JP7398336B2 - Vehicle occupant protection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device.

2. Description of the Related Art Seat belt devices and air bag devices are used in vehicles such as automobiles to protect passengers riding in the vehicle (Patent Document 1).
A seatbelt is a seatbelt that is stretched in front of the occupant's upper body to restrain the occupant sitting in the seat from being displaced from the seat. An airbag device deploys around an occupant seated in a seat and absorbs a large impact that may be applied to the occupant displaced from the seated position. By using these occupant protection devices, the vehicle can protect the occupants riding in the vehicle.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-178148

However, seat belts, for example, locally restrain the occupant. Therefore, even if the occupant can be protected from a large impact, it cannot be said that there is no possibility that a local burden will be imposed on the occupant.
In addition, although the bag can appropriately absorb impact for the type of collision that it anticipates, it may not be able to properly absorb impact for a type of collision that is different from the one expected. . For example, it is difficult for a bag that is deployed in front of an occupant seated in a seat to appropriately absorb the impact of displacement of the seat from the seated position of the occupant who falls laterally on the seat due to a side collision. For this reason, in a vehicle, a plurality of airbag devices are provided around the seat, corresponding to each type of collision.
Further, in order to accommodate the body shapes of various occupants, the bag unfolds at a position slightly away from, for example, the upper body of the occupant in the seated position. The deployed bag body begins to function to absorb the impact only after the occupant's upper body, for example, has clearly moved. In this case, the unfolded bag needs to absorb a large impact, for example on the upper body of the occupant, who has already begun to move.

There is room for improvement in such occupant protection devices provided in vehicles.

A vehicle occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided on a seat of a vehicle, and passes from the upper left and right upper portions of the back of the seat to the upper sides of the left and right shoulders of an occupant seated on the seat. A right bag and a left bag that can be deployed in front of the upper body, an inflator that deploys the right bag and the left bag, and an inflator that is connected to each of the right bag and the left bag. a tether that pulls the tether, and a retracting device that pulls the tether, and the right bag body and the left bag body after they begin to expand are pulled by the retracting device to pull the sheet so that they come into contact with each other. Move to the center in the left and right direction.

Preferably, the bag includes a guide member provided at the center of the upper part of the back in the left-right direction and engaged with a tether connected to the right bag body and the left bag body.

A vehicle occupant protection device according to another embodiment of the present invention is provided on a vehicle seat, and passes from the upper left and right upper portions of the back of the seat to the upper sides of the left and right shoulders of an occupant seated on the seat. a right bag and a left bag that can be deployed in front of the occupant's upper body; an inflator that deploys the right bag and the left bag; and an inflator for each of the right bag and the left bag. The bag includes a tether to be connected, a retraction device that pulls the tether, and a guide member that is provided at the center of the upper part of the back in the left-right direction and that engages with the tether that is connected to the right bag body and the left bag body. do.

Preferably, the retraction device starts pulling the tether after the right bladder and the left bladder begin to deploy.

Preferably, the retraction device starts pulling the tether after the deployment completion timing at which the right bag body and the left bag body can move forward of the occupant seated on the seat.

In the present invention, the right bag body and the left bag body provided on the seat of a vehicle are moved by an inflator from the upper left and right sides of the back of the seat to the upper sides of the left and right shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat. It can be expanded to a state before. By expanding the bag in this manner, the occupant seated on the seat can be maintained in that state. For example, the occupant can be restrained to remain seated in the seat not only when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front, but also when the impact is applied from an oblique direction. Further, the front surface of the occupant's upper body is suppressed by the left and right bags. When trying to protect an occupant with a seatbelt, there is a possibility that a strong force to restrain the occupant will act locally on the front of the upper body where the seatbelt hits. This can reduce the possibility of
Moreover, in the present invention, a tether is connected to each of the right bag body and the left bag body. A retraction device pulls the tether. As a result, for example, the right bag and the left bag, which are deployed separately in front of the occupant's upper body, are pulled toward the seat. By being pulled, the right bag body and the left bag body can come into close contact with the front surface of the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat, regardless of the physique of the occupant. The occupant sitting on the seat is pressed against the seat by the right bag body and the left bag body, making it difficult to move from the seated state.
Due to these effects, the present invention can achieve high occupant protection in various types of collisions. For example, not only in a frontal collision, an oblique collision, an offset collision, but also in a side collision, the right bag body and left bag body can restrain the occupant so that it is difficult to displace the occupant from the seated position. Moreover, since the right and left bag bodies restrain the occupant, it is difficult to apply a strong local force to the occupant like a seatbelt. In addition, since the right bag body and the left bag body are preferably deployed so as to be in close contact with the upper body of the occupant in the seated position, It can function to begin absorbing that shock. Shaking of the occupant's upper body itself can be suitably suppressed.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an automobile according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the basic unfolded state of the right bag and left bag of the occupant protection device that can be provided in the automobile of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a control system of an occupant protection device provided in the automobile of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of occupant protection processing by the control unit of FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the right bag and left bag of the occupant protection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention are housed in a seat. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method of expanding the right bag and left bag in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the expansion method following FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the winding device of FIG. 5. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the unfolded state of the right bag body and the left bag body after being wound up in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a winding device for an automobile according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a winding device for an automobile according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a modification of the method of expanding the right bag and left bag in FIG. 5. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a method of expanding another modified example of the right bag body and left bag body of FIG. 5.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an automobile 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The automobile 1 is an example of a vehicle. Vehicles include, for example, buses for public transportation, trains, personal mobility for individuals, and mount devices for mounting personal mobility. The vehicle may be capable of being driven manually or automatically.
FIG. 1(A) is a schematic side view of the automobile 1. FIG. FIG. 1(B) is a top view of the automobile 1 in FIG. 1(A). In FIG. 1, a car 1 and a passenger riding in the car 1 are illustrated.
The automobile 1 has a vehicle body 2. The vehicle body 2 has a passenger compartment 3 in which a plurality of seats 4 are arranged facing forward. The seat 4 has a seat portion 5 and a back portion 6 that stands upward from the rear edge of the seat portion 5. The occupant sits on the seat 4 with his or her waist and thighs resting on the seat 5 and the back of the upper body against the back 6.

In such a car 1, a seatbelt device and an airbag device are used to protect the occupants riding in the vehicle.
The seat belt device includes a seat belt that is stretched in front of the upper body of an occupant seated on the seat 4. The seat belt restrains the occupant to the seat 4 so that the occupant will not be displaced from the seat 4 in the event of a collision.
The airbag device has a bag that expands around an occupant seated on a seat 4. The bag unfolds, for example, on the front side of the seat 4. In the event of a collision, the occupant's upper body falls forward, for example, from a seated position with the back against the seat 4, but the impact is absorbed by hitting the unfolded bag. It can absorb the shock that acts on the occupants.
With these seatbelt devices and airbag devices, the automobile 1 can protect the occupants riding in the vehicle.
However, seat belts, for example, locally restrain the occupant's chest. For this reason, it cannot be said that there is no possibility that a local burden will be applied to the chest of the occupant when a large impact is input.
In addition, the bag can absorb shock by deploying it at the appropriate position and timing for the type of collision that it is assuming, but it cannot properly absorb the impact for a type of collision that is different from the one expected. Not necessarily. For example, the bag that unfolds in front of the occupant sitting on the seat 4 cannot absorb the impact of the displacement of the seat 4 in the width direction of the vehicle from the seating position of the occupant who falls laterally on the seat 4 due to a side collision. difficult. Therefore, in the automobile 1, a plurality of airbag devices corresponding to a plurality of collision types are provided around the seat 4. A large number of airbag devices are provided around the seat 4, the number of which corresponds to the type of collision. In this case, the structure and control of the device for protecting the occupant becomes complicated.
As described above, further improvements are required for occupant protection devices.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the basic right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 of the occupant protection device that can be provided in the automobile 1 of FIG. 1 in an expanded state. FIG. 2 explains the basic principle of passenger protection by the right bag 21 and the left bag 22.

The right bag body 21 in FIG. 2 is expanded so as to protrude forward from the upper right part of the back portion 6 of the seat 4 and further protrude downward due to the inflow of high pressure gas from an inflator 23 (not shown). In this case, the right bag body 21 is expanded from the upper right part of the back 6 of the seat 4, passing above the right shoulder of the occupant seated on the seat 4, and reaching in front of the occupant's upper body.

The left bag body 22 is expanded so as to protrude forward from the upper left part of the back portion 6 of the seat 4 and further protrude downward due to the inflow of high pressure gas from an inflator 23 (not shown). In this case, the left bag 22 is expanded from the upper left of the back 6 of the seat 4, passing above the left shoulder of the occupant seated on the seat 4, and reaching in front of the occupant's upper body.

In this way, the right bag 21 and the left bag 22 provided on the seat 4 of the automobile 1 are moved by the inflator 23 from the left and right upper portions of the back 6 of the seat 4 to the upper sides of the left and right shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4. They are deployed separately to reach the front of the occupant's upper body. The upper body of the occupant sitting on the seat 4 is restrained by the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 that are in close contact with the entire surface thereof, and can be maintained in this state in the event of a collision. The unfolded right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 seat the occupant in the seat 4 not only when an impact is input to the vehicle 1 from the front direction but also when the impact is input from an oblique front direction. It can be restrained to maintain the state. Further, the front surface of the occupant's upper body is restrained by the unfolded right bag body 21 and left bag body 22. When the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are deployed, the force that restrains the occupant acts locally and strongly on a part of the front surface of the occupant's upper body, compared to the case where the seat belt restrains the front surface of the occupant's upper body. It becomes difficult.
In this embodiment, an occupant protection device 10 that can practically be expected to have such effects will be described.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a control system of the occupant protection device 10 provided in the automobile 1 of FIG. 1.
The occupant protection device 10 in FIG. 3 includes a stereo camera 11, an infrared camera 12, a LiDAR 13, an acceleration sensor 14, a communication device 15, a GPS receiver 16, and an airbag device 17. The airbag device 17 includes a right bag body 21, a left bag body 22, an inflator 23, a guide member 24 (described later), a tether 25 (described later), a winding device 26, and a control unit 27 to which these are connected. Each sensor and each device of the occupant protection device 10 may be connected to the control unit 27 via a vehicle network (not shown) provided in the automobile 1.

The stereo camera 11 is arranged, for example, in the front of the passenger compartment 3 so as to face forward. The stereo camera 11 includes a plurality of imaging devices arranged in the vehicle width direction. The stereo camera 11 captures images of people outside the vehicle, which are captured by a plurality of imaging devices. The stereo camera 11 may calculate the direction and distance of the imaged person outside the vehicle with respect to the vehicle body 2. The stereo camera 11 may calculate the direction and distance of the subject using trigonometry, for example, based on the position of the person outside the vehicle, who is the subject in the captured images of the plurality of imaging devices. The stereo camera 11 may also calculate whether the subject is moving, the direction of movement, the speed of movement, etc. based on changes in position in images taken at different times.
The infrared camera 12 is arranged facing forward in the front part of the passenger compartment 3, for example like the stereo camera 11. The infrared camera 12 captures an infrared image of a person or other moving object outside the vehicle.
LiDAR 13 is arranged, for example, at the front of the vehicle body 2 so as to face forward. The LiDAR 13 emits light forward and acquires the direction, distance, speed, etc. of the subject based on the light reflected by a person outside the vehicle in front of the vehicle body 2 .
Acceleration sensor 14 is provided in vehicle body 2 . The acceleration acting on the acceleration sensor 14 is detected. When the vehicle body 2 hits a moving object such as a person, the acceleration sensor 14 detects a large acceleration that does not occur during normal driving. In this case, the acceleration sensor 14 may output collision detection. In this case, the acceleration sensor 14 functions as a collision detection unit that predicts or detects contact between the vehicle body 2 and another moving object.
The communication device 15 communicates by wireless communication with other moving objects, such as other communication devices of other cars and pedestrians, base stations placed along the road, and the like. The communication device 15 may acquire the current position, moving direction, moving speed, etc. of another moving body from another communication device.
The GPS receiver 16 receives radio waves from GPS satellites and the like, and acquires the current position, moving speed, etc. of the own vehicle.

The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 of the airbag device 17 may be formed with smooth surfaces of, for example, nylon or other resin fibers. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 may be bent rod-shaped bags as described later.

The inflator 23 is connected to the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22. The inflator 23 generates high pressure gas in response to an ignition signal and supplies it to the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22.

The winding device 26 winds up the tethers 25 provided for the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22, as described later.

The control unit 27 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an ECU (Electric Control Unit). The control unit 27 may be provided in the automobile 1 as a CPU dedicated to the airbag device 17, or may be provided in the automobile 1 as a CPU common to various protection devices provided in the automobile 1, for example. The CPU reads a program from a storage such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and executes the program. Thereby, the CPU functions as the control section 27 of the airbag device 17. The control unit 27 of the airbag device 17 determines the possibility of a collision for the vehicle 1 based on detection information from collision detection units such as the stereo camera 11, the infrared camera 12, the LiDAR 13, the acceleration sensor 14, and the communication device 15. , detect collisions. The CPU outputs an ignition signal to the inflator 23 based on the judgment or detected collision, and the tether 25 is wound up by the winding device 26 . Thereby, the airbag device 17 protects the occupant with the deployed right bag body 21 and left bag body 22.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of occupant protection processing by the control unit 27 of FIG.
The CPU serving as the control unit 27 repeatedly executes the process shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the car 1 is running or when a passenger is riding in the car 1.

In step ST1, the CPU determines whether a collision has been detected. The CPU repeats this process when contact between the vehicle body 2 and another moving object is not predicted or detected. When a contact between the vehicle body 2 and another moving object is predicted or detected, the CPU determines that a collision has been detected and advances the process to step ST2.

In step ST2, the CPU deploys the airbag device 17. The CPU outputs an ignition signal to the inflator 23. As a result, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 of the airbag device 17 begin to deploy.

In step ST3, the CPU determines that the airbag device 17 is in a deployed state and that the deployment is complete. The CPU may determine the completion of deployment based on, for example, whether the elapsed time since outputting the ignition signal to the inflator 23 is equal to or longer than the deployment time of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22. In addition to this, for example, the CPU may detect the expanded states of the right bag 21 and the left bag 22 to determine the completion of expansion. Note that in this process, the completion of expansion may be the timing at which the right bag 21 and the left bag 22 are expanded to the maximum, but it may also be the timing just before that.

In step ST4, the CPU winds up the tether 25. The CPU operates the winding device 26. The winding device winds up the tether 25. In this way, the winding device 26 winds up and pulls the tether 25 after the determination timing of completion of deployment. The winding device 26 starts pulling the tether 25 at the earliest after the timing at which the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 start to unfold.
Thereby, the CPU as the control unit 27 can deploy the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 of the occupant protection device 10 when a collision of the automobile 1 is detected or predicted.

Next, the right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 developed by the process shown in FIG. 4 will be explained.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the accommodation state of the right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 of the occupant protection device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in the seat 4.
FIG. 5(A) is a front view of the sheet 4. FIG. FIG. 5(B) is a side view of the sheet 4. FIG. FIG. 5(C) is a top view of the sheet 4. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the right bag 21 of this embodiment is an elongated bag that can be expanded into a substantially rod shape. One end of the elongated right bag body 21 is fixed at a position closer to the center of the upper right portion of the back portion 6 of the seat 4, and the other end is fixed to the right front portion of the seat portion 5 of the seat 4. The right bag 21 is buried along the right edge of the seat 4 from the back 6 of the seat 4 to the seat 5. The left bag 22 is an elongated bag that can be expanded into a substantially rod shape. One end of the elongated left bag body 22 is fixed at a position closer to the center of the upper left portion of the back portion 6 of the seat 4, and the other end is fixed to the left front portion of the seat portion 5 of the seat 4. The left bag 22 is buried along the left edge of the seat 4 from the back 6 of the seat 4 to the seat 5.

Then, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 break the seat cover forming the surface of the seat 4 due to the pressure at the time of deployment, and protrude outside the seat 4. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 that protrude outside the seat 4 can be deployed from the seat 4 to the left and right. The right bag body 21 unfolded to the right from the seat 4 can be unfolded so as to extend from the upper right of the back 6 of the seat 4 to the right side of the seat 5 of the seat 4. The left bag 22 unfolded to the left from the seat 4 can be unfolded so as to extend from the upper left of the back 6 of the seat 4 to the left side of the seat 5 of the seat 4.

However, if the right bag 21 is buried along the right edge of the seat 4 from the back 6 to the seat 5 of the seat 4, the right bag 21 after tearing the seat cover and protruding outside the seat 4. The length of the bag body 21 is longer than the straight line distance from the right upper part of the back part 6 of the seat 4 to the right front part of the seat part 5, to which both ends of the right bag body 21 are fixed. The right bag body 21 will be expanded to a length longer than the straight line distance between the two fixed points. For this reason, if the right bag body 21 is simply expanded, it will flex and expand, and it will be difficult to tightly restrain the occupant as shown in FIG. 2.
Similarly, if the left bag 22 is buried along the left edge of the seat 4 from the back 6 to the seat 5 of the seat 4, the left bag 22 after tearing the seat cover and protruding outside the seat 4. The length of the left bag body 22 is longer than the straight line distance from the upper left part of the back part 6 of the seat 4 to the left front part of the seat part 5, to which both ends of the left bag body 22 are fixed. The left bag body 22 will be expanded to a length longer than the straight-line distance between the two fixed points. For this reason, if the left bag body 22 is simply expanded, it will flex and expand, and it will be difficult to tightly restrain the occupant as shown in FIG. 2.
The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22, which are unfolded while being bent on the left and right sides of the occupant, do not unfold so as to come in close contact with the front surface and both left and right shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4. hard.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method of expanding the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the expansion method following FIG. 6.

FIG. 6(A) shows the accommodation state of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 before the start of deployment. The right bag 21 and the left bag 22, which are elongated bags that can be expanded into a substantially rod shape, are housed in the sheet 4 with their upper portions rolled up. Specifically, the right bag 21 is wound clockwise, and the left bag 22 is wound counterclockwise. In this way, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are provided on the sheet 4 in a backward-rolled state. As the inflator 23 blows out high-pressure gas, the right bag 21 and the left bag 22 begin to expand. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 begin to unfold to the left and right while unwinding.

FIG. 6(B) shows a state in which the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 have started to unfold and have broken the right edge and left edge of the sheet 4 and are unfolded. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22, which have started to unfold so as to spread to the left and right while unwinding their respective windings, break the right and left edges of the sheet 4 and further unfold to spread to the left and right.

FIG. 6(C) shows a state in which the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are expanded to the right and left sides of the seat 4, further developed from FIG. 6(B). The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 protrude left and right from the right and left edges of the seat 4 and spread in the vehicle width direction, as shown in FIG. 6(C). In this expanded state, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are unrolled. In the unrolled right bag body 21, counterclockwise inertia acts upon unwinding. In the unrolled left bag body 22, clockwise inertia acts upon unwinding. In this way, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 start to expand obliquely forward from the back 6 of the seat 4 so as to spread forward, or toward both left and right sides of the seat 4. Become.

FIG. 7(A) shows a state in which the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are further expanded from FIG. 6(C) and are expanded toward the front side of the seat 4 due to the inertial force at the time of expansion. The unrolled right bag body 21 moves forward due to counterclockwise inertia. The unwound left bag body 22 moves forward due to clockwise inertia.

FIG. 7(B) shows that the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are further developed from FIG. 7(A), and the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are moved in front of the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat 4 due to the inertial force at the time of deployment. It is in an expanding state. The right bag body 21 that has moved forward moves to the left in front of the occupant due to the counterclockwise inertia force. The left bag body 22 that has moved forward moves to the right in front of the occupant due to the clockwise inertia force.
The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 provided on the seat 4 in the backward-rolled state move forward of the upper body of the seated occupant on both the left and right sides of the seat 4 due to the force of deployment. .
In addition, by bending and unfolding, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can move forward without being obstructed by the upper body of the passenger seated on the seat 4. Can move forward of the upper body.
However, since the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are in a bent state even at this stage, it is difficult to restrain the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat 4.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the winding device 26 of FIG. 5.
In FIG. 8, the winding device 26 housed in the back 6 of the seat 4 is shown on the rear side of the back 6 of the seat 4 for purposes of explanation.
In FIG. 8(A), the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are deployed in front of the upper body of the seated occupant, as shown in FIG. 7(B).

An annular guide member 24 is provided on the upper surface of the back portion 6 of the seat 4. The annular guide member 24 may be constituted by, for example, a cylindrical cloth body, a ring, or the like. The guide member 24 may be provided at the center in the left-right direction of the upper part of the back portion 6, which is the rear side of the head or neck of the occupant seated on the seat 4.

One end of the tether 25 is connected to the winding device 26 through the annular guide member 24, and the other end is branched and connected to the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22. Thereby, the guide member 24 engages with the tether 25 connected to the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22.

Then, the winding device 26 unrolls the tether 25 after the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are deployed in front of the upper body of the seated occupant as shown in FIGS. 7(B) and 8(A). Wind it up. The winding device 26 starts pulling the tether 25 after the deployment completion timing at which the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can move forward of the occupant seated on the seat 4. In this way, the winding device 26 starts pulling the tether 25 after the right bag 21 and the left bag 22 start to unfold.

Further, the winding device 26 pulls the tether 25 toward the back 6 of the sheet 4, so that the right and left bags 21 and 22 of the sheet 4 are in contact with each other after they begin to bend and unfold. Move toward the center of the direction. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22, which are bent and unfolded, are pulled linearly toward the guide member 24 by the winding of the tether 25, and are moved toward the rear of the back part 6 of the seat 4 so that their bending is eliminated. drawn to. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are pulled so that their deflection is eliminated, and are drawn to the upper center of the back portion 6 of the seat 4. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 eventually move to a position where they pass above both the left and right shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4 and reach the front of the occupant. The unfolded right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 are in close contact with the front surface of the upper body and both shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4.
FIG. 8B shows a state in which the unfolded right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 are in close contact with the front surface of the upper body and both shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the unfolded state of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 after being rolled up in FIG. 8.
FIG. 9(A) is a front view. FIG. 9(B) is a side view. In FIG. 9, the unfolded right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 are in close contact with the front surface of the upper body and both shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4, as in FIG. 8(B). The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22, which start deployment at a length longer than the straight line distance between the two fixed points at both ends, and which start deployment in a bent state, are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. As shown in FIG. 8, the seat 4 can be moved to the front side of the occupant seated in the seat 4 while being bent, and as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the front of the upper body and both shoulders of the occupant It can be unfolded so that it sticks to the top. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are eventually unfolded without leaving any flexure, and are brought into close contact with the front of the upper body and both shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4. It can be expanded to

In the state shown in FIG. 9, when the tether 25 is pulled, the right bag body 21 passes from the upper right of the back 6 of the seat 4, passes above the right shoulder of the occupant seated on the seat 4, and moves in front of the occupant's upper body. Expand to a state. When the tether 25 is pulled, the left bag body 22 is prevented from bending or loosening, and is brought into close contact from the upper left of the back 6 of the seat 4, passing above the left shoulder of the occupant seated on the seat 4, to the front of the occupant's upper body. Expand to state. The upper body of the occupant sitting on the seat 4 is restrained by the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 which are unfolded in close contact with the seat 4, making it difficult to shift or move forward, backward, up, down, left or right. The upper body of the occupant, who is restrained by the right bag 21 and left bag 22, is firmly held by the right bag 21 and left bag 22, which are centered, and is difficult to slip out between them, for example, forward. Become.
Furthermore, due to the situation shown in FIG. 9 at the time of a side collision, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are present near the sides of the occupant's neck, and the occupant's upper body moves to the left and right sides. This can be effectively prevented from happening.

As described above, in this embodiment, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 provided on the seat 4 of the vehicle are moved by the inflator 23 from the upper left and right sides of the back 6 of the seat 4 to the occupant seated on the seat 4. It can be deployed so that it passes above the left and right shoulders and reaches in front of the occupant's upper body. By expanding the bag in this manner, the occupant seated on the seat 4 can be maintained in that state. For example, the occupant can be restrained to remain seated in the seat 4 not only when an impact is applied to the vehicle from the front, but also when the impact is applied from an oblique direction. Further, the front surface of the occupant's upper body is suppressed by the left and right bags. When trying to protect an occupant with a seatbelt, there is a possibility that a strong force to restrain the occupant will act locally on the front part of the upper body that the seatbelt hits. This can reduce the possibility of
Moreover, in this embodiment, a common tether 25 is connected to each of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22. The retraction device pulls the tether 25. As a result, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22, which have been deployed separately in front of the occupant's upper body, are pulled toward the seat 4, for example. By being pulled, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can come into close contact with the front surface of the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat 4, regardless of his/her physique. The occupant seated on the seat 4 is pressed against the seat 4 by the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22, making it difficult to move from the seated state.
Due to these effects, this embodiment can achieve high occupant protection in various types of collisions. For example, in not only a frontal collision, an oblique collision, an offset collision, but also a side collision, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can restrain the occupant so that it is difficult to displace the occupant from the seated position of the seat 4. In addition, since the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 restrain the occupant, it is difficult to apply strong local force to the occupant like a seatbelt. Furthermore, since the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are preferably deployed so as to be in close contact with the upper body of the occupant in the seated position of the seat 4, the upper body of the occupant will obviously move. before it can function to begin absorbing that shock. Shaking of the occupant's upper body itself can be suitably suppressed.

In this embodiment, a tether 25 is provided at the center in the left-right direction of the upper part of the back 6, which is the rear side of the head or neck of the occupant seated on the seat 4, and is connected to the right bag 21 and the left bag 22. and a guide member 24 associated with the guide member 24 . For this reason, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 after being deployed are moved to the center of the seat 4 in the left-right direction so that they touch each other on the rear side of the passenger seated on the seat 4 by the retracting device pulling the tether 25. Stop by. Since the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are drawn toward the center of the seat 4, they can be positioned near the circumference of the occupant's neck and come into close contact with the neck. By having the bag close to or in close contact with the neck, the head is less likely to swing. In particular, by pulling the tether 25 so that the insertion portion of one bag is in contact with the connection part of the tether 25 of the other bag, head shake can be effectively suppressed.

Further, in this embodiment, the right bag body 21 and the right bag body 21 are provided on the sheet 4 in a backwardly rolled state. In this case, the right bag body 21 and the right bag body 21 can move forward of the upper body of the occupant seated on both left and right sides of the back portion 6 of the seat 4 due to the force of deployment. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can start deploying obliquely forward from the back 6 of the seat 4 so as to spread forward, or toward both left and right sides of the seat 4. Thereby, it can be deployed in front of the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat 4.
In the present embodiment, the winding device 26 starts pulling the tether 25 after the deployment completion timing at which the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can move forward of the occupant seated on the seat 4. . After the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 begin to unfold, the tether 25 starts to be pulled by the retractor 26, so that the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 pass over the left and right shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4, and are attached to the upper body of the occupant. Move to the front position. Thereby, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can restrain the occupant so as to maintain him seated on the seat 4.

In this embodiment, the right bag body 21 is deployable into a substantially rod shape, and both ends thereof are fixed to the upper right part of the back part 6 of the seat 4 and the right part of the seat part 5 of the seat 4, and the right bag body 21 is 6 to the right side of the seat portion 5 of the seat 4. As a result, it unfolds from the upper right corner of the back 6 of the seat 4, passing above the right shoulder of the occupant seated on the seat 4, and reaching in front of the occupant's upper body. Similarly, the left bag body 22 can be expanded into a substantially rod shape, and both ends thereof are fixed to the upper left part of the back part 6 of the seat 4 and the left part of the seat part 5 of the seat 4, and It unfolds so as to extend from the upper left to the left side portion of the seat portion 5 of the seat 4. As a result, it unfolds from the upper left of the back 6 of the seat 4, passing above the left shoulder of the occupant seated on the seat 4, and reaching in front of the occupant's upper body.
By fixing the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 to the seat 4 in two places, upper and lower, in this way, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 will not expand even if the load of the occupant is applied. This makes it easier to maintain the position that you are in. The right bladder 21 and the left bladder 22 can be maintained in the deployed position even when subjected to a large load from the occupant. The occupant can be supported well.

[Second embodiment]
Next, an occupant protection device for an automobile 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the above-described embodiment, and illustration and description thereof are omitted. In the following description, differences from the embodiment described above will be mainly explained.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the winding device 26 of the automobile 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10(A) is an explanatory view of the back 6 of the seat 4, with the right bag 21 and the left bag 22 deployed in front of the upper body of the seated occupant. .

A right guide member 32 and a left guide member 33 are provided on the upper surface of the back portion 6 of the seat 4.
The right guide member 32 is provided on the right side of the upper surface of the back portion 6 so as to be movable in the left-right direction via a slide mechanism. The right guide member 32 is in an initial position at the right end of the slide mechanism.
One end of the right tether 30 is connected to the winding device 26 through the right guide member 32, and the other end is connected to the right bag body 21. Thereby, the right guide member 32 engages with the right tether 30 connected to the right bag body 21.
The left guide member 33 is provided on the left side of the upper surface of the back portion 6 so as to be movable in the left-right direction via a slide mechanism. The left guide member 33 is in an initial position at the left end of the slide mechanism.
The left tether 31 passes through the left guide member 33, and one end is connected to the winding device 26, and the other end is connected to the left bag body 22. Thereby, the left guide member 33 engages with the left tether 31 connected to the left bag body 22.
The back portion 6 of the seat 4 is provided with a lowering member 34 that is movable in the vertical direction.

The lowering member 34, which is movable in the vertical direction on the back part 6 of the seat 4, deploys the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 in front of the upper body of the seated occupant, as shown in FIG. 10(A). Then move down. As a result, the right tether 30 and the left tether 31 are pulled. The lowering member 34 starts pulling the right tether 30 and the left tether 31 after the deployment completion timing at which the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can move forward of the occupant seated on the seat 4. In this way, the lowering member 34 starts pulling the right tether 30 and the left tether 31 after the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 start to deploy.

Further, by pulling the right tether 30 and the left tether 31, the right guide member 32 moves to the left and the left guide member 33 moves to the right. The right guide member 32 and the left guide member 33 move toward the center of the sheet 4 in the left-right direction so that the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 touch each other after starting to unfold. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 move to a position where they pass above both the left and right shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4 and reach the front of the occupant. The unfolded right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 are in close contact with the front surface of the upper body and both shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4.
FIG. 10(B) shows that the unfolded right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 are pulled by the right tether 30 and the left tether 31, and are attached to the front of the upper body and both shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4. It is in close contact with the top.

As described above, in this embodiment, the upper part of the back part 6, which is the rear side of the head or neck of the occupant seated on the seat 4, is provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and is connected to the right bag body 21. A right guide member 32 that engages with the tether 25 and an upper part of the back part 6 that is the back side of the head or neck of the occupant seated on the seat 4 are provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and are connected to the left bag body 22. and a left guide member 33 that engages with the tether 25. Therefore, when the lowering member 34 serving as a retracting device pulls the tether 25, the right guide member 32 and the left guide member 33 move toward the center of the back portion 6 in the left-right direction. After being deployed, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 move toward the center in the left-right direction of the seat 4 so as to touch each other on the rear side of the occupant seated on the seat 4, as the retracting device pulls the tether 25. Since the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are drawn toward the center of the seat 4, they can be positioned near the circumference of the occupant's neck and come into close contact with the neck. By having the bag close to or in close contact with the neck, the head is less likely to swing. In particular, by pulling the tether 25 so that the insertion portion of one bag is in contact with the connection part of the tether 25 of the other bag, head shake can be effectively suppressed.

In particular, in this embodiment, when the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are pulled backward by the tethers 30 and 31, the right guide member 32 and the left guide member 33 move toward the center of the back portion 6 of the seat 4. . As a result, the distance supporting both ends of the right bag body 21 and the distance supporting both ends of the left bag body 22 become longer. Thereby, the effect of reducing the deflection and slack of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can be enhanced.

[Third embodiment]
Next, an occupant protection device for an automobile 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the above-described embodiment, and illustration and description thereof are omitted. In the following description, differences from the embodiment described above will be mainly explained.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the winding device 26 of the automobile 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11(A) is an explanatory view of the back 6 of the seat 4 seen from behind, with the right bag 21 and the left bag 22 deployed in front of the upper body of the seated occupant. .

The back portion 6 of the seat 4 is provided with a right slide member 41 and a left slide member 42 that are movable in the vertical direction.
The right slide member 41 is provided on the right side of the back 6 so as to be movable in the lower left direction. The right guide member 32, which is provided so as to be movable to the left when moving downward, is at an initial position on the upper right side.
One end of the right tether 30 is connected to the winding device 26 via the upper surface of the back portion 6 of the sheet 4, and the other end is connected to the right bag body 21. Thereby, the right slide member 41 engages with the right tether 30 connected to the right bag body 21.
The left slide member 42 is provided in the left side portion of the back portion 6 so as to be movable in the lower left direction. The left guide member 33, which is provided so as to be movable to the right when moving downward, is at an initial position on the upper left side.
The left tether 31 has one end connected to the winding device 26 and the other end connected to the left bag body 22 via the upper surface of the back 6 of the seat 4. Thereby, the left slide member 42 engages with the left tether 31 connected to the left bag body 22.

The right slide member 41 and the left slide member 42, which are movable in the vertical direction on the back portion 6 of the seat 4, are arranged so that the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are placed above the seated passenger as shown in FIG. 11(A). After unfolding in front of the body, move diagonally downward. As a result, the right tether 30 and the left tether 31 are pulled. The slide member starts pulling the right tether 30 and the left tether 31 after the deployment completion timing at which the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can move forward of the occupant seated on the seat 4. In this way, the slide member starts pulling the right tether 30 and the left tether 31 after the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 start to expand.

Further, the right slide member 41 and the left slide member 42 are diagonally lowered toward the center of the back portion 6 of the seat 4. The right tether 30 and the left tether 31 move toward the center of the sheet 4 in the left-right direction so that the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 touch each other after they begin to unfold. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 move to a position where they pass above both the left and right shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4 and reach the front of the occupant. The unfolded right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 are in close contact with the front surface of the upper body and both shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4.
FIG. 11(B) shows that the unfolded right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 are pulled by the right tether 30 and the left tether 31, and are attached to the front of the upper body and both shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4. It is in close contact with the top.

As described above, in this embodiment, the seat 4 is provided so as to be movable to the left when moving downward in the back 6 which is the back side of the head or neck of the occupant seated on the seat 4, and A right slide member 41 to which the right tether 30 is connected and a back portion 6 which is the back side of the head or neck of an occupant seated on the seat 4 are provided so as to be movable in the left-right direction when moving downward. , and a left slide member 42 to which a left tether 31 connected to the left bag body 22 is connected. Then, the right slide member 41 and the left slide member 42 move downward in the back 6 and pull the right tether 30 and the left tether 31. Furthermore, the right slide member 41 and the left slide member 42 move toward the center of the back portion 6 in the left-right direction. After being deployed, the right tether 30 and the left tether 31 are pulled toward the center of the back 6 in the left-right direction, so that the right tether 21 and the left tether 22 come into contact with each other on the rear side of the passenger seated on the seat 4. Move toward the center of the seat 4 in the horizontal direction. Since the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are drawn toward the center of the seat 4, they can be positioned near the circumference of the occupant's neck and come into close contact with the neck. By having the bag close to or in close contact with the neck, the head is less likely to swing. In particular, by pulling the tether 25 so that the insertion portion of one bag is in contact with the connection part of the tether 25 of the other bag, head shake can be effectively suppressed.

In particular, in this embodiment, when the right bag 21 and the left bag 22 are pulled backward by the tethers 30 and 31, the upper end of the right bag 21 and the upper end of the left bag 22 are located at the center of the back 6 of the seat 4. move towards. As a result, the distance between both ends supporting the right bag body 21 and the distance between both ends supporting the left bag body 22 become longer. Thereby, the effect of reducing the deflection and slack of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can be enhanced.

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

For example, in the embodiment described above, both ends of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are fixed to the upper portion of the back portion 6 of the seat 4 and the left and right side portions of the seat portion 5 of the seat 4.
In addition, for example, both ends of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 may be fixed to the upper portion of the back portion 6 of the seat 4 and the left and right armrest portions of the seat 4.

In the embodiment described above, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are expanded independently on the left and right sides of the seat 4, for example.
In addition to this, for example, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 may be connected, for example, on the back part 6 of the seat 4 to be integrated. Even in this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained by connecting the tethers 25 to the left and right branching portions, respectively.

In the embodiment described above, for example, the winding device 26 has a shape that allows the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 to pass above both the left and right shoulders of the occupant seated on the seat 4 and reach the front surface of the occupant. The tether 25 begins to be pulled after the deployment completion timing at which the tether 25 is to be deployed.
In addition, for example, the winding device 26 or the like may start pulling the tether 25 before the timing when the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 complete deployment. The winding device 26 may start pulling the tether 25 after the timing at which the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 start unfolding.

In the embodiment described above, the right bag body 21 and the right bag body 21 are provided on the seat 4 in a backward-rolled state, and the force of the unfolding causes the right bag body 21 and the right bag body 21 to roll over the seated occupant on both the left and right sides of the back 6 of the seat 4. It moves in front of the body.
In addition to this, for example, the right bag body 21 and the right bag body 21 may be provided on the seat 4 in a front-rolled state, or may be provided on the seat 4 in a bellows-shaped state. Even in these cases, if reflective plates are provided on the left and right sides of the sheet 4 and the bags are moved forward by touching the reflectors, the right bag body 21 and the right bag body 21 can be The unfolding can be started obliquely forward from the back part 6 so as to spread forward, or towards both left and right sides of the seat 4.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of a method of expanding a modified example of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 of FIG. 6. 12(A) to 12(C) correspond to FIG. 6(A) to FIG. 6(C).
FIG. 12(A) shows the accommodation state of the right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 according to the modified example before the start of deployment. The right bag body 21 is wound up counterclockwise, and the left bag body 22 is wound up clockwise and stored. In this way, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are provided on the sheet 4 in a forward-wound state. As the inflator 23 blows out high-pressure gas, the right bag 21 and the left bag 22 begin to expand. The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 begin to unfold to the left and right while unwinding, and as shown in FIG. be bounced back to. The unrolled right bag body 21 and left bag body 22 move forward due to the inertial force upon unfolding, as shown in FIG. 12(C).
The right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 provided on the seat 4 in the forward-rolled state can be moved in front of the upper body of the seated occupant due to the force of deployment, as in FIG. 7.

In FIG. 5, the right bag 21 and the left bag 22 are fixed on the back 6 of the seat 4 at a position near the center.
In addition, for example, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 may be fixed at positions near both left and right ends on the back portion 6 of the seat 4, as shown in FIG. 13(A). FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a method of expanding another modified example of the right bag body and left bag body of FIG. 5.
In this case, the lengths of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are shorter than those in FIG. 5, so that the deflection after deployment is started can be reduced.
Moreover, since the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 are fixed on the back 6 of the seat 4 at positions close to both left and right ends, the tether 25 is wound by the winding device 26 as shown in FIG. 13(B). The effect of resolving the deflection of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 is enhanced by pulling the bag rearward. By drawing the tether 25 to a large extent, the deflection of the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 can be effectively eliminated.
Similar effects can be expected in the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11 as well.

In addition, the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 basically break the skin of the seat 4 by expanding the buried bag body, and then break in the direction of tearing due to inertia, just like a normal side airbag. Move forward. By installing so that this direction is the front, the right bag 21 and the left bag 22 can be deployed forward. Since the right bag body 21 and the left bag body 22 described above are rolled up or bounced by the regulation plate 28 in the stored state, they can be moved forward more reliably.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Automobile (vehicle), 2...Vehicle body, 3...Crew room, 4...Seat, 5...Seat part, 6...Back, 10...Occupant protection device, 11...Stereo camera, 12...Infrared camera, 13...LiDAR, 14 ... acceleration sensor, 15 ... communication device, 16 ... GPS receiver, 17 ... airbag device, 21 ... right bag body, 22 ... left bag body, 23 ... inflator, 24 ... guide member, 25 ... tether, 26 ... winding Device (retracting device), 27... Control unit, 28... Regulation plate, 30... Right tether, 31... Left tether, 32... Right guide member, 33... Left guide member, 34... Lowering member (retracting device), 41... Right Slide member (retraction device), 42...Left slide member (retraction device)

Claims (5)

A right bag body provided on a vehicle seat and deployable from the upper left and right sides of the back of the seat to the front of the occupant's upper body through the upper sides of the left and right shoulders of an occupant seated on the seat; Left bag and
an inflator that expands the right bag and the left bag;
a tether connected to each of the right bag body and the left bag body;
a retraction device that pulls the tether;
has
After the right bag body and the left bag body begin to expand, the retracting device pulls the tether, so that the right bag body and the left bag body move toward the center in the left-right direction of the sheet so as to contact each other;
Vehicle occupant protection equipment.
a guide member provided at the center of the upper part of the back in the left-right direction and engaged with a tether connected to the right bag body and the left bag body;
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1.
A right bag body provided on a vehicle seat and deployable from the upper left and right sides of the back of the seat to the front of the occupant's upper body through the upper sides of the left and right shoulders of an occupant seated on the seat; Left bag and
an inflator that expands the right bag and the left bag;
a tether connected to each of the right bag body and the left bag body;
a retraction device that pulls the tether;
a guide member provided at the center of the upper part of the back in the left-right direction and engaged with a tether connected to the right bag body and the left bag body;
A vehicle occupant protection device having:
The retraction device starts pulling the tether after the right bag body and the left bag body start deploying.
A vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The retraction device starts pulling the tether after the deployment completion timing at which the right bag body and the left bag body can move forward of the occupant seated on the seat.
A vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images