JP4595455B2 - Occupant protection device and occupant protection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an occupant protection device and an occupant protection method for protecting an occupant using an air bag at the time of a frontal collision of a vehicle.

As a conventional occupant protection device, an airbag is installed in a shoulder belt of a seat belt device that restrains the shoulder or chest of the occupant, and the airbag is inflated and deployed in the event of a vehicle collision to protect the occupant. What was made into is known (for example, refer patent document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-186861 (page 4, FIG. 8)

  However, such a conventional occupant protection device can absorb the kinetic energy of an occupant who moves due to inertia when the airbag is inflated and deployed from the shoulder belt when the vehicle collides, and the occupant is received by the airbag. However, considering the function of the airbag itself, it is the same as a generally known airbag, for example, an airbag device in which the airbag is deployed from a vehicle body side member such as a steering wheel.

  In other words, in a general airbag device, the airbag deployed from the vehicle body side member interferes with the upper part of the occupant's head, chest, etc., and can restrain the upper part of the occupant moving forward during a frontal collision of the vehicle. However, since only the kinetic energy of the upper part of the occupant is absorbed, there is a limit to the amount of kinetic energy that can be absorbed.

  Therefore, the present invention presses the head airbag with a lower limb airbag that is compressed early with the occupant's lower limb at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, thereby accelerating the restraint of the occupant's head with this head airbag and accelerating the kinetic energy of the occupant An object is to provide an occupant protection device and an occupant protection method capable of increasing the amount of absorption.

The occupant protection device of the present invention is stored in a occupant front body member facing the limb of the occupant in front of the vehicle body in a deployable manner, and is deployed between the occupant lower limb and the occupant front body member at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, A head airbag that is housed in a seat belt device so as to be deployable, deploys between the head and thighs of the occupant in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and contacts the lower limb airbag during the deployment. The head airbag is composed of a plurality of divided airbags that are divided in the vertical direction and interfere with each other, and the divided airbags are accommodated in an airbag deployment part provided in the seat belt device, respectively, and can be deployed . The lower limb airbag guides its deployment direction in the direction of the head airbag, and a plurality of lower limb airbags are attached in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral portion substantially perpendicularly to the deployment direction of the lower limb airbag, and the outer peripheral portion is inflated. The most important feature in that it comprises a plurality of correcting means is an annular member for regulating.

  The occupant protection method of the present invention can deploy a lower limb airbag between a lower limb of an occupant and an occupant front body member facing the lower limb in front of the vehicle body in a frontal collision of a vehicle, and can be deployed to a seat belt device. The head airbag stored in the head is deployed between the head and thighs of the occupant, and the lower limb airbag is brought into contact with the head airbag during the deployment of the head airbag, so that the internal pressure of the head airbag and the deployment method It is characterized by controlling.

  According to the occupant protection device and the occupant protection method of the present invention, the lower limb airbag and the head airbag are each deployed at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and the occupant moves forward as a whole while being bent forward by the acting inertia force.

  At this time, because the distance between the occupant's lower limb and the occupant's front body member housing the lower limb airbag is closer than the distance between the occupant's head and thigh, The lower limb airbag comes into contact with the head airbag while increasing the internal pressure of the lower limb airbag ahead of the head airbag.

  For this reason, the lower limb airbag whose internal pressure has increased can press the head airbag by contact, and the internal pressure of the head airbag can be increased at an early stage, thereby further speeding up the restraint of the occupant's head. As a result, the kinetic energy absorption amount of the occupant's head by the head airbag can be increased, and the impact received by the occupant due to the collision can be efficiently reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 3 show a first embodiment of an occupant protection device of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a side view showing a deployed state of a lower limb airbag and a head airbag, and FIG. 2 is a deployed lower limb airbag and head. FIG. 3 is a graph showing a change in internal pressure when the lower limb airbag and the head airbag are deployed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the occupant protection device 1 of the first embodiment is applied to an occupant M seated in a passenger seat S, and is an instrument as an occupant front body member facing the lower limb Ml of the occupant M in front of the vehicle body. Stored in the panel 10 so as to be deployable, and stored in the shoulder belt 21 of the seat belt device 20 so as to be deployable, and the leg airbag 2 that is deployed between the occupant leg Ml and the instrument panel 10 in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, A head airbag 3 is deployed between the head Mh and the thigh Mt of the occupant M at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and in contact with the lower limb airbag 2 during the deployment.

  The occupant protection method of the present embodiment deploys the lower limb airbag 2 between the lower limb Ml of the occupant M and the instrument panel 10 facing the lower limb Ml in front of the vehicle body at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, The head airbag 3 accommodated in the seat belt device 20 is deployed between the head Mh and the thigh Mt of the occupant M, and the lower limb airbag 2 is moved during the deployment of the head airbag 3. The internal pressure and the deployment direction of the head airbag 3 are controlled by contacting them.

  That is, in the present embodiment, the seat belt device 20 provided with the head airbag 3 is configured as a three-point seat belt device, and is on the opposite side (vehicle compartment center side) from the shoulder Ms on one side (window side) of the occupant M. The shoulder belt 21 that is obliquely routed to the waist Mw and the lap belt 22 that is routed above the thigh Mt of the occupant M are provided to restrain the occupant M to the passenger seat S.

  The upper end portion of the shoulder belt 21 is inserted into a shoulder through ring 23 provided on the side surface of the window at the side of the headrest Sh and folded downward, and its lower end portion is wound around a retractor (not shown) provided at the lower portion of the vehicle body.

  The shoulder belt 21 and the lap belt 22 are continuously inserted, and a tongue 24 is inserted between them, and the end of the lap belt 22 opposite to the tongue 24 (door side) is directly below the passenger seat S or directly on the vehicle body. The tongue 24 is coupled or connected via a retractor different from the retractor, and the tongue 24 is detachably inserted into an inner buckle 25 coupled to a vehicle body.

  The lower limb airbag 2 and the head airbag 3 are each formed into a bag shape by a non-breathable and non-stretchable flexible base fabric, and the lower limb airbag 2 faces the occupant M of the instrument panel 10. The front airbag 3 is provided in the middle portion of the shoulder belt 21 (the center portion of the occupant M). The second airbag deployment part 26 is folded and stored in a deployable manner.

  The head airbag 2 housed in the shoulder belt 21 communicates with one end of a gas passage (not shown) routed inside the shoulder belt 21, and the other end of the gas passage communicates with the inside of the tongue 24. To do.

  Further, the inside of the tongue 24 is connected to the inside of the inner buckle 25 by inserting it into the inner buckle 25, and the high pressure gas generated by the inflator 27 communicating with the inner buckle 25 is supplied to the gas passage ( For example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-85301), and by extension, the head airbag 2 is supplied.

  The inflator 27 is activated by a collision detection signal from a collision detection means 28 that detects a collision of the vehicle, and the high pressure gas is generated by the operation of the inflator 27.

  The lower limb airbag 2 includes an inflator (not shown) that is activated by a collision detection signal from the collision detection means 28 as in the case of the head airbag 3, and is inflated and deployed by high-pressure gas generated by the inflator. It is supposed to be.

  Here, the collision detection means 28 has a function of detecting a frontal collision of the vehicle in advance, and an inflator 27 and a lower limb air for deploying the head airbag 3 with a collision detection signal at the stage of the prior detection. It outputs to the inflator for deploying the bag 2, and the deployment timing of these lower limb airbag 2 and head airbag 3 is advanced.

  The lower limb airbag 2 is deployed toward the rear of the vehicle, that is, toward the occupant's lower limb Ml when inflated, and the head airbag 3 is deployed toward the front of the vehicle during inflation.

  Of course, the lower limb airbag 2 protects the occupant lower limb Ml in its deployed state, and has a sufficient capacity and shape so that the upper rear portion of the lower limb airbag 2 comes into contact with the head airbag 3 with a pressing force. The head airbag 3 expands over the head Mh and thigh Mt of the occupant M in its deployed state, and has a capacity and shape sufficient for the lower half of its front end to contact the lower limb airbag 2. Have.

  With the above configuration, according to the occupant protection device and the occupant protection method of the present embodiment, at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the collision detection means 28 detects this, and the collision detection signal is sent to the inflator 27 and lower limbs of the head airbag 3 It outputs to the inflator of the airbag 2 and operates them to generate high-pressure gas, and the lower leg airbag 2 and the head airbag 3 are deployed.

  The occupant M is seated in the passenger seat S in a normal state, with the foot Mf placed under the dash panel 12 as shown in FIG. 1 and the knee Mn portion close to the instrument panel 10. Thus, when a frontal collision occurs in this normal state, the posture changes due to the inertial force acting at the time of the collision, and a forward bending state occurs, and the entire body moves forward with the knee Mn bent.

  At this time, in the general vehicle body structure, the distance L1 between the occupant's lower limb Ml and the instrument 10 housing the lower limb airbag 2 is closer than the distance L2 between the head Mh and the thigh Mt of the occupant M. While the lower leg airbag 2 is sandwiched between the occupant lower leg Ml and the instrument panel 10 and the internal pressure of the lower leg airbag 2 is increased ahead of the head airbag 3, the upper end of the lower leg airbag 2 is increased. The rear is in contact with the lower half of the front end of the head airbag 3 being deployed.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower limb airbag 2 whose internal pressure is increased presses the head airbag 3 (pressing force P1), and the internal pressure P2 of the head airbag 3 can be increased early. Thus, since the occupant head Mh can be supported by the increased internal pressure P2, the restraint of the occupant head Mh can be further accelerated. As a result, the kinetic energy absorption amount of the occupant head Mh by the head airbag 3 is increased. Thus, the impact received by the occupant M due to the collision can be efficiently reduced.

  That is, if the internal pressure change characteristic of the lower limb airbag 2 is indicated by A and the internal pressure change characteristic of the head airbag 3 is indicated by B in FIG. 3, the lower limb airbag 2 and the head airbag 3 are both at the O point. Assuming that the gas pressure from the inflator is supplied, an increase in pressure is hardly observed during the deployment thereof, and the internal pressure increases due to the lower limb airbag 2 interfering with the lower limb Ml at the point K1.

  Then, in the process of increasing the internal pressure of the lower limb airbag 2, if the head airbag 3 with which the internal pressure is slightly increasing is brought into contact with the K2 point, the internal pressure of the head airbag 3 is greatly increased from the K2 point. Become.

  At this time, the internal pressure of the lower limb airbag 2 is substantially constant because the inflation is restricted by the head airbag 3 at the point K2, and interference between the airbags 2 and 3 occurs in a region R indicated by hatching in the figure. As a result, the rise of the internal pressure of the head airbag 3 is accelerated.

  By the way, in this embodiment, since the lower part of the head airbag 3 is supported by the thigh Mt, the thigh Mt can be restrained by the head airbag 3, so that the waist Mw of the occupant M is attached to the lap belt 22. It is possible to prevent the vehicle from moving forward by passing through the vehicle, and the protection effect of the occupant M can be further enhanced.

  In the present embodiment, the lower limb airbag 2 and the head airbag 3 detect the frontal collision of the vehicle in advance by the collision detection means 28 so as to advance the deployment timing. Therefore, the lower limb airbag 2 is moved to the occupant lower limb Ml. Since the timing of interference and the timing of the head airbag 3 receiving the occupant head Mh can be advanced, the impact on the occupant M can be further reduced and the protection performance can be enhanced.

  FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted, and FIG. It is a side view which shows the expansion | deployment state of a bag.

  The occupant protection device 1A according to the second embodiment is applied to the occupant M seated on the passenger seat S in the same manner as the occupant protection device 1 according to the first embodiment, and is stored in the instrument panel 10 during a frontal collision of the vehicle. The bag 2 is deployed between the occupant's lower limb Ml and the instrument panel 10, and the head airbag 3 housed in the seat belt device 20 is deployed between the occupant M's head Mh and thigh Mt. In particular, in this embodiment, the head airbag 3 is composed of an upper airbag 3A and a lower airbag 3B as a plurality of divided airbags that are divided in the vertical direction and interfere with each other. is there.

  These upper and lower airbags 3A and 3B are accommodated in the seat belt device 20. The upper airbag 3A is a second airbag deployment portion provided on the shoulder belt 21 in the same manner as the head airbag 3 of the first embodiment. 26, the lower airbag 3B is folded and housed in a third airbag deployment portion 29 provided on the lap belt 22 so as to be deployable.

  Of course, even when the lower airbag 3B is provided on the lap belt 22 as described above, a gas passage communicating with the tongue 24 is provided on the lap belt 22, and the inflator is operated by a collision detection signal from the collision detection means 28. 27 high-pressure gases are supplied to both the upper airbag 3A and the lower airbag 3B via the inner buckle 25 and the tongue 24.

  The deployed upper and lower airbags 3A and 3B are supported by the lower surface of the upper airbag 3A and the upper surface of the lower airbag 3B being in contact with each other. While receiving Mh, the lower part of the lower airbag 3B is supported by the occupant's thigh Mt.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the lower limb airbag 2 and the upper and lower airbags 3A and 3B are deployed at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and the upper and lower airbags 3A and 3B are in the middle of deployment with the first embodiment. Similarly, while the internal pressure of the lower limb airbag 2 increases due to the interference of the occupant's lower limb Ml, the rear upper end of the lower limb airbag 2 contacts the lower front end of the upper airbag 3A and the front end of the lower airbag 3B.

  Then, as in the first embodiment, the lower limb airbag 2 whose internal pressure is increased presses the upper and lower airbags 3A and 3B, and the internal pressures of the upper and lower airbags 3A and 3B are increased at an early stage. The restraint of the part Mh can be accelerated, and as a result, the kinetic energy absorption amount of the occupant head Mh by the head airbag 3 can be increased, and the impact received by the occupant M due to the collision can be efficiently reduced.

  In particular, since the head airbag 3 is divided into the upper airbag 3A and the lower airbag 3B in the present embodiment, the storage portions, that is, the second airbag deployment portion 26 and the third airbag deployment portion 29 are compact. The head airbag 3 can be stored in the upper airbag 3 and the lower airbag 3A, 3B, which has a smaller capacity when the entire head airbag 3 is inflated. can do.

  Moreover, since the thigh Mt can be restrained at the lower part of the lower airbag 3B even in the present embodiment, the waist Mw of the occupant M is prevented from slipping through the lap belt 22 and moving forward. The protective effect can be enhanced.

  FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the above-mentioned embodiments, and a duplicate description is omitted, and FIG. 5 shows a state where the lower limb airbag is deployed. FIG.

  The occupant protection device 1B of the third embodiment accommodates the lower limb airbag 2 in a deployable manner in a first airbag deployment portion 11 provided on the front surface 10f of the instrument panel 10 as in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower limb airbag 2 is provided with a string-like member 30 as a correction means for guiding the deployment direction in the direction of the head airbag 3 (see FIG. 1).

  The string-like member 30 is disposed in the lower limb airbag 2 in the direction in which the lower limb airbag 2 is deployed, that is, in the rearward direction of the vehicle in which the occupant lower limb Ml and the head airbag 3 are located (right side in the figure). Yes, it is attached so as to regulate the expansion of the portion other than the deployment direction.

  That is, the string-like member 30 is formed of a non-stretchable flexible member, and in the present embodiment, the inner side of the outer peripheral portion 2a and the center of the first airbag deployment portion 11 except for the deployment direction of the lower limb airbag 2. The first airbag deployment part 11 is connected by arranging a plurality of the string-like members 30 radially.

  In the present embodiment, the outer periphery of the lower limb airbag 2 in which the string-like members 30 arranged radially are provided in a plurality of stages (in this embodiment, three stages 30a to 30c), and the inflation of the string-like members 30a to 30c can be restricted. A length D in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body of the portion 2a is set over a desired width.

  Of course, the length L of each of the plurality of string-like members 30 is set so that the outer peripheral portion 2a of the lower limb airbag 2 can be regulated with a predetermined diameter.

  In FIG. 5, the head airbag 3 is omitted for the sake of convenience. In practice, the head airbag 3 is of course provided, and the head airbag 3 is as shown in the first embodiment. It may be formed by a single bag body, or may be formed by a plurality of divided bag bodies as shown in the second embodiment, which is described below in the fourth to seventh embodiments. It is the same even if there is.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the lower limb airbag 2 is deployed at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the outer peripheral portion 2a of the lower limb airbag 2 is regulated to a predetermined diameter by the string-like member 30. 2 can be actively deployed to the rear of the vehicle body, and the contact timing with the occupant's lower limb Ml and the head airbag 3 can be advanced, and the kinetic energy absorption amount of the occupant head Mh by the head airbag 3 is further increased accordingly. This can increase the effect of mitigating the impact received by the occupant M due to the collision.

  Further, since the lower limb airbag 2 can be guided in the direction of the head airbag 3 by the string-like member 30, the lower limb airbag 2 can be brought into contact with the head airbag 3 reliably and efficiently. The effect can be further enhanced.

  In the present embodiment, the number of the string-like members 30 is not particularly limited.

  FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the same components as those in the above-mentioned embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted, and FIG. 6 shows a state where the lower limb airbag is deployed. FIG.

  The occupant protection device 1C of the fourth embodiment is provided with a correcting means for the lower limb airbag 2 as in the third embodiment, and in this embodiment, this correcting means is used to inflate the outer peripheral portion 2a of the lower limb airbag 2. The annular member 31 is configured to be regulated, and the annular member 31 is attached in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral portion 2 a substantially perpendicular to the deployment direction of the lower limb airbag 2.

  The annular member 31 is provided in a plurality (31a to 31d) along the deployment direction of the lower limb airbag 2, that is, the outer circumferential shape finally deployed toward the rear of the vehicle body. The outer peripheral portion 2a up to the position of Ml becomes large-diameter annular members 31a and 31b, and the rear part that comes into contact with the head airbag 3 from the occupant lower limb Ml portion becomes small-diameter annular members 31c and 31d. These small diameter annular members 31c and 31d are arranged above the knee Mn of the occupant M.

  The annular member 31 is formed by using a non-stretchable flexible member formed in a string shape, and the annular members 31 a to 31 d are fixed to the inner surface of the lower limb airbag 2.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the expansion of the outer peripheral portion 2a of the lower limb airbag 2 is restricted by the annular member 31, the lower limb airbag 2 is positively activated at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle as in the third embodiment. It can be deployed rearward and the contact timing with the occupant's lower limb Ml and the head airbag 3 can be advanced, and the kinetic energy absorption amount of the occupant head Mh by the head airbag 3 can be further increased. The effect of mitigating the impact received can be further enhanced, and the lower limb airbag 2 can be brought into contact with the head airbag 3 reliably and efficiently.

  In the present embodiment, the number of the annular members 31 is not particularly limited.

  FIG. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the above-mentioned embodiments, and a duplicate description is omitted, and FIG. 7 shows a state where the lower limb airbag is deployed. FIG.

  The occupant protection device 1D of the fifth embodiment is provided with a correcting means for the lower limb airbag 2 as in the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the correcting means is an instrument panel as shown in FIG. 10 is an airbag storage door 32 serving as an opening / closing member that opens at a predetermined angle when the lower limb airbag 2 is deployed and regulates expansion of the outer peripheral portion 2a substantially perpendicular to the deployment direction of the lower limb airbag 2. It is configured.

  That is, the airbag storage door 32 is provided on the front surface 10f of the instrument panel 10 storing the first airbag deployment portion 11 so as to cover the front surface (occupant M side) of the first airbag deployment portion 11. The upper door 32 </ b> A and the lower door 32 </ b> B are opened in the vertical direction.

  The upper door 32A is formed in a curved shape protruding toward the rear of the vehicle, and its upper end is attached to the upper part of the front surface 10f of the instrument panel 10 via a hinge 32Ah, while the lower door 32B is the same as the upper door 32A. Similarly, it is formed in a curved shape protruding toward the rear of the vehicle, and its lower end is attached to the lower part of the front surface 10f of the instrument panel 10 via a hinge 32Bh.

  The upper door 32A and the lower door 23B have sufficient lengths L3 and L4 for guiding the outer peripheral portion 2a of the lower limb airbag 2, and in the closed state of the upper and lower doors 3A and 3B indicated by broken lines in the drawing. The lower end portion of the upper door 32A and the upper end portion of the lower door 32B, which are the respective opening / closing side end portions, are overlapped with each other.

  The upper door 32A and the lower door 32B are opened as shown by the solid line in the drawing along with the deployment of the lower limb airbag 2 at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

  At the time of this opening, the upper door 32A stops with its outer surface abutting against the front surface 10a of the instrument panel 10, and restricts the expansion of the lower leg airbag 2 on its inner surface, while the lower door 32B is preset. The opening angle of the lower leg airbag 2 is restricted by the inner side surface of the lower leg airbag 2.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the upper door 32A and the lower door 32B are opened as the lower-limb airbag 2 is deployed at the time of the frontal collision of the vehicle, and the upper and lower doors 3A and 3B are opened in the lower limbs. Since the inflation of the airbag 2 upward and downward can be restricted, the lower limb airbag 2 is actively deployed to the rear of the vehicle, and the contact timing with the occupant lower limb Ml and the head airbag 3 is advanced. Accordingly, the kinetic energy absorption amount of the occupant head Mh by the head airbag 3 can be further increased, and the impact mitigating effect on the occupant M due to the collision can be further enhanced, and the lower limb airbag 2 Can be reliably and efficiently brought into contact with the head airbag 3.

  In this embodiment, since the airbag storage door 32 is used as means for correcting the deployment direction of the lower limb airbag 2, the cost can be reduced by using existing parts.

  FIG. 8 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the above-mentioned embodiments, and a duplicate description is omitted, and FIG. 8 shows a state in which the lower limb airbag is deployed. FIG.

  The occupant protection device 1E of the sixth embodiment is provided with a correcting means for the lower limb airbag 2 as in the third embodiment. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 is formed by forming a predetermined region in the developing direction with a stretchable base fabric 33 as a highly stretchable member that is more stretchable than other portions.

  That is, the lower limb airbag 2 is formed into a bag shape with a non-stretchable base cloth like the head airbag 3, but the deployment direction of the lower limb airbag 2, that is, a predetermined region at the rear end of the vehicle, Is formed with an opening 2h above the portion that interferes with the occupant's lower limb Ml, and the stretchable base fabric 33 is joined to the peripheral portion of the opening 2h with an airtightness by sewing or bonding, and the opening 2h. Is closed.

  The stretchable base fabric 33 can be made of a material having a high elongation rate or a material having low rigidity with respect to the non-stretchable base fabric of the general part forming the lower limb airbag 2.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when high-pressure gas is supplied to the lower limb airbag 2 at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the stretchable base fabric 33 that forms the distal end portion in the deploying direction is the non-stretchable base of the general portion. Since the airbag positively inflates and protrudes with respect to the cloth, the lower limb airbag 2 actively deploys to the rear of the vehicle body at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and the occupant lower limb Ml and the head airbag 3 , The kinetic energy absorption amount of the occupant head Mh by the head airbag 3 can be further increased, and the effect of mitigating the impact received by the occupant M due to the collision can be further enhanced. The airbag 2 can be brought into contact with the head airbag 3 reliably and efficiently.

  FIG. 9 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention, in which the same components as those in the above-mentioned embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description is omitted, and FIG. 9 shows a state in which the lower limb airbag is deployed. FIG.

  As in the third embodiment, the occupant protection device 1F of the seventh embodiment is provided with a correcting means for the lower limb airbag 2, and in this embodiment, the correcting means is used as a lower limb airbag as shown in FIG. 2, a tip chamber 35 formed by partitioning the inside of the chamber 2 with a partition wall 34 in the deployment direction, a one-way valve 36 provided on the partition wall 34 to allow fluid movement in the direction of the tip chamber 35, The vent hole 35h is formed at a contact portion with the head airbag 3 and is closed by the contact with the head airbag 3.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, when high-pressure gas is supplied to the lower limb airbag 2 at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, gas is supplied to the tip chamber 35 via the one-way valve 36 provided in the partition wall 34. When the lower limb airbag 2 including the chamber 35 is deployed while being inflated as a whole and the tip chamber 35 comes into contact with the head airbag 3, the vent hole 35h is closed.

  For this reason, by providing the partition 34 having the one-way valve 36 for supplying gas only in the deployment direction inside the lower limb airbag 2, the deployment shape of the lower limb airbag 2 can be controlled, and the head airbag Since the vent hole 35h is closed at the time of contact with 3, the internal pressure of the lower leg airbag 2 after contact can be controlled to be higher.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as in the third embodiment, the contact timing between the occupant lower limb Ml and the head airbag 3 is advanced, and the kinetic energy absorption amount of the occupant head Mh by the head airbag 3 is further increased. In addition to increasing the impact mitigating effect of the occupant M due to the collision, the lower limb airbag 2 can be brought into contact with the head airbag 3 reliably and efficiently. Further advancement of the Mh constraint timing can be achieved.

  By the way, although the occupant protection device of the present invention has been described with reference to the first to seventh embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various other embodiments are adopted without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the seatbelt device 20 provided with the head airbag 3 is not limited to the three-point seatbelt device 20, but may be a four-point seatbelt device, or another type of seatbelt device. The present invention can be applied, and the vehicle body front body member is not limited to the instrument panel 10, and is a vehicle body side member that is positioned in front of the lower limb Ml of the occupant M and can sufficiently support the lower limb airbag 2. I just need it.

It is a side view which shows the deployment state of the leg airbag and head airbag in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view explaining the load which acts on the developed leg airbag and head airbag which developed in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a graph which shows the internal pressure change at the time of expansion | deployment of the leg airbag and head airbag in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the expansion | deployment state of the leg airbag and head airbag in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the state which the leg airbag in 3rd Embodiment of this invention expand | deployed. It is a side view which shows the state which the leg airbag in 4th Embodiment of this invention expand | deployed. It is a side view which shows the state which the leg airbag in 5th Embodiment of this invention expand | deployed. It is a side view which shows the state which the leg airbag in 6th Embodiment of this invention developed. It is a side view which shows the state which the leg airbag in 7th Embodiment of this invention developed.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F Crew protection device 2 Lower limb airbag 2a Outer peripheral part 3 Head airbag 3A Upper airbag (divided airbag)
3B Lower airbag (split airbag)
10 Instrument panel (occupant front body member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Seat belt apparatus 21 Shoulder belt 22 Lap belt 28 Collision detection means 30 String-like member (correction means)
31 Annular member (correction means)
32 Airbag storage door (correction means)
33 Elastic base fabric (high elastic material)
34 Bulkhead 35 Front chamber 35h Vent hole 36 One-way valve S Passenger seat M Crew Ml Lower limb Mh Head Ms Shoulder Mw Lumbar Mt Thigh

Claims (3)

A lower limb airbag that is retractably housed in an occupant front body member facing the limb of the occupant in front of the vehicle body, and that is deployed between the occupant lower limb and the occupant front body member during a frontal collision of the vehicle;
A head airbag that is housed in a seat belt device so as to be deployable, deploys between the head and thighs of an occupant at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and contacts the lower leg airbag in the middle of the deployment ,
The head airbag is composed of a plurality of divided airbags that are divided in the vertical direction and interfere with each other, and the divided airbags are accommodated in an airbag deployment portion provided in the seat belt device, respectively. ,
The lower limb airbag guides its deployment direction in the direction of the head airbag, and a plurality of lower limb airbags are attached in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral portion substantially perpendicularly to the deployment direction of the lower limb airbag, and regulate the expansion of the outer peripheral portion. An occupant protection device comprising correction means that are a plurality of annular members . The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the lower limb airbag and the head airbag advance the timing of deployment by detecting a frontal collision of the vehicle in advance. At the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, a plurality of occupant front body members facing the lower limbs and the occupant front body members facing the lower limbs are attached in the circumferential direction of the outer periphery substantially perpendicular to the deployment direction, and the outer periphery expands. From the plurality of divided airbags that guide the deployment direction in the direction of the head airbag and deploy the lower limb airbag, and that are divided in the vertical direction and interfere with each other by the correction means that are a plurality of annular members that regulate It becomes, to expand the head airbag and each deployable accommodated in the air bag deployment portion provided in the seat belt device between the occupant's head and thigh, in the course deployment of the head air bag An occupant protection method, wherein the lower limb airbag is brought into contact to control an internal pressure and a deployment direction of the head airbag.

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