JP3918551B2 - Airbag device for passenger seat - Google Patents

Airbag device for passenger seat Download PDF

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Publication number
JP3918551B2
JP3918551B2 JP2001393876A JP2001393876A JP3918551B2 JP 3918551 B2 JP3918551 B2 JP 3918551B2 JP 2001393876 A JP2001393876 A JP 2001393876A JP 2001393876 A JP2001393876 A JP 2001393876A JP 3918551 B2 JP3918551 B2 JP 3918551B2
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gas inlet
peripheral wall
wall portion
airbag
edge
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JP2002255004A (en
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耕 田島
靖 岡田
準一 浅沼
達夫 平野
雄治 栗山
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Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
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Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
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Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、助手席前方のインストルメントパネル（以下、インパネと略す）に配置される助手席用エアバッグ装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術とその課題】
従来、助手席用エアバッグ装置では、エアバッグが、膨張用ガスを流入させるガス流入口を有した開口側壁部と、展開膨張時に乗員と対向する乗員側壁部と、を備えて構成されていた。そして、エアバッグは、助手席前方のインパネの内部に配置されたケースに、折り畳まれて収納されて、膨張用ガスの流入時に、インパネの上面側の開口から突出して車両後方側へ展開膨張していた（特開平１１−２７８１９２号公報参照）。
【０００３】
この種のエアバッグの展開膨張時には、乗員側へ部分的な押圧力を作用させないように、広く開いた状態で、かつ、移動速度を抑えた状態で、乗員側へ突出することが望ましい。
【０００４】
そのため、従来のエアバッグでは、折り畳み時に、乗員側壁部を開口側壁部側に接近させるように平らに重ねて、所定の横折りや縦折りを行い、展開膨張時、ウインドシールドに沿わせつつ、乗員側壁部を、広く開かせ、かつ、略鉛直方向に沿うように配置させて、乗員側へ突出させていた。
【０００５】
しかし、エアバッグが、展開膨張完了時の形状として、乗員側で略鉛直方向に沿って配置される乗員側壁部と、乗員側壁部の外周縁から車両前方側に略円錐状に狭まる周壁部と、を備える形状として、展開膨張完了時の周壁部の下部側における前部側に、略水平方向に沿う開口面としてガス流入口を配置させ、ガス流入口周縁をケースに取り付ける構成であると、つぎのような課題が生じていた。
【０００６】
すなわち、このようなエアバッグでは、単体で膨張を完了させた際、周壁部のガス流入口の周縁が、略水平方向に沿って配置され、乗員側壁部が、略鉛直方向に沿って配置される形状であり、略鉛直方向に沿って配置させた乗員側壁部に対して、ガス流入口の周縁が略直交していることから、単に、乗員側壁部をガス流入口に接近させるように周壁部に重ねて平らにし、横折りや縦折りを行っても、エアバッグの展開膨張時、乗員側壁部が素早く略鉛直状態に配置され難い課題が生じていた。
【０００７】
本発明は、上述の課題を解決するものであり、エアバッグの展開膨張時、ガス流入口周縁と略直交する状態となる乗員側壁部を、素早く略鉛直方向に沿うように配置可能な助手席用エアバッグ装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明に係る第１番目の助手席用エアバッグ装置は、ケース内に折り畳まれて収納されたエアバッグが、展開膨張時、ガス流入口から膨張用ガスを流入させて、インストルメントパネルに配置されたドアを押し開いて突出し、車両の後方側へ展開膨張するとともに、
前記エアバッグが、
単体での展開膨張完了時の形状として、乗員側で略鉛直方向に沿って配置される乗員側壁部と、該乗員側壁部の外周縁から車両前方側に略円錐状に狭まって下部側の下部側周壁と上部側の上部側周壁とを有して構成される周壁部と、を備える形状とするとともに、単体での展開膨張完了時の前記周壁部における前記下部側周壁の前部側に、略水平方向に沿う開口面として前記ガス流入口を配置させ、前記ガス流入口周縁を、前記ガス流入口の開口面とともに略水平方向に沿うように配置させて、前記ケースに取り付ける構成として、
予備折りして前記エアバッグを前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行とするように前後左右に平らにした後に、前記ガス流入口の前後の部位をそれぞれ左右方向に沿う折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口側に接近させるように折る横折りと、前記ガス流入口の左右の部位をそれぞれ前後方向に沿う折目を付けて前記ガス流入口に接近させるように折る縦折りとを行って、前記ケース内に収納される助手席用エアバッグ装置であって、
前後左右上下が車両の前後左右上下に対応する方向として、前記乗員側壁部の上縁と前記乗員側壁部の下縁とが、前記エアバッグの単体での展開膨張完了時における配置位置の部位を指すものとして、
前記エアバッグが、前記周壁部を形成する可撓性を有した第１基布と、前記乗員側壁部を形成する可撓性を有した略正六角形状に近似した略円形状の第２基布と、から構成され、
前記第１基布が、略六角形状の二つの上側布と下側布とを連結させて左右の中央付近を凹ませた瓢箪形とするとともに、前記上側布が、前記周壁部の上部側周壁の略全域を構成し、前記下側布が、前記周壁部の下部側周壁の略全域を構成し、
前記エアバッグが、前記上側布と前記下側布との間に設けた折目で折って重ねた折目近傍の左右両縁を、相互に縫合し、前記上側布と前記下側布との相互に縫合していない残部周縁に、前記第２基布の外周縁を縫合することにより、形成される構成とし、
前記エアバッグにおける予備折り時、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位と、前記周壁部の下部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の後方側の左右方向の中央付近と、を把持し、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位に、前方に突出する突出頂部を 形成するように、
相互を離すことにより、予備折りした予備折りエアバッグを形成可能に、
前記エアバッグの予備折り終了時の予備折り形状が、
前記乗員側壁部における上縁の近傍部位が、前記ガス流入口と上下方向で対向する前記ガス流入口の上方位置に、配置されるとともに、前記乗員側壁部の左縁付近と右縁付近との一部を除く前記乗員側壁部の略全域が、前記周壁部の前記下部側周壁の上方に重ねられて、前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行に前後左右に平らに展開され、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の左右の部位が、それぞれ、平らに展開された前記乗員側壁部の左右の縁までの左右方向に沿った略中間部位を、左右方向に沿って前記ガス流入口に接近させるとともに、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に配置させて、前後方向に沿う谷折りの折目であって、前端側に前記突出頂部を配置させた谷折りの折目を付けて、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部の前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位が、左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の前方側部位から前記突出頂部までの部位が、前記ガス流入口側に接近するように、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて谷折りされて、
前記周壁部が、前記ガス流入口を中心として左右対称形に折り畳まれている、
形状としていることを特徴とする。
なお、前記予備折りエアバッグの前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位に設けられた左右方向に沿う谷折りの前記折目は、前記ガス流入口の後縁より、前方側に配置させることが望ましい。
さらに、前記予備折りエアバッグの前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位に設けられた左右方向に沿う谷折りの前記折目は、前記ガス流入口の前縁より、前方側に配置させることが望ましい。
【０００９】
【００１０】
本発明に係る第２番目の助手席用エアバッグ装置は、ケース内に折り畳まれて収納されたエアバッグが、展開膨張時、ガス流入口から膨張用ガスを流入させて、インストルメントパネルに配置されたドアを押し開いて突出し、車両の後方側へ展開膨張するとともに、
前記エアバッグが、
単体での展開膨張完了時の形状として、乗員側で略鉛直方向に沿って配置される乗員側壁部と、該乗員側壁部の外周縁から車両前方側に略円錐状に狭まって下部側の下部側周壁と上部側の上部側周壁とを有して構成される周壁部と、を備える形状とするとともに、単体での展開膨張完了時の前記周壁部における前記下部側周壁の前部側に、略水平方向に沿う開口面として前記ガス流入口を配置させ、前記ガス流入口周縁を、前記ガス流入口の開口面とともに略水平方向に沿うように配置させて、前記ケースに取り付ける構成として、
予備折りして前記エアバッグを前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行とするように前後左右に平らにした後に、前記ガス流入口の前後の部位をそれぞれ左右方向に沿う折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口側に接近させるように折る横折りと、前記ガス流入口の左右の部位をそれぞれ前後方向に沿う折目を付けて前記ガス流入口に接近させるように折る縦折りとを行って、前記ケース内に収納される助手席用エアバッグ装置であって、
前後左右上下が車両の前後左右上下に対応する方向として、前記乗員側壁部の上縁と前記乗員側壁部の下縁とが、前記エアバッグの単体での展開膨張完了時における配置位置の部位を指すものとして、
前記エアバッグが、前記周壁部を形成する可撓性を有した第１基布と、前記乗員側壁部を形成する可撓性を有した略正六角形状に近似した略円形状の第２基布と、から構成され、
前記第１基布が、略六角形状の二つの上側布と下側布とを連結させて左右の中央付近を凹ませた瓢箪形とするとともに、前記上側布が、前記周壁部の上部側周壁の略全域を構成 し、前記下側布が、前記周壁部の下部側周壁の略全域を構成し、
前記エアバッグが、前記上側布と前記下側布との間に設けた折目で折って重ねた折目近傍の左右両縁を、相互に縫合し、前記上側布と前記下側布との相互に縫合していない残部周縁に、前記第２基布の外周縁を縫合することにより、形成される構成とし、
前記エアバッグにおける予備折り時、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位と、前記乗員側壁部の下縁における前記ガス流入口の後方側の左右方向の中央付近と、を把持し、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位に、前方に突出する突出頂部を形成するように、
相互を離すことにより、予備折りした予備折りエアバッグを形成可能に、
前記エアバッグの予備折り終了時の予備折り形状が、
前記乗員側壁部における上縁の近傍部位が、前記ガス流入口と上下方向で対向する前記ガス流入口の上方位置に、配置されるとともに、前記乗員側壁部の左縁付近と右縁付近と下縁付近との一部を除く前記乗員側壁部の略全域が、前記周壁部の前記下部側周壁の上方に重ねられて、前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行に前後左右に平らに展開され、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の左右の部位が、それぞれ、平らに展開された前記乗員側壁部の左右の縁までの左右方向に沿った略中間部位を、左右方向に沿って前記ガス流入口に接近させるとともに、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に配置させて、前後方向に沿う谷折りの折目であって、前端側に前記突出頂部を配置させた谷折りの折目を付けて、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部の前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位が、左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目を付け、かつ、該折目を前記ガス流入口の後縁近傍に配置させて、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の前方側部位から前記突出頂部までの部位が、前記ガス流入口側に接近するように、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて谷折りされて、
前記周壁部が、前記ガス流入口を中心として左右対称形に折り畳まれている、
形状としていることを特徴とする。
【００１１】
【００１２】
【００１３】
【００１４】
本発明に係る第３番目の助手席用エアバッグ装置は、ケース内に折り畳まれて収納されたエアバッグが、展開膨張時、ガス流入口から膨張用ガスを流入させて、インストルメントパネルに配置されたドアを押し開いて突出し、車両の後方側へ展開膨張するとともに、
前記エアバッグが、
単体での展開膨張完了時の形状として、乗員側で略鉛直方向に沿って配置される乗員側壁部と、該乗員側壁部の外周縁から車両前方側に略円錐状に狭まって下部側の下部側周壁と上部側の上部側周壁とを有して構成される周壁部と、を備える形状とするとともに、単体での展開膨張完了時の前記周壁部における前記下部側周壁の前部側に、略水平方向に沿う開口面として前記ガス流入口を配置させ、前記ガス流入口周縁を、前記ガス流入口の開口面とともに略水平方向に沿うように配置させて、前記ケースに取り付ける構成として、
予備折りして前記エアバッグを前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行とするように前後左右に平らにした後に、前記ガス流入口の前後の部位をそれぞれ左右方向に沿う折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口側に接近させるように折る横折りと、前記ガス流入口の左右の部位をそれぞれ前後方向に沿う折目を付けて前記ガス流入口に接近させるように折る縦折りとを行って、前記ケース内に収納される助手席用エアバッグ装置であって、
前後左右上下が車両の前後左右上下に対応する方向として、前記乗員側壁部の上縁と前記乗員側壁部の下縁とが、前記エアバッグの単体での展開膨張完了時における配置位置の 部位を指すものとして、
前記エアバッグが、前記周壁部を形成する可撓性を有した第１基布と、前記乗員側壁部を形成する可撓性を有した略正六角形状に近似した略円形状の第２基布と、から構成され、
前記第１基布が、略六角形状の二つの上側布と下側布とを連結させて左右の中央付近を凹ませた瓢箪形とするとともに、前記上側布が、前記周壁部の上部側周壁の略全域を構成し、前記下側布が、前記周壁部の下部側周壁の略全域を構成し、
前記エアバッグが、前記上側布と前記下側布との間に設けた折目で折って重ねた折目近傍の左右両縁を、相互に縫合し、前記上側布と前記下側布との相互に縫合していない残部周縁に、前記第２基布の外周縁を縫合することにより、形成される構成とし、
前記エアバッグにおける予備折り時、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位と、前記周壁部の下部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の後方側の左右方向の中央付近と、を把持し、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位に、前方に突出する突出頂部を形成するように、
相互を離すことにより、予備折りした予備折りエアバッグを形成可能に、
前記エアバッグの予備折り終了時の予備折り形状が、
前記乗員側壁部における上縁の近傍部位が、前記ガス流入口と上下方向で対向する前記ガス流入口の上方位置に、配置されるとともに、前記乗員側壁部の左縁付近と右縁付近との一部を除く前記乗員側壁部の略全域が、前記周壁部の前記下部側周壁の上方に重ねられて、前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行に前後左右に平らに展開され、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の左右の部位が、それぞれ、平らに展開された前記乗員側壁部の左右の縁までの左右方向に沿った略中間部位を、左右方向に沿って前記ガス流入口に接近させるとともに、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に配置させて、前後方向に沿う谷折りの折目であって、前端側に前記突出頂部を配置させた谷折りの折目を付けて、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部の前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位が、左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の前方側部位から前記突出頂部までの部位が、前記ガス流入口側に接近するように、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて谷折りされ、
さらに、前記周壁部の下部側周壁における後端近傍部位が、左右方向に沿った山折りの折目を付けて、タックを設けるように、前記下部側周壁における前記ガス流入口と前記乗員側壁部下縁との前後方向の略中間部位付近に、下方側から被さって、
前記周壁部の前記下部側周壁における前記ガス流入口と前記乗員側壁部下縁との前後方向の略中間部位付近が、前記乗員側壁部の下縁側に接近して、前記周壁部における後端近傍部位の前記乗員側壁部側に配置されるように、折り込まれて、
前記周壁部が、前記ガス流入口を中心として左右対称形に折り畳まれている、
形状としていることを特徴とする。
【００１５】
本発明に係る第４番目の助手席用エアバッグ装置は、ケース内に折り畳まれて収納されたエアバッグが、展開膨張時、ガス流入口から膨張用ガスを流入させて、インストルメントパネルに配置されたドアを押し開いて突出し、車両の後方側へ展開膨張するとともに、
前記エアバッグが、
単体での展開膨張完了時の形状として、乗員側で略鉛直方向に沿って配置される乗員側壁部と、該乗員側壁部の外周縁から車両前方側に略円錐状に狭まって下部側の下部側周壁と上部側の上部側周壁とを有して構成される周壁部と、を備える形状とするとともに、単体での展開膨張完了時の前記周壁部における前記下部側周壁の前部側に、略水平方向に沿 う開口面として前記ガス流入口を配置させ、前記ガス流入口周縁を、前記ガス流入口の開口面とともに略水平方向に沿うように配置させて、前記ケースに取り付ける構成として、
予備折りして前記エアバッグを前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行とするように前後左右に平らにした後に、前記ガス流入口の前後の部位をそれぞれ左右方向に沿う折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口側に接近させるように折る横折りと、前記ガス流入口の左右の部位をそれぞれ前後方向に沿う折目を付けて前記ガス流入口に接近させるように折る縦折りとを行って、前記ケース内に収納される助手席用エアバッグ装置であって、
前後左右上下が車両の前後左右上下に対応する方向として、前記乗員側壁部の上縁と前記乗員側壁部の下縁とが、前記エアバッグの単体での展開膨張完了時における配置位置の部位を指すものとして、
前記エアバッグが、前記周壁部を形成する可撓性を有した第１基布と、前記乗員側壁部を形成する可撓性を有した略正六角形状に近似した略円形状の第２基布と、から構成され、
前記第１基布が、略六角形状の二つの上側布と下側布とを連結させて左右の中央付近を凹ませた瓢箪形とするとともに、前記上側布が、前記周壁部の上部側周壁の略全域を構成し、前記下側布が、前記周壁部の下部側周壁の略全域を構成し、
前記エアバッグが、前記上側布と前記下側布との間に設けた折目で折って重ねた折目近傍の左右両縁を、相互に縫合し、前記上側布と前記下側布との相互に縫合していない残部周縁に、前記第２基布を縫合することにより、形成される構成とし、
前記エアバッグにおける予備折り時、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位と、前記乗員側壁部の下縁における前記ガス流入口の後方側の左右方向の中央付近と、を把持し、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位に、前方に突出する突出頂部を形成するように、
相互を離すことにより、予備折りした予備折りエアバッグを形成可能に、
前記エアバッグの予備折り終了時の予備折り形状が、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記乗員側壁部上縁の近傍部位が、前記ガス流入口と上下方向で対向する前記ガス流入口の上方位置に、配置されて、前記乗員側壁部の上縁が、前記ガス流入口の後縁より、後方側に配置されるとともに、
前記乗員側壁部の左縁付近と右縁付近と下縁付近との一部を除く前記乗員側壁部の略全域が、前記周壁部の前記下部側周壁の上方に重ねられて、前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行に前後左右に平らに展開され、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の左右の部位が、それぞれ、平らに展開された前記乗員側壁部の左右の縁までの左右方向に沿った略中間部位を、左右方向に沿って前記ガス流入口に接近させるとともに、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に配置させて、前後方向に沿う谷折りの折目であって、前端側に前記突出頂部を配置させた谷折りの折目を付けて、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部の前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位が、左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の前方側部位から前記突出頂部までの部位が、前記ガス流入口側に接近するように、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて谷折りされて、
前記周壁部が、前記ガス流入口を中心として左右対称形に折り畳まれている、
形状としていることを特徴とする。
【００１６】
なお、本明細書での前後左右上下は、直進状態の車両に助手席用エアバッグ装置を搭載した状態を基準に、その車両の前後左右上下に対応する方向とし、乗員側壁部の上縁と乗員側壁部の下縁とは、単体でのエアバッグの展開膨張完了時の状態を基準としている。
【００１７】
【発明の効果】
本発明に係る助手席用エアバッグ装置では、展開膨張時、エアバッグは、ガス流入口から膨張用ガスを流入させて、横折りや縦折りの折目を解消しつつ、展開膨張することとなる。その際、エアバッグの予備折り時において、ガス流入口と対向する位置には、乗員側壁部の上縁の近傍部位が配置されていることから、ガス流入口と対向する乗員側壁部の上縁の近傍部位が、流入当初の膨張用ガスの押圧力によって、乗員側壁部の下縁側の部位等の他の部位に比べて、先行して、上方へ強く押し上げられることから、乗員側壁部を略鉛直方向に沿うように配置させ易くなる。
【００１８】
そして、この乗員側壁部の上縁の近傍部位が、強く押し上げられれば、横折りや縦折りの折目を素早く解消させることにも寄与できて、乗員側壁部を広く展開させることも可能となる。
【００１９】
したがって、本発明に係る第１〜４番目の助手席用エアバッグ装置では、エアバッグの展開膨張時、ガス流入口周縁と略直交する状態となる乗員側壁部を、素早く略鉛直方向に沿うように配置させることができて、さらに、乗員側へ部分的な押圧力を作用させないように、エアバッグを、広く開いた状態で展開させることが可能となる。
【００２０】
そして、エアバッグの予備折り時に、乗員側壁部の略全域を、平らに展開させて、周壁部側を折り畳むだけでよく、予備折りの作業を簡便に行うことができる。また、予備折り時に、乗員側壁部の略全域が平らに展開されているため、乗員壁部側を折り畳む場合に比べて、エアバッグの展開膨張時、上下左右に広く展開した状態で、乗員側に移動しやすくなり、乗員側壁部の乗員側への移動速度を一層抑えることが可能となる。
さらに、周壁部は、ガス流入口を中心として、左右対称形に折り畳むことから、予備折りの作業が容易となる。
さらにまた、エアバッグの予備折りの折り畳み形状では、エアバッグの予備折り時に、周壁部におけるガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から乗員側壁部の上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位と、周壁部や乗員側壁部におけるガス流入口の後方側の左右方向の中央付近と、を把持して、把持箇所相互を離すように、前後方向に引っ張ることにより、円滑に、周壁部におけるガス流入口の左右の部位を、それぞれ、前後方向に沿う谷折りの折目を付けて折り込めるとともに、周壁部における乗員側壁部の上縁との連結部位の近傍部位を、左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目を付けて、折り込むことができる形状である。そのため、単に、周壁部や乗員側壁部の所定箇所を把持して引っ張ることにより、容易に、周壁部を予備折りできることから、予備折りの作業を、一層、簡便にすることができる。
この場合には、請求項２に記載するように、予備折りエアバッグの上部側周壁における突出頂部から乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位に設けられた左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目を、ガス流入口の後縁より、前方側に配置させておけば、ガス流入口が、直接的に、乗員側壁部の上縁近傍部位に対向し易くなって、乗員側壁部の上縁近傍部位を押し上げる膨張用ガスの押圧力を、上縁近傍部位に対して直接的に作用させて、高めることができることから、乗員側壁部を、一層、鉛直方向に沿うように配置させ易くなる。
また、このとき、請求項３に記載するように、予備折りエアバッグの上部側周壁における突出頂部から乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位に設けられた左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目を、ガス流入口の前縁より、前方側に配置させておけば、周壁部における乗員側壁部上縁との連結部位が、ガス流入口と対向する位置に配置されないことから、ガス流入口が、一層、直接的に、乗員側壁部の上縁近傍部位に対向し易くなる。
【００２１】
また、周壁部における上部側周壁が、ガス流入口の前縁や後縁より、前方側で折り畳まれずに、ガス流入口を塞ぐように、折り畳まれる場合がある。すなわち、請求項３に記載 したように、周壁部における上部側周壁が、ガス流入口を塞ぐように、ガス流入口と乗員側壁部の上縁の近傍部位との間に、介在されるように折り畳まれて、ガス流入口の後縁近傍に、折り畳んで配置されていても、次のような作用・効果を得ることができる。
【００２２】
すなわち、周壁部における上部側周壁は、ガス流入口の後縁近傍より前方側に折り畳まれており、ガス流入口より後方側へ大きく延びるように折り畳まれていない。そのため、ガス流入口から膨張用ガスが流入されれば、乗員側壁部の上縁の近傍部位が、周壁部における上部側周壁を介在させて、押し上げられ、かつ、周壁部における上部側周壁自体も押し上げられる。その際、周壁部における上部側周壁は、押し上げられることにともなって、折りを解消し、ガス流入口から離脱する。その結果、乗員側壁部の上縁の近傍部位が、直接的に、ガス流入口と対向する状態となって、乗員側壁部を略鉛直方向に沿うように配置させ易くなる。
【００２３】
したがって、請求項４のように構成すれば、ガス流入口と乗員側壁部の上縁の近傍部位との間に、周壁部における上部側周壁が介在されていても、乗員側壁部を略鉛直方向に沿うように素早く配置される作用を、阻害しない。勿論、周壁部における上部側周壁が、ガス流入口の後縁より、前方側に折り畳まれていれば、一層、乗員側壁部を略鉛直方向に沿うように素早く配置させることができ、さらに、周壁部における上部側周壁が、ガス流入口の前縁より、前方側に折り畳まれていれば、さらに一層、乗員側壁部を略鉛直方向に沿うように素早く配置させることができる。
【００２４】
【００２５】
【００２６】
【００２７】
【００２８】
さらに、請求項５に記載したように構成する場合には、周壁部における後端近傍部位が、左右方向に沿った山折りの折目を付けて、タックを設けるように、周壁部の下部側周壁におけるガス流入口と乗員側壁部下縁との前後方向の略中間部位付近に、下方側から被さって、周壁部の下部側周壁におけるガス流入口と乗員側壁部下縁との略中間部位付近が、乗員側壁部の下縁側に接近して、周壁部における後端近傍部位の乗員側壁部側に配置されるように、折り込まれており、このような折り畳み形状は、周壁部におけるガス流入口の後方側にタックを設けるように、周壁部を折り畳んで、乗員側壁部の略全域を平らに展開させる形状である。そのため、エアバッグのガス流入口から乗員側壁部までの距離が長くなって、周壁部の下部側の前後方向の長さ寸法が長くなっても、タックの長さ寸法を調整することにより、エアバッグを容易に予備折りすることができる。
【００２９】
なお、エアバッグのガス流入口から乗員側壁部までの距離が長くなった場合、周壁部におけるガス流入口の前縁側から乗員側壁部の上縁までの前後方向に沿った上部側周縁では、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて折り込む部位の前後方向の長さ寸法を長くしたり、あるいは、その折目を多段に付ければ、容易に対処することができる。
【００３０】
さらにまた、予備折り形状に関して、ガス流入口と対向する位置に配置される部位、すなわち、乗員側壁部の上縁の近傍部位は、乗員側壁部自体の部位であってもよいし、周壁部側の部位であってもよい。そして、ガス流入口と対向する乗員側壁部の上縁の近傍部位を、周壁部側の部位とする場合には、請求項６に記載するように、乗員側壁部の上縁を、ガス流入口の後縁より、後方側に配置させてもよい。このような構成では、エアバッグの展開膨張初期に、周壁部における乗員側壁部の上縁側の近傍となる部位が、先行して、上方へ強く押し上げられることとなる。そして、乗員側壁部は、上縁側をガス流入口と対向する部位の近傍に配置させていることから、ガス流入口と対向する部位の展開に伴って、素早く略鉛直方向に沿うように、配置される。その際、乗員側壁部の上縁自体は、ガス流入口の後縁より、後方側に配置されているため、展開膨張途中の乗員側壁部は、上方への高さが抑えられた状態で、略鉛直方向に配置されることとなる。その結果、展開膨張途中の略鉛直方向に配置された乗員側壁部は、高さを抑えられた状態で、後方側へ移動する。このようなエアバッグの挙動は、着座した乗員の身長が低い場合において、乗員への部分的な押圧力を作用させずに、乗員を的確に保護することが可能となる。
【００３１】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の一実施形態を図面に基づいて説明する。
【００３２】
実施形態の助手席用エアバッグ装置Ｍは、図１・２に示すように、インパネ（インストルメントパネル）１の表面における上面１ａ側の内部に配置されるトップマウントタイプである。このエアバッグ装置Ｍは、折り畳まれたエアバッグ１０と、エアバッグ１０に膨張用ガスを供給するインフレーター５４と、エアバッグ１０及びインフレーター５４を収納保持するケース５６と、エアバッグ１０をケース５６に取り付けるためのリテーナ５１と、折り畳まれたエアバッグ１０を覆うエアバッグカバー６７と、エアバッグカバー６７をケース５６に強固に連結するための二つの押え板６５と、を備えて構成されている。
【００３３】
エアバッグ１０をケース５６に取り付けるリテーナ５１は、四角環状の板金製として、所定位置に下方へ延びる複数のボルト５１ａを備えて構成されている。リテーナ５１は、各ボルト５１ａをエアバッグ１０の後述する取付孔２２に挿通させるとともに、ケース５６や押え板６５の後述する底壁部５９や横板部６５ａに挿通させて、各ボルト５１ａにナット５１ｂを螺合させることにより、ケース５６に取り付けられることとなる。
【００３４】
インフレーター５４は、シリンダタイプとして、ケース５６の後述する下部室６１内に収納保持されている。
【００３５】
エアバッグカバー６７は、オレフィン系やエステル系等の熱可塑性エラストマー等から形成されて、インパネ１の長方形状に開口する開口２を塞ぐように配置される天井壁部６８と、天井壁部６８の下面から下方へ延びる略四角筒形状の側壁部７１と、から構成されている。天井壁部６８は、側壁部７１に囲まれた内側に、周囲に薄肉の破断予定部７０を配置させて、前後二つの扉部（ドア）６９を配設させている。破断予定部７０は、天井壁部６８の上方から見て、略Ｈ字形状に配置されている。各扉部６９は、膨張時のエアバッグ１０に押されて破断した際、図２・１６の二点鎖線で示すように、破断予定部７０から離れた前後方向の端部側をヒンジ部６９ａとして、車両の前後方向両側に開くこととなる。また、天井壁部６８の車両の前後の縁には、下方へ突出する複数の係止脚６８ａが形成されている。各係止脚６８ａは、インパネ１の開口２の周縁に段差を有して設けられたフランジ部３の下面側に、係止されている。側壁部７１には、車両の前後方向の部位に、車両の前後方向に貫通する複数の係止孔７１ａが、形成されており、これらの係止孔７１ａと押え板６５とを使用して、側壁部７１がケース５６の後述する上部室５７に連結されている。
【００３６】
押え板６５は、板金から形成されるとともに、横板部６５ａと横板部６５ａの端部から上方へ延びる縦板部６５ｂとを備えた断面Ｌ字形として、ケース５６の車両の前後方向の部位に、それぞれ、配置されている。そして、各横板部６５ａには、リテーナ５１の各ボルト５１ａを挿通させる貫通孔（図符号省略）が形成され、各縦板部６５ｂの上端は、ケース５６の後述する係止突起５８ａに挿通可能に形成されている。
【００３７】
ケース５６は、板金製として、上方を開口させた直方体形状の上部室５７と、上部室５７と連通するように、ケース５６の下部側に配置される下部室６１と、から構成されている。
【００３８】
上部室５７は、略四角筒形状の周壁部５８と、周壁部５８の下部に配置される底壁部５９と、から構成されている。周壁部５８には、エアバッグカバー側壁部７１の各係止孔７１ａに挿入される係止突起５８ａが、外側に突出するように複数形成されている。底壁部５９には、リテーナ５１の各ボルト５１ａを挿通させるための貫通孔（図符号省略）が形成され、車両の前後方向の部位の下面には、それぞれ、押え板６５の横板部６５ａが当接して配置されることとなる。
【００３９】
下部室６１は、底壁部５９の内側端部から下方へ延びるような略四角筒形状の周壁部６２と、周壁部６２の下端を塞ぐ底壁部６３と、を備えて構成されている。底壁部６３には、ケース５６をボディ５に取り付けるためのナット６３ａが取り付けられている。底壁部６３は、ボディ５側のリンフォース５ａから延びるブラケット５ｂに取り付けられるものであり、ボルト６を、ブラケット５ｂに設けられた連結孔（図符号省略）を経て、ナット６３ａに螺合させることにより、ブラケット５ｂに取り付けられている。
【００４０】
エアバッグ１０は、図３・４に示すように、単体での展開膨張完了時の形状として、乗員側で略鉛直方向に沿って配置される乗員側壁部１１と、乗員側壁部１１の外周縁から車両前方側に略円錐状に狭まる周壁部１８と、を備える形状としている。展開膨張完了時の周壁部１８における下部側となる下部側周壁１９の前部側には、膨張用ガスＧ（図４参照）をエアバッグ１０内に流入させるように、長方形状に開口するガス流入口２０が、設けられている。
【００４１】
なお、実施形態の場合、エアバッグ１０の内部には、ガス流入口２０を覆うように、エアバッグ１０内に流入する膨張用ガスＧの流れを変える整流布３９が、配設されている。
【００４２】
そして、ガス流入口２０の周縁２１には、複数の取付孔２２が貫通されており、これらの取付孔２２には、リテーナ５１の各ボルト５１ａが挿通されて、エアバッグ１０が、ケース５６の底壁部５９に保持されることとなる。また、周壁部１８の左右の側面部位には、それぞれ、余剰の膨張用ガスを排気するベントホール３４が設けられている。さらに、エアバッグ１０の内周面側におけるガス流入口２０周縁の取付孔２２付近には、略四角環状のポリエステルやポリアミド等の糸から織成された補強布３７が配設されている。
【００４３】
そして、エアバッグ１０がリテーナ５１によってケース底壁部５９に保持され、ケース５６がボディ５に取り付けられて、エアバッグ装置Ｍが車両に搭載された際には、ガス流入口２０の開口面は、開口周縁２１の前縁２１ａ側が後縁２１ｂ側より若干高くなって、開口周縁２１とともに、略水平方向に沿うように、配置されることとなる（図１６参照）。
【００４４】
さらに、エアバッグ１０は、図５・６に示すように、ポリエステルやポリアミド等の糸から織成された第１・２基布３５・３６を縫合して製造されており、第１基布３５は、略正六角形状の布材を二つ（上側部３５ａと下側部３５ｅ）連結させた形状として、中央付近の左右両縁を凹ませた瓢箪形に形成され、第２基布３６は、略正六角形状に近似した略円形状に形成されている。これらの基布３５・３６は、平面的な縫合作業によって立体的なエアバッグ１０を縫製できるように、設定されている。
【００４５】
なお、第２基布３６は、エアバッグ１０の乗員側壁部１１の略全域を構成し、第１基布３５は、エアバッグ１０の周壁部１８の略全域を構成することとなる。さらに、第１基布３５の上側部３５ａは、周壁部１８の上部側となる上部側周壁２９の略全域を構成し、第１基布３５の下側部３５ｅは、周壁部１８の下部側となる下部側周壁１９の略全域を構成することとなる。
【００４６】
整流布３９は、図３・４に示すように、エアバッグ１０内でガス流入口２０を覆い可能に、ガス流入口２０の前後左右の寸法より大きな形状として、かつ、エアバッグ１０の展開膨張時に、ガス流入口２０の中央付近と対向する前後方向の断面形状を、ガス流入口２０から離れる上方向へ膨らむ円弧状の曲線状としている。
【００４７】
実施形態の場合、整流布３９は、図５に示すように、エアバッグ１０に取り付ける前の状態では、ポリエステルやポリアミド等の糸から織成された整流布素材３８として構成されており、整流布素材３８は、ガス流入口２０に対応した開口３８ａを備えるとともに、開口３８ａの車両左右方向両側から延びる帯部３８ｂ・３８ｂを備え、帯部３８ｂ・３８ｂ先端相互を縫合して、整流布３９が形成されている。なお、整流布素材３８には、取付孔２２に対応する孔（図符号省略）も配設されている。
【００４８】
このエアバッグ１０の製造について述べると、まず、図５・６のＡに示すように、第１基布３５におけるエアバッグ１０の内周面側となるガス流入口２０の開口周縁２１に、縫合糸Ｓを利用して、補強布３７と整流布素材３８とを縫合する。ついで、図６のＢに示すように、整流布素材３８の帯部３８ｂの端部相互を、縫合糸Ｓを利用して円弧状に縫合し、整流布３９を所定形状に形成する。
【００４９】
その後、第１基布３５におけるガス流入口２０の近傍の左右両縁において、図６のＢ・Ｃに示すように、上側部３５ａと下側部３５ｅとの間で左右方向に延びる第１基準線Ｌ１で折り返し、縫合糸Ｓを利用して、基準線Ｌ１の位置で付けた折目の近傍の上側・下側部３５ａ・３５ｅの一方の直線状の片縁部３５ｂ・３５ｆ相互を縫合するとともに、他方の直線状の片縁部３５ｃ・３５ｇ相互を縫合する。
【００５０】
ついで、図６のＣ・Ｄに示すように、上側部３５ａの左右方向に膨出した位置の左右方向に延びる第２基準線Ｌ２で折り曲げて、上側・下側部３５ａ・３５ｅの縫合していない残部周縁３５ｄ・３５ｈを相互に離隔するように広げる。これらの残部周縁３５ｄ・３５ｈを広げた外形形状は、第２基布３６の外形形状と同形状としている。
【００５１】
そして、第２基布３６を重ね、図６のＤ・Ｅに示すように、縫合糸Ｓを利用して、重ねた外周縁相互を縫合すれば、エアバッグ１０を袋状に形成することができる。
【００５２】
さらに、各部位を縫合した縫い代が、エアバッグ１０の外周面側に露出しないように、エアバッグ１０を袋状に形成した後には、ガス流入口２０を利用して、エアバッグ１０を裏返す。
【００５３】
なお、ガス流入口２０を利用して裏返す作業が困難な場合には、整流布素材３８の帯部３８ｂの端部相互を縫合する作業を、エアバッグ１０を裏返した後に、帯部３８ｂをガス流入口２０から引き出して、行うようにしても良い。
【００５４】
上記のように製造したエアバッグ１０の車両への搭載を説明すると、まず、各取付孔２２からボルト５１ａを突出させるように、内部にリテーナ５１を配設させた状態で、エアバッグ１０を折り畳み、さらに、折り崩れしないように、折り畳んだエアバッグ１０を破断可能な図示しないラッピングシートでくるんでおく。
【００５５】
そして、このエアバッグ１０の折り畳みは、予備折り工程を経た後、横折り工程と縦折り工程とを経て、折り畳む。
【００５６】
予備折り工程では、図８・９に示すような予備折りエアバッグ４０を形成することとなる。この予備折りでは、乗員側壁部１１における上縁１２の近傍部位１６を、ガス流入口２０と上下方向で対向するように、ガス流入口２０の上方位置に、配置させて（図１３参照）、乗員側壁部１１を周壁部１８の下部側周壁１９の上方に重ねて、ガス流入口２０の開口面と平行とするように前後左右に、平らにした形状としている。さらに、実施形態の場合には、周壁部１８側を折り畳んで、乗員側壁部１１の左縁１４付近と右縁１５付近との一部を除いて、乗員側壁部１１の略全域が、ガス流入口２０の開口面と平行とするように前後左右に平らに展開されるように、予備折りしている。
【００５７】
周壁部１８の予備折りは、実施形態の場合、図７〜１３に示すように、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の左右の部位２３・２４と、周壁部１８における乗員側壁部上縁１２との前後方向での連結部位の近傍部位３０と、が、谷折りの折目ＣＬ・ＣＲ・ＣＨを付けて、折り畳まれている。すなわち、ガス流入口２０の左方側部位２３と右方側部位２４との折り畳みは、それぞれ、平らに展開された乗員側壁部１１の左右の縁１４・１５までの左右方向に沿った略中間部位２３ａ・２４ａを、左右方向に沿ってガス流入口２０に接近させる（折目ＣＬ・ＣＲ相互を接近させる）とともにガス流入口周縁２１の乗員側壁部１１側に配置させて、左方側・右方側部位２３・２４が、前後方向に沿う谷折りの折目ＣＬ・ＣＲを付けて、折り込まれるようにして、行っている。また、周壁部１８における上縁１２側の近傍部位３０の折り畳みは、上部側周壁２９における前後方向の谷折りの折目ＣＬ・ＣＲの前端側の突出頂部３１から乗員側壁部上縁１２までの前後方向に沿った略中間部位２９ａを、ガス流入口２０に接近させるとともに、ガス流入口周縁２１の乗員側壁部１１側に配置させて、上縁近傍部位３０が、左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目ＣＨを付けて、折り込まれるようにして、行っている。この折目ＣＨは、図１２・１３に示すように、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより、前方側に配置されている。
【００５８】
このような予備折りは、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の前縁２１ａ側における左右方向の中央付近から乗員側壁部上縁１２における左右方向の中央付近までの前後方向に沿った略中間部位（突出頂部３１となる）と、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の後方側部位２６の左右方向の中央付近２６ａと、を把持して、把持箇所３１・２６ａ相互を離すように、前後方向に引っ張ることにより、行える。後方側部位２６の把持箇所２６ａは、予備折り時に乗員側壁部１１の略全域を平らに展開できるように、極力、乗員側壁部１１の下縁１３の近傍とすることが望ましい。
【００５９】
なお、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の前方側部位２５から突出頂部３１までの部位３２では、実施形態の場合、ガス流入口２０の開口周縁２１を、乗員側壁部１１と平行として平らにするために、ガス流入口２０側に接近させるように、左右方向に沿った折目を付けて谷折りしている。
【００６０】
また、実施形態の予備折りエアバッグ４０では、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の上部側となる部位である上部側周壁２９における谷折りの折目ＣＨ・３２を、図１２・１３に示すように、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより前方側に配置させている。すなわち、予備折りエアバッグ４０では、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の上部側となる部位である上部側周壁２９を、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより前方側に、折り畳んで配置させていることとなる。
【００６１】
そして、このように予備折りした後には、図８・図１４のＡ・Ｂ・図１５のＡ・Ｂに示すように、予備折りエアバッグ４０におけるガス流入口２０の後方側部位４１と前方側部位４２とについて、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて、端部４１ａ・４２ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、横折りを行う。実施形態の場合、後方側部位４１は、後端４１ａを下部側周壁１９側に巻いて、乗員側壁部１１側の上に載せるロール折りとしている。また、前方側部位４２は、蛇腹折りとしている。
【００６２】
横折りを行った後には、横折り工程後のエアバッグ１０におけるガス流入口２０の左方側部位４３と右方側部位４４とについて、図１５のＢ・Ｃに示すように、前後方向に沿う折目を付けて、端部４３ａ・４４ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、縦折りを行う。実施形態の場合、左方側・右方側部位４３・４４は、端部４３ａ・４４ａ側を下部側周壁１９側に折り返した後、乗員側壁部１１側の上に載せる蛇腹折りとしている。
【００６３】
縦折り工程を経てエアバッグ１０の折り畳みが完了したならば、既述したように、折り崩れしないように、折り畳んだエアバッグ１０を破断可能な図示しないラッピングシートでくるんでおく。
【００６４】
そして、ケース５６の下部室６１内にインフレーター５４を収納させておくとともに、リテーナ５１の各ボルト５１ａをケース５６の各底壁部５９から突出させるように、折り畳んだエアバッグ１０を上部室５７内に収納させるとともに、さらに、上方から、エアバッグカバー６７の側壁部７１を上部室５７に外装し、側壁部７１の各係止孔７１ａに周壁部５８の係止突起５８ａを挿入させる。
【００６５】
ついで、各縦板部６５ｂの上端を、側壁部７１から突出している係止突起５８ａに挿通させるとともに、各横板部６５ａにボルト５１ａを挿通させて、ケース５６の前後部位に押え板６５・６５を配置させ、さらに、各ボルト５１ａにナット５１ｂを螺合させれば、エアバッグ装置Ｍを組み立てることができる。
【００６６】
そして、このように組み立てた助手席用エアバッグ装置Ｍは、車両に組み付けた状態のインパネ１の開口２から挿入させて、各係止脚６８ａをフランジ部３に係止させるとともに、ブラケット５ｂを経て、ナット６３ａにボルト６を螺合させ、ケース５６をボディ５に連結すれば、車両に搭載することができる。
【００６７】
エアバッグ装置Ｍの車両への搭載後、インフレーター５４から膨張用ガスＧが吐出されれば、エアバッグ１０が、膨張して、図示しないラッピングシートを破断するとともに、エアバッグカバー６７の破断予定部７０を破断させて扉部６９・６９を図２・図１６の二点鎖線に示すように開かせることにより、ケース上部室５７から、大きく突出することとなる。なお、図１６の符号Ｗの部材は、ウインドシールドである。
【００６８】
この展開膨張時、実施形態のエアバッグ装置Ｍでは、エアバッグ１０が、ガス流入口２０から膨張用ガスＧを流入させて、横折りや縦折りの折目を解消しつつ、展開膨張することとなる。
【００６９】
その際、実施形態のエアバッグ１０では、予備折り時において、ガス流入口２０と対向するガス流入口２０の上方位置に、乗員側壁部１１の上縁１２の近傍となる上縁近傍部位１６が配置されていることから、ガス流入口２０と対向する乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６が、流入当初の膨張用ガスＧの押圧力Ｆ（図１１〜１３参照）によって、乗員側壁部１２の下縁１３側の部位等の他の部位に比べて、先行して、上方へ強く押し上げられることから、その後の乗員側壁部１１を、略鉛直方向に沿うように配置させ易くなる。なお、実施形態の場合には、膨張用ガスＧの押圧力Ｆは、整流布３９・周壁部１８の谷折り部位３２・周壁部１８の上縁近傍部位３０（中間部位２９ａ）、さらには、周壁部１８の左右の中間部位２３ａ・２４ａ付近を介在させた状態で、乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６に作用している。
【００７０】
そして、この乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６が、強く押し上げられれば、横折りや縦折りの折目を素早く解消させることにも寄与できて、乗員側壁部１１を広く展開させることも可能となる。
【００７１】
したがって、実施形態の助手席用エアバッグ装置Ｍでは、エアバッグ１０の展開膨張時、ガス流入口周縁２１と略直交する状態となる乗員側壁部１１を、素早く略鉛直方向に沿うように配置させることができて、さらに、乗員側へ部分的な押圧力を作用させないように、エアバッグ１０を、広く開いた状態で展開させることが可能となる。
【００７２】
さらに、実施形態では、エアバッグ１０の予備折り時に、乗員側壁部１１の略全域を、平らに展開させて、周壁部１８側を折り畳んでおり、乗員側壁部１１側を折り畳んでいないことから、エアバッグ１０の予備折りの作業を簡便に行うことができる。また、実施形態では、エアバッグ１０の予備折り時に、乗員側壁部１１の略全域が平らに展開されているため、乗員壁部側１１を折り畳む場合に比べて、エアバッグ１０の展開膨張時、上下左右に広く展開した状態で、乗員側に移動しやすくなり、乗員側壁部１１の乗員側への移動速度を一層抑えることが可能となる。
【００７３】
さらにまた、実施形態では、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の上部側となる部位である上部側周壁２９が、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより前方側に、折り畳まれており、ガス流入口２０より後方側へ大きく延びるように折り畳まれていない。そのため、ガス流入口２０から膨張用ガスＧが流入されれば、乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６が、上部側周壁２９を介在させて押し上げられ、かつ、上部側周壁２９自体も押し上げられることとなる。その際、上部側周壁２９は、押し上げられることに伴って折りを解消し、ガス流入口２０から離脱する。その結果、乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６が、直接的に、ガス流入口２０と対向する状態となって、乗員側壁部１１を略鉛直方向に沿うように配置させ易くなる。
【００７４】
さらにまた、実施形態では、エアバッグ１０の周壁部１８の予備折り時、ガス流入口２０の左方側・右方側部位２３・２４が、それぞれ、平らに展開された乗員側壁部１１の左右の縁１４・１５までの左右方向に沿った中間部位２３ａ・２４ａを、ガス流入口２０に接近させるとともにガス流入口周縁２１の乗員側壁部１１側に配置させて、前後方向に沿う谷折りの折目ＣＬ・ＣＲを付けて、折り込まれている。さらに、周壁部１８における乗員側壁部１１の上縁１２と前後方向で連結される連結部位の近傍部位３０が、左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目ＣＨを付けて、折り込まれている。すなわち、エアバッグ１０の周壁部１８を、ガス流入口２０を中心として、左右対称形に折り畳んでいることから、予備折りの作業が容易となる。
【００７５】
特に、この周壁部１８の予備折り形状は、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の前縁２１ａ側の左右方向の中央付近から乗員側壁部上縁１２における左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位３１と、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の後方側の左右方向の中央付近２６ａと、を把持して、把持箇所３１・２６ａ相互を離すように、前後方向に引っ張ることにより、円滑に、行えることから、予備折りの作業を、一層、簡便にすることができる。
【００７６】
さらに、実施形態では、上部側周壁２９の谷折りの折目ＣＨを形成した略中間部位（谷折部位）２９ａが、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより前方側に配置されている。そのため、ガス流入口２０が、直接的に、乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６に対向し易くなって、乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６を押し上げる膨張用ガスＧの押圧力Ｆを、上縁近傍部位１６に対して直接的に作用させて、高めることができる。その結果、乗員側壁部１１を、一層、鉛直方向に沿うように配置させ易くなる。
【００７７】
なお、実施形態では、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の前方側部位２５から突出頂部３１までの部位（谷折り部位）３２が、ガス流入口２０の前縁２１ａより後方側に配置されて、ガス流入口２０に対向している。しかし、この谷折り部位３２は、ガス流入口２０に近接して配置されるものであり、乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６を押し上げる膨張用ガスＧの押圧力Ｆに影響を与えるものではない。
【００７８】
また、周壁部１８の予備折りに関し、図１７〜２０に示すように、エアバッグ１０Ａを予備折りして、予備折りエアバッグ４０Ａを形成してもよい。エアバッグ１０Ａは、実施形態のエアバッグ１０と同様に、第１・２基布３５・３６・整流布素材３８を使用して、エアバッグ１０と同一形状に形成されている。
【００７９】
エアバッグ１０Ａを予備折りした予備折りエアバッグ４０Ａでは、突出頂部３１が前方側へ大きく突出するように、予備折りされており、その予備折りは、乗員側壁部１１の略全域を平らに展開した状態で、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の前縁２１ａ側の左右方向の中央付近から乗員側壁部上縁１２における左右方向の中央付近までの前後方向に沿った略中間部位３１と、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の後方側の左右方向の中央付近２６ａと、を把持して、把持箇所３１・２６ａ相互を離すように、前後方向に引っ張り、その際、把持箇所３１側を、大きく引っ張ることにより、予備折りしている。この予備折りエアバッグ４０Ａでは、突出頂部３１が前方側に突出したことにより、予備折りエアバッグ４０より、左右方向の幅寸法が僅かに小さい。
【００８０】
そして、この予備折りエアバッグ４０Ａでは、図１９に示すように、周壁部１８における乗員側壁部上縁１２との近傍部位３０における左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目ＣＨを、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより、前方側に配置させている。
【００８１】
また、この予備折りエアバッグ４０Ａは、図２１のＡ・Ｂ・Ｃ・Ｄに示すように、予備折りエアバッグ４０と同様に、予備折りエアバッグ４０Ａにおけるガス流入口２０の後方側部位４１と前方側部位４２とについて、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて、端部４１ａ・４２ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、ロール折りと蛇腹折りとによって、横折りし、ついで、横折り工程後におけるガス流入口２０の左方側部位４３と右方側部位４４とについて、前後方向に沿う折目を付けて、端部４３ａ・４４ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、縦折りする。
【００８２】
そして、エアバッグ１０Ａを折り畳んだ後には、エアバッグ１０と同様にエアバッグ装置Ｍに組み付けて、車両に搭載することとなる。
【００８３】
このエアバッグ１０Ａでは、展開膨張時、前述のエアバッグ１０と同様な作用・効果を得ることができる。さらに、エアバッグ１０Ａでは、予備折りした予備折りエアバッグ４０Ａについて、上部側周壁２９の谷折りの折目ＣＨを形成した略中間部位（谷折り部位）２９ａが、ガス流入口２０の前縁２１ａより前方側に配置されて、ガス流入口２０と対向する位置に配置されないこととなる。そのため、ガス流入口２０が、一層、直接的に、乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６に対向し易くなる。なお、この予備折りエアバッグ４０Ａでも、実際には、膨張用ガスＧの押圧力Ｆは、整流布３９や周壁部１８の左右の中間部位２３ａ・２４ａ付近を介在させた状態で、乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６に作用している。
【００８４】
また、周壁部１８の予備折りに関し、図２２〜２７に示すように、エアバッグ１０Ｂを予備折りして、予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｂを形成してもよい。エアバッグ１０Ｂは、実施形態のエアバッグ１０と同様に、第１・２基布３５・３６・整流布素材３８を使用して、エアバッグ１０と同一形状に形成されている。
【００８５】
エアバッグ１０Ｂを予備折りした予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｂでは、ガス流入口２０の後方側の部位が、周壁部１８の後方側部位２６と乗員側壁部１１の後縁１３付近とを有して後方側に大きく突出するとともに、乗員側壁部１１が、ガス流入口２０の後方側に配置されるように、予備折りされている。その予備折りは、乗員側壁部１１の略全域を平らに展開した状態で、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の前縁２１ａ側の左右方向の中央付近から乗員側壁部上縁１２における左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位３１と、乗員側壁部１１の下縁１３における左右方向の中央付近１３ａと、を把持して、引っ張ることにより、行っている。把持箇所１３ａは、前述のエアバッグ１０・１０Ａにおける把持箇所２６ａの後方側となる部位である。すなわち、エアバッグ１０Ｂでは、乗員側壁部１１を後方側にずらして、把持個所３１・１３ａを把持し、把持箇所３１・１３ａ相互を離すように、前後方向に引っ張ることにより、予備折りを行なうことができる。その際、エアバッグ１０Ｂでは、把持箇所１３ａ側を、大きく引っ張ることとなる。この予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｂでは、把持箇所１３ａが後方側に大きく突出していることにより、予備折りエアバッグ４０より、後方側部位４２の前後方向の長さ寸法を大きくしている。
【００８６】
そして、この予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｂでは、ガス流入口２０と対向する位置に配置されることとなる部位が、周壁部１８における乗員側壁部１１の上縁１２の近傍部位２９ｂで構成されて、乗員側壁部１１の上縁１２を、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより、後方側に配置させている。
【００８７】
また、この予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｂは、図２８のＡ・Ｂ・Ｃに示すように、予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｂにおけるガス流入口２０の後方側部位４１と前方側部位４２とについて、左右方向に沿う折目をつけて横折りする。具体的には、後方側部位４１では、端部４１ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、ロール折りし、前方側部位４２では、端部４２ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、折り返している。その後、図２８のＤに示すように、ガス流入口２０の左方側部位４３と右方側部位４４とについて、前後方向に沿う折目を付けて、端部４３ａ・４４ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、縦折りする。
【００８８】
そして、エアバッグ１０Ｂを折り畳んだ後には、図２９に示すように、エアバッグ１０・１０Ａと同様に、エアバッグ装置Ｍに組み付けて、車両に搭載することとなる。
【００８９】
このエアバッグ１０Ｂでは、予備折り時において、ガス流入口２０と対向することとなるガス流入口２０の上方位置に、周壁部１８における乗員側壁部１１の上縁１２側の近傍となる上縁近傍部位２９ｂが配置されている。そのため、エアバッグ１０Ｂの展開膨張初期に、流入当初の膨張用ガスＧの押圧力Ｆ（図２４・２６参照）によって、上縁近傍部位２９ｂが、先行して、上方へ強く押し上げられることとなる。そして、乗員側壁部１１は、上縁１２側を上縁近傍部位２９ｂの近傍に配置させていることから、ガス流入口２０と対向する上縁近傍部位２９ｂの展開に伴って、素早く略鉛直方向に沿うように配置されることとなる。その際、乗員側壁部１１の上縁１２自体は、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより、後方側に配置されているため、展開膨張途中の乗員側壁部１１は、上方への高さが抑えられた状態で、略鉛直方向に配置されることとなる。その結果、展開膨張途中の略鉛直方向に配置された乗員側壁部１１は、図３０に示すように、高さを抑えられた状態で、後方側へ移動する。このようなエアバッグ１０Ｂの挙動は、着座した乗員の身長が低い場合において、乗員への部分的な押圧力を作用させずに、乗員を的確に保護することが可能となる。
【００９０】
また、エアバッグ１０Ｂでは、前述のエアバッグ１０・１０Ａと同様に、乗員側壁部１１の略全域を、平らに展開させて周壁部１８側を折り畳んでいることから、前述のエアバッグ１０・１０Ａと同様な作用・効果を得ることができる。
【００９１】
さらに、周壁部１８の予備折りに関し、図３１〜３４に示すように、エアバッグ１０Ｃを予備折りして、予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｃを形成してもよい。エアバッグ１０Ｃは、前述のエアバッグ１０・１０Ａ・１０Ｂと同様に、第１・第２基布３５・３６・整流布素材３８を使用して、エアバッグ１０・１０Ａ・１０Ｂと同一形状に形成されている。
【００９２】
エアバッグ１０Ｃを予備折りした予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｃでは、周壁部１８における谷折りの折目ＣＨを、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより、後方側に配置させるように、予備折りされている。その予備折りは、乗員側壁部１１の略全域を平らに展開した状態で、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の前縁２１ａ側の左右方向の中央付近から乗員側壁部上縁１２における左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位３１と、乗員側壁部１１の下縁１３における左右方向の中央付近１３ａと、を把持して、引っ張ることにより、行っている。把持箇所１３ａは、前述のエアバッグ１０・１０Ａにおける把持箇所２６ａの後方側となる部位である。すなわち、エアバッグ１０Ｃでは、乗員側壁部１１を後方側にずらして、把持個所３１・１３ａを把持し、把持箇所３１・１３ａ相互を離すように、前後方向に引っ張ることにより、予備折りを行なうことができる。その際、エアバッグ１０Ｃでは、把持箇所１３ａ側を、大きく引っ張ることとなる。
【００９３】
この予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｃでは、周壁部１８における谷折りの折目ＣＨを、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより、後方側に配置させているものの、折目ＣＨは、後縁２１ｂの近傍に配置されている。すなわち、予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｃでは、周壁部１８の上部側周壁２９を、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂ近傍より前方側に、折り畳んで配置させていることとなる。
【００９４】
また、この予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｃは、図３５のＡ・Ｂ・Ｃ・Ｄに示すように、予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｂと同様に、横折りと縦折りとを行って折り畳む。具体的には、予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｂにおけるガス流入口２０の後方側部位４１を、端部４１ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、左右方向に沿う折目を付けてロール折りし、ガス流入口２０の前方側部位４２を、端部４２ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、折り返している。その後、ガス流入口２０の左方側部位４３と右方側部位４４とについて、前後方向に沿う折目を付けて、端部４３ａ・４４ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、縦折りする。
【００９５】
そして、エアバッグ１０Ｃを折り畳んだ後には、エアバッグ１０・１０Ａ・１０Ｂと同様に、エアバッグ装置Ｍに組み付けて、車両に搭載することとなる。
【００９６】
このエアバッグ１０Ｃでは、予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｃにおいて、周壁部１８における谷折りの折目ＣＨをガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより後方側に配置させていることから、膨張用ガスＧの押圧力Ｆを、前述のエアバッグ１０・１０Ａのごとく、上縁近傍部位１６に対して、直接的に、作用させることができない。しかし、エアバッグ１０Ｃでは、予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｃにおいて、周壁部１８の上部側周壁２９を、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂ近傍から前方側の範囲で折り畳んで配置させている。そのため、ガス流入口２０から膨張用ガスが流入されれば、乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６が、上部側周壁２９を介在させて押し上げられ、かつ、上部側周壁２９自体も押し上げられる。その際、上部側周壁２９は、押し上げられることに伴って折りを解消し、ガス流入口２０から離脱する。すなわち、周壁部１８における谷折りの折目ＣＨを、ガス流入口２０の後縁２１ｂより後方側に配置させていても、上部側周壁２９が折りを解消して、乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６が、直接的に、ガス流入口２０と対向する状態となる。その結果、乗員側壁部１１を略鉛直方向に沿うように配置させ易くなる。
【００９７】
また、エアバッグ１０Ｃでは、前述のエアバッグ１０・１０Ａと同様に、乗員側壁部１１の略全域を平らに展開させて、周壁部１８を折り畳んでいることから、前述のエアバッグ１０・１０Ａと同様な作用・効果を得ることができる。
【００９８】
さらに、図３６に示すように、エアバッグ自体の形状として、膨張完了時の形状を前後方向に長くしたエアバッグ１０Ｄの予備折りでは、次のように予備折りする。
【００９９】
なお、このエアバッグ１０Ｄは、図３６・３７に示すように、エアバッグ１０と比較して、ガス流入口２０から乗員側壁部１１までの前後方向の距離を長くしている。すなわち、第１基布３５における上側部３５ａ・下側部３５ｅの相互に接近した片縁部３５ｂ・３５ｆ・３５ｃ・３５ｇが、エアバッグ１０の第１基布３５の対応部位より、長く構成されている。また、エアバッグ１０Ｄの第２基布３６も、全体の外形形状が、エアバッグ１０の第２基布３６より、僅かに大きく構成されている。このエアバッグ１０Ｄは、エアバッグ１０と上記の寸法と形状が若干相違しているだけであり、同一部材・同一部位には、同一の符号を付して、それらの説明を省略する。そして、これらの構成部材３５・３６・３７・３８を、エアバッグ１０と同様に、縫合糸Ｓを利用して縫合すれば、エアバッグ１０Ｄを製造することができる。
【０１００】
このエアバッグ１０Ｄから予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｄを形成する予備折りは、前述のエアバッグ１０・１０Ａにおける予備折りと同様にして行っている。すなわち、エアバッグ１０Ｄの予備折りは、図３８〜４２に示すように、乗員側壁部１１の略全域を平らに展開した状態で、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の前縁２１ａ側の左右方向の中央付近から乗員側壁部上縁１２における左右方向の中央付近までの前後方向に沿った略中間部位３１と、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の後方側の左右方向の中央付近２６ａと、を把持して、把持箇所３１・２６ａ相互を離すように、前後方向に引っ張り、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の左右の部位２３・２４と、周壁部１８における乗員側壁部上縁１２との連結部位の近傍部位３０と、に、谷折りの折目ＣＬ・ＣＲ・ＣＨを付けて、折り畳む。なお、この場合のガス流入口２０より後方の後方側部位２６の把持箇所２６ａは、乗員側壁部１１の下縁１３から離れた箇所としている。そして、その把持箇所２６ａより乗員側壁部下縁１３に近い後端近傍部位２７を、把持箇所２６ａに下方側から被せ、左右方向に沿った山折りの折目ＣＭを付けて、折り畳めば、予備折りを完了することができる。
【０１０１】
予備折りを完了した予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｄは、図４３に示すように、予備折りエアバッグ４０・４０Ａと同様に、予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｄにおけるガス流入口２０の後方側部位４１と前方側部位４２とについて、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて、端部４１ａ・４２ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、ロール折りと蛇腹折りとによって、横折りし、ついで、横折り工程後におけるガス流入口２０の左方側部位４３と右方側部位４４とについて、前後方向に沿う折目を付けて、端部４３ａ・４４ａをガス流入口２０に接近させるように、縦折りする。
【０１０２】
そして、エアバッグ１０Ｄを折り畳んだ後には、エアバッグ１０・１０Ａ・１０Ｂ・１０Ｃと同様にエアバッグ装置Ｍに組み付けて、車両に搭載することとなる。
【０１０３】
このエアバッグ１０Ｄでは、展開膨張時、実施形態と同様な作用・効果を得ることができる他、さらに、予備折りした予備折りエアバッグ４０Ｄは、周壁部１８の下部側周壁１９におけるガス流入口２０と乗員側壁部下縁１３との前後方向に沿った略中間部位付近２６ｂ（把持箇所２６ａ）が、乗員側壁部１１の下縁１３側に接近して、周壁部１８における後端近傍部位２７の乗員側壁部１１側に配置されるように、折り込まれている。すなわち、このような折り畳み形状は、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の後方側にタック２８を設けるように、周壁部１８を折り畳んで、乗員側壁部１１の略全域を平らに展開させる形状である。そのため、エアバッグ１０Ｄのガス流入口２０から乗員側壁部１１までの距離が長くなって、周壁部１８の下部側周壁１９の前後方向の長さ寸法が長くなっても、タック２８の前後方向の長さ寸法を調整することにより、エアバッグ１０Ｄを容易に予備折りすることができる。
【０１０４】
なお、エアバッグ１０Ｄのように、ガス流入口２０から乗員側壁部１１までの距離が長くなった場合、周壁部１８におけるガス流入口２０の前縁２１ａ側から乗員側壁部１１の上縁１２までの前後方向に沿った上部側周壁２９では、左右方向に沿う折目ＣＨを付けて折り込む部位２９ａの前後方向の長さ寸法を、長くしたり、あるいは、その谷折りを多段に付ければ、容易に対処することができる。ちなみに、エアバッグ１０Ｄでは、折り込み部位２９ａを前後方向に長くして、対処している。
【０１０５】
また、実施形態のエアバッグ１０では、展開膨張時、膨張用ガスＧがガス流入口２０から流入して、乗員側壁部１１における上縁近傍部位１６を押し上げた後、整流布３９が上方へ突出するように湾曲して膨らんだ際には、膨張用ガスＧは、整流布３９と干渉して、車両の前方側へ流れるガスＧＦと後方側へ流れるガスＧＢとに分岐される（図４参照）。その際、整流布３９が、膨張用ガスＧの流入時におけるガス流入口２０と対向する車両前後方向の断面形状を、ガス流入口２０から離れる方向へ膨らむ曲線状としている。そのため、ガス流入口２０から流入した膨張用ガスＧが、整流布３９のガス流入口２０と対向する部位と干渉して、車両後方側へ流れる膨張用ガスＧＢは、整流布３９の曲線に沿って、インパネ上面１ａと平行ではなく、インパネ１の上面１ａ側に向かう方向へ変えられて、エアバッグ１０を展開させることとなる。その結果、エアバッグ１０の折り畳み部位４１が、極力、インパネ１の上面１ａに沿って、後方側へ向かうこととなり、一層、乗員側壁部１１を広くすることができる。
【０１０６】
なお、整流布３９を設けない状態で、エアバッグ１０と同様に構成して、車両に搭載したエアバッグ１０Ｅでは、展開膨張時、図４７に示すように、乗員側壁部１１の上縁近傍部位１６が、大きく突出する態様となって、乗員側壁部１１を素早く鉛直方向に沿うように配置させることとなる。
【０１０７】
また、実施形態のエアバッグ１０・１０Ａ・１０Ｂ・１０Ｃ・１０Ｄでは、予備折り後、最初に横折りを行い、その後、縦折りを行って、折り畳み工程を完了させたが、予備折り後に、縦折りを行い、その後に、横折りを行ったり、あるいは、予備折り後に、横折り工程の途中で、縦折り工程を入れ、その後に、横折り工程を再開して、折り畳みを完了させたり、予備折り後に、縦折り工程を行い、その縦折り工程の途中で、横折り工程を入れ、その後に、縦折り工程を再開させて、折り畳みを完了させてもよい。
【０１０８】
さらに、予備折り後の横折りに関して、前方側部位４２を、蛇腹折りでなく、図４４に示すように、端部４２ａを乗員側壁部１１に巻くロール折りにより折り畳んだり、図４５に示すように、前方側部位４２を、折り畳んだ後方側部位４１の上方に配置させてもよい。また、図４６に示すように、前方側部位４２を、端部４２ａを折り畳んだ後方側部位４１の下方に配置させるようにして、折り畳んだ後方側部位４１の前方側に配置させてもよい。
【０１０９】
さらに、予備折り後の縦折りに関しては、図２１のＤに示すように、左方側・右方側部位４３・４４の端部４３ａ・４４ａを巻き付けない蛇腹折りや通常のロール折りとしてもよい。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】 本発明の一実施形態の助手席用エアバッグ装置が搭載されたインパネを示す斜視図である。
【図２】 同実施形態の使用態様を示す車両前後方向の断面図である。
【図３】 同実施形態に使用するエアバッグを単体で膨張させた状態の斜視図である。
【図４】 同実施形態に使用するエアバッグを単体で膨張させた状態の車両前後方向の断面図である。
【図５】 同実施形態に使用するエアバッグを構成する部材を示す平面図である。
【図６】 同実施形態に使用するエアバッグの製造工程を示す図である。
【図７】 同実施形態に使用するエアバッグの予備折りする際の折目を示す斜視図である。
【図８】 同実施形態に使用するエアバッグを予備折りした後を示すもので、ガス流入口側から見た図である。
【図９】 同実施形態に使用するエアバッグを予備折りした後を示すもので、乗員側壁部側から見た図である。
【図１０】 図８のＸ−Ｘ部位の端面図である。
【図１１】 図８のXI−XI部位の端面図である。
【図１２】 図８のXII−XII部位の端面図である。
【図１３】 図８のXIII−XIII部位の端面図である。
【図１４】 同実施形態に使用するエアバッグの予備折り後の折り畳み工程を示す図である。
【図１５】 同実施形態に使用するエアバッグの折り畳み工程を示す図であり、図１４の後の工程を示す。
【図１６】 同実施形態の作動時を説明する図であり、車両の側方から見た状態を示す。
【図１７】 他の実施形態のエアバッグを予備折りした後を示すもので、ガス流入口側から見た図である。
【図１８】 図１７に示した予備折りエアバッグを、乗員側壁部側から見た図である。
【図１９】 図１７のXIX−XIX部位の端面図である。
【図２０】 図１７に示した予備折りエアバッグの予備折りする際の折目を示す斜視図である。
【図２１】 図１７に示したエアバッグにおける予備折りした後の折り畳み工程を示す図である。
【図２２】 さらに他の実施形態のエアバッグを予備折りした後を示すもので、ガス流入口側から見た図である。
【図２３】 図２２に示した予備折りエアバッグを、乗員側壁部側から見た図である。
【図２４】 図２２のXXIV−XXIV部位の端面図である。
【図２５】 図２２のXXV−XXV部位の端面図である。
【図２６】 図２２のXXVI−XXVI部位の端面図である。
【図２７】 図２２に示した予備折りエアバッグの予備折りする際の折目を示す斜視図である。
【図２８】 図２２に示したエアバッグにおける予備折りした後の折り畳み工程を示す図である。
【図２９】 図２２に示したエアバッグの横折りを示す図である。
【図３０】 図２２に示したエアバッグの展開膨張状態を示す図である。
【図３１】 さらに他の実施形態のエアバッグを予備折りした後を示すもので、ガス流入口側から見た図である。
【図３２】 図３１に示した予備折りエアバッグを、乗員側壁部側から見た図である。
【図３３】 図３１のXXXIII−XXXIII部位の端面図である。
【図３４】 図３１に示した予備折りエアバッグの予備折りする際の折目を示す斜視図である。
【図３５】 図３１に示したエアバッグにおける予備折りした後の折り畳み工程を示す図である。
【図３６】 さらに他の実施形態のエアバッグを単体で膨張させた状態の車両前後方向の断面図である。
【図３７】 図３６に示したエアバッグを構成する部材を示す平面図である。
【図３８】 図３６に示したエアバッグの予備折りする際の折目を示す斜視図である。
【図３９】 図３６に示したエアバッグを予備折りした後のガス流入口側から見た図である。
【図４０】 図３９に示した予備折りエアバッグを、乗員側壁部側から見た図である。
【図４１】 図３９のXXXXI−XXXXI部位の端面図である。
【図４２】 図３９のXXXXII−XXXXII部位の端面図である。
【図４３】 図３６に示したエアバッグを予備折りした後の折り畳み工程を示す図である。
【図４４】 さらに他の実施形態のエアバッグの横折りを示す図である。
【図４５】 さらに他の実施形態のエアバッグの横折りを示す図である。
【図４６】 さらに他の実施形態のエアバッグの横折りを示す図である。
【図４７】 さらに他の実施形態のエアバッグの展開膨張状態を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１…（インストルメントパネル）インパネ、
１０・１０Ａ・１０Ｂ・１０Ｃ・１０Ｄ・１０Ｅ…エアバッグ、
１１…乗員側壁部、
１２…上縁、
１３…下縁、
１４…左縁、
１５…右縁、
１６…（乗員側壁部の）上縁近傍部位、
１８…周壁部、
１９…（下部側）下部側周壁、
２０…ガス流入口、
２１…（ガス流入口周縁）開口周縁、
２３…左方側部位、
２３ａ・２４ａ・２６ｂ・２９ａ…中間部位、
２４…右方側部位、
２６…後方側部位、
２７…後端近傍部位、
３０…（周壁部の）上縁近傍部位、
４０・４０Ａ・４０Ｂ・４０Ｃ・４０Ｄ…予備折りエアバッグ、
ＣＬ・ＣＲ…（前後方向に沿う谷折りの）折目、
ＣＨ…（左右方向に沿う谷折りの）折目、
Ｇ…膨張用ガス、
Ｆ…押圧力、
Ｍ…助手席用エアバッグ装置。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to an airbag device for a passenger seat disposed on an instrument panel (hereinafter abbreviated as instrument panel) in front of the passenger seat.
[0002]
[Prior art and its problems]
  Conventionally, in an airbag device for a passenger seat, an airbag is configured to include an opening side wall portion having a gas inlet for allowing an inflating gas to flow in, and an occupant side wall portion that faces the occupant during deployment and inflation. . The airbag is folded and stored in a case disposed inside the instrument panel in front of the passenger seat, and protrudes from the opening on the upper surface side of the instrument panel and expands and inflates toward the rear of the vehicle when the inflation gas flows in. (See JP-A-11-278192).
[0003]
  When this type of airbag is deployed and inflated, it is desirable that the airbag protrudes toward the occupant side in a wide open state and at a reduced moving speed so that a partial pressing force does not act on the occupant side.
[0004]
  Therefore, in the conventional airbag, when folded, the occupant side wall portion is flatly stacked so as to approach the opening side wall portion side, and the predetermined side fold or vertical fold is performed. The occupant side wall portion is widely opened and disposed so as to be substantially along the vertical direction, and protrudes toward the occupant side.
[0005]
  However, as the shape when the airbag is deployed and inflated, an occupant side wall portion that is disposed along the substantially vertical direction on the occupant side, and a peripheral wall portion that narrows in a substantially conical shape from the outer peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion to the vehicle front side. As a configuration comprising, the gas inlet is arranged as an opening surface along the substantially horizontal direction on the front side on the lower side of the peripheral wall at the time of expansion and expansion completion, and the gas inlet periphery is attached to the case, The following issues have arisen.
[0006]
  That is, in such an airbag, when the inflation is completed alone, the peripheral edge of the gas inlet of the peripheral wall portion is arranged along the substantially horizontal direction, and the occupant side wall portion is arranged along the substantially vertical direction. Since the peripheral edge of the gas inlet is substantially orthogonal to the occupant side wall portion arranged along the substantially vertical direction, the peripheral wall is simply arranged so that the occupant side wall portion approaches the gas inlet. Even when the airbag is deployed and inflated, the occupant side wall is difficult to be quickly placed in a substantially vertical state when the airbag is deployed and inflated.
[0007]
  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and when the airbag is deployed and inflated, a passenger seat that can be disposed so as to quickly follow the substantially vertical direction of the occupant side wall that is substantially orthogonal to the gas inlet periphery. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air bag device.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  According to the present inventionFirstThe airbag device for the passenger's seat is folded and stored in the case. When the airbag is deployed and inflated, the inflating gas is introduced from the gas inlet, and the door disposed on the instrument panel is pushed open to protrude. , Expanding and expanding to the rear side of the vehicle,
  The airbag is
  As a shape when the expansion and expansion of the single body is completed, the occupant side wall portion arranged along the substantially vertical direction on the occupant side, and the lower lower portion narrowed in a substantially conical shape from the outer peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion to the vehicle front side A peripheral wall portion having a side peripheral wall and an upper side peripheral wall on the upper side, and a front side of the lower side peripheral wall in the peripheral wall portion at the time of completion of expansion and expansion alone. The gas inlet is arranged as an opening surface along a substantially horizontal direction, the gas inlet peripheral edge is arranged along the substantially horizontal direction together with the opening surface of the gas inlet, and attached to the case,
  After pre-folding and flattening the airbag in the front-rear and left-right directions so as to be parallel to the opening surface of the gas inlet, the front and rear portions of the gas inlet are respectively creased along the left-right direction, Performing horizontal folding that folds so as to approach the gas inlet side, and vertical folding that folds the left and right parts of the gas inlet along the front-rear direction and folds so as to approach the gas inlet, A passenger seat airbag device housed in the case,
  As a direction in which front / rear / left / right / up / down corresponds to front / rear / left / right / up / down of the vehicle, the upper edge of the occupant side wall and the lower edge of the occupant side wall As pointed out,
  The airbag has a flexible first base fabric that forms the peripheral wall portion, and a substantially circular second base that approximates a flexible regular hexagonal shape that forms the occupant side wall portion. A cloth, and
  The first base cloth has a bowl shape in which two upper and lower cloths having a substantially hexagonal shape are connected to each other so as to be recessed near the center of the left and right sides, and the upper cloth is an upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. The lower cloth constitutes the substantially entire area of the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall part,
  The airbag sews the left and right edges in the vicinity of the fold that is folded and overlapped at the fold provided between the upper cloth and the lower cloth, and the upper cloth and the lower cloth It is configured to be formed by stitching the outer peripheral edge of the second base fabric to the remaining peripheral edge that is not sewn together,
  At the time of preliminary folding in the airbag,
  The substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet in the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the passenger side wall portion, and the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion Gripping the center of the left and right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet,
  A protruding top portion that protrudes forward is provided at a substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall in the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall To form
  By separating them from each other, a pre-folded pre-folded airbag can be formed.
  At the end of preliminary folding of the airbagThe pre-folded shape of
  Said passenger side wallIs located at a position above the gas inlet facing the gas inlet in the vertical direction, and excludes a portion of the passenger side wall near the left edge and the right edge. A substantially entire region of the occupant side wall portion is overlapped above the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, and is developed flat in front, rear, left, and right in parallel with the opening surface of the gas inlet,
  The left and right portions of the gas inlet in the peripheral wall portion are substantially intermediate portions along the left-right direction to the left and right edges of the occupant side wall portion that are flatly spread, and the gas inlet along the left-right direction. And a fold fold in the valley fold along the front-rear direction, the fold fold in which the protruding top is arranged on the front end side. Attached, folded,
  The occupant at the periphery of the gas inlet is formed by a substantially middle portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion to the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion in the upper side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, with a valley fold along the left-right direction. Folded into the side wall,
  The part from the front side part of the gas inlet to the protruding top part in the peripheral wall part is valley-folded with a fold along the left-right direction so as to approach the gas inlet side,
  The peripheral wall portion is folded symmetrically about the gas inlet,
  Shape andIt is characterized by.
  In addition, the fold of the valley fold along the left-right direction provided at a substantially middle portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion to the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion of the upper side peripheral wall of the preliminary folding airbag is the gas flow It is desirable to arrange the front side of the rear edge of the entrance.
  Further, the fold of the valley fold along the left-right direction provided at a substantially intermediate portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion to the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion of the upper side peripheral wall of the pre-folded airbag is the gas flow It is desirable to arrange the front side of the front edge of the entrance.
[0009]
[0010]
  The second airbag device for a passenger seat according to the present invention is arranged in an instrument panel by allowing an airbag, which is folded and accommodated in a case, to inflate inflation gas from a gas inlet during deployment. The door is pushed open and protrudes, expands and expands to the rear side of the vehicle,
  The airbag is
  As a shape when the expansion and expansion of the single body is completed, the occupant side wall portion arranged along the substantially vertical direction on the occupant side, and the lower lower portion narrowed in a substantially conical shape from the outer peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion to the vehicle front side A peripheral wall portion having a side peripheral wall and an upper side peripheral wall on the upper side, and a front side of the lower side peripheral wall in the peripheral wall portion at the time of completion of expansion and expansion alone. The gas inlet is arranged as an opening surface along a substantially horizontal direction, the gas inlet peripheral edge is arranged along the substantially horizontal direction together with the opening surface of the gas inlet, and attached to the case,
  After pre-folding and flattening the airbag in the front-rear and left-right directions so as to be parallel to the opening surface of the gas inlet, the front and rear portions of the gas inlet are respectively creased along the left-right direction, Performing horizontal folding that folds so as to approach the gas inlet side, and vertical folding that folds the left and right parts of the gas inlet along the front-rear direction and folds so as to approach the gas inlet, A passenger airbag device housed in the case,
  As a direction in which front / rear / left / right / up / down corresponds to front / rear / left / right / up / down of the vehicle, the upper edge of the occupant side wall and the lower edge of the occupant side wall As pointed out,
  The airbag has a flexible first base fabric that forms the peripheral wall portion, and a substantially circular second base that approximates a flexible regular hexagonal shape that forms the occupant side wall portion. A cloth, and
  The first base cloth has a bowl shape in which two upper and lower cloths having a substantially hexagonal shape are connected to each other so as to be recessed near the center of the left and right sides, and the upper cloth is an upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. Consists of almost the entire area And the lower cloth constitutes substantially the entire area of the lower peripheral wall of the peripheral wall,
  The airbag sews the left and right edges in the vicinity of the fold that is folded and overlapped at the fold provided between the upper cloth and the lower cloth, and the upper cloth and the lower cloth It is configured to be formed by stitching the outer peripheral edge of the second base fabric to the remaining peripheral edge that is not sewn together,
  At the time of preliminary folding in the airbag,
  A substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet in the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion, and the lower edge of the occupant side wall portion Grip the center of the left and right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet,
  A protruding top portion that protrudes forward is formed at a substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion on the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. like,
  By separating them from each other, a pre-folded pre-folded airbag can be formed.
  The preliminary folding shape at the end of preliminary folding of the airbag is
  The vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall is disposed at a position above the gas inlet facing the gas inlet in the vertical direction, and the vicinity of the left edge, the right edge, and the lower side of the occupant side wall. The substantially entire area of the occupant side wall portion excluding a part with the vicinity of the edge is overlaid on the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, and is developed flat in the front, rear, left and right in parallel with the opening surface of the gas inlet,
  The left and right portions of the gas inlet in the peripheral wall portion are substantially intermediate portions along the left-right direction to the left and right edges of the occupant side wall portion that are flatly spread, and the gas inlet along the left-right direction. And a fold fold in the valley fold along the front-rear direction, the fold fold in which the protruding top is arranged on the front end side. Attached, folded,
  A substantially intermediate portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion to the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion in the upper-side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion has a valley fold along the left-right direction, and the fold is the gas flow Arranged in the vicinity of the rear edge of the inlet, folded into the occupant side wall portion side of the periphery of the gas inlet,
  The part from the front side part of the gas inlet to the protruding top part in the peripheral wall part is valley-folded with a fold along the left-right direction so as to approach the gas inlet side,
  The peripheral wall portion is folded symmetrically about the gas inlet,
  It is characterized by its shape.
[0011]
[0012]
[0013]
[0014]
  In the third passenger seat airbag device according to the present invention, the airbag stored in a folded state in the case allows the inflation gas to flow from the gas inlet when the airbag is deployed and inflated. The door is pushed open and protrudes, expands and expands to the rear side of the vehicle,
  The airbag is
  As a shape when the expansion and expansion of the single body is completed, the occupant side wall portion arranged along the substantially vertical direction on the occupant side, and the lower lower portion narrowed in a substantially conical shape from the outer peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion to the vehicle front side A peripheral wall portion having a side peripheral wall and an upper side peripheral wall on the upper side, and a front side of the lower side peripheral wall in the peripheral wall portion at the time of completion of expansion and expansion alone. The gas inlet is arranged as an opening surface along a substantially horizontal direction, the gas inlet peripheral edge is arranged along the substantially horizontal direction together with the opening surface of the gas inlet, and attached to the case,
  After pre-folding and flattening the airbag in the front-rear and left-right directions so as to be parallel to the opening surface of the gas inlet, the front and rear portions of the gas inlet are respectively creased along the left-right direction, Performing horizontal folding that folds so as to approach the gas inlet side, and vertical folding that folds the left and right parts of the gas inlet along the front-rear direction and folds so as to approach the gas inlet, A passenger airbag device housed in the case,
  The front / rear / left / right / up / down direction corresponds to the front / rear / left / right / up / down direction of the vehicle, and the upper edge of the occupant side wall and the lower edge of the occupant side wall As pointing to the part,
  The airbag has a flexible first base fabric that forms the peripheral wall portion, and a substantially circular second base that approximates a flexible regular hexagonal shape that forms the occupant side wall portion. A cloth, and
  The first base cloth has a bowl shape in which two upper and lower cloths having a substantially hexagonal shape are connected to each other so as to be recessed near the center of the left and right sides, and the upper cloth is an upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. The lower cloth constitutes the substantially entire area of the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall part,
  The airbag sews the left and right edges in the vicinity of the fold that is folded and overlapped at the fold provided between the upper cloth and the lower cloth, and the upper cloth and the lower cloth It is configured to be formed by stitching the outer peripheral edge of the second base fabric to the remaining peripheral edge that is not sewn together,
  At the time of preliminary folding in the airbag,
  The substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet in the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the passenger side wall portion, and the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion Gripping the center of the left and right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet,
  A protruding top portion that protrudes forward is formed at a substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion on the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. like,
  By separating them from each other, a pre-folded pre-folded airbag can be formed.
  The preliminary folding shape at the end of preliminary folding of the airbag is
  The vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall is disposed at a position above the gas inlet facing the gas inlet in the vertical direction, and the vicinity of the left edge and the right edge of the occupant side wall. A substantially entire region of the occupant side wall portion excluding a part is overlapped above the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, and is developed flat in the front, rear, left and right in parallel with the opening surface of the gas inlet,
  The left and right portions of the gas inlet in the peripheral wall portion are substantially intermediate portions along the left-right direction to the left and right edges of the occupant side wall portion that are flatly spread, and the gas inlet along the left-right direction. And a fold fold in the valley fold along the front-rear direction, the fold fold in which the protruding top is arranged on the front end side. Attached, folded,
  The occupant at the periphery of the gas inlet is formed by a substantially middle portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion to the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion in the upper side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, with a valley fold along the left-right direction. Folded into the side wall,
  The part from the front side part of the gas inlet to the protruding top part in the peripheral wall part is valley-folded with a fold along the left-right direction so as to approach the gas inlet side,
  Further, the portion near the rear end of the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion is provided with a tuck with a mountain fold fold along the left-right direction, and is provided below the gas inlet and the occupant side wall portion in the lower side peripheral wall. Covering from the lower side around the middle part of the front and rear direction with the edge,
  The vicinity of the rear end of the peripheral wall portion is located near a substantially intermediate portion in the front-rear direction between the gas inlet and the lower edge of the occupant side wall portion on the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. Folded so as to be disposed on the passenger side wall side of
  The peripheral wall portion is folded symmetrically about the gas inlet,
  It is characterized by its shape.
[0015]
  A fourth passenger seat airbag device according to the present invention is arranged in an instrument panel by inflating an inflated gas from a gas inlet when an airbag folded and housed in a case is inflated. The door is pushed open and protrudes, expands and expands to the rear side of the vehicle,
  The airbag is
  As a shape when the expansion and expansion of the single body is completed, the occupant side wall portion arranged along the substantially vertical direction on the occupant side, and the lower lower portion narrowed in a substantially conical shape from the outer peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion to the vehicle front side A peripheral wall portion having a side peripheral wall and an upper side peripheral wall on the upper side, and a front side of the lower side peripheral wall in the peripheral wall portion at the time of completion of expansion and expansion alone. Along the horizontal direction The gas inlet is disposed as an open surface, the gas inlet peripheral edge is disposed along the substantially horizontal direction together with the opening surface of the gas inlet, and is attached to the case.
  After pre-folding and flattening the airbag in the front-rear and left-right directions so as to be parallel to the opening surface of the gas inlet, the front and rear portions of the gas inlet are respectively creased along the left-right direction, Performing horizontal folding that folds so as to approach the gas inlet side, and vertical folding that folds the left and right parts of the gas inlet along the front-rear direction and folds so as to approach the gas inlet, A passenger airbag device housed in the case,
  As a direction in which front / rear / left / right / up / down corresponds to front / rear / left / right / up / down of the vehicle, the upper edge of the occupant side wall and the lower edge of the occupant side wall As pointed out,
  The airbag has a flexible first base fabric that forms the peripheral wall portion, and a substantially circular second base that approximates a flexible regular hexagonal shape that forms the occupant side wall portion. A cloth, and
  The first base cloth has a bowl shape in which two upper and lower cloths having a substantially hexagonal shape are connected to each other so as to be recessed near the center of the left and right sides, and the upper cloth is an upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. The lower cloth constitutes the substantially entire area of the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall part,
  The airbag sews the left and right edges in the vicinity of the fold that is folded and overlapped at the fold provided between the upper cloth and the lower cloth, and the upper cloth and the lower cloth It is configured to be formed by stitching the second base fabric to the remaining peripheral edges that are not stitched together,
  At the time of preliminary folding in the airbag,
  A substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet in the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion, and the lower edge of the occupant side wall portion Grip the center of the left and right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet,
  A protruding top portion that protrudes forward is formed at a substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion on the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. like,
  By separating them from each other, a pre-folded pre-folded airbag can be formed.
  The preliminary folding shape at the end of preliminary folding of the airbag is
  A portion in the vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall on the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall is disposed at a position above the gas inlet facing the gas inlet in the vertical direction, and the upper edge of the occupant side wall is , Disposed behind the rear edge of the gas inlet,
  The gas inlet is configured such that substantially the entire area of the occupant side wall portion except for a portion of the occupant side wall portion in the vicinity of a left edge, a right edge, and a lower edge is overlaid on the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. It is deployed flat in the front, back, left, and right parallel to the opening surface of
  The left and right portions of the gas inlet in the peripheral wall portion are substantially intermediate portions along the left-right direction to the left and right edges of the occupant side wall portion that are flatly spread, and the gas inlet along the left-right direction. And a fold fold in the valley fold along the front-rear direction, the fold fold in which the protruding top is arranged on the front end side. Attached, folded,
  The occupant at the periphery of the gas inlet is formed by a substantially middle portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion to the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion in the upper side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, with a valley fold along the left-right direction. Folded into the side wall,
  The part from the front side part of the gas inlet to the protruding top part in the peripheral wall part is valley-folded with a fold along the left-right direction so as to approach the gas inlet side,
  The peripheral wall portion is folded symmetrically about the gas inlet,
  It is characterized by its shape.
[0016]
  In this specification, front, rear, left, right, up and down are directions corresponding to front, rear, left, right, up and down of the vehicle, with a passenger seat airbag device mounted on a straight traveling vehicle, The lower edge of the occupant side wall is based on the state when the airbag is deployed and inflated as a single unit.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
  In the airbag device for a passenger seat according to the present invention, at the time of deployment and inflation, the airbag is deployed and inflated while allowing the inflation gas to flow in from the gas inlet and canceling the folds of horizontal folding and vertical folding. Become. At this time, when the airbag is pre-folded, a portion near the upper edge of the passenger side wall is disposed at a position facing the gas inlet, so that the upper edge of the passenger side wall opposite the gas inlet is located. As a result of the pressing force of the inflation gas at the beginning of the inflow, the occupant side wall portion is substantially pushed up earlier than other parts such as the lower edge side portion of the occupant side wall portion. It becomes easy to arrange along the vertical direction.
[0018]
  And if the site | part vicinity of the upper edge of this passenger | crew side wall part is pushed up strongly, it can contribute also to canceling a fold of a horizontal fold or a vertical fold quickly, and it becomes possible also to expand | deploy a passenger | crew side wall part widely. .
[0019]
  Therefore, according to the present invention1st to 4thIn the passenger airbag device, when the airbag is deployed and inflated, the occupant side wall that is substantially perpendicular to the gas inlet periphery can be quickly arranged along the substantially vertical direction. It is possible to deploy the airbag in a wide open state so that a partial pressing force is not applied.
[0020]
  And,At the time of preliminary folding of the airbag, it is only necessary to unfold the substantially entire region of the occupant side wall portion and fold the peripheral wall portion side, so that the preliminary folding operation can be easily performed. In addition, since almost the entire area of the occupant side wall portion is flatly deployed during preliminary folding, the occupant side is more widely expanded vertically and horizontally when the airbag is inflated than when the occupant wall portion is folded. The movement speed of the occupant side wall portion toward the occupant side can be further suppressed.
  Furthermore, since the peripheral wall portion is folded symmetrically about the gas inlet, the preliminary folding work is facilitated.
  Furthermore, in the pre-folded shape of the airbag, when the airbag is pre-folded, from the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet in the peripheral wall portion to the center in the left-right direction on the upper edge of the passenger side wall portion. By gripping the substantially intermediate portion and the central portion in the left and right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet in the peripheral wall portion and the occupant side wall portion, and pulling in the front-rear direction so as to separate the grip portions, the peripheral wall can be smoothly The left and right parts of the gas inlet in the front part are folded with valley folds along the front-rear direction, and the part near the connection part of the peripheral wall part with the upper edge of the occupant side wall part in the left-right direction. It is a shape that can be folded with a valley fold. Therefore, since the peripheral wall can be easily preliminarily folded by simply grasping and pulling a predetermined portion of the peripheral wall or the occupant side wall, the prefolding operation can be further simplified.
  In this case, as described in claim 2, valley folding along the left-right direction provided at a substantially intermediate portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion of the upper side peripheral wall of the pre-folded airbag to the upper edge of the passenger side wall portion. If the fold is arranged on the front side of the rear edge of the gas inlet, the gas inlet can easily face the area near the upper edge of the occupant side wall, Since the pressing force of the inflation gas that pushes up the vicinity of the edge can be increased by directly acting on the vicinity of the upper edge, the occupant side wall can be more easily arranged along the vertical direction. .
  Also, at this time, as described in claim 3, valley folding along the left-right direction provided at a substantially intermediate portion in the front-rear direction from the projecting top portion of the upper side peripheral wall of the preliminary folding airbag to the upper edge of the passenger side wall portion. If the fold is arranged in front of the front edge of the gas inlet, the connecting portion of the peripheral wall portion with the upper edge of the occupant side wall is not arranged at a position facing the gas inlet. It becomes easier for the entrance to directly face the vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall.
[0021]
  Also,The upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall is folded forward from the front and rear edges of the gas inlet.WithoutIn some cases, the gas inlet is folded so as to close the gas inlet.That is, according to claim 3 LikeThe upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall is folded so as to be interposed between the gas inlet and the vicinity of the upper edge of the passenger side wall so as to block the gas inlet, and in the vicinity of the rear edge of the gas inletInIs placed, foldedEvenThe following actions and effects can be obtained.
[0022]
  That is, the upper side peripheral wall in the peripheral wall portion is folded forward from the vicinity of the rear edge of the gas inlet, and is not folded so as to greatly extend rearward from the gas inlet. Therefore, if the inflation gas flows in from the gas inlet, the vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall is pushed up through the upper side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall, and the upper side peripheral wall itself of the peripheral wall also Pushed up. At that time, the upper side peripheral wall in the peripheral wall portion is lifted and is released from the gas inflow port. As a result, the vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion is in a state directly facing the gas inlet, and the occupant side wall portion can be easily disposed along the substantially vertical direction.
[0023]
  Therefore,Claim 4With this configuration, even if the upper side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion is interposed between the gas inlet and the vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion, the occupant side wall portion can be quickly moved along the substantially vertical direction. Does not interfere with the effect of being placed. Of course, if the upper side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion is folded forward from the rear edge of the gas inlet, the occupant side wall portion can be further quickly arranged along the substantially vertical direction. If the upper side peripheral wall in the section is folded forward from the front edge of the gas inlet, the occupant side wall can be further quickly arranged along the substantially vertical direction.
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027]
[0028]
  further,Claim 5When the gas inlet is formed in the lower peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, the portion near the rear end in the peripheral wall portion is provided with a tuck with a crease in the mountain fold along the left-right direction. Covering from the lower side near the substantially middle part in the front-rear direction between the front edge of the passenger side wall and the lower edge of the occupant side wall, the vicinity of the middle part between the gas inlet and the lower edge of the occupant side wall is below the occupant side wall. It is folded so as to be close to the edge side and arranged on the side of the occupant side wall near the rear end of the peripheral wall, and such a folded shape provides a tack on the rear side of the gas inlet in the peripheral wall. Thus, it is a shape which folds a surrounding wall part and expand | deploys substantially the whole region of a passenger | crew side wall part flatly. Therefore, even if the distance from the gas inlet of the airbag to the occupant side wall becomes longer and the length dimension in the front-rear direction on the lower side of the peripheral wall part becomes longer, by adjusting the length of the tack, The bag can be easily pre-folded.
[0029]
  When the distance from the gas inlet of the airbag to the occupant side wall is increased, the upper peripheral edge along the front-rear direction from the front edge of the gas inlet to the upper edge of the occupant side wall in the peripheral wall This can be easily dealt with by making the length dimension in the front-rear direction of the part to be folded by attaching a fold along the direction, or by adding the folds in multiple stages.
[0030]
  Furthermore, with respect to the pre-folded shape, the part disposed at a position facing the gas inlet, that is, the part in the vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall part may be the part of the occupant side wall part itself, or the peripheral wall part side. It may be the site of. AndOpposite the gas inletWhen the vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall is a part on the peripheral wall side,Claim 6As described above, the upper edge of the passenger side wall portion may be arranged on the rear side of the rear edge of the gas inlet. In such a configuration, a portion of the peripheral wall portion in the vicinity of the upper edge side of the occupant side wall portion is strongly pushed up first in advance at the initial stage of deployment and inflation of the airbag. And since the passenger | crew side wall part has arrange | positioned the upper edge side in the vicinity of the site | part facing a gas inlet, it arrange | positions so that it may follow a substantially vertical direction quickly with the expansion | deployment of the site | part facing a gas inlet. Is done. At that time, since the upper edge itself of the occupant side wall portion is arranged on the rear side from the rear edge of the gas inlet, the occupant side wall portion in the middle of expansion and expansion is in a state in which the height upward is suppressed, It will be arranged in a substantially vertical direction. As a result, the occupant side wall portion disposed in the substantially vertical direction during the expansion and expansion moves to the rear side while the height is suppressed. Such a behavior of the airbag makes it possible to protect the occupant accurately without applying a partial pressing force to the occupant when the height of the seated occupant is low.
[0031]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0032]
  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the passenger seat airbag apparatus M of the embodiment is a top mount type that is disposed inside the upper surface 1 a side of the surface of the instrument panel (instrument panel) 1. The airbag device M includes a folded airbag 10, an inflator 54 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 10, a case 56 that stores and holds the airbag 10 and the inflator 54, and the airbag 10 in the case 56. The retainer 51 for attaching, the airbag cover 67 which covers the folded airbag 10, and the two pressing plates 65 for connecting the airbag cover 67 to the case 56 firmly are comprised.
[0033]
  The retainer 51 for attaching the airbag 10 to the case 56 is made of a square annular sheet metal and includes a plurality of bolts 51a extending downward at a predetermined position. The retainer 51 allows each bolt 51a to be inserted into a mounting hole 22 (to be described later) of the airbag 10 and to be inserted into a case 56 and a bottom wall portion 59 and a lateral plate portion 65a (to be described later) of the presser plate 65 so that each bolt 51a has a nut. By screwing 51b, the case 56 is attached.
[0034]
  The inflator 54 is housed and held in a lower chamber 61 (described later) of the case 56 as a cylinder type.
[0035]
  The airbag cover 67 is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer such as an olefin type or an ester type, and is arranged so as to close the opening 2 that opens in the rectangular shape of the instrument panel 1. The side wall portion 71 has a substantially rectangular tube shape extending downward from the lower surface. The ceiling wall portion 68 is provided with two thin door portions (doors) 69 on the inner side surrounded by the side wall portion 71 with a thinly planned portion 70 to be broken around. The planned fracture portion 70 is arranged in a substantially H shape when viewed from above the ceiling wall portion 68. When each door portion 69 is pushed by the airbag 10 when inflated and is broken, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. Will open on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. A plurality of locking legs 68a projecting downward are formed on the front and rear edges of the ceiling wall portion 68 of the vehicle. Each locking leg 68 a is locked to the lower surface side of the flange portion 3 provided with a step on the periphery of the opening 2 of the instrument panel 1. In the side wall portion 71, a plurality of locking holes 71a penetrating in the front-rear direction of the vehicle are formed in parts in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and using these locking holes 71a and the presser plate 65, The side wall 71 is connected to an upper chamber 57 described later of the case 56.
[0036]
  The presser plate 65 is formed of a sheet metal and has a L-shaped cross section including a horizontal plate portion 65a and a vertical plate portion 65b extending upward from the end portion of the horizontal plate portion 65a. Are arranged respectively. Each horizontal plate portion 65a is formed with a through-hole (not shown) through which each bolt 51a of the retainer 51 is inserted, and the upper end of each vertical plate portion 65b is inserted into a locking projection 58a described later of the case 56. It is made possible.
[0037]
  The case 56 is made of sheet metal and includes a rectangular parallelepiped upper chamber 57 having an upper opening and a lower chamber 61 disposed on the lower side of the case 56 so as to communicate with the upper chamber 57.
[0038]
  The upper chamber 57 includes a peripheral wall portion 58 having a substantially square cylindrical shape, and a bottom wall portion 59 disposed at the lower portion of the peripheral wall portion 58. A plurality of locking projections 58 a inserted into the locking holes 71 a of the airbag cover side wall 71 are formed on the peripheral wall 58 so as to protrude outward. The bottom wall 59 is formed with through holes (not shown) through which the bolts 51a of the retainer 51 are inserted, and the bottom plate 59a of the holding plate 65 is formed on the bottom surface of the vehicle in the front-rear direction. Will be placed in contact with each other.
[0039]
  The lower chamber 61 includes a peripheral wall portion 62 having a substantially rectangular tube shape that extends downward from the inner end portion of the bottom wall portion 59, and a bottom wall portion 63 that closes the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 62. A nut 63 a for attaching the case 56 to the body 5 is attached to the bottom wall portion 63. The bottom wall 63 is attached to the bracket 5b extending from the reinforcement 5a on the body 5 side, and the bolt 6 is screwed into the nut 63a through a connection hole (not shown) provided in the bracket 5b. Therefore, it is attached to the bracket 5b.
[0040]
  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the airbag 10 has an occupant side wall portion 11 that is disposed along the substantially vertical direction on the occupant side, and an outer peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion 11, as a shape when a single body is expanded and inflated. And a peripheral wall portion 18 that narrows in a substantially conical shape on the vehicle front side. A gas that opens in a rectangular shape so that inflation gas G (see FIG. 4) flows into the airbag 10 on the front side of the lower peripheral wall 19, which is the lower side of the peripheral wall 18 when deployment and inflation are completed. An inflow port 20 is provided.
[0041]
  In the case of the embodiment, a rectifying cloth 39 that changes the flow of the inflation gas G flowing into the airbag 10 is disposed inside the airbag 10 so as to cover the gas inlet 20.
[0042]
  A plurality of mounting holes 22 pass through the peripheral edge 21 of the gas inlet 20, and the bolts 51 a of the retainer 51 are inserted into the mounting holes 22, so that the airbag 10 is connected to the case 56. The bottom wall 59 is held. In addition, vent holes 34 for exhausting excess inflation gas are provided in the left and right side portions of the peripheral wall 18. Further, a reinforcing cloth 37 woven from a substantially square annular yarn such as polyester or polyamide is disposed in the vicinity of the mounting hole 22 around the gas inlet 20 on the inner peripheral surface side of the airbag 10.
[0043]
  When the airbag 10 is held on the case bottom wall 59 by the retainer 51, the case 56 is attached to the body 5, and the airbag apparatus M is mounted on the vehicle, the opening surface of the gas inlet 20 is The front edge 21a side of the opening peripheral edge 21 is slightly higher than the rear edge 21b side, and the opening peripheral edge 21 is arranged along the substantially horizontal direction together with the opening peripheral edge 21 (see FIG. 16).
[0044]
  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the airbag 10 is manufactured by stitching first and second base fabrics 35 and 36 woven from yarns such as polyester and polyamide. Is formed in a bowl shape in which both right and left edges near the center are recessed as a shape obtained by connecting two substantially regular hexagonal cloth materials (upper side portion 35a and lower side portion 35e). It is formed in a substantially circular shape approximating a substantially regular hexagonal shape. These base fabrics 35 and 36 are set so that the three-dimensional airbag 10 can be sewn by a flat stitching operation.
[0045]
  In addition, the 2nd base fabric 36 comprises the substantially whole region of the passenger | crew side wall part 11 of the airbag 10, and the 1st base fabric 35 comprises the substantially whole region of the surrounding wall part 18 of the airbag 10. FIG. Furthermore, the upper side portion 35 a of the first base fabric 35 constitutes substantially the entire area of the upper side peripheral wall 29 that is the upper side of the peripheral wall portion 18, and the lower side portion 35 e of the first base fabric 35 is the lower side of the peripheral wall portion 18. Thus, substantially the entire lower side peripheral wall 19 is formed.
[0046]
  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rectifying cloth 39 has a shape larger than the front, rear, left and right dimensions of the gas inlet 20 so as to cover the gas inlet 20 in the airbag 10, and the airbag 10 is deployed and inflated. Sometimes, the cross-sectional shape in the front-rear direction facing the vicinity of the center of the gas inlet 20 is an arcuate curved shape that swells upward away from the gas inlet 20.
[0047]
  In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the rectifying cloth 39 is configured as a rectifying cloth material 38 woven from yarns such as polyester and polyamide before being attached to the airbag 10. The material 38 includes an opening 38a corresponding to the gas inflow port 20, and includes band portions 38b and 38b extending from both sides of the opening 38a in the left-right direction of the vehicle. Is formed. The straightening cloth material 38 is also provided with a hole (not shown) corresponding to the mounting hole 22.
[0048]
  The manufacture of the airbag 10 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 5A and 6A, the opening periphery 21 of the gas inlet 20 on the inner peripheral surface side of the airbag 10 in the first base cloth 35 is sewn. The reinforcing cloth 37 and the rectifying cloth material 38 are stitched together using the thread S. Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the end portions of the belt portion 38b of the flow regulating cloth material 38 are sewn into an arc shape by using the suture S, and the flow regulating fabric 39 is formed into a predetermined shape.
[0049]
  Thereafter, at both left and right edges of the first base fabric 35 in the vicinity of the gas inlet 20, as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the first reference extending in the left-right direction between the upper side portion 35a and the lower side portion 35e. Folded at the line L1, and using the suture S, the reference line L1The crease made at the positionOne straight side edge portions 35b and 35f of the upper and lower side portions 35a and 35e in the vicinity of each other are stitched together, and the other straight one edge portions 35c and 35g are stitched together.
[0050]
  Next, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6D, the upper and lower side portions 35a and 35e are stitched together by bending at the second reference line L2 extending in the left and right direction at the position where the upper portion 35a bulges in the left and right direction. The remaining peripheral edges 35d and 35h are spread so as to be separated from each other. The outer shape obtained by expanding the remaining peripheral edges 35d and 35h is the same as the outer shape of the second base fabric 36.
[0051]
  Then, as shown in FIG. 6D and E, the airbag 10 can be formed in a bag shape by stacking the second outer fabric 36 and stitching the stacked outer peripheral edges together using the suture S. it can.
[0052]
  Further, after the airbag 10 is formed in a bag shape so that the seam allowance for stitching each part is not exposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the airbag 10, the airbag 10 is turned over using the gas inlet 20.
[0053]
  In addition, when it is difficult to turn over using the gas inlet 20, the work of stitching the end portions of the band part 38b of the flow regulating cloth material 38 is performed after the airbag 10 is turned over, You may make it carry out by pulling out from the inflow port 20. FIG.
[0054]
  The mounting of the airbag 10 manufactured as described above on the vehicle will be described. First, the airbag 10 is folded in a state in which the retainer 51 is disposed inside the mounting hole 22 so that the bolt 51a protrudes from the mounting hole 22. Further, the folded airbag 10 is wrapped with a wrapping sheet (not shown) that can be broken so as not to collapse.
[0055]
  Then, the airbag 10 is folded through a preliminary folding process and then a horizontal folding process and a vertical folding process.
[0056]
  In the preliminary folding step, a preliminary folded airbag 40 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is formed. In this preliminary folding, the vicinity 16 of the upper edge 12 in the occupant side wall 11 is disposed above the gas inlet 20 so as to face the gas inlet 20 in the vertical direction (see FIG. 13). The occupant side wall 11 is overlapped above the lower side peripheral wall 19 of the peripheral wall 18 and is flattened in the front, rear, left and right so as to be parallel to the opening surface of the gas inlet 20. Further, in the case of the embodiment, the peripheral wall portion 18 side is folded, and the substantially entire area of the occupant side wall portion 11 except for the vicinity of the left edge 14 and the right edge 15 of the occupant side wall portion 11 is gas flow. It is pre-folded so as to be flattened back and forth and left and right so as to be parallel to the opening surface of the inlet 20.
[0057]
  In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 13, the preliminary folding of the peripheral wall 18 includes the left and right portions 23 and 24 of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall 18, and the occupant side wall upper edge 12 in the peripheral wall 18. And the vicinity part 30 of the connecting part in the front-rear direction are folded with valley folds CL, CR, and CH. That is, the folding of the left side portion 23 and the right side portion 24 of the gas inlet 20 is substantially intermediate in the left-right direction to the left and right edges 14 and 15 of the occupant side wall portion 11 that is flatly developed. The parts 23a and 24a are made to approach the gas inlet 20 along the left-right direction (the creases CL and CR are brought closer to each other) and arranged on the occupant side wall 11 side of the gas inlet peripheral edge 21, The right side parts 23 and 24 are made to be folded with valley folds CL and CR along the front-rear direction. Further, the folding of the vicinity portion 30 on the upper edge 12 side in the peripheral wall portion 18 is performed from the projecting top portion 31 on the front end side of the fold CL / CR in the front-rear direction in the upper side peripheral wall 29 to the upper edge 12 of the occupant side wall portion. A substantially intermediate portion 29a along the front-rear direction is brought close to the gas inlet 20, and is disposed on the passenger side wall 11 side of the gas inlet peripheral edge 21 so that the upper edge vicinity portion 30 is valley-folded along the left-right direction. A crease CH is attached and folded. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the fold CH is disposed on the front side from the rear edge 21 b of the gas inlet 20.
[0058]
  Such pre-folding is performed at a substantially intermediate portion along the front-rear direction from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge 21a side of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall 18 to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the upper edge 12 of the occupant side wall. And the central portion 26a in the left-right direction of the rear portion 26 of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall 18 and is pulled in the front-rear direction so as to separate the gripped portions 31 and 26a from each other. This can be done. The gripping portion 26a of the rear side portion 26 is desirably as close as possible to the lower edge 13 of the occupant side wall 11 as much as possible so that substantially the entire region of the occupant side wall 11 can be unfolded flat during preliminary folding.
[0059]
  In the case of the embodiment, in the portion 32 from the front side portion 25 of the gas inlet 20 to the protruding top portion 31 in the peripheral wall portion 18, the opening peripheral edge 21 of the gas inlet 20 is flattened so as to be parallel to the passenger side wall portion 11. In order to approach the gas inlet 20 side,Make a crease along the horizontal directionThe valley is folded.
[0060]
  Further, in the pre-folded airbag 40 of the embodiment, the valley fold creases CH · 32 in the upper side peripheral wall 29, which is the portion on the upper side of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall portion 18, are shown in FIGS. In addition, the gas inlet 20 is disposed in front of the rear edge 21b. That is, in the pre-folded airbag 40, the upper peripheral wall 29, which is a portion on the upper side of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall portion 18, is folded and arranged on the front side from the rear edge 21b of the gas inlet 20. It will be.
[0061]
  After the preliminary folding in this way, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 14, A and B, and A and B in FIG. 15, the rear side portion 41 and the front side of the gas inlet 20 in the prefolded airbag 40 About the part 42, a crease | fold along a left-right direction is made and a side fold is performed so that the edge part 41a * 42a may approach the gas inflow port 20. FIG. In the case of the embodiment, the rear side portion 41 is a roll fold in which the rear end 41a is wound around the lower peripheral wall 19 side and placed on the occupant side wall 11 side. Further, the front side portion 42 is accordion folded.
[0062]
  After the lateral folding, the left side portion 43 and the right side portion 44 of the gas inlet 20 in the airbag 10 after the lateral folding step are arranged in the front-rear direction as shown in FIGS. A longitudinal fold is performed so that the ends 43a and 44a are brought close to the gas inlet 20 with a fold along the line. In the case of the embodiment, the left and right side portions 43 and 44 are accordion folded to be placed on the occupant side wall 11 side after the end portions 43 a and 44 a side are folded back to the lower side peripheral wall 19 side.
[0063]
  When the folding of the airbag 10 is completed through the vertical folding process, as described above, the folded airbag 10 is wrapped with a wrapping sheet (not shown) that can be broken so as not to collapse.
[0064]
  The inflator 54 is stored in the lower chamber 61 of the case 56 and the folded airbag 10 is placed in the upper chamber 57 so that the bolts 51 a of the retainer 51 protrude from the bottom wall portions 59 of the case 56. Further, from above, the side wall 71 of the airbag cover 67 is externally attached to the upper chamber 57, and the locking projections 58 a of the peripheral wall 58 are inserted into the locking holes 71 a of the side wall 71.
[0065]
  Next, the upper end of each vertical plate portion 65 b is inserted into the locking projection 58 a protruding from the side wall portion 71, and the bolt 51 a is inserted into each horizontal plate portion 65 a so that the press plate 65. The airbag apparatus M can be assembled by disposing 65 and further screwing the nut 51b into each bolt 51a.
[0066]
  The passenger seat airbag device M assembled in this manner is inserted through the opening 2 of the instrument panel 1 in a state of being assembled to the vehicle, and the locking legs 68a are locked to the flange portion 3, and the bracket 5b is fixed. Then, if the bolt 6 is screwed into the nut 63a and the case 56 is connected to the body 5, it can be mounted on the vehicle.
[0067]
  If the inflation gas G is discharged from the inflator 54 after the airbag device M is mounted on the vehicle, the airbag 10 is inflated to break a wrapping sheet (not shown) and to be broken in the airbag cover 67. By breaking 70 and opening the door portions 69 and 69 as shown by the two-dot chain lines in FIGS. 2 and 16, the case upper chamber 57 is projected greatly. In addition, the member of the code | symbol W of FIG. 16 is a windshield.
[0068]
  In the airbag apparatus M according to the embodiment, the airbag 10 is deployed and inflated while causing the inflation gas G to flow in from the gas inflow port 20 and canceling the folds in the horizontal and vertical folds. It becomes.
[0069]
  In that case, in the airbag 10 of the embodiment, the upper edge vicinity portion 16 that is in the vicinity of the upper edge 12 of the occupant side wall 11 is located above the gas inlet 20 facing the gas inlet 20 at the time of preliminary folding. Since it is disposed, the region 16 near the upper edge of the occupant side wall 11 that faces the gas inlet 20 is urged by the pressing force F (see FIGS. 11 to 13) of the inflation gas G at the beginning of the inflow. Compared to other parts such as the part on the lower edge 13 side, the occupant side wall part 11 is easily placed along the substantially vertical direction since it is strongly pushed upward in advance. In the case of the embodiment, the pressing force F of the inflation gas G is the flow straightening cloth 39, the valley fold part 32 of the peripheral wall part 18, the upper edge vicinity part 30 (intermediate part 29a) of the peripheral wall part 18, It acts on the upper edge vicinity portion 16 of the occupant side wall portion 11 with the vicinity of the left and right intermediate portions 23a and 24a of the peripheral wall portion 18 interposed.
[0070]
  And if the upper edge vicinity part 16 of this passenger | crew side wall part 11 is pushed up strongly, it can contribute also to canceling a fold of a side fold or a vertical fold quickly, and can also expand | deploy the passenger | crew side wall part 11 widely. It becomes.
[0071]
  Therefore, in the passenger airbag device M of the embodiment, the passenger side wall portion 11 that is in a state substantially orthogonal to the gas inlet peripheral edge 21 when the airbag 10 is deployed and inflated is quickly arranged along the substantially vertical direction. In addition, the airbag 10 can be deployed in a wide open state so that a partial pressing force does not act on the occupant side.
[0072]
  Furthermore, in the embodiment, when the airbag 10 is pre-folded, substantially the entire area of the occupant side wall 11 is expanded flat, the peripheral wall 18 side is folded, and the occupant side wall 11 is not folded. The preliminary folding operation of the airbag 10 can be easily performed. Further, in the embodiment, when the airbag 10 is preliminarily folded, since substantially the entire area of the occupant side wall 11 is flattened, compared with the case where the occupant wall 11 is folded, when the airbag 10 is deployed and inflated, It becomes easy to move to the occupant side in a state where the occupant side wall portion 11 is widely deployed vertically and horizontally, and the moving speed of the occupant side wall 11 to the occupant side can be further suppressed.
[0073]
  Furthermore, in the embodiment, the upper side peripheral wall 29 that is a portion on the upper side of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall portion 18 is folded forward of the rear edge 21b of the gas inlet 20, and the gas inlet It is not folded so as to extend largely rearward from 20. Therefore, when the inflation gas G flows from the gas inlet 20, the upper edge vicinity portion 16 of the occupant side wall 11 is pushed up through the upper side peripheral wall 29, and the upper side peripheral wall 29 itself is also pushed up. It will be. At that time, the upper side peripheral wall 29 is released from the gas inlet 20 as it is pushed up to bend. As a result, the upper edge vicinity portion 16 of the occupant side wall portion 11 directly faces the gas inflow port 20, and the occupant side wall portion 11 is easily disposed along the substantially vertical direction.
[0074]
  Furthermore, in the embodiment, when the peripheral wall portion 18 of the airbag 10 is pre-folded, the left and right side portions 23 and 24 of the gas inlet 20 are respectively left and right of the occupant side wall portion 11 that is flatly deployed. The intermediate portions 23a and 24a along the left-right direction up to the edges 14 and 15 are arranged close to the gas inlet 20 and on the occupant side wall 11 side of the gas inlet peripheral edge 21 so that the valley folds along the front-rear direction Folded with creases CL and CR. Furthermore, the vicinity site | part 30 of the connection site | part connected with the upper edge 12 of the passenger | crew side wall part 11 in the surrounding wall part 18 in the front-back direction is creased, attaching the valley crease | fold CH along the left-right direction. That is, since the peripheral wall portion 18 of the airbag 10 is folded symmetrically about the gas inlet 20, the preliminary folding operation is facilitated.
[0075]
  Particularly, the preliminary folding shape of the peripheral wall portion 18 is a substantially intermediate portion 31 from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge 21a side of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall portion 18 to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the upper edge 12 of the passenger side wall portion. And the central portion 26a in the left-right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall portion 18 and can be smoothly performed by pulling in the front-rear direction so as to separate the grip portions 31 and 26a from each other. Therefore, the pre-folding operation can be further simplified.
[0076]
  Furthermore, in the embodiment, a substantially intermediate portion (valley fold portion) 29 a in which the valley fold crease CH of the upper side peripheral wall 29 is formed is disposed on the front side from the rear edge 21 b of the gas inlet 20. Therefore, the gas inlet 20 can easily directly face the upper edge vicinity portion 16 of the occupant side wall portion 11, and the pressing force F of the inflation gas G that pushes up the upper edge vicinity portion 16 of the occupant side wall portion 11 is increased. It can be increased by acting directly on the upper edge vicinity portion 16. As a result, it becomes easier to arrange the occupant side wall 11 further along the vertical direction.
[0077]
  In the embodiment, a portion (valley fold portion) 32 from the front side portion 25 of the gas inlet 20 to the protruding top portion 31 in the peripheral wall portion 18 is disposed on the rear side from the front edge 21a of the gas inlet 20, Opposite the gas inlet 20. However, the valley fold portion 32 is disposed in the vicinity of the gas inlet 20, and does not affect the pressing force F of the inflation gas G that pushes up the portion 16 near the upper edge of the occupant side wall 11. Absent.
[0078]
  Further, as shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, regarding the preliminary folding of the peripheral wall portion 18, the airbag 10 </ b> A may be preliminary folded to form the preliminary folding airbag 40 </ b> A. The airbag 10 </ b> A is formed in the same shape as the airbag 10 by using the first and second base cloths 35 and 36 and the rectifying cloth material 38, similarly to the airbag 10 of the embodiment.
[0079]
  In the pre-folded airbag 40A in which the airbag 10A is pre-folded, the pre-folding is performed so that the protruding top portion 31 protrudes largely to the front side, and the preliminary folding unfolds substantially the entire area of the occupant side wall 11. In the state, a substantially intermediate portion 31 along the front-rear direction from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge 21a side of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall 18 to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction at the upper edge 12 of the occupant side wall, 18 and grips the vicinity 26a in the left-right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet 20, and pulls in the front-rear direction so as to separate the gripping portions 31 and 26a. At that time, the gripping portion 31 side is pulled largely. Therefore, it is pre-folded. In the preliminary folded airbag 40A, the width dimension in the left-right direction is slightly smaller than that of the preliminary folded airbag 40 due to the protruding top 31 protruding forward.
[0080]
  In the preliminary folding airbag 40A, as shown in FIG. 19, the valley fold crease CH along the left-right direction in the vicinity 30 of the peripheral wall portion 18 with the occupant side wall portion upper edge 12 is formed at the gas inlet 20. It arrange | positions ahead from the rear edge 21b.
[0081]
  Further, as shown in A, B, C, and D of FIG. 21, the preliminary folding airbag 40A is similar to the preliminary folding airbag 40, and the rear side portion 41 of the gas inlet 20 in the preliminary folding airbag 40A. With respect to the front side portion 42, a fold is formed along the left-right direction, and the end portions 41a and 42a are laterally folded by roll folding and bellows folding so as to approach the gas inlet 20, and then a lateral folding step The left side portion 43 and the right side portion 44 of the gas inlet port 20 are folded in the longitudinal direction so that the end portions 43a and 44a are close to the gas inlet port 20 with a crease along the front-rear direction. .
[0082]
  After the airbag 10A is folded, the airbag 10A is assembled to the airbag apparatus M and mounted on the vehicle in the same manner as the airbag 10.
[0083]
  In the airbag 10A, the same actions and effects as those of the airbag 10 described above can be obtained during deployment and inflation. Further, in the airbag 10A, the upper side of the pre-folded pre-folded airbag 40APerimeter wallThe substantially intermediate portion (valley fold portion) 29 a forming the 29 valley fold crease CH is disposed on the front side of the front edge 21 a of the gas inlet 20 and is not disposed at a position facing the gas inlet 20. It becomes. Therefore, the gas inflow port 20 is directly and more directly located near the upper edge of the occupant side wall 11.16Facing each other easily. In the preliminary folding airbag 40A, in fact, the pressing force F of the inflation gas G is in the state where the vicinity of the occupant side wall portion is interposed between the flow straightening cloth 39 and the left and right intermediate portions 23a and 24a of the peripheral wall portion 18. 11 is acting on the vicinity 16 of the upper edge.
[0084]
  Moreover, regarding the preliminary folding of the peripheral wall portion 18, as shown in FIGS. 22 to 27, the airbag 10B may be preliminary folded to form the preliminary folding airbag 40B. The airbag 10 </ b> B is formed in the same shape as the airbag 10 using the first and second base cloths 35 and 36 and the rectifying cloth material 38, similarly to the airbag 10 of the embodiment.
[0085]
  In the pre-folded airbag 40B in which the airbag 10B is pre-folded, the rear side portion of the gas inlet 20 has the rear side portion 26 of the peripheral wall portion 18 and the vicinity of the rear edge 13 of the occupant side wall portion 11, and the rear side. The occupant side wall 11 is preliminarily folded so as to be disposed on the rear side of the gas inlet 20. The preliminary folding is performed in a state in which a substantially entire region of the occupant side wall portion 11 is flattened, and from the vicinity of the center in the left and right direction on the front edge 21a side of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall portion 18 This is performed by gripping and pulling the substantially intermediate portion 31 up to the vicinity of the center and the center vicinity 13a in the left-right direction at the lower edge 13 of the occupant side wall 11. The gripping part 13a is a part on the rear side of the gripping part 26a in the airbag 10 or 10A described above. In other words, in the airbag 10B, the occupant side wall 11 is shifted rearward, the gripping portions 31 and 13a are gripped, and the gripping portions 31 and 13a are separated from each other, and the preliminary folding is performed. Can do. At that time, in the airbag 10B, the gripping portion 13a side is pulled greatly. In this pre-folded airbag 40B, the grip portion 13a protrudes greatly toward the rear side, so that the length dimension in the front-rear direction of the rear-side portion 42 is made larger than that of the pre-folded airbag 40.
[0086]
  In the preliminary folded airbag 40B, a portion that is disposed at a position facing the gas inflow port 20 is constituted by a portion 29b in the vicinity of the upper edge 12 of the occupant side wall portion 11 in the peripheral wall portion 18, and the occupant The upper edge 12 of the side wall part 11 is arranged behind the rear edge 21 b of the gas inlet 20.
[0087]
  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 28A, B, and C, the preliminary folded airbag 40B is arranged along the left-right direction with respect to the rear portion 41 and the front portion 42 of the gas inlet 20 in the preliminary folded airbag 40B. Make a crease and fold it sideways. Specifically, the rear side portion 41 is folded so that the end portion 41 a approaches the gas inlet port 20, and the front side portion 42 is folded back so that the end portion 42 a approaches the gas inlet port 20. ing. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 28D, the left and right side portions 43 and 44 of the gas inlet 20 are folded along the front-rear direction, and the ends 43 a and 44 a are connected to the gas inlet 20. Fold it vertically so that it approaches.
[0088]
  Then, after the airbag 10B is folded, as shown in FIG. 29, the airbag 10B is assembled to the airbag apparatus M and mounted on the vehicle, similarly to the airbags 10 and 10A.
[0089]
  In the airbag 10B, at the time of preliminary folding, in the vicinity of the upper edge that is in the vicinity of the upper edge 12 side of the occupant side wall 11 in the peripheral wall 18 at a position above the gas inlet 20 that faces the gas inlet 20. The part 29b is arranged. Therefore, at the initial stage of the inflation and inflation of the airbag 10B, the upper edge vicinity portion 29b is strongly pushed upward by the pressing force F (see FIGS. 24 and 26) of the inflation gas G at the beginning of the inflow. . And since the passenger | crew side wall part 11 has arrange | positioned the upper edge 12 side in the vicinity of the upper edge vicinity site | part 29b, with the expansion | deployment of the upper edge vicinity site | part 29b facing the gas inflow port 20, it is quick in a substantially vertical direction. It will be arranged along. At that time, since the upper edge 12 itself of the occupant side wall 11 is arranged on the rear side from the rear edge 21b of the gas inlet 20, the occupant side wall 11 in the middle of the expansion and expansion is suppressed in height upward. In this state, they are arranged in a substantially vertical direction. As a result, the occupant side wall portion 11 arranged in the substantially vertical direction in the middle of deployment and expansion moves to the rear side in a state where the height is suppressed as shown in FIG. Such a behavior of the airbag 10B makes it possible to protect the occupant accurately without applying partial pressing force to the occupant when the height of the seated occupant is low.
[0090]
  Further, in the airbag 10B, as in the airbag 10 and 10A described above, since the substantially entire region of the occupant side wall portion 11 is flattened and the peripheral wall portion 18 side is folded, the airbag 10 and 10A described above is folded. The same actions and effects can be obtained.
[0091]
  Furthermore, regarding the preliminary folding of the peripheral wall 18, as shown in FIGS. 31 to 34, the airbag 10 </ b> C may be preliminarily folded to form the prefolded airbag 40 </ b> C. Airbag10CIs formed in the same shape as the airbags 10, 10 A, and 10 B using the first and second base fabrics 35, 36, and the rectifying cloth material 38 in the same manner as the airbags 10, 10 A, and 10 B described above. .
[0092]
  In the pre-folded airbag 40C obtained by pre-folding the airbag 10C, the valley fold crease CH in the peripheral wall portion 18 is pre-folded so as to be arranged on the rear side from the rear edge 21b of the gas inlet 20. The preliminary folding is performed in a state in which a substantially entire region of the occupant side wall portion 11 is flattened, and from the vicinity of the center in the left and right direction on the front edge 21a side of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall portion 18 This is performed by gripping and pulling the substantially intermediate portion 31 up to the vicinity of the center and the center vicinity 13a in the left-right direction at the lower edge 13 of the occupant side wall 11. The gripping part 13a is a part on the rear side of the gripping part 26a in the airbag 10 or 10A described above. That is, in the airbag 10C, the occupant side wall 11 is shifted rearward, the gripping portions 31 and 13a are gripped, and the gripping portions 31 and 13a are separated from each other and pulled in the front-rear direction to perform preliminary folding. Can do. At that time, in the airbag 10C, the grip portion 13a side is pulled greatly.
[0093]
  In this pre-folded airbag 40C, although the valley fold crease CH in the peripheral wall 18 is arranged on the rear side from the rear edge 21b of the gas inlet 20, the crease CH is in the vicinity of the rear edge 21b. Has been placed. That is, in the pre-folded airbag 40C, the upper side peripheral wall 29 of the peripheral wall portion 18 is folded and arranged on the front side from the vicinity of the rear edge 21b of the gas inlet 20.
[0094]
  Further, as shown in A, B, C, and D of FIG. 35, the preliminary folding airbag 40C is folded by performing horizontal folding and vertical folding in the same manner as the preliminary folding airbag 40B. Specifically, the rear side portion 41 of the gas inlet 20 in the pre-folded airbag 40B is roll-folded with a fold along the left-right direction so that the end 41a approaches the gas inlet 20. The front portion 42 of the inflow port 20 is folded back so that the end portion 42 a approaches the gas inflow port 20. Thereafter, the left side portion 43 and the right side portion 44 of the gas inlet 20 are folded in the longitudinal direction so that the end portions 43a and 44a approach the gas inlet 20 with a crease along the front-rear direction. .
[0095]
  Then, after the airbag 10C is folded, it is assembled to the airbag device M and mounted on the vehicle in the same manner as the airbags 10, 10A, and 10B.
[0096]
  In this airbag 10C, in the pre-folded airbag 40C, the valley fold crease CH in the peripheral wall portion 18 is arranged on the rear side from the rear edge 21b of the gas inlet 20, so that the pressing force of the inflation gas G is increased. F cannot be directly applied to the upper edge vicinity portion 16 as in the above-described airbag 10 or 10A. However, in the airbag 10C, in the pre-folded airbag 40C, the upper side peripheral wall 29 of the peripheral wall portion 18 is folded and arranged in the range from the vicinity of the rear edge 21b of the gas inlet 20 to the front side. Therefore, if inflation gas flows in from the gas inlet 20, the upper edge peripheral portion 16 is pushed up through the upper side peripheral wall 29 and the upper side peripheral wall 29 itself is also pushed up. At that time, the upper side peripheral wall 29 is released from the gas inlet 20 as it is pushed up to bend. That is, even if the valley fold crease CH in the peripheral wall portion 18 is arranged on the rear side of the rear edge 21b of the gas inlet 20, the upper side peripheral wall 29 cancels the folding, and the upper edge of the passenger side wall portion 11 The vicinity part 16 will be in the state which opposes the gas inflow port 20 directly. As a result, it becomes easy to arrange the occupant side wall 11 along the substantially vertical direction.
[0097]
  Further, in the airbag 10C, similar to the airbag 10 · 10A described above, since the substantially entire region of the occupant side wall portion 11 is flattened and the peripheral wall portion 18 is folded, the airbag 10 · 10A described above is Similar actions and effects can be obtained.
[0098]
  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 36, as the shape of the airbag itself, in the preliminary folding of the airbag 10D in which the shape at the time of completion of inflation is elongated in the front-rear direction, preliminary folding is performed as follows.
[0099]
  As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the airbag 10D has a longer distance in the front-rear direction from the gas inlet 20 to the occupant side wall 11 than the airbag 10. That is, the one edge part 35b * 35f * 35c * 35g which the upper part 35a and the lower side part 35e in the 1st base cloth 35 mutually approached is comprised longer than the corresponding | compatible part of the 1st base cloth 35 of the airbag 10. FIG. ing. Also airbag10DThe second base fabric 36 is also configured such that the overall outer shape is slightly larger than the second base fabric 36 of the airbag 10. The airbag 10D is only slightly different from the airbag 10 in the above-described dimensions and shape, and the same members and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. And if these structural members 35, 36, 37, and 38 are sewn using the suture S similarly to the airbag 10, the airbag 10D can be manufactured.
[0100]
  The preliminary folding for forming the preliminary folding airbag 40D from the airbag 10D is performed in the same manner as the preliminary folding in the airbags 10 and 10A. That is, as shown in FIGS. 38 to 42, the airbag 10 </ b> D is preliminarily folded in the left-right direction on the side of the front edge 21 a of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall 18 in a state in which substantially the entire area of the occupant side wall 11 is flattened. A substantially intermediate portion 31 along the front-rear direction from the vicinity of the center of the occupant side wall portion upper edge 12 to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction, and a center portion 26a in the left-right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall portion Grasping and pulling in the front-rear direction so as to separate the gripping portions 31 and 26a, and connecting the left and right portions 23 and 24 of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall portion 18 to the upper edge 12 of the occupant side wall portion in the peripheral wall portion 18 Fold the folds CL, CR, CH of the valley folds to the vicinity 30 of the part and fold it. In this case, the grip location 26 a of the rear portion 26 behind the gas inlet 20 is a location away from the lower edge 13 of the occupant side wall 11. Then, a rear end vicinity portion 27 closer to the occupant side wall lower edge 13 than the gripping portion 26a is covered with the gripping portion 26a from the lower side, and a mountain fold crease CM along the left-right direction is attached, and the folding is performed. Can be completed.
[0101]
  As shown in FIG. 43, the pre-folded airbag 40D that has completed the pre-folding has a rear side portion 41 and a front side portion 42 of the gas inlet 20 in the pre-folded airbag 40D, similarly to the pre-folded airbags 40 and 40A. For each of the above, a fold along the left and right direction is made, and the ends 41a and 42a are folded sideways by roll fold and bellows fold so as to approach the gas inlet 20, and then the gas flow after the side fold process The left side portion 43 and the right side portion 44 of the inlet 20 are folded in a vertical direction so that the end portions 43a and 44a are close to the gas inflow port 20 with a fold along the front-rear direction.
[0102]
  Then, after the airbag 10D is folded, it is assembled to the airbag apparatus M and mounted on the vehicle in the same manner as the airbags 10, 10A, 10B, and 10C.
[0103]
  In the airbag 10D, the same functions and effects as those of the embodiment can be obtained at the time of deployment and inflating. Further, the prefolded preliminarily folded airbag 40D is provided with a gas inlet 20 in the lower peripheral wall 19 of the peripheral wall portion 18. 26b (gripping location 26a) along the front-rear direction between the occupant side wall portion and the lower edge 13 of the occupant side wall portion approaches the lower edge 13 side of the occupant side wall portion 11, and the occupant of the rear end vicinity portion 27 in the peripheral wall portion 18 It is folded so that it may be arrange | positioned at the side wall part 11 side. That is, such a folded shape is a shape in which the circumferential wall portion 18 is folded so that the tack 28 is provided on the rear side of the gas inlet 20 in the circumferential wall portion 18 so that substantially the entire area of the occupant side wall portion 11 is flattened. . Therefore, even if the distance from the gas inlet 20 of the airbag 10D to the occupant side wall 11 becomes longer and the length dimension in the front-rear direction of the lower side peripheral wall 19 of the peripheral wall part 18 becomes longer, the front-rear direction of the tack 28 is increased. By adjusting the length dimension, the airbag 10D can be easily pre-folded.
[0104]
  When the distance from the gas inlet 20 to the occupant side wall 11 becomes longer as in the airbag 10D, from the front edge 21a side of the gas inlet 20 in the peripheral wall 18 to the upper edge 12 of the occupant side wall 11 In the upper side peripheral wall 29 along the front-rear direction, it is easy if the length dimension in the front-rear direction of the portion 29a to be folded with the crease CH along the left-right direction is increased or the valley folds are provided in multiple stages. Can deal with. Incidentally, in the airbag 10D, the folding portion 29a is lengthened in the front-rear direction to cope with it.
[0105]
  In the airbag 10 of the embodiment, the inflation gas G flows from the gas inlet 20 during deployment and inflates, pushes up the upper edge vicinity portion 16 in the occupant side wall 11, and then the rectifying cloth 39 protrudes upward. When the gas G expands in a curved manner, the expansion gas G interferes with the rectifying cloth 39 and branches into a gas GF flowing toward the front side of the vehicle and a gas GB flowing toward the rear side (see FIG. 4). ). At that time, the rectifying cloth 39 has a cross-sectional shape in the vehicle front-rear direction facing the gas inlet 20 when the expansion gas G flows in a curved shape that swells away from the gas inlet 20. Therefore, the expansion gas G flowing in from the gas inlet 20 interferes with the portion of the rectifying cloth 39 facing the gas inlet 20, and the expansion gas GB flowing toward the vehicle rear side follows the curve of the rectifying cloth 39. Thus, the airbag 10 is deployed not in parallel to the instrument panel upper surface 1a but in a direction toward the upper surface 1a side of the instrument panel 1 to deploy the airbag 10. As a result, the folded portion 41 of the airbag 10 is directed to the rear side as much as possible along the upper surface 1a of the instrument panel 1, and the occupant side wall 11 can be further widened.
[0106]
  Note that, in the airbag 10E that is configured in the same manner as the airbag 10 without the rectifying cloth 39 and is mounted on the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 16 becomes a mode which protrudes greatly and will arrange | position the passenger | crew side wall part 11 so that it may follow a perpendicular direction quickly.
[0107]
  Further, in the airbags 10, 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D of the embodiment, after the preliminary folding, the lateral folding is first performed, and then the vertical folding is performed to complete the folding process. Fold and then fold horizontally, or after preliminary folding, insert a vertical folding process in the middle of the horizontal folding process, then restart the horizontal folding process to complete the folding, After folding, a vertical folding process may be performed, a horizontal folding process may be performed in the middle of the vertical folding process, and then the vertical folding process may be resumed to complete the folding.
[0108]
  Further, with respect to the lateral folding after the preliminary folding, the front side portion 42 is folded not by bellows folding but by roll folding in which the end 42a is wound around the occupant side wall 11, as shown in FIG. The front part 42 may be disposed above the folded rear part 41. In addition, as shown in FIG. 46, the front part 42 may be arranged on the front side of the folded rear part 41 so as to be arranged below the rear part 41 where the end 42a is folded.
[0109]
  Further, regarding the vertical folding after the preliminary folding, as shown in FIG. 21D, the bellows folding or the normal roll folding in which the end portions 43a and 44a of the left and right side portions 43 and 44 are not wound may be used. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an instrument panel equipped with a passenger seat airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in the vehicle front-rear direction showing how the embodiment is used.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state in which the airbag used in the embodiment is inflated alone.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in the vehicle front-rear direction in a state where the airbag used in the embodiment is inflated alone.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing members constituting the airbag used in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a manufacturing process of the airbag used in the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a fold when the airbag used in the embodiment is pre-folded.
FIG. 8 shows a state after the airbag used in the embodiment is pre-folded, as viewed from the gas inlet side.
FIG. 9 is a view of the airbag used in the embodiment after being pre-folded, as viewed from the side of the occupant side wall.
10 is an end view of the XX portion in FIG. 8. FIG.
11 is an end view of the XI-XI site in FIG. 8. FIG.
12 is an end view of the XII-XII site in FIG. 8. FIG.
13 is an end view of the XIII-XIII site in FIG. 8. FIG.
FIG. 14 is a view showing a folding step after preliminary folding of the airbag used in the embodiment.
15 is a view showing a step of folding the airbag used in the embodiment, showing a step subsequent to FIG. 14. FIG.
FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment, showing a state viewed from the side of the vehicle.
FIG. 17 shows a state after the airbag according to another embodiment is pre-folded, as viewed from the gas inlet side.
18 is a view of the pre-folded airbag shown in FIG. 17 as viewed from the side of the occupant side wall.
FIG. 19 is an end view of the XIX-XIX portion of FIG.
20 is a perspective view showing a fold when the pre-folded airbag shown in FIG. 17 is pre-folded. FIG.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a folding process after preliminary folding in the airbag shown in FIG. 17;
FIG. 22 shows the airbag according to still another embodiment after being pre-folded, as viewed from the gas inlet side.
23 is a view of the pre-folded airbag shown in FIG. 22 as viewed from the side of the occupant side wall.
24 is an end view of the XXIV-XXIV site in FIG. 22. FIG.
25 is an end view of the XXV-XXV site in FIG.
26 is an end view of the XXVI-XXVI portion of FIG.
27 is a perspective view showing a fold when the preliminary folding airbag shown in FIG. 22 is pre-folded. FIG.
28 is a view showing a folding process after preliminary folding in the airbag shown in FIG. 22. FIG.
29 is a diagram showing a lateral fold of the airbag shown in FIG. 22. FIG.
30 is a view showing a state where the airbag shown in FIG. 22 is inflated and inflated.
FIG. 31 shows a state after the airbag according to another embodiment is pre-folded, as viewed from the gas inlet side.
32 is a view of the pre-folded airbag shown in FIG. 31 as viewed from the side of the occupant side wall.
33 is an end view of the XXXIII-XXXIII site in FIG. 31. FIG.
34 is a perspective view showing a fold when the preliminary folding airbag shown in FIG. 31 is pre-folded. FIG.
35 is a diagram showing a folding step after preliminary folding in the airbag shown in FIG. 31. FIG.
FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view in the vehicle front-rear direction in a state where an airbag according to still another embodiment is inflated alone.
37 is a plan view showing members constituting the airbag shown in FIG. 36. FIG.
38 is a perspective view showing a fold when the airbag shown in FIG. 36 is pre-folded. FIG.
FIG. 39 is a view as seen from the gas inlet side after the airbag shown in FIG. 36 is pre-folded.
40 is a view of the pre-folded airbag shown in FIG. 39 as viewed from the occupant side wall.
41 is an end view of the portion XXXXI-XXXXI in FIG. 39. FIG.
42 is an end view of the XXXXII-XXXXII site in FIG. 39. FIG.
43 is a view showing a folding step after the airbag shown in FIG. 36 is pre-folded. FIG.
FIG. 44 is a diagram showing lateral folding of an airbag according to still another embodiment.
FIG. 45 is a diagram showing a lateral fold of an airbag according to still another embodiment.
FIG. 46 is a diagram showing a lateral fold of an airbag according to still another embodiment.
FIG. 47 is a view showing a deployed and inflated state of an airbag according to still another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
  1 ... (Instrument panel) Instrument panel,
  10 · 10A · 10B · 10C · 10D · 10E… Airbag,
  11 ... occupant side wall,
  12 ... Upper edge,
  13 ... Bottom edge,
  14 ... Left edge,
  15 ... Right edge,
  16 ... the vicinity of the upper edge (of the passenger side wall),
  18 ... peripheral wall,
  19 ... (lower side) lower peripheral wall,
  20 ... gas inlet,
  21 ... (Gas inlet periphery) Open edge,
  23 ... Left side part,
  23a, 24a, 26b, 29a ... intermediate part,
  24 ... right side part,
  26 ... rear part,
  27: Near rear end region,
  30 ... the vicinity of the upper edge (of the peripheral wall),
  40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D ... Pre-folded airbag,
  CL / CR: Folds (valley folds along the longitudinal direction)
  CH ... folds (valley folds along the left-right direction)
  G ... expansion gas,
  F ... Pressing force
  M ... Airbag device for passenger seat.

Claims (6)

ケース内に折り畳まれて収納されたエアバッグが、展開膨張時、ガス流入口から膨張用ガスを流入させて、インストルメントパネルに配置されたドアを押し開いて突出し、車両の後方側へ展開膨張するとともに、
前記エアバッグが、
単体での展開膨張完了時の形状として、乗員側で略鉛直方向に沿って配置される乗員側壁部と、該乗員側壁部の外周縁から車両前方側に略円錐状に狭まって下部側の下部側周壁と上部側の上部側周壁とを有して構成される周壁部と、を備える形状とするとともに、単体での展開膨張完了時の前記周壁部における前記下部側周壁の前部側に、略水平方向に沿う開口面として前記ガス流入口を配置させ、前記ガス流入口周縁を、前記ガス流入口の開口面とともに略水平方向に沿うように配置させて、前記ケースに取り付ける構成として、
予備折りして前記エアバッグを前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行とするように前後左右に平らにした後に、前記ガス流入口の前後の部位をそれぞれ左右方向に沿う折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口側に接近させるように折る横折りと、前記ガス流入口の左右の部位をそれぞれ前後方向に沿う折目を付けて前記ガス流入口に接近させるように折る縦折りとを行って、前記ケース内に収納される助手席用エアバッグ装置であって、
前後左右上下が車両の前後左右上下に対応する方向として、前記乗員側壁部の上縁と前記乗員側壁部の下縁とが、前記エアバッグの単体での展開膨張完了時における配置位置の部位を指すものとして、
前記エアバッグが、前記周壁部を形成する可撓性を有した第１基布と、前記乗員側壁部を形成する可撓性を有した略正六角形状に近似した略円形状の第２基布と、から構成され、
前記第１基布が、略六角形状の二つの上側布と下側布とを連結させて左右の中央付近を凹ませた瓢箪形とするとともに、前記上側布が、前記周壁部の上部側周壁の略全域を構成し、前記下側布が、前記周壁部の下部側周壁の略全域を構成し、
前記エアバッグが、前記上側布と前記下側布との間に設けた折目で折って重ねた折目近傍の左右両縁を、相互に縫合し、前記上側布と前記下側布との相互に縫合していない残部周縁に、前記第２基布の外周縁を縫合することにより、形成される構成とし、
前記エアバッグにおける予備折り時、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位と、前記周壁部の下部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の後方側の左右方向の中央付近と、を把持し、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位に、前方に突出する突出頂部を形成するように、
相互を離すことにより、予備折りした予備折りエアバッグを形成可能に、
前記エアバッグの予備折り終了時の予備折り形状が、
前記乗員側壁部における上縁の近傍部位が、前記ガス流入口と上下方向で対向する前記ガス流入口の上方位置に、配置されるとともに、前記乗員側壁部の左縁付近と右縁付近との一部を除く前記乗員側壁部の略全域が、前記周壁部の前記下部側周壁の上方に重ねられて、前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行に前後左右に平らに展開され、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の左右の部位が、それぞれ、平らに展開された前記乗員側壁部の左右の縁までの左右方向に沿った略中間部位を、左右方向に沿って前記ガス流入口に接近させるとともに、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に配置させて、前後方向に沿う谷折りの折目であって、前端側に前記突出頂部を配置させた谷折りの折目を付けて、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部の前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位が、左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記 乗員側壁部側に、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の前方側部位から前記突出頂部までの部位が、前記ガス流入口側に接近するように、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて谷折りされて、
前記周壁部が、前記ガス流入口を中心として左右対称形に折り畳まれている、
形状としていることを特徴とする助手席用エアバッグ装置。When the airbag stored in the case is expanded and inflated, the inflation gas flows in from the gas inlet, pushes open the door located on the instrument panel, protrudes, and expands and inflates toward the rear of the vehicle. And
The airbag is
As a shape when the expansion and expansion of the single body is completed, the occupant side wall portion arranged along the substantially vertical direction on the occupant side, and the lower lower portion narrowed in a substantially conical shape from the outer peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion to the vehicle front side A peripheral wall portion having a side peripheral wall and an upper side peripheral wall on the upper side, and a front side of the lower side peripheral wall in the peripheral wall portion at the time of completion of expansion and expansion alone. The gas inlet is arranged as an opening surface along a substantially horizontal direction, the gas inlet peripheral edge is arranged along the substantially horizontal direction together with the opening surface of the gas inlet, and attached to the case,
After pre-folding and flattening the airbag in the front-rear and left-right directions so as to be parallel to the opening surface of the gas inlet, the front and rear portions of the gas inlet are respectively creased along the left-right direction, Performing horizontal folding that folds so as to approach the gas inlet side, and vertical folding that folds the left and right parts of the gas inlet along the front-rear direction and folds so as to approach the gas inlet, A passenger seat airbag device housed in the case,
As a direction in which front / rear / left / right / up / down corresponds to front / rear / left / right / up / down of the vehicle, the upper edge of the occupant side wall and the lower edge of the occupant side wall As pointed out,
The airbag has a flexible first base fabric that forms the peripheral wall portion, and a substantially circular second base that approximates a flexible regular hexagonal shape that forms the occupant side wall portion. A cloth, and
The first base cloth has a bowl shape in which two upper and lower cloths having a substantially hexagonal shape are connected to each other so as to be recessed near the center of the left and right sides, and the upper cloth is an upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. The lower cloth constitutes the substantially entire area of the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall part,
The airbag sews the left and right edges in the vicinity of the fold that is folded and overlapped at the fold provided between the upper cloth and the lower cloth, and the upper cloth and the lower cloth It is configured to be formed by stitching the outer peripheral edge of the second base fabric to the remaining peripheral edge that is not sewn together,
At the time of preliminary folding in the airbag ,
The substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet in the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the passenger side wall portion, and the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion Gripping the center of the left and right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet,
A protruding top portion that protrudes forward is formed at a substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion on the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. like,
By separating them from each other, a pre-folded pre-folded airbag can be formed.
The preliminary folding shape at the end of preliminary folding of the airbag is
The vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall is disposed at a position above the gas inlet facing the gas inlet in the vertical direction, and the vicinity of the left edge and the right edge of the occupant side wall. A substantially entire region of the occupant side wall portion excluding a part is overlaid on the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, and is developed flat in the front, rear, left and right in parallel with the opening surface of the gas inlet,
The left and right portions of the gas inlet in the peripheral wall portion are substantially intermediate portions along the left-right direction to the left and right edges of the occupant side wall portion that are flatly spread, and the gas inlet along the left-right direction. And a fold fold in the valley fold along the front-rear direction, the fold fold in which the protruding top is arranged on the front end side. Attached, folded,
Wherein substantially intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction from the projecting top to the occupant side wall on the edge, with a fold of valley fold along the lateral direction in the upper side wall of the peripheral wall portion, the occupant of the gas inlet port periphery Folded into the side wall,
The part from the front side part of the gas inlet to the protruding top part in the peripheral wall part is valley-folded with a fold along the left-right direction so as to approach the gas inlet side,
The peripheral wall portion is folded symmetrically about the gas inlet,
An airbag device for a passenger seat, characterized in that it is shaped . 前記予備折りエアバッグの前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位に設けられた左右方向に沿う谷折りの前記折目が、前記ガス流入口の後縁より、前方側に配置されていることを特徴とする請求項１に記載の助手席用エアバッグ装置。 The fold of the valley fold along the left-right direction provided at a substantially intermediate portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion to the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion of the upper-side peripheral wall of the preliminary folding airbag is the gas inlet. The airbag device for a passenger seat according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag device is disposed on the front side of the rear edge. 前記予備折りエアバッグの前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位に設けられた左右方向に沿う谷折りの前記折目が、前記ガス流入口の前縁より、前方側に配置されていることを特徴とする請求項２に記載の助手席用エアバッグ装置。 The fold of the valley fold along the left-right direction provided at a substantially intermediate portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion to the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion of the upper side peripheral wall of the preliminary folding airbag is the gas inlet The airbag device for a passenger seat according to claim 2 , wherein the airbag device is disposed in front of the front edge. ケース内に折り畳まれて収納されたエアバッグが、展開膨張時、ガス流入口から膨張用ガスを流入させて、インストルメントパネルに配置されたドアを押し開いて突出し、車両の後方側へ展開膨張するとともに、
前記エアバッグが、
単体での展開膨張完了時の形状として、乗員側で略鉛直方向に沿って配置される乗員側壁部と、該乗員側壁部の外周縁から車両前方側に略円錐状に狭まって下部側の下部側周壁と上部側の上部側周壁とを有して構成される周壁部と、を備える形状とするとともに、単体での展開膨張完了時の前記周壁部における前記下部側周壁の前部側に、略水平方向に沿う開口面として前記ガス流入口を配置させ、前記ガス流入口周縁を、前記ガス流入口の開口面とともに略水平方向に沿うように配置させて、前記ケースに取り付ける構成として、
予備折りして前記エアバッグを前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行とするように前後左右に平らにした後に、前記ガス流入口の前後の部位をそれぞれ左右方向に沿う折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口側に接近させるように折る横折りと、前記ガス流入口の左右の部位をそれぞれ前後方向に沿う折目を付けて前記ガス流入口に接近させるように折る縦折りとを行って、前記ケース内に収納される助手席用エアバッグ装置であって、
前後左右上下が車両の前後左右上下に対応する方向として、前記乗員側壁部の上縁と前記乗員側壁部の下縁とが、前記エアバッグの単体での展開膨張完了時における配置位置の部位を指すものとして、
前記エアバッグが、前記周壁部を形成する可撓性を有した第１基布と、前記乗員側壁部を形成する可撓性を有した略正六角形状に近似した略円形状の第２基布と、から構成され、
前記第１基布が、略六角形状の二つの上側布と下側布とを連結させて左右の中央付近を凹ませた瓢箪形とするとともに、前記上側布が、前記周壁部の上部側周壁の略全域を構成し、前記下側布が、前記周壁部の下部側周壁の略全域を構成し、
前記エアバッグが、前記上側布と前記下側布との間に設けた折目で折って重ねた折目近傍の左右両縁を、相互に縫合し、前記上側布と前記下側布との相互に縫合していない残部周縁に、前記第２基布の外周縁を縫合することにより、形成される構成とし、
前記エアバッグにおける予備折り時、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位と、前記乗員側壁部の下縁における前記ガス流入口の後方側の左右方向の中央付近と、を把持し、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位に、前方に突出する突出頂部を形成するように、
相互を離すことにより、予備折りした予備折りエアバッグを形成可能に、
前記エアバッグの予備折り終了時の予備折り形状が、
前記乗員側壁部における上縁の近傍部位が、前記ガス流入口と上下方向で対向する前記 ガス流入口の上方位置に、配置されるとともに、前記乗員側壁部の左縁付近と右縁付近と下縁付近との一部を除く前記乗員側壁部の略全域が、前記周壁部の前記下部側周壁の上方に重ねられて、前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行に前後左右に平らに展開され、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の左右の部位が、それぞれ、平らに展開された前記乗員側壁部の左右の縁までの左右方向に沿った略中間部位を、左右方向に沿って前記ガス流入口に接近させるとともに、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に配置させて、前後方向に沿う谷折りの折目であって、前端側に前記突出頂部を配置させた谷折りの折目を付けて、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部の前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位が、左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目を付け、かつ、該折目を前記ガス流入口の後縁近傍に配置させて、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の前方側部位から前記突出頂部までの部位が、前記ガス流入口側に接近するように、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて谷折りされて、
前記周壁部が、前記ガス流入口を中心として左右対称形に折り畳まれている、
形状としていることを特徴とする助手席用エアバッグ装置。When the airbag stored in the case is expanded and inflated, the inflation gas flows in from the gas inlet, pushes open the door located on the instrument panel, protrudes, and expands and inflates toward the rear of the vehicle. And
The airbag is
As a shape when the expansion and expansion of the single body is completed, the occupant side wall portion arranged along the substantially vertical direction on the occupant side, and the lower lower portion narrowed in a substantially conical shape from the outer peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion to the vehicle front side A peripheral wall portion having a side peripheral wall and an upper side peripheral wall on the upper side, and a front side of the lower side peripheral wall in the peripheral wall portion at the time of completion of expansion and expansion alone. The gas inlet is arranged as an opening surface along a substantially horizontal direction, the gas inlet peripheral edge is arranged along the substantially horizontal direction together with the opening surface of the gas inlet, and attached to the case,
After pre-folding and flattening the airbag in the front-rear and left-right directions so as to be parallel to the opening surface of the gas inlet, the front and rear portions of the gas inlet are respectively creased along the left-right direction, Performing horizontal folding that folds so as to approach the gas inlet side, and vertical folding that folds the left and right parts of the gas inlet along the front-rear direction and folds so as to approach the gas inlet, A passenger seat airbag device housed in the case,
As a direction in which front / rear / left / right / up / down corresponds to front / rear / left / right / up / down of the vehicle, the upper edge of the occupant side wall and the lower edge of the occupant side wall As pointed out,
The airbag has a flexible first base fabric that forms the peripheral wall portion, and a substantially circular second base that approximates a flexible regular hexagonal shape that forms the occupant side wall portion. A cloth, and
The first base cloth has a bowl shape in which two upper and lower cloths having a substantially hexagonal shape are connected to each other so as to be recessed near the center of the left and right sides, and the upper cloth is an upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. The lower cloth constitutes the substantially entire area of the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall part,
The airbag sews the left and right edges in the vicinity of the fold that is folded and overlapped at the fold provided between the upper cloth and the lower cloth, and the upper cloth and the lower cloth It is configured to be formed by stitching the outer peripheral edge of the second base fabric to the remaining peripheral edge that is not sewn together,
At the time of preliminary folding in the airbag ,
A substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet in the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion, and the lower edge of the occupant side wall portion Grip the center of the left and right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet,
A protruding top portion that protrudes forward is formed at a substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion on the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. like,
By separating them from each other, a pre-folded pre-folded airbag can be formed.
The preliminary folding shape at the end of preliminary folding of the airbag is
A portion near the upper edge of the occupant side wall is disposed at a position above the gas inlet facing the gas inlet in the vertical direction, and the vicinity of the left edge, the right edge, and the lower side of the occupant side wall. The substantially entire area of the occupant side wall portion excluding a part with the vicinity of the edge is overlaid on the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, and is developed flat in the front, rear, left and right in parallel with the opening surface of the gas inlet,
The left and right portions of the gas inlet in the peripheral wall portion are substantially intermediate portions along the left-right direction to the left and right edges of the occupant side wall portion that are flatly spread, and the gas inlet along the left-right direction. And a fold fold in the valley fold along the front-rear direction, the fold fold in which the protruding top is arranged on the front end side. Attached, folded,
A substantially intermediate portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion to the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion in the upper-side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion has a valley fold along the left-right direction, and the fold is the gas flow Arranged in the vicinity of the rear edge of the inlet, folded into the occupant side wall portion side of the periphery of the gas inlet,
The part from the front side part of the gas inlet to the protruding top part in the peripheral wall part is valley-folded with a fold along the left-right direction so as to approach the gas inlet side,
The peripheral wall portion is folded symmetrically about the gas inlet,
An airbag device for a passenger seat, characterized in that it is shaped . ケース内に折り畳まれて収納されたエアバッグが、展開膨張時、ガス流入口から膨張用ガスを流入させて、インストルメントパネルに配置されたドアを押し開いて突出し、車両の後方側へ展開膨張するとともに、
前記エアバッグが、
単体での展開膨張完了時の形状として、乗員側で略鉛直方向に沿って配置される乗員側壁部と、該乗員側壁部の外周縁から車両前方側に略円錐状に狭まって下部側の下部側周壁と上部側の上部側周壁とを有して構成される周壁部と、を備える形状とするとともに、単体での展開膨張完了時の前記周壁部における前記下部側周壁の前部側に、略水平方向に沿う開口面として前記ガス流入口を配置させ、前記ガス流入口周縁を、前記ガス流入口の開口面とともに略水平方向に沿うように配置させて、前記ケースに取り付ける構成として、
予備折りして前記エアバッグを前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行とするように前後左右に平らにした後に、前記ガス流入口の前後の部位をそれぞれ左右方向に沿う折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口側に接近させるように折る横折りと、前記ガス流入口の左右の部位をそれぞれ前後方向に沿う折目を付けて前記ガス流入口に接近させるように折る縦折りとを行って、前記ケース内に収納される助手席用エアバッグ装置であって、
前後左右上下が車両の前後左右上下に対応する方向として、前記乗員側壁部の上縁と前記乗員側壁部の下縁とが、前記エアバッグの単体での展開膨張完了時における配置位置の部位を指すものとして、
前記エアバッグが、前記周壁部を形成する可撓性を有した第１基布と、前記乗員側壁部を形成する可撓性を有した略正六角形状に近似した略円形状の第２基布と、から構成され、
前記第１基布が、略六角形状の二つの上側布と下側布とを連結させて左右の中央付近を凹ませた瓢箪形とするとともに、前記上側布が、前記周壁部の上部側周壁の略全域を構成し、前記下側布が、前記周壁部の下部側周壁の略全域を構成し、
前記エアバッグが、前記上側布と前記下側布との間に設けた折目で折って重ねた折目近傍の左右両縁を、相互に縫合し、前記上側布と前記下側布との相互に縫合していない残部周縁に、前記第２基布の外周縁を縫合することにより、形成される構成とし、
前記エアバッグにおける予備折り時、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位と、前記周壁部の下部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の後方側の左右方向の中央付近と、を把持し、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位に、前方に突出する突出頂部を形成するように、
相互を離すことにより、予備折りした予備折りエアバッグを形成可能に、
前記エアバッグの予備折り終了時の予備折り形状が、
前記乗員側壁部における上縁の近傍部位が、前記ガス流入口と上下方向で対向する前記ガス流入口の上方位置に、配置されるとともに、前記乗員側壁部の左縁付近と右縁付近との一部を除く前記乗員側壁部の略全域が、前記周壁部の前記下部側周壁の上方に重ねられて、前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行に前後左右に平らに展開され、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の左右の部位が、それぞれ、平らに展開された前記乗員側壁部の左右の縁までの左右方向に沿った略中間部位を、左右方向に沿って前記ガス流入口に接近させるとともに、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に配置させて、前後方向に沿う谷折りの折目であって、前端側に前記突出頂部を配置させた谷折りの折目を付けて、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部の前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位が、左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の前方側部位から前記突出頂部までの部位が、前記ガス流入口側に接近するように、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて谷折りされ、
さらに、前記周壁部の下部側周壁における後端近傍部位が、左右方向に沿った山折りの折目を付けて、タックを設けるように、前記下部側周壁における前記ガス流入口と前記乗員側壁部下縁との前後方向の略中間部位付近に、下方側から被さって、
前記周壁部の前記下部側周壁における前記ガス流入口と前記乗員側壁部下縁との前後方向の略中間部位付近が、前記乗員側壁部の下縁側に接近して、前記周壁部における後端近傍部位の前記乗員側壁部側に配置されるように、折り込まれて、
前記周壁部が、前記ガス流入口を中心として左右対称形に折り畳まれている、
形状としていることを特徴とする助手席用エアバッグ装置。When the airbag stored in the case is expanded and inflated, the inflation gas flows in from the gas inlet, pushes open the door located on the instrument panel, protrudes, and expands and inflates toward the rear of the vehicle. And
The airbag is
As a shape when the expansion and expansion of the single body is completed, the occupant side wall portion arranged along the substantially vertical direction on the occupant side, and the lower lower portion narrowed in a substantially conical shape from the outer peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion to the vehicle front side A peripheral wall portion having a side peripheral wall and an upper side peripheral wall on the upper side, and a front side of the lower side peripheral wall in the peripheral wall portion at the time of completion of expansion and expansion alone. The gas inlet is arranged as an opening surface along a substantially horizontal direction, the gas inlet peripheral edge is arranged along the substantially horizontal direction together with the opening surface of the gas inlet, and attached to the case,
After pre-folding and flattening the airbag in the front-rear and left-right directions so as to be parallel to the opening surface of the gas inlet, the front and rear portions of the gas inlet are respectively creased along the left-right direction, Performing horizontal folding that folds so as to approach the gas inlet side, and vertical folding that folds the left and right parts of the gas inlet along the front-rear direction and folds so as to approach the gas inlet, A passenger seat airbag device housed in the case,
As a direction in which front / rear / left / right / up / down corresponds to front / rear / left / right / up / down of the vehicle, the upper edge of the occupant side wall and the lower edge of the occupant side wall As pointed out,
The airbag has a flexible first base fabric that forms the peripheral wall portion, and a substantially circular second base that approximates a flexible regular hexagonal shape that forms the occupant side wall portion. A cloth, and
The first base cloth has a bowl shape in which two upper and lower cloths having a substantially hexagonal shape are connected to each other so as to be recessed near the center of the left and right sides, and the upper cloth is an upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. The lower cloth constitutes the substantially entire area of the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall part,
The airbag sews the left and right edges in the vicinity of the fold that is folded and overlapped at the fold provided between the upper cloth and the lower cloth, and the upper cloth and the lower cloth It is configured to be formed by stitching the outer peripheral edge of the second base fabric to the remaining peripheral edge that is not sewn together,
At the time of preliminary folding in the airbag ,
The substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet in the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the passenger side wall portion, and the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion Gripping the center of the left and right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet,
A protruding top portion that protrudes forward is formed at a substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion on the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. like,
By separating them from each other, a pre-folded pre-folded airbag can be formed.
The preliminary folding shape at the end of preliminary folding of the airbag is
The vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall is disposed at a position above the gas inlet facing the gas inlet in the vertical direction, and the vicinity of the left edge and the right edge of the occupant side wall. A substantially entire region of the occupant side wall portion excluding a part is overlaid on the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, and is developed flat in the front, rear, left and right in parallel with the opening surface of the gas inlet,
The left and right portions of the gas inlet in the peripheral wall portion are substantially intermediate portions along the left-right direction to the left and right edges of the occupant side wall portion that are flatly spread, and the gas inlet along the left-right direction. And a fold fold in the valley fold along the front-rear direction, the fold fold in which the protruding top is arranged on the front end side. Attached, folded,
The occupant at the periphery of the gas inlet is formed by a substantially middle portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion to the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion in the upper side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, with a valley fold along the left-right direction. Folded into the side wall,
The part from the front side part of the gas inlet to the protruding top part in the peripheral wall part is valley-folded with a fold along the left-right direction so as to approach the gas inlet side,
Further, the portion near the rear end of the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion is provided with a tuck with a mountain fold fold along the left-right direction, and is provided below the gas inlet and the occupant side wall portion in the lower side peripheral wall. Covering from the lower side around the middle part of the front and rear direction with the edge,
The vicinity of the rear end of the peripheral wall portion is located near a substantially intermediate portion in the front-rear direction between the gas inlet and the lower edge of the occupant side wall portion on the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. Folded so as to be disposed on the passenger side wall side of
The peripheral wall portion is folded symmetrically about the gas inlet,
An airbag device for a passenger seat, characterized in that it is shaped . ケース内に折り畳まれて収納されたエアバッグが、展開膨張時、ガス流入口から膨張用ガスを流入させて、インストルメントパネルに配置されたドアを押し開いて突出し、車両の後方側へ展開膨張するとともに、
前記エアバッグが、
単体での展開膨張完了時の形状として、乗員側で略鉛直方向に沿って配置される乗員側壁部と、該乗員側壁部の外周縁から車両前方側に略円錐状に狭まって下部側の下部側周壁と上部側の上部側周壁とを有して構成される周壁部と、を備える形状とするとともに、単体での展開膨張完了時の前記周壁部における前記下部側周壁の前部側に、略水平方向に沿う開口面として前記ガス流入口を配置させ、前記ガス流入口周縁を、前記ガス流入口の開口面とともに略水平方向に沿うように配置させて、前記ケースに取り付ける構成として、
予備折りして前記エアバッグを前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行とするように前後左右に平らにした後に、前記ガス流入口の前後の部位をそれぞれ左右方向に沿う折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口側に接近させるように折る横折りと、前記ガス流入口の左右の部位をそれぞれ前後方向に沿う折目を付けて前記ガス流入口に接近させるように折る縦折りとを行って、前記ケース内に収納される助手席用エアバッグ装置であって、
前後左右上下が車両の前後左右上下に対応する方向として、前記乗員側壁部の上縁と前記乗員側壁部の下縁とが、前記エアバッグの単体での展開膨張完了時における配置位置の部位を指すものとして、
前記エアバッグが、前記周壁部を形成する可撓性を有した第１基布と、前記乗員側壁部を形成する可撓性を有した略正六角形状に近似した略円形状の第２基布と、から構成され、
前記第１基布が、略六角形状の二つの上側布と下側布とを連結させて左右の中央付近を凹ませた瓢箪形とするとともに、前記上側布が、前記周壁部の上部側周壁の略全域を構成し、前記下側布が、前記周壁部の下部側周壁の略全域を構成し、
前記エアバッグが、前記上側布と前記下側布との間に設けた折目で折って重ねた折目近傍の左右両縁を、相互に縫合し、前記上側布と前記下側布との相互に縫合していない残部周縁に、前記第２基布を縫合することにより、形成される構成とし、
前記エアバッグにおける予備折り時、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位と、前記乗員側壁部の下縁における前記ガス流入口の後方側の左右方向の中央付近と、を把持し、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記ガス流入口の前縁側の左右方向の中央付近から前記乗員側壁部上縁の左右方向の中央付近までの略中間部位に、前方に突出する突出頂部を形成するように、
相互を離すことにより、予備折りした予備折りエアバッグを形成可能に、
前記エアバッグの予備折り終了時の予備折り形状が、
前記周壁部の上部側周壁における前記乗員側壁部上縁の近傍部位が、前記ガス流入口と上下方向で対向する前記ガス流入口の上方位置に、配置されて、前記乗員側壁部の上縁が、前記ガス流入口の後縁より、後方側に配置されるとともに、
前記乗員側壁部の左縁付近と右縁付近と下縁付近との一部を除く前記乗員側壁部の略全域が、前記周壁部の前記下部側周壁の上方に重ねられて、前記ガス流入口の開口面と平行に前後左右に平らに展開され、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の左右の部位が、それぞれ、平らに展開された前記乗員側壁部の左右の縁までの左右方向に沿った略中間部位を、左右方向に沿って前記ガス流入口に接近させるとともに、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に配置させて、前後方向に沿う谷折りの折目であって、前端側に前記突出頂部を配置させた谷折りの折目を付けて、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部の前記上部側周壁における前記突出頂部から前記乗員側壁部上縁までの前後方向の略中間部位が、左右方向に沿う谷折りの折目を付けて、前記ガス流入口周縁の前記乗員側壁部側に、折り込まれ、
前記周壁部における前記ガス流入口の前方側部位から前記突出頂部までの部位が、前記ガス流入口側に接近するように、左右方向に沿う折目を付けて谷折りされて、
前記周壁部が、前記ガス流入口を中心として左右対称形に折り畳まれている、
形状としていることを特徴とする助手席用エアバッグ装置。When the airbag stored in the case is expanded and inflated, the inflation gas flows in from the gas inlet, pushes open the door located on the instrument panel, protrudes, and expands and inflates toward the rear of the vehicle. And
The airbag is
As a shape when the expansion and expansion of the single body is completed, the occupant side wall portion arranged along the substantially vertical direction on the occupant side, and the lower lower portion narrowed in a substantially conical shape from the outer peripheral edge of the occupant side wall portion to the vehicle front side A peripheral wall portion having a side peripheral wall and an upper side peripheral wall on the upper side, and a front side of the lower side peripheral wall in the peripheral wall portion at the time of completion of expansion and expansion alone. The gas inlet is arranged as an opening surface along a substantially horizontal direction, the gas inlet peripheral edge is arranged along the substantially horizontal direction together with the opening surface of the gas inlet, and attached to the case,
After pre-folding and flattening the airbag in the front-rear and left-right directions so as to be parallel to the opening surface of the gas inlet, the front and rear portions of the gas inlet are respectively creased along the left-right direction, Performing horizontal folding that folds so as to approach the gas inlet side, and vertical folding that folds the left and right parts of the gas inlet along the front-rear direction and folds so as to approach the gas inlet, A passenger seat airbag device housed in the case,
As a direction in which front / rear / left / right / up / down corresponds to front / rear / left / right / up / down of the vehicle, the upper edge of the occupant side wall and the lower edge of the occupant side wall As pointed out,
The airbag has a flexible first base fabric that forms the peripheral wall portion, and a substantially circular second base that approximates a flexible regular hexagonal shape that forms the occupant side wall portion. A cloth, and
The first base cloth has a bowl shape in which two upper and lower cloths having a substantially hexagonal shape are connected to each other so as to be recessed near the center of the left and right sides, and the upper cloth is an upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. The lower cloth constitutes the substantially entire area of the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall part,
The airbag sews the left and right edges in the vicinity of the fold that is folded and overlapped at the fold provided between the upper cloth and the lower cloth, and the upper cloth and the lower cloth It is configured to be formed by stitching the second base fabric to the remaining peripheral edges that are not stitched together,
At the time of preliminary folding in the airbag ,
A substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet in the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion, and the lower edge of the occupant side wall portion Grip the center of the left and right direction on the rear side of the gas inlet,
A protruding top portion that protrudes forward is formed at a substantially intermediate portion from the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front edge side of the gas inlet to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion on the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. like,
By separating them from each other, a pre-folded pre-folded airbag can be formed.
The preliminary folding shape at the end of preliminary folding of the airbag is
A portion in the vicinity of the upper edge of the occupant side wall on the upper peripheral wall of the peripheral wall is disposed at a position above the gas inlet facing the gas inlet in the vertical direction, and the upper edge of the occupant side wall is , Disposed behind the rear edge of the gas inlet,
The gas inlet is configured such that substantially the entire area of the occupant side wall portion except for a portion of the occupant side wall portion in the vicinity of a left edge, a right edge, and a lower edge is overlaid on the lower side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion. It is deployed flat in the front, back, left, and right parallel to the opening surface of
The left and right portions of the gas inlet in the peripheral wall portion are substantially intermediate portions along the left-right direction to the left and right edges of the occupant side wall portion that are flatly spread, and the gas inlet along the left-right direction. And a fold fold in the valley fold along the front-rear direction, the fold fold in which the protruding top is arranged on the front end side. Attached, folded,
The occupant at the periphery of the gas inlet is formed by a substantially middle portion in the front-rear direction from the protruding top portion to the upper edge of the occupant side wall portion in the upper side peripheral wall of the peripheral wall portion, with a valley fold along the left-right direction. Folded into the side wall,
The part from the front side part of the gas inlet to the protruding top part in the peripheral wall part is valley-folded with a fold along the left-right direction so as to approach the gas inlet side,
The peripheral wall portion is folded symmetrically about the gas inlet,
An airbag device for a passenger seat, characterized in that it is shaped .
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JP4096848B2 (en) * 2003-09-16 2008-06-04 豊田合成株式会社 Airbag device for passenger seat
US7404575B2 (en) 2003-07-14 2008-07-29 Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. Air bag apparatus
JP4158709B2 (en) 2004-01-27 2008-10-01 豊田合成株式会社 Airbag device for passenger seat
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JP2007125906A (en) * 2005-10-31 2007-05-24 Nippon Plast Co Ltd Folding method for airbag, airbag and airbag system
JP4793924B2 (en) * 2006-06-12 2011-10-12 タカタ株式会社 Side impact airbag, side impact airbag device, vehicle seat
JP4838677B2 (en) * 2006-09-20 2011-12-14 富士通株式会社 Transmission equipment
JP5586907B2 (en) * 2009-09-28 2014-09-10 芦森工業株式会社 Airbag device
US9283920B1 (en) 2014-11-07 2016-03-15 Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc. Air bag with uninflated pocket

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