Airbag device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an airbag device that can reliably cover an appropriate area with a cushion while ensuring appropriate deployment behavior of the cushion at a position where a tab is attached, thereby raising occupant protection performance. [Solution] An airbag device 100 comprises: a cushion 102 which is rolled up and stored in an upper part of a side panel of a vehicle interior and which is deployed by inflating along the side panel; an inflator 104 which is inserted inside the cushion and which supplies a gas to the cushion; and a tab 130 from which the cushion hangs from the upper part of the side panel, wherein the cushion includes a duct 144 with a tab, extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in the upper part of the side panel, and allows gas to flow in for inflation and deployment, a main chamber 146 positioned below the duct, and a sub-chamber 148 provided in the upper part of the side panel, an upper end 172 of the sub-chamber is positioned above an upper edge 158 of a side window 118, and a lower end 174 of the sub-chamber is positioned below an upper end 160 of the duct.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag device provided with a curtain airbag that expands and deploys along the side portion of a vehicle interior for the purpose of protecting an occupant when a vehicle is involved in a side collision or a rollover (tipping over).

Background Art

[0002] The curtain airbag needs to be deployed along the side of the vehicle in order to cover all areas where the head and upper body of the occupant may collide, even when the vehicle transitions from a side collision to a rollover.

[0003] For this reason, the curtain airbag is attached to a vehicle body such as a roof side rail located at the upper side of the vehicle interior, and is further stored in a storage space between a garnish such as a roof headlining located above the door and the vehicle body in a wound or folded state.

[0004] Normally, a plurality of tabs are provided at predetermined intervals at the upper end of the curtain airbag. By attaching each tab to the vehicle body via, for example, a bracket, the curtain airbag is suspended from the upper side of the vehicle interior.

[0005] The curtain airbag described in Patent Document 1 includes a front chamber, a first gas supply port, a sub-chamber, and a second gas supply port. The front chamber is inflated and deployed along the side window of the front seat of the vehicle. The first gas supply port is disposed at the upper part of the front chamber and supplies gas to the front chamber. The sub-chamber is disposed above the front chamber and is smaller than the front chamber.

[0006] The second gas supply port is disposed behind the sub-chamber, communicates with the first gas supply port, and is narrower than the first gas supply port. The sub-chamber is stored in a folded state on the inner surface of the front chamber inside the vehicle at the portion of the second gas supply port.

[0007] In Patent Document 1, when the curtain airbag expands and deploys, the front chamber can be expanded and deployed first, and then the sub-chamber can be expanded and deployed. It is stated that the sub-chamber can be expanded and deployed while suppressing the interference between the A-pillar garnish and the sub-chamber, and the A-pillar can be covered.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] In recent years, with the introduction of the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the area (protection area) to be covered by the curtain airbag (cushion) when it expands and deploys has been defined. Here, the cushion is suspended by tabs from the upper side of the vehicle interior when it expands and deploys. The length of the tabs needs to be set in consideration of the shape of the cushion in the stored state and the deployment behavior of the cushion.

[0010] If the tabs are too short, it will affect the deployment behavior of the cushion, such as changing the deployment direction of the cushion. Therefore, the length of the tabs is set in consideration of the shape of the cushion in the stored state after ensuring the appropriate deployment behavior of the cushion.

[0011] In this way, in the airbag device, since it is necessary to ensure a certain length of the tabs at the position where the tabs are attached, the cushion cannot be sufficiently lifted by the tabs, and there may be an area (gap) that is not covered by the cushion below the upper edge of the side window. In such a case, it becomes difficult for the airbag device to completely cover the protection area with the cushion when it expands and deploys.

[0012] The technique described in Patent Document 1 merely covers the A-pillar with a cushion, and no measures have been taken regarding the situation where the protection area cannot be sufficiently covered due to the tab length.

[0013] In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can surely cover an appropriate range with a cushion while ensuring appropriate deployment behavior of the cushion at the position where the tab is attached, and can enhance the occupant protection performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0014] In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the airbag device according to the present invention is an airbag device including a cushion that is stored by being wound or folded at the upper part of the side surface in the vehicle interior and expands and deploys along the side surface, the airbag device further includes an inflater that is inserted into the cushion and supplies gas to the cushion, and a tab that suspends the cushion from the upper part of the side surface, the cushion includes a duct that extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction at the upper part of the side surface and has the tab, and into which gas flows and expands and deploys, a main chamber located below the duct, and a sub-chamber provided at the upper part of the side surface, the upper end of the sub-chamber is located above the upper edge of the side window of the vehicle, and the lower end of the sub-chamber is located below the upper end of the duct.

[0015] Here, the length of the tab that suspends the cushion from the upper part of the side surface in the vehicle interior needs to be set in consideration of the shape of the cushion in the stored state while ensuring appropriate deployment behavior of the cushion. For this reason, in the airbag device, it is necessary to ensure a certain length of the tab at the position where the tab is attached, and there is a possibility that the cushion cannot be sufficiently lifted by the tab and a gap that is not covered by the cushion is generated below the upper edge of the side window.

[0016] Therefore, in the cushion with the above configuration, at the position where the tab is attached, in addition to the main chamber, the upper end of the sub-chamber is positioned above the upper edge of the side window. Further, the lower end of the sub-chamber is positioned below the upper end of the duct that is attached to or integrated with the tab.

[0017] As a result, the sub-chamber can cover the space between the upper end of the duct and the upper edge of the side window, and can also cover the gap below the upper edge of the side window. Therefore, according to the above configuration, at the position where the tab is attached, it is possible to ensure appropriate deployment behavior of the cushion while reliably covering an appropriate range with the cushion, thereby enhancing the occupant protection performance.

[0018] The above sub-chamber preferably expands and deploys outside the vehicle more than the duct and is in contact with the weatherstrip attached to the lower end of the roof side rail at the upper part of the side surface, and its position is restricted.

[0019] In this way, when the sub-chamber expands and deploys outside the vehicle more than the duct and contacts the weatherstrip at the lower end of the roof side rail, the position of the sub-chamber in the vehicle's vertical direction is restricted. As a result, the lower end of the expanded and deployed sub-chamber can be positioned below the upper end of the duct, and the upper end of the sub-chamber can be positioned above the upper edge of the vehicle's side window.

[0020] The above sub-chamber has a leg portion communicating with the duct and a portion extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction from the leg portion, and the tab is preferably attached to a portion located between the portions of the duct extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction.

[0021] In this way, since the sub-chamber has a leg portion and a portion extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction from it, it becomes possible to attach the tab to a portion located between the portions of the duct extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. Therefore, the cushion can be suspended by the tab at an appropriate position.

[0022] The above-mentioned sub-chamber forms a bridge shape having a pair of legs spaced apart in the vehicle longitudinal direction and communicating with the duct, and the tab may be attached to a portion of the duct located between the pair of legs.

[0023] Since the sub-chamber is in the bridge shape in this way, it is possible to attach the tab to a portion of the duct located between the pair of legs. Therefore, the cushion can be suspended by the tab at an appropriate position.

[0024] The connecting portion of the above-mentioned sub-chamber may be bent outward of the vehicle when inflated and deployed, and may be located between the pair of legs and the upper edge of the side window.

[0025] Thereby, the sub-chamber can surely cover the gap below the upper edge of the side window by the connecting portion bent outward of the vehicle when inflated and deployed.

[0026] A holding member that is wound around the outer surface of the cushion in the stored state and breaks when the cushion is deployed may be passed through the portion of the above-mentioned duct.

[0027] In this way, the cushion can wind the holding member (tape) around the portion of the duct located between the pair of legs of the sub-chamber having a bridge shape at the position where the tab is attached. For this reason, the tape can be wound around an appropriate position of the cushion in the stored state, making it easy to maintain the shape of the cushion.

[0028] The above-mentioned sub-chamber may further have a blocking portion that blocks either one of the pair of legs from the duct. Even if such a blocking portion is provided, gas can flow into the sub-chamber from the other leg from the duct, and the sub-chamber can be inflated and deployed.

[0029] The region between the portion of the above-mentioned sub-chamber extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the duct may be hollow, or may be occupied by a non-inflating non-inflation region.

[0030] Further, the region between the connection part of the sub-chamber and the duct may be hollow, or may be occupied by a non-expanding region that does not expand.

Advantages of the Invention

[0031] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an airbag device that can reliably cover an appropriate range with a cushion while ensuring appropriate deployment behavior of the cushion at the position where the tab is attached, and can enhance the occupant protection performance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0033] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in such embodiments are merely examples for facilitating the 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 omit redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an airbag device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of the airbag device 100 in FIG. 1(a). FIG. 1(a) illustrates the non-deployed (stored) state of the curtain airbag (cushion 102). Also, the cushion 102 illustrated in FIG. 1(a) is for the right side of the vehicle, but the cushion for the left side, which is not shown, has a similar symmetric structure. FIG. 1(b) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the main part of the cushion 102 in FIG. 1(a) is inflated and deployed.

[0035] In the present embodiment, when the occupant is seated on the seat in a regular posture, the direction the occupant is facing is referred to as the front, and the opposite direction is referred to as the back. Also, when the occupant is seated on the seat in a regular posture, the right side of the occupant is referred to as the right direction, and the left side of the occupant is referred to as the left direction. Further, when the occupant is seated in a regular posture, the head direction of the occupant is referred to as the up direction, and the waist direction of the occupant is referred to as the down direction. And in the drawings used in the following description, as necessary, the front-back, left-right, up-down directions based on the above-described occupant are shown as Front, Back, Left, Right, Up, Down.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1(a), the airbag device 100 includes an inflater 104 which is a gas generator, and the cushion 102 is inflated and deployed by the pressure of the gas supplied from the inflater 104 to restrain the occupant. The cushion 102 is formed in a bag shape, for example, by sewing the base fabric constituting its surface on the front and back, or by weaving using OPW (One-Piece Woven).

[0037] As shown in Fig. 1(a), the cushion 102 is attached to the roof side rail 106 shown in the figure in a wound state. The roof side rail 106 is located at the upper side of the side surface in the vehicle interior of the vehicle 108 and forms the side wall of the vehicle body. The wound cushion 102 is stored in the storage space 110 as shown in Fig. 2. The storage space 110 is formed, for example, by assembling a garnish 112 such as a roof headlining to the roof side rail 106. Note that the garnish 112 is not shown in Fig. 1(a).

[0038] The vehicle 108 shown in Fig. 1(a) is a vehicle with a two-row seat in which the front seat 114 and the rear seat 116 are arranged from the front of the vehicle. Side windows 118 and 120 are installed on the side surface of the vehicle 108 from the front of the vehicle. Pillars (columns) that support the roof are provided in the vehicle front-rear direction of each side window 118 and 120. These pillars are called the front pillar 122, the center pillar 124, and the rear pillar 126 from the front of the vehicle 108.

[0039] When gas is supplied to the airbag device 100 in an emergency such as a side collision and the cushion 102 expands, the garnish 112 is pushed inward by the cushion 102, and the end 112a of the garnish 112 that was in contact with the roof side rail 106 illustrated in Fig. 2 descends. As a result, the cushion 102 appears from the gap generated between the garnish 112 and the lower end 106a of the roof side rail 106 and expands and deploys along the vehicle interior side surface (described later). A weather strip 128 is attached to the lower end 106a of the roof side rail 106.

[0040] The airbag device 100 includes a tab 130 shown in Fig. 2. The tab 130 is a belt-like member provided at a plurality of positions at a predetermined interval on the cushion 102 and suspends the cushion 102 from the upper side of the side surface in the vehicle interior. Further, the tab 130 is attached to a bracket 132 fixed to the vehicle body, that is, the roof side rail 106.

[0041] The bracket 132 is made of metal, for example, and has a bolt hole 134 and an insertion hole 136 through which the tab 130 is passed and folded back. The bracket 132 is fixed to the roof side rail 106, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, by screwing a bolt 138 passing through the bolt hole 134 with a nut 140. The tab 130 is sewn and attached as indicated by a sewing line 142 in a state of being folded back and overlapped at the insertion hole 136 of the bracket 132.

[0042] The cushion 102 has a duct 144, a main chamber 146, and a sub-chamber 148 at a position where the tab 130 is attached, and these portions are expansion regions where gas from the inflator 104 flows in and expands as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. 1(b). In FIG. 1(b), the tab 130 and the bracket 132 shown in FIG. 2 are omitted.

[0043] The duct 144 extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the tab 130 is sewn and attached to the duct 144 (cushion 102) as indicated by a sewing line 150 in FIG. 2. Note that the tab 130 does not necessarily have to be attached to the cushion 102 by sewing, and other attachment means may be used, or it may be integrated with the cushion 102.

[0044] The main chamber 146 is partitioned by a seam portion 152 as shown in FIG. 1(b) and is located below the duct 144. Note that the duct 144 and the main chamber 146 constituting the cushion 102 do not necessarily have to be partitioned. If not partitioned (when the duct 144 does not exist), of course, the tab 130 is directly attached to or integrated with the main chamber. Also, the seam portion 152 is formed by joining the front and back base fabrics of the cushion 102.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, a holding member (tape 154) is wound around the outer surface 102a of the cushion 102 in the stored state. The tape 154 is wound around the outer surface 102a of the cushion 102. Further, the tape 154 is a fragile member that breaks under the pressure accompanying the inflation and deployment of the cushion 102, and does not prevent the deployment of the cushion 102. The tape 154 may be made of cloth or non-woven fabric.

[0046] The sub-chamber 148 is provided in the upper part of the side surface in the vehicle interior and is integrated with the cushion 102 together with the main chamber 144.

[0047] Here, the length of the tab 130 is set in consideration of the shape of the cushion 102 in the stored state and the deployment behavior of the cushion 102. If the tab 130 is too short, it will affect the deployment behavior of the cushion 102, such as changing the deployment direction of the cushion 102. Therefore, the length of the tab 130 needs to be set in consideration of the shape of the cushion 102 in the stored state after ensuring the appropriate deployment behavior of the cushion 102.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the cushion 102 of the airbag device 100 in FIG. 1(a) is inflated and deployed. The cushion 102 in FIG. 1(b) shows a state in which it is inflated and deployed without the position of the sub-chamber 148 being restricted. In contrast, the cushion 102 in FIG. 3(a) shows a state in which the sub-chamber 148 is in contact with the roof side rail 106 or the like and its position is defined. FIG. 3(b) is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 3(a).

[0049] With the introduction of recent new car assessment programs (NCAP, New Car Assessment Program), the area to be covered when the cushion 102 is inflated and deployed, that is, the protection area 156 (see FIG. 3(a)), is defined. On the other hand, in the airbag device 100, at the position where the tab 130 is attached, it is necessary to secure a certain length of the tab 130 in consideration of the deployment behavior of the cushion 102 as described above.

[0050] Therefore, in the airbag device 100, the cushion 102 cannot be sufficiently lifted by the tab 130, and there may be a gap 162 (hatched in the figure) between the upper edge 158 of the side window 118 shown in FIG. 3(b) and the upper end 160 of the duct 144 that hangs down below the upper edge 158.

[0051] Therefore, the airbag device 100 adopts a configuration that can cover the gap 162 shown in FIG. 3(b) with the sub-chamber 148. That is, as shown in FIG. 1(b), the sub-chamber 148 has a pair of leg portions 164, 166 and a connecting portion 168, and forms a bridge shape. The pair of leg portions 164, 166 are spaced apart in the vehicle front-rear direction and communicate with the duct 144. The connecting portion 168 connects the pair of leg portions 164, 166 and is spaced apart from the duct 144.

[0052] In this way, since the sub-chamber 148 has a bridge shape, the tab 130 shown in FIG. 2 can be attached to a portion 170 (see FIG. 1(b)) located between the pair of leg portions 164, 166 of the duct 144. Therefore, in the airbag device 100, the cushion 102 can be suspended by the tab 130 at an appropriate position.

[0053] Note that the region 171 between the connecting portion 168 of the sub-chamber 148 and the duct 144 is hollow in the present embodiment. However, the region 171 may be a non-expanding region such as a cloth that does not expand.

[0054] Furthermore, in the bridge-shaped sub-chamber 148, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the connecting portion 168 is bent outward of the vehicle during inflation and deployment, so that the gap 162 between the upper edge 158 of the side window 118 and the upper end 160 of the duct 144 can be covered. Hereinafter, the deployment behavior of the cushion 102 will be described.

[0055] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state during the deployment of the cushion 102 of the airbag device 100 in FIG. 2. When gas is supplied from the inflator 104 in an emergency, the sub-chamber 148 expands as shown in the figure, presses against the garnish 112, and the end 112a of the garnish 112 descends. At this time, the sub-chamber 148 contacts the weatherstrip 128 attached to the lower end 106a of the roof side rail 106. Also, the lower end 128a of the weatherstrip 128 is located at approximately the same height as the upper edge 158 of the side window 118 shown in FIG. 3(b).

[0056] Furthermore, in the cushion 102, the duct 144 has also started to expand, and the main chamber 146 has not yet expanded. The tape 154 wound around the outer surface 102a of the cushion 102 breaks due to the pressure accompanying the expansion and deployment of the cushion 102 as shown in the figure.

[0057] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the cushion 102 has been expanded and deployed following FIG. 4. The state of the cushion 102 during the expansion and deployment in FIG. 5 corresponds to the state of the cushion 102 in FIG. 3(b).

[0058] In the sub-chamber 148 of the cushion 102, as shown in the figure, the connecting portion 168 expands and deploys outside the vehicle more than the duct 144 and contacts the weatherstrip 128 attached to the lower end 106a of the roof side rail 106, and its position is restricted.

[0059] As a result, the upper end 172 of the connecting portion 168 of the sub-chamber 148 is located above the height of the upper edge 158 of the side window 118 indicated by the dotted line C in the figure, that is, above the height of the lower end 128a of the weatherstrip 128. Also, the lower end 174 of the connecting portion 168 of the sub-chamber 148 is located below the height of the upper end 160 of the duct 144 indicated by the dotted line D in the figure. Also, the difference in height between the dotted lines C and D corresponds to the height range of the gap 162 shown in FIG. 3(b).

[0060] In this way, the connecting portion 168 is bent outward of the vehicle during inflation and deployment, and will be located between the pair of leg portions 164, 166 and the upper edge 158 of the side window 118. Further, the length of the connecting portion 168 of the sub-chamber 148 in the vehicle longitudinal direction is longer than the length of the gap 162 in the vehicle longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 3(b).

[0061] Thereby, the sub-chamber 148 can cover the gap 162 between the upper end 160 of the duct 144 and the upper edge 158 of the side window 118. Therefore, according to the airbag device 100, at the position where the tab 130 is attached, while ensuring the appropriate deployment behavior of the cushion 102, the protection area 156 (see FIG. 3(a)) can be reliably covered by the cushion 102, and the occupant protection performance can be improved.

[0062] Also, at the position where the tab 130 is attached, the cushion 102 can wind the tape 154 around the portion 170 (see FIG. 1(b)) located between the pair of leg portions 164, 166 of the bridge-shaped sub-chamber 148 in the duct 144. For this reason, the tape 154 can be wound around the appropriate position of the cushion 102 in the stored state, and it is easy to maintain the shape of the cushion 102.

[0063] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the cushion shown in FIG. 1(b). In FIG. 6, the same elements as those in FIG. 1(b) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The cushion 202 in FIG. 6(a) has a sub-chamber 248 that is different from the sub-chamber 148 in FIG. 1(b).

[0064] That is, the sub-chamber 248 has a leg portion 266 communicating with the duct 144 and a portion 268 extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction from the leg portion 266. And the tab 130 is attached to a portion located between the portions 268 extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction in the duct 144.

[0065] It is a feature of the sub-chamber 248 to have such a single leg portion 266. The sub-chamber 248 is attached to the duct 144 by a non-inflated portion 271, such as a cloth having no inflated internal space, that surrounds the outside of the leg portion 266 and the portion 268.

[0066] In this way, since the sub-chamber 248 has the leg portion 266 and the portion 268 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from it, it becomes possible to attach the tab 130 to the portion of the duct 144 located between the portions 268 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. Therefore, also with such a configuration, the cushion 202 can be suspended by the tab 130 at an appropriate position.

[0067] Note that the region 273 between the portion 268 of the sub-chamber 248 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and the duct 144 is hollow in this embodiment. However, the region 273 may be a non-inflated region such as a cloth that does not expand.

[0068] The cushion 302 in FIG. 6(b) has a sub-chamber 348 that is symmetric in shape to the sub-chamber 248 in FIG. 6(a). That is, the sub-chamber 348 has a single leg portion 366 communicating with the duct 144 on the front side of the vehicle, and further has a portion 368 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from this leg portion 366. Therefore, the sub-chamber 348 expands when gas enters this leg portion 366 on the front side of the vehicle from the duct 144 and further enters the portion 368 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0069] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the cushion shown in FIG. 1(b). In FIG. 7, the same elements as those in FIG. 1(b) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The cushion 402 in FIG. 7(a) has a sub-chamber 448 that is different from the sub-chamber 148 in FIG. 1(b).

[0070] That is, the sub-chamber 448 has a blocking portion 405 that blocks the front leg portion 164 of the pair of leg portions 164 and 166 from the duct 144.

[0071] The cushion 502 in Fig. 7(b) has its sub-chamber 548 in a shape symmetrical to the sub-chamber 448 in Fig. 7(a). That is, the sub-chamber 548 has a blocking portion 505 that blocks the leg portion 166 at the rear of the vehicle from the duct 144.

[0072] These blocking portions 405, 505 may be formed, for example, by sewing. As shown in Figs. 7(a) and 7(b), even if the blocking portions 405 or 505 are provided, gas can flow into the other leg portion 166 or 164 where they are not provided from the duct 144, and the sub-chambers 448 or 548 can be inflated and deployed.

[0073] Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the storage method of the cushion shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 8, the same elements as in Fig. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. As shown in Fig. 8, in this modified example, the sub-chamber 148 is sewn together with the tab 130 by a sewing line 150 at a location continuous from the duct 144 and at a further looped location.

[0074] Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the cushion 102 is inflated and deployed following Fig. 8. The sub-chamber 148 of the cushion 102 has its connecting portion 168 inflated and deployed outside the vehicle with respect to the duct 144 as shown in the figure, and contacts the weather strip 128 attached to the lower end 106a of the roof side rail 106, and its position is restricted. That is, even when the storage method of the cushion 102 in Fig. 8 is adopted, the same effect as that described for Fig. 5 can be obtained.

[0075] 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.

[0076] In addition, in the above-described 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 aircraft, ships, etc. other than automobiles, and the same operational effects can be obtained.

Industrial Applicability

[0077] The present invention can be used for an airbag device including a curtain airbag that expands and deploys along the side portion in the vehicle interior for the purpose of protecting an occupant when a vehicle collides on its side or rolls over.

Explanation of Signs

[0078] 100... airbag device, 102, 202, 302, 402, 502... cushion, 102a... outer surface of the cushion, 104... inflator, 106... roof side rail, 106a... lower end of the roof side rail, 108... vehicle, 110... storage space, 112... garnish, 112a... lower end of the garnish, 114... front seat, 116... rear seat, 118, 120... side window, 122... front pillar, 124... center pillar, 126... rear pillar, 128... weather strip, 128a... lower end of the weather strip, 130... tab, 132... bracket, 134... bolt hole, 136... insertion hole, 138... bolt, 140... nut, 142, 150... sewing line, 144... duct, 146... main chamber, 148, 248, 348, 448, 548... sub-chamber, 152... seam portion, 154... tape, 156... protection area, 158... upper edge of the side window, 160... upper end of the duct, 162... gap, 164, 166, 266, 366... leg portion, 168... connecting portion, 170... portion of the duct, 171, 273... region of the sub-chamber, 172... upper end of the connecting portion of the sub-chamber, 174... lower end of the connecting portion of the sub-chamber, 268, 368... portion extending in the front-rear direction of the sub-chamber, 271... non-inflated portion, 405, 505... blocking portion

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising a cushion that is wound or folded and stored at an upper side portion of a vehicle interior side surface and expands and deploys along the side surface, the airbag device further comprising: An inflator inserted into the cushion and supplying gas to the cushion; And a tab for suspending the cushion from the upper side portion. The cushion comprises: A duct extending in the vehicle front-rear direction at the upper side portion of the side surface and having the tab, into which gas flows and expands and deploys; A main chamber located below the duct; And a sub-chamber provided at the upper side portion of the side surface. The upper end of the sub-chamber is located above the upper edge of a side window of the vehicle. The lower end of the sub-chamber is located below the upper end of the duct. The sub-chamber comprises: A pair of legs spaced apart in the vehicle front-rear direction and communicating with the duct; And a connecting portion connecting the pair of legs, forming a bridge shape. The tab is attached to a portion of the duct located between the pair of legs. The airbag device is characterized by this.

2. The sub-chamber expands and deploys outside the vehicle more than the duct, and is in contact with a weather strip attached to the lower end of a roof side rail at the upper side portion of the side surface, and its position is restricted. The airbag device according to claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The sub-chamber comprises: A leg communicating with the duct; And a portion extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from the leg. The tab is attached to a portion of the duct located between the portions extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by this.

4. The connecting portion of the sub-chamber is bent outward of the vehicle during inflation and deployment, and is located between the pair of leg portions and the upper edge of the side window. The airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

5. In the portion of the duct, a holding member that is wound around the outer surface of the cushion in the stored state and breaks when the cushion is deployed is passed through. The airbag device according to claim 3, characterized in that.

6. In the portion of the duct, a holding member that is wound around the outer surface of the cushion in the stored state and breaks when the cushion is deployed is passed through. The airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

7. The sub-chamber further has a blocking portion that blocks either one of the pair of leg portions from the duct. The airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

8. The region between the portion of the sub-chamber extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the duct is hollow or occupied by a non-inflating non-inflated region. The airbag device according to claim 3, characterized in that.

9. The region between the connecting portion of the sub-chamber and the duct is hollow or occupied by a non-inflating non-inflated region. The airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that.

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