Curtain airbag system

Abstract

To provide a curtain airbag device which achieves improvement of stability during deployment.SOLUTION: A curtain airbag device includes a curtain airbag guide member 100 provided at a portion overlapping with a pillar 30 in a vehicle fore and aft direction and configured to guide deployment of a curtain airbag 60. The curtain airbag device has a structure in which the curtain airbag guide member has a guide surface part 110 which comes into contact with a lower part of the curtain airbag in a stored state and is deformed from an initial state, in which its cross section viewed in the vehicle fore and aft direction is formed in a convex surface in which the upper side protrudes, to a deployment state, in which the cross section viewed in the vehicle fore and aft direction is formed in a concave surface in which the lower side protrudes and an inner end as seen in a vehicle width direction is lowered relative to an outer end as seen in the vehicle width direction, by a load received thereby during deployment of the curtain airbag.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a curtain airbag device provided in a vehicle such as an automobile.

Background Art

[0002] As a technology related to an airbag device provided in a vehicle such as an automobile, for example, in Patent Document 1, in order to rapidly and stably deploy an airbag tube in the vehicle interior, in a vehicle side airbag guide plate, it is fixed to an inner panel between a roof panel and a headliner on both sides of a center pillar, and includes a support bracket that supports the lower part of an airbag module. The support bracket includes a vertical part fixed to the inner panel between the roof panel and the headliner, and a hollow horizontal support part that extends from the vertical part and supports the lower part of the airbag module fixed to the inner panel. In Patent Document 2, in order to improve the deployability of an airbag bag body of an occupant protection device, a flexible case is provided along the upper edge of a window of a vehicle body, and in an occupant protection device provided with a deployment part that is housed in the case and opens an inner panel of the vehicle in a collision, the case has a channel shape having a slit on one side of a substantially rectangular cross-section, and the channel longitudinal direction is arranged in the front-rear direction of the passenger compartment. The case includes an outer surface part that extends substantially downward from the outside of the upper surface part and is formed to be deformable at the deployment part of the airbag bag body, and a bottom surface part that extends from the outer surface part into the vehicle interior and is formed to be deformable at the deployment part. In Patent Document 3, in order to effectively reduce the possibility that a deployment direction regulating means provided on the upper end side of a garnish and regulating the deployment direction of an airbag is damaged, a metal bracket is attached to the outer surface of the upper end part of a center pillar garnish. When the airbag expands and deploys, the bent parts of both wings of the bracket are brought into contact with a pedestal part of a pillar inner panel to release the load. Further, when the expansion and deployment of the airbag proceeds, the bracket rotates outward in the vehicle width direction around the upper end, and the lower edge parts of both wings come into contact with the pillar inner panel to release the load to the pillar inner panel.

Prior Art Documents

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-106403 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-161169 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-62754 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] Curtain airbags are an effective means of protecting occupants in the event of yawing motion during side or frontal collisions. The curtain airbags are stored in a position covered by the cover trim of each pillar structure and the trim structure of the roof section. In response to collision sensing, they deploy by pushing aside and deforming the respective trims. In typical collision scenarios, curtain airbags can deploy smoothly. However, in cases of unexpected vehicle deformation or rapid occupant movements, there are concerns that the deployment of curtain airbags may be delayed. In particular, the area around the center pillar trim has a three-dimensional shape due to the storage of the seat belt structure, making it easy for bags to get caught when unfolded. In view of the above-mentioned problems, the object of the present invention is to provide a curtain airbag device with improved stability during deployment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned problems, a curtain airbag device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a curtain airbag that is stored in a folded state along the side edge of the roof of the passenger compartment and deploys downward in an area adjacent to the side of the passenger compartment, and a curtain airbag guide member provided at a location where the position in the vehicle longitudinal direction overlaps with that of a pillar extending vertically along the side of the passenger compartment, and which guides the deployment of the curtain airbag, wherein the curtain airbag guide member has a guide surface portion that contacts the lower part of the curtain airbag when it is stored and is formed as a convex surface with an upward convex shape in the cross-sectional shape when viewed from the vehicle longitudinal direction, and deforms from an initial state in which it is formed as a convex surface with an upward convex shape in the cross-sectional shape when viewed from the vehicle longitudinal direction to a deployed state in which it is formed as a concave surface with a downward convex shape in the cross-sectional shape when viewed from the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the inner end in the vehicle width direction is positioned lower than the outer end in the vehicle width direction, due to the load received from the curtain airbag when the curtain airbag is deployed. According to this, from the time the curtain airbag is retracted until the initial stage of deployment, the guide surface has a convex shape with the upper side convex, which allows for an appropriate reaction force to be applied to the curtain airbag, thereby ensuring deployment stability. On the other hand, as the deployment progresses, the load from the curtain airbag causes the guide surface to deform into a concave shape with a convex downwards. As a result, the curtain airbag is guided to the upper surface of the guide surface and slides inward in the vehicle width direction, where it deploys stably in the area near the side wall inside the vehicle.

[0006] In the present invention, the configuration may include a rib extending in the vehicle width direction along the lower part of the guide surface, and a fragile portion provided in the middle of the rib that breaks in accordance with the deformation of the guide surface from the initial state to the deployed state. According to this, the shape stability of the guide surface can be ensured during the initial stages of deployment, while the guide surface can be appropriately deformed in response to the increasing load received from the curtain airbag.

[0007] In the present invention, the outer end of the guide surface in the vehicle width direction is constrained to be rotatable with respect to the roof side edge, and the inner end of the guide surface in the vehicle width direction is configured to be displaceable relative to the roof side edge in accordance with the deformation of the guide surface from the initial state to the deployed state. This allows the guide member to be properly supported without hindering the deformation of the guide surface. In this case, the inner end of the guide surface in the vehicle width direction can be configured to be released from restraint in accordance with the deformation of the guide surface from its initial state to its deployed state. This method ensures the support rigidity of the guide surface during the initial stages of deployment while preventing subsequent deformation of the guide surface.

[0008] In the present invention, the guide surface in the deployed state can be configured to guide the curtain airbag so that it passes over the upper end of the pillar trim provided on the pillar. According to this, it prevents the curtain airbag from getting caught on the pillar trim during deployment, which could hinder its deployment or cause damage, allowing the curtain airbag to deploy more reliably and stably. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] As described above, the present invention provides a curtain airbag device with improved stability during deployment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view of the center pillar portion of a vehicle having an embodiment of a curtain airbag device to which the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a guide member in a curtain airbag device according to an embodiment, and depicts the state when it is retracted. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a guide member in a curtain airbag device according to an embodiment, and depicts the deployed state.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a curtain airbag device to which the present invention is applied will be described. The curtain airbag device of the embodiment is provided, for example, in a passenger compartment that houses passengers and the like in a vehicle such as a passenger car. The curtain airbag device expands downward in a region adjacent to the side surface portion of the passenger compartment when the vehicle is involved in a side collision or the like from a region near the roof side edge portion of the passenger compartment.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a center pillar portion of a vehicle having the curtain airbag device of the embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a cross-section taken in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The vehicle 1 has a roof 10, roof side rails 20, a center pillar 30, a roof trim 40, a pillar trim 50, a curtain airbag 60, a guide member 100, and the like.

[0013] The roof 10 is a portion that constitutes the ceiling portion of the passenger compartment. The roof 10 has an outer panel 11, an inner panel 12, and the like. The outer panel 11 is a member that constitutes the upper surface portion of the roof 10. The inner panel 12 is attached to the lower surface portion of the outer panel 11 and is a member that reinforces the outer panel 11.

[0014] The roof side rail 20 is a structural member that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along the left and right side edge portions of the roof 10. The roof side rail 20 has an outer panel 21, an inner panel 22, a rain hose member 23, a bracket 24, and the like. The outer panel 21 and the inner panel 22 are provided on the outer and inner sides in the vehicle width direction, respectively, and are joined so that a hollow portion is formed therebetween (so-called monaka shape). The outer panel 21 and the inner panel 22 form a closed cross-section when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The reinforcement 23 is a stiffening panel attached to the inner surface (inner panel 22 side) of the outer panel 21. The bracket 24 is a member that supports the outer end of the guide member 110 in the vehicle width direction, which will be described later. The bracket 24 is provided so as to protrude inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner panel 22.

[0015] The center pillar 30 is a columnar portion that extends vertically from the roof side rail 20 to the side sill (not shown). The center pillar 30 is, for example, a so-called B-pillar located between a front side door and a rear side door (not shown). The center pillar 30 includes an outer panel 31, an inner panel 32, a reinforcement 33, a bracket 34, and the like. The outer panel 31 and the inner panel 32 are provided on the outer and inner sides in the vehicle width direction, respectively, and are joined together such that a hollow space is formed between them. The outer panel 31 and the inner panel 32 form a closed cross-section when viewed from the top or bottom of the vehicle. The reinforcement 33 is a stiffening panel attached to the inner surface (inner panel 32 side) of the outer panel 31. The bracket 34 is a member that supports the inner end of the guide member 100 in the vehicle width direction, which will be described later. The bracket 34 is provided so as to protrude inward in the vehicle width direction from the inner panel 32. Each of the components described above is formed as part of the vehicle's white body (unfitted body) by assembling panels made by press-forming steel plates, such as general steel or high-tensile steel, and joining them together using methods such as spot welding, laser welding, or structural adhesives.

[0016] The roof trim 40 is an interior component (headlining) that is provided on the underside of the roof 10 and covers the roof 10 from the inside of the vehicle. The roof trim 40 is constructed, for example, by applying a napped finish to the surface of a flexible resin-based material. During normal use of the vehicle, the outer end of the roof trim 40 in the vehicle width direction is positioned adjacent to the upper end of the pillar trim 50.

[0017] The pillar trim 50 is an interior component that is installed on the inside of the center pillar 30 in the vehicle width direction and covers the center pillar 30 from the inside of the vehicle cabin. The pillar trim 50 is made of, for example, a resin-based material. The pillar trim 50 is formed to protrude inward in the vehicle width direction relative to the inner panel 32 of the center pillar 30 in order to accommodate a seat belt device and the like (not shown).

[0018] The curtain airbag 60 is an airbag that, in the event of a vehicle collision, for example, a side collision, hangs down from near the roof side rail 20 and deploys in an area adjacent to the side of the passenger compartment (typically the side window glass and door trim). The curtain airbag 60 is constructed as a bag by sewing together base fabric panels made of woven fabric such as nylon fibers. During normal vehicle use (when no collision occurs), the curtain airbag 60 is housed in a folded (or rolled) state near the side edge of the roof trim 40.

[0019] In the event of a side collision of a vehicle, etc., an airbag control unit (not shown) detects the collision based on the output of an acceleration sensor or the like, and in response, a gas generator (not shown) supplies deployment gas to the curtain airbag 60. The curtain airbag 60, having been injected with deployment gas, begins to deploy, bending and deforming the side edges of the roof trim 40 downwards and pushing them aside as it moves into the passenger compartment.

[0020] The guide member 100 is provided at the lower part of the curtain airbag 60 in the retracted state, in an area where its position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle overlaps with the pillar trim 50, and is a member (curtain airbag guide member of the present invention) that stabilizes the operation of the curtain airbag 60 when it is deployed. The guide member 100 is provided near the upper end of the pillar trim 50 and, in the absence of a collision, is covered by the roof trim 40 together with the curtain airbag 60.

[0021] The following describes the detailed configuration of the guide member 100 and the operation of the curtain airbag 60 when it deploys. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the guide member in the curtain airbag device of the embodiment, and depicts the state when it is retracted. The guide member 100 has a guide surface portion 110, a rib portion 120, a pivot support portion 130, a weak support portion 140, and the like.

[0022] The guide surface 110 is a surface positioned to contact the lower part of the curtain airbag 60 when it is retracted. In the stowed state shown in Figure 2, the guide surface portion 110 has a cross-sectional shape that is convex upwards when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The inner end of the guide surface portion 110 in the vehicle width direction is positioned lower than the outer end in the vehicle width direction.

[0023] The rib portion 120 is a flat plate-shaped reinforcing portion that extends in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction in Figure 2) along the lower surface of the guide surface portion 110 (the surface opposite to the curtain airbag 60 side). The upper edge of the rib portion 120 is formed in an arc shape that conforms to the curvature of the guide surface portion 110 and is joined to the guide surface portion 110. The lower edge of the rib portion 120 can be formed in a straight shape, for example.

[0024] A weak portion 121 is provided in the middle of the rib portion 120 in the vehicle width direction, which will break when subjected to a tensile load exceeding a predetermined amount. The weak portion 121 can be created, for example, by locally reducing the thickness of the rib portion 120. The rib portion 120 has the function of maintaining the shape of the guide surface portion 110 in the housing state when the fragile portion 121 is not fractured. When the guide surface portion 110 deforms as described later, the fragile portion 121 breaks, causing the rib portion 120 to separate so as not to hinder the deformation of the guide surface portion 110. The guide surface portion 110 and the rib portion 120 can be integrally formed from, for example, a resin-based material.

[0025] The pivot support portion 130 is a support portion that attaches the outer end of the guide surface portion 110 in the vehicle width direction to the bracket 24. The pivot support portion 130 supports the outer end of the guide surface portion 110 in the vehicle width direction, in a manner that allows it to rotate (oscillate) around a rotation axis along the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The position of the pivot support 130 relative to the bracket 24 is constrained throughout the deployment of the curtain airbag 60.

[0026] The fragile support portion 140 connects the inner end of the guide surface portion 110 in the vehicle width direction to the bracket 34 and supports this end. The fragile support portion 140 is configured to break when the force it receives from the guide surface portion 110 exceeds a predetermined level, thereby releasing its connection to the bracket 34.

[0027] The operation of the guide member 100 and other components during the deployment of the curtain airbag 60 will be described below. In the initial deployment phase of the curtain airbag 60, as shown in Figure 2, the guide surface 110 is in a convex position with its upper side convex, and is in contact with the lower part of the curtain airbag 60. At this time, the guide surface portion 110 receives the reaction force from the curtain airbag 60 that has started to deploy, and by suppressing the downward movement of the curtain airbag 60, it stabilizes the movement in which the curtain airbag 60 pushes aside and deforms the roof trim 40.

[0028] Subsequently, as the curtain airbag 60 further deploys and the load on the guide surface 110 from the curtain airbag 60 increases beyond a predetermined level, the guide surface 110 deforms into a concave shape with a convex downward side. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the guide member in the curtain airbag device of the embodiment, and depicts the deployed state.

[0029] As the input to the guide surface portion 110 increases, the weak portion 121 of the rib portion 120 and the weak support portion 140 break. As a result, the guide surface portion 110 deforms into an arc shape with a convex downwards when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle. At this time, the inner end of the guide surface portion 110 in the vehicle width direction is positioned higher than the upper edge of the pillar trim 50. The guide surface 110 slides the curtain airbag 60, which deploys into the passenger compartment, so that it passes above the upper edge of the pillar trim 50. The curtain airbag 60 slides down the upper side of the guide surface 110 and deploys in an area close to the side wall (typically the side door window and door trim) inside the vehicle.

[0030] According to the embodiments described above, the following effects can be obtained. (1) From the time the curtain airbag 60 is retracted until the initial stage of deployment, the guide surface portion 110 is convex with its upper side convex, which allows for an appropriate reaction force to be applied to the curtain airbag 60, thereby ensuring the stability of the deployment. Meanwhile, as the deployment progresses, the load from the curtain airbag 60 causes the guide surface 110 to deform into a concave shape with a convex downward surface. As a result, the curtain airbag 60 is guided to the upper surface of the guide surface 110 and slides inward in the vehicle width direction, where it is stably deployed in the area near the side wall inside the vehicle. (2) By providing a rib portion 120 that extends in the vehicle width direction along the lower part of the guide surface portion 110, and a fragile portion 121 provided in the middle of the rib portion 120 that breaks in accordance with the deformation of the guide surface portion 110 from its initial state to its deployed state, the shape stability of the guide surface portion 110 in the initial state of deployment can be ensured, while the guide surface portion 110 can be appropriately deformed in accordance with the increase in load received from the curtain airbag 60. (3) The pivot support portion 130 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the guide surface portion 110 is constrained to be rotatable with respect to the roof side edge, and the fragile support portion 140 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the guide surface portion 110 is displaceable relative to the roof side edge in accordance with the deformation of the guide surface portion 110 from its initial state to its deployed state, thereby enabling proper support of the guide member 110 without hindering the deformation of the guide surface portion 110. (4) The fragile support portion 140 is released in accordance with the deformation of the guide surface portion 110 from its initial state to its deployed state, thereby ensuring the support rigidity of the guide surface portion 110 in the initial deployment phase while preventing it from hindering the subsequent deformation of the guide surface portion 110. (5) In the deployed state, the guide surface portion 110 guides the curtain airbag 60 so that it passes over the upper end of the pillar trim 50, thereby preventing the curtain airbag 60 from getting caught on the pillar trim 50 during deployment, which could hinder or damage its deployment, and allowing the curtain airbag 60 to be deployed more reliably and stably.

[0031] (modified version) The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible, all of which fall within the technical scope of the present invention. The shape, structure, material, manufacturing method, arrangement, and number of each component constituting the vehicle and curtain airbag system can be appropriately modified from the configuration of the embodiment described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 1 vehicle 10 roof 11 Outer panel 12 Inner panel 20 Roof side rails 21 Outer panels 22 Inner panel 23 Reinforcement 24 Bracket 30 Center Pillar 31 Outer panel 32 Inner panel 33 Reinforcement 34 Bracket 40 Roof trim 50 Pillar trim 60 Curtain airbags 100 Guide member 110 Guide surface 120 Rib section 121 Weak section 130 Axial support 140 Fragile support

Claims

1. A curtain airbag that is stored in a folded state along the side edge of the roof of the passenger compartment and deploys downward in the area adjacent to the side of the passenger compartment, A curtain airbag guide member is provided at a location where the pillar, which extends vertically along the side of the passenger compartment, and the vehicle's longitudinal position overlap, and guides the deployment of the curtain airbag. A curtain airbag system comprising, The curtain airbag guide member has a guide surface portion that contacts the lower part of the curtain airbag when it is in the retracted state and is formed in an initial state where the upper part of the cross-sectional shape is convex when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and deforms into a guide surface portion formed in a concave state where the lower part of the cross-sectional shape is convex when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the inner end in the vehicle width direction is positioned lower than the outer end in the vehicle width direction, due to the load received from the curtain airbag when the curtain airbag is deployed. A curtain airbag system characterized by the following.

2. A rib is provided extending in the vehicle width direction along the lower part of the guide surface, The rib is provided with a weak portion located in the middle of the rib, which breaks in accordance with the deformation of the guide surface from the initial state to the deployed state. The curtain airbag device according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

3. The outer end of the guide surface portion in the vehicle width direction is restrained in a manner that allows it to rotate relative to the roof side edge portion. The inner end of the guide surface portion in the vehicle width direction is displaceable relative to the roof side edge portion in accordance with the deformation of the guide surface portion from the initial state to the deployed state. A curtain airbag device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. The inner end of the guide surface in the vehicle width direction is released from its restraint in accordance with the deformation of the guide surface from its initial state to its deployed state. The curtain airbag device according to claim 3, characterized by the following:

5. In the deployed state, the guide surface portion guides the curtain airbag so that it passes over the upper end of the pillar trim provided on the pillar. A curtain airbag device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the above.

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