JP3748285B2 - Side impact airbag device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a side collision airbag device, and more particularly to an improvement in an airbag that is provided in a seat of an automobile and can be reliably deployed at a predetermined position in the event of a side collision.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, at the time of a side collision in which another automobile collides with the side of the automobile, or the side of the automobile that has spun collides with a guard rail, a power pole, etc., following the primary collision in which the side of the automobile collides with another object. A secondary collision occurs in which the body of the occupant sitting on the seat (seat) strongly hits the inner surface of the door that exists on the side of the occupant. If the impact at the time of this secondary collision is great, serious damage will occur to the occupant's body. For this reason, some airbags for side collision have been put into practical use, which inflates the airbag between the occupant's body and the door during a side collision and prevents the occupant's body and the inner surface of the door from colliding directly. Has been.
[0003]
As such a side collision airbag device, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-64491, as shown in FIG. 8, an airbag 51 provided on the side of a seat 50 of a vehicle is used for a passenger as shown in FIG. A device for protecting an occupant by being deployed between a vehicle door (not shown) and a vehicle door (not shown) is described.
The airbag 51 is formed into a bag shape as a whole by sewing a required fabric, and is inflated and deployed by gas filled from an inflator 52 that is a gas generator. When the inflator 52 receives an impact from the side of the vehicle, the inflator 52 generates gas in accordance with the operation of the pyrotechnic sensor 54 and fills the airbag 51 with the gas. The pyrotechnic sensor 54 is provided so as to protrude to the side of the seat 50 so as to face the inside of a door panel (not shown), and is pressed inward of the vehicle by deformation of the door due to impact from the side of the vehicle. Is shocked.
[0004]
In such a side-impact airbag device, when the pyrotechnic sensor 54 receives an impact in response to the deformation of the door during a side-collision of the vehicle, the inflator 52 gasses as the pyrotechnic sensor 54 operates. To fill the airbag 51. As a result, the airbag 51 is instantly deployed between the occupant and the vehicle door, catches the occupant's body, and gradually contracts by discharging gas into the passenger compartment, thereby reducing the impact the occupant receives on the body. .
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional side collision airbag device as described above, an airbag module including a folded airbag 51 and an inflator 52 for inflating the airbag 51 as an integrated unit has a housing such as a cylinder 55, for example. It attaches to the width direction outer end part of the sheet | seat 50 via a bracket part. That is, the airbag module configured by assembling the inflator 52 and the folded airbag 51 in a housing such as the cylinder 55 in advance is attached to a seat frame (not shown) of the seat 50 via the cylinder 55. It is done.
[0006]
Therefore, the airbag device for side collision has a large number of parts and assembly steps for the airbag module, and it is necessary to provide a receiving portion for attaching the airbag module to the seat frame. For this reason, there is a problem that the assembling work is not easy and the manufacturing cost tends to be high and the airbag module is easily increased in size.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems, and to provide a compact side collision airbag device that is inexpensive to manufacture.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object of the present invention is to protect the occupant by inflating and deploying an air bag built in the portion near the outer end in the width direction of the seat between the occupant and the vehicle side in response to an impact from the side of the vehicle An air bag device for side collision,
The airbag is achieved by a side collision airbag device characterized in that the airbag is directly fixed to a seat frame of a seat together with a gas generator for inflating and deploying the airbag.
[0008]
Preferably, the gas generator is arranged in an airbag, and a cut is provided in the vicinity of the gas generator arrangement position of the airbag in a direction substantially parallel to the deployment direction when the airbag is inflated. After the gas generator is inserted into the airbag from the cut, the gas generator is fixed to the seat frame, so that the airbag and the gas generator are directly fixed to the seat frame at the same time.
[0009]
Preferably, the gas generator is disposed in a storage recess formed in a seat frame, and after the gas generator is stored in the storage recess, the airbag is configured to cover the gas generator in the storage recess. By fixing the opening to the peripheral edge of the storage recess, the airbag and the gas generator are directly fixed to the seat frame.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a side collision airbag device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 to 4 show a side collision airbag apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an airbag module 1 constituting a side collision airbag device of the present invention includes a fabric airbag 10 and an inflator 11 that is a gas generator for inflating and deploying the airbag 10. And a fabric band 5 that is attached to the folded airbag 10 to store and hold the airbag 10 when not in use, and is fixed to the airbag mounting portion 3 provided on the seat frame 2.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag module 1 has a configuration in which an inflator 11 is disposed in an airbag 10, and a cut 13 that is substantially parallel to the deployment direction 14 when the airbag 10 is inflated is arranged in an inflator arrangement. It is provided at the installation position (the right end side X in the figure of the airbag 10), and is configured so that the cylindrical inflator 11 can be inserted into the airbag from the cut 13.
[0012]
That is, a cut 13 having a size necessary for inserting the inflator 11 into the airbag 10 is provided in the central portion on the side of the airbag 10. It extends in parallel with the deployment direction 14 so as not to tear due to the deployment force of time.
The inflator 11 is provided with, for example, mounting bolts 12, 12, and the holes 15, 15 for projecting the mounting bolts 12, 12 to the outside of the airbag are on the right end side X of the airbag 10 and the cut 13. It is provided on both sides.
[0013]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the airbag attaching portion 3 is located near the outer end in the width direction of the back frame 2a of the seat frame 2 made of, for example, a steel pipe, and is recessed toward the front of the seat. Support part. That is, the airbag mounting portion 3 has a substantially arc-shaped cross section shown in FIG. 3C so that the right end side X of the airbag 10 can be held between the outer peripheral surface of the inflator 11. It is press-molded to have a shape.
[0014]
Therefore, after inserting the inflator 11 into the airbag 10 from the cut line 13 and projecting the mounting bolts 12 and 12 from the holes 15 and 15, the fabric band 5 is attached to the folded airbag 10 and stored and held. Thus, a temporary assembly state is obtained. The fabric band 5 inserted through the mounting bolts 12 and 12 is locked by the fastening means 6 so that both end edges can be engaged and disengaged. The fastening means 6 does not come off and does not hinder the inflation / deployment of the airbag 10.
[0015]
When the seat is assembled, as shown in FIG. 4, with the mounting bolts 12, 12 protruding from the holes 15, 15, the mounting bolts 12, 12 are inserted into the bolt holes 4, 4 of the airbag mounting portion 3. The airbag 10 and the inflator 11 are simultaneously fixed to the back frame 2 a of the seat frame 2 by inserting and fastening the nuts 17 and 17. Then, the right end side X of the airbag 10 is sandwiched and clamped between the outer peripheral surface of the inflator 11 and the airbag mounting portion 3 so that the cut 13 is closed.
[0016]
That is, in the airbag module 1 as described above, the airbag 10 and the inflator 11 are directly fixed to the seat frame 2 without using a base plate or a housing, and the seat frame 2 is used as one component of the airbag module. By using it, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps of the airbag module 1 can be reduced, and the airbag module 1 can be reduced in size and stored compactly in a seat.
[0017]
Further, in the airbag module 1 of the first embodiment, when the vehicle collides, gas is suddenly released from the inflator 11, and the airbag 10 is inflated by this gas and deployed in the deployment direction 14. At this time, a large tension parallel to the deployment direction 14 acts on the airbag 10, and this tension is a force parallel to the cut line 13, and the airbag fabric near the cut line 13 is in the inflator 11 on the right end side X. Since the outer peripheral surface of the back frame 2a and the airbag attachment portion 3 of the back frame 2a are clamped and fixed, a force that opens the cut 13 sideways does not act directly on the cut 13. Therefore, even if the reinforcing cloth is not sewn around the cut 13, the airbag 10 is not damaged from the cut 13. In addition, the inflator 11 can be easily inserted into the airbag 10, and the airbag module 1 can be easily fixed to the back frame 2a.
[0018]
5 to 7 show a side collision airbag apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the airbag module 21 constituting the side collision airbag device of the present invention includes a fabric airbag 30 and an inflator 31 that is a gas generator for inflating and deploying the airbag 30. And the holding plate 32 for fixing the airbag 30 and the inflator 31 to the airbag mounting portion 25 of the back frame 22 and the folded airbag 30 to store and hold the airbag 30 when not in use. And a cover 35 (see FIG. 7).
[0019]
The airbag 30 is formed in a bag shape with the side portion opened, and the rectangular pressing plate 32 is inserted into the airbag from the opening 30a. A plurality of mounting bolts 33 are suspended from the holding plate 32 together with a plurality of openings 32a. The mounting bolts 33 are inserted into the airbag 30 through holes (not shown) formed in the periphery of the opening 30a of the airbag 30. Is inserted into the outer side of the housing and is temporarily assembled.
[0020]
The airbag mounting portion 25 includes a storage recess 27 recessed in the steel plate 23 near the outer end in the width direction of the steel plates 23 and 24 disposed on both sides of the seat to form the back frame 22 together with the steel pipe, and the pressing plate. 32 bolt holes 26 through which 32 mounting bolts 33 are inserted. The storage recess 27 is a recess for storing and holding the cylindrical inflator 31, and is press-molded to have a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape shown in FIG.
[0021]
When the seat is assembled, as shown in FIG. 7, after the inflator 31 is stored in the storage recess 27 of the steel plate 23, the air opening 30 a of the airbag 30 covers the inflator 31 in the storage recess 27. The fixing bolt 33 of the pressing plate 32 temporarily assembled in the bag 30 is inserted into the bolt hole 26 of the steel plate 23, and the folded airbag 30 is covered with the cover 35. Then, the airbag 30 and the inflator 31 are simultaneously fixed to the steel plate 23 of the back frame 22 by being fastened together with the cover 35 by the nuts 34 and 34. Therefore, the inflator 31 is held so as to be sandwiched between the inner wall of the storage recess 27 and the pressing plate 32. Further, the peripheral edge of the opening 30 a of the airbag 30 is held between the peripheral edge of the storage recess 27 in the steel plate 23 and the pressing plate 32. That is, the steel plate 23 functions as a housing that holds and holds the inflator 31 and holds and fixes the opening 30 a of the airbag 30.
[0022]
Therefore, in the airbag module 21 of the second embodiment, when the vehicle collides, the gas that is suddenly released from the inflator 31 is passed through the opening 32a of the holding plate 32 from the storage recess 27 of the steel plate 23. It flows into the bag 30 and inflates and deploys the airbag 30. At this time, the cover 35 also breaks and expands without hindering the expansion and deployment of the airbag 30, so that the airbag 30 expands forward (left side in FIG. 7) as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. And the door inner surface.
[0023]
That is, in the airbag module 21 as described above, the airbag 30 and the inflator 31 are directly fixed to the back frame 22 without using a base plate or a housing, and the back frame 22 is used as one component of the airbag module. By using it, the number of parts and assembly man-hours of the airbag module 21 can be reduced, and the airbag module 21 can be reduced in size and stored compactly in a seat.
[0024]
Further, the airbag module 21 has a cylindrical inflator 31 housed in a housing recess 27 recessed in the back frame 22, which is accommodated by a pressing plate 32 temporarily assembled in the opening 30 a of the airbag 30. Since it is held in the recess 27 and fixed to the back frame 22, the structure is simple and the assembling work is easy.
Note that the side collision airbag device of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the airbag module in each of the above embodiments, and it goes without saying that the inflator type, mounting structure, and the like can take various forms. .
[0025]
For example, a plurality of inflators may be provided according to the relationship between the capacity of the inflator and the volume of the airbag.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
According to the side collision airbag device of the present invention, the airbag and the inflator are directly fixed to the seat frame without using the base plate and the housing, and the seat frame is used as one component of the airbag module. The number of parts and the number of assembling steps of the bag module can be reduced to facilitate the assembling work, and the airbag module can be reduced in size and stored compactly in the seat.
[0027]
Therefore, the manufacturing cost is low and a compact side collision airbag device can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an attached state of an airbag module constituting a side collision airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of essential parts of the airbag shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
3A is a front view of the airbag mounting portion shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3B is a side view thereof, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an assembled state of the airbag module shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an attached state of an airbag module constituting a side collision airbag apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
6A is a front view of the airbag mounting portion shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6B is a side view thereof, and FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.
7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an assembled state of the airbag module shown in FIG. 5. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a side collision airbag device that is already in practical use.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Airbag module 2 Seat frame 2a Back frame 3 Airbag attaching part 5 Cloth 10 Airbag 11 Inflator 12 Attachment bolt 13 Notch 14 Deployment direction 15 Hole 17 Nut

Claims (2)

In response to an impact from the side of the vehicle, a side-collision airbag device that inflates and deploys an airbag built in the width direction outer end portion of the seat between the occupant and the vehicle side portion to protect the occupant The airbag is directly fixed to a seat frame of a seat together with a gas generator for inflating and deploying the airbag;
The seat frame is provided with a storage recess for storing at least a part of the gas generator ,
The airbag has an insertion port for the gas generator, and the insertion port is located at a position facing the storage recess,
A side collision airbag apparatus, wherein after the gas generator is inserted from the insertion port , at least a part of the gas generator is stored in the storage recess. In response to an impact from the side of the vehicle, a side-collision airbag device that inflates and deploys an airbag built in the width direction outer end portion of the seat between the occupant and the vehicle side portion to protect the occupant The airbag is directly fixed to a seat frame of a seat together with a gas generator for inflating and deploying the airbag;
The seat frame is provided with a storage recess for storing at least a part of the gas generator ,
The gas generator is located outside the airbag and is fixed to the storage recess with a presser plate.
The airbag has at least one gas inlet from the gas generator,
A side collision airbag apparatus, wherein at least a part of a gas generator is housed in the housing recess.

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