Occupant restraint device

Abstract

Provided is an occupant restraint device capable of improving occupant restraint performance and also capable of improving OOP performance by appropriately increasing the pressure of a necessary part of an airbag cushion to stabilize the necessary part. Comprises: an airbag cushion (11) which has an upper chamber (12) and a lower chamber (13) and which is inflated and deployed at a side portion of a vehicle center side of an occupant (5); an inflator (20) that injects gas that inflates the airbag cushion (11); the present invention is provided with an upper chamber (12), a lower chamber (13), a baffle plate (14) which divides the upper chamber (12) and the lower chamber (13), and an internal pressure adjusting device (30) which is configured such that the internal pressure of the lower chamber (13) is higher than the internal pressure of the upper chamber (12) when expanded and expanded. The airbag cushion (11) is configured such that, in a fully inflated and deployed state thereof, a part or all of the lower chamber (13) overlaps a console box (41) provided between adjacent seats in the vehicle when viewed from a side orthogonal to the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Conventionally, an airbag device has been known which has occupant restraint performance for coping with a far-side collision. In such an airbag device, in order to protect the far-side portion of the occupant, the airbag cushion expands and deploys on the center side of the passenger compartment.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an airbag device provided on the center side in the vehicle width direction of the side portion of the seat backrest. In this airbag device, the airbag cushion has an inflated portion that receives gas from an inflator and inflates, and a non-inflated portion. An opening is formed in the non-inflated portion, and a tether passes through the opening and is connected between the rear end portion and the front end portion of the airbag cushion.

[0004] Prior Art Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-51557 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] When protecting the far side of the occupant, for example, the amount of head movement is an important evaluation item. There are various methods to reduce the amount of head movement, but most of them achieve the target movement amount by means of increasing the size or pressure of the airbag cushion.

[0008] For example, the airbag cushion of the airbag device of Patent Document 1 is also a large-capacity airbag that protects from the occupant's head to abdomen. Therefore, when the output of the inflator is low, the internal pressure of the airbag cushion increases slowly, which may delay the inflation and deployment of the airbag cushion. In addition, if the internal pressure of the airbag cushion increases slowly, the position where the cracking predetermined portion of the side support portion starts to crack is not uniform, which may cause the deployment operation of the airbag cushion to become unstable.

[0009] If the output of the inflator is simply increased to prevent the above situation from occurring, the high-pressure airbag cushion will expand and deploy from the side support portion, so that the reaction force of the airbag cushion when restraining the occupant will increase, resulting in an increase in the head injury value and the like. That is, simply increasing the pressure of the airbag cushion may affect the performance of reducing harm when the occupant is in an inappropriate position, that is, within the inflation and deployment area of the airbag cushion, hereinafter referred to as the OOP (Out of Position) performance.

[0010] The present inventors have found that in order to simultaneously achieve the occupant restraint performance and the OOP performance, it is effective to improve the structure of the airbag device and the positional relationship between the inflated and deployed airbag cushion and the console box of the center console.

[0011] The present invention has been completed in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to realize an occupant restraint device that stabilizes by appropriately increasing the pressure of necessary parts of an airbag cushion, thereby enabling improvement of occupant restraint performance and also enabling improvement of OOP performance.

[0012] Means for solving the problem

[0013] The occupant restraint device of the present invention includes:

[0014] An airbag cushion having an upper chamber and a lower chamber and inflating and deploying at a side portion on the vehicle center side of an occupant;

[0015] An inflator that injects gas for inflating the airbag cushion;

[0016] A partition wall that partitions the upper chamber and the lower chamber; and,

[0017] An internal pressure adjustment device configured such that the internal pressure of the lower chamber is higher than the internal pressure of the upper chamber during inflation and deployment,

[0018] The airbag cushion is configured such that, in a state where it is fully inflated and deployed, when viewed from a side orthogonal to the vehicle longitudinal direction, a part or all of its lower chamber overlaps with a console box provided between adjacent seats in the vehicle.

[0019] In the present invention, the internal pressure adjustment device is an inner tube covering the inflator, and an upper end side gas ejection port and a lower end side gas ejection port are respectively provided at the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the inner tube. The lower end side gas ejection port opens into the lower chamber, the upper end side gas ejection port opens into the upper chamber, and the opening area of the lower end side gas ejection port can be larger than the opening area of the upper end side gas ejection port.

[0020] In the present invention, the internal pressure adjustment device is an inner tube covering the inflator, and an upper end side gas ejection port and a lower end side gas ejection port are respectively provided at the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the inner tube. The lower end side gas ejection port opens into the lower chamber, the upper end side gas ejection port opens into the upper chamber, and a check valve can be provided at the lower end side gas ejection port. When the internal pressure of the lower chamber is greater than a predetermined pressure, the check valve restricts the backflow of the gas supplied to the lower chamber.

[0021] In the present invention, the periphery of the lower end side gas ejection port can be a shape obliquely inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the inner tube.

[0022] In the above case, the periphery of the lower end side gas ejection port can be a shape inclined downward from the rear direction to the front direction of the vehicle.

[0023] In the present invention, the shape of the inner tube is such that the opening area of a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the inflator gradually increases from the upper end side gas ejection port toward the lower end side gas ejection port.

[0024] The present invention can be configured such that when an AM50 dummy for a crash test is seated in a regular position on the seat and the airbag cushion expands and deploys, at least a part of the lower chamber is located between the waist of the AM50 dummy and the console box.

[0025] The present invention can be configured such that when an AM50 dummy for a crash test is seated in a regular position on the seat and the airbag cushion expands and deploys, one side portion of the airbag cushion in the vehicle width direction contacts the console box, while the other side portion of the airbag cushion in the vehicle width direction contacts the AM50 dummy.

[0026] The present invention can be configured such that when observing the airbag cushion from the side orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction in a state where the airbag cushion has expanded and deployed, the lower chamber overlaps with the upper end edge of the console box.

[0027] The present invention can be configured such that when observing the airbag cushion from the front of the vehicle in a state where the airbag cushion has expanded and deployed, the thickness of the portion of the airbag cushion below the upper end edge of the console box in the vehicle width direction is shorter than the thickness of the portion of the airbag cushion above the upper end edge of the console box in the vehicle width direction.

[0028] In the present invention, the dividing portion can be provided to be inclined obliquely such that when the airbag cushion expands and deploys, it is located above on the rear side of the vehicle and below on the front side of the vehicle.

[0029] Advantages of the Invention

[0030] The occupant restraint device of the present invention includes: an airbag cushion having an upper chamber and a lower chamber and expanding and deploying at a side portion on the vehicle center side of the occupant; a cylindrical inflator that injects gas to expand the airbag cushion; a dividing wall that divides the upper chamber and the lower chamber; and an internal pressure regulating device. In the present invention, when the airbag cushion expands and deploys, the lower chamber is made to have a higher pressure than the upper chamber by the internal pressure regulating device.

[0031] Furthermore, in the present invention, the airbag cushion is configured such that when observed through from the side of the vehicle, a part or all of its lower chamber expands and deploys to a position overlapping with the console box provided between adjacent seats in the vehicle. Thus, the lower chamber can obtain a supporting force from the console box when restraining the abdomen and waist of the occupant.

[0032] In the present invention, within the time when the lower chamber is sufficient to restrain the abdomen and waist of the occupant, only the lower chamber is made to have a higher pressure by the internal pressure regulating device, and the lower chamber is stabilized by the supporting force obtained from the console box. The occupant restraint device of the present invention can make a necessary part of the airbag cushion have a higher pressure and stabilize the airbag cushion, thereby improving the occupant restraint performance.

[0033] On the other hand, the occupant restraint device of the present invention does not require high pressure in the upper chamber, and there is no risk of an increase in the head injury value. In the present invention, the lower chamber is stabilized by increasing the internal pressure and obtaining the support of the console box. As a result, the lower part of the upper chamber is supported by the lower chamber. When the airbag cushion expands and deploys, the up-and-down shaking is reduced, the inclination is suppressed, and the deployment action is stable. Therefore, the occupant restraint device of the present invention can also improve the OOP performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Figure 1A FIG. is a view showing a state where the airbag cushion expands and deploys as viewed from the side of the vehicle for the occupant restraint device according to the present embodiment.

[0035] Figure 1B FIG. is a view showing a state where the airbag cushion expands and deploys as viewed from the front of the vehicle for the occupant restraint device according to the present embodiment.

[0036] Figure 1C is Figure 1B a partially enlarged view of the portion where the airbag cushion contacts the console box in

[0037] Figure 2 FIG. is a perspective view of a seat frame forming a seat skeleton as viewed obliquely for the occupant restraint device according to the present embodiment.

[0038] Figure 3 is, for the occupant restraint device according to the present embodiment, Figure 3 (a) A view showing a longitudinal section of the airbag cushion, Figure 3 (b) A perspective view of an inner tube in which the opening area of the gas ejection port on the lower end side is larger than the opening area of the gas ejection port on the upper end side as viewed obliquely, Figure 3 (c) A view showing a modified example in which the periphery of the gas ejection port on the lower end side is inclined.

[0039] Figure 4 is for the occupant restraint device according to the first modified example of the present embodiment, Figure 4 (a) A view of the airbag cushion as viewed from the side of the vehicle, Figure 4 (b) A perspective view of the inner tube in the open state of the check valve as viewed obliquely, Figure 4 (c) A perspective view of the inner tube in the closed state of the check valve as viewed obliquely.

[0040] Figure 5 FIG. is a perspective view of an inflator as viewed obliquely for the occupant restraint device according to the second modified example of the present embodiment.

[0041] Figure 6 FIG. is a view showing a state where the airbag cushion expands and deploys as viewed from the side of the vehicle for the occupant restraint device according to the third modified example of the present embodiment.

[0042] Figure 7 This is a view of the airbag cushion as seen from the side of the vehicle, showing the occupant restraint device according to the fourth modification of the present embodiment. Detailed Embodiment

[0043] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0044] In the present invention, an "occupant" refers to, for example, a dummy equivalent to the average American male in physique, based on the frontal collision test dummy (Hybrid III AM50 / NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the United States] standard [frontal collision test dummy specified in 49 CFR Part 572 Subpart E and O]), which is approximately 175 cm in height, 88 cm in sitting height, and 78 kg in weight. However, the present invention is also applicable to other anthropomorphic dummies.

[0045] In this specification, "upper" and "upper side" refer to the head direction of the occupant 5 sitting in the normal position on the seat 1, and "lower" and "lower side" refer to the foot direction of the occupant 5. Here, the "normal position" refers to the center position in the left-right direction of the seat cushion 2 of the seat 1, and the back of the occupant 5 contacts the backrest 3 from top to bottom. In addition, "front" and "front side" refer to the front direction of the occupant 5 sitting in the normal position on the seat 1, and "rear" and "rear side" refer to the back direction of the occupant 5. Further, "left" and "left side" refer to the left hand direction of the occupant 5 sitting in the normal position on the seat 1, and "right" and "right side" refer to the right hand direction of the occupant 5.

[0046] The airbag module constituting the occupant restraint device 10 is installed inside the vehicle at the far side portion of the backrest 3 of any one of the two seats arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. In Figure 1B this case, the side away from the vehicle door D is the far side of the seat 1. In the present embodiment, an example of setting the airbag module in the driver's seat 1 is shown. The airbag module includes an airbag cushion 11 and an inflator 20.

[0047] [Seat General Configuration]

[0048] As Figure 1A shown, the seat 1 includes a seat cushion 2 that supports the buttocks and thighs of the occupant 5, and a backrest 3 that supports the back of the occupant 5. The backrest 3 is attached to the rear end of the seat cushion 2 and is tiltable. The headrest 6 is attached to the upper end of the backrest 3 by a rod-shaped support member 7. The seat 1 may also be formed by integrally molding the backrest 3 and the headrest 6.

[0049] As an example, as Figure 2 shown, a seat frame 4 is provided inside the backrest 3, and a seating frame 8 is provided on the bottom side of the seat cushion 2. The seat frame 4 and the seating frame 8 are connected by an inclination mechanism 9 to form the skeleton of the seat 1.

[0050] The seat frame 4 includes: a pair of side frames 4a extending in the vertical direction of the seat at the end portions on the left and right sides in the seat width direction inside the backrest 3; an upper frame 4b connecting the upper end portions of the pair of side frames 4a in the seat width direction; and a lower frame 4c connecting the lower end portions of the pair of side frames 4a in the seat width direction. The seat frame 4 is formed in a frame shape by the side frames 4a, the upper frame 4b, and the lower frame 4c. The side frame 4a is formed of, for example, metal or resin.

[0051] In the seat cushion 2, a cushion made of, for example, polyurethane foam material is provided on the upper side of the seating frame 8. In the backrest 3, a cushion is provided on the front side of the seat frame 4a. These cushions are covered with a skin material. The skin material is composed of a stretchable cloth or leather.

[0052] [Structure of Occupant Restraint Device]

[0053] As Figure 1A and Figure 1B shown, the occupant restraint device 10 is configured to include an airbag cushion 11 and an inflator 20. The occupant restraint device 10 has: an airbag cushion 11; which includes an upper chamber 12 and a lower chamber 13 and expands and unfolds at the side portion on the vehicle center side of the occupant 5; a cylindrical inflator 20 that injects gas to inflate the airbag cushion 11; and a baffle 14 that divides the upper chamber 12 and the lower chamber 13, and the baffle 14 serves as a dividing wall.

[0054] The airbag cushion 11 is a bag body made of cloth. A required number of base cloths of a required shape are prepared in advance and formed by sewing the peripheral portions and other predetermined positions of these base cloths. The airbag cushion 11 can be formed by using the "one-piece weaving" technology. The airbag cushion 11 becomes a storage form when stored in the seat 1 by being wound into a roll shape in a flat state or folded into a corrugated shape. The periphery of the airbag cushion 11 in the contracted state is covered with a covering material and stored along the side frame 4a of the seat 1.

[0055] The inflator 20 is connected to a connection portion provided inside the airbag cushion 11. The inflator 20 is a gas generating device formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and its axial direction is the same as the long side direction of the side frame 4a of the backrest 3. The inflator 20 is provided with an upper ejection hole 22a at its upper end portion and a lower ejection hole 22b at its lower end portion.

[0056] The inflator 20 is electrically connected to a control unit such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). When a side collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted based on a signal from a sensor, such as a side collision detection sensor for detecting a side collision of the vehicle and a side collision prediction sensor for predicting a side collision, the inflator 20 is activated by a signal from the ECU. When the inflator 20 is activated, gas is ejected from the upper ejection hole 22a and the lower ejection hole 22b.

[0057] The airbag cushion 11 is mounted on the side frame 4a of the backrest portion 3 by two studs 21 protruding at appropriate intervals along the length direction of the inflator 20 on the outer side surface. In addition, the studs 21 are fixed to the side frame 10 by passing through the insertion holes of the storage portion of the inflator 20, so that the airbag cushion 11 is also fixed to the side frame 4a.

[0058] The airbag cushion 11 is accommodated in a side support portion far from the backrest portion 3 of the seat 1 and is inflated by gas generated by the inflator 20 . The surface material of the backrest portion 3 ruptures due to the inflation pressure of the airbag cushion 11 , and the airbag cushion is inflated and deployed laterally outward in the width direction of the seat 1 relative to the occupant 5 .

[0059] The upper chamber 12 has a length in the up-down direction and the front-back direction that can receive the side parts of the torso of the occupant 5, such as the shoulders 5s, the chest 5c, and the upper arms 5ua. In addition, it has a length in the up-down direction and the front-back direction that can receive the head 5h in addition to the torso of the occupant 5. The lower chamber 13 has a length in the up-down direction and the front-back direction that can receive the side parts of the torso of the occupant 5, such as the abdomen 5a and the waist 5w. When a side collision occurs, the inflated and deployed airbag cushion 11 restrains the side parts of the occupant 5 moving in the collision direction, limiting the movement of the occupant 5.

[0060] like Figure 3 As shown in (a), the interior of the airbag cushion 11 is divided into an upper chamber 12 and a lower chamber 13 by a baffle 14. When the airbag cushion 11 is inflated and deployed, the baffle 14 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

[0061] The baffle 14 may be provided with a through hole 15 for supplying gas from the lower chamber 13 to the upper chamber 12 to adjust the air pressure after both the upper chamber 12 and the lower chamber 13 reach a certain air pressure. In addition, the up-down, front-back, and left-right dimensions of the upper chamber 12 and the lower chamber 13 are not limited to those shown in the drawings, but may be adjusted according to the shape and configuration of the seat 1.

[0062] The occupant restraint device 10 of the present embodiment includes an internal pressure regulating device 30 configured such that the internal pressure of the lower chamber 13 is higher than the internal pressure of the upper chamber 12 during inflation and deployment.

[0063] In the present embodiment, the internal pressure regulating device 30 is an inner tube 31 formed of a cylindrical body covering the outside of the inflator 20. The inner tube 31 is a flexible member formed in a cylindrical shape separately from the base fabric constituting the airbag cushion 11. An upper end side gas ejection port 32a is provided at the upper end portion of the inner tube 31, and a lower end side gas ejection port 32b is provided at the lower end portion thereof.

[0064] The lower end side gas ejection port 32b of the inner tube 31 opens into the lower chamber 13, and the upper end side gas ejection port 32a opens into the upper chamber 12. The inner tube 31 is disposed inside the airbag cushion 11 such that the upper end side gas ejection port 32a faces the inside of the upper chamber 12 and the lower end side gas ejection port 32b faces the inside of the lower chamber 13. In addition, as Figure 3 (a) shows, the inner tube 31 of the present embodiment has a shape in which the opening area of the lower end side gas ejection port 32b is larger than the opening area of the upper end side gas ejection port 32a.

[0065] In addition, as Figure 3 (a) shows, in the present embodiment, the inner tube 31 has a shape in which the opening area of the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical inflator 20 gradually increases from the upper end side gas ejection port 32a toward the lower end side gas ejection port 32b. In other words, the diameter of the cross section of the inner tube 31 in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the inflator 20 increases downward.

[0066] In Figure 3 (a) shown in the present embodiment, the periphery of the lower end side gas ejection port 32b is formed in a shape orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical inner tube 31.

[0067] In contrast, as shown in the modification of Figure 3 (c), the periphery of the lower end side gas ejection port 32b may also be a shape obliquely inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the inner tube 31. Specifically, as Figure 3 (c) shows, the periphery of the lower end side gas ejection port 32b may be formed in a shape inclined downward from the rear of the vehicle toward the front.

[0068] In addition, in the present embodiment, the airbag cushion 11 is configured such that, in the inflated and deployed state, when viewed from the side orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a part of the lower chamber 13 expands and deploys to a position overlapping the console box 41 provided on the upper part of the center console 40 provided between adjacent seats in the vehicle. Specifically, in the present embodiment, when viewed through from the side of the vehicle, approximately half of the lower chamber 13 overlaps the console box 41.

[0069] [Effects, etc. of the Present Embodiment]

[0070] In the present embodiment, the occupant restraint device 10 includes an airbag cushion 11 having an upper chamber 12 and a lower chamber 13, and expands and deploys on the side of the occupant 5 on the vehicle center side; a cylindrical inflator 20; and a baffle 14 that divides the upper chamber 12 and the lower chamber 13.

[0071] In the present embodiment, the internal pressure adjustment device 30 uses an inner tube 31 that covers the inflator 20, and is configured such that the opening area of the gas outlet 32b on the lower end side is larger than the opening area of the gas outlet 32a on the upper end side. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the airbag cushion 11 expands and deploys, more gas flows into the lower chamber 13 through the inner tube 31 in which the opening area of the gas outlet 32b on the lower end side is larger than the opening area of the gas outlet 32a on the upper end side, so that the lower chamber 13 is made to have a higher pressure than the upper chamber 12.

[0072] In addition, in the present embodiment, the inner tube 31 is used, and the opening area of the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical inflator 20 gradually increases from the gas outlet 32a on the upper end side toward the gas outlet 32b on the lower end side. Therefore, even if the gas flow rate flowing into the lower chamber 13 increases, by using the inner tube 31 whose diameter size of the cross section increases downward, the expanding gas can smoothly flow into the lower chamber 13.

[0073] In the present embodiment, the occupant 5 is an AM50 dummy (a dummy for a frontal collision test specified in the standards of Hybrid III AM50 / NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States] [49 CFR Part 572 Subpart E and O]). When the AM50 dummy is seated in the regular position on the seat 1 and the airbag cushion 11 expands and deploys, as Figure 1A and Figure 1B shown, at least a part of the lower chamber 13 is located between the waist 5w of the AM50 dummy and the console box 41. Therefore, the pressurized lower chamber 13 is located between the waist 5w of the occupant 5 and the console box 41, increasing the restraint force on the occupant 5 and improving the restraint performance.

[0074] In addition, in the present embodiment, when the occupant 5 (AM50 dummy) is seated in the regular position on the seat 1 and the airbag cushion 11 expands and deploys, as Figure 1CAs shown, one side portion 11a of the airbag cushion 11 in the vehicle width direction contacts the side portion of the console box 41, while the other side portion 11b of the airbag cushion 11 in the vehicle width direction contacts the waist 5w, abdomen 5a, etc. of the occupant 5 (AM50 dummy). Therefore, it is ensured that the lower chamber 13 of the airbag cushion 11 can obtain a supporting force from the console box 41 when restraining the waist 5w, etc. of the occupant 5. In addition, by stabilizing the lower chamber 13, the protection performance of the upper chamber 12 for the part above the abdomen 5a of the occupant 5 is also improved.

[0075] In the present embodiment, when the airbag cushion 11 is observed in a perspective view from the side orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction in the inflated and deployed state, as Figure 1A shown, the lower chamber 13 is provided to overlap with the upper end edge 41a of the console box 41. Specifically, as Figure 1B shown, the lower chamber 13 contacts the upper end edge 41a of the console box 41. Since the lower chamber 13 is provided to contact the upper end edge 41a of the console box 41, the main part of the lower chamber 13 is located on the side of the console box 41, and the part of the lower chamber 13 located above the upper end edge 41a of the console box 41 also maintains a high-pressure state. In the present embodiment, the lower chamber 13 itself is not easily bent at the upper end of the console box 41, and the protection performance for the part above the abdomen 5a of the occupant 5 can be improved.

[0076] In addition, in the present embodiment, as Figure 1C shown, when the airbag cushion 11 is observed from the front of the vehicle in the inflated and deployed state, if the thickness of the part of the airbag cushion 11 below the upper end edge 41a of the console box 41 in the vehicle width direction is set as A, and the thickness of the part of the airbag cushion 11 above the upper end edge 41a of the console box 41 in the vehicle width direction is set as B, then the relationship A < B is satisfied. That is, the length of the thickness A is shorter than the length of the thickness B. In this way, a part of the airbag cushion 11, more specifically, a part of the lower chamber 13 is clamped between the occupant 5 and the side surface of the console box 41, so that the airbag cushion 11 becomes stable by obtaining a strong supporting force from the console box 41.

[0077] In addition, in the present embodiment, the airbag cushion 11 is configured such that when observed in a perspective view from the side of the vehicle, a part of the lower chamber 13 expands and deploys to a position overlapping with the console box 41 provided between adjacent seats in the vehicle. As a result, as Figure 1B shown, the lower chamber 13 can obtain a supporting force from the console box 41 when restraining the abdomen 5a and waist 5w of the occupant 5.

[0078] In the present embodiment, within the time when the lower chamber 13 is sufficient to restrain the abdomen 5a and the waist 5w of the occupant 5, only the lower chamber 13 is pressurized to a high pressure by the internal pressure regulating device 30, and the inflated and deployed lower chamber 13 is stabilized by the supporting force obtained from the console box 41. The occupant restraint device 10 can pressurize and stabilize the necessary part of the airbag cushion 11, thereby improving the occupant restraint performance.

[0079] The occupant restraint device 10 of the present embodiment does not need to pressurize the upper chamber 12 to a high pressure, so there is no risk of an increase in the head injury value. In the present embodiment, the lower chamber 13 is stabilized by increasing the internal pressure and obtaining the supporting force from the console box 41. Therefore, the lower side portion of the upper chamber 12 is supported by the lower chamber 13. Thus, when the airbag cushion 11 is inflated and deployed, the up-and-down shaking is reduced, the inclination is suppressed, and the deployment action is stabilized. Therefore, the occupant restraint device 10 of the present embodiment can also improve the OOP performance.

[0080] In addition, as Figure 3 shown in the modification example of (c), if the periphery of the lower end side gas ejection port 32b is inclined obliquely with respect to the length direction of the inner tube 31, the lower end side gas ejection port 32b is substantially elliptical and becomes larger, and it is easy to make the opening area of the lower end side gas ejection port 32b larger than the opening area of the upper end side gas ejection port 32a.

[0081] [First Modification Example of the Embodiment]

[0082] In this modification example, as the internal pressure regulating device 30, an inner tube 31 having a shape different from that of the above-described embodiment is employed. An upper end side gas ejection port 32a is provided at the upper end portion of the inner tube 31, and a lower end side gas ejection port 32b is provided at the lower end portion. The inner tube 31 is disposed inside the airbag cushion 11 such that the lower end side gas ejection port 32b faces the inside of the lower chamber 13 and the upper end side gas ejection port 32a faces the inside of the upper chamber 12.

[0083] As Figure 4 shown, a check valve 33 is provided on the inner tube 31 of this modification example. When the internal pressure of the lower chamber 13 is greater than a predetermined pressure, the vicinity of the lower end portion of the inner tube 31 is folded back upward to regulate the backflow of the gas supplied to the lower chamber 13.

[0084] Therefore, in this modification example, when the airbag cushion 11 is inflated and deployed, after the internal pressure of the lower chamber 13 reaches the predetermined pressure, the backflow of the gas from the lower chamber 13 is restricted by the action of the check valve 33, so that the state where the lower chamber 13 is pressurized to a higher pressure than the upper chamber 12 is maintained for a long time.

[0085] In this modification example, the upper chamber 12 is not pressurized either, so there is no risk of an increase in the head injury value. By increasing the internal pressure and obtaining the support force from the control console box 41, the lower chamber 13 is stabilized, so that when the airbag cushion 11 expands and deploys, the up-and-down shaking is reduced and the inclination is suppressed.

[0086] In this modification example, as Figure 4 (a) shows, the periphery of the lower end side gas ejection port 32b is inclined obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the inner tube 31, so that the check valve 33 works more effectively, and the high-pressure state in the lower chamber 13 can be maintained more reliably and for a longer time.

[0087] In addition, in this modification example, the periphery of the lower end side gas ejection port 32b is shaped to incline downward from the rear to the front of the vehicle. This makes the check valve 33 work more effectively and can maintain the high-pressure state in the lower chamber 13 more reliably.

[0088] [Second Modification Example of the Embodiment]

[0089] In this modification example, the inflator 20 is changed, and a gas guide is provided inside the airbag cushion 11 to constitute an internal pressure regulating device 30.

[0090] As Figure 5 shown, the inflator 20 of this modification example has an upper ejection hole 22a for supplying gas to the upper chamber 12 to expand and deploy it, and a lower ejection hole 22b for supplying gas to the lower chamber 13 to expand and deploy it, and a side ejection hole 23 for increasing the internal pressure of the lower chamber 13 is provided on the side near the lower end of the inflator 20.

[0091] In this modification example, a gas guide is provided at a required position inside the airbag cushion 11. The gas guide guides the gas ejected from the upper ejection hole 22a among the gases generated from the inflator 20 to the upper chamber 12, and guides the gases ejected from the lower ejection hole 22b and the side ejection hole 23 to the lower chamber 13.

[0092] Thus, when a side collision occurs in the vehicle, the lower chamber 13 is supplied with gas through two places, namely the lower ejection hole 22b and the side ejection hole 23, relative to the upper chamber 12 which is supplied with gas only through the upper ejection hole 22a. Therefore, the amount of gas flowing into the lower chamber 13 can be increased.

[0093] In this modification example, it is also not necessary to pressurize the upper chamber 12, and there is no impact on the OOP performance. By increasing the internal pressure and obtaining the support force from the control console box 41, the lower chamber 13 is stabilized, thereby stabilizing the deployment action when the airbag cushion 11 expands and deploys.

[0094] [Third Modification Example of the Embodiment]

[0095] In this modified example, as Figure 6 shown, the airbag cushion 11 is configured to expand and deploy in a state where, when viewed from the side of the vehicle after the expansion and deployment is completed, the entire lower chamber 13 expands and deploys to a position overlapping with the console box 41 provided between adjacent seats in the vehicle.

[0096] Thereby, the lower chamber 13 can obtain greater support force from the console box 41 when restraining the abdomen 5a and the waist 5w of the occupant 5. By increasing the internal pressure and obtaining the support force from the console box 41 to stabilize the lower chamber 13, when the airbag cushion 11 expands and deploys, the up-and-down shaking is reduced and the inclination is suppressed.

[0097] [Fourth Modified Example of the Embodiment]

[0098] In this modified example, a baffle 14 that divides the upper chamber 12 and the lower chamber 13 is obliquely inclined. Specifically, as Figure 7 shown, the baffle 14 in this modified example is obliquely inclined, and when the airbag cushion 11 expands and deploys, it is located at an upper position at the rear side of the vehicle and at a lower position at the front side of the vehicle. As a result, in this modified example, the area where the high-pressure lower chamber 13 restrains the back side of the occupant 5 can be increased.

[0099] In this modified example, the leading edge portion 13a of the portion of the lower chamber 13 in contact with the baffle 14 is provided at a position obliquely below with respect to the front direction of the vehicle. On the other hand, the trailing edge portion 13b of the portion of the lower chamber 13 in contact with the baffle 14 is provided at a position obliquely above with respect to the rear direction of the vehicle. By arranging the baffle 14 in this inclined manner, it is easy to arrange the lower chamber 13 to overlap with the upper end edge 41a of the console box 41. By arranging the lower chamber 13 to contact the upper end edge 41a of the console box 41, the portion above the upper end edge 41a of the lower chamber 13 is maintained in a high-pressure state. Thereby, it is difficult for the lower chamber 13 to bend at the upper end of the console box 41, and thus the protection performance for the portion above the abdomen 5a of the occupant 5 is also improved.

[0100] In this modified example, the inner tube 31 is provided inside the airbag cushion 11 such that the lower end side gas ejection port 32b faces the inside of the lower chamber 13 and the upper end side gas ejection port 32a faces the inside of the upper chamber 12. In this modified example, the length of the inner tube 31 in the vertical direction may be set to a necessary length.

[0101] [Other Modified Examples]

[0102] In the above-described embodiment, the inflator 20 can be configured to be divided into multiple parts or multiple inflators can be prepared in advance, and the flow rate of the inflation gas can be individually set by adjusting the amount of the gas generant according to their respective set pressures. In this case, the internal pressure regulating device 13 can connect the inflator with a small inflation gas flow rate to the upper chamber 12 and connect the inflator with a large inflation gas flow rate to the lower chamber 13.

[0103] In the above-described embodiment, the structures shown in the respective modification examples can be combined. For example, when the inner tube 31 is used as the internal pressure regulating device 30, a structure in which a difference is provided in the opening areas of the gas ejection ports 32a and 32b on the upper end side and the lower end side and a structure in which the check valve 33 is provided on the lower end side gas ejection port 32b can be combined. In addition, a structure using the inner tube 31 and a structure of the inflator 20 having Figure 5 the side ejection holes 23 shown can also be combined.

[0104] In the above-described embodiment, the airbag module constituting the occupant restraint device 10 can be housed inside the side surface on the far side of the backrest of the front passenger seat.

[0105] In the above-described embodiment, the occupant restraint device 10 is not limited to being installed in the front seats of the vehicle, and can also be installed in the rear seats. When the second row seats or the third row seats of the vehicle are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction, the occupant restraint device 10 can be provided in the second row seats or the third row seats. Industrial applicability

[0106] The structure of the present invention does not depend on a specific vehicle model and can be applied to any vehicle.

[0107] Symbol description

[0108] 1 Seat

[0109] 2 Seat cushion

[0110] 3 Backrest

[0111] 5 Occupant

[0112] 10 Occupant restraint device

[0113] 11 Airbag cushion

[0114] 11a One side portion

[0115] 11b The other side portion

[0116] 12 Upper chamber

[0117] 13 Lower chamber

[0118] 13a Leading edge portion

[0119] 14 Baffle (partition wall)

[0120] 20 Inflator

[0121] 21 Stud

[0122] 22a Upper ejection hole

[0123] 22b Lower ejection hole

[0124] 23 Side ejection hole

[0125] 30 Internal pressure regulating device

[0126] 31 Inner tube

[0127] 32a Upper end side gas ejection port

[0128] 32b Lower end side gas ejection port

[0129] 33 Check valve

[0130] 41 Control console box

[0131] 41a Upper edge

Claims

1. An occupant restraint device, comprising: an airbag cushion having an upper chamber and a lower chamber and inflating and deploying at a side portion on the vehicle center side of the occupant; an inflator that injects gas for inflating the airbag cushion; a partition wall that partitions the upper chamber and the lower chamber; and an internal pressure regulating device configured such that the internal pressure of the lower chamber is higher than the internal pressure of the upper chamber during inflation and deployment, the airbag cushion being configured such that in a state where it is fully inflated and deployed, when viewed from a side orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction, a part or all of the lower chamber overlaps with a console box provided between adjacent seats in the vehicle.

2. The occupant restraint device according to claim 1, wherein, the internal pressure regulating device is an inner tube covering the inflator, an upper end side gas ejection port and a lower end side gas ejection port are respectively provided at an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the inner tube, the lower end side gas ejection port opens into the lower chamber, the upper end side gas ejection port opens into the upper chamber, and the opening area of the lower end side gas ejection port is larger than the opening area of the upper end side gas ejection port.

3. The occupant restraint device according to claim 1, wherein, the internal pressure regulating device is an inner tube covering the inflator, an upper end side gas ejection port and a lower end side gas ejection port are respectively provided at an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the inner tube, the lower end side gas ejection port opens into the lower chamber, the upper end side gas ejection port opens into the upper chamber, and a check valve is provided on the lower end side gas ejection port, and when the internal pressure of the lower chamber is greater than a predetermined pressure, the check valve restricts the backflow of the gas supplied to the lower chamber.

4. The occupant restraint device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, the periphery of the lower end side gas ejection port is shaped to be obliquely inclined with respect to the length direction of the inner tube.

5. The occupant restraint device according to claim 4, wherein, the periphery is shaped to be inclined downward from the rear of the vehicle toward the front.

6. The occupant restraint device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, the shape of the inner tube is such that the opening area of a cross section in a direction orthogonal to the length direction of the inflator gradually increases from the upper end side gas ejection port toward the lower end side gas ejection port.

7. The occupant restraint device according to claim 1, wherein, when an AM50 dummy for a crash test is seated in a regular position on the seat and the airbag cushion inflates and deploys, at least a part of the lower chamber is located between the waist of the AM50 dummy and the console box.

8. The occupant restraint device according to claim 1, wherein, when an AM50 dummy for a crash test is seated in a regular position on the seat and the airbag cushion inflates and deploys, one side portion of the airbag cushion in the vehicle width direction contacts the console box, while the other side portion of the airbag cushion in the vehicle width direction contacts the AM50 dummy.

9. The occupant restraint device according to claim 1, wherein, when the airbag cushion is viewed from a side orthogonal to the vehicle front-rear direction in a state where the airbag cushion is inflated and deployed, the lower chamber overlaps with an upper end edge of the console box.

10. The occupant restraint device according to claim 1, wherein, in a state where the airbag cushion is inflated and deployed, when observing the airbag cushion from the front of the vehicle, a thickness in a vehicle width direction of a portion of the airbag cushion below an upper end edge of the console box is shorter than a thickness in the vehicle width direction of a portion of the airbag cushion above the upper end edge of the console box.

11. The occupant restraint device according to claim 1, wherein, the dividing portion is provided to be inclined obliquely such that when the airbag cushion is inflated and deployed, it is located above at a rear side of the vehicle and below at a front side of the vehicle.

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