Driver's seat airbag device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a driver seat airbag device capable of suppressing an injury value of a driver with a simple configuration. [Solution] An airbag cushion 108 of a vehicle airbag device 100 has: a rear panel 122 that is positioned on the steering wheel 106 side; a front panel 120 that is positioned on the driver 104 side and restrains a driver 166; and a side panel 124 that connects the edges of the rear panel 122 and the edges of the front panel 120 and constitutes a lateral part of the airbag cushion 108. Combined in the front panel 120 are sub-panels 120a-0120d the shapes of which become gradually thinner from the outer peripheral side of the front panel 120 toward the center. The airbag cushion 108 further has an inner tether 144 that, inside the airbag cushion 108, pulls the vicinity of the center of the front panel 120 toward the rear panel 122 side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag device for a driver's seat installed on a steering wheel of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Currently, an airbag device for a driver's seat is almost standard equipment on the steering wheel of a vehicle. The airbag cushion of the airbag device for a driver's seat is mainly housed in the hub at the center of the steering wheel, and it tears open a resin cover or the like with its inflation pressure and expands and deploys in front of the occupant.

[0003] There is a demand for more efficient restraint of the occupant by the above airbag cushion. The inventors of the present application have focused on the fact that, due to the structure of the human body, the movement of rotating the occupant's head tends to impose a burden on the body, and have been developing an airbag cushion that can efficiently restrain while suppressing the rotation of the occupant's head.

[0004] For example, when an oblique collision occurs, which is a collision from an oblique direction with respect to the traveling direction, it has been found that the occupant enters the airbag cushion obliquely and the head is likely to rotate. In view of this, the applicant of the present application has developed a technique of forming a concave portion 114 using an internal tether 116 at the center on the occupant side of the airbag cushion 104, as disclosed in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1, for example.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] In the technology of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, in order to form the concave portion 114, components such as the central base fabric 118 and a total of three internal tethers 116 are used. Separately from this technology, at present, a technology for forming a depression equivalent to the concave portion 114 with a simpler component configuration is also being developed.

[0007] In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device for a driver's seat that can suppress the injury value of the driver with a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of an airbag device for a driver's seat according to the present invention is a vehicle airbag device including an inflater installed on a steering wheel of a vehicle and an airbag cushion that is housed in the steering wheel together with the inflater, receives gas from the inflater, and expands and deploys toward the driver. The airbag cushion has a rear panel located on the steering wheel side, a front panel located on the driver side and restraining the driver, and a side panel connecting the edge of the rear panel and the edge of the front panel and constituting the side portion of the airbag cushion. The front panel is in a state where a plurality of sub-panels whose shapes gradually become thinner from the outer peripheral side to the center of the front panel are combined. The airbag cushion further has an internal tether that pulls the vicinity of the center of the front panel toward the rear panel inside the airbag cushion.

[0009] According to the above configuration, by the internal tether pulling the front panel, a concave portion can be efficiently formed in the vicinity of the center of the front panel. According to this concave portion, when the driver enters obliquely forward due to an oblique collision or the like, the rotation of the head can be suppressed compared to the case of restraining the driver with a simple plane. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the driver can be restrained while further suppressing the injury value.

[0010] In addition, with the above configuration, it is possible to form a recess with a simple configuration using a front panel composed of a plurality of sub-panels and an internal tether. Therefore, with the above configuration, the amount of material used for panels and the like can be reduced, weight reduction and cost reduction due to improved material yield can be achieved, and furthermore, the airbag cushion can be folded and stored more compactly.

[0011] The recess formed by the internal tether pulling and depressing the vicinity of the center of the front panel may have a vertically long bottom portion.

[0012] Even with the recess of the above configuration, when the driver enters obliquely forward due to an oblique collision or the like, it becomes possible to suppress and restrain the rotation of the head.

[0013] Each of the plurality of sub-panels has a main part in a polygonal shape, and the polygonal sub-panel has the longest long side forming the outer periphery of the front panel, and may have a portion connected to other sub-panels on other sides other than the long side.

[0014] By using the plurality of polygonal sub-panels, it is also possible to efficiently form a recess at the center of the front panel.

[0015] The above polygon may be a pentagon. By using the plurality of pentagonal sub-panels, it is possible to efficiently form a recess near the center of the front panel.

[0016] Each of the plurality of sub-panels is in a fan shape, and the fan-shaped sub-panel has an arc forming the outer periphery of the front panel, and the other two sides other than the arc may be connected to other sub-panels.

[0017] By using the plurality of fan-shaped panels, it is possible to efficiently form a recess that is recessed in a conical shape.

[0018] A plurality of sub-panels may be provided in four. By forming a front panel by combining the four sub-panels and pulling the center where the vertices of each sub-panel intersect with an internal tether, it becomes possible to efficiently form a recess.

[0019] One end of the internal tether may be connected to the vertices on the center side of the front panels of two opposite sub-panels among the four sub-panels.

[0020] Even with the above configuration, it becomes possible to efficiently form a recess.

[0021] The above internal tether may be formed integrally with the sub-panel.

[0022] Even with the above internal tether, it becomes possible to efficiently pull the sub-panel toward the rear panel side.

Advantages of the Invention

[0023] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a driver's airbag device capable of suppressing the injury value of a driver with a simple configuration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiment for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] 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 functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit redundant descriptions, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an airbag device for a driver's seat (hereinafter, airbag device 100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(a) is a diagram illustrating a state before the airbag device 100 moves. As shown in FIG. 1(b), the airbag device 100 is implemented as a frontal airbag for the driver's seat 102 on the left front row in a left-hand drive vehicle.

[0027] In the present embodiment, when the driver 166 (see FIG. 5(a)) is seated on the driver's seat 102 in a normal posture, the direction the driver 166 is facing is referred to as the front, and the opposite direction is referred to as the rear. When indicating the coordinate axes, the front-rear direction is used. Also, when the driver 166 is seated on the driver's seat 102 in a normal posture, the right side of the driver 166 is referred to as the right direction, and the left side of the driver 166 is referred to as the left direction. When indicating the coordinate axes, the left-right direction is used. Further, when the driver 166 is seated in a normal posture, the head direction of the driver 166 is referred to as the upward direction, and the waist direction of the driver 166 is referred to as the downward direction. When indicating the coordinate axes, the up-down direction is used.

[0028] Hereinafter, in the drawings used in the description of the embodiments of the present invention, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions based on the driver 166 described above are indicated by arrows F (Forward), B (Back), L (Left), R (Right), U (up), and D (down) as necessary.

[0029] The airbag device 100 in Fig. 1(a) is installed on the steering wheel 106 and, in an emergency such as when an impact occurs to the vehicle, restrains and protects the driver 166 (see Fig. 5(a), etc.) seated on the driver's seat 102 with the airbag cushion 108 (see Fig. 1(b)). The airbag cushion 108 is a bag-shaped member that can be inflated with gas, and is in a stored form that is compacted by winding or folding, and is stored together with the inflator 112 (see Fig. 2(a)) in the accommodation part 110 at the center of the steering wheel 106.

[0030] The accommodation part 110 is provided on the center side rather than the rim 114 of the steering wheel 106, and its surface is covered with a cover 111. The cover 111 is provided with a groove-shaped tear line or the like on the inside, and is structured to split when the airbag cushion 108 (see Fig. 1(b)) expands and deploys.

[0031] Fig. 1(b) is a diagram illustrating the state of the airbag device 100 after movement. The cushion 104 expands and deploys in a bag shape toward the driver 166 (see Fig. 5(a)) on the driver's seat 102 while splitting the cover 111 (see Fig. 1(a)) with the inflation pressure of the gas from the inflator 112 (see Fig. 2(a)), and restrains the upper body and head of the driver 166 who is trying to move forward.

[0032] The airbag cushion 108 expands and deploys into a circular shape with a concave part 126 formed near the center as viewed from the driver's seat side. The airbag cushion 108 is formed by, for example, overlapping and sewing or adhering a plurality of base fabrics that constitute its surface.

[0033] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the airbag cushion 108 during expansion and deployment in Fig. 1(b). Fig. 2(a) is a diagram illustrating the airbag cushion 108 in Fig. 1(b) as viewed from slightly above and to the left in the vehicle width direction. In Fig. 2(a), a part of the panel constituting the airbag cushion 108 is cut out to expose the internal inflator 112.

[0034] The airbag cushion 108 of the present embodiment expands and deploys in a shape along a frustum of a cone. The airbag cushion 108 is formed of a plurality of panels, including a front panel 120 located on the driver side, a rear panel 122 located on the steering wheel 106 side (see Fig. 1(a)), and side panels 124 that connect the front panel 120 and the rear panel 122 to form the side portions of the airbag cushion 108. A recess 126 is formed near the center of the front panel 120. A vent hole 128a for discharging gas is provided in the side panel 124.

[0035] The inflator 112 is a gas generator and is fixed to the bottom of the housing portion 110. The inflator 112 moves due to a shock detection signal sent from a sensor (not shown) and supplies gas to the airbag cushion 108. The inflator 112 is of a disk type and has a cylindrical main body portion 130, a gas ejection hole 132 provided on the side surface of the main body portion 130, and a flange 134 provided on the outer periphery of the main body portion 130.

[0036] The inflator 112 is provided with a plurality of stud bolts 136. The stud bolts 136 penetrate the rear panel 122 of the airbag cushion 108 and are fastened to the bottom of the housing portion 110 of the steering wheel 106 (see Fig. 1(a)). By fastening the stud bolts 136, the airbag cushion 108 is also fixed inside the housing portion 110.

[0037] Note that currently popular inflators include types filled with a gas generating agent that burns to generate gas, types 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 inflator 112.

[0038] FIG. 2(b) is a view illustrating the concave portion 126 through the side panel 124 or the like of FIG. 2(a). In the airbag cushion 108 of the present embodiment, a concave portion 126 that is recessed in a mortar shape is formed near the center of the driver-side front panel 120.

[0039] The front panel 120 is formed by combining four sub-panels 120a to 120d. The concave portion 126 is formed by pulling the vicinity of the center of the front panel 120 toward the rear panel 122 side with the inner tether 144. As illustrated in FIG. 5 described later, the concave portion 126 is used to suppress the rotation of the head 168 of the driver 166 (see FIG. 5(a)) when restraining the occupant.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating each panel constituting the airbag cushion 108 of FIG. 2(a). In FIG. 3, each panel is illustrated in a state of being spread out on a plane.

[0041] FIG. 3(a) is a view illustrating the sub-panel 120a of FIG. 2(a). The sub-panels 120a and 120b are panels arranged at opposite positions on the left and right of the front panel 120, and have the same configuration as each other.

[0042] The airbag device 100 employs a sub-panel in which the main part is polygonal. For example, in the present embodiment, the main part of the sub-panel 120a other than the inner tether 144 is pentagonal. In the sub-panel 120a, the longest side (long side 200) among the five sides forms the outer periphery of the front panel 120. The side sides 202 and 204 extend perpendicular to the long side 200, and the hypotenuse sides 206 and 208 extend obliquely therefrom. The four sides including the side sides 202 and 204 and the hypotenuse sides 206 and 208 other than the long side 200 are used as portions connected to the other sub-panels 120c and 120d (see FIG. 2(c)).

[0043] The sub-panel 120a can be roughly divided into a large rectangular area 210 and a triangular area 212. The rectangular area 210 is an area surrounded by the long side 200 and the side edges 202, 204. At this time, the boundary W1 between the side edges 202, 204 and the hypotenuse edges 206, 208 is formed with a width of the same dimension as the long side 200. When the rectangular area 210 forms the front panel 120 in combination with other sub-panels 120b - 120d (see Fig. 2(c)), it forms the outer peripheral portion 138 of the front panel 120. The triangular area 212 forms the inner wall of the recess 126.

[0044] An internal tether 144 is integrally formed on the sub-panel 120a. The internal tether 144 is a strip-shaped portion that pulls the front panel 120 toward the rear panel 122 inside the airbag cushion 108. The internal tether 144 is provided on each of the opposing sub-panels 120a, 120b and is overlapped and joined to each other.

[0045] One end 144a of the internal tether 144 is connected to the vertex 214 located on the center side of the front panel 120 in the triangular area 212, and the other end 144b is connected around the fixed area 156 (see Fig. 3(c)) of the rear panel 122. With this configuration, the internal tether 144 can pull the vicinity of the center of the front panel toward the rear panel 122 and can efficiently form the mortar-shaped recess 126.

[0046] As another form, the other end 144b of the internal tether 144 can be appropriately connected to a portion on the vehicle side of the airbag cushion 108, such as the inflater 112, a retainer (not shown) used when fixing the inflater 112, and further the bottom of the housing portion 110 (see Fig. 1(a)).

[0047] Fig. 3(b) is a diagram illustrating the sub-panel 120b of Fig. 2(a). The sub-panel 120b is a panel arranged at opposite upper and lower positions of the front panel 120 and has the same configuration as each other.

[0048] Sub-panel 120b has the same configuration as sub-panel 120a, except that it does not have an internal tether 144 (see Fig. 3(a)). For example, sub-panel 120b also has a long side 200 that forms the outer periphery of the front panel 120 (see Fig. 2(b)), and four sides consisting of side edges 202, 204 and bevel edges 206, 208 are connected to other sub-panels 120a, 120b. In sub-panel 120a as well, a rectangular region 210 that forms the outer peripheral portion 138 of the front panel 120 and a triangular region 212 that forms the inner wall of the recess 126 are formed.

[0049] As described above, the front panel 120 in Fig. 2(b) is in a state where pentagonal sub-panels 120a to 120d, whose shapes gradually become thinner from the outer peripheral side to the center of the front panel 120, are combined. In particular, by combining the four pentagonal sub-panels 120a to 120d and pulling the center where the vertices 214 (see Fig. 3(a)) of each sub-panel intersect with the internal tether 144, it becomes possible to efficiently form a mortar-shaped recess 126 near the center of the front panel 120.

[0050] As another form, it is also possible to adopt a configuration of a polygon with five or more sides for the sub-panel. For example, it is also possible to adopt a sub-panel with an overall heptagonal shape by making the rectangular region 210 in Fig. 3(a) hexagonal and combining it with the triangular region 212. According to this configuration, for example, by making the dimension of the long side 200 longer than the boundary W1, it is possible to realize a sub-panel with a shape that gradually expands from the vertex 214 to the boundary W1 and then to the long side 200.

[0051] Fig. 3(c) is a diagram illustrating the rear panel 122 in Fig. 2(a). The rear panel 122 is circular and forms a reaction force surface that obtains a reaction force from the steering wheel 106 (see Fig. 1(a)) when the airbag cushion 108 expands and deploys. Since the airbag cushion 108 expands and deploys in a frustum of a cone shape that spreads toward the driver side, the rear panel 122 has a smaller diameter than the front panel 120 (see Fig. 2(a)).

[0052] At the center of the rear panel 122, a fixing region 156 is formed as a region where an inflator 112 (see Fig. 2(a)) is inserted and fixed to the housing portion 110.

[0053] Fig. 3(d) is a diagram illustrating the side panel 124 of Fig. 2(a). The side panel 124 has an annular sector configuration. Two vent holes 128a and 128b are provided in the side panel 124.

[0054] Of the two arcs 158 and 160 of the side panel 124, the arc 158 on the large-diameter side is sewn to the long side 200 of the sub-panel 120a (see Fig. 3(a)) that is the edge of the front panel 120, and the arc 160 on the small-diameter side is sewn to the edge of the rear panel 122 (Fig. 3(c)). Both ends 162 and 164 of the side panel 124 are sewn to each other. By connecting the edge of the rear panel 122 and the edge of the front panel 120 with the annular sector-shaped side panel 124 to form the side portion of the airbag cushion 108, an airbag cushion 108 with a shape that gradually expands toward the driver 166 (see Fig. 5(a)) can be realized while suppressing unnecessary bulges.

[0055] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of the airbag cushion 108 of Fig. 1(b). The dimension L1 from one end 144a to the other end 144b of the internal tether 144 is formed to be a dimension that can be tensioned between the sub-panel 120a and the rear panel 122 when the airbag cushion 108 expands and deploys, and can pull the sub-panel 120a toward the rear panel 122. With this configuration, a mortar-shaped recess 126 whose bottom is pulled toward the rear panel 122 by the internal tether 144 can be formed.

[0056] The internal tether 144 is not limited to a configuration formed integrally with the sub-panel 120a, and it is also possible to form it as a separate member and then connect it to the sub-panel 120a. With any configuration, the sub-panel 120a can be pulled toward the rear panel 122.

[0057] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the process in which the airbag cushion 108 in FIG. 1(b) restrains the driver 166 during an oblique collision. Each diagram in FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view corresponding to the A-A cross-sectional view of the airbag cushion 108 in FIG. 4(b), and illustrates the airbag cushion 108 and the driver 166 as viewed from above the vehicle.

[0058] FIG. 5(a) is a diagram illustrating the state of the airbag cushion 108 immediately after inflation and deployment. As illustrated in FIG. 5(a), when an impact due to an oblique collision occurs in the vehicle, the airbag cushion 108 inflates and deploys in front of the vehicle of the driver's seat 102 (see FIG. 1(b)).

[0059] FIG. 5(b) is a diagram illustrating the state in which the driver 166 in FIG. 5(a) has moved forward in the vehicle. The driver 166 may move obliquely forward to the left in the vehicle width direction, for example, from the state in FIG. 5(a) due to inertia during an oblique collision.

[0060] FIG. 5(c) is a diagram illustrating the state in which the driver 166 in FIG. 5(b) has further moved forward in the vehicle. The driver 166 who has moved obliquely forward contacts the sub-panel 120a of the recess 126 from the left side of the head 168 while, for example, bringing the left shoulder into contact with the outer peripheral portion of the front panel 138.

[0061] For the front panel 120 forming the recess 126, compared with a conventional single front panel 120 that spreads in a planar shape, while suppressing the tension of the outer peripheral portion 138, the head 168 can be restrained from the oblique front by the recess 126. Thereby, the airbag cushion 108 can minimize the rotation 172 of the head 168 of the driver 166 with respect to the shoulder 170, and can restrain the movement of the head 168 in synchronization with the movement of the shoulder 170.

[0062] As described above, in the airbag cushion 108, not only is it possible to restrain the occupant during a normal collision, but also during an oblique collision, the rotation 172 of the head 168 of the driver 166 is significantly reduced or eliminated, and by reducing the angular velocity of the head 168, it is possible to suppress the injury value of the driver 166 associated with the rotation 172 of the head 168.

[0063] As described above, in the present embodiment, by the internal tether 144 pulling the front panel 120, it is possible to efficiently form a recess 126 that is concave like a mortar near the center of the front panel 120. According to this recess 126, when the driver 104 enters obliquely forward due to an oblique collision or the like, compared to the case of restraining the driver 104 on a simple plane, the rotation 172 of the head 168 can be suppressed. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the driver 104 can be restrained with a further suppressed injury value.

[0064] In addition, in the present embodiment, the recess 126 is formed with a simple configuration using the front panel 120 composed of a plurality of sub-panels 120a to 120d and the internal tether 144. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the amount of material used for the panel or the like can be reduced, weight reduction and cost reduction due to improved material yield can be achieved, and furthermore, the airbag cushion 108 can be folded and stored more compactly.

[0065] Also, as illustrated in FIG. 3(a), the internal tether 144 has a belt-like configuration with a predetermined width. Therefore, when the internal tethers 144 of the left and right sub-panels 120a and 120b in FIG. 1(b) are pulled toward the rear panel 122 side, the bottom portion 174 of the recess 126 is formed in an oblong shape along the width direction of the internal tether 144, that is, the vertical direction. Since the human head has an oblong shape and the position of the head varies vertically from person to person, a recess 126 having an oblong bottom portion 174 can more suitably restrain the head 168 of the driver 166 (see FIG. 5(c)).

[0066] In the description with reference to FIG. 5(c) above, clockwise rotation 172 was given as an example of the rotation occurring in the head 168. However, depending on the emergency situation, for example, the driver 166 may move diagonally forward to the right in the vehicle width direction, and in the head 168, a counterclockwise rotation may occur around the neck when viewed from above. Also in the case of this counterclockwise rotation, with the airbag cushion 108 of the present embodiment, the concave portion 126 can be utilized to reduce or cancel the rotation of the head 168 and decrease the angular velocity of the head 168. Thus, the airbag cushion 108 of the present embodiment can obtain the same effect for the driver 166 who moves in any direction in the vehicle width direction.

[0067] FIG. 6 is a modified example of the sub-panels 120a and 120c illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 6(a) is a diagram illustrating a modified example (sub-panel 140a) of the sub-panel 120a in FIG. 3(a). The sub-panel 140a can be formed, for example, in a fan shape.

[0068] The fan-shaped sub-panel 140a has an arc 146 that forms the outer periphery of the front panel 120, and the other two sides 150 and 152 other than the arc 146 are connected to other sub-panels. The dimensions of the fan shape can be set such that, for example, the length of an arc S1 that is concentric with the arc 146 and passes through the center of the sides 150 and 152 is about 2 / 3 of the length of the arc 146.

[0069] An internal tether 144 is integrally formed in the sub-panel 140a. One end 144a of the internal tether 144 is connected to a portion of the central angle 154 of the sub-panel 140a, and the other end 144b is connected to the periphery of the fixed region 156 (see FIG. 3(c)) of the rear panel 122. With this configuration, the internal tether 144 can pull the portion of the central angle 154 of the sub-panel 140a toward the rear panel 122 side, making it possible to efficiently form the conical concave portion 126.

[0070] FIG. 6(b) is a diagram illustrating a modified example (sub-panel 140b) of the sub-panel 120c in FIG. 3(b). The sub-panel 140b is a panel arranged at opposite positions on the left and right of the front panel 120 (see FIG. 2(b)), and has the same configuration as each other. The sub-panel 140b has the same configuration as the sub-panel 140a except that it does not have an internal tether 144 (see FIG. 6(b)).

[0071] As described above, the front panel 120 in FIG. 2(b) can also be formed by combining fan-shaped sub-panels 140a, 140b, etc. whose shapes gradually become thinner from the outer peripheral side to the center of the front panel 120. For example, by combining four fan-shaped sub-panels 140a or the like and pulling the portion of the central angle 154 (see FIG. 6(a)) of each sub-panel with the internal tether 144, a concave portion 126 that is recessed in a conical shape can be efficiently formed near the center of the front panel 120.

[0072] In each of the above embodiments, the front panel 120 (see FIG. 2(b)) is formed using four sub-panels, but the number of sub-panels is not limited to this. For example, as another form, it is also possible to preferably realize a front panel capable of forming a concave portion 126 near the center by combining three sub-panels or five or more sub-panels.

[0073] FIG. 7 is a modified example of the rear panel 122 and the side panel 124 illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 7(a) is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the rear panel 180. The rear panel 180 is formed in a quadrilateral shape. The rear panel 180 having this configuration can also function as a reaction force surface for obtaining a reaction force from the steering wheel 106 (see FIG. 1(a)) when the airbag cushion 108 (see FIG. 1(b)) expands and deploys.

[0074] FIG. 7(b) is a diagram illustrating modified examples of the side panels (side panels 182, 184). The side panels 182, 184 are trapezoidal and form the side surface of the airbag cushion when joined together.

[0075] The sub-panel 182 can be sewn to the outer peripheral portion of the front panel 138 (see Fig. 3(a)) with the long side 186 corresponding to the lower base of the trapezoid, for example, and sewn to the edge of the rear panel 180 (see Fig. 7(a)) with the short side 188 corresponding to the upper base. Then, by joining the side edges 190 and 192 to the side edges of the other side panel 184, the side portions of the airbag cushion 108 can be preferably formed.

[0076] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to such examples. 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 those also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0077] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example in which the airbag device according to the present invention is applied to an automobile has been described. However, it can also be applied to airplanes, ships, etc. other than automobiles, and the same operational effects can be obtained.

Industrial Applicability

[0078] The present invention can be used for a driver's seat airbag device installed on a vehicle's steering wheel.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0079] 100…Airbag device, 102…Driver's seat, 104…Cushion, 106…Steering wheel, 108…Airbag cushion, 110…Accommodation part, 111…Cover, 112…Inflator, 114…Rim, 120…Front panel, 120a~120d…Sub-panels, 122…Rear panel, 124…Side panel, 126…Recessed part, 128a, 128b…Vent holes, 130…Main body part, 132…Gas ejection holes, 134…Flange, 136…Stud bolt, 138…Outer peripheral part, 140a, 140b…Sub-panels, 144…Internal tether, 144a…One end, 144b…The other end, 146…Arc, 150, 152…Sides, 154…Central angle, 156…Fixed area, 158…Arc, 160…Arc, 162, 164…Both ends, 166…Driver, 168…Head, 170…Shoulder, 172…Rotation, 174…Bottom part, 180…Rear panel, 182, 184…Side panels, 186…Long side, 188…Short side, 190, 192…Side edges, 200…Long side, 202, 204…Side edges, 206, 208…Hypotenuses, 210…Rectangular area, 212…Triangular area, 214…Vertex, L1…Dimension, S1…Arc, W1…Boundary

Claims

1. An airbag device for a vehicle, comprising an inflater installed on a steering wheel of the vehicle and an airbag cushion that is accommodated in the steering wheel together with the inflater, receives gas from the inflater, and inflates and deploys toward the driver, wherein the airbag cushion has a rear panel located on the steering wheel side, a front panel located on the driver side and restraining the driver, and a side panel connecting the edge of the rear panel and the edge of the front panel and forming a side portion of the airbag cushion, and the front panel is in a state of being combined with a plurality of sub-panels whose shapes gradually become thinner from the outer peripheral side to the center of the front panel, and the airbag cushion further has an internal tether that pulls the vicinity of the center of the front panel toward the rear panel inside the airbag cushion. The airbag device for the driver's seat is characterized by this.

2. The airbag device for the driver's seat according to claim 1, wherein a recess formed by the internal tether pulling and depressing the vicinity of the center of the front panel has a vertically long bottom portion.

3. Each of the plurality of sub-panels has a main part in a polygonal shape, and the polygonal sub-panel has the longest long side forming the outer periphery of the front panel and has a portion connected to another sub-panel on other sides other than the long side. The airbag device for the driver's seat according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

4. The airbag device for the driver's seat according to claim 3, wherein the polygon is a pentagon.

5. Each of the plurality of sub-panels is in a fan shape, The sector-shaped sub-panel has an arc that forms the outer periphery of the front panel, and two sides other than the arc are connected to other sub-panels. The driver's seat airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

6. The driver's seat airbag device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that four of the plurality of sub-panels are provided.

7. The driver's seat airbag device according to claim 6, characterized in that one end of the internal tether is connected to the vertices on the center side of the front panel of two opposing sub-panels among the four sub-panels.

8. The driver's seat airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the internal tether is formed integrally with the sub-panel.

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