JP2010132072A - Side airbag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a side airbag device for a vehicle which suppresses intervention of an occupant's upper arm between the occupant's breast and an airbag than conventional ones. <P>SOLUTION: The airbag 20 includes an arm support edge 22 which is located at a vehicle front side from a shoulder restraint part 21 and at a lower position than the side of the occupant P and on which the upper arm of the occupant P is placed. When the deployment of the airbag 20 is completed and the upper arm of the occupant P abuts against the airbag 20, the upper arm of the occupant P is slidingly raised along the airbag 20 and placed on the arm support edge 22. Therefore, the amount of lap between the upper arm and the breast of the occupant P when viewed from a vehicle width direction can be reduced than the conventional ones, thereby suppressing the intervention of the upper arm of the occupant P between the breast of the occupant P and the airbag 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a side airbag device for a vehicle.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle side, in which an edge of an airbag that is deployed forward from the rear side of the occupant to the front of the occupant is inclined at an angle that reduces the force of raising the arm upward. An airbag device is disclosed.

However, the conventional vehicle side airbag device has the following problems.
The purpose is not to raise the arms aggressively, but to prevent the occupant's arms from jumping up when the airbag is deployed. The inclined edges do not lift or lift the arms effectively. Even so, it is difficult to control the lifting amount. For this reason, it is conceivable that the upper arm portion of the occupant is interposed between the occupant's chest and the airbag to increase the deflection of the chest.
JP 2000-280853 A

  The objective of this invention is providing the side airbag apparatus for vehicles which can suppress compared with the former that an upper arm part of a passenger | crew is interposed between a passenger | crew's chest and an airbag.

The present invention for achieving the above object is as follows.
(1) The present invention is a vehicle side airbag device having an airbag and an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag.
The airbag is located on the side of the occupant's shoulder when deployed, and the shoulder restraint that restrains the shoulder, and the arm support on which the upper arm of the occupant rests on the front side of the vehicle and below the side of the occupant. And an edge.

(2) In said (1), the width | variety of the vehicle width direction of a shoulder restraint part is small as it goes to the upper side.

(3) In the above (1) or (2), when the airbag is deployed, a rear tube bag portion and a rear tube bag portion that extend in the vertical direction on the vehicle rear side from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the chest of the occupant. And a front tube bag portion which is positioned on the vehicle front side from the outer side end in the vehicle width direction of the chest of the occupant on the vehicle front side and extends in the vertical direction.
The rear tube bag portion and the front tube bag portion are communicated with each other at the narrowed communication portion.
The shoulder restraint portion is provided in the rear tube bag portion, and the arm support edge is composed of the upper edge of the front tube bag portion.

(4) In any one of the above (1) to (3), when the airbag is deployed, the lower end portion can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the side portion of the seat cushion or the upper surface of the door armrest portion.

According to the vehicle side airbag device of (1) above, since the airbag is at a position lower than the side of the occupant on the vehicle front side from the shoulder restraining portion and includes the arm support edge on which the upper arm portion of the occupant rests, When the deployment is completed and the upper arm portion of the occupant hits the airbag, the upper arm portion of the occupant slides along the airbag and rests on the arm support edge. Therefore, compared with the prior art, when viewed from the vehicle width direction, the amount of lap between the occupant's upper arm and the chest can be reduced, and the occupant's upper arm can be prevented from being interposed between the occupant's chest and the airbag. .
Moreover, since the arm support edge is at a position lower than the side of the occupant, when the occupant's upper arm portion is placed on the arm support edge, the upper arm portion can be prevented from rising above the horizontal position.

  According to the vehicle side airbag device of (2) above, since the width in the vehicle width direction of the shoulder restraining portion decreases toward the upper side, the inner side surface in the vehicle width direction of the shoulder restraining portion is on the upper side and in the vehicle width direction. Can be tilted outward. Therefore, the shoulder portion of the occupant can be pushed upward (lifted) by the shoulder restraint portion. Therefore, the occupant's shoulder can be shrunk, and the occupant's upper arm can be further prevented from intervening between the occupant's chest and the airbag as compared with the case where the shoulder is not shrunk.

  According to the vehicle side airbag device of (3) above, the airbag includes a rear tube bag portion that extends in the vertical direction on the vehicle rear side from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the chest of the occupant, and a rear tube bag portion. A front tube bag portion located on the vehicle front side from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the occupant's chest on the front side of the vehicle and extending in the vertical direction, so that the occupant's chest can be restrained obliquely from the rear side with the rear tube bag portion The occupant's chest can be restrained diagonally from the front with the tube bag. Therefore, it is possible to restrain the occupant's chest with the rear tube bag portion and the front tube bag portion so as to cover the chest curve.

  According to the vehicle side airbag device of (4) above, since the lower end portion of the airbag can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the side portion of the seat cushion or the upper surface of the door armrest portion when deployed, the seat cushion The airbag reaction force can be received on the upper surface of the side portion of the vehicle or on the upper surface of the door armrest portion (the side portion of the seat cushion or the door armrest portion becomes a reaction force structure from the lower side), and the airbag is the upper arm portion of the occupant It can suppress that it is pushed by a shoulder part and moves below.

Hereinafter, a vehicle side airbag device (hereinafter also simply referred to as a side airbag device) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the figure, UP indicates the upper side, FR indicates the front of the vehicle, IN indicates the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and OUT indicates the outer side in the vehicle width direction.
1 to 9 show a vehicle side airbag device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 10 shows a vehicle side airbag device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. 14 shows a vehicle side airbag device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 15 to 19 show a vehicle side airbag according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The device is shown. Portions common to all the embodiments of the present invention are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the embodiments of the present invention.

[Example 1] (FIGS. 1 to 9)
First, the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The side airbag device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is housed (stored) in the seat back 40.

  The seat back 40 (only the frame is shown) is used as a backrest of the occupant P as shown in FIG. The seat back 40 is disposed at the vehicle rear side end portion of the seat cushion 41 on which the occupant P is seated, and can be tilted and raised with respect to the seat cushion 41 in the vehicle front-rear direction. A bed rest (not shown) that supports the head of the occupant P is disposed on the upper portion of the seat back 40. As shown in FIG. 2, side portions 41 a that bulge (raise) upward from the middle portion of the seat cushion 41 in the vehicle width direction are provided at both ends of the seat cushion 41 in the vehicle width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the side airbag device 10 includes an airbag 20 and an inflator 30 that supplies gas to the airbag 20.

  The airbag 20 is deployed and inflated in the vehicle front side and in the vertical direction by the gas ejected (supplied) from the inflator 30 when the vehicle has a side collision. As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag 20 is deployed between the outer side of the occupant P in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle interior material (door trim or pillar garnish) D to protect the occupant P. The airbag 20 is a bag that does not protect the head of the occupant P when the airbag 20 is deployed at the same or substantially the same position as the upper end of the shoulder of the occupant P. However, the airbag 20 may be a bag that extends to the side and above the head of the occupant P and covers the head of the occupant P when deployed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag 20 is located on the side of the shoulder of the occupant (AM50 (50th from the small one when 100 American Males are lined up), the same applies hereinafter) P when deployed. A shoulder restraining portion 21 for restraining the portion from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and an arm support edge 22 on which the upper arm portion of the occupant P is placed at a position lower than the side of the occupant P on the vehicle front side from the shoulder restraining portion 21.

  The shoulder restraining portion 21 is composed of the upper end portion of the airbag 20 and its vicinity when the airbag 20 is deployed. The shoulder restraint portion 21 is a portion located above the arm support edge 22. When the airbag 20 is deployed, the front and rear length of the shoulder restraint portion 21 is the same as or substantially the same as the front and rear length of the shoulder portion of the occupant P, and the vehicle rear side end portion of the shoulder restraint portion 21 is the vehicle of the shoulder portion of the occupant P. The vehicle front side end portion of the shoulder restraining portion 21 is at the same or substantially the same front and rear position as the vehicle front side end portion of the shoulder portion of the occupant P.

When the airbag 20 is deployed, as shown in FIG. 2, the width of the shoulder restraining portion 21 in the vehicle width direction becomes smaller toward the upper side, the inner side surface of the shoulder restraining portion 21 in the vehicle width direction is on the upper side, and the vehicle width direction. It is an inclined surface that inclines outward. Therefore, the shoulder that is in contact with the inner surface of the shoulder restraining portion 21 in the vehicle width direction can be pushed upward by the airbag 20 (the airbag 20 can generate a force for pushing the shoulder upward by the airbag 20). it can).
Since the pressure in the airbag 20 is constant when the airbag 20 is deployed, the width in the vehicle width direction of the shoulder restraining portion 21 formed from the upper end portion of the airbag 20 and the vicinity thereof decreases as it goes upward. However, in the present invention, the width in the vehicle width direction over the entire upper and lower sides of the shoulder restraining portion 21 is reduced as it is forced upward by the following (i) or (ii) or other methods. Yes.

(I) Method shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 As shown in FIG. 5, an inclined surface 21 b that is inclined upward and forward is provided at the rear end of the shoulder restraining portion 21, and the longitudinal length of the shoulder restraining portion 21 goes upward. To make smaller. As a result, when the airbag 20 is deployed, the circumferential length of the bag in the cross section perpendicular to the vertical direction of the shoulder restraining portion 21 decreases as it goes upward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, when the airbag 20 is deployed, the width of the shoulder restraining portion 21 in the vehicle width direction decreases as it goes upward. In FIG. 5, the inclined surface 21 b is provided at the rear end of the shoulder restraining portion 21, but the inclined surface 21 b may be the front end of the shoulder restricting portion 21 or the right end, It may be the left end.
(Ii) Method shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 As shown in FIG. 7, the left and right airbag base fabrics constituting the shoulder restraining portion 21 are connected by a strap 23. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, when the airbag 20 is deployed, a step 23a is formed at the portion of the shoulder restraining portion 21 where the strap 23 is provided, and the shoulder restraining portion 21 (particularly below the strap 23 of the shoulder restraining portion 21). The width in the vehicle width direction of the side portion of the vehicle that starts to contact the shoulder of the occupant P obliquely from the lower side becomes smaller as it goes upward.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the arm support edge 22 is composed of the upper edge of the airbag portion located on the vehicle front side from the shoulder restraining portion 21 when the airbag 20 is deployed. It is a portion extending from the vicinity to the front side of the vehicle horizontally or substantially horizontally (less than ± 45 ° from the horizontal, preferably less than ± 5 ° in order to suppress the lap between the arm and the chest of the occupant P). When the airbag 20 is deployed, the arm support edge 22 is lower (lower side) than the side of the occupant P, and is the same as or substantially the same as the lower end of the upper arm when the occupant P extends the arm horizontally forward. In position. When the airbag 20 is deployed, the front / rear length of the arm support edge 22 is equal to or shorter than the front / rear length of the upper arm when the upper arm of the occupant P is extended in the front / rear direction.

When the airbag 20 is deployed, the upper end portion of the portion (hereinafter referred to as the arm support edge lower portion) 22a located on the vertical lower side of the arm support edge 22 of the airbag 20 and its vicinity (near the arm support edge 22) The width in the width direction becomes smaller toward the upper side, and the inner surface in the vehicle width direction is an inclined surface that is inclined upward and outward in the vehicle width direction. The upper end portion of the lower arm support edge portion 22a and the vicinity thereof are similar to the shoulder restraining portion 21 described above, in the method (i) shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, or the direction (ii) shown in FIGS. By other methods, the width in the vehicle width direction may be reduced as it is forced upward.
When the airbag 20 is deployed at the time of a vehicle side collision and the vehicle interior material D enters the inner side in the vehicle width direction, the upper arm portion of the occupant P slides against the upper end portion of the arm support edge lower portion 22a and its vicinity. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the arm support edge 22 is mounted.

For example, only one inflator 30 is arranged in the airbag 20 as shown in FIG. However, two or more (plural) inflators 30 may be arranged in the airbag 20. The inflator 30 is disposed at or near the rear end of the airbag 20 when the airbag 20 is deployed. The inflator 30 is fixedly disposed in a vertically extending middle portion of the seat back 40 in a posture extending in the vertical direction. The inflator 30 is disposed not in the upper end portion of the seat back 40 but in the middle in the vertical direction because the occupant leans against the seat back 40 when the vehicle is not side impacted and the airbag 20 is not deployed. This is to prevent P from hitting the inflator 30 and feeling uncomfortable.
The above configuration is applied not only to the first embodiment of the present invention but also to all other embodiments of the present invention.

The first embodiment of the present invention further has the following unique configuration.
(A) The airbag 20 is configured by a single bag body, and a partition wall or the like that divides the airbag 20 into the front and rear or the top and bottom is not provided in the airbag 20.

(B) When the airbag 20 is deployed, a portion (hereinafter referred to as a shoulder restraining portion lower portion) 21a located on the vertical lower side of the shoulder restraining portion 21 of the airbag 20 is located on the side of the chest and waist of the occupant P. The chest and waist are restrained from the outside in the vehicle width direction. When the airbag 20 is deployed, the lower arm support edge portion 22a is positioned on the side of the chest and waist of the occupant P and restrains the chest and waist from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The lower end portion of the shoulder restraining portion lower portion 21 a and the lower end portion of the arm support edge lower portion 22 a together constitute the lower end portion of the airbag 20.

(C) At the initial stage when the airbag 20 is fully deployed, the lower end of the airbag 20 can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the side portion 41a of the seat cushion 41 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, as shown in FIGS. Yes. As shown in FIG. 4, when the airbag 20 is completely deployed and the vehicle interior material D has entered the vehicle width direction inside, the lower end portion of the airbag 20 is in contact with the upper surface of the side portion 41a of the seat cushion 41, The upper and lower intermediate portions of the airbag 20 (the upper and lower intermediate portions of the shoulder restraining portion lower portion 21a and the upper and lower intermediate portions of the arm support edge lower portion 22a) are in contact with the upper surface of the door armrest portion D1.

(D) As shown in FIG. 1, the inflator 30 ejects gas from the upper end portion toward the vehicle front side and the upper side toward the shoulder restraining portion 21, and from the lower end portion toward the vehicle front side toward the lower end portion of the airbag 20. Gas is blown out to the bottom. This is because the clearance in the vehicle width direction between the shoulder and waist of the occupant P and the vehicle interior material D is relatively narrow, so that the shoulder restraint 21 and the lower end of the airbag 20 are relatively inflated (relatively). This is because it is necessary to deploy the airbag 20 in the vertical direction at an early stage.

(E) The airbag 20 is folded as follows, for example.
As shown in FIG. 9, first, the airbag 20 is rolled and folded from the front side to the rear side in a state where the airbag 20 is flattened, and then the bellows is folded from the upper end and the lower end to the middle in the vertical direction. However, the folding from the front side to the rear side may be a bellows fold instead of a roll fold. Further, the folding from the upper end and the lower end may be roll folding instead of bellows folding. After folding from the front side to the rear side, it is folded from the upper end and the lower end to the middle in the up-down direction. This is to make it expand.
The above (b) to (e) are applied not only to the first embodiment of the present invention but also to the second to fourth embodiments of the present invention. The above (a) is applied not only to the first embodiment of the present invention but also to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Next, functions and effects of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
(A) As shown in FIG. 1, when the airbag 20 is deployed due to a vehicle side collision, the shoulder restraint 21 is deployed to the side of the shoulder of the occupant P, and the upper end of the arm support edge lower portion 22a The vicinity expands to the lower half of the upper arm portion of the occupant P or to the side in the vicinity thereof. Further, the lower end portion of the airbag 20 contacts the upper surface of the side portion 41 a of the seat cushion 41. Thereafter, when the vehicle interior material D enters the vehicle width direction inner side, the shoulder portion of the occupant P hits the shoulder restraint portion 21 from the vehicle width direction inner side, and the upper arm portion of the occupant P is the upper end portion of the arm support edge lower portion 22a. And its vicinity.

(B) In the first embodiment of the present invention, since the airbag 20 is provided with the arm support edge 22 at a position lower than the side of the occupant P on the vehicle front side from the shoulder restraining portion 21, the airbag 20 is completely deployed and the occupant When the upper arm portion of P hits the upper end portion of the lower arm support edge portion 22a and the vicinity thereof, the upper arm portion of the occupant P slides along the airbag 20 and rests on the arm support edge 22 (the airbag 20 Lift and support the upper arm from below). Therefore, the amount of lap between the upper arm and the chest of the occupant P can be reduced when viewed from the vehicle width direction as compared with the prior art, and the upper arm of the occupant P is interposed between the chest of the occupant and the airbag 20. Can be suppressed.
Since the arm support edge 22 is lower than the side of the occupant P, when the upper arm portion of the occupant P slides on the arm support edge 22, the upper arm portion rises above the horizontal position. (Upping the upper arm of the passenger P with the airbag 20) can be suppressed.

(C) Since the width in the vehicle width direction of the shoulder restraint portion 21 is reduced toward the upper side, the inner side surface in the vehicle width direction of the shoulder restraint portion 21 can be inclined upward and outward in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the shoulder portion of the occupant P can be pushed upward by the shoulder restraint portion 21. Therefore, the shoulder of the occupant P can be shrunk, and the upper arm portion of the occupant P can be further suppressed from being interposed between the chest of the occupant P and the airbag 20 as compared with the case where the shoulder is not shrunk.

(D) Since the lower end portion of the airbag 20 can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the side portion 41a of the seat cushion 41 during deployment, the airbag 20 receives an airbag reaction force on the upper surface of the side portion 41a of the seat cushion 41. (The side portion 41a of the seat cushion 41 becomes a reaction force structure from the lower side), and the airbag 20 can be prevented from being pushed downward by the upper arm portion and the shoulder portion of the occupant P and moving downward. As a result, when the upper arm portion of the occupant P slides up along the airbag 20 and rests on the arm support edge 22, the airbag 20 moves downward and the upper arm portion of the occupant P slides up along the airbag 20. Can be prevented. Further, when the shoulder restraining portion 21 pushes up the shoulder of the occupant P upward, it is possible to suppress the airbag 20 from moving downward and being unable to push up the shoulder of the occupant P upward.

(E) When the width of the shoulder restraining portion 21 in the vehicle width direction is reduced as the inclined surface 21b is provided on the shoulder restraining portion 21 and forced upward (in the case of the method (a) (FIGS. 5 and 5) In the case of the method shown in FIG. 6)), an increase in cost can be suppressed compared to a case where another member other than the airbag base fabric is provided and the width in the vehicle width direction of the shoulder restraining portion 21 is forcibly reduced toward the upper side. .
Further, when the width of the shoulder restraining portion 21 in the vehicle width direction is reduced as the strap 23 is provided to forcibly go upward (in the case of the method (b) (in the case of the method shown in FIGS. 7 and 8). ) By simply providing the strap 23, the width of the shoulder restraining portion 21 in the vehicle width direction can be easily reduced as it goes upward.
The above (A) to (E) are applied not only to the first embodiment of the present invention but also to the second to fourth embodiments of the present invention. The above (B), (C) and (E) are applied not only to the first embodiment of the present invention but also to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Example 2] (FIG. 10)
Next, parts unique to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 10, the vehicle side airbag device 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a shoulder restraint lower portion 21 a and an arm support edge lower portion 22 a in the vertical middle portion (in the vertical middle portion of the airbag 20). ), A partition wall 24 that divides the airbag 20 into two upper and lower chambers is provided.

  When the airbag 20 is deployed, the partition wall 24 is located above and below the waist of the occupant P and below the chest of the occupant P, and is in a vertical position corresponding to the abdomen of the occupant P. The lower chamber 24a below the partition wall 24 is located on the side of the waist of the occupant P during deployment and can restrain the waist from the outside in the vehicle width direction. The upper chamber 24b above the partition wall 24 is located on the side of the chest and shoulders of the occupant P when deployed, and can restrain the chest and shoulders from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

  The inflator 30 is disposed such that its lower end is located in the lower chamber 24a and its upper end is located in the upper chamber 24b, and is fixed to the seat back frame.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, the present invention can be applied even when the airbag 20 has two upper and lower chambers.
Further, when the airbag 20 is deployed, the partition wall 24 is in an up-and-down position corresponding to the abdomen of the occupant P. Therefore, the airbag 20 restrains the shoulder and waist of the relatively resistant occupant P from the outside in the vehicle width direction. On the other hand, the restraint by the airbag 20 on the abdomen of the occupant P who is relatively resistant can be weakened. Further, for example, the internal pressure of the lower chamber 24a when the airbag is deployed can be set higher than the internal pressure of the upper chamber 24b.

[Example 3] (FIGS. 11 to 13)
Next, parts unique to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 11, the third embodiment of the present invention shows a case where the airbag 20 is composed of large and small two chambers (two tubes) having different lengths in the front and rear directions.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the airbag 20 has a tubular rear tube bag portion 25 extending in the vertical direction on the vehicle rear side from the vehicle width direction outer side end P1 of the chest of the occupant P, and a rear tube bag. A tube-like front tube bag portion 26 that is positioned on the vehicle front side from the vehicle width direction outer side end P1 of the chest of the occupant P on the vehicle front side from the portion 25 and extends in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a shoulder restraining portion 21 is provided at the upper end portion of the rear tube bag portion 25. A portion of the rear tube bag portion 25 that is positioned vertically below the shoulder restraining portion 21 is a shoulder restraining portion lower portion 21a. The upper edge of the front tube bag portion 26 is the arm support edge 22. A portion of the front tube bag portion 26 that is positioned vertically below the arm support edge 22 is an arm support edge lower portion 22a.

  The rear tube bag portion 25 and the front tube bag portion 26 are communicated with each other through a narrowed communication portion 27 that is smaller than the vertical length when the rear tube bag portion 25 and the front tube bag portion 26 are deployed. . The communication portion 27 is provided between the vertical middle portion of the rear tube bag portion 25 and the vertical middle portion of the front tube bag portion 26 when the airbag 20 is deployed.

  The inflator 30 is disposed in the middle portion in the vertical direction of the rear tube bag portion 25 in the rear tube bag portion 25 and is fixed to the seat back frame. The inflator 30 ejects gas toward the shoulder restraint portion 21 and the lower end portion of the airbag 20 (lower end portion of the rear tube bag portion 25), and supplies the gas into the front tube bag portion 26 at an early stage. The gas is ejected horizontally or substantially horizontally to the front side of the vehicle from the vertical intermediate portion facing the communication portion 27. A tube (not shown) extending from the inflator 30 to the inside of the front tube bag portion 26 may be provided in order to reliably supply the gas from the inflator 30 into the front tube bag portion 26 at an early stage.

For example, the airbag 20 is folded as follows.
As shown in FIG. 13, first, the airbag 20 is rolled from the front side to the rear side in a state where the airbag 20 is flattened, and then the bellows is folded from the upper end and the lower end to the middle portion in the vertical direction. However, the folding from the front side to the rear side may be a bellows fold instead of a roll fold. Further, the folding from the upper end and the lower end may be roll folding instead of bellows folding. After folding from the front side to the rear side, it is folded from the upper end and the lower end to the middle in the up-down direction. This is to make it expand.

  In the third embodiment of the present invention, the airbag 20 extends in the vertical direction on the vehicle rear side from the vehicle width direction outer side end P1 of the chest of the occupant P, and on the vehicle front side from the rear tube bag portion 25. The chest tube of the occupant P is located on the vehicle width direction outer side end P1 on the front side of the vehicle and extends in the vertical direction. The chest tube of the occupant P can be restrained obliquely from the front tube bag portion 26. Therefore, the rear tube bag portion 25 and the front tube bag portion 26 can restrain the occupant P's chest so as to cover the curvature of the chest.

Example 4 (FIG. 14)
Next, parts unique to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 14, the airbag 20 is placed in the upper and lower two chambers in the vertical middle portion of the shoulder restraining portion lower portion 21a and the arm support edge lower portion 22a (in the upper and lower middle portion of the airbag 20). In this case, a partition wall 24 is provided, and the upper chamber is composed of two large and small chambers (2 tubes) having different lengths in the front and rear directions.

  When the airbag 20 is deployed, the partition wall 24 is located above and below the waist of the occupant P and below the chest of the occupant P, and is in a vertical position corresponding to the abdomen of the occupant P. A chamber 24a below the partition wall 24 (hereinafter referred to as a lower chamber) 24a is located on the side of the waist of the occupant P when deployed, and can restrain the waist from the outside in the vehicle width direction. A chamber 24b above the partition wall 24 (hereinafter referred to as an upper chamber) 24b is located on the side of the chest and shoulders of the occupant P during deployment and can restrain the chest and shoulders from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

  The upper chamber 24b has a tubular rear tube bag portion 25 extending in the vertical direction on the rear side of the vehicle from the vehicle width direction outer side end P1 of the chest of the occupant P and a passenger on the front side of the vehicle from the rear tube bag portion 25 when deployed. A tube-shaped front tube bag portion 26 that is positioned on the vehicle front side of the P chest side in the vehicle width direction and extends in the vertical direction.

  A shoulder restraining portion 21 is provided at the upper end portion of the rear tube bag portion 25. Of the upper chamber 24b and the lower chamber 24a, a portion located on the vertical lower side of the shoulder restraining portion 21 is the shoulder restraining portion lower portion 21a. The upper edge of the front tube bag portion 26 is the arm support edge 22. Of the upper chamber 24b and the lower chamber 24a, a portion located vertically below the arm support edge 22 is an arm support edge lower portion 22a.

  The rear tube bag portion 25 and the front tube bag portion 26 are communicated with each other through a narrowed communication portion 27 that is smaller than the vertical length when the rear tube bag portion 25 and the front tube bag portion 26 are deployed. . The communication portion 27 is provided between the lower end portion of the rear tube bag portion 25 and the lower end portion of the front tube bag portion 26 immediately above the partition wall 24 when the airbag 20 is deployed.

  The inflator 30 is disposed such that the lower end portion is located in the lower chamber 24a and the upper end portion is located in the rear tube bag portion 25 in the upper chamber 24b, and is fixed to the seat back frame. The inflator 30 ejects gas toward the shoulder restraint portion 21 and the lower end portion (lower chamber 24a) of the airbag 20 and supplies the gas to the front tube bag portion 26 at an early stage so that the communication portion 27 Gas is ejected horizontally or substantially horizontally from the opposite vertical intermediate portion to the front side of the vehicle. A tube (not shown) extending from the inflator 30 to the inside of the front tube bag portion 26 may be provided in order to reliably supply the gas from the inflator 30 into the front tube bag portion 26 at an early stage.

According to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the present invention can be applied even when the airbag 20 has two upper and lower chambers and the upper chamber 24b has two front and rear chambers.
Further, when the airbag 20 is deployed, the partition wall 24 is in an up-and-down position corresponding to the abdomen of the occupant P. Therefore, the airbag 20 restrains the shoulder and waist of the relatively resistant occupant P from the outside in the vehicle width direction. On the other hand, the restraint by the airbag 20 on the abdomen of the occupant P who is relatively resistant can be weakened. Further, for example, the internal pressure of the lower chamber 24a when the airbag is deployed can be set higher than the internal pressure of the upper chamber 24b.

  The upper chamber 24b has a rear tube bag portion 25 extending in the vertical direction on the vehicle rear side from the vehicle width direction outer side end P1 of the chest of the occupant P, and a vehicle width of the chest of the occupant P on the vehicle front side from the rear tube bag portion 25. A front tube bag portion 26 that is positioned on the front side of the vehicle from the outer side end P1 and extends in the vertical direction. Therefore, the rear tube bag portion 25 can restrain the chest of the occupant P obliquely from the rear and the front tube bag portion 26. The chest of the passenger P can be restrained from diagonally forward. Therefore, the rear tube bag portion 25 and the front tube bag portion 26 can restrain the occupant P's chest so as to cover the curvature of the chest.

Example 5 (FIGS. 15 to 19)
Next, parts unique to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
When the airbag 20 is deployed, as shown in FIG. 17, a portion (hereinafter, referred to as a shoulder restraining portion lower portion) 21 a located on the vertical lower side of the shoulder restraining portion 21 of the airbag 20 is only on the side of the chest of the occupant P. (Not located on the side of the waist of the occupant P) only the chest is restrained from the outside in the vehicle width direction. When the airbag 20 is deployed, the arm support rim lower portion 22a is located only on the side of the chest of the occupant P (not located on the side of the waist of the occupant P), and only the chest is viewed from the outside in the vehicle width direction. to bound. The lower end portion of the shoulder restraining portion lower portion 21a and the lower end portion of the arm support edge lower portion 22a together constitute the lower end portion of the airbag 20 (the lower end portion of the portion deployed from the seat back 40 forward of the vehicle). The airbag 20 is deployed and inflated above the door armrest D1.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, the lower end portion of the airbag 20 is from the initial stage when the airbag 20 is fully deployed until the airbag 20 is completely deployed and the vehicle interior material D enters the vehicle width direction inside. Continues to contact the upper surface of the door armrest portion D1.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the inflator 30 ejects gas from the upper end portion toward the front and upper side of the vehicle toward the shoulder restraining portion 21. This is because the gap in the vehicle width direction between the shoulder of the occupant P and the vehicle interior material D is relatively narrow, so that the shoulder restraint 21 is deployed and inflated relatively early (the airbag 20 is deployed in the up and down direction relatively early). This is because it is necessary. The inflator 30 also ejects gas from the middle in the vertical direction toward the vehicle front side toward the lower end of the airbag 20. This is to ensure that gas can be reliably supplied to the arm support lower edge portion 22a at an early stage.

For example, the airbag 20 is folded as follows.
As shown in FIG. 19, first, the roll is folded from the front side to the rear side, and then the bellows is folded from the upper end to the lower side. However, the folding from the front side to the rear side may be a bellows fold instead of a roll fold. Further, the folding from the upper end to the lower side may be roll folding instead of bellows folding. The reason why the airbag 20 is folded from the upper end to the lower side after folding from the front side to the rear side is to deploy the airbag 20 in the vertical direction relatively early using the property of trying to deploy in the reverse order of folding. .

Next, functions and effects of the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
When the airbag 20 is deployed due to a vehicle side collision, the shoulder restraint 21 is deployed to the side of the shoulder of the occupant P, and the upper end of the arm support edge lower portion 22a and the vicinity thereof are the lower half of the upper arm of the occupant P. Expands to the side of the part or its vicinity. Moreover, the lower end part of the airbag 20 contacts the upper surface of the door armrest D1. Thereafter, when the vehicle interior material D enters the vehicle width direction inner side, the shoulder portion of the occupant P hits the shoulder restraint portion 21 from the vehicle width direction inner side, and the upper arm portion of the occupant P is the upper end portion of the arm support edge lower portion 22a. And its vicinity.

  Since the lower end portion of the airbag 20 can be brought into contact with the upper surface of the door armrest D1 when deployed, the airbag 20 can receive an airbag reaction force on the upper surface of the door armrest D1 (the door armrest D1 is It becomes a reaction force structure), and it can control that air bag 20 is pushed by crew member's P upper arm part and a shoulder part, and moves below. As a result, when the upper arm portion of the occupant P slides up along the airbag 20 and rests on the arm support edge 22, the airbag 20 moves downward and the upper arm portion of the occupant P slides up along the airbag 20. Can be prevented. Further, when the shoulder restraining portion 21 pushes up the shoulder of the occupant P upward, it is possible to suppress the airbag 20 from moving downward and being unable to push up the shoulder of the occupant P upward.

It is a see-through | perspective side view just before completion of airbag deployment which shows the vehicle side airbag apparatus of this invention Example 1 and its vicinity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view showing a side airbag device for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention and the vicinity thereof immediately before completion of airbag deployment (during deployment). It is a see-through | perspective side view after the airbag deployment which shows the side airbag apparatus for vehicles of this invention Example 1, and its vicinity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a side airbag device for a vehicle according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention and its vicinity, after the airbag is deployed. Immediately before the airbag deployment is completed when the inclined surface of the airbag of the vehicle side airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided and the width of the shoulder restraint portion in the vehicle width direction is reduced toward the upper side (deployment). FIG. It is an AA 'line schematic sectional drawing of FIG. Immediately before completion of airbag deployment (when the airbag is being deployed) when the strap of the airbag of the vehicle side airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided with a strap so that the width in the vehicle width direction of the shoulder restraint portion decreases toward the upper side. FIG. It is a BB 'line schematic sectional drawing of FIG. It is process drawing which shows the folding method of the airbag of the side airbag apparatus for vehicles of this invention Example 1. FIG. It is a see-through | perspective side view after airbag deployment which shows the side airbag apparatus for vehicles of this invention Example 2, and its vicinity. It is a see-through | perspective side view after the airbag deployment which shows the side airbag apparatus for vehicles of this invention Example 3, and its vicinity. It is CC 'line schematic sectional drawing of FIG. It is process drawing which shows the folding method of the airbag of the side airbag apparatus for vehicles of this invention Example 3. FIG. It is a see-through | perspective side view after the airbag deployment which shows the side airbag apparatus for vehicles of this invention Example 4, and its vicinity. It is a see-through | perspective side view just before completion of airbag deployment which shows the side airbag apparatus for vehicles of this invention Example 5, and its vicinity. It is a front view just before completion of airbag deployment (during deployment) showing the side airbag device for vehicles of the present invention Example 5 and its vicinity. It is a see-through | perspective side view after the airbag deployment which shows the side airbag apparatus for vehicles of this invention Example 5, and its vicinity. It is a front view after the airbag deployment which shows the side airbag apparatus for vehicles of this invention Example 5, and its vicinity. It is process drawing which shows the folding method of the airbag of the side airbag apparatus for vehicles of Example 5 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle side airbag apparatus 20 Airbag 21 Shoulder restraint part 21a Shoulder restraint part lower part 21b Inclined surface 22 Arm support edge 22a Arm support lower part 23 Strap 24 Partition wall 24a Lower chamber 24b Upper chamber 25 Rear tube bag part 26 Front tube bag portion 27 Communication portion 30 Inflator 40 Seat back 41 Seat cushion 41a Seat cushion side portion P Passenger P1 Vehicle width direction outer side end D of passenger chest Car interior material D1 Door armrest

Claims (4)

A vehicle side airbag device having an airbag and an inflator for supplying gas to the airbag,
The airbag is located on the side of the occupant's shoulder when deployed, and restrains the shoulder, and the upper arm of the occupant is placed at a position lower than the side of the occupant on the vehicle front side of the shoulder restraint. A side airbag device for a vehicle, comprising: an arm support edge.   The side airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a width of the shoulder restraining portion in a vehicle width direction becomes smaller toward an upper side. The airbag has a rear tube bag portion extending in a vertical direction on the rear side of the vehicle from the outer end in the vehicle width direction of the chest of the occupant during deployment, and a vehicle width direction of the chest of the occupant on the front side of the vehicle from the rear tube bag portion. A front tube bag portion located on the vehicle front side from the outer end and extending in the up-down direction, and
The rear tube bag portion and the front tube bag portion are communicated with each other at a narrowed communication portion,
3. The vehicle side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the shoulder restraining portion is provided in the rear tube bag portion, and the arm support edge includes an upper edge of the front tube bag portion.   4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a lower end portion of the airbag can be brought into contact with an upper surface of a side portion of a seat cushion or an upper surface of a door armrest portion during deployment. Side airbag device.

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