CN116691588A - Distal balloon device - Google Patents

Abstract

The arm of the occupant is restrained from being pressed upward by the airbag at the initial stage of deployment and inflation. An airbag (31) in a non-inflated and deployed state that is deployed in a plane without being filled with inflation gas is formed into a storage state by being folded. An airbag (31) in a non-inflated and deployed state has: a lower expansion part (42); and an upper expansion part (45) adjacent to the upper side of the lower expansion part (42) in a communicating state. In the storage mode, the upper expansion part (45) is folded into a corrugated shape in the up-down direction while alternately changing the folding direction. In the storage mode, at least a part of the lower expansion part (42) is arranged on the side (side frame part (18) side: left side) of the specific side wall part (45) which is more far from the applied impact.

Description

Distal balloon device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a distal airbag device that deploys and inflates an airbag between adjacent vehicle seats to protect an occupant from an impact.

Background

In a vehicle in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged in a vehicle width direction, there is a structure in which a far side airbag device is mounted. This type of airbag device includes an airbag and a gas generator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag, similar to a normal side airbag device.

In the above-described distal airbag apparatus, the airbag and the gas generator are housed in a side portion of the vehicle seat that is close to the adjacent vehicle seat side. In this storage, the airbag in the non-inflated and deployed state that deploys in a planar shape without being filled with inflation gas is folded, and thereby a compact storage configuration suitable for storage is formed.

For example, in the distal airbag device described in patent document 1, the upper portion of the airbag in the non-inflated and deployed state is repeatedly folded in the same direction from above to below to form a roll. The lower portion of the airbag in the non-inflated and deployed state is folded from above to below while changing the folding direction alternately, and is formed in a corrugated shape.

The airbag housed in the side portion of the vehicle seat adjacent to the vehicle seat is fixed to the side portion together with the inflator at the fixing portion provided at the rear end portion of the airbag.

Here, if an impact is applied to a side wall portion of a side door or the like of the vehicle from the outside due to a side collision or the like, an occupant of the vehicle seat sitting on a side away from the side wall portion moves to the side to which the impact is applied due to inertia.

In contrast, in the distal airbag device, when an impact is detected to be applied to the side wall portion or when it is predicted that an impact will be applied, the inflation gas is ejected from the inflator. The airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats with the fixing portion remaining in the side portion by the inflation gas. As described above, the upper body of the occupant to be moved toward the side to which the impact is applied is blocked by the airbag to protect against the impact.

Patent document 1: japanese patent application laid-open No. 2017-52492

Disclosure of Invention

However, in the distal airbag device described in patent document 1, first, an inflation gas is supplied to the lower portion of the airbag. The lower portion of the airbag folded in a bellows shape is unfolded and inflated upward while eliminating the crease. The arm of the occupant is located forward, i.e., above, the deployment direction of the lower portion. Therefore, in the initial stage of the deployment and inflation of the airbag, the arm may be pressed upward by the airbag.

The present invention is directed to a vehicle in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged in a width direction of the vehicle seat, and both side portions in the width direction are configured by a pair of side wall portions, wherein when one of the two side wall portions is a specific side wall portion, an airbag in a storage form is stored in a side portion of a seat back of the vehicle seat that is farther from the specific side wall portion and is closer to one side of the specific side wall portion among the adjacent vehicle seats, and the airbag is fixed to the side portion at a fixing portion that is set to a part of the airbag, and when an impact is detected to be applied to the specific side wall portion from outside or when an impact is predicted to be applied to the airbag, an inflation gas is supplied from a gas generator to the airbag, and in a state in which the fixing portion remains in the side portion, the airbag is deployed and inflated between the adjacent vehicle seats, and the airbag is in a non-deployed folded form in which the airbag is not inflated and is not inflated in a flat deployment form is formed, and the airbag is in a non-deployed form: a lower expansion section; and an upper expansion portion that is adjacent to an upper side of the lower expansion portion in a communicating state, wherein in the storage state, the upper expansion portion is folded in a corrugated shape in an up-down direction while alternately changing a folding direction, and at least a part of the lower expansion portion is disposed on a side farther from the specific side wall portion than the upper expansion portion.

According to the above configuration, if an impact is applied to the specific side wall portion from the outside, the upper body of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat on the side away from the specific side wall portion is moved to the specific side wall portion side due to inertia.

On the other hand, when an impact is detected to be applied to the specific side wall portion from the outside or when it is predicted that an impact will be applied, the inflation gas is supplied from the gas generator to the upper inflation portion and the lower inflation portion of the airbag. The inflation gas is supplied to expand and inflate the air cells in reverse of the folding sequence. The airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats with the fixing portion set in the airbag itself remaining in the side wall portion.

Here, at least a part of the lower expansion portion to which the expansion gas is supplied expands on the side farther from the specific side wall portion than the upper expansion portion. The upper expansion portion folded in a bellows shape expands and swells upward while being pressed against the specific side wall portion by the lower expansion portion which swells. In this way, the airbag deploys and inflates while detouring around the arm. Therefore, the phenomenon that the arm of the occupant is pressed upward by the airbag is less likely to occur at the initial stage of the deployment and inflation of the airbag.

The upper body of the occupant to be moved to the specific side wall portion side in response to the impact in the above manner is supported by the deployed and inflated airbag. The movement of the upper body of the occupant toward the specific side wall portion side is restricted by the airbag, and the upper body is protected from an impact.

In the distal airbag device, it is preferable that a plurality of linear upper folding lines separated from each other in the vertical direction are provided in the upper inflation portion of the airbag in the non-inflated and deployed state, that the interval between the upper folding lines provided adjacent to the boundary portion between the upper inflation portion and the lower inflation portion is changed in the front-rear direction, and that the interval between the upper folding lines provided adjacent to the boundary portion is constant in the front-rear direction.

In the upper inflated portion of the airbag in the non-inflated and deployed state, the interval (folding width) between the adjacent linear upper folding lines is set to be constant in the front-rear direction at a portion above the boundary portion with the lower inflated portion. The upper portion of the upper expansion portion is folded back while alternately changing the folding direction along each upper folding line, and is folded in a corrugated shape such that the folding width is constant in the front-rear direction.

In addition, the interval between adjacent upper folding lines is set to be changed in the front-rear direction at the boundary portion between the upper expansion portion and the lower expansion portion. The boundary portion is folded back along the upper folding line to be corrugated so that the folding width is different in the front-rear direction.

Therefore, when the airbag in the non-inflated and deployed state is formed in the storage state, the plurality of portions above the boundary portion in the upper inflated portion can be folded into the bellows shape efficiently. In addition, the entire boundary portion of the upper expansion portion can be folded into a corrugated shape without being excessively or insufficiently, regardless of the shape thereof.

In the distal airbag device, it is preferable that a lower fold line is set at the lower inflation portion of the airbag in the non-inflated and deployed state, the lower inflation portion is configured by a lower front inflation portion at a front side than the lower fold line, and a lower rear inflation portion at a rear side than the lower fold line, the lower inflation portion is folded back along the lower fold line to be in a folded-in state in which the lower front inflation portion and the lower rear inflation portion overlap, and in the storage state, the lower front inflation portion and the lower rear inflation portion in the folded-in state are arranged in a state arranged in the width direction at a side farther from the specific side wall than the upper inflation portion folded in a corrugated shape.

According to the above configuration, the lower expansion portion is formed in the folded state, so that the size of the airbag when formed in the storage state is further reduced as compared with the case where the airbag is not folded, and the mountability to the vehicle seat is improved.

Further, if the expansion gas is supplied from the gas generator to the lower expansion portion, the lower front expansion portion and the lower rear expansion portion are respectively expanded to generate a force to push out the upper expansion portion toward the specific side wall portion side.

In the distal airbag device, it is preferable that a pressure receiving portion is provided at a position distant from the specific side wall portion with respect to the lower inflation portion of the airbag in the storage mode, and the pressure receiving portion receives the pressure of the inflation gas by the inflated lower inflation portion and generates a reaction force toward the specific side wall portion.

According to the above-described structure, if the lower expansion portion starts to expand with the expansion gas supplied from the gas generator, the pressure of the expansion gas is received by the pressure receiving portion, and a reaction force toward the specific side wall portion side is generated. Therefore, the upper expansion portion can be rapidly pushed out toward the specific side wall portion by the reaction force.

In the distal airbag device, a side frame portion is preferably disposed in the side portion, and the pressure receiving portion is preferably constituted by a part of the side frame portion.

According to the above configuration, the side frame portion that has been provided in the side portion of the seat back functions as the pressure receiving portion. Therefore, even if the pressure receiving portion is not separately provided, the effect of rapidly expanding and inflating the lower inflation portion toward the specific side wall portion can be obtained.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the above-described distal airbag apparatus, the upward pressing of the arms of the occupant by the airbag at the initial stage of deployment and inflation can be suppressed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of a vehicle mounted with a distal airbag device in one embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a partial plan sectional view showing an internal structure of a side portion of the seat back in which the airbag module is housed in the above embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a partial front cross-sectional view of the vehicle seat, occupant, and side wall portion as seen from the front of the vehicle in the above embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a partial side view showing the positional relationship among a vehicle seat, an occupant, and an airbag in a vehicle cabin in the above embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the airbag module in which the airbag is formed in the storage configuration in the above embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the airbag module in which the airbag is formed in a non-inflated deployed configuration in the above embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a side view illustrating the 1 st folding step of the airbag according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a side view illustrating the 1 st and 2 nd folding steps of the airbag according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a side view illustrating the 2 nd and 3 rd folding steps of the airbag according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a side view illustrating the 3 rd and 4 th folding steps of the airbag according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a side view illustrating a 4 th folding process of the airbag according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a side view illustrating the 4 th and 5 th folding steps of the airbag according to the above embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a top cross-sectional view of the airbag module and side frame portions taken out of fig. 2.

Fig. 14 is a partial front sectional view corresponding to fig. 3, and showing the state of the airbag at the initial stage of deployment and inflation, together with the occupant and the vehicle seat.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of a distal airbag device for a vehicle will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the following description, the forward direction and the backward direction of the vehicle will be described as the forward direction and the backward direction, respectively. The vertical direction means the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the horizontal direction is the vehicle width direction and coincides with the horizontal direction when the vehicle is traveling. Further, an occupant having the same physical constitution as the virtual object for the collision test is set to sit on the vehicle seat. A seat belt device (not shown) for restraining an occupant seated in a vehicle seat in the vehicle seat is provided in the vehicle cabin.

As shown in fig. 1, both side portions in the width direction (left-right direction) of the vehicle 10 are constituted by side wall portions 11, 12 constituted by doors, pillars, and the like. The vehicle seats 13 and 14 as front seats are arranged in the vehicle interior in a state of being aligned in the width direction of the vehicle seats 13 and 14. The vehicle seat 13 near the side wall portion 11 functions as a driver seat in which the occupant (driver) P1 sits. The vehicle seat 14 near the side wall portion 12 functions as a sub-driver seat in which the occupant (sub-driver Xi Chengyuan) P2 sits. The vehicle seats 13 and 14 have the same structure as each other. Therefore, only the vehicle seat 13 will be described here.

[ schematic structure of vehicle seat 13 ]

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the vehicle seat 13 includes a seat cushion 15, a seat back 16, and a headrest 20. The seat cushion 15 is a portion where the occupant P1 sits. The seat back 16 is a portion for supporting the upper body of the occupant P1 from the rear. The seat back 16 is configured to be capable of adjusting the reclining angle. The headrest 20 is a portion for supporting the head PH of the occupant P1 from the rear. The vehicle seat 13 is disposed in a posture in which the seat back 16 is oriented forward. The width direction of the vehicle seat 13 thus arranged coincides with the vehicle width direction (left-right direction).

Fig. 2 shows an internal structure of the seat back 16 of the vehicle seat 13, which is a side portion 17 near one side (right side) of the side wall portion 12 (vehicle seat 14). A seat frame constituting a skeleton portion thereof is disposed inside the seat back 16.

A side frame portion 18 that forms a part of the seat frame is disposed inside the side portion 17. The side frame portions 18 are formed by bending a metal plate or the like.

A seat cushion 19 made of an elastic material such as urethane foam is disposed on the front side of the seat frame including the side frame portions 18. Further, a back plate 21 is disposed on the rear side of the seat frame. The seat cushion 19 is covered with a skin, but the illustration of the skin is omitted in fig. 2.

A storage portion 22 is provided inside the side portion 17 and outside the side frame portion 18 (vehicle seat 14 side: right side). The housing portion 22 is a space for housing an airbag module ABM constituting a main portion of the distal airbag device.

The slit 23 extends obliquely forward and outward from a corner of the front portion of the housing portion 22. A portion sandwiched between the slit 23 and the corner 19c on the front side of the seat cushion 19 (a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line frame in fig. 2) constitutes a fracture scheduled portion 24 that is fractured by an airbag 31 described later.

[ concerning an airbag module ABM ]

The airbag module ABM has an airbag 31 and a gas generator 25 for supplying inflation gas to the airbag as main components. Next, the above-described components will be described.

< gas Generator 25 >)

The inflator 25 includes an inflator 26 and a holder 27 covering the inflator 26. Here, a type called a pilot type is employed as the inflator 26. A gas generating agent (not shown) that generates an inflation gas is housed in the inflator 26. The inflator 26 has a gas discharge portion 26a at an upper end portion thereof. A harness (not shown) that serves as an input wire for an operation signal to the inflator 26 is connected to the lower end portion of the inflator 26.

Instead of the pilot structure using the gas generating agent, the inflator 26 may be of a type in which a partition wall of a high-pressure gas tank filled with high-pressure gas is broken by powder or the like to discharge expansion gas.

On the other hand, the retainer 27 functions as a diffuser for controlling the discharge direction of the inflation gas, and has a function of fastening the inflator 26 to the side frame portion 18 together with the airbag 31 and the like. Most of the holder 27 is formed in a cylindrical shape by bending a plate material such as a metal plate. A bolt 28 is fixed to the holder 27 as a member for attaching the holder to the side frame 18.

Further, the inflator 25 may be a structure in which the inflator 26 and the holder 27 are integrally formed. In addition, the inflator 25 may be constituted by only the inflator 26 without using the retainer 27. In this case, the bolt 28 is fixed to the inflator 26

[ airbag 31]

In fig. 4 and 6, the airbag 31 is shown in a flat-shaped deployed state (hereinafter referred to as "non-inflated deployed state") without being filled with inflation gas. The airbag 31 is formed by folding 1 cloth piece (also referred to as base cloth, panel cloth, or the like) forward along a fold line 33 provided at a central portion thereof, overlapping the pieces in the width direction of the vehicle seat 13, and joining the overlapped portions in a bag shape. Here, in order to distinguish the above-described overlapped 2 portions of the airbag 31, a portion located on the side wall portion 12 (vehicle seat 14) side is referred to as a cloth portion 34, and a portion located on the side wall portion 11 side is referred to as a cloth portion 35 (see fig. 8).

In the present embodiment, the cloth is folded in half so that the fold line 33 is positioned at the rear end portion of the airbag 31, but the cloth may be folded in half so that the fold line 33 is positioned at other end portions, for example, the front end portion, the upper end portion, the lower end portion, or the like. In addition, the airbag 31 may be constituted by 2 cloth pieces divided along the fold line 33. In this case, 2 pieces of cloth are overlapped in the width direction (left-right direction), and the two pieces of cloth are joined over the entire circumference to form the airbag 31. At least one of the cloth sections 34 and 35 may be formed of 2 or more cloth pieces.

In the airbag 31, the outer shapes of the cloth portions 34 and 35 are in a line-symmetrical relationship with each other about the fold line 33 as a symmetry axis. As the cloth portions 34 and 35, a material having high strength, being hard to stretch, and having flexibility and being easily foldable, for example, a woven cloth formed of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, or the like is preferable.

The above-described joining of the two cloth portions 34, 35 is performed at a peripheral joining portion 36 provided along the peripheral edge portions thereof. The peripheral edge joining portion 36 is formed by sewing (sewing with a stitch) a portion other than the rear end portion (the peripheral portion of the fold line 33) of the peripheral edge portions of the two cloth portions 34, 35. In fig. 6, the peripheral joint 36 is represented by thick lines of a constant length that are intermittently arranged. The thick line is shown in a state where the suture is viewed from the side. This is the same as in fig. 7 to 12. The peripheral edge joining portion 36 may be formed by a method different from the sewing by the above-described sewing, for example, by bonding with an adhesive.

The space between the two cloth parts 34 and 35 and surrounded by the peripheral edge joint part 36 and the fold line 33 is an expansion part 41 that is expanded and inflated by the inflation gas. As shown in fig. 4, the inflation portion 41 sets a plurality of portions of the upper body of the occupant P1, and in the present embodiment, a portion from the waist PP to the head PH, as protection target portions. The expansion portion 41 is formed in a shape and a size that can restrict the protection target portion and protect the protection target portion from impact.

As shown in fig. 6, the inflatable portion 41 of the airbag 31 in the non-inflated and deployed state includes: a lower expansion portion 42 that includes a lower end 31L of the airbag 31 and is substantially sector-shaped; and an upper expansion portion 45 adjacent to the upper side of the lower expansion portion 42. As shown in fig. 10, the front portion of the lower expansion portion 42 is constituted by a lower front expansion portion 43, and the rear portion of the lower expansion portion 42 is constituted by a lower rear expansion portion 44. The lower front expansion portion 43 and the lower rear expansion portion 44 communicate with each other. As shown in fig. 6, the upper expansion portion 45 is constituted by: a boundary portion 46 that constitutes a lower end portion of the upper expansion portion 45 and is adjacent to an upper side of the lower expansion portion 42; and a non-boundary portion 47 adjacent to an upper side of the boundary portion 46.

A thickness regulating portion, not shown, is provided in the expansion portion 41. The thickness regulating portion regulates the expansion thickness in the width direction (left-right direction) of the expansion portion 41. The thickness limiter has the same structure as what is commonly called a tie. An inner tube, not shown, is disposed at a rear lower portion in the expansion portion 41. The inner tube extends in the up-down direction in a state of surrounding the gas generator 25. The inner tube has a function of rectifying the expansion gas generated by the gas generator 25.

The rear end portion of the airbag 31 is set as a fixing portion 32 with respect to the side frame portion 18. The gas generator 25 is housed in the fixing portion 32 in a posture extending in the vertical direction. The bolts 28 are inserted into the inner tube, the airbag 31, and the like, and the gas generator 25 is locked in a state of being positioned with respect to the airbag 31, and the like.

[ fixing method of air bag module ABM ]

However, as shown in fig. 2 and 5, the airbag module ABM is stored in the storage portion 22 in a state where the airbag 31 is formed in a compact storage form. As shown in fig. 3, the airbag module ABM is fixed in the side portion 17 with its upper end positioned at a height, for example, as described below.

The height is "the same height as the lower end of the upper arm portion PAU or a height lower than the lower end thereof when the occupant P1 takes the driving posture by holding the steering wheel 73 (see fig. 4), for example.

The airbag 31 in the non-inflated and deployed state shown in fig. 6 is formed in the storage state shown in fig. 2 and 5 by folding together with a thickness regulating portion (tether), an inner tube, and the like a portion different from the fixing portion 32 (rear end portion) in which the inflator 25 is stored.

In the storage mode, as shown in fig. 13, the upper expansion portion 45 is folded in a corrugated shape in the up-down direction while alternately changing the folding direction. At least a part of the lower expansion portion 42 is disposed on a side (side frame portion 18 side: left side) farther from the side wall portion 12 (vehicle seat 14) than a front portion 49 of the upper expansion portion 45, which will be described later. In more detail, as shown in fig. 13, the lower expansion portion 42 is formed in a folded-in state in which the lower front expansion portion 43 and the lower rear expansion portion 44 are overlapped. The lower front inflation portion 43 and the lower rear inflation portion 44 in the folded state are arranged in a state of being aligned in the width direction (left-right direction) of the vehicle seat 13.

As shown in fig. 2, an airbag module ABM having an airbag 31 in a storage form is stored in the storage portion 22. The bolts 28 exposed from the fixing portions 32 of the airbag 31 are inserted into the side frame portions 18. A part of the bolt 28 protrudes further toward the side wall 11 than the side frame 18, and a nut 29 is fastened to the protruding part. The gas generator 25 is fixed to the side frame portion 18 together with the fixing portion 32 (rear end portion) of the airbag 31 by this fastening.

The gas generator 25 may be fixed to the side frame 18 by a member different from the bolt 28 and the nut 29. In the case where the inflator 25 is constituted only by the inflator 26, the inflator 26 may be fixed to the side frame portion 18 by a bolt 28 fixed to the inflator 26 and a nut 29 fastened to the bolt.

The pressure receiving portion is provided at a position distant from the side wall portion 12 (the vehicle seat 14) with respect to the lower inflated portion 42 of the air bag 31 in the storage mode. The pressure receiving portion receives the pressure of the inflation gas by the inflated lower inflation portion 42, and acts as a reaction force toward the side wall portion 12 (vehicle seat 14). The pressure receiving portion is constituted by a part of the side frame portion 18 in the present embodiment.

[ folding method of airbag 31]

In order to form the airbag 31 in the non-inflated and deployed state into the storage state, the following 1 st to 5 th folding steps and the storage state holding step are performed. Fig. 7 to 11 show a state in which the airbag module ABM is inclined at the same degree of angle as the airbag module ABM is fixed to the side frame 18.

(folding step 1)

In the 1 st folding step, a fold line 51 extending substantially linearly in the front-rear direction is set in the middle portion in the up-down direction of the non-boundary portion 47 of the upper inflated portion 45 of the airbag 31 in the non-inflated and deployed state shown in fig. 7.

As shown by an arrow a in fig. 7, the portion 52 of the non-boundary portion 47 above the fold line 51 is folded along the fold line 51 to fold back toward the side wall portion 12 (the vehicle seat 14) side. By performing the 1 st folding step, as shown in fig. 8, the portion 52 is formed in a state of being overlapped with the portion 53 on the side wall portion 12 (vehicle seat 14) side. Accordingly, the dimension of the upper inflated portion 45 (airbag 31) in the up-down direction is smaller than that before the 1 st folding step.

(folding step 2)

As shown in fig. 8, in the 2 nd folding step, a plurality of 2 kinds of upper folding lines 54, 55 each having a straight line shape are set with respect to the non-boundary portion 47 after the 1 st folding step. The upper fold line 54 shown in dotted lines is the line of the crease when the male fold is formed. The upper fold line 55 shown in broken lines is the line of the crease when the female fold is formed. The convex folding is a folding method in which the crease (upper folding line 54) is exposed to the outside. The convex portion is formed in a state of being raised like a mountain. The concave folding is a folding method in which a crease (upper folding line 55) is folded so as to be hidden inward. The concavely folded portion is concaved inward like a valley.

The upper folding lines 54 are alternately arranged with the upper folding lines 55. The adjacent upper folding lines 54, 55 extend substantially in the front-rear direction in a state of being separated in parallel from each other. The interval (folding width) between the adjacent upper folding lines 54, 55 is constant at any portion in the front-rear direction.

The non-boundary portion 47 is folded in a corrugated shape from above toward below while alternately changing the folding direction. This folding is called bellows folding. As shown in fig. 9, the non-boundary portion 47 and the airbag 31 have a smaller dimension in the up-down direction than immediately after the 1 st folding step.

(3 rd folding step)

As shown in fig. 9, in the 3 rd folding step, 2 kinds of upper folding lines 57 and 58, which are respectively straight, are set with respect to the boundary portion 46 of the upper expansion portion 45. The upper folding line 57 shown by the chain line is a line which becomes a crease when being a convex fold. The upper fold line 58 shown in dashed lines is a line that forms a crease when concavely folded.

The interval between the two upper folding lines 57, 58 is set to vary in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the interval is set to be larger toward the front. As shown in fig. 10, the boundary portion 46 is folded in a corrugated shape by folding back along the upper folding lines 57, 58 in such a manner that the folding width is different in the front-rear direction. By this folding, the dimension of the upper inflation portion 45 and thus the airbag 31 in the up-down direction is further smaller than immediately after the 2 nd folding step.

(4 th folding step)

As shown in fig. 10, in the 4 th folding step, a linear lower fold line 61 is set to be lower toward the front side in the substantially fan-shaped lower inflation portion 42 of the airbag 31 in the non-inflated and deployed state. The lower expansion portion 42 is divided by this setting into a lower front expansion portion 43 on the front side of the lower folding line 61 and a lower rear expansion portion 44 on the rear side of the lower folding line 61.

On the other hand, in the 4 th folding step, the intermediate portion 48 in the front-rear direction of the upper expansion portion 45 passing through the 3 rd folding step is set as the center, and a portion (front portion 49) of the upper expansion portion 45 in front of the intermediate portion 48 is folded so as to rotate downward as indicated by an arrow B. The front portion 49 is a portion surrounded by a frame of a chain line in fig. 10.

In the bending, the lower rear expansion portion 44 separated from the upper expansion portion 45 is not deformed or is difficult to be deformed in the lower expansion portion 42, whereas the lower front expansion portion 43 adjacent to the upper expansion portion 45 is deformed following the operation (bending) of the upper expansion portion 45. Then, as shown in fig. 11, the lower expansion portion 42 is folded back on the lower fold line 61 so that the lower front expansion portion 43 is folded back in a folded state (see fig. 13) overlapping from the side wall portion 12 (vehicle seat 14) side with respect to the lower rear expansion portion 44. The front portion 49 of the upper inflation portion 45 folded in a bellows shape is located closer to the side wall portion 12 (the vehicle seat 14) than the lower front inflation portion 43.

Next, as described above, the lower front inflation portion 43 and the lower rear inflation portion 44 that overlap in the width direction of the vehicle seat 13 are wound around the front portion 49 of the upper inflation portion 45 as shown in fig. 12.

(5 th folding step)

In the 5 th folding step, as shown in fig. 12, a fold line 64 extending in the width direction (left-right direction) of the vehicle seat 13 is set at a portion of the airbag 31 that follows the 4 th folding step. The portion is in front of the front portion 49, the lower front expansion portion 43, and the lower rear expansion portion 44, and is a portion that is upwardly spaced from the lower end, for example, a portion obliquely forward and upwardly of the lower end of the gas generator 25.

As shown by arrow C in fig. 12, in the airbag 31, a portion 65 below the fold line 64 is folded to be folded upward along the fold line 64. The lower portion 65 is formed in a state of overlapping with the front side of the portion 66 on the upper side than the fold line 64 by this folding. Accordingly, the dimension of the airbag 31 in the up-down direction is smaller than that before the 5 th folding step. However, the size of the airbag 31 in the front-rear direction is larger than before the 5 th folding step due to the overlapping of the lower portion 65. The airbag 31 is deformed to approach the fixing portion 32 (rear end portion) by the folded portion, and is formed in a storage shape (see fig. 5).

(storage form holding step)

As shown in fig. 5, the tie strap 68 is wound around a plurality of portions of the airbag 31 formed in the storage configuration through the 5 th folding step, which are separated from each other in the vertical direction. The airbag 31 is held in the storage configuration by the end strap 68.

[ other Structure of distal balloon apparatus ]

As shown in fig. 2, the distal airbag device has an impact sensor 71 and a control device 72 in addition to the above-described airbag module ABM. The impact sensor 71 is constituted by an acceleration sensor or the like, and detects an impact applied to the vehicle 10 from the outside (side or obliquely front side) with respect to the side wall portions 11, 12.

The control device 72 is configured to include a processor that performs operations according to a computer program (software) and is 1 or more, a dedicated hardware circuit that performs at least a part of the various processes and is 1 or more, or a combination thereof. The control device 72 controls the operation of the gas generator 25 based on the detection signal from the impact sensor 71. In the present embodiment, when the impact sensor 71 detects an impact of a magnitude equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the control device 72 outputs an operation signal for operating the gas generator 25.

< action and Effect >

Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. The effects associated with the actions will be described. Further, as a precondition, the occupant P1 is set to sit on the vehicle seat 13 in an appropriate posture, and the upper body of the occupant P1 is restrained by the seat belt device to the vehicle seat 13.

[ (1) non-operation of distal balloon apparatus ]

When the impact sensor 71 shown in fig. 2 does not detect that an impact of a magnitude equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to both side wall portions 11, 12, no operation signal is output from the control device 72 to the gas generator 25. The inflation gas is not ejected from the gas ejection portion 26a of the inflator 26. As shown in fig. 2, the airbag 31 is continuously stored in the storage portion 22 in a storage state.

[ (2) operation of distal balloon apparatus ]

Next, a case will be described in which one of the two side wall portions 11, 12, for example, the side wall portion 12 is a specific side wall portion, and an impact due to a side collision or the like is applied to the side wall portion 12 from the outside (sideways or obliquely forward) as indicated by an arrow in fig. 1.

In this case, the upper body of the occupant P1 in fig. 1 is moved to the side wall portion 12 side, which is the side to which the impact is applied, due to inertia. This movement also includes tilting operation toward the side wall 12.

On the other hand, if the impact sensor 71 of fig. 2 detects that an impact greater than or equal to the predetermined value is applied to the side wall portion 12, the control device 72 outputs the operation signal to the gas generator 25 based on the detection signal. The inflation gas is ejected from the gas ejection portion 26a of the inflator 26 in accordance with the operation signal. The inflation gas is supplied to the lower inflation portion 42 and the upper inflation portion 45 of the airbag 31 in the storage mode.

The inflation gas is supplied to raise the internal pressures of the lower inflation portion 42 and the upper inflation portion 45. The lower expansion portion 42 and the upper expansion portion 45 are expanded and inflated in the reverse order of the folding method described above.

The end band 68 shown in fig. 5 is broken by the deployed and inflated airbag 31. The airbag 31 that is then deployed and inflated presses the seat cushion 19 in the vicinity of the storage portion 22 in fig. 2, and breaks the seat cushion 19 at the scheduled breakage portion 24. The airbag 31 is exposed to the outside of the side portion 17 with the fixing portion 32 (rear end portion) remaining in the housing portion 22. The airbag 31 deploys and inflates between the vehicle seats 13 and 14.

(2-1) here, as shown in fig. 13, if the lower expansion portion 42 located between the upper expansion portion 45 and the side frame portion 18 is supplied with the expansion gas from the gas generator 25, the lower expansion portion 42 starts to expand. Then, the side frame portion 18 on the side wall portion 11 side of the lower expansion portion 42 functions as a pressure receiving portion. The pressure of the inflation gas is received by the side frame portions 18, and a reaction force is generated toward the side wall portion 12 side. As shown in fig. 14, the upper expansion portion 45 is pushed out toward the side wall portion 12 (the vehicle seat 14) by the reaction force.

The upper expansion portion 45 folded in a bellows shape is expanded and inflated upward while being pressed against the side wall portion 12 by the lower expansion portion 42. At this time, as shown in fig. 7 and 8, the portion 52 is expanded and inflated in the upper inflation portion 45 while being rotated upward about the fold line 51. This rotation is performed on the side wall portion 12 (vehicle seat 14) side of the portion 53. In this way, the airbag 31 deploys and inflates while detouring around the arm PA. Therefore, the phenomenon of pressing the arm PA of the occupant P1 upward is less likely to occur when the airbag 31 is deployed and inflated.

The airbag 31 is deployed and inflated laterally on the side wall portion 12 (vehicle seat 14) side with respect to the upper body of the occupant P1. Therefore, the upper body of the occupant P1 to be moved to the side wall portion 12 side by the impact in the above-described manner is supported by the airbag 31 that is deployed and inflated laterally thereof. The movement of the upper body of the occupant P1 toward the side wall portion 12 (including the phenomenon of toppling) is restricted, and the upper body is protected from impact.

[ (3) actions and effects other than those mentioned above ]

(3-1) in the folding of the airbag 31 in the non-inflated and deployed state, the interval (folding width) between the adjacent linear upper folding lines 54, 55 is set to be constant in the front-rear direction at the non-boundary portion 47 of the upper inflation portion 45, as shown in fig. 8. The non-boundary portion 47 is folded back while alternately changing the folding direction along each of the upper folding lines 54, 55 so that the folding width is folded in a corrugated shape in a constant manner in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 9, the interval between the adjacent linear upper folding lines 57 and 58 is set to be changed in the front-rear direction at the boundary portion 46 of the upper expansion portion 45. The boundary 46 is folded back along the upper folding lines 57 and 58 to be corrugated so that the folding width becomes larger toward the front.

Therefore, the non-boundary portion 47 can be folded into a corrugated shape efficiently. In addition, the boundary portion 46 can be folded in a corrugated shape over the entire boundary portion 46 without any deficiency, regardless of the shape thereof.

(3-2) in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 10 and 13, the lower expansion portion 42 is folded back along the lower folding line 61 to form a folded-back state in which the lower front expansion portion 43 and the lower rear expansion portion 44 overlap.

Therefore, the size of the airbag 31 when formed in the storage mode can be reduced as compared with the case where the lower expansion portion 42 is not folded back, and the mountability to the vehicle seat 13 can be improved.

(3-3) in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 2 and 13, a part of the side frame portion 18 that is already provided in the side portion 17 of the seat back 16 is caused to function as a pressure receiving portion. Therefore, even if the pressure receiving portion is not separately provided, the effect of rapidly expanding and expanding the lower expansion portion 42 toward the side wall portion 12 can be obtained.

(3-4) although the case where an impact is applied to the side wall portion 11 from the outside in fig. 1 is not described, the occupant P2 seated in the vehicle seat 14 is protected from the impact by functioning as described above.

< variant >

The above-described embodiments may be implemented as modification examples which are modified in the following manner. The above-described embodiments and the following modifications may be combined with each other within a range not contradictory in terms of technology.

[ concerning the airbag 31]

The shape or size of the airbag 31 may be changed, and the portion of the airbag 31 to be protected against the occupant P1 may be enlarged, reduced, or changed.

The airbag 31 may be configured to be inflated substantially entirely as in the above embodiment, but may have a non-inflated portion that is not inflated without supplying inflation gas locally.

The fixing portion 32 of the airbag 31 may be a member located on the side 17 of the vehicle seat 13, and may be fixed to a member having high rigidity similar to the side frame 18.

In the state of being formed in the storage state, the airbag 31 may be disposed at least at a portion of the lower inflation portion 42 on the side (side frame portion 18 side) farther from the side wall portion 12 (vehicle seat 14) than the upper inflation portion 45. Therefore, the portion of the lower expansion portion 42 to be disposed may be only a part of the lower expansion portion 42 or may be all of the lower expansion portion.

The lower expansion portion 42 of the airbag 31 in the storage mode is foldable more than the number of the embodiments described above with respect to the width direction (the left-right direction).

[ concerning the control device 72]

The specification of the control device 72 may be changed to a specification that outputs an operation signal to the gas generator 25 when it is predicted that an impact is applied to one of the side wall portions 11, 12 from the outside.

[ about the application site of distal balloon apparatus ]

The above-described distal airbag device may be applied only to either one of the vehicle seats 13, 14.

The above-described far airbag device may be applied to a rear seat (a seat in the 2 nd row and later) not only to a front seat (a driver seat, a passenger seat) of the vehicle 10. However, in the case of the rear seat, the adjacent vehicle seats 13 and 14 are also independent of each other, and the vehicle seats are configured to be applied in a state separated in the width direction.

In the case of a vehicle 10 in which the vehicle seats 13 and 14 are arranged in a posture in which the seatback 16 faces in a direction different from the front direction, for example, in a lateral direction (left-right direction), the above-described far-side airbag device may be applied to the vehicle seats 13 and 14.

In the case where the vehicle 10 is of a type in which 3 or more vehicle seats 13, 14 are arranged in a row in the width direction, the above-described far-side airbag device may be applied to the above-described vehicle seats 13, 14.

[ others ]

The pressure receiving portion may be constituted by a member different from the side frame portion 18.

The vehicle 10 to which the above-described far-side airbag device is applied also includes various industrial vehicles, not limited to a self-contained vehicle.

The airbag device described above can also be applied to a far-side airbag device mounted on a vehicle seat of a vehicle different from a vehicle, for example, a vehicle such as an aircraft or a ship.

Description of the reference numerals

10 … vehicle (vehicle)

11 … side wall portion

12 … side wall (Special side wall)

13. 14 … vehicle seat (vehicle seat)

16 … seat back

17 … side

18 … side frame portions

25 … gas generator

31 … air bag

32 … fixing part

42 … lower expansion part

43 … lower front expansion part

44 … lower rear expansion portion

45 … upper expansion part

46 … boundary portion

54. 55, 57, 58, … upper fold line

61 … lower fold line

Claims (5)

1. A far-side airbag device applied to a vehicle in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged in a width direction of the vehicle seats and both side portions in the width direction are constituted by a pair of side wall portions, wherein when one of the two side wall portions is a specific side wall portion, an airbag in a storage form is stored in a side portion of a seat back of the vehicle seat that is farther from the specific side wall portion and is closer to the specific side wall portion among the adjacent vehicle seats, and the airbag is fixed in the side portion at a fixing portion that is set in a part of the airbag itself, and when an impact applied to the specific side wall portion from the outside is detected or it is predicted that an impact is applied, an inflation gas is supplied from a gas generator to the airbag, and in a state in which the fixing portion remains in the side portion, the airbag is deployed and inflated between the adjacent vehicle seats,

folding the airbag in a non-inflated deployment state that deploys in a plane without filling the inflation gas to form the storage state,

the airbag in the non-inflated deployed configuration has: a lower expansion section; and an upper expansion portion adjacent to an upper side of the lower expansion portion in a communicating state,

in the storage mode, the upper expansion portion is folded in a corrugated shape in the up-down direction while alternately changing the folding direction, and at least a part of the lower expansion portion is disposed on a side farther from the specific side wall than the upper expansion portion.

2. The distal balloon apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

a plurality of linear upper folding lines separated from each other in the vertical direction are provided at the upper inflation portion of the airbag in the non-inflated and deployed state,

in the boundary portion between the upper expansion portion and the lower expansion portion, the interval between the adjacent upper folding lines is set to be changed in the front-rear direction, and in a portion above the boundary portion, the interval between the adjacent upper folding lines is set to be constant in the front-rear direction.

3. The distal balloon apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

in the lower inflation portion of the airbag in the non-inflated and deployed state, a lower fold line is set to be lower toward the front side,

the lower expansion part is composed of a lower front expansion part at the front side of the lower folding line and a lower rear expansion part at the rear side of the lower folding line,

the lower expansion part is folded back along the lower folding line to form a folded state that the lower front expansion part and the lower rear expansion part are overlapped,

in the storage mode, the lower front expansion portion and the lower rear expansion portion in the folded-in-half state are arranged in an aligned state in the width direction on a side further from the specific side wall portion than the upper expansion portion folded in the corrugated shape.

4. The distal balloon apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the airbag according to the storage mode has a pressure receiving portion provided at a position remote from the specific side wall portion, the pressure receiving portion receiving the pressure of the inflation gas by the inflated lower inflation portion, and generating a reaction force toward the specific side wall portion.

5. The distal balloon apparatus according to claim 4, wherein,

a side frame portion is disposed in the side portion, and the pressure receiving portion is constituted by a part of the side frame portion.