JP6915561B2 - Far side airbag device - Google Patents

Description

According to the present invention, when an impact is applied to a side wall of a vehicle such as a vehicle, or when an impact is expected to be applied, an airbag is deployed and expanded between adjacent vehicle seats to expand and expand the side wall. The present invention relates to a far-side airbag device that protects an occupant seated on a vehicle seat far from the seat with an airbag from impact.

Some vehicles in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction are equipped with a far side airbag device. This type of airbag device includes an airbag and a gas generator that generates expansion gas and supplies it to the airbag, similar to a general side airbag device. These airbags and gas generators are incorporated, for example, in the side portion of the vehicle seat on the side closer to the adjacent vehicle seat.

When an impact is applied to one side wall of the vehicle such as the side door from the diagonally front side, the occupant seated on the vehicle seat on the side far from the side wall is on the side to which the impact is applied due to inertia. Trying to move diagonally forward and laterally. Further, even when the side wall portion is impacted from the side, the occupant may try to move diagonally forward and laterally depending on the location where the impact is applied.

On the other hand, when an impact is applied to the side wall of the vehicle from the diagonally front side, an impact is applied from the side, an impact is predicted to be applied from the diagonally front side, or an impact is applied from the side. When it is predicted that the gas generator will generate expansion gas and supply it to the airbag. The expansion gas causes the airbag to expand and expand between adjacent vehicle seats, suppressing the movement of the occupant.

As one form of the far side airbag device, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. The airbag in this far-side airbag device is composed of a narrow portion having a narrow width in the vehicle width direction and a wide portion having a width wider in the same direction than the narrow portion. The narrow portion expands and expands laterally to the occupant. The wide portion deploys and expands in front of the occupant's head. Therefore, the narrow part regulates the lateral movement of the head, and the wide part regulates the forward movement of the head, thereby restricting the movement of the head diagonally forward and laterally, and the head It is possible to protect from impact.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-6860

However, in Patent Document 1, the wide portion is connected to the narrow portion only at one end thereof. The other end of the wide portion is a free end. Therefore, when an impact is applied to one side wall portion of the vehicle as described above and the occupant tries to move diagonally forward and laterally, the wide portion may fall forward with the connecting portion with the narrow portion as a fulcrum. In this case, the wide portion regulates the forward movement of the head, and the performance of protecting the head from impact may not be sufficiently exhibited.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a far-side airbag device capable of enhancing the ability to regulate the forward movement of the occupant's head. be.

The far-side airbag device that solves the above problems is applied to a vehicle in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle seats, and a pair of side walls forming both side portions of the vehicle in the same width direction. It is predicted that an impact is applied to one of the parts diagonally from the front side, an impact is applied from the side, an impact is expected to be applied from the diagonally front side, or an impact is expected to be applied from the side. In this case, by supplying expansion gas to the airbag and deploying and expanding the airbag between adjacent vehicle seats, the airbag can be seated in a normal posture on the vehicle seat far from the side wall. A far-side airbag device that protects an occupant from impact. The airbag is attached to the vehicle and is deployed and expanded on the side of the occupant at a main protective portion and a front end portion of the main protective portion. It is provided with a sub-protection unit that is connected to the occupant in a communicative state and expands and expands in front of the occupant's head, and a sub-tether is arranged between the sub-protection unit and the main protection unit. The end of the sub-protection is connected to the end of the main protection that is opposite to the portion of the main protection that is connected to the front end, and the other end of the sub-tether is connected to the main protection. ing.

According to the above configuration, when an impact is applied to one side wall of the vehicle from the diagonally front side, the occupant tends to move diagonally to the front side, which is the side to which the impact is applied, due to inertia. Further, even when the side wall portion is impacted from the side, the occupant may try to move diagonally forward and laterally depending on the location where the impact is applied.

On the other hand, when an impact is applied to one side wall of the vehicle from the diagonally front side, an impact is applied from the side, an impact is predicted to be applied from the diagonally front side, or an impact is applied from the side. Is expected to be added, expansion gas is supplied to the airbag, which expands and expands between adjacent vehicle seats. The main protection, which forms part of the airbag, deploys and expands laterally to the occupant. This main protection regulates lateral movement of the upper body, including the occupant's head. The sub-protection unit, which forms a part of the airbag and is connected to the front end portion of the main protection unit in a communicating state, deploys and expands in front of the occupant's head. This sub-protection regulates the forward movement of the occupant's head.

By the way, in the above configuration in which the sub-tether is bridged between the sub-protection unit and the main protection unit, the sub-tether is pulled as the sub-protection unit expands and expands, and the sub-tether is moved between the sub-protection unit and the main protection unit. I'm nervous. This tensioned tether regulates the sub-protection section from falling forward with the connection with the front end of the main protection section as a fulcrum. As a result, the degree to which the forward movement of the occupant's head is regulated by the sub-protection unit is greater than in the case where the sub-tether is not provided.

In the far-side airbag device, a main tether that contacts the shoulder or head of the occupant is bridged between the main protective portion and the vehicle seat, and the other end of the sub-tether. Is preferably connected to the main protective portion via the main tether by being connected between both ends of the main tether.

According to the above configuration, the main tether is pulled as the main protection portion expands and expands, and the main tether becomes tense between the main protection portion and the vehicle seat. The tensioned main tether regulates that the main protective portion falls to the side away from the occupant in the above width direction with the attachment portion to the vehicle as a fulcrum.

The shoulder or head of the occupant who intends to move diagonally forward and laterally in response to the impact comes into contact with the main tether. When the main tether is pushed diagonally forward and laterally by this contact, the sub-tether whose end is connected to the main tether is pulled toward the side of the sub-tether toward the connection portion with the main tether. As a result, the degree to which the forward movement of the occupant's head is restricted by the sub-protection is greater than if the sub-tether is not connected between both ends of the main tether.

The far-side airbag device that solves the above problems is applied to a vehicle in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle seats, and a pair of side walls forming both side portions of the vehicle in the same width direction. It is predicted that an impact is applied to one of the parts diagonally from the front side, an impact is applied from the side, an impact is expected to be applied from the diagonally front side, or an impact is expected to be applied from the side. In this case, by supplying expansion gas to the airbag and deploying and expanding the airbag between adjacent vehicle seats, the airbag is seated in a normal posture on the vehicle seat far from the side wall portion. A far-side airbag device that protects an occupant from impact, wherein the airbag is attached to the vehicle and includes at least a main protector that deploys and expands laterally to the occupant, the main protector and said. A main tether with which the occupant's head comes into contact is bridged between the vehicle seats, and the coefficient of friction of at least the surface of the main tether on which the head comes into contact is the main protection unit. It is set to be larger than the coefficient of friction of the surface of.

According to the above configuration, when an impact is applied to one side wall of the vehicle from the diagonally front side, the occupant tends to move diagonally to the front side, which is the side to which the impact is applied, due to inertia. Further, even when the side wall portion is impacted from the side, the occupant may try to move diagonally forward and laterally depending on the location where the impact is applied.

On the other hand, when an impact is applied to one side wall of the vehicle from the diagonally front side, an impact is applied from the side, an impact is predicted to be applied from the diagonally front side, or an impact is applied from the side. Is expected to be added, expansion gas is supplied to the airbag, which expands and expands between adjacent vehicle seats. The main protection, which forms at least part of the airbag, deploys and expands laterally to the occupant. This main protection regulates lateral movement of the upper body, including the occupant's head.

By the way, in the above configuration in which the main tether is bridged between the main protection unit and the vehicle seat, the main tether is pulled as the main protection unit expands and expands, and the main tether is used as the main protection unit and the vehicle seat. It becomes a tense state with. The tensioned main tether regulates that the main protective portion falls to the side away from the occupant in the above width direction with the attachment portion to the vehicle as a fulcrum.

The head of the occupant who tries to move diagonally forward and laterally in response to the impact comes into contact with the main tether. This contact creates frictional resistance between the head and the main tether. This frictional resistance regulates the forward movement of the head.

Here, the friction coefficient of at least the surface of the main tether on the side where the head contacts is larger than the friction coefficient of the surface of the main protection portion. Therefore, the degree to which the forward movement of the occupant's head is regulated by the main tether is such that the friction coefficient of at least the surface of the main tether on the side where the head contacts is the same as the friction coefficient of the surface of the main protection portion. It will be larger than in some cases.

In the far side airbag device, it is preferable that a coating layer made of a silicone resin is formed on at least the surface of the main tether on the side where the head contacts.

According to the above configuration, the head of the occupant who tries to move diagonally forward and laterally in response to an impact is made of a silicone resin and has a coating layer having a friction coefficient larger than the friction coefficient of the surface of the main protective portion. Contact. Therefore, when the friction coefficient of the surface of the main tether is the same as the friction coefficient of the surface of the main protection portion, the friction resistance between the main tether and the head is larger than the friction resistance between the coating layer and the head. Occurs in between.

According to the far-side airbag device, it is possible to improve the ability to regulate the forward movement of the occupant's head.

A partial plan view of a vehicle equipped with a far side airbag device according to the first embodiment. The side view which shows the vehicle seat which incorporated the airbag module in 1st Embodiment together with an occupant. In the first embodiment, a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle seat, an airbag, an occupant, and a side wall portion as viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating how the forward movement of the occupant's head is regulated by the sub-protection unit in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a partial plan sectional view showing an internal structure of a side portion of a seat back in which an airbag module is incorporated. In the first embodiment, a side view of the airbag module in which the airbag is in the unfolded and non-expanded state as viewed from the anti-occupant side. A side sectional view showing an internal structure of the airbag module of FIG. In the first embodiment, a side view of the airbag module in which the airbag is expanded and non-inflated, as viewed from the occupant side. An exploded perspective view showing a state in which the airbag and various tethers according to the first embodiment are each developed in a plane. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a joint portion of various tethers with respect to a seat frame in the first embodiment. A side view of the airbag module in which the airbag in the second embodiment is deployed and in an inflatable state as viewed from the occupant side. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view illustrating how the forward movement of the occupant's head is regulated by the sub-protection unit in the second embodiment. A side view of the airbag module in which the airbag in the third embodiment is deployed and in an inflatable state as viewed from the occupant side. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view illustrating how the forward movement of the occupant's head is regulated by the main tether in the third embodiment.

(First Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment embodied in the far side airbag device for a vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

In the following description, the forward direction of the vehicle will be referred to as the front and the reverse direction will be referred to as the rear. Further, the vertical direction means the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the horizontal direction is the width direction of the vehicle (vehicle width direction), which coincides with the horizontal direction when the vehicle moves forward. Further, in order to define the vehicle width direction, the side approaching the occupant may be referred to as the "occupant side" and the side away from the occupant may be referred to as the "anti-occupant side" with reference to the occupant. Further, it is assumed that an occupant having the same physique as the dummy for the collision test is seated on the vehicle seat in a normal posture.

As shown in FIG. 1, both side portions of the vehicle 10 as a vehicle in the vehicle width direction are composed of side wall portions 11 and 12 composed of doors, pillars, and the like. In the front part of the vehicle interior, a pair of vehicle seats 13 and 14 are arranged as front vehicle seats in a state of being arranged in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle seat 13 on the side close to the side wall portion 11 functions as a driver's seat, and the occupant P1 is seated here. The vehicle seat 14 on the side closer to the side wall portion 12 functions as a passenger seat, and the occupant P2 is seated here. The vehicle seats 13 and 14 have similar configurations to each other.

In the first embodiment, the impact due to the collision is applied to one side wall portion 12. The occupant protected by the far-side airbag device is the occupant P1 seated on the vehicle seat 13 on the side far from the side wall portion 12 to which the impact is applied. Therefore, here, only one vehicle seat 13 will be described, and the vehicle seat 14 will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vehicle seat 13 includes a seat cushion 15, a seat back 16, and a headrest 17. The seat cushion 15 is attached to a rail 18 (see FIG. 10) installed on the floor of the vehicle body so that the front-rear position can be adjusted. The seat back 16 is tilted so as to be located rearward from the rear portion of the seat cushion 15 toward the upper side, and the seat back 16 is configured so that the tilt angle can be adjusted. The headrest 17 is arranged on the seat back 16 and is attached to the seat back 16 so as to be vertically adjustable. The vehicle seat 13 is arranged in the vehicle interior with the seat back 16 facing forward. The width direction of the vehicle seats 13 arranged in this way coincides with the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, the skeleton portion of the seat back 16 is composed of the seat frame 21. The outer frame portion 22 constituting the peripheral portion of the seat frame 21 includes a pair of side frame portions 23, 24 and an upper frame portion 25. The side frame portions 23 and 24 are formed in a shape extending substantially in the vertical direction by bending a metal plate, and are arranged in both side portions of the seat back 16 in the vehicle width direction. The upper frame portion 25 is formed by bending a pipe material into a gate shape, and is fixed to the upper ends of both side frame portions 23 and 24 at both ends thereof.

An upper back plate 26 extending in the vehicle width direction is bridged over the upper frame portion 25. Further, a lower back plate 27 extending in the vehicle width direction is bridged between the lower portions of the side frame portions 23 and 24.

A seat pad 31 made of an elastic material such as urethane foam is arranged in the vicinity of the seat frame 21. A backboard 32 made of synthetic resin or the like is arranged on the rear side of the seat frame 21. Although the seat pad 31 is covered with an epidermis, the illustration of the epidermis is omitted in FIG.

In the seat pad 31, a storage portion 33 is provided near the side closer to the vehicle seat 14 adjacent to the side frame portion 23. The airbag module ABM, which forms the main part of the far-side airbag device, is incorporated in the storage portion 33.

As shown in FIG. 5, a slit 34 extends diagonally forward and laterally from a corner portion of the storage portion 33 on the side close to the adjacent vehicle seat 14. The front portion of the seat pad 31 that is sandwiched between the corner portion 31c on the side close to the vehicle seat 14 and the slit 34 (the portion surrounded by the two-dot chain line frame in FIG. 5) is formed by the airbag 50. It constitutes a planned break portion 35 to be broken.

The airbag module ABM includes a gas generator 40 and an airbag 50 as main components. Next, each of these constituent members will be described.
<Gas generator 40>
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the gas generator 40 includes an inflator 41 and a retainer 42. Here, as the inflator 41, a type called a pyro type is adopted. The inflator 41 has a substantially columnar shape, and a gas generator (not shown) that generates an expansion gas is housed inside the inflator 41. The inflator 41 has a gas ejection portion 41a at its upper end. Further, a harness (not shown) serving as an input wiring for an operation signal to the inflator 41 is connected to the lower end of the inflator 41.

As the inflator 41, a hybrid type inflator using both a gas generating agent and a high-pressure gas may be used instead of the pyrotype using the gas generating agent. In a hybrid inflator, the igniter is ignited first, and the heat generated by the igniter ignites the gas generator. The high-pressure gas is warmed by the heat of the gas generated by the combustion of the gas generating agent and the pressure rises, and the pressurized high-pressure gas is ejected from the gas ejection part as an expansion gas.

On the other hand, the retainer 42 is a member that functions as a diffuser that controls the direction in which the expansion gas is ejected and also has a function of attaching the inflator 41 together with the airbag 50 and the like to the side frame portion 23. Most of the retainer 42 is formed in a substantially tubular shape by bending a plate material such as a metal plate, and covers the inflator 41.

Bolts 43 extending toward the occupant side are fixed to the retainers 42 at a plurality of locations separated from each other in the vertical direction as members for attaching the retainers 42 to the side frame portion 23. The gas generator 40 may be a combination of the inflator 41 and the retainer 42.

<Airbag 50>
6 and 8 show an airbag module ABM in a state in which the airbag 50 is expanded in a plane without being filled with an expansion gas (hereinafter referred to as “expanded non-expanded state”). Further, FIG. 7 shows the airbag module ABM in which the airbag 50 of FIG. 6 is cut at the central portion in the vehicle width direction in order to show the internal structure of the airbag module ABM. Further, FIG. 9 shows a state in which the constituent members of the main parts of the airbag module ABM, including the airbag 50, are deployed.

The airbag 50 folds one piece of cloth (also called a base cloth, a panel cloth, etc.) forward in half along a fold line 51 set in the central portion thereof and superimposes the airbag 50 in the vehicle width direction. It is formed by joining the parts so that they form a bag. Here, in order to distinguish the above-mentioned two overlapped portions of the airbag 50, the one located on the side closer to the occupant P1 in the vehicle width direction is referred to as the occupant side cloth portion 52, and is located on the side farther from the occupant P1. It is assumed that the thing to be done is the anti-occupant side cloth portion 53.

In the first embodiment, the cloth piece is folded in half so that the fold line 51 is located at the rear end of the airbag 50, but the fold line 51 is at another end, for example, the front end, the upper end, and the like. The piece of cloth may be folded in half so as to be located at the lower end or the like. Further, the airbag 50 may be composed of two pieces of cloth divided along the folding line 51. In this case, the airbag 50 is formed by stacking two pieces of cloth in the vehicle width direction and joining the two pieces of cloth over the entire circumference. Further, at least one of the occupant-side cloth portion 52 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 53 may be composed of two or more pieces of cloth.

In the airbag 50, the outer shapes of the occupant-side cloth portion 52 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 53 are in a line-symmetrical relationship with each other with the folding line 51 as the axis of symmetry.
The occupant-side cloth portion 52 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 53 are formed by using a material having high strength, difficulty in stretching, flexibility, and easily folding, such as polyester thread and polyamide thread. Woven cloth or the like is suitable.

The above-mentioned connection between the occupant-side cloth portion 52 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 53 is made at the peripheral edge joint portion 54 provided along the peripheral edge portions thereof. The peripheral edge joint portion 54 is formed by sewing (sewn with sewing thread) the peripheral portions of the occupant side cloth portion 52 and the anti-occupant side cloth portion 53, excluding the rear end portion (the portion near the fold line 51) and the like. It is formed. This point is the same for various joints described later. The various joints are cyclic joints 46, 48, 56, 58 and joints 67, 73, 75, 77, 79, 82.

Regarding the above sewing, in FIGS. 6 to 9 and 13, the sewn portion is represented by two line types. The first line type is a line in which thick lines of a certain length are arranged intermittently, and this shows a state in which the sewing thread is viewed from the side, for example (see peripheral joint portion 54 and the like in FIG. 6). ). The second line type is a line in which points are arranged at regular intervals and is represented by a cross section of a sewing thread on a surface passing through a sewn portion (see peripheral joint portion 54 and the like in FIG. 7).

The peripheral connection portion 54 may be formed by means different from the suture using the suture, for example, adhesion using an adhesive. This point is the same for the above-mentioned various joints.
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the occupant side cloth portion 52 and the rear lower end portion of the anti-occupant side cloth portion 53 are not joined by the peripheral edge coupling portion 54. This portion constitutes the insertion port 55 of the gas generator 40.

The airbag 50 includes two annular connecting portions 56 and 58 as a thickness regulating portion that regulates the expansion thickness in the vehicle width direction. Each of the cyclic joints 56, 58 has a configuration similar to that commonly referred to as a "seam".

One of the annular joints 56 has an annular shape and is located at a position on the side of the shoulder PS of the occupant P1 when the airbag 50 is deployed and expanded (see FIG. 2). This portion corresponds to the central portion of the main protection unit 61, which will be described later. The annular connecting portion 56 connects the occupant-side cloth portion 52 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 53, to which the reinforcing cloth 57 is bonded by the annular connecting portion 46, in a state where both the reinforcing cloths 57 are in contact with each other. Is formed by.

The other annular connecting portion 58 has an annular shape, and is located at a position diagonally forward and upward of the annular connecting portion 56 when the airbag 50 is deployed and expanded (see FIG. 2). This portion corresponds to the boundary portion between the main protection unit 61 and the sub protection unit 63, which will be described later. The annular connecting portion 58 connects the occupant-side cloth portion 52 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 53, to which the reinforcing cloth 59 is connected by the annular connecting portion 48, in a state where both the reinforcing cloths 59 are in contact with each other. Is formed by.

At least one of the annular connecting portions 56 and 58 may be formed in a shape different from the annular shape, for example, an oval shape, an elliptical annular shape, or the like. This point is the same for the cyclic connecting portions 46 and 48.

The airbag 50 includes a main protection unit 61 and a sub protection unit 63. The main protection portion 61 is attached to the seat frame 21 at its rear end and expands and expands laterally to the occupant P1. The sub-protection unit 63 is connected to the front end portion 61a of the main protection unit 61 in a communicating state, and expands and expands in front of the head PH of the occupant P1.

The region between the occupant-side cloth portion 52 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 53 surrounded by the annular joint portion 56 and the region surrounded by the annular joint portion 58 are not supplied with expansion gas, respectively. It constitutes a non-expandable portion 62 that does not expand. An expansion gas is supplied to the region between the occupant-side cloth portion 52 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 53, which is sandwiched between the folding line 51, the peripheral coupling portion 54, and the bicyclic joint portions 56, 58, and is expanded. And it constitutes an inflatable part to be inflated.

As shown in FIG. 7, the inner tube 64 is arranged in the main protective portion 61 in a state of surrounding the gas generator 40. The inner tube 64 has a tubular shape, and has a function of distributing (rectifying) the expansion gas ejected from the gas ejection portion 41a so as to go upward and downward.

A piece of cloth made of the same material as the airbag 50 is used to form the inner tube 64. The cloth pieces are folded in half along the fold line 65 set at the center in the vehicle width direction and overlapped in the vehicle width direction.

Here, the above-mentioned two overlapped portions of the inner tube 64 are referred to as cloth portions 66, respectively. The portion of both cloth portions 66 excluding the lower end portion of the front edge portion is inclined so as to be located on the front side toward the lower portion. Both cloth portions 66 are connected to each other by a connecting portion 67 provided along their leading edges. The rear upper end of the joint 67 intersects the rear upper end of the peripheral joint 54. The front lower end portions of both cloth portions 66 are not connected to each other by the connecting portion 67. This unbonded portion constitutes an opening 68 at the front lower end of the inner tube 64.

Further, the rear lower end portions of both cloth portions 66 are not joined. This uncoupled portion constitutes the insertion port 69 of the gas generator 40.
The upper end portion of the inner tube 64 extends to the outer peripheral portion (rear upper end portion) of the main protection portion 61, and is joined to the outer peripheral portion (rear upper end portion) by the peripheral edge coupling portion 54 by co-sewing. By this coupling, the rigidity of the rear end portion of the main protection portion 61 is increased.

The lower end of the inner tube 64, which is on the front side of the insertion port 69, is joined to the rear lower end of the main protective portion 61 by the peripheral coupling portion 54 by co-sewing.
Further, an opening 71 formed of a circular hole is formed in a portion of each cloth portion 66 above the opening 68. The inside and the outside of the inner tube 64 are communicated with each other by these openings 68 and 71.

The inner tube 64 may be folded in half so that the folding line 65 is located at its front end. In this case, the pair of fabrics 66 in the inner tube 64 will be coupled to each other at their rear ends, but after the occupant side fabric 52 and the anti-occupant side fabric 53 in the airbag 50. It may be co-sewn on the edges. Further, the inner tube 64 may have both cloth portions 66 separated along the folding line 65.

Then, the gas generator 40 is inserted into the rear end portion in the main protection portion 61 and the rear end portion in the inner tube 64 through the insertion ports 55 and 69. The gas generator 40 is tilted so that the upper end is located behind the lower end, and the bolt 43 is placed on the cloth portion 66 on the occupant side of the inner tube 64 and the occupant side of the main protection portion 61. It is inserted through the cloth portion 52. By this insertion, the gas generator 40 is locked in a positioned state with respect to the inner tube 64 and the main protection portion 61.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, the airbag module ABM further includes a plurality of tethers each formed of a piece of cloth formed of the same material as the airbag 50. The plurality of tethers consist of a main tether 72, a lower tether 74, a rear tether 76, an intermediate tether 78, and a sub tether 81. In FIG. 4, the lower tether 74, the rear tether 76, and the intermediate tether 78 are not shown, and in FIG. 5, all the tethers are not shown.

As shown in FIG. 10, the main tether 72, the lower tether 74, the rear tether 76, and the intermediate tether 78 are arranged between the airbag 50 and the seat frame 21.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the main tether 72 is arranged at a position adjacent to the occupant side with respect to the main protection unit 61. When the main tether 72 is in a tense state, it is bridged between the main protection portion 61 and the seat frame 21 so that at least a part of itself is located diagonally forward and laterally to the head PH of the occupant P1. There is. More specifically, one end portion 72a of the main tether 72 is coupled to the front upper end portion of the main protection portion 61 by a coupling portion 73 provided on the outer peripheral side of the peripheral edge coupling portion 54. The other end portion 72b of the main tether 72 is connected to a portion of the upper end portion of the upper frame portion 25 that is close to the side frame portion 23 inside the vehicle. This joint is higher than the shoulder PS of the occupant P1.

The lower tether 74 is arranged at a position adjacent to the occupant side with respect to the main protection portion 61. One end portion 74a of the lower tether 74 is connected to the lower end portion of the main protection portion 61 by a coupling portion 75 provided on the outer peripheral side of the peripheral edge coupling portion 54. The other end portion 74b of the lower tether 74 is connected to a portion of the lower back plate 27 that is close to the side frame portion 23 inside the vehicle. This coupling location is lower than the attachment location (bolt 43) of the airbag 50 to the side frame portion 23 by the gas generator 40.

The rear tether 76 is arranged at a position adjacent to the anti-occupant side with respect to the main protection portion 61 (see FIG. 6). One end portion 76a of the rear tether 76 is connected to the rear upper end portion of the main protection portion 61 by a coupling portion 77 provided on the outer peripheral side of the peripheral edge coupling portion 54. The other end 76b of the rear tether 76 is coupled to the same or close to the end 72b of the main tether 72.

The intermediate tether 78 is arranged at a position adjacent to the occupant side with respect to the main protection portion 61. One end 78a of the intermediate tether 78 is coupled by a coupling 79 to a non-expanding portion 62 surrounded by a cyclic coupling 56. The other end 78b of the intermediate tether 78 is coupled to the same or close to the end 72b of the main tether 72.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the subtether 81 extends from the end 63a on the side opposite to the portion connected to the front end 61a of the main protection 61 in the sub protection 63, and the sub protection 63 It is integrated with. With such a configuration, one end 81a of the subtether 81 is connected to the end 63a of the sub protection 63. The other end 81b of the sub-tether 81 is overlapped with a part of the end 72a of the main tether 72, and the part of the joint 73 makes the main tether 72 relative to the front upper end of the main protection 61. Combined with some.

By the way, the airbag module ABM is made into a compact form (hereinafter referred to as "storage form") as shown in FIG. 5 by folding the airbag 50 in the unfolded non-expanded state shown in FIGS. 6 to 8. ing. This is to make the airbag module ABM suitable for storage with respect to the storage portion 33 having a limited size on the side portion of the seat back 16. As a mode for folding the airbag 50, for example, roll folding, bellows folding and the like are suitable. Roll folding is a folding mode in which one end of the airbag 50 is centered and the other portion is wound around the one end. The bellows fold is a folding mode in which the airbag 50 is folded back while alternately changing the folding direction by a fixed width.

The airbag module ABM in which the airbag 50 is in a storage form is stored in the storage unit 33. A bolt 43 extending from the gas generator 40 and inserted into the inner tube 64 and the main protection portion 61 is inserted into the side frame portion 23 from the counter-occupant side. By tightening the nut 44 to each bolt 43 from the occupant side, the rear end portion of the airbag 50 is attached to the side frame portion 23 together with the gas generator 40.

The gas generator 40 may be attached to the side frame portion 23 by a member different from the bolt 43 and the nut 44 described above. Further, the inflator 41 may be directly attached to the side frame portion 23 without using the retainer 42.

The far-side airbag device includes the impact sensor 83 and the control device 84 shown in FIG. 2 in addition to the above-mentioned airbag module ABM. The impact sensor 83 is composed of an acceleration sensor or the like, and detects an impact applied to the side wall portion 12. The control device 84 controls the operation of the inflator 41 based on the detection signal of the impact sensor 83.

A seatbelt device (not shown) for restraining the occupants P1 and P2 seated on the vehicle seats 13 and 14 to the vehicle seats 13 and 14 is provided in the vehicle interior.
Next, the operation and effect of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described.

As shown by the solid white arrows in FIG. 1, when an impact is applied to the side wall portion 12 of the vehicle 10 from the diagonally front side due to an oblique collision or the like, the vehicle seat on the side far from the side wall portion 12 to which the impact is applied. The upper body of the occupant P1 seated at 13 tries to move diagonally to the front side, which is the side to which the impact is applied, due to inertia. Further, even when the side wall portion 12 is impacted from the side, the upper body of the occupant P1 may try to move diagonally forward and laterally depending on the location where the impact is applied. For example, this corresponds to the case where an impact is applied from the side to the portion of the side wall portion 12 behind the front seat.

On the other hand, when the impact sensor 83 detects that an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the side wall portion 12 from the diagonally front side or the side, the control device 84 sends the inflator 41 to the inflator 41 based on the detection signal. An operation signal for operating is output. When the expansion gas is ejected from the gas ejection portion 41a of the inflator 41 in response to this operation signal, the expansion gas is first supplied to the inner tube 64 shown in FIG. 7. The expansion gas causes the inner tube 64 to start expanding.

A part of the expansion gas in the inner tube 64 passes through the upper opening 71 and flows out from the inner tube 64 in the radial direction. The other part of the expansion gas in the inner tube 64 hits the wall surface of the inner tube 64 to change the flow direction downward. This expansion gas passes through the lower opening 68 and flows out of the inner tube 64. As described above, the expansion gas flowing out of the inner tube 64 is guided to a portion other than the non-expansion portion 62 in the main protection portion 61 and the sub protection portion 63 as shown by an arrow (→) in FIG. With this expansion gas, the main protection unit 61 first starts to expand and expand, and then the sub protection unit 63 starts to expand and expand.

During the above deployment and expansion, the airbag 50 presses the seat pad 31 to break the seat pad 31 at the planned fracture portion 35 (see FIG. 5). After that, the supply of the expansion gas is continued, so that the airbag 50 exits forward from the storage portion 33 in a state where the attachment portion to the side frame portion 23 and the portion in the vicinity thereof are left in the storage portion 33. After that, the airbag 50 expands and expands between the adjacent vehicle seats 13 and 14, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.

The main protection portion 61 expands and expands laterally to the upper body of the occupant P1 (the region from the chest PT to the head PH). When the main protection portion 61 receives an external force from the occupant P1 trying to move diagonally forward and laterally, the main protection portion 61 is located in the vehicle width direction with a portion (bolt 43) attached to the side frame portion 23 by the gas generator 40 as a fulcrum. Attempts to fall away from the occupant P1.

However, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, each tether is pulled by the expanding and expanding main protection portion 61, and a tension state is established between the main protection portion 61 and the seat frame 21. A part of the main tether 72 of each tether is located diagonally forward and laterally to the head PH of the occupant P1.

Tension to pull the main protection portion 61 toward the upper frame portion 25 side and the lower back plate 27 side is applied through the main tether 72, the lower tether 74, the rear tether 76, and the intermediate tether 78. Therefore, even if the main protective portion 61 receives an external force from the occupant P1 trying to move diagonally forward and laterally, the main protective portion 61 is difficult to move.

When at least the main tether 72, the intermediate tether 78, etc. are in a tense state, the movement of the main protection unit 61 to the side of the anti-occupant side is restricted, and the movement of the upper body including the head PH of the occupant P1 in the same direction is restricted. Is regulated. Further, when the lower tether 74 becomes tense, the movement of the main protection portion 61 diagonally backward and upward is restricted. Further, when the rear tether 76 is in a tense state, the movement of the main protection portion 61 diagonally forward and downward is restricted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the sub-protection unit 63 expands and expands in front of the head PH of the occupant P1. When the sub-protection unit 63 receives an external force from the head PH of the occupant P1 trying to move diagonally forward and laterally, the sub-protection unit 63 tends to fall forward with the boundary portion with the main protection unit 61 as a fulcrum.

However, in the first embodiment in which the sub-tether 81 is bridged between the sub-protection unit 63 and the main protection unit 61, the sub-tether 81 is pulled as the sub-protection unit 63 expands and expands, and the sub-tether 81 is sub-protected. There is a tension between the unit 63 and the main protection unit 61. The tensioned sub-tether 81 regulates the sub-protection unit 63 from falling forward with the connection portion with the main protection unit 61 as a fulcrum. As a result, the degree to which the forward movement of the head PH of the occupant P1 is regulated by the sub-protection unit 63 is larger than that in the case where the sub-tether 81 is not provided (Patent Document 1 corresponds to this). In this way, the ability to regulate the forward movement of the head PH can be enhanced.

On the other hand, when the side wall portion 12 is impacted from the side, the occupant P1 may try to move laterally depending on the location where the impact is applied. For example, as shown by the white arrow of the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1, when an impact is applied from the side to the side portion of the front seat among the side wall portions 12, the side wall portion 12 to which the impact is applied. The upper body of the occupant P1 seated on the vehicle seat 13 on the side far from the vehicle tends to move to the side on which the impact is applied due to inertia. Also in this case, the expansion gas is ejected from the inflator 41 to the airbag 50 to expand and expand the airbag 50, as in the case where an impact is applied to the vehicle 10 from the diagonally front side. The lateral movement of the main protection unit 61 is regulated by the main tether 72, the intermediate tether 78, and the like. As a result, the lateral movement of the occupant P1 including the head PH is restricted, and the occupant P1 is protected from the impact.

Although the case where an impact is applied from the diagonally front side or the side to the side wall portion 11 in FIG. 1 will not be described, the airbag module ABM has the adjacent vehicle seat 13 among the seat backs 16 of the vehicle seat 14. The same operation as described above is performed on condition that the vehicle is housed in the side portion, and the occupant P2 seated on the vehicle seat 14 is protected from the impact.

According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the above.
-In the first embodiment, the airbag 50 is made difficult to move even when an external force is applied by the occupant P1, and the movement of the occupant P1 to the side wall portion 12 to which the impact is applied is suppressed. Therefore, when only one person is seated in the front seat, that is, when the occupant P1 (driver) is seated in the vehicle seat 13 (driver's seat), the side wall portion 12 is deformed by the impact and the passenger compartment 12 is deformed. Even if it enters, it is possible to prevent the occupant P1 from interfering with the side wall portion 12.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the far side airbag device for a vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the end portion 81b of the sub-tether 81 is connected to the intermediate portion between the end portion 72a and the end portion 72b of the main tether 72 by the coupling portion 82. The end portion 81b is connected to the main protection portion 61 via the main tether 72. In FIG. 12, the lower tether 74, the rear tether 76, and the intermediate tether 78 are not shown. The configuration other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same elements as those described in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, basically the same actions and effects as those of the first embodiment are exhibited.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, the main tether 72 is pulled as the main protection portion 61 expands and expands, and the main tether 72 becomes tense between the main protection portion 61 and the seat frame 21. The tensioned main tether 72 regulates that the main protective portion 61 falls toward the side away from the occupant P1 in the vehicle width direction with the attachment portion (bolt 43) to the seat frame 21 as a fulcrum.

The head PH of the occupant P1 who intends to move diagonally forward and laterally in response to the impact comes into contact with the main tether 72. When the main tether 72 is pushed diagonally forward and laterally by this contact, the sub-tether 81 to which the end portion 81b is connected to the main tether 72 has the same end as shown by the white arrow of the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. It is pulled toward the side toward the portion 81b. As a result, the degree to which the forward movement of the head PH of the occupant P1 is restricted by the sub-protection unit 63 is increased as compared with the case where the sub-tether 81 is not connected between both ends 72a and 72b of the main tether 72, and the head is headed. The ability to regulate the forward movement of the PH can be further enhanced.

(Third Embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the far side airbag device for a vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.

In the third embodiment, the sub protection unit 63 is omitted, and the airbag 50 is configured only by the main protection unit 61. Along with this, the subtether 81 and one of the cyclic coupling portions 58 are omitted. Further, the shape of the other annular connecting portion 56 is changed from an annular shape to an oval shape, and the rear tether 76 and the intermediate tether 78 are omitted.

It is common to the first embodiment that the main tether 72, which is in contact with the head PH of the occupant P1, is bridged between the main protection portion 61 and the seat frame 21. However, a coating layer 85 made of a silicone resin is formed on the surface of the main tether 72 on the side where the head PH contacts. With the coating layer 85, the friction coefficient of the surface of the main tether 72 on the side where the head PH contacts is set to be larger than the friction coefficient of the surface of the main protection portion 61.

The configuration other than the above is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same elements as those described in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.
Therefore, according to the third embodiment, when an impact is applied to the side wall portion 12 of the vehicle 10 from the diagonally front side or the side, the upper body of the occupant P1 tries to move diagonally to the front side due to inertia, while the inflator 41 The expansion gas is supplied to the airbag 50.

The main protection portion 61 expands and expands on the side of the upper body of the occupant P1. When the main protection portion 61 receives an external force from the occupant P1 trying to move diagonally forward and laterally, the main protection portion 61 is located in the vehicle width direction with a portion (bolt 43) attached to the side frame portion 23 by the gas generator 40 as a fulcrum. Attempts to fall away from the occupant P1.

However, the main tether 72 and the lower tether 74 are pulled by the main protection portion 61 that expands and expands, and a tension state is established between the main protection portion 61 and the seat frame 21. At least a part of the main tether 72 is located diagonally anterior to the head PH of the occupant P1.

Tension is applied to the main protection portion 61 to pull it toward the upper frame portion 25 side and the lower back plate 27 side in FIG. 10 through the main tether 72 and the lower tether 74. Therefore, even if an external force is received from the occupant P1 trying to move diagonally forward and laterally, the main protective portion 61 falls to the side away from the occupant P1 in the vehicle width direction with the attachment portion (bolt 43) to the seat frame 21 as a fulcrum. Is regulated.

Here, the head PH of the occupant P1 who intends to move diagonally forward and laterally in response to an impact is formed in the coating layer 85 which is made of silicone resin and has a friction coefficient larger than the friction coefficient of the surface of the main protective portion 61. Contact the main tether 72. Therefore, when the friction coefficient of the surface of the main tether 72 is the same as the friction coefficient of the surface of the main protection portion 61, the friction resistance between the main tether 72 and the head PH is larger than the friction resistance of the coating layer 85. It occurs between the head PH and the head PH.

As a result, the degree to which the forward movement of the head PH of the occupant P1 is regulated by the main tether 72 is such that the friction coefficient of at least the surface of the main tether 72 on the side where the head PH contacts is the main protection portion 61. It is larger than the case where the coefficient of friction of the surface is the same (when the coating layer 85 is not formed).

Therefore, the third embodiment can also enhance the performance of regulating the forward movement of the head PH, as in the first embodiment.
It should be noted that each of the above-described embodiments can also be implemented as a modified example in which this is modified as follows.

<About airbag 50>
-The attachment point of the main protection portion 61 to the vehicle 10 is a member located on the side portion of the vehicle seats 13 and 14 closer to the adjacent vehicle seats 14 and 13, and is about the same as the side frame portion 23. It may be changed to a member having high rigidity.

Further, in a vehicle in which the center console box is arranged between the vehicle seats 13 and 14, the main protection unit 61 may be attached to the center console box.
The main protection unit 61 may have a non-expansion unit 62 that is not supplied with expansion gas and does not expand as in each of the above embodiments, but has a non-expansion unit 62. Instead, the whole may consist of an inflated portion.

The main protection unit 61 may be extended downward from each of the above embodiments, and the protection area of the occupants P1 and P2 by the main protection unit 61 may be expanded downward.
Further, the main protection unit 61 may be extended upward from each of the above embodiments, and the protection area of the occupants P1 and P2 by the main protection unit 61 may be expanded upward.

-The inside of the main protection portion 61 may be divided into a plurality of chambers. Further, a member for rectifying the expansion gas emitted from the inner tube 64 may be arranged inside the main protective portion 61 and in front of the inner tube 64.

<About the thickness regulation part>
-Instead of the annular connecting portions 56 and 58, a thickness regulating portion may be formed by bridging a piece of cloth between the occupant-side cloth portion 52 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 53. Also in this case, since the airbag 50 is recessed at the place where the thickness regulating portion is provided, the same effect as that of each of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

<About tether>
-The coupling of the end 72a of the main tether 72, the end 74a of the lower tether 74, the end 76a of the rear tether 76 and the end 81b of the sub-tether 81 to the main protective portion 61 is such that the ends 72a, 74a, 76a, The 81b may be sewn together with the peripheral edge portion of the main protective portion 61 by a part of the peripheral edge coupling portion 54.

By doing so, it is not necessary to provide the coupling portions 73, 75, 77, and the number of parts and the work man-hours for the coupling to the main protection portion 61 of the end portions 72a, 74a, 76a, 81b can be reduced. ..

-In the first and second embodiments, the subtether 81 may be formed of a member different from the sub-protection unit 63. In this case, a new coupling portion is provided, and the end portion 81a of the subtether 81 is coupled to the end portion 63a of the sub-protection portion 63 by this coupling portion.

-In the first embodiment, the main tether 72 may be omitted.
-In the first and second embodiments, the lower tether 74, the rear tether 76, and the intermediate tether 78 may be omitted as appropriate, or a new tether may be added.

-In the second embodiment, the main tether 72 may be arranged at a position where the shoulder PS of the occupant P1 comes into contact with the main tether 72. In this case, the shoulder PS of the occupant P1 who intends to move diagonally forward and laterally in response to the impact comes into contact with the main tether 72. By this contact, the main tether 72 is pushed diagonally forward and laterally, and the sub-tether 81 is pulled toward the end 81b. Therefore, the same operation and effect as those of the second embodiment can be obtained by this modified example.

The end portion 72b of the main tether 72, the end portion 76b of the rear tether 76, and the end portion 78b of the intermediate tether 78 are joined to a portion of the vehicle seat 13 different from the upper frame portion 25, for example, the upper back plate 26. May be good. Similarly, the end portion 74b of the lower tether 74 may be joined to a portion of the vehicle seat 13 different from the lower back plate 27.

-At least one of the end portion 76b of the rear tether 76 and the end portion 78b of the intermediate tether 78 may be connected to a portion of the seat frame 21 away from the end portion 72b of the main tether 72.

-Among the main tethers 72 in the first and second embodiments, at least on the surface on the side where the head PH contacts, a coating layer made of a silicone resin is formed as in the third embodiment. The coefficient of friction on the surface may be set larger than the coefficient of friction on the surface of the main protective portion 61.

-Coating layers 85 may be formed on both sides of the main tether 72.
<About airbag module ABM>
The airbag module ABM in the far-side airbag device that protects the occupant P1 from impact may be provided on the vehicle seat 14 instead of the vehicle seat 13.

<Others>
The control device 84 may be changed to a specification that outputs an operation signal to the inflator 41 when it is predicted that an impact from the diagonally front side or the side will be applied to the vehicle 10.

-The far-side airbag device can also be applied to a vehicle in which three or more vehicle seats are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. In this case, when an impact is applied to the side wall portion of the vehicle or when an impact is expected to be applied, the airbag is deployed and expanded between adjacent vehicle seats.

-Vehicles to which the above farside airbag device is applied include not only private vehicles but also various industrial vehicles.
-The far-side airbag device is installed in vehicles other than vehicles, such as aircraft and ships, and by deploying and expanding the airbag between adjacent vehicle seats, the side far from the side wall to which an impact is applied. It can also be applied to a far-side airbag device that protects an occupant seated on a vehicle seat from impact.

10 ... Vehicle (vehicle), 11, 12 ... Side wall, 13, 14 ... Vehicle seat (vehicle seat), 50 ... Airbag, 61 ... Main protection, 61a ... Front end, 63 ... Sub protection, 63a , 72a, 72b, 81a, 81b ... end, 72 ... main tether, 81 ... subtether, 85 ... coating layer, P1, P2 ... occupant, PH ... head, PS ... shoulder.

Claims (3)

A plurality of vehicle seats are applied to vehicles arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle seats, and are oblique to a specific side wall portion which is one of a pair of side wall portions forming both side portions of the vehicle in the same width direction. Expansion gas when an impact is applied from the front side, an impact is applied from the side, an impact is expected to be applied diagonally from the front side, or an impact is expected to be applied from the side. was supplied into the air bag, fur protects the occupant seated wearing the airbag between a neighboring vehicle seat that is deployed and inflated, the far side of the vehicle seat from the particular side wall portion from the impact side It is an airbag device
The airbag is connected to a main protective portion that is attached to the vehicle and expands and expands laterally to the occupant in a state of communicating with the front end portion of the main protective portion, and is connected to the head of the occupant. Equipped with a sub-protection unit that expands and expands forward
A main tether that comes into contact with the shoulder or head of the occupant is bridged between the main protection portion and the vehicle seat.
A subtether is arranged between the sub-protection unit and the main protection unit.
One end of the sub-tether is connected to an end of the sub-protection that is opposite to the portion of the main protection that is connected to the front end of the main protection, and the other end of the sub- tether is the main tether. A far-side airbag device that is connected to the main protective portion via the main tether by being connected between both ends of the airbag. A plurality of vehicle seats are applied to vehicles arranged side by side in the width direction of the vehicle seats, and are oblique to a specific side wall portion which is one of a pair of side wall portions forming both side portions of the vehicle in the same width direction. Expansion gas when an impact is applied from the front side, an impact is applied from the side, an impact is expected to be applied diagonally from the front side, or an impact is expected to be applied from the side. was supplied into the air bag, fur protects the occupant seated wearing the airbag between a neighboring vehicle seat that is deployed and inflated, the far side of the vehicle seat from the particular side wall portion from the impact side It is an airbag device
The airbag comprises at least a main protection that is attached to the vehicle and deploys and expands laterally to the occupant.
A main tether that the occupant's head comes into contact with is bridged between the main protection unit and the vehicle seat.
A far-side airbag device in which the friction coefficient of at least the surface of the main tether on the side where the head contacts is set to be larger than the friction coefficient of the surface of the main protection portion. The far-side airbag device according to claim 2 , wherein a coating layer made of a silicone resin is formed on at least the surface of the main tether on the side where the head contacts.

Images