JP2003200800A - Exterior expansion type air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an exterior expansion type air bag device which expands smoothly without getting caught on the edge of a hood or on wipers. <P>SOLUTION: A lid 8 is able to be vertically displaced with respect to a retainer 2 when a hook part 10 moves vertically inside an opening 16. When the air bag 4 expands, the lid 8 moves up and opens out due to expanding pressure of the air bag 4, thereby forming flaps 28 and 30. The flap 28 expanded at the front of a vehicle overlaps the outer surface of the rear fringe part of the hood 18. The flap 30 expanded at the rear of the hood 18 overlaps a cowl top 22 just under a windshield 20 and covers a wiper device 26. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pedestrian, an occupant such as a bicycle or a motorcycle (hereinafter referred to as a pedestrian) when a vehicle collides with a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorcycle or the like when the automobile is running, or a lower portion of a windshield. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an outer deployable airbag device for protecting a pedestrian or the like by preventing the bonnet hood from directly hitting a highly rigid portion such as a rear end portion or a pillar portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an automobile collides with a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorcycle or the like while the vehicle is running, the collided pedestrian or the like has his or her lower body wiped off by the front part of the body of the car, and a hood covering the upper surface of the front part of the body is covered. It may be flipped up and make a secondary collision with a highly rigid part such as the lower part of the windshield, the rear end part of the hood, or the pillar part.

In Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-74533, a pedestrian or the like is developed in which an airbag is deployed from the rear part of the hood along the outer surface of the windshield and the airbag prevents the pedestrian from directly hitting the windshield. An outer surface deployment type airbag device is described as a protective airbag device. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 21, the outer surface deployment type airbag device of the same publication will be described.

FIG. 21 (a) is a perspective view of a vehicle body front portion of an automobile equipped with this outer surface deploying type air bag device, and FIGS. 21 (b) and 21 (c) are BB of FIG. 21 (a). It is sectional drawing which follows the line. Note that FIG. 21 (b) shows a mode of the outer surface deployable airbag device in a normal state (when the automobile is not in a collision situation with a pedestrian or the like), and FIG. 21 (c) shows the outer surface. It shows a mode of deploying the airbag of the deployable airbag device.

The outer surface deployable airbag device 100 is
An airbag 102 and a gas generator (inflator) 104 for inflating the airbag 102 are provided. The gas generator 104 is installed in a container-shaped cowl top 108 provided under a windshield (front window glass) 106 of an automobile, and the airbag 102 is normally provided with the cowl top 108.
It is housed in a folded state. The cowl top 108 is adjacent to a vehicle front-rear direction rear end portion of a hood (bonnet hood) 110 that covers an upper surface of a vehicle body front portion.

The cowl top 108 is a cowl top outer panel 112 exposed on the upper surface of the front part of the vehicle body of the automobile.
And a cowl top inner panel 114 that constitutes the bottom of the cowl top 108. The cowl top outer panel 112 is provided with an opening for inflating the airbag 102 to the upper surface of the front part of the vehicle body. This opening is for the airbag 1 housed in the cowl top 108.
It is located above 02. In normal times, the lid 116 is attached so as to close this opening.

At the front end of the vehicle body such as the front bumper 118 of this automobile, there are pedestrians, bicycles,
A contact / collision detection sensor 120 for detecting a collision with a motorcycle or the like is provided. The outer surface deployment type airbag device 100 is provided with the contact / collision detection sensor 120.
When the collision is detected, the gas generator 104 is activated, gas is introduced from the gas generator 104 into the airbag 102, and the airbag 102 is inflated.

When an automobile equipped with the outer surface deployment type airbag device 100 collides with a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorcycle or the like while the vehicle is running, the contact / collision detection sensor 120 detects the collision and the gas generator 104 causes the airbag to come out. Gas is introduced into the air bag 102 to inflate the air bag 102. Then, the airbag 102 pushes open the lid 116 attached to the upper surface opening of the cowl top 108 and bulges to the upper surface of the front part of the vehicle body, and as shown in FIG. 21 (c), from the rear part of the hood 110 to the windshield 106. Deploy along the outer surface of.

As a result, the hood 1 is collided with by the automobile.
A pedestrian or the like that has been lifted up on the windshield 1
Even if the air bag 102 hits the pedestrian or the like, the air bag 102 receives the pedestrian or the like, and the pedestrian or the like receives the windshield 1.
It is possible to prevent the lower part of 06, the rear end part of the hood 110, and a highly rigid part such as a pillar part from directly hitting.

[0010]

In the outer surface deployable air bag apparatus 100, the air bag 102, when deployed along the outer surface of the windshield 106 from the rear portion of the hood 110, is provided at the rear edge of the hood. The wiper may be caught and scratched.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an outer surface deployable air bag device in which an air bag can be smoothly inflated without being caught on a rear edge of a hood, a corner edge of a vehicle body such as a wiper, a protrusion, or the like.

[0012]

An outer surface deployable airbag device according to the present invention (claim 1) is an airbag which can be deployed from a rear portion of a hood of an automobile along an outer surface of a windshield,
A case accommodating the airbag, a lid covering the case, and a gas generator for inflating the airbag,
An outer surface deployment type airbag device in which the lid is pushed outward by the airbag when the airbag is inflated and is opened outward, wherein the opened lid covers at least one of a rear end of the hood and a wiper device. It is a feature.

In the outer surface deploying type airbag apparatus according to the first aspect, the lid opened when the airbag is deployed covers the trailing edge of the hood and the wiper, so that the airbag catches on the trailing edge and the wiper apparatus. Inflate smoothly without any.

In this outer surface deployment type airbag device, the lid is arranged so as to be retracted from the outer surface of the vehicle body, and the lid is mounted so as to be movable upward with respect to the case so that the airbag can be expanded. It is preferable that when pushed, it moves upward and cleaves (claim 2).

With this configuration, the outer surface deployable airbag device is not conspicuous in normal times, and the appearance of the upper surface of the front portion of the vehicle body is not damaged. In addition, the lid is less likely to be exposed to direct sunlight and strong wind and rain, and the durability of the lid is improved. Moreover, when the airbag is deployed, the lid is lifted upward and opens, so that the opening operation of the lid becomes smooth.

According to another aspect of the present invention (claim 3), an outer surface type air bag device is capable of being deployed from a rear portion of a hood of an automobile along an outer surface of a windshield, a case accommodating the air bag, and the case. An outer surface deployment type airbag device comprising a lid and a gas generator for inflating the airbag, wherein the lid is pushed by the airbag and opens outward when the airbag is inflated. The lid is characterized in that it covers corner edges and protrusions of the vehicle body existing in the deployment area of the airbag.

According to another aspect of the airbag apparatus of the third aspect, when the airbag is inflated, the lid covers the corner edges and the protrusions of the vehicle body existing in the deployment area of the airbag. Will expand smoothly without being caught by these.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a front part of a vehicle body of an automobile equipped with an outer surface deploying type airbag apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in normal times, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the outer surface deploying type airbag apparatus. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the front part of the vehicle body of the automobile when the airbag of the outer surface deployable airbag device is inflated. In the following description, the up-down direction means the vehicle up-down direction, that is, the up-down direction in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the front-back direction means the vehicle front-rear direction, that is, the first-first direction.
3 means the left-right direction, and the left-right direction means the vehicle width direction, that is, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS.

This outer surface deployment type airbag device 1 is a container-shaped retainer (airbag holding member) 2 as a case having an opening at the top, and an airbag folded and arranged in the retainer 2. 4 and this airbag 4
A gas generator 6 for inflating the retainer 2 and a lid (lid-shaped body) 8 that covers the upper opening of the retainer 2 are provided.

In this embodiment, the retainer 2 is a container-like member having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped appearance that is long in the vehicle width direction and short in the vehicle front-rear direction. On the back surface of the lid 8, a tear line (planned tearing line) 9 formed of a concave line extending in the vehicle width direction near the center of the lid 8 in the vehicle front-rear direction.
Is provided. When the inflation pressure of the airbag 4 applies a pressing force of a predetermined amount or more to the back surface of the lid 8 when the airbag 4 is inflated, the lid 8 tears along the tear line 9 and opens outward.

In this embodiment, the lid 8 has a substantially V-shaped vertical cross section (extending in the vehicle front-rear direction) in which the vicinity of the central portion in the vehicle front-rear direction is the uppermost position and the front and rear of the vehicle are downwardly inclined. It has a cross section along the vertical plane). Therefore, the stress applied from the inflating airbag 4 to the back surface of the lid 8 is concentrated near the central portion of the lid 8 in the vehicle front-rear direction, that is, the tear line 9, so that the lid 8 is cleaved along the tear line 9. It is easy to do.

A plurality of downward hook-shaped hook portions 10 for locking the lid 8 are provided on upper portions of the side surface of the retainer 2 on the front side of the vehicle and the side surface on the rear side of the vehicle. These hook portions 10 are arranged in parallel along the upper edge of each side surface of the retainer 2 on the vehicle front side and the vehicle rear side.

From the rear surface of the lid 8, a pair of wall-shaped pieces 1
2 and 14 are projected. These wall-shaped pieces 12, 14
Are arranged along the side surface of the retainer 2 on the vehicle front side and the side surface on the vehicle rear side, respectively. Each wall piece 1
2 and 14 are provided with openings 16 in which the hook portions 10 on the side surfaces of the retainers 2 facing each other are engaged. The opening 16 is in the shape of a slot that is long in the vertical direction, and the hook portion 10 can move relatively up and down in the opening 16. In addition, each wall-shaped piece 12,
14 are provided with the same number of openings 16 as the hook portions 10 provided on the side surface of the retainer 2 facing each other, and these openings 16 extend in the left-right width direction of the wall-shaped pieces 12, 14.
And are arranged in parallel at the same interval.

The lid 8 is vertically displaceable with respect to the retainer 2 by moving the hook portion 10 in the opening 16 in the vertical direction.

In this embodiment, the rear edge of the automobile hood (bonnet hood) 18 and the windshield 20.
An opening for installing the airbag device is provided between the lower cowl top 22 and the lower cowl top 22. The airbag device 1 is arranged in a space inside the opening, and the retainer 2 is fixed to a vehicle body member (not shown) via a bracket 24.

In the opening for installing the air bag device, the lid 8 is normally located at the lower limit and is lower than the rear edge portion of the hood 18 and the cowl top 22, that is, lower than these. It is located at a height retracted to the inside of the vehicle. When the airbag 4 is inflated, the lid 8 is pressed by the airbag 4 that is about to inflate and moves upward. The lid 8 can be raised until the hook portion 10 comes into contact with the edge portion on the lower end side of the opening 16.

A wiper device 26 is attached to the cowl top 22. Further, a front bumper (not shown) of this automobile and a front end portion of the vehicle body such as a lower portion of the hood 18 are provided with a contact / collision detection sensor for detecting contact or collision with a pedestrian, a bicycle, a motorcycle or the like during traveling ( (Not shown) is provided.

When the collision detection sensor detects a collision, the outer surface deployment type airbag device 1 thus constructed operates the gas generator 6 and inflates the airbag 4 with the gas from the gas generator 6. .

When the air bag 4 starts to inflate, the lid 8 is pushed upward by the inflation pressure of the air bag 4, and as shown in FIG. 3, the lid 8 and the cowl top 22 have the same height. In addition, it rises to a height higher than these.

The lifted lid 8 is split along the tear line 9 by the pressing force from the airbag 4, and at the same time, one half of the vehicle front side of the tear line 9 and the other half of the vehicle rear side of the tear line 9 are separated. The parts open to the front and the rear of the vehicle in the form of flaps (reference numerals 28 and 30, respectively, see FIG. 3). Flap 28 opened to the front of the vehicle
Overlap the rear edge of the hood 18. Further, the flap 30 that is opened rearward of the vehicle overlaps the cowl top 22 and covers the wiper device 26. Therefore, the airbag 4 is
The hood 18 can be deployed very smoothly without being caught by the trailing edge of the hood 18 or the wiper device 26.

In this outer surface deployment type airbag device 1, since the lid 8 is normally arranged at a height lower than the rear edge portion of the hood 18 and the cowl top 22, the airbag device 1 is It is inconspicuous and has a good appearance from the rear edge of the hood 18 to the cowl top 22 and the lid 8 is hard to be exposed to direct sunlight and strong wind and rain.
The durability is also good.

Moreover, as described above, when the airbag 4 is inflated, the lid 8 is as high as or higher than the rear edge portion of the hood 18 and the cowl top 22 due to the inflation pressure of the airbag 4 or higher than these. Since the lid 8 is lifted up to a height such that the lid 8 is opened, the opening operation of the lid 8 is extremely smooth.

In the above embodiment, the lid 8
Has a substantially V-shaped vertical cross-sectional shape in which the vicinity of the central part in the vehicle front-rear direction is the highest level and the vehicle front and the vehicle rear are respectively inclined downwards. May have a flat shape on the upper surface of the lid, and as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
It may have various shapes other than this.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an essential part of an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the outer surface deployable airbag apparatus 1A shown in FIG. 4, the lid 8A has a substantially arcuate vertical cross-sectional shape whose uppermost position is near the central portion in the vehicle front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 4). A tear line 9A extending in the vehicle width direction is provided on the rear surface of the lid 8A near the central portion in the vehicle front-rear direction.

The other structure of the lid 8A is the same as the first embodiment.
The lid 8 is similar to the lid 8 shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, and when the airbag 4 is inflated, the lid 8A is pushed upward by the inflation pressure from the airbag 4 and then splits along the tear line 9. At the same time, one half of the lid 8A on the vehicle front side of the tear line 9 and the other half of the lid rear side on the vehicle rear side form a two-lobed flap, which opens toward the vehicle front and the vehicle rear, respectively.

The structure of this outer surface deploying type airbag apparatus 1A is the same as that of the outer surface deploying type airbag apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 except for the lid 8A. The same parts as those in the figure are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the front part of the vehicle body of an automobile when the airbag of the outer surface deployable airbag apparatus according to another embodiment is inflated.

In the above-described embodiment, the two-leaf flaps are configured to open forward and rearward of the vehicle as the airbag expands. However, the outer surface deployable airbag apparatus 1B shown in FIG. However, only the one-leaf flap is configured to open to either the vehicle front side or the vehicle rear side as the airbag expands.

In the outer surface deployment type airbag device 1B shown in FIG. 5, the tear line (not shown) is provided along the vicinity of the base end portion of the wall-shaped piece 12 on the vehicle front side of the lid 8B. When the airbag 4 is inflated, the lid 8B
The airbag 4 is pushed up by the inflation pressure of the airbag 4 to the same height as the trailing edge of the hood 18 and the cowl top 22 or a height higher than these, and then splits along the tear line, and the tear line is broken. A region on the vehicle rear side opens like a flap (reference numeral 32) toward the rear of the vehicle and overlaps with the cowl top 22.

Thereafter, the air bag 4 receives the flap 32.
It is deployed along the outer surface of the windshield 20 from the rear part of the hood 18 via. At this time, since the wiper device 26 attached to the cowl top 22 is covered with the flap 32, the airbag 4 is not covered by the wiper device 26.
It will be deployed smoothly without being caught in.

The structure of this outer surface deploying type airbag apparatus 1B is the same as that of the outer surface deploying type airbag apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 except for the lid 8B. The same parts as those in the figure are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an essential part of an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the extending direction of the wall-shaped piece of the lid of this outer surface deployment type airbag device. FIG. 7 (a) shows a normal condition, and FIG. It shows the situation when the bag is inflated.

In this outer surface deployable airbag apparatus 1C, a plurality of pins 34 for locking the lid 8C are provided on the vehicle front side surface and the vehicle rear side surface of the retainer 2A. This pin 34 arrangement and this pin 3
The action of 4 is similar to that of the hook portion 10 of the retainer 2.

In the lid 8C, the wall-shaped pieces 12 and 14 projecting from the rear surface thereof overlap the side surface of the retainer 2A on the front side of the vehicle and the side surface on the rear side of the vehicle, and the wall-shaped pieces 1 respectively.
Pins 34 on the side surfaces facing each other are engaged with the insides of slot-shaped openings 16A provided in Nos. 2 and 14, respectively, and are locked to the upper portion of the retainer 2A. The opening 1
6A has a function similar to that of the opening 16 of the lid 8. By vertically moving the pin 34 in the opening 16A, the lid 8C is vertically displaced with respect to the retainer 2A. Is possible.

In this embodiment, one of the openings 16A is provided with a pin 34 engaged in the opening 16A.
A partition member 36 is provided for locking to the upper end side of the. The partition member 36 normally holds the pin 34 on the upper end side of the opening 16A, whereby the lid 8C is prevented from moving upward.

When the lid 8C receives the inflation pressure from the airbag 4 and tries to move upward, the lid 8C shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the partition member 36 is crushed by the pin 34, and the pin 34 is allowed to move downward in the opening 16A. This allows the lid 8C to move upward.

The other construction of the outer surface deploying type airbag apparatus 1C is the same as that of the outer surface deploying type airbag apparatus 1 in FIGS. 1 to 3, and in FIG.
The same parts as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the outer surface deployable airbag apparatus 1C constructed as described above, the lid 8C is locked at the lower limit in the normal state and is prevented from moving upward. The lid 8C is prevented from swinging up and down due to vibration or the like during traveling.

In each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the lid is normally located deep inside the opening for installing the airbag apparatus, but the lid may cover the opening for installing the airbag apparatus. 8 and 9 are vertical cross-sectional views of the front part of the vehicle body of an automobile equipped with such an outer surface deployment type airbag apparatus, and FIG. 8 is a normal mode of the outer surface deployment type airbag apparatus. FIG. 9 shows a state when the airbag is inflated. In the following description, the front-rear direction means the vehicle front-rear direction, and the left-right direction means the vehicle width direction.

In this outer surface deployable airbag device 1D, the lid 8 that covers the front opening of the container-shaped retainer 2D.
D closes the opening for installing the airbag device provided between the hood 18D and the cowl top 22D.

The lid 8D is connected to the main plate portion 40 that covers the opening for installing the airbag device, the standing wall-shaped piece 42 that stands upright from the front edge of the main plate portion 40, and the standing wall-shaped piece 42. Is vertically hung from the front edge of the main plate portion 40 and is arranged along the front side surface of the retainer 2D, and the main plate so as to face the vertical wall piece 12D. It is provided downward from the back surface of the portion 40, and is mainly composed of a vertical wall-shaped piece 14D that is arranged along the rear side surface of the retainer 2D.

The rear end portion of the main plate portion 40 has a cowl top 22.
The upper end of the standing wall-shaped piece 42 is in contact with the lower surface (rear surface) of the rear end side edge of the hood 18D. The vertical wall-shaped pieces 12D and 14D are respectively locked by hooks 10D provided on the front and rear side surfaces of the retainer 2D. Further, on the back surface of the main plate portion 40, there is provided a tear line 9D composed of a concave line extending in the left-right width direction near the central portion in the front-rear direction of the main plate portion 40.

On the lower surface of the rear edge of the hood 18D,
A recessed step portion 44 for locking the upper end portion of the upright wall piece 42 is provided. In the lid 8D, a notch-shaped concave step portion 42a provided at an upper end portion of the standing wall-shaped piece 42 is provided in the concave step portion 4a.
By engaging with 4, the position is fixed in the opening for installing the airbag device.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the gas generator 6D is arranged along the front edge of the bottom surface of the retainer 2D, and the airbag 4D is provided together with the gas generator 6D. It is fastened to the bottom of the retainer 2D. The retainer 2D is fixed to a vehicle body member (not shown) via a bracket (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 9, the airbag 4D has a windshield 20 from the outer surface of the rear portion of the hood 18D.
It is deployable along the outer surface of D, and is normally stored in the retainer 2D with its volume reduced in a roll shape.
Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the airbag 4D has a hood 18D and a windshield 22 in an inflated state.
Hood and windshield facing surface 46 facing the outer surface of D, and pedestrian receiving surface 48 for receiving pedestrians, etc.
Are connected by a tether (hanging string-like member) 50, which prevents the pedestrian receiving surface 48 from excessively bulging toward the pedestrian.

The tether 50 is arranged so as to restrict the bulge of the pedestrian receiving surface 48 at the boundary portion between the hood 18D and the windshield 20D when the airbag 4D is inflated. Can follow the shapes of the outer surfaces of the hood 18D and the windshield 20D and can be smoothly deployed.

In the outer surface deployable air bag apparatus 1D thus constructed, a collision detection sensor (not shown) provided at the front end of the vehicle body such as a front bumper (not shown) detects the collision and detects the gas generator. When the air bag 4D is inflated by the gas from the gas generator 6D, the main plate portion 40 of the lid 8D is split along the tear line 9D by the inflation pressure of the airbag 4D, and the tear line of the main plate portion 40 is broken. The front half side of 9D and the rear half side of the tear line 9D of the main plate portion 40 are vertical wall pieces 12D and 14D, respectively.
A flap (reference numerals 52 and 5) with the base end of D as the center of rotation
4. See FIG. ) Open back and forth.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, the flap 52 opened forward is overlapped with the rear end of the hood 18D,
The flap 54, which is opened rearward, is a pivot part 26a of a wiper device 26 'provided at the front part of the cowl top 22D.
Overlap with. As a result, the airbag 4D has the rear end portion of the hood 18D and the pivot portion 26a of the wiper device 26 '.
It can be deployed very smoothly without being caught in.

In this outer surface deployable airbag device 1D, the upper end of the standing wall-shaped piece 42 is locked by the recessed step portion 44 provided on the lower surface of the rear end of the hood 18D, and the main plate portion 40 is also provided. By contacting the rear end portion with the front portion of the cowl top 22D, the rattling of the lid 8D is reliably prevented. Further, since the opening for installing the airbag device is closed by the lid 8D, the airbag device 1D
Also, the weather resistance of each device inside the vehicle body is significantly improved.

In the lid 8D of the outer surface deployable airbag apparatus 1D, a tear line 9D is provided near the center of the main plate portion 40 in the front-rear direction so that the airbag 4D opens forward and backward when inflated. The two-leaf flaps 52, 54 to be extended are formed, and the outer surface deployable airbag device 1 shown in FIG.
Like the lid 8E of E, the tear line 9E may be provided along the rear edge of the main plate portion 40E so that only the one-leaf flap 52E that opens forward when the airbag is inflated is formed. Like the lid 8F of the outer surface deployment type airbag device 1F shown in the figure, a tear line 9F is provided along the front edge of the main plate portion 40F, whereby a one-leaf flap 54F that opens rearward when the airbag is inflated.
It may be configured such that only one is formed.

In the outer surface deployment type airbag device 1E shown in FIG. 10, a vertical wall piece 14E is provided so as to extend along the rear side surface of the retainer 2D from the rear edge of the main plate portion 40E of the lid 8E. A flange-shaped piece 56 that abuts on the front portion of the cowl top 22D is projected from the lower edge of the hanging-wall-shaped piece 14E, and the main plate portion 40E is provided near the base end of the hanging-wall-shaped piece 14E. The structure is basically the same as the outer surface deployment type airbag device 1D shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 except that a tear line 9E is provided along the edge. The parts having basically the same functions as those in the figure are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this outer surface deployment type airbag device 1E, when the airbag 4D is inflated, the main plate portion 40E is split along the tear line 9E by the inflation pressure of the airbag 4D, and the two-dot chain line is shown in FIG. To form a flap 52E. This flap 52E is a vertical wall piece 1
The front end of the 2D is opened to the front with the vicinity of the base end thereof being the center of rotation, and the rear end of the hood 18D is covered. The airbag 4D is protected by the flap 52E and smoothly inflates and deploys.

External deployment type airbag device 1F of FIG.
In the above, the vertical wall-shaped piece 12F is vertically provided along the front side surface of the retainer 2D from the front edge of the main plate portion 40F of the lid 8F, and the front end portion of the vertical-walled piece 12F extends from the hood 18D.
A collar-shaped piece 58 that abuts on the concave stepped portion 44 of
A tear line 9F is provided along the front edge of the main plate portion 40 near the base end of the hanging wall-shaped piece 12F. The rear end portion of the main plate portion 40F is in contact with the front portion of the cowl top 22D. Further, in the outer surface deployable airbag apparatus 1F, the gas generator 6D is arranged along the rear edge of the bottom surface of the retainer 2D. The other structure of the outer surface deploying type airbag device 1F is basically the same as that of the outer surface deploying type airbag device 1D shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 described above. The parts having the same functions as those in the figure are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this outer surface deployment type airbag device 1F, when the airbag 4D is inflated, the main plate portion 40F is split along the tear line 9F by the inflation pressure of the airbag 4D, and the two-dot chain line is shown in FIG. To form a flap 54F. This flap 54F is a vertical wall-shaped piece 1.
It opens rearward with the vicinity of the base end of 4D as the center of rotation, and overlaps with the pivot part 26a of the wiper device 26 '. The airbag 4D is inflated and deployed smoothly by being guarded by the flap 54F.

According to the present invention, as in the case of the outer surface deploying type airbag apparatus 1G shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the lid mounted on the retainer and the lid for closing the opening for mounting the airbag apparatus are separately provided. May be provided. less than,
The outer surface deployment type airbag device 1G will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 are vertical cross-sectional views of the front portion of the vehicle body of an automobile equipped with an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to another different embodiment.
The figure shows a normal state of the outer surface deployment type airbag device, and FIG. 13 shows a state when the airbag is inflated.

In this outer surface deployable airbag apparatus 1G, a gas generator 6G is arranged near the center in the front-rear direction of the bottom surface of a container-shaped retainer 2G having an opening on the upper surface. The bag 4G is fastened to the bottom surface of the retainer 2G. As shown in FIG. 13, the airbag 4G has a windshield 22.
It can be deployed along the outer surface of G. In normal times,
The windshield facing surface 60 and the pedestrian receiving surface 62 are housed in the retainer 2G in a roll-reduced state. The retainer 2G has the lid 8G mounted so as to cover the upper opening thereof, and
It is arranged in an airbag device installation opening provided between the G and the cowl top 22G, and is fixed to a vehicle body member (not shown) via a bracket (not shown).

The lid 8G is provided with a main plate portion 64 that covers the upper opening of the retainer 2G and a downwardly extending portion from the front edge and the rear edge of the main plate portion 64 so as to extend along the front and rear side surfaces of the retainer 2G. And a tear line 9G along the front edge of the main plate portion 64 in the vicinity of the base end portion of the hanging wall-shaped piece 66.
Is provided. The vertical wall-shaped pieces 66, 68 are respectively locked to the front and rear side surfaces of the retainer 2G.

The opening for installing the airbag device is a lid 70.
Is closed by. The lid 70 is provided so as to project along a main plate portion 72 that covers the opening for installing the airbag device and a front edge of the main plate portion 72 along a lower surface of a rear end side edge portion of the hood 18G. The leg piece portion 74 engaged with and fixed to the recessed step portion 44G provided on the lower surface of the rear end side edge portion of 18G and the front portion of the cowl top 22G are attached to the rear end of the main plate portion 72. And a support portion 76 that supports the portion.

In the outer surface deployable airbag apparatus 1G thus constructed, a collision detection sensor (not shown) provided at the front end of the vehicle body such as a front bumper (not shown) detects the collision and detects the gas generator. When 6G operates and the gas from the gas generator 6G inflates the airbag 4G, first, the main plate portion 64 is split along the tear line 9A by the inflation pressure of the airbag 4G, and the flap 78 (13th
Figure) is formed. The flap 78 opens rearward with the vicinity of the base end of the vertical wall-shaped piece 68 as the center of rotation. Then, the main plate portion 72 of the lid 70 is pressed by the airbag 4G, which is going to continue to inflate via the flap 78, and the main plate portion 72 opens forward around the proximal end portion of the leg piece portion 74 as a rotation center. .

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13, the flap 78 opened rearward overlaps the pivot portion 26a 'of the wiper device 26 "provided at the front portion of the cowl top 22G, and the lid 70 opened forward. The main plate portion 72 of the air bag 4G covers the rear end portion of the hood 18G.
Can be deployed very smoothly without being caught by the rear end of the hood 18G or the pivot part 26a 'of the wiper device 26 ".

In this embodiment, when the airbag 4G is inflated, the main plate portion 64 of the lid 8G forms a flap 78 and opens rearward to overlap the pivot portion 26a of the wiper device 26 "and the lid 70. The main plate portion 72 of the lid 8G is configured to open forward and cover the rear end portion of the hood 18G. On the contrary, the flap 78 formed by the main plate portion 64 of the lid 8G is opened forward. The main plate portion 72 of the lid 70 may be configured to open rearward and overlap the pivot portion 26a ′ of the wiper device 26 ″ while covering the rear end portion of the hood 18G.

The outer surface deployment type airbag device of the present invention may be installed in a place other than the above on the vehicle body.

For example, the outer surface deployment type airbag device 1H shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 is installed inside the front grill 81 (FIG. 16) provided on the upper part of the front bumper 80. The front edge of the hood 18H projects above the front grill 81.

As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 16, this airbag device 1H is expanded along the front end face of the vehicle body so as to expand in four directions from the front grill 81 and cover the front bumper 80 and the front portion of the hood 18H. Has an inflatable and inflatable airbag 4H. This airbag 4H
In a normal state, the upper half side and the lower half side in the expanded state are respectively folded into a roll shape and housed in a retainer 2H having an open front surface. This airbag 4H
A lid 8H is attached to the front opening of the retainer 2H so as to cover the folded body. The lid 8H constitutes a part (or the whole) of the front grill 81 in normal times. A tear line 9H is provided along the lower edge of the lid 8H.

Incidentally, in FIGS. 14 to 16, reference numeral 6H
Indicates a gas generator for inflating the airbag 4H, and reference numerals 12G and 14G respectively indicate leg pieces for locking the lid 8H to the retainer 2H. Reference numerals 20H, 22H, and 26H respectively indicate a windshield of the vehicle body, a cowl top provided below the windshield, and a wiper device.

In this outer surface deployable airbag apparatus 1H, when the airbag 4H is inflated, the lid 8
The H splits along the tear line 9H and, as shown in FIG. 15, opens upward in a flap shape with the base end side of the leg piece 12H as the center of rotation, and covers the front edge of the hood 18H. As a result, the airbag 4H smoothly inflates and deploys along the front end surface of the vehicle body without being caught by the corner edge portion of the front end of the hood 18H.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18,
An opening 85 for inflating the airbag is provided between the upper portion of the rear bumper 82 and the rear end of the hood (trunk hood) 84 of the trunk room 83, and the opening 85 communicates with the rear end side of the trunk room 83. A chamber 86 for installing the airbag is partitioned, and the outer surface deployment type airbag device 1J is installed in the chamber 86.

As shown in FIG. 18, the airbag device 1J includes an airbag 4J which is inflatable and expandable along the rear end face of the vehicle body so as to bulge from the opening 85 and cover the rear part of the rear bumper 82 and the hood 84. Have In a normal state, the airbag 4J is housed in a retainer 2J having an open rear surface in a form in which an upper half side and a lower half side in an inflated state are folded in a roll shape. A lid 8J is attached to the retainer 2J so as to cover the folded body of the airbag 4J.

The lid 8J constitutes a part of the rear end face of the vehicle body by closing the opening 85 at normal times. A tear line 9J is provided along the lower edge of the lid 8J.

In FIGS. 17 and 18, reference numeral 6J is used.
Indicates a gas generator for inflating the airbag 4J, and reference numerals 12J and 14J respectively indicate leg pieces for locking the lid 8J to the retainer 2J. Further, reference numerals 87 and 88 denote a window glass and a rear seat of the vehicle body, respectively.

In this outer surface deployment type airbag device 1J, when the airbag 4J is inflated, the lid 8
J is cleaved along the tear line 9J and, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 17, opens upward in a flap shape with the base end side of the leg piece 12J as the center of rotation, and the upper edge of the opening 85 and the hood. Cover the trailing edge of 84. As a result, the airbag 4J is smoothly inflated and deployed along the rear end surface of the vehicle body without being caught by the upper edge of the opening 85 and the corner edge portion of the rear edge of the hood 84.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 19 and 20,
Air bag inflation openings 92A and 92B are provided in side protection malls 91A and 91B provided on the outer surfaces of the front entrance door 90A and the rear entrance door 90B (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "doors 90A and 90B"). And the opening 92 is provided.
Outer surface deployment type airbag devices 1K and 1L are installed in the inner regions of the doors 90A and 90B communicating with A and 92B, respectively.

The airbag device 1K is shown in FIGS.
As shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure, the airbag 4K is inflatable and expandable along the side surface of the vehicle so as to bulge from the opening 92A and cover the A pillar 93A and the side window glass 94A from the upper portion of the door 90A. There is. The airbag 4K is normally accommodated in a retainer 2K opened to the opening 92A in a roll-folded form. A lid 8K is attached to the retainer 2K so as to cover the folded body of the airbag 4K. The lid 8K constitutes a part of the side protection molding 91A by closing the opening 92A during normal times. A tear line 9K is provided along the lower edge of the lid 8K.

On the other hand, the airbag device 1L is shown in FIG.
As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.
B bulges out from the upper part of the door 90B to the B pillar 93B,
An airbag 4L that can be inflated and deployed along the side surface of the vehicle body so as to cover the C pillar 93C and the side window glass 94B.
have. The airbag 4L is normally housed in the retainer 2L opened to the opening 92B in a roll-folded form. A lid 8L is attached to the retainer 2L so as to cover the folded body of the airbag 4L. The lid 8L forms a part of the side protection molding 91B by normally closing the opening 92B. A tear line 9L is provided along the lower edge of the lid 8L.

In FIG. 19, reference numerals 6K and 6L are used.
Indicates a gas generator for inflating the airbags 4K, 4L, respectively, and reference numerals 95A, 95B indicate brackets for fixing the retainers 2K, 2L to the inner surfaces of the doors 90A, 90B, respectively.

In this embodiment, the airbag 4
When K and 4L are inflated, the lids 8K and 8L are torn along the tear lines 9K and 9L, respectively, and as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. The upper edges of the openings 92A and 92B are covered. As a result, the airbags 4K and 4L smoothly inflate and deploy upward from the openings 92A and 92B along the side surface of the vehicle body without catching on the upper edges of the openings 92A and 92B, respectively.

In this embodiment, the side protection moldings 91A and 91B of the doors 90A and 90B are provided with the openings 92A and 92B for inflating the air bag in order to avoid spoiling the appearance of the vehicle body. The opening 92
The arrangement of A and 92B is not limited to this.

It is obvious that the above-described embodiments are examples of the present invention, and the present invention can take forms other than those shown in the drawings. For example, a plurality of outer surface deployment type airbag devices of the present invention may be further installed at other places of the vehicle body. The airbag may be inflated and deployed not only when the vehicle collides with a pedestrian or the like, but also in anticipation of the collision between the vehicle and the pedestrian or the like.

[0090]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an outer surface deployment type air bag device in which the air bag is smoothly inflated without being caught by the trailing edge of the hood or the wiper.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a front part of a vehicle body of an automobile equipped with an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a normal state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the outer surface deployment type airbag device of FIG.

3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the front part of the vehicle body of the automobile when the airbag of the external deployment type airbag device of FIG. 1 is inflated.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a front portion of a vehicle body of an automobile equipped with an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to still another embodiment of the present invention in a normal state.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part of a lid of the outer surface deployment type airbag device of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a front portion of a vehicle body of an automobile equipped with an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to still another embodiment, in a normal state.

9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the front part of the vehicle body of the automobile when the airbag of the outer surface deployable airbag device of FIG. 8 is inflated.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a front portion of a vehicle body of an automobile equipped with an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to a different embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vehicle body front portion of an automobile including an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to a different embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a front portion of a vehicle body of an automobile equipped with an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to another different embodiment in a normal state.

13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the front part of the vehicle body of the automobile when the airbag of the outer surface deployment type airbag device of FIG. 12 is inflated.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vehicle body front portion of an automobile equipped with the outer surface deployment type airbag device according to the embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention at normal times.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a state of the outer surface deployment type airbag device of FIG. 14 when the airbag is inflated.

16 is a perspective view of an automobile equipped with the outer surface deployment type airbag device of FIG. 14 as seen obliquely from the front.

FIG. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a rear portion of a vehicle body of an automobile including an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an automobile equipped with the outer surface deployment type airbag device of FIG. 17 as seen obliquely from the rear.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of a door of an automobile equipped with an outer surface deployment type airbag device according to still another embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a side view of an automobile equipped with the outer surface deployment type airbag device of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view of a conventional outer surface deployment type airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1
H, 1J, 1K, 1L Outer air bag device 2, 2A, 2D retainer 4 Air bag 6 Gas generator 8, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8E, 8F, 8
G, 70 lid 10 hook portion 12, 14 wall-shaped piece 16, 16A opening 28, 30, 32, 52, 54, 52E, 54F, 78
Flap 18, 18D, 18G Hood 20, 20D, 20G Windshield 22, 22D, 22G Cowl top 26, 26 'Wiper device 34 Pin 36 Partition member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An airbag which can be deployed from a rear part of a hood of an automobile along an outer surface of a windshield, a case accommodating the airbag, a lid for covering the case, and a gas generator for inflating the airbag. An outer surface deployment type airbag device in which the lid is pushed outward by the airbag when the airbag is inflated and opens outward, wherein the opened lid covers at least one of a rear end of the hood and a wiper device. An outer deployment type airbag device characterized in that 2. The lid according to claim 1, wherein the lid is arranged so as to be retracted from the outer surface of the vehicle body, and the lid is movably attached to the case so as to be pushed by an inflating airbag. An outer deployment type airbag device characterized by moving upward and cleaving. 3. An airbag which can be deployed from a rear portion of a hood of an automobile along an outer surface of a windshield, a case accommodating the airbag, a lid for covering the case, and a gas generator for inflating the airbag. An outer surface deployment type airbag device in which the lid is pushed by the airbag and opens outward when the airbag is inflated, wherein the lid is located in a deployment region of the airbag when the airbag is deployed. An outer deployment type airbag device characterized in that it covers corner edges and protrusions.