Passenger seat airbag device

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an airbag device that can appropriately restrain an occupant seating in the passenger seat of a vehicle by controlling the shape of a deployed airbag more precisely. [Solution] The present invention is an airbag device that protects an occupant in a passenger seat of a vehicle, the airbag device comprising: an inflator which is stored inside an instrument panel and which generates inflation gas; and an airbag that restrains the occupant by being inflated and deployed from the instrument panel toward the occupant with the gas released from the inflator. The airbag is formed of a woven fabric of mutually orthogonal warp yearns and weft yarns. The airbag includes an occupant-side panel that faces the occupant and a side surface panel that forms the sides of the airbag and is joined by sewing to a peripheral end portion of the occupant-side panel. Additionally, the occupant-side panel and the side surface panel are joined so that the fabric textures of the two panels generally match at the joint therebetween.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag device for a passenger seat that protects a passenger sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] It is well known to provide one or more airbags in a vehicle to protect passengers in the event of an accident. Airbags include, for example, a so-called driver's airbag that inflates from near the center of the steering wheel of an automobile to protect the driver, a passenger seat airbag that bulges from the instrument panel to protect the passenger in the passenger seat, a curtain airbag that unfolds downward inside the window of the automobile to protect the passenger in the event of a lateral impact, rollover, or overturn accident of the vehicle, and a side airbag that unfolds at the side of the seat to protect the passenger in the event of a lateral impact of the vehicle. The present invention relates to an airbag device for a passenger seat.

[0003] By the way, it is not easy to control the deployment shape of a relatively large airbag for a passenger seat, and it is difficult to receive the passenger with a uniform pressure without bias. In particular, in the case of a collision in which an impact is applied to the vehicle from an obliquely forward direction, the passenger may enter the deployed airbag at an irregular position and angle, and may not be able to appropriately protect the passenger's head.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an airbag device that can appropriately restrain a passenger sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle by more precisely controlling the deployment shape of the airbag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an airbag device for protecting an occupant in the passenger seat of a vehicle, comprising: an inflater housed inside an instrument panel and generating inflation gas; and an airbag that is inflated and deployed from the instrument panel toward the occupant side by the gas released from the inflater to restrain the occupant. The airbag is formed from a woven fabric in which warp and weft intersecting at right angles to each other are woven. The airbag includes an occupant-side panel facing the occupant and a side panel that is connected to a peripheral end of the occupant-side panel by sewing and forms a side surface of the airbag. At the connection between the occupant-side panel and the side panel, the fabric patterns of both panels are connected so as to generally match.

[0006] Here, the "instrument panel" is a portion in front of the front seat of the vehicle and located below the windshield (front glass), and is generally formed of resin and may also be called a dashboard.

[0007] Also, the expression "toward the occupant side" can also be expressed as a direction obliquely upward and rearward from the instrument panel.

[0008] Also, the "fabric pattern" indicates the direction in which the weft or warp extends. And "the fabric patterns match" means that on both sides of the sewing portion of the two panels, the weft or warp of one panel and the weft or warp of the other panel are arranged so as to be parallel or perpendicular. Note that in a woven fabric woven with orthogonal weft and warp, after being once cut into a panel shape, the difference between the weft and the warp disappears.

[0009] In the present invention, at both sides of the connection portion of the two panels, sewing is performed so that the fabric pattern (the direction of the warp or weft) of the panel is perpendicular to the connection portion, so that the fabric patterns of both panels match (become parallel), but a slight deviation is allowed.

[0010] In the present invention as described above, at the connection portion between the occupant side panel and the side panel, since the grain patterns of both panels are connected so as to generally coincide, the deployment shape of the deployed airbag is stable, and it becomes possible to receive the occupant with uniform pressure without bias.

[0011] At the connection portion between the occupant side panel and the side panel, the inclination (grain pattern deviation) of the grain patterns of both panels in the direction orthogonal to the connection portion can be set within 30°.

[0012] This is because if the grain pattern deviation (inclination) is about ±30°, the effects of the present invention can be achieved.

[0013] The side panel is formed of a single panel, and the ends are connected by sewing along a first connection line extending in the front-rear direction on the side surface of the airbag, and the grain patterns of the ends of the side panel can be sewn so as to generally coincide.

[0014] In this case, at the connection portion between the ends of the side panel, the inclination (grain pattern deviation) of the grain patterns of both panels in the direction orthogonal to the connection portion can be set within 30°.

[0015] The side panel includes a first side panel and a second side panel, and one end of the first side panel and one end of the second side panel, and the other end of the first side panel and the other end of the second side panel are connected by sewing on the side surface of the airbag, and at the sewing portion of the first and second side panels, the grain patterns can be sewn so as to generally coincide.

[0016] Note that the panel constituting the side panel is not limited to one or two, and it is also possible to use three or more panels.

[0017] In this case, at the connection portion of the first and second ends, the inclination (grain pattern deviation) of the grain patterns of both panels in the direction orthogonal to the connection portion can be set within 30°.

[0018] The airbag may further include a mount panel that contacts the instrument panel.

[0019] When the airbag in the deployed state is viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction, a curved portion is formed along the shape of the instrument panel below the instrument panel. The mount panel can be sewn and connected to the lower end of the side panel so as to form the curved portion.

[0020] In this way, by forming the lower end portion of the airbag along the shape of the instrument panel, the instrument panel can be efficiently used as a reaction surface when the airbag is deployed. As a result, the deployed airbag does not flail around, is well contained, and the deployment behavior and deployment shape of the entire airbag become stable.

[0021] When the airbag in the deployed state is viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction, the length in the front-rear direction along the airbag deployment direction from the upper end of the curved portion to the sewing location between the occupant side panel and the side panel can be made larger than the length in the up-down direction orthogonal to the deployment direction.

[0022] In this way, the stroke of the airbag in the front-rear direction becomes longer, and the energy absorption performance when the occupant enters is improved.

[0023] The airbag may further include a diffuser that is connected to the inflator and adjusts the flow of gas inside the airbag.

[0024] The diffuser can be connected and arranged inside the mount panel inside the airbag.

[0025] The occupant side panel can be formed in a generally rectangular shape.

[0026] Making the passenger-side panel square has the advantage of facilitating sewing with the side panel. Note that the passenger-side panel may be circular or the like.

[0027] The passenger-side panel and the side panel can be continuously formed as the same panel.

[0028] Here, "continuously with the same panel" means that when the side panel is formed of a single panel, the panel and the passenger-side panel are continuously connected. On the other hand, when the side panel is formed of a plurality of panels, one of the side panels and the passenger-side panel are continuously connected. By continuously forming the side panel and the passenger-side panel, the sewing length of both panels can be shortened, and it becomes easy to align the fabric patterns.

[0029] In the specification, claims, and drawings of the present application, "front" means the front (traveling direction) of the vehicle, "rear" means the rear (opposite side of the traveling direction) of the vehicle, "right" means the right side when facing the traveling direction, "left" means the left side when facing the traveling direction, and "vehicle width direction" means the left-right direction.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030]

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Hereinafter, the passenger seat airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the occupant P is based on an experimental dummy, but it goes without saying that it functions in the same way for an actual occupant (human).

[0032] FIG. 1 is a side view showing the state in which the airbag (18) is deployed in the airbag device (14) according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the deployed state of the airbag (18) and shows the structure around the instrument panel (10).

[0033] The airbag device 14 according to the present invention protects the occupant P in the passenger seat of the vehicle, and includes an inflater 12 housed inside the instrument panel 10 and generating inflation gas; and an airbag 18 that expands and deploys from the instrument panel 10 toward the occupant P side by the gas released from the inflater 12 to restrain the occupant P.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, vent holes 22 for discharging gas to the outside are formed on both the left and right sides of the side surface of the airbag 18.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a curved portion 18a is formed in the bottom portion of the airbag 18 so as to follow the shape of the inflator 10.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, a diffuser 20 for adjusting the gas flow in the airbag 18 is provided inside the airbag 18. The lower end of the diffuser 20 is connected to the inflator 12, and gas is dispersed and introduced into the airbag 18 from the side surface of the upper portion. As a result, the airbag 18 that is long in the front-rear direction can be quickly filled with gas.

[0037] Note that the diffuser 20 can be formed of the same base fabric as the airbag 18.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the panel configuration (base fabric taking) of the airbag 18. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which the panels taken with the base fabric as shown in FIG. 3 are combined. In FIG. 3, the lattice-like thin lines schematically indicate the direction of the fabric pattern of the base fabric. Since the actual fabric pattern is very dense, it is not shown in the drawing. Similarly, in other drawings, the lattice-like thin lines indicate the direction of the fabric pattern.

[0039] FIG. 5 is an explanatory view (plan view) showing the state of the airbag 18 after sewing. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the deployed state of the airbag 18 as viewed from the side of the occupant P. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the deployed state of the airbag 18 as viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag 18 is formed of a woven fabric in which warp and weft threads orthogonal to each other are woven.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the airbag 18 includes an occupant-side panel 28 facing the occupant, and side panels 24 and 26 that are connected to the peripheral end of the occupant-side panel 28 by sewing and form the side surface of the airbag 18.

[0042] The occupant-side panel 28 used in this embodiment is generally rectangular in shape with rounded corners, but other shapes such as circular or elliptical can also be adopted.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 3, the side panels 24 and 26 are formed in the same shape. Bent portions 24a and 26b are formed on the side panels 24 and 26. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, a mount portion panel 30 is to be connected to the recess formed by opposing these bent portions 24a and 26b.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5, at the sewing stage, the diffuser 20 is connected to the outside of the mount portion panel 30, and then it is pushed into the inside of the airbag 18.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 6, at the connection portion 31 between the occupant-side panel 28 and the side panels 24 and 26, the two panels are connected so that the fabric patterns of both panels generally match. Here, "generally match" means that even when the fabric pattern 28X of one panel and the fabric pattern 24X of the other panel are relatively slightly inclined on both sides of the sewing portion 31 of the two panels to be connected, it is acceptable. For example, if the deviation angle (tilt angle) θ of the fabric pattern is about ±30° with respect to the line (dashed-dotted line) perpendicular to the sewing portion 30, the effects of the present invention can be exhibited.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when the airbag 18 in the deployed state is viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction, a curved portion 18a is formed along the shape of the instrument panel 10 below the contact with the instrument panel 10, and the mount portion panel 20 is sewn and connected to the lower ends of the side panels 24 and 26 so as to form the curved portion 18a.

[0047] In this way, by forming the lower end portion of the airbag 18 along the shape of the instrument panel 10, when the airbag 18 deploys, the instrument panel 10 can be efficiently utilized as a reaction surface. As a result, the deployed airbag 18 does not flail around, is better contained, and the deployment behavior and deployment shape of the entire airbag 18 become stable.

[0048] Figures 8(A) and (B) show the deployed state of the airbag 18, where (A) shows a part of the view observed from above in FIG. 7, and (B) shows a part of the view observed from below in FIG. 7.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 8, the two side panels 24, 26 are connected by sewing lines 32, 34 that linearly extend in the front-rear direction at the upper and lower ends of the airbag 18. And at the connection points 32, 34 with the side panels 24, 26, the fabric patterns of the two panels 24, 26 are connected so as to generally match. Here, "generally match" means, similar to the above, that on both sides of the sewing points 32, 34 of the two panels 24, 26 to be connected, the fabric pattern 24X of one panel and the fabric pattern 26X of the other panel are relatively slightly inclined. For example, if the deviation angle (tilt angle) θ of the fabric pattern is about ±30° with respect to a line (dashed-dotted line) perpendicular to the sewing points 32, 34, the effects of the present invention can be exhibited.

[0050] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the side panel is composed of two panels 24, 26, but it is also possible to configure the side panel with one panel. In this case, both ends of the side panel are sewn at the upper part (32) or the lower part (34) of the airbag 18.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 7, when the deployed airbag 18 is viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction, the length L1 in the front-rear direction along the airbag deployment direction from the upper end of the curved portion 18a to the sewing point 31 between the occupant side panel 28 and the side panel is made larger than the length L2 in the vertical direction orthogonal to the deployment direction.

[0052] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a part of a panel constituting an airbag according to another aspect of the present invention. In the aspect of FIG. 9, the occupant-side panel 128 and one side panel 124 are continuously formed as the same panel.

[0053] By continuously forming the side panel 124 and the occupant-side panel 128, the sewing length of both panels can be shortened, and it becomes easy to align the fabric patterns. Further, more panels can be created from a base fabric with a limited area, that is, the base fabric utilization efficiency is improved.

[0054] (Advantages of the Invention) As described above, in the present invention, at least at the connection portion 31 between the occupant-side panel 28 and the side panels 24 and 26, since the fabric patterns of both panels are connected so as to generally coincide, the deployment shape of the deployed airbag 18 is stable, and it is possible to receive the occupant with a uniform pressure without bias. Also, at the connection portions 32 and 34 between the side panels 24 and 26, by connecting the fabric patterns of both panels so as to generally coincide, the deployment shape of the airbag 18 becomes even more stable.

[0055] (Interpretation of the Technical Scope of the Present Invention) Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments at all and can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea expressed in the claims.

Claims

1. An airbag device for protecting an occupant in the passenger seat of a vehicle, comprising: An inflator housed inside the instrument panel that generates inflation gas; and An airbag that is inflated and deployed from the instrument panel toward the occupant side by the gas released from the inflator to restrain the occupant; The airbag is formed from a woven fabric in which warp and weft threads orthogonal to each other are woven; The airbag includes an occupant-side panel facing the occupant and a side panel that is connected to the peripheral end of the occupant-side panel by sewing and forms the side surface of the airbag; An airbag device, characterized in that at the connection point between the occupant-side panel and the side panel, the fabric patterns of both panels are connected so as to generally match.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein at the connection point between the occupant-side panel and the side panel, the inclination (fabric pattern deviation) of the fabric patterns of both panels with respect to the direction orthogonal to the connection point is within 30°.

3. The side panel is formed of a single panel, and the ends are connected to each other by sewing along a first connection line extending in the front-rear direction on the side surface of the airbag; The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fabric patterns of the ends of the side panel are sewn so as to generally match.

4. The airbag device according to claim 3, wherein at the connection point between the ends of the side panel, the inclination (fabric pattern deviation) of the fabric patterns of both panels with respect to the direction orthogonal to the connection point is within 30°.

5. The side panel includes a first side panel and a second side panel; One end of the first side panel and one end of the second side panel, and the other end of the first side panel and the other end of the second side panel are connected to each other by sewing on the side surface of the airbag; The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at the sewing points of the first and second side panels, the fabric patterns are sewn so as to generally match.

6. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein at the connection point of the first and second ends, the inclination (fabric pattern deviation) of the fabric patterns of both panels with respect to the direction orthogonal to the connection point is within 30°.

7. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the airbag further includes a mount panel that contacts the instrument panel.

8. When the airbag in the deployed state is viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction, a curved portion is formed along the shape of the instrument panel below the portion that contacts the instrument panel. The airbag device according to claim 7, wherein the mount panel is sewn and connected to a lower end portion of the side panel so as to form the curved portion.

9. When the airbag in the deployed state is viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction, the length in the front-rear direction along the airbag deployment direction from the upper end of the curved portion to the sewing location of the occupant side panel and the side panel is greater than the length in the vertical direction orthogonal to the deployment direction. The airbag device according to claim 8, characterized in that.

10. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a diffuser connected to the inflator and adjusting the flow of gas inside the airbag.

11. The airbag further includes a mount panel that contacts the instrument panel, and The airbag device according to claim 10, wherein the diffuser is connected and disposed inside the airbag on the inner side of the mount panel.

12. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the occupant side panel is generally formed in a rectangular shape.

13. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the occupant side panel and the side panel are continuously formed of the same panel.

14. An airbag used in the airbag device according to claim 1 or 2.

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