A side airbag device and a vehicle seat

Abstract

The embodiment of the present specification provides a side airbag device, comprising a gas bag body and a gas generator, the gas bag body is inflated by the gas generator and is unfolded in the case that the side airbag device needs to be unfolded, the gas bag body comprises an upper folding area, a middle flat area and a lower inner plug area which are communicated with each other, the middle flat area is communicated with a gas outlet of the gas generator, when the gas bag body is unfolded, the gas generated by the gas generator flows into the lower inner plug area at a distance less than the distance of flowing into the upper folding area, so that the lower inner plug area is unfolded earlier than the upper folding area. By folding the upper area of the gas bag body to form the upper folding area and plugging the lower area of the gas bag body to form the lower inner plug area, when the gas bag body is inflated and unfolded, the lower inner plug area quickly obtains the gas expansion in the inflation process of the middle flat area, the upper unfolded area is pushed out and vertically under the passenger's arm, so that the passenger's arm is lifted when the upper folding area is unfolded.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present specification relates to the technical field of automobile side airbag, in particular to a side airbag device and a vehicle seat. BACKGROUND

[0002] The side airbag is installed on the outside of the seat, and the purpose is to reduce the injury caused by side impact. At present, the existing side airbag is generally installed on the side of the seat after being folded as a whole. When the automobile is subjected to side impact, the upper, middle and lower parts of the side airbag are expanded synchronously in the process of expansion, which causes the arm of the occupant to be easily pressed to the rib and causes injury. SUMMARY

[0003] Therefore, the present specification provides a side airbag device and a vehicle seat. The upper region of the airbag body is folded to form an upper folding area, and the lower region of the airbag body is stuffed to form a lower stuffing area. When the airbag body is inflated and expanded, the lower stuffing area quickly obtains gas expansion during the inflation process of the middle flat area, and the upper non-expanded region is pushed out and vertically downward to the lower side of the occupant's arm. When the upper folding area is expanded, the occupant's arm is lifted, and the occupant's arm is prevented from being pressed to the rib.

[0004] The present specification provides the following technical solutions: a side airbag device, comprising an airbag body and a gas generator, the airbag body is inflated and expanded by the gas generator when the side airbag device needs to be expanded, the airbag body comprises an upper folding area, a middle flat area and a lower stuffing area which are communicated with each other, the middle flat area is communicated with the gas outlet of the gas generator, and the distance from the lower stuffing area end to the gas generator is less than the distance from the upper folding area end to the gas generator when the airbag body is expanded, so that the lower stuffing area is expanded earlier than the upper folding area.

[0005] Preferably, the lower stuffing area is folded back after stuffing, so that the opening direction of the lower stuffing area is towards the middle flat area, and the lower end edge of the lower stuffing area is arranged in a direction away from the middle flat area.

[0006] Preferably, the lower stuffing area is overlapped by six layers of cloth pieces, and the first pre-sewing line is connected and fixed between the overlapped six layers of cloth pieces.

[0007] Preferably, the width of the middle flat area is greater than 0 mm and less than 30 mm.

[0008] Preferably, the folding mode of the upper folding area is one or a combination of rolling, folding and Z-folding.

[0009] Preferably, the upper folding area is folded at least twice, and the second pre-sewing line is connected and fixed after folding.

[0010] Preferably, the side airbag device further comprises a gas guide bag, which is mounted on the airbag body and through which the airbag body is connected with the gas outlet of the gas generator.

[0011] Preferably, the airbag body is a single-cavity planar structure.

[0012] Preferably, the airbag body is folded as a whole from a direction away from the gas generator to a direction close to the gas generator.

[0013] A vehicle seat, comprising a seat body and the side airbag device according to any one of the above, which is mounted on the side of the seat body to protect the shoulder, chest and hip areas of an occupant on the seat body.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the above at least one technical solution adopted by the embodiments of the present specification can achieve at least the following beneficial effects:

[0015] By folding the upper area of the airbag body to form an upper folding area and inserting the lower area of the airbag body to form a lower insertion area, when the airbag body is inflated and unfolded, the lower insertion area quickly obtains gas expansion during the inflation of the middle flat area, pushing the upper unfolded area out and vertically downward to the lower side of the occupant's arm, so that the upper folding area is unfolded with the occupant's arm lifted, avoiding the occupant's arm being pressed against the ribs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required to be used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced as follows. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and other drawings can also be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor.

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic view of the airbag body structure of the side airbag device provided by the present application;

[0018] Figure 2 is a schematic view of the airbag body structure of the side airbag device provided by the present application after folding;

[0019] Figure 3 is a schematic view of the airbag body structure of the side airbag device provided by the present application after folding and Z-folding of the upper folding area;

[0020] Figure 4 is a schematic view of the side airbag device of the vehicle seat provided by the present application when it is initially unfolded;

[0021] Figure 5is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle seat side airbag device when the passenger's arm is lifted upward when the vehicle seat side airbag device is deployed;

[0022] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle seat side airbag device after the vehicle seat side airbag device is fully deployed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The embodiments of this application are described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0024] The above examples are merely illustrative of the many applications of the present application. Numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Therefore, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the examples described herein, but is only limited by the claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially used in the description and claims, are understood to be consistent with terms as defined by the USPTO in 37 C.F.R. § 1.52(b). To the extent that any term insinuates the contrary, that is intended to be interpreted not according to commonly understood meaning, but according to USPTO consistent definitions.

[0025] To explain, various aspects of embodiments within the scope of the appended claims are described below. It should be apparent that the aspects described herein can be implemented in a wide variety of forms and that any specific structure and / or function described herein is merely illustrative. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect described herein can be implemented independently of any other aspects and that an aspect described herein can be implemented both as any number of software and / or hardware structures and as any number of combinations of software and / or hardware structures. Examples of software can include software components, programs, applications, computer modules, applications, application program interfaces (APIs), library modules, code, etc. Examples of hardware can include integrated circuits, hardware components, electronic components, processors, microprocessors, microcontrollers, microcomputers, digital signal processors, central processing units (CPUs), chipsets, etc. Examples of combinations of software and / or hardware structures can include combinations of any hardware structures and software structures described herein.

[0026] It is also noted that the illustrative figures can show not-to-scale, partially in section, section, etc., and that elements common between figures can retain the same numerical designation and references.

[0027] In addition, in the following description, numerous specific details are provided, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the examples. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the aspects can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc.

[0028] Side airbag is an auxiliary configuration of passive safety of vehicle body, and is increasingly valued by people. The side airbag is installed on the outside of the seat, and the purpose is to reduce the injury caused by side impact. After the car collides, especially side impact, it can reduce the fracture and other body injuries caused by the direct hard collision of the passenger's arm, rib on the side close to the door with the door panel. However, the existing side airbag is generally installed on the side of the seat after being folded as a whole, and the upper, middle and lower parts of the side airbag are expanded synchronously. Since the side airbag cannot lift the passenger's arm, the passenger's arm is squeezed during the expansion of the side airbag, which causes injury to the passenger's arm and rib. Even if some side airbags can lift the passenger's arm, the arm is excessively inward during the lifting process, which also causes injury to the rib.

[0029] The inventor designs a side airbag device and a vehicle seat after extensive and in-depth experiments, which can lift the passenger's arm to the level of the shoulder or slightly outward during the expansion of the side airbag.

[0030] The technical problem solved by the present application is to avoid the passenger's arm from being squeezed during the expansion of the side airbag.

[0031] More specifically, the solution adopted by the present application includes: folding the upper region of the airbag body to form an upper folding area, and inserting the lower region of the airbag body to form a lower insertion area. When the airbag body is inflated and expanded, the distance of gas flowing into the end of the lower insertion area is less than the distance of gas flowing into the end of the upper folding area during the inflation process of the middle flat area. Therefore, the lower insertion area expands earlier than the upper folding area, and the lower insertion area quickly obtains gas inflation. When the lower insertion area rapidly expands, the soft middle flat area pushes the unexpanded area of the upper folding area out and vertically downward to the passenger's arm, so that the passenger's arm is lifted during the expansion of the upper folding area, and the passenger's arm is prevented from being squeezed to the rib.

[0032] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of the present application are described below in conjunction with the drawings.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1-2 A side airbag device includes an airbag body 1 and a gas generator. The airbag body 1 is inflated and expanded by the gas generator when the side airbag device needs to be expanded. The airbag body 1 includes an upper folding area 3, a middle flat area 4 and a lower insertion area 5 which are in communication with each other. The middle flat area 4 is in communication with the gas outlet of the gas generator. When the airbag body 1 is expanded, the distance of gas flowing into the end of the lower insertion area 5 is less than the distance of gas flowing into the end of the upper folding area 3, so that the lower insertion area 5 expands earlier than the upper folding area 3.

[0034] The airbag body 1 is laid flat and divided into upper, middle and lower three regions, the upper region of the airbag body 1 is folded to form an upper folding area 3, the lower region of the airbag body 1 is inserted to form a lower insertion area 5, and the middle region of the airbag body 1 forms a middle laying area 4. When the gas generator is ignited to release gas, the gas enters the middle laying area 4. Due to the insertion of the lower region of the airbag body 1, the end of the lower insertion area 5 is closer to the middle laying area 4, and the gas output by the gas generator can directly hit the lower end of the airbag body 1 in a short distance. The lower insertion area 5 is rapidly unfolded under the action of the gas. Due to the weight pressure of the passenger's arm, the upper folding area 3 is located below the passenger's arm. After the middle laying area 4 and the lower folding area are fully inflated, the upper folding area 3 inflates to lift the passenger's arm to the shoulder or a higher position, which can avoid the passenger's arm pressing against the ribs.

[0035] It should be noted that the setting form of the lower insertion area 5 can be set according to actual conditions. It is only necessary to ensure that the distance from the end of the lower insertion area 5 to which the gas generated by the gas generator flows is less than the distance from the end of the upper folding area 3 to which the gas flows, so that the lower insertion area 5 can be unfolded before the upper folding area 3, and the upper folding area 3 is unfolded below the passenger's arm to lift the passenger's arm upward.

[0036] As shown in Figure 2 In some embodiments, the lower insertion area 5 is inserted and folded back, so that the opening direction of the lower insertion area 5 is towards the middle laying area 4, and the lower end edge of the lower insertion area 5 is arranged away from the middle laying area 4. By folding back the lower insertion area 5 of the airbag body 1 to form the lower insertion area 5, the opening direction of the lower insertion area 5 is towards the middle laying area 4, which facilitates the gas in the middle laying area 4 to enter the lower insertion area 5, so that the lower insertion area 5 is rapidly unfolded.

[0037] It should be noted that folding back the lower insertion area 5 can reduce the occupied space of the airbag body 1, and facilitate the installation of the airbag body 1 on the seat.

[0038] Further, the lower insertion area 5 is six layers of cloth pieces overlapped, and the six layers of cloth pieces after overlapping are connected and fixed by the first pre-sewing line 6. By connecting and fixing the six layers of overlapped cloth pieces of the lower insertion area 5 through the first pre-sewing line 6, it can avoid the lower insertion area 5 from being loose. At the same time, the lower insertion area 5 is fixed by the first pre-sewing line 6, and the tension between the pre-sewing lines is small, which facilitates the unfolding of the lower insertion area 5 when inflated.

[0039] As shown in Figure 2As shown in the drawings, in some embodiments, the width of the middle flat area 4 is greater than 0 mm and less than 30 mm, and the width of the middle flat area 4 can be set according to the size of the airbag body 1. The middle flat area 4 is only two layers of cloth, and when the lower inner plug area 5 is rapidly unfolded, the soft middle flat area 4 pushes the unfolded area of the upper folding area 3 out and vertically to the lower side of the passenger's arm. This pre-positioning can lift the passenger's arm when the upper folding area 3 is unfolded, and does not press the body inward, so as to ensure that the upper folding area 3 can be flush with the shoulder or slightly raised outward when unfolded.

[0040] As shown in the drawings, Figure 3 In some embodiments, the folding mode of the upper folding area 3 is one or a combination of rolling, folding and Z-folding, and the folding mode of the upper folding area 3 can be set according to actual conditions, as long as the folded upper folding area 3 is unfolded later than the lower inner plug area 5, and the folding mode that is convenient to fold can be selected according to actual conditions.

[0041] Further, the upper folding area 3 is folded at least twice, and is connected and fixed by the second pre-seam 7. The upper folding area 3 is connected and fixed by the second pre-seam 7 after folding, which can avoid the upper folding area 3 from being loose. At the same time, the upper folding area 3 is fixed by the second pre-seam 7, and the tension between the pre-seams is small, which is convenient for the subsequent unfolding of the upper folding area 3 when inflated.

[0042] It should be noted that the folding times of the upper folding area 3 can be selected according to the size of the airbag body 1, so as to facilitate the installation of the folded airbag on the seat.

[0043] As shown in the drawings, Figure 1 In some embodiments, the side airbag device further comprises a guide airbag 2, the guide airbag 2 is installed on the airbag body 1, and the airbag body 1 is connected in communication with the gas outlet of the gas generator through the guide airbag 2. By arranging the guide airbag 2 in the middle flat area 4 of the airbag body 1, the guide airbag 2 is connected in communication with the gas outlet of the gas generator. When the gas generator is detonated to release gas, the guide airbag 2 can guide the gas, which is convenient for the gas to flow into the airbag body 1.

[0044] As shown in the drawings, Figure 1 In some embodiments, the airbag body 1 is a single-cavity planar structure, and the airbag body 1 with a single-cavity planar structure is formed by two layers of cloth, so as to ensure that the upper folding area 3, the middle flat area 4 and the lower inner plug area 5 are in communication.

[0045] In some embodiments, the gas bag body 1 is folded as a whole from a direction away from the gas generator to a direction close to the gas generator, and by folding the gas bag body 1 as a whole along the direction close to the gas generator, the gas bag body 1 is unfolded towards a direction in front of the seat when unfolded, thereby achieving protection of an occupant on the seat.

[0046] As shown in Figures 1-6 Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiments of the present application provide a vehicle seat, which comprises a seat body 8 and a side airbag device as described in any of the above embodiments, the side airbag device being installed at a side of the seat body 8 to protect a shoulder, chest and hip region of an occupant on the seat body 8.

[0047] It should be noted that by using the above side airbag device, when the vehicle is subjected to a side impact, the gas generator is detonated to release gas, the gas enters the middle flat area 4 of the gas bag body 1, the gas output by the gas generator can directly hit the lower end of the gas bag body 1 for a short distance, and the lower inner plug area 5 is rapidly unfolded under the action of the gas. Due to the weight pressure of the occupant's arm, the upper folding area 3 is located below the occupant's arm, and after the middle flat area 4 and the lower folding area are fully inflated, the upper folding area 3 is inflated to lift the occupant's arm to a shoulder or higher position, which can avoid the occupant's arm being pressed against the ribs. At the same time, the upper part of the gas bag body 1 continues to expand to a side shoulder or higher position, thereby achieving protection of the shoulder, chest and hip region of the occupant.

[0048] Each of the embodiments in the present application can be cross-referenced with each other for the same or similar parts, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. In particular, for the method embodiments described later, since they are corresponding to the system, the description is relatively simple, and the relevant parts can be referred to the part of the system embodiment.

[0049] The above merely provides a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or replacements within the technical range disclosed in the present application, which shall be covered in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A side airbag device including a gas bag body and a gas generator, the gas bag body being deployed by being filled with gas from the gas generator in the event that the side airbag device needs to be deployed, characterized by, The gas bag body comprises an upper folding area, a middle flat area and a lower inner plug area which are communicated with each other, the middle flat area is communicated with the gas outlet of the gas generator, when the gas bag body is unfolded, the gas generated by the gas generator flows into the lower inner plug area at a distance less than the distance of flowing into the upper folding area, so that the lower inner plug area is unfolded earlier than the upper folding area; after the gas generator is ignited, the middle flat area is first expanded, and then the lower inner plug area is expanded, so that the upper folding area is located below the arms of the passenger, and when the upper folding area is inflated and expanded, the arms of the passenger are lifted to the shoulder or above the shoulder. The opening direction of the lower inner plug area is towards the middle flat area, and the lower end edge of the lower inner plug area is arranged in a direction away from the middle flat area.

2. The side airbag device according to claim 1, characterized by, The lower inner plug area is a rear folded return.

3. The side airbag device according to claim 2, characterized by The lower inner plug area is six layers of cloth pieces which are overlapped, and the six layers of cloth pieces are connected and fixed by first pre-sewing lines.

4. The side airbag device according to claim 1, characterized by The width of the middle flat area is greater than 0 mm and less than 30 mm.

5. The side airbag device according to claim 1, characterized by The folding mode of the upper folding area is one or a combination of rolling, folding and Z-folding.

6. The side airbag device according to claim 5, characterized by The upper folding area is folded at least twice, and the folded upper folding area is connected and fixed by second pre-sewing lines.

7. The side airbag device according to claim 1, characterized by The side airbag device further comprises a guide bag, the guide bag is mounted on the gas bag body, and the gas bag body is communicated with the gas outlet of the gas generator through the guide bag.

8. The side airbag device according to claim 1, characterized by The gas bag body is a single-cavity planar structure.

9. The side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by, The gas bag body is folded as a whole from a direction away from the gas generator to a direction close to the gas generator.

10. A vehicle seat characterized by comprising: The vehicle seat comprises a seat body and the side airbag device according to any one of claims 1-9, the side airbag device is mounted on the side of the seat body, and the shoulder, chest and hip areas of the passenger on the seat body are protected.

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