JP2022145179A - Air bag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To obtain an air bag device for vehicle capable of improving occupant's head-protecting performance at head-on collision of the vehicle.SOLUTION: An air bag body 12 of an air bag device 10 for vehicle is housed in a seat back 18. The bag body 12 has a main chamber 50 expanded and spread by receiving a gas supply from an inflator at prediction or detection of head-on collision, and a chamber 60 for forming a binding face. The main chamber 50 is expanded and spread at the lateral of a head H of an occupant P toward a seat front side. The chamber 60 for forming the binding face is expanded and spread in a seat width direction from a tip of the main chamber 50 to cover the front of the head H. Besides, the main chamber 50 and the chamber 60 for forming the binding face are linked by a tether 70. Further, the chamber 60 for forming the binding face is configured to be deformable into such a shape that the binding face facing the head H of the occupant P forms a recess at the seat front side in the expansion/spreading state of the bag body 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle airbag device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a side airbag device housed in the backrest of a front seat. The airbag of this side airbag device is formed in the shape of a bag by sewing the outer peripheral portions of two base fabrics. In this airbag, a planar tether connects an airbag main body portion that inflates and deploys between the body side portion of the vehicle and the region from the chest to the head of the occupant and the airbag protruding portion that protrudes from the tip of the airbag main body portion. By connecting with , the airbag projecting portion is bent substantially at right angles to the airbag body portion in the inflated and deployed state. As a result, when the vehicle collides with an obstacle obliquely in front of the vehicle, the airbag main body and the airbag protrusion cover the oblique front of the occupant's head to prevent the occupant from entering the vehicle interior from the outside of the vehicle. protects the head of

JP 2006-008105 A

However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the airbag projecting portion is formed into a bag shape by the base fabric of the airbag, the inflation pressure of the gas at the time of inflation and deployment causes the airbag to face the occupant's head. The surface (constraint surface) becomes a curved surface forming a convexity toward the head. Therefore, in the event of a collision, the occupant's head, which is inertially moving toward the front side of the seat, slips on the protrusion of the airbag, which may reduce the occupant's head restraint performance of the airbag. Therefore, the prior art described above has room for improvement in this respect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle airbag device capable of improving the performance of protecting the head of an occupant in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

The vehicle airbag device according to the present invention described in claim 1 is housed inside a seat back or a headrest, and is supplied with gas from an inflator at the time of prediction or detection of a frontal collision, and pushes the head of the occupant to one side. a bag body comprising a main chamber that is inflated and deployed toward the front side of the seat on the side of the bag, and a restraining surface forming chamber that is inflated and deployed in the seat width direction from the front end of the main chamber and covers the front of the head; and a tether connecting the main chamber and the restraining surface forming chamber, wherein the restraining surface forming chamber has a restraining surface facing the head portion on the front side of the seat when the bag body is inflated and deployed. It is configured to be deformable into a concave shape.

In the vehicle airbag device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the bag body is housed inside the seat back or the headrest, and the bag body is supplied with gas from the inflator when a frontal collision is predicted or detected. It has a main chamber that is inflated and deployed by receiving and a restraining surface forming chamber. The main chamber is inflated and deployed toward the seat front side on one side of the occupant's head. The restraining surface forming chamber is configured to be inflated and deployed in the seat width direction from the front end of the main chamber to cover the front of the head. Accordingly, the occupant's head can be protected by the restraining surface forming chamber in the event of a frontal collision.

Here, the bag body has a tether connecting the main chamber and the restraining surface forming chamber. Further, the restraining surface forming chamber is configured so that the restraining surface facing the occupant's head can be deformed into a concave shape toward the front side of the seat when the bag main body is inflated and deployed. When the occupant's head, which is inertially moved toward the seat front side due to a frontal collision, is received by the restraining surface of the restraining surface forming chamber, tension is generated in the tether between the main chamber and the restraining surface forming chamber. As a result, the inclination of the restraining surface forming chamber toward the front side of the seat is restricted, so that a sufficient reaction force is applied from the restraining surface forming chamber to the head. Then, the restraining surface pressed by the head deforms into a concave shape toward the front side of the seat to restrain the head. As a result, the occupant's head can be prevented from slipping on the restraining surface forming chamber, so that the occupant's head restraint performance by the restraining surface forming chamber can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle airbag device according to the first aspect, wherein the restraint surface is made of a shock absorbing material.

In the vehicle airbag device according to the present invention, when the occupant's head is received by the restraining surface of the restraining surface forming chamber, the head is deformed into a concave shape toward the front side of the seat. of impact energy can be absorbed. As a result, the head protection performance of the restraining surface forming chamber can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle airbag device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the restraining surface forming chamber communicates with the main chamber to allow gas from the inflator to flow. and a non-inflating/deploying portion that is not supplied with gas from the inflator. constitutes the restraining surface facing the

In the vehicle airbag device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the restraining surface forming chamber includes an inflatable and deployable portion that inflates and deploys when supplied with gas from the inflator, and a non-inflatable and deployable portion that does not receive gas. and In addition, in the inflated and deployed state of the bag body, the side surface facing the head of the non-inflated and deployed portion constitutes a restraining surface, and the non-inflated and deployed portion is the occupant's head that inertially moves toward the front of the seat in the event of a frontal collision. accepted by. As a result, in the restraining surface forming chamber, the restraining surface that comes into contact with the head is a non-inflating and deploying portion that is not affected by the inflation pressure of the gas. It transforms into a concave shape on the side and restrains the head. Thereby, the occupant's head restraint performance by the restraint surface forming chamber can be improved.

As described above, the airbag device according to claim 1 has the excellent effect of being able to improve the occupant's head protection performance in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

1 is a front view showing a vehicle seat to which the vehicle airbag device according to the first embodiment is applied, showing a state in which a bag body is inflated and deployed; FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a vehicle seat to which the vehicle airbag device according to the first embodiment is applied, showing a state in which a bag body is inflated and deployed; FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the base fabric of the bag body according to the first embodiment is cut along line 3-3 in FIG. 2; FIG. 1A and 1B are schematic plan views for explaining the behavior when restraining the head of an occupant with the vehicle airbag device according to the first embodiment; FIG. ) shows the bag body in the middle stage of the frontal collision, and (C) shows the bag body in the latter stage of the frontal collision. FIG. 3 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a vehicle seat to which a vehicle airbag device according to a second embodiment is applied; 6 is a side view showing a state in which the base fabric of the bag body according to the second embodiment is cut along line 6-6 in FIG. 5; FIG. Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view for explaining the behavior of the vehicle airbag device according to the second embodiment when restraining the head of the occupant, where (A) shows the bag main body during an oblique collision; shows the bag body at the time of frontal collision. FIG. 11 is a front view of a vehicle seat to which a vehicle airbag device according to a third embodiment is applied, showing a state in which a bag body is inflated and deployed; FIG. 11 is a plan view of a vehicle seat to which a vehicle airbag device according to a third embodiment is applied, showing a state in which a bag body is inflated and deployed; FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view for explaining the behavior of the vehicular airbag device according to the third embodiment when restraining the occupant's head, and shows the bag body in the latter stage of the frontal collision.

[First embodiment]
A vehicle airbag device 10 according to a first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. An arrow FR, an arrow UP, and an arrow RH in each figure indicate the front side, upper side, and right side of the vehicle seat 14 on which the vehicle airbag device 10 is mounted, respectively. Unless otherwise specified, front/rear directions, left/right directions in the width direction of the seat, and up/down directions in the vertical direction of the seat are used.

1, 2 and 4 show a crash test dummy instead of an actual occupant, and this dummy is, for example, an internationally standardized side impact dummy (World Side Impact Dummy; WorldSID) AM50. (50th percentile of American adult men). In the following description, the dummy is called "occupant P".

(Vehicle seat 14)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle seat 14 equipped with a vehicle airbag device 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as "airbag device 10") includes a seat cushion 16, a seat back 18 and a headrest. 20. As an example, the vehicle seat 14 is arranged in the rear seat on the right side of the vehicle, and the front of the seat is aligned with the front of the vehicle. Further, the left and right in the seat width direction and the left and right in the vehicle width direction are aligned. In addition, in FIG. 2, the illustration of the seat cushion 16 of the vehicle seat 14 and the seatbelt device 24, which will be described later, is omitted in order to make the explanation easier to understand.

The seat cushion 16 extends in the seat front-back direction and the seat width direction, and is configured to support the buttocks and thighs of the occupant P. As shown in FIG. The seat back 18 is rotatably connected to the rear end portion of the seat cushion 16 and extends in the vertical direction of the seat so as to support the back of the occupant P. As shown in FIG. The headrest 20 is provided at the upper end of the seatback 18 and is configured to support the head H of the occupant P. As shown in FIG.

(Seat belt device 24)
As shown in FIG. 1 , the occupant P is restrained on the vehicle seat 14 by the seatbelt device 24 . The seat belt device 24 includes a webbing 26 that restrains the upper body and waist of the occupant.

The webbing 26 is formed in a long belt shape, and includes a shoulder belt 26A that restrains the upper body of the occupant P to the seat back 18 when worn, and a lap belt 26B that restrains the waist of the occupant. The shoulder belt 26A extends obliquely from the shoulder on the right side of the occupant P to the waist on the left side. A tongue plate 30 is passed through the lower end of the shoulder belt 26A.

The tongue plate 30 is detachably attached to a buckle (not shown) provided on the left side of the seat. By attaching the tongue plate 30 to the buckle, the occupant P is restrained by the webbing 26 .

One end of the webbing 26 that is passed through the tongue plate 30 and folded back extends to the right side of the seat, and this portion extending in the seat width direction constitutes a lap belt 26B. Therefore, the left end of the lap belt 26B is connected to the lower end of the shoulder belt 26A. The right end of the lap belt 26B is fixed to a belt anchor (not numbered) provided on the floor panel.

The upper end of the shoulder belt 26A is wound around a shoulder anchor (not shown) provided on the vehicle body. Also, the end of the webbing 26 is wound up by a retractor (not shown).

(Vehicle airbag device 10)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the airbag device 10 includes a bag body 12 and an inflator . The bag body 12 and the inflator 42 are housed inside the box-shaped airbag case 13 in a modularized state.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the airbag case 13 is attached inside the seatback 18 to a seat frame 22 forming the skeleton of the seatback 18 . The seat frame 22 is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the seat front-rear direction, and its upper end portion is configured with an upper frame 22A extending in the seat width direction. The upper frame 22A has a support bracket (not shown) on the side surface on the front side of the seat, and the headrest stay 20A that forms the skeleton of the headrest 20 is connected via the support bracket. The airbag case 13 is fixed to the side surface of the upper frame 22A on the seat rear side using a method such as bolting. Therefore, the airbag case 13 is arranged on the seat rear side with respect to the upper frame 22A and the headrest stay 20A.

The bag body 12 is housed inside the airbag case 13 in a folded state, and is inflated by being supplied with gas generated by the inflator 42 . The bag main body 12 is inflated and deployed laterally outward in the seat width direction with respect to the occupant P by breaking the not-shown split portion of the airbag case 13 and the skin of the seat back 18 by the inflation pressure.

The bag body 12 includes a main chamber 50 that is inflated and deployed toward the front of the seat on the side of the head H of the occupant P, and a front end portion (front end) of the main chamber 50 that is inflated and deployed inward in the seat width direction. and a restraining surface forming chamber 60 . That is, in the inflated and deployed state of the bag body 12 , the sides of the head H are covered by the main chamber 50 , and the front of the head H is covered by the restraining surface forming chamber 60 . The bag main body 12 is constructed as an integrated bag body in which a main chamber 50 and a restraining surface forming chamber 60 are in communication with each other. Details of the bag body 12 will be described later.

As an example, the inflator 42 is a cylinder-type gas generator formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the axial direction thereof is along the vertical direction of the seat. A gas ejection portion 42A is provided at the upper end portion of the inflator 42, and gas is generated from the gas ejection portion 42A and supplied to the bag body 12 when a frontal collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted. be. It is assumed that frontal collisions of vehicles include frontal collisions and oblique collisions.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inflator 42 has a gas ejection portion 42A arranged inside the bag body 12 . A stud bolt (not shown) extends from the outer surface of the inflator 42 toward the front side of the seat. The stud bolt penetrates the airbag case 13, and the inflator 42 is fastened to the upper frame 22A by inserting the stud bolt through the upper frame 22A and tightening it with a nut.

(Bag body 12)
The bag body 12 has two base fabrics 50A and 50B arranged in the seat width direction. The two base fabrics 50A and 50B are made into a bag-like shape by sewing their outer peripheral portions, and form the main chamber 50 of the bag body 12. As shown in FIG. In FIGS. 1 to 4, the sewing portion for sewing the outer peripheral portions of the base fabrics 50A and 50B is indicated by reference numeral "S1". The main chamber 50 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed in the seat width direction, and has a tubular inflator insertion portion 51 at the end on the seat rear side. The inflator insertion portion 51 is fixed to the upper frame 22A together with the inflator 42 with the gas ejection portion 42A of the inflator inserted therein. As a result, gas generated from the inflator 42 is supplied to the main chamber 50 through the inflator insertion portion 51 . The main chamber 50 expands and deploys from the side of the head H of the occupant P toward the front of the seat, and restrains the head H from the side.

Further, the bag body 12 has a restraining surface forming chamber 60 that expands and deploys inwardly in the seat width direction from the front end of the main chamber 50 . The restraint surface forming chamber 60 is formed in a rectangular shape having a size capable of covering the entire head H of the occupant P when viewed from the seat front-rear direction. A portion of the outer peripheral portion of the restraining surface forming chamber 60 communicates with the main chamber 50 and serves as an inflating/deploying portion 62 that receives gas supplied from the inflator 42 to inflate and deploy. Further, the restraining surface forming chamber 60 is provided with a non-inflatable and deployable portion 68 inside the inflatable and deployable portion 62 that does not receive the supply of gas from the inflator 42 . The non-inflating/deploying portion 68 is deployed inside the inflating/deploying portion 62 like a curtain and is arranged to cover the front of the head H of the occupant P. As shown in FIG. The side surface of the non-inflatable deployment portion 68 facing the head H on the rear side of the seat serves as a restraining surface 68A that restrains the head H. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inflation/deployment portion 62 is formed in a long bag-like shape, and is formed, for example, by sewing two sheets of base fabrics 62A and 62B arranged in the front-rear direction of the seat. It is Specifically, the two base fabrics 62A and 62B are formed into a bag shape by sewing the outer peripheral portions of the two base fabrics 62A and 62B at the sewing portion S2. The inflating/deploying portion 62 includes a first inflating portion 64 extending inward in the seat width direction from the main chamber 50 and a second inflating portion 66 extending downward from the front end of the first inflating portion 64. It is formed in the shape of an inverted L-shaped bag. The first inflatable portion 64 uses the upper end portion of the restraining surface forming chamber 60 . The second expansion portion 66 constitutes the left end portion of the restraining surface forming chamber 60 . In this embodiment, the base fabrics 62A and 62B are made of the same cloth material as the base fabrics 50A and 50B forming the main chamber 50 described above.

The opening-side end (the right end in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the inflation/deployment portion 62 is sewn to the base fabric 50B forming the inner surface of the main chamber 50 in the seat width direction. A communication port 52 having a circular opening is formed in the upper portion of the leading end of the base cloth 50B. It is sewn on the cloth 50B. As a result, part of the gas supplied from the inflator 42 to the main chamber 50 is supplied to the inflation/deployment portion 62 through the communication port 52 . In the inflated and deployed state of the bag body 12, the main chamber 50 and the inflated and deployed portion 62 are arranged in a posture substantially perpendicular to each other in plan view.

The non-inflating/deploying portion 68 is arranged in a rectangular area formed between the main chamber 50 and the inflating/deploying portion 62 in the inflated/deployed state of the bag body 12 . The non-inflatable/deployable portion 68 is made of a cloth material different from that of the inflatable/deployable portion 62, has a predetermined thickness in the front-rear direction of the seat, and has a rectangular shape when viewed from the front-rear direction of the seat. The non-inflating/deploying portion 68 is sewn together with the base fabrics 62A and 62B of the inflating/deploying portion 62 at the upper end portion and the left end portion facing the inner side surface of the inflating/deploying portion 62 by sewing portions S2. there is Also, the right end facing the inner side surface of the main chamber 50 is sewn to the side surface of the base fabric 50B of the main chamber 50 . As a result, when the inflating/deploying portion 62 is inflated and deployed, the non-inflating/deploying portion 68 is deployed like a curtain between the inflating/deploying portion 62 and the main chamber 50 to cover the front of the head H of the occupant P. ing.

Here, the non-inflating and deploying portion 68 is made of a shock absorbing material. A shock absorbing material is, for example, a stretchable material such as a rubber-like material or a mesh material. In other words, the non-inflating and deploying portion 68 has a stress against strain compared to the base fabrics 50A, 50B, 62A, and 62B forming the main chamber 50 of the bag body 12 and the inflating and deploying portion 62 of the restraining surface forming chamber 60, respectively. set small. As a result, when the head H of the occupant P comes into contact with the head H of the occupant P due to the impact of the frontal collision of the vehicle, the restraining surface 68A of the non-inflating and deploying portion 68 can be pressed by the head H and deformed into a concave shape toward the front side of the seat. (see FIG. 4(B)). In this state, the non-inflating/deploying portion 68 functions as a bag that restrains the head H, so that the head H of the occupant P can be prevented from slipping on the restraint surface 68A. As a result, the head H of the occupant P, which inertially moves toward the front side of the seat, is restrained by the restraint surface 68A without passing through the restraint surface forming chamber 60 during a frontal collision.

Further, in this embodiment, the main chamber 50 and the restraining surface forming chamber 60 are connected by a strip-shaped tether 70 . The tether 70 is provided between the main chamber 50 and the restraint surface forming chamber 60 when a load F (see FIG. 4) in the front direction of the seat is input from the head H of the occupant P to the restraint surface 68A in the event of a frontal collision. , a tension T1 is generated to prevent the restraining surface forming chamber 60 from tilting toward the front side of the seat. By suppressing the inclination of the restraining surface forming chamber 60 to the front side, a sufficient contact area between the non-inflating and deploying portion 68 and the head H (face) is secured, and the non-inflating and deploying portion 68 to the head. The reaction force applied to H can be increased.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one end (front end) 70A of the tether 70 in the extending direction is joined to the upper end of the restraining surface forming chamber 60 by a sewn portion S4. More specifically, one end of the tether 70 is joined to the upper end of the first inflatable portion 64 extending in the seat width direction and the middle portion in the extending direction of the inflatable and deployable portion 62 . Strictly defining the position of the sewn portion S4, the position of the sewn portion S4 is in the vicinity of the position where the first expansion portion 64 overlaps the center line C of the vehicle seat 14 in the front-rear direction in plan view. It is fixed at a position further apart from the main chamber 50 than C.

Here, when the vehicle collides head-on, the trajectory of the occupant P's head H moving inertially can be regarded as the trajectory along the center line C of the vehicle seat 14 in the front-rear direction in a plan view. Therefore, one end 70A of the tether 70 is fixed in the vicinity of the position where the first inflation portion 64 overlaps with the center line C in plan view, so that the tension T1 of the tether 70 is applied in the vicinity of the center of the head H of the occupant P. can act. Therefore, the reaction force applied to the head H from the restraining surface forming chamber 60 can be effectively increased.

In addition, one end 70A of the tether 70 is fixed to the first inflation portion 64 at a position spaced apart from the main chamber 50 relative to the center line C, thereby forming a fixing portion (sewing portion S4) between the inflation/deployment portion 62 and the tether 70. is arranged inside the center of the head H of the occupant P in the seat width direction. Therefore, when the vehicle obliquely collides, the head H of the occupant P moves in a direction inclined with respect to the center line C and contacts the portion of the restraint surface 68A of the restraint surface forming chamber 60 on the inner side in the seat width direction. Even so, since the head H can be restrained by the tension T1 of the tether 70, it is possible to prevent the head H from slipping from the side of the restraining surface 68A.

On the other hand, the other end (front end) 70B of the tether 70 in the extending direction is joined to the upper end of the main chamber 50 by a sewn portion S5. The position of the sewn portion S5 that fixes the other end 70B of the tether 70 and the main chamber 50 is determined from the viewpoint of effectively exerting the tension of the tether in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the head (forward direction of the seat). is preferably on the rear side of the seat. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the tension T1 generated in the tether 70 includes a load component T1x directed rearward along the seat front-rear direction and a load component T1y in the right direction of the seat. Therefore, in order to receive the load F input from the head H of the occupant P to the restraint surface 68A with the tension T1, it is desirable to increase the load component T1x in the rearward direction of the seat. The smaller the angle θ formed by the center line C and the tether 70, the larger the angle θ. In addition, when the formed angle θ is θ>45°, the load component T1y along the seat width direction is larger than the rearward load component T1x, so the formed angle θ is less than θ<45°. is preferably set to Therefore, in the present embodiment, the other end 70B of the tether 70 is fixed to the seat rear side of the main chamber 50 within a range where the angle θ between the center line C and the tether 70 is θ<45° in plan view.

(Action and effect)
Next, operations and effects of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In the airbag device 10 according to the first embodiment, the bag body 12 is housed inside the seat back 18 . The bag body 12 has a main chamber 50 and a restraining surface forming chamber 60 which are inflated and deployed by receiving gas supplied from the inflator 42 when a frontal collision is predicted or detected.

Here, FIG. 4(A) schematically shows a state in which the inflation and deployment of the bag body 12 are completed at the initial stage of the frontal collision of the vehicle. As shown in this figure, the main chamber 50 is inflated and deployed on the side of the head H of the occupant P toward the front side of the seat. The restraint surface forming chamber 60 is inflated and deployed in the seat width direction from the front end of the main chamber 50 . At this time, the tension T1 (see FIG. 2) of the tether 70 connecting the main chamber 50 and the restricting surface forming chamber 60 causes the restricting surface forming chamber 68 to be arranged in a posture orthogonal to the main chamber 50, thereby It is configured to cover the front of the part H. In FIG. 2, the components of the tension T1 are indicated by a load component T1x in the seat rearward direction and a load component T1y in the seat width direction outward direction. As a result, the head H of the occupant P can be covered and protected by the main chamber 50 and the restraining surface forming chamber 60 in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

Here, the restraining surface forming chamber 60 is configured so that the restraining surface 68A facing the head H of the occupant P can be deformed into a concave shape toward the front side of the seat when the bag main body 12 is inflated and deployed. Specifically, the restraint surface 68A of the present embodiment is composed of a non-inflating and deploying portion 68 on which the inflation pressure of the gas supplied from the inflator 42 does not act. , and deforms into a concave shape toward the front side of the seat following the head H. Furthermore, since the non-inflatable deployment portion 68 is made of a shock absorbing material, it can absorb the impact energy of the head H when deformed into a concave shape.

Therefore, in the middle stage of the frontal collision shown in FIG. 4(B), when the head H of the occupant P inertially moving forward of the seat is received by the restraining surface 68A of the restraining surface forming chamber 60, the head H presses. The restraining surface 68A is deformed into a concave shape toward the front side of the seat, applies a reaction force R1 to the head H, and absorbs the collision energy. Further, in this state, since the restraining surface 68A functions as a bag that restrains the head, it is possible to prevent the head H of the occupant P from slipping on the restraining surface forming chamber 60. FIG. As a result, the head H can be satisfactorily restrained by the restraining surface forming chamber 60, so that the head restraining performance of the restraining surface forming chamber 60 is improved.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4C, in the latter stage of the frontal collision, the tension T1 of the tether 70 connecting the main chamber 50 and the restraining surface forming chamber 60 increases, and the restraining surface forming chamber 60 The inclination to the front side of the seat is restricted. As a result, the contact area between the head H and the restraining surface 68A can be ensured even in the latter stage of the collision, so that the restrained state of the head H can be maintained.

[Second embodiment]
A vehicle airbag device 80 according to a second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. In addition, about the same component part as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, the same number is attached and the description is abbreviate|omitted. 5, illustration of the seat cushion 16 of the vehicle seat 14 and the seat belt device 24 is omitted for the sake of clarity of explanation.

In the vehicle airbag device 80 according to the second embodiment, a support chamber 83 is provided on the distal end side of the main chamber 82 , and the support chamber 83 is a restraining surface forming chamber when the bag main body 81 is inflated and deployed. It is characterized in that 60 is supported from the front side of the seat. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the bag body 81 includes a main chamber 82 , a restraining surface forming chamber 60 and a support chamber 83 . The main chamber 82 is configured to cover the side of the head H of the occupant P by being inflated and deployed from the side of the head H of the occupant P to the front side of the seat. The restraining surface forming chamber 60 is configured to be inflated and deployed in the seat width direction from the tip of the main chamber 82 to cover the front of the head. The support chamber 83 extends from the front end of the main chamber 82 and covers the base end portion of the restraining surface forming chamber 60 protruding from the main chamber 82 from the front side of the seat.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the base fabric of the bag body 81 cut along the 6-6 section line of FIG. As shown in this figure, the bag body 81 has two base fabrics 81A and 81B (see FIG. 5) arranged in the lateral direction of the seat. A bag-like shape is formed by sewing a portion of the bag with a sewing portion S1. A tubular inflator insertion portion 86 communicating with the internal space of the bag body 81 is provided on the rear side of the seat of the bag body 81 . The gas ejection portion 42A of the inflator 42 is inserted into the inflator insertion portion 86. As shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in the front part of the bag main body 81 on the front side of the seat, a sewn part S6 is formed by sewing the base fabrics 81A and 81B together in an elliptical shape in the middle part in the vertical direction of the seat. is a non-inflatable portion 87 that is not inflated by the gas supplied from the inflator 42 . The bag main body 81 has a main chamber 82 at an inflatable portion on the rear side of the seat from the non-inflatable portion 87 , and a support chamber 83 at an inflatable portion on the front side of the seat from the non-inflatable portion 87 . The interior of the support chamber 83 and the interior of the main chamber 82 communicate with each other through the upper and lower portions of the non-inflatable portion 87 . A circular communication port 88 is formed in the front and upper portion of the bag main body 81 behind the non-inflatable portion 87 . The restricting surface forming chamber 60 is joined to the main chamber 82 by sewing the end portion 64A on the opening side of the inflating/deploying portion 62 so as to surround the communication port 88 with the sewing portion S3. As a result, the main chamber 82 and the restraining surface forming chamber 60 are configured as an integrated bag body.

Both ends of a first tether 84 that bridges the main chamber 82 and the restraining surface forming chamber 60 are fixed to the upper end of the bag body 81 by sewn portions S4 and S5. The configuration of the first tether 84 and the positional relationship with respect to the main chamber 82 are the same as the configuration of the tether 70 of the first embodiment, so description thereof will be omitted.

Also, a second tether 85 is arranged on the upper end of the bag body 81 so as to span the main chamber 82 and the support chamber 83 at a position on the seat front side of the first tether 84 . Both ends of the second tether 85 are fixed to the bag body 81 by sewn portions S7, S7. The second tether 85 is formed in a strip shape like the first tether 84, one end on the front side of the seat is fixed to the middle portion of the support chamber 83 in the seat width direction, and one end on the rear side of the seat is fixed to the main chamber. It is fixed to the tip (front end) of 82 . The length of the second tether 85 is set shorter than the interval between the two sewn portions S7, S7 of the bag body 81 to which both ends of the second tether 85 are sewn. When gas is supplied from the inflator 42 to the bag main body 81, the tension of the second tether 85 bends the support chamber 83 starting from the sewn portion S1 of the bag main body. As a result, in the inflated and deployed state of the bag body 81, the support chamber 83 is bent substantially at right angles to the main chamber 82 in plan view, and the base end side of the inflated and deployed portion 62 in the restraining surface forming chamber 60 is directed toward the seat front side. It is configured to support from As a result, when the restraining surface forming chamber 60 is moved in the direction of inclining toward the front of the seat due to the load input from the head H of the occupant P, a reaction force can be obtained from the support chamber 83. The tilt of the chamber 60 can be regulated.

As shown in FIG. 6 , in the bag body 81 , the elliptical non-inflatable portion 87 is positioned below the communication port 88 in the vertical direction of the bag body 81 . As a result, a sufficient internal pressure can be ensured in the support chamber 83 above the non-inflating portion 87 that directly supports the inflating/deploying portion 62 of the restraining surface forming chamber 60 . A vertical height h3 from the lower end of the bag main body 81 to the center O of the non-inflatable portion 87 is set based on the following relational expression (1). In equation (1), h1 indicates the vertical dimension of the expansion portion of the bag main body 81, and h2 indicates the vertical opening width of the communication port 88 formed in the bag main body 81.

・・・（１）

... (1)

(action/effect)
Since the vehicle airbag device 80 having the above configuration basically follows the configuration of the airbag device 10 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same actions and effects.

In this embodiment, the support chamber 83 supports the restraining surface forming chamber 60 from the front side of the seat when the bag main body 81 is inflated and deployed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the head H of the occupant P moves obliquely toward the outside in the seat width direction at the time of an oblique collision of the vehicle, the oblique forward direction input from the head H A reaction force R2 can be obtained from the support chamber 83 via the restraining surface forming chamber 60 against the load F of . In FIG. 7A, the components of the reaction force R2 are indicated by a load component R2x in the seat rearward direction and a load component R2y in the seat width direction inward direction. At this time, the head H can be guided to the restraint surface 68A of the restraint surface forming chamber 60 by the seat width direction inward load component R2y of the reaction force R2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the restraining surface forming chamber 60 (restraining surface 68A) is pressed by the head H of the occupant P who is about to inertially move toward the front side of the seat, the first tether 84 is pushed. In addition to the tension T1, the tension T2 of the second tether 85 restricts the inclination of the restraining surface forming chamber 60 toward the seat front side. As a result, even if the load input from the head H to the restraint surface 68A increases, the inclination of the restraint surface forming chamber 60 can be regulated. Even if the velocity is high, a sufficient contact area between the head H and the restraining surface 68A can be ensured to absorb the impact energy.

[Third embodiment]
A vehicle airbag device 90 according to the third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. FIG. In addition, about the same component part as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, the same number is attached and the description is abbreviate|omitted. 9, the illustration of the seat cushion 16 of the vehicle seat 14 and the seat belt device 24 is omitted for the sake of clarity of explanation.

In the vehicle airbag device 90 according to the third embodiment, the upper end portion of the main chamber 92 and the upper end portion of the restraining surface forming chamber 93 are connected by a strip-shaped first tether 96, and the lower end portion of the main chamber 92 and the restraining surface are connected to each other. It is characterized in that the lower end of the forming chamber 93 is connected by a strip-shaped second tether 97 . Another difference is that the portion of the first tether 96 on the rear side of the seat is joined to the opposing side surface of the main chamber 92, and the joined state is released when a tension of a predetermined value or more is generated in the first tether 96. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the bag main body 91 includes a main chamber 92 which is inflated and deployed from the side of the head H of the occupant P to the front side of the seat to cover the side of the head H, and the main chamber 92 . and a restraining surface forming chamber 93 that is inflated and deployed in the seat width direction from the tip of the restraint surface forming chamber 93 to cover the front of the head. Since the main chamber 92 has a configuration corresponding to the main chamber 50 according to the first embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted. The restricting surface forming chamber 93 has basically the same configuration as the restricting surface forming chamber 60 according to the first embodiment. However, in order to secure a side surface for fixing the end of the second tether 97 to the lower end of the restraining surface forming chamber 93, the inflatable and deployable portion 94 is divided into the upper, left and lower ends of the non-inflatable and deployable portion 95. It is different in that it extends so as to surround the . That is, the inflating/deploying portion 94 forms a rectangular groove opening on the right side of the seat when viewed in the front-rear direction of the seat. The non-inflating/deploying portion 95 has a structure corresponding to the non-inflating/deploying portion 68 according to the first embodiment.

The seat front side portion of the first tether 96 is diagonally bridged over the upper end portion of the main chamber 92 and the upper end portion of the restraint surface forming chamber 93, and the seat rear side region is stretched along the seat front-rear direction. It extends rearward. The front end portion 96A of the first tether 96 is joined to the upper end portion of the inflation/deployment portion 94 by a sewn portion S8. The position of the sewn portion S8 is the same as that of the sewn portion S4 of the first embodiment, and is positioned near the center line C of the vehicle seat 14 and further away from the main chamber 92 than the center line C. there is A portion of the first tether 96 on the rear side from the intermediate portion 96B in the extending direction is joined to the facing side surface of the main chamber 92 by a joint portion S9. The joint portion S9 is formed of, for example, a sewn portion, and is configured such that the sewn portion is broken and the joined state is released when a tension of a predetermined value or more is generated in the first tether 96 . Note that this joint portion may be configured to join the main chamber 92 and the first tether 96 with an adhesive. A rear end portion (not shown) of the first tether 96 is fixed to a frame member such as the seat frame 22 or the headrest stay 20A by bolting or the like. In this embodiment, the rear end of the first tether 96 is fastened together with the rear end of the bag body 91 to the upper frame 22A by the stud bolt of the inflator 42 .

One end (front end) of the second tether 97 in the extending direction is sewn to the lower end of the inflating/deploying portion 94 of the restraining surface forming chamber 93 , and the other end is sewn to the tip of the main chamber 92 . The surface forming chamber 93 and the main chamber 92 are connected. The second tether 97 is arranged between the first tether 96 and the main chamber 92 in plan view, and separates the restraining surface forming chamber 93 and the main chamber 92 at a position closer to the main chamber 92 than the center line C. are connected. In other words, the second tether 97 is arranged outside the center line C in the seat width direction in plan view. As a result, in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the head H and neck (reference numeral omitted) can be prevented from interfering with the second tether 97 .

(action/effect)
Since this embodiment basically follows the configuration of the airbag device 10 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same actions and effects. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, when the inflation and deployment of the bag body 91 are completed in the initial stage of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the side of the occupant's head H is overturned by the main chamber 92, and the restraint surface forming chamber 93 is closed. covers the front side of the head H. At this time, since the portion of the first tether 96 on the rear side of the seat is joined to the side surface of the main chamber 92, interference between the first tether 96 and the bag body 91 is avoided during inflation and deployment, and the first tether 96 is aimed. Can be placed in street positions.

Further, in the initial state of a frontal collision, the restraining surface forming chamber 93 is positioned by the seat front side portion of the first tether 96 (that is, the front side portion of the joint S9) and the second tether 97, A restraining surface forming chamber 93 is arranged in a posture perpendicular to the main chamber 92 . After that, when the head H of the occupant P moves toward the front side of the seat due to the inertia movement at the time of collision, it comes into contact with the restraining surface 95A of the non-inflating and deploying portion 95, and the restraining surface 95A is deformed into a concave shape toward the front side of the seat. be. As a result, the impact energy of the head H is absorbed, and the head H of the occupant P is restrained by the restraint surface 95A. At this time, the tension of the first tether 96 and the second tether 97 supports the upper end and the lower end of the restraint surface forming chamber 93, so that the restraint surface 95A is positioned stably, and impact absorption performance and head restraint performance are improved. can be further enhanced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, in the latter stage of the frontal collision, a tension T1 is generated in the first tether 96 by a load F input from the head H of the occupant P to the restraint surface 95A. When the tension T1 of the first tether 96 reaches or exceeds a predetermined value, the joining state of the joining portion S9 joining the seat rear side portion of the first tether 96 and the main chamber 92 is released. When the jointed state of the joint S9 is released, the restraining surface forming chamber 93 (restraining surface 95A) is tilted toward the front side of the seat by the tensions T1 and T3 of the first tether 96 and the second tether 97 in the extended state. The restrained state of the head H is maintained while regulating the In this state, the first tether 96 extends in a straight line connecting the restraining surface forming chamber 93 and the rear end of the main chamber 92, so that the center line C of the vehicle seat and the first tether 96 are closer to each other than at the beginning of the frontal collision. The angle θ formed by 96 becomes smaller as indicated by the solid line from the two-dot chain line. As a result, the seat rearward load component T1x of the tension T1 of the first tether 96 increases, and the head H restraint performance in the latter stage of the frontal collision can be further enhanced.
[supplementary explanation]

Although the vehicle airbag devices 10, 80, and 90 according to the above-described embodiments have been described above, each configuration can be combined and changed without departing from the scope of the present invention, and implemented in various modes. Of course you can get it. Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the airbag devices 10, 80, and 90 are configured to operate when a frontal collision of the vehicle is predicted or detected, but the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration may be such that the airbag devices 10, 80, 90 are activated when a side collision of the vehicle is predicted or detected.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the airbag case 13 is directly fixed to the upper frame 22A, but the present invention is not limited to this. The airbag case 13 may be configured to be fixed to the upper frame 22A via a bracket. In this case, the inflator 42 is fastened to the bracket by inserting a stud bolt through the bracket and tightening it with a nut.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the vehicle airbag devices 10, 80, and 90 are configured to be accommodated in the seat back 18 of the vehicle seat 14, but the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration may be such that the vehicle airbag device is housed inside the headrest. In this case, the airbag case in which the bag body is accommodated is fixed directly or via a bracket to the side surface of the headrest stay, which constitutes the skeleton of the headrest, on the seat rear side by a method such as bolting.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the end portions of the various tethers 70, 84, 85, 96 are configured to be joined to the upper end portions of the bag bodies 12, 81, 91, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the tethers 70, 84, 85, 96 do not interfere with the head H of the occupant P during inflation and deployment. On the other hand, if the end of the tether 70 is joined to the upper end of the bag body 12, 81, 91, when the bag body 12 and the tethers 70, 84, 85, 96 are accommodated in the airbag case 13, the bag body 12 The tethers 70, 84, 85, 96 can be folded without involving them. Therefore, the tethers 70, 84, 85, 96 are prevented from interfering with the bag body 12 during inflation and deployment, and the deployment behavior of the bag body 12 is stabilized. can be placed in

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the non-inflating/deploying portions 68 and 95 of the restraining surface forming chambers 60 and 93 are formed of a cloth material separately from the inflating/deploying portions 62 and 94, but the present invention is limited to this. do not have. The inflatable and deployable portion and the non-inflatable and deployable portion of the restraining surface forming chamber may be made of a single cloth material. For example, a bag-like restricting surface forming chamber is formed by sewing the outer peripheral portions of two cloth materials (such as a base cloth) arranged in the front-rear direction of the seat. A non-inflatable deployment portion having a restraint surface can be formed by joining two cloth members in the seat front-rear direction at a portion facing the occupant.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the non-inflating and deploying portions 68, 95 of the restricting surface forming chambers 60, 93 constitute the restricting surfaces 68A, 95A, but the present invention is not limited to this. The expansion and deployment portion of the restraining surface forming chamber may constitute the restraining surface. In this case, two cloth materials (base cloth, etc.) arranged in the front-rear direction of the seat are sewn together to form a bag-shaped chamber for forming the restraint surface, and the rear side of the seat facing the occupant's head is sewn together. The cloth material may be made of a shock absorbing material to serve as the restraining surface. As a result, as in each of the above-described embodiments, the restraint surface of the head can be changed into a concave shape toward the front side of the seat in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration in which the main chamber of the bag main body inflates and deploys forward from the vehicle width direction outer side of the occupant's head has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which the main chamber inflates and deploys forward from the side of the vehicle width direction inner side (vehicle width direction center side) of the occupant's head. Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration on the right side of the vehicle has been described as an example, but the configuration can also be applied to the front driver's seat and front passenger's seat.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 vehicle airbag device 12 bag body 14 vehicle seat 18 seat back 20 headrest 42 inflator 50 main chamber 60 restraint surface forming chamber 62 inflatable deployment portion 68 non-inflatable deployment portion 68A restraint surface 70 tether 80 vehicle airbag device 81 Bag body 82 Main chamber 84 First tether (tether)
90 Airbag device for vehicle 91 Bag main body 92 Main chamber 93 Restraining surface forming chamber 94 Inflatable deployment part 95 Non-inflatable deployment part 96 First tether (tether)

Claims (3)

A main chamber that is housed inside a seat back or a headrest, receives gas supplied from an inflator when a frontal collision is predicted or is detected, and is inflated and deployed toward the front side of the seat on one side of the occupant's head, and the main chamber. a bag body including a restraining surface forming chamber that is inflated and deployed in the seat width direction from the tip of the chamber to cover the front of the head;
a tether that connects the main chamber and the restraining surface forming chamber,
The restraining surface forming chamber is configured to be deformable so that the restraining surface facing the head portion forms a concave shape toward the front side of the seat when the bag body is inflated and deployed.
Vehicle airbag device. 2. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said restraint surface is made of a shock absorbing material. The restraining surface forming chamber has an inflatable and deployable portion that communicates with the main chamber and is inflated and deployed by being supplied with gas from the inflator, and a non-inflatable and deployable portion that is not supplied with gas from the inflator. ,
3. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the non-inflating and deploying portion constitutes the restraining surface facing the head in the inflating and deploying state of the bag body.

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