JP2007203898A - Occupant restraining device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a restraining property of a chest of an occupant by an occupant restraining webbing at the time of vehicular collision. <P>SOLUTION: A small airbag element 26 inflating at the time of the vehicular collision and displacing a shoulder belt portion 16S upward by the inflating force is provided between the shoulder belt portion 16S and a wrap belt portion 16L of the occupant restraining webbing 16 provided near a tongue plate 18 and divided by the tongue plate 18. Therefore, at the time of the vehicular collision, the small airbag bag element 26 inflates between the shoulder belt portion 16S and the wrap belt portion 16L, so that the shoulder belt 16S is lifted and displaced upward by the inflating force. Since the shoulder belt portion 16S comes to restrain the central range of the chest 14B, for instance, restraining property of the chest 14B of the occupant 14 by the occupant restraining webbing 16 can be improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant restraint device capable of restraining an occupant seated on a vehicle seat.

An air belt device is disclosed in which when the inflating portion of the occupant restraint webbing is inflated, the tension generated in the occupant restraint webbing is transmitted to the lap belt so that both the occupant restraint webbing and the lap belt are in close contact with the occupant. (See Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-255358 A

  In the air belt device as in the conventional example described above, the occupant's chest can be softly restrained by the inflating portion when the vehicle collides. However, due to the inertial force forward of the occupant, the buckle device in which the tongue plate is fitted bends toward the occupant side, and the occupant restraining webbing is displaced toward the lower abdomen than during normal use, and the chest with ribs Compared to the above, it is difficult to increase the restraint of the occupant's chest.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described facts, and an object of the present invention is to improve the restraint of the occupant's chest by the occupant restraining webbing during a vehicle collision.

  The invention of claim 1 includes an occupant restraining webbing capable of restraining an occupant's chest, a tongue plate through which the occupant restraining webbing is inserted, and a buckle device into which the tongue plate is fitted when the occupant restraining webbing is mounted. A retractor configured to be capable of winding the occupant restraint webbing, and a shoulder belt portion and a lap belt portion of the occupant restraint webbing provided near the tongue plate and defined by the tongue plate. And a small airbag bag body that is inflated at the time of a vehicle collision and displaces the shoulder belt portion upward by the inflating force thereof.

  In the vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 1, when a vehicle collision is detected, the shoulder belt portion of the occupant restraint webbing in which the small airbag bag body provided in the vicinity of the tongue plate is partitioned by the tongue plate The shoulder belt portion is displaced upward by the expansion force due to the expansion between the lap belt portion and the lap belt portion. As a result, the belt path of the shoulder belt portion, that is, the routing route of the shoulder belt portion is changed to the upper side of the chest of the occupant. As a result, the occupant restraint webbing restrains, for example, the vicinity of the central region of the chest where the strength of the ribs is greater, and the restraint of the occupant's chest by the occupant restraint webbing is improved.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the first aspect, the buckle device is provided with an inflator for supplying an inflating gas to the small airbag bag body, and the small airbag is provided. The bag is housed in the tongue plate, and inflated and deployed out of the tongue plate upon receipt of a gas supply from the inflator in a state where the tongue plate is fitted in the buckle device.

  In the vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 2, in a state where the tongue plate is fitted into the buckle device, by supplying an inflation gas from the inflator provided in the buckle device to the small airbag bag body, The small airbag bag body is inflated. Since it is not necessary to provide the inflator on the tongue plate side, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the tongue plate and maintain a good operational feeling.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the first or second aspect, the retractor includes a pretensioner capable of winding the occupant restraint webbing, and the vehicle is in a collision state. The operation start timing of the inflator is earlier than the operation start timing of the pretensioner.

  In the vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 3, the occupant restraint device is operated while the tension of the occupant restraint webbing is relatively small by operating the inflator at a timing earlier than the pretensioner in the event of a vehicle collision. The webbing can be displaced upward to ensure an appropriate belt path.

  As described above, according to the vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 1 of the present invention, it is possible to improve the restraint of the occupant's chest by the occupant restraint webbing during a vehicle collision. Excellent effect is obtained.

  According to the vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 2, there is no need to provide an inflator on the tongue plate side, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the tongue plate and maintain a good operational feeling. Is obtained.

  According to the vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 3, while the tension of the occupant restraint webbing is relatively small, the occupant restraint webbing can be displaced upward to ensure an appropriate belt path. An excellent effect is obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to the present embodiment is a seat belt device for restraining an occupant 14 (FIG. 4A) seated on a vehicle seat 12, and includes an occupant restraint webbing. 16, a tongue plate 18, a buckle device 22, a retractor 24 (FIG. 4A), and a small airbag bag body 26 (FIG. 2).

  4A, the vehicle seat 12 includes a seat cushion 28 on which the occupant 14 is seated, a seat back 30 that supports the back of the occupant 14, and a headrest 32 provided on the upper portion of the seat back 30. It is provided on a seat rail 36 provided on the floor panel 34 so as to be slidable in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

  A lap belt anchor 38 is provided outside the vehicle seat 12 on the floor panel 34, and a buckle device 22 is provided on the side of the seat cushion 28 on the center side of the vehicle compartment. The position where the lap belt anchor 38 is provided is not limited to the floor panel 34, but may be on the outer side of the passenger compartment of the seat cushion 28. The position where the buckle device 22 is provided is not limited to the seat cushion 28, and may be on the floor panel 34 side, for example. For example, an inflator (not shown), which is a gas supply source for the small airbag bag body 26, is disposed in or outside the buckle device 22. For example, the inflator is activated when a frontal collision of the vehicle is detected by a front collision sensor (not shown).

  The occupant restraining webbing 16 is a belt-like member that can restrain the occupant's chest, and is configured to be wound around, for example, a retractor 24 disposed on the upper back panel (not shown) of the vehicle body. Sometimes, it can be pulled out from the retractor 24 in accordance with the physique of the occupant 14. The occupant restraining webbing 16 pulled out from the retractor 24 is guided to a front side of the seat back 30 by being guided by a belt guide (not shown) provided on a shoulder portion of the seat back 30, for example.

  In FIG. 1, the tongue plate 18 is a plate-like member into which the occupant restraining webbing 16 is inserted and can be fitted into the buckle device 22, and an insertion plate portion 18 </ b> A to be inserted into the tongue insertion port 22 </ b> A of the buckle device 22 is provided. ing. The insertion plate portion 18A is formed with an engagement hole 18B with which a lock member (not shown) of the buckle device 22 is engaged. Further, the tongue plate 18 is provided with an insertion hole 18 </ b> C for inserting the occupant restraining webbing 16, so that the tongue plate 18 can move on the occupant restraining webbing 16.

  The portion of the tongue plate 18 excluding the insertion plate portion 18A is molded by, for example, a synthetic resin. When the tongue plate 18 is fitted into the buckle device 22 in the mold portion 18D, the insertion hole of the buckle device 22 is inserted. An insertion portion 18E to be inserted into 22C is provided. The insertion hole 22 </ b> C is an outlet portion of the gas flow path 22 </ b> B in the buckle device 22. A case portion 18F for folding and accommodating the small airbag bag body 26 (FIG. 2) is provided on the upper side of the mold portion 18D in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, a gas flow path 18K is provided between the case portion 18F and the insertion portion 18E.

  The tongue plate 18 is also a member that partitions the occupant restraining webbing 16 into a shoulder belt portion 16S and a lap belt portion 16L when fitted into the buckle device 22. 4A, the portion of the occupant restraining webbing 16 on the side of the retractor 24 from the tongue plate 18 is a portion that mainly restrains the chest 14B of the occupant 14, and in the present embodiment, this portion is the shoulder belt portion 16S. I will call it. Further, in the occupant restraining webbing 16, the portion on the lap belt anchor 38 side from the tongue plate 18 is a portion mainly restraining the waist portion 14S of the occupant 14, and this portion is referred to as a lap belt portion 16L in this embodiment. And

  The buckle device 22 is a holding device for the tongue plate 18 into which the tongue plate 18 is fitted when the occupant restraining webbing 16 is mounted. Specifically, the tongue insertion port 22A into which the insertion plate portion 18A of the tongue plate 18 is inserted. A locking member (not shown) that engages with the engaging hole 18B of the insertion plate portion 18A, and an ejector that releases the locking state by the locking member when the tongue plate 18 is detached from the buckle device 22 (not shown). (Not shown). Further, the buckle device 22 is provided with a connection port 22D to which a pipe 40 from an inflator (not shown) is connected, and a gas flow path 22B communicates between the connection port 22D and the insertion hole 22. In addition, when arrange | positioning the inflator in the buckle apparatus 22, the piping 40 and the connection port 22D are unnecessary, and the gas flow path 22B is provided so that gas can flow between the inflator and the insertion hole 22C. .

  In this way, when the tongue plate 18 is fitted into the buckle device 22, the insertion portion 18 E on the tongue plate 18 side is inserted into the insertion hole 22 C of the buckle device 22, so that a small airbag bag is formed from the buckle device 22 side. The body 26 can be supplied with gas from the inflator.

  4A, the retractor 24 is configured to be able to wind up the occupant restraining webbing 16, and is configured to bias the occupant restraining webbing 16 in the winding direction during normal use. When the occupant restraining webbing 16 is mounted, an appropriate tension can be applied to the occupant restraining webbing 16.

  The retractor 24 includes a pretensioner (not shown) that can wind up the occupant restraining webbing 16, and increases the tension of the occupant restraining webbing 16 in the event of a vehicle collision, thereby restraining the occupant 14. It can be increased instantaneously. The operation start timing of the inflator at the time of a vehicle collision is configured to be earlier than the operation start timing of the pretensioner. This is because while the tension of the occupant restraining webbing 16 before the pretensioner is activated is relatively small, the small airbag bag body 26 is inflated to displace the shoulder belt portion 16S upward to ensure an appropriate belt path. It is to do. As a means for advancing the operation start timing of the inflator, for example, it is conceivable to operate the inflator when a frontal collision of the vehicle is predicted by a pre-crash sensor.

  In FIG. 2, a small airbag bag body 26 is provided in the vicinity of the tongue plate 18 and is folded and housed in a case portion 18F of the tongue plate 18, for example. It is configured to expand between the shoulder belt portion 16S and the lap belt portion 16L of the compartment occupant restraining webbing 16, and to displace the shoulder belt portion 16S upward by the expansion force.

  The opening 18G of the case 18F is closed by a cover 18H during normal use. When the small airbag bag body 26 is inflated, the cover 18H is deployed, for example, centering on the end portion 18J farther from the shoulder belt portion 16S due to the expansion force of the small airbag bag body 26, thereby opening the case portion 18F. The part 18G is opened.

  The occupant restraining webbing 16 in the above configuration is a webbing used in a general seat belt device as shown in FIG. 4 (A). However, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the occupant restraining webbing 16 is used. A so-called air belt in which an inflatable portion 42 is provided on the shoulder belt portion 16S of the webbing 16 may be used. When fixing the position of the inflatable portion 42 on the occupant restraining webbing 16, the shoulder belt portion 16S and the lap belt portion 16L are independently connected to the tongue plate 18, and the lap belt portion 16L is provided on the floor panel 34, for example. It is configured to be pulled out from the retractor 44.

(Function)
This embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described below. 4A, in the vehicle occupant restraint device 10, the occupant 14 is seated on the vehicle seat 12, the shoulder belt portion 16S of the occupant restraint webbing 16 is applied to the chest portion 14B, and the lap belt portion. When the tongue plate 18 is fitted into the buckle device 22 so that 16L contacts the waist 14S, the mounting of the occupant restraining webbing 16 is completed. At this time, in FIG. 2, the insertion portion 18E provided in the tongue plate 18 is inserted into the insertion hole 22C of the buckle device 22, and the gas flow paths 22B and 18K from the inflator to the small airbag bag body 26 are communicated. Become. As described above, since the inflation gas can be supplied from the inflator provided on the buckle device 22 side to the small airbag bag body 26, it is not necessary to provide the inflator on the tongue plate 18 side. It is possible to suppress the increase in size of 18 and maintain a good operational feeling.

  Next, in FIG. 2, when a vehicle collision is detected, the inflator is activated, and the inflation gas is supplied from the inflator to the small airbag bag body 26 through the pipe 40 and the gas flow paths 22B and 18K. The small airbag bag body 26 starts to expand. Then, due to the expansion force of the small airbag bag body 26, the cover 18H is deployed around the end 18J, and the opening 18G of the case 18F is opened. Since the cover 18H is deployed centering on the end portion 18J far from the shoulder belt portion 16S, the expansion force of the small airbag bag body 26 is likely to act on the shoulder belt portion 16S.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3, the small airbag bag body 26 is inflated between the shoulder belt portion 16 </ b> S and the lap belt portion 16 </ b> L from the opening 18 </ b> G, thereby being shown in FIG. 4 (B). Thus, the shoulder belt portion 16S is lifted by the expansion force and displaced upward. At this time, depending on the handling state of the shoulder belt portion 16S, the occupant restraining webbing 16 is slightly pulled out from the retractor 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the inflated shape of the small airbag bag body 26 is a substantially cylindrical shape, and extends in the width direction of the tongue plate 18 to be larger than the width dimension of the shoulder belt portion 16 </ b> S. . An outer peripheral surface portion of the small airbag bag body 26 abuts on the shoulder belt portion 16S in a planar shape. The amount of upward displacement of the shoulder belt portion 16S can be adjusted by setting the diameter of the small airbag bag body 26 at the time of inflation.

  Among the ribs of the chest 14B of the occupant 14, the rib located particularly in the central region of the chest 14B has a high strength in order to protect the lungs and the heart. Therefore, the belt path of the shoulder belt portion 16S, that is, the routing route of the shoulder belt portion 16S is changed to the upper side of the chest 14B of the occupant 14, so that the shoulder belt portion 16S is, for example, near the central region of the chest 14B. Will be restrained. Thereby, the restraint property of the chest 14B of the passenger 14 by the passenger restraining webbing 16 can be improved.

  In the vehicle occupant restraint device 10, the operation start timing of the inflator that inflates the small airbag bag body 26 is earlier than the operation start timing of the pretensioner, and therefore, the occupant restraint webbing 16 before the pretensioner is activated. While the tension is relatively small, the small airbag bag body 26 can be inflated to displace the shoulder belt portion 16S upward, thereby ensuring a more appropriate belt path.

  In FIG. 5B, the small airbag bag body 26 is inflated even when the occupant restraining webbing 16 is provided with the inflating portion 42, that is, when the occupant restraining webbing 16 is configured as an air belt. Is effective. Specifically, by inflating the small airbag bag body 26 between the shoulder belt portion 16S and the lap belt portion 16L, the belt path of the shoulder belt portion 16S is changed to the upper side of the chest 14B of the occupant 14. Thus, for example, the vicinity of the central region of the chest 14B can be restrained by the shoulder belt portion 16S. In this case, when the inflating portion 42 is inflated, the tension of the occupant restraining webbing 16 is increased by the inflating force. Therefore, prior to the inflating portion 42 inflating, the small airbag bag body 26 is inflated to move the belt path further upward. It is desirable to change to

  In the above embodiment, the small airbag bag body 26 is described as being housed in the case portion 18F of the tongue plate 18. However, the arrangement of the small airbag bag body 26 is not limited to this, and its inflating force Therefore, it is sufficient that the shoulder belt portion 16S can be displaced upward. Therefore, the small airbag bag body 26 may be provided on at least one of the shoulder belt portion 16S and the lap belt portion 16L, or the small airbag bag body 26 is provided on the buckle device 22 side and the tongue plate 18 is interposed. Instead, the small airbag bag body 26 may be directly inflated between the shoulder belt portion 16S and the lap belt portion 16L from the buckle device 22 side.

  Further, the expansion of the expansion part 42 may be controlled according to the physique of the occupant 14. For example, when the occupant 14 has a large physique, the position of the chest 14B is relatively high, so that the inflatable portion 42 is inflated to displace the shoulder belt portion 16S upward. Conversely, if the occupant 14 has a small physique, Since the position of the chest part 14B is relatively low and the necessity of changing the belt path of the shoulder belt part 16S is low, the inflating part 42 may not be inflated. The physique of the occupant 14 may be determined by a signal from a seat slide sensor (not shown), or by an occupant detection sensor such as a camera (not shown).

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the tongue plate is detached from the buckle device in the vehicle occupant restraint device. With the tongue plate fitted into the buckle device, the small airbag bag body starts to inflate, the cover of the case portion opens, and the small airbag bag body expands out of the case portion through the opened opening. It is an expansion perspective view which shows the state which has begun. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the small airbag bag body is further inflated following the state of FIG. 2 and the shoulder belt portion is lifted and displaced upward by the inflating force. (A) It is a front view which shows the normal use state which the passenger | crew sat down on the vehicle seat and equipped with the passenger | crew restraint webbing. (B) The small airbag bag body is inflated, the shoulder belt portion is lifted and displaced upward by the inflating force, and the shoulder belt portion whose belt path is changed restrains the vicinity of the center region of the occupant's chest. It is a front view which shows the state currently performed. (A) It is a front view which shows the normal use state which the passenger | crew sat down on the vehicle seat and equipped with the passenger | crew restraint webbing provided with the expansion part. (B) The small airbag bag body is inflated, the shoulder belt portion is lifted and displaced upward by the inflating force, and the shoulder belt portion whose belt path is changed restrains the vicinity of the center region of the occupant's chest. FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state where the inflating portion of the occupant restraining webbing is inflated corresponding to the chest.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle occupant restraint device 12 Vehicle seat 14 Passenger 14B Chest 16 Passenger restraint webbing 16L Lap belt part 16S Shoulder belt part 18 Tang plate 22 Buckle device 24 Retractor 26 Small airbag bag body

Claims (3)

An occupant restraint webbing capable of restraining the chest of the occupant;
A tongue plate through which the passenger restraining webbing is inserted;
A buckle device into which the tongue plate is fitted when the occupant restraining webbing is mounted;
A retractor configured to wind up the passenger restraining webbing;
Between the shoulder belt portion and the lap belt portion of the occupant restraint webbing provided near the tongue plate and defined by the tongue plate, the shoulder belt portion is inflated at the time of a vehicle collision, and the shoulder belt portion is A small airbag bag body that is displaced upward;
A vehicle occupant restraint device characterized by comprising: The buckle device is provided with an inflator for supplying an inflation gas to the small airbag bag body,
The small airbag bag body is accommodated in the tongue plate, and inflated and deployed to the outside of the tongue plate in response to the supply of gas from the inflator in a state where the tongue plate is fitted in the buckle device. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 1. The retractor includes a pretensioner capable of winding the occupant restraining webbing,
3. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 1, wherein an operation start timing of the inflator at the time of a collision of the vehicle is earlier than an operation start timing of the pretensioner.

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