Airbag for a vehicle passenger seat

Abstract

Airbag (15, 15A) for a vehicle passenger seat, with an outer shell (16) which a rear wall (18) for catching a vehicle occupant (M), an upper wall (21) extending forward from an upper edge (18a) of the rear wall (18), a lower wall (25) extending forward from a lower edge (18b) of the rear wall (18) and connected to the upper wall (21) by a front edge of the same, wherein the lower wall (25) has an inlet opening (26) for supplying a filling gas, a left wall (31) extending forward from a left edge (18c) of the back wall (18) and connected to the upper wall (21) and the lower wall (25) by an upper edge (31a) and a lower edge (31b) of the same, and a right wall (33) which extends forward from a right edge (18d) of the back wall (18) and is connected to the upper wall (21) and the lower wall (25) by an upper edge (33a) and a lower edge (33b) of the same, a left rear panel (43) forming a left area of ​​the rear wall (18), a right rear panel (53) which forms a right area of ​​the back wall (18), and the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53) are connected to each other by a connecting seam (SL) and together form the back wall (18), a left panel (40, 40A) forming a left area of ​​the lower wall (25) and the left wall (31), and a right panel (50, 50A) forming a right area of ​​the lower wall (25) and the right wall (33), in which a rear edge (40a) of the left panel (40, 40A) and a rear edge (50a) of the right panel (50, 50A) are connected to areas (43c, 43b, 53c, 53b) of the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53) that form the lower edge (18b), left edge (18c) and right edge (18d) of the back wall (18), characterized by the fact that a region (43b) of the left rear panel (43) forming the left edge (18c) of the back wall (18), and a region (53b) of the right rear panel (53) forming the right edge (18d) of the back wall (18), are straight and generally parallel to the connecting seam (SL) of the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53), a region (43c) of the left rear panel (43) and a region (53c) of the right rear panel (53), which form the lower edge (18b) of the rear wall (18), each is formed with such a curvature that reduces a width in a left-right direction of a lower region of the rear wall (18), Each of the rear edges (40a) of the left panel (40, 40A) and the rear edges (50a) of the right panel (50, 50A) has a straight area (40b, 50b) corresponding to the straight area (43b, 53b) of each of the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53), and a curved area (40c, 50c) corresponding to the bottom edge (43c, 53c) of each of the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53), each of the curved areas (40c, 50c) has a rear end (40d, 50d) that is connected to a lower end (43e, 53e) of the connecting seam (SL) of the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53), and a middle area (40e, 50e) of each of the curved areas (40c, 50c) is arranged further rearward along a front-back direction than the rear end (40d, 50d) in a state in which areas for forming the bottom wall (25) at the left panel (40, 40A) and the right panel (50, 50A) are laid flat before being joined to the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. AREA OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag for use in an airbag device for a vehicle passenger seat, which can be mounted on the front of a vehicle passenger seat of a vehicle. 2. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] As disclosed by way of example in JP 2010 - 241 295 A, in a conventional airbag for a vehicle occupant seat, an outer shell of the inflated airbag has a rear wall for catching a vehicle occupant, an upper wall extending forward from the upper edge of the rear wall, a lower wall extending from the lower edge of the rear wall and connected to the upper wall by the front edge and which is provided with an inlet opening for supplying an inflation gas, a left wall extending forward from the left edge of the rear wall and connected to the upper wall and the lower wall by the upper and lower edges, and a right wall extending forward from the right edge of the rear wall and connected to the upper wall and the lower wall by the upper and lower edges.Regarding the components, the rear wall is formed from a left rear panel and a right rear panel, each forming a left and a right section of the rear wall. Furthermore, the airbag also comprises a left panel, forming the left wall and a left section of the lower wall, and a right panel, forming the right wall and a right section of the lower wall. The rear edge of the left panel is connected to an edge of the left rear panel, which forms the lower edge and the left edge of the rear wall, while the rear edge of the right panel is connected to an edge of the right rear panel, which forms the lower edge and the right edge of the rear wall.

[0003] In the airbag described above, each of the left and right rear panels is shaped with a contour that widens towards the lower edge in a left-right direction, and the lower edge of each of the left and right rear panels is sewn to the rear edge of the lower wall. With this configuration, where each of the lower edges of the left and right rear panels has a large width, a lower portion of the rear wall of the airbag described above inflates significantly to both the left and right sides, thereby increasing the airbag's volume. The conventional airbag described above for a vehicle occupant seat offers potential for further improvement in volume reduction without reducing the width of the upper portion of the rear wall in a left-right direction.in an area for containing a vehicle occupant.

[0004] Further airbag devices are disclosed in JP 2016 - 185 774 A, JP 2013 - 23 076 A, JP 2002 - 59 799 A, JP 2000 - 118 341 A, JP 2001 - 233 157 A, US 2018 / 0 201 223 A1, DE 10 2014 016 163 A1, JP 2010 - 241 296 A, JP 2005 - 88 686 A and JP 2005 - 247 291 A. BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] The present teachings take into account the problem described above and present a task for providing an airbag for a vehicle occupant seat which has a limited volume and sufficient width in a left-right direction of a vehicle occupant containment area in an upper area of ​​the rear wall when deployed.

[0006] The above-mentioned problem is solved by an airbag for a vehicle passenger seat according to claim 1.

[0007] An airbag for a vehicle occupant seat according to the present teachings has an outer shell comprising a rear wall for catching a vehicle occupant, an upper wall extending forward from an upper edge of the rear wall, a lower wall extending forward from a lower edge of the rear wall and connected to the upper wall by its front edge, a left wall extending forward from a left edge of the rear wall, and a right wall extending forward from a right edge of the rear wall. Each of the left and right walls is connected to the upper and lower walls by its upper and lower edges, respectively. The lower wall has an inlet opening for supplying inflation gas. Regarding the components, the rear wall is formed from a left rear panel and a right rear panel, which are joined together by a seam.The left rear panel forms a left portion of the rear wall, and the right rear panel forms a right portion of the rear wall. The airbag further comprises a left panel forming a left portion of the lower wall and the left wall, and a right panel forming a right portion of the lower wall and the right wall. A rear edge of the left panel and a rear edge of the right panel are connected to portions of the left rear panel and the right rear panel that form the lower edge, left edge, and right edge of the rear wall.

[0008] A portion of the left rear panel forming the left edge of the back panel, and a portion of the right rear panel forming the right edge of the back panel, are straight and generally parallel to the joint between the left and right rear panels. A portion of the left rear panel and a portion of the right rear panel forming the lower edge of the back panel are curved in such a way as to reduce the width in a left-right direction of the lower portion of the back panel.

[0009] Each of the rear edges of the left panel and the right panel has a straight section corresponding to the straight section of each of the left and right rear panels, and a curved section corresponding to the lower edge of each of the left and right rear panels. The rear ends of the curved sections at the rear edges of the left and right panels are connected to the lower end of the joining seam of the left and right rear panels.A central area of ​​each of the curved sections of the left and right panels is positioned further rearward along a front-back direction than the rear end of each of the curved sections in a state in which areas for forming the bottom wall of the left panel and the right panel, before being joined to the left rear panel and the right rear panel, are laid flat.

[0010] In the airbag for a vehicle occupant seat according to the present teachings, the lower edges of the left rear panel and the right rear panel, which form the lower edge of the back panel, are each curved so that the width in the left-right direction of the back panel is reduced towards the lower end. These lower edges are each sewn to the curved areas at the rear edges of the left panel and the right panel.Furthermore, the central area of ​​each of the curved sections on the left and right panels is positioned further rearward along the front-back direction than each of the rear ends of the curved sections that are to be joined to the lower end of the joint between the left and right rear panels, in a state where the areas forming the lower wall on the left and right panels, before being joined to the left and right rear panels, are laid flat.

[0011] This configuration reduces the width in the left-right direction of the lower rear panel and further reduces the volume of the lower rear panel. Additionally, a central section of the lower edge of the rear panel is connected to the rear ends of the curved sections on the left and right panels, and these curved sections bend towards the front. Consequently, when the airbag is inflated, the central section of the lower rear panel is pulled forward, thus further reducing the width in the left-right direction of the lower rear panel. As a result, the inflated airbag is contained within a lower volume.Furthermore, the configuration that reduces the width in the left-right direction of the area around the lower edges of the left and right rear panels, and / or the configuration that pulls the central area of ​​the lower rear panel forward, does not affect the width in the left-right direction of the upper rear panel. Accordingly, although the volume of the area around the lower rear panel is reduced, the airbag can still provide a sufficient vehicle occupant restraint area with adequate width in the left-right direction at the upper rear panel.

[0012] Therefore, the inflated airbag of the present teachings can provide the vehicle occupant containment area with sufficient width in the left-right direction at the upper area of ​​the rear wall with a limited volume.

[0013] In the case of the airbag for a vehicle passenger seat according to the present teachings, it is desirable that: an area of ​​the lower wall, which has the inlet opening, is formed from a left lower panel and a right lower panel, which were provided separately and are connected to each other by connecting edges of the same, Each of the connecting edges of the lower left panel and the lower right panel has a curved area formed in a curved line, and the curved area of ​​the lower left panel and the curved area of ​​the lower right panel extend in such a way that they converge and intersect at the rear of the inlet opening in a state in which the lower left panel and the lower right panel are laid flat before being joined together.

[0014] This configuration of the lower left and right panels, when deployed, creates a curved section on the lower wall that curves progressively downwards towards the rear of the airbag inlet. This contour allows the lower wall to deploy along and in close contact with the upper surface of the vehicle's dashboard, extending the airbag's contact area with the dashboard. Thus, the airbag can provide adequate impact force to cushion the vehicle occupant, even though the lower section of the rear wall, when deployed, has a reduced width in the left-right direction.

[0015] In the example described above, it is desirable that: The outer shell of the airbag is formed from a left fabric component, which forms a left area of ​​the outer shell, and a right fabric component, which was provided separately from the left fabric component and forms a right area of ​​the outer shell. the left fabric component, the left panel, a left upper panel adjoining an upper edge of the left panel and forming a left area of ​​the upper wall, the left rear panel extending from an upper area of ​​the rear edge of the left panel, and the left lower panel arranged in a vicinity of a lower edge of the left panel, and the right cloth component, the right panel, a right upper panel adjoining an upper edge of the right panel and forming a right area of ​​the upper wall, the right rear panel extending from an upper area of ​​the rear edge of the right panel, and the right lower panel arranged in a vicinity of a lower edge of the right panel.

[0016] With this configuration, the lower wall is formed by joining the left and right lower panels, which were originally designed separately, to create the curved section that curves downwards at the rear of the inlet opening in the lower wall when the airbag deploys. Thus, the outer shell of the airbag is formed from these two fabric components, but this is the minimum number of outer shell components required to create a three-dimensional curved contour in the lower wall when deployed. This configuration reduces the number of edges that need to be joined and thus reduces the labor involved in manufacturing the airbag. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of an airbag device for a vehicle passenger seat when mounted on a board, and represents the manner of deployment of its airbag, which embodies the present teachings. Fig. Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the deployed airbag of the embodiment. Fig. Figure 3A is a schematic perspective view of the inflated airbag of the embodiment. Fig. 3B is a schematic front view of the inflated airbag. Fig. Figure 4 shows components of the airbag of the embodiment in perspective views. Fig. 5A, Fig. 5B, Fig. 6A, Fig. 6B, Fig. 7A, Fig. 7B, Fig. 8A, Fig. 8B and Fig. Figure 9 shows a manufacturing process of the airbag of the embodiment in sequence. Fig. Figure 10 is a top view of a modification of a fabric component for forming the airbag of the embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION FORMS

[0017] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a vehicle occupant seat airbag 15, embodying the teachings, used in a vehicle occupant seat airbag device SA, which is mounted on the front of a vehicle occupant seat (e.g., passenger seat). The airbag device SA is located inside an upper surface 2 of an instrument panel 1 below the windshield 4, as shown in Figure 2. Fig. 1 shown, assembled.

[0018] The airbag device SA comprises an airbag 15 which is folded, a generator 8 for supplying filling gas to the airbag 15, a housing (as an enclosure) 12 which holds and accommodates the airbag 15 and the generator 8, a bracket 9 which is used for mounting the airbag 15 and the generator 8 to the housing 12, and an airbag cover 6 which covers the airbag 15 from above.

[0019] The airbag cover 6 is integrally formed with the instrument panel 1, which is made of synthetic resin, and has two doors 6a and 6b, which are designed to open forwards and backwards when pushed by the airbag 15 during airbag deployment. The airbag cover 6 also has a connecting wall 6c around the doors 6a and 6b, which is connected to the housing 12. The connecting wall 6c is provided with a plurality of retaining holes 6d for receiving retaining hooks 12c of the housing 12, which will be described later.

[0020] The generator 8 has a body 8a, which is generally designed in a pot-like shape and is provided with a plurality of gas discharge openings 8b, and a flange 8c, which is used for mounting on the housing 12.

[0021] The housing 12 is made of a sheet metal and is generally cuboid in shape, with a rectangular opening at the top. The housing 12 has a bottom wall 12a, which is generally rectangular and plate-shaped with an opening for receiving the generator 8 from below, and a circumferential wall 12b, which extends upwards from an outer circumferential edge of the bottom wall 12a and is connected to the connecting wall 6c of the airbag cover 6. The circumferential wall 12b has a plurality of retaining hooks 12c at its upper end, each of which is inserted into the retaining hole 6d of the connecting wall 6c of the airbag cover 6 and holds the connecting wall 6c.

[0022] The airbag 15 and the generator 8 are mounted to the bottom wall 12a of the housing 12 using the bracket 9. The bracket 9 has a plurality of bolts 9a, which serve as a mounting means. Specifically, before the airbag 15 is folded, the bracket 9 is positioned inside the airbag 15 so that the bolts 9a pass through mounting holes 28 formed in a mounting seat 27, which will be described later and is located in the vicinity of an inlet opening 26 of the airbag, which will be described later. After the airbag is folded, the airbag 15 is inserted into the housing 12 so that the bolts 9a penetrate the bottom wall 12a of the housing 12 and the flange 8c of the generator 8, and the bolts 9a are tightened with nuts 10. Thus, the airbag 15 and the generator 8 are mounted to the bottom wall 12a.Furthermore, the floor wall 12a is provided with a clamp (not shown) which is adapted to be connected to the vehicle body structure.

[0023] As in Fig. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the airbag 15 of the illustrated embodiment is designed to be inflated in a generally square pyramid shape, which tapers towards the front end. An outer shell 16 of the fully inflated airbag 15 has a rear wall 18, which is arranged at the rear end for catching (restraining, capturing) a vehicle occupant M, and four walls that extend forward from the outer circumferential edge of the rear wall 18 in a tapered manner, namely an upper wall 21, a lower wall 25, a left wall 31, and a right wall 33. The rear wall 18 has a generally rectangular shape. The upper wall 21 extends forward from the upper edge 18a of the rear wall 18 and is provided with two vent holes 22.The lower wall 25 extends forward from the lower edge 18b of the rear wall 18 and connects to the upper wall 21 at its front end (front edge) 25a. The lower wall 25 is provided with an inlet opening 26 for introducing (supplying) filling gas. The left wall 31 extends forward from the left edge 18c of the rear wall 18 and is connected to both the upper wall 21 and the lower wall 25 at their upper edges 31a and 31b, respectively. The right wall 33 extends forward from the right edge 18d of the rear wall 18 and is connected to both the upper wall 21 and the lower wall 25 at their upper edges 33a and 33b, respectively.

[0024] With regard to the components, the outer shell 16 of the airbag 15 in the illustrated embodiment has a left fabric component 38 and a right fabric component 48, each comprising a left area and a right area of ​​the outer shell 16, as shown in Fig. The fabric components 38 and 48 are bilaterally symmetrical in contour, specifically in the case of the left and right rear panels 43 and 53 described later, and in the case of left and right panels 40 and 50. The fabric components 38 and 48 are made of woven polyamide yarn, polyester yarn, or the like.

[0025] The left fabric component 38 comprises a left panel 40, which forms the far left area of ​​the lower wall 25 and the left wall 31; a left upper panel 41, which forms the left area of ​​the upper wall 21; a left rear panel 43, which forms the left area of ​​the back wall 18; and a left lower panel 42, which forms the left area of ​​the lower wall 25. The left upper panel 41 adjoins the left panel 40 at a point on an upper edge 31a of the left wall 31. The left rear panel 43 extends from an upper area of ​​a rear edge 40a of the left panel 40. The left lower panel 42 is located in the vicinity of a lower edge 31b of the left wall 31 near the left panel 40.

[0026] The right fabric component 48 comprises a right panel 50, which forms a far right area of ​​the lower wall 25 and the right wall 33; a right upper panel 51, which forms a right area of ​​the upper wall 21; a right rear panel 53, which forms a right area of ​​the back wall 18; and a right lower panel 52, which forms a right area of ​​the lower wall 25. The right upper panel 51 adjoins the right panel 50 at a point on an upper edge 33a of the right wall 33. The right rear panel 53 extends from an upper area of ​​a rear edge 50a of the right panel 50. The right lower panel 52 is located in the vicinity of a lower edge 33b of the right wall 33 near the right panel 50.

[0027] The lower left panel 42 and the lower right panel 52 are connected to each other at the front edges (connecting edges) 42a and 52a ( Fig. 5A and Fig. 6A) are connected and together form a region of the lower wall 25 including the inlet opening 26. The left lower panel 42 and the right lower panel 52 have a curved region 42c and a curved region 52c, respectively, which curve towards each other and intersect at the rear of the inlet opening 26 in a state where the left lower panel 42 and the right lower panel 52 are flat before being connected. In the illustrated embodiment, the left lower panel 42 and the right lower panel 52 are configured such that regions of the front edges (connecting edges) 42a and 52a overlap around the circumference of the inlet opening 26 to increase thermal resistance in this region.

[0028] The airbag 15 of the illustrated embodiment is characterized in the following points. First, as in Fig. 4, Fig. 6A, Fig. 6B, Fig. 7A and Fig. As shown in Figure 7B, the rear wall 18 is formed from two separate components, which define the left and right sections, i.e., the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53. The left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53 are joined together by a connecting seam SL. Sections of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53 forming the lower edge 18b, the left edge 18c, and the right edge 18d of the rear wall 18 are connected to the rear edge 40a of the left panel 40, which forms the left section of the lower wall 25 and the left wall 31, and to the rear edge 50a of the right panel 50, which forms the right section of the lower wall 25 and the right wall 33.The area 43b of the left rear panel 43 for forming the left edge 18c of the back wall 18 and the area 53b of the right rear panel 53 for forming the right edge 18d of the back wall 18 are both generally straight lines parallel to the connecting seam SL of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, and each of the lower edges 43c and 53c of the left and right rear panels 43 and 53, which form the lower edge 18b of the back wall 18, is formed in such a way that the width in a left-right direction of a lower area of ​​the back wall 18 is reduced. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the areas 43c and 53c is formed in a general quarter circle.Each of the rear edges 40a and 50a of the left panel 40 and the right panel 50 has a straight area 40b / 50b, which corresponds to the straight area 43b / 53b of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53 and forms the left / right edge 18c / 18d of the back wall 18, and a curved area 40c / 50c, which corresponds to the lower edge area 43c / 53c of the left rear panel 43 / the right rear panel 53.Each of the curved sections 40c and 50c has a rear end 40d / 50d that connects to a lower end 43e and 53e of the connecting seam SL of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, and is configured such that a middle section 40e / 50e of the curved section 40c / 50c is positioned further rearward along a front-back direction than the rear end 40d / 50d in a state in which the areas for forming the lower wall 25 at the left panel 40 and the right panel 50, before they connect to the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, are laid flat. These are the characteristic configurations of the airbag 15.

[0029] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the airbag 15 has two internal reinforcement cloths 60 for reinforcing the mounting position 27, i.e., the area around the inlet opening 26, a deflection cloth 62 which deflects a filling gas that has flowed in above the inlet opening 26 towards the front and rear, a vertical retaining strap 65 which connects the mounting position 27 and the rear wall 18 to regulate the rearward projection of the rear wall 18 during airbag deployment, and a transverse retaining strap 69 which connects the left wall 31 and the right wall 33, thus preventing the left wall 31 and the right wall 33 from separating from each other during airbag deployment.Furthermore, the airbag 15 has two patches 63 for reinforcing a hem of the edges 62b of the deflection cloth 62 and a pair of patches 70 for reinforcing the connections of the transverse restraint strap 69 with the left wall 31 and the right wall 33, two reinforcing cloths 72 for reinforcing the areas around the vent holes 22 and a pair of patches 74 for reinforcing a connection of the curved areas 42c and 52c of the left and right lower panels 42 and 52. These cloth components are made of a woven material of polyamide yarn, polyester yarn or the like, similar to the left and right cloth components 38 and 48. The deflection cloth 62 is formed by connecting the edges 62b together and has outlets 62c to the front and back as well as auxiliary outlets 62d on the left and right sides, as in . Fig. 4 shown, on.

[0030] The manufacturing process of the airbag 15 of the illustrated embodiment is now described with reference to Fig. Sections 5A to 9 are described. First, the left fabric component 38 and the right fabric component 48, which are not yet provided with the inlet opening 26, the mounting holes 28, and the ventilation holes 22, are prepared. The flaps 70 and 74, the reinforcing fabrics 72, and the webbing components 69a for forming the transverse retaining strap 69 are sewn to each of the left and right fabric components 38 and 48. A double section 41b / 51b is formed on each of the fabric components 38 and 48 to reinforce the strength of a front end section 41a / 51a. Specifically, with reference to Fig. 5A, on the right fabric component 48, the flap 70 is sewn to the connection position of the cross-holding strap 69, the flap 74 is sewn to the curved area 52c, and the reinforcing fabric 72 is sewn to the circumference of the ventilation hole 22. Then the front end area 51a is folded and sewn to form the double area 51b. Then, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 5B, a belt component 69a, which is a component of the cross-bracing belt 69, is sewn to the connection point of the flap 70. The left fabric component 38 is processed in a similar manner, although not shown in the drawings. That is, the flap 70 is sewn to the connection point of the cross-bracing belt 69, the flap 74 is sewn to the curved area 42c, and the reinforcing fabric 72 is sewn to the area (circumference) of the vent hole 22. Then the front end area 41a is folded and sewn to form the double area 41b. Finally, a belt component 69a, i.e., the other component of the cross-bracing belt 69, is sewn to the connection point of the flap 70.

[0031] Then, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 6A, the connecting edges 42a and 52a of the left and right lower panels 42 and 52 of the left and right fabric components 38 and 48 are overlapped and sewn together in the middle in a left-right direction from the front edges 42e and 52e to the curved areas 42c and 52c. This forms the seams 42b (52b). Meanwhile, the flaps 63 are sewn to the outer edges 62b of the deflection cloth 62. Then, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 6B, a front area 66a of a front component 66 of the vertical retaining strap 65 and a middle area 62a of the deflection cloth 62, which is not yet sewn to the outer edges 62b, is placed on the site of the inlet opening 26.

[0032] The following, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 7A, the two reinforcing cloths 60 are placed further at the location of the inlet opening 26 and sewn to it together with the front component 66 of the vertical retaining strap 65 and the deflector cloth 62. Then the inlet opening 26 is punched out, as are the mounting holes 28 and ventilation holes 22.

[0033] Then, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 7B, the left fabric component 38 is folded over the right fabric component 48 at seams 42b and 52b at the connecting edges 42a and 52a such that a front end 41a of the left upper panel 41 and a front end 51a of the right upper panel 51 fit together, as do the curved area 42c of the left lower panel 42 and the curved area 52c of the left lower panel 52, and a front end 43d of the left rear panel 43 and a front end 53d of the right rear panel 53. Then the edges 41a and 51a, the curved areas 42c and 52c including the following edges 42d and 52d, and the front edges 43d and 53d are sewn together. At this point, the rear edge 67b of a rear component 67 of the vertical retaining strap 65 is sewn together with the front edges 43d and 53d of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53.

[0034] Then, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 8A, the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, which are joined together, are opened and laid flat, and the upper edges 43a and 53a are sewn to the rear edges 41c and 51c of the left upper panel 41 and the right upper panel 51, respectively. The straight section 40b and the curved section 40c at the rear edge 40a of the left panel 40 are aligned with and sewn to the left edge 43b and the lower edge 43c of the left rear panel 43, as shown in Figure 8A. Fig. 8B shown. Similarly, the straight area 50b and the curved area 50c of the rear edge 50a of the right panel 50 are fitted together with the right edge 53b and the lower edge 53c of the right rear panel 53 and sewn together.

[0035] The airbag 15 is then turned inside out (right-side out) using the inlet opening 26. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the front edge 41d of the left upper panel 41 and the front edge 42e of the left lower panel 42 are then fitted together and sewn, as are the front edge 51d of the right upper panel 51 and the front edge 52e of the right lower panel 52. Thus, the outer shell 16 of the airbag 15 is completed. Then, the front component 66 and the rear component 67 of the vertical restraint strap 65 are removed from the inlet opening 26, and the rear edge 66b and the front edge 67a are sewn together. Similarly, the strap components 69a of the transverse restraint strap 69 are removed and sewn together, and the outer edges 62b of the deflector cloth 62 are removed and sewn together. When the retaining straps 65 and 69 and the distraction cloth 62 are inserted back into the airbag 15, the airbag 15 is complete.

[0036] The bracket 9 is then positioned inside the airbag 15 so that the bolts 9a pass through the mounting holes 28 to the outside of the airbag 15, and the airbag 15 is folded. The folded airbag 15 is positioned on the bottom wall 12a of the housing 12 so that the bolts 9a of the bracket 9 pass through the underside of the housing 12, and the generator 8 is inserted into the housing 12 from below the bottom wall 12a so that the bolts 9a pass through the flange 8c, and then the nuts 10 are tightened onto the bolts 9a. Thus, the airbag 15 and the generator 8 are mounted to the housing 12.The housing 12 is then attached to the airbag cover 6, which has been mounted on the vehicle, by inserting the retaining hooks 12c, which are formed in the circumferential wall 12b of the housing 12, into the retaining holes 6d, which are formed in the connecting wall 6c of the airbag cover 6, and then the clips of the housing 12 (not shown) are secured to the vehicle body structure. The airbag device SA is thus mounted on the vehicle.

[0037] After the airbag device SA is mounted on the vehicle, if the generator 8 is activated and a filling gas is expelled from the discharge openings 8b into the airbag 15, the airbag 15 is inflated and pushes and opens the doors 6a and 6b of the airbag cover 6, protrudes from the housing 12 through an opening formed by opening the doors 6a and 6b, and unfolds rearward in such a way as to fill a space between the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1 and a windshield 4, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown.

[0038] In the airbag 15 of the illustrated embodiment, each of the lower edges 43c and 53c of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, which form the lower edge 18b of the rear wall 18, are formed with a curvature that reduces the width in the left-right direction of the lower area of ​​the rear wall 18. These lower edges 43c and 53c are each sewn to the curved areas 40c and 50c of the rear edges 40a and 50a of the left panel 40 and the right panel 50. Furthermore, the middle regions 40e, 50e of each of the curved regions 40c and 50c (in other words, the middle of each of the curved regions 40c and 50c, each of which extends from the rear end 40d / 50d of the rear edge 40a, 50a to just before the straight region 40b / 50b) is positioned further rearward than the rear end 40d, 50d, as shown in Fig. 7 shown. With this configuration, when the rear edges 40a and 50a of the left panel 40 and the right panel 50 are connected to the edges 43b, 43c, 53b and 53c of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, the rear ends 40d and 50d are located further forward than the middle areas 40e and 50e, and thus a width WD ( Fig. 2) in the left-right direction of the lower region of the rear panel 18, as well as the volume of the lower region of the rear panel 18 being reduced. In addition, a central region 18bc of the lower edge 18b of the rear panel 18 (in other words, the lower ends 43e and 53e of the connecting seam SL of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53) is connected to the rear ends 40d and 50d of the curved regions 40c and 50c of the left panel 40 and the right panel 50, and the curved regions 40c and 50c curve forward, as shown in Fig. 7 shown. Accordingly, when the airbag 15 inflates, the central area 18bc is pulled forward, as shown in Fig. 1 shown, and thus the width WD in the left-right direction of the area towards the lower edge 18b of the rear panel 18 is substantially further reduced. Consequently, the airbag 15, when inflated, is held down in its volume. Furthermore, the configuration that reduces the width WD in the left-right direction of the area in the vicinity of the lower edges 43c and 53c of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, and / or the configuration that pulls the central area 18bc of the lower edge 18b of the rear panel 18 forward, does not affect a width WU ( Fig. 2) in the left-right direction of an upper area 19 of the rear wall 18. Accordingly, although the volume of the area in the vicinity of the lower edge 18b of the rear wall 18 is reduced, the airbag 15 can provide a sufficient vehicle occupant containment area RA with a sufficient width WU in the left-right direction in the upper area 19 of the rear wall 18.

[0039] Therefore, the inflated airbag 15 of the illustrated embodiment can provide a vehicle occupant containment area RA with a sufficient width WU in the left-right direction in the upper area 19 of the rear wall 18 (the area of ​​the rear wall 18 in the vicinity of the upper edge 18a) with a limited volume.

[0040] In the airbag 15 of the illustrated embodiment, the area of ​​the lower wall 25, which has the inlet opening 26, is furthermore formed by connecting the left lower panel 42 and the right lower panel 52 together by the connecting edges 42a and 52a. The left lower panel 42 and the right lower panel 52 each form a left area and a right area of ​​the lower wall 25, respectively. Each of the connecting edges 42a and 52a of the left lower panel 42 and the right lower panel 52 has the curved area 42c, 52c which is formed in a curved line, and the curved areas 42c and 52c extend in such a way that they converge and intersect at the rear of the inlet opening 26 in a state in which the left lower panel 42 and the right lower panel 52 are laid flat before being joined together, as in Fig. 6A shown.

[0041] This configuration of the lower left panel 42 and the lower right panel 52, when unfolded, forms such a curved area 29 in the lower wall 25 (see Fig. 1), which curves increasingly downwards towards the rear at the rear of the inlet opening 26. With such a contour, the lower wall 25 can be deployed along and in close contact with the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1, and the airbag 15 is brought into contact with the dashboard 1 over an extended area. Thus, the airbag 15 can ensure an adequate reaction force to cushion the vehicle occupant M, even though the lower area of ​​the rear wall 18, when deployed, has a reduced width WD in the left-right direction.

[0042] In the airbag 15 of the illustrated embodiment, the outer shell 16 is formed from the two separate fabric components 38 and 48, each forming a left area and a right area of ​​the outer shell 16.

[0043] In the left fabric component 38, the left upper panel 41, which forms a left area of ​​the upper wall 21, borders the upper edge 31a (see Fig. 3A) of the left panel 40, which forms the left wall 31, the left rear panel 43, which forms the back wall 18, extends from the upper area of ​​the rear edge 40a of the left panel 40, and the left lower panel 42 is arranged in a vicinity of the lower edge 31b of the left panel 40.

[0044] In the right-hand fabric component 48, the upper right panel 51, which forms a right-hand area of ​​the upper wall 21, borders the upper edge 33a (see Fig. 3A) of the right panel 50, which forms the right wall 33, the right rear panel 53, which forms the back wall 18, extends from the upper area of ​​the rear edge 50a of the right panel 50, and the right lower panel 52 is arranged in a vicinity of the lower edge 33b of the right panel 50.

[0045] In the airbag 15 of the illustrated embodiment, the lower wall 25 is formed by joining the left lower panel 42 and the right lower panel 52, which were previously provided separately, to create the curved area 29 that curves downwards at the rear of the inlet opening 26 in the lower wall 25 when the airbag is deployed. Accordingly, the outer shell 16 of the airbag 15 is formed from the two fabric components 38 and 48, but this is a minimum number of components for the outer shell 16 to form a three-dimensional curved contour at the lower wall 25 when deployed. This configuration reduces the number of edges that need to be joined together and reduces the workload in manufacturing the airbag 15.

[0046] If there is no need to form the curved area 29 at the lower wall 25, the airbag can also be formed from a single fabric component 35 which has such a contour that the left lower panel 42 and the right lower panel 52 are combined, as in an airbag 15A which is in Fig. Figure 10 shows that a left panel 40A and a right panel 50A are integrated into the fabric component 35. The area where the lower left panel 42 and the lower right panel 52 are joined, i.e., the area that forms the lower wall 25, is provided with an inlet opening 26 and mounting holes 28.

[0047] Likewise, in the airbag 15A, the rear wall 18 is formed by connecting a left rear panel 43 and a right rear panel 53 together by a connecting seam SL, and areas 43c, 43b, 53c and 53b of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, which form the lower edge 18b, the left edge 18c and the right edge 18d of the rear wall 18, are connected to the rear edge 40a of the left panel 40A and the rear edge 50 of the right panel 50A.A region 43b of the left rear panel 43, forming the left edge 18c of the back wall 18, and a region 53b of the right rear panel 53, forming the right edge 18d of the back wall 18, are straight and generally parallel to the connecting seam SL of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, whereas a region 43c of the left rear panel 43 and a region 53c of the right rear panel 53, forming the lower edge 18b of the back wall 18, each are formed in such a curvature (a general quarter circle) that reduces a width in a left-right direction of a lower region of the back wall 18.Each of the rear edge 40a of the left panel 40A and the rear edge 50a of the right panel 50A has a straight part 40b, 50b corresponding to the area 43b, 53b of each of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, and a curved area 40c, 50c corresponding to the lower edge 43c, 53c of each of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53. Furthermore, each of the curved areas 40c and 50c has a rear end 40d, 50d which is connected to the lower end 43e, 53e of the connecting seam SL of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, and a middle area 40e, 50e of each of the curved areas 40c and 50c is arranged further rearward along a front-back direction than the rear end 40d, 50d in a state in which an area for forming the lower wall 25 of the left panel 40A and the right panel 50A is laid flat.

[0048] Similarly, in the airbag 15A, the lower edges 43c and 53c of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, which form the lower edge 18b of the rear wall 18, are each formed with a curvature that reduces the width in the left-right direction of the lower area of ​​the rear wall 18. These lower edges 43c and 53c are each sewn to the curved areas 40c and 50c of the rear edges 40a and 50a of the left panel 40A and the right panel 50A. Furthermore, each of the curved areas 40c and 50c, which extends from the rear end 40d, 50d of the rear edge 40a, 50a to just before the straight area 40b, 50b, is configured such that the middle area 40e, 50e is positioned further back than the rear end 40d, 50d.In a similar manner to the airbag 15, the configuration reduces the width in the left-right direction of the lower portion of the rear wall 18, and further reduces the volume of the lower portion of the rear wall 18. In addition, a central portion 18bc of the lower edge 18b of the rear wall 18 (in other words, the lower ends 43e and 53e of the connecting seam SL of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53) is connected to the rear ends 40d and 50d of the curved portions 40c and 50c of the left panel 40A and the right panel 50A, and the curved portions 40c and 50c curve towards the front. Accordingly, when the airbag 15A is inflated, the central area 18bc is pulled forward, and the width in the left-right direction of the area in the vicinity of the lower edge 18b of the rear wall 18 is substantially further reduced. Consequently, the volume of the inflated airbag 15A is reduced.Furthermore, the configuration that reduces the width in the left-right direction of the area in the vicinity of the lower edges 43c and 53c of the left rear panel 43 and the right rear panel 53, and / or the configuration that pulls the central area 18bc of the lower edge 18b of the rear wall 18 forward, does not affect the width in the left-right direction of an upper area 19 of the rear wall 18. Accordingly, similar to the airbag 15, although the volume of the area in the vicinity of the lower edge 18b of the rear wall 18 is reduced, the airbag 15 can provide a sufficient vehicle occupant containment area RA with sufficient width in the left-right direction at the upper area 19 of the rear wall 18.

[0049] Similar to the airbag 15 of the preceding embodiment, an outer sheath 16 of the airbag 15A is formed from the fabric component 35 by connecting the straight areas 40b and 50b of the left and right panels 40A and 50A to the edges 43b and 53b of the left and right rear panels 43 and 53, connecting the curved areas 40c and 50c of the left and right panels 40A and 50A to the edges 43c and 53c of the left and right rear panels 43 and 53, connecting the edges 43d and 53d of the left and right rear panels 43 and 53 to each other, connecting the edges 41c and 43a together, connecting the edges 51c and 53a together, connecting the edges 41a and 51a together, and connecting the edges 41d and 51d to formed at edges 42e and 52e.

[0050] It is explicitly emphasized that all features disclosed in the description and / or the claims are to be considered separate and independent of one another for the purposes of the original disclosure as well as for the purpose of limiting the claimed invention, irrespective of the combinations of features in the embodiments and / or the claims. It is explicitly stated that all range specifications or specifications of groups of units disclose every possible intermediate value or subgroup of units for the purposes of the original disclosure as well as for the purpose of limiting the claimed invention, in particular also as a boundary of a range specification.

Claims

[1] Airbag (15, 15A) for a vehicle passenger seat, with an outer shell (16) which a rear wall (18) for catching a vehicle occupant (M), an upper wall (21) extending forward from an upper edge (18a) of the rear wall (18), a lower wall (25) extending forward from a lower edge (18b) of the rear wall (18) and connected to the upper wall (21) by a front edge of the same, wherein the lower wall (25) has an inlet opening (26) for supplying a filling gas, a left wall (31) extending forward from a left edge (18c) of the back wall (18) and connected to the upper wall (21) and the lower wall (25) by an upper edge (31a) and a lower edge (31b) of the same, and a right wall (33) which extends forward from a right edge (18d) of the back wall (18) and is connected to the upper wall (21) and the lower wall (25) by an upper edge (33a) and a lower edge (33b) of the same, a left rear panel (43) forming a left area of ​​the rear wall (18), a right rear panel (53) which forms a right area of ​​the back wall (18), and the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53) are connected to each other by a connecting seam (SL) and together form the back wall (18), a left panel (40, 40A) forming a left area of ​​the lower wall (25) and the left wall (31), and a right panel (50, 50A) forming a right area of ​​the lower wall (25) and the right wall (33), in which a rear edge (40a) of the left panel (40, 40A) and a rear edge (50a) of the right panel (50, 50A) are connected to areas (43c, 43b, 53c, 53b) of the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53) that form the lower edge (18b), left edge (18c) and right edge (18d) of the back wall (18), characterized by , that a region (43b) of the left rear panel (43) forming the left edge (18c) of the back wall (18), and a region (53b) of the right rear panel (53) forming the right edge (18d) of the back wall (18), are straight and generally parallel to the connecting seam (SL) of the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53), a region (43c) of the left rear panel (43) and a region (53c) of the right rear panel (53), which form the lower edge (18b) of the rear wall (18), each is formed with such a curvature that reduces a width in a left-right direction of a lower region of the rear wall (18), Each of the rear edges (40a) of the left panel (40, 40A) and the rear edges (50a) of the right panel (50, 50A) has a straight area (40b, 50b) corresponding to the straight area (43b, 53b) of each of the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53), and a curved area (40c, 50c) corresponding to the bottom edge (43c, 53c) of each of the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53), each of the curved areas (40c, 50c) has a rear end (40d, 50d) that is connected to a lower end (43e, 53e) of the connecting seam (SL) of the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53), and a middle area (40e, 50e) of each of the curved areas (40c, 50c) is arranged further rearward along a front-back direction than the rear end (40d, 50d) in a state in which areas for forming the bottom wall (25) at the left panel (40, 40A) and the right panel (50, 50A) are laid flat before being joined to the left rear panel (43) and the right rear panel (53). [2] Airbag (15) for a vehicle passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein a section of the lower wall (25) which has the inlet opening (26) is formed from a left lower panel (42) and a right lower panel (52) which were provided separately and are connected to each other by connecting edges (42a, 52a) of the same, each of the connecting edges of the lower left panel (42) and the lower right panel (52) has a curved area (42c, 52c) formed in a curved line, and the curved area (42c) of the left lower panel (42) and the curved area (52c) of the right lower panel (52) extend in such a way that they converge and intersect at the rear of the inlet opening (26) in a state in which the left lower panel (42) and the right lower panel (52) are laid flat before being joined together. [3] Airbag (15) for a vehicle passenger seat according to claim 2, wherein the outer coat (16) is formed from a left cloth component (38) which forms a left area of ​​the outer coat (16), and from a right cloth component (48) which was provided separately from the left cloth component (38) and forms a right area of ​​the outer coat (16), the left fabric component (38), the left panel (40), a left upper panel (41) adjoining an upper edge of the left panel (40) and forming a left area of ​​the upper wall (21), the left rear panel (43) extending from an upper area of ​​the rear edge (40a) of the left panel (40), and the left lower panel (42) arranged in a vicinity of a lower edge of the left panel (40), and the right cloth component (48), the right panel (50), a right upper panel (51) adjoining an upper edge of the right panel (50) and forming a right area of ​​the upper wall (21), the right rear panel (53) extending from an upper area of ​​the rear edge (50a) of the right panel (50), and the right lower panel (52) arranged in a vicinity of a lower edge of the right panel (50).

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