JP2010052619A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device on the far side capable of adequately protecting an occupant when a side impact of a vehicle occurs. <P>SOLUTION: In the airbag device to be inflated and deployed in a space between occupants P1, P2 seated in a pair of right and left seats of a driver's seat 3 and a front passenger seat 4 of a vehicle 1, an airbag 22 comprises a first inflation unit 23 to be inflated and deployed above a console box 8 arranged between seating parts 3a, 4a of the driver's seat 3 and the front passenger seat 4, and a second inflation unit 24 and a third inflation unit 25 which are connected to a lower part of the first inflation unit 23 in a fork shape and inflated and deployed in spaces between a side surface of the console box 8 and side surfaces of the seating parts 3a, 4a. An upper part of the console box 8 is held by the second and third inflation units 24, 25 to suppress the movement of the airbag 22 in the vehicle width direction during a side impact of the vehicle 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is for a far side that can be inflated and deployed between two occupants seated on a pair of left and right seats disposed at a predetermined interval in the vehicle width direction of a vehicle to protect the occupants. The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus.

  In the event of a side collision when another vehicle collides with the side of the vehicle, the seat back has a space between the inner side of the side door and the side of the occupant to protect the passenger sitting on the seat. A side airbag device that is inflated and deployed is provided, and a far-side airbag device that is inflated and deployed between two passengers is provided. Since the position of the airbag is regulated by the inner surface of the side door in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag, a reaction force against the occupant is generated in the airbag, and the occupant is properly protected. Can do. However, in the airbag device on the far side, the airbag is inflated and deployed between two passengers, and the lower surface of the airbag is merely in contact with the upper surface of the console box, for example. For this reason, since the movement of the airbag in the vehicle width direction cannot be suppressed, when the occupant moves toward the airbag, the airbag also moves in the vehicle width direction. There was a problem that could not be properly protected.

In order to solve the above conventional problems, Patent Document 2 proposes a protection device for a front seat occupant of an automobile. This protective device is provided with an extension portion (switch operation surface) protruding toward the rear of the vehicle at the center of the instrument panel, and an airbag that instantly inflates in response to a signal from the vehicle impact detection means is provided below the extension body. There is disclosed an airbag device that is provided in a corresponding portion and that is in contact with at least the lower surface of the extension portion when the airbag is inflated to regulate the position of the airbag.
JP 2008-155904 A [Refer to paragraphs (0054 to 0057) and FIG. 5 of the specification] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-208647 [see paragraphs (007 to 009) and FIGS. 3 and 4 of the specification]

  However, the front-seat occupant protection device disclosed in Patent Document 2 has an inflated and deployed region of the airbag because the extension portion and the airbag provided on the instrument panel are in front of the trunk of the occupant. However, there was a risk that the passenger could not be properly protected by the airbag. There is also a problem that it cannot be applied to an automobile having no extension.

  The present invention eliminates the problems in the prior art and can properly protect the occupant in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, and can expand the applicable range. It is providing the airbag apparatus of this.

  In order to solve the above problems, an invention according to claim 1 is an airbag device inflated and deployed in a space between passengers seated on a pair of left and right seats of a vehicle, wherein the airbag is A first inflating portion that is inflated and deployed above an upper end of a headrest portion provided in the seat in the upper part of the vehicle interior structure disposed between the seat portions of the two seats; and A second inflatable portion connected to the lower portion and inflated and deployed in a space between the side surface of the vehicle interior structure and the side surface of the seat portion; the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion are folded A storage container that is housed in the vehicle interior structure or the ceiling of the vehicle in the state, and an expansion gas supply means that supplies an expansion gas to the inside of the first expansion portion and the second expansion portion. And

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, in the inflated and deployed state, the first inflatable portion clamps the upper portion of the vehicle interior structure from both the left and right sides in cooperation with the second inflatable portion. The gist is that the third expanding portion is formed.

  A gist of a third aspect of the present invention is that, in the first or second aspect, the storage container is provided in a storage space of a console box as the vehicle interior structure or behind the space.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the upper end portion of the first inflating portion is formed so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the ceiling portion of the vehicle in the inflated and deployed state. It is a summary.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the base fabric that forms the airbag is provided with two first cloth pieces that form the first inflatable portion, and the lower portions of the first cloth pieces. Are provided with second and third outer cloth pieces for forming the second and third inflatable portions, respectively, and another base cloth different from the base cloth is in contact with the second and third outer cloth pieces. The second and third inner cloth pieces for forming the second and third inflatable portions of the base cloth are folded downward with the upper end edge as a folded portion, and the second outer cloth piece and the second inner cloth piece are outside the second cloth piece. The peripheral edge is joined by the coupling portion except for the folded portion to form a second inflatable portion, and the outer peripheral edges of the third outer cloth piece and the third inner cloth piece are also joined by the coupling portion except for the folded portion. The gist is that the third expansion portion is formed.

(Function)
In the present invention, since the second inflating portion is inflated and deployed in a space between the side surface of the vehicle interior structure and the side surface of the seat portion, the second inflating portion is held at a predetermined position. For this reason, even if the first inflating part is moved in the vehicle width direction by the occupant in the case of a side impact accident of the automobile, the movement of the first inflating part in the vehicle width direction is suppressed by the second inflating part. The occupant on the anti-collision side (so-called far side) can be appropriately protected by the portion.

  Further, since the first inflating portion of the airbag is deployed above the vehicle interior structure and the second inflating portion is inflated and deployed in a space between the side surface of the vehicle interior structure and the side surface of the seat portion, The bag device can be provided in the vehicle interior structure or on the ceiling of the vehicle, and the applicable range of the airbag device can be expanded.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, when the side collision accident of a vehicle generate | occur | produces, while the passenger | crew of the anti-collision side can be protected appropriately, an application range can be expanded.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle airbag apparatus embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This airbag apparatus protects a collision-side occupant and an anti-collision (far-side) occupant when a vehicle side collision occurs.

  In the following description, the up-down direction coincides with the up-down direction of the vehicle, the front-rear direction coincides with the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the left-right direction coincides with the width direction of the vehicle, and coincides with the left-right direction when the vehicle moves forward. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a driver's seat 3 and a passenger seat 4 are attached to the floor 2 of the vehicle 1 as seats that are arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle 1. The driver's seat 3 includes a seat 3a that supports the thigh from the buttocks of the occupant P1, a backrest 3b that is configured to be reclining, and a headrest 3c that supports the head of the occupant P1. Similarly, the passenger seat 4 includes a seat portion 4a that supports the thigh from the buttocks of the occupant P2, a backrest portion 4b that is configured to be reclining, and a headrest portion 4c that supports the head of the occupant P2. ing.

  On both the left and right sides of the vehicle 1, body sides 5 constituting a part of the skeleton of the side portion of the vehicle 1 are provided substantially vertically, and a ceiling portion 7 is provided substantially horizontally on the top of the vehicle 1. Is provided. Further, a pillar 6 extends upward on the body side 5, and the ceiling portion 7 is supported by the pillar 6.

  Between the driver's seat 3 and the passenger seat 4, a protruding floor portion 2 a in which a part of the floor surface 2 protrudes upward is formed, and the longitudinal direction of the protruding floor portion 2 a is the vehicle front-rear direction. A console box 8 as a vehicle interior structure having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is provided. The console box 8 includes a console body 9 fixed to the projecting floor 2a and a substantially rectangular lid body 10 attached above the console body 9. As shown in FIG. 2, a storage space 11 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape for storing a portable product or the like is formed on the front side of the console body 9. The lid 10 is located above the upper surfaces of the seats 3a, 4a. The console body 9 and the lid body 10 are both made of a resin material.

  A shift lever 12 is mounted in front of the console box 8 of the protruding floor 2a. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an accommodation recess 9 a having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape for accommodating the airbag device 14 is formed on the rear side of the console body 9.

Next, the airbag device 14 housed in the housing recess 9a will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, a receiving box 16 having a bottomed square box shape is received in the receiving recess 9 a of the console body 9, and the receiving container 16 forms a bolt 17 at the bottom of the receiving recess 9 a of the console body 9. It is attached to the console body 9 by being screwed into the female screw 9b. An air bag 22, which will be described in detail later, is housed in the housing container 16 in a folded state. A retainer 19 that holds a cylindrical inflator 18 as an inflation gas supply means for supplying inflation gas to the airbag 22 is accommodated at the bottom of the accommodation container 16. A gas generating agent (not shown) is accommodated in the inflator 18. Two bolts 20 are welded to the outer peripheral surface of the retainer 19, and both bolts 20 project downward through the bottom plate 16 a of the container 16. A nut 21 is screwed onto the bolt 20, and the retainer 19 is fastened and fixed to the bottom plate 16 a together with a base end connecting portion of the airbag 22.

Next, the configuration of the airbag 22 will be described below.
As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag 22 is schematically connected to a first inflatable portion 23 that is inflated and deployed between the passengers P1 and P2 and to the left and right sides of the lower end portion of the first inflatable portion 23. And a pair of left and right second inflating portions 24 and 25 that sandwich the console box 8 from both left and right sides.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the airbag 22 is configured by joining two base fabrics 26, 27 made of woven fabric by a joint portion. As shown in FIG. 5, the base cloth 26 includes two first cloth pieces 26a and 26b forming the first inflating portion 23 and second outer cloth pieces forming the second and third inflating portions 24 and 25. 26c and a third outer cloth piece 26d. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a gas passage 28 that guides the inflation gas injected from the inflator 18 to the inside of the first inflating portion 23 is formed at the lower ends of the first cloth pieces 26 a and 26 b. The passage-forming cloth pieces 26e and 26f are integrally formed, and the cloth pieces 26e and 26f are connected by the folded-back portion 26g.

  On the other hand, the base cloth 27 is formed in substantially the same shape as the second outer cloth piece 26c as shown in FIG. 5, and forms a second inflatable portion 24 together with the second outer cloth piece 26c. 27a. The base cloth 27 includes a third inner cloth piece 27b formed in substantially the same shape as the third outer cloth piece 26d and forming the third inflating portion 25 together with the third outer cloth piece 26d. . The second inner cloth piece 27a and the third inner cloth piece 27b are folded downward as shown in FIG. 6 by a folding portion 27c.

  When the airbag 22 is manufactured, the first cloth pieces 26a and 26b are viewed from the left and right directions so that the base cloth 26 shown in FIG. 5 is positioned at the lower end as shown in FIG. Fold up to overlap. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the second inner cloth piece 27a and the third inner cloth piece 27b are folded downward with the base cloth 27 centered on the folding portion 27c. Then, the second inner cloth piece 27a and the third inner cloth piece 27b of the base cloth 27 are inserted between the second outer cloth piece 26c and the third outer cloth piece 26d. In this state, the semicircular arc-shaped outer peripheries of the second outer cloth piece 26c and the second inner cloth piece 27a are coupled by a coupling portion 29 such as a sewing thread or an adhesive. Similarly, the semicircular arc-shaped outer peripheries of the third outer cloth piece 26d and the third inner cloth piece 27b are joined by a joining portion 30 such as a sewing thread or an adhesive. In this way, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the second outer cloth piece 26c and the second inner cloth piece 27a form the second expansion portion 24, and the third outer cloth piece 26d and the third outer cloth piece 26d. The third expanding portion 25 is formed by the inner cloth piece 27b.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer peripheral edges of the first cloth pieces 26a and 26b of the base cloth 26 and the front edges of the cloth pieces 26e and 26f are joined by a joining portion 31 such as a sewing thread or an adhesive. The connecting portion 31 is not formed at the rear edge of the cloth piece 26f, but the first cloth pieces 26a and 26b, the second outer cloth piece 26c, the second inner cloth piece 27a, the third outer cloth piece 26d, and the third cloth piece 26f. An opening 26h for reversing the inner cloth piece 27b is formed. Then, the cloth pieces of the airbag 22 are passed through the opening 26h so that the cloth pieces are reversed so that the coupling portions 29, 30, 31 are inside the airbag 22 as shown in FIG. To do. By this step, the first inflating portion 23 is formed by the first cloth pieces 26 a and 26 b and the coupling portion 31. Thereafter, the retainer 19 holding the inflator 18 from the opening 26h is accommodated in a retainer accommodating portion 26i formed inside the folded portion 26g. The two bolts 20 connected to the retainer 19 protrude downward from two through holes formed in the folded portion 26g. Further, the edge of the opening 26 h is newly coupled by the coupling portion 32. By this step, as shown in FIG. 4, the gas passage 28 is formed by the cloth pieces 26e, 26f and the coupling portions 31, 32. The bolt 20 protrudes downward from a through hole 16b formed in the bottom plate 16a of the receiving container 16 as shown in FIG. The

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first inflating portion 23 of the airbag 22 is housed inside the housing container 16 as a cactus fold structure that is a kind of bellows fold. That is, the first cloth pieces 26a and 26b of the base cloth 26 constituting the first inflating portion 23 are each folded in a bellows. The folded portions 23a alternately appear in the vehicle width direction, and the flat portions 23b are directed in the vehicle width direction. The second and third inflating parts 24 and 25 are also housed in the housing container 16 as a cactus fold structure, which is a kind of bellows fold, like the first inflating part 23. The first inflating part 23, the second inflating part 24, and the third inflating part 25 may have a general zigzag accordion fold structure.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an airbag cover 33 is fitted and fixed to the upper end opening edge of the container 16. The airbag cover 33 is formed with a planned break portion 33a for opening the airbag cover 33 when the airbag 22 is inflated and deployed.

Next, the operation of the airbag device 14 configured as described above will be described.
When there is a collision (side collision) on the body side 5 of the vehicle 1, it is detected by a collision detection sensor (not shown) that a predetermined impact or more has been applied to the vehicle 1, and the drive current is supplied from the control circuit to the inflator. 18 is ignited by an ignition device (not shown). As a result, the gas generated from the gas generating agent of the inflator 18 flows into the airbag 22 and the airbag 22 expands upward. As the airbag 22 is inflated, the expected break portion 33a of the airbag cover 33 is broken by the inflation pressure, and the airbag cover 33 is opened. Subsequently, the airbag 22 is inflated and deployed by the gas supplied from the gas passage 28 to the inside of the first inflatable portion 23, as shown in FIG. Enter the space between the passengers P1 and P2. In synchronism with this, the gas supplied into the first inflating part 23 is supplied into the second and third inflating parts 24, 25, so that the second and third inflating parts 24, 25 is inflated and deployed in a bifurcated manner downward, and the second and third inflatable portions 24 and 25 are inflated and deployed so as to sandwich the box 8 across the upper portion of the console box 8. Further, the upper end portion of the first inflating portion 23 is pressed against the lower surface of the ceiling portion 7 of the vehicle 1. Therefore, even when the occupant P1 (or occupant P2) is moved in the vehicle width direction indicated by the arrow R (or L) in FIG. Since it is suppressed, the passenger P1 (or P2) is properly protected.

According to the airbag device 14 of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the above embodiment, the airbag 22 is branched and connected to both sides of the first inflating portion 23 inflated and deployed in the space between the passengers P1 and P2, and the lower end portion of the first inflating portion 23, and The upper part of the console box 8 was comprised by the 2nd and 3rd expansion parts 24 and 25 which clamp from a vehicle width direction. Further, the base end portion of the airbag 22 (the cloth pieces 26e and 26f and the folded portion 26g forming the gas passage 28) is connected to the bottom plate 16a of the container 16 by the retainer 19, as shown in FIG. . For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the airbag 22 is rotated in the horizontal direction around the base end portion by the second and third inflating portions 24 and 25 in a state where the airbag 22 is inflated and deployed. The movement of the occupant P1 (P2) is suppressed by the airbag 22, the reaction force against the occupant can be applied to the airbag 22, and the occupant can be properly protected.

  (2) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper end surface of the first inflating portion 23 is pressed against the lower surface of the ceiling portion 7 of the vehicle 1 with the airbag 22 inflated and deployed. It was to so. Therefore, the upper end portion of the airbag 22 is brought into frictional contact with the lower surface of the ceiling portion 7, and the airbag 22 is rotated in the vehicle width direction in FIG. 1 about the second and third inflatable portions 24 and 25. As a result, the function of holding the airbag 22 in a predetermined position is improved, and the protection performance of the occupant can be further improved as compared with the case of non-contact.

  (3) In the above embodiment, since the airbag 22 is formed by joining the base fabric 26 and the base fabric 27 shown in FIG. 5 with, for example, sewing threads as shown in FIG. 6, the structure of the airbag 22 is simplified. Manufacturing can be facilitated and costs can be reduced.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the first inflating portion 23 of the airbag 22 is deployed above the console body 9, and the second and third inflating portions 24, 25 are the side surfaces of the console body 9, and the seat portions 3a, 4a. The airbag device 14 can be provided in the console box 8 or in the ceiling portion 7 of the vehicle 1, and the accommodation position of the airbag device 14 is limited. Since it is not necessary, the applicable range of the airbag device can be expanded.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
As shown in FIG. 8, the third inflating part 25 of the airbag 22 is omitted (the second inflating part 24 is drawn on the right side in FIG. 8), and the first inflating part 23 and the second inflating part 24 are omitted. The airbag 22 may be configured as described above. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the airbag 22 is formed using the base cloth 26 from which the third outer cloth piece 26d is omitted and the base cloth 27 from which the third inner cloth piece 27b is omitted. Yes. The upper edge of the second inner cloth piece 27a of the base cloth 27 is coupled to the lower edge of the first cloth piece 26b by a coupling portion 34 such as a sewing thread or an adhesive.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the space between the side surface of the console main body 9 and the side surface of the seat portion 4 a of the passenger seat 4 when the third expansion portion 25 is in a side collision accident of the vehicle 1. It is inflated and deployed to enter. For this reason, even if the occupants P1 and P2 collide with the first inflating portion 23 while the second inflating portion 24 of the airbag 22 is held at a predetermined position, a reaction force against the occupant can be applied to the airbag 22. The passengers can be properly protected.

  As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7, the tether 35 for connecting the first cloth pieces 26a, 26b of the base cloth 26 to each other is connected by a connecting portion such as a sewing thread or an adhesive, and the first inflation of the airbag 22 is performed. When the portion 23 is inflated and deployed, the amount of deployment of the first inflatable portion 23 in the vehicle width direction may be regulated.

  Although not shown, the airbag device 14 is attached to the ceiling portion 7, the airbag 22 is inflated and deployed, and the second and third inflatable portions 24 and 25 provided at the lower end portion sandwich the upper portion of the console box 8. You may make it do. In this alternative example, the third expansion portion 25 may be omitted.

  The first inflatable portion 23 of the airbag 22 is not brought into contact with the ceiling portion 7 so that the first inflatable portion 23 is inflated and deployed above the upper ends of the headrest portions 3c and 4c of the driver seat 3 and the passenger seat 4. May be. In this case, the heads of the occupants P1, P2 correspond to the first inflating part 23, so that the heads can be properly protected.

-Although not shown in figure, you may materialize as the airbag apparatus 14 of the far side of the rear seat of the vehicle 1. FIG.
Although not shown, the airbag device 14 may be mounted inside the accommodation space 11. In this case, the lid body 10 is configured to be opened when the airbag 22 is inflated and deployed.

The airbag device 14 may be accommodated in the lid 10 of the console box 8.
(Definition) In this specification, the vehicle interior structure includes, in addition to the console box 8 described above, a protruding floor portion 2a provided on the floor surface 2, a shift lever 12 or an armrest provided on the protruding floor portion 2a.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle showing an inflated and deployed state of an airbag according to an embodiment of the airbag device of the present invention. The side sectional view of vehicles showing the inflated deployment state of an airbag similarly. The expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the accommodation state of the airbag of an airbag apparatus. The sectional side view which shows the expansion | deployment deployment state of the airbag of an airbag apparatus. The top view of the expansion | deployment state of the two base fabrics which comprise an airbag. The perspective view for demonstrating the joining method of two base fabrics. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of an airbag. The cross-sectional view of the vehicle which shows another embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  P1, P2 ... Crew, 1 ... Vehicle, 3a, 4a ... Seat, 3c, 4c ... Headrest, 7 ... Ceiling, 8 ... Console box as vehicle interior structure, 11 ... Storage space, 16 ... Storage container, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 ... Inflator as inflation gas supply means, 22 ... Air bag, 23 ... 1st expansion part, 23a, 26g, 27c ... Folding part, 24 ... 2nd expansion part, 25 ... 3rd expansion part, 26, 27 ... group Cloth 26a, 26b ... 1st cloth piece, 26c ... 2nd outer cloth piece, 26d ... 3rd outer cloth piece, 27a ... 2nd inner cloth piece, 27b ... 3rd inner cloth piece, 29, 30, 31, 32 , 34 ... coupling part.

Claims (5)

An airbag device that is inflated and deployed in a space between passengers seated on a pair of left and right seats of a vehicle,
The airbag is a first inflatable portion that is inflated and deployed to above the upper end of the headrest portion provided on the seat seat above the vehicle interior structure disposed between the seat portions of the two seats;
A second inflatable portion connected to a lower portion of the first inflatable portion and inflated and deployed in a space between a side surface of the vehicle interior structure and a side surface of the seat portion;
A storage container for storing the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion in a folded state in the vehicle interior structure or the vehicle ceiling;
An airbag device comprising: an inflation gas supply means for supplying an inflation gas into the first inflation portion and the second inflation portion. 3. The first inflating portion according to claim 1, wherein in the inflated and deployed state, a third inflating portion is formed to sandwich the upper part of the vehicle interior structure from both the left and right sides in cooperation with the second inflating portion. An airbag device characterized by comprising: 3. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the storage container is provided in a storage space of a console box as the vehicle interior structure or in the rear of the space. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an upper end portion of the first inflating portion is formed so as to be in contact with a lower surface of a vehicle ceiling portion in an inflated and deployed state. . In Claim 2, the base fabric which forms an airbag is equipped with the 1st cloth piece which forms the said 1st expansion part in two places, and the 2nd and 3rd expansion part is below the both 1st cloth pieces. Second and third outer cloth pieces for forming are provided, respectively, and inside the second and third outer cloth pieces, another base cloth different from the base cloth is contacted, and the second and third outer cloth pieces of the base cloth are contacted. The second and third inner cloth pieces for forming the third inflating part are folded downward with the upper end edge as the folded part, and the outer peripheral edges of the second outer cloth piece and the second inner cloth piece are excluding the folded part. A second inflating part is formed by being joined by a joining part, and the outer peripheral edges of the third outer cloth piece and the third inner cloth piece are also joined by the joining part except for the folded part to form a third inflating part. An airbag device characterized by comprising:

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