JP2008037279A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag device capable of improving deploying performance of an air bag in inflation. <P>SOLUTION: This air bag device has the air bag 11 to deploy and to constrain a head part of an occupant seated in a seat, an inflator 13 to generate gas to be supplied to the air bag 11, an in-bag horizontal part 20a inserted in the air bag 11 and extended roughly in the horizontal direction in the air bag 11 and a connecting pipe 20 furnished with a plurality of fluid supply holes H on the in-bag horizontal part 20a and to introduce the gas generated from the inflator 13 to the inside of the air bag 11 through the fluid supply holes H. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device installed in a vehicle such as an automobile.

  Conventionally, for example, in a driver's seat, a driver's seat airbag device that is inflated and deployed from the center of rotation of the steering wheel to the driver's side, or a passenger's seat airbag that is inflated and deployed from the instrument panel to the passenger's side, etc. Various airbag devices for restraining the occupant's body are used.

  In recent years, in the event of a major accident in which a large external force is applied to the vehicle, such as a vehicle body rollover due to a collision or a fall of a heavy object such as a fallen tree, there is a possibility that an impact may be applied from the overhead of the occupant to the head. Therefore, an airbag device for coping with such a case has already been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-37011 A

  In the above prior art, an airbag composed of a bag body combined with a base fabric is accommodated in a backrest (or headrest) of a vehicle seat, and inflated by supplying pressure fluid from an inflator to the airbag in an emergency. And a basic configuration for deploying above the head of the passenger is disclosed.

  In order to optimize the airbag device described above, it has been desired to make the airbag deployment performance smoother.

  The objective of this invention is providing the airbag apparatus which can aim at the improvement of the expansion | deployment performance of the airbag at the time of expansion | swelling.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the first invention is an airbag that restrains the head of an occupant who is deployed and seated on a seat, an inflator that generates pressure fluid to be supplied to the airbag, and the air A pressure generated from the inflator, including a horizontal part in the bag that is inserted into the bag and extends substantially horizontally in the airbag, and a plurality of fluid supply holes provided in the horizontal part in the bag. And a fluid supply pipe for introducing a fluid into the airbag through the fluid supply hole.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the fluid supply pipe extending in the substantially horizontal direction is inserted into the airbag that restrains the occupant's head, and the pressure fluid generated from the inflator is applied to the horizontal in the bag. Since a large amount of pressure fluid supplied from the inflator is efficiently introduced into the airbag through the plurality of fluid supply holes provided in the section, the airbag is efficiently introduced. Deployment performance can be improved.

  A second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, there is a retainer for folding and storing the airbag.

  According to the second invention, the airbag housed in the retainer can be folded in a compressed state along the horizontal portion of the fluid supply pipe, and the airbag is smoothly smoothed by the pressure fluid introduced from the fluid supply pipe. Can bulge.

  In a third aspect based on the second aspect, the fluid supply pipe has a horizontal portion outside the bag extending in a substantially horizontal direction outside the retainer, and has a substantially U-shape. And

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the fluid supply pipe extending in the substantially horizontal direction outside the retainer has a substantially U shape, so that the horizontal portion outside the bag of the fluid supply pipe is, for example, near the lower surface of the retainer. Can be placed close together.

  According to a fourth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, the inflator is arranged so that an axial direction thereof is a substantially vertical direction.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the inflator is disposed so that the axial direction is a substantially vertical direction, so that the inflator can be attached to the inside of the vertical side plate that forms the frame serving as the frame of the seat.

  According to a fifth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, the inflator is arranged so that an axial direction thereof is substantially horizontal.

  According to the fifth aspect, since the inflator is arranged so that the axial direction is substantially horizontal, the inflator can be arranged close to the vicinity of the lower surface of the retainer. Thereby, an airbag apparatus can be made compact.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the deployment performance of the airbag during inflation.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an airbag apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 (a) shows a non-operating state of the airbag apparatus, and FIG. 1 (b) shows an automobile seat 1 showing an operating state of the airbag apparatus. 2 is a schematic side view, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in the middle of inflation of the airbag provided in the airbag device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the airbag device of FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly and attachment procedure of the airbag apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which gas is supplied from the first bag to the second bag.

  In FIG. 1, the seat (seat) 1 includes a seat portion 1A on which an occupant 2 is seated, and a backrest portion 1B that protrudes upward from the seat portion 1A that supports the back of the seated occupant 2. A headrest 1C is attached to the top of the backrest 1B.

  The backrest portion 1B of the seat 1 is equipped with an airbag device 10 for restraining the head 2A of the occupant 2 when the vehicle rolls over due to an accident. The airbag device 10 includes an airbag 11 as shown in FIG. The airbag 11 includes a first bag 11A and two second bags 11B superimposed on the first bag 11A. The second bag 11B is a non-inflatable portion on both the left and right sides of the first bag 11A (that is, the gas is It does not flow in) and is connected in a connected manner through the connecting portion 11C. FIG. 2 shows a state in the middle of deployment of the airbag 11. That is, the gas (pressure fluid) from the inflator 13 (see FIG. 3) flows into the first bag 11A. Thereafter, gas flows into the second bag 11B from the first bag 11A through the communication path 11D. The airbag 11 is provided with two base fabrics of a shape corresponding to the first bag 11A and the two second bags 11B on the left and right sides thereof, and these are overlapped in the front and back, and the periphery thereof is formed into a bag shape. It is formed by sewing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag device 10 includes the airbag 11, a retainer 12 that accommodates the airbag 11 in a folded state, and an inflator 13 that is connected to the airbag 11 via a connection pipe 20. And. A control circuit (not shown) is connected to the inflator 13, and the control circuit activates an initiator attached to the inflator 13 based on a detection signal from a sensor (not shown) that detects the collision or rollover of the vehicle, The inflator 13 is ignited.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the airbag device 10 is in a state in which the airbag 11 is accommodated in the retainer 12 and folded in a non-operating state. For example, when the vehicle rolls over, the inflator 13 is ignited by the control circuit, and the airbag 11 is inflated and extended forward from the retainer 12 as shown in FIG. One bag 11A is deployed between the roof 3 of the automobile and the head 2A of the occupant 2 (but deployed above the head 2A in the case of an open car or the like) to restrain the occupant from moving upward of the head 2A. To do. Although not shown in FIG. 1B, at the same time, the second bags 11B on the left and right sides of the first bag 11A are inflated, the base portion of the first bag 11A is pushed forward, and the first bag 11A is The head 2A of the occupant 2 is pushed forward to bend and act to reduce the burden on the neck.

  The airbag device 10 is provided at an upper position in the backrest portion 1B by being attached to an upper portion of a seat frame 14 that is a skeleton member of the seat 1. The seat frame 14 includes a pair of side plates 14A on the left and right sides in the vehicle direction, and a cross member 14B that connects the upper portions of the side plates 14A at a rearward position in the backrest portion 1B of the seat 1. A plate (not shown) protruding forward from the lower portion of the plate 14A is provided in the seat portion 1A.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an attachment piece 11b is provided on the lower side of the base end side located on the lower side of the airbag 11, and a gas supply port 11a projects from the right side surface thereof. In order to assemble the airbag device 10, first, the airbag 11 is compressed from above and accommodated in the retainer 12 in a horizontally folded state, and the attachment piece 11 b is extended from the bottom wall through the opening of the retainer 12. While being lowered along the portion 12c, the gas supply port 11a is inserted to the outside from the insertion port 15 formed on the right side surface of the retainer 12 during the lowering. And the attachment part 11b of the said airbag 11 is pinched | interposed between the attachment part 12c of the retainer 12 with the two holding pieces 26, and it provided in the four bolt holes 25 provided in the attachment part 12c, and each holding piece 26 A bolt 21a is inserted into each of the two bolt holes 27, and a nut 21b is screwed into the bolt 21a to be fixed to the mounting portion 12c. As a result, the storage of the airbag 11 in the retainer 12 is completed, and the retainer 12 inserts the mounting pieces 12a and 12b as L-shaped metal fittings fixed to the left and right side walls by riveting or the like into the bolt holes 24. The bolt 23 is attached to the cross member 14B (see FIG. 3).

  On the other hand, the gas supply port 11a protruding from the right side surface of the airbag 11 is connected to a metal connecting pipe that constitutes a fluid supply pipe of the inflator 13 that is mounted substantially vertically inside one side frame 14A of the seat frame 14. 20 is connected. The connecting pipe 20 extends substantially horizontally inside the airbag 11 through the gas supply port 11a, and has an in-bag horizontal portion 20a having a plurality of fluid supply holes H on the side surface, and outside the retainer. A U-shaped bent portion 20b bent into a substantially U shape, a bag outer horizontal portion 20c folded back in the horizontal direction by the bent portion 20b, and bent vertically downward from the bag outer horizontal portion 20c and connected to the inflator 13 at the lower end portion. And a vertical portion 20d having a connection port.

  Therefore, the connection pipe 20 is connected to the gas supply port 11a inserted through the horizontal portion 20a in the bag 11 by caulking a metal clamp band 30 (see FIG. 4) or the like placed thereon. Is done. The connection port on the lower end side is connected to the connection end 13a of the inflator 13 by screw fastening or caulking or the like via a connection fitting 20e fitted on the outer periphery of the connection pipe 20.

  The inflator 13 is attached to one side frame 14 </ b> A of the seat frame 14 by the attachment member 31 so that the axial direction is substantially vertical. The mounting member 31 sandwiches the body portion of the inflator 13 from both sides with a pair of semicircular arc-shaped plates 31A and 31B having flanges 31d at both ends, and the rivet 31a of the flange 31d of one plate 31A is attached to the other plate 31B. It is attached to the inflator 13 by inserting into the rivet hole 31b of the flange 31d and caulking. In addition, it may replace with a rivet and may be fastened with a normal bolt or screw. In this way, the inflator 13 supported by the mounting member 31 is attached to the side frame by the bolt 32 (see FIG. 3) using the mounting piece 31C of one plate 31A extending at the tip of the flange 31d and oriented at right angles. 14A is fixed. The connection terminal 34 drawn out from the rear end of the inflator 13 is connected to the control circuit (not shown). Thus, the airbag device is assembled.

  As described above, according to the airbag device 10 of the present embodiment, when the gas from the inflator 13 is supplied to the airbag 11, as shown in FIG. 5, the gas is supplied to the first bag 11A through the gas supply port 11a. In addition to being supplied, the left and right second bags 11B are supplied through the communication paths 11D. At this time, gas is introduced into the first bag 11A from the plurality of fluid supply holes H of the in-bag horizontal portion 20a of the connection pipe 20 inserted deeply into the first bag 11A through the gas supply port 11a. Therefore, a large amount of gas supplied from the inflator 13 is efficiently introduced into the first bag 11A, and the deployment performance of the airbag can be improved.

  Moreover, according to the airbag apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the airbag 11 is folded and accommodated in the retainer 12. Thereby, the airbag 11 accommodated in the retainer 12 can be folded along the in-bag horizontal portion 20a of the connection pipe 20, and gas is smoothly introduced from the connection pipe 20 to smoothly inflate the airbag 11. Can be issued.

  Moreover, according to the airbag apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the connection pipe 20 has the bag outer horizontal part 20c extended in the substantially horizontal direction outside the retainer 12, and is set as a structure provided with a substantially U shape. Thereby, the horizontal part 20c outside the bag of the connection pipe 20 can be disposed close to the vicinity of the lower surface of the retainer 12, and the installation space of the airbag device 10 in the backrest part 1B can be reduced in size. Further, as described above, the connecting pipe 20 extending in the substantially horizontal direction from the in-bag horizontal portion 20a to the outside of the retainer 12 is bent into a substantially U shape, thereby connecting the connecting pipe 20 in the horizontal direction from the gas supply port 11a. By simply adjusting the amount of insertion of 20 into the air bag in the axial direction, positioning of the inflator 13 disposed in the substantially vertical direction of the connection port at the lower end of the vertical portion 20d becomes easy and the connection work is improved. Can be made.

  Moreover, according to the airbag apparatus 10 of this embodiment, the inflator 13 is arrange | positioned so that the axial direction may turn into a substantially vertical direction. Thereby, the inflator 13 can be firmly attached to the inside of the vertical side plate 14 </ b> A that forms the seat frame 14 that becomes the skeleton of the seat 1.

  In the above description, the inflator 13 has been described with reference to an example in which the axial direction is arranged in the vertical direction. However, the inflator 13 is not limited to this direction, and the configuration and arrangement of the retainer and the airbag or the fluid supply pipe It can be arranged at an optimum angle corresponding to the piping.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the inflator is attached to the seat frame so that the axial direction is substantially horizontal, and FIG. 7 is the airbag device of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the assembly and attachment procedure of. Note that the same components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In this modification, the inflator is attached to the seat frame so that the axial direction is substantially horizontal. That is, in FIG. 6, the airbag device 38 fluids to the gas supply port 11 a that protrudes from the right side surface of the airbag 11 and the inflator 13 that is mounted horizontally inside the one side frame 14 </ b> A of the seat frame 14. Both ends of a metal connection pipe 40 constituting the supply pipe are connected.

  The connecting pipe 40 extends in a substantially horizontal direction inside the airbag 11 through the gas supply port 11a, and has an in-bag horizontal portion 40a provided with a plurality of fluid supply holes H on the side surface, and the exterior of the retainer 12. The U-shaped bent portion 40b bent in a substantially U-shape and the bag outer horizontal portion 40c folded back in the horizontal direction by the bent portion 40b. The bag outer horizontal portion 40c is horizontally arranged at the left end portion. It has a connection port connected to the inflator 13.

  The inflator 13 has a mounting surface 34 of a bracket 34 in which the mounting member 31 having the body portion sandwiched from both sides by the same mounting member 31 as in the above embodiment is mounted horizontally on the inner wall surface of one side frame 14A of the seat frame 14. It is fixed so that the axial direction is substantially horizontal.

  As described above, according to the airbag device 38 of the present modification, the same effect as that of the above embodiment can be obtained, and the bracket 34 attached to one side frame 14A of the seat frame 14 in the horizontal direction. Since the inflator 13 is attached so that the axial direction of the inflator 13 is horizontal via the attachment member 31, the inflator 13 can be disposed close to the retainer 12. Thereby, the airbag apparatus 38 can be made compact.

  The specific configurations of the above-described embodiments do not strictly limit the contents of the present invention, and it is needless to say that details can be variously changed in accordance with the spirit of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is an airbag apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a schematic side view of the motor vehicle seat which shows the time of non-operation of an airbag apparatus, and (b) is the time of operation of an airbag apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the state in the middle of expansion | swelling of the airbag with which the airbag apparatus of FIG. 1 was equipped. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the airbag apparatus of FIG. 1 to the seat frame. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the assembly and attachment procedure of the airbag apparatus of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state by which gas is supplied to a 2nd bag from a 1st bag. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a modification of the airbag device and showing a state in which the inflator is attached to the seat frame so that the axial direction is substantially horizontal. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the assembly and attachment procedure of the airbag apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 seat
2 Occupant 2A Head 10, 38 Airbag device 11 Airbag 12 Retainer 13 Inflator 20, 40 Connection pipe (fluid supply pipe)
20a Horizontal portion 20b in bag, 40b U-shaped bent portion 20c Horizontal portion outside bag H Fluid supply hole

Claims (5)

An airbag that restrains the head of an occupant seated in the seat
An inflator for generating a pressure fluid to be supplied to the airbag;
A horizontal portion in the bag that is inserted into the airbag and extends substantially horizontally in the airbag, and a plurality of fluid supply holes provided in the horizontal portion in the bag, and is generated from the inflator. And a fluid supply pipe for introducing the pressurized fluid into the airbag through the fluid supply hole. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
An airbag device comprising a retainer for folding and storing the airbag. The airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The fluid supply pipe is
An airbag device having a bag outer horizontal portion extending in a substantially horizontal direction outside the retainer and having a substantially U-shape. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An airbag device, wherein the inflator is arranged such that an axial direction thereof is a substantially vertical direction. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An airbag device, wherein the inflator is disposed such that an axial direction thereof is substantially horizontal.

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