JP2018016252A - Far side airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a far side airbag device that can properly protect a neck portion and a chest portion of a child even when the child faces backward and leans against a side support portion.SOLUTION: An airbag 40 is partitioned by a rear-lower partition portion 60 into: a rear-lower inflating portion 51 where a gas generator 35 is disposed; and front-upper inflating portions 52, 53 that are located at a front-upper side of the rear-lower inflating portion 51 across the rear-lower partition portion 60, and to which gas for inflating, having passed through the rear-lower inflating portion 51 and the rear-lower partition portion 60, is to be supplied. Under a condition that the rear-lower inflating portion 51 is inflated and the rear-lower partition portion 60 is viewed from a vehicle width direction, the rear-lower partition portion 60 forms a shape along a front edge 19a of a side support portion 19. Under the same condition, the rear-lower partition portion 60 is formed at a region, including the front edge 19a, where the front edge 19a is translated forward-upward and backward-downward, so that the load to be applied from the rear-lower inflating portion 51 to a neck portion PN and a chest portion PB of a child PC is equal to or under an upper limit value of an acceptable range when the child faces backward and leans against the side support portion 19.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

  In the present invention, when an impact is applied from the side to a side wall of a vehicle such as a vehicle, the airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats, so that The present invention relates to a far-side airbag device that protects an occupant seated in a vehicle seat.

  Some vehicles in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged in the vehicle width direction are equipped with a far side airbag device. This type of airbag apparatus includes an airbag and a gas generator disposed in the airbag, and is incorporated in a side portion of the vehicle seat that is close to the adjacent vehicle seat.

  When an impact is applied from the side to a side wall such as a side door of the vehicle due to a side collision or the like, an expansion gas is ejected from the gas generator. With this inflation gas, the airbag exits from the side of the vehicle seat and is deployed and inflated forward and upward between adjacent vehicle seats. The upper body of the occupant seated on the vehicle seat far from the impacted side wall portion tends to fall to the side wall portion due to inertia, but is received by the airbag and protected from the impact. .

  As one form of the said far side airbag apparatus, there exist some which were described in patent document 1, for example. The airbag is partitioned into a rear lower inflating portion (first chamber) and a front upper inflating portion (second chamber and third chamber) by a rear lower section (joining section). The rear lower inflating part is a part constituting the rear lower part of the airbag, and the gas generator is disposed here. The front upper inflating part is a part constituting the front upper part of the airbag, and is located on the front upper side of the rear lower inflating part via the rear lower partition part. The rear lower expansion part and the front upper expansion part are communicated with each other by a rear upper communication path adjacent to the rear upper side of the rear lower partition part and a front lower communication path adjacent to the front lower side of the rear lower partition part. The phrase in parentheses following the member name indicates the member name used in Patent Document 1.

  Therefore, when a side impact or the like causes an impact on the side wall portion from the side and the expansion gas is ejected from the gas generator, the expansion gas is first supplied to the rear lower expansion portion. Part of the inflation gas supplied to the rear lower expansion part is supplied to the front upper expansion part through the rear upper communication path or the front lower communication path. In the airbag, first, the rear lower inflatable portion starts to expand and inflate, and the front upper inflatable portion starts to expand and inflate after a short delay. Therefore, unlike the case where the rear lower section is not provided and the airbag is deployed and inflated at once, the front upper portion of the airbag is the upper part of the occupant (head etc.) at the initial stage of the deployment and inflation of the airbag. Can be suppressed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-10984

  By the way, when the child is leaning on the side support portion of the vehicle seat in a rearward posture, an impact may be applied to the side wall portion due to a side collision or the like, and the rear lower expansion portion may start to expand and expand. In this case, the child's neck and chest are positioned in front of the rear lower inflatable portion in the deployment direction. Therefore, there is a possibility that a load may be applied to the child's neck and chest from the lower inflatable portion after expansion and expansion. However, in the conventional far-side airbag device including Patent Document 1, there is still room for improvement in terms of reducing the load applied to the child's neck and chest.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to appropriately protect the child's neck and chest even when the child is drowning in the side support portion in a backward-facing posture. The object is to provide a far-side airbag device.

  A far-side airbag device that solves the above problem includes an airbag that is fixed to a vehicle in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged in parallel in the width direction, and according to an impact applied from a side to a side wall portion of the vehicle. With the inflation gas supplied from the gas generator, the airbag is deployed and inflated forward and upward between adjacent vehicle seats, so that the vehicle seat far from the side wall portion is in a normal posture. A far-side airbag device for protecting an upper body of a seated occupant from an impact, wherein the airbag includes a rear lower inflating portion in which the gas generator is disposed by a rear lower partition portion, and the rear lower partition portion. Through the rear lower expansion part, and is divided into the rear upper expansion part and the front upper expansion part to which the expansion gas passed through the rear lower division part is supplied. When the expansion part expands On condition that the rear lower section is viewed from the width direction of the vehicle, the rear lower section has a shape along the front edge of the side support portion in the seat back of the vehicle seat. In addition, under the above conditions, the rear lower section is configured so that the load applied from the rear lower inflated portion is less than or equal to the upper limit of the allowable range with respect to the child's neck and chest that are drowned in the side support portion in a rearward posture. As shown, the front end edge is formed, and the front end edge is formed in a region where the front end edge is translated in the front upper direction and the rear lower direction, respectively.

  According to the above configuration, when an impact is applied from the side to the side wall portion of the vehicle, and the expansion gas is ejected from the gas generator in response to the impact, the expansion gas is supplied to the rear lower expansion portion. The A part of this expansion gas is supplied to the front upper expansion section through the rear lower expansion section and the rear lower partition section. The airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats. The upper body of the occupant sitting on the vehicle seat far from the impacted side wall portion tends to fall to the side wall portion due to inertia, but is received by the airbag and protected from the impact. .

  The deployment and inflation of the airbag are started in the order of the rear lower inflation portion and the front upper inflation portion. Therefore, unlike the case where the rear lower section is not provided and the airbag is deployed and inflated at once, the phenomenon that the front upper portion of the airbag presses the upper part of the occupant at the initial stage of the deployment and inflation is suppressed. .

  In addition, when the child is leaning on the side support in a rearward posture, if the rear lower inflatable part starts to expand and expand, then the child's neck and chest located in front of the lower inflated part in the deploying direction A load is applied from the expanding portion. Here, when it is a condition that the rear lower compartment when the rear lower inflated portion is inflated is viewed from the width direction of the vehicle, under that condition, the magnitude of the load is the shape of the rear lower compartment, It is determined at least by the position of the rear lower partition part with respect to the front edge of the side support part. In this regard, under the above-described conditions, the rear lower partition portion has a shape along the front end edge of the side support portion, and does not have a protruding portion that largely protrudes forward. In addition, the rear lower section includes the front edge of the side support portion so that the load applied from the airbag to the child's neck and chest is less than or equal to the upper limit of the allowable range, and the front edge is front upper and rear. Each is formed in a region translated downward. Therefore, the load applied from the rear lower inflating portion to the child's neck and chest is equal to or less than the upper limit of the allowable range.

The said far side airbag apparatus WHEREIN: It is preferable that the said back lower division part is formed in the location which overlaps with the said front-end edge of the said side support part on the said conditions.
According to said structure, under said conditions, a back lower division part overlaps with the front-end edge of a side support part. In other words, the rear lower compartment is located at a point that is close enough to the neck and chest of a child who is drowning in the side support portion in a backward posture. Therefore, the load applied to the child's neck and chest from the lower inflatable portion after inflating is reduced within the allowable range.

  In the far-side airbag device, the lower rear section is preferably formed at a position where the front end edge of the side support portion is translated in the front upper direction or the rear lower direction in the region under the conditions. .

  According to said structure, under said conditions, a back lower division part is located in the vicinity of the front-end edge of a side support part. In other words, the rear lower compartment is located at a position close to the neck and chest of a child who is drowning in the side support portion in a backward posture. Therefore, the load applied to the child's neck and chest from the lower inflatable portion after the inflation is within an allowable range.

  In the far-side airbag device, the rear lower partition portion includes a main body portion that is inclined so as to be positioned rearward as the upper portion is defined as a portion that partitions the airbag into the rear lower inflation portion and the front upper inflation portion. The main body includes a front lower main body facing the child's chest in a state inclined with respect to the front and rear direction when the rear lower expansion section is inflated, and the front lower main body with respect to the front and rear direction. It is preferable to include a rear upper body portion that is positioned on the rear upper side of the front lower main body portion in a state of being more gently inclined and is opposed to a portion above the chest in the child.

  According to said structure, when a rear lower expansion part expand | swells, a rear lower division part will be pulled in the width direction both sides of a vehicle, and will be in a tension | tensile_strength in the front-end part of a rear lower expansion part. At this time, a load is applied to the child's chest from the front lower main body portion that is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction among the main body portions of the rear lower compartment. In addition, a load is applied to the child's neck from the rear upper body part in a state inclined with respect to the front-rear direction at a gentler angle than the front lower body part. Therefore, a smaller load is applied to the child's neck than when the rear upper body is inclined at the same angle as the front lower body.

  In the far-side airbag device, a rear upper communication passage that connects the rear lower inflation portion and the front upper inflation portion is provided at a location adjacent to the rear upper side with respect to the rear upper end portion of the rear upper body portion, The rear lower expansion portion and the front upper expansion portion communicate with a portion adjacent to the front lower side with respect to the front lower end portion of the front lower main body portion, and an amount of the expansion gas larger than that of the rear upper communication passage. It is preferable that a front lower communication passage that guides the rear from the rear lower expansion portion to the front upper expansion portion is provided.

  According to the above configuration, when the expansion gas is supplied from the gas generator to the rear lower expansion portion, a part of the expansion gas flows into the front upper expansion portion through the rear upper communication passage. Further, a part of the inflation gas supplied to the rear lower expansion part is supplied to the front upper expansion part through the front lower communication passage. In the front lower communication passage, a larger amount of inflation gas flows than in the rear upper communication passage. The expansion gas flowing in this way promotes the forward expansion and expansion of the front upper expansion portion more than the upward expansion and expansion. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the child's neck by the front upper inflating portion that expands and inflates, compared to the case where the inflation gas flows through the front lower communicating passage and the rear upper communicating passage in equal amounts.

  In the far-side airbag device, an inner tube is disposed in the rear lower inflating portion so as to surround at least a gas ejection portion of the gas generator, and the inner tube includes a lower opening, It is preferable that an opening above the opening is provided, and the lower opening has an opening area larger than that of the upper opening.

  According to the above configuration, when the expansion gas is ejected from the gas ejection portion of the gas generator, the expansion gas flows through the inner tube. A part of the expansion gas flows out from the upper opening to the rear lower expansion portion around the inner tube, and is guided to the front upper expansion portion through the rear upper communication passage. Further, a part of the inflation gas flows out from the lower opening to the rear lower inflation portion around the inner tube. A larger amount of inflation gas flows out from the lower opening than from the upper opening. Part of the inflation gas flowing out from the lower opening is guided to the front upper expansion portion through the front lower communication passage. A larger amount of the inflation gas flows in the front lower communication passage than in the rear upper communication passage, and the forward expansion and expansion are promoted rather than the upward expansion and expansion of the front upper expansion portion. The

  In the far-side airbag device, the airbag includes a pair of cloth portions disposed in the width direction of the vehicle, and the rear lower partition portion is disposed between both cloth portions, and is formed by a pair of coupling portions. It is preferable that the two cloth parts are bridged between the two cloth parts.

  According to said structure, the back lower division part arrange | positioned between a pair of cloth parts of an airbag is spanned between both cloth parts by couple | bonding with both cloth parts by a pair of coupling part. The rear lower section is pulled to both sides in the width direction of the vehicle when the rear lower expansion portion expands. Under the above conditions, the rear lower partition portion has a shape along the front edge of the side support portion. In addition, the rear lower partition portion includes the front end edge of the side support portion, and is positioned in a region where the front end edge is translated in the front upper direction and the rear lower direction, respectively.

  In the above far-side airbag device, the lower rear partition portion includes, in addition to the main body portion, a front lower extension portion that extends forward and downward from a front lower end portion of the front lower main body portion, and a rear upper end portion of the rear upper main body portion. It is preferable that each of the coupling portions is provided across the front lower extension portion, the main body portion, and the rear upper extension portion.

  According to said structure, a rear lower division part is pulled by the width direction both sides of a vehicle with expansion | swelling of an airbag. Stress due to the pressure of the inflation gas is applied to the pair of coupling portions that couple the rear lower partition portion to both the fabric portions of the airbag. Here, if the rear lower partition part is constituted only by the main body part and the joint part is provided only on the main body part, stress tends to concentrate on both ends of the joint part, and the joint strength is insufficient. There is a fear. In order to make up for this, it is necessary to take another measure such as using a reinforcing cloth in order to compensate for the lack of bonding strength.

  In this regard, according to the above configuration, the front lower extension extending from the front lower end portion of the front lower main body portion to the front lower side and the rear upper extension portion extending rearward from the rear upper end portion of the rear upper main body portion are provided. The front lower extension and the rear upper extension are also connected to both fabric parts of the airbag by the connecting part. Therefore, in each joint part, the part which receives the stress due to the pressure of the expansion gas becomes longer as the joint part is provided in the front lower extension part and the rear upper extension part, and the stress concentration is reduced accordingly. . Reinforcement with a reinforcing cloth or the like is not necessary, and both the number of parts and the cost can be reduced.

  In the far-side airbag device, the two fabric portions of the airbag are coupled to each other by a peripheral coupling portion provided at a peripheral portion thereof, and the coupling portion in the front lower extension portion and the rear upper portion It is preferable that the said connection part in an extension part cross | intersects the said peripheral connection part, respectively.

  According to said structure, the part in a front lower extension part and the part in a rear upper extension part become the maximum length which can respectively be taken among each coupling | bond part. For this reason, in each connecting portion, the portion that receives stress due to the pressure of the expansion gas is the longest on both the front lower side and the rear upper side of the main body portion, and the stress concentration is effectively alleviated.

  According to the far-side airbag device, even if the child is drowning in the side support portion in a backward-facing posture, the child's neck and chest can be appropriately protected.

1 is a diagram showing an embodiment embodied in a vehicle far-side airbag device, and is a partial plan view of a vehicle on which the airbag device is mounted. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a positional relationship among a vehicle seat, an airbag, an occupant, a center console box, and a side wall portion as viewed from the front of the vehicle in one embodiment. In one embodiment, the partial plane sectional view showing the internal structure of the side part of the seat back in which the air bag module was incorporated. The side view which shows the vehicle seat with which the far side airbag apparatus was provided in one Embodiment with a passenger | crew and a center console box. The perspective view of the side frame part to which the bracket was attached in one Embodiment. In one embodiment, the side view of the airbag module in which the airbag was made into the non-expanded deployment state. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing an internal structure of the airbag module of FIG. 6. (A) is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 8a-8a in FIG. 6, and (b) is a portion showing a state in which the airbag is inflated from the state of FIG. Sectional drawing. FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 6. The disassembled perspective view of the principal part of the airbag module in one Embodiment. FIG. 8A is a partial side cross-sectional view showing an X portion of FIG. 7 in an enlarged manner, and FIG. 8B is a partial side cross-sectional view showing a part of a rear lower partition portion in which a rear upper extension portion is omitted. In one Embodiment, the side view which shows the state which the child is drowning in the side support part in the back facing attitude | position with an airbag module. The side view which shows the position of the back lower division part in the airbag module in which the airbag was made into the non-expanded deployment state about an Example, the comparative example 1, and the comparative example 2, respectively. The graph which shows the time change of the load added to a child's neck, when a back lower expansion part expand | deploys and expands about an Example, the comparative example 1, the comparative example 2, and a prior art example, respectively. The graph which respectively shows the time change of the quantity which a child's chest is bent when a back lower expansion part expand | deploys and expands about an Example, the comparative example 1, the comparative example 2, and a prior art example. The side view which shows the airbag module of the prior art example in FIG.14 and FIG.15.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodied in a far side airbag device for a vehicle will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the following description, the forward direction of the vehicle is assumed to be the front, and the reverse direction is assumed to be the rear. The vertical direction means the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the horizontal direction is the width direction of the vehicle (vehicle width direction), which coincides with the horizontal direction when the vehicle moves forward. In order to define the vehicle width direction, the side approaching the occupant may be referred to as “occupant side” and the side away from the occupant may be referred to as “anti-occupant side”. Furthermore, it is assumed that an occupant having a physique similar to a collision test dummy is seated in a normal posture on the vehicle seat.

  As shown in FIG. 1, both side portions in the vehicle width direction of a vehicle 10 as a vehicle are constituted by side wall portions 11 and 12 including doors, pillars, and the like. A pair of vehicle seats 13 and 14 are arranged as vehicle seats arranged in the vehicle width direction inside the vehicle 10 (vehicle interior). The vehicle seat 13 on the side close to the side wall portion 11 functions as a driver's seat, and an occupant (driver) P1 sits there. The vehicle seat 14 on the side close to the side wall portion 12 functions as a passenger seat, and an occupant P2 sits there. A center console box 15 is disposed between the vehicle seats 13 and 14 in the passenger compartment. The vehicle seats 13 and 14 have the same configuration. Therefore, only one vehicle seat 13 will be described here, and the description of the vehicle seat 14 will be omitted. This also applies to the far side airbag device provided for each of the vehicle seats 13 and 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the vehicle seat 13 includes a seat cushion 16, a seat back 17 that is configured to stand up from the rear side of the seat cushion 16 and that can adjust an inclination angle, and a seat back 17. And a headrest 33 attached to the top.

  The seat back 17 includes a pair of side support portions 19 on both side portions in the vehicle width direction. The both side support portions 19 protrude more forward than the other portions of the seat back 17 and restrict the movement of the upper half of the occupant P1 seated on the seat cushion 16 in the vehicle width direction.

Next, the internal structure of the side part close to the adjacent vehicle seat 14 in the seat back 17 of the vehicle seat 13 will be described.
Inside the seat back 17, a seat frame forming the skeleton is arranged. As shown in FIG. 3, a part of the seat frame is disposed in a side portion of the seat back 17 that is close to the adjacent vehicle seat 14, and this portion (hereinafter referred to as “side frame portion 21”). Is formed by bending a metal plate or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the side frame portion 21 has a plate shape extending in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, and the bracket 22 is fixed to the side frame portion 21 at a location on the adjacent vehicle seat 14 side. Has been. The bracket 22 includes a plate-like attached portion 23 extending in the vehicle width direction and the vertical direction, and an additional attached portion 24 integrally formed on the upper side thereof. Bolt holes 25 are formed at two locations of the attached portion 23 that are spaced apart from each other, and bolt holes 26 are formed at one location of the additional attached portion 24.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a seat pad 27 made of an elastic material such as urethane foam is disposed on the front side of the seat frame including the side frame portion 21 and the bracket 22. A hard backboard 28 made of synthetic resin or the like is disposed on the rear side of the seat frame. The seat pad 27 is covered with a skin, but the skin is not shown in FIG.

  In the seat pad 27, a storage portion 29 is provided in the vicinity of the side closer to the adjacent vehicle seat 14 than the side frame portion 21. The storage unit 29 incorporates an airbag module ABM that forms the main part of the far-side airbag device. As shown in FIG. 1, the far-side airbag device is configured to supply inflation gas to the airbag 40 when an impact is applied from the side to the side wall portion 12 far from the vehicle seat 13 due to a side collision or the like. By supplying and inflating the airbag 40 between the vehicle seats 13 and 14, the passenger P1 seated on the vehicle seat 13 is protected from impact.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the slit 31 extends from the front portion of the storage portion 29 and close to the adjacent vehicle seat 14 toward the side closer to the vehicle seat 14 obliquely forward. ing. The front portion of the seat pad 27 and sandwiched between the corner portion 27c on the side close to the vehicle seat 14 and the slit 31 (the portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) is taken by the airbag 40. The fracture | rupture planned part 32 to fracture | rupture is comprised.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the airbag module ABM includes a gas generator 35 and an airbag 40 as main components. Next, each of these structural members will be described.

<Gas generator 35>
The gas generator 35 includes an inflator 36 and a retainer 37. Here, a type called a pyrotype is adopted as the inflator 36. The inflator 36 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a gas generating agent (not shown) that generates an expansion gas is accommodated therein. The inflator 36 has a gas ejection part 36a at its upper end. Further, a harness (not shown) serving as an input wiring for an operation signal to the inflator 36 is connected to a lower end portion of the inflator 36.

  As the inflator 36, instead of the pyro type using the gas generating agent, a type (hybrid type) in which a partition wall of a high pressure gas cylinder filled with a high pressure gas is broken with an explosive or the like to eject an expansion gas is used. May be.

  On the other hand, the retainer 37 is a member having a function of fastening the inflator 36 to the bracket 22 together with the airbag 40 and an inner tube 90 described later, while functioning as a diffuser that controls the direction in which the inflation gas is ejected. Most of the retainer 37 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape by bending a plate material such as a metal plate. The retainer 37 includes a main body portion 37 a that covers the inflator 36, and an extension portion 37 b that is integrally formed on the upper side of the main body portion 37 a and does not cover the inflator 36.

  At a plurality of locations (three locations in the present embodiment) spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction of the retainer 37, two bolts 38 and one bolt each extending rearward are used as fixing members for attaching the retainer 37 to the bracket 22. 39 is fixed. Both bolts 38 are fixed to the body portion 37a, and the bolt 39 is fixed to the extension portion 37b. The gas generator 35 may be one in which an inflator 36 and a retainer 37 are integrated.

<Airbag 40>
FIG. 6 shows the airbag module ABM in a state where the airbag 40 is deployed in a planar shape without being filled with the inflation gas (hereinafter referred to as “non-inflated and deployed state”). FIG. 7 shows the airbag module ABM in which the airbag 40 in the non-inflated and deployed state of FIG. 6 is cut at the center in the vehicle width direction in order to show the internal structure of the airbag module ABM. Further, FIG. 10 shows a state in which constituent members of the main part of the airbag module ABM including the airbag 40 are deployed.

  As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10, the airbag 40 folds a piece of cloth (also called a base cloth, a panel cloth, etc.) in two along a fold line 41 set at the center portion thereof. Thus, they are formed by overlapping in the vehicle width direction and joining the overlapped portions into a bag shape. Here, in order to distinguish the above-described two overlapped portions of the airbag 40, the one located on the side close to the occupant P1 is referred to as the occupant side cloth portion 42, and the one located on the side far from the occupant P1 is referred to as the opposite side. The passenger side cloth part 43 is assumed.

  In the present embodiment, the cloth piece is folded in two so that the fold line 41 is positioned at the rear end of the airbag 40. However, the fold line 41 has other ends such as a front end, an upper end, and a lower end. The cloth piece may be folded in half so as to be located at the part or the like. The airbag 40 may be composed of two pieces of cloth divided along the fold line 41. Further, at least one of the occupant side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43 may be constituted by two or more pieces of cloth.

  In the airbag 40, the outer shapes of the occupant side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43 are in a line-symmetric relationship with each other with the folding line 41 as the axis of symmetry. 2 and 4, when the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated, the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43 are the same as the entire upper half of the side of the occupant P1. That is, it is formed in a shape and size that can occupy a region corresponding to a region from the waist PP to the head PH. Therefore, when the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated, the lower end thereof is positioned below the upper end of the center console box 15.

  As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10, the occupant-side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 43 have high strength, are not easily stretched, and have flexibility and can be easily folded. A woven fabric formed using a material such as polyester yarn or polyamide yarn is suitable.

  The coupling | bonding of the passenger | crew side cloth part 42 and the anti-occupant side cloth part 43 is made | formed in the peripheral joint part 44 provided along those peripheral parts. The peripheral joint portion 44 is formed by sewing (sewing with a sewing thread) a portion of the peripheral portions of the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the counter occupant side fabric portion 43 except for the rear end portion (the vicinity of the fold line 41). Has been. This also applies to various coupling portions 68, 69, 71, 85, 86, 87, and 95 described later.

  Regarding the above sewing, in FIGS. 6, 7, 11, 13, and 16, a sewing portion is expressed by three line types. The first line type is a line in which thick lines of a certain length are intermittently arranged and represents a state in which the sewing thread is viewed from the side (see the peripheral joint portion 44 in FIG. 6). . The second line type is a line in which fine lines of a certain length (longer than a general broken line) are intermittently arranged, which is located at the back of a piece of cloth, for example, and is directly visible. The state of the sewing thread that is not (hidden) is shown (see the coupling portion 71 and the like in FIG. 6). The third line type is a line in which points are expressed by being arranged at regular intervals, and this indicates a cross section of the sewing thread on the surface passing through the sewing portion (see the peripheral joint portion 44 in FIG. 7).

  The peripheral joint portion 44 may be formed by means different from the sewing using the above-described sewing thread, for example, bonding using an adhesive. This also applies to the various connecting portions 68, 69, 71, 85, 86, 87, and 95.

  A space between the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the counter occupant side fabric portion 43 and surrounded by the peripheral edge coupling portion 44 and the fold line 41 is an inflatable portion that is expanded and inflated by the inflating gas.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, a slit 45 extending in a direction perpendicular to the folding line 41 is formed in the lower portion of the airbag 40. In the occupant-side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 43, a portion below the slit 45 is an inwardly folded portion 46 that is inserted in a state of being folded inward of the other portions. The front lower end portion of the inner folding portion 46 is joined to the other portion of the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the opposite occupant side fabric portion 43 by the above-described peripheral edge joining portion 44 by co-sewing. In addition, the slit 45 is opened along with the formation of the inwardly-folded portion 46, and the insertion port 47 of the gas generator 35 is formed.

Further, two bolt holes 48 and one bolt hole 49 are formed on the folding line 41 of the airbag 40 and at positions spaced apart from each other above the slit 45.
A rear lower compartment 60 and a front upper compartment that divide the airbag 40 into a plurality of inflatable portions are provided at two locations of the airbag 40 as thickness regulating portions that regulate the inflated thickness of the airbag 40 in the vehicle width direction. 80 is provided (see FIGS. 8A and 9). The rear lower partition 60 and the front upper partition 80 have the same configuration as that generally called a tether.

<Rear lower compartment 60>
The rear lower section 60 is disposed at a location that is spaced diagonally forward and upward with respect to the gas generator 35. The rear lower partition portion 60 includes a pair of cloth portions 61 made of the same material as the airbag 40. Both cloth parts 61 are constituted by cloth pieces independent of each other. Both the fabric parts 61 will be in the state piled up in the vehicle width direction, when the airbag 40 exists in the non-expanding deployment state.

Here, the following items are referred to as “conditions”.
Condition: The rear lower section 60 when the rear lower expansion part 51 is expanded is viewed from the vehicle width direction.
Under this condition, as shown in FIG. 12, the rear lower partition 60 has a shape along the front edge 19 a of the side support 19.

  Furthermore, under the above-described conditions, the rear lower section 60 is configured such that the load applied from the rear lower inflatable portion 51 to the neck PN and the chest PB of the child PC drowning in the side support portion 19 in a backward posture is below the upper limit of the allowable range. The front support edge 19a of the side support portion 19 is included, and the front support edge 19a is formed in a region where the front support edge 19a is translated in the front upper direction and the rear lower direction. Here, the child having the same physique as the 3-year-old child dummy 3YO for the collision test is referred to as the child PC.

  More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10, the main part of each cloth part 61 is constituted by a main body part 62. Each main body 62 partitions the inflating portion of the airbag 40 into a rear lower inflating portion 51 and front upper inflating portions 52 and 53 located on the front upper side of the rear lower inflating portion 51 via the main body portion 62. . Each main body 62 includes a front lower main body 63 and a rear upper main body 64. The front lower main body 63 for each main body 62 is formed at a location facing the chest PB of the child PC in a state where the rear lower expansion portion 51 is inclined so as to be higher toward the rear with respect to the front-rear direction. ing. The rear upper main body 64 for each main body 62 is positioned on the upper rear side of the front lower main body 63 in a state where the rear lower expansion portion 51 is inclined more gently than the front lower main body 63 with respect to the front-rear direction. In the child PC, it is formed at a location facing the portion above the chest PB. This upper part includes the neck PN of the child's PC. The front lower main body portion 63 and the rear upper main body portion 64 for each main body portion 62 are connected by a connection portion 65 provided at a central portion in the length direction of the main body portion 62. The connection portion 65 of the main body portion 62 is gently curved so as to swell obliquely forward and upward.

Each main body 62 has a uniform width everywhere in its length direction. Both end portions of each main body 62 are separated from the peripheral joint portion 44.
The rear lower partition part 60 includes a front lower extension part 66 and a rear upper extension part 67 in addition to the main body part 62 for each of the cloth parts 61. The front lower extension 66 and the rear upper extension 67 for each cloth part 61 have a narrower width than the main body part 62. The front lower extension 66 for each cloth part 61 starts from the rear half of the front lower end of the front lower main body 63 and extends toward the front lower side. The rear upper extension 67 for each of the cloth portions 61 starts from the rear half of the rear upper end of the rear upper body 64 and extends rearward and upward. Accordingly, the length of each fabric portion 61 is longer in the latter half portion by the front lower extension portion 66 and the rear upper extension portion 67 than the front half portion. In the present embodiment, the front lower extension 66 for each fabric portion 61 extends to the outer peripheral portion (front lower end portion) of the airbag 40, and the rear upper extension 67 for each fabric portion 61 is the outer peripheral portion of the airbag 40 ( It extends to the rear upper end).

  The occupant side fabric portion 61 is coupled to the occupant side fabric portion 42 adjacent thereto by a coupling portion 68 (see FIG. 9). The coupling portion 68 extends across the front lower extension 66, the main body 62, and the rear upper extension 67 along the rear edge of the occupant-side fabric portion 61. Both end portions of the coupling portion 68 intersect with the peripheral coupling portion 44. In other words, the coupling portion 68 intersects the peripheral coupling portion 44 in both the front lower extension 66 and the rear upper extension 67.

  Similarly, the cloth portion 61 on the side opposite to the occupant is coupled to the opposite occupant side fabric portion 43 adjacent thereto by a coupling portion 69 (see FIG. 9). The coupling portion 69 extends across the front lower extension 66, the main body 62, and the rear upper extension 67 along the rear edge of the cloth portion 61 on the side opposite to the passenger. Both end portions of the coupling portion 69 intersect the peripheral coupling portion 44, respectively. In other words, the coupling portion 69 intersects the peripheral coupling portion 44 in both the front lower extension 66 and the rear upper extension 67.

  Here, when the rear lower partition portion 60 in a tension state is viewed from the vehicle width direction, the rear lower partition portion 60 is connected to the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43. It is located on the side of 69. The rear lower section 60 appears to overlap the coupling portions 68 and 69 from the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the position of the rear lower section 60 can be expressed by the coupling portions 68 and 69.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the coupling portions 68 and 69 are formed at locations overlapping the front end edge 19 a of the side support portion 19 under the above conditions. In this way, under the above conditions, the rear lower section 60 is formed at a location overlapping the front end edge 19a.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the two cloth portions 61 are coupled to each other by a coupling portion 71 provided along the front edge portion of the two main body portions 62, which is a location separated from both the coupling portions 68 and 69. (See FIG. 9). Unlike the joint portions 68 and 69, the joint portion 71 is provided only in both the main body portions 62, and is not provided in the front lower extension portion 66 and the rear upper extension portion 67.

  With such a coupling mode, the rear lower section 60 is bridged between the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43. And the rear lower division part 60 controls the expansion | swelling thickness of the vehicle width direction of the vicinity part of the rear lower division part 60 in the airbag 40 by becoming a tension | tensile_strength.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the space between the front lower end portion of the main body portion 62 and the front lower portion of the peripheral edge coupling portion 44 for each cloth portion 61 in the airbag 40 is a front lower communication path. 72 is constituted. In other words, the front lower communication passage 72 is located at a position adjacent to the front lower side with respect to the front lower end portion of the front lower main body portion 63. By the front lower communication passage 72, the rear lower expansion part 51 and the front upper expansion parts 52, 53 are communicated with each other on the front lower side of the rear lower partition part 60.

  In the airbag 40, a space between the rear upper end portion of the main body portion 62 for each fabric portion 61 and the rear upper portion of the peripheral edge coupling portion 44 constitutes a rear upper communication passage 73. In other words, the rear upper communication passage 73 is located at a position adjacent to the rear upper side with respect to the rear upper end portion of the rear upper body portion 64. By this rear upper communication passage 73, the rear lower expansion part 51 and the front upper expansion parts 52, 53 are communicated with each other on the rear upper side of the rear lower partition part 60.

<Front upper section 80>
As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10, the front upper partition 80 is disposed at a location that is front-upper with respect to the rear lower partition 60. The front upper section 80 is formed by a pair of cloth portions 81 made of the same material as the airbag 40. Both cloth parts 81 are constituted by cloth pieces independent of each other. When the airbag 40 is in a non-inflated and deployed state, the two cloth portions 81 are in a state of being overlapped in the vehicle width direction.

  The front upper partition 80 has the same configuration as the rear lower partition 60 described above. That is, the main part of each cloth part 81 is constituted by a main body part 82 that divides a front upper side part from the rear lower inflating part 51 into a pair of front upper inflating parts 52 and 53 among the inflating parts of the airbag 40. ing. The main body portion 82 for each of the cloth portions 81 is linear, and is inclined at a steep angle with respect to the front-rear direction so that the upper portion is located on the front side. Each main body 82 has a uniform width everywhere in its length direction. The front upper end portion of each main body portion 82 is separated from the front upper end portion of the peripheral edge coupling portion 44. The rear lower end portion of each main body portion 82 is spaced forward and upward from the rear lower partition portion 60.

  The front upper section 80 includes a front upper extension 83 and a rear lower extension 84 in addition to the main body 82 for each of the cloth parts 81. The front upper extension 83 and the rear lower extension 84 for each cloth part 81 have a narrower width than the main body part 82. The front upper extension 83 for each cloth part 81 starts from the rear half of the front upper end of the main body 82 and extends toward the front upper side. The rear lower extension 84 for each of the cloth portions 81 starts from the latter half of the rear lower end of the main body 82 and extends rearward and downward. Therefore, the length of each cloth part 81 is longer in the latter half part by the front upper extension part 83 and the rear lower extension part 84 than the front half part. In the present embodiment, the front upper extension 83 for each cloth part 81 extends to the outer peripheral part (front upper end part) of the airbag 40, and the rear lower extension 84 for each cloth part 81 corresponds to the rear lower partition part 60. It extends to the middle part in the length direction.

  The occupant side fabric portion 81 is coupled to the occupant side fabric portion 42 adjacent thereto by a coupling portion 85 (see FIG. 8A). The connecting portion 85 extends along the rear edge of the occupant-side fabric portion 81 and straddles the front upper extension 83, the main body 82, and the rear lower extension 84. The front upper end portion of the joint portion 85 intersects with the front upper end portion of the peripheral joint portion 44, and the rear lower end portion of the joint portion 85 intersects with the passenger-side joint portion 68.

  Similarly, the cloth portion 81 on the side opposite to the occupant is connected to the cloth portion 43 on the side opposite to the occupant by a connecting portion 86 (see FIG. 8A). The coupling portion 86 extends across the front upper extension 83, the main body 82, and the rear lower extension 84 along the rear edge of the cloth portion 81 on the side opposite to the passenger. The front upper end portion of the joint portion 86 intersects with the front upper end portion of the peripheral joint portion 44, and the rear lower end portion of the joint portion 86 intersects the joint portion 69 on the non-occupant side.

  Both the cloth parts 81 are mutually connected by the connection part 87 provided along the front edge part of both the main-body parts 82 which is a location spaced apart from both the connection parts 85 and 86 (refer Fig.8 (a)). ). Unlike the joint portions 85 and 86, the joint portion 87 is provided only in both the main body portions 82, and is not provided in the front upper extension portion 83 and the rear lower extension portion 84.

  With such a coupling mode, the front upper section 80 is bridged between the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43. And the front upper division part 80 will become a tension | tensile_strength, and the expansion | swelling thickness of the vehicle width direction of the vicinity part of the front upper division part 80 in the airbag 40 will be controlled (refer FIG.8 (b)).

  A space in the airbag 40 between the front upper end portion of the main body portion 82 for each cloth portion 81 and the front upper end portion of the peripheral edge coupling portion 44 constitutes a front upper communication path 88. In other words, the front upper communication passage 88 is located at a position adjacent to the front upper side with respect to the front upper end portions of the two main body portions 82. Through the front upper communication passage 88, the front upper expansion portions 52 and 53 are communicated with each other on the front upper side of the front upper partition portion 80.

  A space in the airbag 40 between the rear lower end portion of the main body portion 82 for each cloth portion 81 and the rear lower partition portion 60 constitutes a rear lower communication passage 89. In other words, the rear lower communication passage 89 is located at a position adjacent to the rear lower side with respect to the rear lower end portions of the main body portions 82. By this rear lower communication passage 89, the front upper expansion parts 52 and 53 are communicated with the rear lower side of the front upper partition part 80.

<Inner tube 90>
An inner tube 90 is disposed in the rear lower expansion portion 51 so as to surround at least the gas ejection portion 36 a of the gas generator 35. The inner tube 90 has a cylindrical shape, and has a function of distributing (rectifying) the expansion gas ejected from the gas ejection portion 36a of the gas generator 35 so as to be directed upward and downward.

  In order to form the inner tube 90, one piece of cloth 91 formed of the same material as the airbag 40 is used. The cloth piece 91 is folded in two along a fold line 92 set at the center in the vehicle width direction and overlapped in the vehicle width direction. Here, in order to distinguish the two overlapping portions of the inner tube 90, the part located on the occupant side is referred to as a cloth part 93, and the part located on the counter occupant side is referred to as a cloth part 94.

  The front edge portions of both fabric portions 93 and 94 are gently curved so that the shape corresponding to the rear lower partition portion 60, that is, the middle portion in the vertical direction swells forward and upward. Both the cloth parts 93 and 94 are mutually connected by the connection part 95 provided along those front edge parts. The rear upper end portion of the joint portion 95 intersects with the rear upper end portion of the peripheral joint portion 44. The lower end portions of the cloth portions 93 and 94 are not connected to each other. This uncoupled portion constitutes an opening 96 on the lower side of the inner tube 90.

  The upper end portion of the inner tube 90 extends to the outer peripheral portion (rear upper end portion) of the airbag 40 and is joined (co-sewn) to the outer peripheral portion (rear upper end portion) by the peripheral edge coupling portion 44. By this coupling (co-sewing), the rigidity of the rear lower inflating portion 51 of the airbag 40 is enhanced.

  Further, an opening 97 made of a circular hole is formed at a location above the opening 96 of each of the cloth portions 93 and 94. Through these openings 96 and 97, the inner tube 90 communicates with the outside. The pair of openings 97 is formed such that the sum of their opening areas is smaller than the opening area when the lower opening 96 is opened.

  Bolt holes 98 and 99 are formed at locations spaced apart from each other on the folding line 92 of the inner tube 90. The inner tube 90 is coupled to the airbag 40 by coupling means (not shown) such as stitching in a state where the bolt holes 98 and 99 are matched with the corresponding bolt holes 48 and 49 of the airbag 40. .

  The inner tube 90 may be folded in half so that the fold line 92 is located at the front end of the inner tube 90. In this case, the pair of cloth portions 93 and 94 in the inner tube 90 are coupled to each other at their rear ends, but the occupant-side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 43 in the airbag 40. It may be stitched together at the rear end. Further, the inner tube 90 may be one in which the cloth portions 93 and 94 are separated along the fold line 92.

  And many parts except the lower part of the gas generator 35 are inserted through the insertion port 47, so that they are arranged at the rear end portion in the rear lower expansion portion 51 and at the rear end portion in the inner tube 90. ing. Further, the upper bolt 38 is inserted through the bolt holes 98 and 48 (see FIG. 9), and the lower bolt 38 is inserted only through the bolt hole 48. A bolt 39 is inserted into the bolt holes 99 and 49. By these insertions, the gas generator 35 is locked in a state of being positioned with respect to the inner tube 90 and the airbag 40. In the gas generator 35 locked in this way, the inflator 36 is located at a location where the inner tube 90 is biased downward from the center in the vertical direction.

  By the way, the airbag module ABM is formed into a compact form (hereinafter referred to as “storage form”) by folding the airbag 40 (see FIG. 6) in a non-inflated and deployed state. As a mode of folding the airbag 40, for example, roll folding, bellows folding or the like is suitable. Roll folding is a folding mode in which one end of the airbag 40 is the center and the other part is wound around the end. The bellows fold is a folding mode in which the airbag 40 is folded back while changing the folding direction alternately by a certain width. As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag module ABM in which the airbag 40 is stored is housed in the housing portion 29 of the seat back 17.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, both bolts 38 of the gas generator 35 are inserted through the bolt holes 25 of the mounted portion 23 in the bracket 22 from the front. A bolt 39 of the gas generator 35 is inserted from the front into the bolt hole 26 of the additional attachment portion 24 in the bracket 22.

  By tightening the nuts 34 (see FIG. 3) to the respective bolts 38 and 39 from the rear, the rear end portions of the rear lower expansion portion 51 and the inner tube 90 together with the gas generator 35 are attached to the attached portion 23 and the additional covered portion. The mounting portion 24 is attached to the bracket 22. In this way, the gas generator 35 is attached to the side frame portion 21 via the bracket 22.

  The gas generator 35 may be attached to the bracket 22 by a member different from the bolts 38 and 39 and the nut 34 described above. Further, the gas generator 35 may be directly attached to the side frame portion 21 without using the bracket 22. Further, the inflator 36 may be directly attached to the side frame portion 21 without using the retainer 37.

  The far-side airbag device includes an impact sensor 101 and a control device 102 shown in FIG. 4 in addition to the airbag module ABM described above. The impact sensor 101 is composed of an acceleration sensor or the like, and is provided on the side wall 12 or the like, and detects an impact applied to the side wall 12 or the like from the side. The control device 102 controls the operation of the gas generator 35 (inflator 36) based on the detection signal of the impact sensor 101.

  Further, in the vehicle 10, when an impact is applied from the side to the side wall 11 near the vehicle seat 13, the airbag is deployed and inflated between the side wall 11 and the vehicle seat 13. A side airbag device (not shown) of a type that restrains the occupant P1 and protects it from an impact is provided.

In addition, a seat belt device (not shown) for restraining the occupant P1 sitting on the vehicle seat 13 to the vehicle seat 13 is provided in the vehicle interior.
Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when an impact due to a side collision or the like is applied from one side to one side wall portion 12, the upper body of the passenger P <b> 1 far from the side wall portion 12 on which the impact is applied (driver's seat side) is caused by inertia. Try to fall into the side wall 12 side.

  Further, when the impact sensor 101 detects that an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the side wall portion 12 from the side, the control device 102 applies this to the gas generator 35 (inflator 36) based on the detection signal. An operation signal for operating is output. When the expansion gas is ejected from the gas ejection portion 36a of the inflator 36 in response to the operation signal, the expansion gas is first supplied to the inner tube 90. The inner tube 90 starts to expand due to the expansion gas.

  A part of the inflation gas flows out radially outward of the inner tube 90 from the upper opening 97 toward the rear lower inflation portion 51 around the inner tube 90. The other part of the expansion gas hits the wall surface of the inner tube 90 and changes the flow direction downward. The inflation gas flows out from the lower opening 96 to the rear lower inflation portion 51 around the inner tube 90. Since the opening area of the opening 96 is larger than the sum of the opening areas of the two openings 97, the rear lower inflating portion 51 has a larger amount of expansion than the inner tube 90 downward than in the radially outward direction. Gas is spilled.

  In the rear lower expansion part 51, the internal pressure is increased by supplying the expansion gas, and the rear lower expansion part 51 starts expansion while canceling (deploying) the folded state. As the rear lower inflatable portion 51 is expanded and inflated, the rear lower section 60 is pulled to both sides in the vehicle width direction, and is in a tension state at the front end of the rear lower inflatable portion 51.

  Further, part of the inflation gas supplied to the rear lower expansion part 51 flows into the front upper expansion part 53 in the front upper direction through the rear upper communication passage 73. A part of this inflating gas flows in the front upper expansion part 53 along the front upper partition part 80 toward the front upper side.

  The other part of the inflation gas supplied to the rear lower expansion part 51 flows into the front upper expansion part 52 in the front upper direction through the front lower communication passage 72. The amount of the expansion gas flowing through the front lower communication passage 72 is larger than the amount of the expansion gas flowing through the rear upper communication passage 73. Part of the inflation gas that has flowed into the front upper expansion part 52 flows in the front upper expansion part 52 along the front upper partition part 80 toward the front upper side.

  The front upper expansion portions 52 and 53 to which the expansion gas is supplied start expansion while being released (deployed) after the rear lower expansion portion 51 is released (expanded). More expansion gas is supplied to the front upper expansion part 52 than to the front upper expansion part 53. Therefore, the expansion and expansion of the front upper expansion portion 52 are promoted more than the expansion and expansion of the front upper expansion portion 53. In other words, in the airbag 40, in the front upper portion of the rear lower inflatable portion 51 (front upper inflatable portions 52 and 53), the forward deployment is promoted more than the upward deployment.

  However, the expansion gas that has reached the front upper end of the front upper expansion portion 53 flows into the adjacent front upper expansion portion 52 by flowing through the front upper communication passage 88. The expansion gas that has reached the front upper end of the front upper expansion portion 52 flows into the adjacent front upper expansion portion 53 by flowing through the front upper communication passage 88. A part of the inflation gas supplied to the front upper expansion portion 52 via the front lower communication passage 72 flows into the front upper expansion portion 53 through the rear lower communication passage 89. Part of the inflation gas supplied to the front upper expansion portion 53 via the rear upper communication passage 73 flows into the front upper expansion portion 52 through the rear lower communication passage 89. As described above, the expansion gas flows through the front upper communication passage 88 and the rear lower communication passage 89, so that the internal pressures of the front upper expansion portions 52 and 53 are equalized.

The front upper section 80 is pulled to both sides in the vehicle width direction in accordance with the development and expansion of both front upper expansion portions 52 and 53, and is in a tension state.
As described above, in the process in which the rear lower expansion portion 51 and the front upper expansion portions 52 and 53 are deployed and expanded, the seat pad 27 is pressed near the storage portion 29 in FIG. Is broken. The airbag 40 jumps out from the storage portion 29 toward the front and upper side in a state where a part (the vicinity of the gas generator 35) remains in the storage portion 29.

  The airbag 40 is deployed and inflated from the rear end portion of the airbag 40 toward the front upper side between the adjacent vehicle seats 13 and 14. When the deployment and the inflation are completed, the airbag 40 is positioned between the occupants P1, P2 seated on both the vehicle seats 13, 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a part of the rear lower inflation portion 51 of the airbag 40 is located on the side of the waist PP of the occupant P <b> 1 (the lower portion of the seat back 17), and the front upper inflation of the airbag 40. The upper ends of the parts 52 and 53 are positioned higher than the head PH of the occupant P1. The lower end of the rear lower inflatable portion 51 is located between the occupant P1 seated on the vehicle seat 13 and the center console box 15. The airbag 40 tries to receive the upper body of the occupant P1 that falls to the side of the side wall 12 where the impact is applied.

  As described above, the deployment and inflation of the airbag 40 is started in the order of the rear lower inflation portion 51 and the front upper inflation portions 52 and 53. Therefore, unlike the case where the rear lower section 60 is not provided and the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated at a stretch, the front upper portion of the airbag 40 (front upper inflated portions 52 and 53) at the initial stage of the deployment and inflation. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the upper part of the occupant P1, for example, the head PH, from being pressed.

When the airbag 40 receives the upper body of the occupant P1, a force toward the front is applied to the airbag 40 as a component force of a side force applied to the airbag 40.
However, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the airbag 40 is attached to the attachment portion 23 of the bracket 22 together with the gas generator 35 at the rear end portion thereof. In addition, the airbag 40 is partly attached to the additional attachment portion 24 of the bracket 22. These attached portion 23 and additional attached portion 24 each exhibit a function of increasing the rigidity of the rear lower inflating portion 51 in the airbag 40.

  Further, the inner tube 90 is inflated into a cylindrical shape by the inflation gas, whereby the rigidity of the inner tube 90 is increased. Along with this, the rigidity of the portion around the inner tube 90 in the rear lower expanding portion 51 is also increased.

Further, the upper end portion of the inner tube 90 that extends to the outer peripheral portion of the airbag 40 and is joined by the peripheral joint portion 44 acts to increase the rigidity of the rear lower inflating portion 51.
Therefore, as described above, the airbag 40 is unlikely to be bent at the lower inflatable portion 51 after the rigidity is increased. Many portions of the airbag 40 maintain the deployed and inflated state on the side of the upper body of the occupant P1. Therefore, the occupant P1 that falls to the side in response to the impact is received by the airbag 40, and the impact applied to the occupant P1 is reduced.

  By the way, as shown in FIG.6 and FIG.7, in the airbag 40, the location by which thickness was controlled by the back lower division part 60 and the front upper division part 80 expand | swells. The target locations include the rear lower expansion portion 51 and the front upper expansion portions 52 and 53, as well as the front lower communication passage 72, the rear upper communication passage 73, the front upper communication passage 88, and the rear lower communication passage 89. included. Then, the rear lower section 60 and the front upper section 80 are pulled to both sides in the vehicle width direction by the occupant side cloth portion 42 and the counter occupant side cloth portion 43 of the airbag 40 that is inflated at each portion as described above (FIG. 8). (See (b)).

  Stress due to the pressure of the inflation gas is applied to the coupling portions 68, 69, 85, 86 that couple the fabric portions 61, 81 to the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43. Here, if the cloth portions 61 and 81 are configured only by the main body portions 62 and 82 and the coupling portions 68, 69, 85, and 86 are provided only in the main body portions 62 and 82, the coupling portions thereof. Stress tends to concentrate on both ends of 68, 69, 85, and 86, and there is a fear that the bonding strength is insufficient. FIG. 11B shows an example in which the cloth part 61 is configured only by the main body part 62 and the coupling part 68 is provided only on the main body part 62. In this case, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In order to make up for this, it is necessary to take another measure such as using a reinforcing cloth in order to compensate for the lack of bonding strength.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11A, the front lower extension 66 and the rear upper extension 67 are provided at both ends in the length direction of the main body 62, and these are also coupled portions 68, 69 is coupled to the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43. Therefore, in the joint portions 68 and 69, the portions that receive the stress due to the pressure of the expansion gas are the front and lower extension portions as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 66 and the rear upper extension 67 are made longer, and the stress concentration can be reduced accordingly.

  Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a front upper extension 83 and a rear lower extension 84 are provided at both ends in the length direction of the main body 82, and these are also connected to the occupant side cloth by the connecting portions 85, 86. It is combined with the part 42 and the non-occupant side cloth part 43. For this reason, the portions of the joints 85 and 86 that are subjected to stress due to the pressure of the expansion gas become longer by the amount of the joints 85 and 86 provided in the front upper extension 83 and the rear lower extension 84. , Stress concentration can be relaxed.

As a result, reinforcement with a reinforcing cloth or the like becomes unnecessary, and both the number of parts and the cost can be reduced.
In particular, in the present embodiment, the coupling portions 68 and 69 in the front lower extension 66 and the coupling portions 68 and 69 in the rear upper extension 67 intersect with the peripheral coupling portion 44, respectively.

  Therefore, portions of the coupling portions 68 and 69 in the front lower extension portion 66 and the rear upper extension portion 67 are the maximum lengths that can be taken. In each of the coupling portions 68 and 69, the portion subjected to stress due to the pressure of the expansion gas is made the longest on both the front lower side and the rear upper side of the main body portion 62, and the stress concentration can be effectively reduced.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the coupling portions 85 and 86 in the front upper extension portion 83 intersect the peripheral edge coupling portion 44, and the coupling portions 85 and 86 in the rear lower extension portion 84 are joined to the coupling portions 68 and 86 in the rear lower partition portion 60. 69 is crossed.

  Therefore, the part in the front upper extension part 83 and the rear lower extension part 84 becomes the maximum length which can each be taken out among the coupling parts 85 and 86. In each of the coupling portions 85 and 86, the portion that receives the stress due to the pressure of the expansion gas is made the longest on both the front upper side and the rear lower side of the main body portion 82, and the stress concentration can be effectively reduced.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 12, a situation is assumed in which the child's PC is leaning on the side support portion 19 with the knee on the seat cushion 16 in a backward posture. In this case, the neck PN and the chest PB of the child PC are positioned in front of the rear lower inflatable portion 51 in the deployment direction. In this situation, when the airbag 40 starts to be deployed and inflated, a load is applied from the rear lower inflatable portion 51 to the neck PN and the chest PB of the child PC. Here, under the above conditions (viewing the rear lower section 60 when the rear lower expansion section 51 expands from the vehicle width direction), the magnitude of the load depends on the shape of the rear lower section 60 and the side support section. 19 and the position of the rear lower section 60 with respect to the front edge 19a. This is because the rear lower section 60 is positioned at the front end of the rear lower inflating portion 51 in a state of being inflated in the vehicle width direction.

  In this regard, under the above-described conditions, the rear lower partition portion 60 that is in a tension state has a shape along the front end edge 19a of the side support portion 19, and does not have a protruding portion that protrudes greatly forward. . Moreover, the rear lower section 60 includes the front edge 19a so that the load applied from the rear lower inflatable part 51 to the neck PN and the chest PB of the child PC is less than or equal to the upper limit of the allowable range, and the front end thereof. The edge 19a is formed in a region which is translated in the front upper direction and the rear lower direction. For this reason, the load applied from the rear lower inflating portion 51 to the neck PN and the chest PB of the child PC is equal to or less than the upper limit value of the allowable range.

  In the present embodiment, the rear lower partition portion 60 overlaps the front end edge 19 a of the side support portion 19 under the above conditions. In other words, the rear lower section 60 is located at a point close to the neck PN and the chest PB of the child PC drowning in the side support part 19 in a backward posture. Therefore, the loads applied to the neck PN and the chest PB of the child PC from the lower inflating portion 51 after being inflated are both reduced within the allowable range.

  In particular, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, a load is applied to the chest PB of the child PC from the front lower main body portion 63 that is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction in the main body portion 62 of the rear lower section 60. Further, a load is applied to the neck portion PN of the child PC from the rear upper body portion 64 in a state where the neck portion PN is inclined at a gentler angle than the front lower body portion 63 with respect to the front-rear direction. Therefore, a smaller load is applied to the neck PN of the child PC than when the rear upper body 64 is inclined at the same angle as the front lower body 63 with respect to the front-rear direction.

  Further, the expansion gas supplied to the rear lower expansion portion 51 is guided to the front upper expansion portions 52 and 53 through the front lower communication passage 72 and the rear upper communication passage 73. As described above, the front lower communication passage 72 is provided. Then, a larger amount of the expansion gas flows than the rear upper communication passage 73. Therefore, in the airbag 40, in the portion on the front upper side than the rear lower inflatable portion 51 (front upper inflatable portions 52 and 53), the forward deployment is promoted more than the upward deployment. Therefore, the load applied to the neck PN of the child's PC can be reduced by the front upper expansion portion 53 that expands and expands as compared with the case where the expansion gas flows through the front lower communication passage 72 and the rear upper communication passage 73 in equal amounts. .

  FIG. 14 shows a result of measuring a time change of a load applied from the lower inflating portion 51 to the neck PN of the child PC (three-year-old dummy 3YO) when the rear lower inflating portion 51 is expanded and inflated. FIG. 15 also shows the result of measuring the time change of the amount of deflection (the amount of deflection) of the chest PB of the child PC (three-year-old dummy 3YO) when the rear lower inflating portion 51 is expanded and inflated. Yes. The amount of deflection corresponds to the load applied from the rear lower expansion part 51 to the chest part PB. The amount of deflection increases as the load increases.

  14 and 15, a characteristic line L0 indicates a measurement result when a conventional far-side airbag device is used (hereinafter referred to as “conventional example”). In this far side airbag device, as shown in FIG. 16, the rear lower section 60 includes a front lower main body 63 and a rear upper main body 64. The angle formed with respect to the front lower main body portion 63 of the rear upper main body portion 64 is smaller than that of the above embodiment (approximately 90 °). It has a bent shape so as to protrude largely forward and upward from the part. In FIG. 16, the same elements as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The characteristic line L1 in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 shows the above embodiment in which the rear lower section 60 has a shape along the front edge 19a of the side support 19 and overlaps with the front edge 19a under the above conditions. The measurement result when the fur side airbag apparatus corresponding to is used (hereinafter referred to as “Example”) is shown.

  The characteristic line L2 is a far side air located at a position where the rear lower section 60 has a shape along the front end edge 19a of the side support portion 19 and is translated from the front end edge 19a to the front upper side by 50 mm under the above conditions. The measurement results when using the bag device (hereinafter referred to as “Comparative Example 1”) are shown.

  The characteristic line L3 is a far-side air located at a location where the rear lower section 60 has a shape along the front edge 19a of the side support 19 under the above-mentioned conditions and is translated from the front edge 19a by 50 mm rearward and downward. The measurement results when using the bag device (hereinafter referred to as “Comparative Example 2”) are shown. FIG. 13 shows the positional relationship between the coupling portion 69 and the rear lower partition portion 60 in the above-described embodiment, comparative example 1 and comparative example 2.

  14 and 15, it can be seen that in the example (characteristic line L1), the maximum values of the load applied to the neck PN and the deflection amount of the chest PB are smaller than those of the conventional example (characteristic line L0).

  Moreover, in the comparative example 1 (characteristic line L2), it turns out that the maximum value of the load added to neck part PN is comparable as a prior art example (characteristic line L0). However, the high load state ends in a shorter time than the conventional example (characteristic line L0). Further, in Comparative Example 1 (characteristic line L2), it can be seen that the maximum value of the amount of bending of the chest PB is larger than that in the conventional example (characteristic line L0). This is considered because many parts of the front lower main body part 63 of the rear lower partition part 60 are located on the front upper edge 19a of the side support part 19 in front of the appropriate value and push the chest part PB more. .

  In Comparative Example 2 (characteristic line L3), it can be seen that the maximum value of the load applied to the neck PN is smaller than that of the conventional example (characteristic line L0). This is considered because the rear upper body part 64 of the rear lower partition part 60 moves rearward and downward from the front end edge 19a of the side support part 19, and the load on the neck PN is less likely to be applied than in the conventional example (characteristic line L0). .

  Further, in Comparative Example 2 (characteristic line L3), it can be seen that the maximum value of the amount of deflection of the chest PB is approximately the same as that in the conventional example (characteristic line L0). This is because when the front upper expansion parts 52, 53 start to expand and expand behind the rear lower expansion part 51, the rear lower partition part 60 is in a tension state at a position away from the front edge 19a to the rear lower side. This is presumably because the front upper expansion parts 52 and 53 expand and expand after the tension of the rear lower partition part 60 and press the chest PB of the child PC.

In addition, the said embodiment can also be implemented as a modification which changed this as follows.
<About gas generator 35>
-As the retainer 37 in FIG. 6, what the extension part 37b was abbreviate | omitted may be used. In this case, the additional attachment portion 24 may be omitted from the bracket 22 in FIG.

<About airbag 40>
The airbag 40 is fixed to a strength member different from the side frame portion 21 and the bracket 22 on the premise that the airbag 40 is a side portion of the vehicle seats 13 and 14 that is close to the adjacent vehicle seats 14 and 13. May be.

Further, the airbag 40 may be fixed to a member located near the side portion of the vehicle seats 13, 14, for example, the center console box 15.
The airbag 40 may be inflated substantially as in the above embodiment, but has a non-inflatable part that does not inflate without being supplied with the inflation gas. Also good.

<About the rear lower section 60>
The rear lower partition 60 may be an area set in the above embodiment, and may be formed at a location that does not overlap the front edge 19a of the side support 19 under the above conditions.

In this case, it is desirable that the rear lower partition part 60 is formed at a position translated in the front upper direction or the rear lower direction with respect to the front end edge 19a of the side support part 19 in the above region.
In this way, when the rear lower expansion portion 51 expands, the rear lower partition portion 60 that constitutes the front end portion of the lower expansion portion 51 is positioned in the vicinity of the front end edge 19 a of the side support portion 19. In other words, the rear lower section 60 is positioned at a position close to the neck PN and the chest PB of the child PC drowning in the side support portion 19 in a backward posture. Therefore, the load applied to the neck part PN and the chest part PB of the child PC from the lower inflating part 51 after the inflating can be within an allowable range.

  The rear lower partition 60 may be formed so as to be non-parallel to the front edge 19a in the region when the rear lower partition 60 does not overlap the front edge 19a of the side support 19 under the above conditions.

The coupling portions 68 and 69 and the coupling portion 71 may be formed so as to have a positional relationship opposite to that in the above embodiment.
-At least one of the front lower extension part 66 and the rear upper extension part 67 in the rear lower division part 60 may be abbreviate | omitted.

<About the front upper section 80>
The front upper partition 80 may be provided in a plurality of front upper portions of the rear lower expansion portion 51 and the rear lower partition 60 among the expansion portions of the airbag 40.

-At least one of the front upper extension part 83 and the rear lower extension part 84 in the front upper division part 80 may be abbreviate | omitted.
-The front upper division part 80 may be abbreviate | omitted. In this case, among the inflating parts of the airbag 40, the front upper part of the rear lower inflating part 51 and the rear lower partition part 60 is constituted by one front upper inflating part.

-The coupling | bond part 85,86 and the coupling | bond part 87 may be formed so that it may become a reverse positional relationship with the said embodiment.
<Inner tube 90>
-The opening 96 presupposes that it is located below the opening 97, and may be provided in the location different from the said embodiment. For example, the opening 96 may be provided at one place or a plurality of places above the lower end portion of the inner tube 90.

  Similarly, on the premise that the opening 97 is located above the opening 96, the opening 97 may be provided at a location different from the above embodiment. In this case, the opening 97 may be provided at one place or may be provided at a plurality of places.

Further, a part of the joint part 95 where the joint of the two cloth parts 93 and 94 by the joint part 95 is released may be provided, and this part may be the upper opening 97.
-Inner tube 90 may surround the whole gas generator 35 (except bolts 38 and 39) including gas ejection part 36a.

<Others>
The far side airbag device can be applied to a vehicle in which three or more vehicle seats are arranged in the vehicle width direction. In this case, the airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats in response to an impact applied to the side wall portion from the side of the vehicle.

-Vehicles to which the far-side airbag device is applied include not only private vehicles but also various industrial vehicles.
The above far-side airbag device is also applied to a far-side airbag device that is mounted on a vehicle other than a vehicle, such as an aircraft or a ship, and that protects an occupant seated on the vehicle seat from an impact caused by a side collision or the like. Is possible.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle (vehicle), 11, 12 ... Side wall part, 13, 14 ... Vehicle seat (vehicle seat), 17 ... Seat back, 19 ... Side support part, 19a ... Front edge, 35 ... Gas generator, 36a ... Gas ejection part, 40 ... airbag, 42 ... occupant side cloth part, 43 ... anti-occupant side cloth part, 44 ... peripheral joint part, 51 ... rear lower inflating part, 52,53 ... front upper inflating part, 60 ... rear lower Partition part, 62, 82 ... body part, 63 ... front lower body part, 64 ... rear upper body part, 66 ... front lower extension part, 67 ... rear upper extension part, 68, 69, 71, 85, 86, 87 ... 72, front lower communication passage, 73 ... rear upper communication passage, 90 ... inner tube, 96, 97 ... opening, P1, P2 ... occupant, PB ... chest, PC ... child, PN ... neck.

Claims (9)

With an airbag fixed to a vehicle in which a plurality of vehicle seats are juxtaposed in the width direction, and with an inflation gas supplied from a gas generator in response to an impact applied from the side to the side wall portion of the vehicle, By deploying and inflating the airbag forward and upward between adjacent vehicle seats, the upper body of the occupant seated in a normal posture on the vehicle seat far from the side wall portion is protected from impact. A far-side airbag device,
The airbag is located at the front upper side of the rear lower inflatable portion via the rear lower compartment by the rear lower compartment, and the rear lower inflatable portion through the rear lower compartment, and the rear lower inflatable portion. And the front upper expansion part to which the expansion gas passed through the rear lower partition part is supplied,
On condition that the rear lower section when the rear lower expansion section is expanded is viewed from the width direction of the vehicle, the rear lower section is a side support section in a seat back of the vehicle seat. Has a shape along the front edge of
Further, under the above conditions, the rear lower section is configured such that the load applied from the rear lower inflated portion is less than or equal to the upper limit of the allowable range with respect to a child's neck and chest that are drooped in the side support portion in a rearward posture. Further, the far side airbag device is formed in a region including the front end edge and parallelly moving the front end edge in the front upper direction and the rear lower direction.   2. The far-side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the rear lower partition portion is formed at a location overlapping the front end edge of the side support portion under the condition.   2. The far-side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the rear lower partition portion is formed at a location where the front end edge of the side support portion is translated in the front upper direction or the rear lower direction in the region under the conditions. . The rear lower partition portion includes a main body portion that is inclined so as to be located on the rear side as an upper portion as a portion that partitions the airbag into the rear lower inflatable portion and the front upper inflatable portion.
When the rear lower inflatable part is inflated, the main body part is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction, and the front lower main body part is opposed to the child's chest and is more gently inclined with respect to the front-rear direction than the front lower main body part. The far side according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a rear upper body portion that is positioned on the rear upper side of the front lower main body portion and faces a portion above the chest in the child. Airbag device. A location adjacent to the rear upper side with respect to the rear upper end portion of the rear upper body portion is provided with a rear upper communication passage for communicating the rear lower expansion portion and the front upper expansion portion,
The rear lower expansion portion and the front upper expansion portion communicate with a portion adjacent to the front lower side with respect to the front lower end portion of the front lower main body portion, and an amount of the expansion gas larger than that of the rear upper communication passage. The far-side airbag device according to claim 4, further comprising a front lower communication passage that guides the vehicle from the rear lower inflatable portion to the front upper inflatable portion. In the rear lower expansion portion, an inner tube is disposed in a state surrounding at least the gas ejection portion of the gas generator,
The inner tube is provided with a lower opening and an opening above the opening,
The far side airbag device according to claim 5, wherein the lower opening has a larger opening area than the upper opening. The airbag includes a pair of cloth portions arranged in the width direction of the vehicle,
The said lower rear division part is arrange | positioned between both cloth parts, and it is spanned between both cloth parts by couple | bonding with both cloth parts by a pair of coupling part. The far side airbag device according to Item. In addition to the main body part, the rear lower partition part,
A front lower extension extending from the front lower end of the front lower main body to the front lower side;
A rear upper extension portion extending rearward and upward from the rear upper end portion of the rear upper body portion, and each coupling portion is provided across the front lower extension portion, the main body portion, and the rear upper extension portion. Item 8. The far-side airbag device according to Item 7. Both fabric parts of the airbag are connected to each other by a peripheral joint provided at the peripheral part thereof,
The far-side airbag device according to claim 8, wherein the joint portion in the front lower extension portion and the joint portion in the rear upper extension portion intersect with the peripheral joint portion, respectively.

Images