JP2021175623A - Side air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a side air bag device comprising an air bag which has an inflation protrusion part at inside in a vehicle width direction, of a main body part for protecting an occupant, and in which an inflation development speed in a cross direction or a vertical direction of a vehicle is hardly deteriorated.SOLUTION: An air bag 2 comprises: a main body part 20 which inflates and develops in a side part of an occupant seated, from a side part of a seat back, and protects the seated occupant; a gas inflow part which is provided on the main body part and into which a gas flows; and an inflation protrusion part 21 which is provided at inside in a vehicle width direction to the gas inflow part, and inflates and develops above a console box. If an area regulating a shape of the air bag in a folding completion state, and including the gas inflow part is a non-folding area, in a state of partially releasing folding of the air bag and expanding the air bag into a flat plane, the inflation protrusion part is folded in an overlapped state to the main body part along a folding line L, and the folding line is not superposed on the non-folding area, in a side air bag device 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7A

Description

The present invention relates to a side airbag device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a side airbag device that expands and deploys on the side of an occupant when a vehicle such as an automobile collides.

There is known a side airbag device that prevents an occupant from moving inward in the vehicle width direction and coming into contact with an occupant seated next to the vehicle in the event of a vehicle collision (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

FIG. 9 of Patent Document 1 discloses an airbag device including a three-dimensionally formed airbag 1 having a portion that expands on the central console 32. The airbag 1 expands and expands when the gas is introduced into the side chamber 9 from the gas expansion portion 6 and then the gas flows into the central chamber 8 and the other side chambers 9.

The side airbag device is attached to a vehicle member such as a seat back (backrest portion) of a vehicle seat in a folded state of the airbag, and various methods of folding the airbag have been studied. For example, Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose an airbag device including an airbag formed in a plane by sewing outer edges in a state where a pair of panels are overlapped with each other. A method of folding the lower portion and then folding it by roll folding or bellows folding toward the rear of the vehicle is disclosed.

International Publication No. 2019/228898 International Publication No. 2015/166774 International Publication No. 2016/035746

The side airbag device is stored in a folded state, and when a vehicle collides, the side airbag device expands and expands while being unfolded by gas. When a three-dimensionally formed airbag as disclosed in Patent Document 1 is folded as disclosed in Patent Document 2 or 3, the side chamber 9 in which the gas expansion portion 6 is arranged expands in the vehicle width direction. After that, gas flows into the adjacent central chamber 8, so that the deployment speed in the vehicle front-rear direction or the vehicle vertical direction may be impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and is provided with an airbag having an expansion protrusion inside the vehicle width direction of the main body that protects the occupants, and the expansion and deployment speed in the vehicle front-rear direction or the vehicle vertical direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a side airbag device which is hard to be damaged.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, one aspect of the present invention is attached to the side portion of the seat back of the vehicle seat, sideways to the occupant seated in the vehicle seat, and for the vehicle. In a side airbag device that expands and expands above a console box provided inside the vehicle width direction of the seat, it expands and expands by an inflator that is attached to the side of the seat back and generates gas and gas generated from the inflator. A bag-shaped airbag is provided, and the airbag expands and expands from the side of the seat bag to the side of the seated occupant to protect the seated occupant and the main body. It has a gas inflow portion to which the gas flows in, and an expansion protrusion portion located inside the vehicle width direction with respect to the gas inflow portion and expands and expands above the console box, and is in a folded state. Assuming that the shape of the airbag is defined and the region including the gas inflow portion is a non-folding region, the expansion protrusion is a folding line in a state where the airbag is partially unfolded and expanded to a flat surface. The folding line is a side airbag device that does not overlap with the non-folding region.

According to the present invention, there is provided a side airbag device that includes an airbag having an expansion protrusion inside the vehicle width direction of a main body that protects an occupant, and does not impair the expansion and deployment speed in the vehicle front-rear direction or the vehicle vertical direction. be able to.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state of the side airbag device of the first embodiment when the occupant is restrained by the airbag when viewed from the front of the vehicle. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state at the time of occupant restraint by an airbag when viewed from the side of a vehicle about the side airbag device of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a three-dimensional shape of the side airbag device of the first embodiment when expanded and deployed. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a state in which the side airbag device of the first embodiment is mounted on a vehicle seat when viewed from the side of the vehicle. It is a schematic view of the side airbag device in the mounted state shown in FIG. 4 when viewed from the occupant side. It is the first figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a 2nd figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing in the X1-X2 line shown in FIG. 7A. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y1-Y2 shown in FIG. 7A. It is sectional drawing in the Z1-Z2 line shown in FIG. 7A. It is a 3rd figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A1-A2 shown in FIG. 8A. It is a 4th figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a 5th figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a sixth figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a 7th figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the 8th figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing in B1-B2 line shown in FIG. 13A. It is a schematic diagram which showed the modification 1 of the folding method of the expansion protrusion shown in FIG. 7A. It is sectional drawing in the X1-X2 line shown in FIG. 14A. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y1-Y2 shown in FIG. 14A. It is sectional drawing in the Z1-Z2 line shown in FIG. 14A. It is a schematic diagram which showed the modification 2 of the folding method of the expansion protrusion shown in FIG. 7A. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X1-X2 shown in FIG. 15A. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y1-Y2 shown in FIG. 15A. It is sectional drawing in the Z1-Z2 line shown in FIG. 15A. It is a schematic diagram which showed the modification 3 of the folding method of the expansion protrusion shown in FIG. 7A. It is sectional drawing in the X1-X2 line shown in FIG. 16A. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y1-Y2 shown in FIG. 16A. It is sectional drawing in the Z1-Z2 line shown in FIG. 16A. It is a schematic diagram which showed the modification 4 of the folding method of the expansion protrusion shown in FIG. 7A. It is sectional drawing in the X1-X2 line shown in FIG. 17A. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y1-Y2 shown in FIG. 17A. It is sectional drawing in the Z1-Z2 line shown in FIG. 17A. FIG. 1 is a first diagram illustrating a process of expanding and deploying the side airbag device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a second diagram illustrating a process of expanding and deploying the side airbag device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a third diagram illustrating a process in which the side airbag device according to the first embodiment expands and expands. FIG. 4 is a fourth diagram illustrating a process in which the side airbag device according to the first embodiment expands and expands. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state of the side airbag device of Embodiment 2 at the time of occupant restraint by an airbag when viewed from the front of a vehicle. It is the first figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a 2nd figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing in the X1-X2 line shown in FIG. 21A. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Y1-Y2 shown in FIG. 21A. It is a 3rd figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a 4th figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing in the C1-C2 line shown in FIG. 23A. It is a 5th figure explaining the folding process of the airbag which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing in the D1-D2 line shown in FIG. 24A. It is sectional drawing in E1-E2 line shown in FIG. 24A.

Unless otherwise specified, the description regarding the direction in the present specification is based on the vehicle. For example, "front" indicates the front direction of the vehicle, "rear" indicates the rear direction of the vehicle, and "upward". Indicates the vehicle upward direction, "downward" indicates the vehicle downward direction, and "side" indicates the inward direction in the vehicle width direction. Further, the arrow FR appropriately shown in each figure indicates the vehicle front direction, the arrow RE indicates the vehicle rear direction, the arrow UP indicates the vehicle upward direction, the arrow DOWN indicates the vehicle downward direction, and the arrow IN indicates the vehicle width. The inside direction in the direction is indicated, and the arrow OUT indicates the outside direction in the vehicle width direction. The members arranged inside the vehicle seat are shown in a state where the vehicle seat is seen through.

[Embodiment 1]
The side airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a state of the side airbag device of the first embodiment when the occupant is restrained by the airbag when viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a state of the side airbag device of the first embodiment when the occupant is restrained by the airbag when viewed from the side of the vehicle. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a three-dimensional shape of the side airbag device of the first embodiment when expanded and deployed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side airbag device 1 of the first embodiment is located on the side of the occupant 40 seated on the vehicle seat (vehicle seat) 50 and on the inside of the vehicle seat 50 in the vehicle width direction. It expands and expands above the provided console box 60. The side airbag device 1 of the first embodiment includes an inflator 3 and an airbag 2, and is attached to a side portion (inner side portion in the vehicle width direction) of a seat back (backrest portion) 51 of a vehicle seat 50. .. As the vehicle seat 50, for example, a driver's seat, a passenger seat, or the like of the vehicle is assumed.

When a vehicle collides with an obstacle (for example, another vehicle) and the inflator 3 is activated, gas is generated from the inflator 3. Examples of the collision include a side collision that collides with an obstacle from the side surface of the vehicle, a diagonal collision that collides with an obstacle from an oblique front direction of the vehicle, and the like. Specifically, the side collision is caused by a vehicle side wall facing the vehicle side wall 70 shown in FIG. 1 in the vehicle width direction (when the vehicle seat 50 is a driver's seat, a vehicle body located outside the passenger seat in the vehicle width direction). An obstacle collides with the part).

The gas generated from the inflator 3 is introduced into the airbag 2, and the airbag 2 expands while being unfolded. When the skin of the seat back 51 is torn by the force applied from the inflated airbag 2, the airbag 2 is on the side of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 50 and in the console box, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It expands and deploys above 60 to protect the sides of the occupant 40. The airbag 2 that expands and expands in this way is also called a far side airbag.

In the drawings used to describe the embodiments of the present invention, the International Unified Side Collision Dummy (World-SID: World Side Impact Dummy) 40 is seated in the vehicle seat 50. The seating posture of the internationally unified side collision dummy 40 is defined by the side collision test method (ECER R95) currently adopted in Japan and Europe, or the side collision test method (FMVSS214) currently adopted in the United States. Is. The position and size of the airbag 2 during expansion and deployment (hereinafter, also simply referred to as expansion and deployment) are the body 41, waist 42, head 43, and arms of the internationally unified side collision dummy 40 as shown in FIG. It is set according to the position of 44, the shoulder 45, and the like. The internationally unified side collision dummy 40 is referred to as an "occupant 40".

The airbag 2 is a bag-shaped airbag that expands and expands with the gas of the inflator 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the airbag 2 has a main body portion 20, a gas inflow portion (inflator mounting portion 10), and an expansion protruding portion 21. The main body 20 expands and expands from the side of the seat bag 51 to the side of the seated occupant 40 to protect the seated occupant 40. The gas inflow portion is a portion into which the gas generated from the inflator 3 flows in, and is provided in the main body portion 20. The inflator 3 may be entirely arranged inside the airbag 2 or may be arranged outside the airbag 2. When the entire inflator 3 is arranged inside the airbag 2, the gas inflow portion refers to a portion (inflator mounting portion 10) inside the airbag 2 to which the inflator 3 is attached, as shown in FIG. When the inflator 3 is arranged outside the airbag 2, it refers to a portion where the gas ejection hole 11 of the inflator 3 communicates with the airbag 2.

The main body 20 preferably communicates with the expansion protrusion 21. The airbag 2 may be a single undivided air chamber, and the main body 20 and the expansion protrusion 21 may each be a part of the single air chamber. It is preferable that at least a part of the main body 20 and the expansion protrusion 21 communicate with each other. For example, the inside of a single bag-shaped airbag is divided into a plurality of different air chambers, and the main body 20 and the expansion protrusion 21 are expanded. The protrusions 21 may include different air chambers. Further, the airbag 2 may include a plurality of bag-shaped airbags.

In the following, an example will be illustrated in which the airbag 2 has a single undivided air chamber inside, and the main body portion 20 and the expansion protrusion 21 are each a part of the single air chamber. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a gas inflow portion (inflator mounting portion 10) is arranged in the main body portion 20. The main body portion 20 may have a first expansion portion 20a that expands and expands on the side of the body 41 of the occupant 40, and a second expansion portion 20b that expands and expands on the side of the head 43 of the occupant 40. The gas inflow portion may be provided in the first expansion portion 20a, which is a lower portion of the main body portion 20. By arranging the gas inflow portion in the first expansion portion 20a, the airbag 2 starts expansion expansion from the first expansion portion 20a. The second expansion portion 20b preferably communicates with the first expansion portion 20a at least in part, and expands and expands on the side of the head 43 of the occupant 40 by the gas flowing in from the first expansion portion 20a. The second expansion portion 20b preferably receives the head 43 of the occupant 40. The flat surface portion of the second expansion portion 20b may receive the head 43 of the occupant 40, or the upper end of the second expansion portion 20b may receive the head 43 of the occupant 40.

The expansion protrusion 21 is a portion that is located inside the gas inflow portion (inflator mounting portion 10) of the main body 20 in the vehicle width direction and expands and expands above the console box 60. The expansion protrusion 21 is also a protrusion that expands toward the center in the vehicle width direction on the opposite side of the occupant 40. As shown in FIG. 1, the expansion protrusion 21 expands and expands above the console box 60 and comes into contact with the upper surface of the console box 60. It is preferable that the expansion protrusion 21 expands and expands along the upper surface of the console box 60 from the occupant 40 side toward the center side in the vehicle width direction while being in contact with the upper surface of the console box 60. When the expansion protrusion 21 is observed from the front of the vehicle, it is preferable that the expansion protrusion 21 extends beyond the console box 60 to the center side in the vehicle width direction. The expansion protrusion 21 may overlap the upper surface of the console box 60 to such an extent that the airbag 2 can be supported by the upper surface of the console box 60 during expansion and deployment, but it is preferable to cover the console box 60 in the vehicle width direction. .. The expansion protrusion 21 may be arranged at a position facing the inflator mounting portion 10 in the vehicle width direction.

The airbag 2 includes, for example, an occupant-side panel 23 arranged on the occupant 40 side during expansion and deployment, a central panel 24 arranged to face the occupant-side panel 23, and an outer peripheral edge and a central side of the occupant-side panel 23. It has a connecting panel 25 that connects the outer peripheral edge of the panel 24. The central panel 24 is arranged inside in the vehicle width direction during expansion and deployment. At the time of expansion and deployment, an air chamber surrounded by the occupant side panel 23, the central side panel 24 and the connecting panel 25 is formed. The connecting panel 25 may be a single strip-shaped panel, or a plurality of panels may be joined together.

The width of the connecting panel 25 located below the airbag 2 during expansion and deployment is preferably wider than the width of the connecting panel 25 located above the airbag 2 during expansion and deployment. At the time of expansion and deployment, the width of the expansion protrusion 21 in the vehicle width direction can be made wider than the width of the second expansion portion 20b, which is the upper portion of the main body portion 20, in the vehicle width direction.

A part of the occupant side panel 23 and a part of the center side panel 24 may be sewn together by the sewn portion 26. By providing the sewn portion 26, the thickness of the airbag 2 at the time of expansion and deployment in the vehicle width direction can be adjusted. The occupant side panel 23 may be provided with an inflator mounting hole 22 into which the inflator 3 is mounted, or a notch 28 for inserting the inflator into the airbag may be formed.

The inflator 3 is attached to the side of the seat back 51 and generates gas. The inflator 3 operates in the event of a vehicle collision. Specifically, first, when the collision detection sensor mounted on the vehicle detects a collision of the vehicle, the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) calculates the signal sent from the collision detection sensor to determine the level of the collision. When the determined collision level corresponds to the case where the airbag 2 is inflated, the inflator 3 is ignited and gas is generated by a chemical reaction due to combustion. As a result, the gas generated from the inflator 3 is introduced into the airbag 2 through the gas ejection hole 11.

The inflator 3 is, for example, a cylinder-shaped (cylindrical) gas generator, and is arranged along the extending direction (height direction) of the seat back 51. A pair of bolts 12 project from the upper part and the lower part of the inflator 3, and the pair of bolts 12 are passed through the inflator mounting holes 22 provided in the airbag 2 to the side portion (for example, the side frame 52) of the seat back 51. It is fixed.

The type of the inflator 3 is not particularly limited, and for example, a pyro-type inflator that uses gas generated by burning a gas generating agent, a stored-type inflator that uses compressed gas, and a gas generated by burning a gas generating agent. Examples thereof include a hybrid inflator that uses a mixed gas of a compressed gas and a compressed gas.

The console box 60 is provided inside the vehicle seat 50 in the vehicle width direction. For example, the console box 60 is provided between the driver's seat and the passenger seat at the center of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. The console box 60 may function as an armrest portion (arm rest portion) that supports the arm portion 44 inside the vehicle width direction of the occupant 40.

The vehicle side wall 70 is not particularly limited as long as it is a vehicle body portion located on the outside in the vehicle width direction (opposite to the console box 60) of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 50, and is not particularly limited as long as it is a side door, a pillar, a side window, or the like. Is generically called.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a state in which the side airbag device of the first embodiment is mounted on a vehicle seat when viewed from the vehicle side. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the side airbag device in the mounted state shown in FIG. 4 when viewed from the occupant side. As shown in FIG. 4, the airbag 2 is fixed to the side portion (for example, the side frame 52) of the seat back 51 in a folded state (folded completed state) before expansion and deployment, and the seat back 51 is fixed together with the cushion pad. It is covered and stored in the epidermis of. The region that defines the shape of the airbag in the folded state and includes the gas inflow portion (inflator mounting portion 10) is referred to as a non-folding region 29.

Hereinafter, a method of folding the airbag 2 in the airbag device of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 13B. 6, FIG. 7A, FIG. 8A, FIGS. 9 to 12 and 13A show that the front surface of each drawing is inside in the vehicle width direction when the side airbag device 1 is attached to the side portion of the seat back 51. , The airbag 2 is arranged.

First, the connecting panel 25 is folded so as to protrude outward from the outer peripheral edges of the occupant side panel 23 and the central side panel 24. The connecting panel 25 may be inserted between the occupant side panel 23 and the center side panel 24. FIG. 6 is a first diagram illustrating a folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, the airbag 2 is arranged so that the center side panel 24 arranged inside in the vehicle width direction during expansion and deployment is on the front side and the occupant side panel 23 arranged on the occupant 40 side during expansion and deployment is on the back side. There is. The first inflatable portion 20a of the airbag 2 is located in the lower DOWN, and the second inflatable portion 20b is located in the upper UP. The portion of the connecting panel 25 that constitutes the expansion protrusion 21 is not inserted between the occupant side panel 23 and the center side panel 24, and is folded in the next step.

Next, the expansion protrusion 21 is folded. FIG. 7A is a second diagram illustrating a folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7A shows a state in which the airbag 2 is partially unfolded and unfolded into a flat surface. In FIG. 7A, the region corresponding to the non-folding region 29 in the folded state of the airbag 2 shown in FIG. 5 is represented by a shaded portion. 7B, 7C and 7D are cross-sectional views taken along the line X1-X2, line Y1-Y2 and line Z1-Z2 shown in FIG. 7A, respectively. The dotted line L is a folding line when the expansion protrusion 21 is folded flat, and as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the expansion protrusion 21 is folded so as to overlap the main body 20 along the folding line L. There is. As shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, the expansion protrusion 21 and the main body 20 are separated by the folding line L. When gas flows in from the gas inflow portion arranged in the main body 20, the gas flows into the expansion protrusion 21 from the folding line L. Since the non-folding region 29 is a region including the gas inflow portion in the folded state, the non-folding region 29 is first filled with gas at the initial stage of expansion and deployment when the airbag 2 begins to expand, and then the airbag 2 is filled with gas. It is unfolded and expands and unfolds in the front-rear direction of the vehicle or in the vertical direction of the vehicle. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7D, since the folding line L does not overlap with the non-folding region 29, it is difficult for gas to flow into the expansion protrusion 21 at the initial stage of expansion and deployment of the airbag 2, so that the main body 20 The expansion and deployment speed of the vehicle in the front-rear direction or the vehicle up-down direction can be increased.

The folding line L does not have to overlap with the non-folding region 29 in a state where the airbag is partially unfolded and unfolded to a flat surface. It may be folded toward the front FR, or may be folded toward the upper UP of the vehicle. Further, the expansion protrusion 21 may be folded toward the front FR and upward UP of the vehicle, that is, diagonally forward of the vehicle, in a state where the airbag 2 is partially unfolded and unfolded on a flat surface. ..

As a method of folding the airbag 2 after folding the expansion protrusion 21, the airbag may be folded in the vertical direction of the vehicle and then in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, or in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and then in the vertical direction of the vehicle. .. Regardless of the folding method, in the folded state of the airbag 2, the airbag 2 is further folded from the front FR to the rear RE of the vehicle by overlapping the expansion protrusion 21 and the main body 20. Is preferable. By not overlapping the folding line L with the non-folding area 29, when the folding line L is folded in the vehicle vertical direction and then folded in the vehicle front-rear direction, the expansion / deployment speed of the main body 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction can be increased. When the vehicle is folded in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and then folded in the vertical direction of the vehicle, the expansion / deployment speed of the main body 20 in the vertical direction of the vehicle can be increased.

An example of a method of folding the vehicle in the vertical direction and then folding the vehicle in the front-rear direction will be described below. FIG. 8A is a third diagram illustrating a folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A1-A2 shown in FIG. 8A. As shown in FIG. 8A, the main body 20 is folded from the upper UP of the vehicle toward the lower DOWN on the center side panel 24 side arranged inside in the vehicle width direction during expansion and deployment. The second expansion portion 20b, which is an upper portion of the main body portion 20, is folded so as to be arranged on the front surface of FIG. 8A, that is, inside in the vehicle width direction, so as to be overlapped with the expansion protrusion portion 21. By folding in this way, in the folded state of the airbag 2, the main body 20 is folded so as to be arranged inside the expansion protrusion 21 in the vehicle width direction with respect to the expansion protrusion 21. Is done. The main body 20 preferably overlaps at least a part of the expansion protrusion 21. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the length of the airbag 2 in the vertical direction of the vehicle may be adjusted by folding the lower part of the main body 20 upward. .. As shown in FIG. 7A, the folding line in which the lower part of the main body portion 20 is folded upward may be the lower end (the end portion on the lower side of the vehicle) of the non-folding region 29.

When the inflator mounting portion 10 is arranged in the first expansion portion 20a which is a lower portion of the main body portion, the first expansion portion 20a expands prior to the second expansion portion 20b at the time of expansion expansion. By overlapping the second expansion portion 20b with the first expansion portion 20a and folding it, the first expansion portion 20a expands and expands while pushing up the overlapping second expansion portion 20b toward the upper part of the vehicle, so that the second expansion portion 20a expands and expands. 20b can be expanded and expanded toward the upper part of the vehicle. Further, since the first expansion portion 20a and the second expansion portion 20b are folded inside the vehicle width direction with respect to the occupant 40, in other words, on the opposite side of the occupant 40, the airbag 2 is occupy the occupant during expansion and deployment. It can be prevented from being sandwiched between the 40 and the console box 60. Further, since the gas starts to flow into the expansion protrusion 21 after the main body 20 starts to expand and expand, the expansion speed in the vehicle front-rear direction is not easily impaired. The expansion protrusion 21 expands and expands along the upper surface of the console box 60 so as to be in contact with the upper surface of the console box 60.

The airbag 2 preferably has a first folding line 30 that folds the second expanding portion 20b toward the lower DOWN of the vehicle so as to overlap the first expanding portion 20a. The second expansion portion 20b is folded so as to overlap the first expansion portion 20a by the first folding line 30. The boundary between the first expansion portion 20a and the second expansion portion 20b may not coincide with the first folding line 30. As shown in FIG. 7A, the first folding line 30 may be the upper end (the end on the upper side of the vehicle) of the non-folding region 29.

FIG. 9 is a fourth diagram illustrating a folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, in the side airbag device 1, when the airbag 2 is completely folded, the main body 20 and the expansion protrusion 21 are overlapped with each other, and the rear FR of the vehicle is used to the rear RE of the vehicle. It is preferable that it is further folded toward. That is, it is preferable that the airbag 2 has a second folding line 31a that folds the main body portion 20 and the expansion protruding portion 21 from the front FR of the vehicle toward the rear RE of the vehicle. As a result, the number of times of folding from the front FR of the vehicle to the rear RE of the vehicle can be reduced. The main body 20 and the expansion protrusion 21 need only partially overlap each other.

10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13A are FIGS. 5 to 8 for explaining the folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment, respectively. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B1-B2 shown in FIG. 13A. The airbag 2 may be folded at least once by the second folding line 31a from the front FR of the vehicle toward the rear RE of the vehicle, but after being folded at the second folding line 31a, FIGS. 10 to 10 show. As shown in 13A, the main body 20 and the expansion protrusion 21 may be folded back from the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle a plurality of times. 10 to 13A exemplify a case where the second turn-back line 31b, the second turn-back line 31c, the second turn-back line 31d, and the second turn-back line 31e turn back from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle. The folding method after folding back at the second folding line 31a is not particularly limited, and the number of foldings may be different, or the folding may be performed by bellows folding from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 13B. As described above, it may be folded by a roll fold from the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle.

13A and 13B show the folded state of the airbag 2. The airbag 2 is attached to the side portion of the seat bag 51 in the folded state shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. The expansion protrusion 21 is included in the roll folding portion of FIG. 13B, and in the mounted state of the side airbag device 1, the expansion protrusion 21 of the airbag 2 does not overlap with the gas inflow portion (inflator mounting portion 10). It may be folded as described above, or it may be overlapped with the gas inflow portion in a state where the expansion protrusion 21 is included in the roll folding portion.

The folding method of the expansion protrusion 21 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 7A. 14A, 15A, 16A and 17A are schematic views showing modified examples 1 to 4 of the folding method of the expansion protrusion shown in FIG. 7A, respectively. 14A, 15A, 16A and 17A show a state in which the airbag 2 is partially unfolded and unfolded into a flat surface. In FIGS. 14A, 15A, 16A and 17A, the center side panel 24 arranged inside in the vehicle width direction during expansion and deployment is on the front side, and the occupant side panel 23 arranged on the occupant 40 side during expansion and deployment is on the back side. The airbag 2 is arranged in the air bag 2. 14B, 14C and 14D are cross-sectional views taken along the lines X1-X2, Y1-Y2 and Z1-Z2 shown in FIG. 14A, respectively. 15B, 15C and 15D are cross-sectional views taken along the lines X1-X2, Y1-Y2 and Z1-Z2 shown in FIG. 15A. 16B, 16C and 16D are cross-sectional views taken along the lines X1-X2, Y1-Y2 and Z1-Z2 shown in FIG. 16A. 17B, 17C and 17D are cross-sectional views taken along the lines X1-X2, Y1-Y2 and Z1-Z2 shown in FIG. 17A.

As in the first modification shown in FIGS. 14A to 14D, the expansion protrusion 21 may be folded flat. As in the modified example 2 shown in FIGS. 15A to 15D, the expansion protrusion 21 may be folded upward, and then a part of the folded expansion protrusion 21 may be folded downward. As in the modified example 3 shown in FIGS. 16A to 16D, the expansion protrusion 21 may be rolled upward so as to be involved. As in the modified example 4 shown in FIGS. 17A to 17D, the expansion protrusion 21 may be folded flat as shown in FIG. 7A, and then the lower side of the expansion protrusion 21 may be folded so as to overlap upward. As shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C, FIGS. 15A to 15C, 16A to 16C, and 17A to 17C, in any of the modified examples 1 to 4, the expansion protrusion 21 is along the folding line L. It is folded on top of the main body 20. Further, as shown in FIGS. 14A, 14D, 15A, 15D, 16A, 16D, 17A, and 17D, in any of the modified examples 1 to 4, the folding line L is a non-folding region. Does not overlap with 29.

The first turn-back line 30 is preferably provided below the shoulder portion 45 of the occupant 40 (the center of the shoulder portion 45 of the occupant 40 (the center of rotation of the shoulder of the internationally unified side collision dummy)). By providing the first folding line 30 below the center of the shoulder portion 45 of the occupant 40, the first expansion portion 20a expands and expands along the lower portion of the arm portion 44 of the occupant 40. Since the second expanding portion 20b repels the first expanding portion 20a and expands and expands so as to be pushed upward, the arm portion 44 and the shoulder of the occupant 40 are pressed while the second expanding portion 20b is pressed against the occupant 40 side. It expands and unfolds along the side of the portion 45.

The first folding line 30 is preferably provided above the upper surface of the console box 60. By providing the first folding line 30 above the upper surface of the console box 60, it is possible to prevent the airbag 2 from being pinched between the occupant 40 and the console box 60 when the airbag 2 expands and expands.

The process of expanding and deploying the side airbag device 1 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 18A to 18D and FIG. 18A to 18D are FIGS. 1 to 4 for explaining a process of expanding and deploying the side airbag device according to the first embodiment. When the vehicle collides with an obstacle and the inflator 3 is activated, the gas generated from the inflator 3 is introduced into the main body 20 from the gas inflow portion to which the inflator 3 is attached, and the non-folding region shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B is introduced. 29 is filled with gas. As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7D, the folding line L in which the expansion protrusion 21 is folded does not overlap with the non-folding region 29, so that the gas does not flow into the expansion protrusion 21 but flows into the main body 20. .. When the gas is introduced into the main body 20, the roll folding portions shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B are unfolded, and the gas flows into the main body 20 (first expansion portion 20a) of the unfolded portion. And begins to swell. The skin of the seat back 51 is torn by the force applied from the inflated airbag 2, and then, as shown in FIG. 18A, the airbag 2 begins to expand and expand in order from the unfolded portion toward the front of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 18B, the first expansion portion 20a expands and expands on the side of the fuselage 41 of the occupant 40. In the folded state, the first expansion portion 20a expands and expands while pushing up the second expansion portion 20b that overlaps with the first expansion portion 20a. When the main body 20 begins to expand and expand, gas flows into the expansion protrusion 21 from the folding line L shown in FIG. 7A and begins to expand and expand so as to come into contact with the upper surface of the console box 60. Since the folding line L does not overlap with the non-folding region 29, the main body 20 expands and expands before the expansion protrusion 21, so that the expansion and deployment speed of the main body 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction can be increased. Further, since the folding line L and the expansion protrusion 21 are included in the roll folding portion, the expansion protrusion 21 is less likely to expand, and the expansion / deployment speed of the main body 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction can be further increased. can.

As shown in FIG. 18C, the second expansion portion 20b expands and expands next to the first expansion portion 20a due to the gas flowing in from the first expansion portion 20a. When the expansion protrusion 21 comes into contact with the upper surface of the console box 60, the second expansion portion 20b repels the first expansion portion 20a supported by the console box 60 and expands and expands toward the upper side of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 18D, the second expansion portion 20b repels the first expansion portion 20a supported by the console box 60, and the second expansion portion 20b is pressed against the occupant 40 while being pressed against the arm 44 and shoulder 45 of the occupant 40. Along the way, it expands and expands further above the vehicle. Since the second expansion portion 20b expands and expands from the inside in the vehicle width direction so as to dodge the arm portion 44 and the shoulder portion 45 of the occupant 40, it is possible to prevent the airbag 2 from being flipped up by the arm portion 44 of the occupant 40. Can be done.

After that, as shown in FIG. 1, the airbag 2 receives the side portion of the body 41 of the occupant 40 at the first expansion portion 20a, and receives the head 43 of the occupant 40 at the second expansion portion 20b. Since the expansion protrusion 21 is in contact with the upper surface of the console box 60, the airbag 2 is unlikely to deviate in the downward direction of the vehicle or the inward direction in the vehicle width direction. Moreover, since the second expansion portion 20b restrains the arm portion 44 of the occupant 40, the occupant 40 can be sufficiently restrained.

[Embodiment 2]
The side airbag device of the second embodiment includes an airbag in which the airbag is a plurality of bags. FIG. 19 is a schematic view showing a state of the side airbag device of the second embodiment when the occupant is restrained by the airbag when viewed from the front of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 19, in the airbag device of the second embodiment, the airbag 2 includes a first expansion portion 20a and a second expansion portion 20b, and the first expansion portion 20a and the second expansion portion 20b, respectively. Different bag-shaped airbags. A gas inflow portion (inflator mounting portion 10) is arranged in the first expansion portion 20a which is a lower portion of the main body portion 20, and the expansion protrusion portion 21 is located inside the first expansion portion 20a in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 21B described later, the first expansion portion 20a and the second expansion portion 20b communicate with each other through the gas flow hole 27. At the time of expansion and expansion, the first expansion portion 20a expands and expands due to the gas generated from the inflator 3, and the gas flows into the second expansion portion 20b through the gas flow hole 27, so that the second expansion portion 20b expands and expands.

The first expansion portion 20a may have an occupant side panel 23, a center side panel 24, and a connecting panel 25, as in the first embodiment. The second expansion portion 20b may have an occupant side panel 123 arranged on the occupant 40 side at the time of expansion and deployment, and a central side panel 124 arranged opposite to the occupant side panel 23.

Hereinafter, a method of folding the airbag 2 in the airbag device of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 24C. In the second embodiment, an example of a method of folding the vehicle in the front-rear direction and then folding the vehicle in the vertical direction will be described. 20 to 24C are FIGS. 1 to 5 for explaining the folding process of the airbag according to the second embodiment. In FIGS. 20, 21, 22, 23A and 24A, the airbag is provided so that the front surface of each of the drawings is inside in the vehicle width direction when the side airbag device 1 is attached to the side portion of the seat back 51. 2 is arranged.

In the second embodiment, the bag-shaped airbag constituting the first expansion portion 20a and the bag-shaped airbag constituting the second expansion portion 20b are sewn on top of each other. As shown in FIG. 20, when the first expansion portion 20a is arranged on the front side, the second expansion portion 20b located on the back side is folded up from the lower side to the upper side.

Next, the expansion protrusion 21 is folded. As shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C, a part 21 of the first expansion portion 20a may be folded flat. The folding method shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C is a folding method corresponding to the first modification of the first embodiment. 21B and 21C are cross-sectional views taken along the line X1-X2 and line Y1-Y2 shown in FIG. 21A, respectively. The expansion protrusion 21 is folded so as to overlap the main body 20 along the folding line L, and the folding line L does not overlap with the non-folding region 29.

Before folding the airbag 2 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 22, in order to adjust the length of the airbag device 1 in the vertical direction of the vehicle in the folded state, the lower part of the first expansion portion 20a is moved upward. You may fold it up toward you.

As shown in FIG. 23A, the main body 20 and the expansion protrusion 21 are folded from the front FR of the vehicle toward the rear RE of the vehicle in a state where they overlap each other. FIG. 23B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C1-C2 shown in FIG. 23A. The folding method is not particularly limited, and as shown in FIG. 23B, it may be a roll fold or a bellows fold.

Next, the airbag 2 is folded in the vertical direction. FIG. 24B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D1-D2 shown in FIG. 24A. FIG. 24C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E1-E2 shown in FIG. 24A. In FIGS. 24A and 24B, the second expansion portion 20b, which is an upper portion of the airbag 2, is folded from the upper UP of the vehicle toward the lower DOWN, and then further folded from the lower DOWN of the vehicle toward the upper UP. The airbag 2 is attached to the side portion of the seat bag 51 in the folded state shown in FIGS. 24A to 24C. The expansion protrusion 21 is folded so as to overlap with the main body 20, and as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24C, the expansion protrusion 21 of the airbag 2 is roll-folded in the mounted state of the side airbag device 1. It may be folded so that the expansion protrusion 21 is included in the portion and does not overlap with the gas inflow portion (inflator mounting portion 10), or the expansion protrusion 21 is included in the roll folding portion and is combined with the gas inflow portion. It may be superimposed. Therefore, when gas is generated from the inflator 3, the first expansion portion 20a expands and expands before the expansion protrusion 21, and the airbag 2 expands and expands while being unfolded in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle of the main body portion 20 expands and expands. The expansion and deployment speed in the vertical direction can be increased.

1: Side airbag device 2: Airbag 3: Inflator 10: Inflator mounting portion 11: Gas ejection hole 12: Bolt 20: Main body 20a: First expansion portion 20b: Second expansion portion 21: Expansion protrusion 22: Inflator Mounting holes 23, 123: Crew side panel 24, 124: Center side panel 25: Connecting panel 26: Sewn portion 27; Gas inflow hole 28: Notch 29: Non-folding area 30: First folding line 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d , 31e: Second turn-back line 40: Crew (international unified side collision dummy)
41: Torso 42: Lumbar 43: Head 44: Arms 45: Shoulders 50: Vehicle seat 51: Seat back (backrest)
52: Side frame 60: Console box 70: Vehicle side wall L: Folding line

Claims (4)

A side airbag that is attached to the side of the seat back of the vehicle seat and expands and expands on the side of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat and above the console box provided inside the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction. In the device
An inflator attached to the side of the seat back to generate gas,
A bag-shaped airbag that expands and expands due to the gas generated from the inflator is provided.
The airbag expands and expands from the side portion of the seat bag to the side of the seated occupant to protect the seated occupant, and a gas inflow portion provided in the main body portion into which the gas flows. It has an expansion protrusion that is located inside the vehicle width direction with respect to the gas inflow portion and that expands and expands above the console box.
Assuming that the shape of the airbag in the folded state is defined and the region including the gas inflow portion is a non-folded region,
In a state where the airbag is partially unfolded and unfolded on a flat surface, the expansion protrusion is folded so as to overlap the main body along the folding line.
A side airbag device characterized in that the folding line does not overlap with the non-folding region. The side airbag device according to claim 1.
A side airbag device characterized in that the inflated protrusion is folded toward the front of the vehicle in a state where the airbag is partially unfolded and unfolded to a flat surface. The side airbag device according to claim 1 or 2.
A side airbag device characterized in that the inflated protrusion is folded toward the upper side of the vehicle in a state where the airbag is partially unfolded and unfolded to a flat surface. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
A side airbag device characterized in that, in a fully folded state of the airbag, the airbag is further folded from the front to the rear of the vehicle by overlapping the expansion protrusion and the main body. ..

Images