Far-side airbag device for vehicle

Abstract

To improve restraint performance regarding a crew member.SOLUTION: A far-side airbag device 20 for a vehicle is given in which: an air bag 22 includes an air bag body 24 annularly expanding and developing; and the air bag body 24 includes a pair of upper and lower first inflation parts 24A which is expanded and developed in a concave way opened for a driver seat occupant P1 side, and a pair of front and rear second inflation parts 24B which is connected with end parts of the pair of first inflation parts 24A. The pair of front and rear second inflation parts 24B is connected by a first restraint cloth 26, and a space surrounded by the air bag body 24 is blocked by the second restraint cloth 28 so that the air bag body 24 is constructed as a part of the air bag 22 to be capable of annularly expanding and developing the air bag 22 as a whole. Thereby, capacity of a portion into which gas is supplied in the air bag 22 can be small so that the air bag 22 can be expanded and developed during an early stage to be capable of restraining the heads and the upper bodies of the driver seat occupant P1 and a front passenger seat occupant P2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a far side airbag device for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] In the vehicle occupant restraint system described in Patent Document 1 below, a lower portion of the far side airbag is constituted by a sub-bag, and an upper portion of the far side airbag is constituted by a main bag. When the vehicle occupant restraint system is activated, gas from an inflator is supplied to the main bag via the sub-bag, and the far side airbag is inflated and deployed. Specifically, the sub-bag is disposed between the occupant's hips and the center console box, and is disposed above the center console box. As a result, the sub-bag is supported from below by the upper surface of the center console box, and the far side airbag is held. Therefore, the occupant who moves toward the center in the vehicle width direction during a side collision can be restrained by the far side airbag, thereby protecting the occupant. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-108740 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In an airbag device, for example, by reducing the capacity of the airbag, the airbag is inflated and deployed early, thereby improving the restraint performance for the occupant.

[0005] In contrast, the far side airbag of the vehicle occupant restraint system is composed of a main bag and a sub bag as described above, and the far side airbag is relatively large. Therefore, the vehicle occupant restraint system has room for improvement in terms of improving the restraint performance for the occupant by inflating and deploying the far side airbag early.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a far side airbag device for a vehicle that can improve the restraint performance for an occupant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] and a far side airbag device for a vehicle, the far side airbag device including: an inflator that is provided in a seat back of a vehicle seat in which an occupant is seated and that generates gas when activated; and a far side airbag that is provided in the seat back and that receives a supply of gas from the inflator and that inflates and deploys from the seat back inward in a vehicle width direction to be positioned inward in the vehicle width direction of the occupant and above a center console in the vehicle, the far side airbag including an airbag body that is inflated and deployed in an annular shape and has a pair of upper and lower first inflatable sections that are inflated and deployed in a concave shape that is open to the occupant in a plan view; and a pair of front and rear second inflatable sections that are inflated and deployed in a state extended in the vehicle vertical direction and connect ends of the pair of upper and lower first inflatable sections; a first fabric that connects the pair of front and rear second inflatable sections and has a restraining surface that faces the head and upper body of the occupant in the vehicle width direction when the far side airbag is inflated and deployed; and a second fabric that has an outer periphery that is connected to the airbag body and that closes a space surrounded by the airbag body when the far side airbag is inflated and deployed. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to improve the restraint performance for an occupant. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view seen from above the vehicle showing the front part of a cabin of a vehicle to which the far side airbag device for a vehicle according to the present embodiment is applied, showing the far side airbag in an inflated and deployed state. [Diagram 2] 2 is a side view of the far side airbag device for a vehicle shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the left side of the vehicle. [Diagram 3] 2 is an enlarged plan view showing the periphery of the far side airbag device for a vehicle shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view of the far side airbag shown in FIG. 3, as viewed diagonally from the left rear of the vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the arrows FR, UP, and LH shown as appropriate in the drawings respectively indicate the front side, upper side, and left side (one side in the vehicle width direction) of a vehicle (automobile) V to which the far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle is applied. In the following description, when the up-down, front-rear, and left-right directions are used, they refer to the up-down direction, the front-rear direction, and the left-right direction of the vehicle, unless otherwise specified.

[0011] Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of the front part of a cabin CA of a vehicle V to which a far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle is applied. Note that Fig. 1 shows a state in which a far side airbag 22 of the far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle is inflated and deployed. Below, a schematic configuration of the interior of the cabin CA will be first described, and then the far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle will be described.

[0012] (About the outline of the interior of the cabin CA) A driver's seat 10 serving as a vehicle seat is provided on the left side at the front of the cabin CA. The driver's seat 10 includes a seat cushion 10A that supports the buttocks of a seated occupant P1 (hereinafter, referred to as the driver's seat occupant P1), and a seat back 10B that supports the back of the driver's seat occupant P1, and the lower end of the seat back 10B is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 10A.

[0013] A passenger seat 12 serving as a vehicle seat is provided on the right side at the front of the cabin CA. Similar to the driver's seat 10, the passenger seat 12 includes a seat cushion 12A that supports the buttocks of a seated occupant P2 (hereinafter referred to as the passenger seat occupant P2) and a seat back 12B that supports the back of the passenger seat occupant P2, and the lower end of the seat back 12B is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 12A.

[0014] A center console 14 extending in the front-rear direction is provided in the center of the front part of the cabin CA in the vehicle width direction between the driver's seat 10 and the passenger seat 12, and the center console 14 separates the driver's seat 10 from the passenger seat 12. The front end of the center console 14 is connected to an instrument panel 16 provided at the front end of the cabin CA.

[0015] (Regarding the far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle) 1 to 4, a far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle is provided within an inner end portion in a vehicle width direction of a seat back 10B of a driver's seat 10. The far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle includes a far side airbag 22 (hereinafter simply referred to as an airbag 22), an inflator 30 (gas generator) that generates gas upon activation and supplies the gas to the airbag 22, and an airbag ECU 32 for activating the inflator 30.

[0016] The airbag 22 is accommodated in a bag case (not shown) in a folded state, and the bag case is fixed to a seat back frame (not shown) which is a framework member of the seat back 10B. The airbag 22 includes an airbag body 24, a first restraining cloth 26 as a first cloth, and a second restraining cloth 28 as a second cloth.

[0017] The airbag body 24 is formed into a substantially hollow ring shape by sewing one or more base fabrics, and the inside of the airbag body 24 is configured as an air chamber that receives gas from the inflator 30. When gas is supplied to the airbag body 24 from the inflator 30, the airbag body 24 is inflated and deployed from the seat back 10B toward the center (inner side) in the vehicle width direction, and is set to be disposed between the driver's seat occupant P1 and the passenger seat occupant P2 and above the center console 14. That is, the airbag body 24 protrudes forward from the seat back 10B and is disposed between the driver's seat 10 and the passenger seat 12.

[0018] The airbag body 24 in the inflated and deployed state extends in the vertical direction. Specifically, the airbag body 24 includes a pair of upper and lower first inflatable portions 24A constituting the upper and lower ends of the airbag body 24, and a pair of front and rear second inflatable portions 24B connecting the upper and lower pair of first inflatable portions 24A. The first inflatable portion 24A is formed in a concave shape (approximately U-shaped) that is open to the driver's seat occupant P1 side (outside in the vehicle width direction, left side) in a plan view. The second inflatable portion 24B extends in the vertical direction and connects the front ends and rear ends of the upper and lower first inflatable portions 24A, respectively. That is, in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 22, the airbag body 24 is inflated and deployed in a rectangular ring shape and is inflated and deployed in a shape bent into a substantially U-shape that is open to the left side in a plan view. The lower first inflatable portion 24A is disposed above the center console 14, and the airbag body 24 (airbag 22) is supported by the center console 14 from below.

[0019] A gas supply section 24C is provided in the vertical middle of the rear second inflation section 24B. The gas supply section 24C is formed in a generally cylindrical shape with the axial direction being in the left-right direction, protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the second inflation section 24B, and communicates between the inside of the airbag body 24 and the inside of the gas supply section 24C.

[0020] The first restraining cloth 26 is formed in a substantially rectangular sheet shape with the thickness direction being in the left-right direction. The front end of the first restraining cloth 26 is sewn to the second inflatable portion 24B at the front side of the airbag body 24, and the rear end of the first restraining cloth 26 is sewn to the second inflatable portion 24B at the rear side of the airbag body 24, so that the pair of front and rear second inflatable portions 24B are connected by the first restraining cloth 26. That is, the first restraining cloth 26 restricts the displacement of the pair of second inflatable portions 24B outward in the front-rear direction. In addition, in the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 22, the first restraining cloth 26 is in a state where it is pulled outward in the front-rear direction by the pair of front and rear second inflatable portions 24B, so that the first restraining cloth 26 constitutes the left end portion of the airbag 22. The left surface of the first restraining cloth 26 is a restraining surface 26A, and the restraining surface 26A faces the head and upper body of the driver's seat occupant P1 in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 2). That is, the front-rear and up-down dimensions of the airbag 22 are set so that the airbag 22 overlaps with the heads and upper bodies of the driver seat occupant P1 and the passenger seat occupant P2 when viewed from the vehicle width direction. As a result, the head and upper body of the driver seat occupant P1, who moves inward (toward the center) in the vehicle width direction during a side collision, are received and restrained by the first restraining cloth 26. In this embodiment, the driver seat occupant P1 and the passenger seat occupant P2 are dummies of AM50 (50th percentile of American adult males).

[0021] The second restraining cloth 28 is formed in a substantially rectangular sheet shape, and the outer periphery of the second restraining cloth 28 is sewn to the airbag body 24, so that the space surrounded by the airbag body 24 is closed by the second restraining cloth 28. That is, when the airbag 22 is in an inflated and deployed state, the second restraining cloth 28 is bent in a U-shape that is open toward the first restraining cloth 26 side in a plan view, and the airbag 22 is deployed as a whole in a cylindrical shape with the vertical direction as the axial direction. Then, the head and upper body of the passenger seat occupant P2 that moves toward the inside (center) in the vehicle width direction during a side collision are received and restrained by the first inflatable portion 24A of the airbag body 24 and the second restraining cloth 28.

[0022] The inflator 30 is a so-called cylinder type gas generating device. The inflator 30 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with the left-right direction as the axial direction, and is fixed to the seat back frame of the seat back 10B. The right end of the inflator 30 is inserted into the gas supply section 24C of the airbag body 24, and the inflator 30 is connected to the gas supply section 24C. The inflator 30 is electrically connected to the airbag ECU 32, and the inflator 30 is activated by the control of the airbag ECU 32. When the inflator 30 is activated, gas ejected from a gas ejection port formed at the right end of the inflator 30 is supplied into the airbag body 24, and the airbag 22 is inflated and deployed. When the airbag 22 is inflated and deployed, the inflation pressure of the airbag 22 tears open the inner part of the skin of the seat back 10B in the vehicle width direction, and the airbag 22 is inflated and deployed between the driver's seat occupant P1 and the passenger seat occupant P2.

[0023] Further, a collision sensor 34 for detecting a side collision of the vehicle V is electrically connected to the airbag ECU 32, and the collision sensor 34 is configured to output a detection signal to the airbag ECU 32. The airbag ECU 32 is configured to activate the inflator 30 when it detects or predicts a side collision of the vehicle V based on information from the collision sensor 34.

[0024] (Action and effect) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0025] In the far-side airbag device 20 for a vehicle configured as described above, when the airbag ECU 32 detects or predicts a side collision of the vehicle V based on a signal from the collision sensor 34, it activates the inflator 30. As a result, gas ejected from the inflator 30 is supplied into the airbag body 24 of the airbag 22, and the airbag 22 tears open the skin of the seat back 10B and is inflated and deployed inward in the vehicle width direction of the seat back 10B. Specifically, the airbag 22 is deployed as a whole in a cylindrical shape with the axial direction being the up-down direction, and is disposed above the center console 14 and between the driver's seat occupant P1 and the passenger seat occupant P2. More specifically, the lower first inflatable portion 24A of the airbag body 24 is disposed above the center console 14. In addition, the first restraining cloth 26 of the airbag 22 is deployed on the inside of the driver's seat occupant P1 in the vehicle width direction, and the restraining surface 26A of the first restraining cloth 26 is arranged to face the head and upper body of the driver's seat occupant P1 in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the second restraining cloth 28 of the airbag 22 is deployed so as to close the space surrounded by the airbag body 24.

[0026] When the driver's seat occupant P1 moves inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision, the head and upper body of the driver's seat occupant P1 come into contact with the restraining surface 26A of the first restraining cloth 26, and the first restraining cloth 26 starts restraining the head and upper body of the driver's seat occupant P1. When the driver's seat occupant P1 moves further inward in the vehicle width direction, the first restraining cloth 26 curves in a concave shape open to the outside in the vehicle width direction (toward the driver's seat 10) in a plan view, and the airbag body 24 deforms so that the second inflatable portions 24B of the airbag body 24 approach each other. That is, the first restraining cloth 26 restrains the driver's seat occupant P1 so as to wrap the head and upper body of the driver's seat occupant P1 from both front and rear directions. At this time, a reaction force acts upward from the center console 14 on the lower first inflatable portion 24A, and the center console 14 supports the airbag 22 from below, and the internal pressure of the airbag body 24 increases due to the deformation of the airbag body 24. Therefore, the airbag 22 can absorb the collision energy of the driver's seat occupant P1 while effectively restraining the driver's seat occupant P1 moving inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0027] On the other hand, when the passenger seat occupant P2 moves inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision, the head and upper body of the passenger seat occupant P2 come into contact with the upper first inflatable portion 24A and the second restraining cloth 28 of the airbag 22, and the airbag 22 starts restraining the head and upper body of the passenger seat occupant P2. When the passenger seat occupant P2 moves further inward in the vehicle width direction, the first inflatable portion 24A and the second restraining cloth 28 are deformed to be recessed. That is, the first inflatable portion 24A and the second restraining cloth 28 restrain the passenger seat occupant P2 so as to wrap around the head and upper body. At this time, as described above, a reaction force acts upward from the center console 14 on the lower first inflatable portion 24A, and the airbag 22 is supported by the center console 14, and the internal pressure of the airbag body 24 increases due to the deformation of the airbag body 24. Therefore, the airbag 22 can absorb the collision energy of the passenger seat occupant P2 while effectively restraining the passenger seat occupant P2 moving inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0028] Here, in the far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle, the airbag 22 has an airbag body 24 that inflates and deploys in an annular shape. The airbag body 24 has a pair of upper and lower first inflatable parts 24A that inflates and deploys in a concave shape opened toward the driver's seat occupant P1, and a pair of front and rear second inflatable parts 24B that extend in the vertical direction and connect the ends of the pair of upper and lower first inflatable parts 24A. In the airbag 22, the pair of front and rear second inflatable parts 24B are connected by a first restraining cloth 26, and the first restraining cloth 26 has a restraining surface 26A that faces the head and upper body of the driver's seat occupant P1 in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, a second restraining cloth 28 is joined to the airbag body 24, and the space surrounded by the airbag body 24 is closed by the second restraining cloth 28. That is, by configuring a part of the airbag 22 as the airbag body 24 and supplying gas to the airbag body 24, the airbag 22 can be inflated and deployed as a whole in a cylindrical shape with the vertical direction as its axial direction. In other words, in the airbag 22, the airbag body 24 is configured to form the framework of the airbag 22. This allows the volume of the portion of the airbag 22 (airbag body 24) that supplies gas to be significantly reduced, as compared to a case in which the airbag is configured as a hollow cylinder extending in the vertical direction. As a result, the airbag 22 can be inflated and deployed early to restrain the heads and upper bodies of the driver's seat occupant P1 and the passenger seat occupant P2 in the event of a side collision. This allows the restraint performance for the driver's seat occupant P1 and the passenger seat occupant P2 to be improved.

[0029] As described above, the airbag 22 is disposed above the center console 14 and between the driver's seat 10 and the passenger's seat 12. Therefore, occupant protection in the event of a side collision can be achieved by a single airbag 22 in two riding modes, that is, when only the driver's seat occupant P1 rides in the vehicle V, and when the driver's seat occupant P1 and the passenger's seat occupant P2 ride in the vehicle V.

[0030] As described above, when the far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle is activated, the airbag 22 is inflated and deployed as a whole into a cylindrical shape with the vertical direction as the axial direction, and the first inflatable portion 24A constituting the lower end of the airbag body 24 is inflated and deployed into a concave shape (U-shape) that is open outward in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, even if the capacity of the airbag body 24 is reduced, the first inflatable portion 24A can effectively receive the reaction force from the center console 14, and the inflated and deployed state of the airbag 22 can be maintained satisfactorily.

[0031] In addition, as described above, the airbag 22 is composed of the airbag body 24, which is inflated and deployed in an annular shape, the first restraining cloth 26, and the second restraining cloth 28, which contributes to reducing the size of the airbag 22 in the folded state. This allows the far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle to be favorably mounted in the seat back 10B, which has a small mounting space, and allows the airbag 22 to be inflated and deployed above the center console 14.

[0032] Further, a gas supply section 24C is provided in the vertical middle section of the second inflation section 24B on the rear side of the airbag body 24, and gas from the inflator 30 is supplied from the gas supply section 24C into the airbag body 24. This allows the entire airbag 22 to be well inflated and deployed while coordinating the inflation and deployment timing of the pair of upper and lower first inflation sections 24A.

[0033] In this embodiment, the cross-sectional areas of the first and second expansion portions 24A and 24B in the airbag body 24 are not particularly specified, but the cross-sectional areas of the first and second expansion portions 24A and 24B may be appropriately changed in accordance with the support state of the airbag 22. For example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the lower first expansion portion 24A may be set larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the upper first expansion portion 24A. This makes the capacity of the lower first expansion portion 24A larger than the capacity of the upper first expansion portion 24A, thereby improving the support performance of the airbag body 24 by the center console 14.

[0034] In addition, in this embodiment, the gas supply section 24C is located in the vertical middle of the second inflation section 24B, but the vertical position of the gas supply section 24C may be changed as appropriate in accordance with the timing of inflation and deployment of the airbag 22. For example, the gas supply section 24C may be located on the lower end side of the second inflation section 24B so that the lower first inflation section 24A is inflated and deployed earlier. This can improve the support performance of the airbag body 24 supported by the center console 14.

[0035] In addition, in this embodiment, the first restraining cloth 26 and the second restraining cloth 28 in the airbag 22 are formed from separate pieces of cloth, but the first restraining cloth 26 and the second restraining cloth 28 may also be formed from a single piece of cloth and connected to the airbag main body 24.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle is provided in the seat back 10B of the driver's seat 10, but the far side airbag device 20 for a vehicle may be provided in the seat back 12B of the passenger seat 12. In this case, the passenger seat occupant P2 who moves inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision can be restrained by the first restraining cloth 26, and the driver seat occupant P1 who moves inward in the vehicle width direction during a side collision can be restrained by the airbag body 24 and the second restraining cloth 28. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 10 Driver's seat (vehicle seat) 10B Seat back 12 Passenger seat (vehicle seat) 12B Seat back 14 Center console 20. Far side airbag device for vehicles 22 Far side airbag 24A First expansion section 24B Second expansion section 24C Gas Supply Unit 26 1st restraint cloth (1st cloth) 26A Restraint surface 28 2nd restraining cloth (2nd cloth) 30 Inflator P1 Crew P2 Crew

Claims

1. an inflator that is provided in a seat back of a vehicle seat in which an occupant sits and generates gas when activated; a far side airbag that is provided in the seat back and receives gas from the inflator to inflate and deploy from the seat back inward in a vehicle width direction and is positioned inward in the vehicle width direction of the occupant and above a center console; Equipped with The far side airbag is an airbag body having a pair of upper and lower first inflatable sections that are inflated and deployed in an annular shape and inflated and deployed in a concave shape that is open to the occupant side in a plan view, and a pair of front and rear second inflatable sections that are inflated and deployed in a state extending in the vehicle up-down direction and connect end portions of the pair of upper and lower first inflatable sections; a first fabric that connects the pair of front and rear second inflatable portions and has a restraining surface that faces the head and upper body of the occupant in a vehicle width direction when the far side airbag is in an inflated and deployed state; a second fabric having an outer periphery connected to the airbag body and configured to close a space surrounded by the airbag body when the far side airbag is in an inflated and deployed state; A far side airbag device for a vehicle comprising:

2. 2. The far side airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a gas supply portion to which the gas is supplied is provided at a longitudinal intermediate portion of the second inflatable portion at the rear side of the vehicle.

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