Far side airbag device for vehicle and airbag cushion folding method applied thereto

Abstract

The present invention relates to a far side airbag device for a vehicle and an airbag cushion folding method applied thereto. The far side airbag device includes first and second airbag modules which are respectively installed in first and second seats installed side by side, and which, when a side collision of the vehicle occurs, are inflated and deployed to prevent a collision between occupants sitting on the respective seats, wherein a first airbag cushion which is inflated and deployed from the first airbag module is deployed upward during the initial stage of inflation and deployment, and a second airbag cushion which is inflated and deployed from the second airbag module is deployed forward during the initial stage of inflation and deployment to support and control the deployment position of the first airbag cushion. Accordingly, in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, each of the airbag cushions in the dual airbag module can be inflated and deployed between the occupants to prevent the occupants from colliding with each other.

Description

Automobile side airbag device and airbag cushion folding method applied thereto

[0001] The present invention relates to a side airbag device for an automobile, and more specifically, to a side airbag device for an automobile that protects occupants by preventing collisions between occupants during a side collision of the automobile, and an airbag cushion folding method applied thereto.

[0002] Generally, an automobile airbag is a safety device that protects occupants by rapidly inflating the airbag with gas in response to a signal from an impact detection sensor during a collision.

[0003] These airbag devices are installed in the steering wheel, dashboard, seats, side walls, etc., of the vehicle, and inflate toward the front or side of the occupant during a collision to protect them.

[0004] That is, the vehicle may be equipped with front airbags that deploy from the front of the driver and passenger seats, curtain airbags and side airbags that deploy from the direction in which a side collision occurs (hereinafter referred to as the 'collision side') to protect passengers, and knee airbags to protect passengers' knees.

[0005] Side airbags include near side airbags, which inflate and deploy between the passenger and body components such as doors to protect the occupant from body components protruding inward due to the impact of a side collision, and far side airbags or center side airbags, which restrict the movement of the occupant moving inward due to the recoil of a side collision.

[0006] The above-mentioned side airbag deploys between the occupant and the occupant seated next to them in the event of a collision, preventing mutual collision between occupants, reducing the impact applied to the occupant, and preventing the occupant from being ejected from the vehicle by the impact.

[0007] For example, the applicant has filed a patent application for a side airbag device configuration disclosed in the following patent documents 1 and 2.

[0008] Meanwhile, in order to perform the aforementioned functions, the side airbag must be able to stably support the occupant and absorb the impact when colliding with them.

[0009] To this end, dual-sided airbags are currently being developed to prevent injuries caused by collisions between occupants by installing a pair of airbag modules on each seat where occupants are seated.

[0010] However, there was a problem in that it was difficult to fix each airbag cushion in the desired position and shape, as unintended effects occurred due to contact or interference during the inflation and deployment process of the pair of airbag cushions provided in each airbag module.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need to develop technology that can control the deployment position of dual side airbags to prevent injuries caused by collisions between occupants and improve occupant protection performance.

[0012] (Patent Document 1) Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1916007 (Published November 8, 2018)

[0013] (Patent Document 2) Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1781387 (Published February 20, 2017)

[0014] The objective of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems by providing a side airbag device for an automobile that prevents collisions between occupants by inflating and deploying the airbag cushions of a dual airbag module between each occupant during a side collision.

[0015] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a side airbag device for an automobile and an airbag cushion folding method applicable thereto, which can improve occupant protection performance by controlling the deployment shape and position of each airbag cushion inflated and deployed in a dual airbag module.

[0016] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the side airbag device of an automobile according to the present invention comprises first and second airbag modules that are respectively installed in first and second seats installed side by side and inflate and deploy when a side collision of the automobile occurs to prevent a collision between occupants seated in each seat, wherein the first airbag cushion inflated and deployed from the first airbag module deploys upward during the initial inflatation and deployment, and the second airbag cushion inflated and deployed from the second airbag module deploys forward during the initial inflatation and deployment to support the first airbag cushion and control the deployment position.

[0017] In addition, to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the airbag cushion folding method applied to the side airbag device of an automobile according to the present invention comprises: (a) a step of folding the first airbag cushion of a first airbag module mounted on the first seat among first and second seats installed side by side so as to be deployed upward during the initial inflation and deployment phase; and (b) a step of folding the second airbag cushion of a second airbag module mounted on the second seat so as to be deployed forward during the initial inflation and deployment phase, and is characterized by controlling the deployment position by supporting the first airbag cushion using the second airbag cushion.

[0018] As described above, according to the side airbag device of an automobile and the airbag cushion folding method applied thereto of the present invention, the effect of preventing collision between occupants is obtained by inflating and deploying each airbag cushion of the dual airbag module between occupants during a side collision of the automobile.

[0019] And according to the present invention, an overlapping area is formed in the area corresponding to the shoulder portion of the occupant during the initial inflation and deployment of each airbag cushion, thereby effectively preventing collisions between occupants, particularly collisions in the head portion.

[0020] In addition, according to the present invention, an airbag cushion deployed from the driver's side is supported by an airbag cushion deployed from the passenger side, and as the deployment position and shape are controlled, the effect of improving the protection performance of the occupant is obtained.

[0021] In addition, according to the present invention, a difference in distance or height is created between the positions where the first and second airbag cushions begin to inflate and deploy, thereby further enhancing the support effect of the first airbag cushion using the second airbag cushion.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a state in which a side airbag device of a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is installed in the driver's seat and the passenger seat.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating the state in which the first and second airbag cushions are inflated and deployed.

[0024] FIGS. 3 to 5 are drawings illustrating the inflation and deployment operation of the first and second airbag cushions, respectively.

[0025] FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating the right side of the first and second airbag cushions that have been inflated and deployed.

[0026] FIGS. 7 to 9 are drawings illustrating a folding method of the first and second airbag cushions,

[0027] FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating the inflation and deployment operation of the first and second airbag cushions in a side airbag device of an automobile according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Hereinafter, a side airbag device for an automobile and an airbag cushion folding method applied thereto according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0029]

[0030] Hereinafter, the direction facing the front of the vehicle, centered on the driver's seat, is referred to as 'Front (F),' and the direction facing the rear of the vehicle is referred to as 'Rear (B).' In addition, terms indicating directions such as 'Left (L),' 'Right (R),' 'Up (U),' and 'Down (D)' are defined as indicating the respective directions based on the aforementioned Front and Rear.

[0031] Also, the direction facing the door located closest to the occupant is called the 'outside,' and the opposite direction, that is, the direction facing the other occupant, is called the 'inside.'

[0032] Therefore, the front and rear (F, B) directions, left and right (L, R) directions, and inner (I) and outer (O) directions of the vehicle can each be expressed as horizontal directions, and the up and down (U, D) directions of the vehicle can be expressed as vertical directions.

[0033] In this embodiment, the configuration of a side airbag device, specifically a front center airbag, which prevents collisions between occupants in the driver's seat and the passenger seat is described; however, it should be noted that the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto and can be modified to be applicable to two or three or more rows depending on the configuration of the vehicle.

[0034]

[0035] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a state in which a side airbag device of a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is installed in the driver's seat and the passenger seat, and FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a state in which the first and second airbag cushions are inflated and deployed. FIG. 3 to 5 are drawings illustrating the inflatation and deployment operation of the first and second airbag cushions, respectively, and FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating the right side of the inflated and deployed first and second airbag cushions.

[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates the initial operational state of the first and second airbag cushions during inflation and deployment, FIG. 4 illustrates the state in which the first and second airbag cushions collide with each other and deviate from the desired deployment position, and FIG. 5 illustrates the state in which the first and second airbag cushions generate a supporting force against each other.

[0037]

[0038] A side airbag device (10) of a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided as a dual-type side airbag device comprising first and second airbag modules (20, 30) that are installed in parallel on first and second seats, namely the driver's seat (11) and the passenger seat (12), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and inflate and deploy when a side collision of the vehicle occurs to prevent a collision between occupants seated in each seat.

[0039] In this embodiment, the description is based on the state in which the driver's seat (11) is provided on the left side and the passenger seat (12) is provided on the right side of the vehicle's interior space.

[0040] Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto and can be applied even in cases where the driver's seat (11) is provided on the right side and the passenger seat (12) is provided on the left side in the interior space of the vehicle.

[0041] In the following description, the passenger seated in the driver's seat (11) is referred to as the "driver," and the passenger seated in the passenger seat (12) is referred to as the "passenger seat passenger."

[0042] The first airbag module (20) is installed in the driver's seat (11) regardless of the location where it is installed in the interior space of the vehicle, and the second airbag module (30) can be installed in the passenger seat (12).

[0043] The first airbag module (20) may include a first airbag cushion (21) that is built into the inner side of the backrest (13) of the driver's seat (11) and expands to correspond to the inner side, i.e., the right side, of the driver when a side collision of the vehicle occurs, and a first inflator (22) that generates gas and supplies it to the first airbag cushion (21) in response to an impact detection signal caused by a side collision of the vehicle.

[0044] The first airbag cushion (21) includes an outer panel that contacts the right side of the occupant, i.e., the driver, and an inner panel that contacts the second airbag cushion (31) of the second airbag module (30), and the edges of the inner panel and the outer panel can be joined together by a sewing method or the like to form a bag shape.

[0045] The first airbag cushion (21) is formed to expand and unfold in a roughly circular, elliptical, or cuboidal shape, and can expand and unfold forward, upward, and downward from the driver's right side.

[0046] For example, the first airbag cushion (21) can be expanded and unfolded into various shapes, such as a polygonal shape like a square or pentagon that is convex toward the front, or a semicircle, ellipse, or circle.

[0047] The inner panel and the outer panel are each formed in a roughly polygonal or semicircular shape, and an inlet section connected to a first inflator (22) to introduce gas may be provided at the bottom of each panel. A pair of stud holes (24) through which a pair of stud bolts connected to the first inflator (22) pass may be formed in the inlet section (see FIG. 8).

[0048] And the first airbag module (20) may further include a first limiting member (23) that limits the deployment position and shape of the first airbag cushion (21).

[0049] For example, the first limiting member (23) can be formed in a strip shape or a polygonal shape having a preset width and length.

[0050] One end of the first limiting member (23), for example, the front end, is connected to the center or an upper part higher than the center of the first airbag cushion (21) by means of sewing or the like, and a through hole (25) through which one of a pair of stud bolts connected to the first inflator (22) passes can be formed in the rear end of the first limiting member (23). Also, the front-rear length of the first limiting member (23) can be formed to be shorter than the front-rear width of the first airbag cushion (21).

[0051] Therefore, the first limited member (23) has both ends fixed to the front upper side of the first airbag cushion (21) and the backrest frame (14), respectively, and can control the deployment position and shape when the first airbag cushion (21) is inflated and deployed.

[0052] The second airbag module (30) may include a second airbag cushion (31) that is built into the inner side of the backrest (15) of the passenger seat (12) and expands to correspond to the inner side, i.e., the left side, of the passenger seat occupant when a side collision of the vehicle occurs, and a second inflator (32) that generates gas and supplies it to the second airbag cushion (31) in response to an impact detection signal caused by a side collision of the vehicle.

[0053] The second airbag cushion (31) includes an outer panel that contacts the left side of the passenger seat and an outer panel that contacts the first airbag cushion (21), and the edges of the inner panel and the outer panel can be joined together by a sewing method or the like to form a bag shape.

[0054] The second airbag cushion (31) is formed to expand and unfold in a roughly circular, elliptical, or cuboidal shape, and can expand and unfold forward, upward, and downward from the left side of the passenger seat occupant.

[0055] For example, the inner panel and the outer panel are each formed in a roughly polygonal or semicircular shape, and an inlet section connected to a second inflator (32) to introduce gas may be provided at the bottom of each panel. A pair of stud holes (33) through which a pair of stud bolts connected to the second inflator (32) pass may be formed in the inlet section.

[0056] A second limiting member may also be provided in the second airbag cushion (31) to limit and control the deployment position and shape when inflating.

[0057] This second airbag cushion (31) is formed with the same or similar shape as the first airbag cushion (21), and the vertical length of the second airbag cushion (31) may be formed to be slightly smaller than the vertical length of the first airbag cushion (21).

[0058] So, when a side collision occurs in a car, the first and second airbag cushions (21, 31) are inflated and deployed forward and upward, respectively, from the right side of the driver's seat (11) and the left side of the passenger seat (12) during the initial inflation phase, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0059] At this time, when the first and second airbag cushions (21, 31) are inflated and deployed, if interference or collision occurs between each cushion (21, 31), as shown in FIG. 4, the first and second airbag cushions (21, 31) may not be able to support or fix the other airbag cushion and may deviate from the position where they are to be deployed.

[0060] To resolve these problems, in this embodiment, the second airbag cushion (31) can be rapidly expanded forward during the initial expansion phase to support the first airbag cushion (21) and fix the expansion position.

[0061] To this end, the second airbag module (30) is installed at a rear side of the first airbag module (20), as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the second airbag cushion (31) can be expanded and deployed from a rear side to a front side of the deployment start position of the first airbag cushion (21).

[0062] That is, there is a distance difference of 'XD' shown in FIG. 5 along the front-rear direction between the deployment start position of the first airbag cushion (21) and the second airbag cushion (31).

[0063] Accordingly, the second airbag cushion (31) can be expanded and deployed from the rear side of the first airbag cushion (21) toward the front, thereby supporting the first airbag cushion (21) and fixing the deployment position.

[0064] Of course, the present invention may be modified in various ways to achieve the same effect, such as by applying a method of installing the second airbag module (30) on the backrest frame (16) of the passenger seat (12) so that it is positioned further back than the first airbag module (20), or by changing the position where the second airbag cushion (31) starts deploying by bursting the backrest cover (15) of the passenger seat (12) to the rear, or by adjusting the initial deployment direction of the second airbag cushion (31) to be slightly directed towards the rear.

[0065] Meanwhile, the first airbag cushion (21) can be rapidly expanded upward to prevent collisions between occupants, particularly head collisions, during the initial expansion phase.

[0066] Therefore, during the initial expansion of the first airbag cushion (21) and the second airbag cushion (31), an overlapping area (OA) occurs in the area corresponding to the shoulder area of ​​the driver and the passenger.

[0067] In this way, a folding method for each airbag cushion (21, 31) to generate the deployment direction and overlapping area (OA) of the first and second airbag cushions (21, 31) is explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

[0068] FIGS. 7 to 9 are drawings illustrating a folding method of the first and second airbag cushions.

[0069] FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the first and second airbag cushions are folded and overlapped, FIG. 8 illustrates a folded state of the first airbag cushion, FIG. 9 (a) to FIG. 9 (f) sequentially illustrates the folding process of the second airbag cushion, and FIG. 9 (g) illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the second airbag cushion shown in FIG. 9 (f).

[0070] The first and second airbag cushions (21, 31) are folded in the state shown in FIG. 7. That is, the first airbag cushion (21) is folded so that it is rapidly deployed upward during the initial inflation phase, and the second airbag cushion (31) is folded so that it is rapidly deployed forward during the initial inflation phase.

[0071] Thus, the folded first and second airbag cushions (21, 31) can be inflated and deployed so that an overlapping area (OA) is created on each occupant's shoulder area, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0072] To do this, the operator folds the upper part of the first airbag cushion (21) downward along the first folding line (26) which is set horizontally along the front-rear direction from the upper side based on the unfolded state as shown in FIG. 8, and folds the front part of the first airbag cushion (21) backward along the second folding line (27) which is set inclined toward the rear-upward side.

[0073] So the upper part of the first airbag cushion (21) is tucked in so that it is placed inside the front side that is folded backward.

[0074] Accordingly, the upper portion of the first airbag cushion (21) that is tucked in during the initial expansion can be rapidly expanded upward.

[0075] Meanwhile, the second airbag cushion (31) is folded sequentially as shown in (a) to (f) of FIG. 9.

[0076] That is, the operator folds the upper part of the second airbag cushion (31) downward along the third folding line (34) which is set horizontally along the front-rear direction as shown in Fig. 9 (b), and then folds it upward along the fourth folding line (35) which is set parallel to the lower part of the third folding line (34).

[0077] Then, the operator folds the front portion of the lower part of the second airbag cushion (31) backward along the fifth folding line (36) which is set to be inclined toward the rearward downward direction (Fig. 9 (c)), and then folds the folded front portion backward along the sixth folding line (37) which is set vertically along the up-down direction (Fig. 9 (d)).

[0078] Next, the operator folds the front end of the second airbag cushion (31) in a folded state backward along the seventh fold line (38) which is set parallel to the rear side of the sixth fold line (37) (e in FIG. 9), and then folds it backward along the eighth fold line (39) which is set parallel to the rear side of the seventh fold line (38) (f), (g) in FIG. 9.

[0079] That is, the second airbag cushion (31) is folded in a rolling manner naturally during the process of folding along the fifth folding line (36) to the eighth folding line (39).

[0080] So, the second airbag cushion (31) can be rapidly expanded forward as the area rolled backward expands forward during the initial expansion phase.

[0081] Through the process described above, the present invention can prevent collisions between occupants by inflating and deploying each airbag cushion of the dual airbag module between the occupants during a side collision of a vehicle.

[0082] In addition, the present invention can effectively prevent collisions between occupants, particularly head collisions, by forming an overlapping area in the region corresponding to the occupant's shoulder portion during the initial inflation and deployment of each airbag cushion.

[0083] In addition, the present invention can improve the protection performance of occupants by supporting the airbag cushion deployed from the driver's side with the airbag cushion deployed from the passenger's side, thereby limiting the deployment position and shape.

[0084]

[0085] Meanwhile, in the above embodiment, it was described that the second airbag cushion expands and deploys from the rearward side of the first airbag cushion's initial deployment position toward the front to support the first airbag cushion, but the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0086] For example, FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating the inflation and deployment operation of the first and second airbag cushions in a side airbag device of a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0087] As shown in Fig. 6, when the second airbag cushion is inflated and deployed, the vertical length, i.e., the height, is shorter than the vertical length of the first airbag cushion.

[0088] So, as shown in FIG. 10, the second airbag cushion (31) can be inflated and deployed at a relatively high position having a height difference of 'HD' from the deployment start position of the first airbag cushion (21).

[0089] To this end, the second airbag module (30) can be installed on the backrest frame (16) of the passenger seat (12) so as to be positioned above the first airbag module (20).

[0090] Alternatively, the second airbag cushion (31) may be modified in various ways to achieve the same effect, such as by changing the position where it begins to deploy by bursting the backrest cover (15) of the passenger seat (12) to the upper side, or by adjusting the initial deployment direction of the second airbag cushion (31) to be slightly upward.

[0091] Therefore, the upper part of the second airbag cushion (31) supports the upper part of the first airbag cushion (21) that is inflated and deployed, so that the deployment position can be effectively controlled.

[0092] Accordingly, as the first airbag cushion (31) is supported and fixed by the second airbag cushion (31) which contacts the upper part of the inner surface of the first airbag cushion (31), collisions between occupants, particularly collisions in the head area and resulting injuries to occupants can be prevented in advance.

[0093] In this way, the present invention may further enhance the support effect of the first airbag cushion using the second airbag cushion by creating a height difference between the positions where the first and second airbag cushions begin to inflate and deploy.

[0094] Although the invention made by the inventors has been specifically described according to the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof.

[0095] The present invention is applied to a side airbag device technology for automobiles that prevents collisions between occupants by inflating and deploying each airbag cushion of a dual airbag module between occupants during a side collision.

Claims

1. It includes first and second airbag modules, each installed in a first and second seat installed side by side, which inflate and deploy upon the occurrence of a side collision of the vehicle to prevent a collision between occupants seated in each seat, and The first airbag cushion that inflates and deploys in the first airbag module above deploys upward during the initial inflatation and deployment, and A side airbag device of an automobile, characterized in that the second airbag cushion, which is inflated and deployed in the second airbag module, deploys forward during the initial inflated and deployed phase to support the first airbag cushion and control the deployment position.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned first airbag module is installed in the driver's seat or the driver's side seat, and A side airbag device of an automobile characterized in that the second airbag module is installed in the passenger seat or the passenger-side seat.

3. In Paragraph 2, A side airbag device for an automobile, characterized in that the first and second airbag cushions are each folded to overlap in an area corresponding to the shoulder area of ​​each occupant during the initial inflation and deployment phase.

4. In Paragraph 3, The first airbag module above includes a first inflator that supplies gas to the first airbag cushion, and A side airbag device of an automobile, characterized by further including a first limiting member that limits the inflation and deployment shape and position of the first airbag cushion.

5. In Paragraph 3, A side airbag device of an automobile, characterized in that the second airbag cushion is expanded and deployed from the rearward side toward the frontward side relative to the deployment start position of the first airbag cushion during the initial expansion and deployment phase, thereby supporting the first airbag cushion while compensating for the difference in frontward and rearward distance between the first and second airbag modules.

6. In Paragraph 3, A side airbag device of an automobile, characterized in that the second airbag cushion is inflated and deployed at a position higher than the deployment start position of the first airbag cushion during the initial inflation and deployment phase to support the upper part of the first airbag cushion.

7. A folding method of an airbag cushion applied to a side airbag device of a vehicle as described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 6, (a) A step of folding the first airbag cushion of the first airbag module mounted on the first seat among the first and second seats installed side by side so that it unfolds upward during the initial inflation and deployment phase, and (b) includes the step of folding the second airbag cushion of the second airbag module mounted on the second seat so that it unfolds forward during the initial inflation and deployment phase, and A folding method of an airbag cushion applied to a side airbag device of an automobile, characterized by controlling the deployment position by supporting the first airbag cushion using the second airbag cushion.

8. In Paragraph 7, A folding method for airbag cushions applied to a side airbag device of an automobile, characterized in that the first and second airbag cushions are each folded to overlap in an area corresponding to the shoulder area of ​​each occupant during the initial inflation and deployment phase.

9. In Paragraph 8, The above step (a) includes (a1) a step of folding downward along a first folding line horizontally set along the front-rear direction on the upper side of the first airbag cushion while in an unfolded state, and (a2) A step of folding the front portion of the first airbag cushion backward along a second folding line that is set to be inclined toward the rearward and upward, and A folding method of an airbag cushion applied to a side airbag device of an automobile, characterized by tucking in the upper part of the first airbag cushion so that it is positioned inside the front side folded backward, so that it unfolds upward during the initial inflation and deployment of the first airbag cushion.

10. In Paragraph 8, The above step (b) is (b1) a step of folding the upper part of the second airbag cushion downward along a third folding line set horizontally along the front-rear direction, and then folding it upward along a fourth folding line set parallel to the lower part of the third folding line. (b2) A step of folding the front portion of the lower part of the second airbag cushion backward along a fifth folding line that is set to be inclined toward the rearward downward, and (b3) The step of sequentially folding the front portion of the second airbag cushion along a plurality of folding lines set vertically along the up-down direction, and A folding method of an airbag cushion applied to a side airbag device of an automobile, characterized by folding the front portion of the second airbag cushion toward the rear in a rolling manner so that it unfolds toward the front during the initial expansion and deployment of the second airbag cushion.

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