JP4640325B2 - Side airbag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention has a gas generating means for generating gas by operation and a folded state and is supplied with the gas generated by the gas generating means so as to expand and expand to the front side of the vehicle along the vehicle door. The present invention relates to a side airbag device for a vehicle including a side airbag.

Patent Document 1 below discloses a vehicle side airbag device with a seat. Briefly described, in this side airbag device for a vehicle, a deployment stabilizing plate that is swingable about a rotation axis is provided on the side portion front end side of the seat back frame. The deployment stabilizing plate is located on the vehicle front side of the side airbag of the vehicle side airbag device and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction. Further, a stopper is disposed at a position adjacent to the deployment stabilizing plate so that the deployment stabilizing plate can endure when subjected to the bag inflation pressure of the side airbag. Therefore, before the side airbag is inflated and the skin of the seat back is cleaved, it is possible to restrict the side airbag from inflating toward the inside of the vehicle by the deployment stabilizing plate. In addition, since the deployment stabilization plate can swing around the rotation axis, when the occupant is seated, the deployment stabilization plate can rotate around the rotation axis even if a load is applied from the center side to the side of the seat back. Therefore, the seat reaction force does not feel uncomfortable.
JP 2006-137398 A

  However, in the configuration disclosed in the above prior art, it is necessary to provide a stopper on the seat back frame so that the deployment stabilizing plate does not swing too much when subjected to the bag inflation pressure of the side airbag. Since the pressure is quite large, it is necessary to attach the stopper firmly to the seat back frame. For this reason, the number of parts increases and the cost and weight are increased.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle side airbag device capable of inflating and deploying a side airbag toward the vehicle front side which is a normal deployment direction without increasing the number of parts. .

  The vehicle side airbag device according to the invention of claim 1 is disposed in a space portion formed between a side portion on the door side of the seat back frame and a side portion on the door side of the seat back pad covering the seat back frame, A gas generating means for generating gas by being actuated, and a side airbag which is arranged in a folded state and is inflated by receiving supply of the gas generated by the gas generating means and deploys to the vehicle front side along the vehicle door; And a side airbag device main body portion that is configured to include a side airbag deployment region at a door side side portion of the seatback pad, and the deployment direction of the side airbag is the vehicle door. The deployment direction control member that controls the deployment direction of the side airbag so as to be on the front side of the vehicle along the vehicle, and the skin covering the side portion of the seat back pad on the door side are cleaved. It characterized by having a a tilting means for tilting the vehicle width direction outside the front of the part of the side airbag seat back pad intruded into side deployment direction control member before.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle side airbag device according to the first aspect, the tilting means is provided between a rear portion of the deployment direction control member and a side portion on the door side of the seat back frame. It is a gap.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the side airbag device for a vehicle according to the first or second aspect, the side airbag includes a chest protection portion that is inflated and deployed corresponding to a chest of an occupant, and the chest protection portion. And a head protecting portion that is inflated and deployed in correspondence with the head of the occupant.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the gas generating means provided in the side airbag apparatus main body operates, gas is generated and supplied into the side airbag arranged in a folded state. As a result, the side airbag is inflated and attempts to cleave the skin covering the side portion of the seat back pad on the door side.

  Here, in the present invention, since the deployment direction control member is joined to the position facing the deployment region of the side airbag on the door side of the seat back pad and the tilting means is provided, the side airbag starts to expand. Initially, part of the side airbag enters the seat back pad. As a result, the front portion of the deployment direction control member is tilted outward in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress or prevent the front portion of the deployment direction control member from receiving the bag inflation pressure of the side airbag and tilting inward in the vehicle width direction. As a result, the original function of the deployment direction control member is exhibited, and the side airbag is deployed toward the vehicle front side along the vehicle door.

  Moreover, according to the present invention, the deployment direction control member is joined to the deployment region of the side airbag on the side of the seat back pad on the door side, and the tilting means is attached to the side airbag before the skin is cleaved. Any configuration that allows a part to enter the seat back pad side may be used, so that it is possible to establish the tilting means without providing any special parts.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the tilting means is configured by the gap provided between the rear portion of the deployment direction control member and the side portion of the seat back frame on the door side. Part of the bag enters the seat back pad. Thereby, since the rear part of the deployment direction control member is pressed inward in the vehicle width direction, the front part of the deployment direction control member is pressed outward in the vehicle width direction, which is the opposite side.

  Moreover, since the gap is provided between the rear part of the deployment direction control member and the side part on the door side of the seat back frame, there is no increase in the number of parts, and the provision of the gap is equivalent to the provision of the deployment direction control member. The member length can be shortened.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the side airbag tears the skin and inflates and deploys along the vehicle door to the front side of the vehicle, the chest protection portion provided corresponding to the chest of the occupant first The head protecting portion provided corresponding to the occupant's head is then inflated and deployed.

  Here, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a part of the side airbag being deployed from being caught on a webbing or the like on the shoulder side of the occupant, which is particularly effective for this type of side airbag having a large capacity. is there.

  As described above, the vehicle side airbag device according to the first aspect of the present invention can inflate and deploy the side airbag toward the front side of the vehicle which is the normal deployment direction without increasing the number of parts. It has an excellent effect of being able to.

  The vehicle side airbag device according to the second aspect of the present invention has an excellent effect that it is possible to achieve both simplification of the structure and suppression or prevention of expansion and deployment of the side airbag inward in the vehicle width direction. Have.

  The vehicle side airbag device according to the third aspect of the present invention has an excellent effect of being able to effectively protect not only the chest of the occupant but also the head at the time of a side collision.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a vehicle side airbag device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that an arrow FR appropriately shown in these drawings indicates a vehicle front side, an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upper side, an arrow IN indicates a vehicle width direction inner side, and an arrow OUT indicates a vehicle width direction outer side. Is shown.

  FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of a vehicle seat equipped with the side airbag device according to the present embodiment in a side airbag deployed state. Further, FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan view of a main part showing an enlarged peripheral structure at a side airbag device arrangement portion of the seat back of the vehicle seat.

  As shown in these drawings, a vehicle seat 10 includes a seat cushion 12 on which an occupant is seated, and a seat back 14 that is supported at a rear end of the seat cushion 12 so as to be tiltable and used as a backrest of the occupant. The headrest 16 is supported by the upper end portion of the seat back 14 so as to be movable up and down and supports the head of the occupant. Further, the seat back 14 is disposed at the center in the seat width direction and directly supports the occupant's back, and the door side side portion integrally provided at the outer end of the center 14A in the vehicle width direction. 14B and a tunnel side (inner side) side portion 14C provided integrally with an end portion on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the central portion 14A. In addition, both the door side side part 14B and the tunnel side side part 14C have the shape which protruded to the vehicle front side.

  A side airbag device 20 that inflates and deploys the side airbag 18 toward the front side of the seat along the inside of the side door 19 at the time of a side collision is provided in the intermediate portion in the height direction of the door side portion 14B described above. . Hereinafter, the peripheral structure of the side airbag device 20 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a seat back frame side portion 22 having a substantially L-shaped cross-section formed by press molding is arranged along the seat back height direction at the approximate center of the door side portion 14B. Has been. The seat back frame has a substantially U-shape with the lower part opened in a front view, and seat back frame side portions 22 are arranged on both sides of the seat back frame. The seat back frame side portion 22 includes a substantially flat base portion 22A extending along the vehicle front-rear direction, a rear bent portion 22B bent substantially at right angles from the rear end portion of the base portion 22A toward the vehicle width direction inside, The front bent portion 22C is bent from the front end portion of the base portion 22A to the inner side in the vehicle width direction at a substantially right angle.

  Around the base portion 22A and the front bent portion 22C of the seat back frame side portion 22, a seat back pad side portion 24 having a substantially C-shaped plane cross-sectional shape is disposed. The seat back pad side portion 24 is made of urethane foam or the like having a predetermined hardness, and includes a pad side portion 24A having a predetermined thickness arranged linearly along the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a front portion of the pad side portion 24A. A round pad front portion 24B extending toward the seat back pad front portion 26 side, and a pad rear portion 24C extending inward in the vehicle width direction from the rear end portion of the pad side portion 24A.

  Furthermore, the seat side skin 30 is disposed outside the pad side portion 24A described above (outside in the vehicle width direction). In addition, a front side skin 32 is disposed outside the pad front portion 24B (the vehicle front side). The inner end portion 32A of the front side skin 32 is stitched with an outer end 34A of the front center side skin 34 that covers the front surface of the seat back pad front portion 26 and a first suture 36. Further, the outer end portion 32 </ b> B of the front side skin 32 is stitched with the front end 30 </ b> A of the seat side skin 30 and the second suture 40. Further, the rear end portion 30 </ b> B of the seat side side skin 30 is stitched with the outer end portion 42 </ b> A of the rear side skin 42 that passes through the back side of the seat back pad front portion 26 and the third suture thread 44.

  A space 50 having a predetermined width as a space portion is formed between the base portion 22A of the seat back frame side portion 22 and the pad side portion 24A of the seat back pad side portion 24 described above. A bag device 20 is provided.

  The side airbag device 20 includes a side airbag device main body 52 that is sub-assembled into a substantially box shape, and is disposed on the front side of the side airbag device main body 52 so that the side airbag 18 can be inflated and deployed in the direction of inflation. And a plate 58 as a development direction control member to be controlled.

  The main part of the side airbag device main body 52 includes a substantially cylindrical inflator 56 that generates gas when activated, and a side airbag 18 that is disposed in a folded state on the vehicle front side of the inflator 56. It is configured. In general, the side airbag device main body portion 52 includes a case that forms the outer shell thereof, and the case is fixed and supported on the base portion 22A of the seat back frame side portion 22. However, the case is not necessarily required and may be a caseless type.

  The inflator 56 is disposed such that the longitudinal direction is substantially the vehicle vertical direction, and a gas ejection portion is provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the side airbag 18 disposed on the vehicle front side of the inflator 56 includes a chest protection portion 18 </ b> A that is inflated and deployed corresponding to the chest of the occupant in the inflated and deployed state, and the chest The bag is a vertically long and large bag in a side view that includes a head protecting portion 18B that communicates with the protecting portion 18A and that is inflated and deployed corresponding to the head of the occupant.

  Here, the position facing the deployment region of the side airbag 18 in the seat back pad side portion 24 described above, that is, the slope facing the front bent portion 22C of the seat back frame side portion 22 in the vehicle front-rear direction on the back surface of the pad front portion 24A. A flat plate 58 is joined to the surface. The plate 58 may be adhered to the back surface of the pad front portion 24A with an adhesive, or may be set by insert molding.

  In the assembled state, the plate 58 is disposed in an inclined state so that the front portion 58A is positioned on the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the rear portion 58B. Further, the rear end portion 58B 'of the plate 58 is disposed offset from the front bent portion 22C of the seat back frame side portion 22 by a predetermined distance toward the vehicle front side. For this reason, a gap 60 is formed between the rear end portion 58B ′ of the plate 58 and the front bent portion 22C as a tilting means with the width in the front-rear direction set to a predetermined width. A side surface 62 of 24A is positioned.

(Operation and effect of this embodiment)
Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

  When a side collision occurs, a side collision state is detected by an airbag sensor (not shown), and the signal is input to the airbag ECU. The airbag ECU determines whether or not the vehicle side airbag device 20 should be operated based on the input signal, and if it is determined that “side airbag operation”, a predetermined current is supplied to the inflator 56. As a result, the inflator 56 is activated to generate gas, and the gas is ejected from the gas ejection hole of the gas ejection portion. As a result, the side airbag 18 stored in a folded state in the door side side portion 14B of the seat back 14 is inflated, and the front end portion 30A of the seat side side skin 30 and the outer end portion 32B of the front side side skin 32 are The second suture thread 40 for suturing is broken to try to cleave the epidermis.

  Here, in the present embodiment, the plate 58 is joined to the seat back pad side portion 24 at a position facing the deployment region of the side airbag 18 and the rear end portion 58B ′ of the plate 58 and the front side bending of the seat back frame side portion 22 are bent. Since a gap 60 having a predetermined width is provided between the side 22C and the portion 22C, as shown in FIG. 3, the side airbag 18 is initially inflated (the stage before the second suture 40 is broken). A part 18C of the airbag 18 presses the side surface 62 of the pad front portion 24B from the gap 60 inward in the vehicle width direction, and enters the pad front portion 24B side. Thereby, the rear portion 58B of the plate 58 is pressed substantially inward in the vehicle width direction (arrow A direction side in FIG. 3), and the front portion 58A of the plate 58 is substantially opposite in the vehicle width direction outside (in the arrow B direction in FIG. 3). Side). Therefore, it is possible to suppress or prevent the front portion 58A of the plate 58 from being inclined substantially inward in the vehicle width direction due to the bag inflation pressure of the side airbag 18. As a result, the original function of the plate 58 is exhibited, and the side airbag 18 is deployed toward the front side of the vehicle along the door trim of the side door 19 as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 4 shows a case where the side airbag 18 is deployed in a direction inclined substantially inward in the vehicle width direction.

  As described above, when the side airbag 18 is inflated and deployed, the chest protection portion 18A is interposed between the occupant's chest and the side door 19, and the head is interposed between the occupant's head and the side door 19. The protection part 18B is interposed to protect the occupant's chest and head. Further, when the side airbag 19 is deployed, the chest protection portion 18A located closer to the gas ejection portion of the inflator 56 is inflated first, and then the head protection portion 18B communicated with the chest protection portion 18A. Inflated.

  Moreover, according to the present embodiment, the tilting means that pushes the front portion 58A of the plate 58 outward in the vehicle width direction, in which the plate 58 is joined to the deployment region of the side airbag 18 in the seat back pad side portion 22. Since it is constituted by the gap 60, it is not necessary to provide a special part as the tilting means.

  As a result, according to the present embodiment, the side airbag 18 can be inflated and deployed toward the front side of the vehicle, which is the normal deployment direction, without increasing the number of parts. Moreover, since the number of parts does not increase, there is no disadvantage such as an increase in weight and an increase in cost.

  Further, as long as the gap 60 is provided, the member length of the plate 58 can be shortened compared to the second embodiment described later. As a result, the structure can be simplified.

  Further, as described above, in the present embodiment, when the side airbag 18 tears the skin and inflates and deploys along the inner side surface of the side door 19 toward the front side of the vehicle, the chest provided corresponding to the chest of the occupant The protection part 18A is first inflated and deployed, and then the head protection part 18B provided corresponding to the occupant's head is inflated and deployed. Therefore, it is possible to effectively protect not only the occupant's chest but also the head during a side collision. In particular, the side airbag 18 in the middle of deployment can be restrained from being caught on a webbing or the like on the shoulder side of the occupant, and thus is particularly effective for this type of side airbag 18 having a large capacity.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the vehicle side airbag device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In addition, about the same component as 1st Embodiment mentioned above, the same number is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the second embodiment, the plate 70 as the development direction control means has a substantially square shape in plan view, and further includes a front portion 70A and a rear portion 70B. A notch 72 as a tilting means is formed on the inner side surface of the boundary portion (the bent portion of the plate 70). Since the thickness of the portion where the notch 72 is formed is thin, the rigidity is lower than other portions of the plate 70. The rear portion 70B of the plate 70 is disposed so as to close the gap 60 (see FIG. 1) in the first embodiment described above.

(Action / Effect)
According to the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, when the side airbag 18 is inflated at the time of a frontal collision and the bag inflation pressure acts on the rear portion 70B of the plate 70, the plate 70 is formed with a notch 72 having low rigidity. It is ruptured at the site. Thereby, the plate 70 is divided into the front part 70A and the rear part 70B. After the division, the state is the same as in the first embodiment described above, and a pressing force in the direction of arrow A acts on the rear end side 70A1 of the front portion 70A of the plate 70, and conversely on the front end side 70A2 of the front portion 70A. The pressing force in the direction of arrow B acts. As a result, the side airbag 18 can be prevented from expanding inward in the vehicle width direction, and the side airbag 18 can be expanded to the front side of the vehicle inside the side door 19.

[Supplementary explanation of the above embodiment]
(1) In each of the above-described embodiments, the side airbag device 20 is activated by a frontal collision. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a pre-crash sensor is mounted on the center portion of the front bumper. The side airbag device 20 may be configured to operate at the time of frontal collision prediction (prediction).

  (2) In each embodiment mentioned above, although this invention was applied with respect to the side airbag apparatus 20 provided with the side airbag 18 which consists of the chest protection part 18A and the head protection part 18B, it is not restricted to this but a chest part You may apply this invention with respect to the side airbag apparatus provided with the side airbag provided only with the protection part 18A.

  (3) In the second embodiment described above, the plate 70 formed in a substantially U shape in a plan view and having the notch 72 formed in the bent portion is joined to the back surface of the pad front portion 24B. Instead, different plate shapes may be employed. For example, if the cross-sectional shape of the plate arrangement portion of the pad front portion 24B is slightly changed, the plate 70 is formed in a substantially square shape in which the direction of the convex portion (bent portion) is opposite to the left and right in a plan view. It is also possible to arrange a plate. In this case, since it is not necessary to form a notch, molding is easy. Further, when a part of the side airbag presses the rear portion of the plate inward in the vehicle width direction, the front portion of the plate can be tilted outward in the vehicle width direction by the lever principle, which is more effective.

  (4) In each of the above-described embodiments, the plate 58 formed in a straight line shape in a plan view and the plate 72 bent in a substantially U shape are used as the development direction control member. Adhesive with a density felt adhered to the back surface of the pad front portion 24B, or a foam integrally bonded with the pad, or a normal density felt impregnated with resin to give rigidity It may be bonded or integrally foamed and bonded to the pad. That is, these configurations are also included in the concept of the “deployment direction control member” in the present invention.

It is a plane sectional view expanding and showing the important section of the side airbag device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a whole perspective view which shows the vehicle seat provided with the side airbag apparatus shown by FIG. 1 in a side airbag deployment state. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a state in an initial stage of deployment when the side airbag starts to expand from the state shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing a state in which the side airbag cleaves the skin and inflates and deploys toward the vehicle front side from the state shown in FIG. 3. It is a plane sectional view corresponding to Drawing 1 which expands and shows the important section of the side air bag device concerning a 2nd embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing a state in an initial stage of deployment when the side airbag starts to expand from the state shown in FIG. 5.

Explanation of symbols

18 Side airbag 18A Chest protector 18B Head protector 18C Part 19 Side door (vehicle door)
20 Vehicle Side Airbag Device 22 Seat Back Frame Side (Side Back Frame Door Side Side)
24 Seat back pad side (door side of seat back pad)
30 Seat side skin 32 Front side skin 40 Second suture 50 Space (space part)
52 Side Airbag Device Main Body 58 Plate (Deployment Direction Control Member)
58A front part 58B rear part 56 inflator (gas generating means)
60 Clearance (tilting means)
70 plate (deployment direction control member)
70A2 Front end (front)
72 notches (tilting means)

Claims (3)

A gas generating means for generating gas by being disposed in a space portion formed between a side portion on the door side of the seat back frame and a side portion on the door side of the seat back pad covering the seat back frame; and a folded state And a side airbag that expands upon receiving the supply of gas generated by the gas generating means and deploys to the vehicle front side along the vehicle door, and a side airbag device main body configured to include
Deployment direction of the side airbag so that the deployment direction of the side airbag is the front side of the vehicle along the vehicle door. A deployment direction control member for controlling
Tilting means for allowing a part of the side airbag to enter the seat back pad side and tilting the front portion of the deployment direction control member outward in the vehicle width direction before the skin covering the side portion of the seat back pad on the door side is cleaved; ,
A vehicle side airbag device comprising: The tilting means is a gap provided between a rear portion of the deployment direction control member and a side portion on the door side of the seat back frame.
The vehicle side airbag device according to claim 1. The side airbag includes a chest protection portion that is inflated and deployed corresponding to the chest of the occupant, and a head protection portion that is communicated with the chest protection portion and inflated and deployed corresponding to the head of the occupant. Consists of
The side airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that

Images