JP7314107B2 - side airbag device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a side airbag device that protects an occupant by deploying on the side of a seat of a vehicle.

It is known to provide vehicles with one or more airbags to protect occupants in the event of a vehicle accident. There are various types of airbags, such as so-called driver airbags that inflate from near the center of the steering wheel of an automobile to protect the driver, curtain airbags that deploy downward inside the windows of the automobile to protect the occupant in the event of a vehicle lateral impact, rollover, or overturn accident, and side airbags that deploy at the side of the seat to protect the occupant in the event of a vehicle lateral impact. The present invention relates to a side airbag device provided in a vehicle seat.

A side airbag device disclosed in Patent Document 1 below includes a main airbag and an auxiliary airbag. By inflating and deploying the auxiliary airbag prior to the main airbag, the occupant is quickly restrained. In addition to the invention described in Patent Document 1, there has been proposed a side airbag device having an auxiliary airbag in addition to the main airbag.

By the way, in the side airbag device, the occupant's upper arm or elbow may be caught between the occupant's chest (ribs) and the airbag expanded and deployed from the side support portion of the seat. When the side of the vehicle collides, the side of the vehicle is dented and the door trim or the like enters the interior of the vehicle. At this time, the occupant's arm is caught between the chest and the inflated side airbag, and the arm is pressed against the chest, possibly damaging the chest.

In order to solve the above problems, a side airbag device has been proposed in which an airbag is inserted under the upper arm (under the armpit) of the occupant so that the occupant's arm is flipped up. In such a side airbag device that flips up (lifts) the arm of the occupant, for example, the airbag is pushed (pressed) toward the occupant by utilizing the impact applied to the door of the vehicle. However, using the deformation of the door trim makes it difficult to quickly lift the occupant's arm because the airbag moves toward the occupant after a certain period of time has passed since the occurrence of the side collision.

JP 2009-023494 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a side airbag device capable of quickly and reliably lifting the occupant's arm by means of the airbag.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a side airbag device to be accommodated in the side portion of a vehicle seat, comprising: an airbag that inflates and deploys forward to restrain an occupant seated on the seat; and an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag.
The airbag includes a first chamber containing the inflator; and a second chamber laterally connected to the first chamber. Also, the second chamber is configured to deploy by inflation gas flowing from the first chamber. Furthermore, in the first region located near the upper arm of the occupant when the airbag is deployed, the upper end of the first chamber is configured to be located near the upper end of the second chamber when viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction. In the first region, the first and second chambers are configured to fit under the upper arm of the occupant and support the upper arm from below.

In the present invention as described above, the upper ends of the first chamber and the second chamber are generally at the same height, and the first region is configured to enter under the upper arm of the occupant and support the upper arm from below. Therefore, it is possible to avoid damage due to the arm being caught between the inflated airbag and the chest.

In the first region, a recess is formed at the boundary between the first and second chambers, and the recess can be configured to fit under the upper arm of the occupant and lift the upper arm upward.

Since a recess is formed in the boundary between the first chamber and the second chamber, which have approximately the same height, and the recess supports the occupant's upper arm, it is possible to reliably support and lift the occupant's upper arm over a wide range (width, area) in the vehicle width direction.

The occupant can configure the side airbag device according to the present invention on the basis of the internationally standardized side impact dummy (W-SID).

When the fully deployed state of the airbag is viewed from the side in the width direction of the vehicle, the vicinity of the outer edge of the first chamber in the first region overlaps the outer edge of the second chamber, and each line of the outer edges of the first chamber and the second chamber is positioned between a standard position and a horizontal position of a center line along the longitudinal direction of the upper arm of the occupant.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view mainly showing an external shape of a vehicle seat used in a side airbag device according to the present invention, and illustration of an airbag unit is omitted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure (seat frame) functioning as a framework of the vehicle seat shown in FIG. 1, and the illustration of the airbag unit is omitted. FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic side views of the side airbag device according to the present invention, showing a state in which the airbag is deployed as observed from the outside in the vehicle width direction (door trim side). FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the deployed state of the airbag device according to the present invention, and corresponds to the cross section in the A1-A1 direction of FIG. 3(A) or (B). FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the configuration around the first and second chambers and the upper arm of the occupant, which are essential parts of the airbag device according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view (A) and a front view (B) showing the deployment state (full deployment) of the airbag device according to the present invention.

A side airbag device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, "front" indicates the front of the vehicle (direction of travel), "rear" indicates the rear of the vehicle (opposite side to the direction of travel), "inside" indicates the inside in the vehicle width direction (passenger side), and "outside" indicates the outside in the vehicle width direction (door panel side).

Also, in this embodiment, a case of designing a side airbag device based on an experimental dummy imagining an occupant P will be described. The present invention is not designed to be limited to a specific experimental dummy, but in this embodiment, as an example, a case will be described in which WSID (World Side Impact Dummy) is used as an experimental dummy.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view mainly showing an external shape of a vehicle seat used in a side airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and illustration of the airbag device is omitted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal structure (seat frame) that functions as a frame of the vehicle seat shown in FIG. 1, and the illustration of the airbag device is omitted here as well.

1 and 2, the vehicle seat according to the present embodiment is composed of a seat cushion 2 on which an occupant sits; a seat back 1 forming a backrest; and a headrest 3 connected to the upper end of the seat back 1.

A seatback frame 1f forming a skeleton of the seat is provided inside the seatback 1, and a pad made of urethane foam material or the like is provided on the surface and surroundings of the seatback frame 1f, and the surface of the pad is covered with a skin 14 such as leather or fabric. A seat frame 2f is arranged on the bottom side of the seat cushion 2, and a pad made of urethane foam material or the like is provided on the upper surface and the periphery thereof, and the surface of the pad is covered with a skin (not shown) such as leather or fabric. The seat frame 2 f and the seat back frame 1 f are connected via a reclining mechanism 4 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the seatback frame 1f is configured in a frame shape by side frames 10 that are spaced apart from each other in the left and right direction and extend in the vertical direction, an upper frame that connects the upper ends of the side frames 10, and a lower frame that connects the lower ends. A headrest 3 is configured by providing a cushion member outside the headrest frame.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic side views of the side airbag device according to the present invention, showing a state in which the airbag is deployed as observed from the outside in the vehicle width direction (door trim side). FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the deployed state of the airbag device according to the present invention, and corresponds to the cross section in the A1-A1 direction of FIG. 3(A) or (B). FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the configuration around the first and second chambers and the upper arm of the occupant, which are essential parts of the airbag device according to the present invention.

The present invention is a side airbag device accommodated in a side support portion 5 of a vehicle seat, and includes airbags (C1, C2) that restrain an occupant by being inflated and deployed; and an inflator 30 that supplies inflation gas to the airbags (C1, C2).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the airbags (C1, C2) include a first chamber C1 arranged outside in the vehicle width direction, and a second chamber C2 connected to the inside of the first chamber C1. The positions of the first chamber C<b>1 and the second chamber C<b>2 can be appropriately changed to the outside or inside of the seat frame 10 .

As shown in FIG. 4, the inflator 30 may be, for example, a cylindrical cylinder type inflator. A pair of upper and lower stud bolts 32 protrude inward in the vehicle width direction from the outer peripheral portion of the inflator 30 . These stud bolts 32 are attached (fastened and fixed) to the side frame 10 by nuts. The inflator 30 is formed with a plurality of gas ejection openings arranged in a circumferential direction, and gas is ejected radially from the gas ejection openings. A diffuser for controlling the flow of gas can be provided if necessary.

An airbag control ECU (not shown) mounted on the vehicle is electrically connected to the inflator 30 . A satellite sensor for detecting a side collision is electrically connected to the airbag control ECU. The inflator 30 can be operated when the airbag control ECU detects a side collision based on the signal from the satellite sensor.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the airbags (C1, C2), a first internal vent hole V1-2 is formed at the boundary between the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 so that the inflation gas flowing from the first chamber C1 deploys the second chamber C2. The flow of inflation gas when the airbag is deployed flows from the first chamber C1 to the second chamber C2 via the vent hole V1-2, as indicated by the dashed arrow, and is then exhausted from the external vent hole VF formed at the front end of the second chamber C2.

The side frame 10 is molded from resin or metal, and can have an L-shaped cross section or a U-shaped cross section. The side frame 10 has a frame side wall portion 10a extending along the vehicle traveling direction when the horizontal cross section is viewed from above. As described above, the inflator 30 is fixed by the stud bolt 32 to the outer side of the frame side wall portion 10a in the vehicle width direction.

The first chamber C1 is deployed so as to be in contact between the second chamber C2 and a side structure (such as a door trim) of the vehicle at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag. Here, by reducing the capacity of the first chamber C1, the first chamber C1 is instantaneously expanded by the inflation gas output from the inflator 30, and the space between the vehicle seat (side frame 10) and the side structure can be quickly filled. Also, the first chamber C1 can be configured to deploy to contact between the second chamber C1 and the side structure before the second chamber C2 is fully deployed.

In addition, the first chamber C1 is arranged so that its rear portion overlaps with the frame side wall portion 10a when viewed from the side of the vehicle, and is rapidly and reliably deployed outward in the vehicle width direction using the frame side wall portion 10a as a reaction force surface.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, in the first region 20 located near the upper arm 14L of the occupant P when the airbags (C1, C2) are deployed, the upper end of the first chamber C1 is located near the upper end of the second chamber C2 and is configured to be approximately the same height H. The first regions 20 of the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 are configured to enter under the upper arm 14L of the occupant P and support the upper arm 14L from below. The first region 20 can be said to be a region for lifting and supporting the upper arm 14L.

In this manner, the upper ends of the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 are substantially at the same height, and the first region 20 is configured to enter under the upper arm 14L of the occupant P and support the upper arm 14L from below, so that damage due to the arm being caught between the inflated airbags C1, C2 and the chest can be avoided.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the fully deployed state of the airbags (C1, C2) is viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction, the vicinity of the outer edge of the first chamber C1 in the first region 20 overlaps the outer edge (upper end) of the second chamber C2, and the respective lines of the outer edges of the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2 are aligned with the standard position of the center line 14a along the longitudinal direction of the upper arm 14L of the occupant P (FIG. 3A). to the horizontal position (FIG. 3(B)).

As shown in FIG. 5, in the first region 20, a substantially V-shaped recess 100 is formed at the boundary between the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2, and the recess 100 is configured to enter under the upper arm 14L of the occupant P and lift the upper arm 14L upward. This makes it possible to reliably support and lift the upper arm 14L of the occupant P over a wide range (width, area) in the vehicle width direction. Moreover, the upper arm portion 14L can be held more securely than when the upper arm portion 14L is supported by a convex surface. In addition, in FIG. 5, the double dashed line indicates the sewn portion of the panel.

(Deployment operation of airbag)
The operation of the side airbag device according to the present invention will be described below. 6A and 6B are a side view (A) and a front view (B) showing the deployed state of the airbag device according to the present invention.

When the side airbag system is activated due to the occurrence of a side collision of the vehicle, the inflation gas released from the inflator 30 flows into the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2. Then, in the first region 20, a substantially V-shaped recess 100 is formed at the boundary between the first chamber C1 and the second chamber C2, and the recess 100 enters under the upper arm 14L of the occupant P and lifts the upper arm 14L upward. As a result, it is possible to avoid damage due to the riding arm being caught between the inflated airbags C1, C2 and the chest.

(Interpretation of the technical scope of the present invention)
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. Accordingly, the above-described exemplary embodiments of the invention are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, in the embodiments for carrying out the invention, the near-side side airbag was mainly described, but the far-side airbag (the surface of the vehicle seat on the far side from the vehicle door), and single-seat vehicles such as small mobility vehicles (vehicles that include only one seat in a row regardless of whether there is a door) or the like can also be used.

Claims (4)

A side airbag device accommodated in a side portion of a vehicle seat,
an airbag that restrains an occupant seated on a seat by inflating and deploying forward;
an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag;
The airbag includes a first chamber containing the inflator; a second chamber laterally connected to the first chamber;
the second chamber is configured to deploy by inflation gas flowing from the first chamber;
In the first region located near the occupant's upper arm when the airbag is deployed, the upper end of the first chamber is positioned near the upper end of the second chamber when viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction,
In the first region, the first and second chambers are configured to fit under the upper arm of the occupant and support the upper arm from below ,
forming a recess in the first region at a boundary between the first and second chambers;
A side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the recessed portion is configured to enter under the upper arm of the occupant and lift the upper arm upward . 2. The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber deploys so as to contact between the second chamber and a side structure of the vehicle in an initial stage of deployment of the airbag, and is arranged so that a rear portion thereof overlaps the frame side wall when viewed from the side of the vehicle, and deploys outward in the vehicle width direction using the frame side wall as a reaction force surface. 3. The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the occupant is assumed based on an internationally standardized side impact dummy (W-SID). When the fully deployed state of the airbag is viewed from the lateral direction in the vehicle width direction, the vicinity of the outer edge of the first chamber in the first region overlaps the outer edge of the second chamber,
4. The side airbag device according to claim 3, wherein each line of the outer edges of the first chamber and the second chamber is positioned between a standard position and a horizontal position of a center line along the longitudinal direction of the occupant's upper arm.

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