Side airbag device for vehicle

Abstract

Provided is a side airbag device for a vehicle, the side airbag device being capable of improving occupant restraint performance of an airbag cushion with a simple structure. An airbag module (110) of a side airbag device (100) includes: an airbag cushion (112) attached to the outside of a side frame (108) in the width direction of a seat back (104) in a predetermined housed state; an inflator (114) attached to the outside of the side frame (108) together with the airbag cushion (112); and an external tether (138) extending from a connection portion (142) connected to the rear end portion (140) of the airbag cushion (112) and connected to the inside of the side frame (108) in the width direction below the rear end portion (140) via the front edge (148) of the side frame (108). The outer tether (138) is in a tensioned state between the airbag cushion (112) and the side frame (108) when the airbag cushion (112) is inflated and deployed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle side airbag device for restraining an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, airbag devices have been basically standard equipment in vehicles. An airbag device is a safety device that operates in an emergency such as a vehicle collision, and uses an airbag cushion that expands and unfolds under pressure to block and protect an occupant. There are various types of airbag devices according to the installation location and use. For example, the airbag 16 described in Patent Document 1's Figure 2 A is provided inside the vehicle width direction of the seat back 14 to restrain the vicinity of the occupant's shoulder.

[0003] In the technology of Patent Document 1, an upper side panel 18 and a lower side panel 20 are respectively provided on the upper and lower portions of the airbag 16. These upper side panel 18 and lower side panel 20 are connected to a retractor 52 via a belt 54, and the retractor 52 functions so that the airbag 16 can be pulled into the seat back side. Thus, as Figure 3 B illustrates, the airbag 16 forms a valley portion 24 between the first portion 64 and the second portion 66, so that the occupant's shoulder can be restrained at the valley portion 24.

[0004] Prior Art Documents

[0005] Patent Documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: US Patent No. 10960841 Specification Summary of the Invention

[0007] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] In an airbag device, reducing the movement amount of an occupant is an important evaluation item related to reducing the injury value of the occupant. Regarding reducing the movement amount of the occupant, in addition to the methods of increasing the size of the airbag cushion or increasing the pressure in the past, it can also be achieved by restricting the movement of the airbag 16 using the upper side panel 18 or the retractor 52 as in Patent Document 1. However, the technology using the upper side panel 18 or the retractor 52 in Patent Document 1 sometimes cannot be adopted depending on the installation location or cost because there are many additional elements in the device structure. Similarly, it is difficult to easily adopt a larger size or higher pressure of the airbag cushion.

[0009] In view of such problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle side airbag device that can improve the occupant restraint performance of an airbag cushion with a simple structure.

[0010] Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, a representative structure of the side airbag device for vehicles according to the present invention includes a side frame on the side of a seat back of a vehicle seat and an airbag module mounted on the side frame. It is characterized in that the airbag module includes: an airbag cushion, which is in a bag shape and is installed in a specified storage form of being wound or folded on the outside of the side frame in the width direction of the seat back; an inflator, which is installed on the outside of the side frame together with the airbag cushion; an external tie, which extends from a specified connecting portion at the rear end of the airbag cushion and is connected to the inside in the width direction of the side frame below the connecting portion via the edge of the side frame. The external tie is in a tensioned state between the airbag cushion and the side frame when the airbag cushion expands and unfolds.

[0012] According to the above structure, since the external tie pulls the rear end portion of the airbag cushion toward the side frame, the airbag cushion is held in a posture along the side frame, and at the same time, the swing of the airbag cushion is also suppressed. Thereby, the occupant restraint performance of the airbag cushion can be improved.

[0013] The above airbag cushion has: a main chamber, which expands and unfolds from the side frame toward the side of an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat; a sub-chamber, which protrudes and expands from the main chamber toward the occupant side, and the edge on the occupant side of the sub-chamber may also be bent and recessed toward the main chamber side.

[0014] According to the above airbag cushion, by the edge on the occupant side of the sub-chamber being bent and recessed, it is possible to perform restraint along the body of the occupant. In addition, in the above structure, the sub-chamber is widely supported by the main chamber, and energy absorption can be efficiently performed during occupant restraint. Therefore, for example, if it is the above structure, the sub-chamber can also be used to restrain the head of the occupant. It is known that the rotational behavior of the head is likely to increase the injury value. Therefore, if it is the above structure, the rotational behavior of the head can be suppressed by the sub-chamber, etc., and the injury value of the occupant can be appropriately reduced with a simple structure.

[0015] The edge on the occupant side of the above sub-chamber may also be formed by a curve that is bent and recessed toward the main chamber side.

[0016] According to the above structure, by forming a curve with a bent and recessed portion in the sub-chamber, it is possible to efficiently perform restraint along the body of the occupant.

[0017] The above sub-chamber may also be inclined downward from the rear toward the front so that the front end portion of the sub-chamber in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat is located below the rear end portion.

[0018] In an emergency, the occupant is likely to make a movement of falling forward with the waist as the center of the upper body, and accordingly, the head of the occupant is also likely to move downward and forward. If it is the above structure, by the sub-chamber being inclined downward from the rear toward the front, it is possible to continuously restrain the head of the occupant by the sub-chamber before and after the movement of the occupant in an emergency.

[0019] The above side frames can also extend gradually in the direction of widening the width of the seat back from the rear of the seat back toward the front.

[0020] According to the above structure, even if the side frames of the seat back are in a shape that opens outward, by using the external laces, the airbag cushion can be held in a posture along the side frames, improving the occupant restraint performance of the airbag cushion.

[0021] The above-mentioned specified connecting portion can also be formed along the outer periphery of the upper rear end of the airbag cushion.

[0022] According to the above structure, the rear end portion of the airbag cushion can be efficiently pulled toward the side frame side by the external laces.

[0023] The above-mentioned specified connecting portion can also be a state in which one end of the external lace is sewn together with the sewing portion at the rear end of the airbag cushion

[0024] According to the above structure, the rear end portion of the airbag cushion can also be efficiently pulled toward the side frame side by the external laces.

[0025] Advantages of the Invention

[0026] According to the present invention, a vehicle side airbag device capable of improving the occupant restraint performance of an airbag cushion with a simple structure can be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Figure 1 is a view showing a vehicle side airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 2 is shown from various directions Figure 1 the airbag cushion of (b).

[0029] Figure 3 is Figure 1 the A-A cross-sectional view of the airbag cushion of (b).

[0030] Figure 4 is an illustration of Figure 2 the state where the sub-chamber of (b) is placed on a plane and deployed.

[0031] Figure 5 is an illustration of Figure 2 the external lace of (a).

[0032] Figure 6 is Figure 1 the cross-sectional views of the airbag cushion of (b).

[0033] Figure 7 is an illustration of Figure 1(b) Side airbag device and illustration of the occupant.

[0034] Figure 8 Illustrates Figure 7 (a) Illustration of the state in which the occupant moves in an emergency. Detailed implementation mode

[0035] Hereinafter, preferred implementation modes of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, other specific numerical values, etc. shown in these implementation modes are only examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In addition, in this specification and the accompanying drawings, for elements having substantially the same functions and structures, repeated descriptions are omitted by labeling the same reference numerals, and elements not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the illustration.

[0036] Figure 1 Is an illustration of a vehicle side airbag device (hereinafter referred to as side airbag device 100) according to an implementation mode of the present invention. Figure 1 (a) Is an illustration of the state before activation of the side airbag device 100. In Figure 1 (a) and Figure 1 (b), the side airbag device 100 and the left front seat 102 to which the side airbag device 100 is applied are illustrated from the left side in the vehicle width direction, that is, from the outside in the vehicle width direction (outside of the vehicle).

[0037] In Figure 1 (a), the skin or seat cushion (e.g., polyurethane material) in the seat back 104 of the seat 102 is omitted, and only the seat frame 106 is illustrated.

[0038] In the present implementation mode, when the occupant 150 (refer to Figure 7 (a), etc.) is seated on the seat 102 in a regular posture, the direction towards the occupant 150 is set as the front, the opposite back direction is set as the back, the right hand side of the occupant 150 is set as the right direction, and the left hand side of the occupant 150 is set as the left direction. Furthermore, when the occupant 150 is seated in a regular posture, the head direction of the occupant 150 is set as the upper side, and the foot direction of the occupant 150 is set as the lower side. And, in the accompanying drawings used in the following description, as needed, the front-back, left-right, up-down directions based on the occupant 150 in the regular seating position are indicated by arrows F (Forward), B (Back), L (Left), R (Right), U (up), D (down).

[0039] The airbag module 110 is configured to include an airbag cushion 112 that restrains the occupant 150 (refer to Figure 7 (a)) and an inflater 114 that supplies gas to the airbag cushion 112.

[0040] The seat frame 106 is a component that forms the skeleton and is built into the seat back 104. In the seat frame 106, the side frames 108 are the parts along the left and right sides of the seat back 104. In this embodiment, the airbag module 110 is assembled onto the side frame 108 of the seat frame 106 from the outside in the width direction of the seat back 104.

[0041] In this embodiment, the airbag module 110 is assembled onto the side frame 108 on the right side in the width direction of the seat back 104. From the occupant 150 ( Figure 7 (a)) sitting on the left front seat 102, when observed, the right side in the vehicle width direction is the side away from the collision, that is, the so-called far side. On the contrary, when observed from the occupant of the seat 102, the left side in the vehicle width direction is the side close to the collision, that is, the so-called near side. That is, the airbag module 110 is provided on the outside of the seat back 104.

[0042] In addition, the airbag module 110 can also be assembled onto the side frame on the left side in the width direction of the seat back 104. That is, the airbag module 110 can be provided on either the far side or the near side with respect to the seat back 104.

[0043] The airbag cushion 112 is a bag-shaped component that can be inflated by gas and expands and unfolds in an emergency such as when a vehicle is impacted, to restrain the occupant 150 sitting on the seat 102 (refer to Figure 7 (a), etc.). The airbag cushion 112 is in a wound or folded storage state before activation. The stored airbag cushion 112 cannot be viewed from the outside because it is covered by a seat cover or the like.

[0044] The inflator 114 is a gas generating device, and in this embodiment, a cylinder type (cylindrical type) is adopted. The inflator 114 is disposed along the seat back 104, and the long side is enclosed in the airbag cushion 112 in the vertical direction and is located at the lower rear side of the main chamber 118 described later. The inflator 114 is electrically connected to the vehicle side and is activated when receiving a signal caused by impact detection from the vehicle side, and supplies gas to the airbag cushion 112.

[0045] Currently popular inflators include types that fill with a gas generating agent and burn it to generate gas, types that fill with compressed gas and supply gas without generating heat, or hybrid types that utilize both combustion gas and compressed gas, etc. As the inflator 114, any type of inflator can be used.

[0046] The inflator 114 is provided with two bolts 116a and 116b, which are arranged separately in the longitudinal direction. The bolts 116a and 116b penetrate through the base fabric of the airbag cushion 112 and are exposed to the outside, and are fastened and fixed to the side frame 108 of the seat back 104. By passing the bolts 116a and 116b through the airbag cushion 112 and fastening them to the seat back 104, the airbag cushion 112 is also mounted on the seat back 104.

[0047] Figure 1 (b) illustrates Figure 1 the state after the inflation and deployment of the airbag cushion 112 in (a). When the side airbag device 100 detects a far-side collision through various sensors and a prescribed electronic control unit (ECU: Electronic Control Unit), the airbag module 110 provided on the far side is activated.

[0048] The inflator 114 ejects gas due to the activation signal sent from the above-mentioned ECU or the like. The airbag cushion 112 uses the gas from the inflator 114 to remove the skin of the seat back 104 and expands into the interior space.

[0049] As a part for restraining the occupant, the airbag cushion 112 of the present embodiment is configured to have a main chamber 118 with a relatively wide shape and a sub-chamber 120 protruding toward the occupant side from the main chamber 118.

[0050] The main chamber 118 constitutes the main part of the airbag cushion 112 and expands into an overall flat shape. The outer surface of the main chamber 118 is configured to have a main panel 118a on the occupant side on the left side in the vehicle width direction and a main panel 118b on the side opposite to the occupant on the right side in the vehicle width direction. The main panels 118a and 118b are made of base fabric and are integrally formed into a bag shape by sewing, bonding, etc. In addition, the main chamber 118 can also be formed by using textiles such as OPW (One-Piece Woven).

[0051] The sub-chamber 120 protrudes toward the occupant side and expands from a position slightly in front of the upper part on the occupant side of the main chamber 118. The sub-chamber 120 of the present embodiment is mainly used for restraining the head 154 of the occupant 150 (refer to Figure 7 (a)).

[0052] Figure 2 illustrates the airbag cushion 112 in (b) from various directions. Figure 1 The figure of the airbag cushion 112 in (b). Figure 2 (a) illustrates the airbag cushion 112 in (b) from the occupant side. Figure 1 The figure of the airbag cushion 112 in (b).

[0053] The inflator 114 of the main chamber 118 is built into the lower rear side, directly receives gas from the inflator 114, and expands and unfolds. Inside the main chamber 118, a reinforcing cloth 122 etc. is also provided near the installation position of the inflator 114.

[0054] Figure 2 (b) shows from the front Figure 2 (a) of the airbag cushion 112. The sub-chamber 120 is supported on the main chamber 118 and can contact the head 154 of the occupant 150 from the upper oblique direction (see Figure 7 (b)).

[0055] Figure 2 (b) The sub-chamber 120 of (b) uses an external lace 124 to assume a posture inclined obliquely downward. The external lace 124 is a cloth-like member formed of the same material as the main panel 118a etc., and is spanned between the front side of the sub-chamber 120 and the area below the sub-chamber 120 on the front side of the main chamber 118, and pulls the sub-chamber 120 downward and forward.

[0056] Figure 2 (a) The sub-chamber 120 of (a) is inclined downward from the rear toward the front, so that the front end portion 120a in the front-rear direction of the seat 102 of the sub-chamber 120 (refer to Figure 1 (b)) is located at a position about the distance H1 lower in the vertical direction than the rear end portion 120b. Therefore, the bending portion 128 described later is also formed by being inclined downward from the rear toward the front.

[0057] In addition, the sub-chamber 120 does not necessarily have to expand and unfold in an inclined posture, and may adopt a structure that expands and unfolds by expanding in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction.

[0058] Figure 3 is Figure 1 (b) A-A cross-sectional view of the airbag cushion 112 of (b). The sub-chamber 120 is connected to the main panel 118a on the occupant side of the main chamber 118, and protrudes toward the occupant side from the main chamber 118 and expands and unfolds.

[0059] The edge 126 on the occupant side of the sub-chamber 120 is bent and recessed toward the main chamber 118 side to form a bending portion 128. At this time, the sub-chamber 120 has a shape in which the front end portion 120a protrudes more toward the occupant side ( Figure 7 (the right side in (b)) than the rear end portion 120b. Thus, the bending portion 128 is bent in a form that gradually wraps around toward the occupant side from the rear toward the front.

[0060] Figure 4 illustrates Figure 2View of the state where the sub-chamber 120 of (b) is placed on a plane and unfolded. The sub-chamber 120 is formed by folding and overlapping a single panel member 130 at the center and sewing the curved edges 126a and 126b to each other, etc.

[0061] In the panel member 130, Figure 4 the upper side region 130a that becomes the upper side when forming the sub-chamber 120 is on the left side, Figure 4 and the lower side region 130b that becomes the lower side when forming the sub-chamber 120 is on the right side. A connecting portion 132 for connecting the external lacing 124 (refer to Figure 2 (b)) is provided on the front side of the lower side region 130b.

[0062] A connecting region 134 is formed at the center of the panel member 130. The connecting region 134 is a region connected to the main panel 118a (refer to Figure 2 (a)), and is formed in an elliptical shape across the center of the panel member 130.

[0063] A plurality of gas receiving ports 136a to 136d are provided in the connecting region 134. The gas receiving ports 136a to 136d are connected to the main panel 118a (refer to Figure 2 (a)) and receive the gas flowing out from the main chamber 118.

[0064] The sub-chamber 120 receives gas from the main chamber 118 (refer to Figure 2 (a)) through the gas receiving ports 136a to 136d and expands and unfolds. That is, the gas from the inflator 114 is first supplied to the main chamber 118, and the gas is supplied from the main chamber 118 to the sub-chamber 120. With this structure, the main chamber 118 and the sub-chamber 120 can be appropriately inflated and unfolded using the gas from the inflator 114.

[0065] Refer to Figure 2 (a) again. In the airbag cushion 112 of the present embodiment, another external lacing 138 is also provided. The external lacing 138 is connected to the upper part of the rear end portion 140 of the main chamber 118, and functions to pull the rear end portion 140 toward the side frame 108.

[0066] Figure 5 Shows Figure 2 the external lacing 138 of (a). Figure 5 (a) is a view separately showing the external lacing 138 in a state where it is extended to a plane. The external lacing 138 is a cloth-like member formed of the same material as the main panel 118a (refer to Figure 2 (b)) and the like, and one end side can be connected to the main chamber 118 (refer to Figure 2(a)) is connected to the upper part of the rear end portion 140, and the other end side can be fixed to the bolt 116a of the through side frame 108 (refer to Figure 6 (a)) by the bolt hole 144.

[0067] Figure 5 (b) is a diagram that magnifies and illustrates the outer lace 138 of Figure 2 (a). The bolt hole 146 provided in the main chamber 118 is the part where the bolt 116a on the upper side of the inflator 114 (refer to Figure 6 (a)) penetrates and protrudes to the outside. The bolt hole 144 of the outer lace 138 is structured to be hooked and fixed to the bolt 116a protruding from the bolt hole 146 of the main chamber 118.

[0068] When observing the airbag cushion 112 in the vehicle width direction, the connecting portion 142 is formed along the outer periphery of the upper part of the rear end portion 140 of the main chamber 118. In addition, the connecting portion 142 is in a state where the upper end of the outer lace 138 and the upper part of the rear end portion 140 of the main chamber 118 are sutured together. With these structures, the outer lace 138 can effectively tighten the rear end portion 140 of the main chamber 118 in the airbag cushion 112 to the side frame 108 side (refer to Figure 6 (a)).

[0069] The distance D1 from the lower end of the connecting portion 142 connected to the rear end portion 140 of the main chamber 118 in the outer lace 138 to the bolt hole 144 is set shorter than the distance D2 from the lower end of the connecting portion 142 in the main chamber 118 to the bolt hole 146 (D1 < D2). With this structure, the outer lace 138 can tighten the rear end portion 140 of the main chamber 118 downward and toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction, i.e., the occupant side.

[0070] Figure 6 is Figure 1 the sectional views of the airbag cushion 112 of Figure 6 (b). Figure 1 (a) is the B - B sectional view of the airbag cushion 112 of

[0071] The airbag cushion 112 and the inflator 114 are installed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the side frame 108. At this time, as shown in Figure 1 (a), the front edge 148 of the side frame 108 is configured to extend obliquely downward from the upper part to the front of the vehicle.

[0072] As shown in Figure 6As shown in (a), the outer tether 138 extends from the upper part of the rear end portion 140 of the main chamber 118, extends downwardly over the front edge 148 of the side frame 108 from above, and is hooked and fixed to the bolt 116a at a position lower than the rear end portion 140. Thus, the outer tether 138 can pull the rear end portion 140 of the main chamber 118 downwardly and inwardly of the side frame 108 via the front edge 148.

[0073] Figure 6 (b) is Figure 6 a C-C cross-sectional view of the airbag cushion 112 in (a). The structure of the side frame 108 of the seat 102 (refer to Figure 1 (a)) employed in the present embodiment extends in the direction of gradually expanding the width of the seat back 104 from the rear to the front of the seat back 104, that is, outwardly in the width direction of the seat back 104.

[0074] The outer tether 138 is in a tensioned state between the airbag cushion 112 and the side frame 108 when the airbag cushion 112 expands and unfolds. According to this structure, the outer tether 138 pulls the rear end portion 140 of the airbag cushion 112 toward the side frame 108 side, thereby holding the airbag cushion 112 in a posture along the side frame 108 and also suppressing the swing of the airbag cushion 112, and thus the occupant restraint performance of the airbag cushion 112 can be improved.

[0075] In particular, according to the above structure, even if the side frame 108 of the seat back 104 is formed in a shape that opens outwardly, and even if there is no other structure that supports the main chamber 118 from the side opposite to the seat 102, the airbag cushion 112 can be held in a posture along the side frame 108 by the tension of the outer tether 138, and the occupant restraint performance of the airbag cushion 112 can be improved.

[0076] Figure 7 is an illustration of Figure 1 (b) of the side airbag device 100 and the occupant 150. Figure 7 (a) is a view illustrating the side airbag device 100 as observed from the occupant side in the vehicle width direction. Figure 7 The occupant 150 in (a) illustrates a test dummy AM50 that simulates the physique (height 175 cm, weight 78 kg) suitable for 50% of the average American adult male.

[0077] As described above, the main chamber 118 expands and unfolds toward the side of the occupant 150. Moreover, the sub-chamber 120 is provided on the occupant side of the main chamber 118, and the lower side region 130b is at a position above the height of the shoulder 152 of the occupant 150 when it expands and unfolds. With this structure, the sub-chamber 114 can restrain the head 154 of the occupant 150.

[0078] Figure 7 (b) illustrates the side airbag device 100 as viewed from above the seat 102. The sub-chamber 120 can contact the head 154 of the occupant 150 from the side to the front using the bent portion 128. The head 154 of the occupant 150 is constrained by the bent portion 128 of the sub-chamber 120, thereby preventing forward movement to the distal side and also suppressing rotation centered on the neck.

[0079] According to the airbag cushion 112, the occupant-side edge 126 of the sub-chamber 120 has a curved concave curve, so that it can be constrained along the body of the occupant 150. In addition, the sub-chamber 120 is supported by the main chamber 118 over a wide range, and can effectively absorb energy when restraining the occupant. Therefore, for example, the sub-chamber 120 can also be used to restrain the head 154 of the occupant 150. Since it is known that the rotational movement of the head 154 easily increases the injury value, in this embodiment, the rotational movement of the head 154 and the like are suppressed by the sub-chamber 120, and the injury value of the occupant 150 can be appropriately reduced with a simple structure.

[0080] Figure 8 illustrates Figure 7 (a) shows the state of movement of the occupant 150 in an emergency. In an emergency, the occupant 150 is likely to perform an action of falling forward with the upper body centered on the waist, and accordingly the head 154 is also likely to move downward to the front.

[0081] As described above, the sub-chamber 120 protrudes obliquely downward toward the occupant 150 side from the main chamber 118 in the left-right direction of the seat 102 (refer to Figure 1 (b)), and also slopes forward from the rear in the front-rear direction. With this structure, the sub-chamber 120 can receive from the front lower side the action of the front side of the bent portion 128 contacting the head 154 of the occupant 150 from above and tilting forward toward the head 154.

[0082] According to the structure of this modification, by the sub-chamber 120 being inclined downward and forward toward the occupant side, the sub-chamber 120 can continue to restrain the head 154 of the occupant 150 before and after the action of the occupant 150 in an emergency. In particular, the sub-chamber 120 can contact the head 154 of the occupant 150 from the side and the front lower side using the bent portion 128, and can appropriately suppress rotation centered on the neck of the head 154. Therefore, in this modification as well, the rotational movement of the head 154 of the occupant 150 can be suppressed with a simple structure, and the injury value of the occupant 150 can be appropriately reduced.

[0083] In addition, in the present embodiment, the case where the airbag cushion 112 is provided on the distal side of the seat back 104 has been described. The airbag cushion 112 is provided on the distal side of the seat back 104 so as to be able to appropriately restrain the occupant 150 who wants to move to the distal side during a collision. However, of course, the airbag cushion 112 may be provided on the proximal side of the seat back 104, and in this case, the main chamber 118 and the sub-chamber 120 can also be used to appropriately restrain the passenger 150 (see Figure 7 (a)).

[0084] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the above-described embodiments are preferred examples of the present invention, and other embodiments can also be implemented or completed by various methods. As long as it is not particularly limited to the description of the gist in the present application specification, the present invention is not restricted by the shapes, sizes, and structural configurations of the detailed components shown in the drawings. In addition, the expressions and terms used in the present application specification are for the purpose of explanation, and are not limited thereto as long as there is no particularly limited gist description.

[0085] Therefore, those skilled in the art can clearly conceive of various modification examples or correction examples within the scope described in the claims, and they naturally also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0086] Industrial Applicability

[0087] The present invention can be used in a vehicle side airbag device for restraining an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat.

[0088] Reference Signs

[0089] 100... Side airbag device 102... Seat

[0090] 104... Seat back 106... Seat frame

[0091] 108... Side frame 110... Airbag module

[0092] 112... Airbag cushion 114... Inflator

[0093] 116a, 116b... Bolts 118... Main chamber

[0094] 118a, 118b... Main panels 120... Sub-chamber

[0095] 120a... Front end portion 120b... Rear end portion

[0096] 122... Reinforcing cloth 124... Outer tie

[0097] 126... Edge 128... Bending portion

[0098] 130…Panel member 130a…Upper side area

[0099] 130b…Lower side area 132…Connecting part

[0100] 134…Connecting area 136…Occupant

[0101] 136a~136b…Gas receiving port

[0102] 138…External tie 140…Rear end part

[0103] 142…Connecting part 144…Bolt hole

[0104] 146…Bolt hole 148…Front edge

[0105] 150…Occupant 152…Shoulder

[0106] 154…Head D1, D2…Distance

[0107] H1…Distance

Claims

1. A side airbag device for a vehicle, comprising a side frame on the seat back side of a vehicle seat and an airbag module mounted on the side frame, characterized in that, the airbag module includes: an airbag cushion, which is in a bag shape and in a prescribed storage form of being wound or folded, and is mounted outside the side frame in the width direction of the seat back; an inflator, which is mounted outside the side frame together with the airbag cushion; an external tie, which extends from a prescribed connection part at the rear end of the airbag cushion and is connected to the inner side in the width direction of the side frame below the connection part via the edge of the side frame, the external tie is in a tensioned state between the airbag cushion and the side frame when the airbag cushion expands and unfolds.

2. The side airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, the airbag cushion has: a main chamber, which expands and unfolds from the side frame towards the side of an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat; a sub-chamber, which protrudes and expands towards the occupant side from the main chamber, the edge on the occupant side of the sub-chamber is bent and recessed towards the main chamber side.

3. The side airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that, the edge on the occupant side of the sub-chamber is formed by a curve that is bent and recessed towards the main chamber side.

4. The side airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that, the sub-chamber is inclined downward from the rear towards the front so that the front end portion of the sub-chamber in the front-rear direction of the vehicle seat is located below the rear end portion.

5. The side airbag device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the side frame extends gradually in the direction of widening of the width of the seat back as it goes from the rear of the seat back towards the front.

6. The side airbag device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the prescribed connection part is formed along the outer periphery of the upper rear part of the airbag cushion.

7. The side airbag device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the prescribed connection part is in a state where one end of the external tie is sutured together with the sutured part at the rear end of the airbag cushion.

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