Far-side airbag device

Abstract

Far-side airbag device (15) comprising an airbag (19) wherein the airbag (19) is configured to be fixed to a vehicle (10) in a folded state, wherein the far-side airbag device (15) is configured, when an impact is applied from a lateral direction of the vehicle (10) onto a side wall (11) of the vehicle (10), to supply a filling gas for unfolding and inflating the airbag (19) forward from the rear in a space between seats (13, 14) arranged in a lateral direction of the vehicle (10), thereby restraining and protecting an area from the chest to the head of a vehicle occupant (P2) seated in a seat (14) located further away from the side wall (11) onto which the impact was applied, the airbag (19) being formed in a bag by circumferential areas of a first base fabric panel (26) and are connected to a second base fabric panel (27),the first base fabric layer (26) is located on a first side, which is a side opposite the vehicle occupant (P2) when the airbag (19) is deployed and inflated; the second base fabric layer (27) is located on a second side, which is opposite to the first side when the airbag (19) is deployed and inflated; the airbag (19) has a non-inflating area (28) that is not inflated in a section that is below a center in a vertical direction when the airbag (19) is deployed and inflated; and the non-inflating area (28) is formed by connecting the first base fabric layer (26) and the second base fabric layer (27) together; characterized in that in an upper inflation area (29) that is above the non-inflating area (28) when the airbag (19) is deployed and inflated,a length (A) from a rear end to a front end along an outer surface of the first base fabric panel (26) is longer than a length (B) from a rear end to a front end along an outer surface of the second base fabric panel (27), and the second base fabric panel (27) is partially folded and sewn, such that when the airbag (19) is unfolded and inflated, the length (A) from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the first base fabric panel (26) is longer than the length (B) from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the second base fabric panel (27) in the upper inflation area (29).

Description

BACKGROUNDTECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates to a far-side airbag device configured to deploy and inflate an airbag between adjacent vehicle seats when an impact of the vehicle is applied to a side wall of a vehicle from a lateral direction, such as a land vehicle, thereby protecting the vehicle occupant seated in the seat on the far side from the side wall from the impact.PRIOR ARTInternational Publication WO 2019 / 110 705 A1 discloses an example of such a far-side airbag device. Such a far-side airbag device includes an airbag mounted on a land vehicle seat. The airbag includes a chest cushion portion and a head cushion portion. The chest cushion portion is configured to restrain the chest of a vehicle occupant seated in the seat. The pillow portion is configured to restrain the head of the vehicle occupant seated in the seat. The pillow portion and the chest pad portion are separately formed and connected to each other at a connecting portion for forming the airbag.The above-described far-side airbag device is configured to, when the airbag is deployed, deploy the portion including the pillow portion and the connecting portion of the chest cushion portion toward the vehicle occupant seated in the seat, thereby restraining the head of the vehicle occupant.When the airbag is deployed, the above-described far-side airbag device retains not only the chest but also the head of the vehicle occupant. Thus, the pillow portion is provided in the chest pillow portion. Accordingly, the deployed airbag can restrain not only the chest but also the head of the vehicle occupant. However, this increases the amount of a base cloth required for forming the airbag. This in turn increases the size of the device.DE 10 2012 216 896 A1 discloses a side impact airbag. DE 10 2015 016 346 A1 discloses an airbag device for a motor vehicle and an airbag cushion for an airbag device. Further airbag devices are disclosed in JP 2004-217 184 A, JP 2009-29 182 A and JP 5 989 788 B2.SUMMARYIn view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present teachings to provide a far-side airbag device that can effectively restrain and protect a vehicle occupant while restraining an increase in the size of the far-side airbag device.The above object is achieved by a far-side air bag apparatus according to claim 1.This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.In a general aspect, a far-side airbag apparatus is provided that includes an airbag. The airbag is configured to be fixed to a vehicle in a folded state. The far-side airbag device is configured to, when an impact is applied from a side direction of the vehicle to a side wall of the vehicle, supply inflation gas for deploying and inflating the airbag forward from the rear side into a space between seats disposed in a width direction of the vehicle, thereby restraining and protecting a region from a chest to a head of a vehicle occupant seated in a seat farther from the side wall to which the impact is applied. The airbag is formed into a bag by connecting peripheral portions of a first base cloth sheet and a second base cloth sheet to each other. The first base cloth web is located on a first side, which is a side opposite to the vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed and inflated. The second base cloth web is on a second side that is a side opposite to the first side when the airbag is deployed and inflated. The airbag has a non-inflating region that is not inflated at a portion that is below a center in a vertical direction when the airbag is deployed and inflated. The non-inflating portion is formed by connecting the first base cloth web and the second base cloth web to each other. In an upper side inflation region that is above the non-inflation region in the deployed and inflated airbag, a length from a rear end to a front end along an outer surface of the first base cloth panel is longer than a length from a rear end to a front end along an outer surface of the second base cloth panel.Other features and aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a plan view showing a land vehicle equipped with a far-side airbag device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the land vehicle, a side wall, and seats shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view illustrating the far-side airbag apparatus of FIG. 1 attached to a frame of a seat back. FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing the seat and a vehicle occupant viewed from a side in a state where the airbag is deployed and inflated. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an upper side inflation portion of the airbag when inflated. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a manner in which the airbag is mounted on the frame of the seat. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a positional relationship between a vehicle occupant seated in the seat and the airbag deployed and inflated in the land vehicle. FIG. 8 is a side view of an airbag according to a modification. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the airbag of FIG. 8 is mounted on the frame of the seat.Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The drawings need not be to scale and the relative size, proportions, and representation of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, representation, and simplicity.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThis description provides a thorough understanding of the described methods, apparatus, and / or systems. Modifications and equivalents of the described methods, apparatus, and / or systems will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Sequences of acts are exemplary and may be changed as would be apparent to one skilled in the art, except for acts that necessarily occur in a particular order. Descriptions of functions and constructions known to those skilled in the art are omitted.Example embodiments may take various forms and are not limited to the examples described. However, the examples described are thorough and complete, and will fully convey the full scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.In this specification, "at least one of A and B" is to be understood to mean "only A, only B, or both A and B".A far-side airbag device 15 according to an embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings.As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a land vehicle 10 which is an example of a vehicle has side walls 11, 12 having doors and pillars on opposite sides in the width direction (the left-right direction) as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Seats 13, 14, the number of which is two in this example, are provided between the side walls 11, 12. The seats 13, 14 are arranged in the width direction of the land vehicle 10. The seats 13, 14 each include seat cushions 16 on which the vehicle occupant's lower bodies P 1, P 2 are placed, and backrests 17 that extend upward from the rear sides (the sides corresponding to the rear side of the sheet of FIG. 2 ) of the seat cushions 16 for supporting the vehicle occupant's upper bodies P 1, P 2.When an impact is applied from a side direction of the land vehicle 10 to the side wall 11 or the side wall 12 of the land vehicle 10, the vehicle occupant P 1 or P 2 seated in the seat 13 or 14 that is farther from the side wall 11 or 12 to which the impact has been applied starts to fall toward the side wall 11 or 12 to which the impact has been applied. Thus, the land vehicle 10 is provided with the far-side airbag devices 15. When an impact is applied to the side wall 11 or 12 from a lateral direction of the land vehicle 10, the far-side airbag device 15 restrains and protects the vehicle occupant P 1 or P 2 seated in the seat 13 or 14 that is farther from the side wall 11 or 12 to which the impact has been applied.As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, far-side airbag devices 15 are fixed to inner sides in the width direction (left-right direction) of frames 18 in the backrests 17 of the seats 13, 14 in the land vehicle 10. The far-side airbag device 15 fixed to the frame 18 in the seat back 17 of the seat 13 is located in a portion closest to the seat 14. The far-side airbag device 15 fixed to the frame 18 in the seat back 17 of the seat 14 is located in a portion closest to the seat 13.Each of the far-side airbag devices 15 includes an airbag 19 and an inflator 22. The airbags 19 are fixed to the frames 18 in the seat backs 17 of the seats 13, 14 of the land vehicle 10 in a folded state. The inflator 22 is a device that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 19. Each of the gas generators 22 is supported and covered by a bracket 23. Each bracket 23 is fixed to the frame 18 together with the airbag 19 by bolts 20 and nuts 21 while supporting the inflator 22.The structures of the seat 13 and the seat 14 around the far-side airbag devices 15 are identical except that they are symmetrical (bilaterally symmetrical) in the width direction of the land vehicle 10. Accordingly, only the structure including the far-side airbag device 15 at the seat 14 will be described.As shown in FIG. 4, the far-side airbag device 15 includes a controller 24 that controls supply of inflation gas to the airbag 19 through the inflator 22. The controller 24 is electrically connected to impact sensors 25 including acceleration sensors. The impact sensors 25 are provided in the side walls 11, 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The impact sensors 25 detect impacts applied to the side walls 11, 12 from the lateral directions of the land vehicle 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Based on the detection signals from the impact sensors 25, the controller 24 activates the inflators 22 to supply inflation gas to the airbags 19.As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the inflator 22 supplies inflation gas to the airbag 19, the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated so that the airbag 19 protrudes forward from the seat back 17 with the portion near the inflator 22 remaining in the seat back 17. After protruding from the seat back 17, the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated forward from the rear side in the space between the seat 13 and the seat 14 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ).When an impact is applied from a side direction of the land vehicle 10 to the side wall 11 or 12, the vehicle occupant P 1 or P 2 seated in the seat 13 or 14 that is farther from the side wall 11 or 12 to which the impact has been applied starts to fall toward the side wall 11 or 12 to which the impact has been applied. At the same time, however, the portion of the vehicle occupant P 1 or P 2 having the chest and the head is restrained and protected by the airbag 19 deployed and inflated forward from the rear side in the space between the seat 13 and the seat 14.That is, the airbag 19 prevents the vehicle occupant P 1 or P 2 seated in the seat 13 or 14 that is farther from the side wall 11 or 12 to which the impact has been applied from coming into contact with the inner parts of the land vehicle 10 or the other vehicle occupants P 1 or P 2 seated in the seat 13 or 14 that is closer to the side wall 11 or 12 to which the impact has been applied.As shown in FIG. 4, the airbag 19 is formed in the following manner. First, a base cloth sheet is folded half way and laid on itself in the thickness direction. The peripheries of the superposed portions are sewn together to form a bag. Specifically, the base cloth sheet of the airbag 19 is formed into a bag by sewing peripheries of a first base cloth sheet 26 and a second base cloth sheet 27 together. When the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated, the first base cloth sheet 26 is located on a first side, which is a side closer to the vehicle occupant P 2. When the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated, the second base cloth sheet 27 is located on a second side, which is a side opposite to the side closer to the vehicle occupant P 2 (the first side).The airbag 19 has two non-inflating regions 28 in a portion that is located below the center in the vertical direction (up-down direction) when the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated. The non-inflating regions 28 are formed by sewing portions of the first base cloth web 26 and the second base cloth web 27 together. The two non-inflating portions 28 are circular and arranged in the front-rear direction. The airbag 19 has an upper side inflation portion 29 which is located above the two non-inflation portions 28 when the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated.As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a length A in the upper side inflation region 29 of the deployed and inflated airbag 19 from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the first base cloth panel 26 is longer than a length B from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the second base cloth panel 27.In this example, a part of the second base cloth sheet 27 is folded (stuck) inward and sewn to form a folded portion 30, so that when the air bag 19 is deployed and inflated, the length A from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the first base cloth sheet 26 is longer than the length B from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the second base cloth sheet 27 at the upper side inflation portion 29. The length of the portion folded to form the folded portion 30 in the second base cloth sheet 27 is preferably in the range of 30% to 40% of the length of the second base cloth sheet 27 in the front-rear direction. This configuration stabilizes the behavior of the airbag 19 when deployed and inflated, while ensuring restraint of the vehicle occupant P 2 when the upper side inflation portion 29 is inflated.If the length of the portion folded to form the folded portion 30 is shorter than 30% of the length in the front-rear direction of the second base cloth web 27, the protruding amount of the upper side inflation portion 29 toward the vehicle occupant P 2 (the first side) would be reduced. This can mitigate restraint of the vehicle occupant P 2 by the upper side inflation portion 29. If the length of the portion folded to form the folded portion 30 is longer than 40% of the length in the front-rear direction of the second base cloth web 27, the shape of the upper side inflation portion 29 would be twisted when inflated. This can destabilize the behavior of the airbag 19 when inflated.Accordingly, when the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated, the amount of inflation in the width direction of the upper side inflation portion 29 toward the vehicle occupant P 2 (the first side) is larger than the amount of inflation toward the second side, which is opposite to the side corresponding to the vehicle occupant P 2 (the first side). The airbag 19 includes an inner tether 31 in the upper side inflation portion 29. the inner tether 31 extends substantially linearly to connect the front end and the rear end in the front-rear direction of the land vehicle 10 to each other in the upper side inflation portion 29. The inner tether 31 is located at a position overlapping with the folded portion 30 in the width direction.As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the far-side airbag device 15 includes a vehicle occupant-side tether 32. The vehicle occupant side tether 32 is located closer to the vehicle occupant P 2 than the airbag 19. the vehicle occupant side tether 32 connects the frame 18 of the seat back 17 of the seat 14 to the front non-inflating portion 28 at the first base cloth panel 26 of the airbag 19.The far-side airbag device 15 includes an outer tether 33. The outer tether 33 connects the frame 18 of the seat back 17 of the seat 14 to the upper side inflation portion 29 of the airbag 19. that is, the outer tether 33 has a first end sewn to the rear end of a substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the upper side inflation portion 29 and a second end fixed to the upper end of the frame 18 of the seat back 17. In this configuration, the portion of the frame 18 of the seat back 17 with which the outer tether 33 is fixed is located at a position higher than the portion of the frame 18 of the seat back 17 with which the bracket 23 is fixed.The far-side airbag device 15 includes a tether 34. The strap 34 has a first end connected to the frame 18 of the seat back 17 of the seat 14 and a second end connected to a frame 35 of the seat cushion 16 of the seat 14. A portion of the strap 34 between the first end and the second end is partially connected to the second base cloth panel 27 of the airbag 19. The belt 34 connects the upper end of the frame 18 of the seat back 17, the front end of the frame 35 of the seat cushion 16, and the second base cloth sheet 27 of the airbag 19 to each other.The portion of the frame 18 of the seat back 17 to which the webbing 34 is connected is the same as the portion of the frame 18 of the seat back 17 to which the outer tether 33 is fixed. The tether 34 is sewn to the second base cloth sheet 27 of the airbag 19 in one portion.The operation of the far-side airbag device 15 will now be described.As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 7, when an impact is applied from a side direction of the land vehicle 10 to one of the side walls 11, 12 of the land vehicle 10, for example, the side wall 11, the vehicle occupant P 2 seated in the seat 14 that is farther from the side wall 11 starts to fall toward the side wall 11. At the same time, the inflator 22 supplies inflation gas to the airbag 19 in a folded state inside the seat back 17 in the seat 14, thereby deploying and inflating the airbag 19 forward from the rear side into the space between the seats 13 and 14 arranged in the width direction of the land vehicle 10.Since the airbag 19 is pulled toward the frame 18 of the seat back 17 of the seat 14 by the vehicle occupant side tether 32 and the outer tether 33, the initial position of the deployment and the inflation is stabilized. The amount of inflation in the width direction of the upper side inflation portion 29 of the airbag 19 toward the vehicle occupant P 2 (first side) is larger than the amount of inflation toward the second side, which is opposite to the side corresponding to the vehicle occupant P 2 (first side). Thus, the airbag 19 is bent at the non-inflating portions 28 to incline toward the vehicle occupant P 2 (the first side).Further, since the inner tether 31 restricts the inflation in the front-rear direction of the upper side inflation portion 29 of the airbag 19, the inflation amount in the width direction is increased. The airbag 19 thus specifically retains and protects the head of the vehicle occupant P 2 while pushing the vehicle occupant P 2 back toward the side wall 12. At the same time, the airbag 19 is supported by the belt 34 from the second side, which is the side opposite to the vehicle occupant P 2 (the first side). That is, the belt 34 supports the vehicle occupant P 2 with the airbag 19 therebetween. The belt 34 and the airbag 19 thus effectively restrict the vehicle occupant P 2 from dropping toward the side wall 11.When an impact is applied from the side direction of the land vehicle 10 to the side wall 12 of the land vehicle 10, the vehicle occupant P 1 seated in the seat 13 that is farther from the side wall 11 starts to fall toward the side wall 12. At the same time, the occupant P1 is effectively restrained and protected in the dropping motion by the airbag 19 deployed and inflated by the seat back 17 of the seat 13 in the same manner as described above. In this case, the side opposite to the vehicle occupant P 1 corresponds to the first side, and the side opposite to the vehicle occupant P 1 (first side) corresponds to the second side.The above-described embodiment achieves the following advantages.(1) The far-side airbag device 15 includes the airbag 19 fixed to the land vehicle 10 in a folded state. The far-side airbag device 15 is configured to protect the vehicle occupant P 1 or P 2. Specifically, when an impact is applied from a side direction of the land vehicle 10 to the side wall 11 or 12 of the land vehicle 10, inflation gas is supplied to the airbag 19 so as to be deployed and inflated forward from the rear side in a space between the seats 13 and 14 arranged in the width direction of the land vehicle 10. Accordingly, the far-side airbag device 15 retains and protects the region from the chest to the head of the vehicle occupant P 1 or P 2 seated in the seat 13 or 14 that is farther from the side wall 11 or 12 to which the impact has been applied. The air bag 19 is formed into a bag by bonding the peripheral portions of the first base cloth sheet 26 and the second base cloth sheet 27 together. When the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated, the first base cloth panel 26 is located on the first side corresponding to the occupant seated in the seat that is farther from the side wall to which the impact has been applied. When the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated, the second base cloth sheet 27 is on the second side, which is the side opposite to the first side. The airbag 19 has the non-inflating regions 28 that are not inflated at a portion that is located below the center in the vertical direction when the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated. The non-inflating portions 28 are formed by connecting the first base cloth web 26 and the second base cloth web 27 to each other. In the upper side inflation portion 29 which is above the non-inflating portions 28 in the deployed and inflated airbag 19, the length from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the first base cloth sheet 26 is longer than the length from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the second base cloth sheet 27.When the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated, the upper side inflation portion 29 which is above the non-inflation portions 28 bulges to a greater extent on the first side (toward the vehicle occupant seated in the seat which is farther from the side wall to which the impact has been applied) than the second side. This bends the upper side inflation portion 29 at the non-inflating portions 28 so that the upper side inflation portion 29 inclines toward the first side (toward the vehicle occupant seated in the seat that is farther from the side wall to which the impact has been applied). The upper side inflation portion 29 of the airbag 19 thus effectively retains and protects the head of the vehicle occupant seated in the seat that is farther from the side wall to which the impact has been applied. Further, the amount of inflation of the second base cloth sheet 27 is reduced by the amount corresponding to the increase in the amount of inflation of the first base cloth sheet 26 in the airbag 19. This restricts an increase in the size of the airbag 19, and thus an increase in the size of the far-side airbag device 15 is restricted. Thus, it is possible to restrain and protect the head of the vehicle occupant seated in the seat that is farther from the side wall to which the impact has been applied in an effective manner while restraining an increase in the size of the far-side airbag device 15.(2) In the far-side airbag device 15, the second base cloth sheet 27 is partially folded and sewn so that when the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated, the length from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the first base cloth sheet 26 is longer than the length from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the second base cloth sheet 27 at the upper-side inflation portion 29.With this configuration, in the upper side inflation portion 29, simply by folding and sewing a part of the second base cloth sheet 27, the length from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the first base cloth sheet 26 when the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated is made longer than the length from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the second base cloth sheet 27 without increasing the number of components.(3) The far-side airbag device 15 includes the inner tether 31 in the upper-side inflation portion 29 of the airbag 19. the inner tether 31 connects the opposite ends of the upper-side inflation portion 29 to each other in the front-rear direction of the land vehicle 10.With this configuration, the inner tether 31 restrains inflation of the upper-side inflation portion 29 of the airbag 19 in the front-rear direction of the land vehicle 10 when the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated. This increases the inflation amount of the upper side inflation portion 29 in the width direction of the land vehicle 10.(4) The far-side airbag device 15 includes the vehicle occupant-side tether 32 configured to connect the frame 18 of the backrest 17 of the seat 13, 14 to one of the non-inflating regions 28 of the first base cloth panel 26 of the airbag 19.With this configuration, when the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated, the non-inflating portion 28 of the airbag 19 is pulled toward the frame 18 of the seat back 17 by the vehicle occupant side tether 32. This stabilizes the initial position of the airbag 19 when deployed and inflated.(5) The far-side airbag device 15 includes the outer tether 33 configured to connect the frame 18 of the seat back 17 of the seats 13, 14 to the upper-side inflation portion 29 of the airbag 19.With this configuration, when the airbag 19 is deployed and inflated, the upper-side inflation portion 29 of the airbag 19 is pulled toward the frame 18 of the seat back 17 by the outer tether 33. This stabilizes the initial position of the airbag 19 when deployed and inflated.(6) The far-side airbag device 15 includes the tether 34. The strap 34 has the first end configured to be connected to the frame 18 of the seat back 17 of the seat 13, 14 and the second end configured to be connected to the frame 35 of the seat cushion 16 of the seat 13, 14. The portion of the strap 34 between the first end and the second end is partially connected to the second base cloth web 27 of the airbag 19.With this configuration, the belt 34, with the airbag 19 therebetween, supports the vehicle occupant seated in the seat that is farther from the side wall to which the impact has been applied. This enables the airbag 19 to reliably restrain the vehicle occupant.(7) The inner tether 31 is located at a position overlapping with the folded portion 30 in the width direction.Since this configuration enhances the above-described advantage (3) of the inner tether 31, the inflation amount of the upper-side inflation portion 29 in the width direction of the land vehicle 10 is increased in an effective manner.ModificationsThe above-described embodiment may be modified as follows. The above-described embodiment and the following modifications may be combined as long as the combined modifications remain technically consistent with each other.As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the far-side airbag device 15 may include a front tether 36 instead of the tether 34. The front tether 36 connects the frame 18 of the seat back 17 of the seat 14 to the upper side inflation portion 29 of the airbag 19. that is, the front tether 36 has a first end sewn to the front end of a substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the upper side inflation portion 29 and a second end fixed to the upper end of the frame 18 of the seat back 17. In this case, the portion of the frame 18 of the seat back 17 to which the front tether 36 is connected is the same as the portion of the frame 18 of the seat back 17 to which the outer tether 33 is fixed. With this configuration, the tension of the front tether 36 caused by the inflation of the airbag 19 increases the force with which the airbag 19 restrains the head of the vehicle occupant. That is, the tension of the front tether 36 generated by the inflation of the airbag 19 reduces the amount of movement of, specifically, the head of the vehicle occupant seated in the seat that is farther from the side wall to which the impact has been applied.The strap 34 may be omitted.The outer tether 33 may be omitted.The vehicle occupant side tether 32 may be omitted.The inner tether 31 may be omitted.The airbag 19 may have a through hole in the second base cloth sheet 27. In this case, the periphery of the front side of the through hole and the periphery of the rear side of the through hole are sewn together, so that in the deployed and inflated upper side inflation portion 29, the length from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the first base cloth sheet 26 is longer than the length from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the second base cloth sheet 27 at the upper side inflation portion 29.The folded portion 30 of the airbag 19 may be removed except for the sewn portion.Instead of connecting the tether 34 to the second base cloth sheet 27 of the airbag 19 by sewing a portion, a tether loop may be provided on the outer surface of the second base cloth sheet 27 of the airbag 19, and the tether 34 may pass through the tether loop.The far-side airbag device 15 can be applied to a land vehicle 10 having three or more seats arranged in the width direction.The far-side airbag device 15 may be disposed in a vehicle other than a land vehicle, such as aircraft and ships.Various changes in form and details may be made in the above examples without departing from the scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples are for the purpose of description only and not for the purpose of limitation. Descriptions of features in each example are to be understood as being applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if sequences are performed in a different order, and / or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined differently, and / or replaced or replaced with other components or their equivalents. The scope of the disclosure is defined not by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents. All variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are encompassed by the disclosure.It is expressly emphasized that all features disclosed in the description and / or the claims are to be regarded as separate and independent from each other for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed invention independently of the combinations of features in the embodiments and / or the claims. It is expressly stated that all range specifications or specifications of groups of units disclose every possible intermediate value or subgroup of units for the purpose of original disclosure as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed invention, in particular also as a boundary of a range specification.

Claims

A far-side airbag device (15) comprising an airbag (19), wherein the airbag (19) is configured to be fixed to a vehicle (10) in a folded state, wherein the far-side airbag device (15) is configured to, when an impact from a lateral direction of the vehicle (10) is applied to a side wall (11) of the vehicle (10), supply inflation gas for deploying and inflating the airbag (19) forward from the rear side in a space between seats (13, 14) arranged in a width direction of the vehicle (10), thereby restraining and protecting a region from a chest to a head of a vehicle occupant (P2) seated on a seat (14) that is farther from the side wall (11) to which the impact has been applied, the airbag (19) is formed in a bag by connecting peripheral portions of a first base cloth sheet (26) and a second base cloth sheet (27) to each other, the first base cloth sheet (26) is located on a first side that is a side opposite to the vehicle occupant (P 2) when the airbag (19) is deployed and inflated, the second base cloth sheet (27) is located on a second side opposite to the first side when the airbag (19) is deployed and inflated, the airbag (19) has a non-inflating portion (28) that is not inflated in a portion that is below a center in a vertical direction when the airbag (19) is deployed and inflated, and the non-inflating portion (28) is formed by connecting the first base cloth sheet (26) and the second base cloth sheet (27) to each other, characterized in that in an upper side inflation region (29) which is above the non-inflation region (28) in the deployed and inflated airbag (19), a length (A) from a rear end to a front end along an outer surface of the first base cloth panel (26) is longer than a length (B) from a rear end to a front end along an outer surface of the second base cloth panel (27), and the second base cloth panel (27) is partially folded and sewn such that when the airbag (19) is deployed and inflated, the length (A) from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the first base cloth sheet (26) is longer than the length (B) from the rear end to the front end along the outer surface of the second base cloth sheet (27) in the upper side inflation portion (29).The far-side airbag device (15) according to claim 1, characterized by incorporating an inner tether (31) in the upper-side inflation portion (29) of the airbag (19), wherein the inner tether (31) connects opposite ends of the upper-side inflation portion (29) to each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle (10).The far-side airbag device (15) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bya vehicle occupant-side tether (32) configured to connect a frame (18) of a backrest (17) of the seat (14) to the non-inflating portion (28) of the first base cloth panel (26) of the airbag (19).The far-side airbag device (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized byan outer tether (33) configured to connect a frame (18) of a backrest (17) of the seat (14) to the upper-side inflation portion (29) of the airbag (19).The far-side airbag device (15) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized bya strap (34), wherein the strap (34) has a first end configured to be connected to a frame (18) of a backrest (17) of the seat (14) and a second end configured to be connected to a frame (35) of a seat cushion (16) of the seat (14), and a portion of the strap (34) between the first end and the second end is partially connected to the second base cloth web (27) of the airbag (19).

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