Curtain type air bag and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a curtain airbag which comprises a body, a folding body and a folding mechanism, and the folding body is directly provided by materials of an inert area of the body and is connected with the body through the folding mechanism. According to a manufacturing method of a curtain airbag of the present invention, an initial airbag includes a first non-inflated region and an inflated region of a periphery divided by a first boundary; a second non-inflated area is defined in the inert area through a second boundary; a third non-inflated area is defined below the second non-inflated area through a third boundary; and cutting along the cutting line to divide the second non-inflatable area into two parts so as to provide a body and an enclosure area, and turning down the enclosure area around the turnover mechanism to form a turnover body. According to the curtain type air bag, the turnover body is directly provided by the material of the inert area of the body, natural turnover is achieved through downward pulling under the action of gravity, under the condition that the same air bag size is kept, the air bag protection area is effectively enlarged, and the head of a passenger is prevented from colliding with an automobile door panel interior trim.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle, and more particularly to a curtain airbag and a manufacturing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Airbags are used to protect occupants in the event of a vehicle collision, wherein side curtain airbags are installed on the sides of the vehicle to absorb side impacts generated by a side collision and to protect the occupants' heads.

[0003] During a vehicle collision, the occupant's head may lean forward and hit the door panel interior. To address this risk, CAB usually requires the side curtain airbag to be designed with an enlarged protection area A in the vertical direction (Z direction), such as Figure 8 As shown, the purpose of protecting area coverage is achieved by directly increasing the size of the airbag, effectively covering the entire movement trajectory of the head.

[0004] However, the increase in the size of the airbag reduces the utilization rate of the fabric, which in turn leads to an increase in the weight and cost of the airbag. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to solve the problems in the prior art such as increasing the protection area leading to increased costs, the present invention provides a curtain airbag and a method for manufacturing the same.

[0006] The curtain airbag according to the present invention comprises a body, a folding body and a folding mechanism, wherein the folding body is directly provided by the material of the inert region of the body and is connected to the body through the folding mechanism.

[0007] Preferably, the curtain airbag further comprises a bottleneck channel structure which connects the main body and the folding body on at least one side of the folding body, and gas enters the expansion area from the main inflation area through the bottleneck channel structure to facilitate the formation of the folding body and maintain the stability of the folding body.

[0008] Preferably, the bottleneck channel structure comprises a first arc-shaped boundary and a second arc-shaped boundary which are relatively convex, and the narrowed channel is formed between the first arc-shaped boundary and the second arc-shaped boundary.

[0009] Preferably, the curtain airbag further comprises sewing threads which relatively fix the folded body to the main body at both sides of the folded body.

[0010] Preferably, the length of the folding body on one side of the folding mechanism is greater than the boundary length on the opposite side.

[0011] Preferably, the inert area has a second non-inflated area defined by a second boundary and a third non-inflated area defined by a third boundary, and the folding mechanism is directly provided by the third non-inflated area.

[0012] Preferably, the curtain airbag has a surrounding first boundary, the first boundary forms two first arc-shaped boundaries spaced apart from each other below the inert area and arched toward the inert area, the second boundary forms a second arc-shaped boundary arched toward the first arc-shaped boundary, and a narrowed channel is formed between the first arc-shaped boundary and the second arc-shaped boundary to provide a bottleneck channel structure.

[0013] Preferably, the second non-inflatable area includes a straight portion and two extension portions, wherein the two extension portions extend downward and outward from opposite ends of the straight portion, and the third non-inflatable area is parallel to the straight portion to form an enclosed area enclosed with the second non-inflatable area and is folded down around the folding mechanism to form a folding body.

[0014] According to the manufacturing method of the curtain airbag of the present invention, it includes the following steps: S1, providing an initial airbag, which includes a first non-inflated area and an inflated area of ​​the periphery divided by a first boundary, and the inert area is located in the inflated area; S2, defining a second non-inflated area by a second boundary in the inert area; S3, defining a third non-inflated area by a third boundary below the second non-inflated area, and the third non-inflated area directly provides a folding mechanism; S4, cutting along a cutting line to divide the second non-inflated area into two, thereby providing a main body and an enclosed area, and folding the enclosed area down around the folding mechanism to form a folded body.

[0015] Preferably, the first, second or third boundary is provided by an integral molding process or sewing.

[0016] Preferably, the manufacturing method further comprises connecting two sides of the folding body to the main body by sewing thread.

[0017] According to the curtain airbag of the present invention, the folding body is directly provided by the material of the inert area of ​​the main body, and is pulled down by gravity to achieve natural folding. Under the condition of maintaining the same airbag size, the airbag protection area is effectively increased to prevent the occupant's head from hitting the door panel interior. Moreover, the curtain airbag according to the present invention is suitable for all airbags with non-inflated areas, and is flexible and accommodating. In particular, the folding body is fixed by sewing thread, which is safe and stable. According to the manufacturing method of the curtain airbag of the present invention, the folding body is cut and folded, and no additional sewing is required, so the design is reliable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a curtain airbag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 of Figure 1 A magnified view of the bottleneck channel structure.

[0020] Figure 3An initial airbag and a first non-inflated area thereof are shown in a method for manufacturing a curtain airbag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 4 A second non-inflation region during a method for manufacturing a curtain airbag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0022] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A magnified view of the bottleneck channel structure.

[0023] Figure 6 A third non-inflation region during a method for manufacturing a curtain airbag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 7 FIG. 1 shows a cutting line in a process of a method for manufacturing a curtain airbag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 8 The enlarged protection area of ​​a prior art side curtain airbag is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are given below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and described in detail.

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, the curtain airbag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a body 1, a folding body 2 and a folding mechanism 3, wherein the folding body 2 is directly provided by the material of the inert area of ​​the body 1 and is connected to the body 1 through the folding mechanism 3. In this embodiment, the folding body 2 is hinged to the body 1 through the folding mechanism 3.

[0028] In this embodiment, the body 1 has an inert area corresponding to the B-pillar of the vehicle. Considering that the inert area itself does not provide protection for the safety of the occupants, the present invention directly uses the material of the inert area to fold down around the folding mechanism 3 to form the folding body 2. Since at least part of the folding body 2 is located on the movement trajectory of the occupant's head during a vehicle collision, it can function as a CAB protection area. Figure 1 As shown, the part of the folded body 2 that extends downward beyond the main body 1 in the Z direction (the part shown by the section line) is the expanded protection area (expanded area), corresponding to Figure 8 The enlarged protected area A.

[0029] In this embodiment, the length of the folding body 2 on one side of the folding mechanism 3 is greater than the boundary length on the opposite side, presenting a trapezoidal shape. This shape is not only conducive to molding, but also facilitates the formation of the folding body 2 and maintains the stability of the folding body 2.

[0030] In this embodiment, the folding mechanism 3 extends in a straight line. This shape is not only conducive to molding, but also facilitates the formation of the folding body 2 and maintains the stability of the folding body 2.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, the curtain airbag further includes sewing threads 4 which fix the folded body 2 relatively to the main body 1 at both sides of the folded body 2, thereby maintaining the stability of the folded body 2.

[0032] In particular, the curtain airbag further includes a bottleneck channel structure 5, which connects the main body 1 and the folded body 2 on both sides of the folded body 2, so that gas can enter the expansion area from the main inflation area through the bottleneck channel structure 5, and facilitates the formation of the folded body 2 and maintains the stability of the folded body 2. Figure 2 As shown, the bottleneck channel structure 5 includes a relatively convex first arc-shaped boundary 51 and a second arc-shaped boundary 52 , and a narrowed channel 53 is formed between the first arc-shaped boundary 51 and the second arc-shaped boundary 52 .

[0033] The following briefly describes a method for manufacturing a curtain airbag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] The manufacturing method first comprises providing Figure 3 The initial airbag 10 shown includes a first non-inflated area 12 (i.e., dead zone) and an inflated area 13 of the periphery divided by a first boundary 11. The first boundary 11 is provided by an integrated molding process or sewing. The inflated area 13 has an inertial area 14 corresponding to the B-pillar of the vehicle. In particular, the first boundary 11 below the inertial area 14 is formed with two first arc-shaped boundaries 51 spaced apart from each other, which are arched toward the inertial area 14. It should be understood that Figure 3 The dotted frame indicating the inert area 14 is only used for reference and has no actual meaning, that is, the dotted frame should not be understood as an actual boundary, nor should it be understood as a specific shape contour limiting the inert area 14. It should be understood that the inflatable area 13 also has multiple non-inflatable areas in the cavity to control the final inflated thickness of the curtain airbag as needed. Since the specific positions of the multiple non-inflatable areas in the cavity have no direct connection with the folding body 2 to be discussed later, Figure 3 Of course, during the manufacturing process, the non-inflated area in a cavity originally defined in the inert area 14 can also be directly used to further construct the folded body 2.

[0035] The manufacturing method then includes defining a second boundary 15 in the inert region 14 as follows. Figure 4 The second non-inflated area 16 shown is a dead zone. The second boundary 15 is provided by an integral molding process or sewing. It should be understood that Figure 4The shape outline of the second non-inflatable area 16 indicated in FIG. 1 is specifically defined by the second boundary 15. Specifically, the second non-inflatable area 16 includes a straight portion 161 and two extension portions 162, wherein the two extension portions 162 extend downward and outward from opposite ends of the straight portion 161. In particular, the second boundary 15 providing the ends of the extension portions 162 forms a second arcuate boundary 52, which is arched toward the first arcuate boundary 51. It should be understood that the opposite first arcuate boundary 51 and the second arcuate boundary 52 form a second arcuate boundary 52. Figure 5 In the bottleneck channel structure 5 shown, gas can be inflated from the main inflation area through the constricted channel 53 to the expansion area along the direction of the arrow. It should be understood that Figure 3 The inflation area in the middle is artificially divided into a main inflation area and an expansion area by the bottleneck channel structure 5.

[0036] The manufacturing method then includes defining a third boundary 17 in the inert region 14 as follows. Figure 6 The third non-inflated area 18 shown is the dead zone. It should be understood that Figure 6 The shape profile of the third non-inflatable area 18 indicated in the figure is specifically defined by the third boundary 17. The third boundary 17 is provided by an integrated molding process or sewing. The third non-inflatable area 18 extends in the horizontal direction to form a folding line, thereby directly providing the folding mechanism 3. In this embodiment, the third non-inflatable area 18 is two straight line segments. It should be understood that the specific number of the straight line segments can be adjusted as needed. The third non-inflatable area 18 is located below the second non-inflatable area 16 and is parallel to the straight portion 161 of the second non-inflatable area 16, thereby enclosing a trapezoid.

[0037] The manufacturing method then comprises the following steps: Figure 7 The cutting line 19 shown is cut to divide the second non-inflatable area 16 into two, thereby providing a main body 1 and an enclosed area 20, and the enclosed area 20 is folded down around the folding mechanism 3 (i.e., the third non-inflatable area 18) to form a folded body 2, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown, the two sides of the folded body 2 are finally connected to the main body 1 by sewing thread 4. In particular, the operation of folding the enclosed area 20 downward to form the folded body 2 is not only facilitated by the setting of the folding mechanism 3, but also facilitated by the corresponding bottleneck channel structure 5 located at the connection between the main inflation area and the expansion area. In this embodiment, the ratio of the horizontal dimension to the vertical dimension of the bottleneck channel structure 5 is about 2:1. It should be understood that the specific dimension ratio can be adjusted as needed.

[0038] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The above embodiment of the present invention can also be modified in various ways. That is, all simple, equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and the description of the present invention fall within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention. The contents not described in detail in the present invention are all conventional technical contents.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag, characterized in that: The curtain airbag comprises a body, a folding body and a folding mechanism, wherein the folding body is directly provided by the material of the inert area of ​​the body and is connected with the body through the folding mechanism.

2. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that: The curtain airbag also includes a bottleneck channel structure, which connects the main body and the folding body on at least one side of the folding body. Gas enters the expansion area from the main inflation area through the bottleneck channel structure to facilitate the formation of the folding body and maintain the stability of the folding body.

3. The curtain airbag according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottleneck channel structure comprises a first arc-shaped boundary and a second arc-shaped boundary which are relatively convex, and a narrowed channel is formed between the first arc-shaped boundary and the second arc-shaped boundary.

4. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that: The curtain airbag further comprises sewing threads which relatively fix the folded body to the main body at both sides of the folded body.

5. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length of the folding body on one side of the folding mechanism is greater than the boundary length on the opposite side.

6. The curtain airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inert area has a second non-inflated area defined by a second boundary and a third non-inflated area defined by a third boundary, and the folding mechanism is directly provided by the third non-inflated area.

7. The curtain airbag according to claim 6, characterized in that: The curtain airbag has a surrounding first boundary, the first boundary forms two first arc-shaped boundaries spaced apart from each other below the inert area and arched toward the inert area, the second boundary forms a second arc-shaped boundary arched toward the first arc-shaped boundary, and a narrowed channel is formed between the first arc-shaped boundary and the second arc-shaped boundary to provide a bottleneck channel structure.

8. The curtain airbag according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second non-inflatable area includes a straight portion and two extension portions, wherein the two extension portions extend downward and outward from opposite ends of the straight portion, and the third non-inflatable area is parallel to the straight portion to form an enclosed area enclosed with the second non-inflatable area and is folded down around the folding mechanism to form a folding body.

9. A method for manufacturing a curtain airbag according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The manufacturing method comprises the following steps: S1, providing an initial air bag, which includes a first non-inflated area and an inflated area of ​​the periphery divided by a first boundary, and the inert area is located in the inflated area; S2, defining a second non-gas-filled region in the inert region by a second boundary; S3, defining a third non-inflatable area below the second non-inflatable area by a third boundary, and the third non-inflatable area directly provides a folding mechanism; S4, cutting along the cutting line to divide the second non-inflatable area into two, thereby providing a main body and an enclosed area, and folding the enclosed area down around the folding mechanism to form a folded body.

10. The manufacturing method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The first, second or third boundary is provided by an integral molding process or by sewing.

11. The manufacturing method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The manufacturing method also includes connecting the two sides of the folding body to the main body through sewing lines.

Images