JP7742302B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an airbag device. More specifically, it relates to an airbag device for vehicles such as automobiles, and in particular to an airbag device that uses a cylindrical inflator.

An airbag device is known in which a cylindrical inflator is housed within the airbag and the airbag is secured to the seatback frame by stud bolts attached to the inflator (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this airbag device, when the inflator is activated, the gas generated by the inflator causes the airbag to inflate and deploy in the deployment direction, centered on the part attached to the seat frame.

JP 2016-094079 A

Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of an airbag device according to a comparative embodiment attached to a vehicle seat, viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment has been completed and the airbag is restraining the occupant). Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the inflator and its vicinity in the airbag device shown in Figure 14, viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag before inflation and deployment and before folding. Figure 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in Figure 15, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment has been completed and the airbag is restraining the occupant). Note that Figure 16 shows the state as viewed from below the vehicle.

As shown in Figures 14 to 16, the airbag device 100 of the comparative embodiment is a far side airbag device that inflates and deploys on the vehicle occupant's inner side in the vehicle width direction during a side collision of a vehicle such as an automobile, and is attached to a vehicle seat 130 by fixing an inflator 110 to a side frame 133 of a seat back 131 of the vehicle seat 130 with an airbag 120 sandwiched between them. The inflator 110 is attached to the side frame 133 with a pair of mounting members 112 such as bolts. The mounting members 112 are attached to a position offset to one side of the longitudinal center of the inflator 10, in this case, toward the upper side of the vehicle.

The presence of the inflator 110 prevents the airbag 120 from moving in the deployment direction XX when it inflates and deploys, but in areas where there is no inflator 110, the momentum of the airbag during deployment causes it to move in the deployment direction XX. This prevents the airbag 120 from inflating and deploying in the appropriate position, which may result in the occupant 40 not being properly protected.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned current situation, and aims to provide an airbag device that can inflate and deploy stably by restricting the relative movement of the airbag with respect to the inflator.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, one aspect of the present invention is an airbag device including: a cylindrical inflator that ejects gas from one side in a longitudinal direction; a bag-shaped airbag that contains the inflator and is inflated and deployed in a predetermined deployment direction by the gas from the inflator; and a restricting member provided within the airbag, wherein the airbag has a first base fabric, a second base fabric arranged opposite to the first base fabric, an inflator mounting portion to which the inflator is attached, and an end portion located on the opposite side of the inflator mounting portion in the deployment direction, the restricting member has a first fixing portion fixed to the first base fabric, a second fixing portion fixed to the second base fabric, and an abutting portion that abuts against the inflator when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the abutting portion being located between the inflator and the end portion when the airbag is inflated and deployed, and the length from the first fixing portion to the second fixing portion of the restricting member is shorter than the length from the first fixing portion to the second fixing portion of the airbag.

This invention provides an airbag device that can inflate and deploy stably by restricting the relative movement of the airbag with respect to the inflator.

1 is a schematic diagram of an airbag device according to a first embodiment attached to a vehicle seat, as viewed from the side of the vehicle, illustrating an initial state of the airbag device. 2 is a schematic diagram of the airbag device shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 1. 1 is a schematic diagram of an airbag device according to embodiment 1 attached to a vehicle seat, viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining an occupant). FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the airbag device shown in FIG. 4 as viewed from the front of the vehicle. 5 is a schematic diagram of the vicinity of the inflator of the airbag device shown in FIG. 4 as viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag before it is inflated, deployed, and folded. FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6, showing the airbag before it is inflated and deployed and before it is folded. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6, showing the airbag when it is inflated and deployed (particularly when the airbag has completed inflation and deployment and is restraining an occupant). 1 is a schematic diagram of the vicinity of an inflator of an airbag device according to a first modified example of the first embodiment, as viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag before it is inflated, deployed, and folded. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 9, showing the airbag when it is inflated and deployed (particularly when the airbag has completed inflation and deployment and is restraining an occupant). 10 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag device according to a second modification of the first embodiment, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly, after inflation and deployment is completed and when the airbag is restraining an occupant). FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag device according to a third modification of the first embodiment, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly, after inflation and deployment is complete and when the airbag is restraining an occupant). FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag device according to a fourth modification of the first embodiment, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly, after inflation and deployment is complete and when the airbag is restraining an occupant). FIG. This is a schematic diagram of an airbag device of a comparative embodiment attached to a vehicle seat, viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining the occupant). 15 is a schematic diagram of the vicinity of the inflator of the airbag device shown in FIG. 14 as viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag before it is inflated, deployed, and folded. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 15, showing the airbag when it is inflated and deployed (particularly when the airbag has completed inflation and deployment and is restraining an occupant). FIG.

Directions in this specification are based on the vehicle unless otherwise specified, and the arrow FR shown in each figure indicates the front direction of the vehicle, the arrow RE indicates the rear direction of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicates the upper direction of the vehicle, the arrow DOWN indicates the lower direction of the vehicle, the arrow IN indicates the inward direction in the vehicle width direction, and the arrow OUT indicates the outward direction in the vehicle width direction. Note that components located inside the vehicle seat are illustrated with the vehicle seat seen through.

[Embodiment 1]
An airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an airbag device according to embodiment 1 attached to a vehicle seat, viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the initial state of the airbag device. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the airbag device shown in Figure 1, viewed from the front of the vehicle. Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the airbag device 1 of embodiment 1 is a far-side airbag device that inflates and deploys on the vehicle widthwise inner side of an occupant 40 in the event of a side collision of a vehicle such as an automobile, and is fixed to a vehicle seat (vehicle seat) 30.

The vehicle seat 30 includes a seat back (backrest portion) 31 that supports the back of the occupant 40. The seat back 31 has a seat frame 32 that functions as the framework for the entire seat back 31. The seat frame 32 includes side frames 33 located on the sides of the seat back 31. An airbag device 1 is fixed to the side frames 33, and cushion pads 34 are provided between the side frames 33 and the occupant 40.

Examples of the vehicle seat 30 include the driver's seat and passenger seat of a vehicle.

The airbag device 1 has a cylindrical inflator 10 and an airbag 20.

In this specification, "initial state" refers to the state before the inflator is activated, i.e., before the airbag is inflated and deployed.

The inflator 10 is contained within the airbag 20. That is, its entirety is provided inside the airbag 20. The inflator 10 is a cylindrical gas generator and is arranged along the extension direction (height direction) of the seatback 31. The inflator 10 is provided with a mounting member 12 for attaching the inflator 10 to the airbag 20. In this case, a pair of bolts are provided as the mounting member 12. The pair of bolts protrude from the inflator 10 and penetrate the airbag 20. The inflator 10 is fixed to a side frame 33 on the side of the seatback 31 (the side on the inner side in the vehicle width direction) by such mounting member 12 (e.g., a pair of bolts).

Furthermore, the mounting member 12 is attached to a position offset to one side of the longitudinal center of the inflator 10, in this case toward the upper side of the vehicle. More specifically, one of the pair of bolts is provided on one longitudinal side of the inflator 10 (the upper side of the vehicle), and the other of the pair of bolts is provided near the longitudinal center of the inflator 10.

The inflator 10 is activated during a side collision of the vehicle. Specifically, when a collision detection sensor mounted on the vehicle detects a side collision of the vehicle, the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) calculates the signal sent from the collision detection sensor and determines the level of the collision. If the determined level of the collision corresponds to a level that requires the airbag 20 to be inflated, the inflator 10 is ignited, and gas is generated by a chemical reaction caused by the combustion of the internal explosive. As a result, the generated gas is ejected from one longitudinal side of the inflator 10, specifically from the gas ejection hole 10a, and is introduced into the airbag 20. In this case, the gas ejection hole 10a is located at the upper end of the inflator 10. Note that gas does not eject from the other longitudinal side of the inflator 10.

The type of inflator 10 is not particularly limited, and examples include pyrotechnic inflators that use gas generated by burning a gas generating agent, stored inflators that use compressed gas, and hybrid inflators that use a mixture of gas generated by burning a gas generating agent and compressed gas.

The airbag 20 is bag-shaped and is fixed in a folded state to the side frame 33 before inflation and deployment, and is stored together with the cushion pad 34 covered by the seat cover (skin, not shown) of the seat back 31.

The airbag 20 is held in a predetermined shape with a fixing member such as tape, and then fixed to a synthetic resin cover 11, thereby maintaining the outer shape of the airbag device 1 in a predetermined shape, in this case an approximately rectangular parallelepiped.

In this embodiment, a World Side Impact Dummy (World-SID) 40 is seated in a vehicle seat 30. The seating position of the World Side Impact Dummy 40 is determined by the side impact test method (ECE R95) currently adopted in Japan and Europe, or the side impact test method (FMVSS214) currently adopted in the United States. The position and size of the airbag 20 when inflated and deployed (hereinafter simply referred to as when inflated and deployed) are set according to the positions of the torso 41, waist 42, head 43, arms 44, shoulders 45, etc. of the World Side Impact Dummy 40 as shown in Figure 1. In this specification, the World Side Impact Dummy 40 is referred to as the "occupant 40."

Furthermore, in this specification, "when the airbag is inflated and deployed" means any point in time or any period during the period from when the inflator is activated until when the airbag is fully inflated and deployed (full deployment). For example, it may be the period from when the inflator is activated until when the airbag is fully inflated and deployed (full deployment), or it may be the time when the airbag is fully inflated and deployed (full deployment). Furthermore, multiple "times when the airbag is inflated and deployed" described in this specification may be the same point in time or period, or different points in time and/or periods.

The vehicle side wall 50 is not particularly limited to any part of the vehicle body located on the outer side of the vehicle width direction (opposite the console box 60) of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30, and is a general term for side doors, pillars, side windows, etc.

The console box 60 is provided on the inner side of the vehicle seat 30 in the vehicle width direction. For example, the console box 60 is provided in the center of the vehicle interior in the vehicle width direction, between the driver's seat and the passenger seat. The console box 60 may function as an armrest that supports the arms 44 of the occupant 40 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an airbag device according to embodiment 1 attached to a vehicle seat, viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining an occupant). FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the airbag device shown in FIG. 4, viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the inflator and its vicinity in the airbag device shown in FIG. 4, viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag before inflation and deployment and before folding. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 6, showing the airbag before inflation and deployment and before folding. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 6, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining an occupant). Note that FIGS. 7 and 8 show views from below the vehicle.

When the vehicle collides sideways with an obstacle (e.g., another vehicle), specifically, when the obstacle collides with the vehicle sidewall 50 opposite the vehicle sidewall in the vehicle width direction (when the vehicle seat 30 is the driver's seat, the vehicle body portion located on the outer side of the passenger seat in the vehicle width direction), the inflator 10 is activated. Gas generated by the inflator 10 is introduced into the airbag 20, causing the airbag 20 to unfold and inflate. When the seat cover of the seatback 31 tears open from a predetermined position due to the force applied by the inflated airbag 20, the airbag 20 inflates and deploys in a predetermined deployment direction X, in this case toward the front of the vehicle (or diagonally upward and forward), as shown in Figures 4 and 5, to protect the occupant 40. More specifically, the airbag 20 inflates and deploys above the console box 60 and to the side of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30, protecting the side of the occupant 40. An airbag 20 that inflates and deploys in this manner is also called a far-side airbag.

4 and 5, the airbag 20 has a first base fabric 21, a second base fabric 22 arranged opposite the first base fabric 21, and an intermediate base fabric 23 therebetween, which are fabrics that determine the external shape of the airbag 20 when inflated and deployed. When inflated and deployed, the first base fabric 21 is located on the side of the occupant 40, the second base fabric 22 is located on the opposite side of the occupant 40, and the intermediate base fabric 23 is located between the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22. The first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22 are both substantially rectangular base fabrics, and while they have substantially the same width in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction, the second base fabric 22 has a larger width in the vehicle height direction. One intermediate base fabric 23 is provided on each side of the airbag 20 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the outer peripheral edge of the first base fabric 21 in the vehicle longitudinal direction is joined to one outer peripheral edge of the intermediate base fabric 23 along a joining line (e.g., a sewing line), and the outer peripheral edge of the second base fabric 22 in the vehicle longitudinal direction is joined to the other outer peripheral edge of the intermediate base fabric 23 along a joining line (e.g., a sewing line). The outer peripheral edge of the first base fabric 21 in the vehicle vertical direction is then joined to the outer peripheral edge of the second base fabric 22 in the vehicle vertical direction, so that the airbag 20 is formed into a three-dimensional bag shape as a whole when inflated and deployed.

However, the airbag 20 only needs to have at least the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22 as fabrics that define the external shape of the airbag 20 when inflated and deployed, and does not necessarily need to have the intermediate base fabric 23.

The base fabrics that make up the airbag 20 are made of, for example, fabrics woven with yarns such as nylon 66 or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The surface of these fabrics may be coated with an inorganic material such as silicon to improve heat resistance and airtightness.

Note that the first base fabric 21, the second base fabric 22, and the intermediate base fabric 23 may each be formed from a single piece of base fabric, or from multiple pieces of base fabric.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the first base fabric 21, when inflated and deployed, is positioned in an area extending from the waist 42 of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30, through the torso 41, to the head 43. The second base fabric 22, when inflated and deployed, is stretched from a position corresponding to the waist 42 of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30 along the side surface 61 and top surface 62 of the console box 60, and is then positioned in an area extending through the torso 41 to the head 43. The intermediate base fabric 23, when viewed from the front and rear of the vehicle, has a convex portion 23a above the console box 60. Therefore, the thickness of the airbag 20 in the vehicle width direction when inflated and deployed varies at the convex portion 23a, with the thickness being greater in the area corresponding to the convex portion 23a. It is also possible to omit the intermediate base fabric 23 and join the outer peripheral edge of the first base fabric 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the second base fabric 22, thereby omitting the convex portion 23a.

Furthermore, the airbag 20 inflates and deploys to have a torso protection section 24, a lumbar protection section 25, and a head protection section 26. The torso protection section 24 inflates and deploys to the side of the torso 41 of an occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30, and comes into contact with the torso 41. The lumbar protection section 25 inflates and deploys between the lumbar region 42 of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30 and the side surface 61 of the console box 60. The head protection section 26 inflates and deploys to the side of the head 43 of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30, and comes into contact with the head 43.

In the event of a side collision of the vehicle, the airbag 20 inflates and deploys, and the torso protection section 24 receives the torso 41 of the occupant 40, i.e., the portion below the shoulders 45, thereby restraining the occupant 40. The lumbar protection section 25 receives the lumbar region 42 of the occupant 40, thereby restraining the lumbar region 42, and the head protection section 26 receives the head 43 of the occupant 40, thereby restraining the head 43.

As shown in Figures 4 and 8, the airbag 20 has a thickness-reducing portion 27 that joins the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22 to each other. The thickness-reducing portion 27 is provided at a position corresponding to the waist 42 of the occupant 40 when inflated and deployed, and reduces the thickness of the airbag 20 in the vehicle width direction when inflated and deployed. In other words, the thickness of the airbag 20 in the vehicle width direction when inflated and deployed is smaller at the thickness-reducing portion 27 than at either side of the thickness-reducing portion 27. Here, the thickness-reducing portion 27 is a joining line 27a (e.g., a sewing line) that directly joins the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22 to each other, and the thickness of the airbag 20 in the vehicle width direction (the direction perpendicular to the deployment direction X) at the thickness-reducing portion 27 when inflated and deployed is essentially zero.

In addition, at least a portion of the thickness reduction portion 27 may be a cloth (e.g., a strip-shaped tether) that indirectly joins the first base cloth 21 and the second base cloth 22 to each other.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the airbag 20 has an inflator mounting portion 28 to which the inflator 10 is attached, and an end portion 29 located on the opposite side of the inflator mounting portion 28 (inflator 10) from the deployment direction X.

The inflator mounting portion 28 has a through-hole through which the mounting member 12 passes, and here a pair of through-holes is provided at positions corresponding to a pair of bolts. When a pair of bolts provided on the inflator 10 pass through the pair of through-holes and are fixed to the side frame 33, the airbag 20 is fixed to the side frame 33 in a state where it is sandwiched between the inflator 10 adjacent to the inflator mounting portion 28 and the side frame 33.

As shown in Figure 6, the end 29 of the airbag 20 is a portion located on the outer periphery of the airbag 20 when viewed from the side of the vehicle. Here, the end 29 is a joint where the outer periphery of the first base fabric 21 and the outer periphery of the second base fabric 22 are joined, and as shown in Figures 6 to 8, the end 29 is formed by joining the outer periphery of the first base fabric 21 and the outer periphery of the second base fabric 22 at a joint line 29a (e.g., a sewing line).

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the end portion 29 is located rearward of the inflator mounting portion 28 (inflator 10) of the airbag 20 when inflated and deployed, and is located diagonally downward and rearward of the airbag 20 when viewed from the side of the vehicle when inflated and deployed.

As shown in Figure 6, the airbag device 1 further has a restricting member 13.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the restricting member 13 is provided inside the airbag 20 and has a first fixing portion 14 fixed to the first base fabric 21, a second fixing portion 15 fixed to the second base fabric 22, and a contact portion 16 that contacts the inflator 10 when inflated and deployed.

The restricting member 13 is a member provided to restrict the relative movement of the airbag 20 with respect to the inflator 10. The restricting member 13 is formed from a strip-shaped base cloth and is fixed to the first base cloth 21 and the second base cloth 22 by the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15, respectively. The restricting member 13 is not fixed to either the first base cloth 21 or the second base cloth 22 in areas other than the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15. The restricting member 13 may be formed from a single piece of base cloth or multiple pieces of base cloth. The restricting member 13 extends from the first fixing portion 14, around the periphery of the inflator 10 (more specifically, around a portion of the periphery), to the second fixing portion 15.

The first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15 are located in a position different from the end portion 29 of the airbag 20 when inflated and deployed. More specifically, they are located closer to the center of the airbag 20 than the end portion 29 when inflated and deployed.

Furthermore, the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15 are located further toward the deployment direction X than the inflator 10 when inflated and deployed, in this case toward the front of the vehicle.

The first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15 are joints between the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22, respectively, and are joined to the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22 at a common joint line 17 (e.g., a sewing line). In other words, the two different portions of the base fabric that make up the restricting member 150 are joined together at the joint line 17 with the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22 overlapping each other. Therefore, the thickness of the airbag 20 in the vehicle width direction (direction perpendicular to the deployment direction X) at the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15 when inflated and deployed is essentially zero.

This joint line 17 is part of the joint line 27a of the thickness suppression portion 27; that is, the joint line 27a collectively forms the thickness suppression portion 27, the first fixing portion 14, and the second fixing portion 15. On the other hand, the joint line 17 may be a joint line different from the joint line 27a.

The joining method is not particularly limited and may be, for example, sewing, adhesive bonding, welding, or a combination of these, with sewing being preferred.

As shown in Figure 8, the abutment portion 16 of the restricting member 13 is located between the inflator 10 and the end 29 of the airbag 20 during inflation and deployment. That is, the abutment portion 16 is provided between the inflator mounting portion 28 and the end 29 located on the opposite side of the airbag 20 from the deployment direction X. The abutment portion 16 abuts against a portion of the circumferential surface of the inflator 10 (however, the portion located on the opposite side from the deployment direction X). Note that the abutment portion 16 simply comes into contact with the inflator 10 at least during inflation and deployment, and is not fixed, for example, joined, to the inflator 10.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 , the mounting member 12 is provided at a position offset to one side (upper side of the vehicle) from the longitudinal center of the inflator 10, but the abutment portion 16 of the restricting member 13 abuts against the other side of the longitudinal center of the inflator 10, in this case the lower side of the vehicle, during inflation and deployment. In other words, the restricting member 13 abuts against the inflator 10 in an area where the mounting member 12 is not provided during inflation and deployment.

7 and 8, the length from the first fixing portion 14 to the second fixing portion 15 of the regulating member 13 is shorter than the length from the first fixing portion 14 to the second fixing portion 15 of the airbag 20. In this specification, "the length from the first fixing portion to the second fixing portion of the regulating member" means the length of the regulating member from the first fixing portion via the abutment portion to the second fixing portion, and "the length from the first fixing portion to the second fixing portion of the airbag" means the length of the airbag from the first fixing portion via the end of the airbag (the end located on the opposite side of the deployment direction from the inflator mounting portion) to the second fixing portion. Furthermore, "the length from the first fixing portion to the second fixing portion of the restricting member" and "the length from the first fixing portion to the second fixing portion of the airbag" refer to the lengths measured when viewed in a cross section (preferably a cross section perpendicular to the inflator 10, such as the cross sections in Figures 7 and 8) passing through an arbitrary point on the first fixing portion (which may be a point on each point of the first fixing portion), an arbitrary point on the second fixing portion (which may be a point on each point of the second fixing portion), and an arbitrary point on the contact portion of the restricting member.

The ratio of the "length from the first fixing portion to the second fixing portion of the restricting member" to the "length from the first fixing portion to the second fixing portion of the airbag" is not particularly limited, and can be set as appropriate so that the airbag inflates and deploys at the desired appropriate position.

Next, the operation of the airbag device according to embodiment 1, particularly the behavior of the area near the restricting member 13 when the airbag device is inflated and deployed, will be described using Figures 3, 4, and 8.

As shown in Figure 3, in the initial state, the airbag 20 is folded, the inflator 10 is fixed to the side frame 33, and the airbag device 1, together with the cushion pad 34, is stored and covered by the seat cover of the seat back 31.

In its initial state, the airbag 20 is folded into a rectangular parallelepiped shape by folding the upper portion of the airbag 20 downward in the center of the vehicle in the vertical direction, folding the lower end portion of the airbag 20 back upward, and then rolling it from the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle.

When the inflator 10 is activated, gas flows into the airbag 20 from the gas outlet 10a of the inflator 10 (see Figure 1, etc.), causing the airbag 20 to begin to inflate. The force applied by the inflated airbag 20 tears the seat cover of the seatback 31. Then, as shown in Figure 4, the airbag 20 inflates and deploys in a predetermined deployment direction X, in this case toward the front of the vehicle (or diagonally upward and forward of the vehicle), protecting the occupant 40.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 8 , the restricting member 13 has a first fixing portion 14 fixed to the first base fabric 21 and a second fixing portion 15 fixed to the second base fabric 22, so that the restricting member 13 moves integrally with the airbag 20. Furthermore, when the inflator 10 generates gas and the airbag 20 inflates and deploys, the momentum of the inflation and deployment causes the airbag 20 to move in the deployment direction X, with the inflator mounting portion 28 as the base point.

However, the restricting member 13 has a contact portion 16 that contacts the inflator 10 during inflation and deployment, and the contact portion 16 is located between the inflator 10 and the end 29 of the airbag 20 during inflation and deployment. The length from the first fixing portion 14 to the second fixing portion 15 of the restricting member 13 is shorter than the length from the first fixing portion 14 to the second fixing portion 15 of the airbag 20. Therefore, when the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15 of the restricting member 13 move in the deployment direction X of the airbag 20 due to inflation and deployment of the airbag 20, the contact portion 16 of the restricting member 13 contacts the inflator 10 before the end 29 of the airbag 20 contacts the inflator 10. This applies tension to the restricting member 13 in the deployment direction X, stopping its movement. Accordingly, movement of the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22 around the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15 of the restricting member 13 is also restricted. Therefore, excessive relative movement of the airbag 20 with respect to the inflator 10 is restricted, and the airbag 20 stably inflates and deploys at a predetermined position. In addition, the end 29 of the airbag 20 (e.g., the joining line 29a between the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22) is prevented from coming into contact with the inflator 10.

Furthermore, the length from the first fixing portion 14 to the second fixing portion 15 of the restricting member 13 is shorter than the length from the first fixing portion 14 to the second fixing portion 15 of the airbag 20. Therefore, when inflated and deployed, the airbag 20 around the restricting member 13 inflates so as to form a gap between the end portion 29 and the restricting member 13. Therefore, as described above, contact between the end portion 29 and the inflator 10 is effectively prevented.

As described above, in this embodiment, the regulating member 13 is provided within the airbag 20 and has a first fixing portion 14 fixed to the first base fabric 21, a second fixing portion 15 fixed to the second base fabric 22, and a contact portion 16 that contacts the inflator 10 when inflated and deployed, and the contact portion 16 is located between the inflator 10 and the end 29 of the airbag 20 when inflated and deployed, and the length from the first fixing portion 14 to the second fixing portion 15 of the regulating member 13 is shorter than the length from the first fixing portion 14 to the second fixing portion 15 of the airbag 20, so that the relative movement of the airbag 20 with respect to the inflator 10 can be restricted and the airbag 20 can be stably inflated and deployed. It also restricts movement of the first base fabric 21 and second base fabric 22 around the first fixing portion 14 and second fixing portion 15 of the restricting member 13, preventing the end 29 of the airbag 20 (for example, the joining line 29a between the first base fabric 21 and second base fabric 22) from coming into contact with the inflator 10.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the airbag device 1 has a mounting member 12 that mounts the inflator 10 to the airbag 20, and the mounting member 12 is mounted at a position offset to one side from the longitudinal center of the inflator 10, and it is preferable that the abutment portion 16 of the restricting member 13 abuts on the other side of the longitudinal center of the inflator 10 when inflated and deployed. This makes it easier for the abutment portion 16 to come into contact with the inflator 10.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15 are located further in the deployment direction X than the inflator 10 during inflation and deployment. This effectively applies tension to the restricting member 13 in the deployment direction X during inflation and deployment, thereby effectively restricting the movement of the restricting member 13 and the accompanying movement of the airbag 20.

Other variations of this embodiment are described below.

Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the vicinity of the inflator of an airbag device according to Variation 1 of Embodiment 1, as viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag before inflation and deployment and before folding. Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram taken along line CC shown in Figure 9, showing the airbag when it is inflated and deployed (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining the occupant). Note that Figure 10 shows the state as viewed from below the vehicle.

As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the airbag device 1 may further include a positioning member 18. One end of the positioning member 18 is connected to the restricting member 13, and the other end is connected to an end 29 of the airbag 20, connecting the restricting member 13 to the end 29. By providing the positioning member 18, it is possible to restrict the restricting member 13 from moving in the longitudinal direction of the inflator 10. Therefore, when inserting the inflator 10 into the airbag 20, it is possible to prevent the restricting member 13 from shifting, making insertion difficult, or to prevent the inflator 10 from being inserted incorrectly. It is also possible to prevent the restricting member 13 from coming off the inflator 10 during inflation and deployment.

The positioning member 18 is provided inside the airbag 20 and is formed from a base fabric with a curved shape (e.g., J-shape) that is smaller than the restricting member 13. Here, the positioning member 18 is integrally formed from the same base fabric as the restricting member 13, and one end of the positioning member 18 is connected to the restricting member 13. However, the positioning member 18 may be formed from a different base fabric than the restricting member 13, and may be connected, for example, by having one end of the positioning member 18 joined to the restricting member 13. The other end of the positioning member 18 is connected to the end 29 of the airbag 20 by being joined to the outer peripheral edge of the first base fabric 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the second base fabric 22 at joining lines 29a.

Fig. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an airbag device according to a second modification of the first embodiment, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining the occupant). Fig. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an airbag device according to a third modification of the first embodiment, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining the occupant). Fig. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an airbag device according to a fourth modification of the first embodiment, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining the occupant). Note that Figs. 11 to 13 correspond to Fig. 8, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 6, and show the state as viewed from below the vehicle.

As shown in Figures 11 to 13, the first fixing portion 14 and the first base cloth 21 may be joined to each other independently of the second fixing portion 15 and the second base cloth 22. That is, the first base cloth 21 may be joined to the restricting member 150 at the first fixing portion 14, and the second base cloth 22 may be joined to the restricting member 150 at the second fixing portion 15 at a location different from the first fixing portion 14, and the airbag 20 may be inflated and deployed to have a predetermined thickness in the vehicle width direction (direction perpendicular to the deployment direction X) in the region where the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15 are provided.

In the case shown in Figure 11, as in the case of Figure 8, the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15 are located further in the deployment direction X than the inflator 10 when inflated and deployed, in this case toward the front of the vehicle.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12 , of the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15, only the second fixing portion 15 may be positioned closer to the deployment direction X (toward the front of the vehicle) than the inflator 10 when inflated and deployed. In this case, the first fixing portion 14 will be positioned on the opposite side of the deployment direction X (toward the rear of the vehicle) than the inflator 10 when inflated and deployed.

Conversely, of the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15, only the first fixing portion 14 may be located closer to the deployment direction X (toward the front of the vehicle) than the inflator 10 when inflated and deployed. In this case, the second fixing portion 15 will be located on the opposite side of the deployment direction X (toward the rear of the vehicle) than the inflator 10 when inflated and deployed.

In either case, as in the case of Figure 8, the movement of the restricting member 13 during inflation and deployment and the accompanying movement of the airbag 20 can be effectively restricted.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 13, both the first fixing portion 14 and the second fixing portion 15 may be located on the opposite side of the inflator 10 from the deployment direction X (towards the rear of the vehicle) during inflation and deployment. Even in this case, tension is applied to the restricting member 13 during inflation and deployment, making it possible to restrict the movement of the restricting member 13 and the accompanying movement of the airbag 20 during inflation and deployment.

Note that, although the above description has been given of the case where the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22 are made of different base fabrics, in this embodiment, the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22 may be made of a single piece of base fabric. For example, the airbag 20 may be formed by folding a single piece of base fabric in half and using the folded portion as the end 29 of the airbag 20, and then joining the outer peripheral edges of the folded base fabric in the area excluding the end 29, or by joining the intermediate base fabric 23 to the outer peripheral edge of the folded base fabric. In this case, the end 29 of the airbag 20 is made up of the folded portion of the base fabric folded in half.

In addition, while the above description has been given of a case in which one intermediate base fabric 23 is provided on each side of the airbag 20 in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction, in this embodiment, the intermediate base fabric 23 may be formed into a cylindrical shape by joining both longitudinal ends of a single strip-shaped base fabric. In this case, the entire outer peripheral edges of the first base fabric 21 and the second base fabric 22 are joined to the outer peripheral edge of the intermediate base fabric 23, and the end 29 of the airbag 20 is composed of the intermediate base fabric 23.

In the above embodiment, the airbag device 1 is described as a far-side airbag device. However, the airbag device of the present invention may also be, for example, a near-side airbag device or a knee airbag device. In the former case, the airbag device is fixed to a side frame on the outer side of the seat back in the vehicle width direction, and the airbag inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle (or diagonally upward and forward of the vehicle) and between the vehicle's interior side wall and the occupant seated in the seat. In the latter case, the airbag device is installed inside the lower part of the instrument panel, and the airbag inflates and deploys toward the rear of the vehicle and between the lower part of the instrument panel and the knees of the occupant seated in the driver's seat or passenger seat.

As such, in the present invention, the predetermined deployment direction in which the airbag inflates and deploys is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, the front of the vehicle (or diagonally upward and forward of the vehicle) (e.g., in the case of a far-side airbag device or a near-side airbag device), or the rear of the vehicle (or diagonally upward and rear of the vehicle) (e.g., in the case of a knee airbag device).

1, 100: Airbag device 10, 110: Inflator 10a: Gas ejection hole 11: Cover 12, 112: Mounting member 13: Restricting member 14: First fixing portion 15: Second fixing portion 16: Contact portion 17: Joint line 18: Positioning member 20, 120: Airbag 21: First base fabric 22: Second base fabric 23: Intermediate base fabric 23a: Convex portion 24: Torso protection portion 25: Waist protection portion 26: Head protection portion 27: Thickness suppressing portion 27a: Joint line 28: Inflator mounting portion 29: End portion 29a: Joint line 30, 130: Vehicle seat 31, 131: Seat back (backrest portion)
32: Seat frame 33, 133: Side frame 34, 134: Cushion pad 40: Occupant (internationally unified side impact dummy)
41: Torso 42: Waist 43: Head 44: Arms 45: Shoulders 50: Vehicle side wall 60, 160: Console box 61: Side 62: Top surface X, XX: Deployment direction

Claims (4)

a cylindrical inflator that ejects gas from one side in the longitudinal direction;
a bag-shaped airbag containing the inflator and inflated and deployed in a predetermined deployment direction by gas from the inflator;
a restricting member provided within the airbag,
The airbag includes a first base fabric and
a second base fabric disposed opposite the first base fabric;
an inflator mounting portion to which the inflator is mounted;
an end portion located on the opposite side of the inflator mounting portion in the deployment direction,
The regulating member includes a first fixing portion fixed to the first base fabric;
a second fixing portion fixed to the second base fabric;
a contact portion that contacts the inflator when the airbag is inflated and deployed,
the abutment portion is located between the inflator and the end portion when the airbag is inflated and deployed,
The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the length from the first fixing portion to the second fixing portion of the restricting member is shorter than the length from the first fixing portion to the second fixing portion of the airbag. 2. The airbag device according to claim 1,
The inflator further includes a mounting member for mounting the inflator to the airbag.
the mounting member is attached to a position offset to one side from the center of the inflator in the longitudinal direction,
The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion contacts the inflator on the other side of the longitudinal center thereof when the airbag is inflated and deployed. 3. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2,
An airbag device further comprising a positioning member having one end connected to the restricting member and the other end connected to the end portion, the positioning member connecting the restricting member to the end portion. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An airbag device, wherein at least one of the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is located on the deployment direction side of the inflator when the airbag is inflated and deployed.