JP2006036209A - Energy absorption device for vehicle side part - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten a time to opening by making an expansion amount of a skin material 19 itself small until a fragile part 19a is opened by a deployment pressure in an energy absorption device at a side part of a vehicle, provided with an air bag unit 21 at a neighborhood to a side part in a seat covered with the skin material 19, in which the fragile part 19a openable by receiving the deployment pressure of the air bag 24 is provided on the skin material 19. <P>SOLUTION: First and second low expansion members 39a, 39b for suppressing the skin material 19 is expanded before the fragile part 19a is opened by the deployment pressure of the air bag 24 are provided and the opening of the fragile part 19a is closed by sewing the first skin material and the second skin material by a first sewing member. The first low expansion member 39a is fixed by sewing it to the first skin material near the fragile part 19a by the second sewing member and the second low expansion member 39b is fixed by sewing it to the second skin material near the fragile part 19a by a third sewing member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an energy absorbing device for a side portion of a vehicle, and particularly relates to a technical field in which an airbag unit is disposed in a seat covered with a skin material.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is well known that an airbag unit is disposed on a steering handle to ensure the safety of an occupant during a frontal collision of a vehicle body. On the other hand, in recent years, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, an airbag unit is disposed on a side portion in a seat, and an airbag is deployed on the side of an occupant at the time of a collision with a vehicle body side portion. It has been proposed to protect the occupant by absorbing the energy of the side collision with the airbag.
JP-A-6-64491

  By the way, when the airbag unit is disposed in the seat as in the above proposal example, the outermost surface of the seat is usually covered with a skin material, so the skin material corresponding to the airbag unit is A fragile portion that easily opens when subjected to an airbag deployment pressure is provided, and the airbag is deployed outward from the opened fragile portion.

  However, as the skin material is usually used with a high stretch rate so that wrinkles do not occur on the surface, the skin material is first stretched to the outside of the seat when subjected to airbag deployment pressure, and thereafter The fragile part will open. For this reason, the opening of the fragile portion of the skin material is delayed, and there is room for improvement in order to deploy the airbag to the outside of the seat earlier.

  The present invention has been made in view of such points, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the extension amount of the skin material itself until the fragile portion is opened by the airbag deployment pressure, and to the opening. The purpose is to shorten the time as much as possible so that the airbag can be deployed outside the seat in a shorter time.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the first and second low-extension members that suppress the expansion of the skin material before the fragile portion is opened by the airbag deployment pressure of the airbag unit are provided. The opening of the portion is closed by sewing the first skin material and the second skin material with the first sewing member, and the second low-stretching member is sewn to the first skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion by the second sewing. It is fixed by sewing with a member, and the second low-extension member is fixed by sewing with a third sewing member to the second skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion, or the opening of the fragile portion Is closed by fixing the first skin material and the second skin material with the first fixing member, and the first low extension member is fixed to the first skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion with the second fixing member. And the second low-extension member in the vicinity of the fragile portion Kicking and be fixed by a third fixing member with respect to the second skin material.

  Specifically, in the invention of claim 1, an airbag unit disposed in a predetermined direction is provided in the vicinity of the side portion in the sheet on which the skin material is covered, and the skin material is provided with an air bag. It is premised on a vehicle side energy absorbing device that is provided with a fragile portion that can be opened by receiving a bag deployment pressure, and that an airbag is deployed outward from the opened fragile portion.

  The skin material includes a first skin material that extends from the rear side of the sheet through the outer side in the seat width direction toward the fragile portion, and a second skin material that extends from the center side in the seat width direction on the front side of the seat toward the fragile portion. First and second low-extension members are provided to prevent the skin material from expanding before the fragile portion is opened by the airbag deployment pressure of the airbag unit. The extending member is positioned on the outer side in the seat width direction from the airbag unit, the second low extending member is positioned on the center side in the seat width direction from the airbag unit, and the opening of the fragile portion is the first The first skin material and the second skin material are closed by sewing with a first sewing member, and the first low-stretch member is sewn with the second sewing member to the first skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion. Fixed, the second low expansion member is assumed to be fixed by sewing the third sewing member with respect to the second skin material in the weak vicinity.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, an airbag unit disposed in a predetermined direction is provided in the vicinity of the side portion in the seat on which the skin material is covered, and the airbag material is subjected to airbag deployment pressure. It is premised on a vehicle side energy absorbing device that is provided with a fragile portion that can be opened and the airbag is deployed from the opened fragile portion to the outside of the seat.

  The skin material includes a first skin material that extends from the rear side of the sheet through the outer side in the seat width direction toward the fragile portion, and a second skin material that extends from the center side in the seat width direction on the front side of the seat toward the fragile portion. First and second low-extension members are provided to prevent the skin material from expanding before the fragile portion is opened by the airbag deployment pressure of the airbag unit. The extending member is positioned on the outer side in the seat width direction from the airbag unit, the second low extending member is positioned on the center side in the seat width direction from the airbag unit, and the opening of the fragile portion is the first The first skin material and the second skin material are closed by fixing with a first fixing member, and the first low extension member is fixed to the first skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion with a second fixing member, Up The second low expansion member, assumed to be fixed by the third fixing member against the second skin material in the weak vicinity.

  In the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, the first skin material has a first folded portion formed by folding the end portion of the first skin material inside the sheet in the vicinity of the fragile portion, The second skin material has a second folded portion in which an end portion of the second skin material is folded back inside the seat in the vicinity of the weakened portion, and the first low-extension member is fixed to the first folded portion. The second low extension member is fixed to the second folded portion.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, a pad is provided inside the seat of the skin material, and an opening is formed in a portion corresponding to the airbag unit in the pad. Each of the first and second low-extension members extends through the opening toward the weak portion.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the first and second low-extension members are moved by a predetermined member of the seat when the weakened portion receives the airbag deployment pressure. It shall be configured to be disabled.

  In the invention of claim 6, in the invention of claim 5, the predetermined members are an airbag unit and a seat frame.

  According to the inventions of these first to sixth aspects, the first and second skin materials in the vicinity of the fragile portion are subjected to the airbag deployment pressure and try to extend to the outer side of the seat. Since it is fixed so as not to be extended by the extension member, the extension can be reliably suppressed. As a result, the time until the fragile portion is opened is shortened, and the airbag is smoothly deployed out of the seat from the opened fragile portion. Therefore, the airbag can be deployed to the outside of the seat even faster.

  As described above, according to the vehicle side energy absorbing device of the present invention, the first and second low-weight materials that suppress the expansion of the skin material before the fragile portion is opened by the airbag deployment pressure of the airbag unit. An extension member is provided, the opening of the fragile portion is closed by sewing the first skin material and the second skin material with the first sewing member, and the first low extension member is closed in the vicinity of the fragile portion. Fixing by sewing with a second sewing member to the material, and fixing the second low-extension member by sewing with a third sewing member to the second skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion, Alternatively, the opening of the fragile portion is closed by fixing the first skin material and the second skin material with the first fixing member, and the first low-stretch member is made to the first skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion. Fixed by the second fixing member, the second low elongation By fixing the member with the third fixing member to the second skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion, the airbag can be deployed from the fragile portion to the outside of the seat even earlier. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, first, a reference embodiment similar in configuration to the embodiment of the present invention except for the main part will be described, and thereafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described in terms of differences from the reference embodiment.

(Reference form 1)
1 to 4 show a seat 1 on the left side of a front seat of an automobile in an energy absorbing device for a vehicle side portion according to Reference Embodiment 1 of the present invention (in the following description, front and rear and right and left of an automobile are simply referred to as front and rear and left and right). ), The seat 1 includes a seat cushion 2, a seat back 3, and a headrest 4. Sliders 7 and 7 extending in the front-rear direction are provided at the lower portions of the left and right ends of the seat cushion 2, and the sliders 7 are fixed to the floor at the front and rear portions via rail mounting members 10 and 10, respectively. The front and rear positions of the seat 1 can be adjusted by being engaged with the slide rails 8. Further, a knuckle member 9 is provided at the rear portion of the seat cushion 2 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 11 extending in the left-right direction, and the seat back 3 is rotated with respect to the seat cushion 2 through the knuckle member 9. The angle of the seat back 3 can be adjusted by being coupled so as to be rotatable about 11.

  The headrest 4 is attached to the seat back 3 by inserting the frames 5 and 5 protruding from the lower end surface thereof into two holes formed in the upper end surface of the seat back 3.

  A frame-like seat back frame 13 (seat frame) having upper and lower portions and left and right side portions made of a steel pipe material is provided on the outer periphery of the rear portion in the seat back 3. The two headrest adjusting members 14 and 14 are fitted and fixed so as to be fitted to the respective frames 5 protruding from the lower end surface of the headrest 4 and adjust the vertical position of the headrest 4.

  Between the left and right side portions of the seat back frame 13, a plurality of wire frames 18, 18,... Both ends of each wire frame 18 are fixedly attached to the front sides of both left and right sides of the seat back frame 13 by welding.

  A pad 15 is provided on the front side of each wire frame 18, and the pad 15 is supported by each wire frame 18 so as not to escape backward when the occupant falls into the seat back 3. Further, the pad 15 is supported by the seat back frame 13 so that the end portion of the pad 15 wraps around from the outside of the seat back frame 13. The seat outer surface of the pad 15 is covered with a skin material 19 made of fabric. That is, the skin material 19 is covered on the outermost side of the sheet 1.

  Side support portions 2a, 2a bulging upward are provided at the left and right ends of the seat cushion 2, and side support portions 3a, 3a bulging forward are provided at the left and right ends of the seat back 3, respectively. It plays the role of supporting not to move.

  In the seat back 3, an airbag unit 21 is disposed in a side portion near the side door near the seat 1, that is, in the left side support portion 3a. The airbag unit 21 has a module can 22 having a substantially U-shaped cross section. In the module can 22, a cylindrical can-like inflator 23 containing an ignition part and explosives is provided on the back side, and an opening side is also provided. Each of the airbags 24 folded in is accommodated. Although not shown, an ignition signal is supplied to the ignition part of the inflator 23 from an acceleration sensor that detects a side collision to the left side of the automobile. The ignition part ignites the explosive by the ignition signal. The air bag 24 is inflated and expanded by a large amount of gas generated at that time.

  The airbag unit 21 is arranged such that its longitudinal direction substantially coincides with the vertical direction of the seat back 3, and mounting members are provided by two sets of upper and lower bolts 27, 27 and nuts 28, 28 on the side surface of the module can 22. It is fastened to one end of 26. The other end of the attachment member 26 is fixedly attached to the seat back frame 13 by welding. Thus, the airbag unit 21 is fixed to the seat back frame 13 via the attachment member 26. The airbag unit 21 is arranged so that the opening direction of the module can 22, that is, the direction in which the airbag 24 is deployed is inclined to the left with respect to the front.

  A portion corresponding to the airbag unit 21 in the seat inner surface portion of the pad 15, that is, a substantially front portion of the opening of the module can 22 in the airbag unit 21 receives the deployment pressure of the airbag 24 and the pad 15 starts to break. The notch groove part 33 used as a starting point part is provided, and this notch groove part 33 is made weaker than another part. The cut groove portion 33 is provided at substantially the same height in the vertical direction of the module can 22 and the seat back 3 of the airbag unit 21 and over substantially the same length. When the airbag 24 is deployed, the pad 15 begins to break from the cut groove portion 33 due to the deployment pressure, and the portion on the extension line of the cut groove portion 33 is broken.

  The skin material 19 corresponding to the airbag unit 21, that is, the skin material 19 on the substantially extended line of the cut groove portion 33, is provided with a fragile portion 19 a so as to open upon receiving the deployment pressure of the airbag 24. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the fragile portion 19a is substantially linear at substantially the same height in the vertical direction of the cut groove portion 33 and the seat back 3 and over the same length. The opening portion of the skin material 19 is closed by sewing, and when the airbag 24 is subjected to the deployment pressure, the closed weak portion 19a is opened, and the open weak portion 19a and the broken portion of the pad 15 are opened. Accordingly, the airbag 24 is deployed outside the seat back 3 and between the occupant of the seat 1 and the left side door.

  The sewn portion of the weakened portion 19a has the skin material 19 at both ends of the opening folded back and stitched together by the first sewing threads 35, 35, and the tips of both folded portions of the skin material 19 are second. The double stitches are sewn together by the sewing thread 36. The strength of the first and second sewing threads 35 and 36 of the sewing portion is set lower in the skin material 19 than in other sewing portions.

  The skin material 19 is provided with expansion limiting means for limiting the expansion of the skin material 19 before the fragile portion 19a is opened by the deployment pressure of the airbag 24 of the airbag unit 21. That is, the extension limiting means is composed of a plurality of low-extension sheet-like members 38, 38,... Having a lower extension rate than the skin material 19, and each of the low-extension sheet-like members 38 is a skin material 19 near the fragile portion 19a. The back surface 19 and the skin material 19 are joined together by adhesion. The plurality of low-extension sheet-like members 38, 38,... Are predetermined substantially along the longitudinal direction of the fragile portion 19a that is linear on both sides in the opposite direction of the fragile portion 19a across the fragile portion 19a. They are spaced apart. Each low-extension sheet-like member 38 on one side of the fragile portion 19a extends from the vicinity of the fragile portion 19a to the vicinity of the left side support portion 3a base on the seating surface side (front side) of the seat back 3, and The extended sheet-like member 38 extends from the vicinity of the fragile portion 19a to the vicinity of the rear side of the left side support portion 3a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag 24 is deployed forward from the seat back 3 and between the occupant sitting on the seat 1 and the side door 40 from the occupant's abdomen to the head. The chest protection part 24a corresponding to the chest part of the occupant and the head protection part 24b corresponding to the head part of the occupant are provided substantially continuously above the chest protection part 24a. The chest protection part 24 a is directly connected to the inflator 23 of the airbag unit 21 and extends substantially forward from the inflator 23. The head protecting part 24b is connected to the chest protecting part 24a and extends substantially upward so that the gas as the airbag developing gas flows through the chest protecting part 24a. .

  The operation when the airbag 24 is deployed due to a side collision in the vehicle side energy absorbing device configured as described above will be described. First, when the acceleration sensor detects a side collision to the left side of the automobile, a deployment signal is supplied to the ignition unit of the inflator 23 and the ignition unit ignites. As a result, the explosive in the inflator 23 burns at a high speed, a large amount of gas is supplied to the airbag 24, and the airbag 24 tries to expand and deploy. The airbag 24 attempts to deploy substantially forward, which is the opening direction of the module can 22, contacts the seat inner surface of the pad 15, and presses the pad 15 from the seat inner side to the outer side by the deployment pressure. For this reason, the pad 15 starts to break from the fragile portion, that is, the cut groove portion 33, and the pad 15 is broken substantially along the extension line of the cut groove portion 33.

  Next, the fragile portion 19a of the skin material 19 is opened, but before that, the skin material 19 in the vicinity of the fragile portion 19a is expanded to the outside of the seat by receiving the deployment pressure of the airbag 24, and for the time it is expanded. Opening is slow. However, in this reference embodiment 1, since the extension of the skin material 19 itself is limited by each low-extension sheet-like member 38, the extension amount of the skin material 19 becomes small, and the time until opening is short. Then, the strength of the first and second sewing threads 35 and 36 of the sewing part that is a double stitch in the fragile part 19 a is set lower than that of the other sewing parts in the skin material 19, and moreover than the first sewing thread 35. In addition, since the deployment pressure of the airbag 24 is greatly applied to the second sewing thread 36, only the second sewing thread 36 is cut and the fragile portion 19a is opened. Furthermore, since the skin material 19 around the fragile portion 19a is reinforced by the first sewing thread 35, the skin material 19 itself around the fragile portion 19a is broken, so that the skin material 19 is opened before the sewing. The airbag 24 does not open out of position, and the airbag 24 can be reliably and quickly deployed from the opening before sewing.

  Subsequently, the airbag 24 is deployed on the outer front side of the seat back 3 from the open fragile portion 19 a and the broken portion of the pad 15. At this time, the chest protection part 24a connected to the inflator 23 of the airbag unit 21 is first deployed, and then the gas flows into the head protection part 24b and the head protection part 24b is deployed. As a result, the deployment of the head protection part 24b is slightly delayed, but since the time until the fragile part 19a of the skin material 19 is opened is short, the time until the head protection part 24b is fully deployed is also short. I'll do it. As a result, even if the large-capacity airbag 24 having such a head protecting portion 24b is provided, the airbag 24 can be deployed in a short time, and the chest of an occupant sitting on the seat 1 and It is possible to prevent the head from colliding with the left side door. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the energy absorbing device on the side of the vehicle and to improve the safety of the passenger.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment, the skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion 19a is used as an expansion limiting means for restricting the expansion of the skin material 19 before the fragile portion 19a is opened by the deployment pressure of the airbag 24 of the airbag unit 21. 19 is provided with a plurality of low-extension sheet-like members 38, 38,... Having a lower expansion rate than the skin material 19, and the low-extension sheet-like members 38, 38,. Since the skin material 19 is integrally bonded to both sides of the portion 19a in the opposing direction, the stretching of the skin material 19 itself can be effectively limited with a simple configuration, and the amount of stretching can be reduced. . For this reason, the opening action of the fragile portion 19a due to the deployment pressure of the airbag 24 is promoted, and the time until the fragile portion 19a is opened is shortened, and the airbag 24 is smoothly opened from the opened fragile portion 19a. Expand outward. Therefore, the airbag 24 can be easily deployed outside the seat back 3 in a short time.

  Further, the plurality of low-extension sheet-like members 38, 38,... Are arranged at predetermined intervals substantially along the longitudinal direction of the fragile portion 19a that is linear, so that the surface of the skin material 19 Can be effectively suppressed, and the soft touch of the skin material 19 can be maintained. Therefore, appearance and sitting comfort can be improved.

  Further, since the airbag unit 21 is disposed in the left side support portion 3a of the seat back 3, the airbag 24 is easily deployed between the occupant and the left side door by a side collision to the left side portion of the automobile. It is possible to reliably prevent the passenger from colliding with the left side door. In addition, a relatively large space can be provided in the side support portion 3 a of the seat back 3. Therefore, the airbag unit 21 can be accommodated in the seat 1 without hindering the sitting comfort of the occupant, and further safety of the occupant during a side collision can be achieved.

  In the reference embodiment 1, the sewing portion of the fragile portion 19a is a double stitch. However, the present invention can also be applied to a single stitch that is sewn with only the second sewing thread 36. In this case, the weakened portion 19a is further reduced by further reducing the strength of the thread of the sewing portion of the weakened portion 19a or increasing the strength of the base fabric of the laminate usually joined to the inner surface of the sheet of the skin material 19. Only the thread of the sewing portion can be cut without breaking the surrounding skin material 19, and the airbag 24 can be reliably deployed outward from the seat back 3 from the opening before sewing in the fragile portion 19a. .

(Reference form 2)
FIG. 5 shows a reference form 2 of the present invention (in the following reference form and embodiment, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted, and other different parts are shown. Only a description will be given), and the configuration of the sewing portion that is a double stitch in the fragile portion 19a is different from that of the first embodiment.

  That is, in this reference form, resin plates 43 are respectively interposed between the folded portions of the skin material 19 in the fragile portion 19a, and the folded portions are sewn together by the first sewing thread 35 with the resin plate 43 interposed therebetween, The ends of the folded portions of the skin material 19 are sewn together by the second sewing thread 36.

  Therefore, in the reference form 2, the skin material 19 around the fragile portion 19a is further reinforced by the resin plates 43, so that the second sewing thread 36 can be cut more reliably and the sewing at the fragile portion 19a. Deployment of the airbag 24 from the front opening can be made more reliable.

  In the above reference embodiments 1 and 2, a plurality of low-extension sheet-like members 38, 38,... Are joined to the skin material 19 by adhesion, but each low-extension sheet-like member 38 may be joined by sewing, The present invention can be applied even if one low-extension sheet-like member is joined to the skin material 19 around the entire fragile portion 19a.

  Moreover, in the said reference forms 1 and 2, although the notch groove part 33 was provided in the sheet | seat inner surface part of the pad 15 so that the pad 15 might be easy to fracture | rupture, the pad 15 breaks reliably on the extension line of the notch groove part 33. As described above, a slit may be provided on the extended line so that the pad 15 is separated.

(Reference form 3)
FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention in which the configuration of the sewing portion in the weakened portion 19a is different from that of the first and second embodiments.

  That is, in this reference form, the skin material 19 at both ends of the opening in the fragile part 19a is closed by being repeatedly stitched, and the sewing pitch in the longitudinal direction of the fragile part 19a is made smaller than those in the above reference examples 1 and 2. Yes. Moreover, the thread | yarn of the sewing part uses the thing whose strength is stronger than other sewing parts. As a result, the strength of the skin material 19 at both ends of the opening in the fragile portion 19a is lower than the other portions due to the holes opened by sewing, and when the airbag 24 is subjected to the deployment pressure, the thread of the sewing portion is cut. Instead, the fragile skin material 19 is broken.

  Therefore, in the above-mentioned reference form 3, since the strength of the skin material 19 at both ends of the opening in the fragile portion 19a is reduced by sewing, the skin material 19 around the fragile portion 19a is surely received when receiving the deployment pressure of the airbag 24. The airbag 24 can be reliably deployed from the opened portion.

(Embodiment)
Here, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and the configuration of the expansion limiting means for limiting the expansion of the skin material 19 before the fragile portion 19a is opened by the deployment pressure of the airbag 24 is different from that of the first embodiment.

  That is, in this embodiment, the sewing portion of the fragile portion 19a is a single stitch, and the thread strength of the sewing portion is set lower in the skin material 19 than the other sewing portions. Further, both end portions of a low-extension sheet-like member 39 having a lower expansion rate than the skin material 19 are fixedly attached to the skin material 19 in the vicinity of both sides of the fragile portion 19a, that is, at both ends of the sewn opening. The low-extension sheet-like member 39 is arranged such that its intermediate portion turns around the rear side (rear side) of the airbag 24 of the airbag unit 21, and the left side portion of the airbag unit 21 and the seat back frame 13. Is disposed so as to be surrounded by the low-extension sheet-like member 39. The low-extension sheet-like member 39 is divided into two at the middle portion, that is, the rear side of the airbag unit 21, and the divided sheet-like members 39a and 39b are joined together by sewing. The low-extension sheet-like member 39 serves as an extension limiting unit.

  The sheet-like member 39a corresponds to the first low extension member of the present invention, and the sheet-like member 39b corresponds to the second low extension member. Further, the skin material 19 on the outer side in the sheet width direction of the fragile portion 19a corresponds to the first skin material, and the skin material 19 on the center side in the sheet width direction of the fragile portion 19a corresponds to the second skin material. And the opening of the weak part 19a is obstruct | occluded by sewing the said 1st skin material and the 2nd skin material with the 1st sewing member (thread of the said sewing part), and the said 1st low expansion | extension member is a weak part. It is fixed by sewing with the second sewing member on the first skin material in the vicinity of 19a, and the second low-extension member is sewn with the third sewing member on the second skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion 19a. It will be fixed at. Alternatively, the opening of the fragile portion 19a is closed by fixing the first skin material and the second skin material with a first fixing member (thread of the sewing portion), and the first low-extension member is a fragile portion. A second fixing member (corresponding to the second sewing member) is fixed to the first skin material in the vicinity of 19a, and the second low extension member is fixed to the second skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion 19a. It is fixed by a member (corresponding to the third sewing member).

  The pad 15 is formed with an opening 15a at a portion corresponding to the airbag unit 21, and the intermediate portion of the low-extension sheet-like member 39 passes through the opening 15a to the rear side of the airbag unit 21. It is made to turn.

  In the vehicle side energy absorbing device configured as described above, when the airbag 24 is deployed due to a side collision, the airbag 24 abuts against the skin material 19 of the fragile portion 19a while being guided by the low-extension sheet-like member 39, An attempt is made to push the skin material 19 outward of the sheet. At this time, the low-extension sheet-like member 39 hardly extends and cannot be moved forward by being blocked by the airbag unit 21 and the seat back frame 13, so that the skin material 19 of the fragile portion 19a is extended. I can't. For this reason, the thread | yarn of the sewing part of the weak part 19a is cut | disconnected immediately after the airbag 24 contact | abuts to the skin material 19 of the weak part 19a. Further, it is not necessary to break the pad 15, and the airbag 24 is not affected by the pad 15 when it is deployed. Therefore, the airbag 24 can be deployed from the fragile portion 19a even earlier.

  Here, a method of manufacturing the seat back 3 of the seat 1 in the apparatus having the above configuration will be described. First, the low-extension sheet-like member 39 is divided into two at the middle portion, and the skin material 19 at both ends of the opening is closed at one end of each of the divided sheet-like members 39a and 39b by sewing at the fragile portion 19a. Mount and fix. Thereafter, both the sheet-like members 39a and 39b divided by assembling the skin material 19 on the pad 15 are temporarily fixed to the left and right side surfaces of the opening 15a of the pad 15 with adhesive tape or the like.

  Then, after the assembled skin material 19 and the pad 15 are assembled to the seat back frame 13 to which the airbag unit 21 is attached and fixed in advance, the other end portions of the divided sheet-like members 39a and 39b are connected to each other. The seat back 3 is completed by joining by sewing on the opposite side (rear side) of the airbag 24 of the airbag unit 21 so as to sandwich the airbag unit 21 therebetween. In order to connect the other end portions of the divided sheet-like members 39a and 39b by sewing on the rear side of the airbag unit 21, for example, a fastener is attached to a part of the skin material 19 on the rear side of the seat back 3. And the like, and the above-described joining operation can be performed inside the seat back 3 with the fasteners removed, and the fasteners can be tightened after the joining.

  By manufacturing the seat back 3 by the above method, the seat back 3 can be manufactured more easily than the conventional method in which the skin material 19 is assembled after the pad 15 is assembled to the seat back frame 13. That is, in order to cover the skin material 19 after the pad 15 is assembled to the seat back frame 13 to which the airbag unit 21 is attached and fixed, at least one end portion of the low-extension sheet-like member 39 is fixed to the skin material 19. In such a state, it is necessary to turn the end of the airbag unit 21 to the rear side of the airbag unit 21 and fix it to the skin material 19, which is very difficult. However, according to this manufacturing method, since the low-extension sheet-like member 39 is divided into two parts and is preliminarily assembled to the pad 15 and temporarily fixed, the end portion is turned to the rear side of the airbag unit 21 to the skin material 19. It is not necessary to fix, and the skin material 19 and the pad 15 can be easily assembled to the seat back frame 13. Then, the other end portions of the divided sheet-like members 39a and 39b can be easily joined from the rear side of the seat back 3. Therefore, the assembling workability of the seat back 3 can be improved.

  The following configuration is different from the embodiment of the present invention, but will be described as a reference mode.

(Reference form 4)
FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the extension limiting means for limiting the extension of the skin material 19 before the fragile portion 19a is opened by the deployment pressure of the airbag 24 is a low extension sheet-like member 38, 39. Unlike the above reference embodiments and embodiments, the skin material 19 and the pad 15 on the back side of the skin material 19 are locked.

  That is, in this reference form, the skin material 19 and the pad 15 on the back side of the skin material 19 are attached almost entirely by the adhesive in the weak part 19a or in the vicinity of the weak part 19a. Specifically, the skin material 19 and the pad 15 are attached to both sides of the fragile portion 19a across the fragile portion 19a, and substantially over the entire area from the base portion to the rear side of the left side support portion 3a.

  Therefore, in the reference embodiment 4, the fragile portion 19a or the skin material 19 in the vicinity of the fragile portion 19a is pushed to the outside of the seat 1 when subjected to the deployment pressure of the airbag 24, but the skin material 19 is almost stretched on the back side. Since it is affixed to the pad 15 not to be stretched, the extension of the skin material 19 is limited by the pad 15, and the fragile portion 19a opens in a short time. Therefore, the airbag 24 can be deployed early with a simple configuration.

  In the reference embodiment 4, the skin material 19 is attached (locked) to the pad 15 almost entirely on the fragile part 19a or in the vicinity of the fragile part 19a with an adhesive. Any method may be used as long as it can be locked to the skin material. For example, the skin material 19 is set in the mold of the pad 15 and the pad material 15 is integrally foamed with the skin material 19 to form the skin material 19. The present invention can be applied even if the pad is locked to the pad 15.

(Reference form 5)
FIG. 9 shows Reference Mode 5 of the present invention, and, as in Reference Mode 3, instead of cutting the thread of the sewing portion of the weakened portion 19a, the skin material 19 made weak by sewing is broken. However, it is different from the reference embodiment 3 in that the sewing is not repeatedly performed with a strong thread and the sewing pitch is not reduced.

  That is, in this reference form, the sewing of the skin material 19 at both ends of the opening in the fragile portion 19a is the same as the other sewing portions, and only the upper end portion of the fragile portion 19a has a reinforcing plate made of an extruded product of polyvinyl chloride. 45 is sewn to the skin material 19 on one end side of the opening. As a result, the skin material 19 below the reinforcing plate 45 becomes relatively weaker than the portion where the reinforcing plate 45 is sewn together, and when the deployment pressure of the airbag 24 is received, the lower part of the reinforcing plate 45 is directly below. Becomes the starting point of the breakage, and the skin material 19 itself breaks downward.

  Therefore, also in this reference form, similarly to the above-mentioned reference form 3, the skin material 19 around the fragile portion 19a can be reliably broken, and the airbag 24 can be reliably deployed from the broken portion.

  In the above reference embodiment 6, the reinforcing plate 45 is provided at the upper end portion of the fragile portion 19a. However, as shown in FIG. 10, only the upper end portion of the fragile portion 19a is provided with respect to the skin material 19 at both ends of the opening. The U-shaped reinforcing patch 46 may be sewn together.

(Reference forms 6 to 10)
Each of the following reference embodiments 6 to 10 is basically different from the above-described reference embodiments and embodiments in the configuration of the extension limiting means and the fragile portion 19a.

  FIG. 11 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which an opening plate 47 as an extension restricting means is attached to the skin material 19 by sewing around the opening plate 47, and the opening plate 47 itself is the weakened portion 19a in each of the above reference embodiments and embodiments. It is said that. The opening plate 47 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and two protrusions 47a and 47a that are substantially perpendicular to each other are formed at the center of the pad 15 side. As a result, the opening plate 47 is strong against the tensile force in the left-right direction, but weak against the pressing force from the pad 15 side and does not break during normal use. When the deployment pressure of the airbag 24 is received between the portions 47a and 47a, the skin material 19 breaks into two at the center immediately without being stretched, and the airbag 24 is deployed to the outside of the seat 1 at an early stage. .

  FIG. 12 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention, in which a set of fasteners 48 that can be fitted in the front-rear direction as an extension restricting means are sewn to the skin material 19 at both ends of the opening. One set of the fasteners 48 includes one having a fitting hole 48a in the central portion and the other having a protrusion 48b fitted in the fitting hole 48a in the central portion. Is the vulnerable portion 19a. The fastener 48 is strong against the pulling force in the left-right direction, but does not come off. However, since the protrusion 48b is easily removed when receiving a pressing force from the pad 15 side, Fasteners 48 come off immediately without 19 being extended, and the same effects as Reference Embodiment 6 are achieved.

  FIG. 13 shows a reference embodiment 8 of the present invention, and the skin material 19 corresponding to the airbag unit 21 is provided with an unsewn opening 19b as an extension restricting means, and this opening 19b is formed of a vinyl chloride sheet. It is covered with a protective plate 49 made of One end of the protective plate 49 is bent toward the skin material 19 and is welded to the skin material 19 in the vicinity of the opening 19b. As a result, the airbag 24 is rapidly deployed from the opening 19b without the skin material 19 extending. On the other hand, since the opening 19b is covered with the protective plate 49, the appearance can be improved, and the occupant breaks the skin material 19 by hooking something on the opening 19b during normal use. Can be prevented.

  FIG. 14 shows a ninth embodiment of the present invention, and the skin material 19 is provided with an opening 19b as in the eighth embodiment. The skin material 19 at both ends of the opening 19b is folded and stitched together with the resin plate 43 sandwiched between them, as in the above-mentioned reference form 2. However, the ends of the folded portions are not stitched together and are opened. 19b is formed. One of the folded portions (the right side in FIG. 14) is sewn at the same time at a place where the skin material 19 extending from the rear side to the front side of the seat back 3 is folded and stitched. The opening 19b is covered with a folded portion of the skin material 19 extending from the rear side to the front side of the seat back 3 so as not to be seen from the outside. As a result, the same effects as those of the reference embodiment 8 can be obtained. In addition, although the resin board 43 was each provided in each folding | turning part of the skin material 19 of both ends of the opening part 19b, this prevents the opening part 19b from opening easily at the time of normal use by raising the intensity | strength of each folding | turning part. Therefore, the resin plate 43 may not be provided.

  FIG. 15 shows a reference form 10 of the present invention, and the skin material 19 is provided with an opening 19b as in the above reference forms 8 and 9. The skin material 19 on both sides of the opening 19b is folded and stitched, and the folded portions are overlapped in the front-rear direction. A pair of hook-and-loop fasteners 50 are attached and fixed to the opposing surfaces in the front-rear direction of the two folded portions and locked together. By doing so, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as those of the reference embodiments 8 and 9, and it is possible to make the opening 19b more difficult to open during normal use.

  In each reference embodiment and embodiment described above, the airbag unit 21 is disposed in the left side support portion 3a of the seat back 3, but the present invention may also be provided in the right side support portion 3a of the seat back 3. The invention can be applied, and collision between passengers can be prevented. The airbag unit 21 is arranged in the side support portion 2a of the seat cushion 2 so that the opening of the module can 22 faces substantially upward and the airbag 24 is deployed substantially upward of the seat cushion 2. Even in the case of being provided, the present invention can be applied in the same manner as in the case where the seat back 3 is disposed in the side support portion 3a. In addition, when side support portions are provided on the left and right side portions of the headrest 4 and a small airbag unit is disposed on the side support portions so that the airbag is deployed substantially forward, thereby protecting the occupant's head and the like. The present invention can be applied.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful for an energy absorbing device on a vehicle side portion in which an airbag unit is disposed in a seat that is covered with a skin material.

It is the II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the sheet | seat in the energy absorber of the vehicle side part which concerns on the reference form 1. FIG. It is a left view of the sheet | seat which shows the expansion | deployment state of an airbag. It is a perspective view which shows the weak part of the skin material in a seat back. FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. It is a figure equivalent to FIG. 1 in the reference form 3. FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 seat 2 seat cushion 3 seat back 13 seat back frame (seat frame)
15 Pad 19 Skin material 19a Fragile portion 21 Airbag unit 24 Airbag 39 Low-extension sheet-like member 39a Sheet-like member (first low-extension member)
39b Sheet-like member (second low-extension member)

Claims (6)

In the vicinity of the side portion in the seat covered with the skin material, an airbag unit arranged in a predetermined direction is provided,
In the above-mentioned skin material, a weak portion that can be opened by receiving an airbag deployment pressure is provided, and the vehicle side energy absorbing device configured to deploy the airbag outward from the seat from the opened weak portion,
The skin material includes a first skin material that extends from the rear side of the seat through the outer side in the seat width direction toward the fragile portion, and a second skin material that extends from the center side in the seat width direction on the front side of the seat toward the fragile portion. Consists of
First and second low-extension members are provided to prevent the skin material from extending before the fragile portion is opened by the airbag deployment pressure of the airbag unit;
The first low-extension member is located on the outer side in the seat width direction than the airbag unit,
The second low-extension member is located closer to the center side in the seat width direction than the airbag unit,
The opening of the fragile portion is closed by sewing the first skin material and the second skin material with the first sewing member,
The first low extension member is fixed by sewing with a second sewing member on the first skin material in the vicinity of the weakened portion,
The energy absorbing device for a vehicle side portion, wherein the second low extension member is fixed by sewing with a third sewing member to the second skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion. In the vicinity of the side portion in the seat covered with the skin material, an airbag unit arranged in a predetermined direction is provided,
In the above-mentioned skin material, a weak portion that can be opened by receiving an airbag deployment pressure is provided, and the vehicle side energy absorbing device configured to deploy the airbag outward from the seat from the opened weak portion,
The skin material includes a first skin material that extends from the rear side of the seat through the outer side in the seat width direction toward the fragile portion, and a second skin material that extends from the center side in the seat width direction on the front side of the seat toward the fragile portion. Consists of
First and second low-extension members are provided to prevent the skin material from extending before the fragile portion is opened by the airbag deployment pressure of the airbag unit;
The first low-extension member is located on the outer side in the seat width direction than the airbag unit,
The second low-extension member is located closer to the center side in the seat width direction than the airbag unit,
The opening of the fragile portion is closed by fixing the first skin material and the second skin material with a first fixing member,
The first low extension member is fixed to the first skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion by a second fixing member,
The vehicle side portion energy absorbing device, wherein the second low extension member is fixed to the second skin material in the vicinity of the fragile portion by a third fixing member. In the energy absorption apparatus of the vehicle side part of Claim 1 or 2,
The first skin material has a first folded portion in which an end portion of the first skin material is folded back inside the sheet in the vicinity of the fragile portion,
The second skin material has a second folded portion formed by folding the end portion of the second skin material inside the sheet in the vicinity of the fragile portion,
The first low extension member is fixed to the first folded portion,
The energy absorbing device for a vehicle side portion, wherein the second low extension member is fixed to the second folded portion. In the energy absorption apparatus of the vehicle side part as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
A pad is provided on the inner surface of the skin material,
In the part corresponding to the airbag unit in the pad, an opening is formed,
Each of the first and second low-extension members extends toward the vicinity of the fragile portion through the opening, and is an energy absorption device for a vehicle side portion. In the energy absorption apparatus of the vehicle side part as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
The first and second low-extension members are configured to be immovable by a predetermined member of the seat when the fragile portion receives the airbag deployment pressure. Absorber. The vehicle side energy absorbing device according to claim 5,
The predetermined member is an air bag unit and a seat frame.

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