JPH1024798A - Energy absorbing structure of body side part - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure both sitting comfortableness of an occupant and capacity of an air bag by enlarging the spacing of two adjacent wire frame members near an air bag unit so as to hold the air bag unit between both wire frame members. SOLUTION: Five wire-like wire frame members 18 extended in a cross direction are laid at specified intervals in a vertical direction between both lateral side parts opposedly positioned near both side parts of a seat back 3 of a seat back frame 13. The spacing of the third and fourth adjacent wire frame members 18 from the out of these five wire frame members 18 is enlarged near an air bag unit 21 so as to hold the air bag unit 21 longitudinally between both wire frame members 18. Both sitting comfortableness of an occupant and capacity of an air bag can thereby be ensured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an energy absorbing structure for a vehicle body side portion, and more particularly to a technical field in which an airbag unit is disposed near a side portion in a seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, it is well known that an airbag unit is provided on a steering wheel to ensure occupant safety in the event of a frontal collision of a vehicle body. However, in recent years, for example,
As shown in JP-A-6-64491, an airbag unit is disposed on a side portion in a seat, and when the vehicle collides with a vehicle body side portion, the airbag is deployed on the side of the occupant. It has been proposed to protect the occupant by absorbing the side impact energy.

On the other hand, a metal annular frame member is usually provided along the outer periphery of the sheet in order to secure the strength and rigidity of the sheet. Further, a plurality of wire-like wire frame members are bridged at predetermined intervals between left and right opposite side portions of the annular frame member which are located near the left and right side portions of the seat. When the occupant sits on the seat, the seat pad is supported so that the pad of the seat does not escape to the occupant side.

[0004]

By the way, when the airbag unit is disposed on the side portion in the seat as in the above proposed example, the protection of the airbag unit against impact force or the like on the side portion of the seat is improved. To this end, it is conceivable to provide an airbag unit at the center of the seat on the side of the annular frame member such that the longitudinal direction of the airbag unit is substantially along the side of the annular frame member.

However, since the wire frame member is provided at a predetermined distance from the center of the sheet on the side of the annular frame member, the wire frame member and the airbag unit interfere with each other, and the air is easily removed. The bag unit cannot be disposed on the side of the annular frame member at the center of the seat. That is, the length of the airbag unit in the longitudinal direction is determined by the capacity of the airbag required to protect the occupant, and is usually larger than the distance between two adjacent wire frame members. It is difficult to arrange the airbag unit between the frame members.

Therefore, in order to provide the airbag unit at the center of the sheet on the side of the annular frame member, the interval between two adjacent wireframe members must be adjusted to cover the entire space between both side portions of the annular frame member. If the length is larger than the length in the longitudinal direction, the pad cannot be properly supported, and the sitting comfort of the occupant deteriorates.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to improve the configuration of the above-mentioned wire frame member to improve both the comfort of the occupant and the capacity of the airbag. It is an object of the present invention to improve the protection of the airbag unit against impact force and the like while securing it.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, an airbag unit is provided at the center of a sheet on a side of an annular frame member, and an airbag unit is provided between adjacent two of a plurality of wireframe members. The distance between the two wire frame members is increased near the air bag unit so that the wire frame members sandwich the air bag unit.

More specifically, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an annular frame member is provided in the seat substantially along the outer periphery of the seat, and the annular frame member is located near the left and right sides of the seat. A plurality of wire-shaped wire frame members that are bridged at predetermined intervals between left and right sides facing each other, and an airbag that is disposed in a predetermined direction near a side portion of the annular frame member. It is premised on an energy absorbing structure on the side of the vehicle body including a unit.

The airbag unit is provided at the center of the seat on the side of the annular frame member so that the longitudinal direction of the airbag unit is substantially along the side of the annular frame member. It is assumed that the distance between the two wire frame members is widened near the airbag unit so that two adjacent wire frame members among the frame members sandwich the airbag unit.

Accordingly, even if the length of the airbag unit in the longitudinal direction is larger than the distance between two adjacent wireframe members, the length of the airframe unit may be larger than the space between two adjacent wireframe members due to the capacity of the airbag required to protect the occupant. Since the space between the members is widened in the vicinity of the airbag unit, the airbag unit can be provided on the side of the annular frame member at the center of the seat without interfering with the wire frame member. Thus, the protection of the airbag unit against impact force or the like on the side of the seat can be improved. Moreover,
Since the distance between the wire frame members is widened only at the side portions of the seat, the conventional predetermined distance can be maintained at the central portion of the seat which affects the comfort of the occupant. In addition, since the two wire frame members having the widened interval are disposed so as to sandwich the airbag unit, the protection performance against impact force or the like acting on both longitudinal ends of the airbag unit is also improved. be able to.
Therefore, it is possible to improve the protection of the entire airbag unit while securing both the comfort of the occupant and the capacity of the airbag.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the two wire frame members having an increased distance are provided so as to wrap the airbag unit when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the airbag unit. It is assumed that

According to the present invention, both ends of the airbag unit in the longitudinal direction can be more effectively protected by the two wire frame members having an increased interval. Therefore, the protection of the airbag unit can be further improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the airbag unit is disposed on a side portion of the seat on the side door side close to the seat.

[0015] This allows the airbag to be easily deployed between the occupant and the side door closer to the occupant in the event of a side collision, thereby preventing the occupant from colliding with the side door. Therefore, further safety of the occupant can be ensured in the event of a side collision.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the airbag unit is provided in the seat back.

In this manner, the side portion of the seat back is a side support portion bulging forward to support the occupant in the left-right direction, so that the airbag unit is disposed in a relatively large space inside the side support portion. can do. Therefore, the airbag unit can be accommodated in the seat while maintaining the occupant's sitting comfort even better.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 2 and 3 show the front left seat 1 of the vehicle in the vehicle body energy absorbing structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention (in the following description, the front, rear, left and right of the vehicle are simply referred to as front, rear, left and right). ), This sheet 1
Has a seat cushion 2, a seat back 3, and a headrest 4. Sliders 7, 7 extending in the front-rear direction are respectively provided below the left and right end portions of the seat cushion 2, and each of the sliders 7 is fixed to the floor via rail mounting members 10 at the front and rear portions. The front and rear positions of the seat 1 can be adjusted by being engaged with each guide rail 8. A knuckle member 9 is provided at a rear portion of the seat cushion 2 so as to be rotatable around a rotation shaft 11 extending in the left-right direction, and the seat back 3 is rotated by the knuckle member 9 with respect to the seat cushion 2. It is connected rotatably around 11 so that the angle of the seat back 3 can be adjusted.

The headrest 4 has a substantially U-shaped frame 5, and both ends of the frame 5 project from the lower end surface of the headrest 4.
Are attached to the seat back 3 by inserting both ends of the frame 5 into two holes formed in the upper end surface of the seat back 3 respectively.

A seat back frame 13 as an annular frame member is provided substantially along the outer periphery of the seat back 3 in the rear portion of the seat back 3. The seat back frame 13 is made of a steel pipe material. It is formed in a rectangular ring shape and has upper and lower portions and left and right side portions. Two headrest adjusting members 14 and 14 are provided on the upper portion of the seat back frame 13 so as to be able to adjust the vertical position of the headrest 4 by fitting with both ends of the frame 5 protruding from the lower end surface of the headrest 4. Is attached and fixed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, five wire-shaped wire frames extending in the left-right direction are provided between the left and right opposite sides of the seat back frame 13 located near both sides of the seat back 3. .. Are bridged at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. Both ends of each of the wire frame members 18 are fixed to the front sides of the left and right sides of the seat back frame 13 by welding.

A pad 15 is provided on the front side of each of the wire frame members 18. The pad 15 is supported by each of the wire frame members 18 so that the occupant does not escape backward when leaning on the seat back 3. I have. The pad 15 is supported by the seat back frame 13 such that an end of the pad 15 extends backward from the outside of the seat back frame 13. Pad 1
5 comprises a urethane foam layer 17 and a urethane layer 16 which is softer than the urethane foam layer 17 on the sheet outer surface side of the urethane foam layer 17. The outer surface of the sheet of the urethane layer 16 in the pad 15 is covered with a skin material 19 made of a thin cloth. The wire frame member 18
There is no pad 15 except for the vicinity of the seat back frame 13, and the rear part of the seat back 3 is only covered with the skin material 19.

The left and right ends of the seat cushion 2 are provided with side support portions 2a, 2a which are swelled upward, and the left and right ends of the seat back 3 are provided with side support portions 3a, 3a which are swelled forward. It plays a role in supporting the user not to move left and right.

The side portion of the seat back 3 on the side door side close to the seat 1, that is, the left side support portion 3a
An airbag unit 21 is disposed in the vicinity of the left side of the seat back frame 13 in the inside. As shown in FIG. 5, the airbag unit 21 has a reaction can 22 having a U-shaped cross section on the outer side. The inflator 23 and the airbag 24 folded on the opening side are accommodated respectively. The opening of the reaction can 22 is closed with a paper 25 that can be easily broken by deployment of the airbag. Although not shown, an ignition signal is supplied to an ignition portion of the inflator 23 from an acceleration sensor that detects a side collision to the left side of the vehicle, and the ignition signal ignites the explosive according to the ignition signal. Is burned at a high speed, and the airbag 24 is inflated and deployed by a large amount of gas generated at that time.

The left side of the seat back frame 13 is
A bracket frame member 30 extending in the front-rear direction is attached and fixed to the left side of the left side of the seat back frame 13 so as to extend substantially along the left side of the seat back 3. The longitudinal direction of the airbag unit 21 is substantially along the left side of the seat back frame 13 with respect to the seat center side (right side) with respect to the left side of the seat back frame 13 and the bracket frame member 30. It is provided as follows. In the airbag unit 21, the inflator 23 is located near the right side of the left portion of the seat back frame 13, and the reaction can 22 is arranged so that the opening direction of the can 22 is inclined leftward with respect to the front.

The bracket frame member 30 is provided to extend vertically along the side of the seat back 3 from the upper portion of the airbag unit 21 to the lower portion of the seat back 3. Then, the airbag unit 2
Reference numeral 1 designates two sets of upper and lower bolts 27, 27 and nuts 2 with a mounting member 26 provided on the side surface of the reaction can 22.
At 8 and 28, they are attached and fixed to the upper part of the bracket frame member 30. The bracket frame member 30 is attached and fixed at its lower portion to a knuckle member 9 provided on the seat cushion 2 with two sets of bolts and nuts.

The above five wire frame members 18, 1
8, the left and right ends (right ends in FIG. 4) of the two adjacent wire frame members 18 and 18 which are the third and fourth from the top are horizontal toward the left as shown in FIG. The airbag unit 21 is bent in the vertical direction and then in the horizontal direction again, and the gap between the two wire frame members 18 and 18 is set so that the airbag unit 21 is sandwiched in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction). Bag unit 21
It is expanded in the vicinity. That is, the distance between the two wire frame members 18 is set to be larger than the vertical length of the airbag unit 21 only in the vicinity of the airbag unit 21, and the vertical length of the airbag unit 21 in other portions. Smaller than the length in the direction,
The interval is set so that the pad 15 can be appropriately supported even when the occupant leans on the seat back 3. The interval between the other two adjacent wire frame members 18, 18 is also set so as to support the pad 15 so as not to cause discomfort to the occupant.

As shown in FIG. 1, the left and right ends of the two wire frame members 18, 18 with the widened gap are bent forward toward the left side (the right side in FIG. 1). With respect to its longitudinal direction (vertical direction)
It is provided to wrap when viewed from above. That is,
The left ends of the two wire frame members 18 are located directly above and below the inflator 23 of the airbag unit 21.

The pad 15 receives the deployment pressure of the airbag 24 at the portion corresponding to the airbag unit 21 on the inner surface of the pad 15 in the seat, that is, at the portion substantially in front of the reaction can 22 opening in the airbag unit 21. Notch groove 3 serving as the starting point for starting to expand and break
3 are provided so that the cut groove 33 is more fragile than other parts. The cut groove 33 is provided at substantially the same height in the vertical direction of the reaction can 22 of the airbag unit 21 and the seat back 3 and over substantially the same length.

On the other hand, a seam which is easily broken is formed at a position on the skin material 19 on a substantially extended line of the cut groove portion 33. Then, when the airbag 24 is deployed,
The pad 15 starts to break from the cut groove 33 due to the developed pressure, and the pad 15 and the skin material 19 are broken and expanded along a line connecting the cut groove 33 and the seam of the skin material 19. The airbag 24 is further deployed outside the seat back 3.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the airbag 24 has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction when deployed, and is placed between the occupant and the left side door 40 from the abdomen of the occupant to the head. It has been developed over. The length of the airbag unit 21 in the vertical direction is determined from the capacity of the airbag 24 necessary for protecting the occupant at this time.

A felt member 38 extends from the cut groove 33 on the inner surface of the sheet of the pad 15 to the side of the airbag unit 21 so that the urethane foam layer 1 of the pad 15 is formed.
7, the pad 15 is prevented from being scattered when the airbag 24 is deployed and the pad 15 is opened and broken, and the airbag unit 21 is formed.
The reaction can 22 in the pad 1
5 serves to prevent generation of abnormal noise due to rubbing with the urethane foam layer 17.

The operation when the airbag 24 is deployed due to a side collision in the energy absorbing structure on the side of the vehicle body having the above configuration will be described. First, when the acceleration sensor detects a side impact on the left side of the vehicle, an ignition signal is supplied to the ignition unit of the inflator 23, and the ignition unit is ignited. As a result, the explosive in the inflator 23 burns at a high speed, and a large amount of gas is supplied to the airbag 24.
Tries to expand and expand. And this airbag 24
Presses the pad 15 to the outside of the sheet by breaking the paper 25 closing the opening of the reaction can 22 by the developing pressure.
For this reason, the pad 15 starts to expand and break from the fragile portion, that is, the cut groove portion 33, and the cut groove portion 33 and the skin material 19
The pad 15 and the skin material 19 are expanded and broken along the line connecting the stitches, and the airbag 24 is deployed between the occupant and the side door 40 outside the seat back 3 from that location.

Accordingly, in the above-described embodiment, the airbag unit 21 is located on the left side of the seat back frame 13 and the seat center side of the bracket frame member 30, and the longitudinal direction of the air bag unit 21 is substantially on the left side of the seat back frame 13. Since the airbag unit 21 is provided along the rear surface, the protection of the airbag unit 21 against an impact force or the like on the left portion of the seat back 3 can be improved.

Then, the five wire frame members 18,
The distance between the two wire frame members 18, 18 is set such that the third and fourth adjacent wire frame members 18, 18 sandwich the airbag unit 21 in the vertical direction. The airbag unit 2
1, the left side support portion 3a of the seat back 3
Therefore, in the central portion of the seat back 3 which affects the comfort of the occupant, the two wire frame members 18, 1 are provided so as not to make the occupant feel uncomfortable.
Eight intervals can be maintained. With this, the vertical length of the airbag unit 21 is larger than the interval.
Even if the size of the airbag 24 is increased to secure the capacity of the airbag 24, the airbag unit 21 can be provided on the left side of the seat back frame 13 at the center of the seat without interfering with the two wire frame members 18, 18. . Moreover, the two wire frame members 1 with a widened interval
8 and 18 are arranged so as to sandwich the airbag unit 21 in the up-down direction.
1 can also be improved in protection against impact forces and the like acting on both upper and lower ends thereof. Therefore, it is possible to improve the protection of the airbag unit 21 as a whole while maintaining good sitting comfort of the occupant and securing the capacity of the airbag 24.

The left ends of the two wire frame members 18, 18 whose distances are widened are located directly above and below the inflator 23 in the airbag unit 21, and the airbag unit 21 is moved in the longitudinal direction. The airbag unit 21 is provided so as to be wrapped when viewed from the airbag unit.
The upper and lower ends of the particularly important inflator 23 can be more effectively protected. Therefore, the protection of the airbag unit 21 can be further improved.

Further, since the airbag unit 21 is disposed in the left side support portion 3a of the seat back 3, the airbag 24 can be easily placed between the occupant and the side door 40 by a side collision to the left side of the vehicle. And the collision of the occupant with the side door 40 can be reliably prevented. In addition, a relatively large space can be provided in the side support portion 3a of the seat back 3.
Therefore, the airbag unit 21 can be accommodated in the seat 1 while further improving the sitting comfort of the occupant, and the occupant safety at the time of a side collision can be further improved.

In the above embodiment, the airbag unit 21 is provided in the left side support portion 3a of the seat back 3. However, the present invention can be applied to a case where the air bag unit 21 is provided in the right side support portion 3a of the seat back 3. Can be applied, and collision between occupants can be prevented. Also, when the airbag unit 21 is disposed in the side support portion 2a of the seat cushion 2 so that the opening of the reaction can 22 faces substantially upward, it is similar to the case where the airbag unit 21 is disposed in the side support portion 3a of the seat back 3. To
The present invention can be applied.

[0039]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the annular frame member disposed in the seat substantially along the outer peripheral portion of the seat and the left and right sides of the annular frame member are provided. Energy absorption of a vehicle body side portion including a plurality of wire frame members bridged at predetermined intervals and an airbag unit disposed in a predetermined direction near a side portion of the annular frame member. With respect to the structure, an airbag unit is provided on the center side of the seat on the side of the annular frame member so that the longitudinal direction of the airbag unit is substantially along the side of the annular frame member, and The distance between the two wire frame members is increased in the vicinity of the airbag unit so that two adjacent wireframe members sandwich the airbag unit. While both ensuring the capacity of the comfort of the air bag, it is possible to improve of the protection of the airbag unit.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the airbag unit is provided with both wire frame members having an increased space so as to wrap the airbag unit when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the airbag unit. Can be further improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the airbag unit is disposed on the side of the seat on the side door side close to the seat, so that the safety of the occupant can be further improved in the event of a side collision. .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the airbag unit is disposed in the seat back, the airbag unit can be accommodated in the seat while further improving the sitting comfort of the occupant. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a seat in an energy absorbing structure on a vehicle body side according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a left portion of the seat.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view showing a main part of the seat back.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an airbag unit.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a deployed state of the airbag.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a deployed state of the airbag.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 seat 2 seat cushion 3 seat back 13 seat back frame (annular frame member) 15 pad 18 wire frame member 21 airbag unit 24 airbag 30 bracket frame member 33 cut groove

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An annular frame member disposed substantially along the outer peripheral portion of a sheet in a sheet, and a predetermined portion between left and right opposite side portions of the annular frame member located near left and right side portions of the seat. Energy of a vehicle body side portion including a plurality of wire-like wire frame members bridged at intervals and an airbag unit disposed in a predetermined direction near a side portion of the annular frame member. In the absorbing structure, the airbag unit is provided at a seat center side of the side of the annular frame member so that a longitudinal direction of the airbag unit is substantially along the side of the annular frame member. The distance between the two wire frame members is in the vicinity of the air bag unit so that two adjacent wire frame members among the members sandwich the air bag unit. Energy absorbing structure of a vehicle body side, characterized in that it is spread. 2. The energy absorbing structure for a vehicle body according to claim 1, wherein the two wire frame members having an increased space wrap with respect to the airbag unit when viewed from the longitudinal direction of the airbag unit. An energy absorbing structure on the side of the vehicle body, being provided. 3. The vehicle body energy absorbing structure according to claim 1, wherein the airbag unit is disposed on a side portion of the seat on a side door side close to the seat. Energy absorption structure on the side. 4. The vehicle body energy absorbing structure according to claim 3, wherein the airbag unit is disposed in the seat back.