JP7251508B2 - side airbag device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a side airbag device.

When a lateral impact is applied to a side wall of a vehicle, or when an impact is expected to be applied, an airbag is deployed and inflated between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and the side wall. , a side airbag device that protects a passenger from impact is known. A side airbag device is installed, for example, in a storage portion provided on the side portion of a seat back of a vehicle seat on the outside of the vehicle. Deploy and inflate.

By the way, as a structure for supporting the airbag so that it can be inflated and deployed at a desired position, it is known to provide a pressure receiving member outside the airbag. In the side airbag device described in Patent Document 1, a pressure receiving member having a pressure receiving surface extending along the axis of the gas generator is arranged behind the airbag. The pressure-receiving member receives the pressure of the inflation gas in the airbag on its pressure-receiving surface and generates a forward reaction force in a direction orthogonal to the pressure-receiving surface. The airbag is supported so as to be deployed and inflated forward by this reaction force.

Japanese Patent No. 6646119

However, if the pressure receiving member is provided separately, the number of parts will increase. In addition, the cost increases as the number of parts increases. Furthermore, it does not comply with the demand for vehicle weight reduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a side airbag device capable of deploying and inflating an airbag to a desired position without increasing the number of parts.

A side airbag device that solves the above problems is a side airbag device that includes an airbag that is stored in a storage portion provided inside a side portion of a seat back and that deploys and inflates forward. An inflator assembly having an elongated inflator capable of supplying inflation gas and a retainer for holding the inflator is provided, and the retainer holds the inflator and an airflow from at least one end of the inflator is provided. A protruding portion is integrally formed so as to protrude, and a rear end portion inside the airbag is provided at a position in front of the protruding portion so as to abut against the protruding portion when the airbag is deployed and inflated. A restricting portion is provided to restrict the rearward movement of the bag.

According to the above configuration, the inflator incorporated in the storage portion of the seat back generates inflation gas in response to a lateral impact applied to the side wall portion of the vehicle. The airbag supplied with the inflation gas deploys and inflates forward between the occupant seated in the vehicle seat and the side wall of the vehicle. At this time, the pressure of the inflation gas is received by the airbag, and at the rear end of the airbag, it becomes a pressing force that tends to deploy and inflate the airbag rearward.

Here, the retainer that holds the inflator is formed with a protrusion extending from at least one end of the inflator, and the rear end of the airbag is regulated at a position in front of the protrusion. department is provided. Therefore, at the rear end portion of the airbag which is about to deploy and inflate rearward, the restricting portion comes into contact with the protruding portion and the movement thereof is restricted. As a result, the airbag is deployed and inflated forward by the pressing force acting on the airbag in a state in which rearward movement is restricted, so that the occupant seated in the vehicle seat and the side wall of the vehicle are inflated. intervene. Since the protrusion that restricts the rearward movement of the airbag is formed integrally with the retainer, the airbag can be deployed and inflated forward without separately providing a pressure-receiving member for supporting the airbag. An increase in the number of parts can be suppressed. In addition, by suppressing an increase in the number of parts, an increase in cost is suppressed, and it is possible to contribute to vehicle weight reduction.

In the above configuration, the retainer may be formed in a tubular shape extending along the axis of the inflator, and the protruding portion may protrude from a peripheral wall positioned on the rear side of the inflator while holding the inflator. preferable.

According to the above configuration, the inflation gas generated by the inflator is supplied forward in the airbag without being obstructed by the projecting portion. Further, when the inflation gas is received by the projecting portion, a forward reaction force is generated in the airbag. Therefore, the rear end portion of the airbag is easily deployed and inflated forward.

In the above configuration, it is preferable that the restricting portion is a strip-shaped tether that extends in the vehicle width direction inside the airbag.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to restrict the rearward movement of the airbag with a simple configuration.

According to the above side airbag device, the airbag can be deployed and inflated to a desired position without increasing the number of parts.

1 is a side view showing a vehicle seat provided with a side airbag device according to the present embodiment together with an occupant; FIG. FIG. 4 is a partial plan cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the vehicle-exterior side portion of the seatback in which the airbag module is incorporated. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the inflator assembly positioned within the airbag; FIG. 2 is a side view showing the deployed and inflated state of the airbag; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag in a deployed and inflated state, taken along line AA in FIG. 4; (a) is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the restricting portion, and (b) is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the protruding portion.

An embodiment embodied in a side airbag device for a front seat in a vehicle as a vehicle will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description below, the forward direction of the vehicle is defined as the front, and the backward direction is defined as the rear. In addition, the central portion in the width direction (vehicle width direction) of the vehicle is used as a reference, the side closer to the central portion is defined as the "vehicle inner side", and the side away from the central portion is defined as the "vehicle outer side".

As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle seat 11 serving as a vehicle seat constituting a front seat is arranged in the vicinity of the vehicle inner side of the side wall portion of the vehicle. A vehicle seat 11 includes a seat cushion 12 and a seat back 13 . The seat cushion 12 is attached to a rail (not shown) installed on the floor of the vehicle body so that the front-rear position thereof can be adjusted. The seat back 13 stands up from the rear portion of the seat cushion 12 in an inclined state so as to be located rearward as it goes upward, and is configured so that the inclination angle can be adjusted. The vehicle seat 11 is arranged in the vehicle interior with the seat back 13 facing forward. The width direction of the vehicle seat 11 arranged in this manner coincides with the vehicle width direction.

Next, the internal structure of the vehicle-exterior side portion 13o of the seat back 13 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2 , a seat frame is arranged inside the seat back 13 as its skeleton. The side frame portion 14, which is a part of the seat frame, is arranged inside the side portion 13o of the seat back 13 on the outside of the vehicle, and is formed by bending a metal plate. A seat pad 15 made of an elastic material such as urethane foam is arranged on the front side of the seat frame including the side frame portion 14 . A backboard 16 made of synthetic resin or the like is arranged on the rear side of the seat frame.

A storage portion 17 is provided in a portion 13o of the seat pad 15 on the outside of the vehicle and adjacent to the side frame portion 14 on the outside of the vehicle. The storage portion 17 is positioned to the side of the occupant P1 seated on the vehicle seat 11 . The storage portion 17 incorporates an airbag module ABM that forms a main part of the side airbag device.

A slit 18 extends obliquely forward and to the outside of the vehicle from a corner portion on the front side and the outside of the vehicle of the storage portion 17 . A portion sandwiched between the front corner portion 15c and the slit 18 of the side portion 13o on the vehicle exterior side of the seat pad 15 (a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line frame in FIG. 2) is broken by an airbag 40, which will be described later. It constitutes a breakable portion 19 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag module ABM includes an inflator assembly 20, an airbag 40, and an airbag cover 43 as main components. Next, each of these constituent members will be described.

Here, in this embodiment, the seat back 13 of the vehicle seat 11 is used as a reference when referring to the "vertical direction" and the "front-rear direction" with respect to the airbag module ABM and its constituent members. The direction in which the seat back 13 stands up is defined as the "vertical direction" of the airbag module ABM and the like, and the thickness direction of the seat back 13 is defined as the "front-back direction" of the airbag module ABM and the like. As described above, since the seat back 13 is slightly inclined rearward, the "vertical direction" of the airbag module ABM does not strictly match the vertical direction (vertical direction) of the vehicle. are doing. Similarly, the "longitudinal direction" of the airbag module ABM and the like does not match the longitudinal direction (horizontal direction) of the vehicle and is slightly inclined.

<Inflator Assembly 20>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the inflator assembly 20 includes an inflator 21 and a retainer 30 covering the inflator 21, and has a long shape extending vertically along an axis L1. .

<Inflator 21>
As shown in FIG. 3, the inflator 21 has a substantially columnar shape and accommodates therein a gas generating agent for generating inflation gas. The inflator 21 has a gas ejection part 22 at its upper end. A harness (not shown) is connected to the lower end of the inflator 21 as an input wiring for an actuation signal to the inflator 21 . Here, a type called a pyrotype is employed as the inflator 21 .

<Retainer 30>
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the retainer 30 forms the outer peripheral portion of the inflator assembly 20. As shown in FIG. The retainer 30 is a member that functions as a diffuser that controls the direction of ejection of the inflation gas, and also functions to attach the inflator 21 to the side frame portion 14 together with the airbag 40 and the like. Together with a tether 41 of the airbag 40 to be described later, it is a member having a function of restricting the rearward movement of the airbag 40 when the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated.

As shown in FIG. 3, most of the retainer 30 is formed by bending a plate material such as a metal plate. It has a protrusion 32 . The projecting portion 32 extends upward from the upper end of the main body portion 31 in parallel with the axis L1.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the body portion 31 is formed in a tubular shape having a substantially octagonal cross section in the radial direction. The length of the main body 31 in the longitudinal direction, that is, the length H1 in the direction along the axis L1 is substantially the same as or slightly longer than the length H2 of the inflator 21 in the direction along the axis L1. Therefore, when the inflator 21 is assembled to the retainer 30 , the main body portion 31 covers the entire outer peripheral surface of the inflator 21 . The main body portion 31 is locked to the inflator 21 by crimping so that a part thereof in the longitudinal direction is reduced in diameter.

Bolts 33 are fixed as members for attaching the retainer 30 to the side frame portion 14 at a plurality of locations spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction of the main body portion 31 . The bolt 33 protrudes from the body portion 31 toward the inside of the vehicle. The direction in which each bolt 33 protrudes is one of the directions perpendicular to the axis L1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the projecting portion 32 is formed in a shape in which a part of the cylindrical peripheral wall of the main body portion 31 is extended upward. Specifically, of the eight peripheral walls 31a of the main body 31, which have a substantially octagonal radial cross section, the outermost peripheral wall 31a has a shape extending upward from the upper end of the peripheral wall 31a. integrally formed. When the inflator 21 is assembled to the retainer 30 , the projecting portion 32 extends upward from the upper end of the inflator 21 .

<Airbag 40>
As shown in FIG. 4, the airbag 40 is made by folding one piece of cloth forward along a folding line set in the central portion of the piece of cloth, overlapping the pieces in the vehicle width direction, and forming a peripheral edge of the overlapped portion. A bag-like shape is formed by stitching the portion with a peripheral edge joint portion S1. As the piece of cloth, a material that has high strength, flexibility, and can be easily folded, such as a woven cloth formed using polyester thread, polyamide thread, or the like, is suitable.

When the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated between the vehicle seat 11 and the side wall, the airbag 40 is deployed in a large part of the upper body of the occupant P1, in this embodiment, laterally of the region from the waist PP to the shoulder PS. It is formed in an expandable shape and size.

An inflator assembly 20 is arranged inside the airbag 40 . The inflator assembly 20 is arranged such that the gas ejection portion 22 of the inflator 21 is positioned above, and the projecting portion 32 of the retainer 30 is positioned above. A plurality of bolts 33 in the inflator assembly 20 are inserted through bolt holes 42 formed through the cloth portion of the airbag 40 on the interior side of the vehicle. Due to this insertion, the inflator assembly 20 is locked in position with respect to the airbag 40 .

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a tether 41 made of a strip-shaped piece of rectangular cloth is stretched between the piece of cloth on the inside of the vehicle and the piece of cloth on the outside of the vehicle of the airbag 40 . there is The tether 41 functions as a restricting portion that abuts against the projecting portion 32 formed on the retainer 30 and restricts the rearward movement of the airbag 40 when the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated.

One longitudinal end of the tether 41 is sewn to the vehicle-interior piece of cloth by a joint S2, and the other longitudinal end of the tether 41 is sewn to the vehicle-exterior piece of cloth by a joint S2. ing. The connecting portion S2 is formed parallel to the axis L1 of the inflator assembly 20. As shown in FIG. In addition, the position of the connecting portion S2 on the piece of cloth on the inside of the vehicle matches the position of the connecting portion S2 on the piece of cloth on the outside of the vehicle. The connecting portion S<b>2 is formed in front of the projecting portion 32 of the retainer 30 and at a position close to the projecting portion 32 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , the airbag 40 is stored in the storage section 17 in a compact form by folding the front portion of the airbag 40 relative to the inflator assembly 20 . This is to make the airbag 40 suitable for storage in the limited size of the storage portion 17 in the seat back 13 .

Binding tapes (not shown) are wound around the upper and lower portions of the folded portion of the airbag 40 . These binding tapes hold the airbag 40 in the folded state within the housing portion 17 .

<Airbag cover 43>
As shown in FIG. 2 , the airbag cover 43 wraps the airbag 40 in the folded state inside the housing portion 17 . The airbag cover 43 is formed of a plurality of cloth pieces made of nonwoven fabric or the like. The airbag cover 43 is provided with a slit that is pressed and broken by the airbag 40 when the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated. A bolt hole (not shown) is provided through the airbag cover 43 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag module ABM is arranged in the housing portion 17. As shown in FIG. A plurality of bolts 33 fixed to the retainer 30 are inserted into the side frame portion 14 from the outside of the vehicle through bolt holes 42 formed in the airbag 40 and bolt holes (not shown) formed in the airbag cover 43 . be done. A nut 34 is tightened on the bolt 33 from the inside of the vehicle, so that the inflator assembly 20 is fixed to the side frame portion 14 in an upright state together with the airbag 40 .

As shown in FIG. 1 , the side airbag device has an impact sensor 51 and a control device 52 . The impact sensor 51 is composed of an acceleration sensor or the like, and detects an impact applied to the vehicle from the side. A control device 52 controls the operation of the inflator assembly 20 based on the detection signal from the impact sensor 51 .

Next, the operation of the side airbag device of this embodiment will be described.
When an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied from the side while the vehicle is running, and the impact sensor 51 detects the impact, the controller 52 outputs an actuation signal to the inflator assembly 20 based on the detection signal. Inflation gas is generated in the inflator assembly 20 in response to this actuation signal. The airbag 40 supplied with the inflation gas is inflated while being unfolded (deployed).

As shown in FIG. 5 , when inflation gas is supplied from the inflator 21 , the pressure of the inflation gas is received by the airbag 40 . At this time, a pressing force F acts on the rear end portion of the airbag 40 to deploy and inflate the airbag 40 rearward.

Here, the inflator assembly 20 extending along the axis L1 is incorporated in the storage portion 17 in an upright state, and a protrusion 32 extending upward in parallel with the axis L1 is provided on the upper side of the main body portion 31 of the retainer 30. formed. In addition, a tether 41 is hung in the vehicle width direction at a position in front of the projecting portion 32 in the rear end portion of the airbag 40 . Therefore, at the rear end portion of the airbag 40 that is about to deploy and inflate rearward, the tether 41 abuts against the projecting portion 32 of the retainer 30, and further rearward movement is restricted. The pressing force F also makes it easier for the tether 41 to come into contact with the projecting portion 32, and further movement to the rear is restricted. Since inflation gas continues to be supplied into the airbag 40, the airbag 40, whose rearward movement is restricted, attempts to deploy and inflate forward.

In addition, the pressure of the inflation gas is received by the plate-like protrusion 32 via the tether 41 , thereby generating a reaction force directed in a direction perpendicular to the protrusion 32 . Since the projecting portion 32 extends along the axis L1, the reaction force generated by the projecting portion 32 is directed forward.

As a result, the airbag 40 attempts to deploy and inflate forward while its rearward movement is restricted. The airbag cover 43 is broken at the slit by the airbag 40 about to deploy and inflate, and the airbag 40 comes out of the airbag cover 43 . Further, the seat pad 15 of the seat back 13 is pressed by the airbag 40, and the seat pad 15 is broken at the breaking portion 19 (see FIG. 2). The airbag 40 jumps forward from the seatback 13 through the broken portion while a part of the airbag 40 remains in the storage portion 17 .

Even after jumping forward from the seat back 13, the tether 41 continues to abut on the protruding portion 32 inside the airbag 40, and the rearward movement of the airbag 40 is restricted. In this state, the airbag 40 continues to be deployed and inflated forward by the inflation gas. In addition, the inflation gas received by the projecting portion 32 generates a forward reaction force. Therefore, forward deployment and inflation of the airbag 40 is performed earlier than in the case where the projecting portion 32 is not formed. The airbag 40 that is deployed and inflated forward enters between the occupant P1 seated in the vehicle seat and the side wall of the vehicle, and the upper body of the occupant P1 is pressed and restrained by the deployed and inflated airbag 40. . As a result, the side impact transmitted through the side wall portion is mitigated by the airbag 40, and the upper body of the occupant P1 is protected.

According to the side airbag device of this embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
(1) The retainer 30 is integrally formed with a protruding portion 32 that restricts the rearward movement of the airbag 40, and a tether 41 that abuts on the protruding portion 32 is provided at the rear end of the airbag 40 in the vehicle width direction. is bridged over.

Therefore, the airbag 40 can be rapidly deployed and inflated forward without providing a separate pressure receiving member for deploying and inflating the airbag 40 forward. An increase in the number of parts for deploying and inflating the airbag 40 to a desired position can be suppressed. In addition, since an increase in the number of parts can be suppressed, an increase in cost can be suppressed, and it is possible to contribute to vehicle weight reduction.

(2) The protruding portion 32 protrudes upward from the peripheral wall 31 a of the retainer 30 that holds the inflator 21 , the peripheral wall 31 a being located on the rear side of the inflator 21 .
Therefore, the inflation gas generated by the inflator 21 is less likely to be obstructed by the projecting portion 32 and is easily supplied forward in the airbag 40 . The rear end portion of the airbag 40 can be deployed and inflated forward at an early stage.

(3) The projecting portion 32 is formed in a plate shape extending upward from the peripheral wall 31a of the retainer 30 .
Therefore, a forward reaction force is likely to be generated by the projecting portion 32 . The rear end portion of the airbag 40 can be deployed and inflated forward at an early stage.

(4) The tether 41 is configured as a strip-shaped member that spans the width direction of the vehicle inside the airbag 40 .
Therefore, it is possible to easily restrict the rearward movement of the airbag 40 with a simple structure.

(5) The tether 41 is connected to the vehicle-interior piece of cloth and the vehicle-exterior by a connecting portion S2 formed so as to be parallel to the axis L1 of the inflator assembly 20, that is, parallel to the direction in which the projecting portion 32 extends. are sewn against a piece of cloth.

Therefore, the tether 41 easily follows the front surface of the projecting portion 32 when the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated. Movement of the airbag 40 is properly restricted by the tether 41 .
The above embodiment can be modified as follows. It should be noted that the above embodiment and the following modified examples can be applied in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.

- The shape of the retainer 30 is not limited to that of the above embodiment. For example, it may be cylindrical or rectangular. When the shape of the retainer 30 is cylindrical, the projection 32 may have an arcuate cross section in the radial direction.

- The length H1 of the body portion 31 of the retainer 30 may be longer or shorter than the length H2 of the inflator 21 . Regardless of the length of the main body portion 31 , it is sufficient that the projecting portion 32 projects from the upper end of the inflator 21 and cooperates with the tether 41 to restrict the rearward movement of the airbag 40 .

The retainer 30 does not have to cover the entire outer peripheral surface of the inflator 21 with the main body 31 . Body portion 31 may be formed in a shape such that a portion of inflator 21 is exposed.

The protruding portion 32 of the above-described embodiment is formed to extend upward from the upper end of the rearmost peripheral wall 31a of the eight peripheral walls 31a of the main body 31, which have a substantially octagonal radial cross section. However, the formation position is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, it may be formed from a peripheral wall 31a adjacent to the rearmost peripheral wall 31a. Alternatively, it may be formed in the peripheral wall 31a located on the front side as long as a sufficient supply passage for the inflation gas is secured.

- The projecting portion 32 is not limited to being formed adjacent to the upper side of the main body portion 31 of the retainer 30 . It may be formed adjacent to the lower side of the body portion 31, or may be formed adjacent to both the upper side and the lower side.

- The shape of the projecting portion 32 is not particularly limited. For example, it may be a rod-shaped one extending adjacent to the body portion 31 .
- The number of protrusions 32 is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, it may be formed at two locations, or may be formed at three or more locations.

- The restricting portion formed in the airbag 40 may not be the tether 41 as in the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 6B, it may be a cylindrical inner tube 44 that encloses the projecting portion 32, or it may be bag-shaped. The shape is not particularly limited as long as it is a member that abuts on the front of the projecting portion 32 and restricts the rearward movement of the airbag 40 .

- In the above-described embodiment, the inflator assembly 20 is arranged such that the gas ejection portion 22 of the inflator 21 is positioned at the upper end, but the present invention is not limited to this. The gas ejection part 22 may be positioned at the lower end.

The airbag 40 may be inflated almost entirely, or may have a non-inflatable portion that is not supplied with inflation gas and is not inflated.
- The interior of the airbag 40 may be partitioned into a plurality of inflation chambers.

- The size and shape of the airbag 40 are not particularly limited.
- The part protected by the airbag 40 is not limited to that of the above embodiment. For example, even the head of the passenger P1 may be protected.

- The air bag cover 43 can be omitted.
In the above embodiment, the side airbag device deploys and inflates the airbag between the occupant seated in the vehicle seat and the side wall of the vehicle, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a far side airbag device in which an airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats.

Technical ideas that can be derived from the above embodiments and modifications are added below.
(A) The side airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the projecting portion is formed in a plate shape.

According to the above configuration, the pressure of the inflation gas is received by the projecting portion, and a reaction force in the direction orthogonal to the projecting portion is likely to be generated. The airbag 40 is easily deployed and inflated forward at an early stage.

(B) The side airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the restricting portion is an inner tube provided inside the airbag so as to cover the periphery of the projecting portion.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to restrict the rearward movement of the airbag with a simple configuration.

11... Vehicle seat (vehicle seat)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13... Seat back 13o... Vehicle outer side part 17... Storage part 20... Inflator assembly 21... Inflator 30... Retainer 31a... Peripheral wall 32... Protruding part 40... Airbag 41... Tether (regulating part)
L1... Axis line P1... Occupant

Claims (2)

A side airbag device having an airbag that is stored in a storage portion provided in the side portion of the seat back, is formed into a bag shape by a pair of cloth pieces that are overlapped in the vehicle width direction, and deploys and inflates forward. and
an inflator assembly having an elongated inflator capable of supplying inflation gas to the airbag and a retainer holding the inflator;
The retainer is integrally formed with a protruding portion that protrudes from at least one end of the inflator while holding the inflator,
At the rear end of the inside of the airbag, a restricting portion is provided at a position in front of the protruding portion to abut against the protruding portion and restrict rearward movement of the airbag when the airbag is deployed and inflated. and
The restricting portion is a strip-shaped tether that extends in the vehicle width direction inside the airbag,
A side airbag device in which the tether is coupled to each of the pair of cloth pieces by a coupling portion formed parallel to the axis of the inflator assembly. The retainer is formed in a tubular shape extending along the axis of the inflator,
2. The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion protrudes from a peripheral wall located on the rear side of the inflator while holding the inflator.

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