Pedestrian protection airbag device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an airbag device for pedestrian protection capable of efficiently protecting pedestrians with a simple configuration. [Solution] An airbag device 100 for pedestrian protection comprises: an airbag cushion 114 that is deployed by being inflated from below a front hood 104 toward a windshield 108; and inflators 112a, 112b that supply a gas to the airbag cushion 114. The airbag cushion 114 includes: a main inflation part 118 covering a lower section of the windshield 108; a pair of protruding inflation parts 120a, 120b that protrude upward from the main inflation part 118 and along A-pillars 110a, 110b, respectively; and a pair of tethers 122a, 122b bridging between the main inflation part 118 and respective upper ends 124a, 124b of the protruding inflation parts 120a, 120b. The tethers 122a, 122b have an intersecting section 130 at which the tethers intersect and overlap each other when the airbag cushion 114 is deployed by being inflated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pedestrian protection airbag device provided with an airbag cushion that expands and deploys from below the front hood of a vehicle toward the windshield.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, as an airbag device different from those that restrain occupants inside a vehicle, a pedestrian protection airbag device that protects pedestrians outside the vehicle has been developed. In a main pedestrian protection airbag device, when a sensor provided at the front part of a vehicle or the like detects contact with a pedestrian, an airbag cushion expands and deploys at a part where a pedestrian's body may come into contact, such as a windshield.

[0003] A pedestrian protection airbag device needs to quickly cover a range in a vehicle where a pedestrian may come into contact as a protection area. For example, in the pedestrian airbag device of Patent Document 1, the airbag 5 has a cowl covering part 5a that expands in the vehicle width direction and a pillar covering part 5b that expands in the front-rear direction along the A pillar 17.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] In Patent Document 1, in order to suppress the swing of the pillar covering part 5b, a first tether 14 and a second tether 20 are provided at the front end part and the middle part of the pillar covering part 5b. However, the technique of Patent Document 1 still leaves room for suppressing the swing of the airbag cushion more simply and efficiently.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a pedestrian protection airbag device that can efficiently protect pedestrians with a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of a pedestrian protection airbag device according to the present invention is a pedestrian protection airbag device including an airbag cushion that expands and deploys from below the front hood of a vehicle toward the windshield, and one or a plurality of inflators that supply gas to the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion has a main inflation part that covers at least the lower part of the windshield across one of a pair of A-pillars in the vehicle to the other, a pair of protruding inflation parts that protrude upward along each of the pair of A-pillars from the main inflation part to cover the A-pillars, and a pair of tethers that extend between the vicinity of the upper end of each of the protruding inflation parts and the main inflation part. The pair of tethers is characterized by having an intersection part where the tethers cross and overlap each other when the airbag cushion expands and deploys.

[0008] According to the above configuration, by the tethers pulling the upper ends of the protruding inflation parts toward the main inflation part side, the swaying of the protruding inflation parts during inflation and deployment is suppressed, the vehicle's protection area is covered earlier, and the movement of the protruding inflation parts can also be suppressed during pedestrian restraint to preferably restrain the pedestrian. In particular, the protruding inflation parts can preferably protect the pedestrian from contact with the highly rigid A-pillars. Therefore, according to the above configuration, it is possible to realize a pedestrian protection airbag device that can efficiently protect pedestrians with a simple configuration.

[0009] Further, in the above configuration, an intersection part is formed in the pair of tethers, that is, the pair of tethers is stretched obliquely so as to cross each other, and the upper end side of the protruding inflation part is pulled inward in the vehicle width direction by the tethers. As a result, it is possible to prevent the protruding inflation part from moving outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the A-pillar and to preferably cover the A-pillar.

[0010] The above intersection may be formed at a position exposed from the main inflation portion and the pair of protruding inflation portions when the inflated and deployed airbag cushion is viewed from the front of the vehicle.

[0011] With the above configuration as well, the pair of tethers are stretched obliquely so as to cross each other, and thereby it becomes possible to pull the upper end side of the protruding inflation portion inward in the vehicle width direction by the tethers.

[0012] The above intersection may be formed between the main inflation portion and the windshield when the inflated and deployed airbag cushion is viewed from the front of the vehicle.

[0013] With the above configuration as well, the pair of tethers are stretched obliquely so as to cross each other, and thereby it becomes possible to pull the upper end side of the protruding inflation portion inward in the vehicle width direction by the tethers.

[0014] The above intersection may be formed near the center in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, since the left and right protruding inflation portions are evenly pulled inward in the vehicle width direction respectively, the airbag cushion can be inflated and deployed with stable behavior while suppressing bias.

[0015] The front ends of each of the above pair of tethers may be connected to the edge portion on the front side of the vehicle of the main inflation portion. According to the tethers of this configuration, it becomes possible to pull the protruding inflation portion toward the main inflation portion side.

[0016] The above one or more inflators are provided in a pair in the left and right ranges with the center in the vehicle width direction of the main inflation portion as a boundary, and the front ends of each of the pair of tethers may be connected to an inflator provided in a range on the side opposite to the protruding inflation portion to which the tether is connected.

[0017] With the tethers of the above configuration as well, it becomes possible to pull the protruding inflation portion toward the main inflation portion side.

[0018] The front end of each of the pair of tethers may be connected to a range on the left and right sides with the center in the vehicle width direction of the main inflation part as a boundary, and on the side opposite to the protruding inflation part to which the tether is connected.

[0019] According to the above configuration, since the upper end side of the protruding inflation part is pulled inward in the vehicle width direction by the tether, it is possible to prevent the A-pillar from moving outward in the vehicle width direction and to suitably cover the A-pillar.

[0020] The above-described one or more inflators are provided in a pair in the left and right ranges with the center in the vehicle width direction of the leading edge of the main inflation part as a boundary, and the front end of each of the pair of tethers may be connected to a portion other than the inflator in a range on the left and right opposite side of the leading edge of the main inflation part to which the tether is connected.

[0021] Also by the tether having the above configuration, the protruding inflation part can be pulled toward the main inflation part side and inward in the vehicle width direction, and the A-pillar can be suitably covered by the protruding inflation part.

[0022] The upper end of each of the pair of tethers may be connected to a location on the inner side in the vehicle width direction on the upper end side of the protruding inflation part.

[0023] According to the above configuration, the protruding inflation part can be efficiently pulled inward in the vehicle width direction by the tether.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pedestrian protection airbag device that can efficiently protect pedestrians with a simple configuration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in such embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a pedestrian protection airbag device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(a) is a diagram illustrating a vehicle before the operation of the pedestrian protection airbag device 100, and FIG. 1(b) is a diagram illustrating a vehicle during the operation of the pedestrian protection airbag device 100. In these FIGS. 1 and other figures, the vehicle front-rear direction is illustrated by arrows F (Forward) and B (Back), respectively, the left and right in the vehicle width direction are illustrated by arrows L (Left) and R (Right), respectively, and the vehicle up-down direction is illustrated by arrows U (up) and D (down), respectively.

[0028] The protection targets of the pedestrian protection airbag device 100 include not only pedestrians moving on foot but also drivers and passengers who can drive on the road and drivers in mechanical vehicles where the vehicle body does not surround them. Examples of these mechanical vehicles include bicycles, motorcycles, and kick scooters. Therefore, in the following description, the "pedestrian" includes not only a person walking but also a person driving a bicycle or a motorcycle, a person towing these, a person using a kick scooter or a vehicle and a play equipment similar thereto.

[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 1(a), the pedestrian protection airbag device 100 is installed under the front hood 104 of the vehicle 102. The pedestrian protection airbag device 100 is provided with a sensor (not shown) at a location where the pedestrian's legs or the like are likely to come into contact, such as inside the vicinity of the front bumper 106. When the sensor detects contact with a pedestrian, an activation signal is transmitted to the inflators 112a and 112b (see FIG. 2), which are gas generating devices, via a control unit or the like, and the airbag cushion 114 expands and deploys from below the front hood 104 toward the windshield 108 as shown in FIG. 1(b).

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 1(a), the pedestrian protection airbag device 100 includes a housing 116 that houses the airbag cushion 114. The housing 116 is a long box-shaped container mainly formed of resin, and houses the airbag cushion 114 (see FIG. 2), the inflators 112a and 112b, and the like. The housing 116 is attached to the lower surface of the front hood 104 via a dedicated bracket or the like with its longitudinal direction facing the vehicle width direction.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 1(b), the airbag cushion 114 in the present embodiment expands and deploys along the windshield 108 and receives a pedestrian who is about to come into contact with the windshield 108. In addition, the airbag cushion 114 can also be configured to lift and float the front hood 104. This operation has the effect of reducing the impact applied to a pedestrian who comes into contact with the front hood 104.

[0032] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the pedestrian protection airbag device 100 in FIG. 1(b) illustrated from above. The airbag cushion 114 is in a bag shape and is formed by overlapping and sewing or adhering a plurality of base fabrics constituting its surface, or by weaving using OPW (One-Piece Woven).

[0033] Inflators 112a and 112b are located on the front end side of the airbag cushion 114, and are arranged in a direction extending in the vehicle width direction on both the left and right sides of the front edge of the main inflation portion 118 described later. In the present embodiment, two inflators 112a and 112b are installed to supply gas to the airbag cushion 114 evenly on the left and right. However, if it is an inflator with a large output, it is also possible to implement by installing only one.

[0034] Inflators 112a and 112b are fixed inside the housing 116 (see Fig. 1(b)) using stud bolts (not shown), operate due to a shock detection signal sent from a predetermined sensor, and supply gas to the airbag cushion 114. The airbag cushion 114 begins to inflate due to the gas from the inflators 112a and 112b, and inflates and expands toward the windshield 108 by cracking the housing 116 or the like at the inflation pressure.

[0035] In the present embodiment, the inflators 112a and 112b are of the cylinder type (cylindrical). Currently popular inflators include those filled with a gas generating agent that burns to generate gas, those filled with compressed gas that supply gas without generating heat, or hybrid types that utilize both combustion gas and compressed gas. Any type of inflator can be used as the inflators 112a and 112b.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the inflation region where gas flows in and inflates in the airbag cushion 114 is roughly divided into a main inflation portion 118 and a pair of protruding inflation portions 120a and 120b.

[0037] The main inflation portion 118 receives gas from the inflators 112a and 112b, inflates and expands to cover the lower part of the windshield 108 in the vehicle width direction from the left A-pillar 110a to the right A-pillar 110b, and widely receives the body of a pedestrian.

[0038] The main inflation area 118 can be configured to lift the vicinity of the rear end of the front hood 104 from below, or to expand and inflate overlapping the upper side of the vicinity of the rear end of the front hood 104. When the main inflation area 118 lifts the vicinity of the rear end of the front hood 104, it is possible to reduce the impact given when a pedestrian contacts the front hood 104 by floating the front hood 104.

[0039] A pair of protruding inflation parts 120a and 120b are provided so as to protrude upward along the A-pillars 110a and 110b respectively on both ends in the vehicle width direction of the main inflation part 118. When the protruding inflation parts 120a and 120b receive gas from the main inflation part 118, they expand and unfold to cover the A-pillars 110a and 110b respectively, preventing the head of a pedestrian etc. from contacting the highly rigid A-pillars 110a and 110b.

[0040] A pair of tethers 122a and 122b are stretched between the protruding inflation parts 120a and 120b and the main inflation part 118. The tethers 122a and 122b can pull the protruding inflation parts 120a and 120b toward the main inflation part 118 side to suppress swinging during the inflation and deployment of the airbag cushion 114.

[0041] The upper ends of the tethers 122a and 122b are connected to the connection parts P1 and P2 inside in the vehicle width direction near the upper ends 124a and 124b of the protruding inflation parts 120a and 120b respectively, and the front ends are connected to the connection parts P3 and P4 on the front end 126 side of the main inflation part 118. Therefore, the tethers 122a and 122b can efficiently pull the protruding inflation parts 120a and 120b toward the front side and the inside in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle. Note that the connection of the tethers 122a etc. to the protruding inflation parts 120a etc. can be performed by sewing.

[0042] In this embodiment, the tethers 122a and 122b pull the vicinity of the upper ends 124a and 124b of the protruding inflatable part 120a toward the main inflatable part 118 side, thereby suppressing the swaying of the protruding inflatable parts 120a and 120n during inflation deployment, covering the vehicle's protection area earlier, and suppressing the movement of the protruding inflatable parts 120a and 120b even when restraining a pedestrian, so that the pedestrian can be preferably restrained.

[0043] The front ends of the tethers 122a and 122b are respectively within the left and right ranges E1 and E2 of the front edge of the main inflatable part 118 with the center C1 in the vehicle width direction as the boundary, and are connected to the ranges on the side opposite to the protruding inflatable parts 120a and 120b to which the upper ends of the tethers 122a and 122b are connected. In particular, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the front ends of the tethers 122a and 122b are connected to the portions of the front edge of the main inflatable part 118 other than the inflators 112a and 112b.

[0044] For example, the upper end of the tether 122a is connected to the protruding inflatable part 120a at the connection part P1 within the range E1, and the front end is connected to the main inflatable part 118 at the connection part P3 within the range E2. Also, the upper end of the tether 122b is connected to the protruding inflatable part 120b at the connection part P2 within the range E2, and the front end is connected to the main inflatable part 118 at the connection part P4 within the range E1.

[0045] The front ends of the tethers 122a and 122b can be connected to the front edge of the main inflatable part on the vehicle front side. For example, the front end of the tether 122a can be connected to the ranges of the edges F3 and F4 of the main inflatable part 118 within the range E2. Also, the front end of the tether 122b can be connected to the ranges of the edges F1 and F2 of the main inflatable part 118 within the range E1.

[0046] Due to the above-mentioned tethers 122a and 122b, the upper ends 124a and 124b sides of the protruding inflatable parts 120a and 120b are pulled inward in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the protruding inflatable parts 120a and 120b from moving outward in the vehicle width direction from the A-pillars 110a and 110b, and the A-pillars 110a and 110b can be preferably covered by the protruding inflatable parts 120a and 120b.

[0047] The tethers 122a and 122b have a symmetrical configuration and intersect at the center C1 in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, the left and right protruding and expanding portions 120a and 120b are evenly pulled inward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the airbag cushion 114 can expand and deploy with stable behavior while suppressing bias.

[0048] An intersection portion 130 is formed at the location where the tethers 122a and 122b intersect. The intersection portion 130 is formed by the direct overlap of the tethers 122a and 122b in the vicinity of the center in the vehicle width direction. The intersection portion 130 is formed between the main inflation portion 118 and the windshield 108 when the inflated and deployed airbag cushion 114 is viewed from the front of the vehicle.

[0049] The tethers 122a and 122b are stretched so as to form the intersection portion 130 at the center in the vehicle width direction on the windshield 108 side, thereby evenly pulling the protruding and expanding portions 120a and 120b inward in the vehicle width direction and toward the windshield 108 side, and enabling the protruding and expanding portions 120a and 120b to expand and deploy with stable behavior while suppressing bias and spread.

[0050] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the airbag cushion 114 in FIG. 2 taken along the A-A section. The tethers 122a and 122b pass through the vehicle side, that is, the lower side, of the main inflation portion 118 and extend across the front end 126 of the main inflation portion 118 and the protruding and expanding portions 120a and 120b. With this configuration, the tethers 122a and 122b can also support the vehicle side of the main inflation portion 118 by utilizing the tension.

[0051] As a modification, it is also possible to provide loops through which the tethers 122a and 122b pass, for example, on the vehicle side of the main inflation portion 118 of the airbag cushion 114. By passing the tethers 122a and 122b through the loops, it becomes possible to suppress the movement of the tethers 122a and 122b when the airbag cushion 114 expands and deploys.

[0052] With the above-described configurations, the pedestrian protection airbag device 100 can preferably protect a pedestrian from contacting with the highly rigid A-pillars 110a and 110b (see FIG. 1(b)) by using the protruding and inflating portions 120a and 120b. In particular, by using the tethers 122a and 122b, even if the upper ends 124a and 124b of the protruding and inflating portions 120a and 120b are in a free-end state, they can expand and deploy in a state of covering the A-pillars 110a and 110b without coming off from the A-pillars 110a and 110b. As described above, according to the pedestrian protection airbag device 100, it is possible to efficiently protect a pedestrian with a simple configuration.

[0053] In addition, the pair of tethers 122a and 122b are crossed obliquely so as to form an intersection portion 130 at the center in the vehicle width direction, whereby it is possible to efficiently pull the upper end sides of the protruding and inflating portions 120a and 120b inward in the vehicle width direction. Also by this, in the pedestrian protection airbag device 100, it is possible to prevent the protruding and inflating portions 120a and 120b from moving outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the A-pillars 110a and 110b, and to preferably cover the A-pillars 110a and 110b.

[0054] (Modification example) Hereinafter, modification examples of the above-described respective components will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first modification example (tethers 200a and 200b) of the tethers 122a and 122b in FIG. 2. In FIGS. 4 and subsequent figures, the same components as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and thus the description of the already-described components is omitted. Also, in the following description, for components having the same name as those already described, even if they are denoted by different reference numerals, they are assumed to have the same functions unless otherwise specified.

[0055] The tethers 200a and 200b are stretched between the connection portions P1 and P2 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the upper ends 124a and 124b of the protruding and inflating portions 120a and 120b respectively, and the connection portions P5 and P6 on the rear end 128 side of the main inflating portion 118.

[0056] At the intersection of the tethers 200a and 200b, an intersection portion 202 is formed. The intersection portion 202 is formed by the direct overlap of the tethers 200a and 200b at the center in the vehicle width direction. The intersection portion 202 is formed at a position where the inflated airbag cushion 114 is exposed from the main inflation portion 118 and the protruding inflation portions 120a and 120b when viewed from the front of the vehicle.

[0057] The tethers 200a and 200b are also crossed obliquely so as to form the intersection portion 202 at the center in the vehicle width direction, thereby efficiently pulling the upper end sides of the protruding inflation portions 120a and 120b toward the front side of the vehicle and inward in the vehicle width direction, and enabling the protruding inflation portions 120a and 120b to be inflated and deployed with stable behavior while suppressing bias and spread. In particular, with this configuration, the total length of the tethers 200a and 200b can be kept short, and the tension of the tethers 200a and 200b can be generated at an early stage.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second modification example (tethers 220a and 220b) of the tethers 122a and 122b in FIG. 2. In the present embodiment, the front ends of the tethers 220a and 220b are connected to the inflators 112a and 112b.

[0059] A pair of inflators 112a and 112b are provided symmetrically on the left and right in the left and right ranges E1 and E2 with the center in the vehicle width direction of the main inflation portion 118 as a boundary. The front end of each of the tethers 220a and 220b is connected to the inflators 112a and 112b provided in a range opposite to the protruding inflation portions 120a and 120b to which the upper ends of the tethers 220a and 220b are connected.

[0060] For example, the front end of the tether 220a is connected to the inflator 112b in the range E2. Also, the front end of the tether 220b is connected to the inflator 112a in the range E1. The front ends of these tethers 220a and 220b can be connected to a location where the gas does not directly hit and does not become high temperature, such as around the brackets supporting the inflators 112a and 112b or around the stud bolts.

[0061] The tethers 220a and 220b are also crossed and stretched obliquely so as to form an intersection 222 at the center in the vehicle width direction, thereby efficiently pulling the upper ends of the protruding expansion portions 120a and 120b toward the main expansion portion 118 on the front side of the vehicle and inward in the vehicle width direction, and enabling the protruding expansion portions 120a and 120b to expand and deploy with stable behavior while suppressing bias and spreading.

[0062] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the above-described embodiments are preferred examples of the present invention, and other embodiments can also be implemented or carried out in various ways. In particular, unless there is a description of the gist limited in the present specification, the present invention is not limited to the shapes, sizes, and configurations of the detailed components shown in the accompanying drawings. Also, the expressions and terms used in the present specification are for the purpose of explanation, and unless there is a description of the gist limited thereto, they are not limited thereto.

[0063] Therefore, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modification examples or correction examples within the scope described in the claims, and it is naturally understood that they also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

[0064] The present invention can be used for a pedestrian protection airbag device including an airbag cushion that expands and deploys from below the front hood of a vehicle toward the windshield.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0065] 100…Pedestrian protection airbag device, 102…Vehicle, 104…Front hood, 106…Front bumper, 108…Windshield, 110a, 110b…A-pillar, 112a, 112b…Inflator, 114…Airbag cushion, 116…Housing, 118…Main inflation part, 120a, 120b…Projecting inflation part, 122a, 122b…Tether, 124a, 124b…Upper end, 126…Front end, 128…Rear end, 130…Intersection, 200a, 200b…Tether, 202…Intersection, 220a, 220b…Tether, 222…Intersection, C1…Center, E1, E2…Range,, F1~F4…Edge, P1~P6…Connection part

Claims

1. In a pedestrian protection airbag device comprising an airbag cushion that expands and deploys from below the front hood of a vehicle toward the windshield, and one or more inflators that supply gas to the airbag cushion, the airbag cushion includes: a main inflation part that covers at least the lower part of the windshield across from one of a pair of A-pillars to the other in the vehicle; a pair of protruding inflation parts that protrude upward along each of the pair of A-pillars from the main inflation part to cover the A-pillars; a pair of tethers spanning between near the upper end of each of the protruding inflation parts and the main inflation part; and has: the pair of tethers has an intersection part where the tethers cross and overlap each other when the airbag cushion expands and deploys; each of the pair of tethers is spanned across the vehicle side of the main inflation part to the front edge of the vehicle side of the main inflation part and the upper end of each of the protruding inflation parts; the intersection part is formed between the main inflation part and the windshield when the inflated and deployed airbag cushion is viewed from the front of the vehicle; the intersection part is formed near the center in the vehicle width direction; A pedestrian protection airbag device, characterized in that each front end of the pair of tethers is connected to the front edge of the vehicle side of the main inflation part.

2. The one or more inflators are provided in a pair in the left and right ranges with the center in the vehicle width direction of the main inflation part as a boundary; The pedestrian protection airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that each front end of the pair of tethers is connected to an inflator provided in a range opposite to the protruding inflation part to which the tether is connected.

3. The pedestrian protection airbag device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each front end of the pair of tethers is connected to a range opposite to the protruding inflation part to which the tether is connected among the left and right ranges with the center in the vehicle width direction of the main inflation part as a boundary.

4. The one or more inflators are provided in a pair in the left and right ranges with the center in the vehicle width direction of the front edge of the main inflation part as a boundary; The pedestrian protection airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that each front end of the pair of tethers is connected to a part other than the inflator in a range opposite to the protruding inflation part to which the tether is connected in the left and right directions of the front edge of the main inflation part.

5. The upper ends of each of the pair of tethers are connected to a position on the inner side in the vehicle width direction on the upper end side of the protruding inflatable portion, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the pedestrian protection airbag device.

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