Curtain airbag system

Abstract

To provide a curtain airbag device that can improve the efficiency and versatility of an installation space.SOLUTION: A curtain airbag device 100 includes: a roof bracket 138 which connects a roof side rail 114 to a frame member 142; an airbag cushion 102 which is mounted on the roof side rail 114 below the roof bracket 138; and an inflator 116 which supplies gas. The curtain airbag device 100 further includes: an inflator bracket 140 having connection sections 146a, 146b connected to the roof bracket 138 and gripping sections 144a, 144b which are brought into contact with a prescribed longitudinal range of the inflator 116 and can hold the inflator 116 between the gripping sections and the roof bracket 138; and band members 150a, 150b which bundle the gripping sections 144a, 144b of the inflator bracket 140 and the inflator 116.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a curtain airbag device that protects passengers during side collisions or rollovers of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, airbag devices have been almost standard equipment in vehicles as safety devices. A general airbag device detects an impact with a sensor, activates an inflator which is a gas generator, and inflates and deploys an airbag cushion with the gas pressure. The airbag cushion is, for example, folded and stored in the center of the steering wheel in the case of a front airbag device, and is stored near the upper part of the side door of the passenger compartment in a wound state or the like in the case of a curtain airbag device.

[0003] In a general curtain airbag device, a cylindrical inflator is mainly adopted. This inflator is often fixed to the roof side rail at the upper part of the vehicle compartment side wall using a metal bracket, but the space where it can be installed around the roof side rail is limited. Therefore, for example, in paragraph 0028 and FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1, the inflator 43 is fixed to the roof side rail using a load transmission member 30 that supports the center frame 20 which is a roof reinforcing member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] As described in paragraph 0028 and Figure 5, the load transmission member 30 of Patent Document 1 is provided with an inflator support portion 38 that curves upward and extends, and an inflator 43 is attached to this inflator support portion 38 using a band 44. However, since the inflator support portion 38 is integrally molded with the load transmission member 30, if modifications are to be made according to specifications or circumstances, it becomes necessary to newly manufacture the entire load transmission member 30. [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] In view of these problems, the present invention aims to provide a curtain airbag device that can improve the efficiency of installation space and enhance versatility. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the curtain airbag device according to the present invention is a curtain airbag device comprising: a roof bracket connecting a roof side rail extending along the side edge of the roof of a vehicle and a frame member extending in the vehicle width direction along the underside of the roof; an airbag cushion that is wound up or folded to form a long storage configuration in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and attached to the roof side rail below the roof bracket; and a cylindrical inflator that supplies gas to the airbag cushion. The curtain airbag device further comprises: an inflator bracket having a connecting portion connected to the roof bracket and a gripping portion that contacts a predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of the inflator and can clamp the inflator between itself and the roof bracket; and a band member that bundles the gripping portion of the inflator bracket and the inflator.

[0008] According to the above configuration, the roof bracket is a component that connects the lower frame member of the roof to the roof side rail. By also using the roof bracket as a fixing member for the inflator, it becomes possible to efficiently utilize the limited space at the top of the side wall of the passenger compartment to install the curtain airbag system. Furthermore, in the above configuration, the roof bracket and the inflator bracket are combined to form a bracket unit, and it is possible to change the design of only the inflator bracket, for example. Therefore, it is possible to realize a highly versatile curtain airbag system that can easily accommodate vehicles with different specifications and inflators of different dimensions.

[0009] The above roof bracket should ideally be attachable to the roof side rail in an integrated state with the inflator bracket via the connection point of the inflator bracket.

[0010] According to the above configuration, the roof bracket can be integrated with the inflator bracket before being mounted on the vehicle, thereby facilitating the installation of the curtain airbag system onto the vehicle.

[0011] The above-mentioned inflator should be installed on the upper side of the roof bracket with a portion of it inserted into the airbag cushion in its stored configuration.

[0012] With the above configuration, by installing the inflator using the space above the roof bracket, it becomes possible to efficiently utilize the space above the side wall of the passenger compartment.

[0013] The gripping portion described above should preferably have a tapered shape at its circumferential end to the inflator.

[0014] With the above configuration, the tapered shape with reduced outer corners at the end of the gripping portion prevents localized force from being applied to the band member when it is wrapped around the gripping portion, thereby preventing damage to the band member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a curtain airbag device that can improve the efficiency of installation space and enhance versatility. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This figure illustrates an overview of a curtain airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a magnified view illustrating the area around the inflator in Figure 1(a). [Figure 3] This is an example of the area around the inflator, viewed from a different direction, as shown in Figure 2(a). [Figure 4] Figure 3(a) is a cross-sectional view AA near the inflator. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values ​​shown in these embodiments are merely illustrative to facilitate understanding of the invention and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the illustrations.

[0018] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a curtain airbag device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1(a) is a diagram illustrating the curtain airbag device 100 before activation. The curtain airbag device 100 illustrated in the figure is for the right side of the vehicle compartment, but a left side version, which is not shown, has a similar symmetrical structure.

[0019] Hereinafter, in FIG. 1(a) and other drawings, the vehicle front-rear direction is exemplified by arrows F (Forward) and B (Back) respectively, the left and right in the vehicle width direction are exemplified by arrows L (Left) and R (Right) respectively, and the vehicle up-down direction is exemplified by arrows U (Up) and D (Down) respectively. In particular, the upward direction is the direction of the head as viewed from a passenger in a posture of being regularly seated on the seat, and the downward direction is the direction of the lower limb portion as viewed from the said passenger.

[0020] The vehicle assumes a vehicle with a two-row seat in which the front row seat 104 and the rear row seat 106 are arranged from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle is provided with a plurality of pillars that support the roof. The plurality of pillars include an A pillar 108, a B pillar 110, and a C pillar 112 from the front of the vehicle.

[0021] The airbag cushion 102 is wound, folded, etc., and is in a long roll-shaped storage form in the vehicle front-rear direction, and is installed on the roof side rail 114 at the upper part of the vehicle compartment side wall. The installed airbag cushion 102 is covered by a roof trim not shown, and is in a state of being stored in the space between these roof side rails 114 and the roof trim.

[0022] The curtain airbag device 100 includes an inflator 116, which is a gas generator, at the upper part of the airbag cushion 102. The airbag cushion 102 expands by the pressure of the gas supplied from the inflator 116 to restrain the passenger.

[0023] In the present embodiment, a cylinder-type (cylindrical) inflator 116 is adopted. Currently popular inflators include types filled with a gas generating agent and burning this to generate gas, types filled with compressed gas and supplying gas without generating heat, and further types having both a gas generating agent and compressed gas. Any type can be used as the inflator 116.

[0024] When a vehicle is involved in a side collision or rollover, sensors on the vehicle detect the impact, and a signal is sent to the inflator 116. This causes the inflator 116 to activate and supply gas to the airbag cushion 102.

[0025] Figure 1(b) illustrates the state after the curtain airbag system 100 has been activated. When the airbag cushion 102 receives gas from the inflator 116, it inflates and deploys downward along the side wall of the vehicle interior, such as the side window 118 (see Figure 1(a)), to protect the occupants.

[0026] The inflatable area of ​​the airbag cushion 102 is divided into several small chambers, taking into consideration areas where occupants may come into contact. For example, a chamber 120 is provided at the front of the vehicle to protect the occupants of the front seats 104. A chamber 122 is provided at the rear of the vehicle to protect the occupants of the rear seats 106. Each of these chambers is separated by a linear, non-inflatable area, such as a seam 124.

[0027] The airbag cushion 102 is for curtain airbags and has a large shape that extends along the sides of the vehicle interior. The airbag cushion 102 is formed into a bag shape by overlapping and sewing or bonding two base fabrics that make up its surface, or by weaving using OPW (One-Piece Woven).

[0028] An inflator insertion section 128 is provided near the upper center of the upper edge 126 of the airbag cushion 102. The inflator insertion section 128 is shaped to protrude upward from the other upper edges 126 of the airbag cushion 102, and is installed with the gas outlet side of the inflator 116 (see Figure 2(b)) inserted into it.

[0029] The inflator insertion section 128 is connected to a duct section 130 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and gas from the inflator 116 is supplied to each chamber via the duct section 130.

[0030] The airbag cushion 102 is provided with tabs 132 at various points on its upper edge 126 as attachment points to the vehicle. The tabs 132 are strip-shaped and can be manufactured from the same material as the inflatable portion of the airbag cushion 102. The tabs 132 are fixed to the roof side rails 114 using components such as clips and bolts.

[0031] A strap 134 is also provided at the front end of the airbag cushion 102. The strap 134 is cord-like and connects the airbag cushion 102 to the A-pillar 108. The strap 134 suppresses the swaying of the airbag cushion 102 when it inflates and deploys, stabilizing its deployment behavior, and also applies tension to the airbag cushion 102 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0032] Figure 2 is an enlarged illustration of the area around the inflator 116 in Figure 1(a). Figure 2(a) is a perspective view illustrating the area around the inflator 116 in Figure 1(b) as seen from the upper rear side inside the vehicle.

[0033] In this embodiment, the cylindrical inflator 116 is fixed to the roof side rail 114 in an orientation longitudinal in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, using a bracket unit 136 that includes a roof bracket 138 and an inflator bracket 140. In particular, the roof bracket 138 also serves as a support member for the lower frame member 142 of the roof. In this embodiment, the roof bracket 138 is used not only as a support member for the frame member 142 but also as a fixing member for the inflator 116, thereby reducing the number of components and saving space.

[0034] The roof bracket 138 functions as a member that connects the frame member 142 and the roof side rail 114. The frame member 142 is a member that extends in the vehicle width direction along the underside of the roof and is particularly common in vehicles that have an openable opening in the roof, such as a fixed skylight, sunroof, or moonroof. The frame member 142 is connected to the left and right roof side rails 114 at both ends in the vehicle width direction via the roof bracket 138.

[0035] The roof side rail 114 is a member that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along the side edge of the roof and forms the upper part of the side wall of the passenger compartment. A retractable airbag cushion 102 (see Figure 3(a)) is installed on the roof side rail 114 so as to span below the roof bracket 138.

[0036] The inflator bracket 140 is connected to the upper side of the roof bracket 138 and grips the inflator 116. The inflator bracket 140 has connecting portions 146a and 146b that connect to the roof bracket 138, and gripping portions 144a and 144b that contact a predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of the inflator 116.

[0037] The connecting parts 146a and 146b contact the upper side of the roof bracket 138 and are joined to the roof bracket 138 by fasteners such as bolts 148a and 148b, or by other means such as welding.

[0038] The gripping portions 144a and 144b contact the inflator 116 at two locations along its longitudinal direction. The gripping portions 144a and 144b are curved along the outer circumference of the inflator 116, contacting the inflator 116 from above and clamping the inflator 116 between them and the lower roof bracket 138.

[0039] The band members 150a and 150b are wrapped around the gripping portions 144a and 144b of the inflator bracket 140 and the inflator 116, and the inflator 116 is secured by bundling them together. The band members 150a and 150b can be made of metal or resin.

[0040] Figure 2(b) shows the roof bracket 138 from Figure 2(a) with the inflator 116, inflator bracket 140, and frame member 142 removed.

[0041] The roof bracket 138 has legs 152 fixed to the roof side rails 114, from which a base 154 extends inward towards the vehicle. The legs 152 can be fixed to the roof side rails 114 by fastening with bolts or by welding. The base 154 has flanges 156 and 158 on the front and rear sides, and as a whole has a hat-shaped cross-section that is convex downwards, supporting the frame member 142 (see Figure 3(a)) from below.

[0042] On the outer side of flanges 156 and 158 in the vehicle width direction, holes 160a and 160b are provided for connection to the connection portions 146a and 146b of the inflator bracket 140 (see Figure 3(a)). On the inner side of flanges 156 and 158 in the vehicle width direction, holes 162a and 162b are provided for connection to the frame member 142.

[0043] Figure 3 is an example of the area around the inflator 116 in Figure 2(a) viewed from a different direction. Figure 3(a) is an example of the area around the inflator 116 in Figure 2(a) viewed from inside the vehicle.

[0044] The retractable airbag cushion 102 is attached to the roof side rail 114, extending below the roof bracket 138.

[0045] The inflator 116 is installed above the roof bracket 138 with its front end 116a, which has a gas outlet, inserted into the inflator insertion section 128 of the retracted airbag cushion 102. With this configuration, the inflator 116 can be installed using the space above the roof bracket 138, making efficient use of the space above the side wall of the passenger compartment.

[0046] The rear end 116b of the inflator 116, which has terminals, is exposed from the airbag cushion 102, and a predetermined harness or the like is connected to it.

[0047] Figure 3(b) is an illustrative diagram showing the area around the inflator 116 in Figure 2(a) as viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

[0048] As described above, the roof bracket 138 has a configuration in which the leg portion 152 is fixed to the roof side rail 114, and the base portion 154 extends from the roof side rail 114 toward the interior of the vehicle. The base portion 154 supports the frame member 142 from below. The leg portion 152 is also slightly curved downwards, and the inflator 116 is installed in the space above.

[0049] The gripping portions 144a and 144b of the inflator bracket 140 (see Figure 3(a)) are curved along the outer circumference of the inflator 116 and grip the inflator 116 from above. The connecting portions 146a and 146b extend downward from the front of the gripping portions 144a and 144b and are bent inward towards the vehicle, contacting the flanges 156 and 158 of the roof bracket 138 and being fixed to the flanges 156 and 158 by bolts 148a and 148b, etc.

[0050] According to this embodiment, the roof bracket 138 is a member that connects the frame member 142 to the roof side rail 114. By also using the roof bracket 138 as a fixing member for the inflator 116, it becomes possible to efficiently utilize the limited space at the top of the side wall of the passenger compartment to install the curtain airbag device 100.

[0051] In this embodiment, the roof bracket 138 and the inflator bracket 140 are combined to form a bracket unit 136, and it is possible to change the design of only the inflator bracket 140, for example. Therefore, it is possible to realize a highly versatile curtain airbag device 100 that can easily accommodate vehicles with different specifications and inflators of different dimensions.

[0052] The roof bracket 138 can be attached to the roof side rail 114 in an integrated state with the inflator bracket 140 by the connection parts 146a and 146b of the inflator bracket 140. In other words, the roof bracket 138 and the inflator bracket 140 can be treated as an integrated bracket unit 136. With this configuration, the roof bracket 138 can be integrated with the inflator bracket 140 before being mounted on the vehicle, which facilitates the assembly of the curtain airbag device 100 onto the vehicle.

[0053] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view AA near the inflator 116 in Figure 3(a). In Figure 4, the gripping portion 144b and band member 150b of the inflator bracket 140 are given as an example, but a similar configuration is also implemented in the gripping portion 144a and band member 150a.

[0054] The gripping portion 144b of the inflator bracket 140 has a tapered shape in which the outer corner portions at the circumferential ends 164 and 166 of the inflator 116 are reduced. In other words, the gripping portion 144b has inclined portions 168 and 170 formed so that the plate thickness at the ends 164 and 166 tapers along the inflator 116. Therefore, the band member 150b is designed so that the corners of the gripping portion 144b do not come into contact with it, and no gap is created between the gripping portion 144b and the inflator 116.

[0055] With the above configuration, the outer corners of the ends 164 and 166 of the gripping portion 144b are reduced, which prevents localized force from being applied to the band member 150b when the band member 150b is wrapped around the gripping portion 144b. In particular, since the band member 150b is subjected to considerable force when the inflator 116 is activated and when the airbag cushion 102 (see Figure 3(a)) is inflated and deployed, the configuration that prevents the corners of the gripping portion 144b from making contact with it makes it possible to prevent damage.

[0056] As explained above, in this embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 2(a), etc., by combining two members, the inflator bracket 140 and the roof bracket 138, to form a bracket unit 136, it is possible to easily change the plate thickness of specific parts, such as the ends 164 and 166 of the gripping portion 144b (see Figure 4), compared to the case where the inflator 116 is fixed with a single bracket. Therefore, for example, the roof bracket 138, which needs to support the frame member 142, can be made thicker, while the plate thickness of the inflator bracket 140 can be partially reduced, making it possible to take measures such as improving the precision of the members while keeping costs down according to requirements.

[0057] Furthermore, it is also possible to reuse the existing roof bracket 138 and combine it with the inflator bracket 140 to fix the inflator 116, which also makes it possible to suppress cost increases and secure installation space for the inflator 116. In particular, compared to fixing the inflator 116 to the roof side rail 114 using a separate dedicated bracket, this embodiment not only reduces the installation space but also reduces the number of places and man-hours required for welding and fastening, thus offering advantages in terms of work efficiency and cost.

[0058] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings. However, the embodiments described above are preferred examples of the present invention, and other embodiments can be implemented or carried out in various ways. Unless otherwise stated in this specification, the present invention is not limited to the detailed shapes, sizes, and configurations of the parts shown in the attached drawings. Furthermore, the expressions and terms used in this specification are for illustrative purposes only and are not limited thereto unless otherwise stated.

[0059] Therefore, it is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications or alterations can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these will naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0060] This invention can be used in curtain airbag systems that protect occupants during side collisions or rollovers of a vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 100...Curtain airbag device, 102...Airbag cushion, 104...Front seat, 106...Rear seat, 108...A-pillar, 110...B-pillar, 112...C-pillar, 114...Roof side rail, 116...Inflator, 116a...Front end, 116b...Rear end, 118...Side window, 120...Chamber, 122...Chamber, 124...Seam section, 126...Upper edge, 128...Inflator insertion section, 130...Duct section, 132...Tab, 1 34...Strap, 136...Bracket unit, 138...Roof bracket, 140...Inflator bracket, 142...Frame member, 144a, 144b...Grip part, 146a, 146b...Connecting part, 148a, 148b...Bolt, 150a, 150b...Band member, 152...Leg part, 154...Base part, 156, 158...Flange, 160a, 160b...Hole part, 162a, 162b...Hole part, 164, 166...End part, 168, 170...Inclined part

Claims

1. A curtain airbag system comprising a roof bracket connecting a roof side rail extending along the side edge of the vehicle's roof and a frame member extending in the vehicle width direction along the underside of the roof, an airbag cushion that is wound up or folded to form a long storage configuration in the vehicle's front-rear direction and attached to the roof side rail below the roof bracket, and a cylindrical inflator that supplies gas to the airbag cushion, The curtain airbag system further, An inflator bracket having a connecting portion that connects to the roof bracket and a gripping portion that contacts a predetermined range in the longitudinal direction of the inflator and is capable of clamping the inflator between itself and the roof bracket, The gripping portion of the inflator bracket and the band member that bundles the inflator together, A curtain airbag device characterized by comprising the following features.

2. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that the roof bracket can be attached to the roof side rail in an integrated state with the inflator bracket by the connection portion of the inflator bracket.

3. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inflator is installed on the upper side of the roof bracket with a portion of it inserted into the airbag cushion in the stored form.

4. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gripping portion has a tapered shape at the circumferential end of the inflator.

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