Curtain airbag device

Abstract

To solve the problem of a conventional airbag device that reduction of manufacturing cost is difficult since a component for holding an airbag is formed from a plurality of parts.SOLUTION: A curtain airbag device 10 includes a first notched part 34 and a second notched part 35 which are arrayed in an extension direction of an airbag 21 at an intermediate part of a bracket 23 holding an airbag 21 in a stowed state. This arrangement makes the airbag 21 bendable into an expected packing shape at the time of transportation of the curtain airbag device 10. A bracket 23 is formed as one part, so that the number of components is reduced and manufacturing cost is reduced.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a curtain airbag device. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART As a conventional head protection airbag device, for example, the structure described in Patent Document 1 is known.

[0003] A head-protection airbag device mainly comprises an airbag that inflates and deploys, an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag, an attachment mechanism that attaches the airbag to the vehicle body, and a case that holds the airbag in a folded state. The head-protection airbag is disposed from the front pillar of the vehicle body along the roof side rail. The folded airbag is disposed in a storage space between the trim and the vehicle body.

[0004] The case body is formed in a generally U-shaped cross section and is attached to the vehicle body with its opening facing downward. In the event of a vehicle collision, the airbag protrudes from the opening and inflates into the vehicle interior to protect the heads of occupants. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6879249 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, the airbag is disposed along the roof side rail from the front pillar. The folded airbag is held over its entire length by at least two case bodies, maintaining the folded state.

[0007] In the airbag holding structure using the above-mentioned case bodies, the case bodies are connected to each other by a connecting member to prevent the airbag from being fixed to the vehicle body in a twisted state. With this structure, the two case bodies and the connecting member are formed as separate members, and a fixing member for connecting them is also required. As a result, there are issues such as an increase in the number of parts required for the head protection airbag device, increased mold costs, and difficulty in reducing manufacturing costs.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and relates to a curtain airbag device that can be packed in a desired state during transportation and that can reduce manufacturing costs by reducing the number of parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a curtain airbag device, which comprises an airbag that is fixed to the vehicle body in a stored state, and a bracket that holds the airbag in the stored state, and is characterized in that at least a first cutout portion and a second cutout portion are arranged side by side in the extending direction at a middle portion of the extending direction of the bracket. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In a curtain airbag device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a first notch and a second notch are arranged side by side in the extension direction of the airbag in the middle of the bracket that holds the airbag in a stored state. This structure allows the airbag to be folded into a desired packaged state when transporting the curtain airbag. Furthermore, forming the bracket as a single part reduces the number of parts and reduces manufacturing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a curtain airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a curtain airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a side view illustrating a curtain airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a curtain airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a curtain airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5B] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a curtain airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a curtain airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A curtain airbag device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. When describing this embodiment, the same components will generally be designated by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be omitted. The front-to-rear direction of the paper indicates the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle 11, the left-to-right direction of the paper indicates the width direction of the vehicle 11, and the up-to-down direction of the paper indicates the height direction of the vehicle 11.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state before inflation and deployment of the curtain airbag device 10 of this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state after inflation and deployment of the curtain airbag device 10 of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating an attachment region of the bracket 23 of the curtain airbag device 10 of this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the bracket 23 of the curtain airbag device 10 of this embodiment. FIG. 5A is a perspective view illustrating the bracket 23 of the curtain airbag device 10 of this embodiment. FIG. 5B is a perspective view illustrating the bracket 23 of the curtain airbag device 10 of this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the bracket 23 of the curtain airbag device 10 of this embodiment.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 11 to which a curtain airbag device 10 is mounted may be, for example, an engine vehicle, an EV (Electric Vehicle), an HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), or a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle).

[0015] The figure also shows the vehicle body 12 on the driver's seat side, and from the front side of the vehicle body 12, for example, a front pillar 13, a center pillar 14, a quarter pillar 15, and a rear pillar 16 are provided. The upper parts of the pillars 13 to 16 are joined to a roof side rail 17 that extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body 12.

[0016] The curtain airbag device 10 mainly includes an airbag 21, an inflator 22 that supplies gas to the airbag 21, a bracket 23 that holds the airbag 21 in a stored state, a fixing tape 24 that fixes the airbag 21 in the stored state, and a fixing tag 25 and a fixing plate 26 that attach the airbag 21 to the vehicle body 12. Before the airbag 21 is inflated and deployed, the curtain airbag device 10 is stored in the space between the vehicle body 12 and the trim (not shown).

[0017] The airbag 21 is a bag-shaped body made of cloth that is inflated and deployed by high-pressure gas ejected from an inflator 22. Before inflation and deployment, the airbag 21 is held in the vehicle body 12 in a rolled state in which it is wound thinly in the vertical direction of the vehicle 11. The airbag 21 is arranged along the front pillar 13 and the roof side rail 17, and is fixed to the vehicle body 12 via a fixing tag 25 and a fixing plate 26.

[0018] The airbag 21 is provided with a gas introduction section 20. The airbag 21 is connected to an inflator 22 fixed to the roof side rail 17 above the center pillar 14, for example, via the gas introduction section 20. The stored state of the airbag 21 is not limited to being folded into a rolled state, and it may also be folded into an accordion-like state.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 2, in the curtain airbag device 10, in the event of an emergency such as a side collision or rollover of the vehicle 11, high-pressure gas is ejected from the inflator 22 (see Fig. 1) into the airbag 21, causing the airbag 21 to inflate and deploy in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 11. At this time, the airbag 21 inflates and breaks the fixing tape 24. The airbag 21 then inflates and deploys normally downward from its fixing position on the roof side rail 17 or the like toward the inside of the vehicle compartment. As a result, the airbag 21 is disposed between the vehicle body 12 and the head of the occupant, thereby protecting the head of the occupant.

[0020] 3 shows the curtain airbag device 10 before inflation and deployment. The airbag 21 in a stored state is disposed extending in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body 12. An inflator 22 is disposed in the center of the airbag 21, and the inflator 22 is in communication with the gas introduction section 20.

[0021] The airbag 21, which is located further forward on the vehicle body 12 than the inflator 22, is maintained in a stored state by a fixing tape 24. The airbag 21 is also fixed to the vehicle body 12 via a fixing tag 25 and a fixing plate 26.

[0022] On the other hand, as indicated by arrow 27, the airbag 21 located rearward of the inflator 22 on the vehicle body 12 is maintained in a stored state by a bracket 23 and a fixing tape 24. The airbag 21 is also fixed to the vehicle body 12 via a fixing plate 26.

[0023] As shown in the figure, in the area where the bracket 23 is disposed, the fixing tape 24 may be wound around and fix the stored airbag 21 itself, or may be wound around and fix the airbag 21 and the bracket 23 together. With this structure, even in the area where the bracket 23 is disposed, the fixing tape 24 is broken by the inflation and deployment of the airbag 21, and the airbag 21 is deployed below the bracket 23. The fixing plate 26 is fixed to the vehicle body 12. By being fixed to the fixing plate 26, the bracket 23 remains fixed to the vehicle body 12 even after the airbag 21 is inflated and deployed.

[0024] 4, bracket 23 has, from the front side of vehicle body 12, a first bracket 31, a connecting portion 32, and a second bracket 33. First bracket 31 and second bracket 33 are connected via connecting portion 32. In other words, bracket 23 is formed as a single part by, for example, resin molding.

[0025] The first bracket 31 is disposed above the airbag 21 in the stored state. On the other hand, the second bracket 33 is disposed above and behind the airbag 21 in the stored state. The connecting portion 32 connects the first and second brackets 31, 33 above the airbag 21 in the stored state.

[0026] With this structure, when the airbag 21 inflates and deploys in the area where the bracket 23 is arranged, the first and second brackets 31, 33 open toward the inside of the vehicle compartment, making it easier for the airbag 21 to inflate and deploy toward the inside of the vehicle compartment.

[0027] In particular, the region where the second bracket 33 is disposed is the region where the airbag 21 is last to inflate and deploy. The shape of the second bracket 33 described above makes it easier to control the direction in which the airbag 21 inflates and deploys.

[0028] As a result, the normally inflated and deployed airbag 21 is positioned between the vehicle body 12 and the head of the occupant, thereby protecting the head and other parts of the occupant in the event of a collision of the vehicle 11. As described above, even in the rear seats of the vehicle 11, the airbag 21 is inflated and deployed in a desired area, thereby protecting the head and other parts of the occupant.

[0029] 5A, the connecting portion 32 is located in the middle of the bracket 23, and is formed in a generally flat plate shape. A first cutout 34 and a second cutout 35 are formed in the connecting portion 32, side by side in the extension direction of the airbag 21 (front-rear direction on the paper). The first cutout 34 is formed further forward of the vehicle 11 than the second cutout 35. A pair of first cutouts 34 are formed at both end portions of the connecting portion 32 in the width direction (left-right direction on the paper). In other words, the first cutouts 35 are formed at two locations facing each other at the end portions of the connecting portion 32 of the bracket 23 in the direction (left-right direction on the paper) intersecting the extension direction of the bracket 23 (front-rear direction on the paper).

[0030] Similarly, a pair of second cutouts 35 are formed at both ends in the width direction (left-right direction on the paper) of connecting portion 32. In other words, second cutouts 34, 35 are formed at two locations facing each other on the end of connecting portion 32 of bracket 23 in a direction (left-right direction on the paper) that intersects with the extending direction of bracket 23 (front-rear direction on the paper).

[0031] The first and second cutouts 34, 35 are formed, for example, in a generally triangular shape when viewed from above. The width W1 of the connecting portion 32 in the area where the first and second cutouts 34, 35 are formed is narrower than the width W2 of the other area. As described above, the connecting portion 32 is flexible because it is a resin molded product.

[0032] This structure allows bracket 23 to be bent using first and second notch portions 34, 35 of connecting portion 32. By bending bracket 23 at connecting portion 32 by, for example, approximately 180 degrees, second bracket 33 can be disposed opposite first bracket 31.

[0033] On the other hand, the connecting portion 32 bends within the range of elastic deformation and returns to its original state during the assembly work to the vehicle body 12. Then, the first bracket 31 and the second bracket 33 are placed in a desired positional relationship via the connecting portion 32, so that the airbag 21 of the curtain airbag device 10 can be assembled to a desired position on the vehicle body 12 without being twisted. As a result, as described above, the airbag 21 is inflated and deployed in a desired area in the vehicle compartment, preventing a decrease in the product quality of the curtain airbag device 10.

[0034] Also, as described above, the bracket 23 of this embodiment is formed as a single part, which reduces the mold cost for resin molding the bracket 23. Furthermore, fixing parts such as screws for connecting the first bracket 31, the connecting portion 32, and the second bracket 33 are also unnecessary. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the curtain airbag device 10 is reduced.

[0035] 5B, the first notch 36 and the second notch 37 may be formed at one location on one end of the connecting portion 32 in the width direction. In other words, the first and second notches 36, 37 may be formed at one location each on the end of the connecting portion 32 of the bracket 23 in the direction intersecting the extension direction of the bracket 23 (the front-to-rear direction on the paper) (the left-to-right direction on the paper). In this case, for example, the shapes of the first and second notches 36, 37 are formed larger than the shapes of the first and second notches 34, 35 shown in FIG. 5A.

[0036] With this structure, bracket 23 is bent approximately 180 degrees at connecting portion 32, so that second bracket 33 can be disposed opposite first bracket 31. Note that first and second cutout portions 36, 37 may be formed at either end of connecting portion 32 in the outer circumferential direction of airbag 21 when stored in a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0037] 6, the bracket 23 can be folded using the first and second notches 34, 35 of the connecting portion 32. Then, in the curtain airbag device 10 during transportation, the area of ​​the airbag 21 where the bracket 23 is disposed can be folded in two.

[0038] As an example of a transportation condition for transporting the curtain airbag device 10, transportation costs can be reduced by keeping the package length of the curtain airbag device 10 within 900 mm. As described above, in the area where the bracket 23 of the airbag 21 in the stored state is disposed, the connecting portion 32 is bent by approximately 180 degrees via the first notches 34, 36 and the second notches 35, 37, so that the curtain airbag device 10 is folded in three. As a result, the above-mentioned 900 mm package condition can be met.

[0039] As shown in the figure, in the area where the bracket 23 is provided, the fixing tape 24 is not provided in the area between the first notches 34, 36 and the second notches 35, 37 of the connecting portion 32, as indicated by the arrow 38. In other words, the fixing tape 24 is wrapped around the airbag 21 and the bracket 23 outside the area of ​​the connecting portion 32.

[0040] With this structure, the connecting portion 32 is in a folded state when the curtain airbag device 10 is transported, but the fixing tape 24 is prevented from breaking when the airbag 21 inflates or shifts.

[0041] In this embodiment, the bracket 23, which is one part, is disposed rearward of the center of the airbag 21 with respect to the vehicle 11, but this is not limited to this. For example, the bracket 23, which is one part, may be disposed forward of the center of the airbag 21 with respect to the vehicle 11. In addition, various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 10 Curtain airbag device 11 vehicles 12 Body 13 Front pillar 14 Center pillar 15 Quarter Pillar 16 Rear pillar 17 Roof side rail 20 Gas inlet 21 Airbag 22 Inflator 23 Bracket 24 Fixing Tape 25 Fixed Tags 31 First Bracket 32 Connecting part 33 Second Bracket 34,36 First notch 35,37 Second notch

Claims

1. A curtain airbag device that is mounted on a vehicle body, an airbag that is fixed to the vehicle body in a stored state; a bracket for holding the airbag in the stored state, A curtain airbag device, characterized in that at least a first notch and a second notch are arranged side by side in the extending direction at a middle portion of the bracket in the extending direction.

2. the bracket includes a first bracket and a second bracket that hold the airbag, and a connecting portion that connects the first bracket and the second bracket, The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the first cutout portion and the second cutout portion are disposed in the connecting portion.

3. a fixing tape for fixing the airbag in the stored state, 3. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing tape fixes the airbag in a region other than the region between the first cutout portion and the second cutout portion.

4. The curtain airbag device according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the first notch portion and the second notch portion is formed at an end of the middle portion of the bracket in a direction intersecting the extension direction.

5. The curtain airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the first cutout portion and the second cutout portion are formed at end portions of the intermediate portion of the bracket, facing each other in the intersecting direction.

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