JP6445390B2 - Far side airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a vehicle seat far from the side wall by deploying and inflating an airbag between adjacent vehicle seats when an impact is applied from the side to the side wall of a vehicle such as a vehicle. The present invention relates to a far side airbag device for protecting a seated passenger.

  Some vehicles in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged in the vehicle width direction are equipped with a far side airbag device. This type of airbag apparatus includes an airbag and a gas generator disposed in the airbag. These airbags and gas generators are incorporated in, for example, the side portion of the vehicle seat that is close to the adjacent vehicle seat.

  When a side impact or the like causes a side impact on the side wall of the vehicle, such as a side door, an expansion gas is generated from the gas generator. With this inflation gas, the airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats. The upper body of the occupant seated on the vehicle seat on the side far from the side wall portion to which the impact is applied tends to fall to the side wall portion side, but is received by the airbag. By this reception, the upper body of the occupant is prevented from interfering with the occupant and the interior parts seated on the vehicle seat on the side close to the side wall portion, and is protected from impact.

  As one form of the said far side airbag apparatus, there exist some which were described in patent document 1, for example. As shown in FIG. 13, the airbag 101 of the far-side airbag device includes an occupant side fabric portion 102 on the side closer to the occupant and an anti-occupant side fabric portion 103 on the side far from the occupant. Furthermore, the far-side airbag device includes an occupant side strap 104 disposed along the occupant side fabric portion 102 and an anti-occupant side strap 105 disposed along the anti-occupant side fabric portion 103. As the non-occupant side strap 105, a strap longer than the occupant side strap 104 is used. The rear end portion 104r of the occupant side strap 104 is attached to a seat frame 106 that forms a frame portion of the vehicle seat, and the front end portion 104f is attached to an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the occupant side fabric portion 102. The rear end portion 105r of the non-occupant side strap 105 is attached to the seat frame 106, and the front end portion 105f is attached to the front end portion 101f of the airbag 101. These occupant side straps 104 and anti-occupant side straps 105 are provided for the purpose of deploying and inflating the airbag 101 in a state of being opposed to the force applied from any side in the vehicle width direction. .

JP 2008-302897 A

  In the far side airbag device described in Patent Document 1, the airbag 101 is deployed and inflated from the vicinity of the seat frame 106 toward the front. The period during which the airbag 101 is deployed and inflated includes a first period in which the airbag 101 approaches the occupant's arm from behind, and a second period following the first period.

  In the first period, as the airbag 101 is deployed and inflated, the occupant side strap 104 is in a tension state. At this time, the non-occupant side strap 105 is relaxed. Therefore, the deployment urging force F1 that urges the airbag 101 to deploy and inflate the airbag 101 toward the side closer to the occupant in the vehicle width direction is applied to the airbag 101 by the strained occupant side strap 104. The deployment urging force F <b> 2 that urges the airbag 101 to deploy and inflate the airbag 101 away from the occupant in the vehicle width direction by the non-occupant strap 105 is not applied to the airbag 101.

  For this reason, the airbag 101 may be deployed and inflated toward the side that greatly approaches the occupant, and may be caught by the occupant's arm. In this case, there is a possibility that the subsequent deployment and inflation of the airbag 101 will not be performed smoothly.

  Further, when the non-occupant side strap 105 becomes in tension during the second period as the airbag 101 is deployed and inflated, the anti-occupant side strap 105 deploys the airbag 101 to the side away from the occupant in the vehicle width direction. Then, a deployment biasing force F2 that biases the airbag 101 to be inflated is applied to the airbag 101. The airbag 101 is deployed and inflated to the side farther from the occupant than the first period. This is not preferable when the airbag 101 catches an occupant who is about to fall down to the side of the side wall where the impact is applied.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to suppress interference between the airbag and the arm portion of the occupant and to try to fall into the side wall portion to which an impact has been applied. It is an object of the present invention to provide a far-side airbag device that can suitably receive an occupant by an airbag.

  A far-side airbag device that solves the above problem includes an airbag that is fixed to a vehicle in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged in parallel in the width direction, and according to an impact applied from a side to a side wall portion of the vehicle. The inflation gas is supplied to the airbag, and the airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats, thereby protecting an occupant seated on the vehicle seat far from the side wall from impact. A far-side airbag device, of the width direction of the vehicle, occupant-side deployment and inflation means for applying a deployment biasing force to the airbag to deploy and inflate the airbag toward the side closer to the occupant; and A non-occupant side deployment and inflation means that applies a deployment biasing force to the airbag to deploy and inflate the airbag toward the side away from the occupant. In the inflating period, a first period in which the airbag approaches the occupant's arm from behind and a second period following the first period are set, and in the first period and the second period, Is configured such that a deployment biasing force of the occupant-side deployment and inflation means and a deployment biasing force of the non-occupant-side deployment and inflation means are applied to the airbag, and further, a deployment biasing force of the occupant-side deployment and inflation means. However, it is set larger than the deployment urging force of the non-occupant side deployment and expansion means.

  According to the above configuration, when an impact is applied from the side to the side wall portion of the vehicle due to a side collision or the like, the upper body of the occupant sitting on the vehicle seat far from the side wall portion to which the impact is applied is Try to fall into the side of the impacted side wall.

  On the other hand, in the far side airbag device, the inflation gas is supplied to the airbag fixed to the vehicle in response to the impact from the side. The airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats. In the first period and the second period, a deployment biasing force of the occupant-side deployment and inflation means and a deployment biasing force of the non-occupant-side deployment and inflation means are applied to the airbag.

  The latter urging force of the non-occupant side deployment and inflation means urges the airbag to be deployed and inflated away from the occupant. The deployment urging force of the former occupant-side deployment and inflation means is a force that urges the airbag to be deployed and inflated toward the side closer to the occupant, and is larger than the deployment urging force of the anti-occupant-side deployment and inflation means.

  Therefore, in the first period and the second period, the airbag is deployed and inflated in a direction slightly closer to the occupant than the front. More precisely, the direction of the airbag toward the deployment and inflation when the anti-occupant-side deployment and inflation means is not provided (only the occupant-side deployment and inflation means is provided), and the occupant side and When both the deployment and inflation means on the side opposite to the occupant are not provided, the direction is an intermediate direction from the direction (front) in which the airbag heads during deployment and inflation.

  Therefore, the airbag is deployed and inflated without being too close to the occupant and without being too far away. As a result, the interference between the airbag and the arm portion of the occupant is suppressed, and the occupant who wants to fall down to the side of the side wall to which the impact is applied is preferably received by the airbag.

  In the far-side airbag device, at least a part of the airbag is supplied with inflation gas, and starts to expand and inflat behind the occupant's arm, and a front side of the rear inflation chamber And the front expansion chamber to which the expansion gas that has passed through the rear expansion chamber is supplied, and the occupant side expansion / expansion means and the anti-occupant side expansion / expansion means have their respective deployment biasing forces It is preferable to add to the post-expansion chamber.

  According to the above configuration, in at least a part of the airbag, the inflation gas is supplied to the rear inflation chamber at an earlier time than the front inflation chamber. After the inflation gas is supplied, the expansion chamber starts to expand and expand behind the occupant's arm. When the rear expansion chamber is expanded, a deployment biasing force of the occupant-side deployment / expansion means and a deployment biasing force of the non-occupant-side deployment / expansion means are respectively applied to the expansion chamber thereafter. Therefore, in the airbag, when the airbag is deployed and inflated, the rear inflation chamber that is highly likely to be caught by the occupant's arm is deployed and inflated in a direction slightly closer to the occupant than the front. As a result, in the first period, the interference between the rear expansion chamber and the arm portion is suppressed, and the upper body of the occupant who is about to fall to the side wall portion where the impact is applied is suitably received by the rear expansion chamber.

  In the far-side airbag device, the airbag includes an occupant-side cloth portion closer to the occupant and an anti-occupant-side cloth portion far from the occupant, and the occupant-side deployment and inflation means includes: It is arranged along the occupant side fabric portion, and is constituted by an occupant side strap that generates tension when being in a tension state and applies the deployment urging force to the airbag. The occupant side strap and the occupant side are arranged along the counter occupant side cloth portion, and are configured by an occupant side strap that generates tension when being in a tension state and applies the deployment urging force to the airbag. Each rear end portion of the strap is attached to a side portion close to the adjacent vehicle seat among the vehicle seats or a member in the vicinity thereof, and the front end portion of the occupant side strap is In the occupant-side cloth portion, the front-end portion of the anti-occupant side strap is attached to the front portion of the anti-occupant side strap from the fixed portion of the airbag relative to the vehicle. Is also preferably attached to the front part.

  According to said structure, the position of each rear-end part of a passenger | crew side strap and a non-passenger side strap does not change even if an airbag is expand | deployed and inflated. On the other hand, the positions of the front end portions of the occupant side strap and the anti-occupant side strap change as the airbag is deployed and inflated. Therefore, the occupant-side strap and the non-occupant-side strap are pulled and become in tension as the airbag is deployed and inflated. The occupant-side strap and the non-occupant-side strap generate tension by being in a tension state, and apply a deployment urging force to the airbag. In this way, the deployment urging force is applied to the airbag while having a simple configuration, so that the airbag is appropriately deployed and inflated in the intended direction (direction slightly closer to the occupant than the front). .

  In the far-side airbag device, the length from the rear end portion to the front end portion of the occupant side strap is preferably set shorter than the length from the rear end portion to the front end portion of the anti-occupant side strap. .

  As described above, when the length between the end portions of the occupant side strap is set shorter than the length between the end portions of the anti-occupant side strap, the airbag (rear expansion chamber) is deployed and inflated. Sometimes the occupant side strap generates greater tension than the anti-occupant side strap. As a result, the deployment urging force applied from the occupant side strap to the airbag is greater than the deployment urging force applied from the non-occupant side strap.

  In the far-side airbag device, the airbag is deployed and inflated on the side of a region from the occupant's waist to the head, and the rear inflation chamber is formed from an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the airbag. The rear end portion of the occupant side strap and the non-occupant side strap at the rear end portion of the rear expansion chamber. It is attached to a side part of a vehicle seat or a member in the vicinity thereof, each front end part is attached to a front end part of the rear expansion chamber, and at least about the occupant side strap of the occupant side strap and the anti-occupant side strap The length from the rear end of the strap to the front end is determined by the front end of the strap from the location where the rear end of the strap is attached in the rear expansion chamber. It is preferably set shorter than the length of up to vignetting the location.

  According to said structure, the rear expansion chamber provided below the intermediate part of the up-down direction of an airbag expand | deploys and expand | swells by the side of a passenger | crew's waist | hip | lumbar part. At this time, the occupant-side strap and the non-occupant-side strap are pulled and become in tension as the rear expansion chamber is deployed and expanded.

  Here, of the occupant side strap and the non-occupant side strap, at least the length from the rear end portion to the front end portion of the occupant side strap is determined from the location where the rear end portion of the strap is attached in the rear inflating chamber. It is shorter than the length to the part where the part was attached.

  Therefore, the strap that is in a tension state regulates the expansion of the rear expansion chamber. After the expansion, the expansion chamber is reduced in size and has a higher internal pressure when the expansion and the expansion are completed, compared to the case where the above-described relationship regarding the length is not satisfied. As a result, the occupant's lower back is suitably received by the rear expansion chamber having a high internal pressure.

  In addition, the front expansion chamber expands and expands following the expansion and expansion of the rear expansion chamber. This expansion and expansion of the front expansion chamber is performed by the front side of the rear expansion chamber where the internal pressure is increased and the rigidity is increased as described above. Then, it is performed in a state where it is supported by the expansion chamber. Therefore, the front expansion chamber is expanded and expanded in a stable state.

  A far-side airbag device that solves the above problem includes an airbag that is fixed to a vehicle in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged in parallel in the width direction, and according to an impact applied from a side to a side wall portion of the vehicle. The inflation gas is supplied to the airbag, and the airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats, thereby protecting an occupant seated on the vehicle seat far from the side wall from impact. A far-side airbag device, of the width direction of the vehicle, occupant-side deployment and inflation means for applying a deployment biasing force to the airbag to deploy and inflate the airbag toward the side closer to the occupant; and A non-occupant side deployment and inflation means that applies a deployment biasing force to the airbag to deploy and inflate the airbag toward the side away from the occupant. In the inflating period, a first period in which the airbag approaches the occupant's arm from behind and a second period following the first period are set. In the first period, the anti-occupant side The deployment urging force of the deployment and inflation means is applied to the airbag, and the deployment urging force of the occupant-side deployment and inflation means is further applied to the airbag during the second period.

  According to the above configuration, when an impact is applied from the side to the side wall portion of the vehicle due to a side collision or the like, the upper body of the occupant sitting on the vehicle seat far from the side wall portion to which the impact is applied is Try to fall into the side of the impacted side wall.

  On the other hand, in the far side airbag device, the inflation gas is supplied to the airbag fixed to the vehicle in response to the impact from the side. The airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats. During this deployment and inflation, the deployment urging force of the occupant-side deployment and inflation means and the deployment urging force of the non-occupant-side deployment and inflation means are applied to the airbag.

  The latter urging force of the non-occupant side deployment and inflation means urges the airbag to be deployed and inflated away from the occupant. The deployment urging force of the former occupant-side deployment and inflation means urges the airbag to be deployed and inflated toward the side closer to the occupant.

  And in the 1st period when the airbag approaches a passenger | crew's arm part among the period when an airbag expand | deploys and expand | deploys, the deployment urging | biasing force of a non-occupant side expansion | deployment means is added to an airbag. In the first period, the airbag is deployed and inflated in a direction away from the occupant. Therefore, the airbag is not easily caught on the arm portion of the occupant.

  Further, in the second period following the first period among the periods in which the airbag is deployed and inflated, the deployment urging force of the occupant-side deployment and inflation means is further applied to the airbag. Part of the inertial force of the airbag that is deployed and inflated toward the side away from the occupant is canceled out by the deployment urging force of the occupant-side deployment and inflation means. The direction in which the airbag is deployed and inflated is changed to a direction closer to the occupant than in the first period. Therefore, an occupant who wants to fall down to the side of the side wall where the impact is applied is preferably received by the airbag whose direction of deployment and inflating is changed as described above.

  According to the far side airbag device, it is possible to suppress the interference between the airbag and the arm portion of the occupant, and to appropriately catch the occupant who is about to fall into the side wall portion to which the impact is applied.

1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment embodied in a vehicle far-side airbag device, and is a partial plan view of a vehicle on which the airbag device is mounted. FIG. In 1st Embodiment, the front sectional view which shows the positional relationship of a vehicle seat, an airbag, a passenger | crew, a center console box, and a side wall part. In the first embodiment, a partial plan sectional view showing an internal structure of a side portion of a seat back in which an airbag module is incorporated. In 1st Embodiment, the side view which shows the vehicle seat provided with the far side airbag apparatus with a passenger | crew and a center console box. In 1st Embodiment, the side view which looked at the airbag module in which the airbag was made into the non-expanded deployment state from the passenger | crew side. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing an internal structure of the airbag module of FIG. 5. The disassembled perspective view which shows the airbag, passenger | crew side strap, and anti-passenger side strap in 1st Embodiment in the state which each expand | deployed planarly. (A) is a plane sectional view which shows schematic structure of the airbag module in 1st Embodiment, (b) is a partial plane sectional view which expands and shows a part of FIG. 8 (a). The fragmentary flat sectional view explaining operation | movement of the airbag in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment embodied in the far side airbag apparatus for vehicles, and is a plane sectional view which shows schematic structure of an airbag module. The fragmentary sectional view explaining the operation | movement in the 1st period of the airbag of 2nd Embodiment. The fragmentary sectional view explaining the operation | movement in the 2nd period of the airbag of 2nd Embodiment. The fragmentary top view which shows schematic structure of the conventional far side airbag apparatus.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment embodied in a vehicle far-side airbag device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the following description, the forward direction of the vehicle is assumed to be the front, and the reverse direction is assumed to be the rear. The vertical direction means the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the horizontal direction is the width direction of the vehicle (vehicle width direction), which coincides with the horizontal direction when the vehicle moves forward. In order to define the vehicle width direction, the side approaching the occupant may be referred to as “occupant side” and the side away from the occupant may be referred to as “anti-occupant side”. Furthermore, it is assumed that an occupant having the same physique as the collision test dummy is seated in the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, both side portions in the vehicle width direction of a vehicle 10 as a vehicle are constituted by side wall portions 11 and 12 including doors, pillars, and the like. A pair of vehicle seats 13 and 14 are arranged as vehicle seats arranged in the vehicle width direction inside the vehicle 10 (vehicle interior). The vehicle seat 13 on the side close to the side wall portion 11 functions as a driver's seat, and an occupant P1 is seated here. The vehicle seat 14 on the side close to the side wall portion 12 functions as a passenger seat, and an occupant P2 sits there. A center console box 15 is disposed between the vehicle seats 13 and 14 in the passenger compartment. The vehicle seats 13 and 14 have the same configuration. Therefore, only one vehicle seat 13 will be described here, and the description of the vehicle seat 14 will be omitted. This also applies to the far side airbag device provided for each of the vehicle seats 13 and 14.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the vehicle seat 13 includes a seat cushion 16, and a seat back 17 that is configured to stand up from the rear side of the seat cushion 16 and to adjust an inclination angle. .

Next, the internal structure of the side part close to the adjacent vehicle seat 14 in the seat back 17 of the vehicle seat 13 will be described.
Inside the seat back 17, a seat frame forming the skeleton is arranged. As shown in FIG. 3, a part of the seat frame is disposed in a side portion of the seat back 17 on the side close to the adjacent vehicle seat 14, and this portion (hereinafter referred to as “side frame portion 18”). Is formed by bending a metal plate or the like. A seat pad 19 made of an elastic material such as urethane foam is disposed on the front side of the seat frame including the side frame portion 18. A hard backboard 21 made of synthetic resin or the like is disposed on the rear side of the seat frame. The seat pad 19 is covered with a skin, but the skin is not shown in FIG.

  In the seat pad 19, a storage portion 22 is provided in the vicinity of the side closer to the adjacent vehicle seat 14 than the side frame portion 18. The storage unit 22 incorporates an airbag module ABM that forms a main part of the far-side airbag device. The far-side airbag device supplies inflation gas to the airbag 40 when an impact is applied from the outside to the side wall portion 12 far from the vehicle seat 13 due to a side collision or the like. The bag 40 is intended to protect the occupant P1 seated on the vehicle seat 13 by deploying and inflating the bag 40 with the adjacent vehicle seat 14.

  A slit 23 extends diagonally forward from the front corner of the storage portion 22. A portion sandwiched between the corner 19c on the front side of the seat pad 19 and the slit 23 (a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line frame in FIG. 3) constitutes a planned breaking portion 24 to be broken by the airbag 40 described later. ing.

The airbag module ABM includes a gas generator 30 and an airbag 40 as main components. Next, each of these structural members will be described.
<Gas generator 30>
The gas generator 30 includes an inflator 31 and a retainer 32 that covers the inflator 31. Here, a type called a pyrotype is adopted as the inflator 31. The inflator 31 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a gas generating agent (not shown) that generates an expansion gas is accommodated therein. The inflator 31 has a gas ejection part (not shown) at one end thereof. Further, a harness (not shown) serving as an input wiring for an operation signal to the inflator 31 is connected to the other end of the inflator 31.

  As the inflator 31, instead of the pyro type using the gas generating agent, a type (hybrid type) in which a partition wall of a high pressure gas cylinder filled with a high pressure gas is broken with an explosive or the like to eject an expansion gas is used. May be.

  On the other hand, the retainer 32 is a member having a function of fastening the inflator 31 to the side frame portion 18 together with the airbag 40 while functioning as a diffuser that controls the direction in which the inflation gas is ejected. Most of the retainer 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape by bending a plate material such as a metal plate. A plurality of (two in this embodiment) bolts 33 are fixed to the retainer 32 as fixing portions for attaching the retainer 32 to the side frame portion 18. The gas generator 30 may be one in which an inflator 31 and a retainer 32 are integrated.

<Airbag 40>
FIG. 5 shows the airbag module ABM in a state where the airbag 40 is deployed in a plane without being filled with the inflation gas (hereinafter referred to as “non-inflated and deployed state”). 6 shows the airbag module ABM in which the airbag 40 of FIG. 5 is cut at the center in the vehicle width direction in order to show the internal structure of the airbag module ABM.

  The airbag 40 is folded one piece of a piece of cloth (also called a base cloth, a panel cloth, etc.) forwardly along a fold line 41 set at the center thereof, and is overlapped in the vehicle width direction. It is formed by joining these parts so as to form a bag. 5 and 6, the folding lines 41 are indicated by alternate long and short dash lines. Here, in order to distinguish the above-described two overlapped portions of the airbag 40, the one located on the side close to the occupant P1 is referred to as the occupant side cloth portion 42, and the one located on the side far from the occupant P1 is referred to as the opposite side. The passenger side cloth part 43 is assumed.

  In the first embodiment, the cloth piece is folded in two so that the fold line 41 is located at the rear end of the airbag 40, but the fold line 41 has other ends such as a front end, an upper end, The cloth piece may be folded in half so as to be located at the lower end or the like. The airbag 40 may be composed of two pieces of cloth divided along the fold line 41. In this case, the airbag 40 is formed by superimposing two pieces of cloth in the vehicle width direction and joining both pieces of cloth over the entire circumference. Further, at least one of the occupant side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43 may be constituted by two or more pieces of cloth.

  In the airbag 40, the outer shapes of the occupant side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43 are in a line-symmetric relationship with each other with the folding line 41 as the axis of symmetry. As shown in FIG. 4, when the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated, the occupant-side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 43 are the entire upper body of the occupant P1, that is, the portion from the waist PP to the head PH. It is formed in a shape and size that can occupy a region corresponding to.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the occupant side cloth part 42 and the anti-occupant side cloth part 43 have high strength, are not easily stretched, and have flexibility and can be easily folded, for example, A woven fabric formed using polyester yarn, polyamide yarn or the like is suitable.

  The coupling | bonding of the passenger | crew side cloth part 42 and the anti-occupant side cloth part 43 is made | formed in the peripheral joint part 44 provided along those peripheral parts. The peripheral joint portion 44 is formed by sewing (sewing with a sewing thread) a portion of the peripheral portions of the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the counter occupant side fabric portion 43 except for the rear end portion (the vicinity of the fold line 41). Has been. This also applies to the connecting portion 51 described later.

  Regarding the above-described sewing, in FIGS. 5 to 7, the sewing portion is represented by two line types. The first line type is a line in which thick lines of a certain length are intermittently arranged and represents a state in which the sewing thread is viewed from the side (see the peripheral joint portion 44 in FIG. 5). The second line type is a line expressed by arranging points at regular intervals, which indicates a cross section of the sewing thread along a cross section passing through the sewing portion (see the peripheral joint portion 44 in FIG. 6).

The peripheral joint portion 44 may be formed by means different from the sewing using the above-described sewing thread, for example, bonding using an adhesive. This also applies to the coupling portion 51.
The space between the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43 and surrounded by the peripheral edge coupling portion 44 and the fold line 41 is expanded and expanded by an expansion gas (see FIG. 6). It has become.

  The disposition position of the inflatable portion 45 and the dimensions in the height direction are such that when the inflatable portion 45 is deployed and inflated, the lower end is positioned below the upper end of the center console box 15 and the upper end is the head of the occupant P1. It is set so as to be positioned above PH (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

Bolt holes 46 through which the bolts 33 of the gas generator 30 are inserted are formed at a plurality of locations (two locations) in the rear lower portion of the occupant side fabric portion 42 (see FIG. 7).
A plurality of expansion chambers are formed in the expansion portion 45 by partitioning it with a partition portion. These expansion chambers include a rear expansion chamber 47, a front expansion chamber 48 and an upper expansion chamber 49. The rear expansion chamber 47 and the front expansion chamber 48 constitute a lower part than the intermediate part in the vertical direction of the expansion part 45, and the upper expansion chamber 49 constitutes an upper part of the intermediate part. The front expansion chamber 48 and the upper expansion chamber 49 are connected in the vertical direction.

  The rear inflating chamber 47 is an inflating chamber located on the side of the waist portion PP of the occupant P1 when the airbag 40 has been deployed and inflated, and starts to be deployed and inflated behind the arm portion PA of the occupant P1. . The front expansion chamber 48 is located on the front side of the rear expansion chamber 47 and is expanded and expanded by being supplied with the expansion gas that has passed through the rear expansion chamber 47. The above-described bolt hole 46 is provided in the rear lower portion of the portion forming the rear expansion chamber 47 in the occupant side fabric portion 42.

  A state in which the rear-side expansion chamber 47 and the front-side expansion chamber 48 are partitioned, and the occupant-side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant-side cloth portion 43 are in contact with each other as a partition portion that partitions the rear-expansion chamber 47 and the upper expansion chamber 49. The coupling | bond part 51 couple | bonded by is provided. The coupling portion 51 is formed in a shape that bends so as to protrude obliquely upward. The rear end portion 51r and the lower end portion 51b formed by stitching are formed in a circular shape in order to reinforce them.

  The rear end portion 51r of the coupling portion 51 is formed at a location spaced forward from the rear end portion of the expansion portion 45. A communication passage 52 that allows the rear expansion chamber 47 and the upper expansion chamber 49 to communicate with each other is formed between the rear end portion 51r and a portion of the peripheral edge coupling portion 44 that is located behind the rear end portion 51r.

  The lower end 51 b of the coupling part 51 is formed at a location spaced upward from the lower end of the inflating part 45. A communication passage 53 that allows the rear expansion chamber 47 and the front expansion chamber 48 to communicate with each other is formed between the lower end portion 51 b and a portion of the peripheral edge coupling portion 44 that is below the lower end portion 51 b.

  The partition portion may be configured by a tether erected between the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43. This tether is constituted by a piece of cloth formed of the same material as the occupant side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43. The tether is coupled to the occupant side fabric portion 42 and the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43 by means such as sewing and adhesion at the side edge portions on both sides in the vehicle width direction.

  The gas generator 30 is placed in a posture that extends substantially vertically in the rear lower portion of the rear expansion chamber 47, and the bolt 33 is inserted into the bolt hole 46, whereby the gas generator 30 is moved to the airbag 40. It is locked in a state of being positioned with respect to.

  The bolt 33 is inserted through the side frame portion 18 when the airbag 40 is fixed to the vehicle 10. A nut 34 is fastened to the inserted bolt 33. This will be described later.

  The far-side airbag device further includes an occupant-side deployment and inflation means and an anti-occupant-side deployment and inflation means. As shown in FIG. 9, the occupant-side deployment and inflation means applies a deployment urging force F1 that urges the airbag 40 to deploy and inflate the airbag 40 toward the side closer to the occupant P1 in the vehicle width direction. Is. In the first embodiment, the rear expansion chamber 47 is a target to which the deployment urging force F1 is applied from the occupant-side deployment / expansion means.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8A and 8B, the occupant-side deployment / expansion means is configured by an occupant-side strap 54 disposed along the occupant-side cloth portion 42. The occupant side strap 54 is constituted by a piece of cloth formed using the same material as the occupant side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43.

  The occupant side strap 54 is tensioned to generate tension and apply the deployment urging force F1 to the airbag 40. A pair of bolt holes 55 (see FIG. 7) are formed in the rear end portion 54r of the occupant side strap 54, and the bolt 33 of the gas generator 30 is inserted into these bolt holes 55, so that the occupant side A rear end portion 54 r of the strap 54 is attached to the rear end portion 47 r of the rear expansion chamber 47 and the gas generator 30 in the airbag 40.

  The front end portion 54f of the occupant side strap 54 is attached to the front end portion 47f of the rear inflating chamber 47, which is a portion of the occupant side fabric portion 42 that is ahead of the fixing portion (bolt 33) to the side frame portion 18 of the airbag 40. ing. In the first embodiment, the front end portion 54f is stitched together with the front end portion 47f by the coupling portion 51 described above.

  The length L1 from the rear end portion 54r to the front end portion 54f of the occupant side strap 54 is based on the length from the location where the rear end portion 54r is attached to the location where the front end portion 54f is attached in the occupant side fabric portion 42. Is also set short. In order to express this, in FIGS. 8A, 8 </ b> B, and 9, the portion constituting the rear expansion chamber 47 of the occupant side fabric portion 42 is shown in a slack state.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, the anti-occupant side deployment / inflation means applies the deployment urging force F2 that urges the airbag 40 to deploy and inflate the airbag 40 toward the side away from the occupant P1 in the vehicle width direction. 40 to add. In the first embodiment, the rear expansion chamber 47 is a target to which the deployment urging force F2 is applied from the non-occupant side deployment expansion means.

  The non-occupant side deployment and expansion means is configured by an anti-occupant side strap 56 arranged along the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43. The non-occupant side strap 56 is configured by a piece of cloth formed using the same material as the occupant side cloth portion 42 and the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43.

  The non-occupant side strap 56 generates tension when being in a tension state, and applies the deployment urging force F <b> 2 to the airbag 40. A pair of bolt holes 57 (see FIG. 7) are formed in the rear end portion 56r of the non-occupant side strap 56. Most of the anti-occupant side strap 56 is disposed along the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43, but the rear portion of the anti-occupant side strap 56 is connected to the rear end portion 47r of the airbag 40 (rear inflation chamber 47). Along the way to the passenger P1 side. Then, by inserting the bolt 33 of the gas generator 30 into the bolt hole 57, the rear end portion 56 r of the non-occupant side strap 56 is attached to the rear end portion 47 r of the rear expansion chamber 47 and the gas generator 30. ing.

  The front end portion 56f of the non-occupant side strap 56 is connected to the front end portion 47f of the rear inflating chamber 47 in the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43, which is a location ahead of the fixing portion (bolt 33) to the side frame portion 18 of the airbag 40. Installed. In the first embodiment, the front end portion 56f is stitched together with the front end portion 47f by the coupling portion 51 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the length L2 from the rear end portion 56r to the front end portion 56f of the anti-occupant side strap 56 is determined from the location where the rear end portion 56r is attached to the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43. It is set to be shorter than the length to the location where the front end portion 56f is attached. In order to express this, in FIGS. 8A, 8 </ b> B, and 9, the portion constituting the rear expansion chamber 47 of the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43 is shown in a slack state.

  Further, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 9, the deployment biasing force F1 of the occupant-side deployment and expansion means is set to be larger than the deployment biasing force F2 of the non-occupant-side deployment and expansion means. Yes. Therefore, the length L1 of the occupant side strap 54 is set shorter than the length L2 of the non-occupant side strap 56.

  Incidentally, the airbag module ABM is compact as shown in FIG. 3 by folding the airbag 40 (see FIG. 5) in a non-inflated and deployed state together with the occupant side strap 54 and the anti-occupant side strap 56. It is in the form (hereinafter referred to as “storage form”). This is to make the airbag module ABM suitable for storage with respect to the storage part 22 having a limited size at the side part of the seat back 17. As a mode of folding the airbag 40, the occupant side strap 54, and the non-occupant side strap 56, for example, roll fold, bellows fold, and the like are suitable. Roll folding is a folding mode in which one end of the airbag 40 is the center and the other part is wound around the end. The bellows fold is a folding mode in which the airbag 40 is folded back while changing the folding direction alternately by a certain width.

  In the airbag module ABM, bolts 33 extending from the gas generator 30 and inserted into the bolt holes 46 of the airbag 40, the bolt holes 55 of the occupant side strap 54, and the bolt holes 57 of the non-occupant side strap 56 are side frames. The nut 34 is fastened to the bolt 33 in the inserted state. By this tightening, the gas generator 30 is attached to the side frame portion 18 together with the rear lower portion of the airbag 40, the rear end portion 54r of the occupant side strap 54, and the rear end portion 56r of the non-occupant side strap 56. Yes. In this manner, the rear end portions 54r and 56r of the occupant side strap 54 and the counter occupant side strap 56 are attached to the side portion of the vehicle seat 13 that is closer to the adjacent vehicle seat 14.

  As described above, the bolt 33 of the gas generator 30 is used to fix the airbag 40 to the side frame portion 18 and to attach the occupant side strap 54 and the non-occupant side strap 56 to the airbag 40. Yes. For this reason, the number of parts and work man-hours for the fixing and mounting can be reduced.

  Note that the gas generator 30 may be attached to the side frame portion 18 by a member different from the bolt 33 and the nut 34 described above. Further, the inflator 31 may be directly attached to the side frame portion 18 without using the retainer 32.

  The far side airbag device includes an impact sensor 71 and a control device 72 shown in FIG. 4 in addition to the airbag module ABM described above. The impact sensor 71 includes an acceleration sensor or the like, and is provided on the side wall portion 12 or the like, and detects an impact applied to the side wall portion 12 or the like from the side. The control device 72 controls the operation of the gas generator 30 (inflator 31) based on the detection signal of the impact sensor 71.

  Further, in the vehicle 10, when an impact is applied from the side to the side wall portion 11 near the vehicle seat 13, the airbag is deployed and inflated between the side wall portion 11 and the vehicle seat 13. A side airbag device (not shown) of a type that restrains the occupant P1 and protects it from an impact is provided.

In addition, a seat belt device (not shown) for restraining the occupant P1 sitting on the vehicle seat 13 to the vehicle seat 13 is provided in the vehicle interior.
Next, the operation of the far-side airbag device according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  When the impact sensor 71 does not detect that an impact of a predetermined value or more has been applied to the side wall portion 12 from the side, an operation signal for operating the gas generator 30 (inflator 31) is sent from the control device 72 to the gas generator 30. There is no output, and no expansion gas is ejected. The airbag 40 continues to be stored in the storage unit 22 in the storage mode. The occupant side strap 54 and the non-occupant side strap 56 continue to be accommodated in the accommodating portion 22 in a state of being folded together with the airbag 40 (see FIG. 3).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1, a case where an impact due to a side collision is applied to the side wall portion 12 will be described. In this case, the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated by the inflation gas. This period includes a first period in which the airbag 40 approaches the arm portion PA of the occupant P1 from the beginning and a first period. It consists of a second period following the period.

When an impact is applied to one side wall portion 12 as described above, the upper half of the occupant P1 far from the impacted side wall portion 12 tends to fall into the side wall portion 12 side.
When the impact sensor 71 detects that an impact of a predetermined value or more has been applied to the side wall portion 12, the controller 72 operates the gas generator 30 (inflator 31) to operate it based on the detection signal. A signal is output. In response to this operation signal, the inflation gas is ejected from the inflator 31. The inflation gas is first supplied to the rear inflation chamber 47 of the storage-type airbag 40 fixed to the side frame portion 18 through the bolts 33. With this expansion gas, in the first period, the rear expansion chamber 47 starts to expand and expand prior to the other expansion chambers (the front expansion chamber 48 and the upper expansion chamber 49).

  In the middle of the expansion and expansion, the rear expansion chamber 47 presses the seat pad 19 near the storage portion 22 and breaks the seat pad 19 at the planned break portion 24 (see FIG. 3). The rear expansion chamber 47 exits forward from the storage portion 22 in a state in which a part (a portion fixed to the side frame portion 18 and its vicinity) remains in the storage portion 22. The rear expansion chamber 47 expands and expands behind the arm portion PA of the occupant P1 and on the side of the waist portion PP.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a part of the expansion gas that has passed through the rear expansion chamber 47 is supplied to the front expansion chamber 48 through the communication passage 53, and the other part of the expansion gas is connected to the communication passage. 52 to the upper expansion chamber 49. With the expansion gas supplied in this manner, in the second period, the front expansion chamber 48 and the upper expansion chamber 49 are expanded and expanded following the rear expansion chamber 47, respectively.

  Thereafter, the supply of the inflation gas is continued, whereby the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated in the vicinity of the side of the region from the waist portion PP of the occupant P1 to the head PH (see FIG. 4). The rear inflating chamber 47 provided below the middle portion of the airbag 40 in the vertical direction is located on the side of the waist PP of the occupant P1. The lower end of the airbag 40 enters between the occupant P1 sitting on the vehicle seat 13 and the center console box 15 (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

  By the way, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 9, the positions of the rear end portions 54r and 56r of the occupant side strap 54 and the counter occupant side strap 56 are such that the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated as described above. Will not change. This is because the rear end portions 54 r and 56 r are fixed to the side frame portion 18 together with the gas generator 30 and the airbag 40. On the other hand, the positions of the front end portions 54f and 56f of the occupant side strap 54 and the counter occupant side strap 56 change as the rear inflation chamber 47 of the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated.

  Moreover, the length L1 from the rear end portion 54r to the front end portion 54f of the occupant side strap 54 is from the location where the rear end portion 54r is attached to the location where the front end portion 54f is attached in the occupant side fabric portion 42. Shorter than the length of. Further, the length L2 from the rear end portion 56r to the front end portion 56f of the non-occupant side strap 56 is such that the front end portion 56f is attached from the place where the rear end portion 56r is attached in the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43. It is shorter than the length to the point.

  Therefore, in the first period, the occupant side strap 54 and the non-occupant side strap 56 are pulled and become in tension as the rear expansion chamber 47 is expanded and expanded. The non-occupant side strap 56 generates tension when being in a tensioned state, and applies a deployment biasing force F <b> 2 to the rear expansion chamber 47. The deployment urging force F2 urges the rear expansion chamber 47 to expand and expand toward the side away from the occupant P1.

  Further, the occupant side strap 54 generates tension when it is in a tension state, and applies a deployment biasing force F <b> 1 to the rear expansion chamber 47. The deployment urging force F1 urges the rear expansion chamber 47 to expand and expand toward the side closer to the occupant P1.

  In the first embodiment, the length L1 of the occupant side strap 54 is shorter than the length L2 of the non-occupant side strap 56. Accordingly, as the rear expansion chamber 47 is deployed and expanded, the occupant side strap 54 is first pulled to be in a tension state, and the counter occupant side strap 56 is pulled a little later to be in a tension state. The occupant side strap 54 generates a greater tension than the non-occupant side strap 56 at an earlier time than the anti-occupant side strap 56 generates a tension. As a result, the occupant side strap 54 applies a larger deployment biasing force F1 than the counter occupant side strap 56 and the counter occupant side strap 56 applies the deployment biasing force F2 to the rear expansion chamber 47, and then the expansion chamber 47 thereafter. Add to.

  Therefore, in the airbag 40, the rear inflating chamber 47 that is likely to be caught by the arm portion PA of the occupant P1 during the deployment and inflating in the first period is first caused by the deployment urging force F1 of the occupant side strap 54. It begins to expand and expand toward the side closer to the occupant P1 than from the front. Slightly after the start of the expansion and expansion, the expansion biasing force F2 of the non-occupant side strap 56 starts to be applied to the rear expansion chamber 47. Part of the inertial force of the rear expansion chamber 47 that expands and expands toward the side approaching the occupant P1 is canceled out by the deployment biasing force F2 of the non-occupant side strap 56. The direction in which the rear expansion chamber 47 expands and expands is changed to a direction away from the occupant P1.

  As a result, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 9, the rear expansion chamber 47 expands and expands in a direction slightly closer to the occupant P1 than the front. More precisely, this direction is the direction in which the airbag 40 faces during deployment and inflation when the anti-occupant side strap 56 is not provided (only the occupant side strap 54 is provided), and the occupant side strap 54. And when both the anti-passenger side straps 56 are not provided, it is an intermediate direction with respect to the direction (front) in which the airbag 40 faces in the deployment and inflating.

  Therefore, the rear expansion chamber 47 is deployed and expanded without being too close to the occupant P1 and without being too far away. As a result, the rear expansion chamber 47 is unlikely to interfere with the arm PA of the occupant P1. Moreover, the occupant P <b> 1 who is about to fall toward the side wall 12 on which the impact is applied is received by the rear expansion chamber 47.

  In particular, in the first embodiment, as described above, the length L1 of the occupant side strap 54 is from the location where the rear end portion 54r is attached to the location where the front end portion 54f is attached in the occupant side fabric portion 42. Shorter than length. Further, the length L2 of the non-occupant side strap 56 is shorter than the length from the location where the rear end portion 56r is attached to the location where the front end portion 56f is attached in the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43.

  Therefore, the occupant side strap 54 and the counter occupant side strap 56 that are in tension state restrict the expansion of the rear expansion chamber 47. After the expansion, the expansion chamber 47 is smaller than the case where the above relationship regarding the lengths L1 and L2 is not satisfied, and the internal pressure becomes higher when the expansion and the expansion are completed. On the other hand, in the upper body of the occupant P1, the waist PP has higher impact resistance than other parts. Therefore, the waist portion PP having a high impact resistance is received by the rear expansion chamber 47 having a high internal pressure.

  In addition, following the expansion and expansion of the rear expansion chamber 47, in the second period, the front expansion chamber 48 expands and expands with the same tendency as in the first period. After the internal pressure is increased and the rigidity is increased as described above, the process is performed on the front side of the expansion chamber 47 and then supported by the expansion chamber 47.

  As described above, the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated over the first period and the second period, so that the space between the vehicle seat 13 and the adjacent vehicle seat 14 is It is in a state of being partitioned in the width direction. In other words, the airbag 40 is interposed between the occupants P1, P2 seated on the vehicle seats 13, 14. Therefore, even if the upper body of the occupant P1 tries to fall down to the side wall 12 where the impact is applied in response to the impact, it is received by the airbag 40 and the impact applied to the occupant P1 is reduced.

  Although a case where an impact is applied from the side to the side wall portion 11 will not be described, the same operation as described above is performed to protect the occupant P2 seated on the vehicle seat 14 from the impact.

According to the first embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) An occupant-side strap 54 is provided as occupant-side deployment and inflation means, and the deployment urging force F1 that urges the airbag 40 to be deployed and inflated toward the side closer to the occupants P1 and P2 in the vehicle width direction. Add to 40. Further, an anti-occupant side strap 56 is provided as an anti-occupant side deployment and inflation means, and a deployment urging force F2 that urges the airbag 40 to deploy and inflate the airbag 40 away from the occupants P1 and P2 is applied to the airbag 40. During a period in which the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated, a first period in which the airbag 40 approaches the arm portion PA of the occupants P1, P2 from the rear and a second period following the first period are set. The deployment urging force F1 of the occupant side strap 54 and the deployment urging force F2 of the non-occupant side strap 56 are applied to the airbag 40 during the first period and the second period. Further, the deployment urging force F1 is set larger than the deployment urging force F2 (FIGS. 8B and 9).

  Therefore, the airbag 40 can be deployed and inflated without being too close to the occupants P1 and P2 and without being too far away. As a result, the airbag 40 can be prevented from interfering with the arm portions PA of the occupants P1, P2. In addition, the passengers P1 and P2 who are about to fall to the side wall portions 12 and 11 to which the impact is applied can be suitably received by the airbag 40, and the passengers P1 and P2 can be appropriately protected from the impact.

  (2) A part of the airbag 40 is positioned on the front side of the rear inflating chamber 47 and the rear inflating chamber 47 where inflation gas is supplied to start deployment and inflation behind the arms PA of the occupants P1 and P2. And a front expansion chamber 48 to which the expansion gas that has passed through the rear expansion chamber 47 is supplied (FIG. 4). Then, the deployment urging forces F1 and F2 of the occupant side strap 54 and the counter occupant side strap 56 are applied to the rear expansion chamber 47 (FIG. 9).

  Therefore, when the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated, the rear inflating chamber 47 that is likely to be caught by the arm portion PA of the occupants P1 and P2 is deployed and moved slightly closer to the occupants P1 and P2 than the front. It can be expanded (two-dot chain line in FIG. 9). The upper body of the occupants P1 and P2 that suppresses the interference with the arm part PA of the rear expansion chamber 47 and falls to the side walls 12 and 11 to which the impact is applied can be suitably received by the rear expansion chamber 47. .

  (3) By attaching the rear end portions 54r and 56r of the occupant side strap 54 and the non-occupant side strap 56 to the side frame portion 18 together with the gas generator 30 and the airbag 40, the vehicle seats 13 and 14 are mounted. Are attached to the side portions close to the adjacent vehicle seats 14 and 13. Further, the front end portion 54f of the occupant side strap 54 is placed at a location ahead of the location (rear end portion 47r) where the airbag 40 is fixed to the vehicle 10 (side frame portion 18) in the occupant side fabric portion 42 of the airbag 40. It is installed. Further, the front end portion 56f of the non-occupant side strap 56 is attached to a location ahead of the fixing portion (rear end portion 47r) of the airbag 40 with respect to the vehicle 10 (side frame portion 18) in the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43. (FIG. 8B).

  Therefore, the airbag 40 is intended by applying the deployment biasing force F1 of the occupant-side strap 54 and the deployment biasing force F2 of the non-occupant-side strap 56 to the airbag 40 while having the simple configuration as described above. It can be appropriately deployed and inflated in the direction (direction slightly closer to the occupants P1, P2 than the front).

  (4) The length L1 from the rear end portion 54r to the front end portion 54f of the occupant side strap 54 is set shorter than the length L2 from the rear end portion 56r to the front end portion 56f of the non-occupant side strap 56 ( FIG. 8B).

  Therefore, the tension of the occupant side strap 54 can be made larger than the tension of the non-occupant side strap 56. The deployment urging force F1 applied from the occupant side strap 54 to the airbag 40 can be made larger than the deployment urging force F2 applied from the non-occupant side strap 56.

  (5) In the airbag 40 that is deployed and inflated on the side of the region from the lumbar portion PP to the head PH of the occupants P1 and P2, the airbag 40 is deployed on the side of the lumbar portion PP by the portion below the middle portion in the vertical direction. And the rear expansion chamber 47 which expand | swells is comprised (FIG. 4). The rear end portions 54r, 56r of the occupant side strap 54 and the counter occupant side strap 56 are connected to the rear end portion 47r of the rear expansion chamber 47 on the side close to the adjacent vehicle seats 14, 13 of the vehicle seats 13, 14. The front end portions 54 f and 56 f are attached to the front end portion 47 f of the rear expansion chamber 47. The rear end portions 54r, 56r are attached to the rear expansion chamber 47 with lengths L1, L2 from the rear end portions 54r, 56r to the front end portions 54f, 56f of the occupant side strap 54 and the counter occupant side strap 56, respectively. It is set shorter than the length from the location to the location where the front end portions 54f, 56f are attached (FIG. 8B).

  Therefore, the rear expansion chamber 47 can be made smaller than the case where the above relationship regarding the length is not satisfied, the internal pressure of the rear expansion chamber 47 can be increased, and the waist portion PP of the occupants P1, P2 can be suitably received.

  Further, since the front expansion chamber 48 can be supported by the expansion chamber 47 after the internal pressure is increased and the rigidity is increased as described above, the front expansion chamber 48 can be expanded and expanded in a stable state. it can.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment embodied in a vehicle far-side airbag device will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the second embodiment, the front expansion chamber 54 is a portion where the front end portion 54 f of the occupant side strap 54 is forward of the front end portion 47 f of the rear expansion chamber 47 in the occupant side fabric portion 42. It differs from the first embodiment in that it is attached to the front end 48f of 48. Here, in order to attach the front end portion 54f to the occupant side fabric portion 42, a part of the peripheral edge coupling portion 44 is used. The front end portion 54 f of the occupant side strap 54 is sewn together with the front end portion 48 f of the front expansion chamber 48 by the peripheral joint portion 44.

  The length L1 from the rear end portion 54r to the front end portion 54f of the occupant side strap 54 is based on the length from the location where the rear end portion 54r is attached to the location where the front end portion 54f is attached in the occupant side fabric portion 42. Is also set short.

  The rear end portion 56r and the front end portion 56f of the non-occupant side strap 56 are attached to the same positions as in the first embodiment. The length L2 from the rear end portion 56r to the front end portion 56f of the non-occupant side strap 56 is a portion where the front end portion 56f is attached from the location where the rear end portion 56r is attached in the anti-occupant side fabric portion 43. It is set shorter than the length. However, in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12, unlike the first embodiment, the anti-occupant side cloth portion 43 is not shown in a slack state.

  Therefore, the length L1 from the rear end portion 54r to the front end portion 54f of the occupant side strap 54 is longer than the length L2 from the rear end portion 56r to the front end portion 56f of the counter occupant side strap 56.

  In the first period shown in FIG. 11 among the periods in which the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated, only the deployment urging force F2 of the non-occupant side strap 56 is applied to the airbag 40. This is because the deployment biasing force F1 of the occupant side strap 54 is further applied to the airbag 40 in the second period shown in FIG.

Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, in 2nd Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the element similar to what was demonstrated in 1st Embodiment, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.
Next, the operation of the far side airbag device of the second embodiment will be described.

  Part of the inflation gas ejected from the gas generator 30 in response to an impact applied to the side wall 12 from the side of the vehicle 10 is first supplied to the rear inflation chamber 47 of the airbag 40. With this expansion gas, the rear expansion chamber 47 starts to expand and expand behind the arm portion PA of the occupant P1 prior to the other expansion chambers (the front expansion chamber 48 and the upper expansion chamber 49). Part of the expansion gas that has passed through the rear expansion chamber 47 is supplied to the front expansion chamber 48 through the communication passage 53, and the other part of the expansion gas is supplied to the upper expansion chamber 49 through the communication passage 52. (See FIG. 6). The expansion gas thus supplied causes the front expansion chamber 48 and the upper expansion chamber 49 to start to expand and expand, respectively, following the rear expansion chamber 47.

  Of the period in which the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated, the rear inflation chamber 47 is deployed and inflated in the first period in which the airbag 40 approaches the occupant's arm PA. Then, along with the expansion and expansion of the expansion chamber 47, the occupant side strap 54 and the non-occupant side strap 56 are pulled.

  The non-occupant side strap 56 with the front end portion 56f attached to the front end portion 47f of the rear expansion chamber 47 is in a tension state. The non-occupant side strap 56 generates tension by being in a tension state, and applies a deployment biasing force F2 to the rear expansion chamber 47 (see FIG. 11). The deployment urging force F2 urges the rear expansion chamber 47 to expand and expand toward the side away from the occupant P1.

  In the first period, the pre-expansion chamber 48 has not yet begun to expand and expand or is minimal. Therefore, the occupant side strap 54 with the front end 54f attached to the front end 48f of the front expansion chamber 48 is pulled with the expansion and expansion of the rear expansion chamber 47, but is not yet in a tension state.

  Therefore, in the first period, the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated in a direction away from the occupant P1, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Therefore, the airbag 40 is not easily caught on the arm PA of the occupant P1.

  In the second period following the first period, the front expansion chamber 48 expands and expands. As shown in FIG. 12, the occupant side strap 54 that is further pulled along with the deployment and inflation generates a tension by entering a tension state, and applies a deployment biasing force F <b> 1 to the airbag 40. This deployment urging force F1 urges the airbag 40 to be deployed and inflated toward the side closer to the occupant P1.

  Therefore, as described above, a part of the inertial force of the rear expansion chamber 47 that expands and expands toward the side away from the occupant P1 is canceled by the deployment urging force F1 of the occupant side strap 54. The direction in which the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated is changed to a direction closer to the occupant P1 than in the first period, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the following effect (6) according to the above (1) can be obtained.
(6) In the first period of the period during which the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated, only the deployment biasing force F2 of the non-occupant side strap 56 is applied to the airbag 40, and in the second period, the deployment of the occupant side strap 54 is performed. The force F1 is further applied to the airbag 40 (FIGS. 11 and 12).

  Therefore, in the first period, it is possible to suppress the airbag 40 from being caught by the arm portion PA by deploying and inflating the airbag 40 in the direction away from the occupants P1, P2.

  In the second period, the direction in which the airbag 40 is deployed and inflated can be changed to a direction approaching the occupants P1, P2 by the deployment urging force F1 of the occupant side strap 54. The passengers P1 and P2 who are about to fall down to the side walls 12 and 11 subjected to the impact can be suitably received by the airbag 40 whose direction of deployment and expansion is changed as described above, and can be appropriately protected from the impact. it can.

In addition, said each embodiment can also be implemented as a modification which changed this as follows.
<About airbag 40>
The airbag 40 may be fixed to a strength member different from that of the side frame portion 18 on the condition that the airbag 40 is a side portion close to the adjacent vehicle seats 14 and 13 of the vehicle seats 13 and 14. .

Further, the airbag 40 may be fixed to a member located near the side portion of the vehicle seats 13, 14, for example, the center console box 15.
The airbag 40 may be substantially entirely composed of the inflatable portion 45 as in the above embodiments, but has a non-inflatable portion that does not inflate without being supplied with the inflation gas. It may be a thing.

The airbag 40 may be one in which the portion below the middle portion in the vertical direction of the inflating portion 45 is not partitioned into the rear inflating chamber 47 and the front inflating chamber 48.
The airbag 40 may be one in which the inflating portion 45 is partitioned into more inflating chambers than in the above embodiments.

<About the passenger side strap 54 and the anti-passenger side strap 56>
In the first embodiment, on the condition that the length L1 of the occupant side strap 54 is shorter than the length L2 of the counter occupant side strap 56, at least the front end portion 54f and the rear end portion 54r of the occupant side strap 54 One attachment location may be changed, and at least one attachment location of the front end portion 56f and the rear end portion 56r of the non-occupant side strap 56 may be changed.

  In the second embodiment, on the condition that the length L1 of the occupant side strap 54 is longer than the length L2 of the counter occupant side strap 56, at least the front end portion 54f and the rear end portion 54r of the occupant side strap 54 One attachment location may be changed, and at least one attachment location of the front end portion 56f and the rear end portion 56r of the non-occupant side strap 56 may be changed.

  In the first embodiment, of the occupant side strap 54 and the counter occupant side strap 56, the length L2 from the rear end portion 56r to the front end portion 56f of the counter occupant side strap 56 is The length from the place where the end portion 56r is attached to the place where the front end portion 56f is attached may be set to the same extent. Also in this case, with the expansion and expansion of the rear expansion chamber 47, the occupant side strap 54 is first pulled to be in tension, and the anti-occupant side strap 56 is pulled slightly later to be in tension. Therefore, the same effect as the first embodiment in which the length L2 of the non-occupant side strap 56 is set to be shorter than the length of the rear expansion chamber 47 can be obtained.

<About the occupant-side deployment and expansion means and the anti-occupant-side deployment and expansion means>
In the first period and the second period, the deployment urging force F2 of the anti-occupant side deployment and inflation means and the deployment urging force F1 of the occupant side deployment and inflation means that are larger than the deployment urging force F2 are applied to the airbag 40. Instead of the above-described occupant side strap 54 and anti-occupant side strap 56, it may be realized by adjusting the direction in which the inflation gas is ejected from the gas generator 30. In addition, it may be realized by adjusting the mounting angle of the airbag module ABM with respect to the side frame portion 18.

<Others>
The far side airbag device can be applied to a vehicle in which three or more vehicle seats are arranged in the vehicle width direction. In this case, the airbag is deployed and inflated between adjacent vehicle seats in response to an impact applied to the side wall portion from the side of the vehicle.

-Vehicles to which the far-side airbag device is applied include not only private vehicles but also various industrial vehicles.
The above far-side airbag device is also applied to a far-side airbag device that is mounted on a vehicle other than a vehicle, such as an aircraft or a ship, and that protects an occupant seated on the vehicle seat from an impact caused by a side collision or the like. Is possible.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle (vehicle), 11, 12 ... Side wall part, 13, 14 ... Vehicle seat (vehicle seat), 40 ... Air bag, 42 ... Passenger side cloth part, 43 ... Anti-occupant side cloth part, 47 ... Rear Expansion chamber, 47f, 48f, 54f, 56f ... front end, 47r, 51r, 54r, 56r ... rear end, 48 ... front expansion chamber, 54 ... occupant side strap (occupant side deployment and expansion means), 56 ... counter occupant side Strap (anti-occupant side deployment and expansion means), F1, F2 ... deployment urging force, L1, L2 ... length, P1, P2 ... occupant, PA ... arm, PH ... head, PP ... waist.

Claims (1)

A plurality of vehicle seats provided with an airbag fixed to the vehicle arranged side by side in the width direction, supplying inflation gas to the airbag in response to an impact applied from the side to the side wall portion of the vehicle; A far side airbag device that protects an occupant seated on a vehicle seat far from the side wall portion from an impact by deploying and inflating an airbag between adjacent vehicle seats,
Of the width direction of the vehicle, occupant-side deployment and inflation means for applying a deployment urging force to the airbag to deploy and inflate the airbag toward the side closer to the occupant, and toward the side away from the occupant An occupant-side deployment and inflation means that applies a deployment biasing force to the airbag to deploy and inflate the airbag,
At least a part of the airbag is supplied with an inflation gas, and is located on the front side of the rear inflation chamber and a rear inflation chamber that starts deployment and inflation behind the occupant's arm, and the rear inflation Partitioned into a pre-expansion chamber to which expansion gas that has passed through the chamber is supplied,
The airbag includes an occupant side cloth portion on a side close to the occupant and an anti-occupant side cloth portion on a side far from the occupant,
The occupant side deployment inflating means is constituted by an occupant side strap that is arranged along the occupant side cloth portion and generates tension when being in a tension state and applies the deployment urging force to the airbag.
The anti-occupant side deployment and inflation means is configured by an anti-occupant side strap that is arranged along the anti-occupant side cloth portion and generates tension when being in a tension state and applies the deployment urging force to the airbag. ,
Each of the rear end portions of the occupant side strap and the anti-occupant side strap is attached to a side portion close to the adjacent vehicle seat among the vehicle seats or a member in the vicinity thereof,
The front end portion of the occupant side strap is attached to the front end portion of the front expansion chamber, which is a portion that is forward of the front end portion of the rear expansion chamber, in the occupant side cloth portion,
The front end portion of the anti-occupant side strap is attached to the anti-occupant side fabric portion at a location ahead of the fixed location for the vehicle of the airbag,
Further, the far-side airbag device in which a deployment biasing force of the occupant-side deployment and inflation means is set larger than a deployment biasing force of the non-occupant-side deployment and inflation means.