JP2008260376A - Foot airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress bending load in a left/right direction applied to an occupant's ankle at vehicle collision. <P>SOLUTION: An inflation/deployment shape viewed from a vehicle longitudinal direction of a foot airbag 20 at an outer side in a vehicle width direction at a driver's seat of the vehicle becomes a trapezoidal shape in which height H2 from a lower part 12A of the inclined/deformed dash panel 12 or a front part 10A of the floor panel 10 becomes continuously small from the inner side in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, even if the lower part 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front part 10A of the floor panel 10 are inclined/deformed at vehicle front surface collision, a step surface support part 20F of the inflated/deployed foot airbag 20 becomes approximately horizontal viewed from a vehicle longitudinal direction. As a result, bending load in a left/right direction applied to the occupant's ankle can be suppressed by deformation of the dash panel 12 or the floor panel 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a foot airbag device, and more particularly to a foot airbag device disposed on a passenger compartment floor of a vehicle such as an automobile.

2. Description of the Related Art A so-called foot airbag device that is attached to the front of a front seat of a vehicle such as an automobile and protects a passenger's foot has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this technique, a bag is provided on a foot panel of a front seat occupant of an automobile, and the bag is inflated when the foot panel is deformed, so that the impact on the foot of the occupant due to the deformation of the foot panel is alleviated.
JP 2000-190803 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, even when the foot panel is inclined and deformed in the vehicle interior direction along the vehicle width direction at the time of a vehicle collision, it is possible to mitigate the impact on the occupant's foot due to the deformation of the foot panel. However, a device that can further suppress the lateral bending load acting on the occupant's ankle at the time of a vehicle collision is desired.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a foot airbag device capable of suppressing a lateral bending load acting on an occupant's ankle at the time of a vehicle collision.

  The foot airbag device according to claim 1 of the present invention is inflated and deployed in a portion between a floor portion of a passenger compartment on which an occupant foot is placed and an occupant foot tread, and supports the occupant foot tread. The tread surface support portion of the tread surface support portion that is generated along with the inclined deformation of the floor portion as viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle has a different inflated and deployed shape in the vehicle width direction from the floor portion of the support portion. It has the foot airbag which reduced inclination deformation.

  Therefore, at the time of a vehicle collision, the foot airbag is inflated and deployed to a portion between the floor portion of the passenger compartment on which the occupant foot is placed and the occupant foot portion tread. At this time, the inflated and deployed height from the floor portion at the time of inflating and deploying the tread support portion that supports the occupant foot portion tread in the foot airbag varies along the vehicle width direction, so that the floor portion is viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. In the case of the inclination deformation, the inclination deformation of the foot tread support portion of the foot airbag accompanying the inclination deformation of the floor portion is reduced. For this reason, the bending load of the left-right direction which acts on a passenger | crew's ankle by the inclination deformation of a floor panel is suppressed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a foot airbag device comprising a pair of left and right inflating and deploying portions that inflate and deploy at a portion between a floor portion of a passenger compartment on which an occupant foot is placed and a tread surface of the occupant foot. The bag is provided in the pair of left and right inflating and deploying portions, and is generated along with an inclination deformation of the floor portion as viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction by adjusting an internal pressure of the pair of left and right inflating and deploying portions at the time of inflating and deploying. And an internal pressure adjusting means for reducing the inclination deformation of the tread support portion.

  Therefore, at the time of a vehicle collision, the foot airbag is inflated and deployed to a portion between the floor portion of the passenger compartment on which the occupant foot is placed and the occupant foot portion tread. At this time, when the floor portion is inclined and deformed when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the internal pressure is adjusted by the floor portion moved to the vehicle interior side by the inclination deformation by the internal pressure adjusting means provided in the pair of left and right inflating and deploying portions of the foot airbag. Decrease the internal pressure of the inflated and deployed part on the higher side. For this reason, when the inflated and deployed part located between the floor part moved to the vehicle interior side due to the inclination deformation and the occupant foot part tread contracts, the tread deformation of the tread support part of the foot airbag is accompanied by the inclination deformation of the floor part. Is reduced. For this reason, the bending load of the left-right direction which acts on a passenger | crew's ankle by the inclination deformation of a floor panel is suppressed.

  The foot airbag device according to the first aspect of the present invention can suppress a bending load in the left-right direction that acts on the occupant's ankle at the time of a vehicle collision.

  The foot airbag device of the present invention according to claim 2 can suppress a lateral bending load acting on the occupant's ankle at the time of a vehicle collision.

  1st Embodiment of the foot airbag apparatus in this invention is described according to FIGS.

  In the figure, the arrow UP indicates the vehicle upward direction, the arrow FR in the figure indicates the vehicle forward direction, and the arrow IN in the figure indicates the vehicle width inside direction.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a front lower part of a passenger compartment of a vehicle to which the foot airbag device according to the present embodiment is applied as seen from the obliquely rearward side of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the front end lower portion of the passenger compartment is the front portion 10 </ b> A of the floor panel 10 as the floor portion, and the lower portion of the dash panel 12 as the floor portion that rises obliquely forward from the front end of the floor panel 10. 12A.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the foot airbag device according to this embodiment before the airbag is deployed, as seen from the obliquely rearward side of the vehicle. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. Further, FIG. 4 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 is an inclined wall portion that rises diagonally forward from the lower rear side of the vehicle, and the occupant foot portion 14 seated in the front seat (driver's seat and front passenger seat). An occupant foot tread (shoe bottom) 15 is supported.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle interior side surface of the lower portion 12 </ b> A of the dash panel 12 on the driver's seat side is an inner side in the vehicle width direction (side that supports the driver's left foot) constituting a part of the foot airbag device 16. A foot airbag 18 and a foot airbag 20 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (side supporting the driver's right foot) are arranged.

  In addition, the code | symbol 11 of FIG. 5 has shown the brake pedal, and the code | symbol 13 has shown the accelerator pedal.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the foot airbag 20 is disposed along the lower portion 12 </ b> A of the dash panel 12 in a state of being folded into a sheet shape. Although not shown, the left airbag 18 is also disposed along the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 in a folded state.

  As shown in FIG. 1, mounting portions 18A and 20A project from the upper ends of the foot airbags 18 and 20 at predetermined intervals along the vehicle width direction. Mounting portions 18B and 20B project from the lower end portion at a predetermined interval along the vehicle width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a through hole 21 is formed in each attachment portion 20 </ b> B of the foot airbag 20, and an attachment hole 22 is provided in the bottom portion of the recess 23 provided in the lower portion 12 </ b> A of the dash panel 12. ing. For example, a screw portion 24A of a bolt 24 as a fixing member is inserted into the through hole 21 and the attachment hole 22 from the vehicle interior side, and the screw portion 24A of the bolt 24 is disposed on the outer side surface of the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 in the vehicle compartment. The weld nut 26 fixed to 12B is screwed. Further, through holes 28 are formed in the attachment portion 20B of the foot airbag 20, and an attachment hole 30 is formed in the bottom portion of the recess 25 provided in the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10. For example, a screw portion 32A of a bolt 32 as a fixing member is inserted into the through hole 28 and the attachment hole 30 from the vehicle interior side, and the screw portion 32A of the bolt 32 is fixed to the vehicle exterior side surface 10B of the floor panel 10. The weld nut 34 is screwed.

  The foot airbag 18 is also fixed in the same manner as the foot airbag 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical inflator 40 that constitutes a part of the foot airbag device 16 is fixed to the lower part 36 </ b> A of the front pillar 36 along the vertical direction. The inflator 40 is a pillar garnish 42. Since it is covered by the vehicle, it cannot be seen from the vehicle interior side. Further, gas introduction pipes 43 extending from the lower portion of the inflator 40 are connected to the side surfaces 18C and 20C of the foot airbags 18 and 20 on the front pillar 36 side, respectively.

  The inflator 40 is connected to an airbag device control circuit (not shown), and a known collision detection sensor is connected to the airbag device control circuit. Therefore, when a predetermined high load action is caused by the collision of the vehicle, the collision detection sensor detects this and the airbag apparatus control circuit operates the inflator 40. As a result, a large amount of gas is generated from the inflator 40 and this gas is supplied into the foot airbags 18 and 20 through the gas introduction pipe 43 so that the foot airbags 18 and 20 are inflated and deployed. .

  Each of the foot airbags 18 and 20 is composed of a plurality of base cloths 44, and these base cloths 44 are formed into a bag shape with their outer peripheral edges closely attached by stitching, bonding or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the inflated and deployed shape of the foot airbag 20 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (side supporting the driver's right foot) viewed from the vehicle side (vehicle width direction) is the front portion 10 </ b> A of the floor panel 10. , A front wall 20E along the lower part 12A of the dash panel 12, and a tread support 20F that supports the tread 15 of the occupant foot 14 are triangular. Further, the development height H1 in the vertical direction from the front wall portion 20E of the tread surface support portion 20F decreases toward the vehicle front side.

  Although not shown, the inflated and deployed shape of the foot airbag 18 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (side supporting the driver's left foot) viewed from the vehicle side (vehicle width direction) is also the same as the foot airbag 20. It has become.

  As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the inflated and deployed shape (inflated and deployed cross-sectional shape) S1 of the foot airbag 18 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction is a rectangular shape with the vehicle width direction as the longitudinal direction. It has become. On the other hand, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the inflated and deployed shape (inflated and deployed cross-sectional shape) S2 of the foot airbag 20 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction is trapezoidal.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the inflated and deployed shape S2 of the foot airbag 20 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction as viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle has an inclined deformation of the inner wall portion 20G in the vehicle width direction and the outer wall portion 20H in the vehicle width direction. The shape rises from the lower part 12A of the dash panel 12 or the front part 10A of the floor panel 10 toward the upper side of the vehicle. Further, the height H2 of the tread support portion 20F of the foot airbag 20 from the lower portion 12A of the inclined dash panel 12 or the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10 is continuous from the inner side in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The vertical width W2 of the outer wall portion 20H in the vehicle width direction of the foot airbag 20 is smaller than the vertical width W1 of the inner wall portion 20G in the vehicle width direction of the foot airbag 20.

  That is, when the foot airbag 20 is inflated and deployed, the tread surface support portion 20F that supports (abuts) the occupant foot portion tread surface 15 from the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 or the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10 that is inclined and deformed. The inflated and deployed height H2 is different along the vehicle width direction, and the inclination angle θ1 (the rate of change of the height H2) of the tread surface support portion 20F is the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 or the floor panel that is considered to occur at the time of a vehicle collision. It is set based on the deformation inclination angle θ2 of the 10 front portions 10A.

  More specifically, the structure of the skeleton member of the vehicle that receives a collision load from the front of the vehicle when the vehicle has a frontal collision under a predetermined condition (collision speed, collision angle, collision object structure, etc.) Accordingly, the deformation inclination angle θ2 of the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 or the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10 is predicted, and the inclination when the tread surface support portion 20F of the foot airbag 20 is inflated and deployed with respect to the deformation inclination angle θ2. The angle θ1 is built in advance. As a result, with respect to the inclined deformation of the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10, the tread surface support portion 20F of the inflated and deployed foot airbag 20 becomes substantially horizontal when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction (horizontal Approach).

  Note that “substantially horizontal” includes horizontal and an angle close to horizontal.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when the lower part 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front part 10A of the floor panel 10 are inclined when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction during a vehicle collision, the tread support part 20F of the foot airbag 20 is It is almost horizontal when viewed from the direction. For this reason, the bending load (arrow G of FIG. 3) of the left-right direction which acts on the ankle 14A of the passenger | crew leg part 14 is suppressed.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, when a vehicle collision such as a frontal collision occurs, a collision detection sensor (not shown) detects this and the inflator 40 is activated. For this reason, a large amount of gas is generated, and the gas is fed into the foot airbags 18 and 20 through the gas introduction pipe 43. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1 or 2, the foot airbags 18, 20 are inflated and deployed between the tread surface 15 of the occupant foot 14 and the lower portion 12 </ b> A of the dash panel 12. As a result, the load applied to the occupant foot portion tread 15 of the occupant foot portion 14 due to the rising deformation of the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 in the side view state that occurs at the time of a vehicle collision (the deformation in the arrow U direction in FIG. 2) It can be absorbed by the bags 18 and 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the load applied to the occupant foot portion tread 15 of the occupant foot portion 14 due to the inclined deformation of the lower portion 12 </ b> A of the dash panel 12 or the front portion 10 </ b> A of the floor panel 10 when viewed from the vehicle longitudinal direction. Can be absorbed by the foot airbag 20.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inflated and deployed shape of the foot airbag 20 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (the side supporting the driver's right foot) viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction is the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 or the floor panel that is inclined and deformed. 10 has a trapezoidal shape in which the height H2 from the front portion 10A continuously decreases from the inner side in the vehicle width direction toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. That is, when the foot airbag 20 is inflated and deployed, the inclination angle θ1 of the tread surface support portion 20F that supports the occupant foot portion tread surface 15 in the foot airbag 20 and the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 and the floor which are considered to be generated at the time of a vehicle collision. It is set based on the deformation inclination angle θ2 of the front portion 10A of the panel 10.

  For this reason, even if the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10 are inclined and deformed toward the vehicle interior side (in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 7) at the time of a vehicle collision, the foot airbag 20 is inflated and deployed. The tread surface support portion 20F in contact with the occupant foot portion tread surface 15 in the foot airbag 20 is substantially horizontal when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction.

  As a result, in the present embodiment, the bending load in the left-right direction that acts on the ankle 14A of the occupant foot 14 due to the deformation of the floor portion at the time of a vehicle collision can be suppressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the right-foot foot airbag 20 is inflated and deployed as seen from the vehicle front-rear direction in accordance with the deformation shape predicted at the time of the vehicle front collision of the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 or the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10. The height H2 from the lower portion 12A of the inclined dash panel 12 or the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10 has a trapezoidal shape that continuously decreases from the vehicle width direction inner side to the vehicle width direction outer side. Depending on the deformation shape predicted at the time of the vehicle front collision of the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 or the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10, the inflated and deployed shape of the foot airbag 20 viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle may be triangular, etc. Other inflated and deployed shapes may be used. Further, depending on the deformation shape predicted at the time of the vehicle front collision of the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 or the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10, the vehicle in the foot airbag 18 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (side supporting the driver's left foot). It is good also as a structure which adjusted the expansion | deployment deployment shape seen from the front-back direction.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the inflator 40 is disposed in the lower portion 36A of the front pillar 36. However, the position of the inflator 40 is not limited to the lower portion 36A of the front pillar 36, and may be other than in the instrument panel, the tunnel portion, and the like. It may be the part.

  Next, a second embodiment of the foot airbag device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In addition, about the same member as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an inflated and deployed state of the foot airbag device according to the present embodiment as viewed obliquely from the rear of the vehicle, and FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view according to the present embodiment corresponding to FIG. It is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, a foot airbag 50 for the right foot (outside in the vehicle width direction) constituting a part of the foot airbag device 16 is provided. Similar to the foot airbag 20 of the first embodiment, the foot airbag 50 is formed with a mounting portion 50A and a mounting portion 50B. The foot airbag 50 has a lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 and a floor panel 10. It is attached to the front portion 10A.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the foot airbag 50 includes a pair of left and right inflating and deploying portions 52 and 54, and these inflating and deploying portions 52 and 54 are partitions provided in the center in the vehicle width direction of the foot airbag 50. Partitioned with a cloth 58. The pair of left and right inflated and expanded portions 52 and 54 are separately connected to an inflator 56 by a gas introduction pipe 43, and the inflator 56 is attached to a vehicle compartment outer side surface 12 </ b> B of a lower portion 12 </ b> A of the dash panel 12.

  In other words, the foot airbag 50 is partitioned by a partition cloth 58, and includes an inner inflating and deploying portion 52 disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction and an outer inflating and deploying portion 54 disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. The expanding portion 52 and the outer inflating and expanding portion 54 are inflated and expanded simultaneously by the gas from the inflator 56.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the inflated and deployed shape of the foot airbag 50 viewed from the vehicle side (vehicle width direction) is the front portion 10 </ b> A of the floor panel 10 as in the foot airbag 20 described in the first embodiment. The lower wall portion 50C along the front side, the front wall portion 50D along the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12, and the tread surface support portion 50E that supports the tread surface of the occupant foot are triangular.

  As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7, the inflated and deployed shape of the foot airbag 50 viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction is a height (thickness) H3 from the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 before deformation shown by the two-dot chain line. Has a substantially constant rectangular shape along the vehicle width direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an inner pressure is applied to the inner side wall portion 52 </ b> A of the inner inflating and deploying portion 52 of the foot airbag 50 at the inner side in the vehicle width direction at a predetermined interval along the vehicle longitudinal direction. A plurality of slits 60 are formed as adjusting means, and these slits 60 are opened to exhaust the inner gas when the internal pressure of the inner inflated and deployed part 52 exceeds a predetermined value, thereby exhausting the inner gas. The internal pressure of 52 is adjusted to a predetermined value.

  On the other hand, a plurality of slits 62 as internal pressure adjusting means are formed in the vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 54A of the outer inflating and deploying portion 54 located at the vehicle width direction outer side portion of the foot airbag 50 at predetermined intervals along the vehicle front-rear direction. These slits 62 are opened to adjust the internal pressure of the outer inflated and deployed portion 54 to a predetermined value by opening and exhausting the internal gas when the inner pressure of the outer inflated and deployed portion 54 exceeds a predetermined value. It is supposed to be.

  Therefore, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 7, when the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10 are inclined and deformed toward the vehicle interior side (in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 7), By inclining deformation of the lower part 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front part 10A of the floor panel 10 in the vehicle interior side direction (the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 7), the outer inflating / deploying part 54 is pushed up toward the passenger foot tread 15 side. For this reason, the internal pressure P2 of the outer inflating / deploying portion 54 is higher than the inner pressure P1 of the inner inflating / deploying portion 52. At this time, a slit 62 formed in the outer wall portion 54A in the vehicle width direction of the outer inflating / deploying portion 54 is opened to exhaust gas (arrow G in FIG. 7).

  For this reason, when the internal pressure of the outer inflating and deploying portion 54 is adjusted (lowered) to a predetermined value, the outer inflating and deploying portion 54 contracts and deforms, and the tread surface supporting portion 50E that contacts the occupant foot portion tread surface 15 in the foot airbag 50. Is held substantially horizontally when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

  Therefore, even if the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10 are inclined when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction in the event of a vehicle collision, the tread surface support portion 50E of the foot airbag 50 is substantially horizontal when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. Become. For this reason, the bending load (arrow G of FIG. 7) of the left-right direction which acts on the ankle 14A of the passenger | crew leg part 14 is suppressed.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  In this embodiment, at the time of a vehicle collision, a collision detection sensor (not shown) detects this and the inflators 40 and 56 are activated. Therefore, a large amount of gas is generated, and the gas is sent into the foot airbags 18 and 50 through the gas introduction pipe 43. As a result, the foot airbags 18, 50 are inflated and deployed between the occupant foot portion tread 15 of the occupant foot portion 14 and the lower portion 12 </ b> A of the dash panel 12. As a result, as in the first embodiment, the load applied to the occupant foot tread 15 of the occupant foot 14 due to the rising deformation of the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 in a side view state generated at the time of a vehicle collision is applied to the foot airbag 18. , 50 can be absorbed. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the load applied to the occupant foot portion tread 15 of the occupant foot portion 14 due to the inclined deformation of the lower portion 12 </ b> A of the dash panel 12 or the front portion 10 </ b> A of the floor panel 10 when viewed from the vehicle longitudinal direction. Can be absorbed by the foot airbag 50.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inner inflated and deployed portion 52 and the outer inflated and deployed portion are formed by the slit 60 provided in the inner inflated and deployed portion 52 and the slit 62 provided in the outer inflated and deployed portion 54 in the foot airbag 50 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Each internal pressure with 54 is adjusted.

  Specifically, in the event of a vehicle collision, if the lower part 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front part 10A of the floor panel 10 are inclined and deformed from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 12A and the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10 are inclined and deformed in the direction toward the passenger compartment (the direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG. 7), so that the outer inflated and deployed portion 54 is pushed up toward the occupant foot tread 15 side. Compared to the internal pressure P1 of the portion 52, the internal pressure P2 of the outer expansion / deployment portion 54 becomes higher. As a result, the slit 62 formed in the outer wall portion 54A in the vehicle width direction of the outer inflating / deploying portion 54 opens, and the gas in the outer inflating / deploying portion 54 (arrow G in FIG. 7) is exhausted. For this reason, when the internal pressure of the outer inflating and deploying portion 54 is adjusted (lowered) to a predetermined value, the tread surface support portion 50E that contacts the occupant foot portion tread surface 15 in the foot airbag 50 is substantially horizontal as viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. Retained.

  Therefore, even if the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10 are inclined when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction in the event of a vehicle collision, the tread surface support portion 20F of the foot airbag 20 is substantially horizontal when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. Become. For this reason, the bending load (arrow G of FIG. 7) of the left-right direction which acts on the ankle 14A of the passenger | crew's foot | leg 14 by the deformation | transformation of the lower part 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front part 10A of the floor panel 10 can be suppressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the slit 60 and the outer inflated and deployed part provided in the inner inflated and deployed part 52 according to the deformation position and the deformation amount (inclination angle) of the lower part 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front part 10A of the floor panel 10. The slit 62 provided in 54 is appropriately opened by the increase in the internal pressure P1 of the inner inflation / deployment portion 52 or the internal pressure P2 of the outer inflation / deployment portion 54, so that the internal pressure P1 of the inner inflation / deployment portion 52 and the internal pressure P2 of the outer inflation / deployment portion 54 are increased. Is adjusted so that the tread surface support portion 20F of the foot airbag 20 is substantially horizontal when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. For this reason, the left and right acting on the ankle 14A of the occupant foot 14 even when the deformation position and deformation amount (tilt angle) of the lower portion 12A of the dash panel 12 and the front portion 10A of the floor panel 10 that occur at the time of a vehicle collision change. The bending load in the direction (arrow G in FIG. 7) can be suppressed.

  In the above-described embodiment, a plurality of slits 60 serving as internal pressure adjusting means are formed in the vehicle width direction inner wall portion 52A of the inner inflating and deploying portion 52 of the foot airbag 50, and the outer wall in the vehicle width direction of the outer inflating and deploying portion 54 is formed. Although the plurality of slits 62 as the internal pressure adjusting means are formed in the portion 54A, the internal pressure adjusting means is not limited to the slits 60 and 62, and may be other internal pressure adjusting means such as a hole or a valve opened at a predetermined internal pressure.

  In addition, the arrangement position of the internal pressure adjusting means is changed to the vehicle width direction inner side wall portion 52A of the inner inflation / deployment portion 52 and the vehicle width direction outer side wall portion 54A of the outer inflation / deployment portion 54, instead of the partition cloth 58 and the inner inflation / deployment portion 52. And each gas supply part to the outer expansion / deployment part 54 may be provided.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the foot airbag apparatus of this invention was applied to the foot airbag 50 of the vehicle width direction outer side (for right feet) for driver's seats, the foot airbag apparatus of this invention is the vehicle width of a driver's seat. It can also be applied to the foot airbag on the inner side (for the left foot).

  Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the configuration in which the foot airbag device of the present invention is disposed on the driver's seat side has been described. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the foot airbag device 10 of the present invention is disposed on the passenger seat side. It may be arranged.

  In each of the above embodiments, the foot airbag is provided between the dash panel and the tread of the occupant foot. However, the foot air bag is attached between the dash panel and the floor panel and the foot rest of the occupant foot. It is good also as a structure provided in other positions.

It is the perspective view seen from the slanting vehicle inner side which shows the airbag deployment state of the foot airbag device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line 2-2 in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 5. It is the perspective view seen from the vehicles slanting back which shows the compartment front part to which the foot airbag device concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention was applied. It is the perspective view seen from the vehicle diagonally inner back which shows the airbag deployment state of the foot airbag device concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 3 of the foot airbag apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Floor panel 12A Lower part of floor panel (floor part)
12 Dash panel 12A Lower part of the dash panel (floor part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 Passenger foot part 15 Passenger foot part tread 16 Foot airbag apparatus 18 Foot airbag 20 Foot airbag 20F Foot airbag tread support part 40 Inflator 43 Gas introduction pipe 50 Foot airbag 50E Foot airbag tread support part 52 Foot Inner inflation deployment portion of airbag 54 Outer inflation deployment portion of foot airbag 56 Inflator 58 Foot airbag partition cloth 60 Slit (internal pressure adjusting means)
62 Slit (Internal pressure adjusting means)

Claims (2)

  The inflated and deployed height from the floor portion of the tread support portion that supports the occupant foot portion tread is inflated and deployed to a portion between the floor portion of the passenger compartment on which the occupant foot portion is placed and the occupant foot portion tread surface. Having a foot airbag that reduces the inclination deformation of the tread surface support portion that occurs in association with the inclination deformation of the floor portion viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction by having different inflated and deployed shapes along the width direction. A foot airbag device characterized by the above. A foot airbag including a pair of left and right inflating and deploying portions that inflates and deploys to a portion between the floor portion of the passenger compartment on which the occupant feet are placed and the occupant foot portion tread;
The tread surface support portion that is provided in the pair of left and right inflated and deployed portions, and is generated along with the inclined deformation of the floor portion as viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction by adjusting the internal pressure of the pair of left and right inflated and deployed portions during inflation and deployment. An internal pressure adjusting means for reducing the inclination deformation of
A foot airbag device comprising:

Images