Vehicle occupant restraint device

Abstract

To provide an occupant restraint device for vehicle which can suppress a rotational behavior of a center airbag that inflates and expands from a side part on a vehicle width direction inner side of a seat back to the vehicle width direction inner side of an occupant even when a vehicle seat is at a front side position.SOLUTION: An occupant restraint device 10 for vehicle includes: a center airbag 32 which is provided at a side part on a vehicle width direction inner side of a seat back 16 in a vehicle seat 12 provided so as to be movable in a front-rear direction in a cabin, and inflates and expands to the vehicle width direction inner side of an occupant P seated on the vehicle seat 12 by being supplied with gas injected from an inflator 31; and a string-like member 40 which is supported in a movable manner on the side part of the seat back 16 with bifurcated one ends respectively attached to an upper part 34 and a lower part 36 on a side surface on an occupant P side of the center airbag 32 and drawn by a drawing-in device 50 at the timing at which the occupant P is restrained by the inflated and expanded center airbag 32 with the other end attached to the drawing-in device 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant restraint device. [Background technology]

[0002] An occupant protection device has been known for some time (see, for example, Patent Document 1), which connects a center airbag to one of the left and right seats, has a tether that pulls the center airbag toward the seat after inflation and deployment, and controls the tension of the tether depending on the relative fore-and-aft positions of the seatbacks of the left and right seats. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-131792 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if the lower end of the inflated and deployed center airbag does not sufficiently overlap with the console box in a side view, in other words, if the vehicle seat is positioned forward so that the front end surface of the side of the seatback is located further forward than the front of the console box, an occupant who moves inward in the vehicle width direction due to the inertial force caused by a side collision of the vehicle may fall inward in the vehicle width direction along with the center airbag, because the center airbag will not receive sufficient reaction force from the console box.

[0005] In other words, in the case of a small occupant who positions the vehicle seat in the forward position, the inflated and deployed center airbag may rotate inward in the vehicle width direction around its rear end as the center of rotation in a plan view, which may make it difficult to restrain the occupant with the inflated and deployed center airbag. Thus, there is still room for improvement in the configuration for suppressing the rotational behavior of the center airbag that inflates and deploys from the inner side of the seat back of the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction toward the inner side of the occupant in the vehicle width direction, even when the vehicle seat is in the forward position.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle occupant restraint device that can suppress the rotational behavior of a center airbag that inflates and deploys from the inner side of the seat back in the vehicle width direction toward the inner side of the occupant in the vehicle width direction, even when the vehicle seat is in the forward position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the present invention comprises a vehicle seat that is arranged in a vehicle compartment so as to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, a center airbag that is arranged on the inner side of the seat back of the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction and that inflates and deploys toward the inner side of the vehicle width direction of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat when gas ejected from an inflator is supplied to the inside, and a string-like member that has one bifurcated end attached to the upper and lower parts of the side surface of the center airbag facing the occupant and is movably supported on the side of the seat back, and the other end attached to a retraction device, and is retracted by the retraction device when the inflated and deployed center airbag restrains the occupant.

[0008] According to the first aspect of the invention, in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, the inflator is activated and gas ejected from the inflator is supplied to the inside of the center airbag, causing the center airbag to inflate and deploy toward the vehicle width inward of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat. Note that "in the event of a side collision of the vehicle" includes not only when a side collision of the vehicle is detected but also when a side collision of the vehicle is predicted.

[0009] If the occupant sitting in the vehicle seat (particularly the driver's seat) is small, the vehicle seat may take a forward position in which the front end surface of the side of the seatback is located further forward than the front of the console box in a side view. In this case, the inflated and deployed center airbag has difficulty receiving reaction force from the console box.

[0010] However, one end of a bifurcated string-like member is attached to each of the upper and lower portions of the center airbag on the occupant's side, and the string-like member is movably supported on the side of the seatback. The other end of the string-like member is attached to a retraction device, and the string-like member is retracted by the retraction device when the inflated and deployed center airbag restrains the occupant.

[0011] Therefore, even if the lower end of the center airbag does not sufficiently overlap the console box in a side view, the center airbag is pulled inward in the seat width direction around the rear end of the center airbag as a rotation center in a plan view by the string-like member, and therefore rotational behavior (falling down) outward in the seat width direction around the rear end of the center airbag is suppressed. In other words, even when the vehicle seat is in the forward position, the rotational behavior of the center airbag, which inflates and deploys from the inner side of the seat back in the vehicle width direction toward the inside of the occupant in the vehicle width direction, is suppressed, and the occupant is effectively restrained by the center airbag.

[0012] In addition, a second aspect of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the present invention is the vehicle occupant restraint device of the first aspect, wherein the retraction device is configured as a pretensioner device provided on the vehicle seat or the vehicle body.

[0013] According to the second aspect of the invention, the retraction device is configured as a pretensioner device provided on the vehicle seat or the vehicle body. Therefore, compared to when the retraction device is not configured as a pretensioner device, it is possible to retract the string-like member at an appropriate timing that is different from the timing of inflation and deployment of the center airbag, and the rotational behavior of the center airbag is suppressed at an appropriate timing that allows for effective restraint of an occupant moving inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0014] In addition, a third aspect of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the present invention is a vehicle occupant restraint device of the first aspect, wherein the retraction device has a biasing member provided on the seat below the buckle device that attaches the tongue of the seat belt of the vehicle seat and biases the string-like member in the direction of retraction, and a retaining member provided on the vehicle seat and holds the biasing member in a compressed state against the biasing force, and is configured so that the retention by the retaining member is released when the buckle device moves outward in the seat width direction by more than a predetermined amount.

[0015] According to a third aspect of the invention, the retraction device includes a biasing member provided on the underside of the seat of a buckle device that fastens the tongue of the seat belt of the vehicle seat and biases the string-like member in a direction to retract it, and a retaining member provided on the vehicle seat and holds the biasing member in a compressed state against the biasing force. The retraction device is configured so that when the buckle device moves outward in the seat width direction by more than a predetermined amount, the retention by the retaining member is released.

[0016] In other words, this retraction device is activated when the buckle device is pushed outward in the seat width direction by an occupant moving inward in the vehicle width direction due to inertial force. Therefore, it is possible to retract the string-like member at an appropriate timing different from the timing of inflation and deployment of the center airbag, and the rotational behavior of the center airbag is suppressed at an appropriate timing that effectively restrains an occupant moving inward in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, because this retraction device is configured to include a biasing member and a holding member, it can be reused.

[0017] Furthermore, a fourth aspect of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the present invention is a vehicle occupant restraint device of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein one bifurcated end of the string-like member is attached to the seat front end of the side of the center airbag, and the string-like member is arranged in a roughly "F" shape when viewed from the side.

[0018] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, one end of the bifurcated string-like member is attached to the seat front end of the occupant-side side of the center airbag, and the string-like member is arranged in a roughly "F" shape in side view. Therefore, the center airbag is pulled inward in the seat width direction by the string-like member in a more effective posture around the rear end of the center airbag as a rotation center in a plan view, and rotational behavior (collapse) outward in the seat width direction (inward rearward in the vehicle width direction) around the rear end of the center airbag as a rotation center is more effectively suppressed.

[0019] Furthermore, a fifth aspect of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the present invention is a vehicle occupant restraint device according to the fourth aspect, in which the string-like member is passed through support holes provided at the upper and lower parts of the side of the seat back, thereby being arranged in a roughly "F" shape when viewed from the side.

[0020] According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the string-like member is passed through support holes provided at the upper and lower parts of the side part of the seat back on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and is arranged in a roughly "F" shape in side view. Therefore, for example, by providing pulleys around which the string-like member is wound at the upper and lower parts of the side part of the seat back on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, the configuration is simplified compared to when the string-like member is arranged in a roughly "F" shape in side view, and an increase in manufacturing costs is suppressed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] As described above, according to the present invention, even when the vehicle seat is in the forward position, the rotational behavior of the center airbag that inflates and deploys from the inner side of the seat back in the vehicle width direction toward the inner side of the occupant in the vehicle width direction can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view showing a vehicle seat when a center airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint device relating to a first embodiment is inflated and deployed. FIG. [Figure 2] 1A is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a center airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint device according to the first embodiment is inflated and deployed, and FIG. 1B is a schematic plan view showing a state in which the inflated and deployed center airbag of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the first embodiment is pulled by a strap. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a vehicle seat when a center airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint device relating to a second embodiment is inflated and deployed. [Figure 4] 1A is a schematic front view showing a state in which a center airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint device according to a second embodiment is inflated and deployed, and FIG. 1B is a schematic front view showing a state in which an occupant moves toward the inflated and deployed center airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] 1A is a schematic enlarged rear view showing a state before the retraction device of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the second embodiment is activated, and FIG. 1B is a schematic enlarged rear view showing a state after the retraction device of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the second embodiment is activated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, the arrow UP shown in each drawing indicates the upward direction of the vehicle and the vehicle seat, the arrow FR indicates the forward direction of the vehicle and the vehicle seat, and the arrow RH indicates the rightward direction of the vehicle and the vehicle seat. Therefore, in the following description, unless otherwise specified, when the directions of up / down, front / rear, and left / right are mentioned, they refer to up / down, front / rear, left / right, and right / left of the vehicle and the vehicle seat. Furthermore, the left / right direction is synonymous with the vehicle width direction and the seat width direction.

[0024] 1 to 4 is, for example, an occupant corresponding to AF05 (5th percentile of American adult females) of the WorldSID (World Side Impact Dummy). In other words, this occupant P is a small-sized occupant.

[0025] First Embodiment First, a first embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, a vehicle seat 12 constituting a vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to the first embodiment includes a seat cushion 14 on which an occupant P sits (supporting the buttocks Pb and thighs of the occupant P), a seatback 16 that supports the back of the occupant P, and a headrest 18 that supports the head Ph of the occupant P. Note that, as an example, the vehicle seat 12 is a right-side front seat provided in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction by a known electric mechanism.

[0026] In a side view seen from the vehicle width direction (seat width direction), the seat cushion 14 extends in the front-rear direction, and the seat back 16 is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 14 so as to be rotatable about its axial direction in the seat width direction and extends in the up-down direction. The headrest 18 is provided at the upper end of the seat back 16 in the center in the seat width direction so as to be able to move up and down. The occupant P is restrained in the vehicle seat 12 by a seat belt device 22 (see FIG. 4).

[0027] Although not shown, a console box is provided on the vehicle compartment floor 20, on the vehicle width direction inner side of the vehicle seat 12 (at the center in the vehicle width direction). The console box is a rectangular hollow box with the longitudinal direction in a plan view, and its open top is configured to be openable and closable by a lid having a predetermined thickness. The height of the top surface of the lid of the console box is set to a height that allows the occupant P to rest their elbows (not shown) on it without assuming an awkward posture.

[0028] A center airbag device 30 is provided on the left side (hereinafter referred to as "left side 16S"), which is the side on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the seatback 16. As shown in Fig. 1, the center airbag device 30 includes an inflator 31 embedded in the left side 16S of the seatback 16, and a center airbag 32 (far side airbag) to which gas ejected from the inflator 31 is supplied.

[0029] The inflator 31 is a cylindrical gas generator formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, with its axial direction aligned with the side frames 17 that form the framework of both the left and right sides of the seatback 16 (substantially in the vertical direction). The inflator 31 is activated when a side collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted (hereinafter referred to as "side collision"), and is capable of instantly supplying gas to the inside of the center airbag 32. This allows the center airbag 32 to quickly inflate and deploy.

[0030] The center airbag 32 is folded and embedded in the left side portion 16S of the seat back 16, and when gas ejected from the inflator 31 is supplied to the interior, it inflates and deploys toward the inside of the vehicle width direction of at least the waist Pw, abdomen Pt, chest Pc, shoulders Ps, and head Ph of the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12.

[0031] Specifically, the inflated and deployed center airbag 32 is arranged from near the upper end of the headrest 18 to near the lower end of the seatback 16 in a side view, and its upper portion 34 is formed in a generally elliptical shape that bulges forward more than a lower portion 36 that restrains the lower side of the chest Pc of the occupant P so as to be able to restrain the head Ph of the occupant P. The center airbag 32 is formed into a single bag shape by sewing the outer peripheral edges of two pieces of base fabric together.

[0032] Furthermore, straps 40 serving as string-like members are provided on an upper portion 34 and a lower portion 36 of a side surface 32S on the occupant P side (inner side in the seat width direction) of the center airbag 32. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 1, the straps 40 are formed in a band shape having a predetermined width and are arranged in a substantially "F" shape (including an inverted "F" shape) in a side view.

[0033] That is, the strap 40 has a main body 42 extending in a substantially vertical direction along the left side 16S of the seat back 16, an upper extension 44 that is integral with the main body 42 and extends in a substantially front-to-rear direction on the upper part 34 side of the center airbag 32, and a lower extension 46 that has a rear end 46B attached by sewing to a midpoint of the main body 42 and extends in a substantially front-to-rear direction on the lower part 36 side of the center airbag 32. It can also be said that the strap 40 is formed in a bifurcated shape from a midpoint of the main body 42 where the rear end 46B of the lower extension 46 is attached by sewing.

[0034] A tip end 44A, which is one end of the upper extension portion 44, is attached by sewing to the front end portion 34A of the upper portion 34 on the side surface 32S of the center airbag 32. The upper extension portion 44 is disposed in a substantially central portion in the up-down direction of the upper portion 34 of the center airbag 32 (a portion located to the side of the head Ph of the occupant P) from the tip end 44A side along the side surface 32S obliquely toward the rear lower side (an upper portion 16U of the left side portion 16S of the seatback 16).

[0035] The rear end 44B of the upper extension 44 is inserted into a through-hole of a ring portion 38 provided on the upper portion 16U of the left side portion 16S of the seat back 16, extends downward at a substantially right angle, and is integrated with the main body portion 42. This allows the upper extension 44 of the strap 40 to be movably supported on the left side portion 16S of the seat back 16. The ring portion 38 is provided on the side frame 17 of the seat back 16, and its through-hole serves as a support hole.

[0036] A tip end 46A, which is one end of the lower extension 46, is attached by sewing to the front end 36A of the lower part 36 of the side surface 32S of the center airbag 32. The lower extension 46 is disposed in a lower portion of the lower part 36 of the center airbag 32 (a portion located to the side of the abdomen Pt of the occupant P) from the tip end 46A side along the side surface 32S obliquely toward the rear lower side (a lower part 16D of the left side portion 16S of the seatback 16).

[0037] The middle portion of the main body 42, where the rear end 46B of the lower extension 46 is sewn, is inserted into a through-hole of a ring portion 38 provided in the lower portion 16D of the seat back 16 and extends downward, and the rear end 46B of the lower extension 46 is also inserted into the through-hole of the ring portion 38 and extends downward at a substantially right angle. This results in the lower extension 46 of the strap 40 being movably supported on the left side portion 16S of the seat back 16. The ring portion 38 is also provided in the side frame 17 of the seat back 16, and its through-hole serves as a support hole.

[0038] Furthermore, each ring portion 38 is configured to reduce sliding resistance (friction) at least at the portion where the strap 40 is hooked so that the strap 40 can move smoothly downward when the strap 40 is retracted downward by a retraction device 50, which will be described later. Furthermore, the length of the upper extension portion 44 is longer than the length of the lower extension portion 46 in accordance with the inflation and deployment length of the upper portion 34 and lower portion 36 of the center airbag 32 in the approximately front-to-rear direction. As a result, the strap 40 is configured to be arranged in a substantially "F" shape when viewed from the side.

[0039] A lower end (other end) 42D of the main body 42 of the strap 40 is attached to a retraction device 50. The retraction device 50 is configured as a known pretensioner device 52 provided on the seat side garnish 15 (or the vehicle body, not shown) that covers the outer side of the lower side of the seat cushion 14 in the seat width direction. The pretensioner device 52 is configured to instantly retract the strap 40 downward at the timing when the inflated and deployed center airbag 32 restrains the occupant P.

[0040] More specifically, the pretensioner device 52 has a gas generator 54, a rack gear (not shown) that moves instantaneously when the gas generator 54 is activated, and a pinion gear (not shown) that meshes with the rack gear. The lower end 42D of the main body 42 of the strap 40 is attached to and can be wound around the outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical winding portion 56 that is provided coaxially with the pinion gear.

[0041] Therefore, when the gas generator 54 is activated at the timing when the inflated and deployed center airbag 32 restrains the occupant P, the activation of the gas generator 54 causes the pinion gear to rotate via the rack gear, and the winding portion 56, which is provided coaxially with the pinion gear, to rotate, winding up the main body portion 42 of the strap 40 and pulling the main body portion 42 downward.

[0042] That is, the strap 40 pulls rearward the upper extension 44 that is integral with the main body 42 and the lower extension 46, the rear end 46B of which is attached to the middle of the main body 42. As a result, as shown in Fig. 2, the inflated and deployed center airbag 32 is pulled inward in the seat width direction (in plan view, the center airbag 32 is rotated inward in the seat width direction around its rear end).

[0043] The "timing at which the inflated and deployed center airbag 32 restrains the occupant P" referred to here is, for example, when the buckle device 28 (see FIG. 3), which will be described later, moves outward in the seat width direction by more than a predetermined amount due to being pushed by the occupant P who has moved inward in the vehicle width direction due to inertial force, which is 10 msec after the center airbag 32 has completed inflation and deployment.

[0044] Next, the operation of the vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to the first embodiment configured as above will be described.

[0045] In the event of a side collision of the vehicle, the inflator 31 is activated, and gas ejected from the inflator 31 is supplied to the inside of the center airbag 32. Then, the internal pressure (inflation pressure) of the center airbag 32, which begins to inflate due to the supply of gas, causes the skin of the left side portion 16S of the seat back 16 from the lower end to the upper end to be ruptured.

[0046] That is, the center airbag 32 inflates and deploys toward the left side (inward in the vehicle width direction) of the waist Pw, abdomen Pt, chest Pc, shoulders Ps, and head Ph of the occupant P. As a result, the left side of the occupant P, from the waist Pw to the head Ph, is covered from the left side by the center airbag 32. Therefore, in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, the left side of the occupant P, from the head Ph to the waist Pw, which moves inward in the vehicle width direction due to inertial force, can be restrained by the center airbag 32.

[0047] If the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12 (particularly the driver's seat) is small in stature, the vehicle seat 12 may assume a forward position in which the front end surface 16A on the lower portion 16D side of the left side portion 16S of the seatback 16 is located forward of the front surface of the console box in a side view. In this case, the inflated and deployed center airbag 32 has difficulty receiving a reaction force from the console box.

[0048] However, the tip ends 44A, 46A of the forked upper extension portion 44 and lower extension portion 46 of the strap 40 are attached to the upper and lower portions 34, 36 of the side surface 32S of the center airbag 32 on the occupant P side, respectively, and the strap 40 is movably supported on the left side portion 16S of the seat back 16.

[0049] The lower end 42D of the main body 42 of the strap 40 is attached to a pretensioner device 52 serving as a retraction device 50, and the strap 40 is retracted downward by the pretensioner device 52 at the timing when the inflated and deployed center airbag 32 restrains the occupant P who has moved inward in the vehicle width direction due to inertial force. That is, the upper extension 44 and the lower extension 46 of the strap 40 are pulled rearward.

[0050] Therefore, even if the lower end of the center airbag 32 does not sufficiently overlap the console box in a side view (even if it is shifted forward), the strap 40 pulls the center airbag 32 inward in the seat width direction around the rear end of the center airbag 32 as the center of rotation (with the inflator 31 side as the pivot point) in a plan view, so that rotational behavior (falling over) of the center airbag 32 outward in the seat width direction (inward and rearward in the vehicle width direction) around the rear end of the center airbag 32 as the center of rotation can be suppressed (see FIG. 2(B)).

[0051] That is, even when the vehicle seat 12 is in the forward position, the rotational behavior of the center airbag 32, which inflates and deploys from the left side portion 16S of the seatback 16 toward the inside of the vehicle width direction of the occupant P, can be suppressed, and the occupant P is effectively restrained by the center airbag 32. In this way, the center airbag 32 according to the first embodiment can effectively restrain the occupant P regardless of the position of the vehicle seat 12 (ensuring restraint performance for the occupant P).

[0052] Furthermore, since the retraction device 50 is configured as a pretensioner device 52 provided on the vehicle seat 12, the strap 40 can be retracted at an appropriate timing different from the timing of inflation and deployment of the center airbag 32, compared to when the retraction device 50 is not configured as a pretensioner device 52, and the rotational behavior of the center airbag 32 can be suppressed at an appropriate timing to effectively restrain the occupant P who is moving inward in the vehicle width direction due to inertial force.

[0053] Furthermore, the straps 40 are arranged such that the tip ends 44A, 46A of the upper extension portion 44 and the lower extension portion 46 are attached to the front ends 34A, 36A of the upper portion 34 and the lower portion 36 on the side surface 32S of the center airbag 32 on the occupant P side, respectively, and are substantially F-shaped in a side view. Therefore, the center airbag 32 is pulled inward in the seat width direction by the straps 40 in a more effective posture around the rear end portion of the center airbag 32 as a rotation center in a plan view, and therefore, rotational behavior (collapse) of the center airbag 32 outward in the seat width direction (inward and rearward in the vehicle width direction) around the rear end portion of the center airbag 32 as a rotation center can be more effectively suppressed.

[0054] Furthermore, the strap 40 is arranged in a generally "F" shape in side view by being passed through through holes (support hole portions) of ring portions 38 provided in the upper portion 16U and the lower portion 16D of the left side portion 16S of the seat back 16. Therefore, for example, by providing pulleys (not shown) around which the strap 40 is wound in the upper portion 16U and the lower portion 16D of the left side portion 16S of the seat back 16, the configuration is simplified compared to when the straps are arranged in a generally "F" shape in side view, and an increase in manufacturing costs can be suppressed.

[0055] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate parts that are the same as those in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0056] 3 to 5, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the retraction device 50. As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the retraction device 50 in the second embodiment is composed of a biasing mechanism 60 provided below the buckle device 28 to which the tongue 26 of the seat belt 24 of the seat belt device 22 is fastened.

[0057] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the biasing mechanism 60 is configured to include a holder 62 integrally attached to the lower side of the buckle device 28, and a compression coil spring (hereinafter simply referred to as "coil spring") 64 as a biasing member housed inside the holder 62.

[0058] The holder 62 is formed in the shape of a substantially rectangular cylinder with a bottom and an axial direction extending in the vertical direction, and its upper end is integrally joined and attached to the lower end of the buckle device 28. The upper end of a support member (not shown) is attached to the lower end of the holder 62, and the lower end of the support member is attached to the seat side garnish 15 (or the vehicle body (not shown)). A slit 62A of a predetermined width (substantially the same width as the diameter of a movable pin 48, described later) along the axial direction of the holder 62 is formed in the rear wall 62B of the holder 62 at approximately the center in the left-right direction.

[0059] The outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical movable pin 48 inserted into the slit portion 62A is integrally joined to the lower end portion of the coil spring 64, and the lower end portion 42D of the main body portion 42 of the strap 40 is attached to the rear end portion 48B of the movable pin 48 protruding rearward from the slit portion 62A. This results in a configuration in which the main body portion 42 of the strap 40 is biased (pulled in) downward by the biasing force of the coil spring 64.

[0060] Furthermore, a cylindrical retaining pin 58 serving as a retaining member protruding outward in the seat width direction is provided at a predetermined position on the seat side garnish 15, with the seat width direction being the axial direction. Circular through-holes (not shown) are coaxially formed in both left and right side walls 62S of the holder 62, and the retaining pin 58 is inserted into each through-hole from the inside in the seat width direction. A ring member 59 for preventing the retaining pin 58 from coming off is detachably fitted to the tip of the retaining pin 58 that is inserted into each through-hole and protrudes from one side wall 62S of the holder 62.

[0061] The upper edge of each through hole is positioned lower than the upper edge of the slit portion 62A by the diameter of the movable pin 48. As a result, when the coil spring 64 is compressed to approximately its limit against its biasing force, the movable pin 48, whose outer circumferential surface abuts against the upper edge of the slit portion 62A, can be held (supported) from below by the retaining pin 58 inserted into each through hole of the holder 62.

[0062] As will be described later, when the buckle device 28 moves outward in the seat width direction by more than a predetermined amount, the holder 62 integrated with the buckle device 28 also moves outward in the seat width direction by more than the predetermined amount, so that the ring member 59 is pushed by one side wall 62S of the holder 62 and disengages, and then the retaining pins 58 disengage (are released from retention) from the respective through-holes of the holder 62, and the movable pin 48 moves downward by the biasing force of the coil spring 64. In other words, the main body 42 of the strap 40, whose lower end 42D is attached to the rear end 48B of the movable pin 48, is pulled downward by the biasing force of the coil spring 64.

[0063] Next, the operation of the vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described. Note that the explanation of the operation common to the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

[0064] During a side collision of the vehicle, the occupant P moves inward in the vehicle width direction due to inertial force, as shown in Fig. 4(B). Therefore, the buckle device 28 moves outward in the seat width direction, as shown in Fig. 5(B). Here, when the buckle device 28 moves outward in the seat width direction by more than a predetermined amount, the holder 62 integrated with the buckle device 28 also moves outward in the seat width direction by more than the predetermined amount.

[0065] As a result, the ring member 59 is pushed by one side wall 62S of the holder 62 and disengages, and then the retaining pins 58 are disengaged from the through-holes of the holder 62 (the retention is released). This causes the movable pin 48 to instantaneously move downward due to the biasing force of the coil spring 64. In other words, the main body 42 of the strap 40, whose lower end 42D is attached to the rear end 48B of the movable pin 48, is instantaneously pulled downward by the biasing force of the coil spring 64, and the upper extension 44 and the lower extension 46 of the strap 40 are pulled rearward.

[0066] Therefore, even if the lower end of the center airbag 32 does not sufficiently overlap the console box in a side view, the strap 40 pulls the center airbag 32 inward in the seat width direction around the rear end of the center airbag 32 as the center of rotation (with the inflator 31 side as the pivot point) in a plan view, so that rotational behavior (falling over) of the center airbag 32 outward in the seat width direction (inward and rearward in the vehicle width direction) around the rear end of the center airbag 32 as the center of rotation can be suppressed.

[0067] That is, even when the vehicle seat 12 is in the forward position, the rotational behavior of the center airbag 32, which inflates and deploys from the left side portion 16S of the seatback 16 toward the inside of the vehicle width direction of the occupant P, can be suppressed, and the occupant P is effectively restrained by the center airbag 32. In this way, the center airbag 32 according to the second embodiment can effectively restrain the occupant P regardless of the position of the vehicle seat 12 (ensuring restraint performance for the occupant P).

[0068] Moreover, the retraction device 50 according to the second embodiment is activated when the buckle device 28 is pushed outward in the seat width direction by the occupant P, who is moving inward in the vehicle width direction due to inertial force. Therefore, the strap 40 can be retracted at an appropriate timing different from the timing of inflation and deployment of the center airbag 32, and the rotational behavior of the center airbag 32 can be suppressed at an appropriate timing to effectively restrain the occupant P, who is moving inward in the vehicle width direction due to inertial force. Furthermore, since the retraction device 50 is configured to include the biasing mechanism 60 (holder 62 and coil spring 64) and the retaining pin 58, it also has the advantage of being reusable.

[0069] The vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to this embodiment has been described above with reference to the drawings, but the vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to the one shown in the drawings, and the design can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the left side portion 16S of the seat back 16 may be provided with a pulley (not shown) around which the strap 40 is wound, instead of the ring portion 38. Furthermore, the strap 40 is not limited to being belt-shaped. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 10. Vehicle occupant restraint system 12 Vehicle seats 16 Seat back 24 Seatbelt 26 Tongue 28 Buckle device 30 Center airbag device 31 Inflator 32 Center airbag 34 Upper 36 Lower 38 Ring part (support hole part) 40 Strap (string-like member) 50 Retraction device 52 Pretensioner device 58 Retaining pin (retaining member) 64 Compression coil spring (biasing member) P crew

Claims

1. a vehicle seat provided in a vehicle compartment so as to be movable in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; a center airbag provided on an inner side of a seat back of the vehicle seat in a vehicle width direction, the center airbag being inflated and deployed toward an inner side of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction by gas ejected from an inflator being supplied thereto; a string-like member having one bifurcated end attached to an upper end and a lower end of the side surface of the center airbag on the occupant side, the one bifurcated end being movably supported on the side portion of the seat back, and the other bifurcated end being attached to a retraction device, the string-like member being retracted by the retraction device at the timing when the center airbag is inflated and deployed to restrain the occupant; Equipped with The retraction device is a biasing member provided on a seat lower side of a buckle device for fastening a tongue of a seat belt of the vehicle seat, the biasing member biasing the string-like member in a direction of retracting the string-like member; a holding member provided on the vehicle seat and configured to hold the biasing member in a compressed state against the biasing force; and The vehicle occupant restraint device is configured so that when the buckle device moves outward in the seat width direction by more than a predetermined amount, the retention by the retention member is released.

2. A vehicle seat provided in a vehicle compartment so as to be movable in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle; a center airbag provided on an inner side of a seat back of the vehicle seat in a vehicle width direction, the center airbag being inflated and deployed toward an inner side of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction by gas ejected from an inflator being supplied thereto; a string-like member having one bifurcated end attached to an upper end and a lower end of the side surface of the center airbag on the occupant side, the one bifurcated end being movably supported on the side portion of the seat back, and the other bifurcated end being attached to a retraction device, the string-like member being retracted by the retraction device at the timing when the center airbag is inflated and deployed to restrain the occupant; Equipped with One end of the bifurcated string-like member is attached to the seat front end of the side of the center airbag, and the string-like member is arranged in a roughly "F" shape when viewed from the side.

3. A vehicle occupant restraint device as described in Claim 2, wherein the string-like member is arranged in an approximately "F" shape when viewed from the side by being passed through support hole portions provided at the upper and lower parts of the side portion of the seat back.

4. The retraction device is a biasing member provided on a seat lower side of a buckle device for fastening a tongue of a seat belt of the vehicle seat, the biasing member biasing the string-like member in a direction of retracting the string-like member; a holding member provided on the vehicle seat and configured to hold the biasing member in a compressed state against the biasing force; and 4. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 2, wherein the buckle device is configured to be released from the holding member when the buckle device moves outward in the seat width direction by more than a predetermined amount.

5. A vehicle occupant restraint device as described in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the retraction device is composed of a pretensioner device provided on the vehicle seat or vehicle body.

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