JP2016078681A - Side airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to enable smooth upward lifting of an upper arm of a crewman while protecting a shoulder of the crewman.SOLUTION: A side airbag device 1 is equipped with an airbag 2 which is developed between a vehicle side surface 20 and a crewman 30. The airbag 2 is provided with a first chamber 7 and a second chamber 5. The first chamber 7 is developed below a hip part 35 of the crewman 30. The second chamber 5 is communicated with the first chamber 7 so as to be positioned above the first chamber 7 in a development completion state. Further, the side airbag device 1 is equipped with arresting means 3 which arrests the second chamber 5 on the vehicle side surface 20 side with respect to the first chamber 7 at development start time, and releases said arrest when development of the airbag 2 progresses.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a side airbag device including an airbag deployed on a side of a vehicle occupant.

  Conventionally, a side airbag device that deploys an airbag between an occupant and a door panel is known as one of airbag devices mounted on a vehicle. The side airbag functions to protect the chest and abdomen of the occupant by instantly inflating along the side door in the event of a vehicle collision or the like. On the other hand, in recent years, it has been studied to further improve the protection performance by adding features to the shape of the side airbag.

  For example, what formed the dent facing the upper part of a passenger | crew from the downward direction in the upper part of a side airbag is proposed (refer patent document 1). Moreover, what formed the curved surface which pushes up an upper arm part from the downward direction in the part contact | abutted to a passenger | crew's upper arm part among side airbags is also proposed (refer patent document 2, 3). With these structures, the upper arm and shoulders of the occupant can be easily lifted upward, and the pressing load on the chest by the upper arm can be reduced.

Japanese Patent No. 5445595 JP 2013-252773 JP International Publication No.2013 / 183130

  The side airbag described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is deployed below the occupant's shoulder on the side of the occupant. Therefore, the chest and abdomen of the occupant can be protected, but there is room for improvement in order to improve the protection of the occupant's shoulder. On the other hand, since the side airbags described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 are also deployed on the side of the shoulder portion of the occupant, the shoulder portion can be protected. However, in this side airbag, when the upper arm portion of the occupant is lifted, the movement of the shoulder portion of the occupant is restricted by the side airbag, and the upper arm portion may be difficult to move.

  The present case has been devised in view of the above-described problems, and provides a side airbag device that can smoothly lift an occupant's upper arm while protecting the occupant's shoulder. One of the purposes is to do. The present invention is not limited to this purpose, and is a function and effect derived from each configuration shown in the embodiments for carrying out the invention described later, and other effects of the present invention are to obtain a function and effect that cannot be obtained by conventional techniques. Can be positioned.

  (1) A side airbag device disclosed herein includes an airbag that is deployed between a side surface of a vehicle and an occupant. The side airbag device includes a first chamber that is deployed below the side of the occupant, and a second chamber that is communicated with the first chamber so as to be positioned above the first chamber in a deployed state. And a restraining means for restraining the second chamber to the vehicle side surface with respect to the first chamber at the start of deployment of the airbag, and releasing the restraint as the deployment proceeds.

  (2) It is preferable that the said side airbag apparatus is provided with the 3rd chamber connected with a said 1st chamber so that it may be located under a said 1st chamber in a deployment completion state. In this case, it is preferable that the restraining means connects the second chamber to the third chamber at the start of deployment of the airbag, and restrains the third chamber closer to the vehicle side surface than the first chamber. Here, the restraining means restrains the second chamber and the third chamber closer to the vehicle side surface than the first chamber by the connection, and releases the connection to thereby restrict the second chamber and the third chamber. It is preferable to release the restraint of the three chambers.

(3) The restraining means is a length that causes the second chamber and the third chamber to be adjacent to each other while being fixed to the second chamber and the third chamber at the start of deployment of the airbag. It is preferable to be formed.
(4) Moreover, it is preferable that said 1st chamber is provided in the said vehicle side surface side, and has a surplus part accommodated between said 2nd chamber and said 3rd chamber at the time of a deployment start.

(5) Moreover, it is preferable that the said side airbag apparatus is provided with the inflator which supplies gas inside the said 1st chamber.
(6) Moreover, it is preferable that the said side airbag apparatus is provided with the duct which connects said 1st chamber and said 2nd chamber.

  According to the disclosed side airbag device, when the airbag starts to be deployed, the restraining means restrains the second chamber on the side of the vehicle side (the vehicle outside) with respect to the first chamber. It is possible to avoid being restrained. Therefore, the upper arm portion of the occupant can be smoothly lifted upward by the development of the first chamber. In addition, since the second chamber communicates with the first chamber so as to be positioned above the first chamber when the deployment is completed, the shoulder portion of the occupant can be protected by the second chamber when the airbag is deployed. it can. Therefore, according to the disclosed side airbag device, the upper arm of the occupant can be smoothly lifted upward while protecting the occupant's shoulder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a state in which an occupant is seated on a vehicle seat to which a side airbag device according to an embodiment is applied, (a) is an initial deployment state of the airbag, and (b) is an airbag. The deployment is complete. It is a perspective view of the airbag of FIG.1 (b). (A) is a longitudinal sectional view of the airbag of FIG. 1 (a) [a sectional view taken along arrow AA of FIG. 1 (a)], and (b) is a longitudinal sectional view of the airbag of FIG. 1 (b). It is a BB arrow sectional view of Drawing 1 (b). It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the effect | action by the side airbag apparatus of FIG. 1, (a) is the deployment initial state of an airbag, (b) is the deployment completion state of an airbag. FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic views corresponding to FIG. 4 for explaining the configuration and operation of a side airbag device according to a modification, where FIG. 5A is an initial deployment state of the airbag, and FIG. State. It is a figure which shows the deployment completion state of the airbag which concerns on another modification, (a) is a side view, (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view [CC sectional drawing of Fig.6 (a)]. FIG. 8 is a view (a longitudinal sectional view showing an initial state of deployment of the airbag of FIG. 6) for explaining a modified example of the restraining means, and (a) shows a case where the second chamber and the third chamber are sewn (b) ) Is a case where each of the second chamber and the third chamber is sewn to the first chamber.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is merely an example, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and technical applications that are not explicitly described in the following embodiment. Each configuration of the following embodiments can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and can be selected as necessary or can be appropriately combined.

[1. Constitution]
A side airbag device 1 according to the present embodiment is applied to a vehicle seat 10 shown in FIG. The side airbag device 1 is housed in a seat back 11 of a vehicle seat 10 and folded inside a side surface 11a on the outer side in the vehicle width direction. FIG. 1 illustrates a side airbag device 1 disposed on the left side of a left seat (a driver seat in a left-hand drive vehicle and a passenger seat in a right-hand drive vehicle). A similar (symmetry) side airbag device 1 is also arranged in the right seat (the passenger seat in the right-hand drive vehicle and the driver seat in the left-hand drive vehicle).

  Hereinafter, in the side airbag device 1, a direction along the longitudinal direction of the seat back 11 in a side view of the vehicle seat 10 is referred to as a vertical direction. Moreover, the direction orthogonal to the up-down direction in the side view of the vehicle seat 10 is referred to as the front-back direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the seat back 11 is generally used in an inclined state so that the upper end is located slightly behind the lower end of the vehicle. Therefore, the up-down direction and the front-rear direction of the side airbag device 1 according to the present embodiment are slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, respectively.

The side airbag device 1 is provided with an airbag 2, a tether 3, and an inflator 4.
The airbag 2 is a cloth bag that is deployed between the vehicle side surface and the occupant 30 in the event of a vehicle collision or the like. Here, the airbag 2 functions to protect the occupant 30 by inflating and deploying instantaneously along the side door 20 (see FIG. 4) that forms the side surface of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the airbag 2 in the deployed state is disposed over a vertically long range that covers all of the shoulder 31, chest 32, and abdominal portion 33 of the occupant 30 in a side view.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the airbag 2 according to this embodiment includes three chambers 5, 6, and 7 and two ducts 8 </ b> A and 8 </ b> B that connect these chambers 5, 6, and 7. Have. Each chamber 5, 6 and 7 is a bag formed so as to have a space inside. Moreover, each duct 8A, 8B is a cylinder body with both ends opened. Here, spaces inside the three chambers 5, 6, and 7 are communicated with each other by ducts 8A and 8B. Thereby, one continuous space is formed inside the airbag 2.

The three chambers 5, 6, and 7 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction along the side of the occupant 30 in the unfolded state (see FIGS. 1B, 2, and 3 B). Hereinafter, of the three chambers 5, 6, 7 in the unfolded state, the uppermost one is referred to as an upper chamber 5, the lowermost one is referred to as a lower chamber 6, and the upper chamber 5 and lower What is disposed between the chamber 6 and the chamber 6 is referred to as a middle chamber 7.
1 (b), 2 and 3 (b) is a line passing through the center of the airbag 2 in the vehicle front-rear direction and the vehicle left-right direction (vehicle width direction). The line is referred to as the center line O of the airbag 2. The state in which the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are disposed adjacent to each other is referred to as an initial deployment state of the airbag 2 [see FIG. 1 (a) and FIG. 3 (a)].

  The inflator 4 is a device that supplies gas for inflating the airbag 2, and is provided inside the seat back 11 and inside the airbag 2. Here, the inflator 4 is provided inside the middle chamber 7 and directly injects gas into the space inside the middle chamber 7. That is, the gas injected by the inflator 4 is first supplied to the inside of the middle chamber 7 and then to the inside of the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 through the ducts 8A and 8B. The inflator 4 starts the gas supply on condition that, for example, a large impact force is applied to the vehicle or the vehicle acceleration becomes a predetermined value or more. The method of supplying the gas is arbitrary, and may be a method of releasing the pressurized gas stored in the container to the outside of the container, or a method of generating gas by igniting the explosive.

  The upper chamber 5 (second chamber) is a portion located on the side of the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 in the deployed state, and functions to protect the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30. Further, the upper chamber 5 is a portion located on the side door 20 side (the vehicle width direction outer side) with respect to the middle chamber 7 in the initial development state, and functions to support the middle chamber 7 from the side. The shape of the upper chamber 5 in the unfolded state is formed in, for example, a rounded cylindrical shape. The upper chamber 5 communicates with the middle chamber 7 so as to be positioned vertically above the middle chamber 7.

  The lower chamber 6 (third chamber) is a portion located on the side of the abdomen 33 of the occupant 30 in the deployed state, and functions to protect the abdomen 33 of the occupant 30. The lower chamber 6 is a portion located on the side door 20 side (the vehicle width direction outer side) of the middle chamber 7 in the initial deployment state, and functions to support the middle chamber 7 from the side together with the upper chamber 5. The shape of the lower chamber 6 in the unfolded state is formed in a rounded columnar shape, for example, like the upper chamber 5. The lower chamber 6 communicates with the middle chamber 7 so as to be positioned vertically below the middle chamber 7.

  The middle chamber 7 (first chamber) is a portion located on the side of the chest 32 of the occupant 30 when the deployment is completed, and functions to protect the chest 32 of the occupant 30. The middle chamber 7 is a portion located below the side portion 35 of the occupant 30 in the initial deployment state, and functions to lift the upper arm 34 of the occupant 30 upward. The shape of the middle chamber 7 in the unfolded state is formed in, for example, a rounded rectangular parallelepiped shape. Here, the vertical dimension of the middle chamber 7 in the deployment completion state is longer than the vertical dimension of the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 in the deployment completion state.

  Of the middle chamber 7, a portion 7 a provided on the side door 20 side is housed in a folded state between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 at the start of deployment. Hereinafter, this portion 7a is referred to as a surplus portion 7a. In the initial development state, the surplus portion 7a is a portion that is sandwiched from above and below by the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 that are adjacent to each other in a front view and is tapered toward the side door 20 side. The surplus portion 7a functions to push the upper chamber 5 upward and push the lower chamber 6 downward to promote the deployment of the airbag 2 when deployed. In addition, illustration of the surplus part 7a is abbreviate | omitted in Fig.1 (a).

  The duct 8A communicates the upper chamber 5 and the middle chamber 7, and is arranged so as to connect between the lower end of the upper chamber 5 in the deployment completion state and the upper end of the middle chamber 7 in the deployment completion state. The duct 8B communicates the lower chamber 6 and the middle chamber 7 and is arranged to connect between the upper end of the lower chamber 6 in the deployed state and the lower end of the middle chamber 7 in the deployed state. The These ducts 8A and 8B are opposed to each other with the middle chamber 7 interposed therebetween, and are formed in the same shape and size. The axial centers of the ducts 8A and 8B are disposed on the center line O of the airbag 2 here.

  A part of the upper chamber 5 in the vehicle front-rear direction and a part of the middle chamber 7 in the vehicle front-rear direction are connected to each other by the duct 8A. In other words, the upper chamber 5 and the middle chamber 7 are not connected to each other over the entire vehicle longitudinal direction, but are connected to each other only at the place where the duct 8A is disposed. Thereby, the upper chamber 5 and the middle chamber 7 are easily moved relative to each other.

Similarly, a part of the lower chamber 6 in the vehicle longitudinal direction and a part of the middle chamber 7 in the vehicle longitudinal direction are connected to each other by the duct 8B. In other words, the lower chamber 6 and the middle chamber 7 are not connected to each other over the entire vehicle longitudinal direction, but are connected to each other only at the place where the duct 8B is disposed. Thereby, the lower chamber 6 and the middle chamber 7 are easily moved relative to each other.
The diameters of the ducts 8A and 8B are set smaller than the dimensions of the chambers 5, 6, and 7 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The dimensions of the ducts 8A and 8B in the axial direction (through direction) are set to be sufficiently small so that the function of the airbag 2 in the deployed state is not impaired.

  The tether 3 (restraining means) is a member that restrains the upper chamber 5 closer to the side door 20 than the middle chamber 7 when the airbag 2 starts to be deployed. In other words, the tether 3 is for separating the upper chamber 5 from the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 and avoiding contact between the upper chamber 5 and the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 when the airbag 2 starts to be deployed. Here, the tether 3 connects the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 on the side door 20 side with respect to the middle chamber 7, and restrains the lower chamber 6 on the side door 20 side with respect to the middle chamber 7. Accordingly, the tether 3 limits the separation distance between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 and regulates the relative position of the upper chamber 5 with respect to the lower chamber 6.

  On the other hand, the tether 3 releases the restraint of the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 as the deployment of the airbag 2 proceeds. That is, when the upper arm 34 of the occupant 30 is lifted by the deployment of the middle chamber 7, the tether 3 allows the upper chamber 5 to move upward to protect the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 and It functions to allow the abdomen 33 of the occupant 30 to be protected by allowing downward movement of the chamber 6. Here, the tether 3 releases the upper chamber 5 by releasing the connection between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6.

  The tether 3 is formed in a string shape with the same cloth as the airbag 2, for example. Here, what was formed in the elongate rectangular shape is illustrated. Both end portions 3 a and 3 b in the longitudinal direction of the tether 3 are fixed to the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 when the airbag 2 starts to be deployed. The length of the tether 3 in the longitudinal direction is such that the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are adjacent to each other from the side door 20 side in a state where both end portions 3a and 3b are fixed to the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6. Is set. That is, the tether 3 restrains the upper chamber 5 at a position adjacent to the lower chamber 6 in a state where both end portions 3 a and 3 b are fixed to the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6. On the other hand, the tether 3 does not restrain the position of the upper chamber 5 in a state where the one end (here, the lower end 3b) is released.

  Both end portions 3a and 3b of the tether 3 are fixed at positions overlapping the center line O of the airbag 2 in a side view. Thereby, the tether 3 is arranged in a straight line along the center line O of the airbag 2 in a side view in a state just before the fixing of the lower end portion 3b is released. In addition, the fixing method of the both ends 3a and 3b of the tether 3 is not specifically limited, For example, it can fix with a stitch | suture or an adhesive agent.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, in the airbag 2 in the initial deployment state, the chambers 5, 6, and 7 are arranged at positions adjacent to each other. Here, the three chambers 5, 6, 7 in the initial deployment state are in a positional relationship such that they are respectively arranged on the three vertices of the triangle in front view. In this initial deployment state, among the three chambers 5, 6, 7, the middle chamber 7 is disposed closest to the passenger 30 (in the vehicle width direction), and the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are side doors than the middle chamber 7. They are arranged side by side in the vertical direction on the 20th side (the vehicle width direction outer side). That is, in the initial deployment state, the middle chamber 7, the upper chamber 5, and the lower chamber 6 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction, and the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are partially with respect to the middle chamber 7 in a side view. It is arranged to wrap. Thereby, the dimension W of the airbag 2 in the vehicle width direction in the initial deployment state is ensured.

It should be noted that the vertical position of the middle chamber 7 in the initial deployment state substantially coincides with the intermediate position between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6. Thereby, the middle chamber 7 in the initial deployment state is supported substantially equally by the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6.
As shown in FIG. 3B, in the airbag 2 in the deployed state, the chambers 5, 6, 7 and the ducts 8A, 8B are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and wrap in the top view. Thereby, the dimension H of the airbag 2 in the vertical direction is ensured, and the protection range at the side of the occupant 30 is largely secured in the vertical direction.

[2. Action]
Next, operation | movement of the side airbag apparatus 1 in the case of a vehicle collision and the effect | action by the side airbag apparatus 1 are demonstrated using FIG. 4 (a), (b). FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram showing an initial development state, and FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram showing a development completion state. Here, a case where an impact is applied to the vehicle from the left side surface (that is, a case where a left side collision occurs) is illustrated.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when an impact force (outlined arrow in the figure) is applied to the side door 20 from the outside, the inflator 4 is activated and gas is supplied to the airbag 2. Thereby, the middle chamber 7 of the airbag 2 starts to be deployed below the side portion 35 of the occupant 30. At the same time, the gas inside the middle chamber 7 is supplied to the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 through the ducts 8A and 8B. At this time, since the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are connected by the tether 3 and are arranged on the side door 20 side, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 start to be deployed on the side door 20 side than the middle chamber 7. The airbag 2 is in an initial deployment state when the gas is supplied in a state where the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are connected by the tether 3 in this way.

  In the initial deployment state of the airbag 2, the position of the upper chamber 5 is restrained by the tether 3. Therefore, the upper chamber 5 is disposed at a position farther from the occupant 30 than the middle chamber 7. Here, since the upper chamber 5 is connected to the lower chamber 6 via the tether 3, the upper chamber 5 is pulled downward by the lower chamber 6. As a result, the upper chamber 5 is disposed at a position on the side door 20 side and lower side than the position in the unfolded state (position above the middle chamber 7).

  Therefore, in the initial deployment state of the airbag 2, a gap is provided between the upper chamber 5 and the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30. In other words, the upper chamber 5 and the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 in the initial deployment state are kept out of contact. Therefore, the movement of the shoulder portion 31 of the occupant 30 is not restricted by the upper chamber 5, and the upper arm portion 34 of the occupant 30 is maintained in a state in which it can easily rotate.

  Thus, in the initial deployment state of the airbag 2, the movement of the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 is not restrained by the upper chamber 5, so that the upper arm 34 of the occupant 30 can be easily (relatively) by the expansion and deployment of the middle chamber 7. It is lifted upward (with a small force) (black arrow in the figure). As a result, the upper arm 34 of the occupant 30 is moved upward from the side of the chest 32 (position overlapping in the vehicle width direction), and the upper arm 34 is prevented from being pressed against the chest 32.

  When the airbag 2 is in the initial deployment state, the amount of the side door 20 entering the occupant 30 side is relatively small, so that a relatively large space is provided between the side door 20 and the occupant 30. That is, at this time, the side door 20 is at a position relatively far from the occupant 30. Therefore, the airbag 2 in the initial deployment state functions not only to protect the shoulder 31 and the abdomen 33 of the occupant 30 but also to lift the upper arm 34 of the occupant 30. Moreover, in the airbag 2 in the initial deployment state, the shock absorption with respect to the impact force in the vehicle width direction is ensured by ensuring the dimension W in the vehicle width direction.

  The middle chamber 7 in the initial deployment state is supported from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6. Therefore, the position of the middle chamber 7 in the initial deployment state is stabilized. Thereby, the position of the middle chamber 7 is suppressed from being shifted from below the side portion 35 of the occupant 30, and the upper arm portion 34 of the occupant 30 is efficiently lifted upward by the deployment of the middle chamber 7.

  The surplus portion 7 a of the middle chamber 7 is sandwiched between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 when the airbag 2 starts to be deployed. Therefore, the deployment of the surplus portion 7a is delayed as compared with other portions of the middle chamber 7. As a result, the volume of the middle chamber 7 is suppressed in the initial deployment state, and the pressure of the internal air rises early. Therefore, air pressure necessary for lifting the upper arm portion 34 of the occupant 30 is secured in the middle chamber 7 at an early stage.

  As the deployment of the airbag 2 proceeds, the tether 3 is stretched in a straight line extending in the vertical direction. Then, when the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are further expanded and the surplus portion 7a of the middle chamber 7 is expanded, the both end portions 3a and 3b of the tether 3 are pulled away from each other. Thereby, the lower end portion 3b of the tether 3 is released from being fixed to the lower chamber 6. The tether 3 releases the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 by releasing the connection between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 by releasing the fixing of the lower end portion 3b in this way. The airbag 2 starts shifting from the initial deployment state to the deployment completion state simultaneously with the release of the upper chamber 5.

  When the upper chamber 5 is released, the surplus portion 7a of the middle chamber 7 expands instantaneously. Thereby, the surplus portion 7a pushes the upper chamber 5 upward and pushes the lower chamber 6 downward. At the same time, the upper chamber 5 moves upward of the middle chamber 7 and the lower chamber 6 moves downward of the middle chamber 7. Further, the volume of the middle chamber 7 increases as the surplus portion 7a expands and expands.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, when the upper chamber 5 is located above the middle chamber 7 and the lower chamber 6 is located below the middle chamber 7, the airbag 2 is in a deployed state. In this state, the upper chamber 5 is disposed on the side of the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30, the middle chamber 7 is disposed on the side of the chest 32 of the occupant 30, and the lower chamber 6 is disposed on the side of the abdomen 33 of the occupant 30. Be placed. As a result, the shoulder 31, the chest 32, and the abdomen 33 of the occupant 30 are protected by the airbag 2.

  In addition, when the airbag 2 is in a deployment completion state in this way, there is a possibility that the amount of penetration of the side door 20 into the occupant 30 side is relatively large. That is, at this time, there is a possibility that the side door 20 is in a position relatively close to the occupant 30. Therefore, in the airbag 2 in the deployment completion state, the dimension H in the vertical direction is ensured, and the protection range at the side portion of the occupant 30 is largely secured in the vertical direction. Thereby, the passenger | crew 30 is protected more appropriately.

[3. effect]
(1) In the above-described side airbag device 1, the upper chamber 5 that is deployed below the side portion 35 of the occupant 30 is in communication with the upper chamber 5 so as to be positioned above the upper chamber 5 when the deployment is completed. A chamber 7 is provided. Further, a tether 3 is provided that restrains the middle chamber 7 on the side door 20 side of the upper chamber 5 at the start of deployment of the airbag 2 and releases the restraint as the deployment proceeds. Therefore, when the airbag 2 starts to be deployed, the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 can be prevented from being restrained by the upper chamber 5, and the upper arm 34 of the occupant 30 can be smoothly lifted upward.

  Further, the shoulder 31 and the chest 32 of the occupant 30 can be protected by the upper chamber 5 and the middle chamber 7 in the deployed state. Therefore, according to said side airbag apparatus 1, the upper arm part 34 of the passenger | crew 30 can be lifted up smoothly, protecting the shoulder part 31 of the passenger | crew 30. FIG.

  (2) Moreover, in said side airbag apparatus 1, the lower chamber 6 connected with the middle chamber 7 is provided so that it may be located under the middle chamber 7 in the deployment completion state. Further, the tether 3 connects the upper chamber 5 with the lower chamber 6 when the airbag 2 starts to be deployed. Therefore, the upper chamber 5 can be pulled downward by the lower chamber 6, and the upper chamber 5 can be arranged at a position further away from the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately avoid that the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 is restrained by the upper chamber 5 when the airbag 2 starts to be deployed. In addition, when the airbag 2 is completely deployed, the lower chamber 6 can protect the abdomen 33 of the occupant 30.

  (3) In the above-described side airbag device 1, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are connected by the tether 3. The tether 3 is formed in such a length that the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are adjacent to each other with both end portions 3a and 3b being fixed to the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 when the airbag 2 starts to be deployed. ing. By using such a tether 3, the upper chamber 5 can be restrained with a simple structure.

Further, when the airbag 2 is started to be deployed, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are disposed adjacent to each other by the tether 3, so that the middle chamber 7 can be supported by the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6. As a result, the position of the middle chamber 7 can be stabilized, so that the upper arm 34 of the occupant 30 can be efficiently lifted upward by the deployment of the middle chamber 7.
Note that the fixing destinations of the both end portions 3a and 3b of the tether 3 may be any positions where the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 can be connected to each other, and are limited to the positions overlapping the center line O of the airbag 2 in the side view described above. Absent. The fixing destinations of the both end portions 3a and 3b of the tether 3 may be, for example, the front end portions of the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6, or the rear end portions of the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6.

  On the other hand, for example, when the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are directly connected without using the tether 3, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are sewn together or bonded with an adhesive at a place where the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 contact each other. It is necessary to do. That is, in this case, the arrangement location of the means for connecting the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 is limited to the location where the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are in contact with each other. On the other hand, when the above-described tether 3 is used, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the means for connecting the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 can be increased.

  Further, as described above, by fixing the both end portions 3a and 3b of the tether 3 to a position overlapping the center line O of the airbag 2 in a side view, the longitudinal direction of the tether 3 can be directed in the vertical direction. Therefore, a relatively large tensile force can be applied to both end portions 3a and 3b of the tether 3 by the expansion and deployment of the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6, and the connection by the tether 3 can be efficiently released.

  (4) Moreover, in said side airbag apparatus 1, the excess part 7a is provided in the part by the side door 20 side among the middle chambers 7. FIG. The surplus portion 7 a is accommodated between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 when the airbag 2 starts to be deployed. In the side airbag device 1 described above, by deploying the surplus portion 7a, the upper chamber 5 can be moved upward and the lower chamber 6 can be moved downward, and the both ends 3a and 3b of the tether 3 are relatively large. A tensile force can be applied. Therefore, the connection by the tether 3 can be released more appropriately.

  In addition, the surplus portion 7a is not easily supplied with gas when sandwiched between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 and is delayed in development compared to other portions of the middle chamber 7. Therefore, in said side airbag apparatus 1, the volume increase of the middle chamber 7 in an initial deployment state can be suppressed, and the pressure of the air in the middle chamber 7 can be raised early. Thereby, since the pressure required for lifting the upper arm portion 34 of the occupant 30 can be secured in the middle chamber 7 at an early stage, the upper arm portion 34 of the occupant 30 can be lifted early and reliably.

  In addition, after the connection by the tether 3 is released, the surplus portion 7a is expanded, so that the upper chamber 5 can be pushed above the middle chamber 7 and the lower chamber 6 can be pushed below the middle chamber 7, respectively. Therefore, the deployment of the airbag 2 can be promoted, and the deployment time can be shortened.

  (5) Further, in the above-described side airbag device 1, the inflator 4 for supplying gas is provided inside the middle chamber 7. Therefore, the middle chamber 7 can be expanded faster than the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6, and the upper arm portion 34 of the occupant 30 can be lifted quickly. Thereby, it can prevent more reliably that the chest 32 is pressed by the upper arm part 34 of the passenger | crew 30. FIG.

(6) The side airbag device 1 includes a duct 8 </ b> A that connects the middle chamber 7 and the upper chamber 5. Therefore, the upper chamber 5 can be easily moved relative to the middle chamber 7.
(7) Similarly, the side airbag device 1 includes a duct 8 </ b> B that communicates the middle chamber 7 and the lower chamber 6. Therefore, the lower chamber 6 can be easily moved relative to the middle chamber 7.

  For example, in the above-described side airbag device 1, the relative positions of the chambers 5, 6, and 7 can be changed by deforming the ducts 8A and 8B. Further, as described above, only a part of the chambers 5, 6 and 7 in the vehicle front-rear direction is connected by the ducts 8A and 8B, so that the entire chambers 5, 6, 7 in the vehicle front-rear direction are connected. In comparison, the chambers 5, 6, and 7 can be restrained from restraining movement. Therefore, by providing the ducts 8A and 8B, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 can be smoothly moved from the position closer to the side door 20 than the middle chamber 7 to the position aligned with the middle chamber 7 in the vertical direction. Can do.

(8) Further, in the side airbag device 1 described above, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 in the initial deployment state are arranged side by side with the middle chamber 7 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the dimension W in the vehicle width direction of the airbag 2 in the initial deployment state can be secured, and the impact absorbability of the airbag 2 with respect to the impact force in the vehicle width direction can be improved.
Moreover, in said side airbag apparatus 1, the three chambers 5, 6, and 7 in the deployment completion state are arrange | positioned along with the up-down direction. Therefore, the vertical dimension H of the airbag 2 in the deployed state can be secured, and the protection range at the side of the occupant 30 can be expanded. Therefore, the occupant 30 can be more reliably protected.

[4. Modified example]
[4-1. First modification]
The side airbag apparatus 1 shown to Fig.5 (a), (b) changes the structure of the airbag 2 with respect to the thing of the above-mentioned embodiment. In the airbag 12 according to this modification, the lower chamber 6 and the duct 8B are omitted from the airbag 2 described above. Hereinafter, in order to clarify the correspondence with each element described in the above-described embodiment, the corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5A, in the side airbag device 1 according to this modification, both end portions 3a and 3b of the tether 3 are fixed to the upper chamber 5 and the middle chamber 7 when the airbag 12 starts to be deployed. ing. The dimension in the longitudinal direction of the tether 3 is such that the upper chamber 5 is adjacent to the side door 20 side of the middle chamber 7 with both end portions 3a and 3b being fixed to the upper chamber 5 and the middle chamber 7. Set to That is, the tether 3 restrains the upper chamber 5 on the side door 20 side rather than the middle chamber 7 in a state where both end portions 3a and 3b are fixed to the upper chamber 5 and the middle chamber 7. The state in which the position of the upper chamber 5 is thus restrained is the initial deployment state of the airbag 12.
In the airbag 12, the middle chamber 7 in the deployed state is larger in the vertical direction than the above-described embodiment (vertically long) so that both the chest 32 and the abdomen 33 of the occupant 30 can be protected. In the shape).

  Even in the side airbag device 1 configured in this way, as shown in FIG. 5A, the upper chamber 5 is restrained to the side door 20 side than the middle chamber 7 at the start of deployment of the airbag 12, The upper chamber 5 can be arranged separately from the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30. Therefore, as in the above-described embodiment, the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 can be prevented from being restrained by the upper chamber 5, and the upper arm 34 of the occupant 30 can be smoothly moved upward by the deployment of the middle chamber 7. Can be lifted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the airbag 12 is deployed, the tether 3 is pulled by the upper chamber 5 and the middle chamber 7 in a direction in which both end portions 3a and 3b are separated from each other. As a result, one end of the tether 3 (here, the lower end 3b) is released from being fixed to the middle chamber 7. The tether 3 releases the restraint of the upper chamber 5 by releasing the fixing of the lower end portion 3b in this way. And the airbag 12 transfers to a deployment completion state from a deployment initial state. In the airbag 12 in the deployed state, the upper chamber 5 is disposed above the middle chamber 7. Thereby, the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 can be protected by the upper chamber 5, and the chest 32 and the abdomen 33 of the occupant 30 can be protected by the middle chamber 7.
Therefore, also in the side airbag device 1 according to the present modification, the upper arm portion 34 of the occupant 30 can be smoothly lifted upward while protecting the shoulder portion 31 of the occupant 30 as in the above-described embodiment.

[4-2. Second modification]
The airbag 22 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is used instead of the airbag 2 in the above-described embodiment, and the ducts 8A and 8B are omitted from the airbag 2 described above. Three chambers 5, 6, and 7 are integrally formed.

  The airbag 22 is formed in a vertically long bag shape by stitching two base fabrics, for example. The interior of the airbag 22 is partitioned into three spaces that function as the three chambers 5, 6, 7 described above. These three spaces are formed, for example, by sewing two base fabrics forming the airbag 22 along straight lines L1 and L2 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. Instead of this, for example, two new cloths may be arranged inside the airbag 22 to partition the space inside the airbag 22 into three.

As shown in FIG. 5B, a hole 9 </ b> A that connects the upper chamber 5 and the middle chamber 7 is provided between the upper chamber 5 and the middle chamber 7 of the airbag 22. Similarly, a hole 9 </ b> B that communicates the lower chamber 6 and the middle chamber 7 is provided between the lower chamber 6 and the middle chamber 7 of the airbag 22. These holes 9A and 9B are formed, for example, by partially omitting stitching along the straight lines L1 and L2. The positions of these holes 9A and 9B are not particularly limited, but here, the hole axes of these holes 9A and 9B are both the center of the airbag 22 in the vehicle longitudinal direction (one point shown in FIG. 6A). It is arranged on the chain line).
In the airbag 22 configured as described above, the three chambers 5, 6, and 7 can be integrally formed, so that the structure can be simplified.

[4-3. Modification of restraint means]
In the above-described embodiment and modification, the case where the position of the upper chamber 5 is constrained by the tether 3 has been described. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the tether 3 is omitted, and the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber are omitted. The position of the upper chamber 5 may be constrained by directly stitching 6 together. In other words, instead of the tether 3 described above, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 may be connected by a seam 13 (restraining means).

  Similar to the tether 3, the seam 13 restrains the upper chamber 5 on the side door 20 side rather than the middle chamber 7 when the airbag 22 starts to be deployed. The seam 13 is provided at a location where the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are adjacent to each other. That is, the seam 13 is provided across the lower end of the upper chamber 5 and the upper end of the lower chamber 6 in the initial deployment state.

  The seam 13 is not particularly limited as long as it can restrain the upper chamber 5 to the side door 20 side than the middle chamber 7 when the airbag 22 starts to be deployed. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the surplus portion 7a of the middle chamber 7 is omitted, a seam 13 may be provided at the center position of the airbag 22 in the front-rear direction. Moreover, when providing the surplus part 7a of the middle chamber 7 like the above-mentioned embodiment, you may provide the seam 13 in each of the front and back of the surplus part 7a, for example.

  By providing such a seam 13, the upper chamber 5 can be spaced apart from the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 when the airbag 22 starts to be deployed, as in the case of the tether 3. Therefore, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 can be prevented from being restrained by the upper chamber 5, and the upper arm portion 34 of the occupant 30 can be smoothly lifted upward.

  Further, the seam 13 can be released by the upper chamber 5 moving upward and the lower chamber 6 moving downward as the airbag 22 progresses. Accordingly, the seam 13 releases the connection between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 and releases the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 in the same manner as the tether 3 described above. The airbag 22 shifts from the initial deployment state to the deployment completion state. In the airbag 22 in the deployed state, the shoulder 31, the chest 32, and the abdomen 33 of the occupant 30 can be protected by the upper chamber 5, the middle chamber 7, and the lower chamber 6 as in the above-described embodiment.

  Therefore, even when the seam 13 is used instead of the tether 3, the upper arm 34 of the occupant 30 is smoothly lifted upward while protecting the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 as in the above-described embodiment. be able to. When the seam 13 is used, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 can be connected to each other by stitching them together at at least one location where they are adjacent. Therefore, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 can be easily connected as compared with the case where the two end portions 3a and 3b of the tether 3 (two places in total) are fixed.

  Further, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are not connected as described above, but each of the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 is sewn to the middle chamber 7 as shown in FIG. 7B, for example. May be attached. That is, the upper chamber 5 may be restrained to the side door 20 side from the middle chamber 7 by the seam 23A (restraining means), and the lower chamber 6 may be restrained from the middle chamber 7 to the side door 20 side by the seam 23B.

  The seam 23A is provided at a location where the upper chamber 5 and the middle chamber 7 are adjacent to each other. That is, the seam 23A is provided across the portion of the upper chamber 5 on the passenger 30 side (in the vehicle width direction) and the portion of the middle chamber 7 on the side door 20 side (in the vehicle width direction) in the initial deployment state. Similarly, the seam 23B is provided at a location where the lower chamber 6 and the middle chamber 7 are adjacent to each other. That is, the seam 23B is provided across the portion of the lower chamber 6 on the passenger 30 side (in the vehicle width direction) and the portion of the middle chamber 7 on the side door 20 side (in the vehicle width direction) in the initial deployment state.

  The seams 23A and 23B may be any one that can restrain each of the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 closer to the side door 20 than the middle chamber 7 when the airbag 22 starts to be deployed. The position in the front-rear direction is not particularly limited. 7B, the surplus portion 7a of the middle chamber 7 is omitted, but the surplus portion 7a is accommodated between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 as in the above-described embodiment. May be.

  Even with such a seam 23 </ b> A, the upper chamber 5 can be spaced apart from the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 when the airbag 22 starts to be deployed, as in the case of the tether 3 and the seam 13 described above. Further, the seams 23A and 23B can be unraveled when the airbag 22 is deployed, similarly to the seam 13 described above. As a result, the restraint of the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 is released, and the airbag 22 is in a deployment completed state. Therefore, even when the seams 23A and 23B are used, the upper arm 34 of the occupant 30 is smoothly lifted upward while protecting the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 as in the above-described embodiment and modification. Can do.

[4-4. Other variations]
Regardless of the embodiments and modifications described above, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Each composition of the above-mentioned embodiment can be chosen as needed, or may be combined suitably.

  In the above-described modification example, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are restrained by the seams 13, 23A, and 23B. Instead, the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are restrained by an adhesive, for example. Also good. That is, instead of sewing the chambers 5, 6, and 7 together, an adhesive is applied to the positions of the seams 13, 23 </ b> A, and 23 </ b> B, and the chambers 5, 6, and 7 are bonded to each other by bonding the chambers 5, 6, and 7 Alternatively, the lower chamber 6 may be restrained. Also in this case, when the airbag 22 is deployed, the upper chamber 5 is moved upward and the lower chamber 6 is moved downward, whereby the adhesion by the adhesive is peeled off and the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 are restrained. Is released.

  Further, in the above-described modification, the example in which the seams 13, 23A, and 23B are applied to the airbag 22 is shown, but the seams 13, 23A, and 23B are the airbag 2 shown in the above-described embodiment, and other The same can be applied to the airbag 12 shown in the modification. Further, the tether 3 described above may be applied to the airbag 22 instead of the seams 13, 23A, 23B.

  In the above-described embodiment, the airbag 2 has two ducts 8A and 8B. However, the number of the ducts 8A and 8B may be increased. For example, each of the ducts 8A and 8B may be provided at two positions before and after the center line O of the airbag 2 in a side view so that the chambers 5, 6 and 7 communicate with each other by a total of four ducts 8A and 8B. Good. The positions of the ducts 8A and 8B described above in the front-rear direction are merely examples, and can be changed.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the inflator 4 is provided in the middle chamber 7 has been described. However, the inflator 4 may be provided in the upper chamber 5 or the lower chamber 6, for example. It may be provided inside the seat back 11. That is, the position of the inflator 4 is not particularly limited as long as the gas can be supplied into the airbag 2.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the surplus portion 7a of the middle chamber 7 is accommodated between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 at the start of deployment has been described. The device 1 is not essential and can be omitted. That is, the portion 7a provided on the side door 20 side of the middle chamber 7 may not be stored between the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 at the start of deployment. Even in this case, according to the side airbag device 1 described above, when the airbag 2 is deployed, both end portions 3a and 3b of the tether 3 are pulled by the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6 so that the tether 3 is released. Therefore, the airbag 2 can be deployed to the deployment completion state as described above, and the shoulder 31 of the occupant 30 can be protected.

In the above-described embodiment and modification, the case where the fixing of the lower end portion 3b of the tether 3 is released has been described, but the case where the fixing of the upper end portion 3a of the tether 3 is released or the tether 3 breaks. In addition, the connection by the tether 3 can be released as in the above-described embodiment and modification.
Further, the shape of the tether 3 shown in the above embodiment is an example and can be changed. The tether 3 may be formed in a rope shape having a circular cross section, for example. That is, the tether 3 is not particularly limited as long as it can connect the upper chamber 5 and the lower chamber 6.

Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment and modification, although the example in which the side door 20 was provided in the vehicle width direction outer side of the side airbag apparatus 1 was shown instead of this side door 20, for example, a mere panel member (member which does not open and close) ) May be provided. That is, the side airbag device 1 may be any device as long as it is disposed between the side surface of the vehicle body and the occupant 30, and is not limited to that disposed on the side of the side door 20.
Moreover, this side airbag apparatus 1 can be similarly applied not only to the driver seat and the passenger seat in the vehicle as described above, but also to the rear seats provided behind these seats.

1 Side airbag device 2, 12, 22 Airbag 3 Tether (restraint)
4 Inflator 5 Upper chamber (second chamber)
6 Lower chamber (third chamber)
7 Middle chamber (first chamber)
7a Surplus part 8A, 8B Duct 13 Seam (restraint means)
20 Side door (vehicle side)
23A Seam (restraint)
30 crew

Claims (6)

In the side airbag device provided with the airbag deployed between the vehicle side surface and the occupant,
A first chamber that develops below the side of the occupant;
A second chamber in communication with the first chamber so as to be positioned above the first chamber in a deployed state;
A restraining means for restraining the second chamber on the vehicle side surface side with respect to the first chamber at the start of deployment of the airbag, and releasing restraint as the deployment proceeds;
A side airbag device comprising: A third chamber in communication with the first chamber so as to be positioned below the first chamber in a deployed state;
The restraint means connects the second chamber to the third chamber at the start of deployment of the airbag, and restrains the third chamber closer to the vehicle side surface than the first chamber. Item 10. The side airbag device according to Item 1. The restraining means is formed to have a length such that the second chamber and the third chamber are adjacent to each other while being fixed to the second chamber and the third chamber at the start of deployment of the airbag. The side airbag device according to claim 2, wherein 4. The side according to claim 3, wherein the first chamber is provided on a side surface of the vehicle and has a surplus portion that is accommodated between the second chamber and the third chamber at the start of deployment. Airbag device. The side airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising an inflator that supplies gas into the first chamber. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a duct communicating the first chamber and the second chamber.

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