JP6631956B2 - Vehicle occupant protection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device.

In a vehicle such as an automobile, a seat belt device or an airbag device is used to protect an occupant in the event of a collision.
The airbag device includes a front airbag that deploys rearward from the front side of the occupant, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. The front airbag is deployed, for example, when a vehicle collides from the front, and receives and supports an occupant trying to move forward in the case of a front collision.
Further, there is a curtain airbag that deploys in the front-rear direction along the inside of a vehicle side surface as disclosed in Patent Document 2. The curtain airbag is deployed, for example, in the event of a collision from the side of the vehicle, and receives and supports an occupant moving outward in the vehicle width direction in the event of a side collision.
In addition, there is a side airbag that is deployed between the vehicle side inner side and an occupant below the curtain airbag. The side airbag, together with the curtain airbag, receives and supports an occupant trying to move outward in the vehicle width direction in the event of a side collision.

JP 2013-014176 A JP-A-2005-067123

  Thus, the vehicle is provided with a plurality of airbags in order to cope with a plurality of collision modes. The number of airbags increases substantially proportionally according to the number of collision modes to be dealt with.

  Vehicles are required to be able to cope with a plurality of collision modes while suppressing an increase in the number of airbags.

  An occupant protection device for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a seat on which an occupant seated in the vehicle is seated, and a front side of an upper part of the body which passes from the rear side of the occupant seated on the seat to near the armpit or the side of the upper body. And an airbag device having a wrapped airbag that is bent or bent so as to wrap around the airbag device, wherein the airbag device has a contact surface that comes into contact with the wrapped airbag in a deployed state. The airbag has an airbag, and the contact surface comes into contact with the airbag at a portion opposite to a bending direction or a bending direction of the airbag.

  Preferably, the airbag device is provided as a pair on the left and right sides of the occupant seated on the seat, and wraps around the left and right shoulders, the left and right collarbones, or the front sides of the left and right upper arms and fastens the wings.

  Preferably, the embracing airbag includes a front deploying portion that deploys forward from a back portion of the seat, and an upper deploying portion that flexes and deploys upward or upward and rearward from a tip portion of the front deploying portion. And the upper deploying part is preferably deployed after the front deploying part is deployed.

  Preferably, the support airbag is deployed forward from the back of the seat along a deployment position of the front deployment section, and the contact surface is configured to contact the support airbag with a front end of the front deployment section. It is good to be provided in the front-end | tip part of a bag inclining toward back upper.

  Preferably, the support airbag has a guide recess formed from the seat toward the contact surface, and the front deployment portion of the embracing airbag is provided with the guide recess of the support airbag deployed earlier. It is good to develop along.

In the present invention, the embracing airbag is deployed by bending or bending so as to pass from the rear side of the body of the occupant seated on the seat, pass under the armpits or the side of the upper body, and wrap around to the front side of the upper body. Therefore, in the event of a collision, the upper body of the occupant who attempts to move away from the seat is caught by the curved or bent deployed airbag, and is more difficult to move. This makes it difficult for the occupant's body to move in a plurality of collision modes such as a frontal collision and a side collision.
In addition, the present invention further includes a support airbag having a contact surface that comes into contact with the embed airbag in a deployed state, and the contact surface is embraced at a portion opposite to the bending direction of the embed airbag. Contact airbag. Therefore, even if the occupant's upper body moves in the direction away from the seat and the embracing airbag attempts to deform the load in the bending direction or in the direction opposite to the bending direction, the load deformation is supported by the supporting airbag and suppressed. This makes it easier for the embracing airbag to maintain its original shape when a load is applied.
As a result, even if the load of the occupant is applied, the embracing airbag can maintain the original curved shape or the bent shape, and can suitably support the occupant so that it is difficult for the occupant to separate from the seat.
In particular, since a separate supporting airbag comes into contact with the lower side of the embracing airbag on which the load of the occupant directly acts, for example, the magnitude of the load acting on the embracing airbag due to the difference in the body shape of the seated occupant, etc. Even if the directions are different, the load applied to the supporting airbag by the embracing airbag is dispersed at the contact portion, and the supporting airbag is hardly deformed. Therefore, the hugging airbag supported by the supporting airbag is also less likely to be deformed.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an occupant protection state by various airbag devices. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an occupant protection state by the wing fastening airbag device of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the blade closing airbag device of FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation example of the wing-clamping airbag device of FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a modification of the contact portion between the embedment airbag and the support airbag. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a modification of the structure of the embracing airbag. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a modification of the support airbag. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a modification of the shape of the embracing airbag.

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

  FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an automobile 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automobile 1 is an example of a vehicle. FIG. 1 shows another vehicle running in front of the vehicle 1.

  The vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a vehicle body including a front room 2, a passenger room 3, and a rear room 4. Power units such as an engine and an electric motor are arranged in the front room 2. A luggage space is provided in the rear room 4. The passenger compartment 3 is provided with a seat 5 on which the occupant sits. In the passenger compartment 3, operating members such as an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and a steering wheel are provided in front of the driver's seat 5. The car 1 runs, stops, and turns left or right based on the operation of the driver.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an occupant protection state by various airbag devices.

FIG. 2A illustrates a front airbag device 11 that deploys the front airbag 12 backward from the front of the occupant seated on the seat 5 toward the occupant. The front airbag device 11 has an inflator, an undeployed front airbag 12, and a main body 13 that accommodates them. The main body 13 is arranged, for example, on a dashboard or a handle. When the inflator is ignited, the front airbag 12 deploys rearward. By deploying the front airbag 12 in front of the occupant sitting on the seat 5, for example, in the event of a collision from the front side, the occupant trying to move forward can be received and supported.
FIG. 2B shows a curtain airbag device 16 that deploys the curtain airbag 17 along the front-rear direction outside the occupant seated on the seat 5 and a front-rear direction below the curtain airbag 17. The side airbag device 21 for deploying the side airbag 22 is illustrated. The main body 18 of the curtain airbag device 16 is arranged, for example, on a roof rail. The curtain airbag device 16 is deployed along the window glass in a range from the A pillar to the C pillar. The main body 23 of the side airbag device 21 is arranged, for example, on the outer portion of the back of the seat 5. The side airbag device 21 deploys the side airbag 22 from the outer portion of the back of the seat 5 to the front. When the curtain airbag 17 and the side airbag 22 are deployed outside the vehicle width direction of the occupant seated on the seat 5, the occupant trying to move outward in the vehicle width direction at the time of a collision from the side can be received. Or a space between the occupant and the door.
FIG. 2C shows the front airbag device 11 and the side airbag device 21. The front airbag 12 and the side airbag 22 are deployed on the front side of the occupant seated on the seat 5 and on the outside in the vehicle width direction, so as to receive the occupant moving forward and obliquely outward in a collision from diagonally forward. Can be supported.
As described above, the automobile 1 is provided with a plurality of airbags to cope with a plurality of collision modes. The number of airbags increases substantially proportionally according to the number of collision modes to be dealt with. As collision safety standards are strengthened and reviewed in the future, more airbags will need to be provided.
For this reason, the automobile 1 is required to be able to cope with a plurality of collision modes while suppressing an increase in the number of airbags.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an occupant protection state by the wing fastening airbag device 31 of the present embodiment. 3A is a side view, FIG. 3B is a front view, and FIG. 3C is a top view.

  3 includes a right airbag device and a left airbag device. A pair is provided on the left and right sides of the occupant sitting on the seat 5.

The right airbag device includes a right embracing airbag 32, a right supporting airbag 36, and a right body 39 accommodating the inflator therewith.
The main body 39 of the right airbag device is arranged, for example, on the right side of the back of the seat 5. The main body 39 may be arranged on the right side of the seat portion of the seat 5. Here, the right side is the inside in the vehicle width direction.
The right embracing airbag 32 has a deployed shape curved in a substantially U-shape. The embracing airbag 32 is deployed forward from the main body 39, and is deployed in a posture in which the substantially U-shaped shape is on the upper side and the U-shaped concave portion 41 having the substantially U-shaped shape is directed rearward. Hereinafter, a portion of the deployed embracing airbag 32 that linearly deploys forward from the main body 39 is referred to as a forward deploying portion 33, and is bent further upward and rearward from the distal end portion of the forward deploying portion 33 upward. The portion to be deployed is referred to as an upper deployment section 34.
The right support airbag 36 has a substantially linear deployment shape equal to or longer than the front deployment portion 33. A guide recess 37 is formed in the substantially linear support airbag 36. The guide concave portion 37 is formed at an upper portion on the seat 5 side in a portion other than the front end of the support airbag 36. Thus, the support airbag 36 has a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional shape. The support airbag 36 is linearly deployed forward from the main body 39 along the deployment position of the front deployment section 33 below the embracing airbag 32. In the deployed state, the front end of the front deployment section 33 contacts the rear surface of the front end of the support airbag 36. The contact surface 38 at the tip of the support airbag 36 is formed to be inclined rearward and upward. Further, the lower surface of the front deploying portion 33 contacts from the rear end to the distal end of the support airbag 36. The substantially L-shaped support airbag 36 is in surface contact with the lower portion of the front deploying portion 33 and the outer portion away from the seat 5.

The left airbag device includes a left embracing airbag 32, a left supporting airbag 36, and a left main body 39 that accommodates an inflator with them. Here, the left side is the outside in the vehicle width direction.
The main body 39 of the left airbag device is arranged, for example, on the left side of the back of the seat 5. The main body 39 may be arranged on the left part of the seat portion of the seat 5.
The shapes and deployed states of the left embracing airbag 32 and the supporting airbag 36 are the same as those of the right side, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the blade closing airbag device 31 of FIG.

  4 includes an imaging device 51, an acceleration sensor 52, a speed sensor 53, a brake operation sensor 54, an angular speed sensor 55, a belt tension sensor 56, a belt winding amount sensor 57, a seating sensor 58, a timer 59, and these components. And a control unit 60 connected thereto. FIG. 4 also shows a seat belt device and an airbag device, which are connected to the control unit 60 and are controlled objects. The airbag device here includes a wing-closing airbag device 31.

  The imaging device 51 is, for example, a pair of imaging devices, and is provided facing forward on the roof or windshield of the passenger compartment 3 as shown in the figure, and observes a situation in front of the automobile 1 by imaging. The control unit 60 can specify, for example, an obstacle such as another car ahead of the car 1 as the surrounding situation of the car 1 from the captured image, and determine the possibility of collision of the obstacle. This makes it possible to detect the running state of the vehicle 1 before the collision.

  The acceleration sensor 52 is fixed to the vehicle body, and detects an acceleration acting on the vehicle 1 as a running state of the vehicle 1. Thereby, the deceleration of the vehicle 1 before the collision can be detected. Further, since a large deceleration occurs at the time of the collision, the collision of the automobile 1 can be detected.

  The speed sensor 53 is provided fixed to the vehicle body, and detects the speed of the vehicle 1 as the traveling state of the vehicle 1.

  The brake operation sensor 54 is provided in the passenger compartment 3 and detects a depression operation of a brake pedal by the passenger. Thereby, the deceleration operation of the automobile 1 before the collision can be detected.

  The angular velocity sensor 55 is provided fixed to the vehicle body, and detects the speed of the vehicle 1 as the traveling state of the vehicle 1.

  The belt tension sensor 56 is provided in, for example, a retractor device and detects a tension acting on the strap. Thus, it is possible to detect the movement of the body of the occupant moving relatively forward at the time of a rear-end collision, or the tension acting on the strap due to the movement of the body.

  The belt winding amount sensor 57 is provided in, for example, a retractor device, and detects the winding amount of the strap.

  The seating sensor 58 is provided, for example, on the seating surface of the seat 5 and detects an occupant sitting on the seat 5 and a seating position.

  Timer 59 measures time.

  The control unit 60 controls the occupant protection operation by the seat belt device and the airbag device based on the detection signals of these sensors. The control unit 60 performs, for example, pre-collision control based on a collision prediction, and performs collision control based on collision detection.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation example of the wing-clamping airbag device 31 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the occupant is seated on the seat 5 before the collision.
The control unit 60 periodically predicts the possibility of a collision based on an image of the imaging device 51, for example. If there is a possibility of collision, the control unit 60 activates the seat belt device to attract the occupant's upper body to the seat 5.
Thereafter, the control unit 60 detects a collision based on, for example, a detection value of the acceleration sensor 52 and the like. Then, when the collision is detected, the control unit 60 operates the airbag device.

  The wing-closing airbag device 31 first deploys the support airbag 36 as shown in FIG. The support airbag 36 is deployed forward from both left and right sides of the back of the seat 5. The support airbag 36 is deployed so as to pass under the side of the occupant or near the upper body side of the occupant seated on the seat 5 and protrude toward the occupant. At this time, if the occupant's upper limb is down, the support airbag 36 can enter between the upper limb and the trunk and expand the space between them.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the wing-clamping airbag device 31 deploys the embracing airbag 32. In the embracing airbag 32, first, the front deploying portion 33 deploys. The front deploying portion 33 deploys forward from the left and right side surfaces of the back of the seat 5 along the upper guide recess 37 of the supporting airbag 36 that has been previously deployed so as to extend in the front-rear direction. The front end of the front deploying portion 33 contacts the rear surface of the front end of the support airbag 36.

After the front deploying portion 33 is deployed in this way, the upper deploying portion 34 of the embracing airbag 32 starts to deploy. As shown in FIG. 5 (D), the upper deploying portion 34 deploys upward at the front side of the occupant's shoulder, and further deploys upward and backward so as to wrap around the occupant's shoulder.
As a result, the embracing airbag 32 protrudes forward from under the occupant's arm and expands so as to curve upward and rearward. The left and right shoulders of the occupant can be held by the pair of left and right embracing airbags 32 so that the occupant's left and right shoulders are tightened. In this state, the lower side of the front deployment portion 33 of the embracing airbag 32 that curves upward and the outer surface of the seat 5 in the width direction come into contact with the guide concave portion 37 of the support airbag 36. Further, the front end portion of the front deployment portion 33 of the embracing airbag 32 that curves upward contacts the contact surface 38 that is inclined behind the front end portion of the support airbag 36. The embedment airbag 32 contacts the support airbag 36 at a portion opposite to the bending direction.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the embracing airbag 32 is curved so as to pass from the rear side of the occupant seated on the seat 5 to pass under the armpits or the side of the upper body and wrap around to the front side of the upper body. Or it is bent and deployed. Therefore, in the event of a collision, the upper body of the occupant trying to move in a direction away from the seat 5 is caught by the folded or bent deployed airbag 32 and is less likely to move further. This makes it difficult for the occupant's upper body to separate from the seat 5 in a plurality of collision modes such as a frontal collision, a side collision, a diagonal frontal collision, and a rearward collision.
In addition, the present invention further includes a support airbag 36 having a contact surface 38 that contacts the embracing airbag 32 in the deployed state, the contact surface 38 being opposite to the direction of curvature of the embracing airbag 32. The side portion contacts the embracing airbag 32. Therefore, even when the occupant airbag 32 attempts to deform the load in the direction opposite to the bending direction or the bending direction by moving the upper body of the occupant away from the seat 5, the load deformation is prevented by the support airbag 36. It can be supported and suppressed, and the embracing airbag 32 can easily maintain its original shape when a load is applied.
As a result, even if the load of the occupant acts, the embracing airbag 32 can maintain the original curved shape or the bent shape, and can suitably support the occupant so that the occupant becomes difficult to separate from the seat 5.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since the left and right shoulders are feathered tight, the upper body of the occupant sitting on the seat 5 is feathered tightly from the left and right rear sides, so that it is difficult to leave the seat 5 as a whole.

  In the present embodiment, the embracing airbag 32 is configured such that the front deploying portion 33 first deploys forward from the back of the seat 5, and then the upper deploying portion 34 moves upward or upward from the distal end of the front deploying portion 33. Unfold backwards. Even if the embracing airbag 32 is deployed while the occupant is seated on the seat 5, the embracing airbag 32 passes from the rear side of the occupant's body, passes under the armpits or near the upper body side surface, and It can be deployed to wrap around the upper front.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the front deploying portion 33 is deployed, the front end portion thereof comes into contact with the contact surface 38 of the support airbag 36. Since the contact surface 38 is provided so as to be inclined rearward and upward, the upper deploying portion 34 that subsequently develops is easily deployed upward or upward and rearward from the front end portion of the front deploying portion 33. The deployment direction of the upper deployment portion 34 can be directed by the contact surface 38.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the front deploying portion 33 of the embracing airbag 32 deploys along the guide concave portion 37 formed from the seat 5 of the previously deployed support airbag 36 toward the inclined surface. As a result, when the support airbag 36 is deployed first, a gap is formed between the upper body side surface of the occupant seated on the seat 5 and the arm, and the embracing airbag 32 is moved through the gap to the occupant's body. Can be deployed from the back to the front. In addition, since the front deploying portion 33 of the embracing airbag 32 is deployed while being guided by the guide recess 37 of the support airbag 36, the deploying direction and state are stabilized. As a result, the upper deploying portion 34 can be stably deployed on the front side of a desired portion of the upper body.

  The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications or changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of a contact portion between the embedment airbag 32 and the support airbag 36.
6A, similarly to the embodiment, in the deployed state, the lower side of the front deployment portion 33 of the embracing airbag 32 and the outer surface in the width direction of the seat 5 are in contact with the guide recess 37 of the support airbag 36. Contact. Further, the front end portion of the front deploying portion 33 contacts the inclined contact surface 38 on the rear side of the front end portion of the support airbag 36. In particular, the inclined contact surface 38 is a surface substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the occupant's shoulder moves downward and forward. Thus, when the embracing airbag 32 attempts to move forward and downward due to the load of the occupant, this movement can be effectively suppressed by the support airbag 36.
FIG. 6B shows that, in the deployed state, the lower side of the front deployment section 33 of the embracing airbag 32 and the outer surface in the width direction of the seat 5 partially contact the guide recess 37 of the support airbag 36. . Further, the front end portion of the front deploying portion 33 contacts the inclined contact surface 38 on the rear side of the front end portion of the support airbag 36. In particular, the inclined contact surface 38 is a surface substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the occupant's shoulder moves downward and forward.
FIG. 6C shows a state in which the lower side of the front deployment portion 33 of the embracing airbag 32 and the outer surface in the width direction of the seat 5 are separated from the guide recess 37 of the support airbag 36 in the deployed state.
FIG. 6D shows the state of contact between the deployed embedment airbag 32 and the support airbag 36 as in FIG. 6A. However, the tip portion of the support airbag 36 is formed thin.
And even in these cases, when the embracing airbag 32 attempts to move forward and downward due to the load of the occupant, this movement can be effectively suppressed by the support airbag 36.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the structure of the embracing airbag 32.
In FIG. 7A, the embracing airbag 32 is divided by the partition member 61 into an air chamber for the front deploying section 33 and an air chamber for the upper deploying section 34. A valve is provided between these air chambers. In this case, the embracing airbag 32 can be configured such that the front deploying section 33 is deployed first, and thereafter, when the pressure of the front deploying section 33 exceeds the threshold value of the valve, the upper deploying section 34 is deployed.
In FIG. 7B, the embracing airbag 32 has a tether 62. The tether 62 is bridged between the lower surface of the front deploying portion 33 and the upper surface of the upper deploying portion 34. In this case, when the high-pressure gas starts flowing into the upper deploying portion 34 by further deploying the front deploying portion 33, the tether 62 is cut off, and the upper deploying portion 34 can be deployed upward.
Also in these cases, in the embracing airbag 32, the front deploying portion 33 deploys first, and then the upper deploying portion 34 deploys.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the support airbag 36.
The contact surface 38 on the rear side of the tip of the supporting airbag 36 in FIG. 8 is coated with a material having a low coefficient of friction. This makes it difficult for the embracing airbag 32, which is deployed later, to be caught by the support airbag 36, which has been deployed earlier, during deployment. The coating may be applied to the guide recess 37 or the embracing airbag 32.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a modification of the shape of the embracing airbag 32.
In FIG. 9, the embracing airbag 32 is deployed not on the left and right shoulders but on the front sides of the left and right collarbones. Alternatively, the embracing airbag 32 may go around the front side of the left and right upper arms. Even in these cases, the occupant airbag 32 allows both occupants' shoulders to be swung.

1 ... Car (vehicle)
2 front room 3 passenger room 4 rear room 5 seat 11 front airbag device 12 front airbag 13 main body 16 curtain airbag device 17 curtain airbag 18 main body 21 side airbag device 22 ... Side airbag 23 ... Body 31 ... Blade tightening airbag device 32 ... Enclosed airbag 33 ... Front deploying portion 34 ... Upward deploying portion 36 ... Support airbag 37 ... Guide recess 38 ... Contact surface 39 ... Main body 41 ... U-shaped Recess 51 imaging device 52 acceleration sensor 53 speed sensor 54 brake operation sensor 55 angular velocity sensor 56 belt tension sensor 57 belt winding amount sensor 58 seating sensor 59 timer 60 control unit 61 partition member 62 … Tether

Claims (5)

A seat on which the occupant of the vehicle sits,
An airbag device having an embracing airbag that is bent or bent and deployed so as to pass near the underarm or upper body side from the rear side of the occupant seated on the seat and pass around the front side of the upper body; ,
Has,
The airbag device,
Having a support airbag having a contact surface that comes into contact with the embedment airbag in a deployed state,
The contact surface is in contact with the embed airbag at a portion opposite to the bending direction or the bending direction of the embed airbag,
Vehicle occupant protection device. The airbag device is provided as a pair on the left and right sides of the occupant seated on the seat, wraps around the front of the left and right shoulders, the left and right collarbones, or the left and right upper arms and tightens the wings.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1. The embracing airbag has a front deploying portion that deploys forward from the back of the seat, and an upper deploying portion that flexes and deploys upward or upward and backward from the distal end of the front deploying portion. And
The upper deployment portion is deployed after the front deployment portion is deployed,
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1 or 2. The support airbag is deployed forward from the back of the seat along the deployment position of the front deployment section,
The contact surface is provided so as to be inclined rearward and upward at a front end portion of the support airbag so that a front end of the front deployment portion hits.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 3. The support airbag has a guide recess formed from the sheet toward the contact surface,
The front deploying portion of the embracing airbag deploys along the guide concave portion of the support airbag deployed earlier,
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 3.

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