JPH1053091A - Air bag device of vehicular seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag device for a vehicular seat, which has good feeling with a seat back and which excels in the operating easiness for rotating. SOLUTION: The whole rear surface including the corner 14a of an air bag module 12 is enclosed with a cushion member 17, which should enhance the touch feeling of the seat back portion corresponding to the air bag module 12. Even though the seat back portion corresponding to the air bag module 12 collides with any interior fitting of car cabin, the fitting will never be damaged owing to existence of the cushion member 17, and therefore, an occupant can rotate his/her seat with no case of likely interference of the seat back with the interior fitting, to ensure that the seat is rotated with good easiness of operating.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle capable of protecting an occupant by relaxing an impact load received from a side wall of a vehicle body by deploying an airbag provided in a seat back in a side collision of the vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rotary seat airbag device capable of changing the front-back direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to avoid a direct impact between a side wall of a vehicle body such as a door deformed by an impact load and a seated occupant in a side collision of a vehicle, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-5005.
Various airbag devices, such as those known in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2 (JP-A) No. 2 and the like have been proposed.

That is, a pad material is attached to a seat back frame inside a seat back, and a concave portion for forming a space around the seat back frame is provided at an outer portion of the pad material in a vehicle width direction, and is exposed in the concave portion. An airbag module incorporating an airbag and an inflator is attached to the seatback frame, and finally the entire seatback is covered with a skin material. The rear of the airbag module is covered with only this skin material. This skin material is generally composed of a plurality of members, and is formed by integrating the respective members into a bag shape via sewing portions extending along the vertical direction.

[0004] Among the plurality of sewn portions of the skin material, the sewn portion located in the deployment direction (forward) of the airbag is a normal tearing position, and the sewn portion is broken by the airbag inflated at the time of vehicle collision. From there, the airbag is deployed forward.

On the other hand, among types of seats, there is a type in which a seat cushion rotates about a rotation fulcrum. That is, the front seat is turned rearward so that it can be opposed to the rear seat, and is particularly used in an RV vehicle or the like.

[0006]

However, in such a conventional technique, only the skin material covers the rear surface of the airbag module. When the airbag module portion of the seatback is pushed by hand, the inside of the airbag module is felt through the skin material, and the tactile sensation of the seatback is poor.

Further, since the airbag module portion of the seat back is covered only with the skin material, if the portion hits the in-vehicle equipment during rotation of the seat, the equipment may be damaged. Therefore, the occupant must carefully rotate the seat, and the operability of rotating the seat is poor.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a conventional technique, and provides an airbag device for a vehicle seat having a good tactile sensation of a seat back and excellent rotation operability.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
The seat cushion of the seat is freely rotatable and the seat back is tiltable forward, and the pad material is attached to the seat back frame of the seat back, and a space around the seat back frame is provided at the outer portion of the pad material in the vehicle width direction. A vehicle having a structure in which a concave portion for forming is provided, an airbag module incorporating an airbag and an inflator is attached to a seatback frame exposed in the concave portion, and finally the entire seatback is covered with a skin material. In the airbag device for a seat, a cushion member is provided inside the skin material of the seatback behind the airbag module, and the cushion member covers the entire rear surface including the corners of the airbag module.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the entire back surface including the corners of the airbag module is covered by the cushion member, so that the tactile sensation in the airbag module portion of the seat back is improved. In addition, even if the airbag module portion of the seat back hits the in-vehicle equipment, the presence of the cushion member does not damage the in-vehicle equipment, so the occupant rotates the seat without worrying about interference between the seat back and the in-vehicle equipment. It has good seat rotation operability.

The cushion member may be formed integrally with the pad material (claim 2) or may be a separate member (claim 3).

[0012] The cushion member may be provided with an extended portion for covering the rear surface of the seat back frame. By forming such an extended portion, the tactile sensation of the seat back is improved, and the protection of the in-vehicle equipment is enhanced,
Seat rotation operability is further improved.

Further, an extension may be formed on the cushion member to cover the side surface of the airbag module. By forming such an extended portion, the tactile sensation on the side surface of the seat back is improved, the protection of the in-vehicle equipment is enhanced, and the operability of rotating the seat is further improved.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 1 shows the right front seat 1
And comprises a seat cushion 2 and a seat back 3 which can be tilted forward.

The seat cushion 2 can be moved back and forth via a slide mechanism 4 (see FIGS. 6 to 8), and a rotation fulcrum set substantially at the center of the seat cushion 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 9). It can be rotated counterclockwise around S. The seat 1 rotated 180 ° and facing rearward is fixed there so that it can face a rear seat (not shown) (see FIG. 8).

Inside the seat back 3, an inverted U-shaped pipe frame 5, whose shape is not clear in the drawing, is provided. Side panels 6 are integrally fixed to the left and right sides of the pipe frame 5. (Only the right side panel 6 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). The pipe frame 5 and the side panel 6 form a seat back frame 7 of this embodiment. An S-shaped seat spring 8 is provided between the left and right side panels 6.

A pad material 9 for obtaining cushioning is attached to the seat back 3. Side portions 9a are formed on both left and right sides of the pad material 9 so as to protrude.
The right side panel 6 of the pad material 9
On the side, a concave portion 11 for forming a space outside the side panel 6 is formed, and an airbag module 12 is attached to the side panel 6 exposed in the concave portion 11.

The airbag module 12 comprises a metal case 14 having an opening 13 in the front, an airbag 15 folded in a bellows shape, and an inflator 16 for generating gas for inflating and deploying the airbag. ing.
The airbag 15 and the inflator 16 are housed in a case 14, and the opening 13 of the case 14 is closed with a thin sheet (not shown) that is easily broken. The airbag module 12 is fixed to the side panel 6 by fixing means (not shown) provided on the case 14.

On the rear side of the airbag module 12, a cushion member 17 is provided. The cushion member 17 is made of the same material as the pad material 9 and is integrally formed when the pad material 9 is formed. This cushion member 17
Is to cover the entire rear surface of the airbag module 12,
The corner portion 14 a of the airbag module 12 is also covered by the cushion member 17. Further, an extended portion 18 that covers the rear surface of the seat back frame 7 is integrally formed on the left side of the cushion member 17.

The entire seat back frame 7 to which the pad material 9 and the airbag module 12 are attached is covered with a skin material 19. The skin material 19 has a structure in which a wadding portion is sandwiched between cloths, but is not shown.

The skin material 19 includes a main portion 20 covering the front center portion of the seat back 3, a main side portion 21 covering both front portions (the side portions 9a), and a gusset portion covering the side portions of the seat back 3. 22 and a back portion 23 that forms the back portion of the seat back 3. And the main part 20, the main side part 21, the gusset part 2
2, the corresponding end between the back portion 23 are sewn by the sewing unit H _1, H _2, H _3, respectively along the vertical direction. Airbag 15 of this embodiment is intended to be deployed to the front, sewn portion H ₁ of the gusset portion 22 and the main side portion 21 becomes the cleavage position of the normal, the skin material 19 is cleaved at the sewn portions H _1.

Next, the operation when the airbag 15 is deployed will be described with reference to FIGS. When a vehicle causes a side collision, a sensor detects the state and a high-pressure gas is ejected from the inflator 16 into the airbag 15. The gas inflates the airbag 15 in the case 14, jumps forward from the opening 13, breaks the front pad material 9, tears the sewing portion H ₁ , and deploys forward. The airbag 15 deployed forward intervenes between the front door 24 and the occupant to protect the occupant.

Next, the operation before, during, and after rotation of the seat 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

Before rotation of sheet 1 (see FIG. 6): sheet 1
Even if the occupant of the rear seat touches the airbag module 12 portion of the seat back 3 at the stage before the vehicle is rotated, since the cushion member 17 and the extension portion 18 are present at that portion, the tactile sensation is good and uncomfortable. I don't feel In addition, the airbag module 12 of the seat back 3
Even if the rear occupant hits the portion, the hard airbag module 12 and the like are covered with the cushion member 17 and the like, so that the occupant can be reliably protected.

When the seat 1 is rotating (see FIGS. 7 and 9): To stop the vehicle and face the occupant on the rear side, first, the seat back 3 is moved forward. This is to avoid interference between the seat back 3 and the front door 24 or the like. At this time, even if the occupant pushes the airbag module 12 portion of the seat back 3 as described above, the hard airbag module 12 and the seat back frame 7 are covered with the cushion member 17 and the extending portion 18 respectively, as described above. The tactile sensation is good and the occupants do not feel uncomfortable.

Next, the locking means in the slide mechanism 4 below the seat cushion 2 is released, and the entire seat 1 is rotated counterclockwise about the rotation fulcrum S. Of the seatback 3, the sewn portion of H ₂ skin material 19 is the point farthest from the rotation support S (see FIG. 9), with the rotation of the seat 1 sewn portion H ₂ This is the outermost point of the counterclockwise Rotate in the direction.

[0027] Then, in the course of rotating the seat 1, the state of the front and rear position of the seat cushion 2, the sewing portion of H ₂ seatback 3 is sometimes hits the steering wheel 25 as "on-board equipment." However, in this embodiment, the airbag module 1
Since the entire rear surface including the second corner portion 14a is covered with the cushion member 17, the steering wheel 25 is not damaged. As described above, the airbag module 12 of the seat back 3 is
5 does not hurt them, so that the occupant can rotate the seat 1 without worrying about the interference between the seat back 3 and the steering wheel 25, and the rotation operability of the seat 1 is good.

The in-vehicle equipment protected by interference with the seat back 3 includes the steering wheel 2.
5 as well as the trim 2 provided on the front door 24
6, an armrest 27 (see FIG. 1), an instrument panel, a cluster panel, an audio device, a console box, and the like (not shown). Reducing the impact by interposing the cushion member 17 between the in-vehicle equipment and the airbag module 12 not only protects the in-vehicle equipment but also protects the airbag module 12 itself.

After rotation of sheet 1 (see FIG. 8): sheet 1
When the seat back 3 is caused to rotate by 180 degrees, the seat back 3 is in a state of facing the rear seat. In this state, even if the occupant tilts the seat back 3 backward too much and the air bag module 12 of the seat back 3 hits any in-vehicle equipment, the rigid air bag module 12 and the seat back Since each of the frames 7 is covered with the cushion member 17 and the extension portion 18, the in-vehicle accessories are not damaged.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In the cushion member 17 of this embodiment, an extended portion 28 that covers the side surface of the airbag module 12 is also formed. This extended portion 28 is formed as a separate member from the cushion member 17 in consideration of the moldability of the pad material 9, and the extended portion 28 is joined to the cushion member 17 and the pad material 9 with an adhesive. ing. The extension 28
May be integrally formed with the pad material 9. As in this embodiment, the extension portion 2 is also provided on the side surface of the airbag module 12.
By providing the airbag 8, the feel when touching the airbag module 12 portion of the seat back 3 is further improved, and the protection of the in-vehicle equipment becomes more reliable. Since the configuration, operation, and effect other than the above are substantially the same as those of the previous embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the common portions, and the overlapping description will be omitted.

In the above description, the front seat 1 of the vehicle is taken as an example. However, in the case of a type in which a second seat is provided between the front seat 1 and the rear seat, The present invention can be applied to a second sheet.

The seat back frame 7 has a structure in which the side panel 6 is integrally fixed to the pipe frame 5 as an example, but may have a structure in which the panel is press-formed only.

[0033]

According to the present invention, since the entire rear surface including the corners of the airbag module is covered with the cushion member, the tactile sensation in the airbag module portion of the seat back is improved. In addition, even if the airbag module portion of the seat back hits the in-vehicle equipment, the presence of the cushion member does not damage the in-vehicle equipment, so the occupant rotates the seat without worrying about interference between the seat back and the in-vehicle equipment. It has good seat rotation operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a seat according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a state in which the airbag is deployed forward.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a pad material.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the seat back taken along line SA-SA shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a state in which the airbag is deployed forward.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state before rotation of the seat.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a state when the seat is rotated.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a state after rotation of the seat.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the seat back showing a state when the seat rotates.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seat 2 Seat cushion 3 Seat back 7 Seat back frame 9 Pad material 11 Concave part 12 Airbag module 14a Corner 15 Airbag 16 Inflator 17 Cushion member 18 Extension part (rear surface) 19 Skin material 25 Steering wheel (In-vehicle equipment) 26 Trim (in-vehicle equipment) 27 Armrest (in-vehicle equipment) 28 Extension (side) S Rotation support

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A seat cushion of a seat is freely rotatable and a seat back is free to fall forward. A pad material is attached to a seat back frame of the seat back.
An airbag module having a recess formed in the outer portion of the pad material in the vehicle width direction to form a space around the seatback frame, and an airbag and an inflator built in the seatback frame exposed in the recess. In the airbag device for a vehicle seat having a structure in which the entire seatback is covered with a skin material at the end, a cushion member is provided behind the airbag module inside the skin material of the seatback. An airbag device for a vehicle seat, wherein an entire rear surface including a corner portion of the airbag module is covered. 2. The airbag device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the cushion member is formed integrally with the pad material. 3. The airbag device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the cushion member is a member separate from the pad material. 4. The airbag device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the cushion member has an extended portion that covers a rear surface of the seatback frame. 5. The airbag device for a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein an extended portion that covers a side surface of the airbag module is formed on the cushion member.