Curtain airbag device for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a curtain airbag device for a vehicle, capable of inhibiting the head of an occupant from moving outward in a vehicle width direction while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost.SOLUTION: A curtain airbag device 40 for a vehicle includes: a curtain airbag 50 having a sub chamber 52 the lower end part of which, by the supply of gas through a main chamber 54 for protecting the head PfH of an occupant Pf at least in the event of rollover of a vehicle 10, is inflated and deployed to a vehicle lower side relative to a door belt line BL along side glass 16; and an extension cloth 80 which is provided at the lower end part of the sub chamber 52 so as to extend to a vehicle lower side relative to the lower end part of the sub chamber 52, and in which the friction coefficient of an outer face capable of coming into contact with a door trim 77 is made greater than the friction coefficient of a base cloth forming the curtain airbag 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] A curtain airbag device that is equipped with a sub-chamber that receives gas through a main chamber that restrains the occupant's head when the vehicle rolls over and inflates and deploys at the front of the vehicle and below the door belt line has been known for some time (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this curtain airbag device, the lower end of the sub-chamber is extended to overlap the upper end of the door trim by about 100 mm, thereby preventing the occupant's head from moving outward in the vehicle width direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-106669 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, as described above, when the lower end of the sub-chamber is extended, the length of the curtain airbag increases, and the number of curtain airbags that can be produced from one piece of base fabric decreases. In other words, the manufacturing cost of the curtain airbag increases. In addition, since the capacity of the curtain airbag increases, a high-output inflator is required, which increases the risk of injury to the occupant and the manufacturing cost of the entire curtain airbag device. Thus, there is still room for improvement in the configuration of the curtain airbag device that suppresses the movement of the occupant's head outward in the vehicle width direction while suppressing an increase in manufacturing cost.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle curtain airbag device that can suppress movement of an occupant's head outward in the vehicle width direction while suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a curtain airbag device for a vehicle, comprising: a main chamber for protecting the head of an occupant when the vehicle rolls over; a sub-chamber having a lower end that is inflated and deployed along a side window toward a lower side of the door belt line of the vehicle by supplying gas through the main chamber for protecting the head of an occupant when the vehicle rolls over; a peripheral non-expandable portion formed on the peripheral edge portion; and a curtain airbag having a lower end portion of the sub-chamber. a tongue portion formed including a lower edge portion of the outer peripheral non-expandable portion in the vehicle; and a tongue portion provided on an outer surface of the tongue portion by sewing or heat welding and extending toward a lower side of the vehicle. and an extension cloth having an outer surface that can come into contact with the door trim and has a friction coefficient that is greater than the friction coefficient of a base cloth that constitutes the curtain airbag.

[0007] According to the invention of claim 1, the lower end of the sub-chamber that is inflated and deployed below the door belt line is located below the lower end of the sub-chamber. A tongue is formed including a lower edge of the outer peripheral non-inflatable portion of the seat, and an extension cloth is provided on the outer surface of the tongue by sewing or heat welding. The extension cloth extends toward the lower side of the vehicle. The outer surface of the extension cloth is capable of coming into contact with the door trim. The friction coefficient of the outer surface of the extension cloth is set to be greater than the friction coefficient of the base cloth constituting the curtain airbag. In other words, the extension cloth is not likely to slide toward the upper side of the vehicle, and can be held between the shoulder of the occupant and the door trim. Therefore, even if a load is applied by the occupant's head to the inflated and deployed curtain airbag outward in the vehicle width direction at least when the vehicle rolls over, the movement of the curtain airbag outward in the vehicle width direction is suppressed, and the movement of the occupant's head outward in the vehicle width direction is suppressed.

[0008] In addition, the extension cloth is not formed by extending the lower end of the sub-chamber, but is formed on the lower side of the vehicle than the lower end of the sub-chamber. The outer surface of the tongue portion formed including the lower edge of the outer peripheral non-expandable portion is sewn or heat-sealed.Since the curtain airbag is configured by providing the curtain airbag, the bag length of the curtain airbag is prevented from increasing, and the number of curtain airbags taken from one piece of base fabric is prevented from decreasing when the curtain airbag is manufactured. In addition, since the volume of the curtain airbag is prevented from increasing, a high-output inflator is not required. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the curtain airbag is prevented from increasing, and the manufacturing cost of the entire curtain airbag device is also prevented from increasing.

[0009] The vehicle curtain airbag device according to claim 2 is the vehicle curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the extension cloth extends to a length that reaches an upper surface of an armrest.

[0010] According to the invention described in claim 2, the extension cloth extends to a length that reaches the upper surface of the armrest. In other words, the extension cloth does not extend beyond the armrest to the lower side of the vehicle. This prevents the extension cloth from being pushed by the armrest, causing a part of the extension cloth above the armrest to separate from the door trim, making it difficult to hold the part of the extension cloth between the occupant's shoulder and the door trim. Therefore, the extension cloth is effectively held between the occupant's shoulder and the door trim.

[0011] The vehicle curtain airbag device according to claim 3 is the vehicle curtain airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the extension cloth is folded back toward the inside in the vehicle width direction along a fold line extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and then the outside in the vehicle width direction together with the curtain airbag is rolled up toward the upper side of the vehicle to be stored.

[0012] According to the invention described in claim 3, the extension cloth is folded back toward the inside in the vehicle width direction along the fold line extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and then the outer side in the vehicle width direction is rolled up toward the upper side of the vehicle together with the curtain airbag in a roll shape and stored. Therefore, when the curtain airbag inflates and deploys, the sub-chamber and the extension cloth, which inflate and deploy below the door belt line, ride up on the upper surface of the door trim, suppressing or preventing the occurrence of a malfunction in which the curtain airbag moves toward the outside in the vehicle width direction (away from the head of the occupant). Effect of the Invention

[0013] As described above, according to the present invention, in a vehicle curtain airbag device, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing costs while suppressing movement of the occupant's head outward in the vehicle width direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view showing a state in which a curtain airbag of a vehicle curtain airbag device according to the present embodiment is inflated and deployed. [Diagram 2] 2 is an expanded development view showing a curtain airbag of the vehicle curtain airbag device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] 5A to 5D are explanatory views showing a process in which an extension cloth of the vehicle curtain airbag device according to the present embodiment is wound into a roll together with the curtain airbag. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle curtain airbag device according to the present embodiment, showing a state in the middle of inflation and deployment of the curtain airbag, as viewed from the front. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle curtain airbag device according to the present embodiment, seen from the front after inflation and deployment of the curtain airbag is completed. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, the arrow UP shown in each drawing indicates the vehicle upward direction, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle forward direction, and the arrow RH indicates the vehicle rightward direction. Therefore, in the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, when the up / down, front / rear, and left / right directions are described, they refer to the up / down, front / rear, and left / right directions of the vehicle. In addition, the left / right direction is synonymous with the vehicle width direction.

[0016] In this embodiment, a sedan-type automobile 10 is used as an example of the vehicle, and an occupant P is seated in a vehicle seat 12 serving as a front seat and a vehicle seat 14 serving as a rear seat. Each occupant P is a dummy for a crash test, and this dummy is, for example, the AM50 (50th percentile of adult American males) of the World Side Impact Dummy (World SID).

[0017] Each occupant P is seated in the vehicle seat 12, 14 in a seating manner stipulated in the side collision test method, and is restrained in the vehicle seat 12, 14 by a seat belt of a three-point seat belt device (not shown). In the following description, the occupant P seated in the front vehicle seat 12 may be referred to as a "front seat occupant Pf," and the occupant P seated in the rear vehicle seat 14 may be referred to as a "rear seat occupant Pr."

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle curtain airbag device 40 of this embodiment mounted on an automobile 10 includes a curtain airbag 50 that inflates and deploys when gas is supplied thereto, an inflator 42 that supplies gas to the inside of the curtain airbag 50, and a control device 30 that controls the operation of the inflator 42.

[0019] The curtain airbag 50 and the inflator 42 are provided on both the left and right sides of the automobile 10. That is, the vehicle curtain airbag device 40 is configured to include a pair of left and right curtain airbags 50 and a pair of left and right inflators 42. Note that Figs. 1 to 5 show the vehicle curtain airbag device 40 provided on the right side of the automobile 10, and the following description will be given taking the right vehicle curtain airbag device 40 as an example.

[0020] The curtain airbag 50 is configured to inflate and deploy in a curtain shape along the front side window 16, approximately the upper half of the center pillar (hereinafter referred to as "B pillar") 28, and the rear side window 18. Therefore, the longitudinal direction of the curtain airbag 50 is the front-to-rear direction. The specific configuration of the curtain airbag 50 will be described in detail later.

[0021] The inflator 42 is a gas generating device for instantaneously supplying gas to the inside of the curtain airbag 50, and is disposed near approximately the middle portion in the longitudinal direction of the curtain airbag 50 (near the B pillar 28). More specifically, the inflator 42 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and is fixed to the roof side rail 22 constituting the roof side portion 20 via a bracket (not shown) so that its axial center portion is disposed along approximately the front-rear direction.

[0022] A gas outlet 44 provided at one axial end (in this case, the front end) of the inflator 42 is inserted from the rear side into a connection passage 48 formed in the approximate middle of the curtain airbag 50 in the longitudinal direction, thereby connecting the gas outlet 44 to the curtain airbag 50. The gas outlet 44 and the curtain airbag 50 are configured to communicate with each other. The outer circumferential surface of the gas outlet 44 and the inner circumferential surface of the connection passage 48 are tightly sealed to prevent gas from leaking out from between them.

[0023] 1, the left and right inflators 42 are each electrically connected to an airbag ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 32 provided in the automobile 10. The airbag ECU 32 is then electrically connected to a side impact sensor 34, an oblique impact sensor 36, and a rollover sensor 38 provided in the automobile 10.

[0024] The side impact sensor 34 is configured to detect or predict a side impact of the automobile 10 and output a side impact signal to the airbag ECU 32. The oblique impact sensor 36 is configured to detect or predict an oblique impact of the automobile 10 and output an oblique impact signal to the airbag ECU 32. And the rollover sensor 38 is configured to detect or predict a rollover (overturn) of the automobile 10 and output a rollover signal to the airbag ECU 32.

[0025] The airbag ECU 32 is configured to activate the inflator 42 on the side collision side or the oblique collision side (near side) when a side collision signal or an oblique collision signal is input. As a result, the near side curtain airbag 50 receives gas supply and inflates and deploys. The airbag ECU 32 is also configured to activate the left and right inflators 42 when a rollover signal is input.

[0026] When a rollover signal is input after a side collision or an oblique collision, the airbag ECU 32 activates the inflator 42 on the opposite side (far side) from the near side that has already been activated. The airbag ECU 32, the side collision sensor 34, the oblique collision sensor 36, and the rollover sensor 38 form a control device 30.

[0027] The curtain airbag 50 is woven into an integrated bag by, for example, a one-piece woven (OPW) method. In the OPW method, a Jacquard loom is used to simultaneously weave two base fabrics while multiple weaving is performed at required locations to form a seamless bag body.

[0028] The manufacturing method of the curtain airbag 50 is not limited to the above-mentioned OPW method. For example, the curtain airbag 50 may be manufactured by sewing one or more pieces of base fabric formed by cutting a polyamide or polyester fabric material into a bag shape.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the curtain airbag 50 includes a front seat main chamber 54 and a rear seat main chamber 58 as main chambers, a front seat auxiliary chamber 52 as an auxiliary chamber provided forward of the front seat main chamber 54, and a rear seat auxiliary chamber 56 as an auxiliary chamber provided between the front seat main chamber 54 and the rear seat main chamber 58 (provided forward of the rear seat main chamber 58).

[0030] The curtain airbag 50 also includes a gas supply passage 55 that interconnects the front seat main chamber 54 and the rear seat main chamber 58. The gas supply passage 55 is formed mainly in the upper part of the curtain airbag 50, approximately in the middle in the longitudinal direction, and interconnects the upper part of the front seat main chamber 54 and the upper part of the rear seat main chamber 58. From the upper end of this gas supply passage 55, the above-mentioned connecting passage 48 extends upward and rearward.

[0031] In addition, a peripheral non-inflatable portion 60 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the curtain airbag 50. That is, this peripheral non-inflatable portion 60 continuously constitutes the upper edge, lower edge, front edge, and rear edge of the curtain airbag 50. In addition, in this curtain airbag 50, a plurality of non-inflatable portions 62, 64, 66, 68 for partitioning the above-mentioned chambers 52, 54, 56, 58 and the gas supply passage 55 are formed.

[0032] The front seat main chamber 54 is inflated and deployed between the head PfH of the front seat occupant Pf and the side of the vehicle interior (front side window 16) to restrain and protect the head PfH of the front seat occupant Pf at least in the event of a side collision (see FIG. 1). The front seat auxiliary chamber 52 is inflated and deployed forward of the front seat main chamber 54 to restrain and protect the head PfH of the front seat occupant Pf in the event of an oblique collision or rollover.

[0033] The front auxiliary chamber 52 is separated from the front main chamber 54 by a non-inflatable portion 62 extending in the vertical direction at approximately the center in the vertical direction on the front side of the curtain airbag 50. Gas is supplied from the front main chamber 54 to the front auxiliary chamber 52 through the throttle passages 51 and 53.

[0034] That is, throttle passages 51, 53 are formed between an upper end 62A of the non-inflating portion 62 and an upper edge of the curtain airbag 50, and between a lower end 62B of the non-inflating portion 62 and a lower edge of the curtain airbag 50. The front seat auxiliary chamber 52 and the front seat main chamber 54 are mutually communicated via the throttle passages 51, 53.

[0035] A front tongue portion 72 having a trapezoidal shape is formed at the front end of the lower edge of the outer peripheral non-inflatable portion 60 in a side view from the vehicle width direction, and this front tongue portion 72 extends below the door belt line BL passing through the lower edge of the window frame (the upper edge of the door trim 77 of the front side door 76) (see FIG. 1). The length of the front tongue portion 72 in the up-down direction is, for example, 20 mm or more and 50 mm or less. A predetermined region from the front of the lower end of the front seat main chamber 54 to the lower end of the front seat auxiliary chamber 52 protrudes toward the front tongue portion 72, and the protruding portion (the portion where the throttle flow passage 53 is formed) also forms a part of the auxiliary chamber.

[0036] The rear seat main chamber 58 is inflated and deployed between the head PrH of the rear seat passenger Pr and the side of the vehicle compartment (rear side window 18) to restrain and protect the head PrH of the rear seat passenger Pr at least in the event of a side collision (see FIG. 1). The rear seat auxiliary chamber 56 is inflated and deployed between the front seat main chamber 54 and the rear seat main chamber 58 to restrain and protect the head PrH of the rear seat passenger Pr in the event of an oblique collision or rollover.

[0037] The rear seat auxiliary chamber 56 is separated from the gas supply passage 55 by a non-inflatable portion 64 extending in the front-rear direction on the upper side of the curtain airbag 50. The rear seat auxiliary chamber 56 is separated into an upper chamber 56A and a lower chamber 56B by a crank-shaped non-inflatable portion 66 extending from approximately the middle portion of the non-inflatable portion 64 in the front-rear direction to the rear lower side of the curtain airbag 50.

[0038] A front end 66A of the non-inflatable portion 66 is connected to an approximately intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the non-inflatable portion 64, and a rear end 66B of the non-inflatable portion 66 extends toward the lower edge of the curtain airbag 50 and is connected to the peripheral non-inflatable portion 60. A throttled flow passage 59 is formed between the rear end 64B of the non-inflatable portion 64 and the rear end 66B of the non-inflatable portion 66, and the upper chamber 56A and the rear seat main chamber 58 are mutually communicated via the throttled flow passage 59. In other words, gas is supplied from the rear seat main chamber 58 to the upper chamber 56A via the throttled flow passage 59.

[0039] On the other hand, a front end 64F of the non-inflating portion 64 is curved into a substantially "C" shape, and a tip portion 64A of the non-inflating portion 64 extends rearward. The lower chamber 56B is separated from the front main chamber 54 by a non-inflating portion 68 having a substantially inverted "V" shape formed in a substantially intermediate portion of the curtain airbag 50 in the front-rear direction. A front end 68A of the non-inflating portion 68 extends toward the lower edge of the curtain airbag 50 and is connected to the peripheral non-inflating portion 60. A rear end 68B of the non-inflating portion 68 extends rearward.

[0040] That is, the region from the front end 64F to the tip end 64A of the non-inflatable portion 64 and the region from the upper end 68U to the rear end 68B of the non-inflatable portion 68 are arranged vertically in parallel. A throttled passage 57 is formed between the upper end 68U of the non-inflatable portion 68 and the front end 64F of the non-inflatable portion 64, and the lower chamber 56B and the front main chamber 54 are mutually communicated via the throttled passage 57. That is, gas is supplied from the front main chamber 54 to the lower chamber 56B via the throttled passage 57.

[0041] A trapezoidal rear tongue portion 74 is formed in a side view from the vehicle width direction at a portion of the outer peripheral non-inflatable portion 60 corresponding to the lower end of the rear seat auxiliary chamber 56 (lower chamber 56B), and this rear tongue portion 74 extends below the door belt line BL (see FIG. 1). The length of the rear tongue portion 74 in the up-down direction is also set to, for example, 20 mm or more and 50 mm or less. A predetermined region at the lower end of the rear seat auxiliary chamber 56 (lower chamber 56B) protrudes toward the rear tongue portion 74, and the protruding portion also forms part of the auxiliary chamber.

[0042] Furthermore, a plurality of fixing tabs 46 are provided extending upward at the upper edge of the curtain airbag 50. Each fixing tab 46 is formed by cutting out a base fabric similar to that of the curtain airbag 50 into a substantially rectangular shape, and is joined to a peripheral non-inflatable portion 60 at the upper edge of the curtain airbag 50 by sewing. Note that each fixing tab 46 may be configured to extend integrally from the peripheral non-inflatable portion 60 at the upper edge of the curtain airbag 50.

[0043] Also, as shown in FIG. 1, each fixing tab 46 is adapted to be positioned in the roof side portion 20, which is the upper end portion of the side of the vehicle compartment, and is fixed to the roof side rail 22, which includes the rear end portion of the front pillar (hereinafter referred to as the "A pillar") 24 (the boundary portion between the A pillar 24 and the roof side rail 22) and the front end portion of the rear pillar (hereinafter referred to as the "C pillar") 26 (the boundary portion between the C pillar 26 and the roof side rail 22).

[0044] That is, each fixing tab 46 is fixed to the roof side rail 22 extending from the rear end of the A-pillar 24 to the front end of the C-pillar 26 by fasteners such as clips, bolts, and nuts (not shown). As shown in Fig. 3, the curtain airbag 50 is folded into a roll shape with its axial direction being approximately the front-rear direction and formed into an elongated shape, and is configured to be stored in the roof side portion 20 together with the inflator 42. The method of folding the curtain airbag 50 will be described in detail later.

[0045] In the vehicle curtain airbag device 40 configured as described above, when the inflator 42 is activated, gas ejected from the inflator 42 is supplied to the front seat main chamber 54 and the rear seat main chamber 58 through the connecting passage 48 and the gas supply passage 55. As a result, the front seat main chamber 54 is inflated and deployed between the head PfH of the front seat occupant Pf and the front side window 16, and the rear seat main chamber 58 is inflated and deployed between the head PrH of the rear seat occupant Pr and the rear side window 18.

[0046] Further, a portion of the gas supplied to the front main chamber 54 is supplied to the front auxiliary chamber 52 through the throttle passages 51 and 53, and is also supplied to the lower chamber 56B of the rear auxiliary chamber 56 through the throttle passage 57. Then, a portion of the gas supplied to the rear main chamber 58 is supplied to the upper chamber 56A of the rear auxiliary chamber 56 through the throttle passage 59. As a result, the front auxiliary chamber 52 and the rear auxiliary chamber 56 begin to inflate later than the front main chamber 54 and the rear main chamber 58.

[0047] This is because, in the event of an oblique collision or rollover, the timing at which the head PfH of the front seat occupant Pf and the head PrH of the rear seat occupant Pr come into contact with the curtain airbag 50 is delayed compared to the event of a side collision. In other words, in the event of a side collision, the head PfH of the front seat occupant Pf and the head PrH of the rear seat occupant Pr come into contact with the front seat main chamber 54 and the rear seat main chamber 58, respectively, and are restrained and protected, before the front seat auxiliary chamber 52 and the rear seat auxiliary chamber 56 complete inflation.

[0048] In this way, at the time when the head PfH of the front seat occupant Pf and the head PrH of the rear seat occupant Pr are restrained and protected in the front seat main chamber 54 and the rear seat main chamber 58, the internal pressure of the front seat main chamber 54 and the rear seat main chamber 58 is higher than the internal pressure of the front seat auxiliary chamber 52 and the rear seat auxiliary chamber 56.

[0049] 2, an upper end of a front extension cloth 82 serving as an extension cloth 80 is provided by sewing, heat welding, or the like on the outer surface of the front tongue portion 72 including a predetermined region from the front part of the lower end of the front main chamber 54 to the lower end of the front auxiliary chamber 52. The front extension cloth 82 is made of the same cloth as the base cloth constituting the curtain airbag 50, and has an outer surface with a higher friction coefficient than that of the base cloth. In other words, a coating material with a higher friction coefficient than the coating material applied to the surface of the curtain airbag 50 is applied to the outer surface of the front extension cloth 82.

[0050] Then, as shown in FIG. 5, after the curtain airbag 50 has been fully inflated and deployed, the front extension cloth 82 is pushed outward in the vehicle width direction by the shoulder PfS of the front seat occupant Pf, and extends significantly downward from the lower end of the front tongue portion 72 so that its outer surface can come into contact with the door trim 77 of the front side door 76.

[0051] That is, the front extension cloth 82 has a length in the up-down direction that is, for example, 200 mm or more and 250 mm or less, and extends to a length that reaches the upper surface of the armrest 78 of the front side door 76. In other words, the front extension cloth 82 is provided so as to extend to a maximum length that reaches the upper surface of the armrest 78, and is formed to a length that does not extend downward beyond the armrest 78.

[0052] Similarly, an upper end of a rear extension cloth 84 serving as an extension cloth 80 is provided by sewing, heat welding, or the like on the outer surface of the rear tongue portion 74 including a predetermined region at the lower end of the lower chamber 56B. The rear extension cloth 84 is made of the same cloth as the base cloth constituting the curtain airbag 50, and has an outer surface with a higher friction coefficient than that of the base cloth. In other words, a coating material with a higher friction coefficient than the coating material applied to the surface of the curtain airbag 50 is also applied to the outer surface of the rear extension cloth 84.

[0053] After the curtain airbag 50 has been fully inflated and deployed, the rear extension cloth 84 is pushed outward in the vehicle width direction by the shoulder (not shown) of the rear seat occupant Pr, and extends significantly downward from the lower end of the rear tongue portion 74 so that its outer surface can come into contact with the door trim (not shown) of the rear side door (not shown).

[0054] That is, the length of the rear extension cloth 84 in the vertical direction is, for example, 200 mm to 250 mm, and extends to a length that reaches the upper surface of the armrest (not shown) of the rear side door. In other words, the rear extension cloth 84 is also extended to a maximum length that reaches the upper surface of the armrest, and is formed to a length that does not extend downward beyond the armrest.

[0055] The front extension cloth 82 is formed in a trapezoid shape that is continuous with the shape of the front tongue portion 72, but is not limited to this trapezoid shape. Similarly, the rear extension cloth 84 is formed in a trapezoid shape that is continuous with the shape of the rear tongue portion 74, but is not limited to this trapezoid shape. Similarly to the outer surfaces, the friction coefficients of the inner surfaces of the front extension cloth 82 and the rear extension cloth 84 are preferably larger than that of the base fabric that constitutes the curtain airbag 50, but there are no particular restrictions.

[0056] In addition, the front extension cloth 82 and the rear extension cloth 84 may be made of a rubber material formed into a thin cloth as long as they can be wound into a roll as described below. If the front extension cloth 82 and the rear extension cloth 84 are made of a rubber material, they will naturally have an outer surface with a larger friction coefficient than the base cloth of the curtain airbag 50.

[0057] The front extension cloth 82 and the rear extension cloth 84 are wound in a roll shape and stored together with the curtain airbag 50. Next, a method for winding the front extension cloth 82 and the rear extension cloth 84 will be described. However, since the front extension cloth 82 and the rear extension cloth 84 are wound in the same manner, the front extension cloth 82 will be described as an example here.

[0058] As shown in Figures 3(A) and 3(B), the front extension cloth 82 is first folded back toward the inside in the vehicle width direction along a fold line 86 extending substantially in the front-rear direction. Then, as shown in Figure 3(C), the lower end portion 82A in the folded back state is wound up in a roll toward the upper side on the outside in the vehicle width direction. As a result, as shown in Figure 3(D), the front extension cloth 82 is wound up in a roll together with the curtain airbag 50, and the curtain airbag 50 in this state is stored in the roof side portion 20.

[0059] The operation of the vehicle curtain airbag device 40 according to this embodiment configured as described above will now be described. Note that since the operation is the same for the front seat side and the rear seat side, the operation will be described here by taking the front seat side as an example.

[0060] For example, when the rollover sensor 38 detects that the automobile 10 has rolled over, the rollover sensor 38 sends a rollover signal to the airbag ECU 32. When the rollover signal is input to the airbag ECU 32, the airbag ECU 32 activates the left and right inflators 42 to instantly inject gas into the left and right curtain airbags 50.

[0061] 4, the curtain airbag 50 starts to inflate and deploy. That is, first, the front seat main chamber 54 is inflated and deployed by the gas supplied through the gas supply passage 55. Next, gas is supplied from the front seat main chamber 54 through the throttle passages 51 and 53 to the front seat auxiliary chamber 52, and the front seat auxiliary chamber 52 inflates and deploys, and the lower end portion thereof and the front extension cloth 82 deploy below the door belt line BL.

[0062] 3(A) to 3(D), the front extension cloth 82 is folded back toward the inside in the vehicle width direction along a fold line 86 extending in the front-rear direction, and then the outer side in the vehicle width direction is rolled up toward the upper side together with the curtain airbag 50, and is stored in the roof side portion 20. Therefore, when the curtain airbag 50 is inflated and deployed, the front extension cloth 82 deploys from the inner side in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

[0063] Therefore, when the curtain airbag 50 inflates and deploys, the lower end of the front seat auxiliary chamber 52, which inflates and deploys below the door belt line BL, more specifically, a predetermined area from the front lower end of the front seat main chamber 54 to the lower end of the front seat auxiliary chamber 52, and the front extension cloth 82 ride up on the upper surface of the door trim 77, suppressing or preventing the occurrence of a malfunction in which the curtain airbag 50 moves outward in the vehicle width direction (in the direction away from the head PfH of the occupant Pf).

[0064] 5, when the inflation and deployment of the curtain airbag 50 is completed, the outer surface of the front extension cloth 82 extending from the front tongue portion 72 downward from the door belt line BL faces the door trim 77 and can come into contact with the door trim 77. Here, the friction coefficient of the outer surface of the front extension cloth 82 is set to be larger than the friction coefficient of the base cloth constituting the curtain airbag 50. Therefore, the front extension cloth 82 in contact with the door trim 77 is unlikely to slide upward (it has high sliding resistance against the door trim 77).

[0065] Furthermore, when the automobile 10 rolls over, the front seat occupant Pf moves outward in the vehicle width direction, and the shoulders PfS of the front seat occupant Pf pinch the front extension cloth 82 between the front seat occupant Pf and the door trim 77. Therefore, even if a load is applied outward in the vehicle width direction to the inflated and deployed curtain airbag 50 (front seat auxiliary chamber 52) by the head PfH of the front seat occupant Pf when the automobile 10 rolls over, the movement of the curtain airbag 50 outward in the vehicle width direction can be suppressed or prevented, and the movement of the head PfH of the front seat occupant Pf outward in the vehicle width direction (ejection from the vehicle) can be suppressed or prevented.

[0066] In addition, since the front extension cloth 82 is not configured by extending the lower end of the front seat auxiliary chamber 52, but is configured by being attached to the lower end (front tongue portion 72) of the front seat auxiliary chamber 52 by sewing or the like, it is possible to prevent the bag length of the curtain airbag 50 from becoming large. This makes it possible to prevent the number of curtain airbags taken from one piece of base fabric from becoming smaller when producing the curtain airbag 50.

[0067] This also makes it possible to suppress an increase in the capacity of the curtain airbag 50, eliminating the need for a high-output inflator. This reduces the risk of injury to the front seat occupant Pf caused by the sudden inflation and deployment of the curtain airbag 50, and also suppresses an increase in the manufacturing cost of the curtain airbag 50, thereby suppressing an increase in the manufacturing cost of the entire vehicle curtain airbag device 40.

[0068] Moreover, the front extension cloth 82 extends to a length that reaches the upper surface of the armrest 78. In other words, the front extension cloth 82 does not extend downward beyond the armrest 78. This suppresses or prevents the occurrence of a problem in which the front extension cloth 82 is pushed by the armrest 78, causing a portion of the front extension cloth 82 above the armrest 78 to separate from the door trim 77, making it difficult to hold a portion of the front extension cloth 82 between the shoulder PfS of the front seat occupant Pf and the door trim 77. This allows the front extension cloth 82 to be effectively held between the shoulder PfS of the front seat occupant Pf and the door trim 77.

[0069] In addition, the outer surface of the front extension cloth 82 is coated with a coating material having a higher friction coefficient than the coating material applied to the surface of the curtain airbag 50. Therefore, an increase in the weight of the curtain airbag 50 can be suppressed compared to a configuration in which, for example, a friction-imparting member for increasing the friction coefficient (frictional force) is separately attached to the outer surface of the front extension cloth 82. In other words, the weight of the curtain airbag 50 having the front extension cloth 82 can be reduced.

[0070] Although the vehicle curtain airbag device 40 according to this embodiment has been described above with reference to the drawings, the vehicle curtain airbag device 40 according to this embodiment is not limited to the one shown in the drawings, and the design can be appropriately modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the front extension cloth 82 and the rear extension cloth 84 may be made of a cloth different from the base cloth constituting the curtain airbag 50. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 10 Automobiles (vehicles) 16 Front side glass (side glass) 40 Vehicle curtain airbag device 50 Curtain airbag 52 Front seat auxiliary chamber (auxiliary chamber) 54 Front seat main chamber (main chamber) 77 Door trim 78 Armrest 80 extension cloth 82 Front extension cloth BL Door Belt Line Pf Front seat occupant (passenger) PfH head

Claims

1. a curtain airbag having an auxiliary chamber whose lower end is inflated and deployed along the side window toward a vehicle lower side than the door belt line by supplying gas through a main chamber that protects the head of an occupant at least in the event of a vehicle rollover, and an outer peripheral non-inflatable portion formed on the outer peripheral edge; a tongue portion formed including a lower edge portion of the outer circumferential non-inflatable portion on a vehicle lower side than a lower end portion of the sub-chamber; an extension cloth provided on an outer surface of the tongue portion by sewing or heat welding, extending downwardly of the vehicle, and having an outer surface that can come into contact with the door trim and has a friction coefficient that is greater than the friction coefficient of a base cloth that constitutes the curtain airbag; A vehicle curtain airbag device comprising:

2. 2. The vehicle curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the extension cloth extends to a length that reaches an upper surface of an armrest.

3. 3. The vehicle curtain airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the extension cloth is folded back toward the inside in the vehicle width direction along a fold line extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and then the outside in the vehicle width direction together with the curtain airbag is rolled up toward the upper side of the vehicle to be stored.

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