JP2017193283A - Occupant protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an occupant protection device, in a configuration in which an air bag is stored in a headrest or a seat back, which can prevent the seat back from being displaced to a seat rear side when the air bag is inflated and developed.SOLUTION: An occupant protection device 10 includes: a first air bag 30 configured as an integrally formed bag body that covers a head H of an occupant D, including a front inflation part 42 that is stored in a headrest 18 or a seat back 16 of a vehicular seat 12, and which is inflated and developed to a seat front side when gas is supplied, and inflated in front of the seat against the head H, and a pair of right and left lateral inflation parts 44 that are inflated at a seat side against the head H; and a second air bag 68 that is stored in the seat back 16, and which is inflated and developed to a seat rear side at the same time or immediately after the first air bag 30 is inflated and developed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an occupant protection device.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 supplies air from an inflator to a bag attached to the gas supply pipe through a gas supply pipe fixed to a seat back at the time of a collision, and expands the bag so as to cover the front and sides of the occupant. A bag device is disclosed. Further, in Patent Document 2, the airbag is inflated forward from the left and right end portions of the headrest and joined to each other on the front surface of the occupant's head, while the auxiliary airbag is inflated forward from the center portion of the headrest of the seat. An airbag device that joins a pair of airbags is disclosed. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses a configuration in which a hood is housed inside a cover provided on the upper portion of the seat back, and the hood is deployed by receiving gas supply from an inflator. The body is covered.

JP 2000-344044 A JP2013-018378A US Patent Publication 2013/0015642

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, since the gas supply pipe is provided on the seat back, it does not look good. Similarly, in the configuration of Patent Document 3, the inflator and the cover are exposed, and the appearance is poor. 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 these measures, the airbag is housed in the headrest or seat back of the vehicle seat, and the airbag is inflated and deployed to the front side of the seat to cover the occupant's head from the front and both the left and right sides. Can be considered. Here, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, a reaction force is applied from the headrest or the seat back to the airbag, whereby the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the front side of the seat. For this reason, when there is a space behind the vehicle seat such as the front seat of the vehicle seat or the second row of vehicle seats in the third row seat, the seat back is displaced rearward when the airbag is inflated and deployed. There is room for improvement.

  In consideration of the above facts, the present invention provides an occupant protection device capable of suppressing displacement of the seat back to the rear side of the seat when the airbag is inflated and deployed in a configuration in which the airbag is housed in the headrest or the seat back. For the purpose.

  The occupant protection device according to the first aspect of the present invention is housed in a headrest or a seat back of a vehicle seat, is inflated and deployed to the front side of the seat upon receipt of gas supply, A first bag configured as an integral bag body including the front inflating portion to be inflated and a pair of left and right lateral inflating portions connected to the front inflating portion and inflated laterally with respect to the head. 1 air bag and second air that is housed in the seat back, receives gas supply, and is inflated and deployed to the rear side of the seat at the same timing as the first airbag or immediately after the first airbag is inflated and deployed And a bag.

  In the occupant protection device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the first airbag is housed in the headrest or seat back of the vehicle seat. The first airbag is inflated and deployed from the headrest or the seat back to the front side of the seat upon receiving the gas supply. Moreover, since the 1st airbag is comprised as an integrated bag body which covers a passenger | crew's head including a front expansion part and a pair of right and left lateral expansion parts, it is a 1st airbag with respect to various collision forms. To restrict passenger movement (restrain the passenger) and protect the passenger.

  The second airbag is accommodated in the seat back, and the second airbag is inflated and deployed toward the rear side of the seat in the opposite direction to the first airbag when supplied with gas. Here, the second airbag is inflated and deployed toward the seat rear side at the same timing as the first airbag or immediately after the first airbag is inflated and deployed. As a result, a force toward the seat rear side acts on the headrest or seat back from the first airbag, whereas a force on the seat front side acts on the headrest or seat back from the second airbag. As a result, it is possible to suppress the seat back from being displaced rearward. The “same timing” here is not limited to the configuration in which gas is supplied to the first airbag and the second airbag at the same timing, and the first airbag is deployed from the headrest or the seat back. And the timing at which the second airbag is deployed from the seat back are the same timing. Further, “immediately after the first airbag starts to be deployed” is not limited to a configuration in which the second airbag is deployed from the seat back immediately after the first airbag is deployed from the headrest or the seat back. A configuration in which the second airbag starts to expand in the seat back immediately after the first airbag starts to expand in the headrest or the seat back is included. For this reason, the structure by which the expansion | deployment deployment of a 2nd airbag is started while the force to the seat back side is acting on a headrest or a seat back by the expansion | deployment deployment of a 1st airbag is included.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the occupant protection device according to the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, each of the first airbag and the second airbag is inflated and deployed by receiving a gas supply from a single inflator. .

  In the occupant protection device according to the second aspect of the present invention, gas is supplied to the first airbag and the second airbag by operating a single inflator. Thereby, compared with the structure which supplies gas from a separate inflator with respect to each airbag, a 1st airbag and a 2nd airbag can be inflate-deployed by a simple structure. In addition, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of inflators are used.

  According to a third 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 vehicle seat is rotatable in a plan view, and the front of the vehicle seat is a vehicle. If the rotation angle of the vehicle seat is within a predetermined angle with reference to the state of being coincident with the front, the amount of gas supplied to the second airbag is not limited and the rotation angle is larger than the predetermined angle. In this case, the amount of gas supplied to the second airbag is limited.

  In the occupant protection device according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the rotation angle of the vehicle seat is larger than the predetermined rotation angle, the gas supply amount to the second airbag is limited. Thereby, for example, when a vehicle collision is predicted or detected in a state where the rotation angle of the vehicle seat is larger than a predetermined rotation angle, the second airbag interferes with other vehicle seats, interior materials, and the like. Can be suppressed. Here, “restricting the gas supply amount to the second airbag” is not limited to the configuration in which the gas supply amount is smaller than when the rotation angle of the vehicle seat is within a predetermined angle. 2 It is a concept including the structure which stops the gas supply to an airbag on the way. In the following description, the same concept is used.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of any one of the first to third aspects, the occupant protection device according to the present invention is configured such that the seat back is tiltable rearward of the seat, and the seat back seat If the tilt angle with respect to the cushion is within a predetermined angle, the gas supply amount to the second airbag is not limited. If the tilt angle is larger than the predetermined angle, the gas to the second airbag is not limited. Limit supply.

  In the occupant protection device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the tilt angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion is larger than a predetermined angle, the gas supply amount to the second airbag is limited. Thus, for example, when a vehicle collision is predicted or detected in a state where the seat back is tilted rearward from the predetermined tilt angle, the second airbag interferes with other vehicle seats and interior materials. Can be suppressed.

  The occupant protection device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the configuration according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the first airbag is housed in the headrest, and the first airbag in the headrest is On the rear side of the seat of the airbag, a monitor is provided that displays an image for the passenger seated in the rear seat.

  In the occupant protection device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the monitor is provided on the rear side of the seat of the first airbag, a reaction force is applied from the monitor to the first airbag when the first airbag is inflated and deployed. Is granted. That is, the monitor can function as a reaction force plate that applies a reaction force to the first airbag.

  As described above, according to the occupant protection device of the first aspect of the present invention, in the configuration in which the airbag is housed in the headrest or the seat back, the seat back moves toward the rear side of the seat when the airbag is inflated and deployed. There is an excellent effect that the displacement can be suppressed.

  According to the occupant protection device of the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the seat back from being displaced rearward when the airbag is inflated and deployed with a simple configuration while reducing the number of parts. There is an excellent effect.

  According to the occupant protection device of the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the seat back from being displaced to the rear side of the vehicle when the rotation angle of the vehicle seat is within a predetermined angle. When the rotation angle is larger than a predetermined angle, there is an excellent effect that the second airbag can be prevented from interfering with other vehicle seats or interior materials.

  According to the occupant protection device of the present invention as set forth in claim 4, when the tilt angle of the seat back is within a predetermined angle, the seat back is prevented from being displaced to the rear side of the seat while the seat back is There is an excellent effect that the second airbag can be prevented from interfering with other vehicle seats and interior materials when tilted to the rear of the seat rather than the angle.

  According to the occupant protection device of the present invention described in claim 5, there is an excellent effect that it is not necessary to provide a dedicated reaction force plate.

It is a side view showing typically a protection mode of a seated person by a crew member protection device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a front view showing typically a protection mode of a seated person by a 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. FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged side view, partly cut away, for explaining an inflating and deploying process of the multidirectional airbag constituting the occupant protection device according to the first embodiment. It is a side view which shows typically the protection aspect of the seated person by the passenger | crew protection apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
An occupant protection device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 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 Note that an arrow IN appropriately described in each drawing indicates the 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 FIGS. 1 and 2, the occupant protection device 10 of the present embodiment 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). Further, the vehicle seat 12 of the present embodiment is a seat for a driver's seat, the seat front-rear direction matches the vehicle front-rear direction, and the seat width direction matches the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, 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.

  In each figure, a dummy (doll) D for a collision test is seated on a seat cushion 14 of a 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 determined by the collision test method, and the vehicle seat 12 is located at a reference setting position corresponding to the seating posture. Hereinafter, the dummy D is referred to as a “seating person D” for easy understanding.

  The occupant protection device 10 includes a multi-directional airbag device 20, a side airbag device 22, a seat belt device 24, a rear seat airbag device 66, and a control for protecting the occupant D from various types of collisions. And an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 60 as a unit. Hereinafter, schematic configurations of the seat belt device 24 and the side airbag device 22 will be described, and then the multidirectional airbag device 20 and the rear seat airbag device 66 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. A tongue plate 24T is slidably provided on the belt 28, and the belt 28 is attached to the seated person D by locking the tongue plate 24T to the buckle 24B. The belt 28 extends from the retractor 26 to the tongue plate 24T and restrains the upper body of the seater D, and the belt 28 extends from the tongue plate 24T to the anchor 24A. And a lap belt 28L that restrains the waist portion P of the seated person D.

  In the present embodiment, the seat belt device 24 is a so-called seat belt device with a seat in which a retractor 26, an anchor 24 </ b> A, and a buckle 24 </ b> B are provided in the vehicle seat 12. In addition, the retractor 26 of the present embodiment includes a pretensioner as a belt winding mechanism that forcibly applies tension to the belt 28 when operated. The pretensioner is operated by an ECU 60 described later.

  The side airbag device 22 is configured to include an inflator 22A and a side airbag 22B, and the side airbag 22B is stored in a side portion on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the seat back 16 in a folded state. Yes. 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 seated person D. In the present 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, the abdomen A, the chest B, and the shoulder S of the seated person D.

(Configuration of multi-directional airbag device)
As shown in FIG. 1, the multidirectional airbag device 20 includes a multidirectional airbag 30 as a first airbag, an inflator 32, and a module case 34 that constitutes the headrest 18. The multidirectional airbag 30 is folded in a state where it can be supplied with gas from an inflator 32 and is stored in a module case 34. This will be specifically described below.

(Multidirectional airbag)
As shown in FIG. 3A in a cross-sectional view, the multidirectional airbag 30 is configured to place the head H of the seated person D (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “head H”) from the front and both left and right sides. It is configured as an integral bag body that is inflated and deployed so as to cover. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the multidirectional airbag 30 is deployed on the front deployment portion 36 deployed in front of the head H and on the left and right sides of the head H. It is comprised including a pair of horizontal expansion | deployment part 38. FIG.

  The front deployment part 36 includes a mesh part 40 as a visible structure that is deployed in front of the head H, and a front expansion part 42 that is inflated and deployed around the mesh part 40 in front view. The mesh portion 40 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and the front expansion portion 42 has a substantially rectangular frame shape in which the inner peripheral edge is joined to the mesh portion 40. The front inflating portion 42 is inflated and deployed upon receiving gas supply.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a portion of the front inflating portion 42 that mainly surrounds the mesh portion 40 above the seat back 16 is a first inflating portion 42 </ b> A that is inflated and deployed in front of the head H. In addition, a portion of the front inflating portion 42 that is positioned below the first inflating portion 42A (wrapped on the seat back 16 in a front view) is inflated and deployed in front of the chest B and shoulder S of the seated person D. It is set as the 2 expansion part 42B. The gas is supplied to the second inflating part 42B through the first inflating part 42A. In the present embodiment, the portion of the first inflating portion 42A located below the mesh portion 40 is partitioned from the other portions of the first inflating portion 42A by the seam 42S, and the gas is passed through the second inflating portion 42B. Is to be supplied.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lateral expansion section 38 is divided into a lateral expansion section 44 that is inflated and deployed on the side of the head H upon receiving gas supply, and a lateral expansion section 44 that extends in the vertical direction and is divided forward and backward. And a seam portion 46 as a non-inflatable portion. The lateral expansion portion 44 has a size (area) that wraps over the entire head H in a side view, and the seam portion 46 is a portion that wraps with the head H in the lateral expansion portion 44. Is divided into front and rear.

  The front ends of the left and right lateral expansion portions 44 are connected in communication with the lower end of the first expansion portion 42A in the front expansion portion 42 (near the boundary with the second expansion portion 42B). As a result, the left and right lateral inflating portions 44 are inflated and deployed when the gas from the inflator 32 is supplied via the front inflating portion 42. On the other hand, between the 1st expansion part of the front expansion part 42, and the horizontal expansion part 44, the upper part of the above-mentioned communicating part is partitioned off by the seam part 47 as a non-expansion part.

  The left and right lateral deployment portions 38 are configured such that the lower end 44L of each lateral inflation portion 44 contacts the shoulder S of the seated person D when the multidirectional airbag 30 is inflated and deployed. The vertical position of the inflated and deployed multidirectional airbag 30 with respect to the seated person (head H thereof) is determined by the contact of the lower end 44L of the lateral inflatable part 44 with the shoulder S.

  In this positioning state, the multi-directional airbag 30 has a front deployment portion 36, left and right lateral deployment portions 38, and an upper deployment portion 48, which will be described later, with respect to a seated person D taking a normal seating posture. It is set as the structure which does not contact (a clearance gap is formed).

  The multidirectional airbag 30 has an upper deployment portion 48 that is deployed above the head H of the seated person D by connecting the upper edges of the front deployment portion 36 and the left and right lateral deployment portions 38. The upper expansion part 48 is mainly configured by an upper expansion part 50 that is inflated and deployed by receiving gas supply. As shown in FIG. 3 (B), the upper inflating portion 50 includes a central inflating portion 50C that is inflated and deployed above the head H, and a duct portion that extends along the front-rear direction on the left and right of the central inflating portion 50C. It is comprised including a pair of upper duct part 50D.

  Furthermore, the multidirectional airbag 30 has a rear deployment portion 52 that is deployed behind the upper deployment portion 48. As shown in FIG. 3A, the rear deployment part 52 includes a rear duct part 54 that is an expansion part and a non-expansion part 56. The rear duct portion 54 is separated into left and right, and the upper ends of the rear duct portion 54 are connected in communication with the upper duct portion 50D corresponding to the left and right. The left and right rear duct portions 54 are connected to each other by a non-expandable portion 56 whose front edge is joined to the rear edge of the central expansion portion 50C.

  The unconstrained inflated and deployed multi-directional airbag 30 that does not restrain the occupant D is overlapped with the side airbag 22B in the inflated and deployed state that does not restrain the occupant D in a side view, as shown in FIG. It is configured not to wrap (do not wrap). In other words, the multidirectional airbag 30 and the side airbag 22B are configured so as not to mutually have inflated and deployed portions that wrap in at least a side view in an unconstrained inflated and deployed state. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the unconstrained inflated and deployed multidirectional airbag 30 is configured not to overlap the unrestrained inflated and deployed side airbag 22B that does not restrain the seated person D in a front view. ing.

  As described above, the multidirectional airbag 30 that is inflated and deployed has a deployed shape (flat pattern) before being folded. The developed multi-directional airbag 30 is formed as an integral bag body by OPW (abbreviation for One Piece Woven). Note that the multidirectional airbag 30 may be formed as an integral bag body by a method (Cut & See) of stitching the peripheral edges of two fabrics.

(Inflator)
The inflator 32 employs a combustion type or a cold gas type, and supplies gas generated by being operated into the multidirectional airbag 30. In the present embodiment, the inflator 32 is a cylinder-type inflator, is housed in the upper part of the seat back 16, and is fixed to a seat back frame (not shown). The inflator 32 is arranged with the sheet width direction as a longitudinal direction.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper gas supply pipe 32A extends from the inflator 32 to the upper side of the seat, and the multidirectional airbag 30 is connected to the upper gas supply pipe 32A. A lower gas supply pipe 32B extends from the inflator 32 to the lower side of the seat, and a rear seat airbag 68 described later is connected to the lower gas supply pipe 32B. That is, the inflator 32 constitutes the multidirectional airbag device 20 and the rear seat airbag device 66. In this way, the multidirectional airbag 30 and the rear seat airbag 68 are configured to be inflated and deployed by receiving gas supply from the single inflator 32. The operation of the inflator 32 is controlled by an ECU 60 described later.

(Module case)
As shown in FIG. 1, the headrest 18 includes a headrest main body 19 and a module case 34 arranged on the seat rear side of the headrest main body 19. The headrest body 19 constitutes a front portion of the headrest 18 and is disposed on the seat rear side of the head H of the seated person D. The headrest body 19 is attached to the seat back 16 via a headrest stay.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the headrest body 19 is attached to the seat back 16 via a headrest stay 18 </ b> S. The headrest stay 18S connects the headrest main body 19 and the seat back 16 in the seat vertical direction, and the upper portion 18SU is positioned forward with respect to the lower portion 18SL supported by the seat back 16. In addition, the headrest stay 18S is configured by connecting the lower portion 18SL and the upper portion 18SU at an inclined intermediate portion 18SC.

  On the other hand, the module case 34 disposed on the seat rear side of the headrest main body 19 is a backboard constituting the headrest 18 (rear design). Therefore, the multidirectional airbag 30 is housed in the rear portion of the headrest 18.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the module case 34 protrudes above the upper end of the headrest body 19 in a front view, and projects from both sides of the headrest body 19 in the seat width direction. That is, the module case 34 covers the headrest body 19 from the rear. In the present embodiment, the module case 34 covers the rear portion of the headrest body 19 from above and from both the left and right sides, and constitutes the rear design of the headrest 18 as described above.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the module case 34 includes a base portion 34B, a main wall 34M, and a pair of left and right side walls 34S as main portions. The base portion 34 </ b> B is in contact with the upper end of the seat back 16.

  The main wall 34M extends upward from the rear end of the base portion 34B, is inclined forward so that the upper end is positioned forward with respect to the lower end, and has a curved shape that protrudes rearward and upward in a side view. ing. Further, the main wall 34M protrudes above the upper end of the headrest body 19 in a front view, and projects from both sides of the headrest body 19 in the seat width direction.

  A space for accommodating the folded multidirectional airbag 30 is formed between the main wall 34 </ b> M and the headrest body 19. Further, the upper end of the main wall 34 </ b> M reaches the top of the headrest 18. The multi-directional airbag 30 in the inflating and deploying process passes between the upper end portion of the main wall 34M and the headrest body 19. In the inflated and deployed multidirectional airbag 30, the rear deployment part 52 passes between the upper end of the main wall 34M and the headrest body 19. At this time, a reaction force is applied from the main wall 34M to the multidirectional airbag 30. That is, the main wall 34M of the module case 34 functions as a reaction force plate.

  The pair of side walls 34S extends forward from both ends of the main wall 34M in the seat width direction, and covers the rear part of the headrest body 19 in a side view. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, between the pair of side walls 34S and the headrest body 19, a laterally deployed portion 38 (in the vicinity of the boundary with the rear deployed portion 52) of the multidirectional airbag 30 in the inflated and deployed state. Part)).

  The module case 34 described above accommodates the folded multidirectional airbag 30 between the headrest body 19 and the module case 34. The inflator 32 is fastened to the seat back frame by stud bolts together with the multidirectional airbag 30 and the base portion 34B of the module case 34.

  Here, the multidirectional airbag 30 is folded in an outer roll and stored in the module case 34. The outer roll folding is a roll-like folding mode from the front end side to the upper side and the rear side so as to fold the unfolding process in the opposite direction. In other words, the outer roll fold is a fold in which the roll fold portion 30R is positioned outside (the side opposite to the head H side) in the process of deploying the multidirectional airbag 30, as indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. It is considered as an embodiment. As described above, the multi-directional airbag 30 in which the lateral deployment portion 38 is sewn to the upper deployment portion 48 and the rear deployment portion 52 has the lateral deployment portion 38 at a stage where the front deployment portion 36 and the upper deployment portion 48 are folded outwardly. Is folded into the roll.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the module case 34 and the headrest body 19 are closed by an airbag door 35. The airbag door 35 is configured to allow inflation and deployment of the multidirectional airbag 30 to the front by being cleaved by the tear line 35T that is a fragile portion by the deployment pressure of the multidirectional airbag 30. Yes.

(Configuration of rear seat airbag device)
As shown in FIG. 1, the rear seat airbag device 66 includes a rear seat airbag 68 as a second airbag, an inflator 32, and a reaction force plate 70.

(Rear seat airbag)
As shown in FIG. 5, the rear seat airbag 68 is folded in a state where it can be supplied with gas from the inflator 32, and is stored in the seat back 16. One end of the rear seat airbag 68 is connected to the lower gas supply pipe 32 </ b> B of the inflator 32. Further, a sewing portion (not shown) is provided on the skin located behind the rear seat airbag 68 in the seat back 16. The sewn portion is broken by the deployment pressure of the rear seat airbag 68, so that the rear surface of the seat back 16 is opened up and down to allow the rear seat airbag 68 to be inflated and deployed rearward. ing.

  The reaction force plate 70 is disposed in the seat back 16 with the front-rear direction of the seat as the plate thickness direction, and is fixed to a seat back frame (not shown). Further, the reaction force plate 70 is positioned on the front side of the seat of the rear seat airbag 68. A reaction force is applied from the reaction force plate 70 to the rear seat airbag 68 when the rear seat airbag 68 is inflated and deployed.

  Here, the rear seat airbag 68 is configured to be inflated and deployed at the same timing as the multidirectional airbag 30 or immediately after the start of inflating and deploying the multidirectional airbag 30. In the present embodiment, the rear seat airbag 68 and the multidirectional airbag 30 are inflated and deployed at the same timing. Note that the rear seat airbag 68 may be inflated and deployed immediately after the start of inflation and deployment of the multidirectional airbag 30 by increasing the length of the lower gas supply pipe 32B in the inflator 32.

(Configuration of ECU)
As shown in FIG. 4A, the multidirectional airbag device 20, the side airbag device 22, and the seat belt device 24 constituting the occupant protection device 10 are controlled by an ECU 60 as a control device. Yes. Specifically, the ECU 60 is electrically connected to the inflator 32 of the multidirectional airbag device 20, the inflator 22 </ b> A of the side airbag device 22, and the retractor 26 of the seat belt device 24. The ECU 60 is electrically connected to a collision prediction sensor 62 such as a pre-crash sensor and a collision sensor 64 (or sensor group).

  Based on the signal from the collision prediction sensor 62, the ECU 60 can predict various forms of frontal collision (occurrence or unavoidable) with respect to the applied automobile for each of the following collision forms. Further, the ECU 60 can predict a side collision (occurrence or unavoidable) with respect to the applied vehicle based on a signal from the collision prediction sensor 62.

  The ECU 60 activates the pretensioner and activates the inflator 32 when a frontal collision is predicted based on a signal from the collision prediction sensor 62 or when a frontal collision is detected based on a signal from the collision sensor 64. Let By actuating the pretensioner, tension is applied to the belt 28 and the seat occupant D is restrained by the seat back 16. On the other hand, when the inflator 32 is operated, the multidirectional airbag 30 is inflated and deployed forward of the seat. In addition, the rear seat airbag 68 is inflated and deployed rearward of the seat at the same timing as the multidirectional airbag 30. The form of the frontal collision in which the ECU 60 operates the inflator 32 is a full-wrapped frontal collision, an offset frontal collision, or the like.

  The ECU 60 determines whether a frontal collision to a position offset by a predetermined value or more on one side in the vehicle width direction is predicted based on a signal from the collision prediction sensor 62 or based on a signal from the collision sensor 64. When a collision is detected, the pretensioner is activated and the inflator 22A and the inflator 32 are activated. By actuating the pretensioner, tension is applied to the belt 28 and the seat occupant D is restrained by the seat back 16. On the other hand, by operating the inflator 22A and the inflator 32, the side airbag 22B is inflated and deployed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the seated person D, and the multidirectional airbag 30 is inflated and deployed forward of the seat. In addition, the rear seat airbag 68 is inflated and deployed rearward of the seat at the same timing as the multidirectional airbag 30. Note that the frontal collision at a position offset by a predetermined value or more on one side in the vehicle width direction includes an oblique collision, a minute lap collision, and the like.

  Here, the oblique collision (MDB oblique collision, oblique collision) is, for example, a collision from an oblique front defined by NHTSA (for example, a relative angle of 15 ° with the collision partner and a lap amount of about 35% in the vehicle width direction) Clash). In this embodiment, an oblique collision at a relative speed of 90 km / hr is assumed as an example. In addition, the minute lap collision is a collision in which the lap amount in the vehicle width direction with the collision partner specified by IIHS is 25% or less among the frontal collision of the automobile. For example, a collision to the outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to a front side member that is a vehicle body skeleton corresponds to a minute lap collision. In the present embodiment, as an example, a minute lap collision at a relative speed of 64 km / hr is assumed. NHTSA is an abbreviation for National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States. Also, IIHS is an abbreviation for the American Institute for Highway Safety (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

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

  In the occupant protection device 10 of the present embodiment, a rear seat airbag 68 is accommodated in the seat back 16, and the rear seat airbag 68 is supplied with gas from the inflator 32 and is defined as the multidirectional airbag 30. It is inflated and deployed toward the rear side of the seat in the opposite direction. Here, the rear seat airbag 68 is inflated and deployed toward the seat rear side at the same timing as the multidirectional airbag 30. As a result, the force toward the rear of the seat acts on the vehicle seat 12 (headrest 18) from the multi-directional airbag 30, whereas the seat on the vehicle seat 12 (seat back 16) from the rear seat airbag 68. A forward force is applied. As a result, it is possible to suppress the seat back 16 from being displaced rearward.

  In order to quickly protect the seated person D, the multidirectional airbag 30 may be inflated and deployed with priority, and the rear seat airbag 68 may be inflated and deployed immediately after the start of the inflation and deployment of the multidirectional airbag 30. . Even in this case, it is possible to suppress the seat back 16 from being displaced rearward in the same manner.

  Further, since the rear seat airbag 68 is inflated and deployed to the rear side of the seat, the rear seat airbag 68 restricts the inertial movement of the rear seat occupant to the front side of the seat at the time of a collision such as a frontal collision. Can protect the passengers in the rear seats.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a single inflator 32 is operated to supply gas to the multidirectional airbag 30 and the rear seat airbag 68. Thereby, compared with the structure which supplies gas from a separate inflator with respect to each airbag, the multi-directional airbag 30 and the rear seat airbag 68 can be inflated and deployed in a simple structure. it can. That is, in the configuration in which gas is supplied to the multidirectional airbag 30 and the rear seat airbag 68 from separate inflators, the inflator that inflates and deploys the multidirectional airbag 30 and the inflator that inflates and deploys the rear seat airbag 68. Must be controlled independently by the ECU 60. In the present embodiment, since such control is not necessary and only the inflator 32 needs to be operated, it is possible to suppress the seat back 16 from being displaced rearward when the multidirectional airbag 30 is inflated and deployed with a simple configuration. be able to. In addition, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where a plurality of inflators are used.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the multidirectional airbag 30 is an integral bag body that unfolds in a region including the front of the head H of the seated person D and a region including both the left and right sides and covers the head H of the seated person D. It is configured as. Thereby, the head H of the seated person D is covered with the multidirectional airbag 30 at the time of the collision of the vehicle, so that the head H of the seated person D can be restrained and protected against various collision modes.

  Furthermore, the multidirectional airbag 30 of the present embodiment is housed in a module case 34 that constitutes the headrest 18. For this reason, the occupant protection device 10 ensures occupant protection equal to or higher than that of a configuration in which, for example, a gas supply pipe arranged so as to surround the occupant's head from above is always protruded into the passenger compartment. However, the appearance before operation is good. Further, the occupant protection device 10 (mainly the multidirectional airbag device 20) does not interfere with the front-rear position adjustment, height adjustment, reclining operation, and the like of the vehicle seat 12.

  Further, in the multidirectional airbag device 20 that constitutes the occupant protection device 10, the lower end 44 </ b> L of the lateral inflating portion 44 that constitutes the lateral deployment portion 38 of the multidirectional airbag 30 contacts the shoulder S of the seated person D. Thus, the vertical position of the multidirectional airbag 30 with respect to the seated person D is determined. Accordingly, for example, the multidirectional airbag 30 can be inflated and deployed at an appropriate vertical position regardless of individual differences in the physique or seating posture of the seated person D. Thereby, the occupant restraint (movement restriction) performance by the multidirectional airbag 30 is improved.

Second Embodiment
Next, an occupant protection device 72 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the structure similar to 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The multidirectional airbag device 74 constituting the occupant protection device 72 of the present embodiment includes the multidirectional airbag 30 and the inflator 32, and does not include the module case 34 of the first embodiment. Further, the headrest 18 of the present embodiment is provided with a monitor 76 for displaying an image for the passenger seated in the rear seat.

  The monitor 76 is provided at the rear part of the headrest body 19 and is fixed to the headrest stay 18S (see FIG. 5) via a bracket (not shown) provided inside the headrest body 19.

  Here, the monitor 76 is located on the seat rear side of the multidirectional airbag 30 housed in the headrest body 19. For this reason, the multidirectional airbag 30 is inflated and deployed to the front side of the seat when a reaction force is applied from the monitor 76. That is, the monitor 76 of this embodiment has a function as a reaction force plate in the same manner as the main wall 34M of the module case 34 of the first embodiment, in addition to the function of displaying an image for the passenger in the rear seat. .

  Further, a wire harness 76A is connected to the monitor 76, and the wire harness 76A is bundled with the wire harness of the inflator 32 through the inside of the seat back 16. The rear seat airbag device 66 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.

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

  In the present embodiment, since a reaction force is applied from the monitor 76 to the multidirectional airbag 30 when the multidirectional airbag 30 is inflated and deployed, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated reaction force plate. Further, since the wire harness 76A of the monitor 76 can be wired together with the wire harness of the inflator 32, it is possible to save the labor of wiring as compared with the configuration in which the wire harness is separately wired to the monitor 76 and the inflator 32. it can.

(Other examples)
The first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various types other than the above-described configuration can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, it can be implemented in any manner. For example, in the above embodiment, the flow rate of the gas supplied to the rear seat airbag 68 may be limited according to the rotation angle of the vehicle seat 12. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail.

  In the present embodiment, the vehicle seat 12 shown in FIG. 4 is configured to be rotatable in plan view, and the rotation angle of the vehicle seat 12 can be acquired by the ECU 60. For example, the rotation angle of the vehicle seat 12 with respect to this reference position is detected by a sensor or the like with reference to the state of FIG. 4 in which the front of the vehicle seat 12 coincides with the front of the vehicle.

  The ECU 60 acquires the rotation angle of the vehicle seat 12 detected by a sensor or the like, and does not limit the amount of gas supplied to the rear seat airbag 68 as long as the rotation angle is within a predetermined angle. On the other hand, when the rotation angle of the vehicle seat 12 is larger than a predetermined angle, the gas supply amount from the inflator 32 to the rear seat airbag 68 is limited. The restriction here is not limited to the configuration in which the gas supply amount is reduced, but also includes a configuration in which the gas supply is stopped halfway. For this reason, when the gas supply amount to the rear seat airbag 68 is limited, the rear seat airbag 68 is inflated and deployed smaller than usual.

  As a method for limiting the amount of gas supplied to the rear seat airbag 68, there is a method of narrowing or closing a gas flow path through which gas is supplied from the inflator 32 to the rear seat airbag 68. For example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 5, a mechanism such as a shutter or a valve that closes the lower gas supply pipe 32 </ b> B is provided, and the shutter or valve is operated based on a signal from the ECU 60 to narrow or block the gas flow path. May be. The same applies to other embodiments described later.

  In the embodiment described above, for example, when a vehicle collision is predicted or detected in a state where the rotation angle of the vehicle seat 12 is larger than a predetermined rotation angle, the rear seat airbag 68 is replaced with another vehicle seat. And interference with interior materials can be suppressed. In other words, when the rotation angle of the vehicle seat 12 is larger than the predetermined angle, the displacement of the seat back 16 is prevented from being displaced rearward when the rotation angle of the vehicle seat 12 is within the predetermined angle. It is possible to suppress the seat airbag 68 from interfering with other vehicle seats and interior materials.

  When the rotation angle of the vehicle seat 12 is larger than a predetermined angle, the seat back 16 is in contact with another vehicle seat or interior material, or is close to another vehicle seat or interior material. It becomes. For this reason, even if the rear seat airbag 68 is inflated and deployed smaller than usual, the seat back 16 is displaced by being supported by other vehicle seats and interior materials. Can be suppressed. Further, since a large amount of gas is supplied to the multidirectional airbag 30, a vent hole or the like may be provided in the multidirectional airbag 30 in advance so that a predetermined internal pressure can be maintained.

  As another example, the flow rate of the gas supplied to the rear seat airbag 68 may be limited according to the tilt angle of the seat back 16. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail.

  In this embodiment, the seat back 16 of the vehicle seat 12 shown in FIG. 4 is configured to be tiltable in the front-rear direction of the seat, and the tilt angle of the seat back 16 with respect to the seat cushion 14 can be acquired by the ECU 60. For example, with reference to an angle at which the angle between the seat cushion 14 and the seat back 16 is 90 degrees, the tilt angle of the seat back 16 with respect to this reference position is detected by a sensor or the like.

  The ECU 60 acquires the tilt angle of the seat back 16 detected by a sensor or the like, and does not limit the gas supply amount to the rear seat airbag 68 if the tilt angle is within a predetermined angle. On the other hand, when the tilt angle of the seat back 16 is larger than a predetermined angle, the amount of gas supplied from the inflator 32 to the rear seat airbag 68 is limited.

  In the embodiment described above, for example, when a vehicle collision is predicted or detected in a state where the seat back 16 is tilted rearward from the predetermined tilt angle, the rear seat airbag 68 is used for another vehicle. Interference with sheets, interior materials, and the like can be suppressed. That is, when the seat back 16 is tilted more than a predetermined angle while suppressing the seat back 16 from being displaced rearward when the tilt angle of the seat back 16 is within a predetermined angle, the rear seat air It is possible to prevent the bag 68 from interfering with other vehicle seats or interior materials.

  In the above embodiment, the gas supply amount to the rear seat airbag 68 may be varied according to the tilt angle of the seat back 16. For example, the gas supply amount may be reduced (the gas supply limit amount is increased) every time the seat back 16 is tilted 5 degrees toward the seat rear side with respect to a preset tilt angle of the seat back 16.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when the seat back 16 is tilted forward and folded from the predetermined tilt angle, the inflator 32 may be controlled not to be operated. Since the occupant is not seated in the state in which the seat back 16 is folded, the multi-directional airbag 30 and the rear seat airbag are not operated even if a vehicle collision is predicted or detected. 68 becomes a structure which does not expand-deploy.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the multi-directional airbag 30 and the rear seat airbag 68 were inflated and deployed using the single inflator 32, it is not limited to this. For example, an inflator that supplies gas to the multidirectional airbag 30 may be disposed in the headrest, and an inflator that supplies gas to the rear seat airbag 68 may be disposed in the seat back 16. In this case, it is easy to finely adjust the timing at which the multidirectional airbag 30 is inflated and deployed and the timing at which the rear seat airbag 68 is inflated and deployed.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the gas flow rate flowing from the inflator 32 to the multidirectional airbag 30 and the gas flow rate flowing from the inflator 32 to the rear seat airbag 68 are approximately the same, but this is not limitative. Since the multidirectional airbag 30 needs to be inflated and deployed forward of the seat beyond the head H of the seated person D, the upper gas supply pipe 32A in FIG. 5 has a larger diameter than the lower gas supply pipe 32B. And you may comprise so that more gas may be flowed to the multidirectional airbag 30. FIG.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the multidirectional airbag 30 is housed in the headrest 18 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and there are many inside the vehicle seat in which the headrest 18 and the seat back 16 are integrated. The azimuth airbag 30 may be stored. In this case, the part of the vehicle seat that supports the head of the passenger corresponds to the “headrest” of the present invention, and the part of the vehicle seat that supports the back of the passenger corresponds to the “seat back” of the present invention. And it is good also as a structure by which the multidirectional airbag was accommodated ranging over the site | part which supports the passenger | crew's head in a vehicle seat, and the site | part which supports a passenger | crew's back part.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the passenger | crew protection apparatus showed the example provided with the side airbag apparatus 22, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the occupant protection device may not include the side airbag device 22. Further, the configuration in which the occupant protection device includes the side airbag device 22 is not limited to the configuration in which the side airbag device 22 is provided in the vehicle seat 12. For example, an occupant protection device may be configured by including a side airbag device provided in a side door or the like. Moreover, although the passenger | crew protection device showed the example provided with the side airbag apparatus 22 of the vehicle width direction outer side, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the occupant protection device may be configured to include a side airbag device arranged on the center side in the vehicle width direction instead of or in addition to the side airbag device 22 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment and modification, although the front expansion | deployment part which comprises the multidirectional airbag 30 showed the example containing the mesh part 40, this invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a configuration in which a transparent sheet as a visible structure is provided instead of the mesh portion 40, or a configuration not including the visible structure.

  Furthermore, in the said embodiment and modification, although the multi-directional airbag 30 showed the example by which outer roll folding was carried out, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the multidirectional airbag 30 may be accommodated in the headrest, the seat back 16 or the like in another folding manner such as bellows folding.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Crew protection device 12 Vehicle seat 14 Seat cushion 16 Seat back 18 Headrest 30 Multi-directional airbag (first airbag)
32 Inflator 42 Front Inflating Part 44 Lateral Inflating Part 68 Rear Seat Airbag (Second Airbag)
72 Occupant Protection Device 76 Monitor

Claims (5)

A front inflating part that is housed in a headrest or a seat back of a vehicle seat, is inflated and deployed to the front side of the seat upon receiving gas supply, and is inflated in front of the seat with respect to the occupant's head A first airbag configured as an integral bag covering the head including a pair of left and right lateral inflating portions that are inflated on the side of the seat with respect to the head;
A second airbag that is housed in the seat back, receives gas supply, and is inflated and deployed to the seat rear side at the same timing as the first airbag or immediately after the start of inflation and deployment of the first airbag;
An occupant protection device.   The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first airbag and the second airbag is inflated and deployed by receiving a gas supply from a single inflator. The vehicle seat is configured to be rotatable in a plan view,
If the rotation angle of the vehicle seat is within a predetermined angle based on the state in which the front of the vehicle seat coincides with the front of the vehicle, the amount of gas supplied to the second airbag is not limited, The occupant protection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a gas supply amount to the second airbag is restricted when a rotation angle is larger than a predetermined angle. The seat back is configured to be tiltable rearward of the seat,
If the tilt angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion is within a predetermined angle, the gas supply amount to the second airbag is not limited, and when the tilt angle is larger than the predetermined angle, the second The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a gas supply amount to the airbag is limited. The first airbag is housed in the headrest;
The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a monitor that displays an image for an occupant seated in a rear seat is provided on a seat rear side of the first airbag in the headrest. .

Images