JP2004299583A - Seatbelt anchor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seatbelt anchor whereby development of an airbag is not obstructed. <P>SOLUTION: This seatbelt anchor 1 is provided with a deformed part 4 curved and deformed inward a vehicle so that expansion from a gas introduction passage 10 to a gas introduction passage 11 at the time of development of the airbag is possible. Thus, the gas introduction passage 10 can be fully expanded so as to be in a sate of the gas introduction passage 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a structure of a seat belt anchor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 5 is a schematic overview of the inside of the vehicle centering on a seat installed in the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1A, a seat 50 for an occupant to be seated is installed inside the vehicle, and a seat belt 51 for protecting the occupant from a vehicle accident or the like is installed.
[0003]
A seatbelt 51 shown in FIG. 1A is a three-point seatbelt, and is installed in a vehicle by a seatbelt anchor 52a and a seatbelt retractor (belt retractor) (not shown). After the occupant is seated on the seat 50, the tongue 53 installed on the seat belt 51 is inserted into the buckle 54 and fixed, whereby the occupant is fixed to the seat 50.
[0004]
In recent years, a seat belt anchor 52a is fixed to a center pillar 55 as shown in FIG. 7A, whereas a seat belt anchor 52b is attached to a roof side rail 56 as shown in FIG. Vehicles of a fixed type are increasing. When fixing the seat belt anchor 52b to the roof side rail 56, the anchor 52b is fixed to a position on the roof side rail 56 located behind the center pillar 55.
[0005]
The reason for changing the installation location of the seat belt anchor as described above is that, in the type in which the seat belt anchor 52a is fixed to the center pillar 55 located substantially on the side of the occupant, the seat 50 is moved to the rear of the vehicle. Occasionally, there is a gap between the seat belt 51 and the occupant seated in the seat 50, and the occupant cannot be fixed sufficiently. On the other hand, the seat belt anchor 52b is located on the roof side rail 56 at a position located behind the occupant. This is because the occupant can be sufficiently fixed without being affected by the movement of the seat 50.
[0006]
As a device for protecting an occupant from a vehicle accident or the like, an airbag may be used in addition to the seat belt. In particular, the curtain airbag installed on the side of the vehicle is an occupant protection device for protecting the occupant from an impact on the side of the vehicle.
[0007]
FIG. 6 is a schematic structural view of the curtain airbag, and shows a state where the curtain airbag is deployed. When an impact is received from the side of the vehicle, gas ejected from the inflator 60 is supplied to the curtain airbag stored along the roof side rail 56 (the curtain airbag 57 is shown in an expanded state in the figure). ) Flows into the gas introduction path 59.
[0008]
As a result of the gas flowing into the gas introduction passage 59 formed in a substantially linear shape inflating the plurality of inflatable portions 58, the curtain airbag 57 spreads over the entire side portion of the occupant 63 sitting on the seat, and the impact on the vehicle side portion is exerted. Protects the occupant 63 from
[0009]
At the upper edge of the curtain airbag 57, mounting portions 61 are formed so as to protrude at predetermined intervals, and the curtain airbag 57 is designed to withstand a reaction at the mounting portion 61 due to the introduction of high-pressure gas when the airbag is deployed. , And are fixed to the roof side rail 56 by fixing members 62 such as bolts.
[0010]
A typical example of a device for protecting an occupant is a seatbelt and a curtain airbag as described above. However, when installed on a roof side rail together with a seatbelt anchor and a curtain airbag, there are the following problems. .
[0011]
That is, the seat belt anchor 52b is installed on the roof side rail 56, and the curtain airbag 57 (the mounting portion 61) is fixed along the roof side rail 56 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. There is a problem that the gas introduction path 59 and the seat belt anchor 52b interfere with each other.
[0012]
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of the roof side rail portion when the coexistence of the seat belt anchor and the curtain airbag in the roof side rail is assumed. In this figure, the expansion portion of the air bag (see the expansion portion 58 in FIG. 6) is omitted, and the change in the gas introduction path 59 before and after the air bag is deployed and the interference with the seat belt anchor 52b are shown.
[0013]
The curtain airbag 57 is installed on the roof side rail 56 by fixing the mounting portion 61 of the curtain airbag 57 to the roof side rail inner 66 constituting the roof side rail 56 by the fixing member 62. When the airbag is stored, the gas introduction path 59a is stored in a contracted state along the roof side rail 56.
[0014]
When the airbag is deployed, the gas from the inflator 60 flows into the gas introduction path 59a. However, in order to accelerate the deployment of the airbag, the gas introduction path 59a is greatly expanded by the gas pressure to be in the state of the gas introduction path 59b. It has become.
[0015]
At this time, the seat belt anchor 52b fixed to the roof side rail 56 prevents the gas introduction path 59a from being sufficiently expanded to be in the state of the gas introduction path 59b, so that the gas flow in the gas introduction path 59b is further reduced. The gas does not flow into the inflatable portion 58 at a sufficient speed, and the airbag cannot be deployed smoothly.
[0016]
On the other hand, for example, a structure has been proposed in which a gas introduction path is curved at a portion of a seat belt anchor to avoid interference between the gas introduction path and the seat belt anchor (for example, see Patent Document 1 below). In addition, since the gas introduction path is curved, a flow resistance is generated when high-pressure gas is introduced, which may lead to a reduction in the airbag deployment speed.
[0017]
In addition, it is conceivable that the seat belt anchor 52b may be installed so as to be separated from the side window glass 64 and positioned further inside the vehicle to cope with interference with an inflating gas introduction path. Because it greatly overhangs the inside of the vehicle, it becomes a cause of deteriorating the livability and visibility in the vehicle.
[0018]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-264762 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been made so that both a curtain airbag and a seatbelt anchor can be installed on a roof side rail without affecting the deployment speed when an airbag is deployed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a seatbelt structure having the above structure.
[0020]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is installed on a roof side rail of a vehicle, supports one point of a seat belt, and is movable so as not to hinder the deployment of a curtain airbag installed along the roof side rail. A seat belt anchor characterized in that it is made possible.
[0021]
The curtain airbag is housed along the roof side rail, but is deployed to cover the side surface inside the vehicle in an emergency. Here, the seat belt anchor fixed to the roof side rail together with the curtain air bag is a movable seat belt anchor so as not to hinder the deployment of the air bag, so that the air bag can be smoothly deployed. Here, “movable” may be elastically movable or mechanically movable.
[0022]
A second invention to solve the above-mentioned problem is a seat belt anchor according to the first invention, wherein the seat belt anchor is a second part that supports the first part installed on the roof side rail and the seat belt. Part and
A seat belt anchor, wherein the second portion is connected to the first portion so as to be rotatable.
[0023]
By connecting the first portion and the second portion so that the second portion rotates when the curtain airbag is deployed, the deployment of the airbag is performed smoothly.
[0024]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat belt anchor according to the first or second aspect, wherein the seat belt anchor comprises an elastic member.
[0025]
Examples of the elastic member include a metal wire and a tether (cloth).
[0026]
A fourth invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is a seat belt anchor according to the second invention, wherein the first part and the second part are connected by a hinge. It is.
[0027]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat belt anchor according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
The curtain airbag is provided outside the vehicle body with respect to the seat belt anchor, and the seat belt anchor is movable toward the vehicle inside.
[0028]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat belt anchor according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
The seat belt anchor is urged toward the outside of the vehicle.
[0029]
By urging the seat belt anchor toward the outside of the vehicle and approaching the side window glass, it is possible to improve the livability and visibility in the vehicle.
[0030]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional structural view of a seat belt structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the seat belt is fixed to a roof side rail. FIG. 3A shows a state before the curtain airbag is deployed, and FIG. 3B shows a state after the curtain airbag is deployed. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the seat belt structure shown in FIG. 1 and shows a state where the seat belt structure is fixed to a roof side rail.
[0031]
As shown in these figures, the seat belt anchor 1 has a fixed portion 2 which is a portion fixed to a roof side rail inner 7 constituting a roof side rail 6, and a belt connecting portion which is a portion connecting the seat belt 5. 3 at both ends and sandwiched between the fixed portion 2 and the belt connection portion 3, so that expansion from the gas introduction passage 10 to the gas introduction passage 11 (see FIG. 1B) when the airbag is deployed is sufficiently possible. And has a deformed portion 4 which bends and deforms to the inside of the vehicle such that
[0032]
The fixed portion 2 of the seat belt anchor 1 is fixed to the roof side rail inner 7 by a fixing member 8. At this time, the temporary fixing claws 12 provided on the mounting portion 9 of the curtain airbag are inserted into the temporary fixing holes 13 of the roof side rail inner 7 to temporarily fix the mounting portion 9 to the roof side rail inner 7 in advance. The mounting portion 9 and the fixed portion 2 of the seat belt anchor 1 are both fastened together by the fixing member 8.
[0033]
The curtain airbag is installed on the roof side rail 6 by fixing the curtain airbag mounting portion 9 to the roof side rail inner 7 constituting the roof side rail 6 by the fixing member 8. When the airbag is stored, the gas introduction path 10 is stored in a contracted state along the roof side rail 6 (see FIG. 1A).
[0034]
Further, the seat belt anchor 1 when the airbag is stored is installed on the roof side rail 6 in a state of being close to the side window glass 14 (see FIG. 1A).
[0035]
When the airbag is deployed, the gas from the inflator flows into the gas introduction path 10, but in order to accelerate the deployment of the airbag, the gas introduction path 10 is greatly expanded by the gas pressure and the state of the gas introduction path 11 (FIG. b)). At this time, in the present embodiment, the deformed portion 4 of the seat belt anchor 1 is curved inward of the vehicle so that the expansion from the gas introduction path 10 to the gas introduction path 11 can be sufficiently performed when the airbag is deployed. Since the gas introduction path is deformed, the gas introduction path 10 can be sufficiently expanded to be in the state of the gas introduction path 11.
[0036]
That is, the gas flow in the gas introduction path 11 and the gas inflow to the inflation portion are not hindered by the seat belt anchor 1 fixed to the roof side rail 6. As a result, the gas flows into the inflating portion at a sufficient speed, and the airbag can be deployed smoothly.
[0037]
The position of the belt connection portion 3 of the seat belt anchor 1 is always substantially the same as that of the related art (see FIG. 1A when the airbag is stored), and the side window glass 14 It is a place close to. For this reason, the seat belt 5 does not protrude inside the vehicle, and the comfort and the visibility in the vehicle are not deteriorated.
[0038]
In the seat belt anchor 1 according to the present embodiment, the deformable portion 4 is formed of an elastic member that can be deformed according to a change in the gas introduction path when the airbag is deployed. Examples of the deformable elastic member include a metal wire and a tether (cloth). Further, it is not necessary that only the deformed portion 4 be made of these deformable materials, and the entire seat belt anchor 1 including the fixed portion 2 and the belt connecting portion 3 may be made of these deformable materials. Good. However, it is necessary that the material does not break when the seat belt is tensioned in an emergency such as a vehicle collision.
[0039]
<Second embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional structural view of a seat belt structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the seat belt structure is fixed to a roof side rail. FIG. 3A shows a state before the curtain airbag is deployed, and FIG. 3B shows a state after the curtain airbag is deployed. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the seatbelt structure shown in FIG. 3, showing a state where the seatbelt structure is fixed to a roof side rail.
[0040]
As shown in these figures, the seat belt anchor 21 connects the seat belt 5 to a fixed portion 22 (first portion) that is a portion fixed to the roof side rail inner 7 constituting the roof side rail 6. A belt connecting portion 23 (second portion), which is a portion, is provided at both ends, and the fixed portion 22 and the belt connecting portion 23 are connected by a hinge 24.
[0041]
The belt connecting portion 23 moves to the inside of the vehicle such that the hinge 24 allows the gas introduction path 10 to expand into the gas introduction path 11 (see FIG. 3B) sufficiently when the airbag is deployed. Can be done.
[0042]
The fixed portion 22 of the seat belt anchor 21 is fixed to the roof side rail inner 7 by the fixing member 8. At this time, by temporarily attaching the fixing portion 9 to the roof side rail inner 7 in advance by inserting the temporary fixing claw 12 provided on the mounting portion 9 of the curtain airbag into the temporary fixing hole 13 of the roof side rail inner 7, The mounting portion 9 and the fixing portion 22 of the seat belt anchor 21 are fastened together by the fixing member 8.
[0043]
The curtain airbag is installed on the roof side rail 6 by fixing the curtain airbag mounting portion 9 to the roof side rail inner 7 constituting the roof side rail 6 by the fixing member 8. When the airbag is stored, the gas introduction path 10 is stored in a contracted state along the roof side rail 6 (see FIG. 3A).
[0044]
Further, the seat belt anchor 21 when the airbag is stored is installed on the roof side rail 6 so that the belt connection portion 23 is in a state close to the side window glass 14 (see FIG. 3A).
[0045]
When the airbag is deployed, gas from the inflator flows into the gas introduction path 10, but in order to accelerate the deployment of the airbag, the gas introduction path 10 expands greatly due to the gas pressure and the state of the gas introduction path 11 (FIG. b)). At this time, in the present embodiment, the hinge 24 allows the belt connection portion 23 of the seat belt anchor 21 to sufficiently expand from the gas introduction path 10 to the gas introduction path 11 (see FIG. 3B) when the airbag is deployed. It is possible to move to the inside of the vehicle as possible. For this reason, the gas introduction path 10 can be sufficiently expanded to be in the state of the gas introduction path 11.
[0046]
That is, the gas circulation in the gas introduction path 11 and the gas inflow to the inflation portion are not hindered by the seat belt anchor 21 fixed to the roof side rail 6. As a result, the gas flows into the inflating portion at a sufficient speed, and the airbag can be deployed smoothly.
[0047]
The position of the belt connecting portion 23 of the seat belt anchor 21 is always substantially the same as the position of the conventional portion (see FIG. 3A when the airbag is stored), and the side window glass 14 It is a place close to. For this reason, the seat belt 5 does not protrude inside the vehicle, and the comfort and the visibility in the vehicle are not deteriorated.
[0048]
In the seat belt anchor 21 according to the present embodiment, the belt connecting portion 23 is always close to the side window glass 14 due to the tension of the seat belt 5 toward the lower side of the vehicle. Therefore, depending on the attachment position of the seat belt anchor 21 in relation to the seat belt 5, the belt connecting portion 23 may be slightly protruded inside the vehicle.
[0049]
In such a case, the interior of the vehicle and the visibility can be improved by urging the belt connection portion 23 toward the side window glass 14 with a spring or the like interposed between the hinges 24. Further, it is also possible to prevent the belt connection portion 23 from moving and generating noise due to vibration or the like during running of the vehicle.
[0050]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first invention, the seat belt anchor is movable so as not to hinder the deployment of the curtain airbag installed along the roof side rail below the vehicle, so that the side surface inside the vehicle is covered in an emergency. The operation of the curtain airbag that deploys as described above can be performed smoothly.
[0051]
According to the second invention, in the seat belt anchor according to the first invention, the seat belt anchor includes a first portion installed on the roof side rail and a second portion supporting the seat belt, and the second portion. Is connected to the first part so as to be rotatable. According to the fourth invention, in the seat belt anchor according to the second invention, the first part and the second part are connected to each other. Since the connection is made by the hinge, the second portion moves toward the inside of the vehicle when the curtain airbag is deployed, so that the airbag can be deployed smoothly.
[0052]
According to the third invention, in the seat belt anchor according to the first or second invention, since the seat belt anchor is formed of an elastic member, the seat belt anchor is smoothly deformed in accordance with the expansion of the air bag, and the air bag is deformed. It can be deployed smoothly.
[0053]
According to the fifth invention, in the seat belt anchor according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, the curtain airbag is provided outside the vehicle body from the seat belt anchor, and the seat belt anchor is movable toward the vehicle inside. Since it is possible, the operation of the curtain airbag can be performed smoothly.
[0054]
According to the sixth invention, in the seat belt anchor according to the first to fifth inventions, the seat belt anchor is urged toward the outside of the vehicle, so that the livability and visibility in the vehicle are improved. be able to.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional structural view of a seat belt structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a seat belt structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional structural view of a seat belt structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a seat belt structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic overview of the inside of a vehicle.
FIG. 6 is a schematic structural view of a curtain airbag.
FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional structural view when a seat belt anchor and a curtain airbag are installed together on a roof side rail.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seat belt anchor 2 Fixed part 3 Belt connection part 4 Deformation part 5 Seat belt 6 Roof side rail 7 Roof side rail inner 8 Fixing member 9 Mounting part 10 Gas introduction path (at the time of air bag storage)
11 Gas introduction path (when airbag is deployed)
12 Temporary fixing nail 13 Temporary fixing hole 14 Side window glass 15 Roof head lining 21 Seat belt anchor 22 Fixed part 23 Belt connection part 24 Hinge 50 Seat 51 Seat belts 52a, 52b Seat belt anchor 53 Tongue 54 Buckle 55 Center pillar 56 Roof side Rail 57 Curtain airbag 58 Inflating section 59 Gas introduction path 59a Gas introduction path (when the airbag is stored)
59b Gas introduction path (when airbag is deployed)
Reference Signs List 60 inflator 61 mounting part 62 fixing member 63 occupant 64 side window glass 65 roof head lining 66 roof side rail inner

Claims (6)

A seat installed on the roof side rail of the vehicle, supporting a point of the seat belt, and being movable so as not to hinder deployment of a curtain airbag installed along the roof side rail. Belt anchor. The seat belt anchor according to claim 1,
The seat belt anchor has a first portion installed on the roof side rail and a second portion supporting the seat belt,
A seat belt anchor, wherein the second part is connected to the first part so as to be rotatable. The seat belt anchor according to claim 1 or 2,
A seat belt anchor comprising an elastic member. The seat belt anchor according to claim 2,
A seat belt anchor, wherein the first part and the second part are connected by a hinge. The seat belt anchor according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The seat belt anchor, wherein the curtain airbag is provided outside the vehicle body from the seat belt anchor, and the seat belt anchor is movable toward the vehicle inside. The seat belt anchor according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The seat belt anchor is urged toward the outside of the vehicle.

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