Airbag device

Abstract

The present invention provides an airbag device capable of avoiding interference between a curtain airbag and a side airbag and reliably protecting an occupant by stable deployment behavior.　The present invention is an airbag device 10 for protecting an occupant in a cabin, the airbag device 10 comprising: a curtain airbag 14 that is deployed to cover a side window 12; and a side airbag 16 that is deployed from a side part on the door side of a vehicle seat. The curtain airbag 14 includes: a main chamber 14a that mainly covers the side window 12; and a downward extension chamber 14b that is connected to the front vicinity of a lower edge 14c of the main chamber 14a and extends downward below a lower edge 12a of the side window 12.

Description

Airbag device

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag device for protecting occupants in a vehicle cabin, and more particularly to an airbag device having a curtain airbag with stable deployment behavior.

[0002] In recent years, vehicles are often equipped with multiple airbags to protect occupants and pedestrians in the event of a vehicle accident. Types of airbag devices include, for example, a driver's airbag that inflates near the center of the steering wheel to protect the driver, a curtain airbag that deploys downward inside the vehicle window to protect occupants in the event of a lateral impact or a rollover or rollover accident, a side airbag that deploys between the occupant and the side panel (door) to protect the occupant in the event of a lateral impact, and a pedestrian protection airbag that protects pedestrians in a vehicle collision.

[0003] Curtain airbags require reaction force from the vehicle structure to maintain an appropriate deployment posture and reliably restrain the occupant. However, depending on the vehicle structure, it may be difficult to secure an area for the curtain airbag to receive the reaction force. For example, in sports cars with a single-row seating (two-seater) structure, the absence of a center pillar (B-pillar) makes it difficult for the curtain airbag to receive sufficient reaction force when it deploys. Therefore, the curtain airbag can be extended below the lower edge of the side window to ensure reaction force from the door trim. However, extending the curtain airbag below the lower edge of the side window may interfere with the side airbag, potentially preventing the curtain airbag and side airbag from deploying properly.

[0004] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and has an object to provide an airbag device that can avoid undesirable interference between a curtain airbag and a side airbag and can reliably protect occupants through stable deployment behavior.

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an airbag device for protecting an occupant in a vehicle cabin, comprising: a curtain airbag that deploys to cover a side window; and a side airbag that deploys from the side of the vehicle seat on the door side. The curtain airbag includes a main chamber that mainly covers the side window, and a downward extension chamber that is connected to the front vicinity of the lower edge of the main chamber and extends below the lower edge of the side window.

[0006] Here, the curtain airbag is arranged along the roof side rail inside the vehicle and can be configured to deploy in a curtain-like shape inside the vehicle cabin along the side window on the side of the vehicle by gas generated by an inflator.

[0007] On the other hand, a side airbag is housed on the side of the backrest of a vehicle seat and can be configured to deploy mainly toward the front of the vehicle, restraining at least the occupant from their shoulders to their waist.

[0008] Furthermore, a "side window" is a window glass located on the side of a vehicle. The "lower edge of the side window" can be interpreted as the "upper edge of the door trim." The door trim is a member made of resin or the like that covers the door panel located below the side window. The door trim generates a larger reaction force than the side window.

[0009] As in the present invention, when the curtain airbag is deployed, the downward extension chamber extends below the lower edge of the side window, so that the downward extension chamber can receive a reaction force from the door trim.

[0010] The downward extension chamber is positioned forward of the deployment position of the side airbag when the vehicle seat is positioned at its forwardmost position, and can be configured so that the side airbag and the downward extension chamber do not overlap when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

[0011] Generally, vehicle seats are configured to slide forward and backward, so by adopting the above-described configuration, the downward extension chamber deploys without interfering with the side airbag, regardless of the position of the vehicle seat. This allows the curtain airbag and side airbag to deploy smoothly and quickly without interfering with each other, ensuring stable deployment behavior and adequate protection for the occupant.

[0012] A lower edge of at least a portion of the main chamber may be configured to overlap an upper end of the side airbag.

[0013] Here, "overlapping" means that the lower edge of the main chamber and the upper end of the side airbag overlap entirely in the front-rear direction, and also that they overlap partially.

[0014] The downward extension chamber can be formed in a rod shape extending in the longitudinal direction, with the vertical component being the main component. Note that the "vertical direction" does not necessarily mean a completely vertical direction, but also includes a slightly inclined direction.

[0015] By making the downward extension chamber rod-shaped, it becomes easier to avoid interference with the side airbag and it is possible to minimize the volume of the curtain airbag. However, even if it is rod-shaped, it needs to have a width (cross-sectional area) sufficient to withstand the reaction force from the door trim. If the rod shape is too thin, it will bend and will not be able to fully withstand the reaction force from the door trim.

[0016] The downward extension chamber may extend diagonally forward and downward from a connection portion with the lower edge of the main chamber.

[0017] By making the rod-shaped downward extension chamber extend at an angle rather than extending vertically downward, there are advantages such as making it easier to avoid interference with the side airbag.

[0018] The downward extension chamber may be formed so that, when viewed from the side of the vehicle, the width of the downward extension chamber in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof is smaller at the bottom than at the top.

[0019] By increasing the width of the upper portion of the downward extension chamber, it is possible to receive the reaction force from the door trim over a relatively wide area, and it is also possible to minimize the volume of the chamber.

[0020] The lower edge of the main chamber may be formed to slope downward from the front to the rear.

[0021] Since the downward extension chamber is connected to the front end of the main chamber, by increasing the vertical height of the rear portion of the main chamber, the curtain airbag as a whole can be deployed in a balanced manner in the front-to-rear direction.

[0022] The longitudinal direction of the downward extension chamber is formed so as to intersect with the lower edge of the main chamber, and can be formed at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical line.

[0023] The downwardly extending chamber may be configured to provide protection for the lower extremities of an occupant in a side impact.

[0024] By extending the downward extension chamber sufficiently downward, it becomes possible to cushion a side impact on the knees (lower legs) of an occupant, i.e., it can function like a knee airbag that is specialized for cushioning side impacts.

[0025] The lower edge of the main chamber and the side of the lower extension chamber on the vehicle rear side form a continuous bottom edge extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and this bottom edge can be shaped to be concave upward.

[0026] The uppermost recessed portion of the bottom edge may be configured to be above the lower edge of the side window.

[0027] The present invention includes a curtain airbag including the curtain airbag used in the airbag device.

[0028] When the curtain airbag is put into a stowed state, the downward extension chamber can be folded or rolled upward together with the main chamber after the downward extension chamber has been folded or rolled upward.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a side view of the interior of a vehicle cabin equipped with an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) shows the state before the airbag is deployed, and (B) shows the state after the airbag is deployed. Note that in (B), the vehicle seat is not shown in order to show the deployed shape of the airbag. FIG. 2(A) is a plan view showing the configuration of a curtain airbag according to the first embodiment of the present invention. (B) is an explanatory diagram showing the size of the downward extension chamber, which is a main part of the curtain airbag shown in (A). FIG. 3 is a side view of the interior of a vehicle cabin equipped with an airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing the state after the airbag is deployed. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of a curtain airbag according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a side view of the interior of a vehicle cabin equipped with an airbag device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (A) shows the state before the airbag is deployed, and (B) shows the state after the airbag is deployed. Note that in Fig. (B), the vehicle seat is not shown in order to show the deployed shape of the airbag. Fig. 2 (A) is a plan view showing the configuration of a curtain airbag according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 (B) is an explanatory diagram showing the size of a downward extension chamber, which is a main part of the curtain airbag shown in (A).

[0031] 1, an airbag device 10 according to this embodiment includes a curtain airbag 14 that deploys to cover a side window 12 of a vehicle, and a side airbag 16 that deploys from the side of the vehicle seat on the door side (near side). This embodiment is based on the assumption that the vehicle is a one-row (two-seater) type vehicle that does not have a center pillar.

[0032] The curtain airbag 14 is housed in a folded or rolled state inside the roof lining 20 of the vehicle, and is designed to deploy downward along the side window 12 in the event of a side collision or rollover of the vehicle.

[0033] The side airbag 16 is housed in the outer side (near side) of the vehicle seat backrest 18 in the width direction, and is configured to be able to restrain the occupant from the shoulders to the waist by deploying mainly toward the front of the vehicle.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1(B) and 2(A), the curtain airbag 14 includes a main chamber 14a that mainly covers the side window 12, and a downward extension chamber 14b that is connected to the front vicinity of a lower edge 14c of the main chamber 14a, extends below the lower edge 12a of the side window 12, and deploys without interfering with the side airbag 16.

[0035] The curtain airbag 14 can be formed by overlapping two substantially identical sheets of flexible material, such as a woven fabric, and interconnecting the aligned edges with a perimeter seam. The curtain airbag 14 can also be formed by folding a single sheet of flexible material in half, overlapping the two layers, and interconnecting them with a perimeter seam. Alternatively, the curtain airbag 14 can be woven using a so-called "one-piece weaving (OPW)" technique, in which the warp and weft yarns that form the inflatable and non-inflatable regions are interwoven at selected locations to form a multi-sheet woven structure that defines the inflatable chamber and the perimeter bond that interconnects the sheets.

[0036] 1(B), reference numeral 16f indicates the deployment position of the side airbag 16 when the vehicle seat is set in the forwardmost position, and reference numeral 16r indicates the deployment position of the side airbag when the vehicle seat is set in the rearmost position. In this embodiment, the downward extension chamber 14b is located forward of the deployment position 16f of the side airbag when the vehicle seat is set in the forwardmost position, so that the side airbag 16 (16f, 16r) and the downward extension chamber 14b do not overlap when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

[0037] 2A, the curtain airbag 14 has a duct region 14f near its upper edge through which inflation gas from an inflator (not shown) flows, and the inflation gas is distributed throughout the curtain airbag 14 from the duct region 14f. A tab 24 is connected to the upper end of the curtain airbag 14 for fixing it to a roof side rail located inside the roof trim above the vehicle door. A front end portion 14d of the main chamber 14a is recessed rearward.

[0038] A tether 26 is connected to the front end of the non-inflatable portion (portion other than the chamber) of the curtain airbag 14 and is fixed to the front pillar or the like of the vehicle to regulate the deployment behavior and deployed shape of the curtain airbag 14. The tether 26 can be formed in a strip shape of uniform width using the same material (fabric) as the curtain airbag 14.

[0039] The downward extension chamber 14b of the curtain airbag 14 is formed in a rod shape with its longitudinal direction extending generally in the up-down direction. The downward extension chamber 14b is not necessarily limited to a configuration extending in the vertical direction, and can be formed at an angle θ with respect to the vertical line Y, as shown in FIG. 2(A).

[0040] The downward extension chamber 14b is formed in a rod shape extending in the longitudinal direction, with a vertical component being the main component (angle θ being less than 45°). However, the longitudinal angle θ of the downward extension chamber 14b is not limited to the embodiment shown in Figure 2(A), and the angle θ may be set to 5 to 85°, preferably 30 to 60°. If necessary, the direction in which the downward extension chamber 14b extends can also be set based on the longitudinal direction of the main chamber 14a (left-right direction in the figure).

[0041] By making the downward extension chamber 14b rod-shaped, it becomes easier to avoid interference with the side airbag 16 and it becomes possible to minimize the capacity of the curtain airbag 14. However, even if it is rod-shaped, it needs to have a width (cross-sectional area) sufficient to withstand the reaction force from the door trim. If the downward extension chamber 14b is too thin, it will bend when an impact is applied and will not be able to fully withstand the reaction force from the door trim.

[0042] As shown in Figure 2(B), it is preferable that the width A of the upper portion of the downward extension chamber 14b be larger than the width B of the lower portion when viewed from the side of the vehicle. By making the width A of the upper portion of the downward extension chamber 14b larger, it is possible to sufficiently withstand the reaction force from the door trim. At the same time, by making the width B of the lower portion of the downward extension chamber 14b smaller than the width A of the upper portion, it is possible to minimize the capacity of the downward extension chamber 14b. Note that the widths A and B are widths in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the downward extension chamber 14b.

[0043] It is preferable that the side airbag 16 and the main chamber 14a do not overlap, but as shown in Fig. 1(B), the lower edge 14c of the main chamber 14a can be configured to overlap with the upper end of the side airbag 16 (16f, 16r). Here, "overlapping" includes cases where the lower edge 14c of the main chamber 14a and the upper end of the side airbag 16 overlap entirely in the front-to-rear direction, and cases where they overlap partially.

[0044] That is, at least a portion of the lower edge 14c of the main chamber 14a overlaps with the upper end of the side airbag 16. The area where the lower edge 14c of the main chamber 14a of the curtain airbag 14 overlaps with the upper end of the side airbag 16 is preferably small enough to prevent interference between the airbags and adversely affect deployment behavior. For example, this area can be 20% or less, and preferably 5% or less, of the side area of ​​the side airbag 16.

[0045] 2A, when the curtain airbag 14 is inflated and deployed, the lower edge 14c of the main chamber 14 is formed so as to slope downward from the front to the rear. The slope angle α of the lower edge 14c with respect to the horizontal line X is, for example, 5 to 55°, preferably 20 to 40°. This makes the vertical height of the rear portion of the main chamber 14a greater than the height of the front portion.

[0046] 2B, the downward extension chamber 14b extends diagonally forward and downward from the connection portion with the lower edge 14c of the main chamber 14a. By making the rod-shaped downward extension chamber 14b extend at an angle rather than vertically downward, it becomes easier to avoid interference with the side airbag 16.

[0047] 2A, the lower edge 14c of the main chamber 14a is formed so as to slope downward from the front to the rear. On the other hand, since the downward extension chamber 14b is connected to the front end of the main chamber 14a, the vertical width of the front end and the rear end is increased when the curtain airbag 14 is viewed as a whole, and the curtain airbag 14 can deploy in a well-balanced manner as a whole.

[0048] As shown in Figure 2(A), the longitudinal direction of the downward extension chamber 14b is formed so as to intersect with the lower edge portion 14c of the main chamber 14, and is formed so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the direction of the vertical line Y. The preferable range of the angle θ is as described above. By extending the downward extension chamber 14b in this inclined direction, interference between the downward extension chamber 14b and the side airbag 16 is reduced.

[0049] The lower edge 14c of the main chamber 14a and the rear side 14e of the downward extension chamber 14b are connected to form a bottom edge 14g that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 2(A). The bottom edge 14g is concave and recessed upward.

[0050] 1B, the uppermost recessed portion 14h of the bottom edge portion 14g is located above the lower edge 12a of the side window 12. By adopting such a shape, even when the side airbag 16 is located at the forward-most position indicated by the reference symbol 16f, the downward extension chamber 14b and the side airbag 16 are less likely to interfere with each other.

[0051] In this embodiment, when the curtain airbag 14 deploys, the downward extension chamber 14b extends below the lower edge 12a of the side window 12, allowing the downward extension chamber 14b to receive a reaction force from the door trim. Furthermore, because the downward extension chamber 14b deploys without interfering with the side airbag 16, the curtain airbag 14 and the side airbag 16 can deploy smoothly and quickly without interfering with each other, ensuring stable deployment behavior and appropriate protection of the occupant.

[0052] When compressing the curtain airbag 14 as shown in FIG. 2A into the stored state, the lower extension chamber 14b is folded or rolled upward, and then the lower extension chamber 14b is folded or rolled upward together with the main chamber 14a.

[0053] 3 is a side view of the interior of a vehicle equipped with an airbag device 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing the state in which the curtain airbag 114 is deployed. Note that components that are the same as or correspond to those in the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0054] The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is the shape of the downward extension chamber 114b of the curtain airbag 114. In this embodiment, the downward extension chamber 114b extends downward further than the downward extension chamber 114b of the first embodiment in order to be able to protect the lower legs of the occupant against a side impact.

[0055] By extending the downward extension chamber 114b sufficiently downward, it becomes possible to cushion a side impact on the knees (lower legs) of the occupant, i.e., the downward extension chamber 114b can function like a knee airbag that is specialized for cushioning side impacts.

[0056] 4 is a plan view showing the configuration of a curtain airbag 214 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Note that components that are the same as or correspond to those in the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0057] The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that a front chamber 214d is provided in front of the main chamber 214a and above the downward extension chamber 214b of the curtain airbag 214. By providing the front chamber 214d, in combination with the main chamber 214a, it is possible to cover a wide area of ​​the side window 12. The front chamber 214d and the downward extension chamber 214b are independent, and the downward extension chamber 214b can be deployed smoothly downward without interfering with the front chamber 214d.

[0058] Although the present invention has been described above based on examples, the present invention is not limited to these examples and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention.

[0059] 10 Airbag device 12 Side window 12a Lower edge 14 Curtain airbag 14a Main chamber 14b Downward extension chamber 14c Lower edge portion 14e Side portion 14g Bottom edge portion 14h Most recessed portion 16 Side airbag

Claims

1. An airbag device for protecting passengers in a vehicle cabin, comprising: a curtain airbag that deploys to cover a side window; and a side airbag that deploys from the side of a vehicle seat on the door side, wherein the curtain airbag includes a main chamber that mainly covers the side window, and a downward extension chamber that is connected to the front vicinity of the lower edge of the main chamber and extends below the lower edge of the side window.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that the downward extension chamber is positioned forward of the deployment position of the side airbag when the vehicle seat is positioned at its forwardmost position, and is configured so that the side airbag and the downward extension chamber do not overlap when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

3. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a lower edge of at least a portion of the main chamber overlaps with an upper end of the side airbag.

4. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the downward extension chamber is formed in a rod shape extending in the longitudinal direction, the vertical component being the main component.

5. The airbag device according to claim 4, wherein said downward extension chamber extends obliquely forward and downward from a connecting portion with the lower edge of said main chamber.

6. The airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the width of the downward extension chamber in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is smaller at the lower part than at the upper part when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

7. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the lower edge of the main chamber is formed to be inclined downward from the front to the rear.

8. The airbag device according to claim 7, wherein the longitudinal direction of the downward extension chamber is formed so as to intersect with the lower edge of the main chamber and is formed at a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical line.

9. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the downward extension chamber is configured to be capable of protecting the lower legs of an occupant against a side impact.

10. An airbag device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the lower edge of the main chamber and the side of the downward extension chamber facing the rear of the vehicle are continuous to form a bottom edge extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and the bottom edge has an upwardly recessed shape.

11. The airbag device according to claim 10, wherein the uppermost recess of said bottom edge portion is located above the lower edge of said side window.

12. A curtain airbag comprising the curtain airbag used in the airbag device according to claim 1.

13. The curtain airbag as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that, when the curtain airbag is put into a stored state, the downward extension chamber is folded or rolled upward, and then the downward extension chamber is folded or rolled upward together with the main chamber.

Images