JP2017124759A - Occupant protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an occupant protection device that can suppress a rapid increase in constraint force of a head portion of an occupant at the time of head-on collision of a vehicle in a configuration in which an air bag constituted as an integrated bag body is accommodated on the upper side of a vehicular seat in the folded state.SOLUTION: An occupant protection device 10 includes: an air bag 30 that is accommodated on the upper side of a vehicular seat, is inflated for deployment by receiving supply of gas and is constituted as an integrated bag body deployed in a region including a forward side and a region including both right and left sides of a head portion of an occupant so as to cover the head portion; a connection cloth 52 that includes one end side connected to a front portion of the air bag 30 and the other end connected to a rear portion of the air bag 30 or an upper portion of the vehicular seat and has an elongation rate equal to or lower than that of the air bag 30; and a reaction force increase suppression section 33 provided in the air bag 30 or the connection cloth 52 to move one end side of the connection cloth 52 to the seat forward side when tension applied to the connection cloth 52 reaches a predetermined value or larger.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an occupant protection device.

  In the event of a collision, an airbag device that supplies gas from an inflator to a bag attached to the gas supply pipe through a gas supply pipe fixed to the seat back and inflates the bag so as to cover the front and sides of the head of the passenger Is known (see Patent Document 1). In addition, the head airbag expands forward from the left and right ends of the headrest of the seat and joins to each other on the front surface of the occupant's head, while the auxiliary airbag for the head extends from the center of the seat headrest. An airbag device that bulges forward and joins a pair of head airbags is known (see Patent Document 2). In addition, Patent Document 3 discloses a configuration in which an airbag that is inflated so as to cover the front and side of the head of the occupant is housed in a seat back.

JP 2000-344044 A JP2013-018378A German Patent Application Publication No. 19859988A1

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, since the gas supply pipe is provided so as to protrude on the seat back, the appearance is bad, and the gas supply pipe becomes an obstacle when the vehicle seat is operated. On the other hand, in the configuration of Patent Document 2, it is possible to secure the bonding strength between a pair of head airbags that are bonded to each other after inflating and deploying, and the bonding strength of the head auxiliary airbag to the pair of head airbags. Is difficult.

  As a countermeasure against this, it is conceivable to adopt a configuration in which an airbag configured as an integral bag body is accommodated in the upper part of the vehicle seat and inflated and deployed so as to cover the head of the occupant from both the front and left and right sides. . However, when the frontal collision of the vehicle, the occupant inertially moves to the front side of the seat, the airbag may be stretched to the front side of the seat, and when the airbag is fully extended, There is a possibility that the restraining force (reaction force) acting on the abruptly increases.

  In consideration of the above facts, the present invention has a configuration in which an airbag configured as an integral bag body is folded and stored in an upper part of a vehicle seat, and the restraining force of the occupant's head during a frontal collision of the vehicle An object of the present invention is to obtain an occupant protection device that can suppress the sudden rise of the vehicle.

  An occupant protection device according to a first aspect of the present invention is housed in an upper portion of a vehicle seat, inflated and deployed by receiving gas supply, and includes a region including the front of the occupant's head and both left and right sides. An airbag configured as an integral bag body that expands to an area including the head and has one end connected to the front of the airbag and the other end connected to the rear of the airbag or the upper part of the vehicle seat And a connection cloth having an elongation equal to or less than that of the airbag, and the airbag or the connection cloth, when the tension acting on the connection cloth becomes a predetermined value or more, And a reaction force increase suppression portion that moves one end side of the connecting cloth to the front side of the seat.

  In the occupant protection device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the airbag is housed in the upper part of the vehicle seat. Further, the airbag is configured as an integral bag body that is expanded in an area including the front of the occupant's head and in an area including both the left and right sides and covers the occupant's head. Is done. Thereby, a passenger | crew's head is restrained and protected with an airbag with respect to various collision forms.

  The occupant protection device includes a connecting cloth. One end of the connecting cloth is connected to the front part of the airbag, and the other end is connected to the rear part of the airbag or the upper part of the vehicle seat. Further, the connecting fabric has the following elongation rate as in the airbag. As a result, when the airbag is stretched forward of the seat due to the inertial movement of the occupant in front of the seat at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, tension is applied from the connecting cloth to the airbag, and the restraint force ( (Reaction force) can be increased. As a result, it is possible to suppress the airbag from being stretched forward by the passenger's head that moves inertially forward of the seat, and to prevent the airbag from being fully extended.

  Furthermore, the reaction force rise suppression part is provided in the airbag or the connection cloth. And this reaction force raise suppression part moves the one end side of a connection cloth to a sheet | seat front side, when the tension | tensile_strength which acts on a connection cloth becomes more than predetermined value. Thereby, at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the connecting cloth is stretched to the front side of the seat, and in the late stage when the tension acting on the connecting cloth becomes a predetermined value or more, one end side of the connecting cloth can be moved to the front side of the seat, It can suppress that a connection cloth and an airbag will be in the state where it extended completely.

  The occupant protection device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the occupant protection device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the front deployment portion deployed in the region including the front of the head in the airbag includes the shoulder portion and the chest portion of the occupant. An upper body restraining portion that is inflated and deployed on the front side of the seat with respect to at least one of these is provided, and one end of the connecting cloth is connected to the upper body restraining portion.

  In the occupant protection device according to the second aspect of the present invention, one end of the connecting cloth is connected to the upper body restraining portion. Thereby, tension | tensile_strength acts from a connection cloth to an upper body restraint part at the time of front collision of a vehicle, and it can suppress that a passenger | crew's upper body moves to a seat front.

  The occupant protection device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the configuration of the first or second aspect, wherein the reaction force increase suppressing portion includes a metal plate having a bent portion that is curved or bent, and the metal One end of the plate is connected to the other end of the connecting cloth, the other end is fixed to the headrest, and the bending part is opened when a tension of a predetermined value or more is applied to the connecting cloth. The metal plate is plastically deformed to move one end side of the connecting cloth to the front side of the sheet.

  In the occupant protection device according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the airbag is stretched to the front side of the seat at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle and a tension of a predetermined value or more is applied to the connecting cloth, it is connected to the other end of the connecting cloth. One end of the metal plate is pulled. Here, the metal plate has a bent portion that is bent or bent, and the other end portion of the metal plate is fixed to the headrest, so that the metal plate is plastic so that the bent portion is opened by the tension from the connecting cloth. Deformed. Thereby, when the tension | tensile_strength more than a predetermined value acts on a connection cloth, a connection cloth can be moved to the sheet | seat front side. Moreover, the effect of energy absorption by plastic deformation of the metal plate can be obtained.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the occupant protection device according to the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, the reaction force increase suppressing portion is a connecting cloth surplus length portion provided on the connecting cloth and sewn by a tear seam. When a tension of a predetermined value or more is applied to the connecting cloth, the tear seam is broken and the connecting cloth extra length is developed.

  In the occupant protection device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the airbag is stretched to the front side of the seat at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle and a tension of a predetermined value or more acts on the connecting cloth, the tear seam breaks and the connecting cloth surplus The long part is developed. Thereby, a connection cloth can be extended (moved) to the sheet front side by the length of the connection cloth surplus length part.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first or second aspect, the occupant protection device according to the present invention is configured such that the reaction force increase suppressing portion is deployed in a region including both right and left sides of the head in the airbag. An airbag excess length portion provided in a laterally deployed portion and sewn by a tear seam. When a tension greater than a predetermined value is applied to the connecting cloth, the tear seam is broken and the airbag excess length portion is deployed. .

  In the occupant protection device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the airbag is stretched to the front side of the seat at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle and a tension of a predetermined value or more acts on the connecting cloth, the tear seam breaks and the airbag remaining The long part is developed. As a result, the laterally deployed portion of the airbag is extended forward of the seat by the length of the excess airbag portion, and one end of the connecting cloth can be moved forward of the seat.

  As described above, according to the occupant protection device of the first aspect of the present invention, in the configuration in which the airbag configured as an integral bag is stored in the upper part of the vehicle seat in a folded state. An excellent effect is obtained in that the restraining force of the head of the occupant at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle can be suppressed.

  According to the occupant protection device of the second aspect of the present invention, there is an excellent effect that the occupant can be effectively restrained from leaning forward at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

  According to the occupant protection device of the present invention described in claims 3 to 5, it is possible to suppress a sudden increase in restraining force that acts on the occupant's head during a frontal collision of the vehicle with a simple structure. There is an effect.

It is a side view which shows typically the operation state of the crew member protection device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a front view showing typically the operation state of the crew member protection device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the expansion | deployment deployment state of the multidirectional airbag which comprises the passenger | crew protection apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment, Comprising: (A) is sectional drawing along the 3A-3A line of FIG. 1, (B) is FIG. It is sectional drawing along line 3B-3B. It is a figure which shows the schematic whole structure before the action | operation of the passenger | crew protection apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment, Comprising: (A) is a side view, (B) is a front view. It is the principal part expanded sectional view which expanded the principal part of the passenger | crew protection device which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and was seen from the sheet | seat upper direction, Comprising: The state before a metal plate is plastically deformed is shown by (A), B) shows a state in which the metal plate is plastically deformed. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part corresponding to FIG. 5, which is an enlarged view of the main part of the occupant protection device according to the second embodiment viewed from above the seat, and (A) shows a state before the tear seam is broken. (B) shows a state in which the tear seam is broken. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part corresponding to FIG. 5, which is an enlarged view of the main part of an occupant protection device according to a third embodiment, viewed from above the seat, and (A) shows a state before the tear seam is broken. (B) shows a state in which the tear seam is broken.

<First Embodiment>
An occupant protection device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. An arrow FR and an arrow UP that are appropriately described in each figure indicate the forward direction (direction toward the seated person) and the upward direction of the vehicle seat 12, respectively. Hereinafter, when simply using the front / rear, up / down, left / right directions, unless otherwise specified, the front / rear direction of the seat, the up / down direction of the seat / up / down direction, and the left / right direction of the front / rear direction of the seat are shown. And In this embodiment, the vehicle seat 12 has the front-rear direction of the seat aligned with the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the up-down direction of the seat is aligned with the up-down direction of the vehicle, and the seat width direction is aligned with the vehicle width direction. An arrow IN appropriately described in each drawing indicates a vehicle center side in the vehicle width direction of an automobile as a vehicle on which the vehicle seat 12 is mounted.

(Overall configuration of occupant protection device)
As shown in FIG. 1, the occupant protection device 10 is mounted on a vehicle seat 12. The vehicle seat 12 is arranged to be offset to the left or right (left side in the present embodiment) with respect to the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body (not shown). The vehicle seat 12 includes a seat cushion 14, a seat back 16 having a lower end connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 14, and a headrest 18 provided at the upper end of the seat back 16.

  1 to 4 show a state in which a crash test dummy (doll) D is seated on the seat cushion 14 of the vehicle seat 12 as a model of an occupant to be protected. The dummy D is, for example, AM50 (50th percentile of an American adult male) of WorldSID (World Side Impact Dummy). The dummy D is seated in a standard seating posture (normal state) defined by the collision test method, and the vehicle seat 12 is located at a reference setting position corresponding to the seating posture. The head H of the dummy D is a part above the neck including the face, and the face is directed forward of the vehicle (front of the seat). Hereinafter, the dummy D is referred to as “occupant D” for easy understanding.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the occupant protection device 10 includes a multidirectional airbag device 20, a side airbag device 22, and a seat belt device 24 for protecting the occupant D from various types of collisions. It is configured to include. Hereinafter, the schematic configuration of the seat belt device 24 and the side airbag device 22 will be described, and then the detailed configuration of the multidirectional airbag device 20 will be described.

  The seat belt device 24 is a three-point seat belt device, and the other end of a belt (webbing) 28 having one end wound around the retractor 26 so as to be drawable is fixed to the anchor 24A. Further, a tongue plate 24T is slidably provided on the belt 28, and the belt 28 is attached to the occupant D by locking the tongue plate 24T to the buckle 24B. The belt 28 is attached to the occupant D in a mounted state, a shoulder belt 28S attached to the upper body of the occupant D, and a lap belt 28L that extends from the tongue plate 24T to the anchor 24A and is attached to the waist of the occupant D. Including.

  In the present embodiment, the seat belt device 24 is a so-called seat belt device with a seat in which the retractor 26, the anchor 24 </ b> A, and the buckle 24 </ b> B are provided in the vehicle seat 12. In the present embodiment, the retractor 26 has a pretensioner function that forcibly winds up the belt 28 when operated. The operation of the pretensioner function of the retractor 26 is controlled by an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 60 described later (see FIG. 4A).

  The side airbag device 22 includes an inflator 22A and a side airbag 22B. The side airbag device 22 is housed in a side portion of the seat back 16 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction in a folded state. When the inflator 22A is operated, the inflator 22A generates gas in the side airbag 22B. The side airbag 22B is projected forward from the side portion of the seat back 16 by this gas and is inflated and deployed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the occupant D. In this embodiment, the side airbag 22B is configured to be inflated and deployed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the waist P, abdomen A, chest B, and shoulder S of the occupant D. The operation of the inflator 22A is controlled by an ECU 60 described later (see FIG. 4A).

(Configuration of multi-directional airbag device)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the multidirectional airbag device 20 includes a multidirectional airbag 30 as an airbag, an inflator 32, a strap 52 as a connecting cloth, and a reaction force increase suppression unit 33. It consists of The modularized multidirectional airbag device 20 is provided on the upper portion of the vehicle seat 12. Specifically, the multidirectional airbag device 20 is provided on the seat back 16 on the seat rear side of the headrest 18.

  The multidirectional airbag 30 is configured as an integral bag body that is inflated and deployed so as to cover the head H of the occupant D (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “head H”) from the front and both left and right sides. . More specifically, the multidirectional airbag 30 includes a pair of left and right frame ducts 35 that are inflated and deployed on both the left and right sides with respect to the head H, and an area including the upper portion, and an area including the front of the head H. It includes a front unfolding portion 36 that unfolds, a pair of lateral unfolding portions 38 that unfolds in a region including both the left and right sides of the head H, and an upper unfolding portion 48 that unfolds in a region including the upper portion of the head H. ing.

  The frame duct 35 is provided on both sides of the head H in the seat width direction to form a pair, and is configured to be inflated and deployed in a substantially U shape that opens downward in a side view. Specifically, the frame duct 35 includes a rear duct 35R extending up and down along the headrest 18, an upper duct 35U extending forward from the upper end of the rear duct 35R, and a front end of the upper duct 35U in a side view in the inflated and deployed state. And a front duct 35 </ b> F suspended from the front.

  The front deployment part 36 includes a front expansion part 40 including a part deployed in front of the head H, and a non-expansion part 42 that partitions the front expansion part 40 into a plurality of expansion parts. In the present embodiment, the front inflating portion 40 has a pair of upper and lower inflating portions 40A that are inflated and deployed adjacent to each other in the seat width direction with the up-and-down direction as a longitudinal direction, and an upper body located below the pair of up-and-down inflating portions 40A. The lower inflating portion 40L as a restraining portion is included. The pair of upper and lower inflatable portions 40A is configured to be inflated and deployed in front (front) of the head H, and the lower inflatable portion 40L is inflated and deployed on the seat front side with respect to at least one of the shoulder S and the chest B of the occupant D. It is supposed to be configured.

  The non-expandable portion 42 includes a non-expandable portion 42A that partitions the pair of vertical expandable portions 40A in the seat width direction, and a non-expandable portion 42B that is interposed between each vertical expandable portion 40A and the front duct 35F of the frame duct 35. It is comprised including. In the present embodiment, the non-inflatable portion 42A is configured by a linear seam extending vertically, and the non-inflatable portion 42B is configured as a portion surrounded by an annular (endless) seam extending vertically.

  The lateral expansion portion 38 is configured to include a lateral expansion portion 44 that is inflated and deployed on the side of the head H upon supply of gas, and a non-expandable portion 46. In the present embodiment, the laterally expanded portion 38 in the inflated and expanded state is surrounded by the frame duct 35 from the three sides of the rear, upper, and front, and has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the side. Further, the laterally extending portion 38 has a size (area) that wraps on substantially the entire head H in a side view. The lateral expansion portion 44 of the lateral expansion portion 38 is partitioned from the frame duct 35 by a non-expandable portion 46 having an inverted U shape that opens downward. In the present embodiment, the front side of the lateral expansion portion 44 of the lateral deployment portion 38 is indirectly connected to the front expansion portion 40 via the front duct 35F of the frame duct 35.

  In the inflated and deployed state of the multidirectional airbag 30, the left and right laterally deployed portions 38 are configured such that the lower ends 44 </ b> B of the laterally inflated portions 44 are in contact with the shoulder S of the occupant D. The vertical position of the inflated and deployed multidirectional airbag 30 relative to the occupant D (head H) is determined by the contact of the lower end 44B of the lateral inflatable portion 44 with the shoulder S. In this positioning state, the multidirectional airbag 30 is in contact with the head H with respect to the occupant D taking a normal seating posture, all of the front deployment part 36, the left and right lateral deployment parts 38, and the upper deployment part 48 described later. Not configured (a gap is formed).

  The upper development part 48 is a development part that is inflated and deployed above the head H with the sheet width direction as a longitudinal direction. Further, the upper developing part 48 is provided with a seam that is a non-expanding part (not shown), and the thickness of the upper developing part 48 in the sheet vertical direction is limited by the seam.

  As an example, the multi-directional airbag 30 configured as described above is formed as an integral bag body by OPW (abbreviation for One Piece Woven). And the multidirectional airbag 30 is accommodated in the airbag case 50 provided in the upper part of the vehicle seat 12 in the folded state. Note that, for example, the multidirectional airbag 30 may be formed as an integral bag body by a method (Cut & Sewing) of stitching the peripheral edges of two fabrics.

  The airbag case 50 is provided on the seat rear side of the headrest main body 19 constituting the headrest 18. The headrest main body 19 is disposed behind the head H of the occupant D so that the head of the occupant D can be supported from behind, and includes a cushioning material therein. The headrest body 19 is connected to the seat back 16 via a stay 21.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inflator 32 is provided in the airbag case 50 together with the multidirectional airbag 30. The inflator 32 employs a combustion type or a cold gas type, and supplies the gas generated by being operated into the multidirectional airbag 30. The inflator 32 of the present embodiment is a cylinder-type inflator, and is arranged with the sheet width direction as a longitudinal direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, the operation of the inflator 32 is controlled by the ECU 60 that is a control device.

  The ECU 60 is electrically connected to the retractor 26 of the seat belt device 24, the inflator 22 </ b> A of the side airbag device 22, and the inflator 32 of the multidirectional airbag device 20. The ECU 60 is electrically connected to a collision prediction sensor 62 such as a pre-crash sensor and a collision sensor 64.

  Based on the signal from the collision prediction sensor 62, the ECU 60 can predict that various types of collisions with the automobile are inevitable. The collision prediction sensor 62 includes, for example, a stereo camera (not shown) provided in the vicinity of the center of the windshield glass near the vehicle width direction. Then, the front side of the vehicle is photographed by this stereo camera, and a collision object to the vehicle is detected. Further, the distance to the collision object detected by the stereo camera, the relative speed between the vehicle and the collision object, and the like are measured, and the measurement data is output to the ECU 60. Then, the ECU 60 determines whether or not a vehicle collision is inevitable based on the measurement data from the stereo camera. The collision prediction sensor 62 may be configured by a millimeter wave radar or the like.

  Further, when the ECU 60 detects a vehicle collision based on a signal from the collision sensor 64, the ECU 60 activates the pretensioner mechanism of the retractor 26 and the inflator 32. Thereby, the gas generated in the inflator 32 is supplied to the multidirectional airbag 30. The collision sensor 64 includes, as an example, a front satellite sensor composed of an acceleration sensor disposed on the front side member, and a floor sensor composed of an acceleration sensor disposed on the floor below the center console. .

(Configuration of the strap 52 and the reaction force increase suppressing portion 33)
Next, the strap 52 and the reaction force increase suppression unit 33 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the strap 52 is a long member that extends in the front-rear direction of the seat when the multidirectional airbag 30 is inflated and deployed. As shown in FIG. 3A, the strap 52 is provided in a pair of left and right with respect to the multidirectional airbag 30. In addition, illustration of the strap 52 is abbreviate | omitted in the front view of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the front end side (one end side) of the strap 52 is connected to the front deployment portion 36 of the front portion of the multidirectional airbag 30, specifically, the lower inflation in the front inflation portion 40. The portion 40L is sewn. On the other hand, the rear end side (the other end side) of the strap 52 is connected to a later-described reaction force increase suppressing portion 33 provided at the lower portion of the headrest 18, and the strap 52 moves forward as viewed from the seat width direction. It is inclined so as to be positioned downward as it goes. The strap 52 is formed of a member having an elongation equal to or less than that of the multidirectional airbag 30. In this embodiment, the strap 52 extends before the multidirectional airbag 30 is fully extended. The length and elongation rate of the strap 52 are set so as to be able to. For this reason, as the multi-directional airbag 30 in the inflated and deployed state is stretched forward, the strap 52 extends toward the front of the seat, and tension is applied to the multi-directional airbag 30 in the direction of returning to the rear of the seat. Is done. By providing the strap 52 in this manner, the multidirectional airbag 30 is prevented from being fully extended to the front side of the seat.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the rear end of the strap 52 is fixed to the front end portion 54 </ b> A of the metal plate 54 that constitutes the reaction force increase suppressing portion 33. The reaction force increase suppressing portion 33 includes a metal plate 54, a pair of front guide pins 51, a pair of rear guide pins 55, and a locking pin 53.

  The metal plate 54 is disposed inside the airbag case 50 except for the front end portion 54A, the front side of the metal plate 54 is passed between the pair of front guide pins 51, and the rear side of the metal plate 54 is the rear of the pair. It passes between the side guide pins 55.

  Both the front guide pin 51 and the rear guide pin 55 are fixed to the airbag case 50 with the seat vertical direction as the axial direction, and the front guide pin 51 is provided at the front end of the airbag case 50. . The rear guide pin 55 is provided at a position offset to the rear side of the seat with respect to the front guide pin 51, and between the pair of front guide pins 51 and between the pair of rear guide pins 55. A gap slightly wider than the thickness of the metal plate 54 is formed.

  One locking pin 53 is provided between the front guide pin 51 and the rear guide pin 55. The locking pin 53 has the same shape as the front guide pin 51 and the rear guide pin 55, and both ends are fixed to the airbag case 50 with the seat vertical direction as the axial direction.

  The metal plate 54 is curved so that a portion between the front guide pin 51 and the rear guide pin 55 is convex inward in the sheet width direction in plan view, and this portion is a bent portion 54C. The bent portion 54 </ b> C is provided with a gap between the bent portion 54 </ b> C and the locking pin 53 in an initial state before the tension is applied to the metal plate 54. The rear end portion 54 </ b> B of the metal plate 54 is fixed to the airbag case 50 by a fixing portion 56.

  Here, when the multi-directional airbag 30 is pulled to the front side of the seat and the tension acting on the strap 52 exceeds a predetermined value, the tension acts on the metal plate 54 connected to the rear end of the strap 52. Then, the metal plate 54 is pulled to the front side of the sheet. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5B, the metal plate 54 is plastically deformed so that the bent portion 54C is opened, and the gap between the bent portion 54C and the locking pin 53 is reduced. When the metal plate 54 is further pulled, the bent portion 54 </ b> C comes into contact with the locking pin 53, and the plastic deformation of the metal plate 54 is stopped by the locking pin 53. When the metal plate 54 is plastically deformed in this manner, the front end portion 54A of the metal plate 54 moves to the front side of the seat and the strap 52 moves to the front side of the seat as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. Note that the two-dot chain line shown in FIG. 5B represents the shape of the metal plate 54 in the initial state.

(Function and effect)
Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

  The occupant protection device 10 of this embodiment includes a strap 52, the front end of the strap 52 is connected to the front portion of the multidirectional airbag 30, and the rear end of the strap 52 is connected to the metal plate 54 (headrest 18). Has been. Further, the strap 52 has the following elongation rate like the multidirectional airbag 30. Thereby, the restraint force (reaction force) of the restraint initial stage at the time of the frontal collision of a vehicle can be raised. That is, when the occupant D inertially moves forward of the seat at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the multi-directional airbag 30 is stretched forward of the seat by the head H of the occupant D. At this time, tension is applied to the multi-directional airbag 30 in the direction of returning to the rear side of the seat by the strap 52, and the multi-directional airbag 30 can be suppressed from being stretched forward in the forward direction. As a result, the multidirectional airbag 30 can be prevented from being fully extended.

  In the present embodiment, the reaction force increase suppressing portion 33 is provided on the rear end side of the strap 52, and the reaction force increase suppressing portion 33 is configured when the tension acting on the strap 52 exceeds a predetermined value. The metal plate 54 to be plastically deformed moves the front end side of the strap 52 to the front side of the seat. Thereby, the multidirectional airbag 30 and the strap 52 are stretched to the front side of the seat by the head H of the occupant D that moves inertially to the front side of the seat at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and the tension acting on the strap 52 becomes a predetermined value or more. In the late stage of restraint, the front end side of the strap 52 can be moved to the front side of the seat. Further, the metal plate 54 is plastically deformed to absorb energy. As a result, the strap 52 can be prevented from being fully extended, and the restraining force of the head H of the occupant D can be prevented from rapidly increasing during a frontal collision of the vehicle with a simple structure.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the front end side of the strap 52 is connected to the lower inflating portion 40L that is inflated and deployed on the front side of the seat with respect to at least one of the shoulder portion S and the chest portion B of the occupant D. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the upper body of the occupant D from moving forward of the seat at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and it is possible to effectively suppress the occupant D from taking a forward leaning posture.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the multidirectional airbag 30 is developed as an integral bag body that covers the head H of the occupant D by unfolding in a region including the front of the head H of the occupant D and a region including both the left and right sides. It is configured. As a result, the head H of the occupant D is covered by the multidirectional airbag 30 at the time of a vehicle collision, so that the head H of the occupant D can be restrained and protected against various types of collisions.

  In the present embodiment, the multidirectional airbag 30 is housed in the airbag case 50 provided on the seat rear side of the headrest body 19. For this reason, for example, compared with the configuration in which the gas supply pipe arranged so as to surround the head H of the occupant D from above always protrudes into the vehicle interior, the occupant protection before the operation is ensured while ensuring the same or higher occupant protection. The appearance can be improved. In addition, the front and rear position adjustment, height adjustment, reclining operation, and the like of the vehicle seat 12 are not hindered by the multidirectional airbag device 20.

Second Embodiment
Next, an occupant protection device 70 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the occupant protection device 70 of this embodiment includes a strap 72 as a connecting cloth. The strap 72 connects the front part and the rear part of the multidirectional airbag 30, and the front end part of the strap 72 is the lower inflating part 40L in the front inflating part 40 in the multidirectional airbag 30 as in the first embodiment. (See FIG. 1). Further, the rear end portion of the strap 72 is sewn to a non-expandable portion 46 that partitions the lateral expansion portion 44 (lateral expansion portion 38) and the rear duct 35R (frame duct 35). Furthermore, the strap 72 has an elongation rate equal to or less than that of the multidirectional airbag 30.

  The reaction force increase suppressing portion 74 constituting the occupant protection device 70 of the present embodiment includes two airbag excess length portions 76A and 76B provided in the non-inflatable portion 46. The airbag excess length portion 76A is formed by folding the front side of the non-inflatable portion 46 that partitions the laterally inflated portion 44 and the rear duct 35R inward in the seat width direction in a plan view, and is sewn by a tear seam 78A. On the other hand, the airbag surplus length portion 76B is formed by folding the rear side of the non-inflatable portion 46A from the airbag surplus length portion 76A inward in the seat width direction, and is sewn by a tear seam 78B.

  Here, each of the tear seams 78A and 78B is configured to be broken when a tension greater than a predetermined value acts on the strap 72 and the non-expandable portion 46 is stretched. For this reason, when the multidirectional airbag 30 and the strap 72 are gradually stretched by the head H of the occupant D that moves inertially toward the front of the seat at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and a tension greater than a predetermined value acts on the non-inflatable portion 46 The tear seams 78A and 78B are broken. The tear seams 78A and 78B are broken to expand the airbag excess length portions 76A and 76B, and the non-inflatable portion 46 is extended to the front side of the seat as indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 6B. The In FIG. 6B, the length of the non-expandable portion 46 is exaggerated for convenience of explanation.

(Function and effect)
Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

  In the occupant protection device 70 of the present embodiment, when the tension acting on the strap 72 exceeds a predetermined value, the tear seams 78A and 78B break and the airbag excess length portions 76A and 76B are deployed. As a result, the laterally deploying portion 38 of the multidirectional airbag 30 is extended forward of the seat by the length of the extra airbag portions 76A and 76B, and one end of the strap 72 can be moved forward of the seat.

  In the present embodiment, the distance by which one end of the strap 72 is moved to the front side of the seat by changing the length of the airbag surplus length portions 76A and 76B or increasing or decreasing the number of the airbag surplus length portions 76A and 76B. Can be adjusted freely. For example, if the lengths of the excess airbag portions 76A and 76B shown in FIG. 6A are increased, one end of the strap 72 can be moved further to the front side of the seat when the tear seams 78A and 78B are broken. .

<Third Embodiment>
Next, an occupant protection device 80 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the occupant protection device 80 of this embodiment includes a strap 82 as a connecting cloth. The strap 82 connects the front portion and the rear portion of the multidirectional airbag 30, and the front end portion of the strap 82 is a lower inflatable portion 40 </ b> L in the front inflatable portion 40 in the multidirectional airbag 30 as in the first embodiment. (See FIG. 1). The rear end portion of the strap 82 is sewn to a non-expandable portion 46 that partitions the lateral expansion portion 44 (lateral expansion portion 38) and the rear duct 35R (frame duct 35). Further, the strap 82 has an elongation rate equal to or less than that of the multidirectional airbag 30.

  The reaction force increase suppressing portion 84 constituting the occupant protection device 80 of the present embodiment is configured to include two connected cloth surplus length portions 86A and 86B provided on the strap 82. The connecting cloth surplus length portion 86A is formed by folding a part of the strap 82 outward in the seat width direction in plan view, and is sewn by a tear seam 88A. On the other hand, the connecting cloth surplus length portion 86B is formed by folding the back side of the strap 82 from the connecting cloth surplus length portion 86A outward in the seat width direction, and is sewn by a tear seam 88B.

  Here, each of the tear seams 88A and 88B is configured to be broken when a tension of a predetermined value or more acts on the strap 82. For this reason, when the multidirectional airbag 30 and the strap 82 are gradually stretched by the head H of the occupant D that moves inertially toward the front of the seat at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and a tension greater than a predetermined value acts on the strap 82, The tear seams 88A and 88B are broken. When the tear seams 88A and 88B are broken, the connecting cloth surplus length portions 86A and 86B are developed, and the strap 82 is extended to the front side of the seat as indicated by an arrow C in FIG. 7B.

(Function and effect)
Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

  In the occupant protection device 80 of the present embodiment, when the tension acting on the strap 82 exceeds a predetermined value, the tear seams 88A, 88B break and the connected cloth surplus length portions 86A, 86B are deployed. Thereby, the strap 82 is extended forward of the seat by the length of the connecting cloth surplus length portions 86A and 86B, and one end of the strap 82 can be extended (moved) forward of the seat.

  In the present embodiment, the distance by which one end of the strap 82 is moved to the front side of the seat by changing the length of the connecting cloth surplus length portions 86A and 86B or increasing or decreasing the number of the connecting cloth surplus length portions 86A and 86B. Can be adjusted freely. For example, if the lengths of the connecting cloth surplus length portions 86A and 86B shown in FIG. 7A are increased, one end of the strap 82 can be moved further to the front side of the seat when the tear seams 88A and 88B are broken. . Furthermore, since the strap 82 can be sewn to the multidirectional airbag 30 after the connecting cloth surplus length portions 86A and 86B are formed on the strap 82, compared to the case where the surplus length portion is formed on the multidirectional airbag 30. Easy to manufacture.

  The occupant protection device according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention has been described above. However, these embodiments may be used in combination as appropriate, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course, it can be implemented in any manner. For example, the strap of the above embodiment is connected to the lower inflating portion 40L that is inflated and deployed on the front side of the seat with respect to at least one of the shoulder portion S and the chest portion B of the occupant D. You may connect to 40 A of up-and-down expansion | swelling parts expanded and developed in front of. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which the front side of the strap is branched up and down and connected to both the lower expansion portion 40L and the vertical expansion portion 40A.

  Moreover, in 1st Embodiment, as FIG. 5 (A) showed, although the bending part 54C of the metal plate 54 was curved so that it might become convex in the sheet width direction, it is not limited to this. For example, it may be curved so as to be convex outward in the sheet width direction. Further, the sheet may be curved so as to be convex in the vertical direction of the sheet. In this case, the locking pin 53 is disposed with the sheet width direction as the axial direction. Further, the bent portion 54C may be formed by bending the metal plate 54 in the sheet width direction or the sheet vertical direction.

  Further, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), the airbag extra length portions 76A and 76B are provided in the non-inflatable portion 46 that partitions the lateral inflatable portion 44 and the rear duct 35R. It is not limited. For example, instead of or in addition to the airbag excess length portions 76A and 76B shown in FIG. 6 (A), air is added to the non-inflatable portion 46 (see FIG. 3 (A)) that partitions the lateral inflatable portion 44 and the front duct 35F. An extra bag portion may be provided.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the multi-directional airbag apparatus 20 was provided in the headrest 18 connected with the seat back 16 via the stay 21, it is not limited to this. For example, you may apply to the structure with which the headrest 18 and the seat back 16 were united. In this case, the region from the part supporting the upper part of the back of the occupant D to the part supporting the head H corresponds to the “upper part of the vehicle seat” of the present invention.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the inflator 32 is disposed inside the airbag case 50, but is not limited thereto. For example, the inflator 32 may be disposed inside the upper portion of the seat back 16. Further, the number and arrangement of the inflators 32 are not limited. For example, the inflators 32 may be arranged vertically in the seat back 16 so that the vertical direction of the seat is the longitudinal direction.

  Furthermore, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the seat belt device 24 is provided in the vehicle seat 12, and a configuration in which the retractor 26, the anchor 24A, the buckle 24B, and the like are provided on the vehicle body side may be employed. Further, in the configuration in which the occupant protection device 10 includes the seat belt device 24, the seat belt device 24 is not limited to the three-point type, and may be a four-point type seat belt device.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the vehicle seat 12 is arranged with the seat width direction aligned with the vehicle width direction is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vehicle seat 12 may be disposed obliquely with respect to the vehicle body, and may be configured such that the orientation with respect to the vehicle body can be changed (rotated about the vertical axis). Even in such a configuration, the multi-directional airbag 30 is inflated and deployed so as to cover the head H of the occupant D, and thus can contribute to good protection of the head H. Further, since the multi-directional airbag 30 is accommodated in the headrest 18, it is difficult to interfere with the interior surface of the vehicle interior or the vehicle interior components, and hindering the operation of changing the orientation of the vehicle seat 12 relative to the vehicle body is suppressed or prevented. The

10 occupant protection device 12 vehicle seat 18 headrest (upper part of vehicle seat)
30 Multi-directional airbag (airbag)
33 Reaction force rise suppression part 36 Front deployment part 38 Lateral deployment part 40L Lower expansion part (upper body restraint part)
52 Strap (connection cloth)
54 Metal plate 54A Front end (one end)
54B Rear end (other end)
54C Bending part 70 Crew protection device 72 Strap (connecting cloth)
74 Reaction force rise restraint part 76A, 76B Air bag surplus part 78A, 78B Tier seam 80 Passenger protection device 82 Strap (connection cloth)
84 Reaction force rise suppression part 86A, 86B Connection cloth surplus length part 88A, 88B Tear seam D Crew member H Head

Claims (5)

An integral bag body that is housed in the upper part of a vehicle seat, is inflated and deployed upon receiving gas supply, and is deployed in a region including the front of the passenger's head and a region including both the left and right sides to cover the head An airbag configured as
One end side is connected to the front portion of the airbag, the other end side is connected to the rear portion of the airbag or the upper portion of the vehicle seat, and a connecting cloth having an elongation equal to or less than that of the airbag;
A reaction force increase suppressing portion that is provided on the airbag or the connecting cloth and moves one end side of the connecting cloth to the seat front side when a tension acting on the connecting cloth is equal to or greater than a predetermined value;
An occupant protection device. The front deployment part deployed in the region including the front of the head in the airbag is provided with a body restraint part that is inflated and deployed on the front side of the seat with respect to at least one of the shoulder and chest of the occupant.
The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein one end side of the connecting cloth is connected to the upper body restraining portion. The reaction force increase suppression portion includes a metal plate having a bent portion that is curved or bent,
The metal plate has one end connected to the other end of the connecting cloth and the other end fixed to the headrest.
3. The one end side of the connecting cloth is moved to the front side of the sheet by plastic deformation of the metal plate so that the bent portion is opened when a tension of a predetermined value or more is applied to the connecting cloth. The occupant protection device described in 1. The reaction force increase suppression portion is a connected fabric surplus portion that is provided on the connecting fabric and sewn by a tear seam,
The occupant protection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when a tension of a predetermined value or more is applied to the connection cloth, the tear seam is broken and the connection cloth surplus length portion is developed. The reaction force increase suppression portion is an airbag excess length portion that is provided in a laterally deployed portion that is deployed in a region including the left and right sides of the head in the airbag and is sewn by a tear seam.
The occupant protection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when a tension of a predetermined value or more is applied to the connecting cloth, the tear seam is broken and the airbag excess length portion is deployed.

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