Airbag

Abstract

Airbag (15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) which is inflatable with a filling gas (G) supplied via an inlet opening (21) formed on a basic section (15a) thereof, and which is designed to capture a protective target (P) with its front end section (15b) which is arranged away from the basic section (15a), characterized by the fact that has an outer shell (16) of the airbag (15): a first wall (18) and a second wall (24) opposite each other, both extending from the base section (15a) to the front end section (15b); and an end wall (26) which is arranged at the front end section (15b) and which in an unfolded state generally has a rectangular shape, wherein the end wall (26) is bordered by an outer circumferential edge (26a) of the end wall (26) to edges (18e, 18f, 18g, 24e, 24f, 24g) in the front end section (15b) of the first wall (18) and the second wall (24); the inlet opening (21) is formed on the first wall (18); the first wall (18) and the second wall (24) have an identical outer contour, except for the edges (18e, 18f, 18g, 24e, 24f, 24g) which adjoin the end wall (26); the first wall (18) and the second wall (24) are connected to each other at end edges (18b, 24b) of the base section (15a) and at both side edges (18c, 18d, 24c, 24d) extending towards the end wall (26) from the end edges (18b, 24b), from outer circumferential edges (18a, 24a) of the first wall (18) and the second wall (24); and the outer perimeter edge (26a) of the end wall (26) has a first perimeter edge (27) which adjoins the first wall (18) and a second perimeter edge (28) which adjoins the second wall (24); the first circumferential margin (27) is connected to lateral margins (18e, 18f) in the anterior end region of the first wall (18) and borders on an anterior end margin (18g) of the first wall (18); the second circumferential edge (28) is connected to side edges (24e, 24f) in the front end region of the second wall (24) and adjoins a front end edge (24g) of the second wall (24); and the first wall (18) and the second wall (24) are provided with a connected region (32, 32D) formed by connecting the first wall (18) and the second wall (24) in a region between the inlet opening (21) and adjacent regions to the end wall (26) to reduce a volume of the airbag (15).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. AREA OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag which has an inlet opening on the base section for receiving a filling gas and captures a protective target with the front end section located away from the base section. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

[0002] JP 2008-1362A discloses a known airbag, inflatable into a three-dimensional shape with a simple design, in the form of a passenger seat airbag. The airbag has a base section with an inlet opening for receiving an inflation gas, a front end section, and an intermediate section located between the base section and the front end section. The airbag is formed from a first wall and a second wall facing each other. The first wall has a folded area in the intermediate section. The airbag is formed by sewing together the outer circumferential edges of the first wall and the second wall with the folded area formed on the first wall. In this known airbag, the folded area causes the intermediate section of the airbag to inflate to a greater extent than the surrounding area.In other words, the folded section promotes airbag inflation to a more three-dimensional contour compared to an example where the opposing walls are only sewn along their outer edges. Additionally, the folded section facilitates the bending of the airbag's front end section along the curve of a vehicle's dashboard. Furthermore, because the first wall has the folded section and the second wall has a generally identical contour, the two walls can be easily sewn together in a flat, unfolded state. Consequently, the airbag can be manufactured in a simple manner.

[0003] However, the front end section of the conventional airbag described above is formed simply by sewing together the outer edges of the two walls. With this design, the front end section of the airbag cannot inflate sufficiently to effectively capture a target.

[0004] Other airbags are known from US 2004 / 0 113 399 A1, US 2012 / 0 126 515 A1, DE 696 21 278 T2 and US 2006 / 0 049 618 A1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] One objective of the present invention is to provide an airbag which has a simple design and is suitable for capturing a protective target with its front end section in an adequate manner.

[0006] The airbag of the invention is inflatable with a filling gas which is introduced via an inlet opening formed on the base section, and is designed to capture a protective target with the front end section which is arranged away from the base section.

[0007] The outer shell of the airbag comprises a first wall and a second wall, which are opposite each other and both extend from the base section to the front end section, and an end wall located at the front end section, which generally has a rectangular shape when unfolded. The outer circumferential edge of the end wall abuts edges in the front end section of both the first and second walls. The airbag's inlet opening is located on the first wall.

[0008] The first wall and the second wall have an identical outer contour except for the edges adjacent to the end wall, and are connected to each other at the end edges of the base section and at both side edges extending towards the end wall from the end edges, out of the outer circumferential edges of the first wall and the second wall.

[0009] The outer perimeter of the end wall has a first perimeter border, which adjoins the first wall, and a second perimeter border, which adjoins the second wall. The first perimeter border is connected to lateral borders in the front end region of the first wall and adjoins a front end border of the first wall. The second perimeter border is connected to lateral borders in the front end region of the second wall and adjoins a front end border of the second wall.

[0010] The first wall and the second wall are provided with a connected area, which is formed by connecting the first wall and the second wall in an area between the inlet opening and adjoining regions with the end wall to reduce the volume of the airbag.

[0011] When the airbag of the invention inflates with a filling gas, the first wall and the second wall separate from each other, except at the joined area, and at the front end regions of the first wall and the second wall, the end wall generally unfolds orthogonally to a direction in which the airbag extends from the base section to the front end section. To describe a perspective of the contour of the airbag when fully inflated, the region near the base section inflates in a generally plank-like manner due to a separation of the first wall and the second wall, except at the joined area, and the front end section inflates thicker than the plank-like region in a triangular prism when viewed from one side, due to a generally vertical unfolding of the end wall.In this configuration, if a target moves forward along the direction in which the airbag extends from the front end section to the base section, the end wall will capture the target head-on. Furthermore, because the airbag area near the end wall inflates more thickly into a triangular prism, it will capture the target with good damping properties.

[0012] Furthermore, the design, in which the front end section inflates thickly, does not increase the overall volume of the airbag due to the connected area formed between the base section and the front end section. Consequently, the airbag will not require a more powerful gas generator.

[0013] The airbag of the invention is formed by joining predefined edges of the first wall and the second wall, and by joining the outer circumferential edge of the end wall to predefined edges of the first wall and the second wall. Consequently, the airbag can be manufactured in a simple manner by aligning the edges of the walls and sewing them together in a flattened state.

[0014] Consequently, the airbag of the invention has a simple design and is suitable for capturing the protection target with the front end section in an adequate manner without increasing its volume.

[0015] It is desirable in the airbag of the invention that the outer shell of the airbag has a first layer that forms the first wall and an area of ​​the end wall adjacent to the first wall, and a second layer that forms the second wall and an area of ​​the end wall adjacent to the second wall.

[0016] This design will help reduce the number of airbag components, as the outer shell can be formed from two layers. Joining the two layers begins, for example, by sewing together the front edges of the first and second layers. Then, both side edges at the front end of either the first or second layer are sewn together, along with the two side edges of the end layer. More precisely, the first and second layers, now sewn together, are folded over each other at the front end of either the first or second layer, and the matching edges are sewn together. This fold forms a boundary between the end layer and the first and second layers.Then, another fold is formed at the front end of the other section of the first and second layers at the boundary between the end wall and the other section of the first and second layers. Furthermore, the layers are folded so that the first and second layers fit together and are sewn together at the remaining unstitched perimeter edges. Consequently, the outer shell of the airbag is complete.

[0017] Alternatively, the outer shell can be formed from a single piece of track that has an area for forming the first wall, an area for forming the second wall, and an area for forming the end wall.

[0018] This design will further contribute to reducing the number of airbag components. Since the membrane has a contour such that the first and second membranes are pre-connected, no joining work is required between them, and the membrane is formed into the outer shell of the airbag through a process similar to the one described above.

[0019] The airbag of the invention can be designed such that the length of a seam allowance of the end wall and the side edges in the front end region of the first wall is generally identical to the length of a seam allowance of the end wall and the side edges in the front end region of the second wall. This design will promote the deployment of the end wall orthogonal to the direction in which the airbag extends from the base section to the front end section.

[0020] Alternatively, the length of the seam allowance of the end wall and the side edges in the front end area of ​​the first wall can differ from the length of the seam allowance of the end wall and the side edges in the front end area of ​​the second wall. This design will encourage the front edge of either the first or the second wall with the longer seam allowance to unfold further from the base section than the front edge with the shorter seam allowance, so that the end wall unfolds in a beveled manner.

[0021] Furthermore, the airbag of the invention can be designed such that at least one of the front end edge of the first wall, which adjoins the end wall, and the front end edge of the second wall, which adjoins the end wall, has a length that differs from a length between the side edges of the end wall at a central area of ​​the end wall.

[0022] For example, if at least one of the front end edges of the first wall adjacent to the end wall and the front end edge of the second wall adjacent to the end wall is shorter than the length between the side edges of the central area of ​​the end wall, the volume of an area of ​​the front end section of the airbag inflated in a kind of triangular prism shape (in the form of a prism) in a vicinity of the shorter front end edge will be reduced without reducing the overall volume of the airbag.In contrast, if at least one of the leading edges of the first wall, adjacent to the end wall, and the leading edge of the second wall, adjacent to the end wall, is longer than the length between the lateral edges of the central area of ​​the end wall, the volume of a region of the front end section of the airbag, inflated in a triangular prism shape, will increase near the longer leading edge, without increasing the overall volume of the airbag. That is, the damping properties of the end wall can be adjusted by changing these lengths. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic vertical section of an airbag device for a passenger seat, as mounted on a vehicle that uses an airbag embodying the invention. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective front view of the airbag of the embodiment, as inflated. Fig. Figure 3 is a schematic perspective rear view of the airbag of the embodiment as inflated. Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic section of the airbag of the embodiment, as inflated. Fig. Figure 5 is a top view of the airbag of the embodiment, as flattened and spread out such that a first wall and a second wall overlap each other. Fig. Figure 6 is an underside view of the airbag of the embodiment, as flattened and spread out such that the first wall and the second wall overlap each other. Fig. Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view drawn along line VII-VII. Fig. 5 is recorded. Fig. Figure 8 shows components of the airbag through top views. Fig. 9 and Fig. Figure 10 schematically shows the manufacturing process of the airbag of the embodiment in sequence. Fig. Figure 11 is a schematic sectional view of the airbag system as mounted on the vehicle, equipped with the airbag of the embodiment and fully deployed. Fig. Figure 12 is a top view of a component of a modification of the airbag. Fig. Figure 13 shows an underside view of another modification of the airbag, as flattened and spread out. Fig. Figure 14 is a vertical sectional view of the airbag. Fig. 13, as if completely inflated in itself. Fig. Figure 15 is a schematic sectional view of an airbag system as mounted on the vehicle, which includes the airbag from Fig. 13 is equipped and fully developed. Fig. Figure 16 shows an underside view of yet another modification of the airbag, such as flattened and spread out. Fig. Figure 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the airbag made of Fig. 16, as if completely inflated in itself. Fig. Figure 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an airbag system as mounted on the vehicle, which includes the airbag from Fig. 16 is equipped and is fully deployed to form an airbag. Fig. Figure 19 shows an underside view of yet another modification of the airbag, such as flattened and spread out. Fig. Figure 20 is a perspective front view of the airbag from Fig. 19, as if completely inflated in itself. Fig. Figure 21 shows a top view of yet another modification of the airbag, as flattened and spread out. Fig. 22 is a bottom view of airbags from Fig. 21. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION FORMS

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] An airbag 15 embodying the invention is used in an airbag device S for a front passenger seat, as in Fig. The airbag assembly S is mounted on an instrument panel or dashboard 1 located in front of a passenger seat (not shown) to protect an occupant (i.e., a protection target) P seated in the passenger seat. The airbag assembly S is a top-mounted airbag assembly, installed within an upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1.

[0025] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the airbag device S comprises the airbag 15, which is folded and inflatable with a filling gas G, a gas generator 8 for supplying the airbag 15 with a filling gas, a housing or enclosure 12 for housing and holding the airbag 15 and the gas generator 8, a holder 9 for attaching the airbag 15 and the gas generator 8 to the housing 12 and an airbag cover 6 for covering the airbag 15 from above.

[0026] The airbag cover 6 is integrally formed with the instrument panel 1, which is molded from a synthetic resin and has two doors, i.e., a front and a rear door 6a and 6b, which can open when pushed by the airbag 15 towards airbag deployment. The airbag cover 6 further has a connecting wall 6c around the doors 6a and 6b, which is coupled to the housing 12.

[0027] The gas generator 8 has a main body 8a, which is generally designed in a pot-like shape and is provided with gas outlet connections 8b and a flange 8c, which is used for attachment to the housing 12.

[0028] The housing 12 is made of sheet metal in a generally rectangular parallelepiped (parallel flat) shape, which has a generally rectangular opening at the top. The housing 12 has a generally rectangular bottom wall 12a, into which the gas generator 8 is inserted and mounted from below, and a circumferential wall 12b that extends upwards from the outer edge of the bottom wall 12a and holds the connecting wall 6c of the airbag cover 6. The airbag 15 and the gas generator 8 are attached to the bottom wall 12a of the housing 12 by arranging the holder 9 inside the airbag 15 so that the bolts (screws) 9a pass through the periphery (the area) of a gas inlet opening 21 of the airbag 15, by inserting the airbag 15 into the housing 12 so that the bolts 9a pass through the bottom wall 12a of the housing 12 and the flange 8c of the gas generator 8, and by fastening the bolts 9a with nuts 10.Furthermore, clamps not shown are provided on the bottom wall 12a for connection to a vehicle body structure.

[0029] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 15, the airbag 15 has a basic section 15a which is mounted on the housing 12, a front end section 15b which can be deployed to the rear to capture the occupant P, and an intermediate section 15c which is arranged between the basic section 15a and the front end section 15b.

[0030] As in Fig. As shown in Figures 2 to 7, the outer shell 16 of the airbag 15 has a pair of walls 18 and 24 that are opposite each other in an up-and-down direction and extend from the base section 15a to the front end section 15b, and an end wall 26 located at the front end of the airbag 15. In its unfolded state, the end wall 26 is generally rectangular and has a rectangular containment plane 30 that is generally unfoldable in an up-and-down direction to contain the occupant P who is moving forward in response to a bump or similar event. The end wall 26 is bordered by the rectangular outer circumferential edge 26a to the edges 18e, 18f, 18g, 24e, 24f, and 24g at the front end regions of the opposing walls 18 and 24.

[0031] It can also be said that the outer shell 16 of the airbag 15, when fully deployed, consists of a capture wall 16a, formed by the containment plane 30 of the end wall 26, which is generally vertically deployable, and a perimeter wall 16b, extending from the outer edge of the capture wall 16a and tapering forward. The perimeter wall 16b is formed by the opposing walls 18 and 24 and the left and right triangular areas 26e and 26f of the end wall 26.

[0032] When the airbag, as fully inflated, is viewed from a left or right side, the front end section 15b has a contour similar to a triangular prism and serves as an inflated area 15e in a kind of triangular prism shape, and the base section 15a and the intermediate section 15c, in combination, form a board-like inflatable area 15f, which is generally shaped into a parallelepiped with a lesser thickness in a top-and-bottom direction than the front end section 15b.

[0033] The first wall 18, consisting of the opposing walls 18 and 24, is provided with an inlet opening 21 for receiving a filling gas. That is, wall 24 is the second wall 24. The outer contours of the first wall 18 and the second wall 24, except for edges 18e, 18f, 18g, 24e, 24f, and 24g adjacent to the end wall 26, are identical. In particular, the outer contour of the first wall 18 and the second wall 24, except for edges 18e, 18f, 18g, 24e, 24f, and 24g, is generally rectangular with a rounded, generally triangular area near the end edge 18b and 24b of the base area (that is, the front area).The first wall 18 and the second wall 24 are sewn together at the front edges 18b and 24b, at the left edges 18c and 24c, which extend towards the end wall 26 from the front edges 18b and 24b, and at the right edges 18d and 24d, which extend towards the end wall from the front edges 18b and 24b.

[0034] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 6, an inlet opening 21 is provided on the first wall 18 for receiving the main body 8a of the gas generator 8. Mounting holes 22 for receiving the bolts 9a of the holder 9 are formed in the periphery of the inlet opening 21. The area in the periphery of the inlet opening 21, which is provided with the mounting holes 22, forms a mounting area 20 of the airbag 15, through which the airbag 15 is mounted to the bottom wall 12a of the housing 12 by means of the holder 9.

[0035] The first wall 18 and the second wall 24 are provided with a connected area 32, which is formed by joining the walls 18 and 24 together in the intermediate section 15c of the airbag 15 between the location of the inlet opening 21 and the adjacent area with the end wall 26. The connected area 32 promotes the reduction of the volume of the airbag 15. In the illustrated embodiment, the connected area 32 is formed by sewing the first wall 18 and the second wall 24 together with a sewing thread 49 in an oval that extends elongated in a left-right direction, centered in a left-right direction away from both side edges 18c, 18d, 24c and 24d.

[0036] The outer circumferential edge 26a of the end wall 26 has a first circumferential edge 27, which adjoins the first wall 18, and a second circumferential edge 28, which adjoins the second wall 24. The left and right lateral edges 27a and 27b of the first circumferential edge 27 are connected to the left and right lateral edges 18e and 18f in the anterior end region of the first wall 18, and the lower edge 27c adjoins the anterior end edge 18g of the first wall 18. The left and right lateral edges 28a and 28b of the second circumferential edge 20 are connected to the left and right lateral edges 24e and 24f in the anterior end region of the second wall 24, and the upper edge 28c adjoins the anterior end edge 24g of the second wall 24.

[0037] In a state where the end wall 26 as well as the first wall 18 and the second wall 24 are not folded in a flat manner, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the length LD in a front-and-back direction of a seam allowance of the side edges 18e and 18f in the front end region of the first wall 18 and the side edges 27a and 27b of the end wall 26 (in other words, the length LD in a top-and-bottom direction of a lower region 26b of the end wall 26) is shorter than the length LU in a front-and-back direction of a seam allowance of the side edges 24e and 24f in the front end region of the second wall 24 and the side edges 28a and 28b of the end wall 26 (in other words, the length LU in a top-and-bottom direction of an upper region 26c of the end wall 26).

[0038] Furthermore, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the length (width) WC in a left-and-right direction of a central region of the end wall 26 is equal to the length (width) WU in a left-and-right direction of the front end edge 24g of the second wall 24. The length (width) WD in a left-and-right direction of the front end edge 18g of the first wall 18 is smaller than the length (width) WC in a left-and-right direction of the central region of the end wall 26. That is, the left and right edges 27a and 27b of the lower region 26b of the end wall 26 and the left and right side edges 18e and 18f in the front end region of the first wall 18 are such that they approach each other in the direction of the front end edges 27c and 18g.

[0039] In other words, in the illustrated embodiment, the end wall 26 is formed from the upper region 26c, which has a rectangular shape, and the lower region 26b, which has a general trapezoidal shape with the reduced (narrowed) lower edge 27c.

[0040] The length (width) WC in a left- and right-hand direction of the end wall 26 is defined by an intersection point 26d of the left edges 27a and 28a of the first circumferential edge 27 and the second circumferential edge 28, and an intersection point 26d of the right edges 27b and 28b of the first circumferential edge 27 and the second circumferential edge 28. These intersection points 26d do not necessarily coincide with the left and right end regions of the hem of the front end edges 43a and 47a of the later described sections 41 and 45. Each of the intersection points 26d is the boundary of the end wall 26, the first wall 18, and the second wall 24.

[0041] The outer shell 16 of the airbag 15 of the illustrated embodiment is formed from two strips, as shown in Fig. Figure 8 shows a first panel 41 and a second panel 45. The panels 41 and 45 are formed from a flexible woven fabric or similar material made of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, or similar material and are coated with silicone or similar material on one side, which is to be an inner surface of the airbag 15. The first panel 41 has a first-wall-forming region 42 for forming the first wall 18 and a lower-wall-forming region 43 for forming the lower region 26b of the end wall 26. The second panel 45 has a second-wall-forming region 46 for forming the second wall 24 and an upper-wall-forming region 47 for forming the upper region 26c of the end wall 26.

[0042] The method for manufacturing the airbag 15 with these panels 41 and 45 is now described. First, although not shown, a reinforcing material (not shown) is sewn to an area of ​​the first panel 41, which is the attachment area 20 of the airbag 15. Then, as in (A) and (B) from Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the inlet opening 21 and the fastening holes 22 are punched out in the fastening area 20. Then the front end edge 43a of the lower area 43 of the first strip 41 and the front end edge 47a of the upper area 47 of the second strip 45 are sewn together with a sewing thread 49.

[0043] The following, as in (C) Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the connected panels 41 and 45 are placed (folded over) on a mountain crease 41a at a position between the first wall area 42 and the lower area 43 of the first panel 41, such that the left and right side edges 42a, 42b of an area adjacent to the lower area 43 of the first wall area 42 of the first panel 41 correspond to the side edges 18e and 18f in the front end area of ​​the first wall 18, and the left and right side edges 43b, 43c of the lower area 43 correspond to the side edges 27a and 27b of the end wall 26. At this point, the seam allowances of the front end edges 43a and 47a are arranged on the inside. Then these side edges are finished with sewing thread 49, as in (A) Fig. 10 shown, sewn together.

[0044] Then, as in (B) and (C) Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the second sheet 45 is superimposed on a mountain crease 45a at a position between the area forming the second wall 46 and the area forming the lower area 47 such that the left and right lateral edges 46a, 46b of an area adjacent to the area forming the upper area 47 of the area forming the second wall 46 of the second sheet 45, corresponding to the lateral edges 24e and 24f in the second wall 24, and the left and right lateral edges 47b, 47c of the area forming the upper area 47, corresponding to the lateral edges 28a and 28b of the end wall 26, coincide, and also such that the remaining circumferential edge 42c of the area forming the first wall 42 of the first sheet 41 and the remaining circumferential edge 46c of the area forming the second wall coincide. 46 of the second strip 45 match. Then these edges are sewn together.The circumferential border 42c of the area 42 forming the first wall corresponds to the left and right lateral borders 18c and 18d and the end border 18b of the first wall 18 (. Fig. 5), while the circumferential edge 46c of the area forming the second wall 46 corresponds to the left and right lateral edges 24c and 24d and the end edge 24b of the second wall 24 ( Fig. 5) corresponds. Consequently, the airbag 15 is designed in a pocket shape. At this point, the connected area 32, as in (B), is formed from Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the airbag is formed by sewing the first strip 41 and the second strip 45 together with a sewing thread 49. Consequently, the airbag 15 is completed.

[0045] When the airbag 15 is completed, the holder 9 is placed inside the airbag 15 so that the bolts 9a protrude from the mounting holes 22, and then the airbag 15 is folded. The folded airbag 15 is then wrapped with a tearable wrapping sheet (not shown) to maintain the folded shape. The airbag 15 is then positioned on the bottom wall 12a of the housing 12 such that the bolts 9a penetrate the bottom wall 12a. Subsequently, the main body 8a of the gas generator 8 is inserted into the housing 12 from the underside of the bottom wall 12a, while the bolts 9a, protruding downwards from the bottom wall 12a, are inserted through the flange 8c of the generator 8. When the bolts 9a, which protrude from the flange 8c of the gas generator 8, are fastened with nuts 10, the airbag 15 and the gas generator 8 are mounted on the housing 12.

[0046] Next, the circumferential wall 12b of the housing 12 is attached to the connecting wall 6c of the airbag cover 6 on the dashboard 1, which has been mounted on the vehicle, and brackets of the housing 12 (not shown) are fixed to the vehicle body structure. Then, when predefined cables extending from a control unit are connected to the gas generator 8, the airbag assembly S for a passenger seat is mounted on the vehicle.

[0047] Once the airbag system S is installed on the vehicle, in the event of a frontal collision, an activation signal is sent to the gas generator 8, and the gas generator 8 discharges a filling gas G from the gas outlet connections 8b to inflate the airbag 15. The airbag 15 then pushes and opens the doors 6a and 6b of the airbag cover 6, as shown in Fig. 11 shown. Then the airbag 15 protrudes from an opening formed by the opening of doors 6a and 6b and deploys to the rear, as shown in Fig. 11 shown.

[0048] When the airbag 15 of the illustrated embodiment inflates with a filling gas G, the first wall 18 and the second wall 24 are separated from each other, except in the connected area 32, and at the front end regions of the first wall 18 and the second wall 24 the end wall 26 generally unfolds orthogonally to the direction in which the airbag 15 extends from the base section 15a to the front end section 15b.To describe a perspective of the contour when fully inflated, in the area near the base section 15a of the airbag 15, the board-like inflatable area 15f inflates in a generally board-like manner as a result of a separation of the first wall 18 and the second wall 24, except in the connected area 32, and the front end section 15b inflates more thickly than the board-like inflatable area 15f in a triangular prism, as viewed from one side, by means of a generally vertical unfolding of the end wall 26. With this configuration, if the occupant P moves forward in a direction in which the airbag 15 extends from the front end section 15b to the base section 15a, the containment plane 30 of the end wall 26 will capture the occupant P frontally.Furthermore, since the area of ​​the airbag 15 near the end wall 26 is the area 15e inflated in a kind of triangular prism shape, which is inflated thicker than the board-like inflatable area 15f, the area will capture the occupant P (i.e. the protection target) with a good damping property.

[0049] Furthermore, the design in which the front end section 15b inflates thickly will not increase the overall volume of the airbag 15 due to the connected area 32 formed in the intermediate section 15c located between the base section 15a and the front end section 15b. Accordingly, the airbag 15 will not require a gas generator 8 with a higher power output.

[0050] The airbag 15 is formed by joining together the edges 18b, 18c, and 18d of the first wall 18 and the edges 24b, 24c, and 24d of the second wall 24, and by joining together the outer circumferential edge 26a of the end wall 26 and the edges 18e, 18f, 18g, 24e, 24f, and 24g of the first wall 18 and the second wall 24. The airbag 15 can be manufactured in a simple manner by mating the edges of the walls 18, 24, and 26 and sewing them together in a flattened state.

[0051] Consequently, the airbag 15 of the embodiment has a simple design and is suitable for capturing the occupant P (i.e. the protection target) with the front end section 15b in an adequate manner without increasing its volume.

[0052] In the airbag 15 of the preceding embodiment, the outer shell 16 has the first strip 41, which forms the first wall 18 and a region of the end wall 26 adjacent to the first wall 18 (i.e. the lower region 26b of the end wall 26), and the second strip 45, which forms the second wall 24 and a region of the end wall 26 adjacent to the second wall 24 (i.e. the upper region 26c of the end wall 26).

[0053] That is, the outer shell 16 of the airbag 15 can be formed from two panels 41 and 45, which contributes to a reduction in the number of components of the airbag 15.

[0054] Joining the two panels 41 and 45 begins with sewing together the front end edges 43a and 47a of the first panel 41 and the second panel 45, as shown in (A) and (B) from Fig. 9 shown. Then the two side edges in the front end section are sewn together from either the first wall 18 or the second wall 24 and the two side edges of the end wall 26, as shown in (A). Fig. 10. More precisely, in the preceding embodiment, as in (C) from Fig. 9 and (A) from Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the first panel 41 and the second panel 45, which have been sewn together, are folded at the fold 41a in a front end region from the first panel 41 and the second panel 45 (at a front end region of the first panel 41 in the illustrated embodiment), and the corresponding edges 42a, 42b, 43b, and 43c are sewn together. The fold 41a forms a boundary between the end wall 26 and either the first wall 18 or the second wall 24 (the first wall 18 in the illustrated embodiment). Then, as in (B) and (C) Fig. As shown in Figure 10, a further fold 45a is formed at a front end region of the other fold made from the first panel 41 and the second panel 45 (at a front end region of the second panel 45 in the illustrated embodiment). The fold 45a forms a boundary between the end wall 26 and the other fold made from the first wall 18 and the second wall 24 (the second wall 24 in the illustrated embodiment). Furthermore, the panels 41 and 45 are folded such that the first wall 18 and the second wall 24 coincide and are sewn together at the remaining unstitched circumferential edges. Consequently, the outer shell 16 of the airbag 15 is completed.

[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, when the side edges of the end wall 26 are connected to the side edges of the first wall 18 or the second wall 24, the side edges 18e and 18f of the first wall 18 and the side edges 27a and 27b of the end wall 26 are sewn together first. However, the airbag 15 can also be manufactured by first sewing together the side edges 24e and 24f of the second wall 24 and the side edges 28a and 28b of the end wall 26, then sewing together the side edges 18e and 18f of the first wall 18 and the side edges 27a and 27b of the end wall 26, and then sewing together the remaining unstitched circumferential edges of the first wall 18 and the wall 24.

[0056] Alternatively, the outer shell 16 of the airbag 15 can be formed from a single piece of web 51, as shown in Fig. Figure 12 shows the track 51 has an area 52 for forming the first wall 18, an area 53 for forming the second wall 24 and an area 54 for forming the end wall 26.

[0057] This design will further contribute to reducing the number of components of the airbag 15. Since the strip 51 has such a contour that the first strip 41 and the second strip 45 were pre-connected to each other at the position of the end wall 26 in the preceding embodiment, the strip 51 does not require any joining work between the first strip 41 and the second strip 45 and is integrated into the outer shell 16 of the airbag 15 by the same process as in (C). Fig. 9 and (A) to (C) from Fig. 10 shaped.

[0058] Unlike forms of the outer shell 16 of the airbag 15 consisting of a single or two strips, the outer shell 16 can be formed from three strips; i.e., a first wall-forming strip 52 to form the first wall 18, a second wall-forming strip 53 to form the second wall 24, and an end wall-forming strip 54 to form the end wall 26.

[0059] In this example, the first wall panel 52 and the second wall panel 53 are first sewn to the end wall panel 54 to align the upper and lower edges 28c and 27c of the end wall 26 with the front end edges 18g and 24g of the first wall 18 and the second wall 24. Then, when the three interconnected panels are subjected to the same manufacturing process as in the previous embodiment, after the two panels have been joined, the airbag 15 is formed from the three panels 52, 53, and 54. During the manufacturing process, the seam allowances are positioned on the inside.

[0060] In the airbag 15 of the illustrated embodiment, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the length LD in a front-and-back direction of the seam allowance of the side edges 18e and 18f in the front end region of the first wall 18 and the side edges 27a and 27b of the end wall 26 (in other words, the length LD in a top-and-bottom direction of the lower region 26b of the end wall 26) is shorter than the length LU in a front-and-back direction of the seam allowance of the side edges 24e and 24f in the front end region of the second wall 24 and the side edges 28a and 28b of the end wall 26 (in other words, the length LU in a top-and-bottom direction of the upper region 26c of the end wall 26).

[0061] As in Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figure 11, this embodiment will promote the unfolding of the front end edge or the upper edge 28c of the end wall 26 on the part with the longer length LU at the seam allowance further back (i.e. further away from the base section 15a) than the front end edge or the lower edge 27c with the shorter length LD, such that the containment plane 30 (or the capture wall 16a) of the end wall 26 will unfold in a beveled or downward-directed manner.

[0062] Alternatively, the length LD in a front-and-back direction of the seam allowance of the side edges 18e and 18f in the front end region of the first wall 18 and the side edges 27a and 27b of the end wall 26 (in other words, the length LD in a top-and-bottom direction of the lower region 26b of the end wall 26) can be longer than the length LU in a front-and-back direction of the seam allowance of the side edges 24e and 24f in the front end region of the second wall 24 and the side edges 28a and 28b of the end wall 26 (in other words, the length LU in a top-and-bottom direction of the upper region 26c of the end wall 26), as in an airbag 15a of an airbag device SA, which is in Fig. Figures 13 to 15 are shown.

[0063] As in Fig. 14 and Fig. As shown in Figure 15, this embodiment will promote the unfolding of the front end edge or the lower edge 27c of the end wall 26 on the part with the longer length LD further back at the seam allowance (i.e. further away from the base section 15a) than the front end edge or the upper edge 28c with the shorter length LU, such that the containment plane 30 (or capture wall 16a) of the end wall 26 will unfold in a beveled or upward-directed manner.

[0064] Alternatively, the length LD in a front-and-back direction of the seam allowance of the side edges 18e and 18f in the front end region of the first wall 18 and the side edges 27a and 27b of the end wall 26 (in other words, the length LD in a top-and-bottom direction of the lower region 26b of the end wall 26) can be identical to the length LU in a front-and-back direction of the seam allowance of the side edges 24e and 24f in the front end region of the second wall 24 and the side edges 28a and 28b of the end wall 26 (in other words, the length LU in a top-and-bottom direction of the upper region 46c of the end wall 26), as in an airbag 15B of an airbag device SB, which is in Fig. It is shown in numbers 16 to 18.

[0065] As in Fig. 17 and Fig. As shown in Figure 18, this configuration will promote the unfolding of the containment plane 30 (or capture wall 16a) of the end wall 26 vertically and orthogonally to the direction in which the airbag 15B extends from the base section 15a to the front end section 15b.

[0066] That is, in the configurations of the airbags 15, 15A and 15B, the angle of the containment plane 30 (or the detection wall 16a) is adjusted in a simple manner in accordance with a type of vehicle on which the airbag is mounted.

[0067] Furthermore, in the airbag 15 of the preceding embodiment, the length WD of the front end edge 18g of the first wall 18, which adjoins the end wall 26 (i.e., at least one of the length WD of the front end edge 18d of the first wall 18 and the length WU of the front end edge 24g of the second wall 24) is shorter than (i.e. differs from) the length WC between the side edges of the central area of ​​the end wall 26 (i.e., between the intersection points 26d).

[0068] In this embodiment, the lower edge 27c of the end wall 26, which borders the front end edge 18g with the shorter length WD, is shortened, and the volume of an area of ​​the region 15e of the front end section 15b of the airbag 15, which is inflated in a kind of triangular prism shape, is in a vicinity of the edge 15ed ( Fig. 20), i.e. in the vicinity of the lower edge 27c, is reduced without reducing the overall volume of the airbag 15, compared to a case where the length WD is generally equal to the length WC.

[0069] In contrast, the length WU of the front end edge 24g of the second wall 24a (i.e., at least one of the length WD of the front end edge 18g of the first wall 18 and the length WU of the front end edge 24g of the second wall 24) can be longer than (i.e., differ from) the length WC between the side edges of the central area of ​​the end wall 26 (i.e., between the points of intersection 26d), as in an airbag 15C, which is in Fig. 19 and Fig. 20 is shown.

[0070] In this embodiment, the upper edge 28c of the end wall 26, which borders the front end edge 24g with the longer length WU, is extended, and the volume of an area of ​​the region 15e of the front end section 15b of the airbag 15, which is inflated in a kind of triangular prism shape, is in a vicinity of the edge 15eu ( Fig. 20), i.e. in the vicinity of the upper edge 28c, is enlarged without increasing the overall volume of the airbag 15, compared to a case where the length WU is generally equal to the length WC.

[0071] That is, the designs of the airbags 15 and 15C will facilitate the adjustment of the contour during the deployment of the edge 15ed (or 27c) of the triangular prism-shaped inflated area 15e, which is deployable towards the dashboard 1, and the contour during the deployment of the edge 15eu (or 28c) of the triangular prism-shaped inflated area 15e, which is deployable away from the dashboard 1, in a simple manner, in accordance with the type of vehicle on which the airbag is mounted. Consequently, the damping characteristic of the containment plane 30 (capture wall 16a) will be adjustable.

[0072] The airbag 15 of the preceding embodiment has a connected area 32 formed by sewing the first wall 18 and the second wall 24 together in an oval shape with the sewing thread 49, and arranged in the center in a left-and-right direction of the intermediate section 15c of the airbag 15. However, the contour and the number of connected areas are not to be limited, as long as the connected area is designed such that the first wall 18 and the second wall 24 are sewn together to reduce the volume of the airbag 15. For example, the connected area 32D can also be formed by sewing the first wall 18 and the second wall 24 together in a generally semicircular shape at the left and right edges of the intermediate section 15c with the sewing thread 49, as in an airbag 15D that is in Fig. 21 and Fig. 22 is shown.

[0073] In the preceding embodiments, the airbag 15 has been described as an airbag for use in the airbag device S for a passenger seat. However, the application of the airbag according to the invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can be applied to any airbag that achieves a protective objective, not only with the containment plane 30 of the end wall 26 in the front end section 15b, but also with a region of the front end section 15b in the vicinity of the end wall 26 on the part of the first wall 18 with the inlet opening 21 and / or the part of the second wall 24 that is not provided with an inlet opening.For example, the present invention can also relate to an airbag for use in a knee protection airbag device, an airbag of a side airbag device adapted to be stowed inside a backrest of a vehicle seat for covering one side of an occupant (i.e., a protection target) sitting on the seat, or an airbag for pedestrian protection adapted to be stowed at the rear end region of a vehicle bonnet for covering the front of a pillar or the top of the rear end region of the bonnet for protecting a pedestrian (i.e., a protection target).

[0074] It is expressly stated that all features disclosed in the description and / or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently of one another for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of limiting the claimed invention, irrespective of the combination of features in the embodiments and / or the claims. It is expressly stated that all ranges of values ​​or specifications of groups of units disclose any possible intermediate value or unit for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of limiting the claimed invention, in particular as limits of ranges of values.

[0075] The terms “approximately”, “about”, “circa”, “essentially”, or “generally”, used herein in connection with a measurable value such as a parameter, quantity, shape, duration, or the like, include deviations or fluctuations of ± 10% or less, preferably ± 5% or less, more preferably ± 1% or less, and more preferably ± 0.1% of the respective value, provided that such deviations are still technically reasonable in the practical application of the disclosed invention. It is expressly stated that the value to which the term “approximately” refers is expressly and specifically disclosed. The specification of ranges by initial and final values ​​includes all those values ​​and fractions of these values ​​that are encompassed by the respective range, as well as its initial and final values.

Claims

[1] Airbag (15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) which is inflatable with a filling gas (G) supplied via an inlet opening (21) formed on a base section (15a) thereof, and which is designed to capture a protection target (P) with its front end section (15b) which is arranged away from the base section (15a), characterized by , that an outer shell (16) of the airbag (15): a first wall (18) and a second wall (24) opposite each other, both extending from the base section (15a) to the front end section (15b); and an end wall (26) which is arranged at the front end section (15b) and which in an unfolded state generally has a rectangular shape, wherein the end wall (26) is bordered by an outer circumferential edge (26a) of the end wall (26) to edges (18e, 18f, 18g, 24e, 24f, 24g) in the front end section (15b) of the first wall (18) and the second wall (24); the inlet opening (21) is formed on the first wall (18); the first wall (18) and the second wall (24) have an identical outer contour, except for the edges (18e, 18f, 18g, 24e, 24f, 24g) which adjoin the end wall (26); the first wall (18) and the second wall (24) are connected to each other at end edges (18b, 24b) of the base section (15a) and at both side edges (18c, 18d, 24c, 24d) extending towards the end wall (26) from the end edges (18b, 24b), from outer circumferential edges (18a, 24a) of the first wall (18) and the second wall (24); and the outer perimeter edge (26a) of the end wall (26) has a first perimeter edge (27) which adjoins the first wall (18) and a second perimeter edge (28) which adjoins the second wall (24); the first circumferential margin (27) is connected to lateral margins (18e, 18f) in the anterior end region of the first wall (18) and borders on an anterior end margin (18g) of the first wall (18); the second circumferential edge (28) is connected to side edges (24e, 24f) in the front end region of the second wall (24) and adjoins a front end edge (24g) of the second wall (24); and the first wall (18) and the second wall (24) are provided with a connected region (32, 32D) formed by connecting the first wall (18) and the second wall (24) in a region between the inlet opening (21) and adjacent regions to the end wall (26) to reduce a volume of the airbag (15). [2] Airbag (15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell (16) comprises a first panel (41) forming the first wall (18) and a region of the end wall (26) adjoining the first wall (18), and a second panel (45) forming the second wall (24) and a region of the end wall (26) adjoining the second wall (24). [3] Airbag according to claim 1, wherein the outer shell (16) is formed from a single piece of web (51) having an area (52) for forming the first wall (18), an area (53) for forming the second wall (24) and an area for forming the end wall (26). [4] Airbag (15B) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a length (LD) of a seam allowance of the end wall (26) and the side edges (18e, 18f) in the front end region of the first wall (18) is generally identical to a length (LU) of a seam allowance of the end wall (26) and the side edges (24e, 24f) in the front end region of the second wall (24). [5] Airbag (15, 15A) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a length (LD) of a seam allowance of the end wall (26) and the side edges (18e, 18f) in the front end region of the first wall (18) differs from a length (LU) of a seam allowance of the end wall (26) and the side edges (24e, 24f) in the front end region of the second wall (24). [6] Airbag (15, 15C) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the front end edge (18g) of the first wall (18) adjoining the end wall (26) and the front end edge (24g) of the second wall (24) adjoining the end wall (26) has a length (WD, WU) which differs from a length (WC) between the side edges of a central region of the end wall (26). [7] Airbag (15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) according to claim 1, wherein, when the airbag (15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D) is fully inflated, the front end section (15b) forms an inflatable area (15e) in a triangular prism shape having a contour similar to a triangular prism, and the base section (15a) and an intermediate section (15c) arranged between the base section (15a) and the front end section (15b) combine to form a board-like inflatable area (15f) shaped into a general parallelepiped with a lesser thickness than the front end section (15b), and the outer contour of the first wall (18) and the second wall (24), except for the edges (18e, 18f, 18g, 24e, 24f and 24g), which adjoins the end wall (26), is generally rectangular with a rounded generally triangular area near the end edges (18b, 24b) of the base section (15a).

Images