Airbag device for motorcycle

Abstract

The present invention provides a motorcycle airbag device that helps to keep the deployment action and deployment posture of the airbag stable. The present invention is an airbag device mounted on a motorcycle, having a gas generator that generates an inflation gas, and an airbag that expands by the inflation gas and deploys in front of the occupant to restrain the forward movement of the occupant. Further, the airbag has a stepped portion that protrudes forward when it is deployed and is supported by a structural portion around the top of the motorcycle handlebar.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a motorcycle airbag device mounted on a motorcycle. Background Art

[0002] In automobiles (4-wheeled vehicles), in order to protect the occupants in the event of an accident, it has become standard equipment to provide one or more airbags on the vehicle. Similarly, an airbag device mounted on a motorcycle (2-wheeled vehicle) has also been proposed and put into practical use.

[0003] In the airbag device mounted on an automobile, since the airbag expands with the steering wheel, dashboard, etc. as the support surface (reaction surface), it is relatively easy to keep the deployment action and deployment posture of the airbag stable. In contrast, in the airbag mounted on a motorcycle, since there are fewer parts to support its deployment, how to keep the deployment action and deployment posture of the airbag stable has become a problem. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The present invention has been completed in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a motorcycle airbag device that helps to keep the deployment action and deployment posture of the airbag stable.

[0006] Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, as an airbag device mounted on a motorcycle, has a gas generator that generates an inflation gas, and an airbag that expands by the inflation gas and unfolds in front of the occupant to restrict the forward movement of the occupant. Further, the airbag has a stepped portion that protrudes forward when it unfolds and is supported by a structural portion around the top of the motorcycle handlebar.

[0008] Here, the so-called "restricting the forward movement of the occupant" includes at least preventing the occupant from being thrown forward due to a collision and preventing the occupant's head from colliding with the front part of the motorcycle.

[0009] In addition, "protruding forward" means a state of convexly expanding forward at least compared to other surrounding parts.

[0010] As described above, in the present invention, since there is a stepped portion that protrudes forward when the airbag is deployed and is supported by a structural portion around the top of the motorcycle handlebar, the stepped portion can obtain a reaction force from the structural portion when the airbag is deployed, so that the deployment action and deployment posture of the airbag can be kept stable. Moreover, even when the occupant's head collides with the airbag, the airbag will not collapse forward or be greatly deformed, thus reliably restraining the occupant's head.

[0011] The structural portion may include at least one of the upper surface of an instrument such as a speedometer, the top of the handlebar, and the upper surface of the headlight.

[0012] The present invention is applicable to various types of motorcycles. For example, scooters, adventure motorcycles (ADVENTUR), touring motorcycles (Tourer), sport touring motorcycles, light off-road motorcycles (Scrambler), classic (retro) motorcycles (Classic Retro), American (cruiser) motorcycles, naked bikes (NAKED), street fighters (StreetFighter), off-road (OFF-ROAD) / super motorcycles, supersport motorcycles, naked bikes, mini motorcycles, etc. In addition, the motorcycles to which the present invention can be applied are not limited by the number of wheels. In addition to two-wheel motorcycles, it can also be applied to three-wheel motorcycles (tricycles), four-wheel buggies (Buggy), etc.

[0013] In particular, for scooters, since the riding posture of the occupant is relatively high and the airbag also needs to become larger (higher) upward accordingly, it has become an important issue to keep the deployment action and deployment posture of the airbag stable.

[0014] The airbag may be configured to include a rear panel facing the occupant side, a front panel facing the rear panel, and side panels connected to at least a part of the outer edges of the front panel and the rear panel.

[0015] The side panel may be configured to include a convex portion that protrudes forward when the airbag is observed in the deployed state from the side, and the stepped portion is formed by the convex portion.

[0016] The convex portion of the side panel may be configured to include a left convex portion and a right convex portion installed on the left and right sides of the airbag. When the airbag is deployed, the front panel is stretched by the right convex portion and the left convex portion to form the stepped portion.

[0017] Thus, by making efforts in the shape of the side panel, a stepped portion can be formed on the airbag. Therefore, it is not necessarily required to provide a tether or adopt a more complex panel structure to form the stepped portion.

[0018] The side panel can be configured to extend along the entire circumference of the outer edges of the front panel and the rear panel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 FIG. [X] is a side view showing the motorcycle airbag device according to the present invention in an operating state.

[0020] Figure 2 FIG. [X] is a top view showing the situation around the motorcycle handlebars to which the airbag device according to the present invention is applied.

[0021] Figure 3 FIG. [X] is a plan view showing the shape of the airbag panel used in the airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 4 FIG. [X] is a side view showing the deployed state of the airbag according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 5 FIG. [X] is a plan view showing another form of the panel (main panel) applicable to the present invention.

[0024] Figure 6 (A) FIG. [X] is a plan view showing the shape of the side panel of the airbag used in the airbag device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 (B) FIG. [X] shows the use of Figure 6 (A) FIG. [X] is a side view showing the deployed state of the airbag with the side panel shown in FIG. [X]. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, the motorcycle airbag device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] In the following description, the traveling direction of the motorcycle is referred to as "front", the opposite direction as "rear", and the coordinate axes as "front-rear direction". In addition, the right side with respect to the traveling direction is referred to as "right direction", the left side as "left direction", and the coordinate axes as "left-right direction". Furthermore, the vertical upper side is referred to as "upper", the vertical lower side as "lower", and the coordinate axes as "up-down direction".

[0027] Figure 1 FIG. [X] is a side view showing the motorcycle airbag device according to the present invention in an operating state. Figure 2 FIG. [X] is a top view showing the situation around the motorcycle handlebars to which the airbag device according to the present invention is applied.

[0028] The airbag device according to the present invention can be mounted on a motorcycle 1 of, for example, a scooter type and stored in the lower part of the handle 20. The airbag device has a gas generator 10 that generates an inflation gas, and an airbag 12 that expands by the inflation gas and unfolds in front of the occupant (Rider) R to restrain the forward movement of the occupant R. Moreover, the airbag 12 has a main chamber portion located in the front of the occupant R and a stepped portion 16 that protrudes forward when unfolded and is supported by a structural portion 18 around the top of the handle of the motorcycle 1.

[0029] In addition, the motorcycle airbag device of the present invention can be applied to all types of motorcycles in addition to scooters. For example, scooters, adventure motorcycles, touring motorcycles, sport touring motorcycles, light off-road motorcycles, classic (retro) motorcycles, American (cruiser) motorcycles, street bikes, street bike bullies, off-road / super motorcycles, supersport motorcycles, street bikes, mini motorcycles, etc.

[0030] As Figure 2 shown, the structural portion 18 may include at least one of the upper surface of an instrument such as a speedometer, the top of the handle, and the upper surface of the headlight. Therefore, the structural portion 18 varies depending on the type, size, etc. of the motorcycle.

[0031] As described above in the present invention, since the stepped portion 16 supported by the structural portion 18 around the top of the handle is provided when the airbag 12 unfolds, the stepped portion 16 can obtain a reaction force from the structural portion 18. Thereby, the unfolding action and unfolding posture of the airbag 12 can be kept stable, so even when the head of the occupant R collides with the airbag 12, the airbag 12 will not collapse forward or be greatly deformed, and can reliably restrain the head of the occupant R.

[0032] The present invention is particularly applicable to scooters. In the case of scooters, since the riding posture of the occupant R is relatively high, the airbag 12 also needs to become larger (higher) upward accordingly, making it difficult to keep the unfolding action and unfolding posture of the airbag 12 stable.

[0033] (First Embodiment)

[0034] Figure 3 A plan view showing the panel shape of the airbag adopted by the airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 A side view showing the state in which the airbag according to the first embodiment of the present invention unfolds.

[0035] The airbag can be configured to include a rear panel 30 facing the occupant R, a front panel 32 disposed opposite to the rear panel 30, and side panels 40L, 40R connected to at least a part of the outer edges of the front panel 32 and the rear panel 30.

[0036] The rear panel 30 includes a substantially circular main region 30a located in front of the occupant R when the airbag is deployed, and a substantially rectangular lower region 30b connected to the lower part of the main region 30a. On the other hand, the front panel 32 includes a substantially circular main region 32a facing (coinciding with) the main region 30a of the rear panel 30, and a substantially rectangular lower region 32b connected to the lower part of the main region 32a. Here, as described later, since the lower region 32b of the front panel 32 is connected to the side panels 40L, 40R, it is formed into a structure that is longer than the lower region 30b of the rear panel 30.

[0037] As Figure 3 shown, the side panels 40L, 40R are substantially triangular and have the same shape (symmetric). And the sides 44, 46 of the side panel 40L are sewn or bonded to the left side (indicated by diagonal lines) of the lower region 32b of the front panel 32. In addition, the side 42 of the side panel 40L is sewn or bonded to the left side (indicated by diagonal lines) of the lower region 30b of the rear panel 30. Similarly, the sides 50, 52 of the side panel 40R are sewn or bonded to the right side (indicated by diagonal lines) of the lower region 32b of the front panel 32. In addition, the side 48 of the side panel 40R is sewn or bonded to the right side (indicated by diagonal lines) of the lower region 30b of the rear panel 30.

[0038] In addition, as Figure 4 shown, in the rear panel 30 and the front panel 32, the portions not connected to the side panels 40L, 40R are connected to each other at their edges by sewing or bonding

[0039] In addition, the convex portions 47, 49 of the side panels 40L, 40R are arranged on the left and right sides of the airbag 12. When the airbag 12 is deployed, the front panel 32 is stretched by these convex portions 47, 49, so that the stepped portion 16 is formed in the entire region in the width direction of the front panel 32. And as Figure 4 shown, when the airbag 12 is deployed, the lower surface of the stepped portion 16 abuts against the structural portion 18.

[0040] In this way, by making efforts on the shape of the side panels 40L, 40R, the stepped portion 16 can be formed on the airbag 12, so it is not necessarily required to provide a tether or adopt a more complex panel structure.

[0041] Figure 5 A plan view showing other modes of the panel (main panel) applicable to the present invention.Figure 5 The shown panel 130 is basically a structure that longitudinally connects the front panel 32 and the rear panel 32 shown below. Figure 3 The panel 130 is configured to include a substantially circular front main region 132F, a rear main region 132R, a substantially rectangular front lower region 134F, and a rear lower region 134R. And, side panels 40L and 40R identical to those shown below are connected to the sides of the front lower region 134F and the rear lower region 134R. Figure 3 shown

[0042] By adopting the panel 130 shown below, the number of panels can be reduced to the minimum. Figure 5 shown

[0043] (Second Embodiment)

[0044] Figure 6 (A) is a plan view showing the shapes of the side panels (240L, 240R) of the airbag 212 adopted in the airbag device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. On the other hand, Figure 6 (B) is a side view showing the deployed state of the airbag 212 using the side panels (240L, 240R) shown in Figure 6 (A).

[0045] In this embodiment, the left side panel 240L has a convex portion 242 that protrudes substantially in a triangular shape and a band portion 244. Similarly, the right side panel 240R has a convex portion 246 that protrudes substantially in a triangular shape and a band portion 248. And, as shown in Figure 6 (B), the side panels 240L and 240R are joined by sewing or bonding to the boundary portion between the front panel 232 and the rear panel 230.

[0046] In this embodiment, similar to the above-described first embodiment, the front panel 232 is stretched by the convex portions 242 and 246 of the side panels 240L and 240R, so that the stepped portion 216 is formed in the entire region in the width direction of the front panel 232. And, when the airbag 212 is deployed, the lower surface of the stepped portion 216 abuts against the structural portion 18.

[0047] In this embodiment, near the lower end portion of the airbag 212, the left and right side panels 240L and 240R are directly joined to each other. Alternatively, a side panel structure that extends over the entire circumference of the outer edges of the front panel 232 and the rear panel 232 may be adopted.

[0048] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be modified within the scope of the technical idea shown in the claims.

Claims

1. An airbag device for a motorcycle, mounted on the motorcycle, characterized in that it has a gas generator that generates inflation gas, and an airbag that expands by the inflation gas and unfolds in front of an occupant to restrain the forward movement of the occupant. The airbag includes a rear panel facing the occupant side, a front panel opposite to the rear panel, and side panels connected to a part of the outer edges of the front panel and the rear panel. The rear panel and the front panel include a substantially circular main area located in front of the occupant when the airbag unfolds and a substantially rectangular lower area connected to the lower part of the main area. The main area of the front panel coincides with the main area of the rear panel, and the lower area of the front panel is longer than the lower area of the rear panel. The airbag has a stepped portion that protrudes forward when it unfolds and is supported by a structural portion around the top of the motorcycle handlebar. The lower surface of the stepped portion abuts against the structural portion. The side panel includes a convex portion that protrudes forward when the airbag in the unfolded state is viewed from the side, and the stepped portion is formed by the convex portion. The side panel is connected to the front panel and the rear panel only in the lower areas of the front panel and the rear panel.

2. The airbag device for a motorcycle according to claim 1, characterized in that the convex portion of the side panel includes a left convex portion and a right convex portion mounted on the left and right sides of the airbag. When the airbag unfolds, the front panel is stretched by the right convex portion and the left convex portion to form the stepped portion.

3. The airbag device for a motorcycle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the structural portion includes at least one of the upper surface of an instrument such as a speedometer, the top of the handlebar, and the upper surface of a headlight.

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