JPH07232615A - Air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a plurality of air bags from separating from each other so as to secure high shock absorbing performance. CONSTITUTION:Adhesive tapes 23 (there are other adhesive members such as sheet type rubber magnet, facing fastener, etc.) are provided on respective faces of parts in which two air bags 21, 22 make mutual contact, the developed two air bags 21, 22 are integrally connected, and the air bags are prevented from separating from each other caused by wind pressure, etc., so that sufficient shock absorbing effect can be obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device for deploying an airbag in the event of a collision, and more particularly to an airbag device suitable for protecting pedestrians.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is known that when a running vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the collided pedestrian is secondarily collided with the lower half of the body by the front portion of the vehicle body and the upper surface of the hood at the front portion of the vehicle body. There is. Therefore, the applicants have already developed an airbag on the hood or the like at the front of the vehicle body to absorb the impact of a secondary collision on the hood or the like with this airbag, and have already protected the pedestrian. is suggesting.

In order to shorten the deployment time of the airbag when deploying the airbag on the outer surface of the vehicle such as on the hood, and to make the airbag compact and to easily secure the storage space. , The airbag is divided into a plurality of parts and stored in different places, and when a collision with a pedestrian is detected, the plurality of airbags are respectively deployed on the outer surface of the vehicle to have a predetermined range. It is possible to cover it. However, when a plurality of airbags are deployed so as to cover the hood or the like, for example, the deployed airbags are displaced due to wind pressure, and a predetermined thickness cannot be obtained. When a pedestrian has undergone a secondary collision, there is a possibility that the airbag cannot obtain a sufficient shock absorbing effect.

FIG. 9 shows a vehicle occupant safety device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-547, which is located in front of a vehicle seat, that is, in front of a driver's seat 1 and a passenger seat 2 in the event of a vehicle collision. The present invention relates to an airbag device including an inflating driver-side airbag 3 and a passenger-side airbag 4, in which an occupant 6 in a driver's seat 1 and a passenger's seat 2 is mounted on a steering wheel 7, a dash panel 8, a windshield 9, or the like. The impact of the secondary collision is
It is absorbed by 4 and protected.

The driver airbag 3 and the passenger airbag 4, which are deployed in front of the driver's seat 1 and in front of the passenger's seat 2, respectively, overlap each other in the width direction of the vehicle near the center line of the vehicle. It has the overlapping portions 3a and 4a. By providing the overlapping portions 3a and 4a, when the occupants 5 and 6 or the occupant in the rear seat (not shown) collides between the airbags 3 and 4, However, a sufficient shock absorbing action is obtained.

[0006]

However, since the above-mentioned conventional vehicle occupant safety device is used by being installed in the passenger compartment, the airbag device can be deployed as it is on the hood outside the passenger compartment. If it is applied to, even if it has an overlap part, it is possible that the adjacent part of each airbag will be separated due to the wind pressure at the time of deployment of each airbag, traveling wind, etc., and it will not be possible to obtain a predetermined thickness Therefore, there is a possibility that a sufficient impact absorbing action may not be obtained when a secondary collision occurs between the airbags. Further, even when an airbag installed in a vehicle compartment such as a driver airbag or a passenger airbag of a vehicle whose roof is in an open state like an open car deploys, it comes into contact with each other due to wind pressure such as cross wind. There is a risk that the joints of the plurality of airbags may separate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag device capable of shortening the deployment time of the airbag and reliably protecting an occupant or a pedestrian.

[0008]

As a means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides an airbag apparatus for detecting a collision and deploying an airbag, wherein a plurality of airbags are provided so as to be adjacent to each other at the time of deployment. , At least one of the portions that come into contact with each other when the plurality of airbags are deployed,
It is characterized in that a joining means for joining the other contacting portion is provided.

[0009]

As described above, the airbag which deploys the airbag and absorbs the impact at the time of a collision of an occupant or a pedestrian is divided into a plurality of airbags to reduce the volume of each airbag, which is required for deployment. In addition to shortening the time, since at least one of the mutually contacting portions of the plurality of divided airbags is provided with the joining means for joining the mutually contacting portion of the other airbag, each airbag is When deployed, the adjacent airbags are joined by the joining means, and the joined state is maintained. Therefore, in the case of a hood airbag for protecting pedestrians, the adjacent airbags are prevented from being separated from each other due to wind pressure and the like, and even if the pedestrian collides with the boundary between the airbags adjacent to each other, the two airbags ensure the safety. The shock is absorbed by. Further, even in the case of an airbag provided in the passenger compartment of an open car or the like, the adjacent airbags are prevented from being separated from each other due to the wind pressure, etc., and the occupant is protected by the airbags.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the airbag device of the present invention is applied to a hood airbag device will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. When a collision with a pedestrian is detected,
The hood airbag 11 that is deployed to cover the hood 10 of the vehicle is divided into three parts in the vehicle body front-rear direction in order to reduce the volume and inflate and deploy in a short time. It is composed of two airbags 13 and a third airbag 14.

Further, the first airbag 12 on the front side is housed together with an inflator (not shown) in the front bumper 15 at the frontmost part of the vehicle. It is provided so as to cover the front surface and the vicinity of the front end of the hood 10. The second airbag 13 is housed inside the hood 10 near the front end together with the inflator, and a lid (not shown) is opened when the hood 1 is deployed.
It is designed to be deployed rearward so as to cover the center of 0. Further, the third airbag 14 is provided with the hood 1.
It is stored with the inflator inside the center of 0,
At the time of unfolding, a lid (not shown) is opened, and the hood 10 is unfolded rearward so as to cover the rear portion of the hood 10.

The rear end portion of the first airbag 12 has a second
The airbag 13 is formed in an iron floor shape (reverse step shape) so as to overlap with a stepwise formed portion of the front end portion of the airbag 13.
On two surfaces, a lower surface and a rear end surface, which are in contact with the airbag 13, a rubber material mixed with ferrite powder is formed into a thin sheet having flexibility and magnetized.
And this and the rubber magnet 12b having different polarities are attached as a joining means.

The front end of the stepped second air bag 13 has a rubber magnet 12a attached to the rear end of the first air bag 12 and a rubber magnet 13b attracted thereto.
And the rubber magnets 12b and the rubber magnets 13a that attract the rubber magnets are adhered to the corresponding two surfaces, and the rear end of the second airbag 13 has a stepwise shape at the front end of the third airbag 14. A thin rubber magnet 13a, which is formed like an iron floor so as to overlap the formed portion and has a lower surface in contact with the third airbag 14 and a rear end surface, which also has flexibility.
And a rubber magnet 13b having a polarity different from that of the above.

Further, the front end portion of the third airbag 14 formed in a stepped shape is arranged so that the rubber magnets 13a and 13b attached to the rear end portion of the second airbag 13 are attracted to each other. A rubber magnet 14b attracting the rubber magnet 13a, and a rubber magnet 14 attracting the rubber magnet 13b.
a and a are attached to the corresponding two surfaces. In addition,
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 15 is a front bumper, and 15a is a collision sensor embedded in the front bumper.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained. When a collision with a pedestrian is detected during traveling by the pedestrian collision detection means such as the collision sensor 15a, Second and third airbags 12, 13, 14
Ignition currents are simultaneously applied to the respective inflators, and the gas generated in each inflator is transferred to each airbag 1
Inflate and deploy 2, 13, and 14. At this time, the hood airbag 11 is replaced with three airbags 12, 1 having a small volume.
Since it is divided into 3 and 14 and inflated and deployed by dedicated inflators, respectively, it is possible to deploy in a short time, and each airbag and inflator can be downsized, and it becomes easy to secure a storage place.

The airbags 12, 13, 14 are
Each is deployed so as to cover the hood 10, and the rear end portion of the first airbag 12 faces the front end portion of the second airbag 13 formed in a stepped shape, and the inflation force of the airbag,
When approached by the wind pressure received by the airbag, the rubber magnets 12a and 13b and the rubber magnets 12b and 13a attract each other and adsorb, and the first airbag 12 and the second airbag 13 are connected. Similarly, when the rear end portion of the second airbag 13 faces the front end portion of the stepped third airbag 14 and approaches by the inflation force of each airbag or the wind pressure received by the airbag, Rubber magnet 1
3a, 14b and the rubber magnets 13b, 14a attract each other and adsorb, and the second airbag 13 and the third airbag 14 are connected in a predetermined state. Therefore, it is possible to prevent erroneous deployment and delay of deployment of the airbag in an unintended direction.

Therefore, the three first, second and third airbags 12, 13, 14 of the hood airbag 11 are provided.
Is a sheet-shaped rubber magnet 12 attached to the joint surface of each other.
a, 12b and the rubber magnets 13b, 13a, and the rubber magnets 13a, 13b and the rubber magnets 14b, 14a are attracted to each other, the three airbags 1 are affected by wind pressure or the like.
The hood airbag 11 can reliably absorb and mitigate the impact of the secondary collision of the pedestrian on the hood 10 due to the collision with the vehicle.

In the above embodiment, the case where the sheet-shaped rubber magnets are respectively provided on the two surfaces of the portions which are in contact with the adjacent airbags in the expanded state of the airbags 12, 13 and 14 has been described. However, a rubber magnet may be provided only on one surface of the portions that are in contact with each other. When a rubber magnet is provided on only one surface, either one of them can be made of an attracted metal such as iron or nickel to which no magnetic force is applied.

2 and 3 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the hood airbag divided in the vehicle longitudinal direction in the first embodiment is divided in two in the vehicle width direction. The description will be made below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, a first airbag 21 and a second airbag 22 are provided near the front end of the hood 20 of the vehicle.
Two airbags are stored together with dedicated inflators 21a and 22a, respectively.

When a collision with a pedestrian is detected, the first airbag 21 expands and expands into a substantially rectangular box shape so as to cover the right half of the hood 20, and similarly the second airbag 22. Are provided so as to expand at the same time and expand into a substantially rectangular box shape so as to cover the left half on the hood 20.
By dividing the hood airbag into the first airbag 21 and the second airbag 22 in this manner, the volume of each airbag is reduced to shorten the deployment time and to secure a storage space for the airbag and the inflator. Making it easier.

Adhesive tapes 23, 2 are provided on the side surfaces of the first airbag 21 and the second airbag 22 which are in contact with each other.
3 (for example, an epoxy-based two-component adhesive) is sewn with the respective adhesive surfaces facing outward. This adhesive tape 2
The adhesives 3 and 23 have a strong adhesive force only when their adhesive surfaces are adhered to each other, and therefore, the adhesive force is weak when they are folded and stored separately, and thus the airbag 2
It does not hinder the development of 1 and 22. Also, during the deployment, the surface of the hood 20 and the airbags 21, 22 are
Since the adhesive force is weak even when it comes into contact with the portion where the adhesive tape 23 is not provided, the deployment of the airbags 21 and 22 is not hindered. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 25 is a front bumper, and 25a is a collision sensor embedded in the front bumper.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained. While traveling, the collision sensor 25a provided in the front banha 25 detects a collision with a pedestrian as in the case of the previous embodiment. Then, the inflators 21a and 21a for the first and second airbags 21 and 22 are respectively provided.
Ignition currents are simultaneously applied to the respective inflators 21a and 22a.
Gas generated in a and 22a is generated in both airbags 21 and 22.
Inflate and deploy. At this time, the two airbags 21,
22 and dedicated inflators 21a, 22
Since it is inflated and deployed by a, it can be deployed in a short time, and each airbag 21, 22 and inflator 2 can be deployed.
1a and 22a can be downsized, and it becomes easy to secure a storage place for these.

The airbags 21 and 22 are deployed so as to cover the hood 20, respectively, and when the adhesive surfaces of the adhesive tapes 23, 23 attached to both side surfaces contacting each other come into contact with each other, they are strongly adhered to each other. 1 airbag 21 and second
Since the airbag 22 is integrally connected, the two airbags 21 and 22 are not separated from each other due to wind pressure or the like. Therefore, the two connected airbags 21 and 22 are
As a result, it is possible to effectively absorb and mitigate the impact when a pedestrian collides with the front portion of the vehicle and further collides with the hood 20 of the vehicle.

In this embodiment, the adhesive tape 23
The description has been given of the case where the sewn is sewn to both side surfaces of the airbags 21 and 22 which are in contact with each other.
Alternatively, a double-sided adhesive tape having different adhesive strengths on both sides may be used as the adhesive tape 23 by adhering the adhesive surface having high adhesive strength to the side surface of each of the airbags 21 and 22.

In this embodiment, the case where the adhesive tapes are provided on both side surfaces of the airbags 21 and 22 which are in contact with each other has been described, but it may be provided on only one side surface of the adhesive tapes. Except for the part that faces when deploying the other airbag to be bonded,
It is desirable to apply silicone oil or the like to the periphery to make adhesion difficult. Also, instead of using a single-sided or double-sided adhesive tape as the joining means, both airbags 2
The same effect can be obtained by directly applying a non-fluid adhesive to at least one of the surfaces of the first and the second surfaces that are in contact with each other.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the above-described second embodiment, in which the first airbag 31 and the second airbag 32 are in contact with each other in the first airbag 3
1 is located above the second airbag 32 at a predetermined angle (for example, 4
The contact area is enlarged by overlapping at 5 degrees), and a pair of surface fasteners 33 and 34 are firmly attached to both the inclined surfaces in a separated state.

Then, the first airbag 31 and the second airbag 32 are respectively provided with dedicated inflators 31a,
When inflated and expanded by the gas generated in 32a, the airbags 31 and 32 expand so as to cover the hood 20, respectively, and the surface fasteners 33 and 34 attached to the inclined surfaces contacting each other are engaged with each other. Combined, the first
The airbag 31 and the second airbag 32 are firmly connected. As a result, the two airbags 31 and 32 are not separated from each other by the wind pressure such as the traveling wind, and therefore, the impact when the pedestrian makes a secondary collision on the hood 20 due to the collision with the vehicle is effectively absorbed and mitigated. be able to.

Further, FIG. 5 shows still another mode of the second embodiment, in which the portions of the first airbag 41 and the second airbag 42 which are in contact with each other are formed in a step-like shape which meshes with each other. . With this stepped shape, the contact area of the airbag is further expanded and the airbag is firmly connected with respect to those overlapping at a predetermined angle in FIG. Further, the stepped portions of both airbags 41 and 42 are made of magnetic cloth 43 which is made to have a magnetic force by means of weaving a magnetic material which has been magnetized into the fabrics forming the respective airbags 41 and 42. Is. Therefore, each airbag 41, 4
When 2 inflates, they expand so as to cover the hood 20, respectively, and the portion of the magnetic cloth 43 formed in the iron floor shape (reverse step shape) of the first airbag 41 is formed in the step shape of the second airbag 42. When approaching the portion of the magnetic cloth 43 that has been made, the magnetic force attracts and attracts each other, and the air bags 41, 42
Are connected.

The first and second airbags 41 and 4 are also provided.
As shown in FIG. 6, the cloth of the portion of the surface of 2 which is in contact with each other has the magnetic force, and the synthetic fiber 5 to which the magnetic powder particles 51 are added as the weft threads woven in the cloth at the spinning step.
0, or as shown in FIG. 7, at the stage of manufacturing the woven fabric 60 with the warp yarns 61 and the weft yarns 62, a magnetic fine metal wire or metal fiber of a ferromagnet such as iron or nickel which has a magnetic force in advance. 63 or iron whiskers or the like.

Further, FIG. 8 shows another mode of the above-described second embodiment, in which the first airbag 71 and the second airbag 72 are in contact with each other on one surface (first airbag). Microcapsules 73 encapsulating a gel adhesive are provided on the entire surface (end surface of 71).

Then, the first airbag 71 and the second airbag 72 are respectively provided with dedicated inflators 71a,
When inflated and expanded by the gas generated in 72a, it expands so as to cover the hood 70, and the end surface of the first airbag 71 on which the microcapsules 73 are provided,
By contacting the contact surface of the second airbag 72, the microcapsules 73 are broken and the adhesive is ejected, and the contact surfaces of the two airbags 71 and 72 are bonded to each other, and the first airbag 71 and the second airbag 71 The airbag 72 is firmly connected. As a result, the two airbags 71 and 72 are not separated from each other due to the inflation force of the airbag or the wind pressure such as traveling wind, and the hood 70 is collided with a pedestrian by the pedestrian.
It is possible to effectively absorb and mitigate the impact when the secondary collision occurs.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where a plurality of airbags are deployed at the same time has been described.
A plurality of airbags may be deployed at different times.

Although the above embodiments have been described with respect to the hood airbag which is deployed on the hood of the vehicle, it is applicable to the airbag which is deployed outside the vehicle body other than on the hood such as on the side of the vehicle body or on the roof. In addition to the above, it is also effective when applied to driver airbags and passenger airbags, which are susceptible to wind pressure when deploying open cars and the like.

Although the present invention has been described above, the embodiments of the present invention include the following various technical matters in addition to the technical matters described in the claims. Is added. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein when a collision with a pedestrian is detected, the airbag device deploys the airbag on the outer surface of the vehicle to protect the pedestrian. An airbag is provided, and at least one of the portions that come into contact with each other when the plurality of airbags are deployed is provided with a joining means that joins the other portion that comes into contact with the airbag. Further, the joining means comprises a joining means using a magnetic material.

[0037]

As described above, the airbag device of the present invention has the joining means for joining at least one of the portions of the plurality of airbags, which are adjacent to each other at the time of deployment, in contact with each other, to the other in contact with each other. Since it was set up,
Adjacent airbags can be joined and integrated when deployed, and it is possible to prevent a decrease in impact absorption capacity due to separation of adjacent airbags due to wind pressure, etc., and to obtain a reliable and sufficient impact absorption effect. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle equipped with an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle equipped with an airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing another aspect of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing still another aspect of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of fibers used in the airbag device shown in FIG.

7 is an enlarged view of a woven fabric used in the airbag device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing another aspect of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a conventional airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 First Airbag 12a Sheet-like Rubber Magnet 13 Second Airbag 14 Third Airbag 21 First Airbag 21a Inflator 23 Adhesive Tape 33 Face Fastener 43 Magnetic Cloth 73 Microcapsule with Adhesive

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An airbag device for detecting a collision and deploying an airbag, wherein a plurality of airbags are provided so as to be adjacent to each other at the time of deployment, and at least one of the portions contacting each other at the time of deployment of the plurality of airbags, the other An air bag device, characterized in that a bonding means is provided for bonding to the contacting part.