PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG DEVICE

Abstract

A passenger-side airbag system has a lower inflation area that protrudes rearward from a storage compartment, and an upper inflation area that communicates with the lower inflation area via a connecting hole and inflates at its upper edge. At the time of full inflation, the upper inflation area is configured such that a front lower surface abuts a dashboard, an upper surface abuts a front windshield, and a rear lower surface is supported by the lower inflation area.The lower area is configured such that an area on a rear end is thicker than an area on a front end when fully inflated, and an upper surface is inclined backwards and upwards with respect to a horizontal direction when fully inflated, as viewed in the left-right direction.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a passenger seat airbag device that can protect a vehicle occupant sitting in a passenger seat. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In the prior art, a passenger seat airbag device exists in a configuration in which an airbag is folded and stowed in a storage area located on the lower side of a dashboard. In this prior art passenger seat airbag device, the airbag is inflated so that it unfolds forward and upward, while projecting rearward from the storage area, by causing a filling gas, expelled from a gas generator, to flow into it, and is arranged such that, when fully inflated, it largely covers the front of the vehicle occupant seated in the passenger seat in an upper-lower direction (see, for example, JP 2024-024685A).Specifically, in this state-of-the-art passenger seat airbag device, the airbag covers a rear surface side of the dashboard and is arranged such that an upper end of the same abuts a front windscreen located above the dashboard when it is fully inflated, and the airbag is configured to protect the upper body of the vehicle occupant by means of an area on its upper side when it is fully inflated.

[0003] However, in the state-of-the-art passenger seat airbag system, although an inner section of the airbag, when fully inflated, is divided by partition components, the airbag is formed as an integral bag-like structure from the upper end to the lower end. Therefore, it is difficult to stably support the upper section by a lower section at the time of full inflation, and thus there is a possibility that the upper section will not adequately protect the upper body of the vehicle occupant. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] One objective of the present disclosure is to provide a passenger seat airbag device that can accurately protect a vehicle occupant by means of an airbag that is fully inflated, even in a configuration in which the airbag is stowed on a lower side of a dashboard.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a passenger seat airbag device, with a storage area that is (will be) located on the lower side of a dashboard in a vehicle, an airbag that is folded and stowed in the stowage area, and a gas generator configured to supply a filling gas to the airbag, in which the airbag, into which the filling gas flows, is inflated in such a way that it protrudes from the stowage area to the rear and unfolds forwards and upwards, The airbag has a lower inflation area connected to the gas generator and configured to be inflated to project rearward from the stowage area, and an upper inflation area communicating with the lower inflation area via a connecting hole and configured to be inflated on an upper side of the lower inflation area, wherein the lower inflation area and the upper inflation area are formed in separate bag shapes, and the lower inflation area and the upper inflation area are configured to be coupled to each other by connecting them at a circumferential edge region of the connecting hole. the upper inflation area is an area that protects the upper body of a vehicle occupant seated in a front passenger seat and is configured such that, at the time of full inflation, a front lower surface abuts the dashboard, an upper surface abuts a front windscreen located above the dashboard, and an area on a rear lower surface forming a perimeter of the connecting hole is stored by the lower inflation area, and the lower inflation area is configured such that, at the time of full inflation, an area at a rear end is thicker than an area at a front end located on one side of the stowage area, and an upper surface supporting the area at the rear lower surface of the upper inflation area is inclined backward and upward in a horizontal direction at the time of full inflation when viewed from the left and right sides.

[0006] According to the aspect of the present disclosure, the airbag has an upper inflation area and a lower inflation area, which are formed in separate bag shapes and are interconnected via the connecting hole. The upper inflation area is configured to be inflated by causing the inflation gas flowing into the lower inflation area to flow into it via the connecting hole. Furthermore, the upper inflation area and the lower inflation area are coupled to each other by being connected to each other at the circumferential edge region of the connecting hole.That is to say, in the passenger seat airbag device according to the present disclosure, in an initial inflation state of the airbag, the lower inflation area is first inflated so that it projects rearward from the stowage area by causing the filling gas ejected by the gas generator to flow into it, and then the upper inflation area is inflated by causing the filling gas to flow into it through the connecting hole. When the upper inflation area is inflated, the inflation of the lower inflation area is substantially complete, and in the lower inflation area, the upper surface, which is a surface on the side of the upper inflation area (the area forming the circumference of the connecting hole), is arranged such that it is inclined rearward and upward with respect to the horizontal direction when viewed from the left and right sides.Therefore, the upper inflation area can be inflated so that it protrudes forward and upward by being pushed through the upper surface of the lower inflation area (the area of ​​the circumference of the connecting hole), and can be quickly brought into contact with the front windscreen and the upper surface of the dashboard.Furthermore, even when the airbag is fully inflated, because the lower inflation area, which supports the rear lower surface of the upper inflation area, tilts the upper surface in contact with the upper inflation area backward and upward in the horizontal direction, this tilt of the upper surface of the lower inflation area causes a force to act on the fully inflated upper inflation area, tilting the entire upper inflation area forward and downward (causing the front end to point downward). This force presses the upper inflation area against the upper surface of the dashboard across its entire front end at the moment of full inflation. Therefore, a front lower surface of the upper inflation area can stably abut the upper surface of the dashboard across its entire front-to-back area.

[0007] According to the aspect of the present disclosure, since the lower inflation area is formed from a bag body separately from the upper inflation area, the upper inflation area can be supported by bringing the areas of the circumference of the connecting holes into contact with each other at the time of full inflation. Furthermore, since the area of ​​the lower inflation area at the rear end is thicker than the area of ​​the lower inflation area at the front at the time of full inflation, the rear lower surface of the upper inflation area can be stably supported by the area at the rear end, which is inflated to be thick, and the upper inflation area can likewise be prevented from moving in such a way as to collapse backward and downward in a state before the vehicle occupant is received.

[0008] That is to say, in the passenger seat airbag device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, even in a configuration in which the airbag is stowed at the bottom of the dashboard and is inflated in such a way that it unfolds forward and upward while projecting backward, the upper inflation area of ​​the airbag can be rapidly unfolded so that it abuts the upper surface of the dashboard and the front windscreen, the contact state with the upper surface of the dashboard can be maintained stably when the upper inflation area is fully inflated, and the upper inflation area can likewise be prevented from moving after full inflation in such a way as to collapse backward and downward.Therefore, the upper body of the vehicle occupant can be stably protected by the upper inflation area, which is supported by the upper surface of the dashboard, the front windscreen and the lower inflation area.

[0009] Therefore, in the passenger seat airbag device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, even in a configuration where the airbag is stowed at the bottom of the dashboard, the vehicle occupant can be accurately protected by the airbag when it has been fully inflated.

[0010] In the passenger seat airbag device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the upper inflation area has a pair of a left and a right upper wall panel arranged such that they are opposite each other in the left-right direction at the time of full inflation, The lower inflation area has a pair of left and right wall panels arranged such that they are opposite each other in the left-right direction at the time of full inflation, and A separation distance from a point on the lower wall panel, onto which the center of the connecting hole is projected, to a rear edge of the lower wall panel in a flat unfolded state is defined such that it is greater than a separation distance from a point on the upper wall panel, onto which the center of the connecting hole is projected, to a rear edge of the upper wall panel in the flat unfolded state.

[0011] When the passenger seat airbag system is configured as described above, the lower inflation area can largely cover the area behind the connecting hole on the rear lower surface of the upper inflation area at the time of full inflation by making the area behind the connecting hole wider in the front-to-back direction at the time of full inflation. In other words, the area on the rear lower surface of the upper inflation area can be largely supported in the front-to-back direction toward the rear end by the lower inflation area. Therefore, it is possible to more accurately prevent the upper inflation area from collapsing backward and downward in the state before the vehicle occupant is inflated.

[0012] In the passenger seat airbag device according to this aspect of the present disclosure, the upper inflation area has a flow-regulating cloth therein, the flow-regulating cloth covering a circumference of the connecting hole for regulating a flow of the filling gas flowing through the connecting hole in the upper inflation area, and The flow regulating cloth is formed in an essentially tubular shape to cover one upper side of the connection hole, while both the left and right end sides are open, and a front surface side of the flow regulating cloth is provided with a gas outlet hole through which the filling gas flows out.

[0013] If the passenger seat airbag system is configured as described above, because the inflation gas flowing into the upper inflation area is prevented from flowing backward and can instead flow forward and upward, the upper inflation area can inflate more quickly, protruding forward and upward, and thus initiating contact with the windshield or the upper surface of the dashboard can be accelerated. Furthermore, because the inflation gas flowing into the upper inflation area is prevented from flowing backward by the flow-regulating cloth, it is possible to prevent the upper inflation area from inflating so much that it protrudes significantly toward the rear, which is the side facing the vehicle occupants.Therefore, the upper inflatable area can be prevented from swinging in the front-back direction when it is deployed and can be quickly fully inflated to protect the vehicle occupants. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] An exemplary embodiment (or embodiments) will be described in detail based on the following figures, in which Fig. 1 a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a passenger seat airbag device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a state mounted on a vehicle; Fig. 2 a schematic enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the passenger seat airbag device according to the embodiment; Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which an airbag used in the passenger seat airbag device according to the embodiment is inflated on its own; Fig. 4 a left side view of the airbag from Fig. 3 is; Fig. 5 a top view of the airbag of Fig. 3 is when viewed from above; Fig. 6 a rear view of the airbag from Fig. 3 is when viewed from the back; Fig. 7 a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag of Fig. 3 along a front-back direction; Fig. 8 a schematic partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the airbag of Fig. 3 along a left-right direction, and shows an area of ​​a connecting hole; Fig. 9 a schematic partial transverse cross-sectional view of the airbag of Fig. 3 is, and shows an area of ​​the connecting hole; Fig. 10. A top view of the airbag from Fig. 3 is in a state in which basic components forming an upper inflation area are arranged; Fig. 11. A top view of the airbag from Fig. 3 is in a state in which the base component forming a lower inflation area, the base component forming a flow-regulating cloth, and the base component forming a retaining strap are arranged; Fig. 12 a top view of the airbag of Fig. 3 is in a state in which an upper wall panel is arranged on one left side and a lower wall panel is arranged on the left side; Fig. 13A and Fig. 13B are schematic longitudinal cross-sectional views that depict an inflation process of the airbag in the passenger seat airbag device according to the embodiment; Fig. 14A and Fig. Figure 14B shows schematic longitudinal cross-sectional views illustrating the inflation process of the airbag in the passenger seat airbag device according to the embodiment, and a process according to Fig. 13B; Fig. 15 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a fully inflated state of the airbag in the passenger seat airbag device according to the embodiment; and Fig. Figure 16 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing an area of ​​a lower inflation chamber in Fig. 15 shows. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTION FORMS

[0015] An embodiment of the present disclosure is described below with reference to the drawings. As in Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a passenger seat airbag device (hereinafter referred to as the "airbag device") M arranged according to the embodiment on one side of a rear surface 3, which is one side of a lower area 1a of a dashboard 1. In the embodiment, a front-back, an up-down, and a left-right direction coincide with a front-back, an up-down, and a left-right direction of a vehicle, unless otherwise specified.

[0016] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the airbag device M comprises a housing 16, which is arranged on the side of the lower area 1a of the instrument panel 1 as a stowage area, an airbag 20 which is folded and stowed in the housing 16, a gas generator 12 which supplies a filling gas to the airbag 20, a bracket 13 for attaching the airbag 20 and the gas generator 12 to the housing 16 and an airbag cover 10 which covers the folded airbag 20.

[0017] The airbag cover 10 is designed to be continuous with the dashboard 1, is made of a synthetic resin, and has a flap section 10a that opens when the airbag 20 deploys and inflates. In this embodiment, the flap section 10a is configured to open downwards when pushed by the airbag 20. A connecting wall section 10b, which is connected to the housing 16, is provided around the door section 10a of the airbag cover 10 such that it projects forwards.

[0018] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the gas generator 12 has a substantially sack-shaped main body region 12a, which has a plurality of gas discharge openings 12b, and a flange region 12c for attaching the gas generator 12 to the housing 16. In the airbag device M according to the embodiment, the gas generator 12 is attached to a front end (bottom wall region 16a) of the housing 16, such that one axial direction of the main body region 12a is along the front-back direction.

[0019] The housing 16, as the storage area, is formed in an essentially rectangular parallelepiped shape, having a rectangular opening at one rear end, and as shown in Fig. Figure 2 shows a substantially rectangular bottom wall area 16a, to which the gas generator 12 is inserted and attached from the front, and a circumferential wall area 16b, which extends rearward from an outer circumference of the bottom wall area 16a and locks the coupling wall area 10b of the airbag cover 10. The housing 16 is located on the side of the lower area 1a of the instrument panel 1 (a position separated from an upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1), specifically at a position above and in front of the knees of a vehicle occupant MP sitting in the front passenger seat, such that the axial direction is along the front-back direction (horizontal direction) (see Figure 2). Fig. 1) The opening provided at the rear end of the housing 16 forms a protruding opening 17 through which the airbag 20, which is inflated by the flow of filling gas, can protrude to the rear. In this embodiment, the airbag 20 and the gas generator 12 are attached to the bottom wall section 16a of the housing 16 by means of bolts 13a of the bracket 13, which is arranged in the airbag 20, passing through the circumference of an inlet opening 26, which will be described later, in the airbag 20, the bottom wall section 16a of the housing 16, and the flange section 12c of the gas generator 12, as a single mounting unit, and being fastened by means of nuts 14. The housing 16 is coupled to a body side of the vehicle using a bracket (not shown).

[0020] The Airbag 20 is made of a flexible fabric body, and, as in Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. Figure 7 shows an upper inflation area 35 and a lower inflation area 21, which are formed in separate bag shapes. The upper inflation area 35 and the lower inflation area 21 communicate with each other via a connecting hole 47 and are coupled to each other by being connected to each other at a circumferential edge region of the connecting hole 47 (see Figure 7). Fig. 7, Fig. 8 to Fig. 9) are connected. In the airbag 20 according to the embodiment, a retaining strap 52, which restricts a fully inflated shape of the upper inflation area 35, and a flow-regulating cloth 60, which can regulate a flow of the filling gas G flowing into the upper inflation area 35, are arranged inside the upper inflation area 35 (see Fig. 5, Fig. 7 and Fig. 10).

[0021] The lower inflation area 21 is an area connected to the gas generator 12 and is inflated in such a way that it projects rearward from the housing 16. As shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5 to Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the lower inflation area 21 has a substantially rectangular, plate-like shape when fully inflated. The lower inflation area 21 has a left wall area 23 and a right wall area 24, which are arranged such that they face each other in the left-right direction at the time of full inflation, and a circumferential wall area 22, which couples the left wall area 23 and the right wall area 24 to form a region that extends in the front-back and top-bottom directions at the time of full inflation. An inlet opening 26, which is open in a substantially circular shape so that the filling gas G can flow into it, and has a circumference attached to the bottom wall area 16a of the housing 16, is located at a substantially central position in the left-right direction on a front end face of the circumferential wall area 22 (see Figure 6). Fig. 5 and Fig. 7) formed. A plurality of (four in the embodiment) mounting holes 27 for attaching the circumference of the inlet opening 26 to the bottom wall area 16a of the housing 16 by inserting the bolts 13a of the bracket 13 are formed in the circumference of the inlet opening 26 (see Fig. 5 and Fig. 11) In the circumferential wall region 22, an opening 28, which forms the connecting hole 47, is formed at a position (a rear upper region 22b, which is an upper surface side of a later described rear region 21b) somewhat rearward of a center in the front-back direction of an upper region that forms an upper surface side of the lower inflation region 21 (see Fig. 8) In this embodiment, the openings 28 are open in a circular shape, and two openings 28 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction (see Fig. 5, Fig. 9 and Fig. 11).

[0022] The lower inflation area 21 has a front area 21a, which is located in the housing 16 at the time of full inflation, and the rear area 21b, which is located behind the front area 21a and below the upper inflation area 35 at the time of full inflation (see Fig. 7 and Fig. 16). The inlet opening 26 and the mounting holes 27 described above are located on the front end of the front section 21a, and the opening 28, which forms the connecting hole 47, is located on the upper surface of the rear section 21b (see Fig. 7) In the case of the airbag 20 according to the embodiment as described in Fig. 15 and Fig. As shown in Figure 16, the lower inflation area 21 is configured such that the front area 21a is arranged along the front-back direction (horizontal direction), and the rear area 21b is arranged such that it is inclined rearward and upward with respect to the front-back direction (horizontal direction) in a state in which the fully inflated state, when the airbag device M is mounted on the vehicle, is viewed from the left and right sides. The front area 21a has a substantially constant width dimension (width dimension in the left-right direction) over its entire area in the front-back direction and a substantially constant thickness dimension over its entire area in the front-back direction at the time of full inflation in a state in which it is inflated alone (see Figure 16). Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 7) The thickness dimension of the rear section 21b at the time of full inflation is set such that it is larger than the thickness dimension of the front section 21a at the time of full inflation (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 7) Furthermore, in the rear region 21b, the upper surface at the time of full inflation (the rear upper region 22b, which is a region in which the opening 28, forming the connecting hole 47, is located in the circumferential wall region 22) is also inclined rearward and upward with respect to the horizontal direction in a state in which the fully inflated state, when the airbag is mounted on the vehicle, is viewed from the left and right sides. A difference in thickness between the front region 21a and the rear region 21b and the inclination of the rear region 21b are defined by the external shapes of a pair of left and right lower wall panels 86L, ​​86R (see Fig. 11 and Fig. 12) causes, which will be described later, to form the left wall area 23 and the right wall area 24 in the lower inflation area 21, as will be described in detail later. The rear upper area 22b, which forms the upper surface of the rear area, is arranged such that it is inclined rearward and upward with respect to the horizontal direction in a state in which the airbag 20 is viewed from the left and right sides when the airbag 20 is fully inflated in the state mounted on the vehicle (see Fig. 15 and Fig. 16). Furthermore, the rear section 21b is configured to support a rear lower end of the upper inflation area 35 when the airbag 20 is fully inflated, and is configured such that the width dimension in the left-right direction of the upper surface side (the rear upper section 22b) coincides with a width dimension in the left-right direction of a rear lower surface (rear part 39b of a lower wall section 39, which will be described later) of the upper inflation area 35 (see Fig. 6 and Fig. 8). Furthermore, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the rear section 21b is configured to be positioned such that a rear end 21ba substantially coincides with a rear end 35ba of the upper inflation area 35 in the front-to-back direction when the airbag 20 is fully inflated. Furthermore, the rear section 21b has a substantially trapezoidal shape, with the fully inflated form tapering downwards when viewed from the rear (see Figure 5). Fig. 6 and Fig. 8) In the airbag 20 according to the embodiment, the upper inflation area 35 is also configured such that the fully inflated shape, when viewed from the rear, narrows downwards, and the rear area 21b is configured such that a left edge and a right edge of the fully inflated shape, when viewed from the rear, are continuous with an outer contour of the upper inflation area 35 (see Fig. 6).

[0023] The upper inflation area 35 is an area that essentially protects the upper body MU of the vehicle occupant MP, who is seated in the passenger seat, as a bag-like structure, which communicates with the lower inflation area 21 via the connecting hole 47, and is arranged such that it seals between the upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1 and the front windscreen 5, which is located above the instrument panel 1, at the time of full inflation, and a rear lower surface side of the same is supported by the lower inflation area 21 (see Fig. 15). As in Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the upper inflation area 35 has a front wall area 36 and a rear wall area 37 that are opposite each other in the front-back direction at the time of full inflation, an upper wall area 38 and the lower wall area 39 that are opposite each other in the top-bottom direction at the time of full inflation, and a left wall area 40 and a right wall area 41 that are opposite each other in the left-right direction at the time of full inflation.Furthermore, in the embodiment of the airbag 20, the upper inflation area 35 is configured such that the rear area 35b (an area on the side of the rear wall area 37), which is located on the side of the vehicle occupant MP when the airbag 20 is fully inflated, is wide in the left-right direction so that it accurately protects the upper body MU of the vehicle occupant MP, and the front area 35a, which is located on the front side, is narrow in the left-right direction (see . Fig. 5) A width dimension of the front section 35a in the left-right direction at the time of full inflation is set to approximately 1 / 3 of a width dimension of the widest section of the rear section 35b (an upper end face of the rear wall section 37) in the left-right direction. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the width dimension of the front area 35a in the left-right direction at the time of full inflation is set such that it is smaller than the width dimension of the front area 21a at the lower inflation area 21 in the left-right direction.

[0024] In the upper inflation area 35, the rear wall area 37 is essentially located along the top-bottom direction at the front of the upper body MU of the vehicle occupant MP, who is seated in the front passenger seat when the airbag 20 is fully inflated, and is an area that receives and protects the upper body MU of the vehicle occupant MP as it moves forward. A width dimension of the rear wall area 37 in the top-bottom and left-right directions is specified to a dimension that can receive and protect the upper body MU of the vehicle occupant MP. Specifically, an outer shape of the rear wall area 37, when viewed from the rear, is essentially an inverted trapezoid, in which one upper side is wide in the left-right direction and one lower end side is narrow (see Fig. 6) The upper wall section 38 is an area that is arranged such that it is inclined forward and downward when the airbag 20 is fully inflated and abuts the front windscreen 5. A front section 39a of the lower wall section 39 is an area that abuts the upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1 when the airbag 20 is fully inflated (see Fig. 15 and Fig. 16) The rear section 39b of the lower wall section 39 is arranged such that it is one step lower than the front section 39a when the airbag 20 is fully inflated, and is an area that is in contact with the rear upper section 22b of the perimeter wall section 22 of the lower inflation section 21 (see Fig. 7, Fig. 15 and Fig. 16) The front wall region 36 is a region that is arranged substantially along the top-bottom direction, such that it connects a front end of the upper wall region 38 and a front end of the front region 39a of the lower wall region 39. In the airbag 20 according to the embodiment, the width is narrow from the front region 39a of the lower wall region 39 to a front region of the upper wall region 38 across the front wall region 36, and a rear region of the upper wall region 38 is configured such that the width dimension gradually increases towards the rear wall region 37. In the airbag 20 according to the embodiment, the front wall region 36 (a front end 35aa of the upper inflation region 35 at the time of full inflation) is located at the front of a front end (the inlet opening 26) of the lower inflation region 21 (see Fig. 7). That is, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 15, the upper inflation area 35 is configured such that the front end 35aa is located at the front of the housing 16 when the airbag 20 is fully inflated. In the left wall area 40 and the right wall area 41, vent holes 43, 43 for discharging excess inflation gas flowing into the upper inflation area 35 are designed to be open in a substantially circular shape. Each vent hole 43 is located in a position near an upper edge in the left wall area 40 and the right wall area 41 (one position at the front of the retaining strap 42, which will be described later, and the other in the front area 35a of the upper inflation area 35).

[0025] In the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39 (an area on a lower surface side of the rear area 35b at the upper inflation area 35, which is an area that is supported by the lower inflation area 21 at the time of complete inflation) openings 44, which form the connecting holes 47, are formed corresponding to the openings 28, which are formed in the rear upper area 22b of the circumferential wall area 22 in the lower inflation area 21 (see Fig. 8 and Fig. 10) The openings 44 are circular in shape, and two openings 44 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. That is, in the airbag 20 according to the embodiment, two connecting holes 47, which allow the upper inflation area 35 and the lower inflation area 21 to communicate with each other, are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. Specifically, in a state in which the airbag 20 is inflated, the connecting holes 31D are formed at two positions that are bilaterally symmetrical with respect to the center of the airbag 20 in the left-right direction (see Fig. 5, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9).

[0026] The upper inflation area 35 and the lower inflation area 21 are coupled to each other by sewing the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39 and the rear upper area 22b of the circumferential wall area 22 to the circumference of the connecting hole 47 (the circumferences of the respective openings 28, 44) using a sewing thread. In the case of the embodiment as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, a seam area 48, which connects the upper inflation area 35 and the lower inflation area 21 (the rear area 39b and the rear upper area 22b), is formed in two parts, such that it surrounds the two connecting holes 47. Specifically, in the seam area 48, an inner area 48a, located on an inner side, has an oval shape that is wide in the left-right direction, so that it surrounds the two connecting holes 47. An outer area 48b, located on an outer side, has a substantially rectangular shape that surrounds a perimeter of the inner area 48a and has a front area (an area on the front side of the connecting hole 47) that, at the time of full inflation, is further away from the inner area 48a than a rear area.Specifically, the width dimension in the left-right direction of the outer area 48b is defined such that it is slightly narrower than the width dimension in the left-right direction of the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39 of the upper inflation area 35 and the width dimension in the left-right direction of the rear upper area 22b of the circumferential wall area 22 of the lower inflation area 21 (see . Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10 to Fig. 11) That is, in the airbag 20 according to the embodiment, the upper inflation area 35 and the lower inflation area 21 are coupled to each other by connecting the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39 and the rear upper area 22b of the circumferential wall area 22, which form a circumference of the connecting hole 47, to each other over substantially the entire area in the left-right direction through the seam area 48.In other words, in the airbag 20 according to the embodiment, the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39 at the upper inflation area 35 and the rear upper area 22b of the circumferential wall area 22 at the lower inflation area 21 are integrated together by sewing together the areas on the front side which serve as the circumferences of the connecting holes 47, and the rear area 39b and the rear upper area 22b are arranged such that they are inclined rearward and upward with respect to the horizontal direction when the airbag 20 is fully inflated while mounted on the vehicle (see . Fig. 16).

[0027] Specifically, the retaining strap 52, which is arranged in the upper inflation area 35, is located in the rear area 35b of the upper inflation area 35, and in the case of the embodiment, the retaining strap 52 has a left-right coupling area 53 that couples the left wall area 40 and the right wall area 41, and a front-back coupling area 54 that couples the left-right coupling area 53 and the rear wall area 37, and is arranged in a substantially flat Y-shape when viewed in the top-bottom direction (see Fig. 5) seen. The left-right coupling area 53 is a band-shaped body formed from a flexible fabric body, and both ends of it are connected to positions located slightly rearward from the centers in the front-back direction of the left wall area 40 and the right wall area 41, and near their centers in the top-bottom direction, such that the width direction of the left-right coupling area 53 is substantially along the top-bottom direction. The left-right coupling area 53 is curved and arranged such that a center in the left-right direction is located at the rear when the upper inflation area 35 is fully inflated. In the embodiment, the left-right coupling area 53 has two retaining strap base components 56, 56, which are configured to be split in the left-right direction side (see Fig. 11) The front-back coupling area 54 is arranged such that it connects the center in the left-right direction of the left-right coupling area 53 and substantially the center in the top-bottom and left-right directions of the rear wall area 37. It is a ribbon-shaped body formed from a flexible fabric and is arranged substantially along the front-back direction when the upper inflation area 35 is fully inflated, with its width direction being substantially along the top-bottom direction. In the embodiment, the front-back coupling area 54 is configured such that a rear end coupled to the rear wall area 37 is slightly wider than a front end coupled to the left-right coupling area 53 (see Fig. 7 and Fig. 11) The retaining strap 52 is arranged such that it restricts excessive outward projection of the left wall area 40 and the right wall area 41 of the upper inflation area 35 in the left-right direction and excessive rearward projection of the rear wall area 37 when the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, and restricts a separation distance between the left wall area 40 and the right wall area 41, and restricts excessive rearward projection of the rear wall area 37 (restricts a separation distance between the left-right coupling area 53 and the rear wall area 37) when the airbag 20 is fully deployed.

[0028] The flow-regulating cloth 60, which is arranged in the upper inflation area 35, is arranged such that it covers the circumference of the connecting hole 47 (specifically an area above the connecting hole 47) inside the upper inflation area 35 (see Fig. 7 and Fig. 8) The flow regulating cloth 60 is configured to regulate the flow of the filling gas that flows into the flow regulating cloth 60 through the connecting hole 47, and in particular the flow regulating cloth 60 is configured to regulate the flow of the filling gas G that flows in through the connecting hole 47 such that the filling gas G flows out to the left and right sides and forwards. The flow control cloth 60 is configured such that one side of a front edge 60a and one side of a rear edge 60b are each sewn to the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39 at the upper inflation area 35 on the front and rear sides of the connection holes 47 to cover the upper side of the connection holes 47, and gas vent openings 62, 62 are each arranged on the side of a left end 60c and the side of a right end 60d.In the flow-regulating cloth 60, a gas outlet hole 63, through which the filling gas can flow out, is arranged in a front area 60e located on the front side. In this embodiment, the gas outlet hole 63 is open in a circular shape and is located in the center of a front component 65, which will be described later and forms the flow-regulating cloth 60 (see Figure 1). Fig. 11) In this embodiment, the flow-regulating cloth 60 has a front component 65 and a rear component 66, as shown in Fig. Figure 11 shows that the outer shapes of the front component 65 and the rear component 66 are defined such that they are identical, and the upper edges 65a, 66a are sewn together, and the lower edges 65b, 66b are sewn to the rear region 39b of the lower wall region 39 to form the flow-regulating cloth 60. The upper edges 65a, 66a of the front component 65 and the rear component 66 are curved so that their centers project upwards. In the flow-regulating cloth 60 according to the embodiment, a front edge 60a and a rear edge 60b (the lower edges 65b, 66b of the front component 65 and the rear component 66) are sewn together to the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39 at the time of sewing the lower rear formation areas 72A, 72B of an upper circumferential wall panel 70, which will be described later (at the time of sewing the end edges 70a, 70b) (see Fig. 7).

[0029] In the airbag 20 according to the embodiment, a separation distance D1 (see Fig. 4) between the front end (inlet opening 26) of the lower inflation area 21 and the front area 39a of the lower wall area 39 of the upper inflation area 35, when the airbag 20 is viewed in a left-right direction in a state where it is inflated on its own, such that it is smaller than a separation distance D2 (see Fig. 2) between the inlet opening 26 (i.e., the front end of the housing 16) of the airbag 20 and the front area 39a of the lower wall area 39 of the upper inflation area 35 (i.e., the upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1) when the airbag 20 is viewed in a left-right direction in a state fitted to the vehicle. An external shape of the airbag 20 in a state in which it is inflated on its own, when viewed from the left and right sides, will be described in detail later, but in the case of the embodiment, the external shape of the same is mainly effected by external shapes of a pair of a left and a right upper wall panel 76L, 76R, which form the left wall area 40 and the right wall area 41 of the upper inflation area 35, and by the pair of a left and a right lower wall panel 86L, ​​86R, which form the left wall area 23 and the right wall area 24 of the lower inflation area 21.

[0030] In the airbag 20 according to the embodiment, the upper inflation area 35 and the lower inflation area 21 are each formed in a bag shape by joining circumferential edges of a base component (base fabric) having a predetermined shape. The upper inflation area 35 has an upper circumferential wall panel 70 and a pair of left and right upper wall panels 76L, 76R, and the lower inflation area 21 has a lower circumferential wall panel 80 and the pair of left and right lower wall panels 86L, ​​86R (see Fig. 10 and Fig. 11).

[0031] The upper perimeter wall panel 70 forms areas of the upper wall region 38, the rear wall region 37, the lower wall region 39 and the front wall region 36 at the upper inflation region 35. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the upper perimeter wall panel 70 has an essentially ribbon-like outer shape, which is essentially symmetrical in the left-right direction. Lower rear forming areas 72A, 72B, which form the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39 (a perimeter edge area of ​​the connecting hole 47), are arranged on both end sides of the same. A narrow width area 73, which forms an area from the front area 39a of the lower wall area 39 to the front side of the upper wall area 38 via the front wall area 36, ​​and a wide width area 74, which forms an area from the rear side of the upper wall area 38 to the rear wall area 37, are arranged in series between the lower rear forming areas 72A, 72B.

[0032] The pair of left and right upper wall panels 76L, 76R forms the left wall area 40 and the right wall area 41, which are opposite each other in the left-right direction at the time of complete inflation in the upper inflation area 35, and the outer shapes of the same are symmetrical in the left-right direction (see Fig. 10) At outer perimeter edges 77L, 77R of the upper wall panels 76L, 76R, a lower front area 77a, forming a left edge or a right edge of the front area 39a of the lower wall area 39, and a lower rear area 77b, forming a left edge or a right edge of the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39, are designed such that they are substantially parallel to each other while providing a step.

[0033] The upper inflation area 35 is formed in a bag shape by sewing together a front and a rear end edge 70a, 70b of the upper perimeter wall panel 70, so that the lower rear formation areas 72A, 72B overlap each other, and by sewing together a left edge 70c and a right edge 70d of the upper perimeter wall panel 70 with outer perimeter edges 77L, 77R of the upper wall panels 76L, 76R respectively (see Fig. 7 and Fig. 8).

[0034] The lower perimeter wall panel 80 forms the perimeter wall area 22 of the lower inflation area 21, and as in Fig. As shown in Figure 11, the lower perimeter wall panel 80 has a substantially ribbon-like outer shape that is essentially symmetrical in the left-right direction. On the lower perimeter wall panel 80, front end design areas 82A, 82B, which form a region at the front end of the perimeter wall region 22 (a circumferential edge region of the inlet opening 26), are arranged on both end faces, and a rear upper surface design area 83, which forms the rear upper region 22b (the circumferential edge region of the connecting hole 47) in the perimeter wall region 22, and a lower surface design area 84, which forms a region from the rear end to the lower surface in the perimeter wall region 22, are arranged in series between the front end design areas 82A, 82B. The lower surface formation area 84 is configured such that it has a narrow width at an intermediate area in the front-back direction.

[0035] The pair of left and right lower wall panels 86L, ​​86R forms the left wall area 23 and the right wall area 24, which are opposite each other in the left-right direction at the time of full inflation in the lower inflation area 21, and their outer shapes are symmetrical in the left-right direction (see Fig. 11) At the outer perimeter edges 87L, 87R of the lower wall panels 86L, ​​86R, front upper areas 87a, forming an upper edge of the front area 21a (the left edge or the right edge of the front upper area 22a of the perimeter wall area 22), and rear upper areas 87b, forming the upper edge of the rear area 21b (the left edge or the right edge of the rear upper area of ​​the perimeter wall area), are arranged such that they intersect at an obtuse angle. The front upper area 87a is inclined slightly backward and upward with respect to a front lower area 87c, which forms a lower edge of the front area 21a. That is, the rear upper areas 87b of the outer edges 87L, 87R are inclined backward and upward with respect to the front upper areas 87a.At the outer circumferential edges 87L, 87R of the lower wall panels 86L, ​​86R, rear lower regions 87d, which form the lower edge of the rear region 21b, are arranged such that they curve downwards in a bulging manner with respect to the rear upper region 87b, which is formed in a substantially linear shape. A separation distance D4 between the vicinity of a center of the rear lower region 87d and the rear upper region 87b is specified such that it is greater than a separation distance D5 between the front upper region 87a and the front lower region 87c (see . Fig. 12).

[0036] The lower inflation area 21 is formed in a bag shape by sewing together a front and a rear end edge 80a, 80b of the lower perimeter wall panel 80, so that the front end formation areas 82A, 82B overlap each other, and by sewing together a left edge 80c and a right edge 80d of the lower perimeter wall panel 80 with the outer perimeter edges 87L, 87R of the lower wall panel 86L, ​​86R respectively (see Fig. 7 and Fig. 8).

[0037] The outer shape of the airbag 20 in a state where it is inflated on its own, when viewed from the left and right sides, is formed by the outer shapes of the pair of left and right upper wall panels 76L, 76R, which form the left wall area 40 and the right wall area 41 of the upper inflation area 35, and the pair of left and right lower wall panels 86L, ​​86R, which form the left wall area 23 and the right wall area 24 of the lower inflation area 21, and as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 12, the outer shape of the same, in a state in which the lower rear region 77b of the outer circumferential edge 77L of the upper wall panel 76L and the rear upper wall region 87b of the outer circumferential edge 87L of the lower wall panel 86L overlap each other in a state in which the upper wall panel 76L and the lower wall panel 86L are unfolded flat, approximates the outer shape of the airbag 20 in a state in which it is inflated on its own when viewed from the left and right sides (specifically the left side). As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 12, in the upper wall panel 76L and the lower wall panel 86L in a state in which the lower rear area 77b and the rear upper area 87b are unfolded flat while overlapping each other, a separation distance D3 between the front end of the lower wall panel 86L and the lower front area 77a at the outer circumferential edge 77L of the upper wall panel 76L is defined such that it is smaller than the separation distance D2 between the front end (floor wall area 16a) of the housing 16 and the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1 in a state in which the housing 16 is mounted on the vehicle.In the case of the lower wall panel 86L, ​​as described above, the separation distance D4 between the rear upper area 87b and the rear lower area 87d, which form the upper edge and the lower edges of the rear upper area 87b, is set such that it is larger than the separation distance D5 between the front upper area 87a and the front lower area 87c, which form the upper edge and the lower edges of the front area 21a. Furthermore, a separation distance D6 from a point P1 of the upper wall panel 76L, onto which the center of the connecting hole 47 is projected, to the rear edge 76a of the upper wall panel 76L in the state in which it is unfolded flat, is defined such that it is smaller than a separation distance D7 from a point P2 of the lower wall panel 86L, ​​onto which the center of the connecting hole 47 is projected, to the rear edge 86a of the lower wall panel 86L in the state in which it is laid flat (see . Fig. 12).

[0038] In the embodiment as described in Fig. 10 and Fig. Figure 11 shows the upper perimeter wall panel 70, the upper wall panels 76L, 76R, the lower perimeter wall panel 80 and the lower wall panels 86L, ​​86R forming the airbag 20, the left-right coupling area 53 (restraint belt base components 56, 56) and the front-rear coupling area 54 forming the restraint belt 52, and the front component 65 and the rear component 66 forming the flow control cloth 60, each made of a flexible fabric of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn or the like.

[0039] In the airbag device M according to the embodiment, when the filling gas is expelled from the gas discharge opening 12b of the gas generator 12 after it has been mounted on the vehicle, the airbag 20 is inflated by causing the filling gas to flow into it, pressing and opening the flap area 10a of the airbag cover 10. The airbag 20 then projects rearward from the housing 16 through the protrusion opening 17 of the housing 16, which is formed by pressing and opening the flap area 10a of the airbag cover 10, and unfolds and inflates while projecting forward and upward, so that the airbag 20 is fully inflated, as shown by a double-dotted line in Fig. 1 and as in Fig. 15 shown.

[0040] In the airbag device M according to the embodiment, the airbag 20 has the upper inflation area 35 and the lower inflation area 21, which are formed in separate bag shapes and are interconnected via the connecting hole 47. The upper inflation area 35 is configured to be inflated by causing the filling gas G, which flows into the lower inflation area 21, to flow into it via the connecting hole 47. Furthermore, the upper inflation area 35 and the lower inflation area 21 are coupled to each other by being connected to one another at a circumferential edge region of the connecting hole 47.That is, in the airbag device M of the embodiment, in an initial state of inflation of the airbag 20, the lower inflation area 21 is first inflated in such a way that it protrudes to the rear from the housing 16 as the stowage area by causing the filling gas, which is expelled by the gas generator 12, to flow into it, and then the upper inflation area 35 is inflated by causing the filling gas to flow into it through the connecting hole 47.When the upper inflation area 35 is inflated, the inflation of the lower inflation area 21 is substantially complete, and in the lower inflation area 21, the upper surface (the rear upper area 22b of the perimeter wall area 22), which is a surface on the side of the upper inflation area 35 (the area forming the perimeter of the connecting hole 47), is arranged such that it is inclined rearward and upward with respect to the horizontal direction when viewed from the left and right sides. Therefore, the upper inflation area 35 can be inflated so that it projects forward and upward by being pushed through the upper surface of the lower inflation area 21 (the area forming the perimeter of the connecting hole 47, i.e., the rear upper area 22b of the perimeter wall area 22), and can be quickly brought into contact with the front windscreen 5 and the upper surface 2 of the instrument panel 1.To describe in detail the deployment behavior of the airbag 20 according to the embodiment, in the initial state of inflation of the airbag 20, the lower inflation area 21, into which the filling gas flows, is initially positioned to the rear of the protruding opening 17 of the housing 16, thereby essentially achieving full inflation (see . Fig. 13A). Thereafter, when the upper inflation area 35 is inflated by causing the filling gas to flow into it through the connecting hole 47, the upper inflation area 35 projects forward and upward such that it is pressed through the upper surface of the lower inflation area 21 (the rear upper area 22b of the circumferential wall area 22), which is arranged to be inclined backward and upward, and the filling gas G is regulated by the flow-regulating cloth 60 and flows into the interior of the upper inflation area 35 such that it flows forward and upward, so that the upper inflation area 35 is inflated while moving towards the front of a vehicle, as in Fig. 13B is shown, unfolded. As in Fig. 14A and Fig. As shown in Figure 14B, the upper inflation area 35 is fully inflated by filling a gap between the instrument panel 1 and the front windscreen 5 after contact with the upper surface 2 and the instrument panel 1 and the front windscreen 5 is completed.

[0041] Furthermore, even after the airbag 20 is fully inflated, the lower inflation area 21, which supports the rear lower surface (the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39) of the upper inflation area 35, tilts the upper surface (the rear upper area 22b of the perimeter wall area 22) in contact with the upper inflation area 35 backwards and upwards with respect to the horizontal direction (see Fig. 15 and Fig. 16), the inclination of the upper surface (of the rear upper region 22b of the circumferential wall region 22) of the lower inflation region 21 causes a force to act on the fully inflated upper inflation region 35, tilting the entire upper inflation region 35 forward and downward (causing the front end to point downward), and the upper inflation region 35 is pressed against the side of the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1 over the entire area on the side of the front end 35aa at the time of full inflation. Therefore, a front lower surface of the upper inflation region 35 (the front region 39a of the lower wall region 39) can stably abut the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1 over the entire area in the front-back direction.In particular, in the airbag device M according to the embodiment, the separation distance D1 between the front end (inlet opening 26) of the lower inflation area 21 and the front area 39a of the lower wall area 39 of the upper inflation area 35, when the airbag 20 is viewed in a left-right direction in a state where it is inflated on its own, is set such that it is smaller than the separation distance D2 between the inlet opening 26 (i.e., the front end of the housing 16) of the airbag 20 and the front area 39a of the lower wall area 39 of the upper inflation area 35 (i.e., the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1) when the airbag 20 is viewed in a left-right direction in a state where it is mounted on the vehicle.This means that, in the airbag device M according to the embodiment, when the airbag device M is mounted on the vehicle, the airbag 20 is inflated by forcing open the gap between the lower inflation area 21 and the upper inflation area 35, and the upper inflation area 35 presses a front lower surface (the front area 39a at the lower wall area 39) strongly against (strongly interferes with) the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1, thereby achieving complete inflation. Therefore, when the upper inflation area 35 is fully inflated, a stable contact state with the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1 can be maintained.Furthermore, in the airbag 20 according to the embodiment, since the front end 35aa of the upper inflation area 35 is arranged at the front of the front end (inlet opening 26) of the lower inflation area 21 at the time of complete inflation, such a strong interference state of the front lower surface side of the upper inflation area 35 with the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1 can be maintained more stably.

[0042] In the airbag device M according to the embodiment, since the lower inflation area 21 is formed from a bag body separately from the upper inflation area 35, the upper inflation area 35 can be supported by bringing the areas of the circumference of the connecting hole 47 (in particular areas on an outer circumferential side of the seam area 48) into contact with each other at the time of complete inflation.Since the area of ​​the lower inflation area 21 at the rear end (the rear area 21b) is thicker than the area at the front end (the front area 21a) when fully inflated, the rear lower surface (the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39) of the upper inflation area 35 can be stably supported by the rear area 21b, which is thickly inflated, and the upper inflation area 35 can also be prevented from moving in such a way as to collapse backward and downward in a state prior to the vehicle occupant being received.

[0043] This means that, in the airbag device M according to the embodiment, even in a configuration where the airbag 20 is stowed on the side of the lower area 1a of the dashboard 1 and is inflated in such a way that it unfolds forwards and upwards while protruding backwards, the upper inflation area 35 of the airbag 20 can be rapidly inflated so that it abuts the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1 and the front windshield 5, the contact state with the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1 can be maintained stably when the upper inflation area 35 is fully inflated, and the upper inflation area 35 can also be prevented from moving after full inflation in such a way that it collapses backwards and downwards.Accordingly, the upper body MU of the vehicle occupant MP can be stably protected by the upper inflation area 35, which is supported by the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1, the front windscreen 5 and the lower inflation area 21.

[0044] Therefore, in the airbag device M according to the embodiment, even in a configuration in which the airbag 20 is stowed on the side of the lower area 1a of the dashboard 1, the vehicle occupant MP can be accurately protected by the airbag 20, which has been fully inflated.

[0045] In the airbag device M according to the embodiment, the left wall area 40 and the right wall area 41 of the upper inflation area 35 are implemented by the pair of left and right upper wall panels 76L, 76R, and the left wall area 23 and the right wall area 24 of the lower inflation area 21 are implemented by the pair of left and right lower wall panels 86L, ​​86R. The separation distance D7 from point P2 of the lower wall panel 86L, ​​86R, onto which the center of the connecting hole 47 is projected, to the rear edge 86a of the lower wall panel 86L, ​​86R is defined in the flat unfolded state such that it is greater than the separation distance D6 from point P1 of the upper wall panels 76L, 76R, onto which the center of the connecting hole 47 is projected, to the rear edge 76a of the upper wall panels 76L, 76R in the flat unfolded state.This means that, in the airbag device M according to the embodiment, the lower inflation area 21 can largely cover the area located behind the connecting hole 47 on the rear lower surface of the upper inflation area 35 at the time of complete inflation by making the area located behind the connecting hole 47 wider in the front-back direction at the time of complete inflation. In other words, the area on the rear lower surface of the upper inflation area 35 (the rear area 39b of the lower wall area 39) can be largely supported in the front-back direction towards a rear end 39ba by the lower inflation area 21.This means that even if the area on the side of the rear end 39ba of the rear area 39b moves downwards, the upper inflation area 35 can be stably supported by the area on the side of the rear end 22ba of the rear upper area 22b of the circumferential wall area 22 (see a colon-dash line in . Fig.16), and thus it is possible to more accurately prevent the upper inflation area 35 from moving in such a way that it collapses backward and downward in the state before the vehicle occupant is taken on board. If such a point cannot be taken into account, the lower wall panel can be configured such that the separation distance from the point on the lower wall panel onto which the center of the connecting hole is projected to the rear end of the lower wall panel is equal to or less than the separation distance from the point on the upper wall panel onto which the center of the connecting hole is projected to the rear end of the upper wall panel.

[0046] In the airbag device M according to the embodiment, the upper inflation area 35 incorporates the flow-regulating cloth 60. The flow-regulating cloth 60 covers the circumference of the connecting hole 47 in such a way that it can regulate the flow of the filling gas that flows through the connecting hole 47 in the upper inflation area 35. The flow-regulating cloth 60 is essentially tubular in shape for covering the upper side of the connecting hole 47, while being open to the left and right sides. A front surface of the flow-regulating cloth 60 is provided with the gas outlet hole 63 through which the filling gas flows out.Therefore, since the filling gas flowing into the upper inflation area 35 through the connecting hole 47 can be prevented from flowing backwards and can instead flow forwards and upwards, the upper inflation area 35 can be inflated more quickly, so that it projects forwards and upwards, and the initiation of contact with the front windshield 5 or the upper surface 2 of the dashboard 1 can be accelerated. Furthermore, since the filling gas G flowing into the upper inflation area 35 is prevented from flowing backwards by the flow-regulating cloth 60, the upper inflation area 35 can be prevented from inflating to such an extent that it projects strongly towards the rear side, which is the side of the vehicle occupant MP.Therefore, the upper inflation area 35 can be prevented from oscillating in the front-back direction when deployed and can be quickly and fully inflated to protect the vehicle occupant MP. If this point is not relevant, the flow-regulating fabric does not need to be located inside the upper inflation area. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2024 - 024 685 A

[0002]

Claims

[1] Passenger seat airbag device, with a storage area located on the lower side of a dashboard in a vehicle, an airbag that is folded and stowed in the stowage area, and a gas generator configured to supply a filling gas to the airbag, in the the airbag, into which the filling gas flows, is inflated in such a way that it protrudes from the stowage area to the rear and unfolds forwards and upwards, The airbag has a lower inflation area connected to the gas generator and configured to be inflated to project rearward from the stowage area, and an upper inflation area communicating with the lower inflation area via a connecting hole and configured to be inflated on an upper side of the lower inflation area, wherein the lower inflation area and the upper inflation area are formed in separate bag shapes, and the lower inflation area and the upper inflation area are configured to be coupled to each other by being connected to each other at a circumferential edge region of the connecting hole. the upper inflation area is an area that protects the upper body of a vehicle occupant seated in a front passenger seat and is configured such that, at the time of full inflation, a front lower surface abuts the dashboard, an upper surface abuts a front windscreen located above the dashboard, and an area on a rear lower surface forming a perimeter of the connecting hole is supported by the lower inflation area, and the lower inflation area is configured such that, at the time of full inflation, an area at a rear end is thicker than an area at a front end located on one side of the stowage area, and an upper surface supporting the area at the rear lower surface of the upper inflation area is inclined backward and upward in a horizontal direction at the time of full inflation when viewed from the left and right sides. [2] Passenger seat airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the upper inflation area has a pair of a left and a right upper wall panel arranged such that they are opposite each other in the left-right direction at the time of full inflation, the lower inflation area has a pair of left and right wall panels arranged such that they are opposite each other in the left-right direction at the time of full inflation, and a separation distance from a point on the lower wall panel, onto which the center of the connecting hole is projected, to a rear edge of the lower wall panel in a flat unfolded state is defined such that it is greater than a separation distance from a point on the upper wall panel, onto which the center of the connecting hole is projected, to a rear edge of the upper wall panel in the flat unfolded state. [3] Passenger seat airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper inflation area includes a flow-regulating cloth, the flow-regulating cloth covering a circumference of the connecting hole for regulating a flow of the filling gas flowing through the connecting hole in the upper inflation area, and The flow regulating cloth is formed in an essentially tubular shape to cover one upper side of the connection hole, while both the left and right end sides are open, and a front surface side of the flow regulating cloth is provided with a gas outlet hole through which the filling gas flows out.

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