Airbag and airbag assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag and an airbag assembly. The safety air bag is installed on the rear portion of a vehicle cabin and comprises an air bag body, the air bag body has an unfolded state and a folded state, the safety air bag body further comprises a shape limiting part arranged on the air bag body, when the air bag body is in the unfolded state, the air bag body is provided with a first panel and a second panel which are opposite to each other, and under the action of the shape limiting part, the first panel and the second panel are folded. The two opposite ends of the air bag are close to each other, so that the first panel and the second panel protrude towards the same side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to safety devices in vehicles, and more specifically, to an airbag and an airbag assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Considering the impact scenarios that can occur to a vehicle, airbags are widely used in existing vehicles as a safety device to protect occupants. Airbags include, for example, steering wheel airbags, dashboard airbags, and roof-mounted airbags. When a vehicle collides or is impacted, the airbag's inflator receives a signal transmitted via wiring connected to the inflator, causing it to deploy. The resulting gas then rapidly inflates the folded airbag, which expands to protect the occupants from the impact.

[0003] However, in the design of vehicle safety devices, the protection of rear-seat occupants has always been a relatively low priority. In recent years, with the introduction of new requirements for injury assessment of rear-seat occupants (including children), the protection of rear-seat occupants has gradually received more attention.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need to provide an airbag that can protect rear-seat occupants. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an airbag that can provide protection for rear-seat occupants, and an airbag assembly including the airbag.

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention provides an airbag installed in the rear of a vehicle compartment, and comprising:

[0007] The air bag has an deployed state and a retracted state.

[0008] in,

[0009] The airbag also includes a shape restrictor disposed on the airbag. When in the deployed state, the airbag has a first panel and a second panel facing each other. Under the action of the shape restrictor, the opposite ends of the airbag move closer to each other, so that the first panel and the second panel bulge towards the same side.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shape limiting member includes a first shape limiting member disposed on the outer surface of one of the first panel and the second panel located inside the bulge.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shape limiting member includes an inner pull strap positioned inside the air bag, the inner pull strap having a plurality of outer ends fixed to the inner surface of one of the first panel and the second panel located outside the bulge, and a plurality of inner ends located on the inner surface of the other panel, and,

[0012] The distance between adjacent outer ends is greater than the distance between adjacent inner ends, or, during the fixation of the inner pull strap to the air bag, in the height direction of the air bag, the outer ends of the same inner pull strap are fixed to a position higher than the inner ends.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first shape limiting member is configured as a pleat that folds and secures a portion of the air bag together, and,

[0014] The pleated portion is configured as a multi-layered structure in which a portion of the air bag is folded and fixed in the thickness direction of the air bag, or the pleated portion is configured as a multi-layered structure in which a portion of the air bag is folded and fixed in the height direction of the air bag.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the gas further includes a first gas guiding structure and a second gas guiding mechanism disposed inside the gas bag. The first gas guiding structure is used to guide the gas entering the gas bag first to the side and then to the downward side, and the second gas guiding structure is used to guide the gas entering the gas bag from the upper side of the gas bag to the lower side.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the first air guiding structure and the second air guiding structure includes a non-inflatable area or a linear isolation strip or a combination of both.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first air guiding structure and the second air guiding structure are distributed at intervals along the width direction of the air bag, and divide the air bag into a plurality of chambers.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a guide is further included, the guide being disposed at the communication port between the air bag and the gas generator, and the guide having a plurality of guide ports toward the plurality of chambers.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the guide includes a pair of guide ports opposite to each other in the thickness direction of the air bag, and the pair of guide ports are positioned at the second air guiding structure.

[0020] A second aspect of the present invention provides an airbag assembly,

[0021] It includes a rear seat and an airbag as described in any of the preceding claims. When deployed, the airbag is located between the rear seat and the rear window, and the first panel and the second panel protrude toward the rear window. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The features, advantages, and technical effects of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same symbols denote the same elements, wherein:

[0023] Figure 1 An airbag assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0024] Figure 2 The deployment shape of an airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0025] Figure 3 An airbag according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0026] Figure 4 An airbag according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0027] Figure 5 An airbag according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically.

[0028] Figure 6 An airbag according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The following describes specific embodiments of the airbag and airbag assembly according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings below are provided to illustrate the principles of the invention. The invention is not limited to the described preferred embodiments; the various embodiments described can be used individually or in any combination. The scope of protection of the invention is defined by the claims.

[0030] Furthermore, spatially related terms (such as "up," "down," "left," and "right") are used to describe the relative positional relationship between elements shown in the accompanying drawings and other elements. Therefore, spatially related terms can be applied to directions different from those shown in the accompanying drawings. Clearly, while all these spatially related terms refer to the directions shown in the accompanying drawings for ease of explanation, those skilled in the art will understand that directions different from those shown in the accompanying drawings can be used.

[0031] Figure 1 An airbag assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically. Figure 2 The deployment shape of an airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown. Reference is made below. Figure 1 and Figure 2 An airbag and an airbag assembly including the airbag are described according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides an airbag assembly 1 having an airbag 10. The airbag 10 is installed in the rear of the vehicle compartment 30 to protect rear passengers.

[0033] In some vehicles without a trunk, such as multi-purpose vehicles or SUVs, the rear passengers are close to the rear of the vehicle. In a rear-end collision, the rear of the vehicle inevitably takes the impact, and the force is directly transmitted to the passenger compartment, causing the rear passengers' heads to be thrown backward and hit the rear window. Even in minor accidents, this impact can easily cause significant injury to the vulnerable back of the head of rear passengers, thus leaving them unprotected in rear-end collisions.

[0034] In the airbag assembly 1 of the present invention, since an airbag 10 is installed at the rear of the vehicle compartment, the airbag 10 can prevent rear passengers from colliding with the rear window glass, thus providing sufficient protection for rear passengers. The airbag 10 of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0035] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the airbag 10 of the present invention includes an airbag 11, which has an deployed state and a retracted state. A gas generator (not shown) is used to inflate the airbag 11 to inflate it into the deployed state. In an embodiment of the present invention, the airbag 10 may include only one gas generator for converting the airbag 11 from the retracted state to the deployed state. To clearly see the structure of the airbag 11, Figure 1 and Figure 2 The airbag 11 shown is in the deployed state. Figure 1 As shown, when deployed, the airbag 11 is located between the rear seat 20 and the rear window glass to protect the rear occupants from impacting the rear window glass.

[0036] To allow the airbag 11 to deploy from the top of the vehicle cabin towards the bottom, the airbag 10 of the present invention also includes a shape limiting member disposed on the airbag 11. This shape limiting member restricts the deployment path of the airbag 11 during inflation. Specifically, the deployment path is approximately as follows: starting from the vehicle cabin, it extends towards the rear window, then towards the bottom of the vehicle cabin, and finally towards the rear seats. In this way, as... Figure 2As shown, when deployed, the airbag 11 is approximately C-shaped and bulges towards the rear window. The airbag 11 has a first panel 101 and a second panel 102 facing each other. The first panel 101 and the second panel 102 can be two identical panels, overlapping one above the other in the thickness direction of the airbag 11. The edges of the two panels are then fixed together to define the enclosed internal space of the airbag 11. Under the action of the shape limiting member, the opposite ends of the airbag 11, namely the upper end 11A and the lower end 11B, are brought close together, causing the first panel 101 and the second panel 102 to bulge towards the same side; that is, the first panel 101 and the second panel 102 bulge towards the rear window. In other words, in… Figure 2 In the middle, the right side of the airbag 11 is the side where the rear window glass is located, and the left side of the airbag 11 is the side where the rear seat 20 is located. Thus, the first panel 101 of the airbag 11 is located on the inner side of the bulge, and at the same time, the second panel 102 of the airbag 11 is located on the outer side of the bulge.

[0037] The following is for reference Figures 3-6 The shape limiting member in the airbag 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail.

[0038] Figure 3 An airbag according to a first embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated. Reference is made below. Figure 3 A safety airbag according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3, in the first embodiment, the shape limiting member includes inner pull straps 111 positioned inside the air bag 11, with three inner pull straps 111 arranged independently of each other. Optionally, the three inner pull straps 111 are identical and arranged parallel to each other. Both ends of each inner pull strap 111 are respectively fixed to the first panel 101 and the second panel 102. As defined, since the first panel 101 is located inside the bulge when the air bag 11 is deployed, and the second panel 102 is located outside the bulge when the air bag 11 is deployed, the end of the inner pull strap 111 fixed to the first panel 101 is defined as the inner end 111A, and the end of the inner pull strap 111 fixed to the second panel 102 is defined as the outer end 111B. Specifically, for each inner pull strap 111, the end of the inner pull strap 111 fixed to the second panel 102 is higher than the end fixed to the first panel 101. In other words, the outer end 111B of the same inner pull strap 111 is fixed at a position higher than the inner end 111A. If the side of the airbag 11 with the recessed space is defined as the raised inner side, and the side of the airbag 11 with the protruding portion is defined as the raised outer side, then the outer end of the same inner pull strap 111 fixed to the inner surface of the panel on the raised outer side of the airbag 11 is higher than the inner end fixed to the inner surface of the panel on the raised inner side of the airbag 11. Thus, during the deployment of the airbag 11, compared to the portion of the first panel 101 near its lower edge (i.e., the portion between the lower end and lower edge of the bottommost pull strap 111), the portion of the second panel 102 of the airbag 11 near its lower edge (i.e., the portion between the lower end and lower edge of the bottommost pull strap 111) is longer. Therefore, under the action of the inner pull strap 111, a more pronounced bend can occur around the lower end of the inner pull strap 111.

[0040] As an alternative example, the airbag 10 of the present invention can also be configured as follows: Figure 3 The inner pull straps 111 are fixed together at the ends of the first panel 101, while at the ends of the second panel 102 they are fixed apart, meaning that the multiple inner pull straps 111 are arranged radially from the first panel 101 to the second panel 102. Thus, by setting the distance between adjacent outer ends 111B of the multiple inner pull straps 111 to be greater than the distance between adjacent inner ends 111A, a bulging shape can also be achieved when the airbag deploys.

[0041] Optionally, the airbag 10 may further include a first air guiding structure 114 and a second air guiding mechanism 115 disposed inside the airbag 11. The first air guiding structure 114 is used to guide the gas entering the airbag 11 first to the side and then to the downward side, and the second air guiding structure 115 is used to guide the gas entering the airbag 11 from the upper side to the lower side of the airbag 11. Figure 3As shown, the airbag 10 includes two first air guiding structures 114. One first air guiding structure 114 guides the gas entering the airbag 11 first to the left and then downward, while the other first air guiding structure 114 guides the gas entering the airbag 11 first to the right and then downward. Furthermore, the air guiding structure 114 includes a non-inflatable area on the airbag 11 and an air guiding channel defined by the non-inflatable area. It is understood that the air guiding structure formed by the non-inflatable area and the defined air guiding channel can disperse the large amount of gas entering the airbag in a very short time, increasing the stability and uniformity of the airbag deployment. Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the air bag 11 may include two square non-inflatable areas, which are spaced apart in the width direction of the air bag. The air passage defined by the non-inflatable areas can also be considered as a chamber that is fluidly connected to each other.

[0042] Optionally, the airbag 11 may further include a guide 12 disposed at the communication port between the airbag 11 and the gas generator, and the guide 12 has multiple guide ports pointing toward multiple chambers. Figure 3 As shown, the guide 12 may include four vents, one of which is in fluid communication with a gas generator, and the other three vents are in fluid communication with two air guiding structures 114 and one air guiding structure 115, respectively.

[0043] Figure 4 An airbag according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically. Figure 5 An airbag according to a third embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated. Reference is made below. Figure 4 and Figure 5 The airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention will continue to be described.

[0044] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the shape limiting member can be a first shape limiting member disposed on the outer surface of the first panel 101, and the first shape limiting member is configured as a pleated portion 111'. Specifically, the first shape limiting member is configured as a pleated portion 111' that folds and secures a portion of the air bag 11 together, and the pleated portion 111' can have a multi-layered structure. Figure 4 As shown, as an example, the pleated portion 111′ can be constructed as a multi-layered structure having a portion of the air bag 11 folded and fixed in the thickness direction of the air bag 11; as Figure 5As shown, as another example, the pleated portion 111′ can also be constructed as a multi-layered structure in which a portion of the airbag 11 is folded and fixed in the height direction of the airbag 11. In this way, during the unfolding of the airbag 11, the first panel 101 is not fully unfolded due to the pleated portion 111′, while the second panel 102 is fully unfolded, so that the airbag 11 is bulging in the unfolded state.

[0045] Optionally, such as Figure 4 As shown, each of the first air guiding structure 114 and the second air guiding structure 115 includes a non-inflatable area 112 and a linear isolation strip 113. The pleats 111' and each of the first air guiding structure 114 and the second air guiding structure 115 are spaced apart in the height direction of the air bag 11. Furthermore, the non-inflatable area 112 and the linear isolation strip 113 are also spaced apart in the height direction of the air bag 11. Compared to... Figure 3 The embodiment shown, Figure 4 The non-inflatable area is relatively small; however, the non-inflatable area 112, combined with the strip isolation band 113, can still limit the unfolded thickness of the airbag 11. In addition, since an air guiding channel is also defined between the non-inflatable area 112 and the strip isolation band 113, the gas entering the airbag 11 can flow to the side after flowing downward through the first air guiding structure 114 and the second air guiding structure 115, further dispersing the gas entering the airbag 11 and further increasing the stability and uniformity of the airbag's unfolding.

[0046] Alternatively, such as Figure 5 As shown, each of the first air guiding structure 114 and the second air guiding structure 115 includes only a non-inflatable area 112 without linear isolation bands. The pleats 111' and the non-inflatable area 112 are spaced apart in the height direction of the air bag 11, and the non-inflatable area 112 has a large area extending from the upper region to the lower region of the air bag 11. Therefore, the gas entering the air bag 11 is first guided to the left or right side via the first air guiding structure 114 and then guided downwards, and then guided downwards via the second air guiding structure 115.

[0047] As an alternative example, the first shape limiting member can also be an outer pull strap (not shown) provided on the outside of the first panel 101. In this way, during the deployment of the air bag 11, under the action of the outer pull strap, the upper and lower ends of the air bag 11 move closer to each other and the air bag 11 forms a recessed space at the first panel 101, so that the deployed air bag 11 is bulging.

[0048] In addition, as Figure 4 Alternative examples of the illustrated embodiments, such as Figure 6As shown, the guide 12 includes a pair of guide ports 121 facing each other in the thickness direction of the air bag 11, and these pair of guide ports 121 are positioned at the second air guiding structure 115. Thus, when the gas generator inflates the air bag 11, the gas first enters the middle part of the air bag 11 via the second air guiding structure 115, causing the air bag 11 to expand from the middle part before the sides.

[0049] Therefore, by setting up a first air-guiding structure and a second air-guiding structure, the air bag can be deployed stably and quickly.

[0050] As mentioned above, although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An airbag (10) installed at the rear of a vehicle compartment, and comprising: Airbag (11), which has an deployed state and a retracted state, Its features are, The airbag (10) also includes a shape limiting member disposed on the air bag (11). When in the deployed state, the air bag (11) has a first panel (101) and a second panel (102) facing each other. Under the action of the shape limiting member, the opposite ends of the air bag (11) move closer to each other, so that the first panel (101) and the second panel (102) bulge towards the same side.

2. The airbag (10) according to claim 1, wherein, The shape limiting member includes a first shape limiting member disposed on the outer surface of one of the first panel (101) and the second panel (102) located inside the bulge.

3. The airbag (10) according to claim 1, wherein, The shape limiting member includes an inner pull strap (111) positioned inside the air bag (11), the inner pull strap (111) having a plurality of outer ends (111B) fixed to the inner surface of one of the first panel (101) and the second panel (102) on the outer side of the bulge, and a plurality of inner ends (111A) fixed to the inner surface of the other. The distance between adjacent outer ends (111B) is greater than the distance between adjacent inner ends (111A), or, during the fixation of the inner pull strap (111) to the air bag (11), in the height direction of the air bag (11), the outer ends (111B) of the same inner pull strap (111) are fixed at a position higher than the inner ends (111A).

4. The airbag (10) according to claim 2, wherein, The first shape limiting member is configured as a pleat (111') that folds and secures a portion of the air bag (11) together, and, The pleated portion (111′) is configured as a multi-layer structure in which a portion of the air bag (11) is folded and fixed in the thickness direction of the air bag (11), or the pleated portion (111′) is configured as a multi-layer structure in which a portion of the air bag (11) is folded and fixed in the height direction of the air bag (11).

5. The airbag (10) according to claim 4, wherein, It also includes a first air guiding structure (114) and a second air guiding mechanism (115) disposed inside the air bag (11). The first air guiding structure (114) is used to guide the gas entering the air bag (11) first to the side and then to the downward side, and the second air guiding structure (115) is used to guide the gas entering the air bag (11) from the upper side of the air bag (11) to the lower side.

6. The airbag (10) according to claim 5, wherein, Each of the first air-guiding structure (114) and the second air-guiding structure (115) includes a non-inflatable area (112) or a linear isolation strip (113) or a combination of both.

7. The airbag (10) according to claim 6, wherein, The first air guiding structure (114) and the second air guiding structure (115) are spaced apart along the width direction of the air bag (11) and divide the air bag (11) into multiple chambers.

8. The airbag (10) according to claim 7, wherein, It also includes a guide (12) arranged at the communication port between the gas bag (11) and the gas generator, and the guide (12) has a plurality of guide ports (121) facing the plurality of chambers.

9. The airbag (10) according to claim 8, wherein, The guide (12) includes a pair of guide ports (121) facing each other in the thickness direction of the air bag (11), and the pair of guide ports (121) are positioned at the second air guiding structure (115).

10. An airbag assembly (1), Its features are, Includes a rear seat and an airbag (10) according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein when deployed, the airbag (11) is located between the rear seat (20) and the rear window glass, and the first panel (101) and the second panel (102) protrude toward the rear window glass.

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