JPH1071919A - Energy absorbing structure for car body side part - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely restrain an occupant by an air bag during its expansion. SOLUTION: In this energy absorbing structure of a car body side part having a side face clashing air bag device 5 developed between a car body side wall part constituting a car boy side part and an occupant, an impact detecting means for detecting an impact force inputted to a car body and a control means for developing an air bag 9 based on a signal from the impact detecting means, the air bag device 5 is disposed in a seat, and a fracture part 2C fractured during the expansion of the air bag 9 so as to allow its development is formed in a seat surface skin 21 beforehand.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a so-called side collision countermeasure for protecting an occupant in a vehicle cabin by absorbing the impact energy due to a relatively large impact applied to the side of the vehicle body from the outside. The present invention relates to an energy absorbing structure on the side of a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a vehicle such as an automobile is provided with an airbag device having an inflator and an airbag. When a relatively large impact force acts on the vehicle body during a collision or the like, the vehicle is normally in a contracted state. It is known to protect an occupant by inflating the airbag and reducing the impact force acting on the occupant in the passenger compartment by the inflated airbag.

In such a device, as a countermeasure for side collisions, for example, as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 1-117957, an impact sensor which is turned on by an impact force inputted from the side is provided at the side of the vehicle body. There has been proposed a device in which a folded airbag and a propulsion means for inflating the airbag in response to a signal from the sensor are provided in an armrest inside a vehicle body side portion.

[0004]

However, since such an airbag device is mounted on the armrest of the door, if the door enters the vehicle interior at the time of a side collision,
As the relative speed between the airbag and the occupant increases, when the occupant slides the seat back and forth to adjust the position, the position of the occupant may deviate from the position regulated by the airbag device.

For this reason, it is conceivable to provide an airbag device for the seat sheet. However, when the airbag device is provided on the outer surface of the seat, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of appearance and safety. In the case where an airbag device is provided, it is necessary to break the seat skin and inflate the airbag with the inflation pressure when the airbag is deployed,
Various problems arise such as management of the deployment timing and deployment direction of the airbag, and reduction of the impact force to the occupant. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an energy absorbing structure on a vehicle body side portion in which an airbag reliably protects an occupant when the airbag is inflated and deployed in a side collision.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an energy absorbing structure for a vehicle body side portion provided with a side collision airbag device which is deployed between a vehicle body side wall portion constituting a vehicle body side portion and an occupant. A shock detecting means for detecting an impact force inputted to the vehicle body, and a control means for deploying and operating an airbag based on a signal from the shock detecting means, wherein the airbag device is housed in a seat. The airbag is characterized in that it is arranged, and a break portion that breaks when the airbag is deployed and that enables the deployment of the airbag is formed in the seat skin.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the break portion is a seam of a sheet skin formed at a position where it can be broken by the deployment pressure of the airbag. In the invention of claim 3, the airbag device is provided with a lid that rotates when the airbag is deployed, and presses the seat skin from the inside with the rotation of the lid, and the pressing force causes the breakage portion to be released. It is characterized in that it is configured to be broken.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the airbag device, a lid that rotates when the airbag is deployed is provided, and a break portion is formed at a position of a seat skin substantially corresponding to a free end side of the lid. It is characterized by having.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, at the time of side collision, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the break portion provided on the seat skin surely breaks the pre-positioned portion, and the airbag is inflated. The deployment timing and the deployment direction can be made suitable. According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the breaking portion surely breaks, it is possible to prevent an excessive pressing force on the seat skin and reduce the impact force on the occupant. As a result, it is possible to reliably deploy the airbag without using a special advanced breaking configuration.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the breaking portion is broken not only by relying on the deployment pressure of the airbag made of a soft material but also by using the lid which rotates with the increase in pressure. As a result, the airbag can be more reliably deployed. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the break portion is formed at a position corresponding to the free end of the lid, the airbag can be more reliably deployed.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1 In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a seat seat of a vehicle, which comprises a seat cushion 2, a seat back 3, and a headrest 4, and an airbag device is provided on a side portion of the seat cushion 2. 5 are buried.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the airbag device 5 has an inflator 8 and an airbag 9 housed in a casing 7 to which an airbag lid 6 is attached so as to be openable and closable. Cushion material 2a of sheet cushion 2
Buried inside. When the airbag lid 6 is opened, the seam 2b is cut so that the seam is cut.
c is formed. Then, when the airbag lid 6 is pressed by the deployment pressure of the airbag 10 at the time of a side collision or the like, the breaking part 2c is broken, and the lid part 2d of the seat cushion 2 is opened together with the airbag lid 6. The airbag 9 is configured to be deployed between a door 10 as a vehicle body side wall and an occupant M from the lower side to the upper side in the vertical direction. 11 is a sheet frame, 12
Is a reinforcing plate, and 13 is an armrest formed on the door trim 14.

The air bag grid 6 is provided with guide means 15 for restricting the deployment angle shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and is constructed so as not to open more than a predetermined opening degree, so that the air bag 9 does not escape to the side. It has become. This is because if the opening angle of the airbag grid 6 is not restricted, the airbag 9 is deployed below the armrest 13 as shown by a chain line in FIG. Chest M1
Is not protected.

The air bag lid 6 is provided with a lid body 6a.
The left and right side plate portions 6b are pivotally connected to the casing 7 together with the slide plate 16 so as to be rotatable. In the side plate portion 6b, arc-shaped long holes 6c and 6d around the rotation shaft 17 are formed, and stopper pins 18 and 18 erected from the slide plate 16 can slide in the long holes 6c and 6d. Is engaged. When the lid is opened, the slide plate 16 has a locking portion 7 on the side edge of the casing 7 when the lid is opened.
A locking portion 16a is formed to engage with a. As shown in FIG. 6, a leaf spring member 19 having a narrowest portion 19a is attached to the end of the long hole 6c (6d) so as to regulate the relationship between the air bag lid 6 and the slide plate 16. Has become.

With the above construction, a side collision is detected by a collision detection mechanism (two independent systems disposed on the left and right sides of the vehicle) by an impact sensor S disposed on the door 10 and detecting a side collision. Then, an initiating signal for deploying the airbag 9 is sent to the inflator 8.

In response to this signal, the inflator 8 explodes, the airbag 10 inflates, and presses the airbag lid 6 in the opening direction. With this pressing force, the break portion 2c of the sheet skin 2b is broken, and the airbag lid 6 is opened together with the lid portion 2d (see the broken line in FIG. 3).

The opening of the air bag grid 6 is performed by first opening the air bag grid 6 in the side plate portion 6b and the slide plate 16 due to the engagement relationship between the long holes 6c, 6d and the stopper pins 18, 18. It is released to the degree. At this time, the stopper pin 18 is connected to the narrowest portion 19a of the leaf spring member 19.
And it is difficult to move between the narrowest portion 19a and the end portion.
Is maintained in a predetermined coupled state.

Then, the slide plate 16 rotates with the rotation of the air bag grid 6, and the lock portion 16a of the slide plate 16 rotates until it engages with the lock portion 7a of the casing 7. As a result, the opening of the air bag grid 6 changes to the second set opening and is regulated.

As a result, the airbag device 5 is disposed on the seat cushion 2 (seat sheet 1) below the armrest 13, but the deployment direction of the airbag 9 is controlled by the airbag grid 6. As it is regulated, Armrest 1
3, the space between the door 10 and the occupant M is vertically expanded from below to above, and the protection of the occupant M is ensured.

In the above embodiment, the slide plate 16 is used, but it can be omitted as shown in FIG. In this case, the long holes 6e, 6
The stopper pins 18 and 18 that engage with f are erected on the casing 7. Further, a leaf spring member similar to the leaf spring member 19 is disposed at the ends of the long holes 6e and 6f so as to maintain the open state.

Also, as shown in FIG.
3, an airbag device (not shown) is provided at an upper position, and an airbag lid 13a formed at an upper portion thereof is provided.
For example, the guide means 15 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can be applied to a structure for further deploying the airbag.

Further, in order to protect the waist M2 of the occupant M first, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the airbag 2 of the airbag device 20 arranged on the side of the seat cushion 2 is used.
1 is divided into an upper airbag 21A and a lower airbag 21B, and a pressure control valve 22 is interposed in a partition 21C therebetween to inflate the lower airbag 21B earlier than the upper airbag 21A. You can also. In this way, the airbag 21 deployed vertically from the side of the seat cushion 2 first inflates to the level of the waist M2 of the occupant M to protect the waist M2 of the occupant M and then to the chest M1
To the height of Accordingly, the waist M1 and the chest M2 of the occupant M correspond to the contact timing with the inner surface of the door 10.
The airbag 21 is deployed in this order, so that more efficient shock absorption can be performed. P indicates the bumper position. -Example 2-This example is an example in which an airbag device is provided in a seatback.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, sheet 1
An airbag device 31 is disposed on the side of the seat back 3 so that the airbag 32 is deployed between the door 10 and the occupant M in the front-rear direction from the rear to the front in the event of a side collision.

The airbag device 31 has an inflator 34 housed in a casing 33 together with the airbag 32, and is buried in a cushion 3 a of the seat back 3. The airbag 32 has a thin elliptical shape so that the side of the occupant can be sufficiently protected.

Although not specifically shown, the casing 33 is provided with an air bag grid 35, for example, as shown in FIGS.
A guide means for regulating the opening degree is provided in the same manner as shown in FIG. The casing 33 is fixed to the sheet frame 37 via a reinforcing member 36 for attachment.

According to the above-mentioned structure, when an initiating signal for deploying the airbag 32 is sent to the inflator 34 at the time of a side collision, the inflator 34 explodes and the airbag 32 inflates. And airbag lid 35
Is pressed in the opening direction. The airbag lid 35 is opened by this pressing force.

At this time, the opening of the airbag grid 6 is regulated by the guide means for regulating the opening of the airbag grid 6 as described above, and the airbag grid 6 is only opened at the set opening.

As a result, the deployment direction of the airbag 32 is regulated by the airbag grid 35, and the airbag 32 is deployed in the front-rear direction between the door 10 and the occupant M so that the occupant M is protected. Becomes -Example 3-In this example, the airbag device is rotated to direct the airbag toward the occupant.

In FIGS. 13 and 14, the airbag device 41 has a casing 42 embedded in the side of the seat back 3 and attached to the seat frame 43, as in the second embodiment. It is attached to a frame 45 which is attached and fixed via a reinforcing member 44 so as to be displaceable outward.

More specifically, in the casing 42, a shaft member 46 is provided upright on the upper and lower surfaces of the rear end portion.
The movement of the frame 45 to the outside by a predetermined amount or more by the first restricting portion 45a is restricted. On the other hand, the front end portion is rotatably connected to the frame 45 via the link member 47, and is outwardly engaged with the engagement portion 47a of the link member 47 and the second regulating portion 45b of the frame 45. Movement to the side by a predetermined amount or more is regulated. In this manner, the guide means for rotating the airbag device 41 and deploying the airbag 48 toward the occupant when the airbag 48 is deployed is configured. Note that 49
Is an inflator and 50 is an air bag grid.

With this configuration, the casing 42 is expelled by the explosive force of the inflator 49 when the airbag is inflated.
The front end moves largely outward while the rear end moves small outward. The outward movement of the shaft member 46 by a predetermined amount or more is prevented by the first restricting portion 4 of the frame 45.
5a, the amount of outward movement of the front end by the link member 47 is also restricted by the engagement between the engaging portion 47a of the link member 47 and the second restricting portion 45b of the frame 45.
As a result, the front end of the casing 42 is displaced outward more than the rear end.

As described above, the front end of the casing 42 is displaced outward more than the rear end, and the front end of the casing 42 is directed between the door and the occupant. −
Since the airbag 48 is inflated and deployed from the sing 42, the airbag 48 is deployed between the door and the occupant in the front-rear direction and directed forward from the rear to the occupant side, thereby protecting the side of the occupant M. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an energy absorbing structure of a vehicle body side portion according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a deployment direction of an airbag.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the air bag grid in a closed state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the air bag grid in an open state.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an end of a long hole.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of a modified example.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram when an airbag device is provided on an armrest.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram in a case where an airbag is configured by an upper bag and a lower bag.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a partition portion of the airbag.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 1 for a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the air bag grid in a closed state according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the airbag lid in an open state.

[Description of Signs] 1 Seat seat 2 Seat cushion 3 Seat back 5,31,41 Airbag device 6,35,50 Airbag grid 8,34,49 Inflator 9,32,48 Airbag 10 Door 13 Armrest 15 Guide means S Impact sensor (impact detection means)

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideki Nishitake 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Mazda Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An energy absorbing structure at a vehicle body side provided with a side collision airbag device deployed between a vehicle body side wall and a vehicle occupant constituting the vehicle body side portion, wherein the impact force input to the vehicle body is reduced. And a control means for deploying and operating the airbag based on a signal from the shock detection means. The airbag device is housed and disposed in a seat, and air is applied to the seat skin. An energy absorbing structure for a side portion of a vehicle body, wherein a break portion that breaks when the bag is deployed and allows the air bag to deploy is formed in advance. 2. The energy absorbing structure for a vehicle body side part according to claim 1, wherein said breaking portion is a seam of a seat skin formed at a position where it can be broken by the deployment pressure of the airbag. 3. The airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising a lid which rotates when the airbag is deployed, and presses the seat skin from the inside with the rotation of the lid, and the breaking portion is broken by the pressing force. The energy absorbing structure for a vehicle body side portion according to claim 1, wherein the energy absorbing structure is configured as described above. 4. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a lid is provided which rotates when the airbag is deployed, and a break portion is formed at a position on a seat skin substantially corresponding to a free end side of the lid. The energy absorbing structure for a vehicle body side portion according to claim 1, wherein: