Airbag system

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to achieve an airbag system in which an airbag cushion of a side airbag does not swing or tilt when an occupant is constrained. An airbag system (10) is provided with: a side airbag (30) which is inflated and deployed toward the front of a vehicle at the center side of a driver's seat (2a) of the vehicle in the width direction of the vehicle; a front airbag (30) for a passenger seat, which is inflated and deployed in front of the seat for the passenger seat of the vehicle; and a control device (40) that controls the inflation and deployment of the side airbag (20) and the front airbag (30) for the passenger seat together when a side collision occurs in the vehicle. The side airbag (20) is configured so that when the side airbag (21) during inflation and deployment and the front airbag (30) for the passenger seat during inflation and deployment are viewed from a side direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the vehicle front end (25) of the side airbag (20) is positioned further toward the front side of the vehicle than the vehicle rear end (35) of the front airbag (30) for the passenger seat.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag system composed of a plurality of airbag devices and a control device for executing the expansion and deployment of airbag cushions of each airbag device. Background Art

[0002] In a vehicle in which a plurality of vehicle seats are arranged in a vehicle width direction, a far side airbag may be mounted on a side portion of a backrest portion of the vehicle seat on the center side in the vehicle width direction.

[0003] For example, in the event of a side collision where the side door on the passenger side collides with another vehicle or a structure such as a utility pole, the occupant sitting in the driver's seat moves toward the passenger side due to inertia at the beginning of the collision. The far side airbag is structured to restrain the occupant sitting in the seat on the opposite side of the collision from moving toward the collision side during a side collision.

[0004] In the far side airbag of Patent Document 1, an airbag cushion and an inflator are stored inside the side of the backrest. When an impact from the side of the vehicle is detected, the inflator supplies inflation gas to the airbag cushion, and the airbag cushion begins to expand and deploy. Then, the airbag cushion, with a portion of it remaining inside the backrest, flies forward from the side of the backrest, and completes expansion and deployment between the vehicle seats. As a result, the movement of the occupant on the driver's seat side to the passenger seat side is restricted by the inflated and deployed airbag cushion.

[0005] On the other hand, as an airbag device that exhibits restraint performance in response to a collision from the front of the vehicle, a front side airbag for a passenger seat is known.

[0006] The front side airbag for the passenger seat of Patent Document 2 is stored inside the instrument panel. When an impact from the front of the vehicle is detected, the inflation gas is supplied from the inflator to the airbag cushion, and the airbag cushion begins to expand and deploy. Then, the airbag cushion flies out to the rear of the vehicle from the fragile slit formed in the instrument panel, and the expansion and deployment are completed. As a result, the passenger on the passenger seat side is restrained from moving toward the front of the vehicle by the inflated and deployed airbag cushion.

[0007] Prior art literature

[0008] Patent Literature

[0009] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-110373

[0010] Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-69149 Summary of the invention

[0011] Problem that the invention aims to solve

[0012] The base of the far side airbag is fixed to the vehicle seat side. When the inflation gas is introduced from the inflator into the airbag cushion during a side collision, the airbag cushion expands and deploys from the vehicle seat to the front in the vehicle front-rear direction, restraining the occupant sitting on the vehicle seat.

[0013] At this time, the base of the airbag cushion is fixed to the vehicle seat side, and the front end of the airbag cushion, which protrudes forward in the vehicle front-rear direction by inflating and deploying, is in a free state of swinging left and right in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, the airbag cushion that has completed inflating and deploying can easily rotate left and right in the horizontal direction with the base at one end as the center and the front end at the other end.

[0014] By the way, in the case of a near-side airbag that inflates and deploys toward a vehicle body part such as a door, the vehicle body part acts as a wall and easily restricts the movement of the airbag cushion. In contrast, since a far-side airbag inflates and deploys in the center of the vehicle compartment in the vehicle width direction, it is difficult to suppress the rotation or tilt of the airbag cushion.

[0015] In the far side airbag, when the front side of the airbag cushion rotates, the airbag cushion swings away from the occupant when the occupant moves in the vehicle width direction, making it difficult to fully and appropriately protect the occupant. In addition, in the far side airbag, even if the upper side of the airbag cushion is tilted toward the passenger seat, it is not possible to ensure a reliable position to catch the occupant, making it difficult to fully and appropriately protect the occupant.

[0016] The present invention is completed in view of such a situation, and its purpose is to realize an airbag system that prevents the front side of the airbag cushion of the vehicle from rotating toward the passenger seat or the upper side of the airbag cushion from tilting toward the passenger seat when the airbag cushion of the far airbag is inflated and deployed, and the airbag cushion will not swing or tilt when restraining the occupant.

[0017] Solutions to the problem

[0018] The inventor of the present application believes that in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is necessary to improve the airbag system. The inventor of the present application has conducted in-depth research on the front side airbag, which was previously only intended to protect the occupants from frontal collisions and did not contribute to the protection of the occupants in side collisions, to improve the occupant restraint performance of the far side airbag, thereby completing the present invention. In addition, the term side airbag is also used below, but the side airbag and far side airbag in this specification have the same meaning.

[0019] The present invention is an airbag system, which comprises: a side airbag, which is inflated and deployed toward the front of the vehicle at the central side of one seat of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction; a front airbag, which is inflated and deployed toward the front of another seat of the vehicle arranged adjacent to the one seat of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction; and a control device, which controls the expansion and deployment of the side airbag and the front airbag together when the vehicle is hit from the side. In the present invention, when the side airbag when inflated and deployed and the front airbag when inflated and deployed are viewed from the side orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the vehicle front end of the side airbag is located closer to the front side of the vehicle than the vehicle rear end of the front airbag.

[0020] The present invention may also be configured to include: a side airbag that is inflated and deployed toward the front of the vehicle at the center side of one seat in the vehicle width direction; a front airbag that is inflated and deployed in the vehicle front of the one seat; and a control device that controls the expansion and deployment of the side airbag and the front airbag together when the vehicle is hit from the side. In this case, when the inflated and deployed side airbag and the inflated and deployed front airbag are viewed from the side perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the vehicle front end of the side airbag is located closer to the vehicle front side than the vehicle rear end of the front airbag.

[0021] The present invention may be configured such that, when the inflated and deployed side airbags and the inflated and deployed front side airbags are viewed transparently from a side direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, there are overlapping portions where the side airbags overlap the front side airbags.

[0022] In the present invention, in the inflation completed state where the side airbag and the front airbag have respectively completed inflation and deployment, the side airbag has a first contact region in contact with the front airbag, and the front airbag has a second contact region in contact with the side airbag.

[0023] The side airbag of the present invention comprises: a first main chamber that inflates and deploys toward the front of the vehicle; and a first sub-chamber that protrudes from the first main chamber toward the center in the vehicle width direction and inflates and deploys. The first sub-chamber may be provided in the overlapping portion.

[0024] The front side airbag of the present invention comprises: a second main chamber that expands and deploys toward the rear of the vehicle; and a second sub-chamber that protrudes from the second main chamber toward the center in the vehicle width direction and expands and deploys. The second sub-chamber may be provided in the overlapping portion.

[0025] The present invention may be configured such that the side airbag is provided with a first high friction portion having a friction coefficient greater than that of a surface portion of a base fabric panel constituting the side airbag, and the first high friction portion includes the first contact region.

[0026] The present invention may be configured such that the front side airbag is provided with a second high friction portion having a friction coefficient greater than that of a surface portion of a base fabric panel constituting the front side airbag, and the second high friction portion includes the second contact region.

[0027] In the present invention, the front side airbag may be a front side airbag for a passenger seat.

[0028] In the present invention, the front side airbag may be a driver's front side airbag.

[0029] Effects of the Invention

[0030] The airbag system of the present invention comprises: a side airbag which is inflated and deployed toward the front of the vehicle at the central side of one seat of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction; a front airbag which is inflated and deployed at the front of another seat arranged adjacent to one seat of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction; and a control device which controls the expansion and deployment of the side airbag and the front airbag together when the vehicle is in a side collision. In the present invention, when the inflated and deployed side airbag and the inflated and deployed front airbag are viewed from the side orthogonal to the front and rear directions of the vehicle, the vehicle front end of the side airbag is located closer to the front side of the vehicle than the vehicle rear end of the front airbag. Therefore, in the present invention, the front airbag which was previously inflated and deployed only in the case of a frontal collision can be inflated and deployed in the case of a side collision, and the inflated and deployed front airbag can be brought into contact with the side airbag.

[0031] In the present invention, for example, when the airbag cushion of the side airbag on the driver's seat side is inflated and deployed, the front airbag on the passenger's seat side can be used as a support to suppress the rotation movement of the airbag cushion on the front side of the vehicle toward the passenger's seat, or the tilting movement of the upper side of the airbag cushion toward the passenger's seat.

[0032] In the present invention, since the airbag cushion does not swing or tilt when restraining the occupant, the restraining performance of the occupant is improved. In addition, according to the present invention, since the restraining force of the occupant does not need to be obtained only by the side airbag, the structure of the side airbag can be simplified. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1AThis is a view showing a state in which the airbag cushion of the side airbag and the airbag cushion of the front side airbag for a passenger seat have completed inflation and deployment, respectively, in the airbag system according to the embodiment, as viewed from above the vehicle.

[0034] Figure 1B A modified example of a front side airbag for a driver is shown. Figure 1A Same picture.

[0035] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing a state in which the airbag cushion of the side airbag and the airbag cushion of the front side airbag for a passenger seat have completed inflation and deployment, respectively, in the airbag system according to the embodiment, as viewed from the side of the vehicle.

[0036] Figure 3A This is a view showing a state in which the airbag cushion of the side airbag and the airbag cushion of the front side airbag for a passenger seat have completed inflation and deployment, respectively, in the airbag system according to the first modified example of the embodiment, as viewed from above the vehicle.

[0037] Figure 3B A second modified example is shown in which a second sub-chamber is provided on one side of the front side airbag for the passenger seat. Figure 3A Same picture.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a diagram for explaining the behavior of an occupant during a side collision in an embodiment that does not include the first sub chamber or the second sub chamber.

[0039] Figure 5 (a) and 5(b) are views showing, from above the vehicle, a state in which the airbag cushion of the side airbag and the airbag cushion of the front side airbag for the passenger seat have completed inflation and deployment in the airbag system according to the third modified example of the embodiment.

[0040] Figure 6 (a) and Figure 6 (b) is a view showing a state in which the airbag cushion of the side airbag and the airbag cushion of the front side airbag for a passenger seat have completed inflation and deployment, respectively, in the airbag system according to the fourth modified example of the embodiment, as viewed from above the vehicle.

[0041] Figure 7 (a) and Figure 7 (b) shows a modification example in which the second modification example and the third modification example are combined. Figure 5 Same picture. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following embodiments are examples of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, its applicable objects, or its use.

[0043] In the present invention, the "passenger" refers to, for example, a passenger having a physique comparable to that of an average American male, and the approximate dimensions of the passenger are 175 cm in height, 88 cm in seat height, and 78 kg in weight, according to the front impact test model (Hybrid III AM 50 / NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) specification [49CFR Part 572 SubpartE and O] determined for the front impact test human body model). However, the present invention may also be applied to other human body models.

[0044] In addition, in this specification, "upper" and "upper side" refer to the direction of the head of the passenger 3 sitting in the regular position of the seat, and "lower" and "lower side" refer to the direction of the feet of the passenger 3. Here, the so-called "regular position" refers to the center position of the seat cushion in the left-right direction, where the back of the passenger 3 touches the backrest 7 in the upper and lower range. In addition, "front" and "front side" refer to the front direction of the passenger 3 sitting in the regular position of the seat, and "rear" and "rear side" refer to the back direction of the passenger 3. In addition, "left" and "left side" refer to the left hand direction of the passenger 3 sitting in the regular position of the seat, and "right" and "right side" refer to the right hand direction of the passenger 3. In addition, the "width direction" and "vehicle width direction" of the vehicle sometimes have the same meaning as the "right" and "left" directions.

[0045] This embodiment is as Figure 1AAs shown, it is an airbag system 10 that has at least a side airbag 20 and a front airbag 30 for a passenger seat, and a control device 40 that controls the timing of the airbag cushions 21 and 31 of each airbag device to start expanding and deploying. The airbag system 10 of this embodiment further includes: a driver's side airbag 60 that protects the near side of the occupant 3 sitting on the driver's seat 2a; and a passenger's side airbag 70 that protects the near side of the occupant sitting on the passenger seat 2b. A steering device 4 is provided in front of the driver's seat 2a. The side airbag 20 is stored inside the side portion of the far side of the backrest 3 of the driver's seat 2a of the two seats arranged in the vehicle width direction. The front airbag 30 for the passenger seat is stored in the instrument panel 5 of the vehicle 1. The driver's seat 2a is equivalent to one seat of the vehicle, and the passenger seat 2b is equivalent to another seat arranged adjacent to the driver's seat 2a in the vehicle width direction. The front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat corresponds to the front side airbag. Before describing the airbag system 10, the structure of the seat will be described first.

[0046] [General structure of the seat]

[0047] like Figure 2 As shown, the driver's seat 2a includes a seat cushion 6 and a backrest 7. A headrest 8 is attached to the upper end of the backrest 7 via a rod-shaped support member 8a. In addition, the headrest 8 may be formed integrally with the backrest 7 without providing the support member 8a.

[0048] The seat cushion 6 is provided with a pad on the upper side of the seat bottom plate, and the pad is covered with a skin material. In the backrest 7, a pad is provided on the front side of the seat frame, and the pad is covered with a skin material.

[0049] The seat cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 is rolled up in a flat state or folded into a corrugated state, so as to be stored in the driver's seat 2a. The seat cushion 21 in the stored state is stored along the side of the seat frame of the driver's seat 2a. The storage position of the airbag cushion 21 is inside the side support portion provided on the far side of the backrest portion 3.

[0050] [Structure of side airbag]

[0051] The side airbag 20 is an airbag device for protecting the side of the far side of the occupant 3 sitting on the driver's seat 2a. The side airbag 20 includes an airbag cushion 21 and an inflator 24. When the vehicle is hit from the side, the side airbag 20 is inflated and deployed toward the front of the vehicle at the side of the center of the driver's seat 2a in the vehicle width direction.

[0052] The inflator 24 is a device that injects gas to inflate the airbag cushion 21. In the side airbag 20, a cylindrical inflator 24 is arranged inside the airbag cushion 21 to inject gas from a hole 24a provided on the outer side thereof into the airbag cushion 21. The inflator 24 is arranged in a storage portion provided inside the airbag cushion 21.

[0053] The airbag cushion 21 has a required length in the up-down direction and the front-back direction so as to restrain the side parts of the occupant 3, such as the head, shoulders, upper arms, chest, waist, and abdomen. The airbag cushion 21 has a thickness in the left-right direction, and is formed into a bag shape by sewing the outer peripheries of two base fabric panels of the same shape, for example. Alternatively, a necessary number of base fabric panels of a required shape may be prepared in advance, and a bag body may be formed by sewing a specified portion.

[0054] Two studs (not shown) are installed in a protruding shape at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction of the inflator 24 on the outer side surface opposite to the hole 24a. The inflator 24 is fixed to the seat frame using the studs. In addition, by fixing the storage portion of the inflator to the seat frame, the airbag cushion 21 is also fixed to the seat frame. As a method of attaching the airbag cushion 21 to the side frame, a fixing member can also be used.

[0055] [Structure of the front passenger side airbag]

[0056] The front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat includes: an airbag cushion 31 that expands and deploys in the direction of the passenger seat 2b; an inflator 34 that injects inflation gas to expand the airbag cushion 31; and a storage housing 33 that stores the airbag cushion 31 and is mounted on the storage portion 5a.

[0057] like Figure 2 As shown, the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat is arranged in a storage portion 5a provided on the passenger seat panel in the instrument panel 5. The passenger seat panel is a panel arranged in front of the passenger seat. The airbag cushion 31 is arranged inside the storage portion 5a by folding or rolling it into a small storage state.

[0058] A disc-shaped inflator 34 is disposed inside the airbag cushion 31 . The inflator 34 is a gas generating device that operates in response to a signal from a control device 40 connected to a sensor 41 for detecting a collision, and supplies inflation gas to the airbag cushion 31 .

[0059] In the non-expanded state before the airbag cushion 31 is inflated and deployed, the opening of the storage portion 5a is blocked by a door provided on the instrument panel 5. The front windshield 9 is a plate provided on the front window of the vehicle and is provided with an inclination toward the vehicle compartment side relative to the upper surface of the instrument panel 5.

[0060] Here, in the conventional airbag system, the inflator 34 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat injects inflation gas into the airbag cushion 31 only when an impact is applied from the front of the vehicle. The inflated and deployed airbag cushion 31 is used only to restrain the occupant 3 sitting on the passenger seat 2b from the front.

[0061] In contrast, the purpose of use of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat in the airbag system 10 of the present embodiment is quite different. Figure 1A , Figure 2 The characteristic structure and effects of the airbag system 10 will be described.

[0062] [Structure and Effects of Airbag System of the Present Embodiment]

[0063] The airbag system 10 includes: a side airbag 20, which is located on the side of the vehicle 1 on the center side of the driver's seat 2a and is inflated and deployed toward the front of the vehicle; a front passenger airbag 30, which is inflated and deployed in front of the vehicle of the passenger seat 2b of the vehicle 1; and a control device 40, which controls the expansion and deployment of the side airbag 20 and the front passenger airbag 30 together when the vehicle is involved in a side collision. Thus, in the airbag system 10, the front passenger airbag 30, which previously only inflated and deployed in a head-on collision, can be inflated and deployed in a side collision. In addition, in the airbag system 10, if Figure 2 As shown, the structure is such that, when the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 when inflated and deployed and the airbag cushion 31 of the front airbag 30 for the passenger seat when inflated and deployed are observed from the side at right angles to the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle 1, the vehicle front end 25 of the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 is located closer to the front side of the vehicle 1 than the vehicle rear end 35 of the airbag cushion 31 of the front airbag 30 for the passenger seat.

[0064] That is, Figure 2 As shown, the airbag system 10 has an overlapping portion 11, and when the side airbag 20 when inflated and deployed and the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat when inflated and deployed are viewed from the side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1, the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 overlaps the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat. The overlapping portion 11 is formed between the vehicle front end 25 of the side airbag 20 and the vehicle rear end 35 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat.

[0065] Specifically, the airbag system 10 is as follows Figure 1AAs shown, in the inflation completion state where the side airbag 20 and the front airbag 30 for the passenger seat have respectively completed inflation and deployment, the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 has a first contact area 26 in contact with the front airbag 30 for the passenger seat, and the airbag cushion 31 of the front airbag 30 for the passenger seat has a second contact area 36 in contact with the side airbag.

[0066] Generally, when the front end of the airbag cushion rotates, the seat airbag cushion of the side airbag moves relative to the occupant in the vehicle width direction, and the airbag cushion swings away from the occupant, making it difficult to fully and appropriately protect the occupant. In addition, even if the airbag cushion tilts toward the passenger seat side, it is not possible to ensure that the occupant is reliably caught, making it difficult to fully and appropriately protect the occupant.

[0067] In order to deal with the above problems, when the sensor 41 detects a collision during a side collision, an oblique collision, etc., the airbag system 10 operates the inflator 24 of the side airbag 20 and the inflator 34 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat, after receiving the signal from the sensor 41. The inflator 24 ejects gas into the airbag cushion 21 to inflate and deploy the airbag cushion 21, and the inflator 34 ejects gas into the airbag cushion 31 to inflate and deploy the airbag cushion 31.

[0068] At this time, the airbag system 10 is constructed so that the vehicle front end 25 of the side airbag 20 is located on the front side in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle 1 compared to the vehicle rear end 35 of the front airbag 30 for the passenger seat, and the airbag system 10 has an overlapping portion 11 where the side airbag 20 overlaps with the front airbag 30 for the passenger seat.

[0069] In the airbag system 10, since the vehicle front end 25 of the airbag cushion 21 is located closer to the front side of the vehicle 1 than the vehicle rear end 35 of the airbag cushion 31, or has the overlapping portion 11, the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat can be inflated and deployed during a side collision, and the inflated and deployed airbag 30 for the passenger seat can contact the side airbag 20. Specifically, the side airbag 20 and the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat have a first contact area 26 and a second contact area 36 with each other.

[0070] Thus, in the airbag system 10, by using the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat as a support, the horizontal rotation of the vehicle front side of the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 that is inflated and deployed in the direction of the passenger seat 2b can be suppressed. In addition, by using the airbag cushion 31 as a support, the upper side of the inflated and deployed airbag cushion 21 can be prevented from tilting in the direction of the passenger seat 2b. Therefore, in the airbag system 10, a portion that reliably receives the occupant 3 can be ensured, and the restraint performance for the occupant 3 can be improved.

[0071] The front passenger seat 2b may be occupied or vacant without an occupant, but the airbag system 10 inflates and deploys the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 in either case. The airbag system 10 can reliably protect the occupant 3 seated on the driver's seat 2a from impacts such as side collisions or oblique collisions, regardless of whether there is an occupant in the front passenger seat 2b.

[0072] In addition, in the vehicle 1, when a side collision occurs on the passenger seat 2b side, the passenger seated on the passenger seat 2b moves to the collision side by inertia force at the initial stage of the collision, and then moves to the opposite side by the impact force of the collision. In the airbag system 10, since the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 expands and deploys, the passenger seated on the passenger seat 2b can also be restrained from moving to the center side in the vehicle width direction or moving diagonally forward near the center of the vehicle.

[0073] In addition, when the airbag system 10 is in a state where the passenger is seated in the front passenger seat 2b, when a collision occurs from the front of the vehicle 1, the airbag cushion 31 of the front passenger seat airbag 30 is inflated and deployed to restrain the head, chest, abdomen, etc. of the passenger seated in the front passenger seat 2b, as in the conventional airbag system. The front passenger seat airbag 30, as in the conventional airbag system, also has the function of preventing the passenger seated in the front passenger seat 2b from colliding with the instrument panel 7 or the front windshield 9.

[0074] [First Modification of Embodiment]

[0075] In the airbag system 10 of this modified example, as shown in FIG. Figure 3A As shown, the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 includes: a first main chamber 22, which expands and deploys toward the front of the vehicle 1; a first sub-chamber 23, which protrudes from the first main chamber 22 toward the center side in the vehicle width direction (toward the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat) and expands and deploys, and the first contact area 26 is located on the sub-chamber 23. The first sub-chamber 23 of this modified example is arranged Figure 2The overlapping portion 11 shown (the portion where the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 overlaps the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for a passenger seat when viewed in perspective from the side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1).

[0076] The chamber volume of the first sub-chamber 23 is smaller than that of the first main chamber 22. The first sub-chamber 23 is formed in a shape that is inclined and protrudes toward the front of the passenger seat 2b. The first sub-chamber 23 of this modified example is separate from the first main chamber 22 and is mounted on the first main chamber 22 by sewing. The first sub-chamber 23 is connected to the first main chamber 22 through an exhaust hole provided on the first main chamber 22.

[0077] In this modified example, in a side collision, the inflator 21 receives a signal from the control unit 40 and ejects gas from the hole 21a provided on the outer side thereof into the first main chamber 22, thereby inflating and expanding the first main chamber 22. Then, after the first main chamber 22 is inflated and expanded, gas flows into the first sub-chamber 23 from the exhaust hole, and the sub-chamber 2e is inflated and expanded.

[0078] The number of exhaust holes and the size of each hole can be designed in consideration of the time point at which the first sub-chamber 23 is expanded and deployed. If the total value of the opening area of ​​the exhaust holes is large enough, gas can be quickly supplied to the first sub-chamber 23 almost simultaneously with the expansion and deployment of the first main chamber 22, and the first sub-chamber 23 can be quickly expanded. In addition, according to design requirements, by adjusting the total value of the opening area of ​​the exhaust holes to be slightly smaller, a desired time lag can be generated between the expansion and deployment of the first main chamber 22 and the expansion and deployment of the first sub-chamber 23.

[0079] The structure of this modification example is compared with the structure of the embodiment without the first sub-chamber 23 ( Figure 4 ), since the first sub-chamber 23 protrudes toward the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat and expands, the space between the side airbag 20 and the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat is filled with the first sub-chamber 23 during expansion and deployment, and the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat can easily support the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20. In addition, in this modified example, the amount of movement of the occupant 3 toward the center in the vehicle width direction during a side collision becomes smaller ( Figure 3A and Figure 4 comparison).

[0080] In this modification, since the front end of the airbag cushion 21 is supported and stabilized by the first sub chamber 23 protruding forward of the passenger seat 2b, the effect of preventing the front end of the airbag cushion 21 from rotating and the effect of preventing the airbag cushion 21 from tilting can be further improved.

[0081] [Second Modification of Embodiment]

[0082] In the airbag system 10 of this modified example, as shown in FIG. Figure 3B As shown, the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat is composed of a second main chamber 32 that expands and deploys toward the rear of the vehicle 1 and a second sub-chamber 33 that protrudes from the second main chamber 32 toward the center side in the vehicle width direction (toward the side airbag 20) and expands and deploys. The second sub-chamber 33 of this modified example is provided on the overlapping portion 11 where the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 and the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat overlap when viewed from the side in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1.

[0083] Even when the second sub-chamber 33 is provided for the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat, the space between the side airbag 20 and the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat is filled with the second sub-chamber 33, and the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat can easily support the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20. Therefore, the effect of preventing the airbag cushion 21 from swinging and tilting when restraining the occupant can be further improved.

[0084] [Third Modification of Embodiment]

[0085] This variation is for example Figure 5 As shown, the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 is provided with a first high friction portion 27 having a greater friction coefficient than the surface portion of the base fabric panel constituting the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 , and the first high friction portion 27 includes a first contact region 26 .

[0086] Thus, in this modified example, since the first high friction portion 27 plays an anti-slip role, it is possible to prevent the airbag cushion 21 of the inflated and deployed side airbag 20 from sliding after coming into contact with the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat. Therefore, it is easy to maintain the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 in contact with the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat, thereby improving the protection performance for the occupant 3.

[0087] In this modified example, the method of increasing the friction coefficient of the first high friction portion 27 can be performed by installing a patch. For example, a patch having a greater friction coefficient than the base fabric panel is sewn and installed on the surface side of the base fabric panel that contacts the airbag cushion 31 of the two base fabric panels forming the airbag cushion 21. The sewing can be performed, for example, along the end edge of the patch near the upper edge and the lower edge of the patch. If the patch is too large, it will cause obstacles when the airbag cushion 21 is expanded and deployed, and if it is too small, it is impossible to expect an appropriate anti-slip effect, so the size can be appropriately determined within a range that does not cause these problems.

[0088] In this modified example, the method of increasing the friction coefficient of the first high friction portion 27 can also be performed by applying a resin coating. For example, of the two base fabric panels forming the airbag cushion 21, a resin coating having a friction coefficient greater than that of the base fabric panel is applied on the surface side of the base fabric panel on the side in contact with the airbag cushion 31. In this case, the size of the range for applying the resin coating can also be determined based on the same criteria as above.

[0089] [Fourth Modification of Embodiment]

[0090] In this variation, if Figure 6 As shown, a second high friction portion 37 having a greater friction coefficient than that of the surface portion of the base fabric panel constituting the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat is provided on the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat, and the second high friction portion 37 includes a second contact area 66 .

[0091] In this modification, the second high friction portion 37 also plays an anti-skid role, and can prevent the airbag cushion 21 of the inflated and deployed side airbag 20 from sliding after being in contact with the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat. Therefore, this modification also makes it easy to maintain the state in which the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 is in contact with the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat, and the protection performance for the occupant 3 is improved as in the second modification.

[0092] In this modification, the friction coefficient of the first high friction portion 27 may be increased by, for example, attaching a patch or applying a resin coating.

[0093] [Other Modifications]

[0094] In the above embodiment, the front side airbag may also be a driver's front side airbag. That is, the present invention may also be a structure in which a side airbag is provided on the side of the center side of the front passenger seat 2b in the vehicle width direction, and a front side airbag is provided in front of the driver's seat 2a. In this case, when the group cushion of the side airbag is inflated and deployed, the movement of the front side of the airbag cushion rotating toward the driver's seat 2a or the movement of the upper side of the airbag cushion tilting toward the driver's seat 2a can be suppressed by the driver's front side airbag serving as a support.

[0095] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the front side airbag supporting the side airbag 20 provided on the driver's seat 2a may also be a driver's front side airbag. Figure 1BAs shown, the airbag system 10 of the present invention may also be configured to include a side airbag 20 that expands and deploys toward the front of the vehicle and a driver's front airbag 50 that expands and deploys in front of the driver's seat 2a on the side portion of the center side of the driver's seat 2a in the vehicle width direction. In this case, the control device 40 controls the expansion and deployment of the side airbag 20 and the driver's front airbag 50 together when the vehicle is hit from the side. The driver's front airbag 50 is arranged in a storage portion of a driver's seat panel arranged in front of the driver's seat 2a in the instrument panel 5. The driver's front airbag 50 includes an airbag cushion 51 that expands and deploys toward the driver's seat 2a and an inflator 54 that sprays inflation gas to expand the airbag cushion 51.

[0096] The airbag system 10 of this modified example also has a configuration in which, when the side airbag 20 and the driver's front airbag 50 are viewed from the side perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the vehicle front end 25 of the side airbag 20 is located closer to the front side of the vehicle than the vehicle rear end 55 of the driver's front airbag 50. In addition, the airbag system 10 of this modified example also has an overlapping portion 11 where the side airbag 20 and the driver's front airbag 50 overlap when viewed from the side perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Thus, the driver's front airbag 50 can be inflated and deployed during a side collision, and the inflated and deployed driver's front airbag 50 can be brought into contact with the side airbag 20. Specifically, the side airbag 20 and the driver's front airbag 50 have a first contact area 26 and a third contact area 56 with each other. In this modification, as in the above-described embodiment, the driver can suppress the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 from swinging in the horizontal direction or from tilting the upper side of the airbag cushion by using the front side airbag 50 as support.

[0097] In the above embodiment, the first sub-chamber 23 of the airbag cushion 21 shown in the first modified example may also be formed integrally with the first main chamber 22. In addition, the second sub-chamber 33 of the airbag cushion 31 shown in the second modified example may also be sewn to the second main chamber 32 separately from the second main chamber 32, or may be formed integrally with the second main chamber 32.

[0098] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the structure shown in the third modification example and the structure shown in the fourth modification example may be combined. Figure 7As shown, the first high friction portion 27 may be provided on the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20, and the second high friction portion 37 may be provided on the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat. In this case, the first high friction portion 27 includes the first contact area 26, and the second high friction portion 37 includes the second contact area 66. In this modification, since the first high friction portion 27 and the second high friction portion 37 having a large friction coefficient are in contact with each other, the effect of preventing the airbag cushion 21 and the airbag cushion 31 from sliding is further improved.

[0099] In the above embodiment, the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 and the airbag cushion 31 of the front passenger side airbag 30 are not limited to being formed by joining an appropriate number of base fabric panels by sewing or the like, but may be formed by using a so-called "one-piece weaving" technique.

[0100] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the dimensions of the airbag cushion 21 of the side airbag 20 and the airbag cushion 31 of the front side airbag 30 for the passenger seat in the vertical direction, the longitudinal direction, and the lateral direction are not limited to the dimensions illustrated in the drawings. The dimensions and shapes of the airbag cushion 21 and the airbag cushion 31 can be appropriately adjusted according to the shapes, installation positions, and ranges of occupants to be protected of the driver's seat 2a and the passenger seat 2b.

[0101] Industrial Applicability

[0102] The structure of the present invention is not dependent on a specific vehicle model and can be applied to any vehicle.

[0103] Explanation of symbols

[0104] 1... Vehicle 2a... Driver's seat

[0105] 2b…Passenger seat 3…Occupant

[0106] 10... Airbag system 11... Overlapping portion

[0107] 20…Side airbag 21…Airbag cushion

[0108] 22 ... first main chamber 23 ... first auxiliary chamber

[0109] 24…Aerator

[0110] 25…Vehicle front end of side airbag

[0111] 26 ... first contact area 27 ... first high friction portion

[0112] 30…Front side airbag for passenger seat

[0113] 31…Airbag cushion

[0114] 32...Second main chamber 33...Second auxiliary chamber

[0115] 34…Aerator

[0116] 35…Vehicle rear end of the front side airbag for the passenger seat

[0117] 36 ... second contact area 37 ... second high friction portion

[0118] 40…Control device

[0119] 50…Front side airbag for driver

[0120] 51…Airbag cushion 54…Inflator

[0121] 55…Vehicle rear end for driver's front side airbag

[0122] 56…Third contact area

Claims

1. An airbag system comprising: A side airbag that is inflated and deployed toward the front of the vehicle at a center side portion in the width direction of the vehicle of one seat of the vehicle; a front side airbag that is inflated and deployed in front of the vehicle of another seat disposed adjacent to the one seat of the vehicle in the width direction of the vehicle; A control device controls the expansion and deployment of the side airbags and the front airbags together when the vehicle is involved in a side collision. in, When the inflated and deployed side airbags and the inflated and deployed front airbags are viewed from a side perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, vehicle front ends of the side airbags are located closer to the front of the vehicle than vehicle rear ends of the front airbags.

2. An airbag system comprising: A side airbag that is inflated and deployed toward the front of the vehicle at a center side portion in the width direction of the vehicle of one seat of the vehicle; a front side airbag that inflates and deploys in front of the vehicle at the one seat of the vehicle; A control device controls the expansion and deployment of the side airbags and the front airbags together when the vehicle is involved in a side collision. in, When the inflated and deployed side airbags and the inflated and deployed front airbags are viewed from a side perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, vehicle front ends of the side airbags are located closer to the front of the vehicle than vehicle rear ends of the front airbags.

3. The airbag system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: When the side airbags when inflated and deployed and the front side airbags when inflated and deployed are viewed transparently from a side direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, there is an overlapping portion where the side airbags overlap with the front side airbags.

4. The airbag system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: In an inflation completion state where the side airbag and the front airbag have respectively completed inflation and deployment, the side airbag has a first contact area in contact with the front airbag, and the front airbag has a second contact area in contact with the side airbag.

5. The airbag system according to claim 3, wherein: The side airbag comprises: a first main chamber that expands and deploys toward the front of the vehicle; a first sub-chamber that protrudes from the first main chamber toward the center in the vehicle width direction and expands and expands; The first sub-chamber is disposed in the overlapping portion.

6. The airbag system according to claim 3, wherein: The front side airbag comprises: a second main chamber that expands and deploys toward the rear of the vehicle; a second sub-chamber that protrudes from the second main chamber toward the center in the vehicle width direction and expands and expands; The second sub-chamber is disposed in the overlapping portion.

7. The airbag system according to claim 4, wherein: The side airbag is provided with a first high friction portion having a friction coefficient greater than that of a surface portion of a base fabric panel constituting the side airbag, and the first contact region is included in the first high friction portion.

8. The airbag system according to claim 4, wherein: The front side airbag is provided with a second high friction portion having a greater friction coefficient than a surface portion of a base fabric panel constituting the front side airbag, and the second contact region is included in the second high friction portion.

9. The airbag system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The front side airbag is a front side airbag for a passenger seat.

10. The airbag system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The front side airbag is a driver's front side airbag.

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