JPH07117601A - Vehicle airbag manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To fabricate a large-capacity airbag by overlapping two cloths and forming the side surface three-dimensionally, the sewing work is simplified and efficiently created. . [Structure] Upper and lower cloths 5 and 7 each having an upper half 4 and a lower half 6 of an airbag side surface portion 3 are polymerized, and these side surface upper and lower half portions 4 and 6 are overlapped with the upper and lower surfaces of the airbag. Z-shaped folds between or on the upper and lower sides 1 and 2, respectively, and the free side edges 4a and 6a of the lower half halves 4 and 6 are sewn on the overlapping side portions, and the upper and lower portions 1 and 2 and the folded portions The upper edges 1b, 2b, 3b and the lower edges 1c, 2c, 3c of the side portion 3 are sewn, respectively.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air bag body of an air bag device mounted on a vehicle, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing an air bag having a large volume which can be sewn very easily.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air bag system is used when a vehicle collides.
When the impact is more than a predetermined value, the airbag is instantly inflated to assist the seat belt, which is a safety device for protecting the occupant, and is usually an inflator which is a gas generator, and an airbag which is inflated by the gas of the inflator, An airbag case for accommodating the inflator together with the airbag is configured. When the airbag apparatus operates, the gas ejected from the inflator fills the airbag to generate an internal pressure, and the internal pressure causes the bag to be instantly deployed.

The structurally simplest type of airbag is one in which the outer peripheral edges of two circular cloths are sewn together so that the expanded shape is a disk shape. But,
When a larger volume is required, for example, JP-A-62 / 62
As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 139740, it is designed to have a three-dimensional shape having side portions in addition to upper and lower portions from the time of cutting and sewing.

[0004]

However, in the airbag described in the above publication, as shown in FIG. 16, the airbag cloth pulled out from the original fabric is cut into a predetermined length, and the cut end and the other end are cut. The free ends are sewn together to form an annular shape, and when this flat cloth is flattened, the side parts are folded inward from both sides in a dogleg shape, and the upper and lower edges of the cloth are sewn together in this folded state. Since the sewing is done in two stages with the folding work in between as described above,
There is a problem that efficiency is poor due to the large number of work steps.

Further, when forming a cloth in the above-mentioned annular shape, for example, in the case of stitching, the facing surface of the stitching surface becomes an obstacle, and in a general sewing machine, it is necessary to stitch while facing away the facing surface portion, which increases the number of steps. Connected to.

The present invention addresses the above situation and an object of the present invention is to efficiently manufacture a large-volume airbag as described above by performing the sewing work thereof very easily.

[0007]

That is, the method of manufacturing an airbag of the present invention which meets the above-mentioned object is to produce an airbag having the upper surface portion, the lower surface portion and the left and right side surface portions as described above. When manufacturing an airbag for a vehicle having an upper surface portion, a lower surface portion, and left and right side surfaces, an upper cloth cut on both sides of the upper surface portion while leaving the upper half of the left and right side portions, and both sides of the lower surface portion. The lower cloth cut off leaving the lower half of the left and right side parts to overlap, at least one of the upper half and the lower half of the side part is folded inward at the side edge of the upper surface part or the lower surface part, The folded side portions are further folded back so that the free side edges of these side portions are exposed to the outside of the side edges of the upper surface portion or the lower surface portion, and then the upper and lower halves of these outwardly exposed side surface portions are polymerized. And sew the free side edge, and polymerize the above. , On each side portion lower surface portion and folded, characterized in that each stitching the lower edges.

Another method of manufacturing an airbag according to the present invention is to use an upper cloth cut on both sides of the upper surface portion while leaving upper halves of the left and right side portions, and a left and right side surface portions on both sides of the lower surface portion. The lower cloth cut with leaving the lower half is polymerized, and at least one of the upper half and the lower half of the side surface portion is folded outward at the side edge of the upper surface portion or the lower surface portion, and the folded side surface portion is Further, by folding back, the free side edges of these side surfaces are brought out to the outside of the side edges of the upper surface portion or the lower surface portion, and then the upper and lower halves of the side surfaces that have been exposed to the outside are overlapped to form the free side. It is characterized in that the edges are sewn together, and the upper and lower surfaces of the above-mentioned polymerized portion and the upper and lower edges of the folded side surfaces are respectively sewn.

The airbag manufactured by the above two methods can be used in the above-mentioned state or in the state of being turned upside down.

It should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "right" and "left" used here are merely used for convenience of expression and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Further, the upper half and the lower half of the side surface portion do not necessarily mean that the side surface portion is equally divided, and for example, by adjusting the folding amount of the side surface portion and the like, You can change the ratio. Furthermore, the suturing of the free side edge and the suturing of the upper and lower edges may be performed continuously, or when they are performed separately, the order is not particularly limited.

[0011]

In the method of manufacturing an airbag of the present invention, since the sewing can be performed at once after the folding of the cloth is completed, the number of working steps is small and the airbag can be efficiently manufactured. Since the cloth is sewn in a flat state after the folding and along the four sides of the cloth that has a substantially rectangular shape, the entire circumference of the cloth is continuously sewn at once by an automatic sewing machine or the like. Is possible.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2 are perspective views showing a manufacturing state of an airbag of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an inflated state of the airbag of the same embodiment before being turned over, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the example airbag is folded flat in an inverted state, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the same example airbag is inflated in an inverted state.
As shown in FIG. 5, it has a three-dimensional shape with a large capacity, which is formed by an upper surface portion 1, a lower surface portion 2, and left and right side surface portions 3, 3 and has a spinning shape in a side view.

Explaining the manufacturing method of the airbag of the above-mentioned embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper halves 4, 4 of the right and left quadrangular side surface portions 3, 3 are also provided on both sides of the quadrangular upper surface portion 1. The upper cloth 5 cut and left and the lower cloth 7 having the same shape (different shapes may be used) as the upper cloth 5 cut and left with the lower halves 6 and 6 of the left and right side surfaces 3 and 3 on both sides of the lower surface 2. 4 and the upper half 4 ... 4 and the lower half 6,6 of the side surface portions 3 ... 3 are respectively overlapped with the side edges 1a, 1 of the upper surface portion 1 and the lower surface portion 2 as shown in the figure.
While folding inward at a, 2a, 2a, the folded upper half 4, 4 and lower half 6, 6 of the side surface portion are further folded back, and the freedom of these upper and lower half portions 4, 4, 6, 6 is obtained. Side edge 4
a ... 6a are the side edges 1 of the upper surface 1 or the lower surface 2.
a, 1a, 2a, 2a is placed outside.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper halves 4 and 4 and the lower halves 6 and 6 of the lateral side portions 3 ... Further, the polymerized upper and lower surfaces 1, 2 and the folded side surfaces, lower halves 4, 4, 6, 6, upper edges 1b, 2b, 3b and lower edges 1c, 2c, 3c are sewn, respectively. To do. When this is used as it is as an airbag, an airbag having an inflated shape as shown in FIG. 3 is obtained.

When the air bag is turned upside down from the inflator mounting port 8 (see FIG. 5), the flatly folded state becomes a square shape having pleats P as shown in FIG. 4, which is inflated. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the airbag becomes a spinning bag having a large volume in a side view.

On the other hand, FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views showing a manufacturing state of the airbag of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an expanded state of the airbag of the same embodiment after being turned over. As shown in FIG. 8, this airbag is also formed by the upper surface portion 1, the lower surface portion 2, and the left and right side surface portions 3 and 3 and has an inflated shape in a side view in the form of a spine.

In the method of manufacturing the airbag according to the second embodiment, first, the upper cloth which is cut by leaving the upper halves 4 and 4 of the rectangular right and left side surfaces 3 and 3 on both sides of the rectangular upper surface 1 respectively. 5 and the lower cloth 7 that is cut while leaving the lower halves 6 and 6 of the left and right side surfaces 3 and 3 on both sides of the lower surface 2, are polymerized, and only the upper halves 4 and 4 of the side surfaces 3 and 3 are Side edge 1 of upper surface 1
While folding inward at a and 1a, the folded side surface upper halves 4 and 4 are further folded back so that the free side edges 4a and 4a of the side surface upper halves 4 and 4 are located on the left and right sides of the upper surface portion 1. Put out from the edges 1a, 1a. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the free side edges 4 of the folded back side surface upper halves 4, 4.
The length of the lower cloth 7 is determined so that the a and 4a and the free side edges 6a and 6a of the lower half 6 and 6 of the side surface of the lower cloth 7 which have been stretched coincide with each other. There is. The upper and lower half free side edges 4a ... 6a are overlapped and matched in this example. However, if the free side edges 4a. There is no need to polymerize it.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the side surface upper halves 4 and 4 protruding to the outside and the side surface lower halves 6 and 6 whose lengths have been determined in advance as described above are polymerized, and Free side edge 4
a ... 6a are sewn together, and further, the above-mentioned polymerized upper and lower surface parts 1 and 2 and folded side surface parts, lower half parts 4, 4, 6, 6
The upper edges 1b, 2b, 3b and the lower edges 1c, 2c, 3c are sewn, respectively. When this is used as it is as an airbag, an airbag having an inflated shape as shown in FIG. 9 is obtained. Then, attach the airbag to the inflator mounting port 8
(Refer to FIG. 8) It is turned upside down to obtain an inflated airbag as shown in FIG.

Further, FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views showing a production state of the airbag of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an inflation state of the airbag of the same embodiment before being turned over,
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the airbag of the embodiment is inflated in an inverted state.
As shown in FIG. 13, it has a three-dimensional shape with a large capacity, which is formed by an upper surface portion 1, a lower surface portion 2, and left and right side surface portions 3, 3 and has a spinning shape in a side view.

Explaining the manufacturing method of the airbag of the above embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 10, the upper halves 4 and 4 of the right and left side portions 3 and 3 of the same square shape are formed on both sides of the upper surface portion 1 of the square shape.
The upper cloth 5 cut with leaving the upper cloth 5 and the lower cloth 7 having the same shape as the upper cloth 5 cut with the lower halves 6 of the left and right side surfaces 3, 3 left and right on both sides of the lower surface 2 are polymerized, Both the upper halves 4 ... 4 and the lower halves 6 and 6 of the side surface portions 3 ... 3 are bent outward at the respective side edges 1a, 1a, 2a, 2a of the upper surface portion 1 and the lower surface portion 2 as shown in the drawing. The upper halves 4, 4 and the lower halves 6, 6 of the folded side portions are further folded back so that the free side edges 4a ... 6a of the upper, lower halves 4, 4, 6, 6 of the side portions are aforesaid. Alternatively, the lower surface portion 2 is exposed to the outside of each side edge 1a, 1a, 2a, 2a.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the upper halves 4 and 4 and the lower halves 6 and 6 of the side portions 3 ... 3 which are exposed to the outside are superposed to sew the free side edges 4a. Further, on the above-mentioned superposed upper and lower surface portions 1 and 2 and each folded side surface portion,
The lower halves 4, 4, 6, 6, upper edges 1b, 2b, 3b and lower edges 1c, 2c, 3c are sewn, respectively. When this is used as it is as an airbag, an airbag having an inflated shape as shown in FIG. 12 is obtained. Then, when the airbag is turned upside down from the inflator mounting port 8 (see FIG. 13) and inflated, an airbag having a large volume with a spinning shape in a side view as shown in FIG. 13 is obtained.

Also in the above-described embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the upper half 4 ... 4 or the lower half 6 ... 6 of only one of the upper cloth 5 and the lower cloth 7 is replaced by the above-mentioned material. It is also possible to fold it like this.

Although the first, second, and third embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the upper half 4 or the lower half 6 of the side surface portion 3 is described.
The folding part 9 can be formed in a triangular shape or a trapezoidal shape as shown in FIG. 14 or 15, for example.

However, in the airbag manufacturing method of each of the embodiments of the present invention, since the sewing can be performed at once after the folding of the cloth side surface portions 3 ... 3, the working man-hours can be minimized to be extremely efficient. It is possible to fabricate an airbag, and further, since the sewing is performed with the cloth in a flat state after the folding, and further along the four sides of the cloth folded in a substantially rectangular shape, an automatic sewing machine or the like is used. By using it, it is possible to sew the entire circumference of the cloth at once.

Furthermore, in each of the first, second and third embodiments described above, since the upper cloth 5 and the lower cloth 7 are rectangular respectively, the material loss of the original cloth is eliminated. It has an advantage that an airbag can be manufactured and that the cloth can be cut very easily.

Although the airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, a cloth, a draw cloth, or a combination thereof is used as the cloth constituting the airbag, and these airbags can be used in the passenger seat or the driver's seat. Instead, it can be used in various places by adjusting the external dimensions such as side airbags.

[0028]

As described above, according to the method of manufacturing the vehicle airbag of the present invention, the upper and lower cloths having the upper half and the lower half of the side surface of the airbag are polymerized, and the upper side surface of the side surface of the airbag is overlapped. , The lower half is folded in a Z shape between or on the upper and lower surfaces of the airbag, respectively, and the free side edges of the overlapping side surfaces and the lower half are sewn, and the upper and lower surfaces are folded and folded. The upper edge and the lower edge of the side surface portion are sewn respectively, and in the production of a large-capacity airbag, folding and sewing of the cloth do not alternate as in the conventional case, after the folding of the cloth side surface portion is completed. Since it is possible to sew at once, it is possible to produce an airbag very efficiently by minimizing the number of work steps. Further, the sewing is performed with the cloth being flat after the folding, Along the four sides of the cloth folded into a square shape From doing, in which a marked effect of greatly reducing the air bag create time using an automatic sewing machine, etc. at once sewn cloth entire circumference.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first half manufacturing process of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a manufacturing process in the latter half of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an inflated state of the airbag manufactured by the method of the embodiment before turning over.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the airbag of the embodiment is folded upside down in an inverted state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the airbag of the embodiment is inflated in an inverted state.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a first half manufacturing process of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a manufacturing process in the latter half of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an inflated state of the airbag manufactured by the method of the embodiment after being turned over.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an inflated shape of the airbag of the embodiment before turning over.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a first half manufacturing process of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a manufacturing process in the latter half of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an inflated state of the airbag manufactured by the method of the embodiment before turning it over.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the airbag of the embodiment is inflated in an inverted state.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the first half of a manufacturing process of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the first half of a manufacturing process of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a conventional airbag manufacturing process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Upper Surface Part 2 Lower Surface Part 3 Side Part 4 Side Part Upper Half 5 Upper Cloth 6 Side Part Lower Half 7 Lower Cloth 8 Inflator Mounting Port 9 Folding Part 1a Upper Part Side Edge 1b Upper Part Upper Edge 1c Upper Part Lower Edge 2a Lower Part Side edge 2b Lower surface upper edge 2c Lower surface lower edge 3b Side surface upper edge 3c Side surface lower edge 4a Side surface upper half free side edge 6a Side surface lower half free side edge P Pleats

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takeshi Yamaji 3rd Ikagayama, Uchikoshi, Miyoshi-cho, Nishikamo-gun, Aichi Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. Automotive Parts Technology Center (72) Toru Ozaki Nishikamo-gun, Aichi 3 Yoshigayama, Uchikoshi, Miyoshi Town Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. Automotive Parts Technology Center

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. When manufacturing a vehicle airbag having an upper surface portion, a lower surface portion, and left and right side surface portions, an upper cloth cut on both sides of the upper surface portion while leaving upper halves of the left and right side surface portions, and a lower surface portion. The upper and lower halves of the above-mentioned side portion are superposed on each other by folding the lower half of the left and right side portions, leaving the lower halves, and folded inward at the side edge of the upper surface portion or the lower surface portion. At the same time, the folded side parts are further folded back so that the free side edges of these side parts are exposed to the outside of each side edge of the upper surface part or the lower surface part, and then the upper half and the lower half of the side parts that have been exposed to the outside. A method for manufacturing an air bag for a vehicle, characterized in that the free side edges are superposed on each other and the free side edges are superposed, and the superposed upper and lower surfaces and the folded and folded side surfaces are respectively sutured. 2. When manufacturing a vehicle airbag having an upper surface portion, a lower surface portion, and left and right side surface portions, an upper cloth cut on both sides of the upper surface portion while leaving the upper half of the left and right side surface portions, and a lower surface portion. The upper and lower halves of the above-mentioned side surface part are overlapped with the lower cloth that has been cut leaving the lower halves of the left and right side parts on both sides, and are folded outward at the side edges of the upper surface part or the lower surface part. At the same time, the folded side surface portions are further folded back so that the free side edges of these side surface portions are exposed to the outside of the side edges of the upper surface portion or the lower surface portion, and then the upper half and lower half of the side surface portions that are exposed to the outside. And the free side edges thereof are sewn together, and the above-mentioned overlapped upper and lower surface portions and the folded and folded side surface portions are sewn at the upper and lower edges, respectively. 3. The method for manufacturing a vehicle airbag according to claim 2, wherein the airbag is turned upside down from the inflator mounting port after each of the suturing.