JP2011218994A - Curtain air bag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a curtain air bag device for a vehicle, capable of satisfactorily developing an air bag, while suppressing an overhang to a cabin side.SOLUTION: The curtain air bag device 10 for the vehicle includes: a protector 44 installed in a roof side reinforcement 30 forming a skeleton member of a roof side rail 14; and the curtain air bag 40 housed in the protector 44 while being folded. The protector 44 is opened toward a cabin C side, while having an outer wall 44A located outside in the vehicle width direction and an inner wall 44B located inside in the vehicle width direction. Also, the outer wall 44A is fixed to the roof side reinforcement 30 so as to come in contact with or be adjacent to an outer wall 30A of the roof side reinforcement 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle curtain airbag device for protecting an occupant against, for example, a side collision or a rollover.

  An airbag device is known in which an airbag is attached to the vehicle compartment side of the outer panel using a closed cross section formed by an inner panel and an outer panel that constitute a roof side rail (see, for example, Patent Document 1). . There is also known an airbag device in which an inflator is disposed within a closed cross section of a roof side rail (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3). Furthermore, there is known an airbag device in which a plurality of protectors for preventing interference between the airbag and the vehicle body are provided along the longitudinal direction of the airbag (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

JP 2000-313300 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-175311 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-138857 JP 2006-69248 A

  However, in the curtain airbag device for a vehicle, there is room for improvement in achieving both expansion of the cabin space and regulation of the airbag deployment direction.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain a curtain air bag device for a vehicle that can satisfactorily deploy an airbag while suppressing overhang to the vehicle compartment side.

  A curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided in a skeleton member that is disposed along the upper edge of the vehicle in the vehicle vertical direction at the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body and that is open to the vehicle compartment side. And an outer wall positioned relatively outward in the vehicle width direction and an inner wall positioned inward in the vehicle width direction and open toward the passenger compartment side, and the outer wall is an outer wall in the vehicle width direction of the skeleton member A protective member fixed to the skeleton member so as to come into contact with or close to the part, and is housed in a state of being folded on the back side of the casing side end portion of the outer wall in the protective member, and receiving gas supply And an airbag that is inflated and deployed on the vehicle compartment side through the opening of the protective member and the opening of the skeleton member.

  In the vehicle curtain airbag device according to the first aspect, the gas is supplied to the airbag in a predetermined case such as when a vehicle collision is detected or predicted. Then, the airbag is inflated and deployed on the passenger compartment side through the openings of the skeleton member and the protective member. Thereby, the vehicle occupant is protected.

  Here, since the airbag is disposed in the skeleton member having an open cross-sectional structure together with the protective member, there is little overhanging to the passenger compartment side. Further, since the airbag is accommodated on the back side with respect to the outer wall tip in the protective member, the airbag is inflated and deployed along the outer wall of the protective member, and interference with the vehicle body such as a skeleton member is prevented or effectively suppressed. The Furthermore, since the outer wall of the protective member is in contact with or close to the wall portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the skeleton member, which is a highly rigid member, the deployment direction of the airbag is well regulated in a state where deformation is suppressed. be able to.

  Thus, in the curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to the first aspect, the airbag can be satisfactorily deployed while suppressing the protrusion to the vehicle compartment side.

  A curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to a second aspect of the present invention is the curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to the first aspect, wherein a support member fixed to the skeleton member in the skeleton member and an inner wall of the protection member And a buffer member disposed in contact with or close to the support member from the passenger compartment side.

  In the vehicle curtain airbag device according to the second aspect, the reaction force when the airbag is inflated and deployed is supported by the support member (frame member) via the protection member and the buffer member. Furthermore, deformation of the inner wall of the protective member is suppressed when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

  A curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to a third aspect of the present invention is the curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to the second aspect, wherein the support member is an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag.

  In the curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to the third aspect, since the inflator which is a component thereof is used as the support member, the function and effect of the second aspect can be obtained without increasing the number of parts.

  A curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the protection is provided so as to project over the opening of the protection member. A regulating member is further provided which is supported by the inner wall of the member and regulates the deployment direction of the airbag by being deployed on the inner wall side as the airbag is inflated and deployed.

  In the vehicle curtain airbag device according to the fourth aspect, the regulating member pushed by the airbag is deployed on the inner wall side as the airbag is inflated and deployed. As a result, the deployment direction of the airbag is not only restricted from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the outer wall (the wall portion outside the skeleton member in the vehicle width direction) but also from the inside in the vehicle width direction by the regulating member. It is well expanded and deployed while being regulated.

  As described above, the vehicle curtain airbag device according to the present invention has an excellent effect that the airbag can be satisfactorily deployed while suppressing overhanging to the vehicle compartment side.

It is an expanded sectional view in alignment with the 1-1 line of FIG. 4 which shows the principal part of the curtain airbag apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view which followed the 2-2 line of Drawing 4 showing the important section of the curtain airbag device for vehicles concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 1 which shows the expansion | deployment process of the curtain airbag in the curtain airbag apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which looked at the deployment state of the curtain airbag in the curtain airbag device for vehicles concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention from the cabin side. It is a side view showing the deployment shape of the curtain airbag which constitutes the curtain airbag device for vehicles concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 1 which shows the principal part of the curtain airbag apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 6 which shows the expansion | deployment process of the curtain airbag in the curtain airbag apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the curtain airbag apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the comparative example with embodiment of this invention.

  A curtain airbag device 10 for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, arrow FR, arrow UP, arrow IN, and arrow OUT that are appropriately described in each figure are respectively the front direction (traveling direction), the upward direction, the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle to which the vehicle curtain airbag device 10 is applied, And the outside respectively.

(Body structure)
First, the vehicle body B of an automobile to which the vehicle curtain airbag device 10 is applied will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle body B includes a front pillar 12, a roof side rail 14, and a rear pillar 16 that are skeletons extending in the vehicle front-rear direction along the upper edge of the vehicle width direction outer end. A window 18 is formed below the front pillar 12, the roof side rail 14, and the rear pillar 16, and the window 18 is opened and closed by a window glass (not shown).

  Further, the upper end of the center pillar 52 is connected to the center of the roof side rail 14 in the vehicle front-rear direction. For this reason, the window 18 is divided into two front and rear by the center pillar 52.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front pillar 12 is configured with the pillar reinforcement 20 as a main skeleton member. The pillar reinforcement 20 includes an outer wall 20A positioned on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, an inner wall 20B positioned on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and a connecting wall that connects the outer wall 20A and the inner wall 20B on the side opposite to the vehicle compartment C side. 20C, and has an open cross-sectional shape opened to the passenger compartment C as a whole. A flange 20D extends from the end of the outer wall 20A of the pillar reinforcement 20 on the side of the passenger compartment C.

  Further, the front pillar 12 includes a pillar outer panel 22 that covers the pillar reinforcement 20 from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The pillar outer panel 22 is joined to the flange 20D of the pillar reinforcement 20 at the flange 22A on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and is joined to the distal end side of the inner wall 20B at the flange 22B on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. A closed cross section is formed on the outside in the vehicle width direction. The pillar outer panel 22 is made of ordinary steel for automobiles. The pillar outer panel 22 is formed integrally with a roof side outer panel 32, a center pillar, and an outer panel of the rear pillar 16 (all of which are not shown), which will be described later, as a large outer pressed outer part.

  As described above, the two-member front pillar 12 is configured such that the pillar reinforcement 20 is made of a high-strength material such as a high-strength steel plate, so that the pillar reinforcement 20 that is a main skeleton member is an open cross section made of a single member. While having the structure, the required rigidity and strength are ensured. In addition, the high-tensile steel plate in this embodiment refers to, for example, an automotive steel plate having a tensile strength of 350 MPa or more, and a high-tensile steel plate having a tensile strength of 590 MPa or more may be referred to as an ultra-high-tensile steel plate.

  The front pillar 12 is covered with a pillar garnish 24, which is a resin interior part, from the passenger compartment C side. A weather strip 26 is provided at the joint between the flange 20D and the flange 22A and at the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the pillar garnish 24 to seal between the window glass. Further, the end portion in the vehicle width direction of the window shield glass 28 is fixed to the joint portion between the inner wall 20B and the flange 22B by adhesion or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the roof side rail 14 includes a roof side reinforcement 30 as a main frame member. The roof side reinforcement 30 includes an outer wall 30A positioned on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, an inner wall 30B positioned on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and a connecting wall 30C that connects the outer wall 30A and the inner wall 30B on the side opposite to the vehicle interior C. As a whole, it has an open cross-sectional shape opened to the passenger compartment C side. Further, flanges 30 </ b> D and 30 </ b> E are extended from the end portions of the outer wall 30 </ b> A and the inner wall 30 </ b> B in the roof side reinforcement 30 on the side of the passenger compartment C.

  The roof side rail 14 includes a roof side outer panel 32 that covers the roof side reinforcement 30 from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The roof side outer panel 32 is joined to the flange 30D of the roof side reinforcement 30 at the flange 32A on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and is joined to the flange 30E at the flange 32B on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. A closed cross section is formed on the outside in the vehicle width direction. The roof side outer panel 32 is made of ordinary steel for automobiles.

  As described above, the roof side rail 14 having a two-member structure is configured such that the roof side reinforcement 30 is made of a high strength material such as a high-tensile steel plate, so that the roof side reinforcement 30 that is a main skeleton member is formed from a single member. The required strength is ensured while having an open cross-sectional structure.

  Further, the roof side rail 14 is covered from the passenger compartment C side by a vehicle width direction outer end portion 34A of a roof head lining 34 which is a resin interior part. A weather strip 26 is continuously provided from the installation portion to the front pillar 12 at a joint portion between the flange 30D and the flange 32A and an outer end portion 34A in the vehicle width direction of the roof head lining 34. Further, an outer flange 36A located at the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the roof panel 36 is joined to the joint between the flange 30E and the flange 32B.

  Although the illustration is omitted, the rear pillar 16 has an open cross-section rear pillar reinforcement made of a high-strength material, like the front pillar 12 and the roof side rail 14, as a main skeleton member, and the rear pillar reinforcement on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The rear pillar outer panel is joined to the two members.

(Configuration of curtain airbag device)
As shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle curtain airbag device 10 includes a curtain airbag 40 that extends over the rear end (upper end) of the front pillar 12, the roof side rail 14, and the front end (upper end) of the rear pillar 16. It is configured to be deployed. A curtain airbag device 10 for a vehicle includes an airbag module housed in a pillar reinforcement 20, a roof side reinforcement 30, and a rear pillar reinforcement as a skeleton member having an open cross-sectional structure that opens toward the compartment C side. 38.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the airbag module 38 includes a curtain airbag 40 as an airbag, an inflator 42 that supplies gas to the curtain airbag 40, and a protective member that houses the curtain airbag 40. The protector 44 is configured as a main part.

  FIG. 5 is a side view of the curtain airbag 40 in a deployed state. As shown in this figure, the curtain airbag 40 includes a front inflating portion 46 for protecting the head of an occupant seated in the front seat, and a rear inflating for protecting the head of an occupant seated in the rear seat. A center pillar serving as an intermediate pillar between the outer peripheral portion of the bag 48, the front inflating portion 46 and the rear inflating portion 48 on the upper edge side, and the outer peripheral portion of the bag and the front inflating portion 46 and the rear inflating portion 48. 52 (see FIG. 4), a non-inflatable portion 54 set at the rear of the portion corresponding to 52, an inflator insertion portion 58 set at the center portion on the upper edge side and communicated with the communication passage 50 via the connection portion 56, It has.

  A non-expanding portion 60 is also formed inside the front expansion portion 46 and the rear expansion portion 48. Further, the inflator 42 can be inserted into the inflator insertion portion 58. A strap-like tension belt 62 is attached to the front end portion and the rear end portion of the curtain airbag 40, respectively. Further, a plurality of tabs 64 for attachment to the protector 44 are provided on the upper edge of the curtain airbag 40 at predetermined intervals.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the inflator 42 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The inflator 42 is inserted into the inflator insertion portion 58 of the curtain airbag 40 so that the gas ejected from the gas ejection holes is supplied into the curtain airbag 40. The inflator 42 is disposed outside the protector 44, and the inflator insertion portion 58 of the curtain airbag 40 accommodated in the protector 44 is led out of the protector 44 through the connection portion 56 being passed through a slit (not shown) of the protector 44. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the protector 44 is elongated in the vehicle front-rear direction so as to accommodate the curtain airbag 40 deployed as described above, which is rolled and folded into a long shape. It is accommodated in the reinforcement 20, the roof side reinforcement 30, and the rear pillar reinforcement.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the protector 44 has a substantially “U” shape in which a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction opens toward the passenger compartment C side. That is, the protector 44 includes an outer wall 44A positioned on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, an inner wall 44B positioned on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and a connecting wall 44C that connects the outer wall 44A and the inner wall 44B. The protector 44 accommodates the roll-folded curtain airbag 40 in a state of being shifted to the connecting wall 44C side (back side). In this accommodated state, the outer wall 44 </ b> A of the protector 44 projects from the curtain airbag 40 to the vehicle compartment C side. Moreover, in the roof side rail 14, the inner wall 44B of the protector 44 has protruded to the compartment C side rather than the curtain airbag 40 (refer FIG. 1).

  The protector 44 is disposed in the open cross section of the pillar reinforcement 20, the roof side reinforcement 30, and the rear pillar reinforcement, and is fixed to the pillar reinforcement 20, the roof side reinforcement 30, and the rear pillar reinforcement with a clip 66. ing. The clip 66 includes a pin 66A that protrudes outward from the connecting wall 44C of the protector 44, and a grommet 66B that the pin 66A is fitted in a retaining state.

  In the front pillar 12, the pin 66 </ b> A penetrates the connecting wall 20 </ b> C of the pillar reinforcement 20 and is fitted to a grommet 66 </ b> B disposed in a closed cross section between the connecting wall 20 </ b> C and the pillar outer panel 22. Is fixed to the pillar reinforcement 20. Similarly, in the roof side rail 14, the pin 66A passes through the connecting wall 30C of the roof side reinforcement 30, and is fitted to a grommet 66B disposed in a closed cross section between the connecting wall 30C and the roof side outer panel 32. Thus, the protector 44 is fixed to the roof side reinforcement 30. Although not described, the protector 44 is fixed to the rear pillar 16 with the same structure.

  In this fixed state, the outer wall 44 </ b> A of the protector 44 is disposed in contact with or close to the outer wall 20 </ b> A of the pillar reinforcement 20 and the outer wall 30 </ b> A of the roof side reinforcement 30. Here, the proximity means that the outer wall 44A of the protector 44, which is deformed by being pushed by the curtain airbag 40 as the curtain airbag 40 is inflated and deployed, becomes the pillar reinforcement 20 outer wall 20A and the roof side reinforcement 30 outer wall 30A. The state where it is separated so as to come into contact (see FIG. 3). Further, in this fixed state, the front end of the outer wall 44A of the protector 44 is closer to the vehicle compartment C side than the end portions of the flanges 20D and 30D of the pillar reinforcement 20 and the roof side reinforcement 30, that is, the outer wall 20A and 30A. It is overhanging.

  Further, a rib 44D protrudes substantially upward from an intermediate portion of the outer wall 44A of the protector 44 located in the roof side reinforcement 30 in the vertical direction (inside / outside direction of the vehicle). The rib 44D has a substantially “V” shape with an upper end opened with the outer wall 44A. The ribs 44 </ b> D are inserted through guide holes 30 </ b> F formed in the outer wall 30 </ b> A of the roof side reinforcement 30. By inserting the rib 44D into the guide hole 30F when the protector 44 is assembled to the pillar reinforcement 20 and the roof side reinforcement 30, the pin 66A is guided to the fitting position with the grommet 66B that cannot be visually observed. Yes.

  On the other hand, the inner wall 44B of the protector 44 is disposed away from the inner wall 20B of the pillar reinforcement 20 and the inner wall 30B of the roof side reinforcement 30. The inflator 42 is disposed in a space between the inner wall 30 </ b> B of the roof side reinforcement 30 and the inner wall 44 </ b> B of the protector 44 at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the roof side rail 14 (above the center pillar 52). The inflator 42 is fixed to the roof side reinforcement 30 with a well-known structure using bolts and nuts (not shown).

  Also, the protector 44 inner wall 44B is provided with a buffer rib 68 as a buffer member in contact with or in close proximity to the compartment C side portion of the inflator 42. Here, the proximity means a state in which the buffer rib 68 is separated so as to come into contact with the inflator 42 due to a reaction force accompanying the expansion and deployment of the curtain airbag 40. The buffer rib 68 is formed integrally with the protector 44. The protector 44 in this embodiment is made of resin, and each part including the buffer rib 68 is integrally formed by injection molding or the like. In addition, for example, a honeycomb structure or the like is employed as the buffer rib 68 in this embodiment.

  Although illustration is omitted, at the front part (front side of the inflator 42) and the rear part (rear side of the inflator 42) of the roof side rail 14, the buffer ribs 68 are provided on the side of the vehicle compartment C with respect to the bracket for supporting the assist grip. From or in close proximity to. This bracket is fixed to the roof side reinforcement 30 by fastening or the like. The shape of the buffer rib 68 is appropriately set according to the dimensional shape and arrangement of the bracket.

  The end of the buffer rib 68 opposite to the inflator 42 is in contact with or close to the outer end 34 </ b> A in the vehicle width direction of the roof head lining 34. A portion of the roof head lining 34 where the buffer ribs 68 are in contact with or close to each other is formed with a tear line 34B as a fold-up portion. The tear line 34B is formed along the longitudinal direction of the folded curtain airbag 40, and the outer end 34A in the vehicle width direction is pushed toward the passenger compartment C as the curtain airbag 40 is inflated and deployed. Thus, it is bent (bent) as shown in FIG. The curtain airbag 40 is inflated and deployed through the gap formed thereby while entering the passenger compartment C.

  In the front pillar 12, the pillar garnish 24 is held by the protector 44. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a wall portion 24A protrudes from the intermediate portion of the pillar garnish 24 so as to face the outer wall 44A of the protector 44, and a held portion formed at the tip of the wall portion 24A. 24B is fitted and held (hinge coupled) to a holding portion 44E formed at the tip of the inner wall 44B of the protector 44. As a result, when the pillar garnish 24 is pushed to the vehicle compartment C side by the curtain airbag 40, the end of the protector 44 on the outer wall 44A side is rotationally displaced so as to separate from the end of the outer wall 44A on the vehicle compartment C side. (Not shown). As a result, the curtain airbag 40 is inflated and deployed while entering the passenger compartment C through a gap formed between the pillar garnish 24 and the outer wall 44A of the protector 44 (the end of the passenger compartment C side). It is like that.

  The vehicle curtain airbag device 10 includes a side collision ECU as a control device (not shown). A side collision ECU detects an inflator when a side collision or rollover of a vehicle such as an applied automobile is detected or predicted (determined as unavoidable) based on output signals from a side collision sensor, a rollover sensor, or the like. 42 is actuated. The activated inflator 42 generates gas and supplies the gas to the curtain airbag 40 as described above.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

  In the vehicle curtain airbag device 10 configured as described above, when a side collision or rollover of a vehicle to which the side collision ECU is applied is detected or predicted based on output signals from a side collision sensor, a rollover sensor, or the like, The side collision ECU operates the inflator 42. Then, the inflator 42 generates gas, and this gas is supplied to the curtain airbag 40 through the inflator insertion portion 58. The curtain airbag 40 supplied with gas is inflated and deployed while eliminating the roll folded state.

  On the roof side rail 14 side, the vehicle width direction outer end portion 34A of the roof head lining 34 is pushed to the vehicle compartment C side by the expansion and deployment of the curtain airbag 40 in the expansion and deployment process, and the vehicle width direction outer end portion 34A bends starting from the tear line 34B, and the opening of the protector 44 is exposed to the passenger compartment C side. The curtain airbag 40 is inflated and deployed in the passenger compartment C through the opening of the protector 44 and the opening of the roof side reinforcement 30.

  Further, in the front pillar 12, the pillar garnish 24 is pushed and rotationally displaced toward the passenger compartment C by the inflation and deployment of the curtain airbag 40 during the inflation and deployment process, and the pillar garnish 24 and the outer wall 44 </ b> A of the protector 44. A gap is formed between them. Through this gap, the curtain airbag 40 is inflated and deployed in the passenger compartment C. In this process, the fitting and holding between the held portion 24B of the pillar garnish 24 and the holding portion 44E of the protector 44 may be eliminated.

  As described above, when the curtain airbag 40 is deployed below the front pillar 12, the roof side rail 14, and the rear pillar 16, the front side is located between the head of the passenger seated in the front seat and the door glass of the front side door. An inflating part 46 is interposed. Thereby, the head of the passenger seated in the front seat is protected. Further, a rear inflating portion 48 is interposed between the head of the passenger seated in the rear seat and the door glass of the rear side door. Thereby, the head of the occupant seated on the rear side is protected.

  Here, in the curtain airbag device 10 for a vehicle, the airbag module 38 is disposed in the pillar reinforcement 20, the roof side reinforcement 30, and the rear pillar reinforcement having an open cross-sectional structure. For this reason, the overhang | projection to the compartment C side of the airbag module 38 is suppressed small.

  This point will be described in comparison with a comparative example shown in FIG. A curtain airbag device 100 for a vehicle according to a comparative example has a closed cross-section structure (a three-member structure) formed by joining a roof side inner panel 102 and a roof side outer reinforcement 104 as a main skeleton member of the roof side rail 14. A roof side rail 14) is employed. For this reason, the airbag module 106 is disposed on the vehicle compartment C side with respect to the roof side inner panel 102 including the curtain airbag 40 and the inflator 42.

  The position of the roof head lining 108 in this comparative example is a position indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. Similarly, also in the front pillar 12, the position of the pillar garnish 110 according to the comparative example having a three-member configuration (configuration having a closed cross-sectional structure as a main skeleton) (not shown) is the position shown by the imaginary ship in FIG. . The same applies to the rear pillar 16 side. As a result, in the vehicle curtain airbag device 10, the amount of overhang of the airbag module 38 is suppressed, so that the space of the passenger compartment C can be expanded. In particular, the reduction in the amount of overhang of the airbag module 38 at the front pillar 12 greatly contributes to the expansion of the occupant's field of view relative to the comparative example.

  In the vehicle curtain airbag device 10, the folded curtain airbag 40 is accommodated in the protector 44. Therefore, the curtain airbag 40 is inflated and deployed along the outer wall 44A of the protector 44 projecting toward the vehicle compartment C with respect to the curtain airbag 40 and the flange 30D, and interference with the vehicle body B of the roof side reinforcement 30 is performed. Is prevented or effectively suppressed.

  Furthermore, since the outer wall 44A of the protector 44 is in contact with or close to the outer wall 30A of the roof side reinforcement 30 that is a highly rigid member, the reaction force accompanying the expansion of the curtain airbag 40 is supported by the outer wall 30A. That is, the outer wall 44A of the protector 44 is restrained from being deformed by the curtain airbag 40 during the expansion and deployment process, and the deployment direction of the curtain airbag 40 is well regulated. That is, the curtain airbag 40 can be well inflated and deployed along the window glass toward the passenger compartment C.

  Furthermore, in the vehicle curtain airbag device 10, since the buffer rib 68 is provided on the inner wall 44 </ b> B of the protector 44, the reaction force accompanying the expansion and deployment of the curtain airbag 40 is a component of the airbag module 38. It can be supported by the inflator 42 and an assist grip bracket which is another functional component. That is, the reaction force support structure is configured without increasing the number of parts.

  Further, when the head of the occupant collides with the curtain airbag 40 or the like via the roof head lining 34, energy can be absorbed by deformation (crushing) of the buffer rib 68.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that components and portions that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment described above may be denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and may not be described or illustrated. The principal part of the curtain airbag apparatus 70 for vehicles which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is shown by sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. As shown in this figure, the vehicle curtain airbag device 70 differs from the vehicle curtain airbag device 10 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a movable guide piece 72 as a restricting member.

  The movable guide piece 72 is formed integrally with the protector 44 with a resin material, and one end 72 </ b> A thereof is integrally connected to the inner wall 44 </ b> B of the protector 44. Specifically, the one end 72 </ b> A is connected to a position where the inner wall 44 </ b> B of the protector 44 does not interfere with the folded curtain airbag 40. On the other hand, a free end 72B, which is the other end of the inner wall 44B of the protector 44, is engaged with an engagement holding portion 74 formed on the outer wall 44A of the protector 44. Thus, the posture of the movable guide piece 72 with respect to the protector 44 is maintained. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the engagement holding portion 74 is formed as a recess in the outer wall 44A of the protector 44. However, if the structure can prevent the free end 72B from dropping off to the vehicle compartment C side, the engagement holding portion 74 You may comprise 74 as a convex part.

  The movable guide piece 72 bridges the outer wall 44A and the inner wall 44B of the protector 44 (the opening of the protector 44) on the side of the vehicle compartment C with respect to the curtain airbag 40 in the state where the free end 72B is held by the engagement holding portion 74. Yes. The movable guide piece 72 is pushed by the curtain airbag 40 that is inflated and deployed, so that the engagement state of the free end 72B with the engagement holding portion 74 is released, and the movable guide piece 72 is deployed in the direction of arrow A around the one end portion 72A. (Turning). Thereby, the deployment of the curtain airbag 40 toward the passenger compartment C is permitted.

  Further, the movable guide piece 72 is provided with a stopper portion 76 for restricting the posture of the protector 44 relative to the inner wall 44B in the above-described deployed state. When the stopper 76 hits the inner wall 44B, the movable guide piece 72 regulates the deployment direction of the curtain airbag 40 as shown in FIG. 7 (guides the deployment direction in a predetermined direction) as shown in FIG. ) It is configured to take a regulatory attitude. The stopper portion 76 may be provided on the inner wall 44B (buffer rib 68) side of the protector 44 instead of the configuration provided on the movable guide piece 72.

  One or more movable guide pieces 72 are provided in a portion of the protector 44 that is disposed in the roof side reinforcement 30 (roof side rail 14). In this embodiment, the protector 44 is not provided in a portion disposed in the pillar reinforcement 20 (front pillar 12) and the rear pillar reinforcement (rear pillar 16). Other configurations of the vehicle curtain airbag device 70 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the vehicle curtain airbag device 10.

  Therefore, the vehicle curtain airbag device 70 according to the second embodiment can basically obtain the same effect by the same operation as that of the vehicle curtain airbag device 10 according to the first embodiment. Further, in the vehicle curtain airbag device 70, the movable guide piece 72 is placed in a regulated posture as the curtain airbag 40 is inflated and deployed. The deployment direction of the curtain airbag 40 is restricted from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the outer wall 44A of the curtain airbag 40 (the outer wall 30A of the roof side reinforcement 30), and from the inside in the vehicle width direction by the movable guide piece 72 in the deployed posture. The direction of deployment is regulated. For this reason, in the curtain airbag device 70 for a vehicle, the curtain airbag 40 is inflated and deployed even better. That is, the curtain airbag 40 in the vehicle curtain airbag device 70 is easily deployed along the window glass. Therefore, for example, even in a vehicle type in which the gap between the passenger and the window glass is small, the curtain airbag 40 can be satisfactorily deployed.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the example of the vehicle curtain airbag devices 10 and 70 (curtain airbag 40) extending from the front pillar 12 to the rear pillar 16 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the vehicle The curtain airbag device 10 may be provided only in a part of the range from the front pillar 12 to the rear pillar 16 (the roof side rail 14, the front pillar 12, the roof side rail 14, and the like). For example, the present invention may be applied to a curtain airbag device for a vehicle that is independent for the front seat and the rear seat.

  Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be implemented with various modifications.

10 Vehicle curtain airbag device 20 Pillar reinforcement (frame member)
20A outer wall (outer side wall)
30 Roof side reinforcement (framework member)
30A outer wall (outer side wall)
40 Curtain airbag (airbag)
42 Inflator (support member)
44 Protector (Protective member)
44A Outer wall 44B Inner wall 68 Buffer rib (buffer member)
70 Curtain airbag device for vehicle 72 Movable guide piece (regulating member)

Claims (4)

An outer wall that is disposed along the upper edge of the vehicle in the vehicle vertical direction at the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body and that is provided in the skeleton member that is open to the vehicle compartment side, and is positioned relatively outside the vehicle width direction and the vehicle width direction An inner wall positioned on the inner side and opened toward the passenger compartment side, and the outer wall is secured to the skeleton member such that the outer wall is in contact with or close to a wall portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Members,
In the protective member, the outer wall is accommodated in a state of being folded to the rear side of the end portion on the vehicle compartment side, receives gas supply, and expands and expands on the vehicle compartment side through the opening of the protective member and the opening of the skeleton member. An airbag,
A curtain airbag device for a vehicle comprising: A support member fixed to the skeleton member within the skeleton member;
A buffer member provided on the inner wall of the protection member, and arranged in contact with or close to the support member from the vehicle compartment side;
The curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to 1, further comprising:   The airbag device according to claim 2, wherein the support member is an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag.   A regulating member that is supported by the inner wall of the protective member so as to overhang the opening of the protective member and that is deployed on the inner wall side as the airbag is inflated and deployed, thereby regulating the deployment direction of the airbag. The curtain airbag device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

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