JP2007307973A - Airbag and airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag and an airbag device capable of smoothly introducing a pressurized fluid fed from an inflator from a first bag to a second bag. <P>SOLUTION: The airbag 11 has a first bag 11A and a second bag 11B which are formed in a bag body shape, and developed above a head 2A of an occupant 2 seated in a seat 1 of a car to regulate the head 2A. The airbag 11 is formed not to be bent when the airbag is folded and stored. A communication passage 11D for communicating the first bag 11A with the second bag 11B is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and more specifically, an airbag that restricts movement of the head of an occupant seated on a seat when the vehicle rolls over, and an airbag device including the airbag. About.

  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 side, a passenger seat airbag that is inflated and deployed from the instrument panel to the passenger seat 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).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-37011 (page 7, FIG. 5)

  In the above prior art, the airbag formed in the bag body connecting the first bag and the second bag by stitching the base fabric is folded and stored in the backrest portion of the seat of the vehicle. A basic configuration is disclosed in which a pressure fluid is supplied to a second bag (holding portion) through a first bag (supporting portion) and a communication passage with the first bag and inflated to be deployed above the head of the occupant. Yes.

  In order to optimize the airbag device, it is required to smoothly introduce the pressure fluid supplied to the first bag from the first bag to the second bag.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the airbag and airbag apparatus which can perform smoothly the introduction | transduction from the 1st bag to the 2nd bag of the pressure fluid supplied from the inflator.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first invention of the present application comprises a first bag and a second bag formed in a bag body, and is deployed above the head of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat to An air bag to be regulated, wherein the air bag is formed so as not to bend when the air bag is folded and stored, and has a communication path that communicates the first bag and the second bag.

  Normally, the airbag is folded and stored in the back portion of the seat. In an emergency such as a vehicle body rollover, the pressure fluid from the inflator is supplied to the airbag, the first bag is first inflated, and the pressure fluid is supplied from the first bag to the second bag via the communication path. The second bag is inflated.

  At this time, the airbag of the first invention of the present application is stored in a state where the communication path is not bent. As a result, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the pressure fluid that has flowed into the first bag can be introduced into the second bag with a low resistance without being accompanied by a large resistance due to bending of the communication path. Therefore, the pressure fluid can be smoothly introduced from the first bag to the second bag. As a result, the deployability of the airbag can be improved.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the communication path is formed by adhering peripheral edges of the opening provided on the overlapping side of the first bag and the second bag. It is characterized by being.

  In this way, by forming the communication path by adhering the peripheral edge portions of the opening portions on the overlapping side using, for example, an adhesive, the communication path can be shortened so as not to bend. As a result, the pressure fluid can be introduced into the second bag with low resistance without being accompanied by large resistance due to flowing through a relatively long passage.

  In order to achieve the above object, the third invention of the present application includes the airbag of the first or second invention, and an inflator that supplies the airbag with a pressure fluid and inflates the airbag.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to smoothly introduce the pressure fluid supplied to the airbag device from the first bag to the second bag.

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

  FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an automobile seat 1 provided with an embodiment of an airbag apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 (a) is when the airbag apparatus is not operating, and FIG. 1 (b) is an airbag apparatus. The operation time is shown. The seat (seat) 1 includes a seat portion 1A on which an occupant 2 sits, 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.

  An airbag device 10 for restraining the head 2 </ b> A of the occupant 2 is mounted in the backrest 1 </ b> B of the seat 1 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. This will be described later.

  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 pipe 20. I have. 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 automobile 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. The first bag 11A is deployed between the roof 3 of the automobile and the head 2A of the occupant 2 (but in the case of an open car or the like, deployed above the head 2A), and the occupant's head 2A is moved upward. to bound. 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 to push the base portion of the first bag 11A 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 width direction and a cross member 14B that connects the upper portions of the side plates 14A at a rearward position in the seat back portion 1B. A base plate (not shown) protruding forward from the lower side of the side plate 14A is provided in the seat portion 1A.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a gas supply 11 a to the airbag 11 and two attachment pieces 11 b located on both sides of the gas supply port 11 a are provided on the base end side located on the lower side of the airbag 11. ing. To assemble the airbag device 10, first, the airbag 11 is folded and accommodated in the retainer 12, and the gas supply 11 a and the two attachment pieces 11 b are extended from the bottom wall through the opening in the bottom wall of the retainer 12. It hangs down along the provided attachment part 12c. And each attachment piece 11b of the airbag 11 is clamped between the attachment part 12c of the retainer 12 by the holding piece 26, respectively, and two bolt holes 25 provided in the attachment part 12c and two bolt holes provided in the holding piece 26 A bolt 21a is inserted into each of the bolts 27, and a nut 21b is screwed into the bolt 21a to be fixed to the mounting portion 12c. Thus, the storage of the airbag 11 in the retainer 12 is completed, and the retainer 12 is a bolt in which the L metal fittings 12a and 12b fixed to the left and right side walls by riveting or the like are inserted into the bolt holes 24. By fixing to the cross member 14B of the seat frame 14 by 23, the seat frame 14 is attached to the upper part.

  On the other hand, the gas supply port 11 a of the airbag 11 is connected to an inflator 13 attached to one side plate 14 </ b> A of the seat frame 14 via a metal connection pipe 20. One end portion 20a of the connection pipe 20 is formed in an upward bent portion, and the one end portion 20a is covered with a gas supply port 11a of the airbag 11, and a metal clamp band 30 or the like is covered thereon and caulked. Thus, the gas supply port 11a is connected. The other end of the connection pipe 20 is formed in a downward bent portion, and is connected to the connection end 13a of the inflator 13 by bonding or welding via a connection fitting 20b fitted to the other end. The inflator 13 is attached to one side plate 14 </ b> A of the seat frame 14 by an attachment member 31. The attachment member 31 is composed of a pair of semicircular arc-shaped plates 31A and 31B provided with flanges 31d at both ends, sandwiching the body of the inflator 13 from both sides with both plates 31A and 31B, and the flange 31d of one plate 31A. The rivet 31a is attached to the inflator 13 by being inserted into the rivet hole 31b of the flange 31d of the other plate 31B. Instead of rivets, normal bolts or screws may be used. The inflator 13 supported by the mounting member 31 in this way is connected to the side through the mounting bolt 32 inserted into the bolt hole 33 of the mounting piece 31c oriented at right angles extending from the tip of the flange 32 of one plate 31A. It is fixed to the plate 14A. 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 10 is assembled.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 5, the airbag 11 is disposed on the occupant 2 side (vehicle front side), the first fabric called the first panel, and the occupant 2 opposite side (vehicle rear side). Two substantially identical base fabrics 35 called a panel are sewn in a bag shape.

  More specifically, each base cloth 35 includes an inverted trapezoidal first bag portion 35A projecting from the upper center forming the first bag 11A, and left and right sides along both sides of the inverted trapezoidal portion of the first bag portion 35A. A rectangular rectangle with a short width connecting the left and right second bag portions 35B forming the second bag 11B and the left and right second bag portions 35B forming the left and right connecting portions 11C and the first bag portion 35A. It has a shape defined with the part 35C.

  The two base fabrics 35 of the first panel and the second panel are overlapped on the front and back, a narrow belt-like seal member 41 is applied around the first bag portion 35A, and the first bag is sewn with the thread 40 from above. The periphery of the portion 35A is closed by the stitching portion 40f except for the gas supply port 11a projecting downward from the lower center of the first bag portion 35A. Similarly, the suture 40 and the seal member 41 are used to sew, and a stitching portion 40a is provided vertically from the upper end of the stitching portion 40f at the center of the first bag portion 35A. The circular stitching portion 40e is formed at a position close to the lower end of the stitching portion 40f to be a terminal end, and is directed to the upper side of the stitching portion 40e from the bent portion of the upper portion of the stitching portion 40f to the left and right of the stitching portion 40a. The seam 40b is bent, and the end of each seam 40b is formed in a circular seam 40d, and circular seams 40c are formed on the left and right of the upper part of the seam 40a.

  Thereby, the 1st bag 11A which the circumference | surroundings closed with the stitching | suture part 40f except the location of the gas supply port 11a is formed, and the inner side of the 1st bag 11A has the stitching | suture part 40a, the stitching | suture part 40f of both sides, and the stitching | suture part 40b The four chambers, chamber chambers 42d and 42a, surrounded by the chamber chambers 42c and 42b, the left and right stitching portions 40b, and the stitching portions 40f outside the chamber chambers 42b and 42a are partitioned in a manner communicating with the gas supply port 11a. .

  Each of the left and right second bag portions 35B is similarly sutured using the thread 40 and the sealing member 41, and the left and right second bags 11B each having a single chamber chamber 43 closed by a suture portion 40g. Is formed. The left and right rectangular portions 35C are made of only the thread 40 without using the seal member 41, and the upper and lower edges are sewn up to the stitching portion 40f of the first bag portion 35A and the stitching portion 40g of the second bag portion 35B. 11C of the connection part with which the edge part of this was closed by the stitching | suture part 40h is formed. Since the connecting portion 11C is a non-expandable portion, the stitching portion 40h is not necessarily required and may be omitted.

  Thus, the first bag 11A and the left and right second bags 11B are connected by the connecting portion 11C, but the airbag 11 that is not in communication is obtained. Further, the left and right second bags 11B are folded back to the near side (opposite to the occupant 2) along the line X at the connecting portion 11C, thereby overlapping the first bag 11A and holding the overlapped state. Therefore, the butted end portions of the left and right second bags 11B (the outer edge 50 along the stitching portion 40g on the outer side of the second bag portion 35B) are stitched together with a thread, and the stitched butted end portions are further sewn. The airbag 11 is formed into a shape when the airbag 11 is completed by sewing the bag 11A to the bag 11A at the central stitching portion 40a.

  Here, for example, in the airbag 11, when the first bag 11 </ b> A and the left and right second bags 11 </ b> B are to be communicated with each other by a communication path (air path) provided in the connection part 11 </ b> C, The thread and the sealing member are sewn so as to form a passage, and the stitching portion of the connection path 11C, the stitching portion 40f of the first bag 11A, and the stitching portion 40g of the second bag 11B are connected to each other by the passage of the connection portion 11C. The first bag 11A and the second bag 11B must be continuously stitched so as to communicate with each other, and the stitching structure is complicated.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to obtain communication, openings 44a and 44b are provided in advance near the connecting portion 11C on the overlapping surface of the first bag 11A and the left and right second bags 11B. As shown, an adhesive layer 45 is applied to the peripheral edge of the opening, the peripheral edge of the opening is adhered by the adhesive layer 45 to connect the openings 44a and 44b, and the first bag 11A and the left and right second bags 11B are connected to each other. A communication path 11D is formed between them.

  The adhesive layer 45 needs to exhibit strong adhesion to the base fabric constituting the airbag 11 in order to strongly bond the peripheral portions of the openings 44a and 44b of the first bag 11A and the second bag 11B. Examples of the adhesive material used for such an adhesive layer include an epoxy resin.

  In this way, by forming the communication path 11D by bonding using an adhesive, the communication path 11D is shortened so that the airbag 11 does not bend even when the airbag 11 is folded and stored in the retainer 12. It becomes possible to form.

  According to the airbag device 10 of the present embodiment described above, when the gas from the inflator 13 is supplied to the airbag 11 and the gas flows into the first bag 11A as shown in FIG. The bag 11A is inflated and supplied from the first bag 11A to the left and right second bags 11B through the communication paths 11D.

  At this time, as described above, the airbag 11 is stored in a state where the communication path 11D is not bent. Thereby, when the airbag 11 is inflated and deployed, the gas that has flowed into the first bag 11A can be introduced into the second bag 11B with a low resistance without being accompanied by a large resistance due to the bending of the communication passage 11D. Further, for example, it is possible to avoid blockage due to bending of the communication path that may occur when the communication path is formed in the connecting portion 11C by stitching. Therefore, gas can be smoothly introduced from the first bag 11A to the second bag 11B. As a result, the deployability of the airbag 11 can be improved.

  Furthermore, the gas communication path from the first bag 11A to the second bag 11B is secured with a simple structure without requiring complicated stitching as in the case where the communication path is formed by stitching in the connecting portion 11C, for example. Can do.

  In addition, although the above demonstrated taking the case where this invention was applied to the airbag 11 by which 11 A of 1st bags and the 2nd bag 11B were connected by 11 C of connection parts, it is not restricted to this. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the present invention is applied to an airbag 11 ′ that does not have a connecting portion 11C, is separated from the first bag 11A and the second bag 11B, and is connected only by the communication path 11D. You may make it do. Also in this case, the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

  Moreover, although the above demonstrated taking the case where this invention was applied about the airbag 11 which has two 2nd bags 11B as an example, it is not restricted to this. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the present invention may be applied to an airbag 11 ″ in which two second bags 11B and 11B are integrated to form one second bag 11B ′. Even in this case, the same effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

It is a schematic side view of the motor vehicle seat provided with one embodiment of the air bag device of the present invention, (a) at the time of non-operation of an air bag device, and (b) at the time of operation of an air bag device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in the middle of inflation of the airbag provided in the airbag device of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the place which attached the airbag apparatus of FIG. 1 to the seat frame. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing how to assemble and attach the airbag device of FIG. It is a top view which shows the state before superimposing the 2nd bag of the airbag of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the communicating path of the gas from the 1st bag of the airbag of FIG. 2 to a 2nd bag. It is a schematic diagram which shows the place where gas is supplied to the 2nd bag from a 1st bag through the communicating path of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the middle of expansion | swelling of the airbag in the modification in which the 1st bag and the 2nd bag were isolate | separated. It is a perspective view which shows the middle of expansion | swelling of the airbag in the modified example with one 2nd bag.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1B Backrest part 2A Head part 10 Airbag apparatus 11 Airbag 11A 1st bag 11B 2nd bag 11C Connection part 11D Communication path 12 Retainer 44a, 44b Opening part 45 Adhesive layer

Claims (3)

An airbag comprising a first bag and a second bag formed in a bag body, and deploying above a head of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat to regulate the head,
An airbag having a communication path that is formed so as not to bend when the airbag is folded and stored, and that communicates the first bag and the second bag. The airbag according to claim 1,
The airbag is characterized in that the communication path is formed by adhering peripheral edges of openings provided on the overlapping side of the first bag and the second bag. The airbag according to claim 1 or 2,
And an inflator for inflating the airbag by supplying a pressure fluid to the airbag.

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