Air bag device

Abstract

The present invention introduces an airbag device comprising: an airbag cushion that unfolds to cover the side and front of a seat; a restraining tether connected at a position passing through a passenger's body part between the inner surface of the airbag cushion and the seat back; and a tether wire connected to the restraining tether passing through the outer surface of the airbag cushion from the front of the airbag cushion, thereby preventing the restraining tether from being pulled in the opposite direction of the passenger by the force of the airbag cushion expanding and coming into contact with the passenger.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag device that prevents a tether deployed between an all-around airbag and a seat from coming into contact with a passenger's body part. Background Technology

[0003] In the case of an all-around airbag that deploys to cover both the side and front of the passenger, the front chamber is connected to the side chamber to form an airbag cushion.

[0004] The airbag cushion folds into the left and right sides of the seat and deploys toward the front of the passenger in the event of a collision, thereby surrounding the passenger's sides and front to protect the passenger.

[0005] However, if the side chamber and the front chamber rotate outward and spread excessively during the airbag cushion deployment process, a space is created in front of the passenger, making it difficult to safely restrain the passenger.

[0006] Accordingly, by connecting a tether between the front chamber and / or side chamber and the seat, the outward rotation of the front chamber by the tether is restricted, thereby regulating the deployment shape of the airbag cushion.

[0007] However, there is a concern about passenger injury as the tether may come into contact with a passenger's body part during the process of the tether deploying along with the airbag cushion.

[0009] The matters described above as background technology are intended only to enhance understanding of the background of the present invention and should not be construed as an acknowledgment that they constitute prior art already known to those skilled in the art. The problem to be solved

[0011] The present invention is proposed to solve these problems and provides an airbag device that prevents a tether deployed between an all-around airbag and a seat from coming into contact with a passenger's body part.

[0012] The technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the description below. means of solving the problem

[0014] An airbag device according to the present invention for achieving the above objective may be characterized by comprising: an airbag cushion that deploys in a shape covering the side and front of a seat; a restraining tether connected at a position passing through a passenger's body part between the inner surface of the airbag cushion and the seat back; and a tether wire connected to the restraining tether passing through the outer surface of the airbag cushion from the front of the airbag cushion, thereby causing the restraining tether to be pulled in the opposite direction of the passenger by the force of the airbag cushion expanding.

[0015] The above tether wire can be connected to the restraint tether closest to the passenger's body part.

[0016] The above restraint tether is connected at a position passing over the passenger's shoulder area, and the tether wire can be connected to the restraint tether closest to the passenger's neck area.

[0017] One end of the above tether wire is connected to the inner surface of the front end of the airbag cushion, extends from the inside of the airbag cushion to the rear, exits to the outside of the airbag cushion, and the other end can be connected to a restraining tether.

[0018] The above airbag cushion includes a side chamber that deploys in a shape covering the side of the seat and a front chamber that deploys in a shape covering the front of the seat, and one end of the tether wire can be fixed to the inner surface of the front chamber.

[0019] A bulkhead with a through hole formed on the inner surface of the airbag cushion is fixed; and a tether wire passes through the through hole so that the tether wire can be extended to the rear.

[0020] An insertion hole is formed at the rear end of the airbag cushion, so that the tether wire can exit to the outside of the airbag cushion through the insertion hole.

[0021] The above insertion hole may be a hole for inserting an inflator into the airbag cushion.

[0022] The other end of the above tether wire can be connected to the restraining tether in the direction of the side chamber.

[0023] The tether wire extending outside the airbag cushion can be extended upward along the side chamber and connected toward the restraint tether at the height where the restraint tether is located. Effects of the invention

[0025] According to the present invention, from the moment the restraining tether comes into contact with the passenger's head and neck, the restraining tether is pulled in the opposite direction of the passenger by the tether wire, thereby avoiding contact between the restraining tether and the passenger's head and neck, and thus preventing the risk of injury to the passenger.

[0026] Furthermore, by securing additional restraining force of the restraining tether through the pulling movement of the tether wire during the airbag cushion deployment process, the restraining force of the airbag cushion is further strengthened. Additionally, by securing the restraining force of the restraining tether by adding only the tether wire without additional devices such as actuators, there is an advantage in increasing the price competitiveness of the airbag device.

[0027] In addition, since the tether wire is pulled in conjunction with the deployment of the airbag cushion, there is no concern about tether wire malfunction under conditions where the airbag operates normally, thereby ensuring the operability of the tether wire.

[0028] The effects obtainable from the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0030] FIG. 1 is a drawing of the deployed shape of an airbag cushion according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a drawing for explaining a structure in which a tether wire is connected to a restraining tether according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a drawing for explaining a lower restraint tether according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a structure in which a tether wire according to the present invention extends from the inside to the outside of an airbag cushion. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0031] In describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of related prior art may obscure the essence of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, such detailed description is omitted. Furthermore, the attached drawings are intended only to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical concept disclosed in this specification is not limited by the attached drawings; it should be understood that they include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0032] Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0033] A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0034] In this specification, terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not excluding in advance the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0035] The suffixes "module" and "part" used for components in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably solely for the ease of drafting the specification, and do not inherently possess distinct meanings or roles.

[0036] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. On the other hand, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0038] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0040] The airbag device of the present invention comprises: an airbag cushion (100) that unfolds to cover the side and front of a seat; a restraining tether (200) connected to a position passing through a passenger's body part between the inner surface of the airbag cushion (100) and the seat back; and a tether wire (300) connected to the restraining tether (200) by passing the outer surface of the airbag cushion (100) from the front of the airbag cushion (100) and passing through the restraining tether (200), thereby preventing the restraining tether (200) from being pulled in the opposite direction of the passenger by the force of the airbag cushion (100) expanding and coming into contact with the passenger.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the airbag cushion (100) is configured to include a side chamber (100a) that unfolds to cover the side of the seat and a front chamber (100b) that unfolds to cover the front of the seat.

[0043] The side chambers (100a) are extended forward from the left and right sides of the seat back, respectively, and extend long in the vertical direction.

[0044] The above-mentioned side chamber (100a) extends into the space between the passenger and vehicle structures such as doors and center consoles, and protects major body parts on the passenger's side, such as the head, shoulders, chest, abdomen, and pelvis.

[0045] The front chamber (100b) is connected to the front ends of the left and right side chambers (100a) respectively and unfolds in a shape that bends toward the front of the passenger.

[0046] The above-mentioned front chamber (100b) is deployed to protect the area from the passenger's shoulder to the abdomen.

[0047] That is, the side chambers (100a) and the front chamber (100b) on the left and right sides of the seat are deployed in a shape that completely surrounds both sides of the passenger and the front of the passenger.

[0048] Accordingly, by directly restraining the passenger in various seat positions and postures, it is possible to respond to various collision modes, thereby safely protecting the passenger. Furthermore, it can replace airbags in other areas as well as seat belts, significantly improving product marketability.

[0050] The restraint tether (200) may be an upper restraint tether (200) connected between the upper part of the airbag cushion (100) and the upper part of the seat back.

[0051] The upper restraint tether (200) is fixed to the front and side surfaces of the upper surface of the front chamber (100b) together with the upper surface of the front chamber (100b), and to the inner surface of the side chamber (100a) connected to the upper surface of the front chamber (100b).

[0052] And, the upper restraint tether (200) can be connected to a seat back frame built into the top of the seat back, passing over the passenger's shoulder.

[0053] At this time, the upper restraint tether (200) connected to the upper left side of the seat back is connected to the upper side of the right airbag cushion (100), and the upper restraint tether (200) connected to the upper right side of the seat back is connected to the upper side of the left airbag cushion (100), so that the left and right upper restraint tethers (200) cross each other around the passenger's neck area, thereby strengthening the restraint force of the airbag cushion (100). However, as a result, the upper restraint tether (200) may come into contact with the passenger's neck area during the deployment process of the airbag cushion (100), so the upper restraint tether (200) is prevented from coming into contact with the passenger's neck area through the tether wire (300).

[0055] In addition, the above restraint tether may further include a lower restraint tether (210) connected between the lower part of the airbag cushion (100) and the lower part of the seat back.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 3, the lower restraint tether (210) is connected to the inner surface of the side chamber (100a) which is connected to the bottom of the front chamber (100b), along with the front and side portions of the front chamber (100b).

[0057] And, the lower restraint tether (210) can pass over the passenger's thigh and be connected to a seat back frame built into the bottom of the seat back.

[0058] The tether wire (300) according to the present invention is preferably connected to the upper restraining tether (200), but may also be configured to be connected to the lower restraining tether (210) depending on the case.

[0059] However, below, only the configuration in which the tether wire (300) and the upper restraining tether (200) are connected will be described.

[0061] In particular, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tether wire (300) of the present invention is formed in a cord shape such as a string or cord and is connected to the outside of the airbag cushion (100) while fixed in front of or near the airbag cushion (100).

[0062] And, the tether wire (300) connected to the outside of the airbag cushion (100) is connected to a contact point of the upper restraint tether (200) that can come into contact with the passenger's neck.

[0063] Accordingly, when the airbag cushion (100) is deployed, one end of the tether wire (300) connected to the front of the airbag cushion (100) is pulled forward by the deployment pressure of the airbag cushion (100), thereby causing the upper restraining tether (200) connected to the other end of the tether wire (300) to be pulled away from the passenger.

[0065] In this way, from the moment the upper restraint tether (200) comes into contact with the passenger's head and neck, the tether wire (300) pulls the upper restraint tether (200), thereby avoiding contact between the upper restraint tether (200) and the passenger's head and neck, thereby preventing the passenger from being injured.

[0066] Furthermore, by additionally securing the restraining force of the upper restraining tether (200) through the pulling movement of the tether wire (300) during the deployment process of the airbag cushion (100), the restraining force of the airbag cushion (100) is further strengthened, and by securing the restraining force of the upper restraining tether (200) by adding only the tether wire (300) without additional devices such as actuators, the price competitiveness of the airbag device can be increased.

[0067] In addition, the tether wire (300) is pulled in conjunction with the deployment operation of the airbag cushion (100), so that there is no concern about malfunction of the tether wire (300) under conditions where the airbag operates normally, thereby ensuring the operability of the tether wire (300).

[0069] In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the tether wire (300) can be connected to the restraint tether (200) closest to the passenger's body part.

[0070] Preferably, the restraint tether (200) is connected at a position passing over the passenger's shoulder area, and the tether wire (300) can be connected to the restraint tether (200) closest to the passenger's neck area.

[0071] That is, as previously explained, the tether wire (300) is connected to the upper restraint tether (200), specifically at the point closest to the passenger's neck area within the length range of the upper restraint tether (200).

[0072] Accordingly, by pulling the restraining tether (200) portion that can come into contact with the passenger's head and neck, etc., by the tether wire (300), the restraining tether (200) avoids contact with the passenger's head and neck, thereby deploying the airbag cushion (100) and preventing the risk of injury to the passenger's body parts caused by friction with the restraining tether (200).

[0074] Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the tether wire (300) has one end connected to the front inner surface of the airbag cushion (100), extends from the inside of the airbag cushion (100) to the rear, exits to the outside of the airbag cushion (100), and has the other end connected to the restraining tether (200).

[0075] The airbag cushion (100) comprises a side chamber (100a) that unfolds to cover the side of the seat and a front chamber (100b) that unfolds to cover the front of the seat, and has a structure in which one end of the tether wire (300) is fixed to the inner surface of the front chamber (100b).

[0076] That is, by fixing the front end of the tether wire (300) inside the front chamber (100b), the tether wire (300) does not interfere with the deployment operation of the front chamber (100b) during the deployment process of the airbag cushion (100).

[0077] Therefore, the tether wire (300) is pulled without fear of malfunction in the deployment of the airbag cushion (100), thereby ensuring the operability of the tether wire (300).

[0079] In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the present invention has a partition wall (110) with a through hole (111) formed on the inner surface of the airbag cushion (100) fixed thereto; and a tether wire (300) passes through the through hole (111) so that the tether wire (300) can be extended to the rear.

[0080] For example, a plurality of partition walls (110) formed in a planar shape are fixed to the inner surface of the airbag cushion (100) so as to inflate the unfolded shape of the side chamber (100a) and the front chamber (100b) into a desired shape.

[0081] A plurality of through holes (111) are formed in the above bulkhead (110), so that gas inside the airbag cushion (100) can pass through the through holes (111) and flow.

[0082] In particular, as gas as well as the tether wire (300) passes through the above-mentioned through hole (111), the through hole (111) serves to guide the movement path of the tether wire (300).

[0083] Accordingly, the cross-sectional area of ​​the through hole (111) is formed to be larger than or at least equal to the cross-sectional area of ​​the tether wire (300), so that the movement of the tether wire (300) passing through the through hole (111) is easily achieved.

[0085] In addition, in the present invention, an insertion hole (120) is formed at the rear end of the airbag cushion (100), so that the tether wire (300) is configured to exit the airbag cushion (100) through the insertion hole (120).

[0086] That is, the middle part of the tether wire (300) passes through the interior of the side chamber (100a), so that during the deployment process of the airbag cushion (100), the middle part of the tether wire (300) does not interfere with the deployment operation of the side chamber (100a), and the tether wire (300) is deployed while avoiding the passenger.

[0087] Therefore, the tether wire (300) is pulled without fear of malfunction in the deployment of the airbag cushion (100), thereby ensuring the operability of the tether wire (300).

[0089] Furthermore, the insertion hole (120) may be a hole for inserting an inflator (400) into the airbag cushion (100).

[0090] That is, the inflator (400) is a device that generates gas by exploding in response to a collision signal of the vehicle, and an insertion hole (120) is formed at a location adjacent to the airbag cushion (100) to which the inflator (400) is connected, and the inflator (400) is inserted through the insertion hole (120).

[0091] Accordingly, since the insertion hole (120) of the inflator (400) is shared with the hole through which the tether wire (300) passes, it is not necessary to provide a separate hole in the airbag cushion (100) for the tether wire (300) to pass through, thereby eliminating the need for work to secure the hole and reducing the manufacturing time of the airbag cushion (100).

[0093] In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the other end of the tether wire (300) can be connected to the restraining tether (200) in the direction of the side chamber (100a).

[0094] That is, the airbag cushion (100) is pulled to one side rear of the passenger by the restraining tether (200), and the airbag cushion (100) is pulled to the other side rear of the passenger by the tether wire (300) connected to the restraining tether (200).

[0096] Specifically, the tether wire (300) extending out of the airbag cushion (100) extends upward along the side chamber (100a) and extends toward the restraint tether (200) at a height where the restraint tether (200) is located, and can be connected to the restraint tether (200).

[0097] That is, the restraint tether (200) is pulled by the seat back at the rear of the restraint tether (200) located at almost the same height as the restraint tether (200), and the restraint tether (200) is also pulled by the tether wire (300) at the outer direction of the restraint tether (200).

[0098] Accordingly, when the tether wire (300) is not applied, the load path through which the airbag cushion (100) is pulled is formed as a single load path in the direction of the rear seat back, but when the tether wire (300) is applied as in the present invention, the load path through which the airbag cushion (100) is pulled is formed by branching toward the side chamber (100a), thereby further strengthening the restraining force of the airbag cushion (100).

[0100] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the technical spirit of the invention as provided by the following claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0102] 100 : Airbag cushion 100a : Side chamber 100b : Anterior chamber 110 : Bulkhead 111 : Communion 120 : Insertion hole 200 : Upper restraint tether 210 : Lower restraint tether 300 : Tether wire 400 : Inflator

Claims

Claim 1 An airbag device comprising: an airbag cushion that unfolds to cover the side and front of the seat; a restraint tether connected at a position passing through the passenger's body part between the inner surface of the airbag cushion and the seat back; and a tether wire connected to the restraint tether passing through the outer surface of the airbag cushion from the front of the airbag cushion, thereby causing the restraint tether to be pulled in the opposite direction of the passenger by the force of the airbag cushion expanding, wherein the tether wire is characterized in that one end is connected to the interior of the airbag cushion and the other end is connected to the restraint tether. Claim 2 An airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tether wire is connected to the restraint tether closest to the passenger's body part. Claim 3 An airbag device according to claim 2, characterized in that the restraining tether is connected at a position passing over the passenger's shoulder area, and the tether wire is connected to the restraining tether closest to the passenger's neck area. Claim 4 An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the tether wire is characterized in that one end is connected to the inner surface of the front end of the airbag cushion, extends from the inside of the airbag cushion to the rear and exits to the outside of the airbag cushion, and the other end is connected to a restraining tether. Claim 5 An airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the airbag cushion comprises a side chamber that unfolds in a shape covering the side of the seat and a front chamber that unfolds in a shape covering the front of the seat, and wherein one end of the tether wire is fixed to the inner surface of the front chamber. Claim 6 An airbag device according to claim 4, wherein a partition wall having a through hole formed on the inner surface of the airbag cushion is fixed; and a tether wire passes through the through hole and the tether wire extends to the rear. Claim 7 An airbag device according to claim 4, characterized in that an insertion hole is formed at the rear end of the airbag cushion, and a tether wire exits to the outside of the airbag cushion through the insertion hole. Claim 8 An airbag device according to claim 7, characterized in that the insertion hole is a hole for inserting an inflator into the airbag cushion. Claim 9 An airbag device according to claim 5, characterized in that the other end of the tether wire is connected to a restraining tether in the direction of the side chamber. Claim 10 An airbag device according to claim 4, characterized in that a tether wire extending outside the airbag cushion extends upward along the side chamber and is connected toward the restraining tether at a height where the restraining tether is located.

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