JP6450833B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device that restrains a vehicle occupant from the front of the vehicle.

  In recent years, airbag devices are almost standard equipment. The airbag device is a safety device that operates in an emergency such as a vehicle collision, and inflates and deploys with gas pressure to receive and protect an occupant. There are various types of airbag devices depending on the installation location and application. For example, a front airbag is installed in the center of the steering wheel in the driver's seat to protect the front seat occupant mainly from front and rear impacts, and an instrument panel and other parts are installed near the passenger seat. A passenger airbag is provided. In addition, a curtain airbag that inflates and deploys along the side window is provided near the ceiling of the wall to protect each occupant in the front and rear rows from side collision and subsequent rollover (rollover). The part is provided with a side airbag that is inflated and deployed right next to the passenger.

  The airbag arrangement structure disclosed in Patent Document 1 can also be used for a front seat for three persons. In Patent Document 1, in addition to the first airbag unit that restrains the passenger in the driver's seat and the second airbag unit that restrains the passenger in the passenger seat, the third airbag is used to restrain the passenger in the center seat. The unit expands and expands. The third airbag unit is installed in the vicinity of the sun visor on the ceiling, and is configured to inflate and deploy downward between the passenger at the center seat and the instrument panel.

JP-A-6-80057

  At present, the airbag apparatus is also required to cope with irregular collisions and impacts such as so-called oblique collision in which an impact is applied to the vehicle from an oblique front-rear direction. An occupant in an oblique collision enters the airbag cushion (hereinafter referred to as “cushion”) in front of the seat with an irregular behavior such as an oblique direction. In that case, for example, in the airbag arrangement structure of Patent Document 1, the passenger in the passenger seat is in contact with the third airbag unit existing in front of the vehicle width direction inner side (hereinafter referred to as “vehicle inner side”). There is. However, it is difficult to exert a sufficient occupant restraining force or suppress an occupant's injury value simply by installing a cushion in front of the occupant.

  In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can more appropriately restrain an occupant during an oblique collision and suppress an injury value to the occupant.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a representative configuration of an airbag apparatus according to the present invention is an airbag apparatus that restrains a vehicle occupant, and the airbag apparatus is inflated and deployed in front of the front seat of the vehicle. A main bag, a center bag inflated and deployed on the inner side of the main bag in the vehicle width direction, and further inflated and deployed so as to fill a gap between the center bag and the instrument panel of the vehicle. And a support expansion part.

  According to the above configuration, since the support inflating portion is provided on the vehicle inner side of the center bag, the contact area with the instrument panel is increased as compared with the case of using only the center bag. Therefore, with the above configuration, even when the occupant enters obliquely forward in an oblique collision or the like, the center bag can efficiently restrain the occupant without moving to the vehicle interior side.

  The support inflating portion includes a first contour line extending horizontally from the side edge in the vehicle width direction inner side than the side edge of the center bag in the vehicle width direction, as viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction, and a vehicle of the first contour line You may inflate-deploy so that it may have the outline containing the 2nd outline which extends from the end point of the width direction inner side upwards to the vehicle width direction outer side, and reaches a side edge. According to this structure, the support expansion part which can ensure a contact area with an instrument panel more efficiently is realizable.

  The support inflating part may protrude further inward in the vehicle width direction than a vertical line in contact with the inner side of the center bag in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. Also with this configuration, it is possible to realize a support expansion portion that can efficiently secure a contact area with the instrument panel.

  The side edge of the center bag in the vehicle width direction protrudes in a curved manner, and the support inflating portion may be connected to the center bag over the top and bottom of the apex of the side edge of the center bag when viewed from the vehicle longitudinal direction. Good. The support inflating portion can support the center bag more stably by connecting to the range including the apex of the side edge of the center bag.

  The support inflating part may gradually increase in width toward the front of the vehicle. Also with this configuration, it is possible to realize a support expansion portion that can efficiently secure a contact area with the instrument panel.

  The center bag may be inflated and deployed from the top of the instrument panel to the back of the instrument panel. Further, the center bag may be inflated and deployed by protruding rearward from the main bag.

  In an oblique collision, the passenger in the passenger seat may move diagonally forward inside the vehicle. In that case, when the occupant's head contacts a conventional main bag in front of the passenger seat, the head may rotate clockwise around the neck as viewed from above. Therefore, for example, in the above configuration, the center bag provided inside the main bag is protruded rearward of the main bag. According to this configuration, the head of the occupant moving obliquely forward on the vehicle interior contacts the center bag mainly from the side of the head at the same time as, or just before or after, the front main bag. Thereby, the clockwise rotation of the head of the occupant can be reduced or canceled. In particular, since the angular velocity of the rotation of the occupant's head can be reduced, the occupant injury value associated with the rotation can be suppressed.

  The airbag apparatus may restrain the head of the occupant on the vehicle rear side between the main bag and the center bag. With this configuration, the occupant's head is restrained by being guided in a valley provided between the main bag and the center bag, with the side head in contact with the center bag. Therefore, the airbag device can restrain the occupant's head more efficiently and further suppress the injury value.

  The main bag and the center bag may be integrated below the valley. The valley may be provided at a location where the occupant's head can come into contact, and by integrating the main bag and the center bag below the valley, for example, the occupant's chest can be suitably restrained.

  The airbag device further includes a tether belt that is belt-shaped and is connected to a first connection portion on the vehicle rear side of the center bag and a second connection portion on the upper portion of the main bag, and the tether belt includes the main bag and the center bag. The bag may have such a length that the bag is inflated and deployed so that the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion move in directions away from each other. According to this tether belt, even when the passenger's head comes into contact with the center bag from the outside of the vehicle, the center bag can be prevented from moving to the inside of the vehicle relative to the main bag, and the narrowness of the valley can be maintained. Therefore, it is possible to suitably guide and restrain the head to the valley.

  The main bag may come into contact with the windshield of the vehicle and the upper surface of the instrument panel of the vehicle by inflating and deploying. That is, the main bag may be inflated and deployed between the windshield and the instrument panel. According to this configuration, the posture of the main bag can be stabilized even when an occupant enters the vehicle, and the posture of the center bag connected to the main bag by the tether belt is further stabilized.

  The airbag device further includes a housing that is box-shaped and houses the main bag and the center bag and is provided inside the upper surface portion of the instrument panel of the vehicle. The main bag and the center bag are provided on the upper surface of the instrument panel. The part may be cleaved and expanded. With this configuration, an airbag device for a front seat having high occupant restraint performance can be suitably realized.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the passenger | crew can be restrained more appropriately at the time of an oblique collision, and the airbag apparatus which can suppress the injury value with respect to a passenger | crew can be provided.

It is a figure which illustrates the outline | summary of the airbag apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which illustrated the cushion at the time of the expansion | deployment of FIG.1 (b) from each direction. It is the figure which illustrated the cushion at the time of the expansion | deployment of FIG.1 (b) from each direction. It is the figure which illustrated the process in which the cushion of FIG.1 (b) restrains a passenger | crew. It is the figure which illustrated the process which the cushion of FIG. 4 restrains a passenger | crew seen from upper direction. It is the figure which illustrated the process in which the cushion of FIG. 5 restrains a passenger | crew seeing from the vehicle front. It is a schematic diagram in the arrow A of the cushion of FIG.6 (b).

E1 ... Head, E1a ... Side, E2 ... Neck, E3 ... Shoulder, E3a ... Left shoulder, E3b ... Right shoulder, E4 ... Chest, E5 ... Lumbar, L1 ... Contact the apex of the side edge of the center bag Vertical line, S1... Gap between center bag and instrument panel, 100. Airbag device, 102. Instrument panel, 104. Passenger seat, 106. Upper surface portion of instrument panel, 108 ... Cushion, 110 ... Inflator, 112 ... Main bag, 114 ... Center bag, 116 ... Wind shield, 118 ... Center console, 120 ... Tie panel, 122 ... Tether belt, 124 ... First connection part of tether belt, 126 ... Second connection part of tether belt, 128 ... Valley, 130 ... Venthole, 132 ... Crew, 134 ... Housing, 136 ... Seat belt, 1 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 0 ... Rotation which generate | occur | produces in a head, 142 ... Upper part of center bag, 144 ... Upper part of main bag, 150 ... Supporting expansion part, 152 ... Side edge inside the center bag, 154 ... 1st outline of support expansion part 156: Trajectory of the head, 158: Connection portion, 160: Rear region of the center bag, 162 ... Side surface portion of the center bag, 166 ... Rear end portion of the rear region, 170 ... Upper end of the center bag, 172 ... Side of the center bag Edge vertex, 174 ... end point of first contour line, 176 ... second contour line

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an airbag apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a vehicle before the airbag apparatus 100 is operated. In the present embodiment, the airbag device 100 is embodied for a front seat in a left-hand drive vehicle, particularly for a passenger seat (front row right seat). The airbag device 100 is installed inside the upper surface portion 106 on the passenger seat 104 side of the instrument panel 102.

  When the airbag device 100 receives an impact detection signal from a sensor (not shown), the cushion 108 (see FIG. 1B) tears the upper surface portion 106 and expands and deploys rearward of the vehicle. FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating the vehicle after the airbag apparatus 100 is operated. The cushion 108 of the airbag device 100 restrains the passenger 132 (see FIG. 4A) of the passenger seat 104 from the front of the vehicle. The cushion 108 has a bag shape and receives gas from the inflator 110 (see FIG. 4A) to expand and deploy. The cushion 108 is formed by sewing or adhering a plurality of base fabrics that constitute the surface of the cushion 108, spinning using OPW (One-Piece Woven), or the like.

  The cushion 108 of the airbag device 100 includes two parts, a main bag 112 and a center bag 114. The main bag 112 is a large-capacity part that inflates and deploys to the front side of the passenger seat 104. The main bag 112 is inflated and deployed so as to fill a space between the passenger 132 of the passenger seat 104, the instrument panel 102 and the windshield 116. This prevents the passenger 132 from colliding with the instrument panel 102. Further, by preventing the occupant 132 from colliding with the windshield 116, the occupant 132 is also prevented from being released from the vehicle.

  The center bag 114 is a flat portion that is inflated and deployed on the inner side of the main bag 112 and has a smaller capacity than the main bag 112. The center bag 114 is inflated and deployed in front of the center console 118 when viewed from the occupant 132 (see FIG. 5A), so that the occupant 132 moves inside the vehicle or collides with the center console 118 during an oblique collision or the like. prevent. The lower portions of the main bag 112 and the center bag 114 are integrated by being connected by a cloth-like tie panel 120.

  2 and 3 are views illustrating the cushion 108 in the inflated and deployed state in FIG. 1B from each direction. FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating the cushion 108 of FIG. 1B as viewed from above the outside of the vehicle. A valley 128 is formed between the center bag 114 and the main bag 112. The valley 128 separates the center bag 114 and the main bag 112 on the vehicle rear side. The valley 128 is a part that restrains the head E1 of the occupant 132 (see FIG. 5A). The center bag 114 has an upper portion 142 connected to the main bag 112 by a tether belt 122 so as not to separate from the main bag 112. The tether belt 122 and the tie panel 120 are arranged so as to avoid a position where the head E1 of the occupant 132 can come into contact, and the valley 128 is exposed.

  Two vent holes 130 are provided on the outer side surface of the main bag 112. The vent hole 130 is a so-called exhaust hole, and discharges the gas supplied from the inflator 110 (see FIG. 5A) to the outside. Since there is only a side window or the like on the outside of the main bag 112 and no occupant 132 (see FIG. 5A), the vent hole 130 is not provided on the side of the main bag 112 on the outside of the vehicle. It is valid.

  FIG. 2B is a perspective view illustrating the cushion 108 of FIG. 2A as viewed from above the vehicle interior. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the tether belt 122 connects the upper part 142 of the center bag 114 and the upper part 144 of the main bag 112. The tether belt 122 has a belt shape and plays a role of supporting the posture of the center bag 114. The tether belt 122 is formed of the same type of base fabric as the cushion 108, for example, and is connected to the first connection portion 124 on the center bag 114 and the second connection portion 126 on the main bag 112 by sewing. Yes.

  FIG. 2C is a view illustrating the cushion 108 of FIG. 2B as viewed from the outside of the vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 2C, the center bag 114 in this embodiment has a rear region 160 on the vehicle rear side inflated so as to protrude rearward of the main bag 112 (leftward in FIG. 2C). expand. Accordingly, the outer side surface of the center bag 114 is exposed from the valley 128. The center bag 114 mainly restrains the temporal portion E1a of the occupant 132 (see FIG. 5A) at the side surface portion 162 inside the vehicle. Since the center bag 114 is supported by the main bag 112 by the tether belt 122, the center bag 114 can function as a reaction force surface that restrains the temporal portion E1a.

  Reference is again made to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, in the present embodiment, a support inflating portion 150 is provided on the inner side of the center bag 114. The support inflating part 150 is a part that supports the center bag 114 from the inside of the vehicle and stabilizes its posture. The support inflating part 150 is connected to the center bag 114 and contacts the instrument panel 102. The center bag 114 has a flat shape that is thin in the vehicle width direction. However, the center bag 114 is supported by the support inflating portion 150 so that it can be inflated and deployed without breaking its posture. The support inflatable part 150 is provided as a part continuous with the center bag 114 inside, but can be realized as a bag-like part independent of the center bag 114.

  FIG. 3A is a view illustrating the cushion 108 of FIG. 2B as viewed from the rear of the vehicle. In FIG. 3A, the instrument panel 102 is illustrated by a virtual line. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the support inflating portion 150 is inflated and expanded into a triangle so as to fill a gap S <b> 1 between the center bag 114 and the instrument panel 102 when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. The triangle formed by the support inflatable portion 150 has, as contours, a first contour line 154 extending horizontally along the instrument panel 102 from the side edge 152 on the vehicle interior side of the center bag 114, and a vehicle width direction of the first contour line 154 And a second contour line 176 extending from the inner end point 174 to the upper side in the vehicle width direction and reaching the side edge 152. The triangular support inflating portion 150 gradually increases in the vehicle width direction downward, and can efficiently support the center bag 114 while efficiently ensuring a contact area with the instrument panel 102.

  The dimension of the support expansion part 150 is demonstrated. A side edge 152 of the center bag 114 on the vehicle inner side is curved and protrudes toward the vehicle inner side. The upper and lower dimensions of the support inflatable portion 150 are set such that the upper end 170 of the support inflatable portion 150 reaches above the vertex 172 of the side edge 152 of the center bag 114. The center bag 114 is connected to the center bag 114 over the top and bottom of the vertex 172, thereby filling the space between the instrument panel 102 and the region of the center bag 114 where the width below the vertex 172 is narrowed. The posture of the bag 114 is further stabilized.

  The size of the support inflatable portion 150 in the vehicle width direction is set so that the end point 174 on the vehicle inner side protrudes further on the vehicle inner side than the vertical line L1 that contacts the vertex 172 on the vehicle inner side of the center bag 114 when viewed from the rear of the vehicle. Yes. With this configuration, the support expansion portion 150 can efficiently secure a contact area with the instrument panel 102.

  FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating the cushion 108 of FIG. 3A as viewed from above the vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the center bag 114 and the main bag 112 are narrower in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle front side, which is the base side. The support inflating portion 150 supports the root side of the center bag 114 and the main bag 112, and the width in the vehicle width direction gradually increases toward the front of the vehicle. The center bag 114 and the main bag 112 are in contact with the occupant 132 (see FIG. 4B) on the vehicle rear side because the support inflatable portion 150 secures a contact area with the instrument panel 102 on the vehicle front side. Even if you do, the posture is difficult to collapse.

  FIG. 3C is a view illustrating the cushion 108 of FIG. 3B as viewed from the vehicle inner side. Also in FIG.3 (c), the instrument panel 102 is illustrated with the virtual line. As illustrated, the support inflating portion 150 gradually increases in size in the vertical direction as it goes from the vehicle inner side toward the vehicle front. That is, the support inflatable part 150 has a wider range of connection with the center bag 114 toward the front of the vehicle, thereby supporting the center bag 114 more fully. The center bag 114 is inflated and deployed from the upper side of the instrument panel 102 to the rear side of the instrument panel 102. However, since the center bag 114 is fully supported by the support inflatable portion 150 toward the front of the vehicle, the center bag 114 can be prevented from tilting toward the inside of the vehicle. The posture is stable.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a process in which the cushion 108 in FIG. 1B restrains the occupant 132. In each figure of FIG. 4, the left side in the figure is the front of the vehicle. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an undeployed state of the cushion 108. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the cushion 108 includes a main bag 112 (see FIG. 4B and the like) and a center bag 114, and is accommodated in the housing 134 in a folded state. The housing 134 has, for example, a box shape with an opening at the top, accommodates the folded cushion 108, and is installed inside the upper surface portion 106 of the instrument panel 102.

  An inflator 110 is fixed to the bottom surface of the housing 134. The inflator 110 is a gas generator, and is connected to the main bag 112 to supply gas. As the inflator 110, for example, a disk-shaped disk type can be used, but a cylindrical cylinder type may be used. Inflators that are currently popular include a type that is filled with a gas generating agent and burns it to generate gas, a type that is filled with compressed gas and supplies gas without generating heat, or There is a hybrid type using both combustion gas and compressed gas. Any type of inflator 110 can be used.

  The inflator 110 operates upon receiving an impact detection signal from a sensor (not shown) and supplies gas to the main bag 112. The main bag 112 and the center bag 114 are connected to each other, and the gas supplied from the inflator 110 to the main bag 112 is also supplied to the center bag 114.

  FIG. 4B illustrates the inflated cushion 108. The cushion 108 is inflated and deployed to the rear of the vehicle by cleaving the upper surface portion 106 of the instrument panel 102 serving as a lid of the housing 134. The occupant 132 illustrated in FIG. 4B has entered the cushion 108 side more than the occupant 132 of FIG. In an emergency such as a vehicle collision, the occupant 132 moves forward of the vehicle due to inertia. When the occupant 132 is wearing the seat belt 136 and the waist E5 is restrained, the occupant 132 moves in a trajectory that causes the upper body to bend forward about the waist E5.

  The main bag 112 mainly restrains the head E1, shoulder E3, chest E4, and the like of the occupant 132. The inflated and deployed main bag 112 is in contact with the windshield 116 and the upper surface portion 106 of the instrument panel 102. When the main bag 112 is inflated and deployed between the windshield 116 and the instrument panel 102, the occupant 132 can be restrained in a stable posture even when the occupant 132 enters.

  The center bag 114 protrudes rearward of the main bag 112 (right side in FIG. 4B). In an oblique collision, the occupant 132 may move diagonally forward inside the vehicle, particularly with the left shoulder E3a not restrained by the seat belt 136 in front. In that case, the occupant 132 contacts the center bag 114 from the side E1a.

  FIG. 4C illustrates a state in which the occupant 132 of FIG. 4B has further entered the cushion 108 side. As illustrated in FIG. 4C, the head E <b> 1 of the passenger 132 is guided to the valley 128 while the side head E <b> 1 a is in contact with the center bag 114, and is restrained by the valley 128. In addition, the left shoulder E3a inside the vehicle of the occupant 132 is restrained by the rear end 166 of the rear region 160 of the center bag 114. The rear end 166 is inclined in a straight line so as to gradually protrude rearward as it goes upward. The rear end portion 166 of the rear region 160 restrains the left shoulder E3a from the front of the vehicle and supports the upper body of the occupant 132 together with the main bag 112. Thereby, the twist of the upper body of the occupant 132 is offset.

  When the side bag E1a and the left shoulder E3a of the occupant 132 are in contact with the center bag 114, the support inflating part 150 functions suitably. Since the support inflating portion 150 is provided on the vehicle interior side of the center bag 114 to ensure a contact area with the instrument panel 102, the center bag 114 can stably stabilize the side head E1a and the left shoulder E3a without breaking the posture. Can be restrained. Thus, even if the occupant 132 enters obliquely forward during an oblique collision or the like, the center bag 114 can efficiently restrain the occupant 132 without moving to the inside of the vehicle. It is possible.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the process in which the cushion 108 of FIG. 4 restrains the occupant 132 as viewed from above. Each of FIGS. 5A to 5C corresponds to each of FIGS. 4A to 4C. Hereinafter, the process in which the cushion 108 restrains the occupant 132 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5A, it is assumed that the passenger 132 of the passenger seat 104 is seated while wearing the seat belt 136. In this case, when an impact occurs in the vehicle, an operation signal is transmitted from a sensor (not shown) to the airbag device 100, and the cushion 108 is inflated and deployed as shown in FIG. 5B. In the oblique collision, the occupant 132 moves obliquely forward on the inside of the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the center bag 114 projects rearward from the main bag 112, and the head E1 of the occupant 132 contacts the side surface 162 of the center bag 114 on the vehicle exterior side from the side head E1a.

  FIG. 5C is a view in which the occupant 132 of FIG. 5B further enters the cushion 108 side. When the head E1 of the occupant 132 that moves diagonally forward contacts the main bag 112 that is present in front of the passenger seat 104, the head E1 has a rotational force (arrow) clockwise around the neck E2 as viewed from above. The rotation 140) illustrated in FIG. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rear region 160 of the center bag 114 provided on the inner side of the main bag 112 is extended to the rear of the vehicle from the main bag 112. In addition, a valley 128 is provided between the main bag 112 and the center bag 114.

  According to this configuration, the head E1 of the occupant 132 moving diagonally forward in the vehicle is restrained so as to enter the vicinity of the entrance of the valley 128 or the valley 128 while the side head E1a is in contact with the center bag 114. In particular, in the present embodiment, a support inflating portion 150 is provided on the inner side of the center bag 114, and the center bag 114 is supported on the instrument panel 102 by the support inflating portion 150. Therefore, the center bag 114 can restrain the head E1 without breaking the posture, and can reduce or cancel the rotation 140 generated in the head E1 more efficiently. According to this configuration, the angular velocity of the rotation 140 of the head E1 of the occupant 132 can be reduced, and the injury value of the head E1 accompanying the rotation 140 can be suppressed.

  Further, the rear region 160 of the center bag 114 restrains the left shoulder E3a of the occupant 132 at the rear end 166. The occupant 132 is restrained by the seat belt 136 from the right shoulder E3b outside the vehicle to the flank inside the vehicle, but the left shoulder E3a is not restrained by the seat belt 136. Therefore, in an oblique collision, the occupant may head toward the front of the vehicle with the left shoulder E3a set in front of the vehicle. In that case, the rear end 166 of the center bag 114 restrains the left shoulder E3a from the front and the upper side, and then restrains the right shoulder E3b by the main bag 112. In particular, in this embodiment, since the support inflating part 150 supports the center bag 114, the center bag 114 can also restrain the left shoulder E3a.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the center bag 114 having a stable posture by being supported by the support inflating portion 150 is used to restrain the temporal region E1a to reduce the angular velocity of the rotation 140 of the head portion E1. In addition, the left shoulder E3a is positively restrained and the rotation generated in the upper body can be offset, and the injury value of the occupant 132 can be further suppressed. Therefore, the injury value of the passenger 132 can be efficiently suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 4B, the main bag 112 is inflated so as to be sandwiched between the instrument panel 102 and the windshield 116, and the posture is stable. Since the center bag 114 is supported by the main bag 112 via the tether belt 122, the center bag 114 is prevented from being separated from the main bag 112.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the first connection portion 124 of the tether belt 122 is provided on the upper portion 142 of the center bag 114 on the vehicle rear side. The second connection portion 126 of the tether belt 122 is a vehicle inner side portion of the upper portion 144 of the main bag 112 and is provided in front of the vehicle with respect to the first connection portion 124. The center bag 114 is in a state in which the upper rear side is pulled forward by the tether belt 122 and the head E1 can be efficiently restrained in a stable posture.

  The length of the tether belt 122 is set to a length that makes tension when the main bag 112 and the center bag 114 are inflated and deployed and the first connection portion 124 and the second connection portion 126 move away from each other. By this tensioned tether belt 122, even if the head E1 of the heavy occupant 132 comes into contact with the center bag 114 from the outside of the vehicle, the center bag 114 does not leave the main bag 112 so much and the valley 128 is kept narrow. E1 can be restrained.

  The position where the second connection portion 126 is provided can be changed as appropriate. For example, the second connection portion 126 can be provided at the vehicle width direction center portion or the vehicle outer side portion of the upper portion 144 of the main bag 112. In the present embodiment, since the second connection portion 126 is provided in the vehicle inner portion of the main bag 112, the entire tether belt 122 is compared with the case where the second connection portion 126 is provided in the vehicle outer portion of the main bag 112 or the like. The length is short and the tether belt 122 is easily strained. In this way, the length of the tether belt 122 can be changed by changing the position of the second connection portion 126, and the tension of the tether belt 122, the reaction force applied to the head E1 of the occupant 132 via the center bag 114, and the like can be changed as appropriate. It is also possible.

  In the above description, with reference to FIG. 5B and the like, it has been described that the contact between the occupant 132 and the cushion 108 starts when the temporal region E1a contacts the center bag 114. However, contact between the occupant 132 and the cushion 108 is various, for example, the head E1 contacts the center bag 114 and the main bag 112 simultaneously, or the head E1 contacts the main bag 112 first. . In addition, the head E1 may contact the main bag 112 or the like after the shoulder E3 (see FIG. 4B or the like) or the chest E4 has contacted the main bag 112 or the like. However, in any case, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the head E1 of the occupant 132 can be guided and effectively restrained inside the valley 128 and the valley 128.

  FIG. 5B illustrates the clockwise rotation 140 as an example of the rotation that occurs in the head E1. However, for example, in the passenger seat of a right-hand drive vehicle, the head E1 may rotate counterclockwise around the neck as viewed from above. Also with respect to this counterclockwise rotation, according to the cushion 108 of this embodiment, the valley 128 can be used to reduce or cancel the counterclockwise rotation, and the angular velocity of the head E1 can be reduced. That is, the airbag device 100 of the present embodiment can obtain the same effect with respect to both clockwise and counterclockwise rotations that occur in the head E1.

  The process in which the cushion 108 restrains the occupant 132 will be described from another direction. FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a process in which the cushion 108 of FIG. 4 restrains the occupant 132 as viewed from the front of the vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 6A, it is assumed that the passenger 132 of the passenger seat 104 is seated while wearing the seat belt 136. In this case, when an impact occurs on the vehicle, the main bag 112 is inflated and deployed in front of the occupant 132 as shown in FIG. 6B, and the center bag 114 is located on the inner side of the occupant 132 (right side in FIG. 6B). It expands and expands forward.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the occupant 132 that has moved obliquely forward from the seating position to the inside of the vehicle brings the side head portion E1a into contact with the side surface portion 162 of the center bag 114. In addition, the left shoulder E3a that is not restrained by the seat belt 136 is restrained by the rear end portion 166 (see FIG. 4B) of the rear region 160 of the center bag 114. As illustrated in FIG. 6C, the head E <b> 1 enters the valley 128 toward the front of the vehicle while being guided by the center bag 114, and is restrained by the valley 128. At this time, since the support inflatable portion 150 supports the center bag 114 from the inside of the vehicle, the center bag 114 can restrain the head E1 of the occupant 132 without tilting to the inside of the vehicle.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the cushion 108 in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the upper body of the occupant 132 moves so as to rotate mainly around the waist E5 when the vehicle is impacted. At this time, the head E1 of the occupant 132 draws a locus 156 that moves downward from the seating position in addition to moving forward from the vehicle. In view of the locus 156 of the head E1, in this embodiment, the depth of the valley 128 is taken into consideration.

  FIG. 7 illustrates a connecting portion 158 between the center bag 114 and the main bag 112. The connecting portion 158 is an edge of a region where the center bag 114 and the main bag 112 are connected, and is also a portion constituting the bottom of the valley 128, and determines the depth of the valley 128. The connecting portion 158 is provided by sewing, the center bag 114 and the main bag 112 being connected in shape, or the like. In the present embodiment, the valley 128 is set so that the head E <b> 1 of the occupant 132 does not contact the connection portion 158. For example, when the shoulder portion E3 of the occupant 132 is restrained by the center bag 114 or the main bag 112, the connection portion 158 is provided so as to avoid the locus 156 of the head E1 resulting therefrom. According to this configuration, the head E1 does not hit the connection portion 158, and the cushion 108 in consideration of safety can be realized.

  By providing the valley 128, the area where the center bag 114 and the main bag 112 are connected is reduced, so that the center bag 114 is easily separated from the main bag 112 and inclined toward the vehicle interior side. However, in this embodiment, the support inflating part 150 supports the center bag 114 from the inside of the vehicle, and the tether belt 122 connects the upper part 142 of the center bag 114 to the upper part 144 of the main bag 112. The occupant can be restrained without leaning on the vehicle.

  The valley 128 is provided at a location where the head E <b> 1 of the occupant 132 can come into contact, while the main bag 112 and the center bag 114 are integrated below the valley 128. The portion where the main bag 112 and the center bag 114 are integrated can suitably restrain the shoulder portion E3, the chest portion E4, and the like of the occupant 132, for example.

  With the configuration described above, the center bag 114 can suitably restrain the head E1 of the occupant 132, particularly the side head E1a. In particular, the center bag 114 is supported in posture by the support inflating portion 150, and can be restrained even to the rear side of the center of gravity of the head E1 in a stable posture. The restraint of the head E1 is completed in the valley 128 between the main bag 112 and the center bag 114. In addition, the rear end 166 of the center bag 114 restrains the left shoulder E3a of the occupant 132 from the front and from above. According to these configurations, it is possible to suppress the rotation 140 and upper body rotation that may occur in the head E1 of the occupant 132, and to significantly reduce the injury value of the occupant 132. Further, by stabilizing the postures of the center bag 114 and the main bag 112 by the support inflating part 150, it becomes possible to reduce the gas capacity of the center bag 114 and the main bag 112.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments described above are preferred examples of the present invention, and other embodiments can be implemented by various methods. Can be carried out. The invention is not limited to the detailed shape, size, configuration, and the like of the components shown in the accompanying drawings unless otherwise specified in the present specification. In addition, expressions and terms used in the present specification are for the purpose of explanation, and are not limited thereto unless otherwise specified.

  Therefore, it is obvious for those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be conceived within the scope of the claims, and these naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for an airbag device for a passenger seat that restrains a passenger in the passenger seat of the vehicle from the front of the vehicle.

Claims (12)

An airbag device for restraining a vehicle occupant,
The airbag device is
A main bag that inflates and deploys in front of the vehicle in the front seat;
A center bag that inflates and deploys in the vehicle width direction inside of the main bag;
A support inflating portion that is provided further inside in the vehicle width direction of the center bag and inflates and expands so as to fill a gap between the center bag and the instrument panel of the vehicle;
Equipped with a,
The center bag restrains an occupant moving obliquely forward from the seating position at the time of an oblique collision,
The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the support inflating portion supports the center bag from the inside of the vehicle and prevents the movement of the center bag on the instrument panel .   An airbag device for restraining a vehicle occupant,
  The airbag device is
  A main bag that inflates and deploys in front of the vehicle in the front seat;
  A center bag that inflates and deploys in the vehicle width direction inside of the main bag;
  A support inflating portion that is provided further inside in the vehicle width direction of the center bag and inflates and expands so as to fill a gap between the center bag and the instrument panel of the vehicle;
  A belt-shaped tether belt connected to a first connecting portion on the vehicle rear side of the center bag and a second connecting portion on the upper portion of the main bag;
  The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the tether belt has a length of tension when the main bag and the center bag are inflated and deployed and the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion move away from each other. . The support inflating portion includes a first contour line extending horizontally from the side edge of the center bag in the vehicle width direction inner side than the side edge of the center bag in the vehicle width direction inner side. 3. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is inflated and deployed to have a contour including a second contour line extending from an end point on the inner side in the vehicle width direction to an outer side in the vehicle width direction and reaching the side edge. apparatus. 3. The air according to claim 1, wherein the support inflating portion protrudes further inward in the vehicle width direction than a vertical line in contact with the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the center bag as viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Bag device. The side edge of the center bag in the vehicle width direction is curved and protrudes,
The inflatable supporting portion, when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction, according to any one of 4 from claim 1, characterized in that it is connected to the center bag over the upper and lower vertices of the side edge of the center bag Airbag device. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the support inflating portion gradually increases in width toward the front of the vehicle. The airbag apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the center bag is inflated and deployed from above the instrument panel to the rear of the instrument panel. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the center bag projects and inflates toward the rear of the vehicle relative to the main bag. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the airbag device restrains the head of the occupant on a vehicle rear side of a valley between the main bag and the center bag. The airbag device according to claim 9 , wherein the main bag and the center bag are integrated below the valley.   The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the main bag comes into contact with a windshield of the vehicle and an upper surface portion of an instrument panel of the vehicle by inflation and deployment. The airbag device further includes a housing that is box-shaped and houses the main bag and the center bag and is provided inside the upper surface portion of the instrument panel of the vehicle,
The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the main bag and the center bag are inflated and deployed by cleaving an upper surface portion of the instrument panel.

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