JP6860403B2 - Vehicle occupant protection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an occupant protection device for a vehicle such as an automobile.

In automobiles, airbags such as front airbags are deployed around the occupants, and the occupants fall down on the airbags to absorb the impact acting on the occupants in the event of a collision (Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-037134

However, for example, a front airbag deployed in front of the seat needs to be largely deployed from the front to the rear from the interior members arranged around the seat toward the occupant seated on the seat. It is necessary to absorb the load of the occupant in the greatly expanded state.
For this reason, inflators used in front airbags and the like need to generate a large amount of high-pressure gas instantly. In addition, it takes time, if at all, from the start of deployment of the front airbag to the deployment of the front airbag in a state where it can absorb the load.
In an airbag that is deployed from an interior member arranged around the seat toward an occupant seated on the seat, the balance between the deployment capacity and the effect is basically poor.
Moreover, if the size such as the width of the airbag is increased to cope with the collapse of the occupant due to various collisions, or if the deployment speed is increased to improve the immediacy, the balance will be further deteriorated. It will be.

In addition, with an airbag that is deployed from the interior members placed around the seat toward the occupant seated on the seat, it takes time to deploy, so the occupant's upper body may fall forward during the deployment period. The seating posture of the occupant may change.
Even if the front airbag is deployed to an occupant whose hips are already lifted from the seat or whose upper body is tilted down, the front airbag may not be able to fully demonstrate its performance.

As described above, the occupant protection device is required to improve the protection performance of the occupant.

The vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention is provided on the side of the vehicle seat and is provided on the armrest on which the arm of the occupant seated on the seat can be placed, and the armrest is provided on the armrest and the arm is placed on the armrest. It has a restraining member for restraining and a control unit for restraining the arm portion to the armrest by the restraining member when a collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted.

Preferably, the restraining member restrains the arm portion on the armrest.

Preferably, the restraining member is restrained by pressing the forearm portion of the occupant seated on the seat from above and sandwiching it between the restraining member and the armrest.

Preferably, the distance between the restraining member and the armrest is narrower on the front side of the occupant seated on the seat than on the rear side.

Preferably, the restraining member restrains the arm portion on the front side of the upper arm portion so that the elbow portion of the occupant seated on the seat touches the armrest.

Preferably, the restraint member has a restraint airbag that begins to deploy upward from the side of the armrest, and the restraint airbag that has begun to deploy upward is curved so as to wrap around the upper side of the armrest. It is good to deploy it.

Preferably, the restraint member has a pair of restraint airbags that begin to deploy upward from both sides of the armrest, and the pair of restraint airbags that begin to deploy upward are on the armrest. It is preferable that the armrests are unfolded so as to spread out and touch each other on the upper side of the armrest.

Preferably, the armrest and the restraining member are provided on both the left and right sides of the seat.

Preferably, it has a front airbag device that deploys a front airbag in front of the seat, and the control unit restrains the arm portion to the armrest by the restraining member when a collision of the vehicle is predicted. It is preferable to deploy the front airbag when the collision of the vehicle is detected.

Preferably, the control unit does not constrain the arm to the armrest by the restraining member when the vehicle is expected to roll over or turn inside out due to a collision, even when the vehicle is predicted to collide. , And good.

Preferably, when the control unit detects that the vehicle rolls over or turns inside out due to a collision, the control unit releases the restraint of the arm portion by the restraint member.

In the present invention, when a vehicle collision is detected or predicted, the arm portion of the occupant seated on the seat is restrained by the restraining member provided on the armrest. Therefore, the restraint member can function near the seat to restrain the occupant in a short time.
Moreover, if the occupant's arms seated on the seat are not restrained, even if the occupant's waist floats from the seat or the occupant's upper body falls down, the occupant's waist and upper part It is possible to keep the body seated on the seat.
As a result, in the event of a collision, the occupant will fall from, for example, with his back and hips still attached to the seat, and the occupant will be able to fall into the desired state with respect to the front airbag deployed in the event of a collision, for example. ..
The occupant protection device can maintain the seated posture of the occupant by the restraint member operating near the occupant and absorb the impact acting on the occupant in a desired state in the event of a collision.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an automobile to which the occupant protection device according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of occupant protection performance by the front airbag. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the occupant protection device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the armrest airbag device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the armrest airbag device of FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view of the armrest airbag device of FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processing performed when the control unit predicts a collision. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the unfolding operation of the armrest airbag device. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing performed when the control unit detects a collision. FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating the armrest airbag device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of the armrest airbag device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of the armrest airbag device according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of processing performed when the control unit according to the fifth embodiment predicts a collision. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of processing to be performed when the control unit according to the sixth embodiment detects a collision.

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

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an automobile 1 to which the occupant protection device 10 of the automobile 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied.
FIG. 1 shows an automobile 1 as viewed from above. The automobile 1 is an example of a vehicle.
The automobile 1 of FIG. 1 has a vehicle body 2. A plurality of seats 4 on which the occupants are seated are arranged in the occupant room 3 of the vehicle body 2. A steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal (not shown) are arranged in front of the front right seat 4. When the occupant seated on the seat 4 operates the steering wheel or the like, the automobile 1 makes a forward, stop, reverse, right turn, or left turn.

By the way, the automobile 1 may collide with another automobile 1 or the like while traveling. The input of the collision may be the front surface of the vehicle body 2 or the side surface. Further, also on the front surface, there are a full-wrap collision input in the center, an offset collision shifted to the side, a collision input diagonally, and the like.
In order to cope with these various collision forms, in the automobile 1, various airbag devices are used together with the seatbelt device 14.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of occupant protection performance by the front airbag 18.
In FIG. 2A, the seat belt 15 is hung in front of the occupant seated on the seat 4. Further, in front of the seat 4, the front airbag 18 is deployed.
In this case, the occupant seated on the seat 4 is restrained by the seat belt 15, and the upper body falls forward while sitting on the seat 4. The upper body that has fallen forward falls into the deployed front airbag 18.
As a result, the impact acting on the occupant in the event of a collision can be absorbed.

However, the front airbag 18 and the like deployed in front of the seat 4 are basically largely deployed from the front to the rear from the interior members such as the dashboard arranged around the seat 4 toward the occupants seated on the seat 4. It is necessary, and it is necessary to absorb the load of the occupant in the greatly expanded state.
Therefore, in the inflator used in the front airbag 18 and the like, it is necessary to instantly generate a large amount of high pressure gas. Further, it takes time, albeit instantaneously, from the start of deployment of the front airbag 18 to the deployment of the front airbag 18 in a state where it can absorb the load.
In an airbag that is deployed from an interior member arranged around the seat 4 toward an occupant seated on the seat 4, the balance between the deployment capacity and the effect is basically poor.
Moreover, if the size such as the width of the airbag is increased to cope with the collapse of the occupant due to various collisions, or if the deployment speed is increased to improve the immediacy, the balance will be further deteriorated. It will be.

In addition, since it takes time to deploy an airbag that is deployed from an interior member arranged around the seat 4 toward an occupant seated on the seat 4, the occupant's upper body falls forward during the deployment period. There is a possibility that the seating posture of the occupant will change.
For example, in FIG. 2B, the waist of the occupant is lifted from the seat 4. Further, in FIG. 2C, the upper body of the occupant has fallen forward first.
Even if the front airbag 18 is deployed after such a situation, the front airbag 18 has sufficient performance because the timing and position conditions are different from those planned in FIG. 2 (A). It may not be possible to demonstrate it.

As described above, the occupant protection device 10 is required to improve the occupant protection performance.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the occupant protection device 10 according to the present invention.
In FIG. 3, the occupant protection device 10 includes an image pickup sensor 11, a collision sensor 12, a timer 13, a seatbelt device 14, a front airbag device 16, an armrest airbag device 20, and a control unit 19 to which these are connected. ..

The image sensor 11 is arranged forward, for example, inside the windshield of the vehicle body 2, and captures an image of the outside of the vehicle in front of the vehicle 1.
The collision sensor 12 is, for example, an acceleration sensor attached to the vehicle body 2 and detects the impact of a collision acting on the vehicle body 2.
The timer 13 measures the time.
The seatbelt device 14 includes a seatbelt 15, a retractor (not shown), and the like. The seat belt 15 is hung in front of the occupant seated on the seat 4. The retractor is provided on the vehicle body 2, for example, the B pillar, and winds up the seat belt 15.
The front airbag device 16 has an airbag main body 17 having a built-in inflator and a front airbag 18 deployed from the airbag main body 17. The front airbag device 16 is arranged, for example, on the dashboard of the passenger compartment 3. As a result, the front airbag device 16 is arranged in front of the front seat 4.

4 to 6 are explanatory views of the armrest airbag device 20 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a front view seen from the front side of the vehicle body 2, FIG. 5 is a plan view seen from the upper side of the vehicle body 2, and FIG. 6 is a side view seen from the left side of the vehicle body 2.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a pair of left and right armrests 5 are attached to the left and right sides of the back of the seat 4. The armrests 5 may be provided on both the left and right sides of the seat 4, and may be formed on a door panel or a center console which are interior members located on the left and right sides of the seat 4.
Each armrest 5 extends along the front-rear direction of the automobile 1 above the seat surface of the seat 4.
As a result, the occupant can sit on the seat 4 with both the left and right arms resting on the pair of left and right armrests 5.
Not only the passenger seat occupant and the rear seat occupant, but also the driver seat occupant can be seated on the seat 4 in the postures shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 during automatic driving, for example.

An armrest airbag device 20 is built in each of the pair of left and right armrests 5. The armrest airbag device 20 has an airbag body 21 incorporating an inflator and an armrest airbag 22 deployed from the airbag body 21.
Then, in the armrest airbag device 20 on the right side, as shown in FIG. 4, the armrest airbag 22 is deployed upward from the inner surface on the left side of the armrest 5. The armrest airbag 22 deployed upward is curved toward the right side in the left-right direction.
Further, in the armrest airbag device 20 on the left side, as shown in FIG. 4, the armrest airbag 22 is deployed upward from the inner surface on the right side of the armrest 5. The armrest airbag 22 deployed upward is curved toward the left side in the left-right direction.
As a result, the left and right forearms placed on the pair of left and right armrests 5 are covered with the armrest airbag 22. The left and right forearms are pressed from above by the armrest airbag 22, and are sandwiched and restrained from the upper surface of the armrest 5.

The control unit 19 predicts a collision of the automobile 1 based on, for example, an image captured by the image sensor 11.
Further, the collision of the automobile 1 is determined based on the collision detection of the collision sensor 12.
Then, when the control unit 19 detects or predicts the collision of the automobile 1, the seatbelt device 14, the front airbag device 16, and the armrest airbag device 20 are operated at the timing measured by the timer 13.
The seatbelt device 14 performs a pretension operation for winding up the seatbelt 15 before the collision under the control of the control unit 19.
The front airbag device 16 ignites the inflator under the control of the control unit 19, and deploys the front airbag 18 with high pressure gas. The front airbag 18 expands greatly from the front to the rear.
The armrest airbag device 20 ignites the inflator under the control of the control unit 19, and deploys the armrest airbag 22 with high pressure gas. The armrest airbag 22 is restrained by sandwiching the forearm portion with the upper surface of the armrest 5.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processing performed when the control unit 19 predicts a collision.
The control unit 19 periodically performs the process of FIG. 7 based on, for example, the image of the image sensor 11.
In the collision prediction process, the control unit 19 first confirms whether or not a collision is predicted (step ST1).
Then, when a collision is predicted, the control unit 19 operates the armrest airbag device 20 at the timing measured by the timer 13 (step ST2).
In addition, the control unit 19 may also cause the seatbelt device 14 to perform a pretension operation.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the unfolding operation of the armrest airbag device 20.
As shown in FIG. 8A, the inflator is ignited in the armrest airbag device 20 with the forearm portion of the occupant seated on the seat 4 resting on the armrest 5.
When the high pressure gas starts to be generated by the ignition of the inflator, the armrest airbag 22 starts to expand upward from the inner surface of the armrest 5 on the seat 4 side as shown in FIG. 8 (B).
After that, as shown in FIG. 8C, the armrest airbag 22 is curved so as to fall toward the upper surface of the armrest 5.
As a result, the forearm portion of the occupant is pressed between the armrest airbag 22 and the outer wall portion of the armrest 5 from above the curved tip portion of the armrest airbag 22. The forearm of the occupant is restrained by the armrest 5.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing performed when the control unit 19 detects a collision.
The control unit 19 periodically performs the process of FIG. 9 based on, for example, the collision detection signal of the collision sensor 12.
In the collision detection process, the control unit 19 first confirms whether or not a collision has been detected (step ST11).
Then, when a collision is detected, the control unit 19 operates the front airbag device 16 at the timing measured by the timer 13 (step ST12).
As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the occupant receives the impact of the collision while sitting so as to attach the waist and the back to the seat 4. In addition, the upper body falls forward from that state. The upper body can collapse into the deployed front airbag 18 in a suitable state.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the collision of the automobile 1 is detected or predicted, the armrest airbag device 20 provided on the armrest 5 restrains the forearm portion of the arm portion of the occupant seated on the seat 4.
Therefore, the armrest airbag device 20 can be operated near the seat 4 to restrain the occupant in a short time.
Moreover, if the occupant's arm seated on the seat 4 is not restrained, the occupant's arm may be lifted from the seat 4 or the occupant's upper body may fall down. Since it is suppressed, it is possible to keep the occupant's waist and upper body seated on the seat.
As a result, in the event of a collision, the occupant will fall from the state where the back and hips are attached to the seat 4, for example, and the occupant will fall to the desired state with respect to the front airbag 18 to be deployed in the event of a collision. Can be done.
The occupant protection device 10 maintains the posture of the occupant sitting on the seat 4 by the armrest airbag device 20 that operates near the occupant, and absorbs the impact acting on the occupant in a desired state in the event of a collision. Can be done.
In the present embodiment, the armrest airbag device 20 restrains the arm portion on the armrest 5. Therefore, the occupant's arm is supported by the armrest 5. When the occupant's upper body rotates forward around the waist, the upper arm portion resting on the armrest 5 serves as a support and exerts a drag force that suppresses the rotation. This makes it difficult for the occupant's upper body to fall forward or slows down.
In the present embodiment, the armrest airbag device 20 has an armrest airbag 22 that starts to expand upward from the side surface of the armrest 5, and the armrest airbag 22 that starts to expand upward wraps around the upper side of the armrest 5. It bends and unfolds like this. Therefore, the arm portion that is displaced or detached from the top of the armrest 5 can be pushed by the armrest airbag 22 that expands from the lower side to the upper side and can move onto the armrest 5. Then, in that state, the armrest airbag 22 can restrain the arm portion between the armrest airbag 22 and the armrest 5.
In the present embodiment, the armrest 5 and the armrest airbag device 20 are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the seat 4. Therefore, both arms can be restrained by the armrest 5. Both shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4 are likely to fall forward even when the upper body is likely to fall diagonally forward.
In the present embodiment, the armrest airbag device 20 restrains the arm portion to the armrest 5 when the collision of the automobile 1 is predicted, and the front airbag 18 is deployed when the collision of the automobile 1 is detected. Therefore, the back and hips of the occupant can be attached to the seat 4 before the collision, and in the event of a collision, the occupant can fall forward and fall into the front airbag 18. The occupant protection device 10 can easily exhibit the desired shock absorption performance.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the occupant protection device 10 of the automobile 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Hereinafter, the same reference numerals will be used for the same configurations as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of the armrest airbag device 20 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a side view of the vehicle body 2 as viewed from the left side.
As shown in FIG. 10, the curved tip portion of the deployed armrest airbag 22 is formed on an inclined surface whose lower surface is lowered forward.
As a result, the arm portion of the occupant is restrained in a state in which the lower surface of the tip end portion of the armrest airbag 22 is sandwiched between the inclined surface that descends forward and the armrest 5.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the lower surface of the tip end portion of the armrest airbag 22 is formed on the inclined surface that descends forward.
Therefore, the distance between the tip of the armrest airbag 22 and the upper surface of the armrest 5 becomes narrower toward the front along the thickness of the forearm. It is a tapered space.
Therefore, the armrest airbag 22 can apply a uniform pressure to the entire forearm portion from above to press the entire forearm portion onto the armrest 5 to stabilize it. It is possible to prevent the forearm from slipping forward on the armrest 5.
As a result, the positions of the forearm and elbow on the armrest 5 can be stabilized.
By stabilizing the position of the elbow on the armrest 5, the shoulder of the upper body that tends to fall forward due to the impact of the collision is supported by the upper arm, and it is possible to prevent the elbow from falling forward.
In particular, as shown in FIG. 10, by locating the elbow portion in front of the shoulder, it is possible to exert a drag force on the upper body that is about to fall forward.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, the occupant protection device 10 of the automobile 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Hereinafter, the same reference numerals will be used for the same configurations as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view of the armrest airbag device 20 according to the third embodiment. FIG. 11A is a front view seen from the front side of the vehicle body 2, and FIG. 11B is a side view seen from the left side of the vehicle body 2.
As shown in FIG. 11, the curved tip portion of the armrest airbag 22 deployed upward is located in front of the upper arm portion and presses the upper arm portion from the front.
As a result, when the upper body of the occupant is about to fall forward, the elbow portion of the occupant hits the upper surface of the armrest 5.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the arm portion is urged downward and restrained on the front side of the upper arm portion so that the elbow portion of the occupant seated on the seat 4 hits the armrest 5.
Therefore, since the upper arm portion is restrained from the front by the armrest airbag 22, the elbow portion can be easily maintained in a state of being placed on the armrest 5.
In particular, as shown in FIG. 11B, since the elbow is located in front of the shoulder, the elbow is pressed against the armrest 5 by the movement of the upper body trying to fall forward, and the elbow on the armrest 5 is pressed. The position of can be stabilized.
As a result, drag can be applied to the upper body that is about to fall forward.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, the occupant protection device 10 of the automobile 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Hereinafter, the same reference numerals will be used for the same configurations as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of the armrest airbag device 20 according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 12A is a front view seen from the front side of the vehicle body 2, and FIG. 12B is a plan view seen from the upper side of the vehicle body 2.
As shown in FIG. 12, the armrest airbag device 20 arranged in each armrest 5 has an inner armrest airbag 23 and an outer armrest airbag 24.
The inner armrest airbag 23 has a tip portion that extends upward from the inner surface of the armrest 5 and extends to the left and right so as to extend above the armrest 5 on the upper side of the armrest 5.
The outer armrest airbag 24 has a tip portion that extends upward from the outer surface of the armrest 5 and extends to the left and right so as to extend above the armrest 5 on the upper side of the armrest 5.
Then, the tip of the inner armrest airbag 23 and the tip of the outer armrest airbag 24 are pressed against each other on the forearm portion placed on the armrest 5.
As a result, the forearm portion of the occupant is restrained on the armrest 5 from the left and right and above by the inner armrest airbag 23 and the outer armrest airbag 24.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the inner armrest airbag 23 and the outer armrest airbag 24 begin to expand upward from both side surfaces of the armrest 5 and come into contact with each other on the upper side of the armrest 5.
Therefore, the forearm portion that is displaced or detached from the top of the armrest 5 before the operation of the armrest airbag device 20 is displaced to either the inside or the outside of the armrest 5, the inner armrest airbag 23 or the outer armrest. It is pushed up onto the armrest 5 by the airbag 24.
Then, the pushed-up forearm portion is restrained on the armrest 5 so as to be pressed from the left and right and the upper side with respect to the upper surface of the armrest 5.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, the occupant protection device 10 of the automobile 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Hereinafter, the same reference numerals will be used for the same configurations as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of processing performed when the control unit 19 according to the fifth embodiment predicts a collision.
In the collision prediction process of FIG. 13, the control unit 19 first confirms whether or not a collision is predicted (step ST1).
When a collision is predicted, the control unit 19 further confirms the possibility of the vehicle body 2 rolling over or overturning (step ST21).
Then, when a collision is predicted but there is no possibility of the vehicle body 2 rolling over or overturning, the control unit 19 operates the armrest airbag device 20 at the timing measured by the timer 13 (step ST2).

As described above, in the present embodiment, the arm rest airbag 22 does not restrain the arm portion when the vehicle body 2 may roll over or overturn even when a collision is predicted.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the arm portion from being restrained by the armrest 5 in the vehicle overturned or overturned.

[Sixth Embodiment]
Next, the occupant protection device 10 of the automobile 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Hereinafter, the same reference numerals will be used for the same configurations as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a process performed when the control unit 19 according to the sixth embodiment detects a collision.
In the collision detection process of FIG. 14, the control unit 19 first confirms whether or not a collision has been detected (step ST31).
When a collision is detected, the control unit 19 further confirms the possibility of the vehicle body 2 rolling over or overturning (step ST32).
Then, when a collision is predicted but there is a possibility that the vehicle body 2 rolls over or overturns, the control unit 19 releases the restraint by the armrest airbag 22 (step ST33).

As described above, in the present embodiment, when a collision is detected and there is a possibility that the vehicle body 2 rolls over or overturns, the restraint of the arm portion by the armrest airbag 22 is released.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the arm portion from being restrained by the armrest 5 in the vehicle overturned or overturned.

The above embodiments are examples of preferred embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications or modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

In the above embodiment, the armrest airbag device 20 is used to restrain the arm portion on the armrest 5.
In addition to this, for example, a restraining arm ring or the like may be projected from the upper surface of the armrest 5 to restrain the arm portion on the armrest 5.

1 ... Automobile (vehicle), 2 ... Body, 3 ... Passenger room, 4 ... Seat, 5 ... Armrest, 10 ... Crew protection device, 11 ... Imaging sensor, 12 ... Collision sensor, 13 ... Timer, 14 ... Seat belt device, 15 ... Seat belt, 16 ... Front airbag device, 17 ... Airbag body, 18 ... Front airbag, 19 ... Control unit, 20 ... Armrest airbag device (restraint member), 21 ... Airbag body, 22 ... Armrest air Bags (restraint airbags), 23 ... Inner armrest airbags (restraint airbags), 24 ... Outer armrest airbags (restraint airbags).

Claims (11)

An armrest provided on the side of the vehicle seat on which the arm of the occupant seated on the seat can be placed, and
A restraining member provided on the armrest and restraining the arm portion on the armrest,
A control unit that restrains the arm portion to the armrest by the restraining member when a collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted.
Vehicle occupant protection device. The restraining member restrains the arm portion on the armrest.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1. The restraining member restrains the forearm portion of the occupant seated on the seat by pressing the forearm portion from above and sandwiching it between the restraining member and the armrest.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 2. The distance between the restraining member and the armrest is narrower on the front side of the occupant seated on the seat than on the rear side.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 3. The restraining member restrains the arm on the front side of the upper arm so that the elbow of the occupant seated on the seat hits the armrest.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 2. The restraint member has a restraint airbag that begins to deploy upward from the side of the armrest.
The restraint airbag that has started to deploy upward is curved and deployed so as to wrap around the upper side of the armrest.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The restraint member has a pair of restraint airbags that begin to deploy upward from both sides of the armrest.
The pair of restraint airbags that have begun to deploy upwards deploy so as to spread over the armrests and come into contact with each other on the upper side of the armrests.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The armrest and the restraint member are provided on both the left and right sides of the seat.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. It has a front airbag device, which deploys the front airbag in front of the seat.
The control unit
When the collision of the vehicle is predicted, the arm portion is restrained by the restraining member on the armrest.
When the collision of the vehicle is detected, the front airbag is deployed.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The control unit does not constrain the arm to the armrest by the restraining member when the vehicle is expected to roll over or turn inside out due to a collision, or even when the vehicle is predicted to collide.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. When the control unit detects that the vehicle rolls over or turns inside out due to a collision, the control unit releases the restraint of the arm portion by the restraint member.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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