JP5254480B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device for protecting a vehicle occupant.

  Various airbag devices have been proposed as devices for protecting an occupant in an emergency such as a vehicle collision. Such an airbag apparatus has a structure in which an airbag is inflated to protect an occupant by filling the airbag with gas when the vehicle collides. By the way, the airbag device for the passenger seat is usually attached to the upper surface side of the dashboard, and the gas of the inflator is ejected upward. For this reason, the air bag tends to be inflated and deployed toward the upper side of the dashboard by the gas supply from the inflator.

  However, in order to effectively receive the impact of the occupant, it is preferable that the airbag is rapidly deployed toward the occupant side. Therefore, there are technologies disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 as technologies for controlling the inflation and deployment direction of the airbag. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for providing resistance means for slowing the inflation speed of the bottom portion of the airbag when inflation is completed. Examples of the resistance means include a string having one end fixed to the bottom of the airbag and the other end connected to the bag case. Moreover, the structure which connects the folding | turning parts of an airbag with a short string as another example of a resistance means is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for controlling the inflating and deploying direction of an airbag using a strap provided in the airbag. A folding part is formed at the approximate center of the strap by stitching. When the internal pressure rises during inflation of the airbag and the tensile force acting on the strap reaches the set value, the suture thread at the folding part breaks. The strap is further extended, and the airbag is further deployed.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-16555 Japanese Patent No. 3168591

  However, in the example of each resistance means in Patent Document 1, since the bottom portion of the airbag that is restrained from being inflated by the resistance means is configured to be waved, it is possible to control the direction of inflation and deployment of the airbag. The effect of suppressing the tendency of the airbag to expand greatly in front of the gas ejection direction is low.

  Moreover, in patent document 2, since the expansion | swelling expansion | deployment is controlled within an airbag, there exists a possibility that it may expand | swell in two places of a base end side and a front end side across the part which controls the expansion | swelling expansion | deployment. As described above, when the airbag is inflated at two locations on the proximal end side and the distal end side, the inflated and deployed portion on the distal end side hinders subsequent inflation and deployment, and there is a possibility that the inflation and deployment to the occupant side may be hindered.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to more reliably and effectively suppress the tendency of an airbag to expand greatly in front of a gas ejection direction.

  In order to solve the above problems, this airbag device is formed by sewing a pair of side panels and a central panel portion disposed between the peripheral edge portions of the pair of side panel portions into a bag shape. An inflatable airbag main body, an inflator for supplying gas into the airbag main body, and a pair of connecting cloths fixed to an outer peripheral surface of the airbag main body constituted by the central panel portion. The pair of connecting cloths are connected so as to shorten the distance between the pair of connecting cloths fixed in the airbag body so that the pair of connecting cloths are divided during the inflation and deployment of the airbag body. A portion of the main body between the pair of connecting cloths is fixed so as to be folded into the airbag main body, and the width dimension of the pair of connecting cloths is the center panel portion. Are those dimensions and substantially the same set.

  In this case, the airbag main body has a gas supply port, and one of the pair of connection cloths is fixed to a position away from the gas supply port by a first distance, and the pair of connection cloths The other of them is preferably fixed at a position away from the gas supply port by a second distance larger than the first distance.

  Further, the pair of connecting cloths are folded into the airbag body at a portion between the pair of connecting cloths that are positioned below the airbag body in the inflated and deployed form of the airbag body. It is good to be connected so that it may be folded.

  According to this airbag device, the distance between the pair of connecting cloths fixed in the airbag body is shortened so that the pair of connecting cloths are divided during the inflation and deployment of the airbag body. Since the portion of the airbag body that is connected and between the pair of connection cloths is fixed is folded so as to be folded into the airbag body, the pair of connection cloths of the airbag body After being inflated and deployed in a folded state so that the portion between the two is fixed, further inflation and deployment force of the airbag body acts as a force pulling the connecting cloths outward, and this force The connection between the connecting cloths is broken and the whole is developed. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively suppress the tendency of the airbag to expand greatly in front of the gas ejection direction. Further, since the inflation and deployment of the airbag body is restricted by the pair of connection cloths, for example, the pair of connection cloths is compared with the case where the pair of connection cloths are provided in the airbag body. It is difficult for the airbag main body to inflate between the adhering portions, and therefore it is possible to suppress the tendency of the airbag to expand more in front of the gas ejection direction more reliably.

  In addition, one of the pair of connection cloths is fixed to a position away from the gas supply port by a first distance, and the other of the pair of connection cloths is the first distance from the gas supply port. If the airbag is fixed at a position that is larger than the second distance, the airbag folds so that a portion relatively close to the gas supply port and a portion relatively far from the gas supply port can be folded. The tendency to swell greatly in the front of the direction can be suppressed. In addition, since the pressure of the gas supplied from the inflator is likely to act in the direction away from the gas supply port of the airbag body, the force between the pair of connecting cloths can be broken more reliably. Can do.

  Further, the pair of connecting cloths are folded into the airbag body at a portion between the pair of connecting cloths that are positioned below the airbag body in the inflated and deployed form of the airbag body. When connected so as to be folded, it is possible to suppress the inflation and deployment of the airbag body upward.

It is a figure which shows the airbag apparatus in the state before connecting a pair of connection cloth about 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the airbag main body in the state which connected a pair of connection cloth. It is a figure which shows the state which integrated the airbag apparatus in the dashboard. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in the middle of expansion | deployment of the airbag main body. It is explanatory drawing which shows the expansion | deployment deployment state of an airbag main body. It is explanatory drawing which compares and shows the change state at the time of inflating and deploying the airbag main body of a conventional type, and the airbag main body which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the airbag apparatus in the state before connecting a pair of connection cloth about 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the airbag main body in the state which connected a pair of connection cloth. It is the IX-IX line partial sectional view of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in the middle of expansion | deployment of the airbag main body. It is explanatory drawing which shows the expansion | deployment deployment state of an airbag main body. It is explanatory drawing which compares and shows the change state at the time of inflating and deploying the airbag main body of a conventional type, and the airbag main body which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification which concerns on a pair of connection cloth. It is a figure which shows the other modification which concerns on a pair of connection cloth.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described. 1 is a view showing an airbag device in a state before connecting a pair of connecting cloths, and FIG. 2 is a view showing an airbag main body in a state in which a pair of connecting cloths are connected. FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the airbag device is incorporated in a dashboard.

  The airbag device 10 is a device that is incorporated in a dashboard 50 in front of a passenger seat of a vehicle, deploys in front of the passenger in the passenger seat at the time of a vehicle collision, etc., receives the passenger in the passenger seat, and absorbs the impact. . Of course, this airbag apparatus is applicable also to other locations, such as a backseat.

  The airbag device 10 includes an airbag main body 20, an inflator 12, and a pair of connecting cloths 30.

  The inflator 12 is configured to be able to supply gas into the airbag body 20 at the time of a vehicle collision. More specifically, the inflator 12 has an ignition device, a gas generating agent, etc., receives an ignition command signal from an impact detection unit of a vehicle, etc., and ignites the ignition device, and gas is generated by this ignition. In this configuration, the agent is burned, and the gas ejected thereby is supplied toward the airbag body 20. The inflator 12 is attached to an outer portion of a gas supply port 20h, which will be described later, in the airbag body 20 using a screw or the like in such a manner that gas can be supplied into the airbag body 20 through the gas supply port 20h.

  The airbag body 20 is configured to be inflatable and deployable in a bag shape. More specifically, the airbag main body 20 can be inflated and deployed in the form of an elongated bag, and one end side portion thereof is wider than the other end side portion (here, the state in which the airbag body 20 is inflated and deployed in the dashboard 50). And wide in the vertical direction), and configured to be inflatable. Further, a gas supply port 20h through which gas from the inflator 12 is supplied is formed in the lower surface of the other end portion of the airbag body 20, that is, the portion disposed in the vicinity of the upper surface portion of the dashboard 50. . The airbag main body 20 is configured to be inflatable and deployable from the upper surface portion toward the side of the occupant on the side while being incorporated in the upper surface portion of the dashboard 50. At this time, one end side portion of the airbag body 20 that is widely inflated and deployed is inflated and deployed on the occupant side of the dashboard 50 to receive the occupant.

  Such an airbag main body 20 has, for example, a pair of side panel portions 22 constituting both side surfaces thereof, and a central panel portion 24 disposed between the peripheral edges of the pair of side panel portions 22. ing. The side panel portion 22 and the central panel portion 24 are formed of cloth or the like. Then, both side edge portions of the central panel portion 24 are sewn to the peripheral edge portions of the pair of side panel portions 22, and the end portions of the central panel portion 24 are sewn and formed in an annular shape, thereby forming a bag shape. The bag-like airbag main body 20 is formed as described above by reversing the front and back using the gas supply port 20h and the like.

  The pair of connecting cloths 30 are substantially band-like members, and are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the airbag body 20 via fixing portions 30a. Here, the pair of connecting fabrics 30 are attached to the lower portion of the airbag body 20 in the above-described inflated and deployed configuration. Further, in the lower portion, one connection cloth 30 is fixed to a position away from the gas supply port 20h by the first distance L1, and the other connection cloth 30 is larger than the first distance. 2 is fixed at a position separated by a distance L1 (see FIG. 1).

  And it connects so that the distance between a pair of connection cloth 30 fixed among the airbag main bodies 20 may be shortened so that a pair of connection cloth 30 may be divided in the middle of inflation deployment of airbag main body 20, and an airbag. The portion of the main body 20 between the pair of connecting cloths 30 is folded so as to be folded into the airbag main body 20 (see FIG. 2). More specifically, the pair of connecting cloths 30 is formed such that the portion located below the airbag body 20 in the inflated and deployed configuration becomes a portion 20a folded in two in the airbag body 20. The tip parts of the are connected.

  The fixing of the pair of connecting cloths 30 to the airbag body 20 and the fixing of the pair of connecting cloths 30 (see the connecting and fixing part 31) may be performed by sewing, or by an adhesive or the like. It may be by adhesion. However, as will be described later, in the middle of the inflation and deployment of the airbag main body 20, the fixed portion between the pair of connection cloths 30 is broken and the two are separated from each other so that the two are separated. The fixing force between the pair of connecting cloths 30 is set to be weaker than the fixing force. Such a fixing force can be set, for example, by appropriately adjusting the thickness and material of the thread used for sewing, the size of the stitched portion, the material and area of the adhesive, and the like.

  Moreover, the width dimension of a pair of connection cloth 30 may be substantially the same as the width dimension of the airbag main body 20 (namely, center panel part 24), or may be smaller than it. However, if the width dimension of the pair of connecting fabrics 30 is substantially the same as the width dimension of the airbag body 20, for example, in the initial stage of inflating and deploying the airbag body 20, the pair of fixing portions in the airbag body 20 is separated. There is an advantage that the airbag body 20 can be more reliably folded and held in a folded state.

  The airbag apparatus 10 is incorporated in the dashboard 50 in a manner as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

  That is, the airbag case 52 is fixed inside the upper surface of the dashboard 50 in front of the passenger seat. The inflator 12 is fixed to the air bag case 52, and the air bag body 20 is folded in the air bag case 52 while being attached to the inflator 12. Is contained.

  Note that the peripheral portion of the upper portion of the dashboard 50 and the upper portion of the airbag case 52 is formed in a thin crack line. When the airbag body 20 is inflated and deployed, the dashboard 50 is affected by the impact of the inflation and deployment. The airbag body 20 can be inflated and deployed above the dashboard 50 so that the upper surface is split open at the crack line. Further, above the dashboard 50, a front window W is disposed in a forward and downward inclined posture.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the inflator 12 is activated at the time of a vehicle collision or the like, gas is ejected from the inflator 12 toward the upper side of the dashboard 50. This gas is supplied into the airbag body 20, and the airbag body 20 attempts to inflate and deploy above the dashboard 50 by splitting the upper part of the dashboard 50.

  At this time, although the gas is jetted and supplied toward the upper side of the dashboard 50, the lower portion of the airbag body 20 in the inflated and deployed form is folded inward by the connection between the pair of connecting cloths 30. Therefore, the upward expansion of the dashboard 50 is suppressed. Further, since the gas is supplied while the airbag body 20 is restrained from expanding and deploying upward, the airbag body 20 is also expanded from the upper side of the dashboard 50 in a substantially horizontal direction, that is, toward the passenger. Will tend to try.

  Incidentally, here, when the lower part of the airbag body 20 is not folded inward, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, due to the gas ejection pressure above the dashboard 50, The airbag body 20 tends to inflate and deploy upward.

  As described above, the airbag main body 20 is inflated to some extent in a state in which the lower portion of the airbag main body 20 is folded inward by the connection between the pair of connecting cloths 30 in the inflated and deployed form. After that, when gas is further supplied into the airbag main body 20, the connecting portion between the pair of connecting cloths 30 is broken by the inflating and deploying force due to the pressure of the gas, and the connection between them is broken.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the airbag main body 20 is inflated and deployed mainly by inflating the portion of the airbag main body 20 that has been folded inwardly at the portion from the passenger side. Thereby, the airbag main body 20 is inflated and deployed greatly above the dashboard 50 and on the passenger side. Then, when the posture is changed so that the passenger seat occupant P tilts forward due to the impact of the vehicle, the head, the chest, etc. of the passenger seat occupant P abuts on the greatly expanded and deployed portion of the one end side portion of the airbag body 20, The impact applied to the passenger is absorbed.

  According to the airbag device 10 configured as described above, the pair of connection cloths 30 are fixed to each other in the airbag body 20 so that the pair of connection cloths 30 are separated in the middle of the inflation and deployment of the airbag body 20. It is connected so as to shorten the distance, and the airbag body 20 is folded so that a portion between the pair of connection cloths 30 is fixed in the airbag body 20. For this reason, when the airbag body 20 is inflated and deployed, initially, the airbag body 20 is inflated and deployed in a state of being folded so that the predetermined portion of the airbag body 20 is folded into the interior. When further gas is supplied, the connection between the connection cloths 30 is broken, and the whole expands and expands. Therefore, the tendency which the airbag main body 20 tends to expand | swell largely in the gas ejection direction front more effectively can be suppressed by suppressing expansion | swelling expansion | deployment ahead of the gas ejection direction more reliably. Moreover, since it divides | segments in the adhering part of a pair of connection cloth 30, the said division | segmentation does not easily affect the airbag main body 20 itself.

  In particular, here, the pair of connecting cloths 30 are folded so that the lower part is folded into the airbag body 20 in the inflated and deployed form in the assembled state of the airbag body 20. Can be effectively suppressed, and can be quickly inflated and deployed to the side, that is, the occupant side.

  Moreover, since the pair of connecting cloths 30 are fixed at a position separated from the gas supply port 20h by the first distance L1 and at a position separated by a second distance L2 farther from this, the gas supply port of the airbag body 20 It folds so that it may fold in between the parts far away from 20h. When the airbag main body 20 is inflated and deployed, the connection between the connection cloths 30 can be broken and divided by the force with which the airbag main body 20 is inflated at a distance from the gas supply port 20h. Therefore, the connection between the pair of connecting cloths 30 can be more reliably broken by the gas supply from the inflator 12.

  Further, since the inflation and deployment of the airbag main body 20 is suppressed by the pair of connecting cloths 30, it is difficult to inflate and deploy at a plurality of portions during the inflation and deployment. It is possible to suppress the tendency to swell greatly in front of the ejection direction.

  And since this pair of connection cloth 30 exists in the outer side of the airbag main body 20, the connection operation | work of connection cloth 30, etc. are easy.

  The inventors have actually experimented and observed the state of change when the airbag body according to the above embodiment and a conventional airbag body without a pair of connecting cloths are inflated and deployed.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a comparison between a change state when the conventional airbag body and the airbag body according to the embodiment are inflated and deployed. FIG. 6A shows each change state in the elapsed times t1 to t5 after the gas ejection for the conventional type airbag body, and FIG. 6B shows the same for the airbag body of the type according to this embodiment. Each change state in elapsed time t1-t5 is shown. A predetermined fixing point of the gas supply port 20h portion fixed to the inflator is indicated by a symbol A.

  At the elapsed time t1 in the figure, the upper reaching position of the airbag main body 20 of the type according to the present embodiment is at a position lower by H1 than the upper reaching position of the conventional airbag main body 120. It can be seen that the expansion is suppressed.

  Further, at the same elapsed time t1, the lateral reach distance Wb1 of the airbag body 20 of the type according to the present embodiment is larger than the lateral reach distance Wa1 of the conventional airbag body 120. Therefore, it can be seen that the vehicle is rapidly deployed to the side, that is, the passenger.

  In addition, even at the elapsed time t2 in the figure, the lateral reach distance Wb2 of the airbag body 20 of the type according to the present embodiment is larger than the lateral reach distance Wa2 of the conventional airbag body 120. . Therefore, it can be seen that the vehicle is rapidly deployed to the side, that is, the passenger.

  In the elapsed time t3 to t5, both the airbag body 20 of the type according to the present embodiment and the airbag body 120 of the conventional type are inflated and deployed to the side of the occupant on the side in substantially the same form.

  From these experimental results, it can be seen that the conventional airbag body 120 tends to be inflated and deployed upward and then inflated and deployed in the initial stage of inflation and deployment.

  On the other hand, the airbag main body 20 of the type according to the present embodiment is capable of being inflated and deployed to the side of the occupant on the side relatively quickly, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment, with the inflation and deployment upward being suppressed. Has been demonstrated.

Second Embodiment
An airbag device according to a second embodiment will be described. 7 is a view showing the airbag device in a state before a pair of connection cloths are connected to each other, and FIG. 8 is a view showing an airbag main body in a state in which a pair of connection cloths are connected to each other. FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 8.

  The airbag device 210 is incorporated in a dashboard 250 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) in front of the passenger seat of the vehicle and is deployed in front of the passenger in the event of a vehicle collision to receive the passenger in the passenger seat. It is a device that absorbs shock. Of course, the airbag device 210 can also be applied to other places such as a rear seat.

  The airbag device 210 includes an airbag body 220, an inflator 212, and a pair of connecting cloths 230.

  The inflator 212 is configured to be able to supply gas into the airbag body 220 at the time of a vehicle collision. More specifically, the inflator 212 has an ignition device, a gas generating agent, etc., receives an ignition command signal from a vehicle impact detection unit, etc., and ignites the ignition device, and gas is generated by this ignition. In this configuration, the agent is burned, and the gas ejected thereby is supplied toward the airbag body 220. The inflator 212 is attached to an outer portion of a gas supply port 220h, which will be described later, in the airbag body 220 using a screw or the like in such a manner that gas can be supplied into the airbag body 220 through the gas supply port 220h.

  The airbag body 220 is configured to be inflatable and deployable in a bag shape. More specifically, the airbag main body 220 can be inflated and deployed in the shape of an elongated bag, and one end side portion thereof is wider than the other end side portion (in this case, the airbag body 220 is inflated and deployed in the dashboard 250). And wide in the vertical direction), and configured to be inflatable. In addition, a gas supply port 220h through which gas from the inflator 212 is supplied is formed in the lower surface of the other end portion of the airbag body 220, that is, in the portion disposed in the vicinity of the upper surface portion of the dashboard 250. . The airbag main body 220 is configured to be inflated and deployed from the upper surface portion toward the side of the occupant on the side in a state where the airbag main body 220 is incorporated in the upper surface portion of the dashboard 250. At this time, one end side portion of the airbag main body 220 that is inflated and deployed widely is inflated and deployed on the occupant side of the dashboard 250 to receive the occupant.

  Such an airbag body 220 is formed as follows, for example. That is, the airbag main body 220 has a pair of side panel portions 222 constituting both side surfaces thereof, and a center panel portion 224 disposed between the peripheral edges of the pair of side panel portions 222. The side panel part 222 and the central panel part 224 are formed of cloth or the like. Then, both side edge portions of the central panel portion 224 are sewn to the peripheral edge portions of the pair of side panel portions 222, and both end portions of the central panel portion 224 are sewn and formed into an annular shape, thereby forming a bag shape. The bag-like airbag main body 220 as described above is formed by reversing this using the gas supply port 220h or the like.

  The pair of connecting cloths 230 are substantially band-like members, and are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the airbag body 220 via fixing portions 230a. Here, the pair of connecting cloths 230 are inflated and deployed in the airbag main body 220, and are fixed to positions above the occupant side at the upper portions of both side portions (here, both side panel portions 222) of the airbag main body 220. Has been.

  The pair of connecting cloths 230 are connected by a connecting and fixing portion 231 so as to shorten the distance between the fixing portions 230a in the airbag main body 220 so as to be divided during the inflation and deployment of the airbag main body 220. Further, the airbag body 220 is folded so that a portion between the fixing portions 230 a is folded into the airbag body 220.

  More specifically, the pair of connecting cloths 230 (here, the tip portions) are connected to each other at an upper portion of the airbag body 220 in the inflated and deployed form. The airbag main body 220 is configured such that the upper portion of the airbag main body 220 in the inflated and deployed configuration and the portion between the fixing portions 230a becomes a portion 220a folded into the airbag main body 220 in a folded manner. It is folded so as to fold inside.

  In other words, the length L3 of the portion connecting the two fixing portions 230a via the airbag main body 220 is the length of the portion connecting the two fixing portions 230a via the pair of interconnected connecting cloths 230. It is set to be larger than the dimension L4. The portion of the airbag body 220 that becomes loosened by the connection of the pair of connecting cloths 230, that is, the portion of the airbag body 220 that exists between the pair of fixing portions 230a and has a length of (L3-L4). The portion is folded so as to be folded into the airbag body 220.

  Note that the pair of connecting cloths 230 may be fixed to the airbag body 220 and the pair of connecting cloths 230 may be fixed together by sewing, or may be bonded by an adhesive or the like. Good. However, as will be described later, the airbag main body of the pair of connecting cloths 230 is broken so that the connecting and fixing portions of the pair of connecting cloths 230 are first broken and the two are divided during the expansion and deployment of the airbag main body 220. The pair of connecting cloths 230 are set so that the tidal adhesion force is weaker than the adhesion force to 220. Such a fixing force can be set, for example, by appropriately adjusting the thickness and material of the thread used for sewing, the size of the stitched portion, the material and area of the adhesive, and the like.

  Further, the width dimension of the pair of connecting cloths 230 may be thin or wide, and is appropriately set so that the inflated and deployed form of the airbag body 220 can be controlled in an appropriate manner.

  The airbag device 210 is incorporated in the dashboard 250 in the following manner. That is, the inflator 212 is fixed in the dashboard 250. The airbag main body 220 is accommodated in a form such as being folded or rolled up in the dashboard 250 while being attached to the inflator 212.

  The operation of the airbag device 210 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  That is, when the inflator 212 is actuated at the time of a vehicle collision or the like, gas is ejected from the inflator 212 toward the upper side of the dashboard 250. This gas is supplied into the airbag main body 220, and the airbag main body 220 tries to inflate and deploy the dashboard 250 above the dashboard 250 as shown in FIG. To do.

  At this time, the gas is jetted and supplied toward the upper side of the dashboard 250 or obliquely upward toward the passenger. However, since the upper portion of the airbag body 220 in the inflated and deployed form is folded so as to be folded inward by the connection between the pair of connecting cloths 230, it faces the upper side of the dashboard 250 or the occupant side. Dilatation and expansion upward is suppressed. Thus, as a result of suppressing the inflation and deployment of the dashboard 250 upward or obliquely upward toward the occupant side, the airbag body 220 is substantially horizontal from the top of the dashboard 250, which is the direction in which the airbag 250 is more easily expanded and deployed. That is, it tends to expand even toward the passenger.

  As a result of the pair of connecting cloths 230 restraining the inflation and deployment of the dashboard 250 upward or obliquely upward toward the occupant side, the airbag body 220 extends most greatly with reference to the fixing location of the airbag body 220. The length dimension L5 is set to be smaller than the maximum extension length in the conventional configuration in which the pair of connecting cloths 230 is omitted.

  As described above, when gas is further supplied into the airbag body 220 after the airbag body 220 is expanded to some extent on the occupant side with the pair of connecting cloths 230 being connected to each other, the gas Due to the expansion and deployment force due to the pressure, the connecting portion between the pair of connecting cloths 230 is broken, and the connection is broken.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the airbag main body 220 is further inflated and deployed mainly by inflating the portion of the airbag main body 220 that is folded inward between the two fixing portions 230a. At this time, since the portion between the fixing portions 230a of the airbag body 220 is folded so as to be contracted in the width direction of the airbag body 220, the space between the fixing portions 230a is mainly outward on both sides of the airbag body 220. Inflates toward. Thereby, the airbag main body 220 is in a state of being largely inflated and deployed above the dashboard 250 and on the passenger side. Then, when the posture is changed so that the passenger seat occupant leans forward due to the impact applied to the vehicle, the head, the chest, etc. of the passenger seat occupant abuts the greatly inflated and deployed portion of the one end side portion of the airbag body 220, The impact applied to the passenger is absorbed.

  According to the airbag device 210 configured as described above, the pair of connection cloths 230 in the airbag body 220 are fixed so that the pair of connection cloths 230 are divided in the middle of the inflation and deployment of the airbag body 220. The air bag body 220 is connected so as to shorten the distance therebetween, and is folded so that a portion between the two fixing portions 230 a of the air bag body 220 is folded into the air bag body 220. For this reason, when the airbag body 220 is inflated and deployed, initially, the airbag body 220 is inflated and deployed in a state where the airbag body 220 is more reliably folded into the airbag body 220. When further gas is supplied, the connection between the connecting cloths 230 is broken and the whole expands and expands. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the tendency of the airbag main body 220 to expand more in front of the gas ejection direction more effectively by more reliably suppressing the expansion and deployment of the gas forward in the gas ejection direction. Moreover, since it divides | segments in the adhering part of a pair of connection cloth 230, the said division | segmentation does not affect the airbag main body 220 itself.

  In addition, since the inflation and deployment of the airbag body 220 is restrained by the pair of connecting cloths 230, it is difficult to inflate and deploy at a plurality of portions during the inflation and deployment. It is possible to suppress the tendency to swell greatly in front of the ejection direction. Moreover, since this pair of connection cloth 230 exists in the outer side of the airbag main body 220, the connection operation | work of connection cloth 230, etc. are easy.

  Moreover, the pair of connecting cloths 230 are fixed to both side portions of the airbag main body 220 in the inflated and deployed form, and the pair of connecting cloths 230 are between the fixed parts 230a in the airbag main body 220 in the inflated and deployed form. These parts are connected so as to be folded into the airbag main body 220. For this reason, when the connection between the pair of connecting fabrics 230 is broken by the inflating and deploying force of the airbag main body 220, the airbag main body 220 tends to expand greatly toward both sides outward. Thereby, it can suppress that the airbag main body 220 expand | deploys rapidly to a passenger | crew side after the connection destruction of a pair of connection cloth 230. FIG.

  Further, the pair of connecting cloths 230 are respectively fixed above the both side portions of the airbag body 220 in the inflated and deployed form, and the pair of connecting cloths 230 are the upper portions of the airbag body 220 in the inflated and deployed form. Since the portion between the portions 230 a is connected so as to be folded into the airbag main body 220, the folding portion exists in the upper portion of the airbag main body 220. For this reason, in the lower part of the airbag main body 220, the folding portion can be smoothly inflated and deployed without being obstructed, and the inflation and deployment to the passenger side is smoothly performed.

  But in 2nd Embodiment, the part folded in in the airbag main body 220 between the adhering parts 230a of a pair of connection cloth 230 among the airbag main bodies 220 is not necessarily the upper part of the airbag main body 220 in an expansion | deployment form. There is no need. That is, the pair of connecting cloths 230 are provided on both sides of the airbag main body 220 in the inflated and deployed form, and the pair of connecting cloths 230 are connected to each other so that the portion of the air bag main body 220 is folded so as to be contracted between both sides. If it is rare, the airbag main body 220 can be inflated mainly outward on both sides after the connection of the pair of connecting cloths 230 is cut off, and rapid expansion to the occupant side can be suppressed.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a comparison between the change state when the conventional airbag body and the airbag body according to the present embodiment are inflated and deployed. FIG. 12A shows each change state in the elapsed times tb1 to tb4 after the gas ejection for the conventional type airbag body, and FIG. 12B shows the same for the airbag body of the type according to this embodiment. Each change state in elapsed time tb1-tb4 is shown. In addition, the change state in the side view of the airbag main body which concerns on both types is shown in each elapsed time tb1-tb4, and the change state seen from the passenger | crew side of the airbag main body which concerns on both types in elapsed time tb2 and tb4 Is shown.

  In the elapsed time tb1 immediately after the start of inflation, the airbag body 220 of the type according to this embodiment and the airbag body 320 of the conventional type are inflated and deployed in the same manner.

  At the elapsed time tb2, the extension length Mb1 of the airbag body 220 of the type according to this embodiment is smaller than the extension length Ma1 of the airbag body 320 according to the conventional type. Moreover, the width dimension Nb1 in the upper part of the airbag main body 220 of the type which concerns on this embodiment is smaller than the width dimension Na1 in the upper part of the airbag main body 320 which concerns on the conventional type. Thus, in the airbag main body 220 of the type which concerns on this embodiment, it turns out that the expansion | deployment deployment to the width direction outward and upward is suppressed in the upper part.

  In the elapsed time tb3, the airbag main body 220 of the type according to the present embodiment is in a state immediately after the connection between the pair of connection cloths 230 is broken. It can be seen that the airbag main body 220 is greatly inflated and deployed toward the occupant side as a result of suppressing the expansion and deployment outward in the width direction and upward in the upper portion as described above until just before. On the other hand, in the airbag main body 320 which concerns on a conventional type, since there is no such restriction, it turns out that it expand | swells diagonally upward largely.

  At the elapsed time tb4, the airbag main bodies 220 and 320 are almost fully deployed. At this time, it can be seen that the airbag body 220 of the type according to the present embodiment is greatly inflated and deployed even toward the outer side in the width direction after the connection between the pair of connection cloths 230 is broken.

  From these experimental results, it can be seen that the conventional airbag body 320 tends to be inflated and deployed obliquely upward and then inflated and deployed laterally (to the occupant side) in the initial stage of inflation and deployment.

  On the other hand, the airbag main body 220 of the type according to the present embodiment is restrained from being inflated and deployed obliquely upward at the initial stage of inflating and deploying, and can be inflated and deployed to the side occupant side relatively quickly. It was proved. Moreover, after the connection between the pair of connection cloths 230 was broken, it was proved that the airbag body 220 was inflated and deployed to the outside in the width direction. Thereby, it can be understood that rapid expansion and deployment to the occupant side is suppressed.

<Modification>
FIG. 13 is a view showing a modification of the pair of connecting cloths. In FIG. 13, a belt-like second connection cloth 32 is provided outside the pair of connection cloths 30 so as to overlap the pair of connection cloths 30. Both end portions of the second connection cloth 32 are fixed to the outside of the end portions of the pair of connection cloths 30 by a configuration such as sewing or adhesion. Note that both end portions of the second connecting cloth 32 may be fixed to the airbag body 20 in the vicinity of the fixing portions of the pair of connecting cloths 30. Further, the length dimension between the portions of the second connecting cloth 32 to which the second connecting cloth 32 is fixed is between the portions corresponding to the portions of the airbag body 20 to which the second connecting cloth 32 is fixed. It is set to be approximately the same as the length dimension. Here, the portion of the airbag body 20 that corresponds to the portion to which the second connecting cloth 32 is fixed is a pair of portions when the second connecting cloth 32 is fixed to the ends of the pair of connecting cloths 30. In the state where the connecting cloth 30 is disposed along the outer surface of the airbag main body 20, the fixed portion is a portion projected on the surface of the airbag main body 20. When the second connecting cloth 32 is fixed to the airbag body 20, the portion corresponding to the fixed portion means the fixed portion itself.

  The pair of connection cloths 30 are interposed in a state where the airbag body 20 is inflated and deployed, and is pulled between the pair of connection cloths 30, so that the pair of connection cloths 30 does not hang from the airbag body 20. I have to.

  FIG. 14 is a view showing another modified example of a pair of connecting cloths. In FIG. 14, the peripheral edge portion of the pair of connecting cloths 30 excluding the tip part that is the fixing part between the connecting cloths 30 is fixed to the airbag body 20 through a fixing part 30 b that is sewn or bonded in a substantially U shape. It is stuck.

  And even if the fixed part of a pair of connection cloth 30 is parted with expansion | swelling deployment of the airbag main body 20, a pair of connection cloth 30 does not hang from the airbag main body 20, but the outer peripheral surface of the said airbag main body 20 concerned It is designed to be kept in contact with the.

  In the modified examples shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, when the airbag main body 20 is inflated and deployed by fixing the fixing portion between the pair of connecting cloths 30, the connecting cloth 30 hangs down from the airbag main body 20. This prevents the airbag body 20 from being inflated and deployed more smoothly.

  These modifications are applicable to both the first and second embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10,210 Airbag apparatus 12,212 Inflator 20,220 Airbag main body 20a, 220a Folded part 20h, 220h Gas supply port 30,230 Connection cloth 31,231 Connection fixation part 30a, 230a Fixation part

Claims (3)

An airbag body formed by stitching together a pair of side panels and a central panel portion disposed between peripheral edges of the pair of side panel portions;
An inflator for supplying gas into the airbag body;
A pair of connecting cloths fixed to the outer peripheral surface constituted by the central panel portion of the airbag body,
With
The pair of connecting cloths are connected so as to shorten a distance between the pair of connecting cloths fixed in the airbag body so that the pair of connecting cloths are divided in the middle of inflation and deployment of the airbag body. The portion between the pair of connecting cloths is folded so as to be folded into the airbag body, and the width dimension of the pair of connecting cloths is substantially the same as the width dimension of the central panel portion. Airbag device set to the same. The airbag device according to claim 1,
The airbag body has a gas supply port,
One of the pair of connecting cloths is fixed at a position away from the gas supply port by a first distance,
The airbag device, wherein the other of the pair of connecting cloths is fixed at a position away from the gas supply port by a second distance larger than the first distance. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2,
The pair of connecting cloths are folded so that a portion between the pair of connecting cloths fixed to the airbag body in the inflated and deployed form of the airbag body is folded into the airbag body. As such, the airbag device connected.

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