JP7381772B2 - Seat built-in airbag device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an airbag device built into a vehicle seat.

It is well known to provide vehicles with one or more airbags to protect occupants in the event of a vehicle accident. Airbags include, for example, the so-called driver airbag, which inflates from near the center of the steering wheel of a car to protect the driver, and the so-called driver's airbag, which inflates downward inside the car window to protect against lateral impacts and rollovers. There are various types of airbags, such as curtain airbags that protect occupants in the event of a rollover accident, and side airbags that deploy between an occupant and a side panel to protect occupants in the event of a lateral impact on the vehicle.

When a vehicle is involved in a frontal collision, the occupants tend to move forward due to inertia, which can cause the so-called "submarine phenomenon" in which the passenger slips out of the seatbelt, slips off the seat, and crawls into the footwell. . In particular, the submarine phenomenon is more likely to occur if the seat is reclined. When a submarine phenomenon occurs, the seatbelt may get caught in the occupant's abdomen, chest, or in the worst case scenario, the neck, putting pressure on those areas.

For this reason, as shown in Patent Document 1, an invention has been proposed in which the front end portion of the seat cushion is raised by inflating an airbag in the seat to restrain the forward movement of the occupant's waist.

However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 cannot effectively prevent the submarine phenomenon.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-118820

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can effectively suppress the submarine phenomenon.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an airbag device housed inside a vehicle seat that includes a seat cushion constituting a seat surface and a reclinable seat back, the airbag device being inflated and deployed. The vehicle includes: an airbag configured to push the occupant's waist forward by doing so; and an angle sensor that detects the reclining angle of the seat back. Then, the airbag is deployed when the vehicle is in an emergency and the reclining angle of the seatback is larger than a predetermined value.

Here, the term "vehicle emergency" includes not only the moment when a vehicle actually collides, but also the situation immediately before a collision where the possibility of a collision is high and a collision cannot be avoided.

It is preferable that the deployment of the airbag causes the occupant's pelvis to stand up before the occupant slides forward.

In the present invention, when a vehicle collision occurs with the reclining angle of the seatback larger than a predetermined value, the airbag is deployed and the occupant's lumbar region is pushed forward, thereby making the occupant's pelvis stand upright. At this time, the seat belt located near the occupant's waist can reliably contact and restrain the occupant's pelvis. In this regard, with conventional vehicle seats, if a vehicle collision occurs with a large reclining angle, the occupant's buttocks slide forward on the seat cushion, and the seat belt that supports the lumbar region slips through the pelvis and wraps around the abdomen. There is a fear.

The airbag device may be housed in a lower portion of the seat back. In the present invention, it is important that the airbag is deployed at a sufficiently low position, thereby making it possible to reliably push the occupant's lower back forward and make the occupant's pelvis stand upright.

The predetermined value of the reclining angle may be an angle at which the vehicle is tilted backward by 15 degrees with respect to the vertical when the vehicle is horizontal. Note that this angle can be changed as appropriate depending on the shape of the seat cushion and seat back, the coefficient of friction, and the like.

The airbag may be configured to deploy using a frame disposed inside the seatback as a reaction force surface. By using the rigid frame as a reaction force surface, the airbag can be reliably deployed forward.

When the airbag device is activated, the skin of the seat back may be torn to expose the airbag to the outside. Alternatively, the airbag may be configured to inflate only inside the seatback (as shown).

The airbag may be configured to expand so as to protrude from a boundary between the seat back and the seat cushion. In this way, by making the airbag protrude from the boundary between the seatback and the seat cushion, or by tearing the skin of the seatback and deploying the airbag as described above, the urethane layer of the seatbag or seat cushion can be removed. (cushion layer) resistance can be minimized. That is, when the airbag is deployed, interference by the urethane layer of the seat bag or seat cushion is reduced, making it possible to reliably deploy the airbag.

The airbag may include an upper region extending in a band shape from a lower portion to an upper portion of the seat back.

By providing such an upper region, not only the lumbar region of the occupant but also the entire back can be erected, and the effect of the airbag in erecting the pelvis becomes more pronounced.

The upper region of the airbag may be configured such that the thickness when deployed increases from the upper portion to the lower portion.

The vehicle may further include another airbag that is housed inside the seat cushion and deploys to lift the front portion of the seat cushion upward in the event of a vehicle emergency.

Since the other airbag lifts the front portion of the seat cushion, the forward movement of the occupant is restrained, so that the effect of the present invention of erecting the pelvis becomes more pronounced.

The airbag may be configured to be inflated and deployed by inflation gas generated by an inflator.

The airbag may be configured to be inflated and deployed by air generated by an air pump.

The air pump may be configured to be driven by a motor.

As mentioned above, if the airbag is inflated and deployed by an air pump using a motor, unlike an inflator, it does not involve ignition using gunpowder, so after the airbag device is activated, a new airbag device must be installed. There is no need to replace the airbag, making it possible to reuse the airbag. That is, there is an advantage that the airbag device can be operated reversibly.

In addition, in the specification and claims of this application, the direction in which the passenger is facing when seated in the seat in a normal posture (the direction in which the vehicle is traveling) is referred to as "front", and the opposite direction is referred to as "rear". ”, and when indicating the axis of coordinates, it is referred to as the “front-back direction”. Furthermore, when the occupant is seated in the seat in a normal posture, the right side of the occupant is referred to as the "right direction", the left side of the occupant is referred to as the "left direction", and the axis of coordinates is referred to as the "left/right direction". In the left-right direction, the region of the seat closer to the occupant than the side frame is defined as "inside," and the region opposite to the occupant when viewed from the side frame is defined as "outside." Further, when the occupant is seated in the seat in a normal posture, the direction of the occupant's head is referred to as ``upward'', the direction of the occupant's waist is referred to as ``downward'', and the axis of coordinates is referred to as ``upward and downward direction''.

The airbag device according to the present invention is applicable not only to a driver's seat or a passenger seat but also to any seat that has a reclining function.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view mainly showing the external shape of a vehicle seat on which an airbag device according to the present invention can be mounted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure (seat frame) that functions as a frame of the vehicle seat shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a vehicle seat equipped with an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, schematically showing a state seen from outside in the vehicle width direction. FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a vehicle seat equipped with an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and shows the seatback greatly reclined from the state shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the state of deployment of the airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) is the state before deployment, and (B) is the first deployment mode (internal (unfolding), (C) shows the second unfolding form (cleavage unfolding). FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing how the occupant's pelvis is restrained by the airbag device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows the skeleton of the occupant. (A) shows the state before deployment, and (B) shows the state after deployment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how the occupant's waist is restrained when the airbag device according to the present invention is not installed (reference example), and shows the skeleton of the occupant. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which it is mounted on a seat frame. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing how the occupant's pelvis is restrained by the airbag device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and shows the skeleton of the occupant. (A) shows the state before deployment, and (B) shows the state after deployment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how the occupant's pelvis is restrained by the airbag device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an airbag device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view mainly showing the external shape of a vehicle seat on which an airbag device 20 (see FIG. 2) according to the present invention can be mounted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure (seat frame) that functions as a frame of the vehicle seat shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a vehicle seat equipped with an airbag device 20 according to the present invention, and schematically shows a state seen from outside in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle seat to which the airbag device 20 according to the present embodiment is applied consists of a seat cushion 2 where an occupant sits, and a seat forming a backrest. It is composed of a back 1 and a headrest 3 connected to the upper end of the seat back 1. The seat back 1 includes a back surface 1a that contacts the passenger's back, and side supports 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, a seat back frame 1f forming the frame of the seat is provided inside the seat back 1, and a pad (not shown) made of urethane foam or the like is provided on the surface and around the seat back frame 1f. The surface of the pad is covered with a skin such as leather or fabric. A seating frame 2f is arranged on the bottom side of the seat cushion 2, and like the seat back 1, a pad made of urethane foam or the like is provided on the upper surface and around the seat frame, and the surface of the pad is made of a skin such as leather or fabric. covered by. The seating frame 2f and the seat back frame 1f are connected via a reclining mechanism 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the seat back frame 1f connects a lower end to a side frame 10 that is spaced apart laterally and extends in the vertical direction, an upper frame that connects the upper end of this side frame 10, and a lower end. It has a frame-like structure with a lower frame. The headrest 3 is constructed by providing a cushion member on the outside of the headrest frame.

(First example)
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a vehicle seat equipped with an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, schematically showing a state seen from outside in the vehicle width direction. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the seat back 1 is largely reclined from the state shown in FIG.

The airbag device 20 according to the present embodiment includes an inflator 21 that generates inflation gas; and is configured to push the waist of an occupant forward (or diagonally forward) by inflating and deploying the inflation gas released from the inflator 21. and an angle sensor 4a that detects the reclining angle θ of the seat back 1. If a frontal collision of the vehicle occurs in a situation where the reclining angle of the seatback 1 is larger than a predetermined value, the airbag device 20 is activated and the airbag 22 is deployed.

The inflator 21 is housed inside the airbag 22 and is fixed to a frame 1f arranged inside the seat back. The airbag 22 deploys using the rigid frame 1f as a reaction force surface, and can be reliably deployed forward.

As the angle sensor 4a that detects the reclining angle of the seat back 1, for example, a potentiometer attached to a reclining shaft or the like can be used. The airbag device 20 is activated when the reclining angle θ detected by the angle sensor 4a is greater than the angle at which the vehicle is tilted backward by 15 degrees with respect to the vertical when the vehicle is horizontal. Note that such a reference angle can be changed as appropriate depending on the shape, friction coefficient, etc. of the seat cushion 2 and the seat back 1.

If the airbag 22 is deployed in a situation where the seatback 1 is not reclined, the occupant's lower back region may be pushed out, which may increase the pressure exerted by the seatbelt.

The airbag device 20 is desirably housed near the lower end of the seatback 1, thereby making it possible to reliably push the occupant's lumbar region forward and make the occupant's pelvis stand up before the occupant slides forward. Become.

(Effect of the first embodiment)
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram schematically showing how the airbag device 20 is deployed, in which (A) shows the state before the airbag 22 is deployed, (B) shows the first deployment mode (internal deployment), (C) shows the second development form (cleavage development).

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing how the occupant's pelvis is restrained by the airbag device 20, and shows the occupant's skeleton, where (A) shows the state before the airbag is deployed, and (B) shows the state after the airbag is deployed. Indicates the status of

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing how the occupant's waist is restrained when the airbag device according to the present invention is not installed (reference example), and shows the skeleton of the occupant.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 6A, it is assumed that a head-on collision of the vehicle occurs in a situation where the reclining angle θ of the seat back 1 is larger than a predetermined value (for example, 15°). When a collision sensor (not shown) detects the occurrence of a frontal collision, the airbag 22 is deployed and the occupant's waist is pushed forward or diagonally forward, as shown in FIGS. 5(B) and 6(B). As a result, the occupant's pelvis 30 stands up, and the seat belt 32 located near the lumbar region reliably supports the pelvis. In the example shown in FIG. 5(B), the airbag 22 is deployed only inside the seat back 1 and is not exposed to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 7, in a conventional vehicle seat that does not include the airbag device 20 according to the present invention, when a vehicle collision occurs with a large reclining angle, the buttocks of the occupant move forward on the seat cushion. You will end up slipping. As a result, the occupant may slip through the seat belt 32 due to the so-called submarine phenomenon, or the seat belt 32 that supports the waist may press the occupant's abdomen.

In the example shown in FIG. 6(C), the surface of the seat back 1 is torn by the deployment of the air bag 22, and the air bag 22 protrudes forward from near the boundary 5 between the seat back 1 and the seat cushion 2. By adopting such a structure, the resistance of the urethane layer (cushion layer) of the seat bag 1 and the seat cushion 2 can be minimized. That is, when the device 20 is operated, interference by the urethane layer (cushion layer) of the seat bag 1 and the seat cushion 2 can be suppressed, and the air bag 22 can be reliably deployed.

(Second example)
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which it is mounted on a seat frame. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing how the occupant's pelvis is restrained by the airbag device according to the second embodiment, and shows the skeleton of the occupant. (A) shows the state before deployment, and (B) shows the state after deployment.

In the first embodiment, the airbag 22 pushes only the vicinity of the occupant's waist, but in this embodiment, the airbag 122 is configured to push forward not only the occupant's waist but also the back. has been done.

As shown in FIG. 8, the airbag 122 used in this embodiment has a lower region 122a disposed at a position corresponding to the waist of the occupant at the lower part of the seat back 1, and a lower region 122a arranged along the seat back 1 from the lower region 122a. The upper region 122b includes an upper region 122b that extends upward in a band shape. Here, the upper region 122b of the airbag 122 can be configured such that the thickness when deployed increases stepwise or continuously toward the lower region 122a.

According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, by employing the airbag 122 that extends vertically in a band shape, it is possible to stand up not only the lumbar region of the occupant but also the entire back, which has the effect of erecting the pelvis. becomes more prominent.

(Third example)
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing how the occupant's pelvis is restrained by the airbag device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment has a configuration in which an additional airbag 220 is provided in addition to the first embodiment described above.

The airbag 220 can be molded from fabric, metal, or resin, is housed inside the seat cushion 2, and is deployed to lift the front portion of the seat cushion 2 upward when a vehicle collision occurs.

The airbag 220 lifts the front portion of the seat cushion 2, thereby restricting the occupant from moving forward. By using such an airbag 220 in combination with the airbag 20 employed in the first embodiment, the effect of the present invention of erecting the occupant's pelvis in the event of a vehicle collision becomes more pronounced.

(Fourth example)
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an airbag device 320 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment uses an air pump 330 and a motor 332 instead of the inflator 21 used in the first embodiment described above. That is, the air bag 322 is inflated and deployed by an air pump 330 and a motor 332.

In this embodiment, compressed air is sent instantaneously to the air bag 322 from an air pump 330 driven by a motor 332 to inflate and deploy the air bag 322. In the case of the first embodiment, since the inflator does not ignite, there is no need to replace the airbag device 320 with a new one after the airbag device 320 is activated, and the airbag 322, air pump 330, and motor 322 can be used as they are. Can be reused. That is, there is an advantage that the airbag device 320 can be operated reversibly.

The configuration other than the mechanism for inflating and deploying the airbag 322 is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and therefore, redundant explanation will be omitted. Note that this embodiment can also be applied to the second embodiment and the third embodiment.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to Examples, the present invention is not limited to these Examples at all, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

Claims (13)

An airbag device housed inside a vehicle seat comprising a seat cushion forming a seat surface and a reclining seat back, the airbag device comprising:
an airbag configured to push the lower back of an occupant forward when inflated and deployed;
an angle sensor that detects a reclining angle of the seat back;
In a vehicle emergency, the airbag is configured to deploy when the reclining angle of the seatback is larger than a predetermined value,
The airbag includes an upper region extending in a band shape from the lower part of the seat back to the upper part,
An airbag device characterized in that the thickness of the upper region when deployed increases from the upper part to the lower part . The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag deployment causes the occupant's pelvis to stand up before the occupant slides forward. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the airbag device is housed in a lower part of the seat back. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined value of the reclining angle is an angle of 15 degrees rearward with respect to the vertical when the vehicle is horizontal. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the airbag deploys using a frame disposed inside the seatback as a reaction force surface. The airbag according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when the airbag device is activated, the skin of the seat back is torn open and the airbag is exposed to the outside. bag equipment. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the airbag is configured to inflate only inside the seat back when the airbag device is activated. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the airbag is deployed so as to protrude from a boundary between the seat back and the seat cushion. 9. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , further comprising another airbag that is housed inside the seat cushion and deploys to lift a front portion of the seat cushion upward in the event of a vehicle emergency. The airbag device described. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the airbag is configured to be inflated and deployed by inflation gas generated by an inflator. The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the airbag is configured to be inflated and deployed by air generated by an air pump. The airbag device according to claim 11 , wherein the air pump is driven by a motor. A vehicle seat comprising the airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 12 .

Images