JP3498412B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus disposed on a door, an instrument panel, a seat, or the like of an automobile, and more particularly, to an inflator for inflating an airbag. The present invention relates to an airbag device in which an airbag partially wraps an inflator of a substantially cylindrical shape and a diffuser arranged around the inflator is disposed in the airbag. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an inflator for inflating an airbag is of a substantially cylindrical cylinder type, and the airbag partially surrounds the inflator, and is further disposed inside the airbag around the inflator. As an airbag device having a diffuser disposed therein, there is known an airbag device described in FIGS. 1 and 2 of Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-82710. [0003] In the airbag device of the above publication, the airbag diffuser and the inflator are assembled in such a manner that the end of the airbag is formed in a rectangular tube shape with a bottom, and airbags are provided on two opposing side walls, respectively, on the periphery. An insertion hole provided with a flange portion extending into the bag is provided, both ends of the diffuser are provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the two flange portions, and an inflator is inserted into the airbag from the insertion hole. [0004] However, in this airbag device, the work of externally covering both ends of the diffuser with a predetermined flange portion inside the airbag is the work inside the airbag, and is performed visually. Difficult, and because the airbag itself has flexibility, even if one end of the diffuser is exteriorized to one flange, when the other end of the diffuser is exteriorized to the other flange, the airbag is already exteriorized. One of the flanges comes off from one end of the diffuser, which is extremely troublesome, and the workability of assembling the airbag device is poor. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag apparatus in which the operation of disposing a diffuser in an airbag is facilitated and the assembling workability is good. [0006] An airbag device according to the present invention is a cylindrical airbag provided at an end of a bag-shaped airbag and arranged around a substantially cylindrical inflator and having an opening in a peripheral wall. An airbag device having an insertion portion for inserting the diffuser, wherein the insertion portion arranges annular portions having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the diffuser on the left and right sides, and each of the circles On the outer side of the ring portion, as a substantially cylindrical shape, a mounting piece portion for pressing the airbag to the diffuser by being pressed against one of the outer peripheral surface, the end surface, and the inner peripheral surface of the diffuser by a pressing member. It is characterized by being arranged. In the airbag device according to the present invention, when the diffuser is inserted into the insertion portion of the airbag, the inner diameter of the diffuser is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the diffuser on the left and right sides of the insertion portion. Because the ring part is arranged,
It can be externally fitted to the diffuser and positioned at two places. And the insertion of this diffuser into the insertion part,
The part of the inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the diffuser is
Since there are only two places where the ring portion is arranged, the resistance is low and the operation can be performed smoothly. [0008] Then, the outer mounting portion of each annular portion,
Using a pressing member, the outer peripheral surface and end surface of the diffuser,
Further, the airbag may be pressed against the inner peripheral surface to secure the sealing property between the airbag and the diffuser, and the airbag may be attached to the diffuser. Therefore, in the airbag device according to the present invention, the diffuser can be positioned and arranged simply by inserting the diffuser into the predetermined insertion portion of the airbag, and the operation of disposing the diffuser in the airbag becomes easy. As a result, the assembly workability can be improved. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The airbag device M1 of the first embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in 2, a bag-shaped airbag 1, a cylindrical diffuser 7, an inflator 9 that supplies gas for inflation to the airbag 1, and a folded airbag 1, a diffuser 7, and an inflator 9 are stored and held. Case 1
1, and a lid 12 that covers the opening 11c of the case 11, and is disposed on a door of an automobile. The airbag 1 includes a bag-shaped main body 1a and an insertion portion 1b formed at an end of the main body 1a to insert the diffuser 7. On both left and right sides of the insertion portion 1b, annular portions 1c each having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the diffuser 7 are arranged. Further, on the outer side of each annular portion 1c, a substantially cylindrical mounting piece is provided. A part 1d is provided. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the airbag 1 is formed from one bag base cloth 2 and two bag base cloths 4.5. In the embodiment, the inner diameter of each mounting piece 1d is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the diffuser 7, as in the case of the ring 1c. As shown in FIG. 3, the bag base fabric 2 has two wide main portions 2a and a narrow portion 2 between the main portions 2a.
b, the narrow portion 2b has a portion 2c for an attachment piece.
Are configured to protrude. When manufacturing the airbag 1 from the bag base fabric 2, the main body portions 2a and 2a are overlapped by bringing the surfaces on the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag 1 into contact with each other,
If the outer peripheral edge excluding the narrow portion 2b is sewn and then turned over and further sewn with the suture thread 3 except for the tip of the attachment piece portion 2c in the overlapping narrow portion 2b, the airbag 1
Can be manufactured. As shown in FIG. 4, the bag base cloths 4 and 5 have the same shape as each other, and have main bodies 4a and 5a forming the main body 1a of the airbag 1 and end portions of the main bodies 4a and 5a. Narrow portion 4 which is arranged and has attachment piece portions 4c and 5c
b.5b. When the airbag 1 is manufactured from the bag base cloths 4 and 5, the surfaces on the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag 1 are brought into contact with each other to form the main body portion 4.
a and 5a are overlapped, the outer peripheral edge excluding the narrow portions 4b and 5b is sewn, and then turned over, and the overlapped narrow portions 4b and 5 are further turned over.
The airbag 1 can be manufactured by suturing with the suture thread 3 except for the tips of the attachment piece portions 4c and 5c in b. The diffuser 7 is formed of a cylindrical metal pipe such as a steel pipe, has a plurality of openings 7a penetrating the inner and outer peripheries of the peripheral wall, and has an axial length that is equal to each mounting piece 1d of the airbag 1.・ Approximately equal to the distance to both ends of 1d, and
The distance is slightly smaller than the distance between the insertion holes 11a and 11b of the case 11 described later. The inflator 9 includes a cylindrical main body 9a having a gas discharge port 9b, a flange 9c disposed at one end of the main body 9a, and a male screw 9e disposed at the other end of the main body 9a. The surface of the flange 9c on the side of the main body 9a is a tapered surface 9d for reducing the diameter toward the main body 9a. Also, a nut 1 for screwing into the male screw portion 9e.
0, the tapered surface 10a
Is formed. In the case of the embodiment, between the tapered surface 9d of the inflator 9 and the tapered surface 10a of the nut 10, the periphery of the insertion holes 11a and 11b of the case 11 and the vicinity of both ends of the diffuser 7 are sandwiched. The case 11 is configured to hold the airbag 1, the diffuser 7, and the inflator 9. The case 11 is provided with insertion holes 11a and 11b for inserting the inflator 9 on the left and right side surfaces of the lower part, and has a two-stage box shape having an opening 11c for letting out the airbag 1 at the upper part. , Formed from sheet metal. A plurality of locking members 11 for attaching the lid 12 are provided on the opposing wall surface of the periphery of the upper opening 11c.
d and a locking hole 11e are formed. Case 1
1, a bracket (not shown) for attaching to a door is provided. The lid 12 is a rectangular plate-shaped main body 12a that covers the opening 11c of the case 11, a mounting piece 12b provided at one end of the main body 12a, and is provided at the other end of the main body 12a. And a locking leg 12e. The mounting piece 12b is provided with two locking holes 12c and 12d for inserting and locking the respective locking tools 11d of the case 11, and each of the locking tools 11d is connected to each set of locking holes 12c.・ 12d
Is attached to the case 11. Then, each locking leg 12 e is inserted and locked into the locking hole 11 e of the case 11, so that the lid 12
Is attached to the case 11 so as to cover the opening 11c. When the airbag 1 is inflated, the lid 12 is pushed by the airbag 1 to release the locking of the locking legs 12e into the locking holes 11e and open. The operation of assembling the airbag device M1 of the first embodiment will be described. First, the diffuser 7 is inserted into the insertion portion 1b of the airbag 1. At this time, since the annular portion 1c and the mounting piece 1d having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the diffuser 7 are disposed on the left and right of the insertion portion 1b, the annular portion 1c and the mounting piece 1d are arranged. 1d can be positioned externally to the diffuser 7 at two locations on the left and right of the portion connected to the diffuser 1d. And this diffuser 7
In the insertion into the insertion portion 1b, the portion having the inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the diffuser is not formed over the entire length of the insertion portion 1b, and the left and right annular portions 1c and the mounting piece portion 1d are connected. Since only two parts are arranged, the resistance is low and the operation can be performed smoothly. Thereafter, the annular portions 8a of the clamp 8 are externally mounted on the mounting pieces 1d on the outer side of each annular portion 1c.
A screw 8c is inserted into a flange 8b formed at both ends of the annular portion 8a and tightened, and the mounting pieces 1d are pressed into contact with both ends of the diffuser 7, so that the airbag 1 can secure the sealing performance. Can be attached to the diffuser 7. The two flanges 8b of the clamp 8 have an insertion hole (not shown) for inserting the screw 8c on one side and a screw hole (not shown) for screwing with the screw 8c on the other side. Then, the airbag 1 is folded, and the airbag 1 is stored in the case 11 with both ends of the diffuser 7 corresponding to the insertion holes 11a and 11b.
The male thread 9e is inserted from the side a, the inflator 9 is inserted into the diffuser 7, the nut 10a is screwed into the male thread 9e from the insertion hole 11b side, and the tapered surface 9d.
By pressing the periphery of the insertion holes 11a and 11b and the vicinity of both ends of the diffuser 7 with 10a, the airbag 1, the diffuser 7 and the inflator 9 can be attached to the case 11. Next, if the lid 12 is attached to the case 11, the airbag device M1 can be assembled. The bracket 11 (not shown) of the case 11 may be provided at a predetermined position on the door of the automobile. When gas is discharged from the gas discharge port 9b of the inflator body 9a, the diffuser 7
The gas flows into the main body 1a of the airbag 1 through the opening 7a of the airbag 1, and the airbag 1 expands by opening the lid 12. As described above, in the airbag device M1 of the first embodiment, if the diffuser 7 is inserted into the insertion portion 1b of the airbag 1, the outer diameter of the diffuser is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the diffuser on the left and right sides of the insertion portion 1b. Since the annular portion 1c and the mounting piece portion 1d having the set inner diameter are arranged, the annular portion 1c
The airbag 1 can be externally fitted to the diffuser 7 and positioned at two locations where the airbag 1 and the mounting piece 1d are connected, and the work of disposing the diffuser 7 inside the airbag 1 becomes easy, and assembling workability is improved. Can be improved. In the airbag apparatus M1 of the first embodiment, each mounting piece 1d of the airbag 1 is connected to the diffuser 7
Using a clamp 8 as a pressing member on the outer peripheral surface of
5 shows the airbag device M shown in FIG.
2, each mounting piece 1 d of the airbag 1 is lengthened and bent into the diffuser 7, and the tapered surface 9 d of the flange 9 c of the inflator 9 and the nut 10 pressed near both end surfaces of the diffuser 7. 10a, each mounting piece 1
d may be pressed against the end face side of the diffuser 7. The pressing members in this case are the flange 9c of the inflator 9 and the nut 10. In this configuration, the shape of the diffuser 7, the inflator 9, and the case 11 may be reduced without increasing the length of each mounting piece 1d of the airbag 1. The airbag device M2 of the second embodiment can be assembled without using the clamp 8, the caps 17 and 18, which will be described later, so that the number of components can be reduced and the number of manufacturing steps and manufacturing cost can be reduced. Can be reduced. Further, each mounting piece 1d is attached to the diffuser 7
When the attachment pieces 1d of the airbag 1 are not sewn over the entire length when the attachment pieces 1d of the airbag 1 are not sewn over the entire length, if the peripheral edges are overlapped and folded into the diffuser 7 as if the attachment pieces 1d were sewn, It is pressed against the end face of the diffuser 7 by the pressing member, and can be brought into the same state as when it is sewn. Therefore, in the insertion portion 1b, only the suturing for securing the inner diameter of the annular portion 1c is improved. In this case, the resistance when the diffuser 7 is inserted into the insertion portion 1b can be further reduced, and the airbag can be further reduced. The workability of assembling the device 2 can be improved. Further, in the airbag devices M1 and M2 of the first and second embodiments, the brackets (not shown) of the case 11 are used to dispose them on the door of the automobile.
As in the airbag device M3 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the diffuser 7 is used without using the case 21.
The airbag device M3 may be arranged at a predetermined position. In the airbag device M3, a plurality of mounting holes 7b are formed in the lower portion of the diffuser 7, and the through holes 1e and 21a corresponding to the mounting holes 7b are also formed in the insertion portion 1b of the airbag 1 and the case 21. Is formed. Then, the diffuser 7 is attached to the case 11 together with the bracket 14 fixed to a predetermined position of the automobile using the rivets 16 inserted into the attachment holes 7b and the through holes 1e and 21a. The mounting hole 7b
When the female screw is threaded into the through hole 1e, 21a as a fixing means for attaching the diffuser 7 to the bracket 14
Can be used and a bolt that is screwed into the mounting hole 7b can be used. In the airbag device M3, an inflator 19 for supplying inflation gas to the airbag 1 is attached to the diffuser 7 via caps 17 and 18. The inflator 19 has a gas discharge port 19.
b, a flange 19c arranged at one end of the main body 19a, and a male thread 19e arranged at the other end of the main body 19b. The cap 17 disposed on the side of the flange 19c of the inflator 19 has a cylindrical portion 17a into which the inflator body portion 19a can be inserted and can be inserted into the diffuser 7, and a diffuser formed at the end of the cylindrical portion 17a. And a flange portion 17b that can abut on the end face of the second member 7. The cap 18 disposed on the male screw portion 19e side of the inflator 19 has a through hole 18b through which the male screw portion 19e can be inserted and the main body portion 19a cannot be inserted, and a cylindrical member which can be inserted into the diffuser 7. Part 18a
And the diffuser 7 formed at the end of the cylindrical portion 18a.
And a flange portion 18c that can abut on the end face. To assemble the airbag device M3, the diffuser 7 is inserted into the insertion portion 1b of the airbag 1, and the clamp 8 is mounted on the outer peripheral side of each mounting piece 1d of the airbag 1, and each mounting piece is mounted. The portion 1d is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the diffuser 7. At this time, the respective mounting holes 7b of the diffuser 7 and the respective through holes 1e of the airbag 1 are aligned. Next, the airbag 1 is folded and the caps 17 and 18 are fitted to both ends of the diffuser 7 and stored in the case 21. Then, the diffuser 7, the case 21 and the bracket 14 are connected by the rivet 16, and the inflator 19 is inserted into the insertion hole 21b of the case 21.
From the inflator flange 19c and the cap 1
When the nut 20 is screwed into the male screw 19e while the male screw 19e is made to come into contact with the flange 17b, the male screw 19e is projected from the insertion hole 18b of the cap 18, the assembly of the airbag device M3 is completed. When the bracket 14 is fixed at a predetermined position on the vehicle, the airbag device M3 can be mounted on the vehicle. In the airbag device M3, the lid 22 that covers the opening 21d of the case 21 is attached to the interior member 23 of the vehicle. In the airbag device M3, the work of disposing the diffuser 7 in the airbag 1 becomes easy, and the airbag device M3 is moved to the vehicle side by using the diffuser 7 without using the case 21. Since the airbag 1 has a structure in which the airbag 1 surrounds the inflator 19 and does not easily apply an impact force to the case 21 when the airbag 1 is inflated, the case 21 can be made of a thin sheet metal or a synthetic resin. The weight of the device M3 can be reduced. In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 7, each mounting piece 1d of the airbag 1 is used without using the clamp 8.
Is bent toward the inner peripheral surface side of the diffuser 7 and the cap 1
The airbag 1 may be attached to the diffuser 7 by ensuring that the attachment pieces 1d are pressed against the inner peripheral surface side of the diffuser 7 by 7 and 18 to ensure the sealing performance. Then, as in the airbag device M4 of the fourth embodiment, each mounting piece 1d of the airbag 1 is bent toward the inner peripheral surface of the diffuser 7, and each mounting piece is mounted by caps 17 and 18 as pressing members. One part 1d is diffuser 7
In order to press against the inner peripheral surfaces at both ends of each of the mounting pieces 1d, ridges 1f formed by sewing threads in the circumferential direction or the like are provided on the end side of each mounting piece 1d.・ 18
It is desirable to dispose it near the tip of. With this arrangement, when the gas is discharged from the inflator 19 and the airbag 1 is inflated, each mounting piece 1 d receives a force that tries to come off from the diffuser 7.
f is caught between each of the caps 17 and 18 and the inner peripheral surface of the diffuser 7 to prevent the attachment pieces 1 d from coming off, thereby ensuring the sealing performance of the airbag 1 with respect to the diffuser 7. This is because it is possible to prevent the gas pressure from acting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an airbag device showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the manufacture of the airbag used in the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining another production of the airbag used in the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an airbag device showing a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an airbag device showing a third embodiment. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an airbag device showing a fourth embodiment. [Description of Signs] 1 ... airbag device, 1b ... insertion portion, 1c ... annular portion, 1d ... mounting piece portion, 7 ... diffuser, 7a ... opening, 8 ... (pressing member) clamp, 9.19 ... inflator, 9a ... (pressing member) flange, 10 ... (pressing member) nut, 17.18 ... (pressing member) cap, M1, M2, M3, M4 ... airbag device.

Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Masahiro Miyaji 1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyota Motor Corporation (56) References JP-A-5-193432 (JP, A) JP-A-5-338511 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 63-98856 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 5-82710 (JP, U) Tokuhyo Hei 4-504092 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) ) B60R 21/16-21/32

Claims (1)

(57) [Claim 1] Inserting a cylindrical diffuser, which is arranged around a substantially cylindrical inflator and has an opening in a peripheral wall, into an end of a bag-shaped airbag. An airbag device having a portion, wherein the insertion portion arranges annular portions having an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the diffuser on the left and right sides,
On the outer side of each of the annular portions, as a substantially cylindrical shape, for pressing the airbag to any of the outer peripheral surface, the end surface, and the inner peripheral surface of the diffuser by a pressing member, to attach the airbag to the diffuser. An airbag device characterized by comprising a mounting piece portion.