JPH07215159A - Vehicular air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable expansive development of an air bag by which an occupant can be reliably protected at side collision time out of relation to a seated posture of an occupant. CONSTITUTION:At side collision time, an air bag 7 expansively develops toward the car body side through an opening part 15 opening to the car body side. In an expansively developing process of the air bag 7 at the side collision time, the expansively developing air bag 7 is actively guided to the occupant side by a projecting wall part 16 of a car body side wall 8. Thereby, the air bag 7 can be reliably expansively developed to the occupant side out of relation to a seated posture of an occupant.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle air bag system for inflating and deploying an air bag in the event of a side collision of the vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an airbag device for an automobile, an airbag which is inflated and deployed from a steering wheel or an instrument panel on the passenger side is used.
Various types have been proposed and put into practical use that buffer the inertial force applied to the occupant during a frontal collision and prevent the secondary collision of the occupant with the steering wheel handle, instrument panel, or the like. As such an airbag device, an ignition device (igniter) is operated based on an output signal from a collision detection sensor mounted on a vehicle body, and an airbag is generated by a pressure of nitrogen gas generated from a gas generator (inflator). The one that is designed to instantly expand and deploy is widely adopted.

By the way, in the case of a side collision, the upper half of the occupant seated on the seat on the side wall (door) side of the vehicle may collide with the side wall of the vehicle body that has entered the vehicle interior. That is, at the time of a side collision, the side wall of the vehicle body moves to the center side of the passenger compartment, which is the anti-collision side, and the seat is moved to the center side of the passenger compartment through the side sill and the floor. Move to the center of the passenger compartment,
Since the upper half of the occupant is almost free from the seat, the upper body of the occupant moves toward the side wall of the vehicle body and double-collides with the side wall of the vehicle body.

Therefore, as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-281455, an air bag which is provided in the interior of a seat cushion and a seat back and is inflatable and deployable to at least a side wall of a vehicle occupant and a vehicle body. 2. Description of the Related Art An airbag device for a vehicle is known that includes a side collision detection sensor that detects a side collision and an airbag deployment means that deploys an airbag by receiving an output from the side collision detection sensor.

[0005]

However, in such an air bag system for a vehicle, the air bag is only inflatable and deployable to at least the side wall of the vehicle body of the occupant. Therefore, depending on the sitting posture of the occupant, A part of the occupant's body blocks the seat opening where the airbag is inflated and deployed, which prevents normal inflation and deployment of the airbag, and the airbag may not be inflated and deployed to a desired state. on the other hand,
The sitting posture of the occupant at the time of side collision cannot be predicted, and it is necessary to surely protect the occupant regardless of the sitting posture.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an airbag device for a vehicle capable of inflating and deploying an airbag capable of reliably protecting an occupant in a side collision regardless of the sitting posture of the occupant. To do.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an airbag unit disposed on a seat and capable of inflating and deploying an airbag to at least a side wall of a vehicle body of an occupant, and side collision detection means for detecting a side collision with a vehicle body. And an airbag deployment means for inflating and deploying the airbag of the airbag unit at the time of a side collision when receiving the output from the side collision detection means.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an opening portion is formed in a side portion of the seat so as to open toward the side of the vehicle body, and an opening portion for inflating and deploying an airbag of the airbag unit; and an airbag in a side collision. And a guide means for guiding the airbag to the side of the occupant during the inflation and deployment process.

In the invention of claim 2, the guide means is
It is composed of a side wall inside the vehicle compartment facing the opening.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the opening is formed in a side portion of a headrest or a seat back forming the seat so as to open toward the side of the vehicle body.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the opening is formed in the side portion of the seat cushion forming the seat so as to open toward the side of the vehicle body.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the airbag unit is arranged so that the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the front of the passenger compartment toward the side of the occupant.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the airbag unit is arranged so that the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the side of the occupant toward the upper part of the passenger compartment.

In the seventh aspect of the invention, the airbag unit is arranged such that the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the side of the occupant seated on the seat.

In the eighth aspect of the invention, the airbag of the airbag unit is a bag body which is inflated and deployed toward the side of the occupant when a side collision occurs.

In the ninth aspect of the invention, the airbag of the airbag unit is a bag body that is inflated and deployed to the side of the occupant's head when a side collision occurs.

[0017]

According to the invention of claim 1, when the side collision detection means detects the side collision at the time of the side collision, the airbag expands laterally of the vehicle body through the opening formed in the side portion of the seat by the airbag expanding means. It is inflated and expanded. At that time, the airbag tries to inflate and deploy to the side of the vehicle body, but the airbag is actively guided to the side of the occupant during the inflation and deployment process by the guide means, regardless of the sitting posture of the occupant. The airbag ensures the protection of the occupant in the event of a side collision.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the side wall in the vehicle compartment facing the opening restricts the inflation and deployment of the airbag toward the side of the vehicle body and the airbag toward the side of the occupant. Be actively guided.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the opening is formed in the side portion of the headrest or the seat back so as to open toward the side of the vehicle body, the airbag is provided at a portion near the upper body of the occupant. As the vehicle is inflated and deployed, the reliability of occupant protection during a side collision is enhanced.

According to the invention of claim 4, the opening is formed in the side portion of the seat cushion so as to open toward the side of the vehicle body. Therefore, in the vicinity of the portion to which the impact force is input in the case of a side collision. In this case, the airbag is inflated and deployed, which is advantageous in absorbing the impact force at the time of a side collision.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the airbag unit is arranged so that the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the front of the passenger compartment toward the side of the occupant. Due to the protection of the occupant, the occupant can easily inflate and deploy laterally.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the airbag unit is arranged so that the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the upper side of the passenger compartment toward the side of the occupant. Due to the protection of the occupant, the occupant can easily inflate and deploy laterally.

According to the invention of claim 7, in the airbag unit, since the airbag is arranged so as to inflate and deploy to the side of the occupant seated on the seat, the airbag is
Due to the protection of the occupant during a side collision, the occupant can easily inflate and deploy laterally.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the airbag of the airbag unit is a bag body which is inflated and deployed toward the side of the occupant in the event of a side collision, so that when the side collision occurs. In order to protect the occupant, the vehicle is easily inflated and deployed to the side of the occupant.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the airbag of the airbag unit is a bag body that is inflated and expanded to the side of the head of the occupant during a side collision, so that the airbag of the collision vehicle during a side collision occurs. The occupant's head is reliably prevented from hitting the bonnet.

[0026]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment 1> This example is an example in which a side collision airbag unit (hereinafter referred to simply as a side collision unit) is disposed in a seat back.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 showing the schematic structure, 1
Is a front seat having a seat cushion 2 and a seat back 3. Front seat 2 (seat back 3)
A side collision unit 5 is embedded in the end of the door 4 on the side. The unit 5 for side collision has a bag 6 in which a bag-shaped airbag 7 is folded and inflatable on the vehicle body side wall 8 (door) side of the occupant M so as to be inflatable and expandable. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the airbag 7 is a bag body that is inflated and deployed to the side of the head of the occupant M during a side collision.

At the same time, the casing 6 contains a gas generator 9 for instantaneously generating gas due to the reaction of the gas generating agent and the flame sensitizer. The gas generator 9 generates heat when energized to generate gas. It has a built-in ignition device that reacts with the flame retardant. The casing 6 has a frame-shaped seat back frame 1 at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the seat back 3.
It is stuck at 0.

The casing 6 is closed by a lid 8 which is opened when the airbag 7 is inflated and deployed, and a pair of front and rear lids integrally formed on the outside with a pad material 11 and a skin material 12. The parts 13A and 13B are located. A slit 11a is formed in the pad material 11 between the lids 13A and 13B, and a perforation (not shown) is formed in the skin material 12. Thereby, the airbag 7
Expands by the gas generated from the gas generator 9, breaks the skin material 12 along the perforations, and opens the lids 13A and 13B as shown by the chain line in FIG.

That is, an opening 15 is formed in the side portion of the seat back 3 so that the airbag 7 of the side-collision unit 5 is inflated and deployed, which is opened toward the side of the vehicle body, and the opening 15 covers the lid portion 13A, It is blocked by 13B.
As described above, the openings 15 are formed on the side portions of the seat 2 so as to open toward the side of the vehicle body, so that the pad material 11 of the seat back 3 that provides cushioning to the occupant is not damaged. It becomes possible to arrange the unit 5.

On the side wall 8 of the vehicle body, which is a side wall in the vehicle interior facing the opening 15, the airbag 7 which is inflating and deploying in the process of inflating and deploying the airbag 7 at the time of a side collision is provided to the side of the occupant. A protruding wall portion 16 which is a guiding means for positively guiding the vehicle is formed. The protruding wall portion 16 has an inclined surface 1 inclined so as to protrude toward the rear side toward the inside of the vehicle.
6a.

With the above arrangement, when an impact detection sensor (side impact detection means) (not shown) detects a side impact on the vehicle body due to a side impact, as shown in FIG.
The airbag 7 of the side collision unit 5 installed in the seat back 3 of the front seat 2 in which the passenger is seated is inflated and deployed to at least the vehicle body side wall 8 side of the occupant M, and is collided to the vehicle body side wall 8 side (collision side). The upper half of the moving occupant M is restrained by the front seat 2 that moves toward the passenger compartment center side (anti-collision side), and the occupant M is moved toward the passenger compartment center side while relaxing the inertial force applied to the passenger M. The relative speed between the vehicle body side wall 8 and the occupant M is reduced to reliably prevent a secondary collision with the vehicle body side wall 8 or the like. In FIG. 5, the airbag 7 is provided with a reinforcing member 7a so as not to be broken due to breakage of the door glass at the time of a side collision.

In particular, since the opening 15 formed by opening the lids 13A and 13B and in which the airbag 7 is inflated and deployed is opened toward the side of the vehicle body at the side of the seat back 3, the opening is formed. 15 is not blocked by the body of the occupant M, the airbag 7 can be surely inflated and deployed regardless of the seating posture of the occupant M, and the opening 15 is formed in the side portion of the seat back 3. As a result, the airbag 7 can be inflated and deployed at an early stage in a region near the upper body of the occupant M, and the reliability of occupant protection can be enhanced. In addition to that, opening 1
The airbag 7 which is inflated and deployed laterally through the vehicle body 5 is positively guided to the occupant side by the projecting wall portion 16 in the process of inflation and deployment of the airbag 7 during a side collision. Is prevented from inflating and deploying toward the side of the vehicle body through the opening 15, and the inflating and deploying airbag 7 is reliably guided to the side of the occupant.

As described above, at the time of a side collision, first, the airbag 7 is inflated and deployed toward the side of the vehicle body on the side portion of the seat back 3, and then the inflating airbag 7 is projected toward the occupant side. Since the guide is provided by the wall portion 16, regardless of the sitting posture of the occupant M, the portion of the occupant M near the upper body at the time of a side collision can be protected early and reliably.

Further, since the side collision unit 5 is arranged inside the seat back 3 in such a direction that the airbag 7 is inflated and deployed toward the front of the passenger compartment toward the side of the occupant, the protruding wall portion 16 is provided.
The airbag 7 can be easily inflated and deployed to the side of the occupant, as compared with the case where only the guide is performed, and it is also advantageous in improving reliability of occupant protection at the time of side collision.

Further, since the airbag 7 is a bag body which is inflated and deployed to the side of the occupant in the event of a side collision, compared with the case where only the guide by the protruding wall portion 16 is provided.
At the time of a side collision, the entire side portion of the occupant M can be surely protected by the airbag 7 (see FIG. 4), and in particular, the bag body is formed to be inflated and deployed to the side of the head of the occupant M. As shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to reliably prevent the occupant M from directly hitting the head M1 on the hood 18a of the collision vehicle 18.

In the above embodiment, the airbag is a bag that is usually used for airbags. However, as shown in FIG. 7, the airbag 7A is inflated and deployed at the time of a side collision, and the occupant is inflated. The airbag 7A of the airbag unit 5A may be formed in such a shape in advance so as to extend to the side.

Further, in the above embodiment, the airbag is designed to inflate and deploy on the side wall of the vehicle body of the occupant M seated on the front seat 1, but as shown in FIG. Not only the airbag 7 is inflated and deployed on the side wall side, but also on the center side of the passenger compartment.
Can be expanded and deployed. In this case, the airbags 19 on the center side of the passenger compartment are inflated and deployed to the side of the occupant, with the airbags 19 adjacent to each other serving as guide means. As a result, not only the collision with the vehicle body side wall 8 which has collided, but also the collision between the passengers on the center side of the vehicle compartment can be avoided.

<Embodiment 2> This embodiment is an example in which the side collision unit is arranged in the headrest.

As shown in the schematic configuration in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the headrest 33 located above the seat back 32 of the front seat 31, a side collision unit 35 is embedded in the end portion on the door 34 side. Side collision unit 35
In the casing 36, a bag-shaped airbag 37 is folded and stored so as to be inflatable and deployable toward the vehicle body side wall 38 (door) side of the occupant M, and the airbag 37 is inflated toward the occupant side toward the front of the passenger compartment. It is arranged to expand.

The casing 36 is fixed to a frame member 38 extending in the vertical direction, and the casing 39 is closed by a lid 40 that is opened when the airbag 37 is inflated and deployed. And skin material 42
A pair of front and rear lids 43A and 43B composed of and are located.

That is, an opening 44 for inflating and deploying the airbag 37 of the side collision unit 35 is formed on the side of the headrest 33 toward the side of the vehicle body.
Is closed by the lid portions 43A and 43B. As described above, since the opening portion 44 is formed on the side portion of the headrest 33 so as to open to the side of the vehicle body, the side collision unit 35 should be arranged so as not to damage the pad material 41 of the headrest 33. Is possible.

Further, as in the case of the second embodiment, the side wall 38 itself of the vehicle body facing the opening 44 is moved toward the side of the vehicle body during the inflation and deployment process of the airbag 37 at the time of a side collision. It serves as a guide for guiding the passengers to the side.

Reference numeral 45 is a gas generator, and 46 is a unit 3
5 is a fixture for attaching 5 to the frame 47.

With the above construction, the opening 4 for inflating and deploying the airbag 37 laterally of the vehicle body due to a side collision.
4, the airbag 37 is inflated and deployed at least on the side of the vehicle body side wall 38 of the occupant M, so that it is possible to reliably prevent a secondary collision with the vehicle body side wall (door) or the like.

In particular, since the headrest 33 is formed with the opening 44 that opens to the side of the vehicle body, the occupant M
The airbag 37 can be inflated and deployed early on the particularly important head of the upper body, and the reliability of occupant protection can be enhanced.

<Third Embodiment> This embodiment is an example in which the side collision unit is arranged in the seat cushion.

As shown in the schematic configuration in FIGS. 10 and 11, a side collision unit 54 is embedded at the end of the seat cushion 52 of the front seat 51 on the door 53 side.
The side collision unit 54 includes a casing 55, in which a bag-shaped airbag 56 is folded and stored so as to be inflatable and deployable toward a vehicle body side wall 57 (door) of the occupant M, and the airbag is provided inside the seat cushion 52. The reference numeral 56 is arranged so as to inflate and deploy toward the side of the occupant toward the upper part of the passenger compartment. still,
Similar to the case of the first embodiment, the airbag 56 is formed of a bag body that is inflated and deployed to the side of the head of the occupant M when a side collision occurs.

The casing 55 is a seat cushion 52.
It is fixed to a frame-shaped seat cushion frame 58 at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction.

The casing 55 is closed by a lid 59 which is opened when the airbag 56 is inflated and deployed.
A pair of front and rear lid portions 62A and 62B, which are integrally formed by the pad material 60 and the skin material 61 as in the case of the first embodiment, are located on the outer side thereof.

That is, an opening 63 for inflating and deploying the airbag 56 of the side collision unit 54 is formed in the side portion of the seat cushion 52 so as to open toward the side of the vehicle body. It is closed by the lids 62A and 62B. Since the opening 63 is formed in the side portion of the seat cushion 52 as described above, the side collision unit 54 can be arranged without damaging the pad material 60 of the seat cushion 52.

Further, the vehicle body side wall 57 facing the opening 63 is not formed with the projecting wall portion as in the first embodiment, but the vehicle body side wall 57 itself is in the process of inflating and deploying the airbag 56 at the time of side collision. It serves as guide means for guiding the airbag 56 to the side of the occupant.

Reference numeral 64 is a slider on the seat cushion side, 65 is a guide rail with which the slider 64 is slidably engaged, and 66 is a gas generator.

With the above arrangement, the side collision causes the airbag 56 to inflate and deploy toward the side of the occupant M, at least on the side of the vehicle body side wall 57, through the opening 63 at the side of the seat cushion 52. A secondary collision with the vehicle body side wall 57 (door) on the raised side is reliably prevented.

In particular, since the air bag 56 is formed with the opening portion 63 for expanding and deploying toward the side of the vehicle body in the seat cushion 52 of the front seat 51, the air bag near the portion where the impact force is input at the time of a side collision. The bag 56 can be inflated and deployed, and the impact force can be efficiently absorbed.

Further, the side collision unit 54 is arranged so that the airbag 56 is inflated and deployed toward the occupant side toward the upper part of the passenger compartment.
Is provided, the airbag 56 can be easily inflated and deployed to the side of the occupant, which increases the reliability of occupant protection during a side collision.

[0058]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described above, the airbag which inflates and deploys to the side of the vehicle body through the opening is guided to the side of the occupant by the guide means. Regardless of this, it is possible to reliably protect the occupant in a side collision.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the side wall of the vehicle interior facing the opening prevents the airbag from inflating and deploying to the outside of the vehicle body, and can guide the airbag to the side of the occupant. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the headrest or the seat back is formed with the opening portion that opens to the side of the vehicle body. Therefore, the airbag is inflated and deployed at an early stage to a portion near the upper body of the occupant. Therefore, the reliability of occupant protection can be increased.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the opening portion that opens to the side of the vehicle body is formed in the seat cushion of the seat,
Since the airbag can be inflated and deployed in the vicinity of the site where the impact force is input at the time of a side collision, the impact force can be efficiently absorbed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the airbag unit is arranged so that the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the front of the passenger compartment toward the side of the occupant. Therefore, the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the side of the occupant. This makes it easier to protect the occupant in the event of a side collision.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the airbag unit is arranged so that the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the upper side of the passenger compartment toward the side of the passenger, the airbag is inflated toward the side wall of the vehicle body of the passenger. It is easy to deploy, and occupant protection can be ensured in the event of a side collision.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, since the airbag unit is arranged so that the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the occupant seated on the seat, the airbag is easily inflated and deployed toward the occupant side. It is possible to surely protect the occupant in the case of a side collision.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the airbag of the airbag unit is a bag body that is inflated and deployed toward the side of the occupant during a side collision, the airbag is directed toward the side of the occupant. It is easy to inflate and deploy, and occupant protection can be ensured in the event of a side collision.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the airbag of the airbag unit is a bag body which is inflated and deployed to the side of the occupant's head in a side collision, the occupant's head in a side collision. Is positively protected, and an occupant can be prevented from hitting his / her head on the hood of a collision vehicle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a front seat with a part cut off.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of a seat back.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an airbag in a deployed state.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a deployed state of the airbag.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a deployed state of the airbag in the vehicle compartment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the shape of the airbag.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a front seat with a part cut off.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a headrest.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a front seat by cutting off a part thereof.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an essential part of a seat cushion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Front Seat 2 Seat Cushion 3 Seat Back 4 Door 5 Side Impact Unit (Airbag Unit) 7 Airbag 8 Body Side Wall 9 Gas Generator (Airbag Deploying Means) 15 Opening 16 Protruding Wall (Guiding Means) 31 Front Seat 32 Headrest 33 35 Side collision unit (airbag unit) 37 Airbag 38 Body side wall (guide means) 44 Opening 45 Gas generator (airbag deployment means) 51 Front seat 52 Seat cushion 54 Side collision unit (air) Bag unit) 56 airbag 57 vehicle body side wall (guide means) 63 opening 66 gas generator (airbag deployment means)

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An airbag unit disposed on a seat, in which an airbag is inflatable and deployable to at least a side wall of a vehicle body of an occupant, a side collision detection means for detecting a side collision with a vehicle body, and the side collision detection means. And an airbag deployment means for inflating and deploying the airbag of the airbag unit at the time of a side collision, the airbag system of the vehicle having a side portion of the seat opened toward a vehicle body side. A formed vehicle has an opening for inflating and deploying an airbag of the airbag unit, and a guide means for guiding the airbag to a side of an occupant in a process of inflating and deploying the airbag during a side collision. Airbag device. 2. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the guide means is constituted by a side wall in the vehicle compartment facing the opening. 3. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed in a side portion of a headrest or a seat back forming a seat so as to open toward a side of the vehicle body. 4. The vehicle airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening is formed in a side portion of a seat cushion forming a seat so as to open toward a side of the vehicle body. 5. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the airbag unit is arranged in such a direction that the airbag is inflated and deployed toward the front of the passenger compartment toward the side of the occupant. 6. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the airbag unit is disposed in a direction in which the airbag is inflated and deployed toward an occupant side toward the upper side of the vehicle compartment. 7. The airbag unit comprises an airbag,
The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag device is disposed so as to inflate and deploy toward a side of an occupant seated on a seat. 8. The airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the airbag of the airbag unit is a bag body formed to inflate and deploy toward a side of an occupant in a side collision. . 9. The airbag apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the airbag of the airbag unit is a bag body that is inflated and deployed to the side of the occupant's head when a side collision occurs.