger 21 and rear seat (The airbag 2 includes a front side window glass 16, a center pillar garnish 17, a rear side window glass 18, and a rear pillar garnish 19 and occupants 21, 22). Expand in between).
[0019]
Based on FIG. 6, the folding method at the time of storing the airbag 2 by this embodiment in the vehicle interior is demonstrated. FIG. 6 shows a portion located rearward when the airbag 2 is attached to the vehicle 10. First, as shown in FIG. 6 (I), the inflatable portion 4 of the airbag 2 is folded in a bellows shape with a certain width from the lower end portion toward the upper end portion. After the inflating portion 4 has been bellows folded to the upper end, as shown in FIG. 6 (II), the rear end portion 4c of the inflating portion 4 folded in a plurality of stages (FIG. 6 (I) and FIG. 6 (II) ) Is folded forward with an arcuate trajectory pointing downward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 (III), the rear end portion 4c is folded forward, and the rear portion of the inflating portion 4 is shortened so that it can be stored in the vehicle 10.
[0020]
Next, the case where the inflation gas is introduced from the inflator 7 into the airbag 2 and deployed when the head protection airbag device 1 is operated will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7 (I), the airbag 2 is folded in a bellows shape with a constant width upward from the lower end of the inflatable portion 4 and then folded and bound to the rear end 4c forward. Is stored in the upper part of the side surface of the vehicle 10. When the expansion gas discharged from the inflator 7 is introduced into the gas introduction port 3a at the time of the collision of the vehicle 10, the expansion gas is introduced into the expansion chamber 4a and the expansion portion 4 begins to expand, whereby FIG. ), The binding tape 6 that has bound the airbag 2 is broken, and the rear end 4c can be deployed.
[0021]
When the inflation gas is further sent into the inflating portion 4, as shown in FIG. 7 (III), the rear end portion 4c is directed downward (at a fixed position in the vehicle width direction) at the upper side of the vehicle interior. Draw an arc-shaped trajectory and begin to expand backwards. When the rear end portion 4c starts to expand rearward, the expansion portion 4 folded in a bellows shape can be expanded downward, and the expansion portion 4 is expanded downward in parallel with the rear end expansion of the rear end portion 4c. Start. Further, when the inflation gas is sent into the inflatable portion 4, the rear end portion 4c is fully developed rearward, and then, as shown in FIG. As the deployment progresses, it covers the side of the vehicle and the occupant, and the heads of the occupants 21 and 22 can be protected.
[0022]
According to the above-described embodiment, after folding from the lower end portion toward the upper end portion of the inflating portion 4, the rear end portion 4c is folded forward and drawn in an arcuate locus directed downward, thereby storing the air. When the bag 2 is deployed, the rear end portion 4c of the airbag is deployed rearward at the upper side of the vehicle interior at the initial stage of deployment when the outer dimension of the airbag 2 is not so large (the rear end portion 4c is the vehicle). A trace is drawn backward at a certain position in the width direction), and then the portion of the inflatable portion 4 that is folded in a bellows shape develops downward, so that there is a gap between the side surface of the vehicle 10 and the occupants 21 and 22. Even if there is little space in the vehicle width direction, the rear end portion 4c of the airbag 2 can be smoothly deployed without being in contact with the passenger's head of the rear seat of the vehicle during deployment of the airbag 2.
[0023]
Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, the left side indicates the front of the vehicle. The head protection airbag device 1 'according to the present embodiment is different from the head protection airbag device 1 according to the first embodiment in that the upper edge of the rear end of the inflating portion 4' constituting the airbag 2 'is square. The notch 4d is provided. By cutting out the upper edge of the rear end of the airbag 2 ', the inflation gas filled in the airbag 2' can be reduced by the amount of the notched volume, and the airbag 2 'can be deployed in a short time. can do. The upper edge of the rear end of the airbag 2 ′ provided with the notch is a part where the head of the occupant 22 is not located at the time of deployment, so there is no functional problem.
[0024]
Although FIG. 8 shows a configuration in which a rectangular notch 4d is provided at the upper edge of the rear end of the inflatable portion 4 ′, the notch 4d is formed at the upper edge of the front end of the inflatable portion 4 ′ (the front passenger's You may provide in the site | part located in front of a head. Similarly to the case where the notch 4d is provided in the rear edge upper edge portion, the front edge of the airbag 2 'provided with the notch 4d is a portion where the head of the occupant 21 is not located during deployment. There is no functional problem.
[0025]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0026]
(1) You may apply the structure of 1st Embodiment mentioned above to the front-end part of the airbag which protects the passenger | crew of the front seat of a vehicle. In other words, when the vehicle collides, the inflating portion is filled with the inflating gas from the inflator, so that the side surface of the vehicle interior is expanded downward to protect at least the head of the passenger in the front seat of the vehicle. When the airbag of the device is stored in the vehicle compartment, the front end portion may be folded rearward after being folded from the lower end portion of the inflatable portion toward the upper end portion.
[0027]
In this way, when the airbag is deployed, the front end of the airbag is first deployed forward in the upper part of the side of the vehicle interior at the initial stage of deployment when the outer dimension of the airbag is not so large (the front end is the vehicle). (The trajectory is drawn forward at a certain position in the width direction), and then the airbag is deployed downward, so that the front end of the airbag abuts against the occupant head of the front seat of the vehicle during airbag deployment. It can be deployed smoothly.
[0028]
(2) The present invention provides a head protection airbag device that covers only the side surface of the front seat of the vehicle, a head protection airbag device that covers only the side surface of the rear seat of the vehicle, or a plurality of seats arranged in the front-rear direction. The present invention can also be applied to a head protection airbag device of a vehicle that is not provided (a single row of seats is arranged in the front-rear direction).
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of an airbag at the time of deployment used in a head protecting airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the airbag shown in FIG. 1 when stored in a vehicle.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
4 is a side view showing the airbag shown in FIG. 2 when deployed. FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.
6 is a diagram showing a folding method when the airbag shown in FIG. 1 is stored. FIG.
7 is a view showing a deployed state of the airbag shown in FIG. 6. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing when the airbag of the head protecting airbag device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is deployed.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Head protection airbag apparatus 2 ... Airbag 3 ... Introducing part 3a ... Gas inlet 4 ... Inflating part 4a ... Inflating chamber 4c ... Rear end part 4d ... Notch 7 ... Inflator 10 ... Vehicle

Claims (3)

An airbag connected to the inflator and into which inflation gas discharged from the inflator is introduced;
The airbag includes a gas introduction port formed at an upper end portion thereof, connected to the inflator, and an inflating portion that communicates with the gas introduction port so that inflation gas is introduced and inflated during operation. Sometimes it is folded and stored in the upper part of the side surface of the vehicle interior, and when the vehicle collides, the inflating portion is filled with the expansion gas from the inflator to expand the side surface of the vehicle interior downward, so that at least the rear seat of the vehicle In the head protection airbag device that protects the head of the occupant,
When storing the airbag in a vehicle interior, after folding in a bellows shape from the lower end to the upper end of the inflatable portion , folding the rear end forward in an arcuate path A head-protecting airbag device. An airbag connected to the inflator and into which inflation gas discharged from the inflator is introduced;
The airbag includes a gas inlet port formed at an upper end portion thereof, connected to the inflator, and an inflating portion that communicates with the gas inlet port so that inflation gas is introduced and inflated when the airbag is in operation. At the front seat of the vehicle, it is sometimes folded and stored in the upper part of the side surface of the vehicle interior, and the expansion portion is filled with the expansion gas from the inflator when the vehicle collides to expand the side surface of the vehicle interior downward. In the head protection airbag device that protects the head of an occupant,
When storing the airbag in a passenger compartment, after folding in a bellows shape from the lower end to the upper end of the inflatable part, the front end is folded backwards by drawing an arcuate trajectory facing downward A head-protecting airbag device.   The head protection airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a cutout is provided in at least one of the front edge upper edge and the rear edge upper edge of the airbag.

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