JP6517659B2 - Vehicle occupant protection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device.

  In the automotive airbag device described in Patent Document 1 below, a gas supply pipe projecting above the seat back is fixed to the seat back. A bag (air bag) is attached to the gas supply pipe. In the event of a collision, the air bag is supplied with gas through the gas supply pipe, and is inflated and deployed so as to surround the head of the occupant from both the front and left and right sides.

JP 2000-344044 A

  In the air bag device of the above configuration, since the gas supply pipe protrudes upward from the seat back, it not only looks bad in the normal state, but also the gas supply when operating the vehicle seat (reclining, sliding, rotating, etc.) Pipes get in the way. Further, since the above-described airbag does not include the inflating portion that inflates and deploys above the head of the occupant, there is room for improvement in terms of protecting the head against rollover of the vehicle.

  As measures for solving the above-mentioned problems, for example, a front inflating portion inflating and deploying in front of the head, a pair of lateral inflating portions inflating and deploying in both right and left sides of the head, and inflating and deploying above the head It is conceivable to store an air bag integrally provided with the upper inflating portion on the upper end side (headrest or the like) of the vehicle seat. However, in such a configuration, since it is necessary to get over the upper part of the head and deploy the airbag, it is difficult to secure the deployment performance of the airbag. That is, for example, if the upper inflating portion starts to inflate before the front inflating portion passes through the gap between the head and the ceiling of the cabin, the front inflating portion hardly passes through the above gap, and the airbag Smooth deployment may be hampered.

  In view of the above facts, the present invention secures the deployment performance of the airbag in a configuration in which the airbag that encloses the head of the occupant from the front, left and right sides and the upper part by the expansion part is stored at the upper end side of the vehicle seat It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle occupant protection device that can be facilitated.

The vehicle occupant protection device according to the first aspect of the present invention is accommodated in the upper end side of the vehicle seat, receives an air supply from the inflator, and inflates and deploys, the air bag is supplied with the gas from the inflator. A pair of expanding frame ducts, which expand in an area including both the left and right sides of the head and the upper side, and gas are supplied through the pair of frame ducts to pass through the gap between the ceiling of the cabin and the head And expand in a region including the front of the head, and an expanding pre-inflating portion, and gas is supplied through the pair of frame ducts to expand in a region including both left and right sides of the head, and a pair of expanding sides It is configured as an integral bag including an inflation portion, and an upper inflation portion that is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, spreads in a region including the upper part of the head, and inflates, A rear part of the head of the dummy of AM 50 seated in a normal state on the vehicle seat and deployed to the rear side in the front-rear direction of the seat is a front side of the seat in the front-rear direction with respect to the rear and above the apex front to expand the region containing, and prior to expanding to the front inflating portion, the front portion, a gas via the front inflatable portion Ru is supplied.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the airbag configured as an integral bag body is accommodated on the upper end side of the vehicle seat. The air bag is inflated and deployed (deployed and inflated) by receiving a gas supply from an inflator, for example, at the time of a collision of a vehicle. The airbag includes a pair of frame ducts, a front inflating portion, a pair of lateral inflating portions, and an upper inflating portion. The pair of frame ducts are supplied with gas from the inflator, and expand and expand in a region including both the left and right sides and the upper side of the head of the occupant. The front inflating portion is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, expands through the gap between the ceiling of the cabin and the head of the passenger, and in a region including the front of the head of the passenger. The pair of lateral expansion portions are supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, expand in a region including both left and right sides of the occupant's head, and expand. The upper inflating portion is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, expands in a region including the upper side of the occupant's head, and expands. As a result, the occupant's head is surrounded from the front, the left and right sides and the upper side by the respective inflatable portions. As a result, the occupant's head can be protected not only against frontal collisions, side collisions and oblique collisions of the vehicle, but also against rollovers.

  Here, since the gas is supplied from the inflator, the pair of frame ducts inflate and deploy at an early stage prior to the other inflation portions. Further, as described above, the upper inflating portion developed in the area including the upper side of the occupant's head is on the rear side in the seat longitudinal direction than the top of the head of the dummy doll of AM 50 seated in the vehicle seat in a normal state. The unfolding rear portion is inflated prior to the front expanding portion and the front inflating portion which are deployed in an area including the front and back direction of the seat with respect to the rear portion and the upper side of the apex. Thereby, the front inflating portion and the front inflating portion of the upper inflating portion can be pushed to the front side (the side to be deployed) in the seat longitudinal direction by the rear portion of the upper inflating portion and the pair of frame duct expansion pressures. Can easily pass between the head and the ceiling of the cabin.

From the above, according to the present invention, in the configuration in which the airbag that encloses the head of the occupant from the front, left and right sides and from the upper side by the inflatable portion is stored at the upper end side of the vehicle seat, It can be made easy.
Moreover, in the present invention, a part of the gas supplied to the front inflating portion through the pair of frame ducts is supplied to the front of the upper inflating portion via the front inflating portion. Thereby, the gas supply to the front of the upper expansion portion, that is, the expansion of the front, can be delayed with a simple configuration.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to the second aspect of the present invention is accommodated in the upper end side of the vehicle seat, receives an air supply from the inflator, and inflates and deploys, the air bag is supplied with the gas from the inflator. A pair of expanding frame ducts, which expand in an area including both the left and right sides of the head and the upper side, and gas are supplied through the pair of frame ducts to pass through the gap between the ceiling of the cabin and the head And expand in a region including the front of the head, and an expanding pre-inflating portion, and gas is supplied through the pair of frame ducts to expand in a region including both left and right sides of the head, and a pair of expanding sides It is configured as an integral bag including an inflation portion, and an upper inflation portion that is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, spreads in a region including the upper part of the head, and inflates, A rear part of the head of the dummy of AM 50 seated in a normal state on the vehicle seat and deployed to the rear side in the front-rear direction of the seat is a front side of the seat in the front-rear direction with respect to the rear and above the apex The front that expands in the area including the first expansion and the front expansion expand in advance, and the front is supplied with gas via at least one of the pair of lateral expansions.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the airbag configured as an integral bag body is accommodated on the upper end side of the vehicle seat. The air bag is inflated and deployed (deployed and inflated) by receiving a gas supply from an inflator, for example, at the time of a collision of a vehicle. The airbag includes a pair of frame ducts, a front inflating portion, a pair of lateral inflating portions, and an upper inflating portion. The pair of frame ducts are supplied with gas from the inflator, and expand and expand in a region including both the left and right sides and the upper side of the head of the occupant. The front inflating portion is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, expands through the gap between the ceiling of the cabin and the head of the passenger, and in a region including the front of the head of the passenger. The pair of lateral expansion portions are supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, expand in a region including both left and right sides of the occupant's head, and expand. The upper inflating portion is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, expands in a region including the upper side of the occupant's head, and expands. As a result, the occupant's head is surrounded from the front, the left and right sides and the upper side by the respective inflatable portions. As a result, the occupant's head can be protected not only against frontal collisions, side collisions and oblique collisions of the vehicle, but also against rollovers.
Here, since the gas is supplied from the inflator, the pair of frame ducts inflate and deploy at an early stage prior to the other inflation portions. Further, as described above, the upper inflating portion developed in the area including the upper side of the occupant's head is on the rear side in the seat longitudinal direction than the top of the head of the dummy doll of AM 50 seated in the vehicle seat in a normal state. The unfolding rear portion is inflated prior to the front expanding portion and the front inflating portion which are deployed in an area including the front and back direction of the seat with respect to the rear portion and the upper side of the apex. Thereby, the front inflating portion and the front inflating portion of the upper inflating portion can be pushed to the front side (the side to be deployed) in the seat longitudinal direction by the rear portion of the upper inflating portion and the pair of frame duct expansion pressures. Can easily pass between the head and the ceiling of the cabin.
From the above, according to the present invention, in the configuration in which the airbag that encloses the head of the occupant from the front, left and right sides and from the upper side by the inflatable portion is stored at the upper end side of the vehicle seat, It can be made easy.
Moreover, in the present invention, the gas is supplied to the pair of lateral expansion portions through the pair of frame ducts. Then, a part of the gas supplied to at least one of the pair of lateral expansion portions is supplied to the front portion of the upper expansion portion via the at least one. Thereby, the gas supply to the front of the upper expansion portion can be delayed with a simple configuration.

The vehicle occupant protection device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the vehicle occupant protection device according to the first or second aspect , wherein the front portion is limited in expansion until the front inflating portion passes through the gap.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the front portion of the upper expansion portion is restricted in expansion until the front expansion portion passes through the gap between the ceiling of the cabin and the occupant's head. Thereby, the expansion of the front portion of the upper expansion portion can prevent the passage from being hindered.

The vehicle occupant protection device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the upper inflatable portion is divided into the front portion and the rear portion.

In the invention according to the fourth aspect , since the upper inflatable portion of the air bag is divided into the front and the rear, it is possible to prevent the gas supplied to the rear from flowing into the front. This facilitates control of the front and rear expansion timings.

  As described above, in the vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention, in the configuration in which the airbag that surrounds the head of the occupant from the front, left and right sides and from above by the expansion portion is stored on the upper end side of the vehicle seat, The deployment performance of the air bag can be easily secured.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an operation state of a vehicle occupant protection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing an operation state of a vehicle occupant protection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing along the F3 A-F 3 A line of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the F3 B-F 3 B line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the F3 C-F 3 C line of FIG. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a side view which shows the general | schematic whole structure before the action | operation of the passenger | crew protection apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a front view which shows the general | schematic whole structure before the action | operation of the passenger | crew protection apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged side view, partially cut away, for explaining an inflation and deployment process of the multidirectional airbag that constitutes the vehicle occupant protection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view corresponding to FIG. 5 for demonstrating the expansion deployment process of the multidirectional airbag which comprises the passenger | crew protection apparatus for vehicles which concerns on a comparative example. It is a side view which shows typically the operating state of the multidirectional airbag apparatus which comprises the passenger | crew protection apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view corresponding to FIG. 5 for demonstrating the expansion deployment process of the multidirectional airbag which comprises the passenger | crew protection apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view for demonstrating the expansion deployment process of the multidirectional airbag which comprises the passenger | crew protection apparatus for vehicles which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

First Embodiment
A vehicle occupant protection device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 5. In addition, arrow FR and arrow UP which are suitably described in each figure have each shown the front direction (direction which a seating person faces) of vehicle seat 12, and upward direction. In the following description, when simply using front and back, up and down, and left and right directions, unless otherwise noted, it indicates the front and back in the front and back directions of the seat, up and down in the seat up and down directions, and front and rear in the seat front and rear direction. I assume. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the seat of the vehicle seat 12 corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the vertical direction of the seat coincides with the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the seat width direction coincides with the vehicle width direction. And arrow IN suitably described in each figure has shown the vehicle center side by the side of the cross direction in the car as a car by which seat 12 for vehicles was carried.

(Schematic overall configuration of a vehicle occupant protection device)
As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the vehicle occupant protection device 10 is mounted on a vehicle seat 12. The vehicle seat 12 is disposed offset to the left or right (left side in the present embodiment) with respect to the center in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body (not shown) of the vehicle. The vehicle seat 12 includes a seat cushion 14, a seat back 16 whose lower end is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 14, and a head rest 18 provided on the upper end of the seat back 16. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, the headrest 18 is configured to include a headrest main body 19 attached to the seatback 16 and a module case 34 (described later) that functions as a backboard that constitutes a rear design of the headrest 18 There is. The headrest main body 19 is attached to the seat back 16 via a headrest stay 19S. The headrest stay 19S is configured such that the upper portion 19SU is located forward with respect to the lower portion 19SL supported by the seat back 16, and the lower portion 19SL and the upper portion 19SU are connected by the inclined intermediate portion 19SC.

  1, 2, 4A, 4B, etc. show a state in which a dummy doll D for a collision test is seated on the seat cushion 14 of the vehicle seat 12 as a model of a passenger (seated person) to be protected. ing. The dummy doll D is, for example, an AM 50 (50th percentile of an American adult male) of World SID (International Side Side Impact Dummy). The dummy doll D is seated in a standard seating posture (normal state) determined by the collision test method, and the vehicle seat 12 is located at a reference setting position corresponding to the seating posture. The shortest horizontal distance L1 (see FIG. 5) between the apex HT of the head H of the dummy doll and the front surface of the headrest main body 19 is set to, for example, about 200 mm. Further, the shortest horizontal distance L2 (so-called back set) between the rear surface of the head H of the dummy doll D and the front surface of the headrest main body 19 is set to, for example, about 50 mm. In addition, said head H is a site | part above the neck including the face of the dummy doll D, and has turned the face to the vehicle front (seat front). Hereinafter, in order to make the description easy to understand, the dummy doll D will be referred to as "the occupant D".

  The vehicle occupant protection device 10 includes a multidirectional airbag device 20 for protecting the occupant D from various types of collisions, a side airbag device 22, and a seat belt device 24. Hereinafter, a schematic configuration of the seat belt device 24 and the side airbag device 22 will be described, and then, a detailed configuration of the multidirectional airbag device 20 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat belt device 24 is a three-point seat belt device, and one end thereof is the other end of a belt (webbing) 28 wound up so as to be able to be pulled out by the retractor 26. It is fixed to the anchor 24A. A tongue plate 24T is provided slidably on the belt 28, and the belt 28 is attached to the occupant D by locking the tongue plate 24T to the buckle 24B. Then, with the belt 28 attached to the occupant D, the shoulder belt 28S from the retractor 26 to the tongue plate 24T of the belt 28 is attached to the upper body of the occupant D, and the lap belt from the tongue plate 24T to the anchor 24A 28L is attached to the waist P of the occupant D.

  In this embodiment, the seat belt device 24 is a so-called seat belt device with a seat in which the retractor 26, the anchor 24A, and the buckle 24B are provided on the vehicle seat 12. Also, in this embodiment, the retractor 26 has a pretensioner function to forcibly wind the belt 28 when actuated. The pretensioner function of the retractor 26 is operated by an ECU 60 described later.

  The side airbag device 22 is configured to include an inflator 22A and a side airbag 22B, and is stored in the side portion on the vehicle width direction outer side of the seatback 16 in a folded state of the side airbag 22B. The inflator 22A is adapted to generate gas within the side airbag 22B when activated. The side airbag 22B is projected forward from the side portion of the seat back 16 by the gas and configured to inflate and deploy on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the occupant D. In this embodiment, the side airbag 22B is configured to inflate and deploy on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the waist P, the abdomen A, the chest B, and the shoulder S of the occupant D.

(Configuration of multi-directional airbag device)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A, the multidirectional airbag device 20 includes a multidirectional airbag 30 as an airbag, an inflator 32, and a module case (also referred to as an airbag case) 34. It is done. The multidirectional airbag 30 is folded in a state in which the inflator 32 is connected so as to be able to supply gas as described later, and is housed in the module case 34. The multidirectional airbag device 20 thus modularized is housed in the headrest 18 on the seat back 16. The details will be described below.

<Multi-directional airbag>
The multidirectional airbag 30 receives the gas supply from the inflator 32 and inflates and deploys (deploys and inflates). In the inflated and deployed state shown in FIGS. 1 to 3C, this multi-directional airbag 30 has the head H of the occupant D (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “head H”) from the front, left and right sides and from above It is configured to surround. More specifically, the multidirectional airbag 30 is deployed at intervals in a region including the upper side and the left side on both the left and right sides of the head H, and the pair of left and right frame ducts 35 and the front of the head H Expand in the area including, and inflate in the area including the upper part of the head H. And an upper inflatable portion 48 that is inflated.

[Frame duct]
The pair of left and right frame ducts (frame chambers) 35 are respectively provided on both sides in the sheet width direction, and are configured to be expanded and deployed in a “U” shape opening downward in a side view. Specifically, the frame duct 35 is a side view in the expanded and deployed state, and the rear duct 35R extending vertically along the headrest 18, the upper duct 35U extending forward from the upper end of the rear duct 35R, and the front end of the upper duct 35U. And a front duct 35F suspended from the housing. The lower end portion of the rear duct 35R is a gas supply port to which gas is supplied from the inflator 32.

[Front inflation part]
The front inflation portion (front chamber) 36 includes a front inflation portion main body 36A inflated and deployed in front of the head H, and a lower inflation portion 36B inflated and deployed in front of the chest B and the shoulder S of the occupant D. It consists of The front inflating portion 36 is connected to the front duct 35F of the frame duct 35 located on both sides in the sheet width direction at both ends in the sheet width direction. The front inflating portion 36 is partitioned from the front duct 35F by a seam 42E (see FIG. 2) which is a non-inflating portion. On the other hand, the front inflating portion 36 is in communication with the lower portion of the front duct 35F through the communication passage 40 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lower inflating portion 36B. Therefore, in this embodiment, the connection portion between the front expansion portion 36 and the front duct 35F is configured to include the joint portion and the communication portion.

[Lateral expansion part]
The pair of left and right lateral expansion portions (lateral chambers) 38 are divided into a plurality of expansion portions by the seam 46 which is a non-inflatable portion. The laterally expanded portion 38 in the expanded and deployed state is surrounded by the frame duct 35 from the rear, upper, and front three directions, and has a substantially rectangular shape in a side view. In addition, the lateral expansion portion 38 in the expanded and deployed state has a size (area) that wraps substantially the entire head H in a side view. The seam 46 has a downward U-shaped U-shaped seam 46A that opens downward, and the lateral expansion portion 38 and the frame duct 35 are separated by the seam 46A.

  The left and right lateral expansion portions 38 communicate with the lower portion of the left and right front ducts 35F through a communication passage 44 formed below the front lower end of the U-shaped seam 46A. A communication passage may be formed under the rear lower end of the U-shaped seam 46A, and the communication passage may be used to connect the left and right lateral expansion portions 38 and the left and right rear ducts 35R.

  In addition, the seam 46 is configured to include a pair of longitudinal seams 46B that extend from the lower edge of the lateral expansion portion 38 into the opening of the U-shaped seam 46A. The pair of vertical seams 46B divides the lower portion of the horizontal expansion portion 38 into three expansion portions arranged in the front and rear direction, thereby forming the front and rear lengths in plan view of the lower portion of the horizontal expansion portion 38 in the expanded and deployed state. The length of the upper part of the upper part in plan view is shorter than the front-rear length.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the left and right lateral inflation portions 38 are configured such that the lower end 38L contacts the shoulder S of the occupant D in the inflated and deployed state of the multidirectional airbag 30. The contact of the lower end 38L of the lateral expansion portion 38 with the shoulder S determines the vertical position of the multidirectional airbag 30 in the inflated and deployed state with respect to the occupant D (head H). In this positioning state, the multidirectional airbag 30 contacts the head H with the front inflating portion 36, the left and right lateral inflating portions 38, and the upper inflating portion 48 to be described later with respect to the occupant D taking a normal sitting posture. It does not have (a gap is formed).

[Upper part]
The upper expansion portion (upper chamber) 48 is formed to have a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view in the expanded and deployed state, and is developed by connecting the upper ducts 35U of the pair of frame ducts 35 in the sheet width direction. It has become. The upper inflatable portion 48 is divided by a seam 49 (see FIG. 1) which is a non-inflatable portion into a front upper inflatable portion 48F which is a “front” and a rear upper inflatable portion 48R which is a “rear”. (Is divided). The front upper expansion portion 48F and the rear upper expansion portion 49 are integrally connected, and are configured to expand and deploy adjacently (adjacent and in contact with each other) in the seat longitudinal direction. Further, the front upper expansion portion 48F and the rear upper expansion portion 49 are formed to project upward beyond the pair of frame ducts 35 in an expanded and deployed state.

  In addition, the upper inflation portion 48 in an inflated and deployed state has a size (area) that wraps substantially the entire head H in a plan view, and the boundary between the front upper inflation portion 48F and the rear upper inflation portion 48R. The seam 49, which is an angle of curvature, is set to be positioned on the seat rear side (rear side in the seat longitudinal direction) with respect to the vertex HT of the head H. That is, the rear upper inflation portion 48R inflates and deploys on the seat rear side of the apex H of the head H and above the occipital region HB, and the front upper inflation portion 48F is in front of the seat relative to the rear upper inflation portion 48R (seat It is configured to expand and deploy in a region including the front in the front-rear direction and the upper side of the vertex HT. The front end of the rear upper inflatable portion 48R is configured to be located in the region indicated by the arrow L3 in FIG. 5 in the inflated and deployed state of the rear upper inflatable portion 48R. The area indicated by L3 is the seat front side of the descent start point FS at which the downward bending starts to increase when going from the top HT of the head H toward the back of the head HB and the top HT. It is an area on the rear side of the seat. The shortest horizontal distance L4 between the lowering start point FS and the front surface of the headrest main body 19 is set to, for example, about 100 mm.

  The front upper expanded portion 48F and the rear upper expanded portion 48R and the pair of frame ducts 35 are partitioned by a seam 45 (see FIG. 3B) which is a non-expanded portion. However, as shown in FIG. 3C, the seam 45 is partially omitted between the rear upper expansion portion 48R and the pair of frame ducts 35, and a pair of left and right communication paths 47 are formed. The rear upper expansion portion 48R and the pair of frame ducts 35 communicate with each other by the communication passage 47. These communication paths 47 are set to be positioned on the seat rear side relative to the front upper inflating portion 48F in the inflated and deployed state of the multidirectional airbag 30.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the front upper inflating portion 48F and the front inflating portion main body 36A are separated by a seam 41 which is a non-inflating portion. The seam 41 is omitted near the central portion in the seat width direction of the multidirectional airbag 30, and a communication passage 43 is formed. The front inflating portion main body 36A and the front upper inflating portion 48F communicate with each other by the communication passage 43. The present invention is not limited to the configuration in which only one communication passage 43 is formed between the front inflating portion main body 36A and the front upper inflating portion 48F, but a plurality of communication passages 43 may be formed.

[Gas supply path]
The rear ducts 35R of the pair of frame ducts 35 are disposed so as to sandwich the headrest 18 in the seat width direction in the module case 34. The inflator 32 is connected to the lower end portion of each rear duct 35R via a diverting means such as a diffuser. Thus, in the multidirectional airbag 30, the gas generated from the inflator 32 is first supplied to the pair of frame ducts 35.

  Further, in the multidirectional airbag 30, gas is supplied from the pair of frame ducts 35 to the front inflating portion 40 through the communication passages 40 formed at the ends in the seat width direction of the lower inflating portion 36B in the front inflating portion 36. It is supposed to be Furthermore, in the multidirectional airbag 30, the gas is supplied from the frame duct 35 to the lateral expansion portion 38 through the communication passage 44 formed under the front lower end of the U-shaped seam 46A in the lateral expansion portion 38. It has become.

  Further, in the multidirectional airbag 30, the communication passage 47 formed between the rear upper inflating portion 48R and the upper duct 35U of the pair of frame ducts 35 allows the rear upper inflating portion 48R from the pair of frame ducts 35. Gas is supplied to the On the other hand, gas is supplied from the front inflating portion 36 to the front upper inflating portion 48F through the communication passage 43 formed between the front upper inflating portion 48F and the front inflating portion 36.

  That is, in the multidirectional airbag 30, gas is supplied to the front inflating portion 36, the pair of lateral inflating portions 38, and the rear upper inflating portion 48R of the upper inflating portion 48 through the pair of frame ducts 35. A gas is supplied to the front upper expansion portion 48F of the expansion portion 48 from the pair of frame ducts 35 via the front expansion portion 36.

  Then, by setting the gas supply path as described above, the pair of frame ducts 35 and the rear upper inflating portion 48R correspond to the front inflating portion 36, the pair of lateral inflating portions 38, and the front upper inflating portion 48F. It is configured to expand and deploy (deploy and expand) in advance. In other words, the front inflating portion 36, the pair of lateral inflating portions 38, and the front upper inflating portion 48F are configured to inflate and deploy with a delay relative to the pair of frame ducts 35 and the rear upper inflating portion 48R. Further, in the present embodiment, the rear upper expansion portion 48R is configured to expand and deploy at the same or substantially the same timing as the upper duct 35U of the pair of frame ducts 35. The rear upper inflating portion 48 </ b> R expands to the seat rear side with respect to the apex HT of the head H in the upper inflating portion 48 and expands in advance with respect to the front upper inflating portion 48 F and the front inflating portion 36. It is a part.

  Further, in the process of inflating and deploying the multidirectional airbag 30, the front upper inflating portion 48F continues until the front inflating portion 36 passes through the gap 50 (see FIG. 5) between the head H and the ceiling RF of the vehicle compartment. The expansion is limited. Specifically, the communication passage 43, which is a gas supply port for supplying gas to the front upper expansion portion 48F, is positioned on the seat front side relative to the head portion H in the inflated and deployed state of the multidirectional airbag 30. It is set to. As a result, the communication passage 43 is closed until the front inflating portion 36 deploys to the front of the head H, and no gas or almost no gas is supplied (inflow) to the front upper inflating portion 48F.

<Others>
The multidirectional airbag 30 described above is formed into an integral bag by, for example, OPW (abbreviated as One Piece Woven), and is formed into a dome shape by joining a part of the peripheral edge by sewing. . For example, the multidirectional airbag 30 may be formed as an integral bag by a method (Cut & Sew) in which the peripheries of two woven fabrics are sewn together. The multidirectional airbag 30 is configured to be stored on the upper end side (herein, in the headrest 18) of the vehicle seat 12 in a folded state. The folding configuration of the multidirectional airbag 30 will be described later together with the configuration of the deployment guiding cloth 58 and the configuration of the module case 34.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the multidirectional airbag 30 in the unconstrained inflated and deployed state that does not restrain the occupant D is heavy in a side view on the side airbag 22B in the unconstrained inflated and deployed state that does not restrain the occupant D. It is considered as (non-wrapping) composition. In other words, the multidirectional airbag 30 and the side airbag 22B are configured not to have the inflating / deploying portions that at least wrap in a side view in an unconstrained inflating / deploying state of each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the multidirectional airbag 30 in the unconstrained inflated and deployed state is configured so as not to overlap the side airbag 22B in the unconstrained inflated and deployed state when the occupant D is not restrained. There is.

[Inflator]
The inflator 32 is of the combustion type or of the cold gas type, and is adapted to supply the gas generated by the operation into the multidirectional airbag 30. In this embodiment, the inflator 32 is a cylinder type inflator, and is disposed in the module case 34 with the sheet width direction as the longitudinal direction. The operation of the inflator 32 is controlled by an ECU 60 as a control device described later.

[Module case]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the module case 34 is disposed on the seat back 16 behind the headrest main body 19. In this embodiment, the module case 34 is a backboard that constitutes (the rear design of) the headrest 18. That is, the module case 34 in the present embodiment is configured to serve as an element of the multidirectional airbag device 20 and an element of the headrest 18. Therefore, the multidirectional airbag 30 is disposed inside (inside) the rear of the headrest 18.

  The module case 34 protrudes above the upper end of the headrest main body 19 in a front view, and protrudes to both sides in the seat width direction with respect to the headrest main body 19. That is, the module case 34 covers the headrest main body 19 from the rear. In this embodiment, the module case 34 covers the rear of the headrest main body 19 from above and from both the left and right sides, and constitutes the rear design of the headrest 18 as described above.

  More specifically, the module case 34 includes a base portion 34B, a main wall 34M as a rear wall, and a pair of side walls 34S opposed in the sheet width direction as main portions. The base portion 34 </ b> B is a fixing portion to the upper end of the seat back 16.

  The main wall 34M extends upward from the rear end of the base portion 34B, is inclined forward so that the upper end is positioned forward with respect to the lower end fixed on the seat back 16, and back upward in a side view It has a curved shape that is convex. The main wall 34M protrudes above the upper end of the headrest main body 19 in a front view, and protrudes to both sides in the seat width direction with respect to the headrest main body 19.

  A space for storing the multidirectional airbag 30 in a folded state is formed between the main wall 34M and the headrest main body 19. Further, the upper end of the main wall 34M extends to the upper side of the headrest main body 19. Between the upper end portion of the main wall 34M and the headrest main body 19, the multidirectional airbag 30 in the process of inflation and deployment passes.

  The pair of side walls 34S extends forward from both ends in the seat width direction of the main wall 34M, and covers the rear of the headrest main body 19 in a side view. The rear duct 35R mainly passes through the multidirectional airbag 30 in the inflated and deployed state between the pair of side walls 34S and the headrest main body 19.

  The module case 34 described above accommodates the multidirectional airbag 30 in a folded state with the headrest main body 19. In the module case 34, the left and right rear ducts 35R sandwich the headrest main body 19 in the seat width direction. Then, the inflator 32 connected to the lower end of the left and right rear ducts 35R through the flow dividing means such as a diffuser is fastened to the seat back frame in a state where the stud bolt penetrates the base 34B of the module case 34 There is.

  Further, the multidirectional airbag 30 is outer-roll folded and stored in the module case 34. The outer roll folding is a roll-shaped folding mode from the front end side to the upper side and the rear side so as to fold the development process of the frame duct 35 in a reverse direction in a side view (FIG. 5 See rolled folds 30R shown). In other words, the outer roll folding is a folding mode in which the roll folded portion 30R is located on the side opposite to the head H side in the process of deploying the multidirectional airbag 30. In FIG. 5, a state in which the rear upper inflatable portion 48R is inflated is illustrated by a two-dot chain line. Further, in the multidirectional airbag 30, the laterally spread portion 38 is folded inward before the front inflating portion 36 and the frame duct 35 are outer-roll folded.

  At least a part of the multidirectional airbag 30 in the folded state is disposed behind the upper portion 19SU and the middle portion 19SC of the headrest stay 19S of the headrest main body 19. In the headrest main body 19 of this embodiment, a cushioning material (pad) 19C at the rear of the upper portion 19SU and the middle portion 19SC of the headrest stay 19S is thinly formed, and a storage space in a folded state between the cushioning material 19C and the module case 34 Is formed. When the multi-directional airbag 30 receives the gas supply from the inflator 32, the multi-directional airbag 30 inflates and deploys from the space between the cushion material 19C and the module case 34 to the outside of the module case 34 while eliminating the outer roll folding. ing.

  At this time, the main wall 34M of the module case 34 is configured to support the multidirectional airbag 30 in the process of inflation and deployment from the rear (take a reaction force for moving forward). At this time, the main wall 34M of the module case 34 is configured to guide the multidirectional airbag 30 in the inflation and deployment process forward (upward and forward) by the curved shape in the side view described above. Therefore, the main wall 34M in this embodiment functions as a support wall and a guide wall.

  Further, in the module case 34, a deployment guiding cloth 58 as a guiding cloth is folded and stored together with the multidirectional airbag 30. In the module case 34, the deployment induction cloth 58 is disposed on the outer side (the main wall 34M side) of the multidirectional airbag 30 folded outward as described above at the base end side of the inflator 32 or the multidirectional airbag 30. Connected to the part of. On the other hand, the leading end side of the deployment guiding cloth 58 covers the roll folded portion 30R of the multidirectional airbag 30 in the opposite direction (counterclockwise direction) to the roll direction (clockwise in FIG. 5) of the outer roll folded portion 30R. It is arrange | positioned inside (headrest 18 side).

  The deployment guiding cloth 58 is led out of the module case 34 as the multidirectional airbag 30 inflates and deploys (rolls are unfolded) as shown by imaginary lines in FIG. 5 and precedes the multidirectional airbag 30. The multidirectional airbag 30 is deployed between the multidirectional airbag 30 and the cabin ceiling RF. Further, the coefficient of friction with the multidirectional airbag 30 of the deployment guiding cloth 58 is smaller than that of the ceiling material of the automobile to which the vehicle occupant protection device 10 is applied. In this embodiment, the surface on the roof ceiling RF side of the deployment induction cloth 58 is coated with a silicon, and the contact surface of the deployment induction cloth 58 with the multidirectional airbag 30 is a low friction surface not coated with a silicon coat. It is done.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the air bag door 33 closes between the module case 34 and the headrest main body 19 in a front view. The air bag door 33 is configured to allow forward expansion and development of the multidirectional airbag 30 by being broken by the deployment of the multidirectional airbag 30, triggered by the tear line 33T which is a fragile portion. There is.

(Configuration of ECU)
As shown in FIG. 4A, the multidirectional airbag device 20, the side airbag device 22, and the seat belt device 24 constituting the vehicle occupant protection device 10 are controlled by the ECU 60 as a control device. There is. Specifically, the inflator 32 of the multidirectional airbag device 20, the inflator 22A of the side airbag device 22, and the retractor 26 (pretensioner function) of the seat belt device 24 are electrically connected to the ECU 60, respectively. Further, the ECU 60 is electrically connected to the collision sensor 62 (or a sensor group).

  Based on the information from the collision sensor 62, the ECU 60 can detect or predict various types of frontal collisions (occurrence or unavoidable) of the applied vehicle for each collision type described later. Further, the ECU 60 can detect or predict a side collision (occurrence or unavoidable) of the applied vehicle based on the information from the collision sensor 62.

  When the ECU 60 detects or predicts a side collision based on the information from the collision sensor 62, it activates the inflators 22A and 32. Further, when the front collision is detected or predicted based on the information from the collision sensor 62, the ECU 60 operates the inflator 32 and the retractor 26. The front collision mode in which the ECU 60 operates the inflator 32 and the retractor 26 is a full-wrap front collision, an offset front collision, or the like.

  When the ECU 60 detects or predicts a frontal collision to a position offset by a predetermined value or more to one side in the vehicle width direction based on information from the collision sensor 62, it activates the inflators 22A, 32, and the retractor 26. It is supposed to Such a frontal collision to a position offset by a predetermined value or more on one side in the vehicle width direction includes an oblique collision, a minute lap collision, and the like.

  Here, an oblique collision (MDB oblique collision, oblique collision) is, for example, a collision from the oblique front defined by NHTSA (as an example, a relative angle of 15 ° with the other side of the collision, a wrap amount of about 35% in the vehicle width direction) Clash). In this embodiment, an oblique collision at a relative velocity of 90 km / hr is assumed as an example. Further, the small lap collision is a collision of the vehicle width direction with the collision opponent specified by IIHS, for example, in the frontal collision of the vehicle, which is 25% or less. For example, a collision in the vehicle width direction with respect to a front side member which is a vehicle body frame corresponds to a small lap collision. In this embodiment, a minute wrap collision at a relative velocity of 64 km / hr is assumed as an example.

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

  In the multidirectional airbag device 20 of the vehicle occupant protection device 10, the multidirectional airbag 30 configured as an integral bag body is accommodated in the headrest 18 of the vehicle seat 12. When gas is supplied from the inflator 32, the multidirectional airbag 30 is guided by the module case 34 and the deployment guiding cloth 58, and is inflated and deployed forward from the headrest 18 while the outer roll folding is canceled.

  The multidirectional airbag 30 includes a pair of frame ducts 35, a front inflating portion 36, a pair of lateral inflating portions 38, and an upper inflating portion 48. A pair of frame ducts 35 is supplied with gas from the inflator 32, and is deployed and inflated in a region including both the left and right sides of the head portion H of the occupant D and the upper side. The front inflating portion 36 is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts 35, expands through a gap 50 between the ceiling RF of the cabin and the head H and expands in a region including the front of the head H. In the pair of lateral expansion portions 38, a part of the gas supplied to the front expansion portion 36 through the pair of frame ducts 35 is supplied through the communication passage 44, expands in a region including the left and right sides of the head H, and expands. . The upper inflating portion 48 is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts 35, expands in a region including the upper portion of the head H, and expands. Thereby, the head H is surrounded from the front, the left and right sides, and the upper side by the multidirectional airbag 30 in the inflated and deployed state. As a result, the head H can be protected against rollovers as well as frontal collisions, side collisions and oblique collisions of the vehicle.

  Here, since the gas is directly supplied from the inflator 32, the pair of frame ducts 35 expand and deploy at an early stage prior to the other expansion portions. Further, as described above, the upper inflating portion 48 expanding upward with respect to the head H is a rear upper inflating portion 48R which expands to the seat rear side with respect to the apex HT of the head H. The front inflating portion 48F, which expands in a region including the seat front side and above the apex HT, and the inflating portion 36 expand in advance. Thereby, the front upper expansion portion 48F and the front expansion portion 36 can be pushed to the seat front side (the side to be expanded) by the expansion pressure of the rear upper expansion portion 48R and the pair of frame ducts 35 (arrow in FIG. 5). See F). As a result, the front inflating portion 36 can easily pass between the head H and the ceiling RF.

  From the above, according to the present embodiment, the multidirectional airbag 30 surrounding the head H of the occupant D from the front, left and right sides and upper side in the inflated and deployed state is the upper end side of the vehicle seat 12 (here, the headrest 18 The multi-directional airbag 30 can be easily maintained in the deployment performance in the configuration stored in FIG.

  The above effects are supplemented using the vehicle occupant protection device 70 (comparative example) shown in FIG. In the multidirectional airbag 30 of the vehicle occupant protection device 70, in the upper inflatable portion 48 deployed above the head portion H, the front upper inflatable portion 48F and the rear upper inflatable portion 48R are not partitioned, The upper side expansion portion 48R is not configured to expand in advance to the front upper side expansion portion 48F. That is, the front upper expansion portion 48F expands at the same or substantially the same timing as the rear upper expansion portion 48R. In the vehicle occupant protection device 70, the configuration other than the above is the same as that of the vehicle occupant protection device 10 according to the present embodiment. In the multidirectional airbag 30 of the vehicle occupant protection device 70, when the upper inflating portion 48 starts to inflate before the front inflating portion 36 passes through the gap 50 between the head H and the ceiling RF, the front inflating occurs. It becomes difficult for the portion 36 to pass through the gap 50. As a result, the smooth deployment of the multidirectional airbag 30 may be impeded, but this can be avoided in the present embodiment.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the rear upper inflatable portion 48R and the pair of frame ducts 35 are inflated and deployed early, the front upper inflatable portion 48F, the front inflatable portion 36, and the pair of lateral inflatable portions 38 are deployed at the time of deployment. The reaction force to the seat front side is received from the side upper expanded portion 48R and the pair of frame ducts 35. Thus, the deployment of the front upper inflatable portion 48F, the front inflatable portion 36, and the pair of lateral inflatable portions 38 can be assisted, and the deployment performance of the multidirectional airbag 30 can be further easily ensured.

  Moreover, in the present embodiment, the front upper inflating portion 48F is limited in expansion until the front inflating portion 36 passes through the gap 50 in the process of inflating and deploying the multidirectional airbag 30. Thereby, the above passage can be prevented from being obstructed by the expansion of the front upper expansion portion 48F. Therefore, securing of the deployment performance of the multidirectional airbag 30 can be further facilitated.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the upper inflation portion 48 is divided into a front upper inflation portion 48F and a rear upper inflation portion 48R. This prevents the gas supplied to the rear upper inflatable portion 48R from flowing into the front upper inflatable portion 48F, so that it is easy to control the expansion timing of the front upper inflatable portion 48F and the rear upper inflatable portion 48R. Moreover, since the internal pressure of the rear upper inflatable portion 48R can be increased early without affecting the expansion of the front upper inflatable portion 48F, the front upper inflatable portion 48F and the front inflatable portion 36 can be The inflating portion 48R enables the seat to be pushed well. As a result, it becomes easier to secure the deployment performance of the multidirectional airbag 30.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a part of the gas supplied to the front inflating portion 36 through the pair of frame ducts 35 is on the front side through the communication passage 43 formed between the front inflating portion 36 and the front upper inflating portion 48F. The expanded portion 48F is supplied. Thereby, the gas supply to the front upper expansion portion 48F, that is, the expansion of the front upper expansion portion 48F can be delayed with a simple configuration.

(Other embodiments)
Next, another embodiment will be described. In addition, about the structure and effect | action fundamentally similar to 1st Embodiment, the code | symbol same as 1st Embodiment is provided, and the description and illustration may be abbreviate | omitted.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing the operation state of the vehicle occupant protection device 80 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the side airbag device 22 and the seat belt device 24 are not shown. In the multidirectional airbag 82 included in the vehicle occupant protection device 80, the gas supply path to the pair of lateral inflating portions 38 and the front upper inflating portion 48F is different from that of the multidirectional airbag 30 according to the first embodiment. There is. Specifically, in the multidirectional airbag 82, the communication passage 43 according to the first embodiment is omitted. Further, in the multidirectional airbag 82, communication passages 84 are respectively formed between the rear portions of the upper ducts 35U of the pair of frame ducts 35 and the pair of lateral expansion portions 38. Further, communication passages 86 are respectively formed between the front end upper end corner portions of the pair of lateral expansion portions 38 and the front upper expansion portion 48F. The communication passage 86 is set to be positioned forward of the apex HT of the head H in the inflated and deployed state of the multidirectional airbag 82. Further, the opening area of the communication passage 84 is set to be larger than the opening area of the communication passage 86.

  In this embodiment, a portion of the gas supplied to the pair of frame ducts 35 is supplied to the pair of lateral expansion portions 38 through the communication passage 84 (see arrow G1 in FIG. 7). Then, a part of the gas supplied to the pair of lateral expansion portions 38 is supplied to the front upper expansion portion 48F through the communication passage 86 (see the arrows G2 and G3 in FIG. 7). That is, in this embodiment, the gas from the inflator 32 is supplied to the upper front inflation portion 48F via the pair of lateral inflation portions 38. Thereby, also in this embodiment, the front upper inflating portion 48F inflates until the front inflating portion 36 passes through the gap 50 between the head H and the ceiling RF in the process of inflating and deploying the multidirectional airbag 82. The configuration is limited. Also in this embodiment, the pair of frame ducts 35 and the rear upper inflatable portion 48R precede the front upper inflatable portions 48F of the front inflatable portion 36, the pair of lateral inflatable portions 38, and the upper inflatable portion 48. It is configured to expand and deploy.

  In this embodiment, the configuration other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, also in this embodiment, basically the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the gas from the inflator 32 is supplied to the upper front expansion portion 48F through the pair of frame ducts 35 and the pair of lateral expansion portions 38, the expansion of the front upper expansion portion 48F can be delayed with a simple configuration. it can. Although one of the pair of communication paths 86 is not formed, that is, the gas is supplied from the one of the pair of lateral expansion portions 38 to the front upper expansion portion 48F. A configuration may be adopted in which no gas is supplied to the front upper expansion portion 48F from the other.

Third Embodiment
FIG. 8 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing an inflation and deployment process of the multidirectional airbag 30 constituting the vehicle occupant protection device 90 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the vehicle occupant protection device 90, the upper inflation portion 48 of the multidirectional airbag 30 is not divided into the front upper inflation portion 48F and the rear upper inflation portion 48R, and the communication passage 43 according to the first embodiment. Is omitted. Further, in the multidirectional airbag device 90, the method of folding the multidirectional airbag 30 is different from that of the first embodiment.

  Specifically, the multidirectional airbag 30 is configured such that the portion on the front side of the boundary BL between the front upper inflating portion 48F and the rear upper inflating portion 48R is folded out (see FIG. 8). Refer to a roll folded portion 30R shown by a two-dot chain line). Further, the multidirectional airbag 30 is configured such that a portion on the rear side of the boundary BL is bellows-folded (refer to a bellows-folded portion 30B indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 8). This bellows fold is superior to the outer roll fold in deployment performance. Thereby, the rear upper inflatable portion 48R is inflated in advance to the front upper inflatable portion 48F and the front inflatable portion 36, and the front inflatable portion 36 passes through the gap 50 between the head H and the ceiling RF. Until then, the expansion of the front upper expansion portion 48F is limited. In this embodiment, the configuration other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment. Also in this embodiment, basically the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Fourth Embodiment
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the process of inflating and deploying the multidirectional airbag 102 constituting the vehicle occupant protection device 100 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the multidirectional airbag 102, the communication passage 43 according to the first embodiment is omitted, and instead, the communication passage 102 is formed between the front upper inflating portion 48F and the rear upper inflating portion 48R. There is. The communication passage 102 is formed by partially omitting the seam 49, and the front upper expansion portion 48F and the rear upper expansion portion 48R communicate with each other by the communication passage 102. However, in the upper inflatable portion 48, the portion where the communication passage 102 is formed is sewn by the tear seam 104. The tear seam 104 is configured to be broken when gas is supplied to the rear upper expansion portion 48R and the internal pressure of the rear upper expansion portion 48R becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value. Then, the supply (inflow) of gas into the upper front expansion portion 48F is restricted or limited until the tear seam 104 breaks. Thereby, the rear upper inflatable portion 48R is inflated in advance to the front upper inflatable portion 48F and the front inflatable portion 36, and the front inflatable portion 36 passes through the gap 50 between the head H and the ceiling RF. Until then, the expansion of the front upper expansion portion 48F is limited. In this embodiment, the configuration other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment. Also in this embodiment, basically the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

<Other Modifications>
Although the vehicle occupant protection devices 10, 80, 90, and 100 each include the side airbag device 22 in each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vehicle occupant protection device 10 or the like may not include the side airbag device 22. Further, in the configuration in which the vehicle occupant protection device 10 and the like include the side airbag device, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the side airbag device is provided on the vehicle seat 12. For example, the vehicle occupant protection device 10 or the like may be configured by providing a side airbag device provided on a side door or the like. Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the vehicle occupant protection device 10 and the like include the side airbag device 22 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vehicle occupant protection device 10 and the like may be configured to include a side airbag device disposed on the center side in the vehicle width direction instead of or in addition to the side airbag device 22 outside the vehicle width direction.

  Moreover, although the vehicle occupant protection device 10, 80, 90, 100 showed the example provided with the seat belt apparatus 24 in each embodiment mentioned above, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the vehicle occupant protection device 10 or the like may not include the seat belt device 24. Further, in the configuration in which the vehicle occupant protection device 10 and the like include the seat belt device, the configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the seat belt device is provided on the vehicle seat 12. For example, a retractor, an anchor, a buckle or the like may be provided on the vehicle body side. Further, in the configuration in which the vehicle occupant protection device 10 and the like include the seat belt device, the seat belt device is not limited to the three-point type, and may be a four-point or two-point seat belt device.

  Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, an example is shown in which the vehicle seat 12 is disposed with the seat width direction aligned with the vehicle width direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vehicle seat 12 may be disposed obliquely with respect to the vehicle body, and may be configured such that the direction with respect to the vehicle body can be changed (rotation about the vertical axis). In such a configuration, the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the vehicle seat 12 do not coincide with the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the vehicle, but the longitudinal direction and the width direction (lateral direction) of the vehicle seat 12 are based The positional relationship between the multidirectional airbags 30, 82 and the head H is the same as in the above embodiments. In such a configuration, the configuration provided with multidirectional airbags 30, 82 that are inflated and deployed around the head H of the occupant D can contribute to the good protection of the head H. Further, since the multidirectional airbag 30 and the like before inflation and deployment are accommodated in the headrest 18, they are less likely to interfere with the vehicle interior surface and the components inside the vehicle interior, and inhibit the operation of changing the direction of the vehicle seat 12 with respect to the vehicle body. Is suppressed or prevented.

  Furthermore, although the example in which the multidirectional airbag apparatus 20 was accommodated in the headrest 18 was shown in each above-mentioned embodiment, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the multidirectional airbag device 20 may be stored in the seat back 16, or may be stored in a headrest integrated seat back like a bucket type seat. Furthermore, the multidirectional airbag device 20 may be provided straddling the seat back 16 and the headrest 18. That is, the present invention is not limited to application to the configuration in which the headrest and the seat back are clearly distinguished. Also, for example, in the configuration in which the seat back 16 includes the backboard, the multidirectional airbag device 20 may be housed between the backboard and the seatback main body. Further, in the configuration in which the multidirectional airbag device 20 is provided in the headrest, the configuration is sufficient as long as the function of the headrest can be achieved. For example, even if the multidirectional airbag device 20 is provided between the cushioning material and the surface material of the headrest. good.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the multidirectional airbag 30 or the like is inflated and deployed between the module case 34 and the upper portion and the left and right side portions of the headrest main body 19 in the front view. Is not limited to this. For example, the multidirectional airbag 30 or the like may be deployed only from above the headrest main body 19.

  Moreover, although the example in which the multidirectional airbag apparatus 20 was equipped with the deployment guidance cloth 58 was shown in each embodiment mentioned above, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the deployment guiding cloth 58 may not be provided. For example, instead of providing the deployment induction cloth 58, the ceiling material of the cabin ceiling may be formed of a low friction material, or the cabin ceiling may be subjected to low friction processing.

  Moreover, in each embodiment mentioned above, although it was set as the structure which gas is not directly supplied with respect to the front side upper expansion part 48F from a pair of flame | frame duct 35, this invention is not limited to this. That is, a communication passage may be formed between the pair of frame ducts 35 and the front upper expansion portion 48F, and gas may be supplied to the front upper expansion portion 48F through the communication path. However, the cross-sectional area of the communication passage needs to be set small so that the front upper expansion portion 48F expands with a delay to the rear upper expansion portion 48R.

  It goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the configurations (elements) of the above embodiments may be combined or rearranged as appropriate.

10 Vehicle occupant protection device 12 Vehicle seat 30 Multi-directional airbag (air bag)
32 Inflator 35 Frame duct 36 Front inflatable portion 38 Lateral inflatable portion 43 Communication passage (gas supply port)
48 Upper inflation part 48F Front upper inflation part (front part)
48R Rear upper expansion (rear)
50 Clearance 80 Vehicle occupant protection device 82 Multi-directional air bag (air bag)
90 Vehicle occupant protection device 100 Vehicle occupant protection device D Dummy doll (Occupant)
H Dummy Doll Head HT Dummy Doll Head Vertex

Claims (4)

An air bag housed on the upper end side of the vehicle seat and inflated and deployed by receiving gas supply from the inflator is
A pair of frame ducts that are supplied with gas from the inflator and expand and inflate in a region including both the left and right sides and the upper side of the head of the occupant;
A front inflating portion which is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, spreads in a region including the front of the head through a gap between a ceiling of the cabin and the head, and expands;
A pair of lateral expansion parts that are supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, expand in a region including both left and right sides of the head, and expand;
An upper inflation portion which is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, spreads in a region including the upper side of the head, and expands;
Configured as a one-piece bag containing
The upper inflating portion has a rear portion which is developed to the rear side in the seat longitudinal direction with respect to the apex of the head of the dummy doll of AM 50 seated in a regular state on the vehicle seat. An anterior portion expanding in a region including the upper side of the vertex, and an anterior portion expanding with respect to the front portion ,
The front portion, the vehicle occupant protection apparatus gas Ru is supplied via the front inflatable section. An air bag housed on the upper end side of the vehicle seat and inflated and deployed by receiving gas supply from the inflator is
A pair of frame ducts that are supplied with gas from the inflator and expand and inflate in a region including both the left and right sides and the upper side of the head of the occupant;
A front inflating portion which is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, spreads in a region including the front of the head through a gap between a ceiling of the cabin and the head, and expands;
A pair of lateral expansion parts that are supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, expand in a region including both left and right sides of the head, and expand;
An upper inflation portion which is supplied with gas through the pair of frame ducts, spreads in a region including the upper side of the head, and expands;
Configured as a one-piece bag containing
The upper inflating portion has a rear portion which is developed to the rear side in the seat longitudinal direction with respect to the apex of the head of the dummy doll of AM 50 seated in a regular state on the vehicle seat. An anterior portion expanding in a region including the upper side of the vertex, and an anterior portion expanding with respect to the front portion,
The front portion is a vehicle occupant protection device supplied with gas via at least one of the pair of lateral expansion portions . Said front, said front expansion portion occupant protection apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2 Ru limited expansion until passing through the gap. Wherein the expansion unit, vehicle occupant protection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 that have been partitioned into said rear and the front.

Images