JP2019166974A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an airbag device which can preferably restrain an occupant to reduce an injury value to the occupant even during an oblique collision.SOLUTION: An airbag device 100 restrains an occupant 132 of a vehicle. The airbag device 100 includes: a main bag 112 which inflates and expands at the vehicle front side of a front seat; a center bag 114 which inflates and deploys protruding to the vehicle rear side further than the main bag 112 at the inner side of the main bag 112 in a vehicle width direction; and an outer bag 124 which inflates and deploys protruding to the vehicle rear side further than the main bag 112 at the outer side of the main bag 112 in the vehicle width direction. The center bag 114 and the outer bag 124 restrain a head E1 of the occupant 132 from the side to inhibit rotation 140 which may occur to the head E1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device that restrains a vehicle occupant from the front of the vehicle.

  In recent years, airbag devices are almost standard equipment. The airbag device is a safety device that operates in an emergency such as a vehicle collision, and inflates and deploys with gas pressure to receive and protect an occupant. There are various types of airbag devices depending on the installation location and application. For example, a front airbag is installed in the center of the steering wheel in the driver's seat to protect the front seat occupant mainly from front and rear impacts, and an instrument panel and other parts are installed near the passenger seat. A passenger airbag is provided. In addition, a curtain airbag that inflates and deploys along the side window is provided near the ceiling of the wall to protect each occupant in the front and rear rows from side collision and subsequent rollover (rollover). The part is provided with a side airbag that is inflated and deployed right next to the passenger.

  The airbag device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is mainly for a passenger seat, and has a mechanism for restraining an occupant between two bag-shaped portions. Specifically, a bag-like left chamber 21 and a right chamber 22 are provided, and a recess 23 between them is positioned in front of the seat. With these configurations, in the airbag device of Patent Document 1, the shoulders and chests of the occupant moving forward of the vehicle are restrained by the left and right chambers 21 and 22, and the head is restrained by the recess 23.

JP 2009-6924 A

  At present, the airbag apparatus is also required to cope with irregular collisions and impacts such as so-called oblique collision in which an impact is applied to the vehicle from an oblique front-rear direction. An occupant in an oblique collision enters the airbag cushion (hereinafter referred to as “cushion”) in front of the seat with an irregular behavior such as an oblique direction. Therefore, for example, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, since the recess 23 that receives the head of the occupant is located in front of the seat, it is difficult to efficiently restrain the occupant during an oblique collision. In order to exert a sufficient restraint force during oblique collision, a cushion having a suitable shape and structure is required.

  In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can appropriately restrain an occupant even in an oblique collision and can suppress an injury value to the occupant.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a representative configuration of an airbag apparatus according to the present invention is an airbag apparatus that restrains a vehicle occupant, and the airbag apparatus is inflated and deployed in front of the front seat of the vehicle. A main bag, a center bag that protrudes rearward of the main bag in the vehicle width direction inside the main bag, and an inflated deployment that protrudes rearward of the main bag in the vehicle width direction of the main bag. The center bag and the outer bag restrain the occupant's head from the side and suppress the rotation that can occur in the head.

  In an oblique collision, the passenger in the passenger seat may move diagonally forward inside or outside the vehicle. In that case, when the head of the occupant contacts a conventional main bag existing in front of the passenger seat, the head may rotate around the neck as viewed from above. Therefore, for example, in the above configuration, the center bag inside the main bag and the outer bag outside the main bag are projected rearward of the main bag. According to this configuration, the occupant's head that moves diagonally forward on the inside or outside of the vehicle comes into contact with the main bag on the front, at the same time, or immediately before or after, mainly from the side of the center bag or Contact the outer bag. Thereby, rotation of a passenger | crew's head can be reduced or canceled. In particular, since the angular velocity of the rotation of the occupant's head can be reduced, the occupant injury value associated with the rotation can be suppressed.

  The airbag apparatus further disjoins the first valley formed by disjoining the main bag and the center bag and the main bag and the outer bag. You may provide the 2nd valley part formed by.

  According to the above configuration, the head of the occupant is restrained so as to be received by a valley provided on both the inside and outside of the vehicle as viewed from the occupant or to enter the inside of the valley. The As a result, the rotation of the head of the occupant can be restrained, and the injury value can be reduced.

  In the airbag device, the width of the main bag in the vehicle width direction may be wider than the head of the occupant and narrower than the shoulder width of the occupant. According to the above configuration, since the space between the center bag and the outer bag is wider than the head of the occupant, the head is restrained from the side by the center bag and the outer bag by allowing the head to enter the space. It becomes easy to do. Further, since the width of the main bag is narrower than the shoulder width, the rear edge of the center bag or the outer bag can easily come into contact with the shoulder. Since the center bag and the outer bag protrude toward the rear of the vehicle, the center bag and the outer bag can easily come into contact with the shoulder from the front and above, and the shoulder can be restrained more efficiently.

  The side surfaces of the center bag and the outer bag that protrude toward the rear of the vehicle relative to the main bag may bulge toward the main bag. If it is a bulging side surface, it will be easy to contact a passenger | crew's head and the restraining force of a head can be raised.

  When viewed from the side of the vehicle, the rear edges of the center bag and the outer bag may be inclined toward the rear of the vehicle as they move upward. If it is the rear edge of this shape, it becomes possible to restrain a passenger | crew's shoulder efficiently from the front and upper direction.

  When viewed from the side of the vehicle, the lower portions of the rear edges of the center bag and the outer bag may extend while curving convexly toward the front of the vehicle. If it is the rear edge of this shape, the contact area with respect to a passenger | crew's shoulder will increase, and it will become possible to restrain a shoulder more efficiently.

  The airbag device may further include a tether belt that has a belt shape and connects the upper portion of the center bag and the upper portion of the outer bag. By the tether belt, it is possible to restrict the center bag and the outer bag from spreading in the vehicle width direction and to increase the restraining force.

  The main bag may contact the windshield of the vehicle and the upper surface portion of the instrument panel of the vehicle by inflating and deploying. That is, the main bag may be inflated and deployed between the windshield and the instrument panel. According to this configuration, the posture of the main bag can be stabilized even when an occupant enters, and the postures of the center bag and the outer bag connected to the main bag are also more stable.

  The airbag device further includes a housing that is box-shaped and houses the main bag, the center bag, and the outer bag and is provided inside the upper surface portion of the instrument panel of the vehicle. The main bag, the center bag, and the outer bag are The upper surface portion of the instrument panel may be cleaved and expanded. With this configuration, an airbag device for a front seat having high occupant restraint performance can be suitably realized.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an airbag device that can appropriately restrain an occupant even in an oblique collision and suppress an injury value to the occupant.

It is a figure which illustrates the outline | summary of the airbag apparatus concerning embodiment of invention. It is the figure which illustrated the cushion at the time of the expansion | deployment of FIG.1 (b) from each direction. It is the figure which illustrated the process in which the cushion of FIG.2 (c) restrains a passenger | crew. It is the figure which illustrated the process which the cushion of FIG. 3 restrains a passenger | crew seeing from the vehicle inside. It is the figure which illustrated the state which looked at the process in which the cushion of FIG. 4 restrains a passenger | crew from the vehicle front. It is the figure which expanded and illustrated the cushion and the passenger | crew of FIG.4 (c). It is the figure which illustrated the modification of the center bag illustrated in FIG.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an airbag apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a vehicle before the airbag apparatus 100 is operated. In the present embodiment, the airbag device 100 is embodied for a front seat in a left-hand drive vehicle, particularly for a passenger seat (front row right seat). The airbag device 100 is installed inside the upper surface portion 106 on the passenger seat 104 side of the instrument panel 102.

  When the airbag device 100 receives an impact detection signal from a sensor (not shown), the cushion 108 (see FIG. 1B) tears the upper surface portion 106 and expands and deploys rearward of the vehicle. FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating the vehicle after the airbag apparatus 100 is operated. The cushion 108 of the airbag device 100 restrains the passenger 132 (see FIG. 3C) of the passenger seat 104 from the front of the vehicle. The cushion 108 has a bag shape and receives gas from the inflator 110 (see FIG. 4A) to expand and deploy. The cushion 108 is formed by sewing or adhering a plurality of base fabrics that constitute the surface of the cushion 108, spinning using OPW (One-Piece Woven), or the like.

  The cushion 108 of the airbag device 100 includes three parts, a main bag 112, a center bag 114, and an outer bag 124. The main bag 112 is a central part that inflates and deploys to the front side of the passenger seat 104. The main bag 112 is inflated and deployed so as to fill a space between the passenger 132 of the passenger seat 104, the instrument panel 102 and the windshield 116. This prevents the passenger 132 from colliding with the instrument panel 102. Further, by preventing the occupant 132 from colliding with the windshield 116, the occupant 132 is also prevented from being released from the vehicle.

  The center bag 114 is a flat portion that inflates and deploys adjacent to the inner side (vehicle inner side) of the main bag 112 in the vehicle width direction. The center bag 114 is inflated and deployed in front of the center console 118 when viewed from the occupant 132 (see FIG. 3A), and the occupant 132 moves inside the vehicle or collides with the center console 118 at the time of an oblique collision or the like. prevent.

  The outer bag 124 is a flat portion that inflates and deploys adjacent to the outer side (vehicle outer side) of the main bag 112 in the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, the outer bag 124 has a substantially contrasting structure with the center bag 114. The outer bag 124 is inflated and deployed so as to cover the front side window 115 when viewed from the occupant 132 (see FIG. 3C), and the occupant 132 moves outside the vehicle, the front side window 115, etc. in an oblique collision or the like. Prevent collisions.

  FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the cushion 108 in FIG. 1B when inflated and deployed from each direction. FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the cushion 108 of FIG. 1B as viewed from above the vehicle outer side. The main bag 112, the center bag 114, and the outer bag 124 are substantially independent bags.

  A valley is formed between adjacent bags. The first valley portion 122 is formed mainly on the upper side between the main bag 112 and the center bag 114 by partially unbonding them. Similarly, the second valley portion 128 (see FIG. 2C) is formed mainly on the upper side between the main bag 112 and the outer bag 124. When the cushion 108 is inflated and deployed, the main bag 112 and the center bag 114, and the main bag 112 and the outer bag 124 are in contact with each other, and the valleys 122 and 128 are closed. In this embodiment, the valley parts 122 and 128 are used as a part that restrains the head E1 of the occupant 132 (see FIG. 3C). The main bag 112 and the center bag 114, and the main bag 112 and the outer bag 124 may be connected to each other by an internal vent hole or the like in the front of the valleys 122 and 128 in the vehicle.

  In the present embodiment, the main bag 112 and the center bag 114, and the main bag 112 and the outer bag 124 are partially joined to each other by sewing or the like. The valley portions 122 and 128 can be realized as regions that are not joined by such sewing. Further, when the main bag 112 and the center bag 114 are partially formed continuously, the valley portions 122 and 128 are made partially discontinuous or partially separated. Can also be formed.

  FIG. 2B is a view illustrating the cushion 108 of FIG. 2A as viewed from the side of the vehicle outer side. Since the center bag 114 and the outer bag 124 have the same shape, the center bag 114 will be described below as a representative. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the center bag 114 in the present embodiment has a rear region 160 on the vehicle rear side inflated so as to protrude rearward of the main bag 112 (leftward in FIG. 2B). expand. The rear region 160 mainly restrains the head E1 of the occupant 132 (see FIG. 3C).

  When viewed from the side of the vehicle, the center bag 114 has a rear edge 164 that extends upward while curving convexly from the lower part toward the front of the vehicle. The rear edge 164 mainly restrains the shoulder E3 of the occupant 132 (see FIG. 4C). If the rear edge 164 has this shape, the contact area of the occupant with the shoulder E3 increases, and the shoulder E3 can be more efficiently restrained.

  FIG. 2C is a view illustrating the cushion 108 of FIG. 2B as viewed from above the vehicle. Of the rear regions 160 and 162 of the center bag 114 and the outer bag 124, the side surfaces 168 and 170 facing each other function as reaction force surfaces that bind the head of the occupant 132 to the E1. In the present embodiment, the side surfaces 168 and 170 are curved and bulge toward the main bag 112 side. If the side surfaces 168 and 170 are swollen, it becomes easy to contact the head E1 of the occupant 132, and the restraining force of the head E1 increases.

  The tether belt 130 has a belt shape and connects the upper portion of the center bag 114 and the upper portion of the outer bag 124. The tether belt 130 restricts the center bag 114 and the outer bag 124 from spreading in the vehicle width direction, further increasing the binding force of the center bag 114 and the outer bag 124.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a process in which the cushion 108 in FIG. 2C restrains the occupant 132. In each figure of FIG. 3, the right side in the figure is the front of the vehicle. FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an undeployed state of the cushion 108. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the cushion 108 includes a main bag 112 (see FIG. 3C, etc.), a center bag 114, and an outer bag 124, and is accommodated in the housing 134 in a folded state. Has been. The housing 134 has, for example, a box shape with an opening at the top, accommodates the folded cushion 108, and is installed inside the upper surface portion 106 of the instrument panel 102.

  An inflator 110 is fixed to the bottom surface of the housing 134. The inflator 110 is a gas generator, and is connected to the main bag 112 to supply gas. As the inflator 110, for example, a disk-shaped disk type can be used, but a cylindrical cylinder type may be used. Inflators that are currently popular include a type that is filled with a gas generating agent and burns it to generate gas, a type that is filled with compressed gas and supplies gas without generating heat, or There is a hybrid type using both combustion gas and compressed gas. Any type of inflator 110 can be used.

  The inflator 110 operates upon receiving an impact detection signal from a sensor (not shown) and supplies gas to the main bag 112. The main bag 112, the center bag 114, and the outer bag 124 are connected to each other, and the gas supplied from the inflator 110 to the main bag 112 is also supplied to the center bag 114 and the outer bag 124.

  FIG. 3B illustrates the inflated and deployed cushion 108. The cushion 108 is inflated and deployed to the rear of the vehicle by cleaving the upper surface portion 106 of the instrument panel 102 serving as a lid of the housing 134. Since the cushion 108 of this embodiment includes the center bag 114 and the outer bag 124 having opposite shapes on both sides in the vehicle width direction, the balance in the vehicle width direction is good. Therefore, for example, it is possible to smoothly inflate and deploy without causing a swing in the vehicle width direction. In addition, although there is no restriction | limiting in the order which introduce | transduces the gas from the inflator 110 with respect to each bag, For example, if it is set as the structure which introduces gas preferentially from the center main bag 112, it can suppress peristalsis of a vehicle width direction more. It becomes possible.

  The occupant 132 illustrated in FIG. 3B has entered the cushion 108 side with respect to the occupant 132 of FIG. In an emergency such as a vehicle collision, the occupant 132 moves forward of the vehicle due to inertia. When the occupant 132 is wearing the seat belt 136, the occupant 132 moves in a trajectory that causes the upper body to bend forward about the waist E5 (see FIG. 4B, etc.).

  In FIG. 3B, as an example of an oblique collision, a case where the occupant 132 moves obliquely forward on the vehicle inner side (upper side in FIG. 3B) is illustrated. In this embodiment, the center bag 114 protrudes rearward of the main bag 112, and the head E1 of the occupant 132 contacts the side surface 168 of the center bag 114 from the side head E1a.

  FIG. 3C is a view in which the occupant 132 of FIG. 3B further enters the cushion 108 side. When the head E1 of the occupant 132 that moves diagonally forward contacts the main bag 112 that is present in front of the passenger seat 104, the head E1 has a rotational force (arrow) clockwise around the neck E2 as viewed from above. The rotation 140) illustrated in FIG. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rear region 160 of the center bag 114 provided on the inner side of the main bag 112 is extended to the rear of the vehicle from the main bag 112. In addition, a valley 122 is provided between the main bag 112 and the center bag 114.

  The head E1 of the occupant 132 moving obliquely forward on the inside of the vehicle is received near the entrance of the valley 122 while the side head E1a is in contact with the center bag 114, or is restrained so as to enter the interior of the valley 122. Is done. As a result, the rotation 140 generated in the head E1 is reduced or canceled. According to this configuration, the angular velocity of the rotation 140 of the head E1 of the occupant 132 can be reduced, and the injury value of the head E1 accompanying the rotation 140 can be suppressed.

  The width of the main bag 112 in the vehicle width direction is E1 wider than the head of the occupant 132 and narrower than the shoulder width of the occupant 132. Accordingly, since the space between the center bag 114 and the outer bag 124 is wider than the head E1 of the occupant 132, the head E1 enters the space, and the head E1 is laterally moved by the center bag 114 and the outer bag 124. It becomes easy to restrain from. Further, since the width of the main bag 112 is narrower than the shoulder width, the rear edges 164 and 166 of the center bag 114 or the outer bag 124 can easily come into contact with the shoulder E3. Since the center bag 114 and the outer bag 124 protrude toward the rear of the vehicle, the center bag 114 and the outer bag 124 can easily come into contact with the shoulder E3, and the shoulder E3 can be restrained more efficiently.

  The rear region 160 of the center bag 114 restrains the left shoulder E3a of the occupant 132 at the rear edge 164. The occupant 132 is restrained by the seat belt 136 from the right shoulder E3b outside the vehicle to the flank inside the vehicle, but the left shoulder E3a is not restrained by the seat belt 136. Therefore, in an oblique collision, the occupant may head toward the front of the vehicle with the left shoulder E3a set in front of the vehicle. In that case, the rear edge 164 of the center bag 114 restrains the left shoulder E3a from the front and above, and then restrains the right shoulder E3b with the main bag 112.

  FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a process in which the cushion 108 of FIG. 3 restrains the occupant 132 as viewed from the inside of the vehicle. Each of FIGS. 4A to 4C corresponds to each of FIGS. 3A to 3C. Hereinafter, the process in which the cushion 108 restrains the occupant 132 will be further described with reference to FIGS.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4A, it is assumed that the passenger 132 of the passenger seat 104 is seated while wearing the seat belt 136. In this case, when an impact occurs in the vehicle, an operation signal is transmitted from a sensor (not shown) to the airbag device 100, and the cushion 108 is inflated and deployed as shown in FIG. 4B. In an oblique collision, for example, the occupant 132 moves diagonally forward on the inside of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the center bag 114 projects rearward from the main bag 112, and the head E1 of the occupant 132 contacts the side surface 162 of the center bag 114 from the side head E1a.

  In an emergency such as a vehicle collision, the occupant 132 moves forward of the vehicle due to inertia. When the occupant 132 is wearing the seat belt 136 and the waist E5 is restrained, the occupant 132 moves in a trajectory that causes the upper body to bend forward about the waist E5.

  The main bag 112 mainly restrains the head E1, shoulder E3, chest E4, and the like of the occupant 132. The inflated and deployed main bag 112 is in contact with the windshield 116 and the upper surface portion 106 of the instrument panel 102. When the main bag 112 is inflated and deployed between the windshield 116 and the instrument panel 102, the occupant 132 can be restrained in a stable posture even when the occupant 132 enters.

  The center bag 114 projects rearward of the main bag 112 (left side in FIG. 4B). In an oblique collision, the occupant 132 may move diagonally forward inside the vehicle, particularly with the left shoulder E3a not restrained by the seat belt 136 in front. In that case, the occupant 132 contacts the center bag 114 from the side E1a.

  FIG. 4C illustrates a state in which the occupant 132 of FIG. 4B has further entered the cushion 108 side. As illustrated in FIG. 4C, the head E <b> 1 of the occupant 132 moves forward while the side head E <b> 1 a is in contact with the center bag 114, enters into the valley 122, and is restrained. In addition, the left shoulder E3a inside the vehicle of the passenger 132 is restrained by the rear edge 164 of the rear region 160 of the center bag 114. The rear edge 164 is curved and inclined so as to gradually protrude rearward as it goes upward. The rear edge 164 of the rear region 160 restrains the left shoulder E3a from the front of the vehicle and supports the upper body of the occupant 132 together with the main bag 112. Thereby, the twist of the upper body of the occupant 132 is offset.

  In the present embodiment, the main bag 112 is inflated so as to be sandwiched between the instrument panel 102 and the windshield 116, and the posture is stable. Since the center bag 114 is connected to the main bag 112, the posture of the center bag 114 is also stable, and the load of the head E1 and the like of the occupant 132 can be absorbed efficiently.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the center bag 114 can be used to restrain the temporal region E1a to reduce the angular velocity of the rotation 140 of the head portion E1. At the same time, the left shoulder E3a can be positively constrained to cancel the rotation that occurs in the upper body. Therefore, the injury value of the passenger 132 can be efficiently suppressed.

  In the above description, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, it has been described that the contact between the occupant 132 and the cushion 108 starts when the temporal portion E1a contacts the center bag 114. However, contact between the occupant 132 and the cushion 108 is various, for example, the head E1 contacts the center bag 114 and the main bag 112 simultaneously, or the head E1 contacts the main bag 112 first. In addition, the head E1 may contact the main bag 112 or the like after the shoulder E3 (see FIG. 4B or the like) or the chest E4 has contacted the main bag 112 or the like. However, in any case, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the head E1 of the occupant 132 can be effectively restrained using the valley portion 122.

  In the above description, the clockwise rotation 140 is illustrated as an example of the rotation that occurs in the head E1. However, depending on the collision situation, the occupant 132 may move diagonally forward on the outside of the vehicle, and the head E1 may rotate counterclockwise around the neck E2 when viewed from above. Even with this counterclockwise rotation, according to the cushion 108 of the present embodiment, the outer bag 124 works in contrast to the center bag 114 described above, and reduces or cancels the rotation of the head E1, and its angular velocity. Can be reduced. That is, in the airbag device 100 of the present embodiment, the head E1 of the occupant 132 is received by the valley portions 122 and 128 provided on both the inside and the outside of the vehicle as viewed from the occupant 132, Or it restrains so that it may approach the inside of the valley parts 122 and 128, and it becomes possible to reduce the injury value.

  The process in which the cushion 108 restrains the occupant 132 will be described from another direction. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the process of restraining the occupant 132 by the cushion 108 of FIG. 4 is viewed from the front of the vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, it is assumed that the passenger 132 of the passenger seat 104 is seated while wearing the seat belt 136. In this case, when an impact occurs in the vehicle, the main bag 112 is inflated and deployed in front of the occupant 132 as shown in FIG. 5B, and the center bag 114 is located on the inner side of the occupant 132 (right side in FIG. 5B). The outer bag 124 is inflated and deployed forward, and the outer bag 124 is inflated and deployed forward of the passenger 132 outside the vehicle.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the occupant 132 that has moved obliquely forward from the seating position to the inside of the vehicle brings the side E1a into contact with the side 168 of the center bag 114. In addition, the left shoulder E3a that is not restrained by the seat belt 136 is restrained by the rear edge 164 (see FIG. 4C) of the rear region 160 of the center bag 114. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 5C, the head E <b> 1 is restrained by the entrance or the inside of the valley portion 122 toward the front of the vehicle while being guided by the center bag 114. Thereby, the movement of the head E1 to the front of the vehicle is suppressed, and for example, the head E1 can be prevented from coming into contact with the instrument panel 102.

  FIG. 6 is an enlarged view illustrating the cushion 108 and the occupant 132 of FIG. FIG. 6 illustrates a connecting portion 158 between the center bag 114 and the main bag 112. The connection portion 158 is a portion that forms the bottom 122 of the valley portion. The connecting portion 158 is provided by sewing, the center bag 114 and the main bag 112 being connected in shape, or the like.

  In the present embodiment, the valley portion is set so that the head E <b> 1 of the occupant 132 does not contact the connecting portion 158. For example, when the shoulder portion E3 of the occupant 132 is restrained by the center bag 114 or the main bag 112, the connection portion 158 is provided so as to avoid the locus 156 of the head E1 resulting therefrom. According to this configuration, the head E1 does not hit the connection portion 158, and the cushion 108 in consideration of safety can be realized. The connecting portions 158 described above are also provided between the main bag 112 and the outer bag 124 (see FIG. 2A and the like).

  Below the valley 122, the main bag 112 and the center bag 114 are integrated. Further, the main bag 112 and the outer bag 124 are also integrated below the valley portion 128 (see FIG. 2A). The part where the main bag 112, the center bag 114, and the outer bag 124 are integrated can suitably restrain the shoulder E3, the chest E4, and the like of the occupant 132, for example.

  In each of the above-described configurations, the description has been made assuming that the valley portions 122 and 128 are closed when the cushion 108 is inflated and deployed. However, the valley portions 122 and 128 may have a predetermined width in the vehicle width direction. That is, a space is formed between the main bag 112 and the center bag 114 illustrated in FIG. 2C and between the main bag 112 and the outer bag 124 in the vehicle width direction. Even in a valley provided as such a space, it is possible to suitably restrain the head E1 by applying a reaction force by preventing the spread in the vehicle width direction using the tether belt 130. It is.

(Modification)
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the center bag 114 illustrated in FIG. Hereinafter, the same components as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. In addition, components having the same names as the components already described have the same functions unless otherwise specified even if they are given different reference numerals.

  In FIG. 7, the rear edge 164 of the center bag 114 is directed upward while being curved. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the rear edge 200 of the outer bag 124 is linearly inclined so as to go upward (rightward in FIG. 7) as viewed from the side of the vehicle. It has become. The rear edge 200 can also efficiently restrain the shoulder E3 of the occupant 132 from the front and the upper side.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments described above are preferred examples of the present invention, and other embodiments can be implemented by various methods. Can be carried out. The invention is not limited to the detailed shape, size, configuration, and the like of the components shown in the accompanying drawings unless otherwise specified in the present specification. In addition, expressions and terms used in the present specification are for the purpose of explanation, and are not limited thereto unless otherwise specified.

  Therefore, it is obvious for those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for an airbag device that restrains a vehicle occupant from the front of the vehicle.

E1 ... head, E1a ... side head, E2 ... neck, E3 ... shoulder, E3a ... left shoulder, E3b ... right shoulder, E4 ... chest, E5 ... waist, 100 ... airbag device, 102 ... instrument panel 104 ... Passenger seat, 106 ... Upper surface, 108 ... Cushion, 110 ... Inflator, 112 ... Main bag, 114 ... Center bag, 115 ... Front side window, 116 ... Wind shield, 118 ... Center console, 122 ... Main bag Valley between the center bag, 124 ... outer bag, 128 ... valley between the main bag and outer bag, 130 ... tether belt, 132 ... occupant, 134 ... housing, 136 ... seat belt, 140 ... head Rotation, 158... Connection portion between main bag and center bag, 160. , The rear region of 162 ... outer bag, the rear edge of 164 ... center bag, 166 ... rear edge of the outer bag, 168 ... center bag sides, 170 ... outer bag sides, 200 ... rear edge of the modification of the center bag

Claims (9)

An airbag device for restraining a vehicle occupant,
The airbag device is
A main bag that inflates and deploys in front of the vehicle in the front seat;
A center bag that projects and inflates behind the main bag on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the main bag; and
An outer bag that protrudes rearward of the main bag and inflates and expands outside the main bag in the vehicle width direction;
With
The airbag device characterized in that the center bag and the outer bag restrain an occupant's head from the side and suppress rotation that may occur in the head. The airbag device further includes
A first valley formed by non-bonding between the main bag and the center bag;
2. The airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising a second valley portion formed by non-joining the main bag and the outer bag. 3.   3. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a width of the main bag in a vehicle width direction is wider than a head of the occupant and narrower than a shoulder width of the occupant.   The side surfaces of the center bag and the outer bag that protrude toward the rear of the vehicle relative to the main bag are bulged toward the main bag, respectively. The airbag apparatus of Claim 1.   The rear edge of the center bag and the outer bag, when viewed from the side of the vehicle, is inclined so as to go to the rear of the vehicle as it goes upward. Airbag device.   6. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein when viewed from the side of the vehicle, lower portions of rear edges of the center bag and the outer bag extend while curving convexly toward the front of the vehicle.   The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a tether belt that is belt-shaped and connects an upper portion of the center bag and an upper portion of the outer bag. .   The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the main bag comes into contact with a windshield of the vehicle and an upper surface portion of an instrument panel of the vehicle by inflation and deployment. The airbag device further includes a housing that is box-shaped and houses the main bag, the center bag, and the outer bag and is provided inside the upper surface portion of the instrument panel of the vehicle,
The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the main bag, the center bag, and the outer bag are inflated and deployed by cleaving an upper surface portion of the instrument panel.

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