JP2009154709A - Occupant crash protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an occupant crash protection device capable of more effectively suppressing the movement, to a side-collision side, of an occupant sitting at a far side at the time of side collision of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: An airbag 12 deployed/inflated between a plurality of seats arranged so as to be aligned in a width direction of the vehicle is provided with a central inflation part 20; and an outer inflation part 30 deployed/inflated to both sides of the central inflation part 20 regarding the width direction of the vehicle. Further, on the central inflation part 20, a tether 22 for restricting thickness in the width direction of the vehicle of the central inflation part 20 at deployment/inflation is provided. Further, at deployment/inflation of the airbag 12, the central inflation part 20 and the outer inflation part 30 are pressed to each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an occupant protection device that protects an occupant from a side collision with a vehicle.

  When the vehicle body side receives an impact from the side, the passenger seated in the seat on the side separated from the impacted body side among the seats arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction, that is, the center of the vehicle There is a case in which an occupant seated on the side opposite to the collision (far side) moves toward the inside of the vehicle so as to approach the body side. For example, in the front seat of a vehicle where a driver's seat and a passenger seat are provided, when there is a collision with the body side on the driver's seat side, the passenger seated in the passenger seat moves so as to approach the body side on the driver's seat side. . And it is known that there is a possibility that the passenger may collide with something in the vehicle by moving toward the inside of the vehicle.

Therefore, conventionally, an occupant protection device that restrains the movement of the occupant toward the inside of the vehicle during such a side collision has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In the occupant protection device described in Patent Literature 1, a front-view V-shaped airbag is deployed and inflated between the seated occupants downward from the ceiling at the center in the vehicle width direction. As a result, a pair of inflating portions are formed in the vehicle width direction, and when the occupant comes into contact with one of the inflating portions and the load of the occupant is applied, a reaction force that receives this load is generated in the other inflating portion. They are trying to control the movement of the crew.
JP 2007-223525 A

  By the way, in the occupant protection device described in Patent Document 1, since the airbag is deployed and inflated in a V shape in front view so as to form a pair of inflating portions in the vehicle width direction, there is a space in the middle portion of the airbag. It is formed. Therefore, there is still room for improvement in terms of generating reaction force.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is an occupant protection device that can more effectively suppress movement of an occupant seated on a far side during a side collision of a vehicle toward a side collision side. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an occupant protection device comprising an airbag that is deployed and inflated between a plurality of seats arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle With respect to the width direction of the airbag, the airbag includes a central inflating portion and an outer inflating portion that is deployed and inflated on both sides of the central inflating portion, and the central inflating portion and the outer inflating portion when the airbag is deployed and inflated. The point is that they press each other.

  When there is a collision (side collision) on the vehicle body side, an occupant seated on the far side moves so as to approach the body side side (side collision side), and the airbag is deployed and inflated between the seats. On the other hand, the occupant's load is applied.

  According to the above configuration, the airbag includes the central inflating portion and the outer inflating portion that expands and inflates on both sides of the central inflating portion with respect to the width direction of the vehicle. Since the inflating portions are pressed against each other, when the occupant's load acts on the outer inflating portion of the airbag at the time of a side collision of the vehicle, a reaction force is generated in the central inflating portion. Thereby, the movement to the side collision side of the passenger | crew who seats on the far side at the time of a side collision of a vehicle can be suppressed more effectively.

  The gist of the invention described in claim 2 is that the airbag is integrally formed and the central inflation portion and the outer inflation portion are formed by partitioning the airbag.

  According to the above configuration, since the airbag is integrally formed and the central inflation portion and the outer inflation portion are formed by partitioning the airbag, it is easy to simplify the shape of the entire airbag. Become.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the occupant protection device according to the second aspect, gas ejected from an inflator, which is a generation source of an inflating gas when the airbag is deployed and inflated, passes through the central inflating portion. The gist is to be injected into the outer expanding portion.

  According to the above configuration, since the gas ejected from the inflator, which is a generation source of the inflation gas when the airbag is deployed and inflated, is injected into the outer inflatable portion via the central inflatable portion, the capacity is smaller than the entire airbag. By deploying and inflating the central inflating portion formed first, the entire airbag can be easily inflated and inflated.

  Specifically, as described in claim 4, when the airbag is deployed and inflated, the gas ejected from the inflator is injected into the central inflating portion through a gas inlet formed in the central inflating portion. In addition, the gas injected into the central expansion portion can be injected into the outer expansion portion through a gas communication port that connects the central expansion portion and the outer expansion portion.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the occupant protection device according to the fourth aspect, the gas injection port is formed substantially at the center of the central expansion portion in the width direction of the vehicle, and the gas communication port is the The gist is that it is formed at the end portion that is the farthest from the gas inlet in the central expansion portion.

  According to the above configuration, the gas injection port is formed at the approximate center of the central expansion portion in the width direction of the vehicle, and the gas communication port is formed at the end portion farthest from the gas injection port in the central expansion portion. The central inflation portion can be inflated more quickly and easily by the flow of the injected gas, and the entire airbag can be deployed and inflated more easily.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the occupant protection device according to the first aspect, the central inflating portion and the outer inflating portion are housed one by one in a housing portion that is spaced apart from the top and bottom of the vehicle. The gist is that the convex portion formed in the central expansion portion expands and expands so as to approach each other so as to engage with the concave portion formed in the outer expansion portion.

  According to the above configuration, the central inflating portion and the outer inflating portion are accommodated one by one in the accommodating portion provided to be separated from the upper and lower sides of the vehicle interior, and the convex portion formed in the central inflating portion is formed in the outer inflating portion. Because the airbag is deployed and inflated so as to be close to each other so as to engage with the recessed portion, the central inflatable portion and the outer inflatable portion of the airbag are supported by each other separately from the place where each is fixed. . As a result, when the occupant's load acts on the outer inflating portion at the time of a side collision of the vehicle, a reaction force that receives the occupant's load is generated in the central inflating portion.

The gist of the invention according to claim 7 is that, in the occupant protection device according to claim 6, the expansion and expansion of the outer expansion portion is started after the expansion and expansion of the central expansion portion is started.
According to the above configuration, since the expansion of the outer expansion portion is started after the expansion of the central expansion portion is started, the concave portion formed in the outer expansion portion becomes the convex portion of the central expansion portion that has been expanded and expanded in advance. The outer inflatable portion can be expanded and inflated in a conforming manner. Therefore, it becomes easy to deploy and inflate the airbag in a desired mode.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the occupant protection device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the central expansion portion regulates the thickness of the central expansion portion in the width direction of the vehicle during expansion. The gist is to have a thickness regulating member.

  In order to protect a wide range of occupants, the airbag is preferably inflated long in the vertical direction of the vehicle between a plurality of seats. However, if the airbag becomes longer in the vertical direction of the vehicle, it tends to expand greatly in the width direction of the vehicle when deployed and inflated, interfering with the seat and the occupant seated on it when deployed and inflated between multiple seats. This may hinder expansion and expansion.

  In this regard, according to the above configuration, the central inflating portion has the thickness regulating member that regulates the thickness of the central inflating portion in the width direction of the vehicle at the time of expansion. Thereby, since the central inflating part can be expanded and inflated in a mode in which the thickness in the vehicle width direction is relatively suppressed, it is possible to suppress interference with the seat and the occupant seated on the seat. It can be made longer in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Therefore, it becomes possible to protect the occupant in a wide range in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

  In particular, when this configuration is applied to the configuration according to any one of claims 3 to 5, gas is injected from the central inflating portion that is expanded and inflated in the vertical direction of the vehicle between the seats to the outer inflating portion. As a result, the outer expansion portion expands and expands. As a result, the airbag can be deployed and inflated for a long time in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the thickness of the airbag in the vehicle width direction can be greatly expanded and inflated. Will be able to. Accordingly, it is possible to further suppress the movement of the occupant seated on the far side during the side collision of the vehicle to the side collision side.

  Further, by applying this configuration to the configuration according to claim 6 or 7, the central expansion portion expands and expands in a manner in which the thickness is relatively suppressed in the vehicle width direction. Thereby, since the convex part formed in the central expansion part becomes easy to engage with the concave part formed in the outer expansion part, it becomes easier to deploy and inflate the airbag in a desired manner.

  Specifically, as described in claim 9, the central inflating portion can be formed so as to be at least constrained from the head of an occupant seated on the seat. Thus, even when the airbag is deployed and inflated over a wide range in the vertical direction of the vehicle, the entire airbag can be easily deployed and inflated.

  With respect to the width direction of the vehicle, the airbag includes a central inflating portion and an outer inflating portion that expands and inflates on both sides of the central inflating portion, and the central inflating portion and the outer inflating portion press each other when the airbag is deployed and inflated. Therefore, when a passenger's load acts on the outer inflating portion of the airbag at the time of a side collision of the vehicle, a reaction force for receiving this occurs in the central inflating portion. Thereby, the movement to the side collision side of the passenger | crew who seats on the far side at the time of a side collision of a vehicle can be suppressed more effectively.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the following description, the up-down direction coincides with the up-down direction of the vehicle, the front-rear direction coincides with the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the left-right direction coincides with the width direction of the vehicle, and coincides with the left-right direction when the vehicle moves forward. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a driver's seat 3 and a passenger seat 4 that are arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle 1 are attached to the floor 2 of the vehicle 1. The driver's seat 3 includes a seat 3a that supports the thigh from the buttocks of the occupant P1, a backrest 3b that is configured to be reclining, and a head 3c that supports the head of the occupant P1. Similarly, the passenger seat 4 includes a seat portion 4a that supports the thigh from the buttocks of the occupant P2, a backrest portion 4b that is configured to be reclining, and a head portion 4c that supports the head of the occupant P2. It is configured.

  On both the left and right sides of the vehicle 1, body sides 5 constituting a part of the skeleton of the side portion of the vehicle 1 are provided substantially vertically, and a ceiling portion 7 is provided substantially horizontally on the top of the vehicle 1. . In addition, a pillar 6 extends upward on the body side 5, and a ceiling portion 7 is supported by the pillar 6.

  Between the driver's seat 3 and the passenger seat 4, a protruding floor portion 2 a in which a part of the floor surface 2 protrudes upward is formed, and the longitudinal direction of the protruding floor portion 2 a is the vehicle front-rear direction. A substantially rectangular parallelepiped console box 40 is provided. The console box 40 includes a console main body 41 having a space in which portable items and the like can be stored, and a substantially rectangular lid body 42 attached above the console main body 41. The console body 41 and the lid body 42 are both made of a resin material.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ceiling portion 7 is provided with an airbag device 10 at a center position in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1. The airbag device 10 includes a substantially cylindrical inflator 11 that ejects a gas by inputting a signal from a sensor that detects a collision with the vehicle 1, and a woven fabric airbag that is deployed and inflated by the gas ejected from the inflator 11. 12. 1 and 2 show a state where the airbag device 10 is activated and the airbag 12 has been deployed.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the airbag 12 is partitioned to form a central inflating portion 20 at the central portion, and both left and right sides of the central inflating portion 20. An outer expansion portion 30 that expands and expands in the direction is formed in the outer portion.

  Specifically, the central inflating portion 20 is formed by sewing a base fabric constituting the outer periphery of the central inflating portion 20 with a pair of end portions 20a extending in the vehicle up-down direction at both ends in the vehicle front-rear direction. The

  In addition, the outer inflatable portion 30 has a base fabric constituting the outer periphery of the outer inflatable portion 30 sewn in the vicinity of the upper end portion 20A of the central inflatable portion 20 to form a branch portion 32, and at both ends in the vehicle longitudinal direction. By being sewn with a pair of end portions 30a extending in the vehicle vertical direction, it is formed between the base fabric constituting the outer periphery of the central expansion portion 20. The pair of end portions 30a constitute part of both end portions 12a of the airbag 12 in the vehicle front-rear direction. In addition, illustration of the thread | yarn for sewing is abbreviate | omitted in the figure.

  Further, the connecting portions 25 that connect the pair of end portions 20a of the central inflating portion 20 and the pair of end portions 30a of the outer inflating portion 30 are aligned in the vehicle vertical direction at both ends of the airbag 12 in the vehicle front-rear direction. It is provided with a plurality. Thus, the entire airbag 12 is expanded and inflated so as to form a bag shape while suppressing the relative position between the central inflating portion 20 and the outer inflating portion 30 from shifting. Thus, the airbag 12 in which the central inflating portion 20 and the outer inflating portion 30 are integrally formed is accommodated in the airbag device 10 in a state of being folded in a bellows shape when the airbag device 10 is not in operation.

  The central inflatable portion 20 is provided with a plurality of tethers 22 that are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the vehicle up-down direction to restrict the thickness of the central inflatable portion 20 in the width direction (left-right direction) of the vehicle 1 when deployed and inflated. .

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the tether 22 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a hollow portion 22 </ b> A communicating in the vehicle front-rear direction while the cross section viewed from the front of the vehicle has a substantially rectangular shape. The pair of end faces 22a facing the vehicle vertical direction are arranged so as to be substantially parallel, and the length of the end face 22a in the vehicle width direction is set to W1. A pair of end faces 22b extending in the vehicle vertical direction at both left and right ends of the tether 22 are sewn to the side face 20b of the central inflating portion 20 symmetrically. As a result, the thickness of the central expansion portion 20 is regulated to the width W1. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the length of the tether 22 in the vehicle front-rear direction is set to be shorter than the length of the central inflating portion 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction. In this portion, gas flow paths 23 are formed to communicate the central expansion portion 20 in the vehicle vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a gas inlet 21 through which the gas from the inflator 11 is injected into the central inflating portion 20 is formed substantially in the center in the width direction of the vehicle 1 in the upper end portion 20 </ b> A of the central inflating portion 20. Yes. The gas inlet 21 is disposed inside the ceiling portion 7 and communicates with the gas outlet of the inflator 11 via the gas introduction path 24.

  A plurality of gas communication ports 31 communicating the central expansion portion 20 and the outer expansion portion 30 are formed side by side in the vehicle front-rear direction at the lower end 20B of the central expansion portion 20 farthest from the gas injection port 21 ( (See FIG. 4).

  As a result, the gas injected from the gas injection port 21 flows through the central expansion portion 20 via the gas flow path 23 while detouring along the pair of end surfaces 22a of the tether 22 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and then communicates with the gas. It flows into the outer expansion part 30 through the mouth 31.

  The width W1 of the central inflating portion 20 in the vehicle width direction is set to be smaller than the width W between the driver seat 3 and the passenger seat 4, and the length in the vehicle up-down direction is the lower end of the central inflating portion 20 Is set so as to expand to a position substantially at the center of the backrest portions 3b, 4b. Further, the width W2 of the outer inflating portion 30 in the vehicle width direction is set to be substantially the same as the width W between the driver seat 3 and the passenger seat 4. Further, the opening area of the gas flow path 23 and the opening area of the gas communication port 31 are expanded and expanded so that the central expansion portion 20 extends to the lower end 20B, and then the gas flows into the outer expansion portion 30 and the outer expansion portion 30 is expanded. Is set to expand and expand.

Next, the operation of the occupant protection device according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described.
When a collision detection sensor (not shown) detects that a predetermined impact or more is applied to the vehicle 1 and a drive current is output from the control circuit to the inflator 11, ignition by an ignition device (not shown) is performed. As a result, gas is generated from the gas generating agent of the inflator 11, and the generated gas is injected into the central expansion portion 20 through the gas injection port 21. A part of the surface of the ceiling part 7 is broken by the pressure of the expansion of the central inflating part 20, and the entire airbag 12 is opened from the generated gap downward to the passenger compartment. The central expansion portion 20 whose thickness in the vehicle width direction is regulated by the tether 22 expands and expands downward between the driver seat 3 and the passenger seat 4 according to the gas flow. Here, the gas injected from the gas injection port 21 flows along the pair of end surfaces 22a of the tether 22 while detouring in the vehicle front-rear direction. Expanded and inflated. The central inflating portion 20 expands and inflates to a substantially central position of the backrest portions 3b and 4b so as to at least restrain the chest from the heads of the passengers P1 and P2.

  The gas flowing in the vertical direction of the vehicle through the gas flow paths 23 respectively formed at both ends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is injected into the lower portion 30A of the outer expansion portion 30 through the gas communication port 31, and through the lower portion 30A. It flows into the entire outer expansion part 30. As a result, the outer inflating portion 30 expands and inflates on both sides of the central inflating portion 20 in the width direction of the vehicle 1, and the central inflating portion 20 and the outer inflating portion 30 are pressed against each other by the pressure of the gas injected into the inside. Will come to do.

  Here, when there is a collision (side collision) on the body side 5 of the vehicle 1, the occupant seated on the far side moves so as to approach the body side 5 side (side collision side), and the seat (driver's seat) 3, the passenger's load acts on the airbag 12 that is deployed and inflated between the passenger seats 4).

  For example, when there is a side collision on the left body side 5L of the vehicle 1, the occupant P1 seated on the driver's seat 3 moves so as to approach the body side 5L on the side collision side, and the right side portion of the airbag 12 It comes to contact with the outer expansion part 30R to be formed. Then, a reaction force that receives the load by the occupant P1 is generated in the central inflating portion 20 that is pressed against the outer inflating portion 30R.

  On the other hand, when there is a side collision on the right body side 5R of the vehicle 1, the occupant P2 seated on the passenger seat 4 moves so as to approach the body side 5R on the side collision side, and the left side of the airbag 12 It comes to contact with the outer expansion part 30L formed in the part. Then, a reaction force that receives the load by the occupant P2 is generated in the central inflating portion 20 that is pressed against the outer inflating portion 30L.

According to the first embodiment described in detail above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The airbag 12 includes a central inflatable portion 20 and an outer inflatable portion 30 that expands and inflates on both sides of the central inflatable portion 20 (in the width direction of the vehicle 1). Since the portion 20 and the outer inflating portion 30 are pressed against each other, when the load of the occupants P1 and P2 acts on the outer inflating portion 30 of the airbag at the time of a side collision of the vehicle 1, a reaction force for receiving this is generated in the central inflating portion 20. It becomes like this. Thereby, the movement to the side collision side of the passenger | crew who seats on the far side at the time of the side collision of the vehicle 1 can be suppressed more effectively.

  (2) Since the airbag 12 is integrally formed and the central inflating portion 20 and the outer inflating portion 30 are formed by partitioning the airbag 12, the shape of the entire airbag 12 can be simplified. It becomes easy.

  (3) The gas ejected from the inflator 11 when the airbag 12 is deployed and inflated is injected into the central inflatable portion 20 through the gas inlet 21 formed in the central inflatable portion 20 and the gas injected into the central inflatable portion 20 Is injected into the outer expansion portion 30 through the gas communication port 31 that allows the central expansion portion 20 and the outer expansion portion 30 to communicate with each other. Thereby, since the central inflating part 20 formed in the capacity | capacitance smaller than the whole airbag 12 can be expand | deployed previously, the expansion | deployment expansion | deployment of the airbag 12 whole can be performed easily now.

  (4) The gas inlet 21 is formed at the upper end 20 </ b> A substantially at the center of the central expansion portion 20 in the width direction of the vehicle 1, and the gas communication port 31 is the lowermost end of the central expansion portion 20 that is farthest from the gas injection port 21. Since it is formed in 20B, the central inflatable portion 20 can be inflated more quickly and easily by the flow of injected gas, and the entire airbag 12 can be deployed and inflated more easily. Become.

  (5) The central inflating part 20 has a tether 22 (thickness regulating member) that regulates the thickness of the central inflating part 20 in the width direction of the vehicle 1 during expansion. As a result, the central inflatable portion 20 can be deployed and inflated in a manner in which the thickness in the vehicle width direction is relatively suppressed, so that it interferes with the seat (driver's seat 3 and passenger seat 4) and the passengers P1, P2 seated on this This can be suppressed, and the central inflating portion 20 can be lengthened in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1. Therefore, it becomes possible to protect the passenger in a wide range in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1.

  (6) Between the seats (driver's seat 3 and passenger seat 4), gas is injected into the outer inflating portion 30 from the central inflating portion 20 that has been expanded and inflated in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1 so that the inflating portion 30 expands and inflates. become. Accordingly, since the airbag 12 can be expanded and inflated for a long time in the vertical direction of the vehicle 1 and the thickness of the airbag 12 in the vehicle width direction can be greatly expanded and inflated, the lateral range of the passengers P1 and P2 is wide. The airbag 12 can be deployed and inflated. Therefore, the movement of the occupant seated on the far side when the vehicle 1 collides to the side collision side can be further suppressed.

(7) A pair of end faces 22a facing the tether 22 in the vertical direction of the vehicle are arranged so as to extend in a substantially horizontal direction, and a gas flow path 23 is formed in the front side and the rear side of the end face 22a. Therefore, the gas injected into the central expansion portion 20 is changed in the flow direction by the tether 22 and flows in the vehicle front-rear direction. Due to this gas flow, the central inflatable portion 20 can be smoothly deployed in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The occupant protection device according to this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, in the first embodiment, the airbag 12 is formed integrally, and the central inflatable portion 20 and the outer inflatable portion 30 are formed by partitioning the airbag 12, but the second In the embodiment, the central expansion portion and the outer expansion portion are formed as separate bodies.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an air bag device 71 is provided at the center of the vehicle 1 in the vehicle width direction on the ceiling 70, and an air bag device 81 is provided in the console box 80 fixed to the protruding floor 2 a. Is provided. The airbag device 71 is made of a substantially cylindrical inflator 73 that ejects gas by inputting a signal from a sensor that detects a collision with the vehicle 1, and a woven fabric that is expanded and inflated by the gas ejected from the inflator 73. The central inflating portion 72 is accommodated, and the airbag device 81 is inflated by an inflator (not shown) that ejects gas in response to a signal input from a sensor that detects a collision with the vehicle 1 and a gas ejected from the inflator. A woven outer expansion portion 82 is accommodated. The central inflatable portion 72 and the outer inflatable portion 82 constitute the airbag 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the central inflating portion 72, tethers 74 that regulate the thickness of the central inflating portion 72 in the width direction (left-right direction) of the vehicle 1 during deployment and expansion are arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction. A plurality are provided.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the tether 74 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a substantially rectangular shape in cross section viewed from above the vehicle and having a cavity 74 </ b> A communicating in the vehicle vertical direction. The pair of end faces 74a facing in the vehicle front-rear direction are arranged so as to be substantially parallel, and the length of the end face 74a in the vehicle width direction is set to W1. A pair of end surfaces 74 b extending in the vehicle vertical direction at both left and right ends of the tether 74 are sewn to the side surface 72 b of the central inflating portion 72 symmetrically. As a result, the thickness of the central expansion portion 72 is restricted to the width W1.

  The outer inflating portion 82 has a V-shaped cross section in a deployed and inflated state, thereby forming a concave portion 82A that opens upward. That is, the outer inflating portion 82 is formed in a substantially conical shape having a recess 82A at the center of the bottom surface.

  The width W1 of the central inflating portion 72 in the vehicle width direction is set to be smaller than the width W between the driver seat 3 and the passenger seat 4, and the length in the vehicle up-down direction is the lower end of the central inflating portion 20 Is set so as to expand to a position substantially at the center of the backrest portions 3b, 4b. Further, the width W2 of the outer inflating portion 30 in the vehicle width direction is set to be substantially the same as the width W between the driver seat 3 and the passenger seat 4, and the length in the vehicle vertical direction is the seat ( The driver's seat 3 and the passenger's seat 4) are set so as to be developed almost to the center of the head portions 3c, 4c. Further, the size, position, and the like are set so that the convex portion 72A of the central inflating portion 72 and the concave portion 82A of the outer inflating portion 82 are engaged during expansion.

Next, the operation of the occupant protection device according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described.
When a collision detection sensor (not shown) detects that an impact of a predetermined level or more is applied to the vehicle 1 and a drive current is output from the control circuit to the inflator 73, ignition by an ignition device (not shown) is performed. As a result, gas is generated from the gas generating agent of the inflator 73, and the generated gas is injected into the central expansion portion 72. A part of the surface of the ceiling part 70 is broken by the pressure of the expansion of the central expansion part 72, and the central expansion part 72 is opened from the generated gap downward in the vehicle interior. Then, the central expansion portion 72 whose thickness in the vehicle width direction is regulated by the tether 74 expands and expands downward between the driver seat 3 and the passenger seat 4 according to the gas flow. The central inflating portion 72 expands and inflates while forming a convex portion 72A to a position substantially at the center of the backrest portions 3b and 4b so as to at least restrain the chest from the heads of the passengers P1 and P2.

  On the other hand, a drive current is output to the inflator of the airbag device 81 at a timing later than the generation of gas from the inflator 73 of the airbag device 71 described above, and ignition is performed by the ignition device, whereby gas is sent from the inflator of the airbag device 81. Occurs, and the expansion of the outer expansion portion 82 is started. Thereby, a part of the lid of the airbag device 81 provided in the console box 80 is broken, and the outer inflating portion 82 is opened from the generated gap upward toward the vehicle interior. Then, the outer inflating portion 82 approaches the central inflating portion 72 provided above, and expands and inflates in such a manner that the concave portion 82A of the outer inflating portion 82 follows the convex portion 72A of the central inflating portion 72. In this way, the outer inflatable portion 82 expands and inflates on both sides of the central inflatable portion 72, and the convex portion 72A formed in the central inflatable portion 72 engages with the concave portion 82A in the outer inflatable portion 82. The central inflating part 72 and the outer inflating part 82 are pressed against each other by the pressure of the gas injected into the inside.

  Here, when there is a collision (side collision) on the body side 5 of the vehicle 1, the occupant seated on the far side moves so as to approach the body side 5 side (side collision side), and the seat (driver's seat) 3, the passenger's load is applied to the airbag 50 that is deployed and inflated between the passenger seats 4).

  For example, when there is a side collision on the left body side 5L of the vehicle 1, the occupant P1 seated on the driver's seat 3 moves so as to approach the body side 5L on the side collision side, and the right side portion of the airbag 50 It comes to contact with the outer expansion part 82R to be formed. Then, a reaction force that receives the load by the occupant P1 is generated in the central inflatable portion 72 that is pressed against the outer inflatable portion 82R.

  On the other hand, when there is a side collision on the right body side 5R of the vehicle 1, the occupant P2 seated on the passenger seat 4 moves so as to approach the body side 5R on the side collision side, and the left side of the airbag 50 It comes to contact with the outer expansion part 82L formed in the part. Then, a reaction force that receives the load by the occupant P2 is generated in the central inflatable portion 72 that is pressed against the outer inflatable portion 82L.

According to the second embodiment described in detail above, the following functions and effects can be obtained in addition to the functions and effects according to the above (1) and (5).
(8) The central inflating portion 72 and the outer inflating portion 82 are housed one by one in the airbag device 71 and the airbag device 81 that are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle upper and lower sides of the vehicle 1. Since the formed convex portion 72A is deployed and inflated so as to approach each other so as to engage with the concave portion 82A formed in the outer inflating portion 82, the central inflating portion 72 and the outer inflating portion 82 of the airbag 50 are each fixed. Apart from the place where the expansion is performed, the two inflatable portions 72 and 82 support each other. As a result, when the occupant's load acts on the outer inflatable portion 82 during a side collision of the vehicle 1, a reaction force that receives the occupant's load is generated in the central inflatable portion 72.

  (9) Since the expansion and expansion of the outer expansion portion 82 is started after the expansion and expansion of the central expansion portion 72 is started, the convex portion of the central expansion portion 72 in which the concave portion 82A formed in the outer expansion portion 82 is expanded and expanded in advance. The outer inflatable portion 82 can be expanded and inflated in a manner along 72A. Therefore, it becomes easy to deploy and inflate the airbag 50 in a desired mode.

  (10) Since the central expansion portion 72 expands and expands in a manner in which the thickness is relatively suppressed in the vehicle width direction by the tether 74, a convex portion 72A formed in the central expansion portion 72 is formed in the outer expansion portion 82. It becomes easy to engage with the concave portion 82A. This makes it easier for the airbag 50 to be deployed and inflated in a desired manner.

Note that the present invention can be embodied in another embodiment described below.
In each of the above embodiments, the central inflating portions 20 and 72 are expanded and inflated to substantially the center of the backrest portions 3b and 4b, and the outer inflating portions 30 and 82 are inflated to the same width W2 as the width W between the seats. showed that. However, the airbag may be of a size that can suppress movement of the occupant to the side collision side at the time of a side collision of the vehicle, and these sizes may be appropriately changed.

  In the second embodiment, the central expansion part 72 accommodated in the upper part (ceiling part 70) of the vehicle interior extends downward, and the outer expansion part 82 accommodated in the lower part (console box 80) of the interior is upward. In this example, the two inflatable portions 72 and 82 are engaged and pressed against each other. However, a mode may be adopted in which the central inflating portion is accommodated in the lower portion of the vehicle interior and expands upward, and the outer inflatable portion is accommodated in the upper portion of the vehicle interior and expands downward. In addition, the accommodation location of the inflatable portion in the lower part of the vehicle interior is not limited to the console box, and the inflatable portion is arranged at a position where it can be deployed so that it can be engaged with another inflatable portion that develops while approaching downward from above. That's fine.

  In the first embodiment, the gas inlet 21 of the central expansion portion 20 has been shown as communicating with the inflator 11 via the gas introduction path 24. However, the gas injection port of the central expansion portion and the inflator The arrangement is not limited to this example. In addition, when the inflator is provided inside the central expansion part and the gas generated from the inflator is discharged into the central expansion part and the central expansion part expands and expands, the gas discharge part of the inflator is internally expanded. This corresponds to the gas inlet in the section.

  In the first embodiment, an example in which a plurality of gas communication ports 31 that communicate the central expansion portion 20 and the outer expansion portion 30 are provided side by side in the vehicle front-rear direction has been described. However, the arrangement, the number, and the like are not limited to this example as long as a path for communicating the central expansion portion and the outer expansion portion is provided. In addition, the gas communication port is not necessarily formed by providing a hole at the lower end of the central expansion portion, and the gas communication port is formed by reducing the open area with the end portion of the central expansion portion being opened. It may be formed.

  In the first embodiment, the gas injection port 21 is formed in the central expansion portion 20, and gas is injected through the gas injection port 21, so that the gas is supplied to the outer expansion portion 30 via the central expansion portion 20. An example of injection is shown. However, even if the airbag 12 is integrally formed as shown in the first embodiment, as shown in the second embodiment, the central inflating portion and the outer inflating portion are respectively provided. A mode of injecting gas may be adopted. In this case, the inflator corresponding to each expansion part may be provided, and the gas introduction path which inject | pours gas into each expansion part from a single inflator may be provided. When a plurality of inflators are provided corresponding to both inflating portions, the expansion of the central inflating portion can be started first by adjusting the timing for starting the gas generation from each inflator.

  In the first embodiment, an example in which the tether 22 having the cavity 22A communicating in the vehicle longitudinal direction is provided, and in the second embodiment, an example in which the tether 74 having the cavity 74A communicated in the vehicle vertical direction is provided. Indicated. However, the tether may be an aspect that regulates the thickness of the central inflating portion in the width direction of the vehicle at the time of deployment and expansion, and the arrangement, the number, and the like may be appropriately changed. In each of the above embodiments, an example in which a substantially rectangular parallelepiped tether is provided has been described. However, a substantially rectangular tether is provided so as to be bridged in the left-right direction so as to restrict the width of the central expansion portion in the vehicle width direction. You can also. As described above, it is desirable to consider that the ease of smooth deployment of the airbag, the flow rate of the gas, and the like vary depending on the arrangement of the tether.

  -In the said 1st Embodiment, the example which accommodates the airbag 12 in the airbag apparatus 10 provided in the ceiling part 7 is shown, and in the said 2nd Embodiment, an airbag apparatus 71 provided in the ceiling part 70 is air-operated. The example which accommodates the outer side expansion part 82 in the airbag apparatus 81 provided in the console box 80 while accommodating the center expansion part 72 of the bag 50 was shown. However, the airbag is not limited to these examples as long as it is deployed and inflated between a plurality of seats arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle.

  The seat may be a separate seat as exemplified in the above embodiments, or a bench seat on which a plurality of occupants are seated on the same seat, either in the front seat or the rear seat of the vehicle. There may be.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the gas inlet 21 is formed substantially at the center of the upper end of the central expansion portion 20, and the gas communication port 31 is the lower end 20 </ b> B that is farthest from the gas injection port 21 in the central expansion portion 20. Although the example formed in (1) was shown, these formation positions are not limited to this example.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, an airbag device 90 may be provided between a plurality of seats 110 in the rear seat of the vehicle 100, and the airbag 91 may be accommodated in the airbag device 90. it can. The airbag 91 includes a central inflating portion 92 and an outer inflating portion 93 that expands and inflates on both sides of the central inflating portion 92 in the width direction of the vehicle 100. As shown in FIG. 10, the front end 92 a of the central expansion portion 92 and the front end 93 a of the outer expansion portion 93 are sewn together, and the central expansion portion is disposed on the left and right side walls 92 b of the central expansion portion 92. A gas communication port 94 is formed to communicate the gas 92 and the outer expansion portion 93. Further, the central inflating portion 92 is formed by setting its size so as to regulate the thickness in the vehicle width direction at the time of unfolding and inflating, and sewing the base fabric constituting the outer periphery of the central inflating portion 92. Has been. Even in this case, when the occupant's load acts on the outer inflating portion 93 at the time of a side collision of the vehicle, a reaction force for receiving this is generated in the central inflating portion 92.

  That is, when it is detected that the vehicle 100 has a side collision, the gas generated from an inflator (not shown) that is a gas generation source passes through the gas inlet formed at the rear end of the central expansion portion 92, and the central expansion portion 92. Injected into. The injected gas is injected into the outer expansion portion 93 through the gas communication port 94. Thereby, the central expansion part 92 and the outer expansion part 93 are pressed against each other. In addition, the arrow shown by FIG. 10 has shown the gas flow. Further, when an occupant is seated between the seats 110, that is, in front of the airbag device 90, the seating of the occupant is detected by a sensor or the like, and even if the vehicle 100 has a side collision, the air The bag 91 is set so as not to expand and inflate.

In the vehicle concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention, the fragmentary sectional view which looked at the operating state of the airbag apparatus from the front. The partial sectional view which looked at the vehicles concerning the embodiment from the left side, and was a partial sectional view showing the positional relationship of the air bag and the driver's seat when the air bag device operated. Sectional drawing which shows the longitudinal cross-section structure which follows the 3-3 line of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-sectional structure which follows the 4-4 line | wire of FIG. In the vehicle concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, the fragmentary sectional view which looked at the operating state of the airbag apparatus from the front. Sectional drawing which shows the longitudinal cross-section structure in alignment with line 6-6 in FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-sectional structure which follows the 7-7 line | wire of FIG. The perspective view which shows the rear seat of the vehicle in the modification of the passenger | crew protection apparatus concerning this invention. The figure which is the state which looked at the vehicle interior of the vehicle shown in FIG. 8 from upper direction, Comprising: The operating state of an airbag apparatus. Sectional drawing which shows the cross-section of the airbag of the vehicle shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100 ... Vehicle, 2 ... Floor surface, 2a ... Projection floor part, 3 ... Driver's seat, 3a, 4a ... Seat part, 3b, 4b ... Backrest part, 3c, 4c ... Head part, 4 ... Passenger seat, 5 ... Body side, 6 ... pillar, 7, 70 ... ceiling part, 10, 71, 81, 90 ... airbag device, 11, 73 ... inflator, 12, 50, 91 ... airbag, 12a ... end part, 20, 72, 92 ... Central expansion part, 20a ... End part, 20b ... Side, 20A ... Upper end part, 20B ... Lower end, 21 ... Gas injection port, 22, 74 ... Tether (thickness regulating member), 22A ... Cavity, 22a, 22b ... End face , 23 ... Gas flow path, 24 ... Gas introduction path, 25 ... Connection part, 30, 82, 93 ... Outer expansion part, 31, 94 ... Gas communication port, 30a ... End part, 30A ... Lower part, 32 ... Branch part, 40, 80 ... console box, 41 ... console body, 2 ... lid, 72A ... projecting portion, 72b ... side, 74A ... cavity, 74a, 74b ... end surface, 82A ... recessed portion, 92a, 93a ... front end, 92b ... left and right side walls, 110 ... seat.

Claims (9)

An occupant protection device comprising an airbag that is deployed and inflated between a plurality of seats arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction,
With respect to the width direction of the vehicle, the airbag includes a central inflation portion and an outer inflation portion that is deployed and inflated on both sides of the central inflation portion, and the central inflation portion and the outer inflation when the airbag is deployed and inflated. An occupant protection device, wherein the parts press against each other. The occupant protection device according to claim 1,
The airbag is formed integrally, and the central inflation portion and the outer inflation portion are formed by partitioning the airbag. The occupant protection device according to claim 2,
An occupant protection device, wherein gas blown from an inflator, which is a generation source of an inflation gas when the airbag is deployed and inflated, is injected into the outer inflation portion via the central inflation portion. The occupant protection device according to claim 3,
When the airbag is deployed and inflated, the gas ejected from the inflator is injected into the central inflating portion through the gas injection port formed in the central inflating portion, and the gas injected into the central inflating portion The occupant protection device, wherein the occupant protection device is injected into the outer inflating portion through a gas communication port that communicates the portion with the outer inflating portion. The occupant protection device according to claim 4,
The gas injection port is formed substantially at the center of the central expansion portion with respect to the width direction of the vehicle, and the gas communication port is formed at an end portion farthest from the gas injection port in the central expansion portion. Special occupant protection device. The occupant protection device according to claim 1,
The central inflating part and the outer inflating part are housed one by one in a housing part that is spaced apart from the top and bottom of the vehicle, and a convex part formed in the central inflating part is formed in the outer inflating part. An occupant protection device, wherein the occupant protection device is deployed and inflated so as to approach each other so as to engage with a recess. The occupant protection device according to claim 6,
The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the expansion of the outer expansion portion is started after the expansion of the central expansion portion is started. In the occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The occupant protection device, wherein the central inflating portion includes a thickness regulating member that regulates a thickness of the central inflating portion in the width direction of the vehicle when deployed and inflated. The occupant protection device according to claim 8,
The occupant protection device, wherein the central inflatable part is formed so as to be able to restrain at least a chest from a head of an occupant seated on the seat.

Images