CN101462529B

CN101462529B - Knee airbag and method of folding the same

Info

Publication number: CN101462529B
Application number: CN2008100966914A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 洪翼杓; 郑京元
Original assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Current assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Priority date: 2007-12-18
Filing date: 2008-04-07
Publication date: 2012-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2028-04-07
Also published as: CN101462529A; KR100947997B1; KR20090065962A

Abstract

Provided is a knee airbag capable of adjusting the height and width of the airbag upon deployment thereof and deploying the airbag along a lower crash panel. The knee airbag is installed at a lower crash panel and has an inflator installed at a predetermined position thereof, wherein the knee airbag has at least one wrinkle part folded in a longitudinal direction of side surfaces thereof. Since an upper part of the knee airbag is expanded more than a lower part thereof, it is possible to more safely protect passenger's knees. In addition, since the knee airbag is expanded upward and downward, it is also possible to protect passenger's ankles and readily adjust the height and width of the knee airbag. Further, the knee airbag is expanded to correspond to an appearance of a lower crash, thereby more safely protecting the passenger.

Description

The method of knee airbag and folded airbag

The related application of control reference

The application requires the preceence of korean patent application NO.2007-0133527 that applied on December 18th, 2007 and the 2007-0133520 that applied on December 18th, 2007, and its disclosed content is quoted included through integral body.

Technical field

The present invention relates to the method for a kind of knee airbag and folded airbag; More particularly; Relate on the low impingement plate that is installed in vehicle opening and steadily open not the air bag that interferes with low impingement plate in the process with protection chaufeur or occupant's knee and at air bag, and the method for folded airbag.

Background technology

Generally, various safety device is installed with protection occupant in the for example collision of accident that takes place when the automotive operation, rear end collision, upset or the like on the vehicle.Such safety device comprises safety strap and air bag etc., even also can absorb impact under their occupant possibly bump with car body when having an accident situation.

Air bag is installed on the bearing circle in operating seat the place ahead with the protection chaufeur, and is installed on the gauge panel in passenger seat the place ahead with the protection occupant.In addition, also can installing side airbag be installed or curtain type gas bag is protected the occupant at back seat.

Particularly, be used to protect the knee airbag of chaufeur or occupant's knee to be installed on the cover stent under the bearing circle or the instrument carrier panel below.

The example of this knee airbag is NO.2003-50611 at publication number, and title is open for the Korean Patent (hereinafter being called " prior art 1 ") of " be used for chaufeur knee protection gas-bag system ", like accompanying drawing 1A to shown in the 1C.

Like accompanying drawing 1A to shown in the 1C; Knee airbag 10 in the prior art 1 comprises the inflation unit 11 that is contained within the low crash pad 3 with blast under the control of air bag controlled unit, and under the expanding gas effect of ejecting after inflation unit 11 blasts airsac tube 12 from low crash pad 3 to 2 expansion of front valance panel panel.

In addition; Knee airbag further comprises the airbag cover 14 around airsac tube 12; It is fixed on the low crash pad 3 through a plurality of fixed partss 13 as intermediary and under the situation that airsac tube 12 launches, separates with low crash pad 3; Airbag cover 14 has avoided the interference of any and airsac tube 12 and external component to prevent the infringement to airsac tube 12; Knee airbag also comprises the air bag anchor fitting 15 that the tip of closing on the airsac tube 12 that front valance panel panel 2 is provided with is connected to front valance panel panel 2 predetermined portions, and air bag anchor fitting 15 can guide expansion direction to be deployed on the front valance panel panel 2 at the tip of the situation lower gasbag pipe 12 of inflation unit 11 blasts like this.

Air bag in the prior art 1 passes through the knee of the expansion protection chaufeur of air bag under the situation that car accident takes place.

Further, another example of this knee airbag is NO.2005-93843 at publication number, and title is open for the Korean Patent (hereinafter being called " prior art 2 ") of " the knee fender guard that is used for the vehicle crew ", like accompanying drawing 2A to shown in the 2C.

To shown in Fig. 2 C, the knee airbag assembly 10 ' in the prior art 2 is fixed to instrument carrier panel reinforcing section 23 through plate 21 and a left side/right support 22 and is fixed to the 24a place, bottom of instrument carrier panel 24 through plate 21 like Fig. 2 A.

Knee airbag assembly 10 ' comprises air bag 11 ', is used for supplying a gas to the inflation unit 12 ' of air bag 11 ', the airbag cover 14 ' that is used to hold the air bag case 13 ' of air bag 11 ' and inflation unit 12 ' and covers air bag case 13 ' at vehicle collision.

Further; Airbag cover 14 ' is connected on the opening 21a of after-opening 13a and plate 21 that air bag case 13 ' and plate 21 cover air bag case 13 ', and rectangular door part 14a is installed on the position relative with the opening 21a of the after-opening 13a of air bag case 13 ' and plate 21.

In addition, the hinge fraction 14c of relative thin door section 14a than low edge on form so that door section 14a opens downwards under the situation that air bag 11 ' expands.

However, because the knee airbag in the prior art 1 launches on the front valance panel panel, knee possibly collide with the front valance panel panel, so the impact absorption ability of air bag possibly descend.

Further; Because the knee airbag rapid expanding when vehicle collision in the prior art 2; Under function of friction between chaufeur knee and the air bag, possibly abrade, possibly produce vibration because inflation unit produces the quick injection of expanding gas, this makes steady swelling gasbag become difficult.

In addition, produce resistance, open fast and the steady swelling gasbag difficulty that becomes owing to the big developed width of conventional balloon possibly cause contacting with instrument carrier panel.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide and under the expansion situation, can regulate air bag height and width and along the knee airbag of lower impingement plate deployment balloon.

Another object of the present invention provides a kind of method of folding knee airbag, and this method can stop itself and the contacting with faster and swelling gasbag more reposefully of instrument carrier panel under the situation of airbag deployment.

One side of the present invention provides a kind of and has been installed on the low impingement plate and the knee airbag with the inflation unit that is installed in the desired location, it is characterized in that knee airbag has at least one in the folding fold part of the longitudinal direction of side surface.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a kind of method of folding knee airbag; Comprise that the side surface of rolling the folded airbag side surface rolls folding step, and after side surface is rolled folding step from top to the bottom roll folded airbag vertically roll folding step.

Description of drawings

Above-mentioned purpose, feature and advantage with other of the present invention can draw from the following specific descriptions of accompanying drawing that combine more significantly, wherein:

Figure 1A is the section drawing of traditional knee airbag to 1C;

Fig. 2 A is the section drawing that is used for passenger's conventional balloon to 2C;

Fig. 3 is according to the front elevation of the knee airbag of embodiments of the invention 1 and lateral plan;

Fig. 4 is the transparent view of the knee airbag after expanding according to embodiments of the invention 1;

Fig. 5 is the section drawing of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is according to the front elevation of the knee airbag of embodiments of the invention 2 and lateral plan;

Fig. 7 is the section drawing of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is the section drawing according to the knee airbag of embodiments of the invention 3;

Fig. 9 shows the view of rolling folding step according to the side surface of embodiments of the invention 4;

Figure 10 is the view of showing according to embodiments of the invention 4 of vertically rolling folding step;

Figure 11 is the view of showing according to the end step of embodiments of the invention 4;

Figure 12 shows the view of rolling folding step according to the side surface of embodiments of the invention 5;

Figure 13 is the view of showing according to embodiments of the invention 5 of vertically rolling folding step;

Figure 14 is the view of showing according to the end step of embodiments of the invention 5;

The specific embodiment

< embodiment 1 >

Knee airbag according to the present invention has the fold part that under the swelling state underside view, can fold with in the mutual imbrication of longitudinal direction.

Hereinafter, will describe exemplary embodiments of the present invention according to corresponding accompanying drawing.

Fig. 3 is according to the front elevation of knee airbag of the present invention and lateral plan; Fig. 4 is the transparent view according to the knee airbag after the expansion of the present invention; Fig. 5 is the section drawing of Fig. 4.

To shown in Figure 5, knee airbag 100 according to the present invention is installed in (not shown) on the low impingement plate of vehicle like Fig. 3, and launches with the shape that is roughly five jiaos.

Air bag 100 can be through being cut into fabric identical shape and size and making its periphery and make and to draw, and perhaps fabric is cut into symmetrical style and based on its line of centers folding fabric and make to make and draw.

In this case, can form fold part 110 on the top of knee airbag 100.Fold part 110 forms through making knee airbag 100 partially folded parts.

In addition, at least one fold part 110 can form on the top of knee airbag 100.Particularly, can form two or three fold parts 110 with the knee airbag 100 that expands in large quantities under the situation about expanding at knee airbag 100.

Further, as shown in Figure 5, first frenulum 125, second frenulum 126 and tertiary system band 127 are fixing knee airbag 100 is divided into chamber 120,121,122 and 123 on knee airbag 100.Frenulum 125,126 is fixed with different angles and length with 127.For example, with the fixed angle lower than second frenulum 126, tertiary system band 127 is with the fixed angle higher than second frenulum 126 for second frenulum, 126, the first frenulums 125.

In addition, first frenulum 125 has the width littler than second frenulum 126, and tertiary system band 127 has the width bigger than second frenulum 126.Frenulum 125,126 and 127 has the hole 128 that expanding gas can pass.

Different therewith, first frenulum 125 maybe be with than lower angle of second frenulum 126 and the fixed width bigger than second frenulum 126, and tertiary system band 127 maybe be with than higher angle of second frenulum 126 and the fixed width littler than second frenulum 126.

In addition, form mounting hole 101 so that the inflation unit (not shown) is able to install at knee airbag 100 than lower part.

In the knee airbag 100 of the above-mentioned structure according to the present invention, when vehicle generation side collision, overturning or crash-stop, crash sensor is surveyed collision and collision alarm is sent to ECU.

Then, ECU is according to the degrees of expansion of the collision grade decision knee airbag 100 of crash sensor output.When the collision grade was high, ECU sent the signal that knee airbag 100 is expand into inflation unit.

At this constantly, according to starting the firing circuit that is installed on it from the control signal inflation unit of ECU implementing electronic igniting, and through electronic igniting blasting black powder to utilize hot combustion gas generation intermediary.

The expanding gas that inflation unit produces is discharged through mounting hole 101.The expanding gas of discharging be introduced in first Room 120 and subsequently the hole 128 through first frenulum 125 moved to second Room 121.

Expanding gas after moving second Room 121 of having expanded, and the hole 128 through second frenulum 126 is introduced into 122 neutralizations of the 3rd Room and moves in the tertiary system band 127 simultaneously.

Subsequently, expanding gas is moved to fourth ventricle 123 with expansion fourth ventricle 123 through the hole 128 of tertiary system band 127.

As shown in Figure 5, in above-mentioned expansion knee airbag 100,, to compare with tertiary system band 127 with second frenulum 126 because first frenulum 125 is fixed with angle with smallest and had minimum width, expand with the size of minimum in first Room 120.

In addition, because second Room 121 is limited first frenulum 125 and second frenulum 126, there is bigger expansion chambers 120 121 to the first, second Room.Further, because the 3rd Room 122 is limited with tertiary system band 127 second frenulum 126, there is bigger expansion chambers 121 122 to the second, the 3rd Room.

In addition, there is bigger expansion Room 122 120 to the 3rd, fourth ventricle chambers 123 to the first.

Chamber 120,121,122 and 123 under different sizes, expanding along bending than the shape of low impingement plate with bending; The result is that the size of chamber 120,121,122 and 123 is increased to upside by the bottom side, and the chamber not only protects occupant's knee also to protect occupant's ankle not to be hit.

In addition, form at least one fold part 110 on the top of knee airbag 100 so that top comparison lower curtate has bigger expansion under the expanding gas effect of introducing.That is to say, under the sutured portion effect, expand around the knee airbag 100 restrictedly, and the core of knee airbag 100 there is more expansion around occupant's ratio.

Owing to bigger expansion is arranged on every side with the core ratio of the contacted knee airbag of occupant's knee, protects the occupant to become possibility saferly.

< embodiment 2 >

Embodiment 2 is shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7.No longer be repeated in this description with embodiment 1 identical part.Identical reference numerals refers to identical parts in embodiment 2.

Accompanying drawing 6 is according to the front elevation of embodiments of the invention 2 and lateral plan, and Fig. 7 is the section drawing according to embodiments of the invention 2.

Like Fig. 6 and shown in Figure 7, according to the knee airbag in the embodiments of the invention 2 further comprise from than lower part to the prolongation air bag 130 that extends below.

Similar with embodiment 1, prolong air bag 130 and possibly have the fold part 110 that forms than lower curtate at it, and possibly have at least one fixing frenulum 131 on it.

In addition, frenulum 131 has the hole (not shown) that expanding gas passes through.Certainly, at least one frenulum 131 possibly fixed with different angles and length.

In the aforesaid knee airbag 100 of the present invention, the expanding gas of discharging from inflation unit moves up with expansion knee airbag 100, and downward subsequently subregion moves with the prolongation air bag 130 that expands at once.

When having subregion supply that the knee airbag 100 that prolongs air bag 130 is inflated expanding gas in the unit when expanding,, will no longer repeat for its description owing to the expansion and the embodiment 1 of knee airbag 100 are similar.

< embodiment 3 >

Accompanying drawing 8 is the section drawings according to embodiments of the invention 3.

As shown in Figure 8, can be applied on the knee airbag 100a according to embodiments of the invention 3, its knee airbag 100 that has among the embodiment 1 is put upside down the shape of rotation.

Knee airbag 100a comprises the first Room 120a, the second Room 121a, the 3rd Room 122a and fourth ventricle 123a.The first Room 120a has maximum size, and the second Room 121a, the 3rd Room 122a and fourth ventricle have the size that order reduces.

In addition, the first frenulum 125a, the second frenulum 126a and tertiary system band 127a form between

chamber

120a, 121a, 122a and 123a, and have the hole 128 that supplies expanding gas to pass through.

Further, the first frenulum 125a is with angle and the ratio second frenulum 126a bigger fixed width lower than the second frenulum 126a, and tertiary system band 127a is with angle and the ratio second frenulum 126a littler fixed width higher than the second frenulum 126a.

In addition, knee airbag 100a also can optionally have the 2 similar air bags 130 that prolong with embodiment.

Since similar according to knee airbag and the embodiment 1 of embodiment 3, will no longer repeat with embodiment 2 identical descriptions with embodiment 1.Different with embodiment 1 is that air bag 100a's was narrow than the wide and higher part of lower part when knee airbag 100a expanded.

Knee airbag 100a can protect chaufeur and occupant's ankle saferly under the situation that accident takes place.

< embodiment 4 >

Fig. 9 shows the view of rolling folding step according to the side surface of embodiments of the invention 4, and Figure 10 is the view of showing according to embodiments of the invention 4 of vertically rolling folding step, and Figure 11 is the view of showing according to the end step of embodiments of the invention 4;

In addition, will describe about the knee airbag that protection is sitting in the occupant on the passenger seat according to air bag of the present invention, but be not limited thereto.

Air bag according to embodiments of the invention 4 is folding according to the order of Fig. 9 to 11.

The method of folded airbag comprises that side surface rolls folding step S1, vertically rolls folding step S2 and end step S3.

At first, roll among the folding step S1 at side surface, will with inflation unit (not shown) bonded assembly connecting bridge 160 after held, a side of air bag 150 is folding by a certain zone.Subsequently, after the air bag 150 under having carried out the initial fold direction repeatedly folding, air bag 150 is folded to acutangulate with respect to its center is linear.

Subsequently, the opposite side of air bag 150 be folded so that its initial fold width greater than the initial fold width of a side.Then, air bag is folded to acutangulate with respect to its center is linear, like this acute angle of opposite side little than a side.

Afterwards, in vertically rolling folding step S2, air bag 150 is by folding towards connecting bridge 160 from top.At this moment, roll folding and formed a certain angle owing to implemented side surface, the sutured portion of air bag 150 is imbrication each other.

Further, in end step S3, after vertically rolling folding the completion, air bag 150 is reversed and is folding with the direction opposite with folding direction, and connecting bridge 160 be folded part around.

< embodiment 5 >

Hereinafter, with the air bag of describing according to embodiments of the invention 5.

The order that the air bag of embodiment 5 is pressed Figure 12 to 14 folds.At first, roll among the folding step S10 at side surface, will with inflation unit (not shown) bonded assembly connecting bridge 160 after held, a side of air bag 150 is folded towards the line of centers of air bag 150.At this moment, fold line has acute angle with respect to its line of centers, and the end that is folded a side has surpassed line of centers.

Subsequently, the folded end of a side is by folded-out so that fold line is no more than line of centers with opposite direction.Afterwards, the remaining part of a side is corresponding to being folded width quilt alternate folding sequentially.

Subsequently, the end of opposite side is folded towards line of centers.At this moment, the angle of opposite side is smaller than a side, and the width of opposite side big than an example.

Subsequently, as vertically the rolling among the folding step S20 of second step, air bag is by folding towards connecting bridge.To roll folding be in order to form certain angle similar with embodiment 4 owing to implement side surface, and the sutured portion of air bag 150 is imbrication each other.

In addition, similar with embodiment 4 in end step S30 as third step, accomplish vertically roll folding after, air bag 150 is by reversing and folding with the direction opposite with folding direction, connecting bridge 160 be folded part by around.

Like preceding finding,, more safely protect passenger's knee to become possibility owing to expand manyly than it than lower part according to the top of knee airbag of the present invention.In addition, because knee airbag upwards with downwards expands, protection passenger's ankle and height and the width of easily the adjusting knee airbag possibility that also becomes.Further, knee airbag expands according to the appearance of low collision, thereby protects the occupant saferly.

In addition, be prevented from according to the expansion of air bag of the present invention and instrument carrier panel, this makes order and fast speed launches to become possibility.

In addition, roll folding step to form a certain degree of dip, behind folded airbag, stop sutured portion to become possibility by the expansion that the sutured portion imbrication causes owing to implement side surface.

Therefore, air bag according to the present invention is installed on the low impingement plate that is positioned at chaufeur and seat the place ahead and protects chaufeur and occupant's ankle and chaufeur and occupant's knee.

Although the present invention describes through its exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art can know clearly under the situation of spirit that does not break away from the application's appendant requirement and equivalents and scope.Can make various modification to description embodiment.

Claims

1. one kind is installed on the low impingement plate and the knee airbag with the inflation unit that is installed in the desired location, it is characterized in that, said knee airbag has at least one in the folding fold part of the longitudinal direction of side surface; And a plurality of frenulums, said frenulum has that expanding gas passes the hole and with different angles and fixed width.

2. knee airbag according to claim 1; It is characterized in that; Said frenulum comprises first frenulum, second frenulum and tertiary system band, and said first frenulum has than the littler width of said second frenulum, and said tertiary system band has than the bigger width of said second frenulum.

3. knee airbag according to claim 1 is characterized in that, said pleated portions divides to take place to expand has bigger expansion so that lower curtate is compared on air bag top.

4. knee airbag according to claim 1; It is characterized in that; Said frenulum comprises first frenulum, second frenulum and tertiary system band, and said first frenulum has than the bigger width of said second frenulum, and said tertiary system band has than the littler width of said second frenulum.

5. knee airbag according to claim 1 is characterized in that, also comprises from knee airbag to the prolongation air bag that extends below.

6. knee airbag according to claim 5 is characterized in that, said prolongation air bag optionally has at least one and folds with mutual stacked fold part.

7. knee airbag according to claim 5 is characterized in that, thereby the expansion of said knee airbag adapting with the mode of bending and the low impingement plate that is fixed on the vehicle.

8. knee airbag according to claim 5 is characterized in that, said prolongation air bag comprises at least one frenulum, and this frenulum has expanding gas and passes the hole and prolonging the air bag internal fixation.

9. the method for a folding knee airbag, said knee airbag comprise that at least one is in the folding fold part of the longitudinal direction of side surface; And a plurality of frenulums, said frenulum has that expanding gas passes the hole and with different angles and fixed width, said method comprises:

Roll the side surface folding step of folded airbag both side surface;

And the vertical folding step of from top to the bottom, rolling folded airbag after the side surface folding step.

10. method according to claim 9 is characterized in that, in the side surface folding step, a side of air bag is rolled folding with opposite side with different leaning angles.

11. method according to claim 9 is characterized in that, in the side surface folding step, the both sides of air bag are all rolled folding with the mode of fold with different leaning angles.