JP5473825B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device that is installed on a steering wheel of an automobile, an instrument panel in front of a passenger seat, and further on a ceiling, a side door, or an occupant seat of the automobile to protect the occupant from an impact caused by a collision of the automobile.

  This type of airbag device detects when a vehicle encounters a collision, etc., and inflates and deploys the airbag stored in a folded state with the inflation gas ejected from the inflator. An occupant is captured and protected by an airbag. In general, vent holes are formed to appropriately inflate the inflation gas introduced into the airbag outside the main air chamber of the airbag in order to adjust the internal pressure of the airbag. The vent hole is configured to close immediately in response to the inflation and deployment of the airbag by introducing the inflation gas so that the airbag can be inflated and deployed at an early stage. In addition, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with the airbag after being inflated and deployed, the closed vent hole is appropriately opened to exhaust the inflation gas in the airbag to the outside. The pressure inside the bag is lowered to weaken the object and protect the occupant.

  As an airbag device having such a vent hole opening / closing mechanism, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is known (the reference numerals given to each component are those used in Patent Document 1). Is written as is).

  In the airbag device described in Patent Document 1, an open / close vent hole 12 that is opened and closed by a lid body 13 is provided on the left and right side surfaces of the airbag 1, and the lid body 13 and the airbag 1 are provided in the airbag 1. The tether 14 is connected to the occupant facing surface 1F at a height facing the occupant's head when the airbag is inflated, and the tether 14 is connected to the occupant facing surface 1F. Of these, the tether connection portion 16 to which the tether 14 is connected is pushed by the occupant's head and retracted, so that the tether 14 relaxes and the lid 13 opens.

  The lid body 13 is formed of a substantially fan-shaped base cloth curved in an arc shape, and is sewn to the side surface of the airbag 1 by a seam 13c along the arc-shaped side 13a. One end of the tether 14 is connected to the corner 13 b of the lid 13. The other end side of the tether 14 is disposed inside the airbag 1 after being inserted into a tether insertion port 15 provided so as to communicate with the inside and outside of the airbag 1 in the vicinity of the open / close vent hole 12 in the airbag 1. Has been.

  Since the airbag 1 is folded in advance with the lid 13 covering the open / close vent hole 12, the open / close vent hole 12 is closed by the lid 13 from the beginning of inflation, and the open / close vent hole 12. The gas outflow from is regulated. Further, when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the tether 14 is pulled toward the inside of the airbag 1 to swing the lid 13 with the seam 13c as a hinge. Leave it closed. Thereafter, the occupant contacts the occupant facing surface 1F of the airbag 1. When the tether connection portion 16 on the occupant facing surface 1F is retracted to the inside of the airbag 1, the tether 14 is relaxed. As a result, the lid 13 is separated from the open / close vent hole 12 by the gas pressure in the airbag 1. Therefore, the open / close vent hole is opened, gas is exhausted from the open / close vent hole 12 to the outside of the airbag 1, and the occupant is softly received by the airbag 1.

JP 2010-36770 A

  However, in the conventional technique configured as described above, the tether insertion port 15 through which the tether 14 is inserted is formed in parallel with the airbag 1 together with the open / close vent hole 12. For this reason, simply closing the open / close vent hole 12 with the lid 13 means that the tether insertion opening 15 is still open, making it difficult to improve the sealing between the inside and outside of the airbag 1. ing. From such a point, a measure to reduce the opening area of the tether insertion port 15 can be considered. However, when such a measure is taken, the movement of the tether 14 is hindered.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems in the prior art, the present invention allows the airbag to be inflated and deployed by reliably closing a hole communicating with the inside and outside of the airbag, such as a vent hole, in the process of inflating and deploying the airbag. As soon as the occupant is captured and protected, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with an inflated airbag, the vent hole opens early, reducing the internal pressure of the airbag and softening the occupant. An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that is intended to be received.

  An airbag device according to the present invention inflates and deploys an airbag in a folded state when an impact such as a collision is applied to an automobile to an occupant side by an inflating gas ejected from an inflator. In the airbag device to protect, in addition to providing a main air chamber that captures and protects the occupant in its inflated and deployed state, the air bag device includes a bottom air-lifted sub-air chamber that is partitioned from the main air chamber by a partition wall, A vent hole for exhausting the inflation gas in the main air chamber to the outside of the main air chamber is formed in the bottom wall portion of the auxiliary air chamber, and in the axial direction of the vent hole facing the bottom wall portion of the airbag. A communication hole that connects the auxiliary air chamber and the main air chamber is formed in a portion that does not overlap, and one end of the hanging strap is fixed to the bottom wall of the auxiliary air chamber, and the other end of the hanging strap is The airbag is inflated and expanded after being inserted into the communication hole. The vent hole is substantially fixed by pulling the bottom wall portion to the main air chamber side and closing the communication hole by tension of the hanging strap accompanying inflation and deployment of the airbag. In addition to being configured to be closed with respect to the main air chamber, the tension of the hanging strap is relaxed by the retracting of the airbag by an object such as an occupant coming into contact with the airbag while the hanging strap is in tension. The vent hole is substantially closed by releasing the closing of the communication hole by the bottom wall portion of the auxiliary air chamber by the gas pressure for inflation in the airbag and connecting the main air chamber and the auxiliary air chamber through the communication hole. The expansion gas that is opened and flows into the auxiliary air chamber through the communication hole from the main air chamber is configured to be exhausted from the vent hole.

  According to the present invention having such a configuration, a vent hole is provided in the bottom wall portion of the sub air chamber that is partitioned and formed with respect to the main air chamber, and the vent hole shaft faces the bottom wall portion in the airbag. A communication hole is formed in a portion that does not overlap in the core direction, and the airbag is inflated and deployed after the other end portion of the hanging strap whose one end portion is fixed to the bottom wall portion is inserted into the communication hole. Since the airbag is inflated and configured so as to be tensioned, the suspension strap is tensioned and the bottom wall portion is pulled toward the airbag side by the inflation and deployment of the airbag. Can close the communication hole. As a result, the main air chamber and the sub air chamber of the airbag are closed, and the vent hole provided in the bottom wall portion of the sub air chamber is substantially closed. As a result, inflating and deploying the airbag, the inflation gas is not exhausted from the vent hole, and the airbag can reach the final inflated and deployed shape at an early stage. It will be possible to capture and protect early.

  Further, according to the present invention, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with an inflated airbag and the occupant-facing surface side of the airbag is retracted, the tension of the hanging strap is released and the airbag is loosened as a result. The bottom wall of the auxiliary air chamber is retracted with respect to the airbag by the inflation gas pressure in the interior to open the communication hole, and the inflation gas in the main air chamber of the airbag is passed through the communication hole and the vent hole. As a result, the air is exhausted to the outside of the auxiliary air chamber, the internal pressure of the airbag is lowered, and the occupant can be received softly.

  Moreover, the airbag apparatus which concerns on this invention provides a pair of communicating hole in the partition side as an embodiment of the said invention, and makes each hanging hole penetrate the hanging string.

  In the embodiment having such a configuration, the bottom wall portion of the auxiliary air chamber is smoothly and quickly drawn by the pair of hanging straps by connecting the hanging straps to the pair of communication holes, respectively. Thus, the communication hole can be reliably closed.

  In addition, the airbag device according to the present invention, as an embodiment of the above invention, in the case where the bottom wall portion of the auxiliary air chamber is drawn into the airbag side by the hanging strap in response to the inflation and deployment operation of the airbag. The bottom wall portion is configured to be drawn into the communication hole to close the communication hole.

  In the embodiment having such a configuration, the bottom wall portion of the auxiliary air chamber is drawn into the communication hole and closes the communication hole, so that the communication hole is reliably closed.

  In the airbag device according to the present invention, as an embodiment of the above-described invention, an exhaust pool chamber communicated by the vent hole is formed adjacent to the auxiliary air chamber.

  In the embodiment having such a configuration, the exhaust pool chamber communicated by the vent hole is formed adjacent to the sub air chamber, so that the main body is brought into contact with the inflated and deployed airbag. Even if the expansion gas that has propagated from the air chamber through the communication hole and has flowed into the sub air chamber is exhausted from the vent hole, the expansion gas stays in the exhaust chamber and is prevented from being exhausted to the outside. It will be.

  A vent hole is provided in the bottom wall portion of the sub air chamber that is partitioned from the main air chamber in a state of being raised, and communicates with a portion of the airbag that does not overlap in the axial direction of the vent hole facing the bottom wall portion. The airbag has a hole, and the other end portion of the hanging strap whose one end portion is fixed to the bottom wall portion is inserted into the communication hole, and then the airbag is tensioned by being inflated and deployed. It is configured to be fixed to. From this, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the hanging strap is tensioned and the bottom wall portion is pulled toward the airbag side, and the bottom wall portion can close the communication hole. As a result, the main air chamber and the sub air chamber of the airbag are closed, and the vent hole provided in the bottom wall portion of the sub air chamber is substantially closed. As a result, in the process of inflating and deploying the airbag, the inflation gas is not exhausted from the vent hole, and the airbag can reach the final inflated and deployed shape at an early stage. It will be possible to capture and protect early.

  Further, according to the present invention, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with an inflated airbag and the occupant-facing surface side of the airbag is retracted, the tension of the hanging strap is released and the slack is relaxed. As a result, the bottom wall portion of the auxiliary air chamber is retracted with respect to the airbag by the inflation gas pressure in the airbag, and the communication hole is opened. Therefore, the inflation gas in the main air chamber of the air bag is exhausted to the outside of the sub air chamber through the communication hole and the vent hole, and the internal pressure of the air bag is lowered, so that the occupant can be received softly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view drawn in a partially cutout state of an inflated and deployed state of an airbag in an airbag device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1. 2A and 2B are explanatory views showing an inflated and deployed process of the airbag depicted in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 1A is a diagram showing the final stage of the airbag inflated and deployed process, FIG. ) Shows a state in which the vent hole is opened by the contact of an object such as an occupant in the final stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag in the airbag apparatus which concerns on Example 2 of this invention, (A) is the time of the unexpanded expansion | deployment of an airbag, (B) is the final stage of the expansion | deployment process of an airbag, (C) (B) shows a state in which an object such as an occupant abuts to open a vent hole in the final stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag shown in (b). FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the airbag inflated and deployed in a third embodiment when the present invention is applied to a passenger airbag device installed on an instrument panel of an automobile, partially broken and drawn. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the airbag apparatus in the XX line of FIG.

  In the airbag device according to the present invention, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the airbag is inflated and deployed quickly by substantially closing the vent hole, thereby ensuring the capture and protection of the occupant. Moreover, when the occupant comes into contact with the inflated airbag, the vent hole is opened early to reduce the internal pressure of the airbag, and the occupant is softly received.

  Next, the Example which concerns on the airbag apparatus of this invention is described using figures.

  First, the structure of Example 1 as an airbag apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is configured as a driver airbag apparatus that is installed on a steering wheel (not shown) in a state where the airbag 1 is folded. As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, and the front-side base fabric panel 2 that is an occupant-facing surface that faces the occupant and the anti-occupant surface that is opposite to the occupant-facing surface. A main air chamber 1a is formed by forming the rear-side base fabric panel 3 forming a bag shape by sewing the peripheral ends of the rear-side base fabric panel 3 with a sewing thread.

  A central hole 5 for installing an inflator (not shown) for injecting an inflating gas into the airbag 1 is formed in a substantially central portion of the rear base fabric panel 3. A patch 3a is interposed between the rear base fabric panel 3 and the inflator. A pair of communication holes 6, 6 that communicate between the inside and the outside of the airbag 1 are formed in the vicinity of the central hole 5 in the rear base fabric panel 3. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the communication holes 6 and 6 communicate with the inside and outside of the airbag 1 in a state of being separated from each other when the airbag 1 is unexpanded and folded, for example, to be accommodated in the steering wheel. Open to allow it to pass.

  A sub air chamber 7 is provided on the outer surface side of the rear base fabric panel 3 so as to cover the pair of communication holes 6 together. Accordingly, the vicinity of the central hole 5 of the rear base fabric panel 3 constitutes a partition wall 11 that divides the auxiliary air chamber 7 and the main air chamber 1a (see FIG. 3). And the sub air chamber 7 is exhibiting the box shape formed by bending the corner edge part of a rectangular-shaped base fabric panel, for example (refer FIG. 2). The bottom wall portion 7 a of the auxiliary air chamber 7 exists in a state of being separated from the outer surface side of the rear-side base fabric panel 3. Accordingly, the auxiliary air chamber 7 is partitioned by the bottom wall portion 7a so as to be raised with respect to the rear-side base fabric panel 3. In addition, a vent hole 3 is formed in the bottom wall portion 7a for exhausting the expansion gas in the main air chamber 1a to the outside of the main air chamber 1a. The communication holes 6, 6 provided in the rear base fabric panel 3 communicate the main air chamber 1 a and the sub air chamber 7 at a portion that does not overlap in the axial direction of the vent hole 8. The vent hole 7 is disposed around an intermediate portion between the communication holes 6 and 6.

  On the inner side of the front-side base fabric panel 2, an apex curved portion 9 a that is one side portion side of the hanging strap 9 that has a substantially U shape is fixed, and both terminal portions that are on the other side portion of the hanging strap 9. 9 b is inserted into the communication hole 6 and then fixed to the bottom wall portion 9 a of the auxiliary air chamber 7 so as to sandwich the vent hole 8. The distance between the fastening points of the hanging strap 9 is preferably set to be smaller than the distance between the front side base fabric panel 2 and the rear side base fabric panel at the final stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 1.

  Next, in the first embodiment configured as described above, the relationship between the inflation and deployment operation of the airbag 1 and the opening / closing movement of the vent hole 6 will be described with reference to FIG. When the airbag 1 is in the stage before inflation and deployment, the hanging strap 9 is in a relaxed state. As a result, the communication holes 6 and 6 are opened without being closed by the bottom wall portion 7a of the auxiliary air chamber 7, so that the main air chamber 1a of the airbag 1 is connected to the auxiliary air via the communication holes 6 and 6. It communicates with the chamber 7. The vent hole 8 is substantially open (the state shown in FIG. 3A).

  From this state, when the automobile receives an impact due to a collision or the like, the sensor of the airbag device operates, and the inflator operates to inject the inflation gas into the main air chamber 1a of the airbag 1. As a result, the airbag 1 immediately inflates and deploys to the occupant side, proceeds to the final stage of the inflating and deploying process shown in FIG. 3B, and captures the occupant who has moved due to the reaction of the impact due to the collision of the automobile. Will protect.

  While the airbag 1 is in the state shown in FIG. 3 (a) to the state shown in FIG. 3 (b), the front-side base fabric panel 2 and the rear-side base fabric panel 3 respond to the inflation and deployment of the airbag 1. , And the hanging strap 9 is pulled into the front base fabric panel 2 side while sliding through the communication holes 6 and 6 and is in a tension state. As a result, the bottom wall 7 a of the auxiliary air chamber 7 is pulled into the front base fabric panel 2 side by the hanging strap 9 and enters the communication holes 6, 6 to close the communication holes 6, 6. Thus, the communication relationship between the main air chamber 1a and the auxiliary air chamber 7 is blocked. In this state, the communication holes 6 and 6 are disposed in a portion of the rear-side base fabric panel 3 that does not overlap in the axial direction of the vent hole 8, so that the vent hole 8 communicates with the main air chamber 1a. As a result, the airbag 1 can be rapidly inflated and deployed in a substantially closed state.

  Then, at the final stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 1 shown in FIG. 3B, an occupant 10 or an object such as a child seat or luggage placed on the seat comes into contact with the airbag 1, and the occupant of the airbag 1 When the front side base fabric panel 2 side, which is the opposite surface side, is retracted in the direction of being crushed, as shown in FIG. 3C, the hanging strap 9 is released from its tension and loosened. As a result, the bottom wall portion 7a of the auxiliary air chamber 7 is retracted with respect to the partition wall 11 by the inflation gas pressure in the main air chamber 1a of the airbag 1, and the communication holes 6 and 6 are closed. become. In such a state, the main air chamber 1a and the sub air chamber 7 are communicated with each other through the communication holes 6 and 6, and the vent hole 8 is substantially opened. The internal pressure in the chamber 1a is reduced and the object, for example, the occupant 10 is softly received.

  The airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment configured as described above includes the main air chamber 1a, and also includes the sub air chamber 7 in a raised state separated from the main air chamber 1a by the partition wall 11, and the sub air chamber 7 is provided. A vent hole 8 is provided in the bottom wall portion 7a of the rear side, and communication holes 6 and 6 are formed in a portion of the rear side base fabric panel 3 that does not overlap in the axial direction of the vent hole 8. Moreover, the front side base fabric is so stretched that the airbag is inflated and deployed after the other end portion of the hanging strap 9 whose one end portion is fixed to the bottom wall portion 7a is inserted into the communication holes 6 and 6. It is configured to be fixed to the panel 2. From this, when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the suspension strap 9 can be tensioned to pull the bottom wall portion 7a toward the partition wall 11 and the bottom wall portion 7a can close the communication holes 6 and 6. become. As a result, the main air chamber 1a and the sub air chamber 7 of the airbag 1 are closed, and the vent hole 8 provided in the sub air chamber 7 is also substantially closed. Therefore, in the process of inflating and deploying the airbag 1, the inflation gas is not exhausted from the vent hole 8, and the airbag 1 can reach the final inflated and deployed shape at an early stage. It is possible to capture and protect at an early stage from such an impact.

  When an object such as an occupant comes into contact with the inflated airbag 1 and the front-side base fabric panel 2 side, which is the occupant-facing surface of the airbag 1, retreats, the hanging strap 9 is released from its tension and relaxed. It will be. As a result, the bottom wall 7a of the auxiliary air chamber 7 is retracted in the direction away from the front base fabric panel 2 by the inflation gas pressure in the airbag 1 to open the communication holes 6 and 6. . Therefore, the inflation gas in the main air chamber 1a of the airbag 1 is exhausted out of the auxiliary air chamber 7 through the communication holes 6 and 6 and the vent hole 8, thereby reducing the internal pressure of the airbag 1 and It can be received softly.

  4A to 4C show the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, as compared with the configuration of the first embodiment, the auxiliary air chamber 7 is installed outside the rear-side base fabric panel 3, and the vent hole 8 is formed in the bottom wall portion 7 a of the auxiliary air chamber 7. Although it is the same as that provided, the communication hole 6 provided in the rear base fabric panel 3 is different from the vent hole 8 in a position where it does not overlap with the vent hole 8 in the axial direction. As a result, unlike the first embodiment, the hanging strap 9 is not formed in a U shape, and one end on one side is fixed to the bottom wall portion 7a of the auxiliary air chamber 7, and the other side portion The other end which is the side is fixed to the front base fabric panel 2 after being inserted through the communication hole 6.

  In Example 2 configured as described above, when the airbag 1 is in the stage before inflating and deploying, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the hanging strap 9 is in a relaxed state. As a result, since the communication hole 6 is opened without being closed by the bottom wall portion 7 a of the sub air chamber 7, the main air chamber 1 a of the airbag 1 communicates with the sub air chamber 7 through the communication hole 6. doing. The vent hole 8 is substantially open.

  While the airbag 1 is in the state shown in FIG. 4 (a) to the state shown in FIG. 4 (b), the front-side base fabric panel 2 and the rear-side base fabric panel 3 respond to the inflation and deployment of the airbag 1. The separation distance from is increased. Then, the hanging strap 9 is pulled into the front base fabric panel 2 side while sliding through the communication hole 6 and is in a tension state. As a result, the hanging wall 9 causes the bottom wall portion 7a of the auxiliary air chamber 7 to enter the communication hole 6, closes the communication holes 6 and 6, and the communication relationship between the main air chamber 1a and the auxiliary air chamber 7 Is cut off. And the vent hole 8 located in the site | part which does not overlap in the axial center direction of the communicating hole 6 is not connected with the main air chamber 1a, is made into the substantially obstruct | occluded state, and expand | deploys the airbag 1 The operation can be performed quickly.

  Then, at the final stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag 1 shown in FIG. 4B, an occupant 10 or an object such as a child seat or luggage placed on the seat comes into contact with the airbag 1, and the occupant of the airbag 1 When the front side base fabric panel 2 side, which is the opposite surface side, is retracted in the direction to be crushed, as shown in FIG. 4 (c), the hanging strap 9 is released from its tension and loosens. As a result, due to the inflation gas pressure in the main air chamber 1a of the airbag 1, the bottom wall portion 7a of the sub air chamber 7 is retracted in the direction away from the partition wall 11, and the closing of the communication hole 6 is released. Will be. In such a state, the main air chamber 1a and the sub air chamber 7 communicate with each other through the communication hole 6, and the vent hole 8 is substantially opened, so that the main air chamber 1a is opened. The internal pressure is reduced and the object, for example, the occupant 10 is softly received.

  In the airbag apparatus according to the second embodiment configured as described above, the communication hole 6 is provided in the partition wall 11 separating the main air chamber 1a and the sub air chamber 7, and the sub air is not overlapped in the axial direction of the communication hole 6. A vent hole 8 is formed in the bottom wall portion 7 a of the chamber 7. Moreover, the front side base fabric is so stretched that the airbag is inflated and deployed after the other end portion of the hanging strap 9 whose one end portion is fixed to the bottom wall portion 7a is inserted into the communication holes 6 and 6. It is configured to be fixed to the panel 2. From this, when the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the suspension strap 9 is tensioned and the bottom wall portion 7a is pulled toward the partition wall 11 so that the bottom wall portion 7a can close the communication hole 6. (State shown in FIG. 4 (b)). As a result, the main air chamber 1a and the sub air chamber 7 of the airbag 1 are closed, and the vent hole 8 provided in the sub air chamber 7 is also substantially closed. Therefore, in the process of inflating and deploying the airbag 1, the inflation gas is not exhausted from the vent hole 8, and the airbag 1 can reach the final inflated and deployed shape at an early stage. It is possible to capture and protect at an early stage from such an impact.

  In addition, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with the inflated airbag 1 and the front-side base fabric panel 2 side, which is the occupant-facing surface of the airbag 1, retreats, the hanging strap 9 releases its tension and relaxes. become. As a result, the bottom wall 7a of the auxiliary air chamber 7 is retracted in the direction away from the front base fabric panel 2 by the inflation gas pressure in the airbag 1 to open the communication hole 6. Therefore, the inflation gas in the main air chamber 1a of the airbag 1 is exhausted out of the auxiliary air chamber 7 through the communication holes 6 and 6 and the vent hole 8, thereby reducing the internal pressure of the airbag 1 and It can be received softly.

  Next, as an embodiment of the present invention, a case where it is adopted in a passenger seat airbag installed on an instrument panel of an automobile will be described with reference to FIGS. The airbag 1 constituting the passenger seat airbag has a first main air chamber 1a-1 and second main air chambers 1b-1 and 1b-2 formed in a two-sided shape facing the passenger. doing. The first main air chamber 1a-1 and the second main air chambers 1b-1, 1b-2 are partitioned by a partition wall 11. The partition wall 11 is provided with a secondary air chamber 7 formed by picking the four corners of a rectangular base cloth sheet similar to that shown in FIG.

  The partition wall 11 is formed with a communication hole 6 that allows the first main air chamber 1a-1 and the sub air chamber 7 to communicate with each other. And the communicating hole 6 is formed in the site | part (virtual line Y2) which does not overlap in the axial center (virtual line Y1) direction with respect to the vent hole 8 in the bottom wall part 7a formed in the bottom raised state with respect to the airbag 1. FIG. ing. Further, one end of the hanging strap 9 is fixed to the bottom wall portion 7a of the auxiliary air chamber 7, and the other end of the hanging strap 9 is clamped and fixed by a retainer plate 19 attached to the vehicle body in the airbag 1. ing.

  Even in the third embodiment in which the present invention configured as described above is applied to a passenger airbag, the suspension strap 9 is in a relaxed state when the airbag 1 is not inflated, and the bottom wall portion 7a of the auxiliary air chamber 7 is in a relaxed state. Makes the communication hole 6 open. When an impact such as a collision of an automobile is detected from such a state, the inflation gas generated by the inflator is blown into the airbag 1 and the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. In the process of inflating and deploying the airbag 1, the hanging strap 9 is tensioned during the deployment, and the bottom wall portion 7 a is pulled toward the proximal end side of the airbag 1 to close the communication hole 6 (see FIG. 6). ) The first main air chamber 1a-1 and the sub air chamber 7 are cut off. Accordingly, in the process of inflating and deploying the airbag 1, the inflation gas is not exhausted from the vent hole 8 to the auxiliary air chamber 7 side. As a result, the gas supply to the second main air chambers 1b-1 and 1b-2 is stopped, and soft expansion due to the gas that has passed through the communication hole 6 in the initial stage occurs. The airbag 1 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 quickly forms a relatively high-pressure main air chamber 1a-1 and is suitable for protecting an occupant seated at a distance from the instrument panel.

  When the head of the occupant contacts the center portion 20 between the second main air chambers 1b-1 and 1b-2, the airbag 1 is compressed in the front-rear direction, and the partition wall 11 is pushed by the occupant. Thereby, the hanging strap 9 is in a relaxed state. Therefore, the gas in the first main air chamber 1a-1 is exhausted into the vehicle compartment through the vent hole 21 opened in the side portion, and at the same time, the second main air chamber 1b-1, through the communication hole 6, Also flows into 1b-2. For this reason, the second main air chambers 1b-1 and 1b-2 softly push the occupant's shoulders, and the reaction force of the center portion 20 against the occupant head decreases, so that the center portion 20 and the second main air chamber A passenger | crew is supported by 1b-1, 1b-2, and the relative motion of the head with respect to a shoulder is suppressed.

  On the other hand, when the occupant is located close to the instrument panel, the occupant's head is accommodated between the second main air chambers 1b-1 and 1b-2, and the second is set against the shoulder. Main air chambers 1b-1 and 1b-2 expand. At this time, since the first main air chamber 1a-1 comes into contact with the occupant before extending in the occupant direction, the hanging strap 9 is not stretched. Accordingly, a state similar to that shown in FIG. 3C is obtained, gas is supplied to the second main air chambers 1b-1, 1b-2, and the air bag 1 as a whole has a relatively low internal pressure. The occupant can be protected softly.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the airbag device is applied to the airbag device for the driver's seat and the airbag device for the passenger's seat has been described, but the application site is not limited to this. Similarly, the vent hole is closed so as to inflate and deploy at an early stage, and in such a state, when the occupant 10 is in contact with the airbag and is compressed, the vent hole is opened to cover the side wall of the automobile. The present invention can also be applied to a side curtain airbag, a door-mounted side airbag that is deployed so as to rise from the top of the door panel and covers the side wall of the vehicle.

  According to the present invention, a vent hole is provided in a bottom wall portion of a sub air chamber that is partitioned with respect to a main air chamber in a raised state, and does not overlap in the axial direction of the vent hole facing the bottom wall portion in an airbag. The communication hole is formed in the part. In addition, the other end of the hanging strap whose one end is fixed to the bottom wall portion is inserted into the communication hole and then fixed to the airbag so as to be tensioned when the airbag is inflated and deployed. ing. From this, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the hanging strap is tensioned and the bottom wall portion is pulled toward the airbag side, and the bottom wall portion can close the communication hole. As a result, the main air chamber and the sub air chamber of the airbag are closed, and the vent hole provided in the sub air chamber is also substantially closed. As a result, inflating and deploying the airbag, the inflation gas is not exhausted from the vent hole, and the airbag can reach the final inflated and deployed shape at an early stage. It will be possible to capture and protect early.

  In addition, when an object such as an occupant comes into contact with an inflated airbag and the occupant-facing surface side of the airbag is retracted, the suspension strap is released and relaxed, and as a result, The bottom wall of the auxiliary air chamber is retracted from the airbag by the inflation gas pressure to open the communication hole, and the inflation gas in the main air chamber of the airbag is moved out of the auxiliary air chamber through the communication hole and the vent hole. The air is exhausted to reduce the internal pressure of the airbag, and the passenger can be softly received.

  Therefore, the present invention is suitable for an air bag apparatus that is installed on a steering wheel of an automobile, an instrument panel in front of a passenger seat, and a ceiling or a side door of an automobile to protect an occupant from an impact caused by an automobile collision or the like. You can say that.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air bag 1a Main air chamber 1a-1 1st main air chamber (main air chamber)
1a-2 Second main air chamber (main air chamber)
6 Communication hole 7 Auxiliary air chamber 7a Bottom wall part 8 Vent hole 9 Suspension string 10 Crew (object)
11 Bulkhead 12 Exhaust chamber

Claims (4)

  In the airbag device that protects the occupant from the impact by inflating and deploying the airbag in a folded state when an impact such as a collision is applied to the automobile to the occupant side by the inflation gas ejected from the inflator, The air bag is provided with a main air chamber that captures and protects the occupant in its inflated and deployed state, and a sub-air chamber in a raised state that is partitioned from the main air chamber with a partition wall therebetween, The wall is formed with a vent hole for exhausting the inflation gas in the main air chamber to the outside of the main air chamber, and in the axial direction of the vent hole facing the bottom wall portion of the airbag. A communication hole that communicates the auxiliary air chamber and the main air chamber is formed in a portion that does not overlap, and one end of a hanging string is fixed to the bottom wall portion of the auxiliary air chamber, and the hanging string The other end of the is inserted into the communication hole In addition, the bottom wall portion is fixed to the airbag so as to be tensioned when the airbag is inflated and deployed, and the bottom wall portion is moved to the main air chamber side by tension of the hanging strap accompanying the inflation and deployment of the airbag. The vent hole is substantially closed with respect to the main air chamber by being drawn in to close the communication hole, and an object such as an occupant is placed on the airbag in a state where the hanging strap is in tension. When the airbag is retracted and the tension of the suspension strap is relieved, the communication hole is unblocked by the bottom wall portion of the auxiliary air chamber by the inflation gas pressure in the airbag. The vent hole is substantially opened by communicating the main air chamber and the sub air chamber through the communication hole, and flows into the sub air chamber from the main air chamber through the communication hole. expansion Air bag device according to claim a scan that has been configured to exhaust from the vent hole.   The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the communication holes are provided on the partition wall side, and the hanging strap is inserted into each of the communication holes. In response to the operation of inflating and deploying the airbag, when the bottom wall portion of the auxiliary air chamber of the hanging strap is drawn into the airbag side, the bottom wall portion is drawn into the communication hole, The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the communication hole is configured to be closed.   The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an exhaust pool chamber communicated by the vent hole is formed adjacent to the auxiliary air chamber.

Images