JP3794126B2 - Side airbag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a side airbag device for a vehicle that is used to absorb an impact during a side collision (side collision) and protect an occupant.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a side airbag device for this type of vehicle, a device in which a side airbag is disposed on a seat back is known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-64491). In this apparatus, a side airbag and an inflator for inflating the side airbag are disposed in a vehicle seat back. When the side collision occurs, the inflator is activated so that the side airbag is deployed in the space between the occupant and the side door.
[0003]
On the other hand, the side airbag protects only the vicinity of the occupant's chest, but the side airbag is deployed to the occupant's head position so as to protect not only the occupant's chest but also the head. What has been made known is also known (for example, see JP-A-5-58245). In this device, the side airbag and the inflator are accommodated inside the side door. At the time of a side collision, the side airbag is deployed to a space between the occupant and the side door to the occupant's head position to protect the occupant's head. Such a side airbag is formed into a bag shape by using a cloth-like base material knitted with synthetic resin fibers, and internal gas leaks through the base material or stitches in the deployed state of the side airbag. It is designed to absorb shocks effectively.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, even in a vehicle that does not include a side airbag device, a predetermined shock absorbing function can be secured by adjusting the strength, rigidity, etc. of the entire vehicle including the side door. The impact absorbing function can be further improved by an apparatus.
[0005]
However, in the above-described conventional side airbag device for a vehicle, when a side collision occurs, for example, the glass of the window portion of the side door may be damaged, and the side airbag may hit the glass of the damaged window portion. . Even in such a case, it is necessary to further improve the reliability with respect to the impact absorbing function of the side airbag.
[0006]
This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, The place made into the objective is to raise the reliability with respect to the side airbag at the time of a side collision.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a side airbag unit including a side airbag and an inflator that blows gas to the side airbag to deploy the side airbag is provided on the side airbag. It is assumed that the vehicle side airbag device is arranged so as to be deployed toward a space between an occupant seated on an airbag and a side door adjacent to the occupant in the vehicle width direction. In this configuration, the side airbag is configured so that the upper portion thereof extends to the window portion of the side door in the deployed state, and the portion facing the window portion of the side airbag in the deployed state is compared with other portions. A reinforced reinforcing part is formed, and the reinforcing part is configured in a multiple structure by attaching a cloth-like reinforcing member so as to cover the outer surface of the base material constituting the side airbag, and the reinforcing member It is set as the structure attached so that it may be in the state loosened with respect to the said base material in the deployment state of an airbag.
[0008]
In the case of the above configuration, the window portion of the side door is damaged at the time of a side collision, and even if the side airbag hits the damaged surface of the damaged window portion, it faces the window portion of the side airbag. The reinforcing member attached to the portion does not directly contact the base material of the side airbag, thereby preventing the side airbag from being torn. Furthermore, since the reinforcing member is attached in a slack state with respect to the base material and no tension is applied, the reinforcing member is not easily broken and the protection of the base material is ensured. In addition, since the reinforcing portion has a multiple structure, internal gas leaking through the base material of the side airbag accumulates between the base material of the side airbag and the reinforcing member, and a space is formed. . For this reason, the impact with respect to the said base material which arises by hitting a window part is relieve | moderated, and the reliability with respect to the said side airbag is improved by preventing the tearing of the said side airbag much more reliably.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the side airbag has a chest protection portion corresponding to the height of the occupant's chest in the deployed state and a head corresponding to the height of the occupant's head. It shall be provided with a protective part. And the said head protection part is set as the structure which forms in the upper direction following the said chest protection part.
[0010]
In the case of said structure, the specific aspect of the side airbag which has a part which opposes the window part of a side door is clarified.
[0011]
Moreover, what is necessary is just to employ | adopt each position of a seat back, a seat cushion, or a side door as an arrangement position of a side airbag unit. Specifically, the side airbag unit according to claim 1 or 2 is arranged so that the side airbag is deployed forward with respect to the side door side portion of the seat back as in the invention according to claim 3. According to the invention described in claim 4 , the side airbag is arranged so as to be deployed upward with respect to the side door side portion of the seat cushion, or, as in the invention according to claim 5 , the seat is provided on the seat. What is necessary is just to arrange | position inside the side door of the side position of the passenger | crew who seated.
[0012]
In the case of said structure, the specific structure of the side airbag apparatus expand | deployed between a passenger | crew and a side door is specified.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
<First Embodiment>
1 and 2 show a side airbag according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which 11 is a side airbag body deployed in a space between an occupant and a side door, and 11a is an upper portion of the side airbag. It is the external reinforcement cloth as a reinforcement member attached to the position.
[0015]
The side airbag 11 has a peripheral portion excluding the gas inflow port 11d in a state where two base materials having a substantially oval shape constituted by a trunk portion protecting portion 11b and a head portion protecting portion 11c are overlapped. As shown in FIG. 3, both base materials are inverted and each end is positioned inside the side airbag 11 as shown in FIG. 3. The substantially central portion of the side airbag 11 has a center sewing portion 11e in which both base materials are sewn, and when the side airbag 11 is deployed, the vicinity of the center is greatly inflated to expand into a drum shape. The shape is corrected so that the side airbag 11 can be effectively deployed in the space between the passenger and the side door. Further, internal reinforcing cloths 11f and 11f are sewn inside the both bases of the side airbag 11 downward from the central sewing portion 11e, and the high temperature and high pressure gas from the inflator hits the above. The base material of the side airbag 11 is prevented from being torn. The base material of the side airbag 11 and the internal reinforcing cloths 11f may be cloth-like ones knitted with synthetic resin fibers.
[0016]
And as shown in FIG. 1, the external reinforcement cloth 11a is attached to the outer side by the side door side of the head protection part 11c of the said side airbag 11 so that it may cover with respect to the said base material. The outer reinforcing cloth 11a is attached by sewing its peripheral edge to the peripheral edge of the side airbag 11. The outer reinforcing cloth 11a is attached to the base airbag 11 as shown in FIG. It is in a loose state with respect to the material. The external reinforcing cloth 11a may be made of the same material as the base material of the side airbag 11 or a material thicker than the base material.
[0017]
5 to 7 show the seat 3 on the left side of the front seat of the vehicle in which the side airbag 11 is built. The seat 3 includes a seat back 31, a seat cushion 32, and a headrest 33. Sliders 7 and 7 extending in the front-rear direction are provided at the lower portions of the left and right ends of the seat cushion 32, and the sliders 7 are fixed to the floor via rail mounting members 10 and 10 at the front and rear portions. The front and rear positions of the seat 3 can be adjusted by being engaged with the guide rails 8. As shown in FIG. 6, the knuckle member 9 is provided at the rear portion of the seat cushion 32 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 91 extending in the left-right direction, and the seat back 31 is seated through the knuckle member 9. The angle of the seat back 31 can be adjusted by being rotatably connected to the rotation shaft 91 around the rotation shaft 91.
[0018]
Side support portions 31a and 31a that bulge forward and extend in the vertical direction are formed at the left and right end portions of the seat back 31, and side support portions 32a and 32a that bulge upward and extend in the front-rear direction at the left and right end portions of the seat cushion 32, respectively. It is provided to support the passengers so that they do not move left and right.
[0019]
The front portion in the seat back 31 is provided with a pad 15, while the rear outer peripheral portion is made of a steel pipe material and includes upper and lower portions and left and right side portions as shown in FIGS. A frame-like seat back frame 31a is provided. As shown in FIG. 8, the side airbag unit 2 is substantially vertically moved in the longitudinal direction in the side of the side door near the seat 3 in the seat back 31, that is, on the back side of the pad 15 of the left side support portion 31 b. It is arranged in accordance with the direction. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the side airbag unit 2 has a reaction can 21 having a U-shaped cross section, and the side airbag 11 is accommodated in the opening side of the reaction can 21 as described later. Yes. A cylindrical can-like inflator 22 containing an ignition part and an explosive is housed inside the reaction can 21.
[0020]
The inflator 22 is provided so as to extend substantially in the vertical direction like the reaction can 21 and is held in the reaction can 21 by a holding member 23 provided so as to surround the periphery thereof as shown in FIG. Yes. That is, both end portions of the holding member 23 are overlapped with each other at the positions where the bolt insertion holes 23a and 23a are formed, and are fixed to the side surface in the reaction can 21 with two sets of bolts 24 and 24 and nuts 25 and 25. As a result, the inflator 22 is held. A plurality of gas outlets 22a, 22a,... For blowing out the gas generated when the igniter is ignited and the explosive burns at high speed only at the lower end of the inflator 22 It is provided on the peripheral surface at substantially equal intervals. Among the gas outlets 22a, 22a,..., The reaction can 21 rear side (rear side) is closed by the holding member 23, while the reaction can 21 opening side (front side) is the holding member 23. The holding member 23 is cut away so as not to be blocked. Thus, the gas blown out from each gas outlet 22a of the inflator 22 is configured to blow out only forward, so that the gas does not directly hit the rear portion of the inflator 22 of the side airbag 11.
[0021]
Although not shown, an ignition signal is supplied to the ignition part of the inflator 22 from an acceleration sensor that detects a side collision to the left side of the automobile. The ignition part ignites the explosive by the ignition signal. Is burned at high speed, gas is blown out from each gas outlet 22a on the reaction can 21 opening side, and the side airbag 11 is inflated and deployed. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the opening of the reaction can 21 is closed with a paper 26 that is easily broken by the deployment of the side airbag 11.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a bracket frame member 31b extending in the vertical direction along the side portion of the seat back 31 is provided outside the side airbag unit 2 in the seat back 31. The bracket frame member 31b is attached and fixed to the left side of the left side portion of the seat back frame 31a. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the side airbag unit 2 includes the bracket frame member by means of two sets of upper and lower bolts 28 and 28 and nuts 29 and 29 via an attachment member 27 provided on the side surface of the reaction can 21. It is fastened to 31b. The side airbag unit 2 is disposed such that the opening direction of the reaction can 21, that is, the direction in which the side airbag 11 is deployed is inclined leftward toward the front.
[0023]
The pad 15 is expanded by receiving the deployment pressure of the side airbag 11 at a portion corresponding to the side airbag unit 2 in the seat inner surface portion of the pad 15, that is, at a substantially front portion of the reaction airbag 22 opening in the side airbag unit 2. A notch groove portion 15a is provided as a starting point portion that starts to open and break, and the notch groove portion 15a is made weaker than the other portions in the pad 15. The cut groove 15a is substantially at the same height as the reaction can 21 in the vertical direction of the seat back 31 substantially along the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the side airbag unit 2 and substantially the same length. Is provided. When the side airbag 11 is deployed, the pad 15 starts to break from the cut groove 15a due to the deployment pressure, and a portion on the extension line of the cut groove 15a is broken.
[0024]
The skin material 19 corresponding to the side airbag unit 2, that is, the skin material 19 on the substantially extended line of the cut groove portion 15 a is provided with a fragile portion 19 a so as to open by receiving the deployment pressure of the side airbag 11. Yes. In other words, the fragile portion 19a is formed by sewing the opening portion of the skin material 19 in a substantially linear shape at substantially the same height in the vertical direction of the cut groove portion 15a and the seat back 31 over the same length. When the side airbag 11 is subjected to the deployment pressure, the closed fragile portion 19a is opened, and the side airbag 11 is opened to the seat back 31 from the opened fragile portion 19a and the broken portion of the pad 15. To expand outward.
[0025]
The sewn portion of the weakened portion 19a has the skin material 19 at both ends of the opening folded back and stitched together by the first sewing threads 35, 35, and the tips of both folded portions of the skin material 19 are second. The double stitches are sewn together by the sewing thread 36. That is, the folded portions are overlapped with each other so that the opening is not blocked, and the second sewing thread 36 is reliably cut by the deployment pressure of the side airbag 11.
[0026]
And after the side airbag 11 folds the head protection part 11c into the trunk | drum protection part 11b, the surface (left side surface) of the said trunk | drum protection part 11b on the opposite side to the center of the sheet | seat 3 becomes inside. Are accommodated in the side airbag unit 2 in a state of being wound toward the respective gas outlets 22 a of the inflator 22.
[0027]
Next, the operation and effect of the first embodiment will be described.
[0028]
When the acceleration sensor detects a side collision to the left side of the automobile, an ignition signal is supplied to the ignition unit of the inflator 22 and the ignition unit ignites. As a result, the explosive in the inflator 22 burns at high speed, gas is supplied from the gas outlets 22a, 22a,... Into the side airbag 11, and the side airbag 11 tries to inflate and deploy. Then, the side airbag 11 tries to deploy in the opening direction of the reaction can 21 by breaking the paper 26 closing the opening of the reaction can 21 by the deployment pressure, and abuts on the seat inner surface of the pad 15 to deploy the side airbag 11. The pad 15 is pushed from the inside to the outside by the pressure. At this time, it begins to expand and break from the cut groove 15a, and the pad 15 is broken substantially along the extension line of the cut groove 15a. Then, the second sewing thread 36 in the fragile portion 19a of the skin material 19 is cut, and the side airbag 11 is directed toward the outer front side of the seat back 31 from the location as shown in FIGS. And the side door 4 are deployed.
[0029]
Even if the window portion 41 of the side door 4 is damaged during a side collision, and the side airbag 11 hits the damaged window portion 41 as shown in FIG. It hits the external reinforcing cloth 11a attached to the side airbag 11. For this reason, it becomes possible to avoid the damaged window part 41 directly hitting the base material of the side airbag 11. Further, since the external reinforcing cloth 11a is attached to the base material in a relaxed state and no tension is applied, the external reinforcing cloth 11a is not easily broken, and the protection of the base material can be ensured. it can. Thereby, it can prevent that the base material of the said side airbag 11 is torn and the further improvement of the impact-absorbing function by the side airbag 11 can be prevented. Further, since the gas leaking from the side airbag 11 through the base material is accumulated between the base material of the side airbag 11 and the external reinforcing cloth 11a, the air phase α is formed. The impact on the substrate caused by hitting is reduced. For this reason, the tear of the base material of the side airbag 11 is further effectively prevented, and the reliability of the side airbag 11 can be improved.
[0030]
< Reference form>
FIG. 12 shows a side airbag 11 according to a reference embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the base material of the side airbag 11 is divided into small regions by inserting perforations 11g as linear reinforcing members into a reinforcing portion in a lattice shape.
[0031]
In addition, since the other structure of the said side airbag 11 is the same as that of the thing of 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same member and the description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0032]
In the case of the above-mentioned reference form, the side airbag 11 hits the damaged window portion 41 of the side door 4 at the time of a side collision, and even if a part of the side airbag 11 is torn, the progress of the break is progressed. It is stopped by the perforation 11g. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the base air bag 11 from expanding torn, preventing the occurrence of a situation in which the gas inside the side air bag 11 leaks from the tear, It can prevent that the further improvement of the impact absorption function by the said side airbag 11 is inhibited. Thereby, the reliability of the side airbag 1 can be improved.
[0033]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment, but includes various other embodiments. That is, in the first embodiment and the reference embodiment, the side airbag unit 2 is disposed in the seat back 31 of the seat 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example, as shown in FIG. The airbag unit 2 may be disposed inside the seat cushion 32 of the seat 3. In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, the side airbag 12 constituted by the chest and head protection portions 12b and 12c may be set so as to be deployed upward.
[0034]
Further, the side airbag unit 2 may be disposed inside the side door 4. In this case, the side airbag may be set to expand upward.
[0035]
Further, in the first embodiment and the reference embodiment, the side airbag unit 2 is disposed inside the seat back 31 of the seat 3. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the side airbag unit 2 is configured as described above. You may attach to the outer side part of the seat back 31, and may arrange | position so that the side airbag 1 may be expand | deployed toward the front.
[0036]
In the first embodiment and the reference embodiment, the reinforcing part is reinforced by providing a reinforcing member. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the reinforcing part base material itself is thicker than other parts. It may be configured and reinforced.
[0037]
In the above reference embodiment, the perforation 11g is used as the reinforcing member. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, a reinforcing band 11h having an appropriate width is attached to the base material of the side airbag 11. Alternatively, they may be arranged in a lattice shape and welded or adhered. Even in this case, the base material is divided into small regions, and even if the base material is torn, the break can be minimized. Such a reinforcing band 11h may be made of the same material as the base material.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the vehicle side airbag device of the invention described in claim 1, since the portion is reinforced by the reinforcing member attached to the portion facing the window portion of the side airbag, Even if the side airbag hits the window part that has been damaged due to a side collision, the damaged window part can be prevented from directly hitting the base material of the side airbag. Moreover, since the said reinforcement member is attached in the state which slackened with respect to the base material, this reinforcement member is hard to fracture | rupture and can ensure the protection with respect to the said base material. In addition, since a space is formed between the base member of the side airbag and the reinforcing member, the impact applied to the side airbag can be reduced by hitting the window portion. For this reason, the reliability with respect to the said side airbag can be improved by preventing the tearing of the said side airbag more reliably.
[0039]
According to the invention described in claim 2 , in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1 , a specific aspect of the side airbag having a portion facing the window portion of the side door can be clarified.
[0040]
According to the third to fifth aspects of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect of the invention, the specific structure of the side airbag device deployed between the occupant and the side door is specified. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a left side view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view showing an AA cross section of FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing a BB cross section of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a seat incorporating a side airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a deployed state of the side airbag.
FIG. 7 is a front view showing a deployed state of the side airbag.
8 is a cross-sectional view showing a CC cross section of FIG. 5. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a side airbag unit.
10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 9. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a holding state of the inflator.
FIG. 12 is a left side view showing a reference embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a plan view with a part cut away showing the arrangement of the side airbag unit in another embodiment.
14 is a side view showing a deployed state of a side airbag in another embodiment of FIG.
FIG. 15 is a left side view showing a side airbag according to another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
11, 12 Side airbag 2 Side airbag unit 22 Inflator 31 Seat back 32 Seat cushion 4 Side door 41 Window part 11a External reinforcing cloth (reinforcing member)
11b Chest protection part 11c Head protection part 11g Perforation (reinforcing member)
11h Reinforcement band (reinforcement member)

Claims (5)

A side airbag unit comprising a side airbag and an inflator that blows out gas to the side airbag and deploys the side airbag includes a passenger seated on the seat and the vehicle width relative to the passenger. In the vehicle side airbag device arranged to be deployed toward the space between the side doors adjacent in the direction,
The side airbag is configured such that the upper portion thereof extends to the window portion of the side door in the deployed state,
The portion facing the window portion of the side airbag in the deployed state is a reinforced portion reinforced compared to other portions,
The reinforcing portion of the side airbag is configured in a multiple structure by attaching a cloth-like reinforcing member so as to cover the outer surface of the base material constituting the side airbag,
The vehicle side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is attached so as to be loosened with respect to the base material when the side airbag is deployed. In claim 1 ,
The side airbag has a chest protection portion corresponding to the height of the occupant's chest in the deployed state, and a head protection portion corresponding to the height of the occupant's head,
The side airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the head protection portion is formed continuously above the chest protection portion. In claim 1 or 2 ,
The side airbag unit of a vehicle is characterized in that the side airbag unit is disposed so that the side airbag is deployed forward with respect to a portion of the seat back on the side door side. In claim 1 or 2 ,
A side airbag unit for a vehicle is characterized in that the side airbag unit is disposed so that the side airbag is deployed upward with respect to a portion of the seat cushion on the side door side. In claim 1 or 2 ,
The side airbag unit for a vehicle is characterized in that the side airbag unit is disposed inside a side door at a side position of an occupant seated on the seat.

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