Side airbag device

Abstract

Provided is a side airbag device capable of appropriately protecting the head of an occupant. The present invention is a side airbag device housed in a vehicle seat, the side airbag device being provided with: an airbag for protecting an occupant seated on the vehicle seat by being inflated and deployed; and an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag. The airbag includes: a head protection chamber mainly protecting a head of an occupant; a side protection chamber for protecting the side of the body of the occupant below the head protection chamber; and the non-expansion part is arranged around the head protection chamber and the side protection chamber. And the rear end part of the head protection chamber is positioned in front of the rear end part of the side protection chamber. An upper fixing part is arranged and used for fixing the upper portion of the non-expansion part to a vehicle seat. Furthermore, a slit extending downward from the upper end of the non-expansion part is formed between the head protection chamber and the upper fixture.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a side airbag device accommodated in the side portion of a vehicle seat, and more particularly to an improvement of a side airbag device having a head protection chamber. Background Art

[0002] As is well known, vehicles are equipped with one or more airbag devices to protect occupants in the event of an accident. Examples of such airbag devices include driver airbags, which deploy from near the center of the steering wheel to protect the driver; curtain airbags, which deploy downward from the inside of a window to protect occupants in the event of a lateral impact, rollover, or rollover; and side airbags, which deploy to the sides of the occupants (the sides of the seat) to protect occupants in the event of a lateral impact. The present invention relates to a side airbag device incorporated into a vehicle seat.

[0003] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, a side airbag device includes a head protection chamber for protecting the head in addition to chambers for protecting the shoulders, abdomen, and waist of the occupant.

[0004] However, in existing side airbag devices, in the event of a side collision, if the door intrudes significantly into the vehicle, the occupant's head may collide with the door interior panel via the airbag, resulting in a so-called "bottoming out" state, which may not adequately protect the occupant's head.

[0005] Prior art literature

[0006] Patent Literature

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-110958 Summary of the Invention

[0008] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a side airbag device that can appropriately protect the head of an occupant.

[0010] Solutions to the Problem

[0011] To achieve the above object, the present invention is a side airbag device housed in a vehicle seat, comprising: an airbag that protects an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat by expanding and deploying; an inflater that supplies inflation gas to the airbag. The airbag includes a head protection chamber that mainly protects the head of the occupant; a side protection chamber that protects the side of the occupant's body below the head protection chamber; and a non-inflatable portion provided around the head protection chamber and the side protection chamber. The rear end portion of the head protection chamber is located in front of the rear end portion of the side protection chamber. An upper fixing member is provided for fixing the upper portion of the non-inflatable portion to the vehicle seat. Moreover, a slit extending downward from the upper end of the non-inflatable portion is formed between the head protection chamber and the upper fixing member.

[0012] Herein, the so-called "vehicle seat" refers to the seats of vehicles such as automobiles, buses, and trucks, and can be applied to both types where the seat backrest and the headrest are separated and seats where the seat backrest and the headrest are integrated.

[0013] The so-called "side of the occupant's body" can refer to the range including the shoulder, abdomen, and waist, but can also be the range including the shoulder and abdomen excluding the waist, or only the shoulder.

[0014] The so-called "non-inflatable portion" refers to an area into which inflation gas does not flow, different from the chamber formed in a bag shape by the base fabric constituting the airbag.

[0015] The rear end portion of the head protection chamber being located in front of the rear end portion of the side protection chamber means that the position of the head protection chamber is offset forward with respect to the side protection chamber.

[0016] "Between the head protection chamber and the upper fixing member" is the rear of the head protection chamber, becoming the front area of the upper fixing member. In addition, "extending downward" is not necessarily limited to the case of extending in the vertical direction, and can also include the case of extending in an inclined state, or the case of buckling or bending.

[0017] In addition, the "slit" includes a simple cut formed by cutting or a gap having a certain width. In addition, the width of the slit includes the case where it is the same throughout the entire length and the case where the width of the gap such as a V-shape changes midway.

[0018] In the present invention as described above, since the rear end portion of the head protection chamber is located in front of the rear end portion of the side protection chamber, when the airbag expands and deploys, the head protection chamber will not enter between the seat belt and the occupant and is likely to deploy in front of the seat belt. Additionally, since a slit extending downward from the upper end of the non-inflated portion is formed between the head protection chamber and the upper fixing member, when the airbag deploys, the head protection chamber and the upper fixing member are in a separated state. Thus, the head protection chamber will not be strongly attracted to the upper fixing member side and can deploy with a certain degree of freedom in the front-back and left-right directions. As a result, the head protection chamber deploys to stand upright in front of the seat belt (on the door side in the case of the near side). Therefore, the area for protecting the occupant's head becomes larger, and the occupant's head can be reliably restrained. Further, when the occupant's head enters the head protection chamber, the head protection chamber is pushed toward the door trim side, and the reaction force of the door trim can be utilized to stably protect the occupant's head.

[0019] In addition, the "separation" mentioned here does not mean complete physical separation, but rather that above the connecting portion with the side protection chamber, it is not tightened by the upper fixing member, and the degree of freedom of the head protection chamber to move away from the seat increases.

[0020] The slit may be formed to extend below the fixing point of the upper fixing member.

[0021] By extending the slit to a position below the upper fixing point, the head protection chamber is pulled toward the upper fixing member side (rear), so that it can be effectively separated.

[0022] The above slit may be configured to extend near the upper end of the side protection chamber.

[0023] By extending the slit near the upper end of the side protection chamber, the effect of the slit that can effectively separate the head protection chamber can be maximized.

[0024] The lower end portion of the slit can be bent forward. In the case of adopting such a structure, the deployment action (range of motion) of the head protection chamber can be adjusted. For example, a region recessed forward is formed in the rear portion of the head protection chamber. By making the lower end portion of the slit enter this recessed region, in the left-right direction, the head protection chamber will not bend significantly toward the occupant's head side (seat side) and is likely to deploy in the upright direction. That is, the same effect as when the slit is extended deeper downward can be obtained, and the head protection chamber can deploy with a greater degree of freedom relative to the upper fixing member.

[0025] The upper fixing member may be disposed near the shoulders of a normally seated occupant.

[0026] For example, the upper fixing member may be connected to a part of the upper edge of the seat back. In the case of a seat where the seat back and the headrest are integrated, the fixing tab may also be connected near the side of the part corresponding to the headrest.

[0027] The occupant may correspond to the AM50 dummy specified in the standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States. Additionally, it may also correspond to dummies such as AF05.

[0028] In the flat state before inflation and deployment, the head protection chamber extends in a direction buckling with respect to the longitudinal direction of the side protection chamber. In other words, in its longitudinal direction, when viewed from the side in the vehicle width direction without any external force applied and in the deployed state, the head protection chamber can be formed to extend in a direction bending with respect to the longitudinal direction of the side protection chamber provided along the side frame of the seat and extend in a direction approaching the plumb direction.

[0029] Here, the so-called "extending in the buckling direction" means that in addition to a shape extending linearly, it may also include a shape extending in a curved shape. Preferably, the entire chamber bends backward with respect to the seat and slowly buckles.

[0030] By making the head protection chamber buckle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the side protection chamber, the upper part of the head protection chamber is located more forward (in the direction away from the seat back), and the restraint area of the head protection chamber in front of the seat belt can be reliably ensured.

[0031] The side protection chamber includes: a side rear region that mainly unfolds along the side of the seat; and a side front region that is located in front of the side rear region and is continuously formed below the head protection chamber.

[0032] The inflator may be housed inside the side rear region of the side protection chamber.

[0033] In addition to the upper fixing member, a lower fixing member may also be provided near the lower end of the non-inflated portion for fixing the airbag to the seat.

[0034] In the airbag, it can be configured such that the length from the upper fixing member to the lower fixing member is longer than the length from the upper fixing portion on the seat side connecting the upper fixing member to the lower fixing portion on the seat side connecting the lower fixing member.

[0035] If such a structure is adopted, when the airbag is housed in the seat, there will be a margin in the longitudinal direction of the airbag between the upper fixing member and the lower fixing member, and the head protection chamber will not be strongly pulled to the side protection chamber side during deployment. Therefore, when the occupant's head enters the head protection chamber, the lower part of the head protection chamber is firmly bent, and the head protection chamber easily sits on the upper part of the door trim panel.

[0036] In the state where the airbag is deployed, a sewing portion that connects a part of the left and right panels constituting the side protection chamber can be formed at a portion of the side protection chamber corresponding to above the upper end portion of the door trim panel.

[0037] By forming the sewing portion as described above, the inflated and deployed head protection chamber is easily bent starting from this sewing portion. Therefore, when the occupant's head enters the head protection chamber, the lower part of the head protection chamber is firmly bent, and the head protection chamber easily sits on the upper part of the door trim panel.

[0038] When the airbag is in the housed state, the head protection chamber can be folded in the vertical direction and then wound together with the side protection chamber. Alternatively, the head protection chamber and the side protection chamber of the airbag can be wound, and then the side protection chamber can be folded in the vertical direction.

[0039] Here, the so-called "folding" includes folding methods such as accordion folding and Z - folding. Since the head protection chamber is not in a wound state in the vertical direction but is simply folded, the deployment upward becomes rapid.

[0040] In the description of the present invention, when the occupant is seated on the seat in a regular posture, the direction the occupant faces is called "front", the opposite direction is called "rear", and it is called "front - rear direction" when indicating the coordinate axis. In addition, when the occupant is seated on the seat in a regular posture, the right side of the occupant is called "right direction", the left side of the occupant is called "left direction", and it is called "left - right direction" when indicating the coordinate axis. In addition, when the occupant is seated on the seat in a regular posture, the head direction of the occupant is called "upper", the waist direction of the occupant is called "lower", and it is called "vertical direction" when indicating the coordinate axis. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the main external shape of a vehicle seat to which the side airbag device according to the present invention can be applied, with the illustration of the airbag device omitted.

[0042] Figure 2 is shown as Figure 1Stereogram of the internal structure (seat frame) in which the skeleton of the vehicle seat shown functions, with illustration of the airbag device omitted.

[0043] Figure 3 It is a schematic side view of the side airbag device according to the present invention, showing the state of perspective from the outside in the vehicle width direction of the housed airbag device.

[0044] Figure 4A It is a top view showing the structure of the airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 4B It is a top view showing the structure of the airbag device according to the first modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 4C It is a top view showing the structure of the airbag device according to the second modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 5 It is an explanatory view showing the fixed position (corresponding relationship) of the side frame of the airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 6 (A) and (B) are schematic front views showing the installation state of the airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 7 (A) and (B) are top views showing the process of compressing the airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention into the housed state.

[0050] Figure 8 (A), Figure 8 (B) are top views showing the process of compressing the airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention into the housed state.

[0051] Figure 9 It is a front view showing the deployment operation of the airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention, where (A) shows the state before the airbag deployment and (B) shows the state after the airbag deployment.

[0052] Figure 10 It is a top view (A) showing the structure when the length of the slit is increased in the airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention and a front view (B) showing the deployment state of the airbag.

[0053] Figure 11 It is a top view (A) showing the structure when the length of the slit is decreased in the airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention and a front view (B) showing the deployment state of the airbag.

[0054] Figure 12 (A) and (B) are top views showing the structures of airbags according to other embodiments of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0055] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the main external shape of a vehicle seat used in the occupant protection device according to the present invention, and the illustration of the airbag device 20 is omitted. Figure 2 is showing as Figure 1 a perspective view of the internal structure body (seat frame) that functions as the skeleton of the vehicle seat shown, and the illustration of the airbag device 20 is also omitted here. Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the occupant protection device according to the present invention, showing the state where the airbag device 20 is housed in the side (near side) of the door close to the vehicle seat as observed from the vehicle width direction (i.e., the left - right direction).

[0056] When observed as parts, the vehicle seat to which the present invention is applicable, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, is configured to include a seat cushion 2 where the occupant sits, a seat backrest 1 forming the backrest, and a headrest 3 connected to the upper end of the seat backrest 1.

[0057] Inside the seat backrest 1, there is a seat backrest frame 1f forming the seat skeleton, and a cushion made of polyurethane foam material or the like is provided on its surface and around it, and the surface of the cushion is covered by a skin 12 ( Figure 3 ) made of leather, fabric, etc. A seating frame 2f is arranged on the bottom side of the seat cushion 2, and a cushion made of polyurethane foam material or the like is provided on its upper surface and around it, and the surface of the cushion is covered by a skin 12 ( Figure 3 ) made of leather, fabric, etc. The seating frame 2f and the seat backrest frame 1f are connected via a tilting mechanism 4.

[0058] As Figure 2 shown, the seat backrest frame 1f is configured in a frame shape by side frames 10 arranged separately on the left and right and extending in the up - down direction, an upper frame connecting the upper end portions of the side frames 10, and a lower frame connecting the lower end portions. As Figure 3 shown, the headrest 3 is formed by providing a cushion member outside the headrest frame.

[0059] (Embodiment)

[0060] Figure 4A is a top view showing the structure of the airbag device according to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 (A) and (B) are schematic front views showing the installation state of the airbag 22. Figure 5 is an explanatory view showing the fixed position (corresponding relationship) of the airbag 22 with respect to the side frame 10.

[0061] The airbag device 20 involved in this embodiment is a side airbag device housed in a vehicle seat, and includes an airbag 22 that protects an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat by inflating and deploying, and an inflater 24 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 22.

[0062] The inflater 24 can use a cylindrical inflater of the cylinder type, and a rectifying panel for controlling the gas flow can be provided around it.

[0063] (Chamber structure)

[0064] The airbag 22 includes: a head protection chamber 26 that mainly protects the head of the occupant; a side protection chamber 28 that protects the side of the occupant's body below the head protection chamber 26; and a non-inflatable portion 32 that is provided around the head protection chamber 26 and the side protection chamber 28. The head protection chamber 26 and the side protection chamber 28 are integrally (continuously) formed.

[0065] Here, the rear end portion 26R of the head protection chamber 26 is located in front of the rear end portion 28R of the side protection chamber 28. This can also be expressed as that the head protection chamber 26 and the side protection chamber 28 are not formed by completely overlapping vertically, but are provided with an angle (buckling) between the center line (S1) extending in the vertical direction of the head protection chamber 26 and the length direction of the side protection chamber 28.

[0066] As Figure 4A and Figure 5 shown, when the head protection chamber 26 is observed in the deployed state from the side in the vehicle width direction, in its length direction, it extends in the buckling direction S1 with respect to the length direction S2 of the side protection chamber 28 provided along the side frame 10 of the seat, and becomes a shape substantially extending in the vertical direction. That is, the length deployment direction S1 of the head protection chamber 26 is a shape inclined with respect to the length direction S2 of the side protection chamber 28 of the airbag 22.

[0067] The side protection chamber 28 includes: a side rear region 28a that mainly expands along the side of the seat; a side front region 28b that is located in front of the side rear region 28a and is continuously formed below the head protection chamber 26. The inflater 24 is housed inside the side rear region 28a.

[0068] (Fasteners)

[0069] An upper fastener 30a is provided at the upper rear end portion of the non-inflatable portion 32 for fixing the airbag 22 to the vehicle seat. In addition, a lower fastener 30b is provided at the lower end portion of the non-inflatable portion 32 for fixing the airbag 22 to the seat.

[0070] The upper fixing member 30a can be arranged near the shoulders of a normally seated occupant. Here, the so-called "occupant" refers to a dummy that can correspond to AM50 or AF05 specified in the standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States.

[0071] The upper fixing member 30a can be connected to a part of the upper edge of the seat back. In the case of a seat where the seat back and the headrest are integrated, the fixing tab 30a can also be connected near the side of the part corresponding to the headrest.

[0072] The length L1 from the upper fixing member 30a to the lower fixing member 30b is configured to be longer than the length L2 from the upper fixing part 38a on the seat side connecting the upper fixing member 30a to the lower fixing part 38b on the seat side connecting the lower fixing member 30b.

[0073] In addition, Figure 5 The fixed positions of the airbag 22 and the inflator 24 in the flat state relative to the side frame 10 are shown. However, in reality, Figure 8 The shown airbag 22 in the compressed state is fixed to the side frame 10.

[0074] (Slit)

[0075] A slit 34 extending downward from the upper end of the non-inflatable part 32 is formed between the head protection chamber 26 and the upper fixing member 30a. The lower end of the slit 34 is below the upper fixing member 30a and extends to near the upper end of the side protection chamber 28. According to another example, the lower end of the slit 34 can also be below the fixing point 38a.

[0076] In addition, the slit 34 can be a simple cut formed by cutting, or can be a gap with a certain width. In addition, the width of the slit can be consistent throughout the entire length, or can be in a V shape or the like so that the width of the gap changes midway.

[0077] [[ID=Z7]](Sewn part)

[0078] As Figure 4A shown, in the state where the airbag 22 is deployed, in the part of the side protection chamber 28 corresponding to the upper part of the upper end portion 50a of the door trim panel 50 ( Figure 9 ), a sewn part 36 that partially connects the left and right panels constituting the side protection chamber 28 is formed.

[0079] (Non-inflatable part)

[0080] A supplementary description of the non-inflatable portion 32 is as follows. The airbag 22 of the airbag device in this embodiment includes a non-inflatable portion 32 provided around the head protection chamber 26 and the side protection chamber 28. Here, "provided around" does not require being provided around the entire circumference of the head protection chamber 26 and the side protection chamber 28, and also includes the case of being provided only in a part around the head protection chamber 26 and the side protection chamber 28. For example, in this embodiment, an upper fixing member 30a is installed at the upper rear end of the non-inflatable portion 32 for fixing the airbag 22 to the vehicle seat; a lower fixing member 30b is installed at the lower rear end of the non-inflatable portion 32 for fixing the airbag 22 to the vehicle seat. In this case, the non-inflatable portion 32 has at least an area near the rear end of the non-inflatable portion 32 where the upper fixing member 30a and the lower fixing member 30b can be installed, and as long as it exists at a position where the airbag 22 can be fixed to the side frame 10 of the vehicle seat using the upper fixing member 30a and the lower fixing member 30b.

[0081] In this embodiment, as Figure 4A shown, the upper end rear end 32a of the non-inflatable portion 32 and the rear end upper end 32b of the non-inflatable portion 32 are not directly connected. At the corner above and behind the airbag 20, the non-inflatable portion 32 is cut into a stepped shape. However, the non-inflatable portion 32 is not limited to the shape shown in this embodiment. The rear end portion of the non-inflatable portion 32 may also be a shape that extends straight upward from near the rear end of the upper end of the side protection chamber 28. The upper end portion of the non-inflatable portion 32 may also be a shape that extends straight backward from near the upper edge of the head protection chamber 26. The non-inflatable portion 32 may also not be provided with a stepped cut, and the non-inflatable portion 32 exists at the corner above and behind the airbag 20.

[0082] As Figure 4B 、 Figure 4C shown, the end of the non-inflatable portion 32 at the corner above and behind the airbag 20 may also be a shape in which the upper end rear end 32a and the rear end upper end 32b of the non-inflatable portion 32 are continuously connected.

[0083] Specifically, in the non-inflatable portion 32 of the first modification, the upper end rear end 32a and the rear end upper end 32b of the non-inflatable portion 32 are linearly continuous, forming a straight bevel 32c. In the first modification, a slit 34 is formed downward from the upper end rear end 32a of the non-inflatable portion 32 between the head protection chamber 26 and the upper fixing member 30a, and the lower end of the slit 34 extends near the upper end of the side protection chamber 28 below the upper fixing member 30a.

[0084] In the non-expanding portion 32 of the second modification, the rear end 32a of the upper end portion and the upper end 32b of the rear end portion of the non-expanding portion 32 are continuously curved, forming a bent hypotenuse 32c that is recessed inward. In the second modification, the slit 34 is bent along the direction of the hypotenuse 32c at a position slightly above the upper end of the upper fixing member 30a, and the upper end of the slit 34 intersects the hypotenuse 32c.

[0085] (Compression process of airbag)

[0086] Figure 7 (A), (B), Figure 8 (A) and (B) are top views showing the process of compressing the airbag according to the embodiment of the present invention into the housed state.

[0087] When the airbag 22 changes from Figure 7 the flat state shown in (A) to the housed state, first, the head protection chamber 26 is zigzag-folded along the folding line X1, as Figure 7 shown in (B), to form a folded portion 60. The folded portion 60 can be formed by accordion folding in addition to zigzag folding.

[0088] Next, the folded portion 60 and the side protection chamber 28 are wound in a direction orthogonal to the length direction (the vertical direction in the figure), as Figure 8 shown in (A), to form a wound portion 62. As Figure 8 shown in (B), it is changed in direction so that its length direction becomes the vertical direction and is housed and fixed on the seat.

[0089] In the above example, the head protection chamber 26 is zigzag-folded and then wound, but it is also possible to wind the entire airbag 22 in a direction orthogonal to the length direction and then zigzag-fold or accordion-fold the portion corresponding to the head protection chamber 26.

[0090] In the above example, the head protection chamber 26 is first zigzag-folded and then wound, but it is also possible to first wind the entire airbag 22 in a direction orthogonal to the length direction and then zigzag-fold or accordion-fold the portion corresponding to the head protection chamber 26.

[0091] (Deployment of airbag)

[0092] Figure 9 is a front view showing the deployment action of the airbag 22 according to the embodiment of the present invention. (A) shows the state before the airbag is deployed, and (B) shows the state after the airbag is deployed.

[0093] When a side collision of a vehicle occurs or the like and the airbag device 20 operates, the inflation gas from the inflator 24 flows into the entire airbag 22 from the rear region 28a of the side protection chamber 28. When the airbag 22 starts to inflate, the side protection chamber 28 unfolds forward, and the head protection chamber 26 unfolds upward and forward.

[0094] As Figure 4A shown, since the rear end portion 26R of the head protection chamber 26 is located in front of the rear end portion 28R of the side protection chamber 28, the head protection chamber 26 does not enter between the seat belt 52 and the occupant, but unfolds in front of the seat belt 52.

[0095] In addition, since the head protection chamber 26 and the upper fixing member 30a are separated by the slit 34, the head protection chamber 26 is not strongly pulled to the seat side, but unfolds with a certain degree of freedom in the front-rear and left-right directions. As a result, the head protection chamber 26 unfolds in front of the seat belt 52 away from the outer periphery of the seat.

[0096] As Figure 9 (B) shown, when the head of the occupant enters the head protection chamber 26, the head protection chamber 26 is pressed toward the door trim 50 side, and a part of the head protection chamber 26 sits on the upper portion 50a of the door trim 50 and receives the reaction force therefrom.

[0097] Thus, for the action in which the head protection chamber 26 sits on the upper portion 50a of the door trim 50, as Figure 4A and Figure 6 shown, it is effective to set the length L1 from the upper fixing member 30a to the lower fixing member 30b of the airbag 22 to be longer than the length L2 between the fixing positions 38a and 38b on the seat side. That is, between the fixing positions 38a and 38b, the airbag 22 has a certain margin in the length direction, and when it unfolds, the head protection chamber 26 is not strongly pulled to the side protection chamber 28 side. Therefore, when the head of the occupant enters the head protection chamber 26, the lower part of the head protection chamber 26 can be reliably bent, making it easier for the head protection chamber 26 to sit on the upper portion 50a of the door trim 50.

[0098] Figure 4A In addition, as Figure 4A shown, by forming the sewing portion 36 near the upper portion 50a of the door trim 50, the lower part of the head protection chamber 26 bends starting from the sewing portion 36, and the bent part easily sits on the upper portion 50a of the door trim 50.

[0099] (Adjustment of slit depth)

[0100] Figure 10FIG. (A) is a plan view showing a structure in which the length of a slit is increased in the airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. (B) is a front view showing a deployed state of the airbag. Figure 11 FIG. (A) is a plan view showing a structure in which the length of a slit is decreased in the airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. (B) is a front view showing a deployed state of the airbag.

[0101] As Figure 10 shown in (A), when the slit 34 is extended downward for a long distance, that is, when it extends into the upper vicinity of the rear region of the side protection chamber, when the airbag 22 is deployed, the upper fixing member 30a and the head protection chamber 26 are divided in a wide range in the vertical direction. As a result, as Figure 10 shown in (B), the head protection chamber 26 stands up upward and is deployed. At this time, the area (constraint area) where the head protection chamber 26 contacts the head of the occupant becomes larger, and the head of the occupant can be reliably constrained.

[0102] On the other hand, as Figure 11 shown in (A), when the slit 34 is relatively short, that is, when it extends within the height range of the upper fixing portion 30a, when the airbag 22 is deployed, the upper fixing member 30a and the head protection chamber 26 are divided only in a narrow range. As a result, as Figure 11 shown in (B), the head protection chamber 26 is deployed in a state of falling down toward the occupant side along the upper surface of the seat back. In this case, the area (constraint area) where the head protection chamber 26 contacts the head of the occupant is relatively small.

[0103] As described above, in the present invention, by adjusting the depth of the slit 34 in the vertical direction, the deployment direction of the head protection chamber 26 can be controlled.

[0104] (Other Embodiments)

[0105] Figure 12 (A) and (B) are plan views showing the structure of an airbag according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] Figure 12 The airbag device 120 according to the embodiment shown in (A) employs an airbag 122 having a shape in which the head protection chamber 126 is offset forward with respect to the side protection chamber 128. Moreover, the slit 134 is moved forward compared to the slit 34 in the above embodiment. When the airbag 122 expands and deploys, the head protection chamber 126 is deployed further forward.

[0107] Figure 12The airbag device 220 according to the embodiment shown in (B) is provided in an airbag 222 having a head protection chamber 226 and a side protection chamber 228. At the rear end portion of the head protection chamber 226, near the boundary with the side protection chamber 228, a recess 226a extending in the front-rear direction is formed. Moreover, it is configured such that the lower end portion 234a of the slit 234 extends forward along the recess 226a. According to this embodiment, the head protection chamber 226 does not significantly bend toward the occupant's head side (seat side) and is easily deployed in the erected direction. That is, the same effect as when the slit is extended deeper downward can be obtained, and the head protection chamber 226 can be deployed with a greater degree of freedom in terms of the left-right position or the angle at the time of deployment relative to the upper fixing member 30a.

[0108] Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with the above exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more equivalent changes and modifications can be made through the disclosure of the present invention. Therefore, it can be considered that the above exemplary embodiments of the present invention are exemplary but not limited thereto. Various changes can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, in the specific embodiment, the proximal side airbag is mainly described, but it can also be used in the distal side airbag (the side of the vehicle seat away from the door), single-seat vehicles such as ultra-small vehicles for small mobility (vehicles with or without doors, including vehicles with only one seat in a row), etc.

[0109] Symbolic description

[0110] 20…Airbag device 22…Airbag

[0111] 24…Inflator 26…Head protection chamber

[0112] 26R…Rear end portion 28…Side protection chamber

[0113] 28R…Rear end portion 30a…Upper fixing member

[0114] 30b…Lower fixing member 32…Non-inflatable portion

[0115] 34…Slit 36…Sewing portion

Claims

1. A side airbag device, housed in a vehicle seat, characterized in that, Comprising: An airbag that protects an occupant seated on the vehicle seat by inflating and deploying; An inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag, The airbag includes: a head protection chamber that mainly protects the head of the occupant; a side protection chamber that protects the side of the occupant's body below the head protection chamber; a non-inflatable portion that is provided around the head protection chamber and the side protection chamber, The rear end portion of the head protection chamber is located in front of the rear end portion of the side protection chamber, An upper fixing member is provided for fixing the upper portion of the non-inflatable portion to the vehicle seat, A slit extending downward from the upper end of the non-inflatable portion is formed between the head protection chamber and the upper fixing member.

2. The side airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slit is formed to extend below the fixing point of the upper fixing member.

3. The side airbag device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The slit extends near the upper end of the side protection chamber.

4. The side airbag device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The lower end portion of the slit extends forward and bends.

5. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The upper fixing member is disposed near the shoulder of a properly seated occupant.

6. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, When observing the deployed state from the side in the vehicle width direction, the head protection chamber is bent with respect to the length direction of the side protection chamber from the extending direction of the side protection chamber.

7. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The side protection chamber includes: a side rear region that mainly unfolds along the side of the seat; a side front region that is located in front of the side rear region and is continuously formed below the head protection chamber.

8. The side airbag device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The inflator is housed inside the seat side region of the side protection chamber.

9. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, In addition to the upper fixing member, a lower fixing member is provided near the lower end portion of the non-inflatable portion for fixing the airbag to the seat.

10. The side airbag device according to claim 9, characterized in that, In the airbag, it is configured that the length from the upper fixing member to the lower fixing member is longer than the length from the upper fixing portion on the seat side connecting the upper fixing member to the lower fixing portion on the seat side connecting the lower fixing member.

11. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, In the deployed state of the airbag, a sewing portion that locally connects the left and right panels constituting the side protection chamber is formed at a portion of the side protection chamber corresponding to above the upper end portion of the door trim panel.

12. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, when the airbag is in the stored state, the head protection chamber is folded in the vertical direction and then wound together with the side protection chamber.

13. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, when the airbag is in the stored state, the head protection chamber and the side protection chamber that wind the airbag are wound, and then the side protection chamber is folded in the vertical direction.

14. A vehicle seat, comprising the side airbag device according to any one of claims 1-4.

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