Occupant protection devices

Abstract

To provide an occupant protection device which achieves reduction of manufacturing costs.SOLUTION: An occupant protection device includes: an armrest device having a first member fixedly installed at a side part of a seat back of a vehicle seat mounted on a vehicle, and a columnar second member having a tip part, including a free end, and a base end part, including a fixed end, configured to be rotatable around the fixed end, and having an armrest surface on which an arm of an occupant seated on the vehicle seat may be placed; and an occupant protection seat which is connected at one end to the first member, connected at the other end to the second member, and provided over the first member and the second member. The second member is configured to be rotatable around the fixed end so that a use state and a storage state are switched mutually. The occupant protection seat is stored into a space between the first member and the second member when the second member changes from the use state to the storage state and deployed when the second member changes from the storage state to the use state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an occupant protection device. [Background technology]

[0002] Various devices have been proposed for protecting vehicle occupants in the event of a side collision. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for protecting occupants by moving a console box to a retracted position when a side collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-136954 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires a device for predicting or detecting an impact and a structure for moving the console box, which increases manufacturing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] (1) According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an occupant protection device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle. The occupant protection device is an armrest device including: a first member fixed to a side of a seat back of a vehicle seat installed in the vehicle; a columnar second member having a tip end including a free end and a base end including a fixed end, the second member being rotatable about the fixed end, the second member having an armrest surface on which the arm of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat can be placed; and a support member having one end connected to the first member and the other end connected to the second member, the support member being provided across the first member and the second member. and an occupant protection seat, wherein the second member is configured to be rotatable about the fixed end so as to switch between a use state in which the tip end is located further forward of the vehicle than the base end and the armrest surface faces upward, and a storage state in which the tip end is located closer to the first member than in the use state, and the occupant protection seat is stored between the first member and the second member when the second member changes from the use state to the storage state, and is deployed when the second member changes from the storage state to the use state. According to this embodiment of the occupant protection device, the occupant protection seat is deployed or retracted when the second member is switched between the in-use state and the retracted state, which allows for a simpler configuration and reduced manufacturing costs compared to configurations that use complex mechanisms to operate the device to protect the occupant. Additionally, when the second member is in the in-use state, the occupant protection seat is deployed between the first and second members, allowing the occupant protection seat to absorb impacts applied to the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision. On the other hand, when the second member is in the retracted state, the occupant protection seat is retracted between the first and second members, so it does not interfere with getting in and out of the vehicle. (2) In the passenger protection device of the above aspect, the passenger protection seat may have shoulder protection portions for protecting the shoulders of the passenger in the use state. According to this type of occupant protection device, the occupant protection seat has a shoulder protection portion, so that when a vehicle collision occurs, the shoulder protection portion can catch the occupant who moves relative to the vehicle, thereby reducing injury to the occupant. (3) In the passenger protection device of the above aspect, the passenger protection sheet may be made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a base fabric, rubber, resin, and metal, and may have at least one of elasticity and flexibility. According to this form of occupant protection device, the occupant protection sheet is made of a material that has at least one of elasticity and flexibility, and therefore can better absorb the impact on the occupant when the vehicle crashes and the occupant leans against the occupant protection sheet, compared to a configuration in which the occupant protection sheet is made of a material that has neither elasticity nor flexibility. (4) In the passenger protection device of the above aspect, the passenger protection seat may have a bellows-shaped folding portion, and the folding portion may be folded as the second member changes from the use state to the storage state. According to the passenger protection device of this aspect, the passenger protection seat has a folding portion, so that the passenger protection seat can be smoothly deployed or stored. (5) In the passenger protection device of the above aspect, at least one of the first member and the second member may have a storage portion in which the passenger protection seat is stored. According to the occupant protection device of this aspect, at least one of the first member and the second member has a storage portion, so that the occupant protection seat can be stored in the storage portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing a vehicle seat provided with an occupant protection device in use according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2] 1 is a side view showing a vehicle seat provided with an occupant protection device in a stored state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an occupant and an occupant protection device when a collision occurs. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a vehicle seat provided with an occupant protection device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a vehicle seat provided with an occupant protection device of a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A. First embodiment: FIG. 1 is a side view showing a vehicle seat 20 provided with an occupant protection device 10 in a used state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a vehicle seat 20 provided with an occupant protection device 10 in a stored state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the following description, "front and rear" refers to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and "left and right (lateral)" refers to the left-right direction (width direction) of the vehicle. The vehicle seat 20 is mounted in a vehicle. The vehicle seat 20 includes a seat cushion 21 that serves as a seating surface for an occupant, a seat back 22 that serves as a backrest for the occupant, and a headrest 23 that prevents the occupant's head from tilting backward. The occupant protection device 10 is provided in the seat back 22 and is a device that prevents lateral movement of the occupant and protects them when a large impact such as a collision is applied to the vehicle. The vehicle in this embodiment is a one- or two-seater low-speed electric vehicle (LSEV). The occupant protection device 10 includes an armrest device 1 and an occupant protection seat 3.

[0009] The armrest device 1 has a first member 11 and a second member 12. The first member 11 is fixedly installed on a side portion of the seat back 22. The first member 11 has, for example, a substantially flat plate shape or a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. It is preferable that the first member 11 is installed so that, when the occupant is seated in the vehicle seat 20, the upper end of the first member 11 is positioned higher than the occupant's shoulders.

[0010] The second member 12 is a columnar member having an armrest surface F. The second member 12 has a tip end 13 at one end and a base end 14 at the other end. The base end 14 of the second member 12 is attached to a side of the seat back 22. The second member 12 is attached at a position lower in the height direction than the first member 11. The base end 14 includes a fixed end, and the tip end 13 includes a free end. Therefore, the second member 12 is rotatable about the fixed end in a plane parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction and the up-down direction. This rotation of the second member 12 switches between an "used state" and a "storage state." As shown in FIG. 1 , the "used state" is a state in which the tip end 13 is located closer to the front of the vehicle than the base end 14, and the armrest surface F faces upward. That is, in the used state, an occupant sitting in the vehicle seat 20 can use the second member 12 as an armrest by resting their arms on the armrest surface F. As shown in FIG. 2 , the "storage state" is a state in which the tip 13 is positioned closer to the first member 11 than in the use state. That is, in the storage state, the second member 12 is flipped up so that the tip 13 faces upward. The occupant can switch between the normal state and the use state by rotating the second member 12. When the occupant gets in or out of the vehicle, the second member 12 is set to the storage state, and after the occupant sits in the vehicle seat 20, the second member 12 is set to the use state. The second member 12 may be covered with a covering member such as cloth or leather to ensure comfort when the occupant rests their arms on the armrest surface F.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1 , the occupant protection sheet 3 is configured as a substantially triangular sheet-like member provided between the first member 11 and the second member 12. One end of the occupant protection sheet 3 is connected to the first member 11. Preferably, the one end of the occupant protection sheet 3 is connected to one of the lateral ends of the first member 11 that is farther from the vehicle seat 20, along the longitudinal direction of the first member 11. The other end of the occupant protection sheet 3 is connected to the second member 12. Preferably, the other end of the occupant protection sheet 3 is connected to one of the lateral ends of the second member 12 that is farther from the vehicle seat 20, along the longitudinal direction of the second member 12. Connecting the other end of the occupant protection sheet 3 to this position does not prevent the occupant from resting their arm on the armrest surface F when the second member 12 is in use.

[0012] The occupant protection sheet 3 is made of at least one material selected from a base fabric and rubber. The base fabric is, for example, nylon, polyester, aramid fiber, glass fiber, cotton, etc. The rubber is, for example, ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), fluororubber (FPM), natural rubber, butyl rubber, acrylic rubber, silicone rubber, urethane rubber, etc. It is preferable that the material constituting the occupant protection sheet 3 has at least one of flexibility and elasticity.

[0013] 1, when the second member 12 is in the used state, the occupant protection seat 3 is deployed between the first member 11 and the second member 12, but when the second member 12 is in the stored state, as shown in Fig. 2, the occupant protection seat 3 is stored between the first member 11 and the second member 12. In other words, the occupant protection seat 3 is deployed or stored in accordance with the change to the used state or the stored state due to the rotation of the second member 12.

[0014] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an occupant P and an occupant protection device 10 during a collision. FIG. 3 illustrates a situation in which a one-seater LSEV is hit from the left side of the page. The second member 12 is in use, and the occupant protection seat 3 is deployed. When hit from the left side of the page, the vehicle moves to the right side of the page, while the occupant P, due to inertia, tends to remain in his or her pre-collision position, and therefore moves to the left side of the page relative to the vehicle, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3. At this time, the occupant P is pressed against the occupant protection seat 3. Specifically, the right shoulder of the occupant P is pressed against the shoulder protection portion 30 of the occupant protection seat 3. The shoulder protection portion 30 is a position on the occupant protection seat 3 that comes into contact with the shoulder of the occupant P during a collision to protect the shoulder. By receiving the shoulder of the occupant P during a collision, the shoulder protection portion 30 prevents the occupant P from hitting the vehicle door or being thrown out of the vehicle.

[0015] According to the occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment described above, the occupant protection sheet 3 is deployed when in use, so that when a vehicle collision occurs, the occupant protection sheet 3 receives the shoulders of the occupant P with the shoulder protection portion 30, thereby preventing the occupant P from hitting the vehicle door or being thrown out of the vehicle.

[0016] Furthermore, since the occupant protection sheet 3 is deployed when the second member 12 is changed to the use state, it does not require a complex structure and can be made simpler, thereby reducing manufacturing costs, compared to an occupant protection device that has a configuration that detects a collision and activates a mechanism to protect the occupant P.

[0017] Furthermore, the occupant protection sheet 3 is stored between the first member 11 and the second member 12 when the second member 12 is changed to the stored state, and therefore does not hinder the occupant P from getting in and out of the vehicle.

[0018] In addition, the occupant protection sheet 3 is connected to the lateral end of the second member 12 that is farther from the vehicle seat 20, so that when the second member 12 is in use, the occupant P is not prevented from resting his / her arm on the armrest surface F.

[0019] Furthermore, by constructing the occupant protection sheet 3 from an elastic material, the shoulder protection portion 30 can better absorb the impact applied to the occupant P when a vehicle collision occurs, compared to a configuration in which the occupant protection sheet 3 is constructed from an inelastic material.

[0020] B. Second embodiment: 4 is a side view showing a vehicle seat 20 provided with an occupant protection device 10b of the second embodiment. The occupant protection device 10b of the second embodiment differs from the occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment in that the occupant protection seat 3b has a folding portion 31. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0021] The folding portion 31 is a radial fold centered on a central portion 32 of the occupant protection sheet 3b. The central portion 32 is the vertex of the occupant protection sheet 3b closest to the base end portion 14. The folding portion 31 has a bellows-like structure, i.e., a structure in which mountain folds and valley folds are repeated alternately. The mountain folds and valley folds have the same width. Furthermore, the widths of the mountain folds and valley folds are preferably smaller than the widths of the first member 11 and the second member 12. The folding portion 31 is folded along the bellows-like structure as the second member 12 changes from the use state to the storage state.

[0022] The occupant protection device 10b of the second embodiment described above provides the same effects as the occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, according to the occupant protection device 10b of the second embodiment, the occupant protection sheet 3b has the accordion-shaped folding portion 31, so that the occupant protection sheet 3b can be smoothly deployed or stored when the second member 12 is changed between the use state and the stored state.

[0023] Furthermore, since the width of the mountain folds and valley folds of the occupant protection sheet 3b is smaller than the width of the first member 11 and the second member 12, the occupant protection sheet 3b can be stored between the first member 11 and the second member 12 without protruding in the width direction.

[0024] C. Third embodiment: 5 is a side view showing a vehicle seat 20 provided with an occupant protection device 10c of the third embodiment. The occupant protection device 10c of the third embodiment differs from the occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment in that the first member 11 has a storage portion 40. Since the other configurations are the same as those of the occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Note that the occupant protection device 10c of the third embodiment may be used in combination with the configuration of the occupant protection device 10b of the second embodiment.

[0025] The first member 11 has a storage section 40. The storage section 40 stores the occupant protection seat 3 when the second member 12 is in the stored state. The storage section 40 is a recess having an opening facing the front side of the vehicle. The storage section 40 has the same length as one end of the occupant protection seat 3 in the longitudinal direction of the first member 11.

[0026] The occupant protection device 10c of the third embodiment described above provides the same effects as the occupant protection device 10 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, according to the occupant protection device 10c of the third embodiment, the first member 11 has the storage portion 40, so that the occupant protection seat 3 can be stored in the storage portion 40 when the second member 12 is in the stored state.

[0027] D. Other Embodiments: (D1) In the third embodiment, the storage section 40 may be provided in the second member 12 instead of the first member 11. In such a configuration, the storage section 40 is a recess having an opening facing upward when the second member 12 is in use. The storage section 40 may also be provided in both the first member 11 and the second member 12.

[0028] (D2) In each embodiment, the upper end of the occupant protection seat 3 in the unfolded state may be positioned higher than the shoulders of the occupant P sitting in the vehicle seat 20. According to this configuration, in the event of a collision, the shoulder protection portion 30 of the occupant protection seat 3 can more reliably receive the shoulders of the occupant P.

[0029] (D3) In each embodiment, the occupant protection sheet 3, 3b may be made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of resin and metal. Examples of resin include urethane resin, vinyl chloride resin, polyethylene, and polypropylene. Examples of metal include aluminum, stainless steel, and copper. The occupant protection sheet 3, 3b preferably has at least one of flexibility and elasticity. In this configuration, the occupant protection sheet 3, 3b may be made of multiple thin plate members each having a substantially isosceles triangular shape in plan view. Specifically, each thin plate member may be arranged so that a rotation axis passes through the vertex between two equal sides of the thin plate member, and adjacent thin plates may be connected with a string or the like so that they can be expanded at a predetermined angle. With this configuration, the occupant protection sheet 3, 3b can be unfolded and folded like a folding fan. Furthermore, the flexible occupant protection sheet 3, 3b can absorb the impact applied to the occupant P when a vehicle collision occurs.

[0030] (D4) In each embodiment, the occupant protection sheets 3, 3b are not limited to being triangular in plan view, but may be any shape such as a sector or trapezoid.

[0031] (D5) In each embodiment, the occupant protection sheet 3, 3b may be formed in a mesh or net shape. This configuration improves the elasticity of the occupant protection sheet 3, 3b compared to a configuration in which the occupant protection sheet 3, 3b is not mesh or net-shaped, and can better absorb the impact applied to the occupant P during a collision.

[0032] (D6) In each embodiment, the occupant protection devices 10, 10b, 10c may be provided on both sides of the vehicle seat 20, rather than only on one side.

[0033] (D7) In each embodiment, the vehicle in which the occupant protection devices 10, 10b, and 10c are installed is described as a one- or two-seater LSEV, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The vehicle may be any vehicle that seats three or more people.

[0034] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described in the Summary of the Invention section can be appropriately replaced or combined to solve some or all of the above-described problems or achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1...armrest device, 3, 3b...occupant protection seat, 10, 10b, 10c...occupant protection device, 11...first member, 12...second member, 13...tip portion, 14...base end portion, 20...vehicle seat, 21...seat cushion, 22...seat back, 23...headrest, 30...shoulder protection portion, 31...folding portion, 32...center portion, 40...storage portion, F...armrest surface, P...occupant

Claims

1. An occupant protection device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, An armrest device, comprising: a first member fixed to a side portion of a seat back of a vehicle seat installed in the vehicle; a second columnar member having a tip end portion including a free end and a base end portion including a fixed end, the second member being rotatable about the fixed end, the second member having an armrest surface on which the arm of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat can be placed; an armrest device having an occupant protection sheet having one end connected to the first member and the other end connected to the second member, the occupant protection sheet being provided across the first member and the second member; Equipped with The second member is configured to be rotatable about the fixed end so as to be switchable between a use state in which the tip end is located forward of the vehicle relative to the base end and the armrest surface faces upward, and a storage state in which the tip end is located closer to the first member than the use state, the occupant protection seat is stored between the first member and the second member when the second member changes from the use state to the storage state, and is deployed when the second member changes from the storage state to the use state. Occupant protection devices.

2. The occupant protection device according to claim 1, The occupant protection seat has shoulder protection portions for protecting the shoulders of the occupant in the used state.

3. The occupant protection device according to claim 1 or 2, The occupant protection sheet is made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a base fabric, rubber, resin, and metal, and has at least one of elasticity and flexibility.

4. The occupant protection device according to claim 1 or 2, The occupant protection seat has a bellows-shaped folding portion, The folding portion is folded as the second member changes from the use state to the storage state.

5. The occupant protection device according to claim 1 or 2, At least one of the first member and the second member has a storage portion in which the occupant protection seat is stored.

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