JP5024257B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is applied to a vehicle in which a plurality of seats are arranged side by side to other seats other than the seat closest to the impact location of the vehicle when an impact is applied from one side to the other side of the side by side, The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus in which an occupant seated on another seat and moving toward the impact location in response to an impact is received by the airbag and protected from the impact.

  In a vehicle with a pair of seats arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction, when an impact is applied to a body side part such as a door due to a side collision, an occupant seated in the seat near the impact point (body side part) Protection by a side airbag device is generally performed. In this side airbag apparatus, an airbag and an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag are housed in a side portion that is an impact location (body side portion) side in the seat back portion. The inflator is disposed so as to be positioned at a rear end portion in the airbag when the airbag is in an inflated state. The airbag is fixed to the seat frame by fastening the inflator to the seat frame in the backrest portion through the rear end portion of the airbag.

  In the side airbag device, when an impact is applied to the body side portion, inflation gas is supplied from the inflator to the airbag. The airbag starts to inflate by the inflation gas, and the airbag jumps forward from the backrest portion in a state where a part of the airbag is left in the backrest portion. Thereafter, the airbag inflates forward through the space between the occupant and the body side portion. Therefore, even if the occupant tries to move toward the impact location (body side portion) in response to the impact, the occupant is received by the inflated airbag. At the time of receiving, a pressing force directed toward the impact location by the occupant is applied to the airbag. With this pressing force, the airbag tries to rotate toward the impact location with the rear end portion, which is a fixed location, as a fulcrum, but the rotation is restricted by contact with the body side portion.

  Furthermore, in recent years, it has been considered to protect an occupant seated in a seat far from the impact location (body side portion) with an airbag device. Nonetheless, this type of airbag device is not as developed as the side airbag device. Therefore, it is conceivable to apply the configuration of the side airbag device to the airbag device. As shown in FIG. 8, when an impact is applied to the body side portion, the airbag device 80 directs the airbag 81 toward the front side of the side that is the side of the occupant P as shown by the solid line in FIG. The occupant P that is inflated and moves to the impact location (body side portion) side with the impact is received and protected from the impact.

In addition, as a prior art document concerning this invention, the following patent document 1 is mentioned. This will be described later.
JP 2007-230310 A

  However, the seat 85 far from the impact location (body side portion) is used as a reference, and on the impact location side (right side in FIG. 8), unlike the side airbag device described above, air like the body side portion is provided. There is no member that restricts the rotation of the bag 81. Therefore, when the occupant P tries to move to the impact location side in response to the impact caused by the side collision, a pressing force F directed to the impact location side by the occupant P is applied to the airbag 81. The airbag 81 is fixed to the seat frame 84 together with the inflator assembly 83 disposed at the rear end portion 82, but the portion near the rear end portion 82, which is the fixing portion of the airbag 81, is expanded by the pressing force F. Be made. As a result of this extension, the airbag 81 may rotate toward the impact location as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 8 with the rear end portion 82 as a fulcrum. When this rotation occurs, it becomes difficult for the airbag 81 to fully exhibit the function of receiving the occupant P.

  Such a problem can also occur in a vehicle in which three or more seats are juxtaposed. In this case, the seats other than the seat closest to the impact location of the vehicle when an impact is applied from one side to the other side in the side-by-side direction of the seats are applicable to the airbag device. In addition, the above problem can occur in a vehicle in which a plurality of seats are arranged in parallel so as to face a direction different from the front-rear direction of the vehicle, for example, the vehicle width direction when the occupant is seated. In this case, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front or the rear, the impact is an impact directed from one side to the other in the side-by-side direction.

  On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, a storage case is provided in a side portion that is on the impact portion side in the back portion of the seat far from the impact portion (body side portion), and the folded airbag and inflator are placed in the storage case. The airbag device housed in is described. A part of the storage case (front wall portion, vehicle outer side portion) is configured to be rotatable about a boundary portion with the remaining portion (vehicle inner side portion) as a fulcrum. In the airbag apparatus described in Patent Document 1 having such a configuration, the above-mentioned part of the storage case is pushed and rotated by the inflating airbag, and the rotation of the airbag toward the impact location side is restricted by a part of the storage case. It is what.

  However, in Patent Document 1, the rotation of the part of the storage case (front wall part, vehicle outer side part) with the boundary with the remaining part of the storage case as a fulcrum is stopped at an appropriate angle, There is no description of the means for maintaining the angle. Therefore, it is unclear whether or not the airbag can be reliably restricted from rotating to the impact location. Eventually, as long as the rotation of the airbag is to be regulated by a member different from the airbag, there is a limit to reliably obtaining the regulation effect.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to be able to reliably receive and protect the occupant from the impact even if the occupant moves to the impact location side in response to the impact. The object is to provide an airbag device.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a vehicle having a plurality of seats arranged side by side when an impact is applied from one side to the other side of the side by side. Applied to other seats except the seat closest to the location, the airbag is accommodated in a non-inflated state in the backrest portion of the other seat, and the airbag is inflated at least inside the backrest portion in response to the impact By doing so, the side of the backrest on the side of the impact location is inflated forward than before the airbag is inflated, seated on the other seat, and moved to the impact location side in response to the impact An airbag device that is configured to receive an occupant to be inflated at the side portion, and is fixed at a plurality of positions spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the backrest portion in an intermediate portion between both side portions of the backrest portion. Part Only, and summarized in that for fixing the airbag to the fixed part.

Here, the “front” is a direction in which the occupant seated in the seat faces and is not necessarily the traveling direction of the vehicle.
The airbag may remain in the side part even after the side part on the impact point side of the backrest part is inflated forward, and after the inflation, a part of itself is left in the backrest part. You may jump out from the said side part in the state.

  Further, the side portion on the impact location side of the backrest portion may be configured such that the front surface is a flat surface before the airbag is inflated, or the front surface is configured by a surface protruding forward. It may be. In a seat provided with a side support portion for the purpose of supporting the occupant's upper body from both sides in the width direction of the backrest portion, this side support portion corresponds to the side portion having the latter surface.

  According to the above configuration, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from one side to the other side of the seat in the side-by-side direction, the airbag inflates at least inside the backrest portion of the other seat equipped with the airbag. Be made. By this inflating airbag, at least the side portion on the impact location side of the backrest portion is inflated further forward than before the airbag is inflated.

  On the other hand, when the occupant moves toward the impact location in response to the impact, a pressing force directed toward the impact location by the occupant is applied to the side of the backrest on the impact location side. This pressing force is also applied to the airbag inflated inside through the side portion on the impact location side. At this time, if the inflated airbag is fixed only at one location (for example, the rear end), the airbag may rotate toward the impact location with the fixed location as a fulcrum. When this rotation occurs, the degree of bulging of the side portion is reduced, and the function of receiving the occupant is impaired.

  However, in the first aspect of the invention, the airbag is fixed at a plurality of locations (fixed portions) spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the backrest portion in the middle portion of the backrest portion. By such fixing at a plurality of locations, the rotation with the fixed location of the airbag as a fulcrum is restricted. For this reason, even if the said pressing force by a passenger | crew applies to an airbag through the side part by the side of an impact location, rotation of the airbag becomes difficult to occur. Along with this, the side of the backrest on the side of the impact location is maintained in a state of bulging forward, and the occupant is reliably received and protected from the impact.

  In addition, the said effect which controls rotation of an airbag by fixing in multiple places becomes so large that the space | interval between fixed places becomes wide. Therefore, from the viewpoint of suppressing the rotation of the airbag, it is desirable to fix the airbag at locations that are greatly separated from each other in the width direction of the backrest portion.

  From this point of view, the plurality of fixing portions are, for example, according to the invention described in claim 2, based on the central portion in the width direction of the backrest portion, and at the impact portion side with respect to the central portion in the intermediate portion. It may be provided in each of one or more locations and one or more locations on the opposite side of the impact location.

  In this way, in the intermediate part of the backrest part, the area on the impact part side from the center part and the area on the opposite side of the impact part are effectively used, and the plurality of fixing parts are arranged in the width direction in the backrest part. It is possible to arrange them at locations far apart from each other. And by making such a fixed part of several places into the place where an airbag is fixed, the space | interval between the fixed parts of the airbag becomes wide, and the big effect which regulates rotation of an airbag comes to be acquired. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a headrest support for supporting a headrest above the backrest portion is provided on both sides of the central portion in the width direction of the backrest portion. In summary, the airbag is fixed to the headrest support using the headrest supports as the fixing portions.

  In a seat mounted on a vehicle, a separate headrest is usually disposed above the backrest. The headrest is supported by headrest supports provided on both sides of the center portion in the width direction of the backrest portion. In the invention according to claim 3, these headrest supports are fixed portions, and the airbag is fixed to the headrest support. Therefore, the headrest support functions as a location where the headrest is supported and also functions as a location where the airbag is fixed. For this reason, it is not necessary to newly provide a fixing part or secure a space for arranging the fixing part in order to fix the airbag in the backrest part.

  In addition, the pair of headrest supports are usually arranged at a relatively large interval in the width direction of the backrest portion in order to attach the headrest to the backrest portion in a stable state. Therefore, by fixing the airbag to these headrest supports, the interval between the fixed portions of the airbag is widened, and the rotation of the airbag is suitably restricted.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the airbag accommodated in a non-inflated state in the backrest portion has an inflated thickness in the front-rear direction. The gist is to expand so as to be larger in the side portion on the part side than in the intermediate portion.

  When the airbag is inflated in the above-described manner, the side portion on the impact location side bulges more forward than the intermediate portion, and a step is generated between the intermediate portion and the side portion, or the step is increased. Accordingly, an occupant moving to the impact location side is easily received by the side portion.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a seat frame forming a skeleton of the backrest portion is disposed inside the backrest portion, and the seat The frame includes a side frame portion at a position inside the side portion of the backrest portion, and the airbag is inflated so as to contact the side frame portion on the impact portion side. And

  According to said structure, when the airbag which became the inflated state contacts the side frame part by the side of an impact location, friction arises between both and rotation with the fixed location of an airbag as a fulcrum is further less likely to occur. Become.

  According to the airbag device of the present invention, even if an occupant moves to the impact location side in response to an impact, the occupant can be reliably received and protected from the impact.

Hereinafter, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in at least one of FIGS. 1 to 3, a pair of seats (front seats) 12 and 13 are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in the vehicle width direction at the front portion in the passenger compartment 11 of the vehicle. ing. Both seats 12 and 13 are arranged in the passenger compartment so as to face the front of the vehicle when the passengers P1 and P2 are seated. Therefore, the front-rear direction of the seats 12 and 13 coincides with the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Each of the seats 12 and 13 includes a seat portion 14 disposed substantially horizontally, a backrest portion 15 disposed on the rear side of the seat portion 14, and a headrest 16 disposed on the backrest portion 15. I have.

  Here, in order to distinguish each part of the backrest part 15 in the width direction, a part located on both sides in the same direction is referred to as a “side part”, and a part sandwiched between both side parts is referred to as an “intermediate part 19”. . In the present embodiment, both side portions are constituted by the side support portions 17 and 18. The front surfaces of the side support parts 17 and 18 bulge forward more than the intermediate part 19 and support the passengers P1 and P2 seated on the seats 12 and 13 and leaning against the backrest part 15 from both sides in the vehicle width direction. As described above, since the front surfaces of both side portions (side support portions 17 and 18) of the backrest portion 15 are constituted by the surfaces projecting forward, there is a step between the intermediate portion 19 and the top portions of the side support portions 17 and 18. B has occurred.

  FIG. 4 shows a seat frame 20 or the like that is provided in the backrest portion 15 of the seat 13 on one side (left side in FIG. 2) and forms the skeleton of the backrest portion 15. The seat frame 20 includes a pair of side frame portions 21 and 22 and an upper frame portion 23. One (left side in FIG. 4) side frame portion 21 is disposed in the side support portion 17 on the side close to the nearest body side portion 25 and extends substantially vertically. The other (right side in FIG. 4) side frame portion 22 is disposed in the side support portion 18 on the side far from the nearest body side portion 25 and extends substantially vertically. Here, the body side part 25 refers to members disposed on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle. For example, the body side parts 24 and 25 corresponding to the front seat as in the present embodiment are front doors. Center pillars (B pillars).

  Each of the side frame parts 21 and 22 is formed by bending a metal plate, and at least the side frame part 22 far from the nearest body side part 25 extends in the vertical direction with a predetermined width in the front-rear direction. It has a flat surface 22A on its inside. Each of the side frame portions 21 and 22 is rotatably supported by a shaft at a lower end portion thereof with respect to a seat cushion frame (not shown), and can tilt in the front-rear direction with the shaft as a fulcrum.

  The upper frame portion 23 is disposed at an upper portion in the backrest portion 15. Many portions of the upper frame portion 23 extend in the width direction of the backrest portion 15 and are bent substantially downward at both end portions. With this configuration, the upper frame portion 23 has an inverted U-shape as a whole. The upper frame portion 23 is fixed to the upper end portions of the side frame portions 21 and 22 by welding or the like at both end portions 23A that are bent downward.

  The separate headrest 16 disposed above the backrest portion 15 is supported by headrest supports 26 provided on both sides of the central portion C in the width direction of the backrest portion 15. More specifically, with respect to the center portion C as a reference, the center portion C is line-symmetric with respect to the width direction with respect to the center portion C at a certain distance to both sides in the width direction of the backrest portion 15, that is, a line passing through the center portion C. A pair of headrest supports 26 for supporting the headrest 16 are provided at two locations that are related. Both headrest supports 26 are provided at relatively large intervals in the width direction of the backrest 15 in order to attach the headrest 16 to the backrest 15 in a stable state.

  Both headrest supports 26 are made of a metal pipe material extending in the vertical direction and have high strength. Further, both headrest supports 26 are fixed to the upper frame portion 23 by means such as welding. As the headrest support 26 according to this embodiment, a headrest that is longer downward than that in a general vehicle seat is used. On the other hand, on the lower surface of the headrest 16, a pair of headrest stays 27 made of a metal bar extend downward from locations spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the backrest portion 15, and these headrest stays 27 correspond to the above-mentioned ones. The headrest support 26 is inserted so that the vertical position can be adjusted.

  A horizontal frame portion 28 made of a bar is bridged between both end portions 23A of the upper frame portion 23. An auxiliary frame portion 29 having a substantially U shape is suspended from the horizontal frame portion 28. A plurality of wire frame portions 31 are spanned between the vertical portions 29A of the auxiliary frame portion 29 or between the side frame portions 21 and 22 in a state of being separated from each other in the vertical direction.

A seat pad (not shown) made of an elastic material such as urethane foam and covered with a skin is disposed around the seat frame 20.
As shown in at least one of FIGS. 1 and 2, a center console 32 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction is provided at the front portion of the vehicle compartment 11 and at the center in the vehicle width direction. The center console 32 is provided with operation portions such as a shift lever and a side brake lever, and is provided with a storage space for a cup holder, an ashtray, an accessory case and the like. A rear portion 32R of the center console 32 is located between the two seats 12 and 13. The rear portion 32R is slightly higher than the seat portion 14 of each seat 12, 13 (see FIG. 2).

  Due to a side collision with the vehicle in which the pair of seats 12 and 13 are arranged side by side as described above, the seats 12 and 13 are arranged side by side as shown by solid line arrows and two-dot chain line arrows in FIGS. An impact may be applied from one direction to the other in the direction (vehicle width direction). When such an impact is applied, the body side portions 24 and 25 that have received the impact are deformed inwardly of the passenger compartment 11 (center console 32 side). In addition, due to the impact, an inertial force directed toward the impact location (body side portions 24 and 25) acts on the occupant P1 seated on the seat 12 and the occupant P2 seated on the seat 13. Due to this inertial force, the occupants P1 and P2 seated in any of the seats 12 and 13 tend to move relative to the impact location side (hereinafter simply referred to as “movement”). For example, when an impact is applied from the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIGS. 1 and 2 (rightward), the passengers P1 and P2 try to move to the right, on the contrary, the direction indicated by the two-dot chain line arrow. When an impact is applied from (left), the passengers P1, P2 try to move to the left.

  Note that a seat belt device for restraining the passengers P1 and P2 to the seats 12 and 13 is provided in the passenger compartment 11 for each of the seats 12 and 13. In FIG. Is omitted.

  The passengers P1 and P2 who are seated on the seats 12 and 13 on the side close to the impact location and move to the impact location side due to the impact come into contact with the body side portions 24 and 25 and the like which are deformed into the passenger compartment 11 due to a side collision. Although there is a possibility, the passengers P1 and P2 are protected by a so-called side airbag device 40. The side airbag device 40 is provided in each of the pair of seats 12 and 13 because an impact may be applied to the vehicle from both the juxtaposed direction of the seats 12 and 13. For example, when an impact is applied from the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (rightward), the occupant P1 seated on the right seat 12 is protected by the side airbag device 40 indicated by the solid line. Is done.

  FIG. 5 shows a side airbag device 40 mounted on the right seat 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The side airbag device 40 includes an airbag 41 and an inflator assembly 42. The airbag 41 uses a material having high strength and flexibility and can be easily folded, such as a woven fabric formed of polyester yarn or polyamide yarn, as a base fabric. Is formed into a predetermined bag shape by sewing with a sewing thread. The airbag 41 in a non-inflated state is folded and accommodated in the side support part 17 on the side of the body side part 24 nearest to the backrest part 15.

  The inflator assembly 42 includes an inflator 43 as a gas generation source and a retainer 44 attached to the inflator 43 from the outside. The inflator 43 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a gas generating agent (not shown) is accommodated therein. The inflator 43 is disposed in the retainer 44 so as to extend substantially in the vertical direction. There are a plurality of types of inflators 43 due to differences in the manner of generating the expansion gas, but here, what is called a pyrotype is used. The inflator 43 is connected to a harness (not shown) serving as a control signal application wiring to the inflator 43.

  As the inflator 43, a type different from the above pyro type may be used. Such types include stored gas types in which the bulkhead of a high-pressure gas cylinder filled with high-pressure gas is ruptured with explosives and the like, and a hybrid type in which both a pyro type and a stored gas type are combined. Can be mentioned.

  The retainer 44 is a member that functions as a diffuser and has a function of fastening the inflator 43 together with the airbag 41 to the side frame portion 21 in the side support portion 17. Most of the retainer 44 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape elongated in the vertical direction by bending a plate material such as a metal plate.

  The airbag 41 and the inflator assembly 42 are accommodated in the side support portion 17 on the side close to the nearest body side portion 24 with respect to the backrest portion 15 of the seat 12. 1 and 2, in the left seat 13 having the left body side portion 25 as the nearest body side portion, the airbag 41 and the inflator assembly 42 are accommodated in the left side support portion 17.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the inflator assembly 42 is disposed at a rear end portion 41 </ b> R in the inflated airbag 41. A bolt 45 extends from the retainer 44 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the inflator 43 (leftward in FIG. 5). The bolt 45 is inserted into the rear end portion 41R of the airbag 41, and further the side frame portion 21. Is inserted. Then, the nut 46 is screwed onto the bolt 45, whereby the inflator assembly 42 is fastened to the side frame portion 21 together with the rear end portion 41R of the airbag 41.

  Further, as shown in at least one of FIGS. 1 and 2, the passengers P1 and P2 who are seated on the seats 12 and 13 on the side far from the impact location and move to the impact location side are protected by the airbag device 50. The Here, as described above, the occupants P1 and P2 seated in the seats 12 and 13 on the side far from the impact location also move toward the impact location due to inertial force. However, the rear portion 32R of the center console 32 The movement of the waists of P1 and P2 is restricted. On the other hand, there is nothing that restricts the movement of the upper part (upper body Pu) and the head Ph from the waist of the occupants P1, P2 taking the sitting posture to the impact location side. In the following description, the upper body Pu and the head Ph are collectively referred to as the upper body Pu. For this reason, after the lumbar portions of the occupants P1, P2 hit the center console 32, the upper body Pu of the occupants P1, P2 and the like are inclined so as to come closer to the impact location. This inclination causes the upper body Pu and the like to approach the impact location and come into contact with the adjacent seats 12 and 13 (the impact location side), the body side portions 24 and 25 deformed into the passenger compartment 11 due to the impact, and the like. .

  The airbag device 50 according to the present embodiment receives the upper body Pu that is displaced toward the impact location and protects it from contact with the adjacent seats 12 and 13 (impact location). Since there is a possibility that an impact may be applied to the vehicle from both the juxtaposed direction of the seats 12 and 13, the airbag device 50 is provided in each of the pair of seats 12 and 13. For example, when an impact is applied from the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (right side), the occupant P2 seated on the left seat 13 in both the drawings shows the air indicated by the broken line. It is protected by the bag device 50 and the side support portion 18.

  As shown in at least one of FIGS. 6 and 7, each airbag device 50 includes an airbag 51 and an inflator assembly 52. The inflator assembly 52 includes an inflator 53 and a retainer 54 attached to the inflator 53 from the outside, similar to the side airbag device 40 described above. Further, details (types and the like) of the inflator 53 and the retainer 54 and details (materials and the like) of the airbag 51 are basically the same as those in the side airbag device 40 described above. Description is omitted.

  The main differences between each airbag device 50 and the side airbag device 40 are the role of the airbag 51, the location where the airbag 51 is accommodated, the size and shape of the airbag 51 when it is inflated, and the manner in which the airbag 51 is fixed. Etc. Next, these differences will be described.

<About the role of the airbag 51>
The airbag 51 is provided to inflate only the side portion (side support portion 18) on the impact location side in front of the airbag 51 before being inflated by inflating only in the backrest portion 15. As the side support portion 18 is bulged forward in this way, the occupants P1, P2 moving to the impact location side in response to the impact are received.

<Regarding the location of the airbag 51>
While the airbag 41 of the side airbag device 40 is housed inside the side portion (side support portion 17) closer to the nearest body side portions 24, 25, the airbag 51 of the airbag device 50 is The upper portion of the intermediate portion 19 of the backrest portion 15 is accommodated on the front side of the wire frame portion 31 (see FIG. 4). This accommodation is performed in a state where the airbag 51 is folded in a bellows shape, a roll shape, or the like. FIG. 6 shows an example of folding in a bellows shape.

<About the size and shape of the airbag 51 when it is inflated>
1 to 3 schematically show the airbag 51 in a state in which it is expanded and inflated by being filled with an inflation gas. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the airbag 51 can be inflated in the upper part of the intermediate part 19 of the backrest part 15 and the upper part of the side support part 18 far from the nearest body side parts 24, 25. It has a size. This size is a size that can protect at least the shoulder Ps of the passengers P1, P2.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the airbag 51 has a shape and size that allows the airbag 51 to be inflated so that the inflatable thickness T (see FIG. 7) in the front-rear direction is larger than the intermediate portion 19 in the side support portion 18 on the impact location side. Have. More specifically, the rear surface 51R of the inflated airbag 51 is substantially parallel to a surface S passing through the centers of a plurality of fixing portions (a pair of headrest supports 26, which will be described later). In addition, the front surface 51F of the airbag 51 is inclined with respect to the rear surface 51R so as to move away from the rear surface 51R forward as it approaches the impact location. In order to reliably inflate in such a shape, a tether 55 is bridged between the front portion and the rear portion of the airbag 51 inside the airbag 51. The tether 55 regulates the expansion thickness T in the front-rear direction of the airbag 51. In FIG. 6, illustration of the tether 55 is omitted.

  The airbag 51 has a vertical length in which its lower end is positioned in the vicinity of the side of the side frame portion 22 when it is inflated (see FIG. 4). Further, when the airbag 51 is inflated and deployed, the airbag 51 has a size that comes into surface contact with the flat surface 22A of the side frame portion 22 at a location where the inflation thickness T in the front-rear direction is the largest (location closest to the impact location). (See FIG. 7).

<About the fixing aspect of the airbag 51>
As shown in at least one of FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, fixing portions are provided in a plurality of locations spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the backrest portion 15 in the intermediate portion 19 of the backrest portion 15. The rear part of the airbag 51 is fixed to the fixed part. Specifically, the plurality of fixing portions are based on the central portion C in the width direction of the backrest portion 15, and one or more locations that are on the impact location side with respect to the central portion C in the intermediate portion 19, and the same impact location Are provided at one or more locations opposite to each other. As described above, the pair of headrest supports 26 are provided on both sides of the central portion C in the width direction of the backrest portion 15, but in the present embodiment, both headrest supports 26 are used as fixing portions. Therefore, the headrest support 26 functions as a location where the headrest 16 is supported and also functions as a location where the airbag 51 is fixed. In addition, in order to fix the airbag 51 in the backrest portion 15, a new fixing portion is not provided separately from the headrest support 26. Along with this, no special space is secured in the backrest portion 15 for the arrangement of the fixing portion.

  In order to fix the rear part of the airbag 51 to the both headrest supports 26, a plurality of locations (four locations in the present embodiment) spaced apart from each other in the width direction and the vertical direction of the backrest portion 15 on the rear surface 51R of the airbag 51 in an inflated state. One end portion of a belt portion 56 made of a cloth or the like is sewn to each other. Each band portion 56 is wound around the headrest support 26 from the rear side, and the other end portion of the band portion 56 is fastened to the rear portion of the airbag 51 by a fastening member 57 such as a clip.

  The inflator assembly 52 described above is disposed in the airbag 51. Here, the inflator assembly 52 is disposed in the inflated airbag 51 at a location close to the nearest body side portions 24 and 25 (the left end in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7). It may be arranged at a different location. The inflator assembly 52 is fixed to the seat frame 20 and the like by bolts, nuts, and the like (not shown) through the airbag 51, similarly to the inflator assembly 42 in the side airbag device 40 described above.

  The side airbag device 40 and the airbag device 50 described above further include impact sensors 61 and 62 including an acceleration sensor and a control device 63 as common components (see FIG. 3). One impact sensor 61 is provided on one body side portion 24 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and the like, and detects an impact applied to the body side portion 24 from the side. The other impact sensor 62 is provided on the other body side portion 25 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and the like, and detects an impact applied to the body side portion 25 from the side. The control device 63 controls each operation of the inflator 43 of the side airbag device 40 and the inflator 53 of the airbag device 50 based on detection signals from the impact sensors 61 and 62.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
Under the situation where occupants P1 and P2 are seated on both seats 12 and 13, respectively, the vehicle is impacted from one side to the other in the direction in which the seats 12 and 13 are juxtaposed (vehicle width direction) due to a side collision. May be added. Here, it is assumed that an impact is applied to one body side portion 24 from the direction indicated by the solid arrow in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, when an impact due to a side collision is applied to one of the body side portions 24, the body side portion 24 tends to be deformed inwardly of the passenger compartment 11 (center console 32 side).

  In addition, due to the impact, an inertial force toward the impact location side (the body side portion 24 side) acts on the occupants P1 and P2 seated on the seats 12 and 13, respectively. Due to this inertial force, each of the occupants P1, P2 tends to move to the impact location side (the body side portion 24 side).

  On the other hand, when it is detected by the impact sensor 61 that an impact of a predetermined value or more has been applied to the body side portion 24, the inflator 43 of the side airbag device 40 and the airbag device 50 are transmitted from the control device 63 based on the detection signal. A command signal for operating them is output to the inflator 53 (see FIG. 3). In response to the command signal, inflation gas is supplied from the inflators 43 and 53 to the corresponding airbags 41 and 51, and the airbags 41 and 51 are inflated and deployed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the occupant P1 sitting on the impact location side seat 12 and moving to the impact location side is protected by the side airbag device 40 as follows. In the side airbag device 40, inflation gas is supplied from the inflator 43 into the airbag 41. The airbag 41 starts to inflate due to the inflation gas, and the airbag 41 jumps forward from the side support portion 17 in a state where a part (the rear end portion 41R and the vicinity thereof) remains in the backrest portion 15. . Thereafter, the airbag 41 is inflated forward through the space between the occupant P1 and the body side portion 24. For this reason, even if the occupant P1 tries to move toward the impact location (body side portion 24) due to the impact, the occupant P1 is received by the inflated airbag 41. At the time of receiving, a pressing force F1 directed toward the impact location by the occupant P1 is applied to the airbag 41. By this pressing force F1, the vicinity of the rear end portion 41R, which is a fixed portion of the airbag 41, is extended, so that the airbag 41 tries to rotate toward the impact location with the rear end portion 41R as a fulcrum. However, the rotation is restricted by the airbag 41 hitting the body side portion 24.

  Further, the airbag 41 in an inflated state as described above is interposed between the body side portion 24 deformed into the passenger compartment 11 due to a side collision and the occupant P1, and the body side portion 24 of the occupant P1 Is suppressed by the airbag 41.

  On the other hand, the occupant P2 who sits on the seat 13 far from the impact location and moves to the impact location side is protected by the airbag device 50 as follows. In the airbag device 50, inflation gas is supplied from the inflator 53 into the airbag 51 as shown in at least one of FIGS. 6 and 7. The airbag 51 starts to be expanded by the inflation gas. The airbag 51 is inflated and deployed in the intermediate portion 19 of the backrest portion 15 and in the side support portion 18 on the impact location side. Along with this, the seat pad and the skin positioned in front of the airbag 51 in the intermediate portion 19 are slightly pushed forward. Further, the seat pad and the skin positioned on the front side of the airbag 51 are pushed forward in the side support portion 18 on the impact location side. By these extrusions, the intermediate portion 19 is slightly bulged forward, and the side support portion 18 on the impact location side is bulged more forward than the intermediate portion 19. 7, (I) shows the side support portion 18 before the airbag 51 is inflated, and (II) shows the side support portion 18 when the airbag 51 is inflated. The airbag 51 has a flat surface extending in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction of the side frame portion 22 at the location where the expansion thickness T is the largest in the process of expansion. Surface contact with 22A.

  On the other hand, along with the impact, the upper body Pu of the occupant P2 moves to the impact location side as described above. If the upper body Pu or the like of the occupant P2 continues to move in the same direction even after coming into contact with the side support portion 18, the pressing force F2 toward the impact location due to the upper body Pu or the like against the side support portion 18 (see FIG. 7) Will be added. This pressing force F <b> 2 is also applied to the airbag 51 that is inflated inside the side support portion 18.

  At this time, if the airbag 51 in an inflated state has the same shape as the airbag 41 and is fixed only at one place (for example, the rear end portion), it will be described in the background art section. As described above, the airbag 51 may rotate toward the impact location with the fixed location as a fulcrum. When this rotation occurs, the degree of forward bulge of the side support portion 18 is reduced, and the function of receiving the occupant P2 of the side support portion 18 is impaired.

  However, in the present embodiment, the rear portion of the airbag 51 is fixed by two fixing portions (headrest support 26) that are separated from each other in the width direction of the backrest portion 15 in the intermediate portion 19 of the backrest portion 15. Due to the fixing at these two places, the rotation with the fixing position of the airbag 51 as a fulcrum is restricted. For this reason, even if the pressing force F2 by the occupant P2 is applied to the airbag 51 through the side support portion 18 on the impact location side, the rotation of the airbag 51 with the fixed location serving as a fulcrum occurs more than when it is fixed at one location. It becomes difficult. Along with this, the side support portion 18 on the impact location side of the backrest portion 15 maintains a state of bulging forward.

  Here, the effect of restricting the rotation of the airbag 51 by fixing the airbag 51 at two locations becomes larger as the interval between the fixed locations becomes wider. Therefore, from the viewpoint of suppressing the rotation of the airbag 51, it is desirable to fix the rear portion of the airbag 51 to a location that is largely separated from each other in the width direction of the backrest portion 15.

  In this regard, in the present embodiment, the plurality of fixing portions are based on the central portion C with respect to the width direction of the backrest portion 15 as a reference, and the intermediate portion 19 is located on the impact portion side with respect to the central portion C. It is provided at one place on the opposite side to the place. In other words, in the intermediate part 19 of the backrest part 15, the area closer to the impact part than the central part C and the area opposite to the impact part are used effectively, and the two fixed parts are the backrest part. 15 are arranged at positions greatly separated from each other in the width direction. And since these two fixing | fixed parts are used as the fixing object location of the airbag 51, the space | interval between the fixing locations of the airbag 51 becomes wide, and the big effect which regulates rotation of the airbag 51 is acquired.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the pair of headrest supports 26 are fixed portions. As described above, these headrest supports 26 are provided at a relatively large interval in the width direction of the backrest 15 in order to attach the headrest 16 to the backrest 15 in a stable state. Therefore, by fixing the airbag 51 to these headrest supports 26, the space | interval between the fixing locations of the airbag 51 becomes large reliably, and rotation of the airbag 51 is controlled suitably.

  The airbag 51 in an inflated state comes into surface contact with the flat surface 22A of the side frame portion 22 on the impact location side at the location where the inflated thickness T is maximum. Due to this surface contact, a large friction is generated between the airbag 51 and the side frame portion 22 and attempts to prevent the rotation of the airbag 51.

  As a result, the movement of the upper body Pu toward the impact location is received by the side support portion 18 including the airbag 51 that is less likely to rotate. The upper body Pu is restricted from approaching the body side portion 24 that has been deformed into the passenger compartment 11 due to a side collision.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the airbag 51 expands forward in the side support portion 18 more than in the intermediate portion 19. As a result of this expansion, the side support portion 18 bulges forward more than the intermediate portion 19 and the step B between the intermediate portion 19 and the side support portion 18 increases. The upper body Pu or the like of the occupant P2 that moves to the impact location side in response to the impact is easily received by the side support portion 18.

According to the embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) About the inside of the intermediate part 19 of the backrest part 15, the fixing part (headrest support 26) is provided in two places spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the backrest part 15, and the airbag 51 is fixed to these fixing parts. ing. For this reason, even if the pressing force F2 by the occupants P1 and P2 is applied to the side support portion 18 on the impact location side bulged forward by the airbag 51, the bulged state is maintained, and the occupants P1 and P2 are maintained. It will be able to reliably catch and protect from impact.

  (2) The center portion C in the width direction of the backrest portion 15 is used as a reference, and one fixing portion (headrest support 26) is provided at a location on the impact portion side of the center portion C in the intermediate portion 19 of the backrest portion 15. The other fixing portion is provided at a location opposite to the impact location.

  For this reason, in the intermediate part 19, it becomes possible to arrange | position a pair of fixing | fixed part in the location apart greatly mutually in the width direction in the backrest part 15, and the space | interval between the fixing | fixed parts of the airbag 51 is widened, and it is an airbag. A great effect of restricting the rotation of 51 can be obtained.

  (3) Both headrest supports 26 are fixed portions, and the rear portion of the airbag 51 is fixed to both headrest supports 26. Therefore, the space | interval between the both fixed locations of the airbag 51 can be enlarged, and rotation of the airbag 51 can be controlled reliably.

Moreover, in order to fix the airbag 51 in the backrest part 15, it is not necessary to newly provide a fixing part or to secure a space for arranging the fixing part.
(4) The airbag 51 is inflated so that the front-rear expansion thickness T in the side support 18 on the impact location side of the backrest 15 is greater than the front-rear expansion thickness T in the intermediate portion 19. . Therefore, the level difference B between the intermediate part 19 and the side support part 18 can be increased by the inflation of the airbag 51, and the passengers P1, P2 that move to the impact location side in response to the impact can be easily received.

  (5) Friction is generated between the airbag 51 and the side frame portion 22 by bringing the airbag 51 into surface contact with the side frame portion 22 on the impact location side in the process of inflation. Therefore, the rotation of the airbag 51 can be more reliably suppressed.

  In particular, the portion of the airbag 51 that contacts the side frame portion 22 is the portion having the largest expansion thickness T. In addition to this, the portion of the side frame portion 22 that is in surface contact with the airbag 51 is a flat surface 22A in both the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. From these things, the airbag 51 and the side frame part 22 can be made to contact in a big area. As a result, a large friction can be generated between the airbag 51 and the side frame portion 22, and the rotation of the airbag 51 can be effectively suppressed.

  (6) The airbag 51 and the inflator assembly 52 are disposed between the side frame parts 21 and 22 in the backrest part 15. This location is closer to the occupants P1, P2 than locations that are outside the side frame portions 21, 22. Therefore, the airbag 51 is inflated at a location closer to the occupants P1 and P2, and the occupants P1 and P2 can be restrained from an early stage and protected from impact.

Note that the present invention can be embodied in another embodiment described below.
<About airbag 51>
The air bag 51 is a device in which the side support portion 18 on the impact location side of the backrest portion 15 is inflated forward, and then the side support portion 18 is broken so that a part of itself is jumped out of the backrest portion 15. There may be. Even in this case, since the rotation of the airbag 51 can be restricted and the side support portion 18 can be maintained in a bulged state, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

  -You may change the shape and magnitude | size of the airbag 51 to the thing which does not contact the side frame part 22 by the side of an impact location. For example, the airbag 51 may be shortened so that the airbag 51 is inflated at a location higher than the side frame portion 22.

  -You may accommodate the airbag 51 in the backrest part 15 in the state which is not folded. In this case, the entire airbag 51 may be accommodated in the intermediate portion 19, or may be accommodated across both the intermediate portion 19 and the side support portion 18.

-You may make it fix the airbag 51 to a fixing | fixed part in a location different from the rear part.
<About the side of the backrest 15>
The side portion on the impact portion side in the backrest portion 15 may not be configured by the side support portions 17 and 18, and the front surface of the same side portion may be configured by a flat surface when the airbag 51 is not inflated. . That is, the front surface of the side portion may be located on the same plane as the front surface of the intermediate portion 19.

<About fixed part>
-You may provide a fixing | fixed part in three or more places mutually spaced apart in the width direction of the backrest part 15. As shown in FIG. In this case, from the viewpoint of reliably restricting the rotation of the airbag 51 by widening the interval between the fixed portions at both ends, the intermediate portion 19 includes one or more locations on the impact portion side with respect to the central portion C. It is desirable to provide a fixing portion at one or more locations opposite to the impact location.

-Aside from the existing headrest support 26, a fixed portion may be newly provided at a plurality of locations separated from each other in the width direction in the backrest portion 15.
A location where the inflator assembly 52 is fixed together with the airbag 51 (for example, the seat frame 20) can also be included in the fixing portion. In this case, depending on the position of the inflator assembly 52, the fixing of the airbag 51 to one headrest support 26 may be omitted. However, in that case, it is necessary to separate the fixing portion of the airbag 51 to the other headrest support 26 and the fixing portion of the inflator assembly 52 to some extent in the width direction of the backrest portion 15.

<Application target of the airbag device 50>
The airbag device 50 may be applied to the rear seat of the vehicle, or may be applied to both the front seat and the rear seat. When applied to the rear seat, the body side portions 24 and 25 corresponding to the rear seat are the rear portion of the side door (rear door), the C pillar, the front portion of the tire house, the rear quarter, and the like.

  -The airbag apparatus 50 of this invention is applicable also to the vehicle in which three or more seats were arranged in parallel by the vehicle width direction. In this case, the seat to which the airbag device 50 is applied is another seat excluding the seat closest to the impact location.

  In the airbag device 50 of the present invention, when the passengers P1 and P2 are seated, the seats 12 and 13 are arranged so as to face a direction different from the front-rear direction of the vehicle, for example, a direction orthogonal to the vehicle (the vehicle width direction). It can also be applied to vehicles. In this case, when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front or the rear, the impact is an impact directed from one side to the other in the side-by-side direction.

In one embodiment which materialized the present invention, a partial plane sectional view showing a pair of seats arranged side by side, a side airbag device and an airbag device with which each seat was equipped. Similarly, a front sectional view showing a pair of seats, a side airbag device and an airbag device for each seat. In one embodiment, the side view which shows a seat and the airbag apparatus with which the seat was equipped. The front view which shows the positional relationship of a seat frame and the airbag of an inflated state. The partial plane sectional view which shows the state which the airbag of the side airbag apparatus expanded. The partial plane sectional view which shows the accommodation state in the backrest part of the airbag and inflator assembly in an airbag apparatus. The partial cross-sectional view which shows a mode that the airbag expand | swells from the state of FIG. 6, and the side support part by the side of an impact is bulged forward. The partial top view explaining a mode that an airbag is pressed and rotated by the passenger | crew who moves to the impact location side in the conventional airbag apparatus which fixed the airbag in the rear-end part.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12, 13 ... Seat, 15 ... Backrest part, 16 ... Headrest, 17, 18 ... Side support part, 19 ... Middle part, 20 ... Seat frame, 21,22 ... Side frame part, 26 ... Headrest support (fixed part), 50 ... Airbag device, 51 ... Airbag, C ... Center part, P1, P2 ... Occupant, T ... Inflated thickness.

Claims (5)

Applied to other seats other than the seat closest to the impact point of the vehicle when an impact is applied from one side to the other side of the vehicle in which a plurality of seats are arranged side by side. The airbag is housed in a non-inflated state in the backrest portion of the backrest, and the airbag is inflated at least inside the backrest portion in response to the impact, so that the side portion of the backrest portion on the side of the impact location is the air bag. Air that is swelled forward than before the bag is inflated, seated on the other seat, and moved to the impact location in response to the impact is received by the swelled side portion. A bag device,
A fixing device is provided in a plurality of locations spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the backrest portion in an intermediate portion between both side portions of the backrest portion, and the airbag is fixed to these fixing portions. The plurality of fixing parts are based on a central part in the width direction of the backrest part, and one or more places that are on the impact part side with respect to the central part in the intermediate part, and an opposite side of the impact part The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is provided at one or more locations. A headrest support for supporting a headrest above the backrest portion is provided on both sides of the central portion in the width direction of the backrest portion, and the airbag uses the both headrest supports as the fixed portions. The airbag device according to claim 2, which is fixed to the headrest support. 4. The airbag accommodated in a non-inflated state in the backrest part is inflated so that an inflated thickness in the front-rear direction is larger in the side part on the impact location side than in the intermediate part. The airbag apparatus as described in any one. A seat frame forming a skeleton of the backrest portion is disposed inside the backrest portion,
The seat frame has a side frame portion at a location in the side portion of the backrest portion,
The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the airbag is inflated so as to contact the side frame portion on the impact location side.

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