Side airbag device

Abstract

To suppress outflow of gas from an inflator to the outside of an airbag.SOLUTION: A side airbag device includes an airbag 20 in which a panel 21 and a panel 22 are overlapped and peripheral edges thereof are sewn together, and an inflator 1 for inflating the airbag 20. The panel 21 is formed with a slit 24 serving as an inflator insertion port, and bolt insertion ports 2526 and through which bolts 2 and 3 erected from a side surface of the inflator 1 are inserted. The airbag 20 has a tether 30 for closing the slit 24. In the tether 30, one end side in the longitudinal direction is attached to the panel 21 inside the airbag 20, the other end side in the longitudinal direction is pulled out to the outside of the airbag 20 through the slit 24, and bolt insertion ports 3233, formed on the other end side are hooked on the bolts 2, 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a side airbag device that inflates and deploys to the side of a vehicle occupant. [Background technology]

[0002] As is well known, a side airbag device is configured to inflate an airbag (side airbag) on ​​the side of an occupant by an inflator, and restrain the body of the occupant with the inflated airbag.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a side airbag in which a cylindrical inflator is inserted through an insertion opening in a housing section provided at the base end of the airbag, and a tongue is folded back to cover the insertion opening and the end face of the inflator, and the tip of the tongue is engaged with the outer surface of the housing section. However, with the configuration of Patent Document 1, when gas is ejected from the inflator and pressure is applied from inside the airbag, a gap is formed between the insertion opening and the tongue, making it easy for gas to leak. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-104176 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6994978 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a side airbag device that can prevent gas from the inflator from leaking out of the airbag. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The side airbag device of the present invention comprises an airbag in which a first panel and a second panel are overlapped and sewn together at their peripheries, and an inflator for inflating the airbag, wherein the first panel is formed with a slit that serves as an inflator insertion port and a first bolt insertion port through which a bolt erected from the side of the inflator is inserted, and the tether has a tether that closes the slit, one longitudinal end of the tether is attached to the first panel inside the airbag, and the other longitudinal end is pulled out to the outside of the airbag through the slit, and the bolt is passed through a second bolt insertion port formed on the other end.

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, the one end of the tether is attached to the first panel at a position opposite the first bolt insertion hole across the slit.

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, the inflator has a tip end having a gas outlet that is disposed within the airbag, and a tail end that protrudes outside the airbag through the slit, and the tether has an inflator insertion port through which the inflator is inserted.

[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, the inflator is disposed entirely within the airbag. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent gas from the inflator from leaking out of the airbag. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an automobile seat equipped with a side airbag device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a panel that constitutes an airbag of the side airbag device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3A is a plan view of the airbag before the inflator is attached, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIB-IIIB in FIG. 3A. [Figure 4] 4A is a plan view of the airbag after the inflator is attached, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVB-IVB of FIG. 4A. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the force acting on the tether when the airbag is deployed. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B are diagrams showing examples of inflator installation. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the force acting on the tether when the airbag is deployed. [Figure 9] 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating a modified method of attaching a tether. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, a side airbag device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, an airbag 20 of the side airbag device is configured to inflate along the window side portion of a vehicle seat 10. The seat 10 includes a seat cushion 11, a seat back 12, and a headrest 13.

[0014] An airbag 20 is folded and stored at the side of the seatback 12 and is covered with a soft cover, a hard cover, or other member (not shown).

[0015] 2 and 3, this airbag 20 is formed into a bag shape by overlapping two panels (fabrics), panel 21 (first panel) and panel 22 (second panel), and sewing the peripheral edges together with a seam 23. It may also be formed by folding one panel over, overlapping one half of the first panel with the other half of the second panel, and sewing the peripheral edges together.

[0016] The panel 21 is formed with a slit 24 for inserting the inflator 1 into the airbag 20. The panel 21 also has bolt insertion holes 25 and 26 through which stud bolts 2 and 3 (see FIG. 4B) standing upright from the side surfaces of the inflator 1 are inserted.

[0017] The airbag 20 also has a tether 30 for shielding the slit 24, which serves as an inflator insertion port. The tether 30 is belt-shaped, and has an inflator insertion port 31 formed in the center. Furthermore, bolt insertion ports 32 and 33 are formed on one half side in the longitudinal direction of the tether 30. The inflator insertion hole 31 and the bolt insertion port 33 are connected by a slit 34. The width (length in the short direction) of the tether 30 is approximately the same as the length of the slit 24.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3B, the other longitudinal half of the tether 30, on which the bolt insertion holes 32, 33 are not formed, is positioned inside the airbag 20 (between the panels 21 and 22) and is sewn to the panel 21 by the seam 27.

[0019] The attachment location of the tether 30 on the panel 21 is on the opposite side of the slit 24 from the bolt insertion holes 25 and 26 .

[0020] The end of the tether 30 may be folded over and the folded portion sewn to the panel 21 by a seam 27 .

[0021] One half of the tether 30 in the longitudinal direction, where the bolt insertion holes 32 and 33 are formed, is drawn out to the outside of the airbag 20 through the slit 24 .

[0022] 4A and 4B, the inflator 1 is cylindrical and has a gas outlet on the tip side (upper end side). The inflator 1 is inserted from the tip side through the inflator insertion port 31 of the tether 30 and the slit 24 of the panel 21, in that order, and the inflator 1 is disposed inside the airbag 20. In this example, the distal end side (lower end side) of the inflator 1 passes through the slit 24 and protrudes outside the airbag 20.

[0023] The size of the inflator insertion opening 31 is approximately the same as the diameter of the main body (cylinder portion) of the inflator 1. By passing the stud bolts 2, 3 of the inflator 1 through the slits 34 connected to the inflator insertion opening 31, the inflator 1 can be smoothly placed inside the airbag 20.

[0024] After inserting the inflator 1 into the airbag 20, the stud bolts 2 and 3 are passed through the bolt insertion holes 25 and 26 of the panel 21 to protrude outside the airbag 20. Next, as shown in Figures 4B and 5, the bolt insertion holes 32 and 33 of the tether 30 are passed through the stud bolts 2 and 3 protruding outside the airbag 20.

[0025] When the inflator 1 is inserted into the airbag 20, a gap is formed between the side surface of the inflator 1 and the slit 24, but this gap is closed by the tether 30.

[0026] The stud bolts 2, 3 pass through bolt insertion holes in a case (not shown) of the side airbag device and protrude to the outside of the case. The airbag 20 is folded, housed in the case, and covered with a soft cover, a hard cover, or other member.

[0027] The stud bolts 2 and 3 protruding from the case of this side airbag device are inserted into bolt insertion holes in the seatback frame and tightened with nuts, thereby fixing the airbag 20, inflator 1 and case to the seatback frame.

[0028] The inflator 1 is activated and ejected gas inflates and deploys the airbag 20. The inflated airbag 20 restrains the occupant.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 6, pressure is applied to the tether 30 by the gas ejected from the inflator 1. However, tension is generated in the tether 30 when it is engaged with the stud bolts 2 and 3, and the pressing force associated with this tension causes the tether 30 and the slit 24 to tightly contact the side surface of the inflator 1. This prevents the gap between the side surface of the inflator 1 and the slit 24 from increasing, suppresses the outflow of gas, and prevents a drop in the internal pressure of the airbag 20.

[0030] In addition, a diffuser or the like that distributes gas from the inflator 1 may be provided inside the airbag 20.

[0031] In the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the lower part of the inflator 1 is disposed outside the airbag 20, but as shown in Figures 7A and 7B, the entire inflator 1 may be disposed inside the airbag 20. In this case, the inflator insertion port 31 and the slit 34 of the tether 30 can be omitted.

[0032] In this configuration, when gas is ejected from the inflator 1 and the airbag 20 is deployed, a tensile force is generated that tries to widen the slit 24, as shown in Figure 8. However, on the other hand, a tensile force is generated by the tether 30 being threaded through the stud bolts 2 and 3, so that the tether 30 closes the slit 24, suppresses the outflow of gas, and prevents a drop in the internal pressure of the airbag 20.

[0033] In the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the end of tether 30 is attached to panel 21 but not to panel 22. However, as in the airbag 20A shown in Figures 9A and 9B, the end of tether 30 may be sewn to seam 23A that sews together the peripheral edges of panels 21A and 22A. In this case, tether 30 is attached to panels 21A and 22A.

[0034] The above-described embodiment shows one mode of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1 inflator 2,3 Stud bolts 12 Seat back 20 Airbag 24 Slit 30 Tether

Claims

1. an airbag in which a first panel and a second panel are overlapped and their peripheral edges are sewn together; an inflator for inflating the airbag; Equipped with The first panel is formed with a slit serving as an inflator insertion port and a first bolt insertion port through which a bolt extending from a side surface of the inflator is inserted, a tether that closes the slit; a side airbag device, wherein one longitudinal end of the tether is attached to the first panel inside the airbag, the other longitudinal end passes through the slit and is pulled out to the outside of the airbag, and a second bolt insertion hole formed on the other end is passed through by the bolt.

2. The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the one end of the tether is attached to the first panel at a position opposite the first bolt insertion hole across the slit.

3. The inflator has a tip end having a gas outlet disposed within the airbag, and a tail end protruding outside the airbag through the slit, 2. The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the tether has an inflator insertion hole through which the inflator is inserted.

4. 2. The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the inflator is disposed entirely within the airbag.

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