Passenger seat airbag device

Abstract

To provide an air bag device for a front passenger seat that can protect an outer peripheral bonding section of an air bag.SOLUTION: An air bag device for a front passenger seat comprises an inflator 1 and an air bag formed in a bag shape by bonding an outer peripheral edge of a base fabric on an outer peripheral bonding section and folded to the inner side of an instrument panel to be housed. The air bag includes: an early inflation portion 12 configured to inflate below a windshield when gas preferentially flows in at the time of inflation and deployment; a protective inflation portion 11 folded in a roll to be housed and configured to inflate and deploy toward an occupant when the gas flows in from the early inflation portion; and a protective fabric attached to the inner side of the base fabric over the early inflation portion and the protective inflation portion. The protective fabric includes: a reinforcement portion attached via the outer peripheral bonding section of the air bag to the base fabric; and a protective portion attached to the base fabric via an attachment bonding section located closer to the edge side of the base fabric than the outer peripheral bonding section of the air bag and covering the outer peripheral bonding section. The reinforcement portion is disposed on the early inflation portion. The protective portion is disposed on the protective inflation portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag device for a passenger seat. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART A known airbag device is attached to a vehicle such as an automobile and inflates and deploys in the event of a vehicle collision to protect an occupant. In the event of a frontal collision, the airbag inflates and deploys in front of the occupant seated in the passenger seat, toward the occupant, thereby catching and protecting the occupant as he or she moves forward.

[0003] A technique is known in which a reinforcing fabric (reinforcing patch) and a main panel are sewn together to prevent tearing at the sewn portion due to internal pressure when the airbag is inflated and deployed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0004] Furthermore, a technique is also known in which a protective cloth is provided to cover the sewn portions of an airbag in order to protect the sewn portions from the heat of the gas generated by the inflator (see, for example, Patent Document 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1998-166978 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-46329 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-156732 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In recent years, with the miniaturization of airbag devices, particularly the miniaturization of inflators, the temperature of the gas generated from the inflator has been increasing. Therefore, it is necessary to provide both of the above two types of protective fabrics for the airbag. However, if both are provided, problems such as an increase in the number of parts and sewing processes, and the airbag becoming bulky will occur.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object thereof is to provide a passenger seat airbag device that can efficiently protect the outer peripheral joint portion of the airbag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a passenger seat airbag device in which an airbag expands and deploys toward a passenger sitting on the passenger seat from between an instrument panel and a windshield of a vehicle, the airbag device including: an inflator that generates gas; and an airbag that is formed in a bag shape by joining an outer peripheral edge portion of a base fabric at an outer peripheral joint portion, is folded and stored inside the instrument panel, and expands and deploys by the gas. The airbag has: an early expansion portion into which the gas preferentially flows when the airbag expands and deploys, and that expands below the windshield; a protective expansion portion that is folded and stored in a roll shape, and that expands and deploys toward the passenger when the gas flows in from the early expansion portion when the airbag expands and deploys; and a protective fabric attached to the inside of the base fabric over the early expansion portion and the protective expansion portion. The protective fabric has: a reinforcing portion attached to the base fabric by the outer peripheral joint portion of the airbag; and a protective portion attached to the base fabric by an attachment joint portion located on an edge side of the base fabric rather than the outer peripheral joint portion of the airbag, and that covers the outer peripheral joint portion. The reinforcing portion is provided in the early expansion portion, and the protective portion is provided in the protective expansion portion.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a passenger seat airbag device that can efficiently protect the outer peripheral joint portion of the airbag.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

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[0011] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, the airbag device according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the arrow F appropriately shown indicates the vehicle front direction, the arrow R indicates the vehicle rear direction, the arrow U indicates the vehicle upper direction, and the arrow D indicates the vehicle lower direction.

[0012] First, the initial state of the airbag device according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the initial state of the passenger seat airbag device according to Embodiment 1 attached to a vehicle taken from the vehicle width direction.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the passenger seat airbag device 100 according to Embodiment 1 is arranged to cover the opening on the upper surface of the instrument panel AA located in front of the passenger seat, and includes an inflator (gas generator) 1 that generates gas, a folded bag-shaped airbag 10, a fixing member 2 that houses the folded airbag 10, and a cover 3 that covers the airbag 10 housed in the fixing member 2. In this specification, the "initial state" means the state before the operation of the inflator 1, that is, before the inflation and deployment of the airbag 10.

[0014] The inflator 1 operates when a frontal collision of the vehicle occurs. First, when a collision detection sensor mounted on the vehicle detects a frontal collision of the vehicle, the ECU (Erectric Control Unit) calculates the signal sent from the collision detection sensor, and the level of the collision is determined. When the determined collision level corresponds to the case of inflating the airbag 10, the inflator 1 is ignited, and gas is generated by a chemical reaction caused by the combustion of the internal gunpowder. The generated gas is discharged from the gas ejection holes of the inflator 1 into the airbag 10. Note that the type of the inflator 1 is not particularly limited, and a pyrotechnic inflator that uses gas generated by burning a gas generating agent, a stored inflator that uses compressed gas, a hybrid inflator that uses a mixed gas of gas generated by burning a gas generating agent and compressed gas, etc. can be used.

[0015] The airbag 10 is a bag-shaped body, and before the operation of the inflator 1, it is folded and stored in a fixing member 2 disposed inside the upper surface of the instrument panel AA. In the folded state, the airbag 10 has a protective inflation part 11 folded in a roll shape and an early inflation part 12 at least partially covering the protective inflation part 11 folded in a roll shape. The number of times of winding the protective inflation part 11 in a roll shape is defined as one round of the roll as one time. For example, it is preferably 1.5 times or more and 5 times or less, and more preferably 2 times or more and 4 times or less. The early inflation part 12 covers from the front end side to the upper part of the protective inflation part 11 folded in a roll shape, and the tip part is folded back inward (it may also be outward) so as not to protrude from the protective inflation part 11.

[0016] Note that at least a part of the early inflation part 12 may be pleated or tacked. Also in this case, the pleated or tacked early inflation part 12 may cover the protective inflation part 11 folded in a roll shape. Further, a part of the early inflation part 12 (the part adjacent to the protective inflation part 11) may be folded in a roll shape together with the protective inflation part 11.

[0017] Inside the lower surface of the airbag 10, a metal annular clamping plate (not shown) with an attachment hole for the inflator 1 is disposed. The clamping plate, the airbag 10, the fixing member 2, and the flange portion of the inflator 1 are fixed by a bolt (not shown) passing through and fastened by a nut (not shown).

[0018] Next, with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6, the state of the airbag device according to Embodiment 1 after inflation and deployment will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the airbag device shown in FIG. 1 when viewed in the vehicle width direction after inflation and deployment of the airbag. In FIG. 2, the approximate positions of the early inflation portion 12 and the protection inflation portion 11 are indicated by hatching respectively.

[0019] When the inflator 1 operates, the inside of the airbag 10 is filled with the gas generated from the inflator 1, and the airbag 10 expands while the folding is released. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the airbag 10 pushes open the lid portion 3a provided on the cover 3 and expands and deploys into the vehicle interior.

[0020] The early inflation portion 12 covered by the protection inflation portion 11 has gas preferentially flowing in from the inflator 1 when the airbag 10 expands and deploys, and expands below the windshield BB. As a result, the early inflation portion 12 expands and deploys above the inflator 1 and on the vehicle front side of the inflator 1 below the windshield BB and abuts against the windshield BB. On the other hand, the protection inflation portion 11 folded in a roll shape expands and deploys toward the occupant seated in the passenger seat as gas flows in from the early inflation portion 12 when the airbag 10 expands and deploys. Then, the protection inflation portion 11 expands and deploys on the vehicle rear side of the early inflation portion 12 and the inflator 1 and abuts against and restrains the occupant seated in the passenger seat. Note that the gas flowing into the protection inflation portion 11 may include gas flowing directly from the inflator 1 without passing through the early inflation portion 12. The behavior of the airbag 10 during inflation and deployment will be described in detail later.

[0021] The airbag 10 can be formed of threads such as nylon 66 and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Further, the surface of the airbag 10 may be coated with an inorganic substance such as silicon in order to improve heat resistance, airtightness, etc.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a three-dimensional shape of the passenger seat airbag device according to Embodiment 1 after the airbag is inflated and deployed.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag 10 is formed in a bag shape by joining the outer peripheral edge portion of the base fabric 20 with the outer peripheral joining portion 13. Here, the “base fabric” means a fabric that defines the outer shape of the airbag and includes at least two panels (fabrics). Then, the airbag 10 is formed in a bag shape as a whole by joining the outer peripheral edge portions of different panels with each other at the outer peripheral joining portion 13. Note that the outer peripheral joining portion 13 is located inside the airbag 10 and is usually a joining line (for example, a sewing line) along the outer peripheral edge portion of the base fabric 20.

[0024] More specifically, the airbag 10 has, as a base fabric 20, three panels, namely, one center panel 21 and two side panels 22a and 22b respectively located on one side and the other side of the center panel 21. The center panel 21 is formed in a tubular shape by joining both longitudinal ends of a single strip of fabric, and the side panels 22a and 22b are formed in substantially the same longitudinal shape. One outer peripheral edge of the tubular center panel 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the side panel 22a are joined at an outer peripheral joint 13a as the outer peripheral joint 13, and the other outer peripheral edge of the tubular center panel 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the side panel 22b are joined at an outer peripheral joint 13b as the outer peripheral joint 13, whereby the bag-shaped airbag 10 is formed. The outer peripheral joint 13a is a joint line along one outer peripheral edge of the center panel 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the side panel 22a, and the outer peripheral joint 13b is a joint line along the other outer peripheral edge of the center panel 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the side panel 22b. Note that an opening 20a for inserting the inflator 1 is formed below the base fabric 20, here the center panel 21.

[0025] Further, the airbag 10 has a protective fabric 30 attached to the inside of the base fabric 20, here the center panel 21, over the early inflation portion 12 and the protective inflation portion 11 (see the dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 3). The protective fabric 30 is a single strip of fabric provided over a part of the protective inflation portion 11 via the early inflation portion 12 from the arrangement portion of the inflator 1, and is attached to the base fabric 20 in a state of being overlapped without being bent or stretched on the center panel 21. That is, the protective fabric 30 has substantially the same shape as the center panel 21 in the region overlapping the center panel 21.

[0026] Further, the protective cloth 30 has a reinforcing portion 31 and a protective portion 32. The reinforcing portion 31 is provided on the early inflation portion 12, and the protective portion 32 is provided on the protective inflation portion 11. More specifically, the reinforcing portion 31 is provided from the arrangement portion of the inflator 1 to the early inflation portion 12, and the protective portion 32 is provided from the early inflation portion 12 to the protective inflation portion 11. In other words, when the protective cloth 30 is divided into two parts in the longitudinal direction, the part on the inflator 1 side becomes the reinforcing portion 31, and the part on the opposite side becomes the protective portion 32. The protective portion 32 only needs to be provided at least on the protective inflation portion 11, and a part thereof (a part on the early inflation portion 12 side) may be provided on the early inflation portion 12 (a part of the early inflation portion 12 adjacent to the protective inflation portion 11).

[0027] Furthermore, the protective cloth 30 has a pair of notches 33 provided between the reinforcing portion 31 and the protective portion 32. In the longitudinal direction of the protective cloth 30, the reinforcing portion 31 and the protective portion 32 are respectively located before and after the point where the notch 33 is provided. Here, the notch 33 is provided in a part of the early inflation portion 12 that covers the protective inflation portion 11 (which may be a bellows fold or a tack fold portion).

[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the A1 - A1 line and the A2 - A2 line of the passenger seat airbag device shown in FIG. 3, showing the joining state in the reinforcing portion of the protective cloth. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the B1 - B1 line and the B2 - B2 line of the passenger seat airbag device shown in FIG. 3, showing the joining state in the notch portion of the protective cloth. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the C1 - C1 line and the C2 - C2 line of the passenger seat airbag device shown in FIG. 3, showing the joining state in the protective portion of the protective cloth.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the reinforcing portion 31 is attached to the base fabric 20 by the outer peripheral joint portion 13 of the airbag 10. More specifically, one side of the reinforcing portion 31 (one edge portion in the vehicle width direction) is joined, for example, by double loop sewing, with one outer peripheral edge portion of the center panel 21 and the outer peripheral edge portion of the side panel 22a at the outer peripheral joint portion 13a of the airbag 10. On the other hand, the other side of the reinforcing portion 31 (the other edge portion in the vehicle width direction) is joined, for example, by double loop sewing, with the other outer peripheral edge portion of the center panel 21 and the outer peripheral edge portion of the side panel 22b at the outer peripheral joint portion 13b of the airbag 10.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 5, in the region where the pair of cutouts 33 are provided, the width of the protective fabric 30 in the vehicle width direction is narrowed, and the protective fabric 30 is separated from the outer peripheral joint portion 13 of the airbag 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, at each cutout 33, the protective fabric 30 is not joined to any of the base fabric 20, here the center panel 21 and the side panels 22a, 22b.

[0031] Note that the shape of each cutout 33 is not particularly limited, and may be semi-circular as shown in FIG. 3, or may be other shapes such as rectangular or triangular.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, the protection part 32 is attached to the base fabric 20 by an attachment joint part 14 located on the edge side of the base fabric 20 rather than the outer peripheral joint part 13 of the airbag 10, covering the outer peripheral joint part 13. Note that the attachment joint part 14 is usually a joint line (for example, a sewing line) along the edge of the base fabric 20. More specifically, one side of the protection part 32 (one edge in the vehicle width direction) is joined to the center panel 21 and the side panel 22a as an attachment joint part 14a between the outer peripheral joint part 13a of the airbag 10 and the edges of the center panel 21 and the side panel 22a, for example, sewn by a straight stitch, covering the outer peripheral joint part 13a from the inside of the airbag 10. On the other hand, the other side of the protection part 32 (the other edge in the vehicle width direction) is joined to the center panel 21 as an attachment joint part 14b between the outer peripheral joint part 13b of the airbag 10 and the edges of the center panel 21 and the side panel 22b, for example, sewn by a straight stitch, covering the outer peripheral joint part 13b from the inside of the airbag 10. The attachment joint parts 14a and 14b are joint lines along the edges of the center panel 21 and the side panels 22b and 22b, respectively.

[0033] Note that the method of the above joint is not particularly limited, and examples include sewing, adhesion, welding, etc., and methods combining them. Among them, sewing is particularly suitable.

[0034] Also, the manufacturing process of the airbag 10 is not particularly limited, but it can be manufactured, for example, by the following process.

[0035] First, align the center panel 21 and the protective cloth 30 and temporarily stitch them together. Then, sew both longitudinal ends of the center panel 21 by double loop stitching to form the center panel 21 into a tubular shape. Next, sew the outer peripheral edge of one side of the center panel 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the side panel 22a together with the reinforcing portion 31 of the protective cloth 30 by double loop stitching to form the outer peripheral joint portion 13a of the airbag 10. Also, sew the outer peripheral edge of the other side of the center panel 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the side panel 22b together with the reinforcing portion 31 of the protective cloth 30 by double loop stitching to form the outer peripheral joint portion 13b of the airbag 10. As a result, a bag-shaped body is formed.

[0036] Then, sew the protective portion 32 of the protective cloth 30 together with the center panel 21 and the side panel 22a by straight stitching outside the outer peripheral joint portion 13a of the airbag 10 to form the attachment joint portion 14a. Also, sew the protective portion 32 of the protective cloth 30 together with the center panel 21 and the side panel 22b by straight stitching outside the outer peripheral joint portion 13b of the airbag 10 to form the attachment joint portion 14b.

[0037] Finally, the airbag 10 is manufactured by inverting (turning inside out) the inside and outside of the bag-shaped body through the opening 20a for inserting the inflator 1.

[0038] Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 14, the operation of the airbag device according to Embodiment 1, particularly the behavior during inflation and deployment, will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the initial state of the passenger seat airbag device according to Embodiment 1 is viewed from the vehicle width direction. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of the passenger seat airbag device shown in FIG. 7.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the initial state, the airbag device 100 is arranged to cover the opening on the upper surface of the instrument panel AA and is installed below the windshield BB. Also, the airbag device 100 has an inflator 1, a protective inflation portion 11 folded in a roll shape, and an early inflation portion 12 at least partially covering the protective inflation portion 11.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the passenger seat airbag device according to Embodiment 1 when viewed from the vehicle width direction at the initial stage of inflation and deployment. FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the passenger seat airbag device according to Embodiment 1 when viewed from the upper rear right obliquely at the initial stage of inflation and deployment. FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of the passenger seat airbag device shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is an enlarged view showing a part (region surrounded by a broken line) of the passenger seat airbag device shown in FIG. 11.

[0041] When the inflator 1 operates, gas preferentially flows from the inflator 1 into the early inflation portion 12 that is folded so as to be easily untied, and the airbag 10 pops out from the inside to the outside of the instrument panel AA and expands toward the windshield BB.

[0042] Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the airbag 10 abuts against the windshield BB, the expansion and deployment toward the windshield BB side is restricted, and the airbag expands and deploys in the vehicle width direction. At the same time, as gas flows from the early expansion portion 12 to the protection expansion portion 11, an attempt is made to unwind the roll fold of the protection expansion portion 11. At this time, since gas flows into the protection expansion portion 11 from the outside of the roll fold, the roll fold is tightened by the inflow of the gas, making it difficult for the roll fold to unwind. Therefore, the gas tends to stay in the portion where the roll fold has unwound. Also, since the roll fold portion is difficult to unwind in this way, the early expansion portion 12 of the airbag 10 that has expanded and abutted against the windshield BB further expands in the vehicle width direction due to the gas continuously generated from the inflator 1. Therefore, as shown by the white arrow in FIG. 4, the early expansion portion 12 is pulled so that the base fabrics 20 joined at the outer peripheral joining portion 13, that is, the center panel 21 and the side panel 22a, and the center panel 21 and the side panel 22b are separated from each other. As a result, the base fabric 20 is likely to break starting from the outer peripheral joining portion 13. Furthermore, when the roll fold is difficult to unwind and the gas stays in the portion where the roll fold has unwound, heat from the inflator 1 accumulates in that portion (the heat accumulation area 4 in FIG. 9). As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the outer peripheral joining portion 13 of the protection expansion portion 11 is subjected to the internal pressure and heat from the gas from the inflator 1, and there is a risk of melting.

[0043] On the other hand, in the airbag device 100, the protection cloth 30 provided on the protection expansion portion 11, that is, the protection portion 32, is attached to the base fabric 20 by the attachment joining portion 14 located on the edge side of the base fabric 20 rather than the outer peripheral joining portion 13 of the airbag 10, covering the outer peripheral joining portion 13. This can reduce the damage to the outer peripheral joining portion 13 caused by heat and prevent the outer peripheral joining portion 13 from melting.

[0044] Also, in the airbag device 100, the protection cloth 30 provided on the early expansion portion 12, that is, the reinforcement portion 31, is attached to the base fabric 20 by the outer peripheral joining portion 13 of the airbag 10. This increases the strength at the outer peripheral joining portion 13 of the early expansion portion 12 and can prevent breakage starting from the outer peripheral joining portion 13.

[0045] That is, when the early expansion part 12 hits the windshield BB, the base fabric 20 is pulled, and a load is likely to be applied to the outer peripheral joint part 13. Therefore, while reinforcing with the protective fabric 30 (reinforcing part 31), in the protective expansion part 11, heat is trapped while the roll fold is being unfolded, and heat is applied to the outer peripheral joint part 13. Therefore, it is protected by the protective fabric 30 (protective part 32) so as not to receive heat damage.

[0046] FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the airbag device according to Embodiment 1 during inflation and deployment is viewed from the vehicle width direction. FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the airbag device according to Embodiment 1 after inflation and deployment is viewed from the vehicle width direction.

[0047] When more gas is supplied from the inflator 1 into the airbag 10, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the roll fold unfolds, and the protective expansion part 11 expands toward the rear of the vehicle, that is, toward the passenger seat.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 9, 13, and 14, the airbag 10 first expands upward so as to contact the windshield BB, and then expands and deploys toward the rear of the vehicle while remaining in contact with the windshield BB. As a result, the rocking of the airbag 10 is suppressed, and the behavior of the airbag 10 during inflation and deployment becomes stable.

[0049] As described above, in the present embodiment, the airbag 10 has a protective fabric 30 attached to the inside of the base fabric 20 over the early expansion part 12 and the protective expansion part 11. The protective fabric 30 includes a reinforcing part 31 attached to the base fabric 20 by the outer peripheral joint part 13 of the airbag 10, and a protective part 32 attached to the base fabric 20 by an attachment joint part 14 located on the edge side of the base fabric 20 rather than the outer peripheral joint part 13 of the airbag 10 and covering the outer peripheral joint part 13. Since the reinforcing part 31 is provided in the early expansion part 12 and the protective part 32 is provided in the protective expansion part 11, the attachment structure of the protective fabric 30 can be changed according to the deployment behavior characteristics of the airbag 10, and the minimum amount of the protective fabric 30 can be set where necessary. Therefore, the number of parts and the sewing process can be reduced, and the outer peripheral joint part 13 of the airbag 10 can be efficiently protected.

[0050] Further, in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the protective cloth 30 is provided with a notch 33 between a portion (reinforcing portion) 31 attached to the base cloth 20 by the outer peripheral joint portion 13 and a portion (protective portion) 32 covering the outer peripheral joint portion 13. Thereby, during the sewing of the outer peripheral joint portion 13 of the airbag 10, it is possible to easily change whether to sew the protective cloth 30 together with the base cloth 20 or not at the notch 33.

[0051] Further, in the present embodiment, in the folded state of the airbag 10, it is preferable that at least a part of the early expansion portion 12 is pleated or tuck-folded, or covered with a protective expansion portion 11 folded in a roll shape. Since such a protective expansion portion 11 unfolds from the place where the gas flows in, the expansion and deployment are fast. Therefore, the protective expansion portion 11 folded in a roll shape has a slower expansion and deployment than the protective expansion portion 11. That is, the functions of reinforcing the early expansion portion 12 by the protective cloth 30 and protecting the protective expansion portion 11 can be more effectively exerted.

[0052] Hereinafter, other modified examples of the present embodiment will be described.

[0053] In the present embodiment, the notch 33 may be provided in a part of the early expansion portion 12 (a portion adjacent to the protective expansion portion 11) and a portion folded in a roll shape together with the protective expansion portion 11.

[0054] Further, in the present embodiment, at least one vent hole for discharging gas may be provided in the base cloth 20. For example, at least one (for example, one) vent hole may be provided in each of the side panels 22a and 22b.

[0055] Further, in the present embodiment, another reinforcing cloth for reinforcing the base cloth 20 may be further provided. For example, reinforcing cloth may be overlapped inside a part of the side panels 22a and 22b (for example, a portion corresponding to the early expansion portion 12), and attached to the base cloth 20 by the outer peripheral joint portion 13 of the airbag 10.

[0056] Also, in the present embodiment, a diffuser may be provided inside the airbag 10 so as to cover the inflator 1. For example, openings may be provided on at least both sides of the inflator 1 in the diffuser, and the gas from the inflator 1 may be supplied into the airbag 10 through these openings.

[0057] Also, in the present embodiment, the case where the base fabric 20 is composed of three panels, that is, the center panel 21 and the side panels 22a and 22b, has been described. However, in the present invention, the base fabric that defines the outer shape of the airbag may be composed of two or four or more panels. For example, an airbag may be formed by joining the outer peripheral edges of the upper and lower two panels to each other.

[0058] The present invention is not limited to the content described in the above embodiment. Each configuration described in the embodiment may be appropriately deleted, added, changed, or combined without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0059] 1: Inflator (Gas Generator) 2: Fixing Member 3: Cover 3a: Lid Portion 4: Heat Accumulation Area 10: Airbag 11: Protection Inflation Portion 12: Early Inflation Portion 13, 13a, 13b: Outer Peripheral Joining Portion 14, 14a, 14b: Mounting Joining Portion 20: Base Fabric 20a: Opening 21: Center Panel 22a, 22b: Side Panels 30: Protection Fabric 31: Reinforcement Portion 32: Protection Portion 33: Notch Portion 100: Passenger Seat Airbag Device AA: Instrument panel BB: Windshield

Claims

1. An airbag device for a passenger seat, in which an airbag inflates and deploys toward a passenger seated in the passenger seat from between an instrument panel and a windshield of a vehicle, comprising: an inflator that generates gas; an airbag formed in a bag shape by joining an outer peripheral edge portion of a base fabric at an outer peripheral joining portion, folded and stored inside the instrument panel, and inflated and deployed by the gas; the airbag having an early inflation portion into which the gas preferentially flows when the airbag inflates and deploys, and inflates below the windshield; a protective inflation portion that is folded and stored in a roll shape, and inflates and deploys toward the passenger as the gas flows in from the early inflation portion when the airbag inflates and deploys; a protective fabric attached to the inside of the base fabric over the early inflation portion and the protective inflation portion; the protective fabric having a reinforcing portion attached to the base fabric by the outer peripheral joining portion of the airbag; a protective portion attached to the base fabric by an attachment joining portion located on an edge side of the base fabric rather than the outer peripheral joining portion of the airbag, and covering the outer peripheral joining portion; the reinforcing portion being provided in the early inflation portion; the protective portion being provided in the protective inflation portion. An airbag device for a passenger seat, characterized by the above.

2. The airbag device for a passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein: the protective fabric is provided with a notch between the reinforcing portion and the protective portion. An airbag device for a passenger seat, characterized by the above.

3. The airbag device for a passenger seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: in a folded state of the airbag, at least a part of the early inflation portion is pleated or tacked, or covered by the protective inflation portion folded in a roll shape. An airbag device for a passenger seat, characterized by the above.

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