JP6897382B2 - Driver's seat airbag and driver's seat airbag device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an airbag and an airbag device for restraining an occupant in the event of a collision of an automobile, and more particularly to an airbag and an airbag device for the driver's seat.

The driver airbag device provided on the steering wheel activates an inflator (gas generator) to eject gas in an emergency such as a vehicle collision, supplies gas to the airbag, and drives this airbag with the steering wheel. It is configured to be deployed with the seat occupants.

In Patent Document 1, the peripheral edges of the occupant-side panel and the non-occupant-side panel are sewn together to form a bag shape, and between the fixed position of the airbag and the most protruding portion of the airbag with respect to the fixed position. When the dimension of is 1, the maximum protruding part by the non-occupant side panel is at a position 0.5 or more away from the fixed position, and the expansion diameter of the planned part to be arranged on the inner peripheral side of the wheel part is the wheel part. It is 0.6 to 1.2 times larger than the inner diameter of the wheel, and the expansion diameter at the joint between the occupant side panel and the non-occupant side panel is the expansion of the planned portion to be arranged on the inner peripheral side of the wheel portion. A driver airbag that is larger than the diameter and is capable of catching an occupant moving diagonally forward is disclosed.

The non-occupant side panel of the driver's seat airbag of Patent Document 1 gradually narrows from the outer peripheral side toward the center with respect to a part of the outer peripheral portion (two portions facing each other with the center in between). It has a shape in which a notch-shaped recess is formed. Then, the opposite side portions of the recesses are sewn together to form a cone shape, and the peripheral edge portion of the non-occupant side panel and the peripheral edge portion of the occupant side panel are sewn together. The non-occupant side panel was three-dimensionally sewn, and the structure was complicated. Further, when the airbag is inflated, the occupant restraint surface becomes flat, so that the occupant head moving diagonally forward can rotate when the occupant is restrained.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-141279 Japanese Patent No. 4604765

An object of the present invention is to provide a driver's seat airbag and a driver's seat airbag device capable of restraining an occupant while suppressing the rotation of the occupant's head in the event of an oblique collision.

The driver's seat airbag of the present invention is a driver's seat airbag in which the peripheral edges of the front panel on the occupant side and the rear panel on the steering wheel side are combined, and extends in the radial direction from the central portion and the central portion. A tether panel having a plurality of radial directions is provided, the central portion of the tether panel is coupled to the front panel, the tip of the radial portion is coupled to the rear panel, and the rear panels are at least first to fourth four. It is provided with a stripd tack portion, the first and second tack portions are substantially parallel, the first tack portion is arranged on one half side of the center of the rear panel, and the second tack portion is the other. Arranged on the half side, the third and fourth tack portions are substantially parallel and extend in the intersecting direction with the first and second tack portions, and the third tack portion is the rear panel. The fourth tack portion is arranged on the other side with the center of the above.

The driver's seat airbag device of the present invention includes a driver's seat airbag according to the present invention and an inflator that inflates the driver's seat airbag.

In one aspect of the present invention, in the expanded and deployed state, the tip end portion of the radial direction portion is located on the outer peripheral side of the airbag with respect to the joint portion between the central portion and the front panel. In this case, the tip end portion of the radial direction portion may be located outside the annular portion of the steering wheel in the expanded and deployed state.

In one aspect of the present invention, the tether panel has four first to fourth radial parts, and the tip of the first radial part has the first tack part and the third tack part. The tip of the second radial portion is located closer to the peripheral edge of the rear panel than the intersection with the portion, and the tip of the second radial portion is located closer to the peripheral edge of the rear panel than the intersection of the first tack portion and the fourth tack portion. The tip of the third radial portion is located closer to the periphery of the rear panel than the intersection of the second tack portion and the fourth tack portion, and the tip of the fourth radial portion is located. Is located closer to the peripheral edge of the rear panel than the intersection of the second tack portion and the third tack portion.

According to the present invention, the occupant can be restrained while suppressing the rotation of the occupant's head at the time of an oblique collision.

(A) is a front view of a steering wheel provided with an airbag device provided with an airbag for the driver's seat according to the embodiment, and (b) is a front view of the steering wheel when the airbag is inflated. It is a side view of the inflated driver's seat airbag. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1 (b). It is a top view of the front panel. (A) is a plan view of the rear panel, and (b) and (c) are plan views showing the folding. It is a top view of the tether panel. It is a figure which shows the example of connecting panels. (A) is a diagram showing the relationship between the moving direction of the occupant and the restraint surface of the airbag, and (b) is a diagram showing a state in which the head is restrained by the airbag. It is a figure explaining the size of an airbag. It is a top view of the tether panel which concerns on another embodiment. It is a top view of the tether panel which concerns on another embodiment. It is a top view of the tether panel which concerns on another embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

The driver's seat airbag (hereinafter, may be simply abbreviated as an airbag) 10 according to the present embodiment is attached to a retainer (not shown) as an airbag mounting member in a folded state, and is a built-in inflator 2. Inflated by. A module cover (not shown) is attached so as to cover the folded body of the airbag 10, whereby the driver's seat airbag device is configured.

The steering wheel 1 includes a central portion 1a connected to a steering shaft (not shown), an annular portion 1b orbiting around the central portion 1a, and a spoke portion connecting the central portion 1a and the annular portion 1b. It has 1c and. In this embodiment, a total of three spoke portions 1c extend from the central portion 1a to the left, right, and downward, and the tip side of each spoke portion 1c in the extending direction is inside the left, right, and lower sides of the annular portion 1b. It is connected to each lap. The portion between the central portion 1a and the annular portion 1b where the spoke portion 1c does not exist is an open portion 1d that communicates the occupant side and the anti-occupant side of the steering wheel 1.

The steering wheel 1 is attached to the rear end of the steering column 3 protruding rearward (driver's seat side) from the instrument panel 4. The driver's seat airbag device is arranged in the central portion 1a of the steering wheel 1.

The driver's seat airbag 10 has a suture thread 51 (see FIG. 3) at the peripheral edge between the front panel 20 forming the front surface on the occupant side when expanded and the rear panel 30 forming the rear surface on the steering wheel 1 side. It is sewn with a sewn bag to form a bag, and a tether panel 40 is provided inside the bag. The base fabrics constituting the front panel 20, the rear panel 30, and the tether panel 40 may be made of the same material or may be different materials.

The front panel 20 is circular (substantially circular) and has a diameter of about 500 to 580 mm.

An inflator opening 5 into which the inflator 2 is inserted is provided in the center of the rear panel 30. Further, around the inflator opening 5, a bolt insertion hole 6 through which a bolt for fixing the rear panel 30 to the retainer together with the inflator 2 is inserted is provided.

Two circular vent holes 7 that communicate the inside and the outside of the airbag 10 are provided on the upper portion of the rear panel 30. The shape, number, and position of the vent holes 7 can be changed as appropriate.

The rear panel 30 has a substantially circular shape, but has overhanging portions 35A to 35D at four locations on the peripheral edge portion.

Of the outer peripheral edge of the rear panel 30, between the overhanging portion 35A and the overhanging portion 35D is an arc portion 37A. An arc portion 37B is formed between the overhanging portion 35A and the overhanging portion 35B. An arc portion 37C is formed between the overhanging portion 35B and the overhanging portion 35C. An arc portion 37D is formed between the overhanging portion 35C and the overhanging portion 35D.

The arc portion 37A is located on the upper edge of the rear panel 30, the arc portion 37B is located on the right edge of the rear panel 30, the arc portion 37C is located on the lower edge of the rear panel 30, and the arc portion 37D is located on the left edge of the rear panel 30. To do. The circumferences of the arc portions 37A to 37D are equal. The radius of curvature of the arcuate portions 37A to 37D is equal to the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral edge of the overhanging portions 35A to 35D.

The overhanging portion 35A is located obliquely upward to the right when viewed from the center of the rear panel 30. The overhanging portion 35B is located obliquely downward to the right when viewed from the center of the rear panel 30. The overhanging portion 35C is located obliquely downward to the left when viewed from the center of the rear panel 30. The overhanging portion 35D is located at a position diagonally upward to the left when viewed from the center of the rear panel 30. The outer peripheral edges of the overhanging portions 35A to 35D are arcuate with the same radius of curvature. The circumferences of the outer peripheral edges of the overhanging portions 35A to 35D are equal.

In this embodiment, the first tack portion 31 that vertically traverses the right half side of the rear panel 30, the second tack portion 32 that vertically traverses the left half side, and the upper half side of the rear panel 30 in the left-right direction. A third tack portion 33 that is horizontally stepped and a fourth tack portion 34 that crosses the lower half side in the left-right direction are provided.

The tack portions 31 and 32 are formed by folding the rear panel 30 along the vertical valley fold lines 31a and 32a and folding the rear panel 30 along the vertical mountain fold lines 31b and 32b. That is, the rear panel 30 is folded so that the mountain fold lines 31b and 32b overlap the valley fold lines 31a and 32a on the center side of the rear panel 30.

The tack portions 33 and 34 are formed by folding the rear panel 30 along the valley fold lines 33a and 34a in the left-right direction and folding the rear panel 30 along the mountain fold lines 33b and 34b.

The valley fold line 31a is a straight line connecting the right ends of the arcuate portions 37A and 37C. The mountain fold line 31b is a straight line connecting the left ends of the outer peripheral edges of the overhanging portions 35A and 35B. The valley fold line 32a is a straight line connecting the left ends of the arc portions 37A and 37C. The mountain fold line 32b is a straight line connecting the right ends of the outer peripheral edges of the overhanging portions 35C and 35D.

Similarly, the valley fold line 33a in the lateral direction is a straight line connecting the upper ends of the arcuate portions 37B and 37D. The valley fold line 34a is a straight line connecting the lower ends of the arc portions 37B and 37D. The mountain fold line 33b is a straight line connecting the lower ends of the outer peripheral edges of the overhanging portions 35A and 35D. The mountain fold line 34b is a straight line connecting the upper ends of the outer peripheral edges of the overhanging portions 35B and 35C.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5B, the tack portion 31, is formed by first folding the right half side and the left half side of the rear panel 30 along the valley fold lines 31a and 32a and the mountain fold lines 31b and 32b. 32 is formed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the tack portions 33 and 34 are formed by folding the upper half side and the lower half side of the rear panel 30 along the valley fold lines 33a and 34a and the mountain fold lines 33b and 34b. However, the tack portions 33 and 34 may be formed first, and then the tack portions 31 and 32 may be formed.

As a result, the rear panel 30 becomes circular. That is, the outer peripheral edges of the overhanging portions 35A to 35D and the arc portions 37A to 37D form a circle having an equal radius from the center of the rear panel 30.

As shown in FIG. 6, the tether panel 40 has a substantially cross shape having a central portion 41 and four radial portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d extending in the radial direction from the central portion 41 in the vertical and horizontal directions. ing. The lengths of the radial portions 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d are about the same, and the length L4 from the center of the central portion 21 to the tips of the radial portions 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d is about 200 to 280 mm. It has become. The width W2 of the radial portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d is about 50 to 120 mm.

As shown in FIG. 7, the central portion of the front panel 20 and the central portion 41 of the tether panel 40 are connected by a circular suture portion 52 with sutures. The diameter of the circular suture portion 52 is about 50 to 150 mm.

Next, the rear panel 30 which has become circular due to folding and the front panel 20 are overlapped with each other, and the outer peripheral edges are sutured with suture thread 51 (see FIG. 3).

Subsequently, the tips of the radial portions 42a to 42d of the tether panel 40 are sutured to the rear panel 30 with the suture thread 53. The tips of the radial portions 42a to 42d are preferably sewn to the overhanging portions 35A to 35D of the rear panel 30, and particularly the tack portions 31 to 34 as shown in the tether stitching positions 38A to 38D shown in FIG. 5 (c). It is preferable that it is in the vicinity of the intersection of. The vicinity of the intersection of the tack portions 31 to 34 is an area between the vertical and horizontal centers of the overhanging portions 35A to 35D and the intersection of the tack portions.

For example, the tether stitching positions 38A to 38D are on a straight line passing through the center of the rear panel 30 (the center of the inflator opening 5) and the intersection of the tack portions 31 to 34, and the rear panel 30 is closer to the intersection of the tack portions 31 to 34. It is located on the peripheral side of.

The length from the center of the rear panel 30 (opening 5 for the inflator) to the tether stitch positions 38A to 38D is larger than the length from the center of the front panel 20 to the circular stitch portion 52 (radius of the circular stitch portion 52).

In this way, the airbag 10 is formed. Since these sewing can be performed by flat sewing, the airbag 10 can be manufactured more easily than the conventional airbag that requires three-dimensional sewing.

The driver airbag 10 is folded, the inflator 2 is attached to the opening 5, the inflator 2 is attached to the retainer, the module cover is attached, and the driver airbag device is configured. This driver's seat airbag device is mounted on the steering wheel having the steering wheel 1. For example, the airbag 10 is attached so that the overhanging portions 35A to 35D of the rear panel 30 are located on the top, bottom, left, and right of the rear panel 30.

When a vehicle equipped with this driver's airbag device collides, the inflator 2 operates and the airbag 10 expands and expands behind the steering wheel 1 (in front of the occupant). Since the rear panel 30 of the airbag 10 has tack portions 31 to 34, the expansion thickness of the rear panel 30 (expansion length in the steering axis center line direction) in a state where the inflator 2 is operated and the airbag 10 is completely expanded. ) Is sufficiently larger than the expansion thickness of the front panel 20.

Since the overhanging portions 35A to 35D are located at four locations on the top, bottom, left, and right of the rear panel 30, the expansion length of the airbag 10 from the center of the rear panel 30 to the top, bottom, left, and right is in the upper right direction and the lower right direction. It is larger than the expansion length in the lower left and upper left directions. As a result, the shape of the front panel 20 of the airbag 10 as viewed from the occupant side is substantially square.

Since the tip portions of the radial directions portions 42a to 42d of the tether panel 40 are coupled to the rear panel 30, the central portion 20a of the front panel 20 serving as the occupant restraint surface is pulled toward the steering wheel 1 side in the expanded state. The periphery of the central portion 20a is an inclined surface N inclined so as to be closer to the steering wheel 1 side toward the central portion 20a. That is, when viewed from the occupant side, a mortar-shaped recess is provided on the steering wheel 1 side near the center of the front panel 20 of the airbag 10.

As shown in FIG. 8A, at the time of a head-on collision of the vehicle, the occupant is received at or near the central portion in the left-right direction of the front panel 20. 8 (a) and 8 (b) show the outer shape of the airbag 10 in the same cross section as in FIG.

At the time of an oblique collision of the vehicle (a collision form in which an impact is applied from diagonally forward to the vehicle, including an offset collision), the occupant is received by the inclined surface N of the front panel 20. Since the diameter of the front panel 20 which is the occupant restraint surface of the airbag 10 is larger than the diameter of the steering wheel 1 side, the airbag 10 tilts while restraining the occupant as shown in FIG. 8 (b). As a result, the reaction force of the head in the moving direction is suppressed, and the head is suppressed from rotating about the axis along the vertical direction.

At the time of an oblique collision, the movement direction (angle) of the occupant's head varies, but since the occupant restraint surface is an inclined surface N, the free running distance of the head entering at any angle is about the same, depending on the angle. There is almost no difference in restraint performance. Further, the rear panel 30 is provided with tacks 31 to 34, and the tips of the radial portions 42a to 42d of the tether panel 40 are connected to the rear panel 30 so as to be closer to the outer peripheral side of the airbag than the circular suture portion 52. The thickness of the peripheral edge of the bag 10 can be secured, and the head can be prevented from deviating from the restraint surface (inclined surface N).

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the outer shape of the front panel 20 and the rear panel 30 in the same cross section as in FIG. When the maximum protrusion amount of the airbag 10 viewed from the steering wheel 1 is L1 and the protrusion amount at the central portion 20a of the front panel 20 is L2, it is preferably 1.1 × L1 ≦ L2 ≦ 1.3 × L1.

The distance L3 from the steering wheel 1 to the center of gravity of the airbag 10 is set to 0.5 × L1 ≦ L3 ≦ 0. It is preferably 8 × L1.

The maximum width W1 of the airbag 10 is preferably 1.4 × L1 ≦ W1 ≦ 1.7 × L1.

The above embodiment is an example of the present invention, and the present invention may be a form other than the above. For example, in the above embodiment, the tack portions 31 to 34 are folded between the valley fold lines 31a to 34a and the mountain fold lines 31b to 34b, and each has a single tack having only one folding portion. However, it may be a double tack having two folding portions.

In the expanded and deployed state of the airbag 10, the tether stitching positions 38A to 38D (the tips of the radial portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d) may be located outside the annular portion 1b of the steering wheel 1. ..

If the tether stitching positions 38A to 38D are located inside the annular portion 1b, the pulling direction of the front panel 20 by the tether becomes closer to the airbag depth direction (vehicle front-rear direction), and the front panel 20 The amount of the central portion 20a drawn toward the steering wheel 1 side becomes large.

On the other hand, as described above, by configuring the tether stitching positions 38A to 38D to be located outside the annular portion 1b, the pulling direction of the front panel 20 by the tether is brought closer to the width direction (vehicle width direction), and the inclined surface. It is possible to secure the thickness of the airbag end while making the inclination of N gentle. As a result, in the case of a head-on collision of the vehicle, the restraint timing of the occupant's head entering from the front is not delayed. Further, when the vehicle is obliquely impacted, the inclined surface N is substantially perpendicular to the approach direction of the occupant's head, and the head can be restrained while being suppressed from rotating.

Like the tether panel 40A shown in FIG. 10, the width may be wider toward the tip side of the radial direction portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d. Since the width of the portion sewn to the rear panel 30 of the tether panel 40A is wide, the amount of pulling in the rear panel 30 when the airbag 10 is expanded and deployed becomes large, and the bag capacity can be reduced.

Like the tether panel 40B shown in FIG. 11, each side may have a substantially quadrangular shape with a concave shape toward the center. When the airbag 10 is expanded and expanded, the gas ejected from the inflator 2 hits the tether panel 40B and is dispersed. Therefore, even when the occupant is seated in the vicinity of the steering wheel 1, the occupant can be suitably restrained.

Like the tether panel 40C shown in FIG. 12, the tip portions of the four radial directions portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d may be formed by separate panels (tip panels 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d). In this case, when manufacturing the airbag 10, first, the central portion of the front panel 20 and the central portion 41 of the tether panel 40C are sewn together. Further, one end of the tip panels 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d is sewn to the tether stitching positions 38A to 38D of the rear panel 30, and the rear panel 30 is folded into a circle.

Subsequently, the circular rear panel 30 and the front panel 20 are overlapped with each other, and the outer peripheral edges are sewn together. After suturing, the panel is pulled out from the opening 5 and the front and back of the airbag are reversed. Then, the tips of the radial portions 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d and the other ends of the tip panels 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d are sewn together.

The radial portion of the tether panel 40 is not limited to four, and may be three or five or more.

10 Driver airbag 20 Front panel 30 Rear panel 31-34 Tack section 40, 40A, 40B, 40C Tether panel

Claims (3)

An airbag for the driver's seat in which the peripheral edges of the front panel on the occupant side and the rear panel on the steering wheel side are combined.
A tether panel having a central portion and a plurality of radial portions extending in the radial direction from the central portion is provided.
The central portion of the tether panel is coupled to the front panel, and the tip portion of the radial portion is coupled to the rear panel.
The rear panel is provided with at least the tack portions of Articles 1 to 4.
The first and second tack portions are substantially parallel, the first tack portion is arranged on one half side of the center of the rear panel, and the second tack portion is arranged on the other half side.
The third and fourth tack portions are substantially parallel and extend in the intersecting direction with the first and second tack portions, and the third tack portion is on one side of the center of the rear panel. And the fourth tack part is located on the other side ,
In the expanded and deployed state, the tip end portion of the radial direction portion is located on the outer peripheral side of the airbag from the joint portion between the central portion and the front panel, and is located outside the annular portion of the steering wheel. The driver's seat airbag is characterized by this. An airbag for the driver's seat in which the peripheral edges of the front panel on the occupant side and the rear panel on the steering wheel side are combined.
A tether panel having a central portion and a plurality of radial portions extending in the radial direction from the central portion is provided.
The central portion of the tether panel is coupled to the front panel, and the tip portion of the radial portion is coupled to the rear panel.
The rear panel is provided with at least the tack portions of Articles 1 to 4.
The first and second tack portions are substantially parallel, the first tack portion is arranged on one half side of the center of the rear panel, and the second tack portion is arranged on the other half side.
The third and fourth tack portions are substantially parallel and extend in the intersecting direction with the first and second tack portions, and the third tack portion is on one side of the center of the rear panel. And the fourth tack part is located on the other side,
In the expanded and deployed state, the tip portion of the radial direction portion is located on the outer peripheral side of the airbag with respect to the joint portion between the central portion and the front panel.
Before SL Tezapaneru has four radial portions of the first to fourth,
The tip of the first radial direction portion is located closer to the peripheral edge of the rear panel than the intersection of the first tack portion and the third tack portion.
The tip portion of the second radial direction portion is located closer to the peripheral edge of the rear panel than the intersection of the first tack portion and the fourth tack portion.
The tip portion of the third radial direction portion is located on the peripheral edge side of the rear panel with respect to the intersection of the second tack portion and the fourth tack portion.
The driver's seat airbag is characterized in that the tip end portion of the fourth radial direction portion is located on the peripheral edge side of the rear panel with respect to the intersection of the second tack portion and the third tack portion. A driver airbag device comprising the driver airbag according to claim 1 or 2 and an inflator that inflates the driver airbag.

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