JP2003220922A - Side air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a side air bag device that can stably protect an occupant irrespective of the mode of a side collision and the shape of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: An air bag 6 is stored from a seat cushion 2a to a seat back 2c via a turning center 2b of a seat 2, and a module case 4 storing an inflator 5 for supplying gas to the air bag 6 is fixed to the seat cushion 2a. The air bag 6 is, on the seat cushion 2a, supported on a first support part A and fixed to the module case 4 and is, on the seat back 2c, fixed to a second support part B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a side airbag device which protects an occupant when a vehicle has a side collision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a means for protecting an occupant in the event of a vehicle collision, there is an airbag device that instantly deploys an airbag to reduce the impact on the occupant. this house,
There is a side airbag device that deploys an airbag between an occupant and a vehicle body side wall such as a door, which is effective against so-called side collision. The side airbag device is configured by integrating an airbag, an inflator that is a gas supply source for inflating the airbag, and a module case that accommodates these. The module case is fixed to the seat back frame of the seat on which the occupant is seated, and at startup, the airbag that expands due to the supply of gas projects from the seat back and fills the space between the occupant and the door. Expand to. Then, the deployed air bag was sandwiched between the side wall and the occupant, thus functioning as a cushion.

[0003]

However, in such a side airbag device, the airbag is supported only at one position of the seat, and the deployment direction of the airbag deployed from the seat and the collision direction are the same. Since this is not done, the airbag is easily deformed in the collision direction, and when the side wall of the vehicle is deformed, the airbag may be deformed accordingly. In such a case, the timing at which the occupant comes into contact with the airbag may change, and the protection characteristic of the airbag may change. Further, when the design distance from the occupant to the side wall is different for each vehicle or each seat, there is also a problem that it is necessary to select an airbag having an optimum capacity for each design distance. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a side airbag device capable of stably protecting an occupant regardless of a side collision form.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention which solves the above-mentioned problems, a gas is supplied to an airbag accommodated in a seat at the time of a vehicle collision, and a side wall of a vehicle body is provided. In a protection device that protects an occupant by deploying the airbag between the occupant and the occupant, the airbag is supported by the seat cushion at the first support portion at the time of deployment, and is located away from the first support portion. The side airbag device is configured to be supported by the seat back at the two support portions and to be deployed toward the inside of the side surface of the seat to move the occupant.

The side airbag device thus constructed can generate tension between the supporting points in the airbag by supporting the deployment of the airbag at two positions of the seat. Therefore, as compared with the case of deploying the airbag only with gas, the stability of the shape against the load from the side can be ensured, and the occupant can be reliably protected. Furthermore, the occupant can be protected more reliably by moving the occupant away from the collision point.

Further, in the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention, when a vehicle collides, gas is supplied to the airbag accommodated in the seat so that the airbag is deployed between the side wall of the vehicle body and the occupant. In the protection device for protecting the occupant, the airbag passes through the center of rotation of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion of the seat, and is housed in the seat cushion and the seat back. The side airbag device is configured to be supported by the first support portion and supported by the seat back by the second support portion.

By supporting the expansion of the airbag at two places of the seat, the expanded shape of the airbag can be stabilized. In particular, the distance from the first support portion of the airbag to the center of rotation and the distance from the center of rotation to the second support portion do not change due to reclining of the seat,
By accommodating the airbag so as to pass through the center of rotation, even if the airbag is fixed by the first support portion or the second support portion, the airbag is not pulled.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a seat accommodating the side airbag device, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the seat. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the side airbag device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a module case 4 fixed inside a seat cushion 2a, which is a seat portion of a seat 2, and a module case 4 inside the module case. The inflator 5 is housed therein, and the airbag 6 is inflated and inflated by receiving gas supplied from the inflator 5.

The module case 4 is provided with an opening on the upper surface thereof and has an elongated box shape along the seat cushion 2a, and an airbag 6 is fixed to the edge of the opening. An inflator 5 is housed inside the module case 4. The inflator 5 is an airbag 6
It is a gas generator for supplying gas to the cylinder, and a cylinder having a compressed gas filled therein or a gas generator that generates an inert gas is used.

The airbag 6 is housed in a folded manner from the seat cushion 2a to a seat back 2c which is a backrest portion through a rotation center 2b when the seat 2 reclines. The reason why the airbag 6 passes through the rotation center 2b is to prevent an excessive tensile force from acting on the accommodated airbag 6 when the seat back 2c is reclined. Further, the airbag 6 housed in the seat cushion 2a.
Is fixed to the opening of the module case 4 described above, and this is the first support portion A. On the other hand, the airbag 6 housed in the seat back 2c is fixed to a frame (not shown) of the seat back 2c and serves as a second support portion B. In the present embodiment, the first support portion A of the seat cushion 2a and the seat back 2 are provided.
By supporting the airbag 6 at the time of deployment at two positions of the second support portion B in c, the deployment characteristics are stabilized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the airbag 6 passes from the shoulder of the occupant P through the abdomen and waist.
Unfold so that it covers up to part of the leg (thigh).
Further, preferably, the airbag 6 is not deployed so as to fill the space between the occupant P and the vehicle body side wall (including, for example, side doors, pillars, and other wall surfaces), but is deployed by deployment of the airbag 6. It is desirable to deploy the car away from the side wall of the vehicle body.

The protection of the occupant P by the side airbag device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). First, in FIG. 2A, the occupant P is seated on the seat 2 in which the side airbag device 1 is accommodated. The seat cushion 2a of the seat 2 is the vehicle W1.
The front cross member 11 is fixed to a member having sufficient rigidity against a collision. The cross member 11 is fixed to the side sill 12 of the vehicle W1 and a center frame (not shown). Further, the reference numeral 13 is
It is a cross-sectional view of a front door as an example of a vehicle body side wall,
The outer panel 13a and the door trim 13b are illustrated. Note that the front door 1 is shown in FIGS.
The window glass 3 is not shown.

Another vehicle W2 has a front door 13 from the side.
If you hit the car, the front door will be deformed and
The impact is detected by an acceleration sensor (not shown). The acceleration sensor outputs a detection value to the control unit, the control unit judges the detection value, and outputs a start signal to the side airbag device 1 as necessary.

When the side airbag device 1 receives the activation signal, the inflator 5 (see FIG. 1A) is actuated to eject gas into the module case 4. The spouted gas is supplied to the airbag 6 from the opening of the module case 4, and the airbag 6 starts to inflate. The airbag 6, which has started to inflate, breaks the respective tear lines of the seat cushion 2a and the seat back 2b, jumps out into the passenger compartment, and is released as shown in FIG.
Expand as shown in (b). Here, the airbag 6 maintains a stable shape by the first support portion A and the second support portion B, and is in contact with the occupant P from the shoulder portion to the leg portion, and is opposite to the front door 13 with which the vehicle W1 collides. The occupant P is moved to the side.

As described above, the side airbag device 1 can maintain the stable shape regardless of the deformation of the vehicle body by supporting the airbag 6 which is deployed at the time of the side collision at the two places, so that the occupant can maintain the stable shape. The protective property of P can be further stabilized. Further, by moving the occupant P in the non-collision direction, it is possible to ensure the safety of the occupant P regardless of the form of the side collision.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a side airbag device and a seat.
FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of the movement control means.
(B) is a side view of the movement control means. The same components as those in the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The present embodiment is similar to the above-described embodiment in that the airbag is supported at a plurality of points, but has a movement control means for moving the seat on which the occupant is seated when the side airbag device is activated. It is characterized by

As shown in FIG. 3, the side airbag device 21 in this embodiment has an airbag 6, an inflator for supplying gas to the airbag 6, and
The module case 4 accommodates the inflator. The airbag 6 has a seat cushion 2a.
From the center of rotation during reclining (not shown in Fig. 3)
The seat back 2c is accommodated inside the seat back 2c, and the fixing portion to the module case 4 is the first supporting portion A, and the fixing portion in the seat back 2c is the second supporting portion B. The inflator is arranged so that the gas ejection port faces the side wall of the vehicle body.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (a), the movement control means includes rails 26 hung on a pair of slide rails 25 for sliding the seat 2 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
And a guide 27 that is movable in the left-right direction of the vehicle body along the rail 26, and a plate 28 that is inserted into the rail 26 and the guide 27.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the rail 26 is
It has a concave shape and is fixed to the slide rail 25 at the bottom portion 26a. In addition, the side wall 26 of the rail 26
It has a notch 30 from b to the flange 26c. Further, the guide 27 has a concave shape, and the bottom portion 27a slidably fitted to the rail 26 and the side wall 2 are provided.
7b, and a flange 27c used for fixing to the seat 2. The guide 27 also has a notch 31 extending from the side wall 27b to the flange 27c.

The plate 28 has the above-mentioned notches 30, 3
1 is a plate-like member that is inserted into the fragile portion 2
8a. As shown in FIG. 4B, the fragile portion 28 a is formed so as to be located between the side wall 26 b of the rail 26 and the side wall 27 b of the guide 27. 28 is torn from the fragile portion 28a. The fragile portion 28a is formed by a notch or a perforation.

Next, the protection of the occupant by the side air bag device 21 and the movement control means for the seat 2 using the side air bag device 21 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) and FIG.
A description will be given using (a) and (b).

Another vehicle W2 has a front door 13 from the side.
If you hit the car, the front door will be deformed and
The impact is detected by an acceleration sensor (not shown). The acceleration sensor outputs a detection value to the control unit, the control unit judges the detection value, and outputs a start signal to the side airbag device 1 as necessary.

When the side airbag device 1 receives the activation signal, the inflator (see FIG. 1A) is actuated to eject gas into the module case 4. The spouted gas is supplied to the airbag 6 from the opening of the module case 4, and the airbag 6 starts to inflate.

At this time, since the gas ejection port of the inflator faces the side wall of the vehicle body, the reaction force (thrust) due to the gas ejection is applied to the inflator on the side opposite to the vehicle body side wall, that is, toward the inner side of the vehicle body. Act on. Since the inflator is fixed to the guide 27 via the module case 4, the guide 27 also receives a force directed toward the inside of the vehicle body. Here, since the guide 27 is fixed to the rail 26, that is, the vehicle body via the plate 28, shear stress acts on the plate 28. Since the plate 28 is formed with the fragile portion 28a as described above, the fragile portion 28a is torn and broken by the rail 26 and the guide 27.

As a result, the guide 27 becomes movable with respect to the rail 26, and the rail 26 moves together with the seat 2 to the side opposite to the side wall of the vehicle body due to the reaction force of the gas ejection from the inflator. The airbag 6 that has started to inflate breaks the respective tear lines of the seat cushion 2a and the seat back 2b, jumps out into the passenger compartment, and expands as shown in FIGS. 1 (b) and 2 (b). .
Here, the airbag 6 maintains a stable shape by the first support portion A and the second support portion B, and is in contact with the occupant P from the shoulder portion to the leg portion, and is opposite to the front door 13 with which the vehicle W1 collides. The occupant P is moved to the side.

Thus, this side airbag device 2
According to 1, the airbag 6 can be stably deployed regardless of the deformation of the vehicle body and the occupant P can be reliably protected. In particular, deployment of the airbag 6 and
By moving the occupant P toward the center of the vehicle body by moving the seat 2, the impact on the occupant P is alleviated.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments but can be widely applied. For example, the airbag may be supported by the seat at three or more supporting portions. The location of the support portion is not limited as long as it is a seat cushion or a seat back, but a suitable position for the third support portion is the center of rotation of the seat back. When the support portion is provided at this position, the waist of the occupant can be reliably restrained by the airbag. Further, in the first embodiment, the airbag 6, the module case 4, the inflator, and the reclining mechanism of the seat 2 are modularized, and the module and the seat cushion 2 are arranged.
The seat 2 may be composed of a and the seat back 2c. The reclining mechanism is the center of rotation 2
Including b, it is composed of a known mechanism such as a ratchet and a lever for operating the rotation amount. In addition to the seat 2, the side airbag device 1 that supports the airbag 6 at the time of deployment at a plurality of locations includes a roof side of the vehicle body, a pillar (whether front, center, or rear), a door shoulder on a front door or a rear door. The present invention can also be applied to the case where the airbag 6 is housed in each part such as a sash on the vehicle body side or in a plurality of parts in an L-shape or a T-shape.

In each embodiment, the airbag 6
Has been described as being built into the seat 2 and breaking the skins of the seat cushion 2a and the seat back 2c to be deployed, but the side airbag devices 1 and 21 are exposed on the surfaces of the seat cushion 2a and the seat back 2c. The airbag 6 may be provided with a lid, and the airbag 6 may be deployed by opening the lid at the time of operation. It is easier to control the timing of opening the lid than when breaking the skin,
The deployment characteristic of the airbag 6 can be further stabilized.

[0029]

According to the side airbag device of the first aspect of the present invention, by supporting the deployment of the airbag at two points of the seat and moving the occupant away from the collision point, The occupant can be protected more reliably. Further, according to the side airbag device according to the second aspect of the present invention, even if the seat has a reclining function, the deployment of the airbag can be supported at a plurality of positions of the seat to reliably protect the occupant. The airbag can be accommodated from the seat cushion to the seat back.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a seat accommodating a side airbag device, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the seat.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are explanatory views for explaining the operation of the side airbag device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a seat accommodating a side airbag device.

FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of the movement control means,
(B) is a side sectional view of the movement control means.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are explanatory views for explaining the operation of the side airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Side airbag device 2 sheets 2a seat cushion 2b Rotation center 2c seat back 4 module case 5 inflator 6 airbags A first support part B Second support part

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yusuke Nishida             1-4-1 Chuo Stock Market, Wako City, Saitama Prefecture             Inside Honda Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Fumio Umezawa             118-1 Ota, Takanezawa-machi, Shioya-gun, Tochigi Prefecture             Lee S Tech Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3B087 CD05                 3D054 AA06 AA07 AA21 BB30 CC08                       EE14 EE20 EE25

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A protective device for protecting an occupant by supplying gas to an airbag accommodated in a seat and deploying the airbag between a side wall of a vehicle body and an occupant in the event of a vehicle collision, The airbag is supported by the seat cushion at the first support portion when deployed, and is also supported by the seat back at the second support portion located away from the first support portion to move the occupant. The side airbag device is configured to be deployed toward the inner side of the side surface of the. 2. A protection device for protecting an occupant by supplying gas to an airbag accommodated in a seat and deploying the airbag between a side wall of a vehicle body and an occupant at the time of collision of the vehicle, The airbag passes through the center of rotation of the seat back with respect to the seat cushion of the seat and is housed in each of the seat cushion and the seat back. When the airbag is deployed, the seat cushion has a first support portion. The side airbag device is configured to be supported by a second support portion on the seat back.