Method for manufacturing airbag device, and airbag device

Abstract

In this method for manufacturing an airbag device, a protruding section (41e) is folded in a roll shape from the top of a vehicle (100) in a downward direction, the longitudinal direction of the protruding section (41e) is set in a vertical direction, one end of the rolled protruding section (41e) is folded in a downward direction in contact with the side surface of a horizontal section (41d), and a third section (41c) is folded in a roll shape or a corrugated shape. The third portion (41c) folded in a roll shape is disposed between the protruding portion (41e) and the inflator (42), a second portion (41b) disposed on the opposite side of the first portion (41a) with respect to the housing portion (411) is folded to the first portion (41a) side, and the first portion (41a) covers the protruding portion (41e) and the third portion (41c) and is wound and folded.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a safety airbag device and the safety airbag device. Background Art

[0002] Vehicles in recent years are equipped with airbag devices. Airbag devices are safety devices that work in emergency situations such as when the vehicle is involved in a collision, and expand and deploy under air pressure to catch and protect the occupants. There are various types of airbags depending on the location and purpose of installation. For example, in order to protect the driver from collisions from the front and rear directions, a front airbag is installed in the center of the steering wheel. In addition, in order to protect the occupants from the impact of side collisions or subsequent rollovers, curtain airbags that expand and deploy along the windows from near the wall ceiling, and side airbags that expand and deploy from the sides of the seats to the sides of the occupants are installed. In addition, among the side airbags, there are side airbags that prevent the occupants sitting in the driver's seat from moving to the passenger seat side when a side collision occurs, etc. (Patent Document 1).

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-115947 Summary of the invention

[0005] Problem that the invention aims to solve

[0006] However, depending on the size of the vehicle, the installation position of the airbag, and its shape, even if the inflation and deployment method described in Patent Document 1 is used, the occupant may not be sufficiently protected from the impact.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an airbag device and an airbag device that inflate and deploy an airbag cushion so as to adequately protect an occupant.

[0008] Solutions to the problem

[0009] The manufacturing method of the airbag device involved in the present invention is a manufacturing method of an airbag device (4) having an airbag cushion (41) that is inflated and deployed in a vehicle cabin (1) of a vehicle (100) and restrains an occupant sitting on a seat (2, 3) from the side, and preparing an airbag cushion (41) having a receiving portion (411), an inflator (42) for receiving a gas for injection, expansion and deployment, including a horizontal portion (41d) that is deployed in the horizontal direction of the vehicle (100) and a protruding portion (41e) that is deployed from a central portion of the horizontal portion (41d) toward the upper direction of the vehicle (100), wherein the horizontal portion (41d) of the airbag cushion (41) is configured to include a first portion (41a) extending from the receiving portion (411), a second portion (41b) extending in the horizontal direction opposite to the first portion (41a), and a protruding portion (41e) further extending from the second portion (41b). The third part (41c) is folded from the upper direction of the vehicle (100) to the lower direction into a roll or corrugated shape, and the protrusion (41e) is folded so that the protrusion (41e) abuts against the side of the horizontal part (41d) so that the axis of the length direction of the folded protrusion (41e) becomes the up-down direction, and the third part (41c) is folded into a roll or corrugated shape, and the folded third part (41c) is arranged between the protrusion (41e) and the inflator (42), and the second part (41b), the protrusion (41e) and the third part (41c) arranged on the opposite side of the first part (41a) relative to the accommodating part (411) are folded back to one side of the first part (41a), and the first part (41a) is rolled and folded so as to cover the protrusion (41e) and the third part (41c).

[0010] The manufacturing method of the airbag device involved in the present invention comprises folding the end of the third part (41c) into the inside of the airbag cushion (41) toward the second part (41b) before folding the third part (41c) into a roll or corrugated shape.

[0011] In the manufacturing method of the airbag device involved in the present invention, the airbag cushion (41) includes a bottom surface connecting portion (41g) which forms a surface opposite to the protruding portion (41e) when deployed, and the bottom surface connecting portion (41g) is folded so that the inner surfaces of the airbag cushion (41) are in contact with each other and the outer surface is mountain folded.

[0012] The airbag device of the present invention is an airbag device (4) having an airbag cushion (41) which is inflated and deployed in a vehicle cabin (1) of a vehicle (100) and which restrains an occupant sitting on a seat (2, 3) from the side. The airbag cushion (41) has a receiving portion (411) for receiving an inflator (42) for injecting gas for expansion and deployment, and includes a horizontal portion (41d) which is deployed in the horizontal direction of the vehicle (100) and a protruding portion (41e) which is deployed from the center of the horizontal portion (41d) toward the upper direction of the vehicle (100). The horizontal portion (41d) includes a first portion (41a) extending from the receiving portion (411), a second portion (41b) extending in the opposite direction to the first portion (41a) in the horizontal direction, and a third portion (41c) further extending from the second portion (41b), and has the following structure: The protrusion (41e) is folded into a roll or corrugated shape from the upper direction to the lower direction of the vehicle (100); the rolled protrusion (41e) is folded so as to abut against the side of the horizontal portion (41d) so that the axis of the length direction of the folded protrusion (41e) becomes the up-down direction; the third part (41c) is folded into a roll or corrugated shape; the folded third part (41c) is arranged between the protrusion (41e) and the inflator (42); the second part (41b), the protrusion (41e) and the third part (41c) arranged on the opposite side of the first part (41a) relative to the accommodating portion (411) are folded to one side of the first part (41a); the first part (41a) is rolled and folded so as to cover the protrusion (41e) and the third part (41c).

[0013] Effects of the Invention

[0014] The method for manufacturing an airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention can provide a method for manufacturing an airbag device that inflates and deploys an airbag cushion so as to adequately protect an occupant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 It is a schematic perspective view showing the interior of a vehicle equipped with a side airbag device.

[0016] Figure 2 It is a schematic plan view showing the interior of a vehicle equipped with a side airbag device.

[0017] Figure 3 is shown along Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the side airbag device taken along line II II II in FIG.

[0018] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an example of an airbag cushion.

[0019] Figure 5 It is an explanatory diagram showing a method of folding the airbag cushion.

[0020] Figure 6 It is an explanatory diagram showing a method of folding the airbag cushion.

[0021] Figure 7 It is an explanatory diagram showing a deployment process of the airbag cushion.

[0022] Figure 8 It is a front view showing a state where the deployment of the airbag cushion is completed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. In addition, in the following description, "up", "down" and "up-down" directions refer to directions along the line connecting the center of the vehicle ceiling and the center of the floor, wherein the direction toward the ceiling is set as "up" and the direction toward the floor is set as "down". In addition, the "front", "rear" and "front-to-back" directions of the vehicle refer to the forward direction and the backward direction of the vehicle, respectively. In addition, the width direction of the vehicle refers to the direction in which the seats are usually arranged side by side, and the direction orthogonal to the above-mentioned "front-to-back" direction, including the "right" direction on the driver's seat 2 side and the "left" direction on the co-driver's seat 3 side. In addition, the direction along a plane orthogonal to the up-down direction (i.e., a plane extending along the front-to-back direction and the width direction) is set as a horizontal direction.

[0024] Figure 1 It is a schematic perspective view showing the interior of a vehicle 100 equipped with the side airbag device 4 . Figure 2 It is a schematic plan view showing the interior of a vehicle 100 equipped with a side airbag device 4 . Figure 1 , Figure 2 The figure shows a driver's seat (seat) 2, a passenger seat (seat) 3 and a safety belt 5 provided on the floor 10 of the vehicle compartment 1. The driver's seat 2 has a seat portion 21 and a backrest 22 rising upward from the rear side of the seat portion 21. The backrest 22 is composed of a cushioning material 221 and a skin 222 covering the surface of the cushioning material 221 (see FIG. Figure 3 The cushioning material 221 is made of a material such as polyurethane resin, and the surface skin 222 is made of a woven fabric, synthetic leather, or natural leather.

[0025] like Figure 2 As shown, the side airbag device (airbag device) 4 is arranged inside the backrest 22 of the driver's seat 2 provided in the vehicle cabin 1 of the vehicle 100 on the side of the passenger seat 3. Figure 1 As shown, the side airbag device 4 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. In addition, the side airbag device 4 may be arranged inside the backrest of the front passenger seat 3 on the driver's seat 2 side.

[0026] Figure 3 is along Figure 1 1 is a cross-sectional view of the side airbag device 4 taken along line II II II in FIG. The upper and lower parts in this figure correspond to the front and rear of the vehicle 100, respectively. The side airbag device 4 includes an airbag cushion 41 and an inflator 42 accommodated in an accommodating portion 40.

[0027] The airbag cushion 41 is a reinforced cloth bag body woven from high-strength fibers such as nylon fibers, folded into a roll and accommodated in the accommodation portion 40. The shape and folding method of the airbag cushion 41 will be described in detail later. The inflator 42 is clamped into the bottom plate of the accommodation portion 40 by the stud 421 and fixed to the skeleton frame 23 of the backrest 22. The inflator 42 is accommodated in the airbag cushion 41 and can spray gas for expansion and deployment.

[0028] The receiving portion 40 is a box body with one side opening, and is fixed to the skeleton frame 23 of the backrest 22 by means of the stud 43 and the above-mentioned stud 421. The opening of the receiving portion 40 faces the side of the passenger seat 3, and is covered by a cover plate 44 that forms a surface with the side of the driver's seat 2. The cover plate 44 is a resin plate having a lower strength than the receiving portion 40. A crack groove 45 is formed along the entire length in the vertical direction on the front of the outer surface of the cover plate 44. When the vehicle 100 collides, the airbag cushion 41 expands due to the effect of the gas ejected by the inflator 42, breaks through the crack groove 45, pierces the epidermis 222, and deploys to the side. Figure 3 The cleavage groove 45 is shown to be formed on the outer surface of the cover plate 44 , but may also be formed on the inner surface of the cover plate 44 .

[0029] Figure 4 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the airbag cushion 41 . Figure 4 2 shows the airbag cushion 41 when inflated. Figure 4The direction shown indicates the direction of the vehicle 100. The airbag cushion 41 is in the shape of a convex character, and has a horizontal portion 41d that extends and unfolds in the horizontal direction (front-rear direction and width direction) of the vehicle 100, and a protrusion 41e that unfolds from the center of the horizontal portion 41d in the front-rear direction toward the upper direction of the vehicle 100. The airbag cushion 41 is formed by joining two panels in the shape of a convex character in a plan view via an upper surface connecting portion 41f and a bottom surface connecting portion 41g that have thickness in the width direction. The two panels constitute the side surfaces of the horizontal portion 41d and the protrusion 41e. A housing portion 411 for housing a cylinder-type (tube-type) inflator 42 is provided inside the airbag cushion 41. Insertion holes 412 and 413 for inserting a stud 421 of the inflator 42 are provided in the housing portion 411. The inflator 42 is activated in an emergency situation such as a collision of the vehicle 100, and sprays gas into the inside of the airbag cushion 41. The airbag cushion 41 is explosively expanded by the injection gas of the inflator 42. The expansion pressure of the airbag cushion 41 acts on the cover plate 44 with the bottom plate of the housing portion 40 as support. The airbag cushion 41 breaks through the cleavage groove 45 and expands to the outside of the housing portion 40. In addition, the expansion and expansion will be simply referred to as deployment hereinafter.

[0030] In the following description, the horizontal portion 41d of the airbag cushion 41 is conceptually composed of three parts. The front portion is set as the first portion 41a, the portion from the housing portion 411 to the rear is set as the second portion 41b, and the portion from the second portion 41b to the rear is set as the third portion 41c. The first portion 41a is a portion from one end of the airbag cushion 41 in the front-to-back direction to the vicinity of the housing portion 411. The second portion 41b is a portion extending by a predetermined length in the direction opposite to the first portion 41a in the front-to-back direction as viewed from the housing portion 411. The third portion 41c is a portion further extending from the second portion 41b arranged on the opposite side of the first portion 41a relative to the housing portion 411. The second portion 41b is mainly provided at a position corresponding to the space portion between adjacent seats (driver's seat 2, front passenger seat 3). The first portion 41a, the second portion 41b, and the third portion 41c are conceptual divisions. The boundary between the first portion 41a and the second portion 41b and the boundary between the second portion 41b and the third portion 41c are not strict. Figure 4 The position of the receiving portion 411 shown is the boundary between the first portion 41a and the second portion 41b, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The position of the receiving portion 411 may also be Figure 4 That is, the boundary dividing the first part 41a and the second part 41b has nothing to do with the position of the receiving portion 411. Figure 4 When the housing portion 411 is set near the front end portion in the front-rear direction of the convex portion as shown, the housing portion 411 may be included in the first portion 41 a or in the second portion 41 b .

[0031] Figure 5 and Figure 6 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of folding the airbag cushion 41 .

[0032] Figure 5 A method of folding the protrusion 41e is shown. In addition, Figure 5 FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the air cushion 41 viewed from the left. Figure 5 A and Figure 5 As shown in B, the protrusion 41e is flattened in the front-to-back direction to form a sheet having edges in the up-down direction and the width direction. Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 3 , the sheet-like protrusion 41e is first folded toward the first portion 41a with the width direction as the rolling axis direction, and is folded from the top to the bottom into a roll shape. At this time, the upper end of the protrusion 41e is first folded into a roll shape in a manner facing forward, but the upper end may also be folded into a roll shape in a manner facing backward. Figure 5 As shown in C, the protrusion 41e folded into a roll is as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown in D, the airbag cushion 41 is folded together with the upper connecting portion 41f in such a manner as to abut against the left side (side) of the horizontal portion 41d with the rolling axis (the axis in the longitudinal direction) in the vertical direction. Figure 5 In the state shown in D, the bottom surface connecting portion 41g is folded so as to abut against the inner surface of the airbag cushion 41 and the outer surface is folded in a mountain shape.

[0033] Figure 6 A folding method for housing the airbag cushion 41 in the housing portion 40 is shown. Figure 6 It is folded when viewed from above. Figure 5 D is a cross-sectional view of the airbag cushion 41. Figure 6 As shown in A, the inflator 42 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 411. Figure 6 As shown in FIG. B, the end of the third portion 41c is folded into the interior of the airbag cushion 41 in the direction toward the second portion 41b. Figure 6 As shown in C, the third part 41c is folded into a roll. The folding direction of the third part 41c is that the end of the third part 41c is first bent clockwise, and the right panel becomes the outer side and is rolled up, and as a result, the direction of rolling and folding becomes counterclockwise when viewed from above. Hereinafter, such a folding method is referred to as "rolling and folding in the counterclockwise direction". Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 4D, the third portion 41c is further folded inward and disposed between the protruding portion 41e folded into a roll and the inflator 42. Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 4E, the second portion 41b, the protruding portion 41e, and the third portion 41c are folded back toward the first portion 41a. Figure 6In the state shown in D, the third portion 41c is arranged on the opposite side. In addition, the third portion 41c is arranged between the inflator 42 and the protruding portion 41e. Figure 6 As shown in F, the first portion 41a covers the protruding portion 41e and the third portion 41c and is rolled and folded to the left and rear.

[0034] Figure 7 It is an explanatory diagram showing the deployment process of the airbag cushion 41 . Figure 7 This is a diagram when the vehicle interior 1 is viewed from above. Figure 7 A shows the state before deployment. Figure 7 B shows the state immediately after the deployment begins. After the deployment begins, gas enters the second portion 41b, and the first portion 41a wrapped around the protrusion 41e and the third portion 41c is deployed by tilting toward the right direction of the vehicle interior 1 due to the force of deployment from the folded state. In addition, the third portion 41c is pushed out due to the expansion of the second portion 41b, and is deployed toward the opposite side of the inflator 42 relative to the protrusion 41e. At this time, since the third portion 41c is rolled up in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from above the vehicle interior 1, it is deployed by tilting toward the direction of the passenger seat 3 due to the force of deployment from the folded state. Therefore, as Figure 7 The state of the airbag cushion 41 shown in B is V-shaped in a plan view.

[0035] Figure 7 C shows a state where the horizontal portion 41d is unfolded. Figure 7 D shows the state where the airbag cushion 41 is fully deployed. When the horizontal portion 41d of the airbag cushion 41 is deployed, Figure 7 In the state shown in B, the lower end of the protrusion 41e is pushed upward to become the front end. That is, the direction of the rolling axis (axis in the longitudinal direction) of the protrusion 41e changes from the up-down direction to the front-back direction. Figure 7 In the state shown in C, the folded protrusion 41e is not unfolded. Then, the protrusion 41e is unfolded upward to become Figure 7 The state shown in D.

[0036] Figure 8 FIG. 4 is a front view showing the state where the airbag cushion 41 is deployed. Figure 7 D and Figure 8 As shown, in the deployed state of the airbag cushion 41, the third portion 41c is in a state of being mounted on the passenger seat 3. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occupant seated on the driver's seat 2 from moving toward the passenger seat 3. In addition, the restraint position of the airbag cushion 41 is fixed, and the reaction force from the seat of the passenger seat 3 is also utilized to mitigate the impact force of the collision received by the occupant.

[0037] According to the above structure, when deployed, the rolling axis (axis in the longitudinal direction) of the rolled protrusion 41e with both ends folded downward changes from the vertical direction to the front-to-back direction. Through this action, the airbag cushion 41 can be stably deployed in the front-to-back direction and deployed in a manner that can fully protect the occupant. In addition, in the present invention, the protrusion 41e and the third portion 41c are folded into a roll shape, but they can also be folded into a corrugated shape.

[0038] In addition, if symbols are recorded in the claims, the symbols are only for facilitating understanding of the claims, correspond to the symbols recorded in the embodiments, and are added as a reference, and do not limit the scope of the claims.

[0039] It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all aspects and are not restrictive. The technical features described in the embodiments can be used in combination with each other, and the scope of the present invention is intended to cover all modifications within the claims, as well as the scope equivalent to the claims. In addition, the independent claims and dependent claims recorded in the claims, regardless of the form of reference, can be combined with each other in any combination. Furthermore, in the claims, the form of citing more than two other claims (multiple claims form) is adopted, but it is not limited to this. It can also be recorded in the form of multiple claims (multiple multiple claims) that cite at least one multiple claim.

[0040] Explanation of symbols

[0041] 100 Vehicles

[0042] 1. Carriage

[0043] 2 Driver's seat (seat)

[0044] 3rd passenger seat (seat)

[0045] 4Side airbag device (airbag device)

[0046] 41 airbag cushion

[0047] 41a Part 1

[0048] 41b Part 2

[0049] 41c Part 3

[0050] 41d horizontal part

[0051] 41e protrusion

[0052] 41 f Upper connection part

[0053] 41 g bottom connection

[0054] 411 Containment Division

[0055] 42 Inflator

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an airbag device (4), the airbag device (4) comprising an airbag cushion (41) that is inflated and deployed in a vehicle cabin (1) of a vehicle (100) and restrains an occupant seated on a seat (2, 3) from the side, The manufacturing method of the airbag device (4) comprises: An airbag cushion (41) is prepared, which has a receiving portion (411) for receiving an inflator (42) for injecting inflation and deployment gas, including a horizontal portion (41d) deployed in the horizontal direction of the vehicle (100) and a protruding portion (41e) deployed from the center portion of the horizontal portion (41d) toward the upper direction of the vehicle (100), wherein the horizontal portion (41d) of the airbag cushion (41) is configured to include a first portion (41a) extending from the receiving portion (411), a second portion (41b) extending in the opposite direction to the first portion (41a) in the horizontal direction, and a third portion (41c) further extending from the second portion (41b), and the protruding portion (41e) is folded from the upper direction of the vehicle (100) to the lower direction into a roll or corrugated shape. The protruding portion (41e) is folded by making it contact with the side surface of the horizontal portion (41d) so that the longitudinal axis of the folded protruding portion (41e) becomes the vertical direction, The third portion (41c) is folded into a roll or corrugated shape, The folded third portion (41c) is arranged between the protruding portion (41e) and the inflator (42), The second portion (41b), the protruding portion (41e) and the third portion (41c) arranged on the opposite side of the first portion (41a) relative to the housing portion (411) are folded back to one side of the first portion (41a); The first portion (41a) is rolled and folded so as to cover the protruding portion (41e) and the third portion (41c).

2. A method for manufacturing an airbag device (4) according to claim 1, Before the third portion (41c) is folded into a roll or corrugated shape, the end of the third portion (41c) is folded into the interior of the airbag cushion (41) in the direction toward the second portion (41b).

3. A method for manufacturing an airbag device (4) according to claim 1 or 2, The airbag cushion (41) includes a bottom surface connecting portion (41g) which forms a surface opposite to the protruding portion (41e) when deployed. The bottom surface connecting portion (41g) is folded so that the inner surfaces of the airbag cushion (41) are in contact with each other and the outer surfaces are mountain folded.

4. A safety airbag device (4) comprising an airbag cushion (41) that is inflated and deployed in a vehicle cabin (1) of a vehicle (100) and that restrains an occupant seated on a seat (2, 3) from the side. The airbag cushion (41) has a receiving portion (411) for receiving an inflator (42) for injecting inflation gas, and includes a horizontal portion (41d) that is deployed in the horizontal direction of the vehicle (100) and a protruding portion (41e) that is deployed from a central portion of the horizontal portion (41d) toward the upper direction of the vehicle (100). The horizontal portion (41d) includes a first portion (41a) extending from the receiving portion (411), a second portion (41b) extending in a horizontal direction opposite to the first portion (41a), and a third portion (41c) further extending from the second portion (41b). It has the following structure: The protrusion (41e) is folded into a roll or corrugated shape from the upper direction to the lower direction of the vehicle (100); The rolled protrusion (41e) is brought into contact with the side surface of the horizontal portion (41d) to be folded so that the axis of the length direction of the folded protrusion (41e) becomes the up-down direction; The third part (41c) is folded into a roll or corrugated shape; The folded third portion (41c) is arranged between the protruding portion (41e) and the inflator (42); The second portion (41b), the protruding portion (41e) and the third portion (41c) arranged on the opposite side of the first portion (41a) relative to the receiving portion (411) are folded to the first portion (41a) side; The first portion (41a) is rolled and folded so as to cover the protruding portion (41e) and the third portion (41c).

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