Airbag apparatus

[0001] This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 2002-089415 filed in Japan on Mar. 27, 2002, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus, and more specifically, to an airbag apparatus suitable for mounting on a saddle-riding type vehicle in which a storage space for an airbag body is not typically easily secured.

[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0005] Airbags are well known and in widespread use in four-wheeled vehicles, particularly for mounting on a four-wheeled vehicle for alleviating an impact applied to an occupant during a collision of the vehicle. In recent years, it is proposed to mount the airbag apparatus not only on four-wheeled vehicles, but also on saddle-riding type vehicles such as motorcycles.

[0006] For example, in the motorcycle described in JP-A-2000-219884, the airbag is supported by a vehicle body and is capable of moving with respect to a center of rotation of a handle at a position between the handle and a wind-shielding member covering the region forward of the handle. In this motorcycle, the airbag is inflated laterally with respect to the vehicle body along the handle.

[0007] The present inventors have determined that the following problems exist in the aforementioned airbag apparatus of the background art. The airbag apparatus is typically disposed on the front side of the handle of the motorcycle. However, depending on the shape of the vehicle, a sufficient space cannot be secured in front of the handle. When providing the airbag apparatus between the handle and a wind-shielding member, a space for storing the airbag must be secured in advance, since it is difficult to mount the airbag after assembly.

[0008] The present invention overcomes the shortcomings associated with the background art and achieves other advantages not realized by the background art.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag apparatus that does not interfere with the operation of the handle of a saddle-riding type vehicle.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag apparatus that can be mounted easily on a saddle-riding type vehicle after assembly.

[0011] One or more of these and other objects are accomplished by an airbag apparatus for a saddle-ridden vehicle, the airbag apparatus comprising auxiliary support members for supporting the airbag apparatus on a frame of the saddle-ridden vehicle; a mounting plate being laid between the auxiliary support members; an airbag cover; and an airbag module being supported on the mounting plate, the airbag module having an upper surface being covered by the airbag cover.

[0012] One or more of these and other objects are further accomplished by a saddle-ridden vehicle having an airbag apparatus, wherein the saddle-ridden vehicle includes a vehicle body having a main frame, a head pipe at a front end of the main frame, and a steering handle mounted so as to be capable of a rotating motion with respect to the head pipe, the airbag apparatus comprising an airbag mounting plate extending from the main frame forward of the vehicle body and across the central axis of rotation of the steering handle; an airbag cover; and an airbag module mounted on the mounting plate above the central axis of rotation of the steering handle, the airbag module having an upper surface being covered by the airbag cover.

[0013] One or more of these and other objects are further accomplished by a method of providing an airbag apparatus for a saddle-ridden vehicle having a vehicle body having a main frame, and a steering handle, wherein the airbag apparatus includes an airbag mounting plate, an airbag cover and an airbag module, the method comprising mounting the airbag mounting plate in a position extending from the main frame forward of the vehicle body and across a central axis of rotation of the steering handle; and mounting the airbag module on the mounting plate above the central axis of rotation of the steering handle, the airbag module having an upper surface being covered by the airbag cover, the airbag apparatus being mounted in a space formed above the central axis of rotation of the steering handle of the saddle-ridden vehicle.

[0014] According to the present invention, the airbag apparatus is installed utilizing a space above the central axis of rotation of the steering handle. This space is located at a position nearest to the rider, e.g., in front of the rider. Therefore, the deployed airbag contacts the rider before knocking against any other members upon a collision or other triggering event. The airbag apparatus provided in this space is convenient for mounting on the saddle-riding type vehicle such as a motorcycle or All-Terrain Vehicle, including after assembly as an optional member.

[0015] The airbag apparatus is provided at a position convenient for mounting after assembly and fixed on the mainframe of the vehicle body. Further, the airbag is not affected by the movement of the steering handle upon collision, and the deployed airbag can contact the rider from the front.

[0016] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0021] The present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle having an airbag apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing a front portion of a motorcycle on which an airbag apparatus is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the motorcycle in the vicinity of the steering handle on which the airbag apparatus is mounted in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Referring now to the drawings, the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a side view of a motorcycle, e.g., an example of a saddle-riding type vehicle, on which the airbag apparatus of the present invention is to be mounted. A front fork 5 supporting a front wheel 4 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to a main frame 6, and a handle 8 is attached on the upper portion thereof. An airbag apparatus 40 is installed above the portion around the center of rotation of the handle 8.

[0023] A front fairing (cowl) 7 is provided on the front face of the handle 8. A headlight, (not shown) is accommodated in the front fairing 7, and direction indicator lights 10 are attached on both sides. A wind-shielding screen 11 is mounted on the upper portion of the front fairing 7.

[0024] A fuel tank 13, a rider's seat 14, and a passenger's seat 15 are disposed in order from the front fairing 7 rearward of the vehicle body. The passenger's seat 15 is formed integrally with the rider's seat 14 and includes a seatback 16 and armrests 17. A rear box 18 is provided behind the seatback 16. A bracket 19 supporting the rear box 18 is provided with a supporting member 20 which projects in a horizontal direction, and the supporting member 20 is provided with an antenna 21.

[0025] An air cleaner 22 is provided in front of the lower portion of the fuel tank 13, and a carburetor 23 is rearward thereof. An air intake pipe 25 extends from a carburetor 23 toward an engine 24. The engine 24 is a horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine. An exhaust pipe 26 is drawn rearward from the engine 24, and the exhaust pipe 26 is connected to a muffler 27. A radiator 74 is provided forwardly of the engine 24.

[0026] Side boxes 29 are disposed on the left and right of the rear wheel, and handrail pipes for the passenger are provided above. A tail lamp 31 and a rear direction indicator lamp 32 are attached on the rear portion of the vehicle body. Rider's steps 33 and passenger's steps 34 are provided on the left and right of the vehicle body. A side cover 35 and a main stand 36 are also provided on the motorcycle. Left and right handle grips 1L and 1R are provided at the ends of the handle 8, and a switch unit 37 is provided at a position adjacent to the handle grip 1L. An audio switch unit 38 is provided above and adjacent to the switch unit 37.

[0027] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing the front portion of the motorcycle illustrating the position to mount the airbag apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portion in the vicinity of the handle. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a head pipe 39 is connected to the front portion of the main frame 6. The upper portion of the front fork 5 is connected by a top bridge 43 and the top bridge 43 is rotatably connected to the head pipe 39 via a pivot 41. A holding attachment 44 for holding the handle 8 is secured on the top bridge 43.

[0028] A cowl stay 42 for supporting the front fairing 7 is connected to the main frame 6, and overhung forwardly from the vehicle body on the left side and right side thereof. The cowl stay 42, projecting from the head pipe 39 forward from the vehicle body, is an aggregate member for supporting the cowl or the front faring 7 in front thereof. The cowl stay 42 and the main frame 6 are provided with auxiliary members 46a, 46b (crossways on the sides thereof). A mounting plate 45 of the airbag apparatus 40 is laid between the auxiliary members 46a and 46b. An airbag module 47 is accommodated on the plate 45, and the upper surface of the airbag module 47 is covered by the airbag cover 48.

[0029] The airbag module 47 includes a folded airbag body, an inflator for deploying the airbag body, e.g., a canister for accommodating high-pressure gas, and a squib that explodes in response to detection of collision by a collision sensor (none of them are shown in the figure). A canister is opened by explosion of the squib and gas is fed to the airbag body to inflate and deploy the airbag body. The airbag cover 48 has a weakened portion broken by the pressure of the airbag body being inflated. The structure, material and so on to be used for the weakened portion of the airbag cover 48 may be selected from those that are publicly known, e.g., such as that shown and described in JP-A-5-105016 and JP-A-2001-206181, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. A simulated, inflated and deployed airbag 50 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0030] The impact sensor for detecting the impact of collision may be, for example, an acceleration sensor, which detects the abrupt change in speed (deceleration) upon collision and actuates the inflator.

[0031] The airbag apparatus is mounted effectively in the space above the central axis of rotation of the steering handle. Therefore, the airbag apparatus may be mounted easily after assembly in a saddle-riding type vehicle, such as a motorcycle, in which a mounting space cannot be secured in the vehicle body.

[0032] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.