JP2022068739A - Occupant protection device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To obtain an occupant protection device for a vehicle that easily stabilizes an inflation-expansion behavior of at least one of a lower chamber capable of restraining an occupant's waist and an upper chamber capable of restraining the occupant's head.SOLUTION: An occupant protection device for a vehicle includes: a lower chamber 60A, which is inflated and expanded by a gas supplied inside to face a waist P1w of an occupant P1 seated on a seat 28 from outside in a vehicle width direction during a lateral collision of the vehicle 12; an upper chamber 60C, which is connected to the lower chamber and is inflated and expanded to face an occupant's head P1h from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the gas supplied inside during the lateral collision; and flexible straps 31, 38 that connect at least one of a rear edge of the lower chamber and a rear edge of the upper chamber when inflation and expansion is complete and a seat back frame 29 of the seat and are strained when the lower chamber and the upper chamber are inflated and expanded.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device.

The following Patent Document 1 discloses a side airbag provided inside the seat back of a seat and expanded and deployed while opening the skin material of the seat back by a gas supplied to the inside at the time of a side collision of a vehicle. ing. This side airbag expands and deploys so as to face the waist of the occupant seated on the seat from the outside in the vehicle width direction, and expands to face the occupant's head from the outside in the vehicle width direction. It has an upper chamber that is deployed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-105107

This side airbag expands and expands while swinging in various directions when a high-pressure gas is supplied to the inside. Therefore, it is difficult to stabilize the expansion and deployment behavior of the lower chamber and the upper chamber. Instability of expansion and deployment behavior can affect the restraint performance of the lower and upper chambers.

In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicle occupant protection device that can easily stabilize the expansion / deployment behavior of at least one of a lower chamber capable of restraining the waist of a occupant and an upper chamber capable of restraining the head. ..

The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1 is expanded and deployed so as to face the waist of an occupant seated on a seat from the outside in the vehicle width direction by a gas supplied to the inside at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. The lower chamber and the upper chamber which are communicated with the lower chamber and are expanded and deployed so as to face the occupant's head from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the gas supplied inside at the time of the side collision, and the expansion. At least one of the rear edge portion of the lower chamber and the trailing edge portion of the upper chamber when the deployment is completed is connected to the seat back frame of the seat back of the seat, and the lower chamber and the upper chamber are expanded and deployed. It comprises a flexible strap, which is tense when it is done.

The scope of claims and the "seat back frame" in the specification include the frame itself, which is a skeleton member of the seat back. Further, the "seat back frame" in the claims and the specification also includes a supported member (for example, a headrest support) which is attached to the frame and supports another member (for example, a stay of a headrest).

In the vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1, the lower chamber and the upper chamber are expanded and expanded by the gas supplied to the inside at the time of a side collision of the vehicle. As a result, the lower chamber faces the waist of the occupant seated on the seat from the outside in the vehicle width direction. Further, the upper chamber faces the occupant's head from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

Further, a flexible strap is attached to at least one of the trailing edge of the lower chamber and the trailing edge of the upper chamber when the expansion and deployment is completed, and the seat back frame. Then, the strap becomes tense when the lower chamber and the upper chamber are expanded and deployed. Therefore, it is suppressed by the strap that at least one of the lower chamber and the upper chamber expands and expands while swinging in various directions (mainly in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction). Therefore, the expansion / deployment behavior of at least one of the lower chamber and the upper chamber is likely to be stable. Therefore, it is difficult for the expansion and deployment behavior to affect at least one of the waist restraint performance by the lower chamber and the head restraint performance by the upper chamber.

Further, if the strap connects the trailing edge of the upper chamber to the seat back frame, the expanded upper chamber is the vehicle regardless of the angle of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion and the front-back sliding position of the seat with respect to the vehicle body. The head can be restrained so as to overlap the center of gravity of the head when viewed in the width direction. Therefore, the upper chamber can be miniaturized. That is, the capacity of the upper chamber can be reduced and the gas supply source can be miniaturized. Similarly, if the strap connects the trailing edge of the lower chamber to the seatback frame, the expanded lower chamber will be inflated regardless of the angle of the seatback with respect to the seat cushion and the anterior-posterior sliding position of the seat with respect to the vehicle body. The lumbar region can be restrained so as to overlap the center of gravity of the lumbar region when viewed in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the lower chamber can be miniaturized. That is, the capacity of the lower chamber can be reduced and the gas supply source can be reduced.

The vehicle occupant protection device according to the second aspect of the present invention is the invention according to the first aspect, when the upper chamber looks at the expansion / deployment completed state in which the gas is supplied to the inside in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. On the upper side of the vehicle on the outer shoulder of the occupant, the occupant's head is restrained by being expanded and deployed between the rear surface of the webbing on the shoulder side that restrains the occupant's upper body and the side surface of the occupant's head.

In the invention according to claim 2, when the expansion / deployment completed state of the upper chamber is viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the upper chamber is on the shoulder side that restrains the upper body of the occupant on the upper side of the vehicle on the outer shoulder of the occupant. It is expanded and deployed between the rear surface of the webbing and the side surface of the occupant's head. Therefore, when the occupant's head is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision, the upper chamber is sandwiched between the outer side surface of the head and the rear surface of the webbing on the shoulder side. As a result, the upper chamber takes a reaction force from the rear surface of the webbing on the shoulder side (that is, the rear surface is used as a support surface) to restrain the occupant's head. As a result, the upper chamber faces the occupant's head while receiving a reaction force from the rear surface of the webbing toward the head, so that the head can be quickly restrained. Further, since the upper chamber restrains the occupant's head while receiving the reaction force, the head can be reliably restrained by the upper chamber even if the internal pressure of the upper chamber is small. Therefore, the capacity (thickness) of the upper chamber can be reduced.

In the invention according to claim 2, the vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 3 is the first fixing in which the strap is a part of the trailing edge portion of the upper chamber when the expansion and deployment is completed. The portion is connected to a stay that is a part of the headrest of the seat and is slidably supported by the seat back, or a headrest support that is attached to the upper frame of the seat back frame and slidably supports the stay. A first strap that is strained when the upper chamber is expanded and deployed is included, and the first fixing portion when the expansion and deployment is completed is located outside the stay and the headrest support in the vehicle width direction.

In the invention according to claim 3, the upper chamber is inflated by a first strap connected to a stay or a headrest support and a first fixing portion which is a part of the trailing edge portion of the upper chamber when the expansion and deployment is completed. I'm nervous when unfolded. Further, the first fixing portion when the expansion and deployment is completed is located outside the stay and the headrest support in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, it is effectively suppressed by the first strap that the upper chamber expands and expands while swinging in various directions (mainly in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction). Therefore, the expansion / deployment behavior of the upper chamber is likely to be stable.

The vehicle occupant protection device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the front edge portion at the inner end portion of the upper chamber in the vehicle width direction when the strap is completed to expand and deploy in the invention according to the third aspect. A second strap that connects the stay or the headrest support and is tensioned when the upper chamber is expanded and deployed, and includes the second strap when the expansion and deployment is completed. The fixing portion is located outside the stay and the headrest support in the vehicle width direction and on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction.

In the invention according to claim 4, a second fixing portion, which is a part of a leading edge portion at the inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the upper chamber when expansion and deployment is completed, is connected to a stay or a headrest support. The second strap becomes tense when the upper chamber is inflated and unfolded. Further, the second fixing portion when the expansion and deployment is completed is located outside the stay and the headrest support in the vehicle width direction and on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction. Therefore, the second strap suppresses the expansion and deployment of the front portion of the upper chamber in the outward direction in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, even when the occupant's head moves diagonally forward when the vehicle collides, the restraining performance of the occupant's head by the upper chamber is stable.

The vehicle occupant protection device according to the fifth aspect of the invention is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the strap is attached to the trailing edge of the lower chamber when the expansion and deployment is completed. The third fixing portion, which is a part, is connected to the side frame of the seat back frame, and includes a third strap that is tense when the lower chamber is expanded and expanded, and the third strap when the expansion and expansion is completed. The fixed portion is located on the front side of the side frame in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

In the invention according to claim 5, the lower chamber is expanded and expanded by a third strap connecting the third fixing portion and the side frame, which is a part of the trailing edge portion of the lower chamber when the expansion and expansion is completed. Sometimes I get nervous. Further, the third fixing portion when the expansion and deployment is completed is located on the front side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle from the side frame. Therefore, it is effectively suppressed by the third strap that the lower chamber expands and expands while swinging forward. Therefore, the expanded and expanded lower chamber can restrain the lumbar region so as to overlap the center of gravity of the lumbar region (sacrum and ilium) when viewed in the vehicle width direction.

In the vehicle occupant protection device according to the invention of claim 6, in the invention of any one of claims 1 to 5, the upper end of the upper chamber when the expansion and deployment is completed is the headrest of the seat. It is located on the lower side of the vehicle in the vertical direction from the upper end.

In the invention according to claim 6, since the upper end of the upper chamber when the expansion and deployment is completed is located below the upper end of the headrest of the seat, the upper chamber can be miniaturized in the vertical direction of the vehicle. As a result, the capacity of the upper chamber can be reduced and the gas supply source can be miniaturized.

As described above, the vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention is excellent in that it is easy to stabilize the expansion and deployment behavior of at least one of the lower chamber that can restrain the waist of the occupant and the upper chamber that can restrain the head. Has an effect.

It is a schematic side view of the front part of the vehicle provided with the vehicle occupant protection device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged perspective view of the left and right front seats of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front. FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged perspective view of the left and right front seats of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear. FIG. 1 is a schematic enlarged exploded perspective view of a front seat headrest stay, a seat back upper frame, a headrest support, and a strap shown in FIG. 1. It is a schematic enlarged front view when the assembly of the upper frame, the headrest support and the strap is completed. FIG. 2 is a schematic enlarged front view of each outer upper portion of the left and right front seat backs shown in FIG. 2. It is a schematic cross-sectional view cut at the position of the front seat of the vehicle shown in FIG. It is a schematic enlarged side view of a part of the front seat, the occupant and the side airbag on the left side when a side collision occurs in the vehicle shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic enlarged front view of a part of the front seat, the occupant, the seat belt device, and the side airbag on the left side when a side collision occurs in the vehicle shown in FIG. 1. It is a schematic side view of the front part of the vehicle of the comparative example. FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of the left front seat, the occupant, the seat belt device, and the side airbag shown in FIG. It is an enlarged front view corresponding to FIG. 9 which shows the state when a side collision occurs in the vehicle shown in FIG. 10. It is a schematic plan view of the vehicle occupant protection device which shows the state when the side collision occurs in the vehicle which comprises the vehicle occupant protection device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the vehicle occupant protection device 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12. The arrow UP shown in each figure indicates the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction, the arrow FR indicates the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the arrow LH indicates the left side in the vehicle left-right direction (vehicle width direction). The vertical direction, the front-rear direction, and the left-right direction in the following description mean the vehicle up-down direction, the vehicle front-rear direction, and the vehicle left-right direction, respectively.

The vehicle occupant protection device 1 includes a side airbag device 10, front seats 26, 28 (seats) and a seatbelt device 44, which will be described later. Openings are formed on both left and right sides of the vehicle body 14 of the vehicle 12 on which the vehicle occupant protection device 1 is mounted. A B-pillar 18 is provided at the center of the left and right openings in the front-rear direction to divide these openings into a front opening 16 on the front side and a rear opening on the rear side.

The left and right front side openings 16 of the vehicle body 14 are provided with front side doors 22 for opening and closing the front side openings 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of left and right front seats 26 and 28 (seats) are provided in the passenger compartment 14A, which is an internal space of the vehicle body 14. The front seats 26 and 28 are the front row seats. A pair of left and right slide rail devices (not shown) that slidably support the front seats 26 and 28 in the front-rear direction are provided on the floor surface of the passenger compartment 14A. The slide rail device is provided with a lock mechanism for fixing the front-rear positions of the front seats 26 and 28 at predetermined positions.

A steering wheel 42 is provided at a portion located on the left side of the center in the left-right direction of the dashboard 40 provided at the front end portion of the vehicle interior 14A. That is, the front seat 28 on the left side of the present embodiment is the driver's seat, and the front seat 26 on the right side is the passenger seat. The front seats 26 and 28 have seat cushions 26A and 28A, seat backs 26B and 28B, and headrests 26C and 28C. Side support portions 26B1 and 28B1 are provided at the inner and outer ends of the seat backs 26B and 28B in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a metal seat back frame 29 is provided inside the seat backs 26B and 28B. The seat back frame 29 has a pair of left and right side frames 30, an upper frame 32, a lower frame (not shown), and a pair of headrest supports 36 (see FIGS. 4 to 6). Inside each of the side support portions 26B1 and 28B1, side frames 30 extending in the vertical direction of the side support portions 26B1 and 28B1 are provided. The left and right ends of the upper frame 32 extending in the left-right direction are connected to the upper ends of the left and right side frames 30. Further, the left and right ends of the lower frame are connected to the lower ends of the left and right side frames 30. The seat backs 26B and 28B can rotate about the rotation axis in the vehicle width direction with respect to the seat cushions 26A and 28A. A reclining mechanism (not shown) that can adjust the inclination angle (rotation angle) of the seat backs 26B and 28B with respect to the seat cushions 26A and 28A is provided between the seat backs 26B and 28B and the seat cushions 26A and 28A. ..

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the surface of the seat back 26B, 28B includes a front surface 26B2, 28B2, a pair of left and right side surfaces 26B3, 28B3, an upper surface 26B4, 28B4 and a rear surface 26B5, 28B5. The surfaces of the seat backs 26B and 28B are made of a plurality of skin materials. Further, the peripheral edges of the adjacent skin materials are sewn with threads. That is, a sewn portion is provided on the peripheral edge of each skin material.

Further, a part of the sewn portion of the seat backs 26B and 28B is composed of the tear seams 26D and 28D shown by the thick lines in FIGS. 2 and 3. A tear seam 26D is provided on the right side of the seat back 26B, and a tear seam 28D is provided on the left side of the seat back 28B. The tier seams 26D and 28D are the upper end portions of the front surface 26B2, 28B2 and the side surface 26B3, 28B3, the side surface 26B3, 28B3 and the top surface 26B4, 28B4, and the side surface 26B3, 28B3 and the rear surface 26B5, 28B5. , And are provided near the upper ends of the rear surfaces 26B5 and 28B5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper frame 32 has a front plate portion 32A, an upper plate portion 32B, and a bottom plate portion 32C. The upper plate portion 32B is provided with a pair of left and right upper through holes 33 (only one is shown in FIG. 4). The upper through hole 33 includes a circular portion 33A, a rectangular portion 33B, and a detent portion 33C. The circumferential positions of the rectangular portion 33B and the rotation stop portion 33C are offset from each other by 180 °. The bottom plate portion 32C is provided with a pair of left and right bottom through holes 34 (only one is shown in FIG. 4). The bottom through hole 34 includes a circular portion 34A and a rectangular portion 34B. The left and right rectangular portions 34B are located directly below the left and right rectangular portions 33B.

A strap 38 (first strap), which is a flexible strip-shaped member having a predetermined length, is fixed to the upper frame 32. A through hole 39 including a circular portion 39A, a first rectangular portion 39B, and a second rectangular portion 39C is provided in the vicinity of one end portion 38A of the strap 38. The circumferential positions of the first rectangular portion 39B and the second rectangular portion 39C are offset from each other by 90 °.

The headrest support 36 (supported member) has a cylindrical portion 36A, a first annular portion 36B, a second annular portion 36C, a rotation stop protrusion 36D, and a retaining protrusion 36E. A first annular portion 36B is provided at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 36A, and a second annular portion 36C is provided at the central portion of the cylindrical portion 36A. A turning protrusion 36D is provided on the lower surface of the second annular portion 36C, and a retaining protrusion 36E is provided near the lower end of the cylindrical portion 36A. The circumferential positions of the retaining protrusion 36D and the retaining protrusion 36E are offset by 90 ° from each other.

When attaching the headrest support 36 and the strap 38 to the upper frame 32, first, the strap 38 is placed on the upper surface of the upper plate portion 32B so that the upper through hole 33 and the through hole 39 are coaxial with each other. Next, the retaining protrusion 36E located on the upper side of the strap 38 is moved to the lower side of the bottom plate portion 32C via the first rectangular portion 39B, the rectangular portion 33B, and the rectangular portion 34B. As a result, the rotation stop protrusion 36D that has passed through the second rectangular portion 39C downward comes into contact with the upper surface of the upper plate portion 32B while being elastically deformed. Subsequently, the headrest support 36 is rotated 90 ° clockwise in a plan view. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the rectangular portion 34B and the retaining protrusion 36E are displaced by 90 ° in the circumferential direction, and the retaining protrusion 36E is elastically deformed and comes into contact with the lower surface of the bottom plate portion 32C. Further, the rotation stop protrusion 36D fits into the rotation stop portion 33C.

When the headrest support 36 is fixed to the upper frame 32 in this way, the strap 38 is sandwiched between the lower surface of the second annular portion 36C and the upper surface of the upper plate portion 32B. That is, the strap 38 is fixed to the upper frame 32 (seat back frame 29) and the headrest support 36. Since the outer diameter of the second annular portion 36C is larger than the diameter of the circular portion 39A, the strap 38 is not separated from the upper frame 32 and the headrest support 36 even if the strap 38 is pulled. Further, the lower surface of the first annular portion 36B of the left and right headrest supports 36 comes into contact with the upper surfaces 26B4 and 28B4 of the seat backs 26B and 28B.

In the present specification, the fact that the strap 38 (and the straps 31, 81 described later) is fixed to another member means that the relative movement between the strap 38 (31, 81) and the other member is completely restricted. And allowing the strap 38 (31, 81) to move relative to the other member while restricting its separation from the other member. For example, the relative movement of the strap 38 to the headrest support 36 may be completely restricted. Further, the strap 38 may be rotatable relative to the headrest support 36 around the axis of the headrest support 36.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the left and right headrests 26C and 28C have a pair of left and right metal stays 26C1 and 28C1. Each stay 26C1 and 28C1 is a columnar member substantially parallel to the vertical direction. A plurality of locking grooves (not shown) are formed side by side in the vertical direction on the outer peripheral surfaces of the stays 26C1 and 28C1. The pair of stays 26C1 and 28C1 of the headrests 26C and 28C are inserted into the cylindrical portion 36A from the upper end opening of the pair of left and right headrest supports 36 (first annular portion 36B) provided on the seat backs 26B and 28B, respectively. As a result, the locking claws (not shown) formed on the inner peripheral surface of each cylindrical portion 36A and the locking groove of any one of the stays 26C1 and 28C1 engage with each other, so that the headrests 26C and 28C Vertical relative movement with respect to the seat backs 26B and 28B is restricted. When the headrests 26C and 28C are moved upward or downward with a strong force, the engagement between the locking claw and the locking groove is released.

In FIGS. 1 and 7, a dummy P1 for a collision test is seated on the front seats 26 and 28. The dummy P1 is an AM50 (50th percentile of an American adult male) of the International World Side Impact Dummy (WorldSID). Each dummy P1 is seated in the front seats 26 and 28 by the seating method specified in the side collision test method. Further, the front-rear positions of the seat cushions 26A and 28A with respect to the vehicle 12 and the inclination angles of the seat backs 26B and 28B with respect to the seat cushions 26A and 28A are adjusted to reference setting positions corresponding to the above-mentioned seating method. The dummy P1 is equipped with a webbing 46 of a three-point seatbelt device 44, which will be described later. Hereinafter, the dummy P1 may be referred to as an occupant P1. The seat cushions 26A and 28A support the waist P1w and the thigh P1t of the occupant P1. The seat backs 26B and 28B can support the back surface (back) of the chest P1b of the occupant P1. The headrests 26C and 28C can support the head P1h of the occupant P1.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the vehicle 12 is provided with a pair of left and right seatbelt devices 44. The seatbelt device 44 has a webbing 46, a take-up device 48, a shoulder anchor 50, an anchor 52, a tongue 54 and a buckle 56.

One end of the flexible strip-shaped webbing 46 (belt) is provided inside the winding device 48 (see FIG. 7) provided at the lower ends of the left and right sides of the vehicle body 14. .. As is well known, the take-up device 48 can take up the webbing 46 inside the take-up device 48 and pull out the webbing 46 to the outside of the take-up device 48. Further, the take-up device 48 can lock the pull-out of the webbing 46 from the take-up device 48 when the webbing 46 is suddenly pulled out from the take-up device 48.

The shoulder anchor 50 is fixed to the left and right B pillars 18. An insertion hole is formed in the shoulder anchor 50. A webbing 46 is inserted through the insertion hole of the shoulder anchor 50, and the webbing 46 is folded back at the insertion hole of the shoulder anchor 50.

Anchors 52 are fixed to the outer ends of the seat cushions 26A and 28A of the front seats 26 and 28 in the vehicle width direction. The other end of the webbing 46 is fixed to the anchor 52.

A tongue 54 is provided in the portion of the webbing 46 between the shoulder anchor 50 and the anchor 52. An insertion hole is formed in the tongue 54, and the webbing 46 is movably inserted into the insertion hole.

Buckles 56 are provided at the inner ends of the front seats 26 and the seat cushions 26A and 28A of the front seats 28 in the vehicle width direction. The tongue 54 is removable from the buckle 56. As shown in FIG. 7, when the tongue 54 is attached to the buckle 56, the shoulder anchor 50 and the tongue 54 of the webbing 46 are attached to the chest P1b and the shoulder P1s of each occupant P1 seated in the front seats 26 and 28. The shoulder webbing 46A, which is a part in between, is in close contact.

The passenger compartment 14A is provided with rear seats (seats) (not shown) located behind the front seats 26 and 28.

Subsequently, the detailed structure of the side airbag device 10 will be described. The side airbag device 10 includes a strap 31 (third strap), a strap 38 (first strap), a side airbag 60, an inflator 62, an ECU 70, a side collision sensor 72, and an oblique collision sensor 74.

As shown in FIG. 6, a side airbag 60 and an inflator 62 are provided inside the side support portions 26B1 and 28B1 outside the front seats 26 and 28 in the vehicle width direction of the seat backs 26B and 28B.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-9, the side airbag 60 has a lower chamber 60A and an upper chamber 60C communicating with each other. In a normal time when the vehicle 12 does not collide, the side airbag 60 is housed inside the seat backs 26B and 28B in a folded state. A part of the upper chamber 60C and the lower chamber 60A are housed inside the side support portions 26B1 and 28B1. At this time, in the front view, the lower chamber 60A is substantially parallel to the vertical direction, and a part of the upper chamber 60C is substantially parallel to the horizontal direction.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the tongues 54 of the left and right seatbelt devices 44 are attached to the buckle 56, the left and right shoulder webbing 46A have a vehicle width as they move downward in the vertical direction in the front view. It tilts in the vertical direction so that it extends inward. Further, when the tongue 54 is attached to the buckle 56, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner end portion of the upper chamber 60C of the side airbag 60 in the vehicle width direction is the upper chamber 60C of the shoulder webbing 46A in the front view. It is located inside the vehicle width direction from the parts located at the same height.

The substantially columnar inflator 62 is a so-called cylinder type inflator. As shown in FIG. 6, the inflator 62 is housed inside the side airbag 60 so that its axial direction is along the vertical direction of the seat backs 26B and 28B. Further, the inflator 62 is formed with a plurality of gas outlets (not shown) along the circumferential direction of the inflator 62. Further, inside the side airbag 60, a diffuser 64 made of a tubular flexible material having both ends open is provided. The inflator 62 is provided inside the diffuser 64. Further, a plurality of stud bolts 62A projecting from the outer peripheral portion of the inflator 62 penetrate the diffuser 64, the side airbag 60 and the side frame 30, and a nut 58 is screwed to the tip of each stud bolt 62A. ing. As a result, the inflator 62 is fixed to the side frame 30 together with the side airbag 60 and the diffuser 64. The upper part of the diffuser 64 is located above the upper end of the inflator 62 and is located inside the upper chamber 60C. The lower part of the diffuser 64 is located below the lower end of the inflator 62 and is located inside the lower chamber 60A.

Further, one end 31A in the longitudinal direction of the flexible strap 31 is fixed to the lower portion of the side frame 30 outside the vehicle width direction of the front seat 26 and the front seat 28. The left and right straps 31 are strip-shaped members having a predetermined length. As shown in FIG. 6, the lowermost stud bolt 62A penetrates a through hole (not shown) formed in the end portion 31A of the strap 31, and is screwed into the stud bolt 62A. The nut 58 sandwiches the strap 31 with the side frame 30.

Further, the fixing portion 60A1 (third fixing portion) (see FIGS. 1 to 3), which is a part of the lower chamber 60A of the folded side airbag 60, has an end portion connected to the side frame 30 of the strap 31. The end portion 31B on the opposite side of 31A is fixed. The fixing portion 60A1 constitutes a part of the trailing edge portion of the lower chamber 60A and is located below the nut 58 (stud bolt 62A) located at the lowermost side when the expansion and deployment of the side airbag 60 is completed. do. When the side airbag 60 is in the folded state, the strap 31 is in the relaxed state.

Further, the headrest support 36 of the strap 38 is attached to the fixing portion 60B1 (first fixing portion) (see FIGS. 1, 6 and 8) which is a part of the lower portion 60B of the upper chamber 60C of the folded side airbag 60. The end 38B on the opposite side of the end 38A connected to is fixed. The fixing portion 60B1 constitutes a part of the trailing edge portion of the upper chamber 60C and is located above the nut 58 (stud bolt 62A) located on the uppermost side when the expansion and deployment of the side airbag 60 is completed. do. When the side airbag 60 is in the folded state, the strap 38 is in the relaxed state. The fixing means for fixing the side airbag 60 and the straps 31 and 38 may be any means. For example, the fixing means may be a thread that sews the side airbag 60 and the straps 31, 38 to each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 12 is provided with an ECU (electric control unit) 70. An inflator 62 is electrically connected to the ECU 70. The ECU 70 is an electronic control circuit having a microcomputer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, an interface, etc. as a main component. The CPU realizes various functions described later by executing instructions stored in a memory (ROM).

Further, the vehicle 12 is provided with a side collision sensor 72 and an oblique collision sensor 74. The side collision sensor 72 is configured to output a side collision signal to the ECU 70 when a side collision of the vehicle 12 is detected or predicted. The oblique collision sensor 74 is configured to output an oblique collision signal to the ECU 70 when the oblique collision of the vehicle 12 is detected or predicted.

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

For example, when a side collision occurs on the left side of the moving vehicle 12, the side collision sensor 72 outputs the side collision signal, or the oblique collision sensor 74 outputs the oblique collision signal. Alternatively, the side collision sensor 72 outputs the side collision signal and the oblique collision sensor 74 outputs the oblique collision signal. When at least one of the side collision signal and the oblique collision signal is output in this way, the ECU 70 transmits an operation signal to the inflator 62 on the left side.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7 to 9, gas is injected from the gas outlet of the inflator 62 on the left side, and the injected gas flows into the inside of the side airbag 60 on the left side. As a result, the left side airbag 60 tears the tear seam 28D of the seat back 28B of the front seat 28 and deforms the skin material constituting the left side portion of the seat back 28B (see the virtual lines in FIGS. 2 and 3). , The side support portion 28B1 is expanded and expanded toward the front side, the lower side, and the upper side.

As a result, the lower chamber 60A is expanded and expanded to the front side and the lower side on the left side of the occupant P1. The fixing portion 60A1 of the lower chamber 60A is located below the nut 58 and the stud bolt 62A located at the lowermost side. That is, since the fixing portion 60A1 is separated from the nut 58 and the stud bolt 62A located on the lowermost side, the movement of the fixing portion 60A1 is not regulated by the nut 58 and the stud bolt 62A when the side airbag 60 is expanded and deployed. ..

The strap 31 becomes tense as the lower chamber 60A expands and unfolds (see virtual line in FIG. 1). At this time, in the plan view, the fixing portion 60A1 is located on the outer side and the front side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the nut 58 and the stud bolt 62A located on the lowermost side. That is, in a plan view, the tense strap 31 is substantially parallel to the front-rear direction. However, at this time, the positions of the nut 58 and the stud bolt 62A located on the lowermost side of the fixed portion 60A1 in the plan view may be the same in the vehicle width direction. That is, in a plan view, the tense strap 31 may be parallel to the front-rear direction.

Therefore, the strap 31 suppresses the lower chamber 60A from expanding and expanding while swinging in various directions (particularly to the front side). Therefore, the expansion / deployment behavior of the lower chamber 60A is likely to be stable. Therefore, the lower chamber 60A that has completed the expansion and deployment faces the waist P1w and the chest P1b of the occupant P1 from the outside in the vehicle width direction. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower chamber 60A overlaps the center of gravity Wg (sacrum and ilium) of the lumbar region P1w in the vehicle width direction when viewed in the vehicle width direction.

Further, the upper chamber 60C expands and expands to the front side and the upper side on the left side of the occupant P1. The front-rear dimension of the lower portion 60B of the upper chamber 60C when the side airbag 60 is expanded and expanded is smaller than the front-rear dimension of the portion other than the lower portion 60B of the upper chamber 60C and the lower chamber 60A. The fixing portion 60B1 of the upper chamber 60C is located above the nut 58 and the stud bolt 62A located on the uppermost side. That is, since the fixing portion 60B1 is separated from the nut 58 and the stud bolt 62A located on the uppermost side, the movement of the fixing portion 60B1 is not regulated by the nut 58 and the stud bolt 62A when the side airbag 60 is expanded and deployed. ..

The strap 38 becomes tense as the upper chamber 60C expands and unfolds (see virtual lines in FIGS. 1 and 8). At this time, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the fixed portion 60B1 is located outside the headrest support 36 in the vehicle width direction in the front view (plan view). Further, the fixing portion 60B1 is located slightly forward of the headrest support 36. That is, in a plan view, the tense strap 38 is substantially parallel to the vehicle width direction. However, at this time, the positions of the fixed portion 60B1 and the headrest support 36 in the front-rear direction may be the same in a plan view. That is, in a plan view, the tense strap 38 may be parallel to the vehicle width direction.

Therefore, the strap 38 suppresses the expansion and deployment of the upper chamber 60C while swinging in various directions. Therefore, the expansion / deployment behavior of the upper chamber 60C is likely to be stable.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, when the expansion / deployment completed state of the upper chamber 60C is viewed in the front-rear direction, the upper chamber 60C is above the occupant P1 on the upper side of the shoulder portion P1s outside the occupant P1. It is expanded and deployed between the rear surface of the shoulder webbing 46A that restrains the body and the side surface of the head P1h. Therefore, when the head P1h of the occupant P1 is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision, the upper chamber 60C is sandwiched between the outer side surface of the head P1h and the rear surface of the shoulder webbing 46A. As a result, the upper chamber 60C takes a reaction force from the rear surface of the shoulder webbing 46A (that is, the rear surface of the shoulder webbing 46A is used as a support surface) to restrain the head P1h of the occupant P1. As a result, the upper chamber 60C faces the head P1h while receiving a reaction force in the direction approaching the head P1h from the rear surface of the shoulder webbing 46A, so that the head P1h can be quickly restrained.

Further, since the upper chamber 60C restrains the head P1h while receiving a reaction force, the head P1h can be reliably restrained by the upper chamber 60C even if the internal pressure of the upper chamber 60C is small. Therefore, the capacity (thickness) of the upper chamber 60C can be reduced.

In this way, the functions of the strap 31 and the strap 38 stabilize the expansion and deployment behavior of the lower chamber 60A and the upper chamber 60C. Therefore, it is difficult for the expansion and deployment behavior to affect the restraint performance of the lumbar portion P1w and the chest P1b by the lower chamber 60A and the restraint performance of the head portion P1h by the upper chamber 60C. Therefore, the expanded and deployed left side airbag 60 reliably restrains the waist P1w, chest P1b, and head P1h of the occupant P1 who has moved to the left side with respect to the vehicle 12 due to the inertial force due to the collision.

Further, the end portion 31B of the strap 31 is fixed to the fixing portion 60A1 which is a part of the trailing edge portion of the lower chamber 60A when the expansion and deployment is completed. Therefore, the total length of the strap 31 can be shortened as compared with the case where the end portion 31B of the strap 31 is fixed to the leading edge portion of the lower chamber 60A. Therefore, it is unlikely that the strap 31 will hinder the expansion and deployment of the lower chamber 60A. Similarly, the end 38B of the strap 38 is fixed to the fixing 60B1 which is a part of the trailing edge of the lower 60B of the upper chamber 60C when the expansion and deployment is completed. Therefore, the total length of the strap 38 can be shortened as compared with the case where the end portion 38B of the strap 38 is fixed to the leading edge portion of the upper chamber 60C. Therefore, it is unlikely that the strap 38 will hinder the expansion and deployment of the upper chamber 60C.

Further, the side frame 30, the upper frame 32 and the headrest support 36 are constituent members of the seat back 28B. The expansion and deployment behavior of the side airbag 60 is controlled by the strap 31 fixed to the side frame 30, and the strap 38 fixed to the upper frame 32 and the headrest support 36. Therefore, regardless of the angle of the seat back 28B with respect to the seat cushion 28A and the sliding position of the front seat 28 in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body 14, the center of gravity of the expanded upper chamber 60C is the center of gravity of the head P1h when viewed in the vehicle width direction. The lower chamber 60A expanded and expanded so as to overlap with Hg can be overlapped with the center of gravity Wg of the waist portion P1w. Therefore, even when the upper chamber 60C is small, the upper chamber 60C can restrain the head P1h so as to overlap the center of gravity Hg when viewed in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the upper end of the upper chamber 60C is located below the upper end of the headrest 28C (the upper end of the head P1h) when viewed in the vehicle width direction. That is, the dimension of the upper chamber 60C in the vehicle vertical direction is small. Further, even when the lower chamber 60A is small, the lower chamber 60A can restrain the lumbar portion P1w so as to overlap the center of gravity Wg when viewed in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the lower chamber 60A and the upper chamber 60C can be miniaturized to reduce the capacity of the side airbag 60 and the inflator 62.

On the other hand, FIGS. 10 to 12 show the vehicle 12 of the comparative example of the present invention. The front seats 26 and 28 of the vehicle 12 are not provided with the strap 31 and the strap 38. When a side collision occurs on the left side of the vehicle 12, the left side airbag 60 expands to the front side, the lower side, and the upper side of the side support portion 28B1 while opening the tear seam 28D of the seat back 28B of the front seat 28. expand.

When the lower chamber 60A of the side airbag 60 is expanded and deployed, the lower chamber 60A swings in various directions. That is, the expansion / deployment behavior of the lower chamber 60A becomes unstable. Therefore, when the lower chamber 60A that has completed the expansion and deployment faces the waist P1w and the chest P1b of the occupant P1 from the outside in the vehicle width direction, the lower chamber is viewed in the vehicle width direction as shown in FIG. The chamber 60A may not overlap the center of gravity Wg of the waist P1w in the vehicle width direction.

Further, when the side airbag 60 is expanded and deployed, the upper chamber 60C swings in various directions. That is, the expansion / deployment behavior of the upper chamber 60C becomes unstable. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the expansion / deployment completion state of the upper chamber 60C is viewed in the front-rear direction, the upper chamber 60C expands / expands outside the shoulder portion P1s outside the occupant P1 in the vehicle width direction. Will be done. Therefore, the upper chamber 60C is expanded and expanded while passing through the space on the lower side of the shoulder webbing 46A toward the front side. In other words, the upper chamber 60C is not expanded and deployed between the rear surface of the shoulder webbing 46A and the side surface of the head P1h. Therefore, when the head P1h of the occupant P1 is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision, the upper chamber 60C is not sandwiched between the outer side surface of the head P1h and the rear surface of the shoulder webbing 46A. Therefore, the upper chamber 60C cannot face the head P1h while receiving a reaction force in the direction approaching the head P1h from the rear surface of the shoulder webbing 46A, so that the head P1h may not be quickly restrained. Further, since the expansion / deployment behavior of the upper chamber 60C is unstable, as shown in FIG. 10, the upper chamber 60C that has completed expansion / deployment is the center of gravity Hg of the head P1h and the vehicle width when viewed in the vehicle width direction. There is a risk that they will not overlap in the direction. Further, since the upper chamber 60C does not restrain the head P1h while receiving a reaction force, if the internal pressure of the upper chamber 60C is small, the head P1h may not be reliably restrained by the upper chamber 60C. Therefore, the capacity (thickness) of the upper chamber 60C cannot be reduced.

When a side collision occurs on the right side of the vehicle 12 of the present embodiment while traveling, the ECU 70 transmits an operation signal to the inflator 62 on the right side. In this case, the right side airbag 60 opens the tear seam 26D of the seat back 26B of the front seat 26 and deforms the skin material constituting the right side portion of the seat back 26B, while the front side and the lower side of the side support portion 26B1. It expands and expands to the side and the upper side. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower chamber 60A on the right side expands and expands on the right side of the occupant P1 on the right side. Although not shown, the lower chamber 60A on the right side, which has completed expansion and deployment, overlaps with the center of gravity Wg of the waist portion P1w of the occupant P1 on the right side in the vehicle width direction when viewed in the vehicle width direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when the expansion / deployment completed state of the upper chamber 60C on the right side is viewed in the front-rear direction, the upper chamber 60C is located above the shoulder portion P1s on the outer side of the occupant P1 on the right side. It is expanded and deployed between the rear surface of the shoulder webbing 46A that restrains the upper body and the side surface of the head P1h. Although not shown, the upper chamber 60C on the right side, which has completed expansion and deployment, overlaps with the center of gravity Hg of the head P1h in the vehicle width direction when viewed in the vehicle width direction.

The right side airbag 60 expanded and deployed in this way restrains the waist P1w, chest P1b, and head P1h of the occupant P1 who has moved to the right side with respect to the vehicle 12 due to the inertial force due to the collision.

Further, when the ECU 70 determines that the rollover has occurred in the vehicle 12 based on the signals output from at least one of the side collision sensor 72 and the oblique collision sensor 74, the ECU 70 transmits an operation signal to the left and right inflators 62. ..

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the vehicle occupant protection device 78 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 13. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

The vehicle occupant protection device 78 of the second embodiment includes a side airbag device 80, front seats 26, 28 (seats) and a seatbelt device 44, which will be described later. The side airbag device 80 includes a strap 31 (not shown in FIG. 13), a strap 38, a side airbag 60, an inflator 62 (not shown in FIG. 13), an ECU 70 (not shown in FIG. 13), and a side collision sensor 72 (not shown in FIG. 13). 13 has an oblique collision sensor 74 (not shown in FIG. 13) and a strap 81 (second strap).

The flexible strap 81 is a strip-shaped member having a predetermined length. A through hole (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of one end 81A in the longitudinal direction of the strap 81. The vicinity of the end 81A of the strap 81 is vertically overlapped with the vicinity of the end 38A of the strap 38, and the through hole 39 of the strap 38 and the through hole of the strap 81 are formed by the second annular portion of the cylindrical portion 36A of the headrest support 36. A portion located below 36C penetrates from the upper side to the lower side of the straps 38 and 81. Similar to the first embodiment, the straps 38 and 81 of the second embodiment are sandwiched between the lower surface of the second annular portion 36C of the headrest support 36 and the upper surface of the upper plate portion 32B of the upper frame 32. That is, the straps 38 and 81 are fixed to the upper frame 32 (seat back frame 29) and the headrest support 36.

Further, the fixing portion 60C1 (second fixing portion) which is a part of the upper chamber 60C of the folded side airbag 60 has an end portion opposite to the end portion 81A connected to the headrest support 36 of the strap 81. 81B is fixed. At this time, the strap 81 is in a relaxed state. The fixing portion 60C1 constitutes a part of the leading edge portion at the inner end portion of the upper chamber 60C in the vehicle width direction when the expansion and deployment of the side airbag 60 is completed.

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

For example, when a side collision occurs on the left side of the moving vehicle 12, at least one of the side collision signal and the oblique collision signal is output, and the ECU 70 transmits an operation signal to the inflator 62 on the left side. As a result, gas is injected from the gas outlet of the inflator 62 on the left side. Therefore, the left side airbag 60 opens the tear seam 28D of the seat back 28B of the front seat 28 and deforms the skin material constituting the left side portion of the seat back 28B, while deforming the front side, the lower side and the side support portion 28B1. It expands and expands upward.

The upper chamber 60C expands and expands forward and upward on the left side of the occupant P1. Since the fixing portions 60B1 and 60C1 of the upper chamber 60C are located above the nut 58 (stud bolt 62A) located on the uppermost side, the fixing portions 60B1 and 60C1 move when the side airbag 60 is expanded and deployed. Is not regulated by the nut 58. However, when the upper chamber 60C is expanded and deployed, the straps 38 and 81 become tense (see FIG. 13).

At this time, in the front view (plan view), the fixed portion 60C1 when the expansion and deployment is completed is located outside the headrest support 36 (stay 28C1) in the vehicle width direction and in the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction. That is, in a plan view, the tense strap 81 is tilted with respect to the vehicle width direction and the front-rear direction.

Therefore, the straps 38 and 81 prevent the upper chamber 60C from expanding and expanding while swinging in various directions. In particular, the strap 81 suppresses the expansion and deployment of the front portion of the upper chamber 60C in the outward direction in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the expansion / deployment behavior of the upper chamber 60C is more stable than that of the first embodiment. Therefore, even when the head P1h of the occupant P1 moves diagonally forward when the vehicle 12 collides diagonally, the restraining performance of the head P1 of the occupant P1 by the upper chamber 60C is stable.

Although the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

The fixing means for fixing the straps 38 and 81 to the seat back frame 29 may be any means. For example, a stud bolt (supported member) is fixed to the upper frame 32, a nut is screwed into a stud bolt inserted into a through hole formed in the straps 38 and 81, and the strap 38 is screwed by the upper frame 32 and the nut. 81 may be sandwiched. In this case, the upper frame 32, the stud bolts and the nuts are the fixing means.

The straps 38 and 81 may be fixed only to the upper frame 32 or may be fixed only to the supported member supported by the upper frame 32.

The straps 38 and 81 may be fixed to the stays 26C1 and 28C1 by inserting the stays 26C1 and 28C1 into the through holes formed in the straps 38 and 81.

The fixing means for fixing the seat back frame 29 (side frame 30) and the strap 31 may be any means.

The front seats 26 and 28 are provided with the strap 38 and the strap 81, and may not be provided with the strap 31. Further, the front seats 26 and 28 are provided with the strap 31, and the strap 38 and the strap 81 may not be provided. Further, the front seats 26 and 28 may be provided with the strap 38 and may not be provided with the strap 31 and the strap 81.

A side airbag 60 may be provided in the rear seat. In this case, a seatbelt device having the same configuration as the seatbelt device 44 is provided in the rear seat.

When the expansion and deployment completed state of the upper chamber 60C of the side airbag 60 is viewed in the front-rear direction, the upper chamber 60C restrains the upper body of the occupant P1 on the upper side of the shoulder portion P1s outside the occupant P1. The front seats 26, 28 (rear seats), the seat belt device 44, and the side airbag 60 may be configured so as not to expand and expand between the rear surface and the side surface of the head P1h.

The front seat 28 may be the passenger seat and the front seat 26 may be the driver's seat.

1 Vehicle occupant protection device 10 Side airbag device 12 Vehicle 26 28 Front seat (seat)
26B, 28B Seat back 26C, 28C Headrest 26C1, 28C1 Stay 29 Seat back frame 30 Side frame (seat back frame)
31 strap (3rd strap)
32 Upper frame (seat back frame)
36 Headrest support (supported member)
38 strap (1st strap)
44 Seatbelt device 46A Shoulder webbing 60 Side airbag 60A Lower chamber 60A1 Fixed part (third fixed part)
60B1 fixed part (first fixed part)
60C upper chamber 60C1 fixing part (second fixing part)
78 Vehicle occupant protection device 80 Side airbag device 81 Strap (second strap)
P1 dummy (crew)
P1b Chest P1h Head P1w Lumbar

Claims (6)

At the time of a side collision of the vehicle, the lower chamber is expanded and deployed so as to face the waist of the occupant seated on the seat from the outside in the width direction of the vehicle by the gas supplied inside.
An upper chamber that communicates with the lower chamber and is expanded and deployed so as to face the occupant's head from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the gas supplied inside at the time of the side collision.
At least one of the trailing edge portion of the lower chamber and the trailing edge portion of the upper chamber when the expansion and deployment is completed is connected to the seat back frame of the seat back of the seat, and the lower chamber and the upper chamber are expanded. A flexible strap that tensions when unfolded,
A occupant protection device for vehicles equipped with. The upper chamber
When the expansion and deployment completed state in which gas is supplied to the inside is viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the rear surface of the webbing on the shoulder side that restrains the upper body of the occupant on the upper side of the vehicle on the outer shoulder of the occupant and the rear surface of the webbing of the occupant. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the occupant's head is inflated and deployed between the head surface and the occupant's head. The strap
A first fixing portion that is a part of the trailing edge portion of the upper chamber when the expansion and deployment is completed, and a stay or a seat back that is a part of the headrest of the seat and is slidably supported by the seat back. Includes a first strap that is attached to the upper frame of the frame and connects with a headrest support that slidably supports the stay and tensions when the upper chamber is inflated and deployed.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 2, wherein the first fixing portion when the expansion and deployment is completed is located outside the stay and the headrest support in the vehicle width direction. The strap
The stay or the headrest support is connected to the second fixing portion which is a part of the leading edge portion at the inner end portion of the upper chamber in the vehicle width direction when the expansion and deployment is completed, and the upper chamber is expanded and expanded. Includes a second strap that makes you nervous when you are
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 3, wherein the second fixing portion when the expansion and deployment is completed is located outside the stay and the headrest support in the vehicle width direction and in the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction. The strap
The third fixing portion, which is a part of the trailing edge portion of the lower chamber when the expansion and deployment is completed, is connected to the side frame of the seat back frame, and the lower chamber is tensioned when the expansion and deployment is completed. Including 3 straps
The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the third fixing portion is located on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction from the side frame when the expansion and deployment is completed. The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the upper end of the upper chamber when the expansion and deployment is completed is located on the lower side in the vertical direction of the vehicle from the upper end of the headrest of the seat.

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