Air bag structure

Abstract

To prevent a ceiling panel from falling off from a bag cover when an airbag is deployed and inflated.SOLUTION: The airbag structure includes an airbag, a bag cover to which the airbag is attached and which is fixed to a vehicle body, a ceiling panel that is integrated with the bag cover, forms an accommodation space for accommodating the airbag between the ceiling panel and the bag cover, and opens the accommodation space by an opening operation with respect to the bag cover when the airbag is deployed and inflated to expose the airbag to the vehicle interior side, and a falling-off prevention structure that is provided between the bag cover and the ceiling panel and prevents the ceiling panel from falling off from the bag cover.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag structure mounted in a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a bag-shaped airbag that protects mainly the head of an occupant in the event of a vehicle collision is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This airbag is provided extending along the edge of the vehicle ceiling. This airbag deploys and inflates toward the interior of the vehicle against the side window of the side door in the event of a vehicle collision. The deployment and inflation of this airbag protects mainly the head of the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision.

[0003] The airbag described in Patent Document 1 is covered by a bag cover on the vehicle exterior side and attached to the bag cover at an attachment portion provided on a flange-shaped protruding portion. The airbag is positioned relative to the vehicle body by fixing the airbag itself and the bag cover to the vehicle body with clips, bolts, etc. The airbag is also covered by a ceiling panel on the vehicle interior side. The airbag is housed in a storage space formed between the bag cover and the ceiling panel. The ceiling panel is constructed separately from the bag cover and is supported by the bag cover at an attachment portion such as a clip. When the airbag deploys and inflates, the ceiling panel is opened relative to the bag cover by the force of its expansion, allowing the airbag to deploy inside the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-47745 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the airbag described in Patent Document 1, the bag cover and the ceiling panel are constructed as separate bodies and are attached to each other at an attachment portion. However, with this structure, when the airbag deploys and inflates, the ceiling panel opens relative to the bag cover, opening the storage space, and the ceiling panel may fall off the bag cover due to the clip or other attachment portion coming loose. If the ceiling panel falls off the bag cover when the airbag deploys and inflates, there is a risk that the safety of the occupants may be compromised.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide an airbag structure that can prevent a ceiling panel from falling off from a bag cover when an airbag is deployed and inflated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is an airbag structure comprising: an airbag; a bag cover to which the airbag is attached and fixed to a vehicle body; a ceiling panel that is integrated with the bag cover and forms a storage space for storing the airbag between the bag cover and the ceiling panel; and an anti-detachment structure that is provided between the bag cover and the ceiling panel and that prevents the ceiling panel from falling off the bag cover when the airbag is deployed and inflated.

[0008] This configuration can prevent the ceiling panel from falling off the bag cover when the airbag is deployed and inflated. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of an interior of a vehicle in which an airbag structure according to one embodiment of the present invention is installed. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the airbag structure of the embodiment in a closed state of the ceiling panel. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the airbag structure of the embodiment in an open state of the ceiling panel. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of an airbag structure (excluding an airbag) according to an embodiment, showing a ceiling panel in an open state. [Figure 5] 1 is a perspective view of an airbag applied to an airbag structure according to an embodiment; [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag structure of the embodiment taken along the line VI-VI shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag structure of the embodiment taken along the line VII-VII shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 8] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag structure of the embodiment, including a hinge portion of the ceiling panel in an open state. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an airbag structure (excluding an airbag) according to a first modified embodiment of the present invention, with a ceiling panel in an open state. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an airbag structure (excluding the airbag) according to a second modified embodiment of the present invention, with the ceiling panel in an open state. [Figure 11] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a portion including a tether clip portion of the airbag structure of the first and second modified embodiments in a closed state of the ceiling panel. FIG. [Figure 12] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a ceiling panel in an open state at a location including a tether clip portion of an airbag structure of a first modified embodiment and a second modified embodiment. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an airbag structure (excluding the airbag) according to a third modified embodiment of the present invention, with the ceiling panel in an open state. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a ceiling panel in an open state in an airbag structure of a third modified embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a first bag cover and a ceiling panel in a first fall-off prevention structure of an airbag structure (excluding an airbag) according to a fourth modified embodiment of the present invention, in an open state. [Figure 16]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second bag cover and a ceiling panel in a second fall-off prevention structure of an airbag structure (excluding an airbag) of a fourth modified embodiment in an open state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Specific embodiments of the airbag structure according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 16. In this embodiment, "front," "rear," "right," "left," "upper," and "lower" are based on the direction of the vehicle in which the airbag structure is mounted, and for example, "front" means the side ahead as the vehicle moves forward.

[0011] The airbag structure 10 of this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 1 and uses an airbag to protect the head of an occupant seated in a seat 2 in the event of a collision of the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 may be an engine vehicle, an electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, or the like, and as shown in Fig. 1, the interior space of the vehicle is separated from the outside by a side door 3, a side window 4, an A pillar 5A, a B pillar 5B, a C pillar 5C, and a vehicle ceiling 6.

[0012] The airbag structure 10 is configured to have a structure for containing and holding an airbag so that it can be deployed and inflated. As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the airbag structure 10 includes an airbag 20, a bag cover 30, a ceiling panel 40, a locking portion 50, and a fall-off prevention structure 60.

[0013] The airbag 20 is a curtain airbag that protects mainly the head of an occupant in the event of a collision of the vehicle 1. The airbag 20 is formed in a bag shape so that inflation fluid generated by an inflator (not shown) can flow in. The airbag 20 is made of fabric woven with threads such as nylon. As shown in FIG. 5 , the airbag 20 is provided in a rail-like shape extending in the vehicle front-rear direction X along the edges of the vehicle ceiling 6 on the side window 4 and pillars 5A, 5B, 5C sides. The airbags 20 are arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle 1 corresponding to the left and right seats 2, respectively.

[0014] The airbag 20 is in a folded state before being deployed and inflated. The airbag 20 deploys and inflates from the folded state when inflation fluid flows into it. The airbag 20 deploys and inflates from the edge of the vehicle ceiling 6 toward the interior side of the vehicle relative to the side window 4 and pillars 5A, 5B, and 5C. When the airbag 20 begins to deploy toward the interior side of the vehicle, it is inserted into the space between the occupant seated in the seat 2 and the side window 4 and pillars 5A, 5B, and 5C, and inflates to an extent that it can cover the interior surfaces of the side window 4 and pillars 5A, 5B, and 5C. This protects mainly the head of the occupant in the event of a collision of the vehicle 1.

[0015] The bag cover 30 is a case member to which the airbag 20 is attached. The bag cover 30 extends like a rail in the vehicle front-rear direction X along the edge of the vehicle ceiling 6. The bag cover 30 may be formed so that its front longitudinal portion slopes downward from its rear side to its front side, and so that its rear longitudinal portion slopes downward from its front side to its rear side.

[0016] As shown in Figure 7, the airbag 20 has a mounting portion 21. The mounting portion 21 is a portion for mounting the airbag 20 to the bag cover 30 and ultimately to the vehicle body 7. The mounting portion 21 is provided at a protruding portion 23 that protrudes upward from the main body of the airbag 20 in a flange-like shape. The mounting portion 21 is a mounting hole into which a clip or bolt (hereinafter referred to as a clip or the like 22; see Figures 5 and 7) can be inserted. The protruding portions 23 are provided at multiple locations (six locations in Figure 5, etc.) on the airbag 20 at intervals in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction X, and the mounting portions 21 are provided at multiple locations at intervals in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction X.

[0017] In addition, among the multiple mounting portions 21, in addition to those that mount the airbag 20 to the vehicle body 7 via the bag cover 30, there may also be those that mount the airbag 20 directly to the vehicle body 7 without using the bag cover 30.

[0018] The bag cover 30 is disposed along the edge of the vehicle ceiling 6. The bag cover 30 is formed to be able to house and support the airbag 20. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the bag cover 30 has a wall portion 31 extending in a plate shape along the rail inner panel 7a of the vehicle body 7. The wall portion 31 is provided with an attachment portion 32 into which a clip or the like 22 can be inserted, corresponding to the attachment portion 21 of the airbag 20. The bag cover 30 is fixed and positioned on the vehicle body 7, for example, by inserting the clip or the like 22 into the attachment portion 21 of the protruding portion 23 and the attachment portion 32 of the bag cover 30 and into the attachment portion 7b, which is a hole provided in the rail inner panel 7a, to fasten the airbag 20, the bag cover 30, and the vehicle body 7 together.

[0019] The ceiling panel 40 is a member that covers the airbag 20 attached to the bag cover 30 from the inside of the vehicle. At least a portion (specifically, the lower portion) of the surface of the ceiling panel 40 is exposed to the interior of the vehicle. The ceiling panel 40 extends like a rail in the vehicle longitudinal direction X along the edge of the vehicle ceiling 6. Note that, similar to the bag cover 30, the ceiling panel 40 may be formed so that, before the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, its front portion in the longitudinal direction slopes downward from its rear side to its front side and its rear portion in the longitudinal direction slopes downward from its front side to its rear side. The ceiling panel 40 and the bag cover 30 form an accommodation space 70 (see FIGS. 6 to 8) that accommodates the airbag 20.

[0020] In addition to the airbag 20, various antenna wires and at least a part of a wire harness may be accommodated in the accommodation space 70. When the antenna wire or the like is accommodated in the accommodation space 70, it is preferable that the antenna wire or the like be arranged and routed in the accommodation space 70 above the position where the airbag 20 is arranged so as not to interfere with the deployment and inflation of the airbag 20.

[0021] The ceiling panel 40 is configured to be openable and closable relative to the bag cover 30. Before the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, the ceiling panel 40 is closed relative to the bag cover 30 and blocks the storage space 70. When the airbag 20 is stored in the storage space 70, the airbag 20 faces the back surface of the ceiling panel 40 that faces the storage space 70. When the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, the airbag 20 comes into contact with the back surface of the ceiling panel 40 and presses the ceiling panel 40 toward the interior of the vehicle.

[0022] As will be described in detail later, the ceiling panel 40 is integrated with the bag cover 30 via a drop-off prevention structure 60. When the ceiling panel 40 is pressed toward the interior of the vehicle due to the deployment and inflation of the airbag 20, it opens relative to the bag cover 30, starting from the point where the ceiling panel 40 is integrated with the bag cover 30. Specifically, this opening movement is a rotation about an axis that passes through the point where the ceiling panel 40 is integrated with the bag cover 30 and extends in the front-to-rear direction X of the vehicle. After the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, the ceiling panel 40 opens the storage space 70 by opening relative to the bag cover 30, exposing the airbag 20 in the storage space 70 to the interior of the vehicle.

[0023] The ceiling panel 40 is integrated with the bag cover 30. The bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 are integrally molded. Both the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 are made of hard resin. The hard resin material has a flexural modulus of elasticity of, for example, 5,000 kg / cm in a steady state. 2 or more than 7,000 kg / cm 2 Specifically, ABS, polycarbonate, acrylic, polypropylene, etc. are used, and for example, PC-ABS (polycarbonate ABS) and TPO (olefin-based elastomer) are used.

[0024] The bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 are locked together by a locking portion 50. Specifically, the locking portion 50 is an attachment portion that locks the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 together when the ceiling panel 40 is closed relative to the bag cover 30 and the storage space 70 is closed. The locking portion 50 is provided on the lower portions of the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40. The locking portion 50 maintains the locked state between the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 after the vehicle 1 is manufactured. The locking by the locking portion 50 is released by the force generated when the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated.

[0025] 4, the locking portion 50 is composed of a clip 51 provided on one of the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 (bag cover 30 in FIG. 4), and a clip seat 52 provided on the other (ceiling panel 40 in FIG. 4). In this case, the locking portion 50 locks the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 together by locking the clip 51 with the clip seat 52. The locking portions 50 are provided at multiple locations (eight locations in FIG. 4, etc.) spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40.

[0026] The fall-off prevention structure 60 is a structure that prevents the ceiling panel 40 from falling off from the bag cover 30. The fall-off prevention structure 60 is provided between the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40. The fall-off prevention structure 60 can maintain the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 connected together even after the locking portion 50 between the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 is released due to the opening operation of the ceiling panel 40 relative to the bag cover 30.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 , the fall-off prevention structure 60 has a hinge portion 61. The hinge portion 61 is interposed between the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 and is a portion that assists the opening operation of the ceiling panel 40 relative to the bag cover 30. The hinge portion 61 serves as a base point for the opening operation of the ceiling panel 40. As shown in FIG. 6 , the hinge portion 61 is provided on the upper portion of the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40. The hinge portion 61 is provided at least in the longitudinal center of the ceiling panel 40 or in its vicinity. The hinge portion 61 is disposed in a position corresponding to the upper portion of the pillars 5A, 5B, 5C (at least the B pillar 5B). The hinge portion 61 maintains the ceiling panel 40 integrated with the bag cover 30 without causing it to fall off from the bag cover 30 during the opening operation of the ceiling panel 40 relative to the bag cover 30.

[0028] The hinge portion 61 is integrated with the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40, and is molded integrally with the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40. The hinge portion 61 is formed in a flexible shape that is deformable so that it does not crack or break during the opening operation of the ceiling panel 40 relative to the bag cover 30. The hinge portion 61 is formed, for example, in a plate shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 so that it has the strength to support the ceiling panel 40 on the bag cover 30 even after the opening operation. The hinge portion 61 is also provided at multiple locations (two locations in FIG. 4, etc.) spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40. Specifically, the hinge portions 61 are provided at least at two locations sandwiching the B-pillar 5B in the front-to-rear direction X of the vehicle.

[0029] The procedure for assembling the airbag structure 10 will now be described. The airbag structure 10 is assembled in the following manner. First, the airbag 20, bag cover 30, and ceiling panel 40 that constitute the airbag structure 10 are prepared. At this time, the airbag 20 is formed to include a protruding portion 23 having an attachment portion 21. The bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 are integrally molded with each other, including the components of the locking portion 50 and the components of the fall-off prevention structure 60.

[0030] Next, before the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 are engaged with each other by the engaging portions 50, the airbag 20 is attached to the bag cover 30. This attachment is achieved by inserting clips or the like 22 through the attachment portions 21 of the airbag 20 and the attachment portions 32 of the bag cover 30. Once this attachment is performed, the airbag 20, the bag cover 30, and the ceiling panel 40 are modularized and integrated to form the airbag structure 10. Note that the multiple attachment portions 21 of the airbag 20 may include attachment portions 21 into which the clips or the like 22 are inserted without penetrating the attachment portions 32 of the bag cover 30.

[0031] Then, the airbag structure 10 is fixed to the vehicle body 7 of the vehicle 1. This fixing is achieved by inserting the clips or the like 22 protruding outward from the mounting portion 32 of the bag cover 30 of the airbag structure 10 into the mounting portion 7b of the rail inner panel 7a of the vehicle body 7, and fixing the airbag 20, the bag cover 30, and the rail inner panel 7a in a sandwiched state.

[0032] The locking of the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 by the locking portion 50 may be performed after the airbag 20 is accommodated in the accommodation space 70, and further after the antenna wire and the wire harness have been accommodated. The locking by the locking portion 50 may be performed before the airbag structure 10 is fixed to the vehicle body 7, or may be performed after the airbag structure 10 is fixed to the vehicle body 7 and the antenna wire and the wire harness have been routed.

[0033] The operation of the airbag structure 10 will now be described. After the airbag structure 10 is fixed to the vehicle body 7, before the vehicle 1 collides, i.e., before the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 are engaged with the engaging portion 50, and the storage space 70 is maintained in a closed state, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0034] When the airbag 20 deploys and inflates from this state due to a collision of the vehicle 1, first, the airbag 20 in the accommodation space 70 comes into contact with the rear surface of the ceiling panel 40 and presses the ceiling panel 40 toward the interior of the vehicle. Then, when the locking portions 50 provided on the lower portions of the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 release the locking between the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 by pressing against the ceiling panel 40, the ceiling panel 40 opens relative to the bag cover 30 using the hinge portion 61 at the top as a base point, as shown in Figure 8, causing the airbag 20 to jump out of the accommodation space 70 and further deploy and inflate toward the interior of the vehicle.

[0035] When the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, the airbag 20 is inserted into the space between the occupant seated in the seat 2 and the side window 4 and the pillars 5A, 5B, 5C. Therefore, even if the occupant seated in the seat 2 swings left and right relative to the vehicle 1 in the event of a collision of the vehicle 1, the occupant's head, in particular, can be protected.

[0036] In the airbag structure 10, a falling-off prevention structure 60 is provided between the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40. The falling-off prevention structure 60 maintains the connection between the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 even after the locking portion 50 between the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 is released due to the deployment and inflation of the airbag 20, thereby preventing the ceiling panel 40 from falling off from the bag cover 30.

[0037] Therefore, according to the airbag structure 10, when the vehicle 1 collides, the ceiling panel 40 opens relative to the bag cover 30 due to the deployment and inflation of the airbag 20, and the airbag 20 further deploys and inflates from the accommodation space 70 toward the interior of the vehicle, it is possible to prevent the ceiling panel 40 from being separated from and falling off the bag cover 30. This makes it possible to avoid a loss of safety for the occupants when the ceiling panel 40 opens relative to the bag cover 30.

[0038] The fall prevention structure 60 also has a hinge portion 61 that assists the opening operation of the ceiling panel 40 relative to the bag cover 30, and a locking portion 50 that locks the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 together when the ceiling panel 40 is closed. The hinge portion 61 is provided on the upper portions of the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40, and the locking portion 50 is provided on the lower portions of the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40.

[0039] In this configuration, when the ceiling panel 40 opens relative to the bag cover 30, the ceiling panel 40 rotates about an axis extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction X, with the upper hinge portion 61 as the base point, so that the lower portion is lifted. In this case, when the airbag 20 deploys and inflates, the airbag 20 tends to jump out from the lower portion of the accommodation space 70 toward the vehicle interior and spread downward or diagonally downward along the side window 4 and pillars A, 5B, and 5C. This allows the airbag 20 to be deployed and inflated quickly to the desired inflation state after a collision of the vehicle 1.

[0040] Furthermore, the hinge portion 61 is provided at least in or near the longitudinal center of the ceiling panel 40. In this configuration, the longitudinal center of the ceiling panel 40 or near the longitudinal center is included as the base point for the opening operation of the ceiling panel 40. This makes it possible to prevent the opening operation of the ceiling panel 40 from being biased in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction X when the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, thereby improving the stability of the opening operation.

[0041] Furthermore, the hinge portions 61 are disposed at positions corresponding to the upper portions of the pillars 5A, 5B, 5C (at least the B pillar 5B) of the vehicle 1, and are provided at two locations sandwiching at least the B pillar 5B in the vehicle longitudinal direction X. In this configuration, the base point for the opening operation of the ceiling panel 40 includes a position sandwiching the B pillar 5B. Therefore, when the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, it is possible to prevent the opening operation of the ceiling panel 40 from being biased in the vehicle longitudinal direction X, and the stability of the opening operation can be improved.

[0042] Furthermore, the hinge portions 61 are provided at multiple locations spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40. In this configuration, the base points for the opening operation of the ceiling panel 40 are multiple locations in the vehicle fore-and-aft direction X, thereby improving the stability of the opening operation.

[0043] Furthermore, in the airbag structure 10, the airbag 20, the bag cover 30, and the ceiling panel 40 are modularized and integrated before being fixed to the vehicle body 7. This modularization may also include an antenna wire and a wiring harness. Then, this modularized airbag structure 10 is fixed to the vehicle body 7. With this configuration, it is not necessary to individually fix the components of the airbag structure 10 to the vehicle body 7, so the number of steps required to assemble the airbag structure 10 to the vehicle body 7 can be reduced. Furthermore, since no assembly work is required after the airbag structure 10 is fixed to the vehicle body 7, the ease of assembly can be improved.

[0044] In the airbag structure 10, the airbag 20 and the bag cover 30 are attached to the vehicle body 7 by inserting clips or the like 22 into the attachment portion 21 of the airbag 20, the attachment portion 32 of the bag cover 30, and the attachment portion 7b of the vehicle body 7. In this configuration, the airbag 20, the bag cover 30, and the vehicle body 7 are fastened together by the clips or the like 22, so that the airbag structure 10 can be easily assembled and attached to the vehicle body 7 without increasing the number of steps.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the bag cover 30, the ceiling panel 40, and the hinge portion 61 are molded as a single unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The bag cover 30, the ceiling panel 40, and the hinge portion 61 may be molded separately, and then the bag cover 30 and the hinge portion 61 may be integrated together by welding, bonding, or the like. In this modified embodiment, the hinge portion 61 may be formed from a material that is more flexible than the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the fall-off prevention structure 60 has a hinge portion 61 provided between the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the fall-off prevention structure may have a tether portion that connects the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40. This tether portion may be, for example, a string-like or belt-like hook member made of cloth or nylon.

[0047] For example, an airbag structure 100 shown in Fig. 9 is realized by replacing the falling-off prevention structure 60 in the airbag structure 10 with a falling-off prevention structure 160. The airbag structure 100 is equipped with the falling-off prevention structure 160 that prevents the ceiling panel 40 from falling off from the bag cover 30. The falling-off prevention structure 160 has a string-like tether portion 162. As shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the tether portion 162 is interposed between the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40, and is composed of a string portion 162a and two clip portions 162b, 162c.

[0048] In this first modified embodiment, one end of string portion 162a of tether portion 162 is fixed to clip portion 162b, and the other end of string portion 162a is fixed to clip portion 162c. Clip portion 162b is attached to the bag cover 30 and the vehicle body 7, and clip portion 162c is attached to the ceiling panel 40. Even in this first modified embodiment, the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 are maintained in a connected state by tether portion 162, even after the ceiling panel 40 performs an opening operation relative to the bag cover 30 when the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, so that the ceiling panel 40 can be prevented from falling off the bag cover 30.

[0049] 10 is realized by replacing the fall-off prevention structure 60 in the airbag structure 10 with a fall-off prevention structure 260. The airbag structure 200 includes the fall-off prevention structure 260 that prevents the ceiling panel 40 from falling off from the bag cover 30. The fall-off prevention structure 260 has the same hinge portion 61 as in the embodiment and a string-like tether portion 262. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the tether portion 262 is interposed between the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 and is composed of a string portion 262a and two clip portions 162b, 162c.

[0050] In the second modified embodiment, one end of the string portion 262a of the tether portion 262 is fixed to the clip portion 262b, and the other end of the string portion 262a is fixed to the clip portion 262c. The clip portion 262b is attached to the bag cover 30 and the vehicle body 7, and the clip portion 262c is attached to the ceiling panel 40. Even in the second modified embodiment, the hinge portion 61 and the tether portion 262 maintain the bag cover 30 and the ceiling panel 40 in a connected state even after the ceiling panel 40 opens relative to the bag cover 30 when the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, thereby preventing the ceiling panel 40 from falling off the bag cover 30.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the airbag structure 10 includes one bag cover 30 extending like a rail along the edge of the vehicle ceiling 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the airbag structure 10 may include a plurality of bag covers arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. In other words, a plurality of bag covers may be provided.

[0052] For example, an airbag structure 300 shown in Figures 13 and 14 is realized by replacing the bag cover 30 in the airbag structure 10 with a bag cover 330. The airbag structure 300 includes the bag cover 330 to which the airbag 20 is attached and which is fixed to the vehicle body 7. A plurality of bag covers 330 (three in Figures 13 and 14; bag covers 331, 332, 333) are arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction.

[0053] In this third modified embodiment, the airbag structure 300 is provided with a detachment prevention structure 360 ​​that prevents the ceiling panel 40 from falling off from the bag cover 330. A plurality of detachment prevention structures 360 (three detachment prevention structures 361, 362, 363 in FIGS. 13 and 14 ) are provided corresponding to the plurality of bag covers 330. These detachment prevention structures 361, 362, 363 are hinge portions or tether portions. Even in this third modified embodiment, the detachment prevention structure 360 ​​keeps the bag cover 330 and the ceiling panel 40 connected to each other even after the ceiling panel 40 opens relative to the bag cover 330 when the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, so that the ceiling panel 40 can be prevented from falling off from the bag cover 330.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the airbag structure 10 includes one ceiling panel 40 extending like a rail along the edge of the vehicle ceiling 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the airbag structure may include a plurality of ceiling panels provided corresponding to a plurality of bag covers as shown in the third modified embodiment.

[0055] 15 and 16 is realized by replacing the bag cover 30 in the airbag structure 10 with a bag cover 430 and replacing the ceiling panel 40 with a ceiling panel 440. The airbag structure 400 includes a plurality of bag covers 430 arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of ceiling panels 440 provided corresponding to the bag covers 430. The bag covers 430 are two bag covers 431 and 432, and the ceiling panels 440 are two ceiling panels 441 and 442.

[0056] In the fourth modified embodiment, the airbag structure 400 includes a detachment prevention structure 460. A plurality of detachment prevention structures 460 (two detachment prevention structures 461, 462 in FIGS. 15 and 16 ) are provided corresponding to the plurality of bag covers 430 and the plurality of ceiling panels 440. These detachment prevention structures 461, 462 are hinge portions or tether portions. Note that one or more detachment prevention structures 460 may be provided for a set of one bag cover 430 and one ceiling panel 440. Also in the fourth modified embodiment, the detachment prevention structure 460 keeps the bag cover 430 and the ceiling panel 440 connected to each other even after the ceiling panel 440 opens relative to the bag cover 430 when the airbag 20 is deployed and inflated, so that the ceiling panel 440 can be prevented from detaching from the bag cover 430.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the airbag structure 10 includes one airbag 20 extending like a rail along the edge of the vehicle ceiling 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the airbag structure 10 may correspond to a front seat airbag corresponding to an occupant seated in the front seat 2 and a rear seat airbag corresponding to an occupant seated in the rear seat 2.

[0058] That is, the airbag structure 10 may be a set of one airbag 20, one bag cover 30, and one ceiling panel 40, with two sets provided for the front and rear seats, separate and independent in the fore-and-aft direction X of the vehicle.

[0059] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, this specification not only discloses the technical ideas indicated by the citation relationships set forth in the claims at the time of filing, but also discloses technical ideas obtained by appropriately combining the matters set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1: vehicle, 6: vehicle ceiling, 7: vehicle body, 10, 100, 200, 300, 400: airbag structure, 20: airbag, 21: mounting portion, 30, 330, 430: bag cover, 32: mounting portion, 40, 440: ceiling panel, 50: locking portion, 60, 160, 260, 360, 460: anti-detachment structure, 61: hinge portion, 162, 262: tether portion.

Claims

1. Airbags and a bag cover to which the airbag is attached and which is fixed to a vehicle body; a ceiling panel that is integrated with the bag cover, that forms an accommodation space for accommodating the airbag between itself and the bag cover, and that opens the accommodation space by opening the bag cover when the airbag is deployed and inflated, thereby exposing the airbag to the interior of the vehicle; and a fall prevention structure provided between the bag cover and the ceiling panel to prevent the ceiling panel from falling off the bag cover; An airbag structure comprising:

2. 2. The airbag structure according to claim 1, wherein the fall-off prevention structure has a hinge portion that assists the opening operation of the ceiling panel relative to the bag cover.

3. 3. The airbag structure according to claim 2, wherein the hinge portion is disposed at a position corresponding to an upper portion of a pillar of the vehicle.

4. The bag cover and the ceiling panel extend in a rail-like manner along the edge of the vehicle ceiling, 3. The airbag structure according to claim 2, wherein the hinge portions are provided at a plurality of locations spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the bag cover and the ceiling panel.

5. The bag cover and the ceiling panel extend in a rail-like manner along the edge of the vehicle ceiling, 2. The airbag structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of locking portions provided at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the bag cover and the ceiling panel, for locking the bag cover and the ceiling panel together when the ceiling panel is in a closed state.

6. A plurality of the bag covers are arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, 2. The airbag structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the anti-fall-off structures are provided corresponding to a plurality of the bag covers.

7. 7. The airbag structure according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of the ceiling panels are provided corresponding to a plurality of the bag covers.

8. The bag cover has a front bag cover arranged on the front side in the longitudinal direction and a rear bag cover arranged on the rear side in the longitudinal direction, 8. The airbag structure according to claim 7, wherein the airbag includes a front seat airbag corresponding to the front bag cover and a rear seat airbag corresponding to the rear bag cover.

9. 2. The airbag structure according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting portion for mounting the airbag and the bag cover to the vehicle body.

10. 10. The airbag structure according to claim 1, wherein the ceiling panel is made of a hard resin.

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