Occupant protection device and airbag cover

Abstract

To provide an occupant protection device which may restrict entry of foreign objects into a cover part even when having a structure which covers only a periphery of a folded airbag.SOLUTION: An occupant protection device is mounted on a seat 1 of a vehicle and includes an airbag 25 which is attached to a belt body 8 at a seat belt 7 in a folded state and may cause an expansion gas discharged from an inflator 17 to flow thereinto to expand so as to protect an occupant seated on the seat while protruding forward. An airbag cover 45 which covers a periphery of a folding completed body 75 which is a folded airbag is formed in an elongated form which may cover the outer periphery side of a part of the belt body with the folding completed body and both longitudinal ends are closed in a manner that at least a belt body may be inserted thereinto.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an occupant protection device and an airbag cover to be mounted on a vehicle seat. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, passenger protection devices arranged in seats have been configured to attach an airbag to the belt body of a seat belt, and when an inflator is activated, inflation gas discharged from an inflator flows into the airbag, which inflates so as to protrude forward to protect the passenger seated in the seat (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, in conventional passenger protection devices, the airbag is arranged in the belt body in an area of ​​the lap belt that restrains the waist of the passenger when worn, and more specifically, the airbag is folded into a long shape so as to be approximately aligned with the lap belt, and the periphery of the airbag is covered by an airbag cover. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special publication 2002-506401 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this conventional passenger protection device, the airbag cover is configured to cover the entire lap belt together with the folded airbag (fully folded). Therefore, the entire lap belt area is bulky and the wearing comfort is not good. From the viewpoint of compact installation and good wearing comfort of the seat belt, it is desirable to cover only the folded airbag (fully folded) and a part of the belt body with the airbag cover, but in such a configuration, it is desired to restrict the intrusion of foreign objects into the airbag cover.

[0005] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an occupant protection device that can prevent foreign objects from entering an airbag cover even if it is configured to cover only the periphery of a folded airbag. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The occupant protection device according to the present invention is mounted on a vehicle seat, Seat belt and An inflator, an airbag that is attached to a belt body of a seat belt in a folded state, and that is configured to be inflated to protect an occupant seated in a seat by allowing inflation gas discharged from an inflator to flow therein when an inflator is activated, while projecting forward; an airbag cover that covers the periphery of a folded airbag; In a passenger protection device having a configuration comprising: The airbag cover is long and capable of covering the outer peripheral side of a portion of the belt body together with the folded body, and both ends in the longitudinal direction are closed so that at least the belt body can be inserted therethrough.

[0007] In the passenger protection device of the present invention, the airbag cover that covers the periphery of the folded body formed by folding the airbag is configured to be able to cover the outer periphery of a part of the belt body, but is configured to close both ends in the longitudinal direction so as to allow at least the belt body to pass through. Therefore, it is possible to accurately prevent foreign objects from entering the airbag cover when wearing the airbag.

[0008] Therefore, even if the occupant protection device of the present invention is configured to cover only the periphery of the folded airbag, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the airbag cover.

[0009] In addition, in the occupant protection device of the present invention, the airbag cover is configured to cover only the outer peripheral side of the folded body and a part of the belt body, so that the configuration is more compact than conventional occupant protection devices, and the seat belt (belt body) can be easily fitted to the occupant.

[0010] Furthermore, in the passenger protection device of the present invention, the airbag is configured to include a bag body that inflates to protect the passenger, and a conduit portion that is connected to an inflator and allows inflation gas to flow into the bag body, The airbag cover is configured to have an insertion opening at least at an end side of the conduit portion, into which a folded body formed by folding the bag body can be inserted, The insertion opening includes an opening body for inserting the folded body, and a diameter reducing member disposed around the opening body to reduce the diameter of the opening body after the folded body is inserted into the airbag cover, It is preferable that the diameter reducing member is configured such that, when reduced in diameter, the diameter reducing member can maintain the reduced state of the opening body with the conduit portion projecting.

[0011] With such a configuration of the occupant protection device, after the fully folded body is inserted into the airbag cover through the opening body of the insertion opening, the diameter of the opening body can be reduced by the diameter reducing member, and the reduced diameter state of the opening body can be maintained with the conduit portion protruding. Therefore, the fully folded body can be easily stored in the airbag cover. In addition, since the reduced diameter state of the opening body can be maintained, the opening body can be appropriately prevented from opening (release of the reduced diameter state) after the fully folded body is stored, and the intrusion of foreign objects into the airbag cover when the seat belt is fastened, etc., can be appropriately restricted.

[0012] Furthermore, in the occupant protection device configured as described above, if the diameter-reducing member is configured to include a band-shaped body that can be wrapped around the opening body and the band-shaped body can be maintained wrapped around the opening body by a fixing member, the band-shaped body is wrapped around the opening body to reduce its diameter, and this reduced diameter state is maintained by the fixing member, so that the reduced diameter state of the peripheral edge of the opening body can be maintained as pressed by the band-shaped body, and the reduced diameter state of the opening body can be stably maintained even when the conduit portion is inserted, which is preferable. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a seat equipped with an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the seat of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the seat of FIG. 1, showing the seat belt fastened. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of the seat of FIG. 1, showing the seat belt fastened. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which an airbag used in an occupant protection device according to an embodiment is inflated by itself; [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the airbag of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 1 is a plan view showing an airbag cover used in an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a flat deployed state; [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the airbag cover of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 7. [Figure 10] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion XX in FIG. 7. [Figure 11] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of FIG. 7. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in FIG. 8. [Figure 13]4 is a schematic perspective view showing a region on the left end side of the airbag cover that is the insertion opening side. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a right end region of the airbag cover. [Figure 15] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which an occupant protection device according to an embodiment is installed; [Figure 16] 1 is a front view of a seat in a state where an airbag has completed inflation in an occupant protection device according to an embodiment; [Figure 17] 1 is a side view of a seat in a state where an airbag has completed inflation in the occupant protection device according to an embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an airbag cover according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, an occupant protection device S of the embodiment is mounted on a vehicle seat 1 and includes a seat belt 7, an airbag 25, an inflator 17 for supplying inflation gas to the airbag 25, and an airbag cover 45 for covering the periphery of a folded body 75 of the airbag 25 in a folded state. In the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the airbag 25 is disposed in an area of ​​a lap belt 10 in a belt main body 8 of the seat belt 7, which will be described later. The seat 1 includes a backrest portion 2 and a seat portion 3. In the embodiment, the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions will be described as being the same as the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions with respect to an occupant MP seated on the seat 1, unless otherwise specified.

[0015] In the embodiment, the seat belt 7 is mounted on the seat 1, and includes a belt body 8 for restraining an occupant MP seated on the seat 1, a tongue plate 12 attached to the belt body 8, and a buckle 13 for connecting the tongue plate 12, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the embodiment, the buckle 13 is disposed on the rear right end side of the seat part 3 of the seat 1 (on the right side near the boundary between the backrest part 2 and the seat part 3) (see Figs. 1, 2, and 4). One end of the belt body 8 is fastened to a winding shaft of a retractor (not shown) disposed in the backrest part 2, and the other end side (end part 8a side) is fastened to the rear left end 3a side of the seat part 3 of the seat 1 by an anchor member 14 (see Figs. 1, 2, and 4), so that it can be unwound from the retractor when worn. In detail, the belt body 8 is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside from the upper left edge side of the backrest 2, and in the case of the embodiment, when the occupant MP is not seated, as shown in Fig. 1, the lap belt 10 for disposing the airbag 25 is configured to be exposed to the front surface of the backrest 2. In detail, when the occupant MP is not seated, the lap belt 10 is exposed to the front surface of the backrest 2 on the left edge 2a side of the backrest 2 so as to extend substantially along the up-down direction, as shown in Fig. 1. The belt body 8 has a lap belt 10 and a shoulder belt 9 stored in the backrest 2, and when an occupant is seated, the lap belt 10, which is disposed substantially along the left-right direction between the anchor member 14 and the buckle 13, restrains the lower body MD (waist) of the occupant MP, and the shoulder belt 9, which extends from the upper left edge side of the backrest 2 and is disposed obliquely toward the buckle 13, restrains the upper body MU (from the shoulders to the chest) of the occupant MP (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In the seat belt 7, a retractor (not shown) disposed in the backrest 2 has a pretensioner mechanism.

[0016] In the embodiment, the inflator 17 is attached to the seat 1, and specifically, is disposed at a position near the lower end of the seat portion 3 on the rear side of the seat 1. The inflator 17 includes a substantially cylindrical inflator body 18 (detailed illustration is omitted) disposed with its axial direction substantially aligned with the left-right direction, and a pipe portion 19 extending from the inflator body 18 to supply inflation gas to the airbag 25 (see FIG. 2). Although detailed illustration is omitted, the inflator body 18 is attached to the seat frame 4 using a predetermined bracket. The pipe portion 19 extends from the inflator body 18 and is disposed so that its tip is positioned on the left side of the seat 1 near the boundary between the seat portion 3 and the backrest portion 2, and this tip is configured to be connected to a conduit portion 35 of the airbag 25, which will be described later, using a clamp 20 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). In this embodiment, the inflator body 18 is set to start operating later than the pretensioner mechanism of the seat belt 7 in order to regulate the pulling out of the belt body 8 of the seat belt 7 due to the inflation of the airbag 25.

[0017] As described above, the airbag 25 is disposed in the area of ​​the lap belt 10 that restrains the lower body MD (waist) of the occupant MP seated in the seat 1, and is in the shape of a bag made of a flexible sheet body. In the embodiment, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the airbag 25 includes a bag body 26 that inflates to protect the occupant MP wearing the seat belt 7, a conduit portion 35 that is connected to the inflator 17 and allows inflation gas to flow into the bag body 26, and a belt loop portion 40 through which the lap belt 10 can be inserted. The airbag 25 (the bag body 26, the conduit portion 35, and the belt loop portion 40) are formed of flexible woven fabric made of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, or the like.

[0018] The bag body 26 is configured such that the outer shape when fully inflated is a substantially triangular prism with the axial direction substantially aligned with the left-right direction, the shape when fully inflated as viewed from the left and right sides is a substantially right-angled triangle with a hypotenuse on the front side, and the shape when fully inflated as viewed from the front-rear direction is a substantially rectangular shape with a wide top and bottom (see Figs. 16 and 17). As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the bag body 26 includes a rear wall portion 28 disposed on the occupant MP side (rear side) when fully inflated, a front wall portion 27 disposed opposite the rear wall portion 28 in the front-rear direction, a lower wall portion 29 disposed on the lower end side when fully inflated, and a left wall portion 30 and a right wall portion 31 disposed opposite each other in the left-right direction when fully inflated. The bag body 26 is configured to receive the upper body MU of the occupant MP by the rear wall portion 28 when the inflation is complete, and is also configured to receive the occupant MP by abutting the lower wall portion 29 against the thighs MT of the occupant MP and supporting the thighs MT when the upper body MU is received by the rear wall portion 28 (see FIG. 17). The bag body 26 is configured such that a conduit portion 35 is connected to the lower surface side of the rear end 29a of the lower wall portion 29, and inflation gas from the inflator 17 flows into the bag body 26 through the conduit portion 35. In the region of the rear end 29a of the lower wall portion 29, a communication hole 33 communicating with the conduit portion 35 opens in a circular shape, and in this embodiment, two communication holes 33 are provided side by side on the left and right sides (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The bag body 26 is connected to the conduit portion 35 at the peripheral portion of the communication hole 33.

[0019] The conduit 35 is disposed so as to extend leftward from the underside of the bag body 26 in this embodiment and is connected to the inflator 17 (specifically, the pipe 19 of the inflator 17). The base side (right end side) on the bag body 26 side is closed, and the tip 37a side (left end side) is open so as to be connectable to the pipe 19. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the conduit 35 includes a wide main body side portion 36 located on the underside of the bag body 26 and a connection side portion 37 extending leftward from the bag body 26 when inflation is complete. The connection side portion 37 is formed to be narrower than the main body side portion 36. The conduit 35 is disposed substantially along the left-right direction so as to substantially follow the lap belt 10 when the airbag 25 is fully inflated (see FIGS. 16 and 17). The tip 37a (left end) of the connection part 37 is connected to the pipe part 19 of the inflator 17 by using the clamp 20 as described above (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

[0020] 5 and 6, the belt loop portion 40 is disposed on the lower surface side of the main body portion 36 of the conduit portion 35 (i.e., the area below the bag main body 26) and is configured as a generally cylindrical shape disposed generally along the left-right direction so as to be able to insert the lap belt 10. In detail, in the case of the embodiment, the belt loop portion 40 is configured so that the belt main body 8 with the anchor member 14 connected to the end portion 8a side can be inserted together with the anchor member 14. By inserting the lap belt 10 into the belt loop portion 40, the bag main body 26 is held by the lap belt 10.

[0021] In the embodiment, the airbag 25 is configured to be held by the lap belt 10 in a state in which the area of ​​the bag body 26 is folded into an elongated shape substantially along the lap belt 10, and the bag body 26 is folded into a folded body 75, which is formed so as to be movable relative to the lap belt 10. Specifically, although not shown in detail, the airbag 25 (bag body 26) is folded such that the front wall portion 27 is overlapped with the rear wall portion 28 and the lower wall portion 29, and the bag body 26 is folded to reduce the width dimension in the front-rear direction to form the elongated folded body 75 substantially along the left-right direction. The folded body 75 formed by folding the bag body 26 in this manner is arranged to be overlapped on the upper surface side of the lap belt 10 when worn together with the main body portion 36 of the conduit portion 35 by inserting the lap belt 10 through the belt loop portion 40. The completely folded body 75 is disposed in the area of ​​the lap belt 10 with the periphery covered by the airbag cover 45 including the belt loop portion 40 and the lap belt 10 (see Figs. 3 and 15). In the embodiment, the completely folded body 75 is disposed on the back side (the backrest 2 side) of the lap belt 10 exposed on the front surface of the backrest 2 in the unworn state as shown in Fig. 1. In the embodiment, the connection side portion 37 of the conduit 35 is disposed to the left of the completely folded body 75 (airbag cover 45) and exposed on the upper surface side of the lap belt 10 in the worn state of the seat belt 7 (see Figs. 3 and 4).

[0022] The airbag cover 45 that covers the periphery of the airbag 25 is made of a flexible sheet body, such as synthetic leather or fabric (in this embodiment, a sheet body made of synthetic leather).

[0023] 3 and 15, the airbag cover 45 is configured to cover substantially the entire outer periphery of the folded body 75 formed by folding the bag body 26 and the main body portion 36 of the conduit portion 35, including the belt loop portion 40 and a part of the lap belt 10 disposed on the underside of the main body portion 36. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the airbag cover 45 has an elongated outer shape with its longitudinal direction substantially aligned with the lap belt 10 (the left-right direction when worn), and includes a front wall portion 46 that covers the upper side of the folded body 75 and a back wall portion 49 that is disposed on the underside of the lap belt 10 when worn. 7, in the airbag cover 45 of the embodiment, a design portion 47 made of a different base material from that of the back wall portion 49 and the remaining portion of the front wall portion 46 is formed continuously over the entire length on the left and right sides at a central portion in the width direction of the front wall portion 46, substantially along the longitudinal direction of the airbag cover 45. In the case of the embodiment, although detailed illustration is omitted, the design portion 47 is made of a base material with a different color tone from that of the back wall portion 49 and the remaining portion of the front wall portion 46.

[0024] As shown in Figs. 7 to 11, the airbag cover 45 includes a substantially cylindrical main body 52 and an insertion opening 60 disposed at a left end 45a of the main body 52, which is one end of the main body 52 (the conduit 35 side in the embodiment, specifically, the connection side portion 37 side of the conduit 35). The airbag cover 45 further includes lap belt insertion portions 67, 71, through which the lap belt 10 (belt body 8) can be inserted, at the left end 45a and the right end 45b, which are both ends in the longitudinal direction (see Figs. 8, 12 to 14). The right end 45b of the airbag cover 45, which is the side remote from the conduit 35 (connection side portion 37), is closed except for the lap belt insertion portion 71. The airbag cover 45 is configured so that when it is laid out flat, the width dimension is approximately constant over its entire length on both the left and right sides, while the opening body 61 (described later) at the insertion opening 60 is open (see Figures 7 and 8).

[0025] The main body 52 is for storing the completely folded body 75 (specifically, the completely folded body 75, the main body part 36 of the conduit 35, the belt loop 40, and a part of the lap belt 10 disposed on the underside of the main body part 36), and a breakable part 55 capable of breaking when the airbag 25 is inflated is formed in the area on the upper side of the main body 52 when worn, i.e., in the area of ​​the front wall 46. In the case of the embodiment, the design part 47 arranged on the front wall 46 is configured to be divided into two parts at approximately the center (center in the width direction) in the front-rear direction when worn, as shown in Figs. 7, 9, and 10, and the edges of the divided base material are sewn together by a seam 54 formed approximately along the left-right direction (longitudinal direction). The seam 54 is arranged continuously over the entire length of the airbag cover 45 on both sides, including the insertion opening 60, and is formed using a seam T capable of breaking when the bag body 26 is inflated. That is, the stitched portion 54 (stitching thread T) constitutes the intended breaking portion 55. The airbag cover 45 is configured so that, when the airbag 25 (bag body 26) is inflated, the stitching thread T constituting the stitched portion 54 is broken, causing the bag body 26 to protrude. The main body portion 52 (airbag cover 45) has an inner diameter dimension (width dimension when deployed flat) set to a dimension that allows the folded body 75, the main body side portion 36 of the conduit portion 35, the belt loop portion 40, and the lap belt 10 to be inserted without hindrance.

[0026] 7, 10, and 11, the insertion opening 60 includes an opening body 61 for inserting the completely folded body 75, and a diameter reducing member 62 arranged around the opening body 61 and capable of reducing the diameter of the opening body 61. In the embodiment, the opening body 61 is configured to open the left edge 52a side of the main body 52, that is, the opening diameter is set to be approximately equal to the inner diameter dimension of the main body 52 (the width dimension of the main body 52 in a flatly developed state), and the completely folded body 75 (specifically, the completely folded body 75, the main body side portion 36 of the conduit 35, the belt loop portion 40, and the lap belt 10) can be inserted without hindrance. The diameter reducing member 62 includes a band-shaped body that can be wrapped around the opening body 61. Specifically, the diameter reducing member 62 includes two strips 63F, 63 that extend on both the front and rear sides when the airbag cover 45 is laid out flat (see FIGS. 7, 8 and 10).

[0027] Specifically, each strip 63F, 63B is configured such that the base 63a side is sewn (connected) to the front edge and rear edge of the design part 47 of the front side wall part 46. In other words, each strip 63F, 63B is connected to the airbag cover 45 (main body part 52) ​​side at a position that is inside the front and rear edges 45c and 45d of the airbag cover 45 in a flatly deployed state (see Figs. 7 and 10). Also, each strip 63F, 63B is arranged so that the edge is approximately aligned with the edge of the opening main body 61. In the case of the embodiment, each strip 63F, 63B has a width dimension W1 set to about half the width dimension W2 of the airbag cover 45 (main body part 52) ​​in a flatly deployed state (see Fig. 7).

[0028] In the airbag cover 45 of the embodiment, the folded body 75 is inserted into the main body 52, and the connection side portion 37 of the conduit 35 is inserted into the opening main body 61. In this state, the two strips 63F, 63B are wrapped around the opening main body 61 so that the tips 63b, 63b overlap each other, and the overlapping strips 63F, 63B are connected to each other using a fixing member 65 such as a rivet, thereby maintaining the state in which the strips 63F, 63B are wrapped around the opening main body 61 (see FIG. 13). In the case of the embodiment, the strips 63F, 63B are wrapped around the opening main body 61 so that the tips 63b overlap each other on the rear wall 49 side (see FIG. 13). The length dimension of the strips 63F, 63B is set to a dimension that allows at least the tips 63b, 63b to overlap each other when wrapped around the opening main body 61. At this time, the peripheral portion of the opening body 61 and the connection side portion 37 are partially folded over as shown in Fig. 13 to reduce the diameter, and the wrapping of the strips 63F, 63B around the opening body 61 maintains the reduced diameter state of the opening body 61 and the connection side portion 37. In the embodiment, the reduced diameter state of the opening body 61 means a state in which only the reduced diameter connection side portion 37 can be inserted and a foreign object such as a writing implement cannot be inserted (a state in which there is no gap through which a foreign object can be inserted). In the embodiment, the reduced diameter state of the opening body 61 is maintained by the fixing member 65, so that the intrusion of a foreign object into the main body portion 52 can be stably restricted.

[0029] The lap belt insertion portion 67 formed on the left end 45a side of the airbag cover 45, i.e., on the insertion opening 60 side, is formed in a region near the left end of the main body portion 52 and on the left-right central side of the strips 63F, 63B. Specifically, the lap belt insertion portion 67 is formed by forming a linear cut (slit) substantially along the front-rear direction in the rear wall portion 49, as shown in Figs. 8 and 13. The length dimension (opening width dimension) of the lap belt insertion portion 67 is set smaller than the front-rear direction width dimension of the airbag cover 45 in a flat deployed state, and is set slightly larger than the width dimension of the lap belt 10 (belt main body 8). In detail, the length dimension (opening width dimension) of the lap belt insertion portion 67 is set to a dimension that allows the lap belt 10 (belt main body 8) with the anchor member 14 connected thereto to be inserted together with the anchor member 14.

[0030] In the region on the right end 45b side of the airbag cover 45, a lid body 69 made of a base material separate from the rear wall 49 and the front wall 46 is disposed so as to cover the inner periphery of the part on the right edge 49a side of the rear wall 49, and the right edge 69a of this lid body 69 is sewn (joined) to the right edge 46a of the front wall 46 over substantially the entire area from front to rear (see Figs. 12 and 14). This lid body 69 is disposed so as to overlap with the rear wall 49, but is not joined to the rear wall 49. That is, in the airbag cover 45 of the embodiment, the right edge 49a side of the rear wall 49 is not joined to the right edge 46a of the front wall 46, and is configured so as to provide a gap (open) between the lid body 69 and the right edge 49a side of the rear wall 49. In the airbag cover 45 of the embodiment, the gap formed between the rear wall portion 49 and the cover body portion 69 constitutes a lap belt insertion portion 71, as shown in Figs. 12 and 14. That is, the lap belt insertion portion 71 disposed on the right end 45b side of the airbag cover 45 has a width dimension (opening width dimension) in the front-rear direction substantially equal to the width dimension in the front-rear direction of the airbag cover 45 in a flatly deployed state, and has a larger opening width dimension than the lap belt insertion portion 67 disposed on the left end 45a side of the airbag cover 45. Of course, the lap belt insertion portion 71 disposed on the right end 45b side is also configured to allow the lap belt 10 (belt main body 8) with the anchor member 14 connected thereto to be inserted therethrough. At the portion on the right end 45b side of this airbag cover 45, the right edge 69a of the cover body portion 69 and the right edge 46a of the front side wall portion 46 are sewn together over almost the entire front-to-rear area, and the right end 45b side of the airbag cover 45 is configured to allow only the lap belt 10 (belt main body 8) to be inserted therethrough.

[0031] Next, the installation of the passenger protection device S of the embodiment on the seat 1 will be described. First, the bag body 26 is folded to form a completely folded body 75, and a wrapping material (not shown) for preventing collapse is wrapped around the outer periphery of the completely folded body 75 and the main body side portion 36 of the conduit portion 35. Next, the tip 37a of the connection side portion 37 of the conduit portion 35 arranged to extend from the completely folded body 75 is connected to the inflator 17 using the clamp 20 to form an airbag assembly. Thereafter, the inflator 17 is first attached to the seat frame 4 using a predetermined bracket (not shown). The belt body 8 of the seat belt 7 arranged to extend from a retractor (not shown) is inserted from the end portion 8a side together with the anchor member 14 into the lap belt insertion portion 71 provided on the right end 45b side of the airbag cover 45. Next, the end 8a of the belt body 8 is inserted together with the anchor member 14 into the belt loop portion 40 arranged on the lower surface side of the completely folded body 75 (more precisely, the lower surface side of the main body portion 36), and at the same time, the completely folded body 75 is inserted into the main body portion 52 of the airbag cover 45 from the opening main body 61 of the insertion opening 60. The end 8a of the belt body 8 is inserted together with the anchor member 14 into the lap belt insertion portion 67 provided on the left end 45a side of the airbag cover 45. Thereafter, in a state where the connection side portion 37 of the conduit portion 35 is projected from the airbag cover 45 (a state where the connection side portion 37 is inserted into the opening body 61), the two strips 63F, 63B in the insertion opening 60 are wrapped around the opening body 61 while overlapping the tips 63b, 63b, so as to reduce the diameter of the opening body 61 and the connection side portion 37, and the tips 63b, 63b of the overlapping strips 63F, 63B are connected to each other using a fixing member 65 such as a rivet, whereby the occupant protection device S can be mounted on the seat 1. Next, the end 8a of the belt body 8 is fixed to the rear left end 3a side of the seat part 3 of the seat 1 using the anchor member 14, whereby the seat belt 7 can be attached to the seat 1.

[0032] In the embodiment of the occupant protection device S, when an occupant MP is seated in a seat 1 mounted in a vehicle with a seat belt 7 fastened, and the inflator 17 is activated, the inflation gas discharged from the inflator 17 flows into the bag body 26 via the conduit portion 35, and the bag body 26 of the airbag 25 breaks the intended rupture portion 55, pushing open the airbag cover 45, and protruding forward and upward from the lap belt 10, completing inflation as shown by the two-dot chain lines in Figures 3 and 4 and in Figures 16 and 17.

[0033] In the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the airbag cover 45 that covers the periphery of the fully folded body 75 formed by folding the airbag 25 (specifically, the bag body 26) is configured to be able to cover a part of the outer periphery of the belt body 8 (lap belt 10), but is configured to close the left end 45a side and the right end 45b side so as to allow at least the belt body 8 to be inserted therethrough. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately prevent foreign objects from entering the airbag cover 45 when the airbag cover 45 is worn, etc.

[0034] Therefore, even if the occupant protection device S of the embodiment is configured to cover only the periphery of the folded airbag 25, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the airbag cover 45.

[0035] In addition, in the embodiment of the occupant protection device S, the airbag cover 45 is configured to cover only the outer peripheral side of the folded body 75 and a portion of the belt main body 8 (lap belt 10), so that it can be configured more compactly than conventional occupant protection devices, and the seat belt 7 (belt main body 8) can be easily attached to the occupant MP.

[0036] Furthermore, in the passenger protection device S of the embodiment, the airbag cover 45 is configured to have an insertion opening 60 configured to allow the completely folded body 75 to be inserted at the left end 45a side on the conduit 35 side, and this insertion opening 60 is configured to have an opening body 61 for inserting the completely folded body 75, but is configured to be able to reduce the diameter of the opening body 61 by a diameter reducing member 62 arranged around the opening body 61 after the completely folded body 75 is inserted into the airbag cover 45. That is, in the passenger protection device S of the embodiment, after the completely folded body 75 is inserted into the airbag cover 45 from the opening body 61 of the insertion opening 60, the diameter of the opening body 61 can be reduced by the diameter reducing member 62, and the reduced diameter state of the opening body 61 can be maintained in a state in which the conduit 35 (specifically, the connection side part 37 of the conduit 35) is protruding. Therefore, the completely folded body 75 can be easily stored in the airbag cover 45. Furthermore, since the reduced diameter state of the opening body 61 can be maintained, the opening of the opening body 61 after the completely folded body 75 is stored (release of the reduced diameter state) can be appropriately prevented, and the intrusion of foreign objects into the airbag cover 45 when the seat belt 7 is fastened can also be appropriately prevented. If such a point is not taken into consideration, an airbag cover may be used that does not include an insertion opening, but simply includes an opening for inserting the completely folded body, and that, after the completely folded body is inserted, the opening is closed by sewing, such as by hand sewing.

[0037] In the passenger protection device S of the embodiment, the insertion opening 60 is arranged only on the left end 45a side of the airbag cover 45, but an airbag cover having such an insertion opening arranged on both the left and right ends may be used. When using an airbag cover having such an arrangement, both ends of the airbag cover can be opened widely during the insertion operation into the interior of the folded body, which makes it easier to insert the folded body into the airbag cover, and allows, for example, a user to replace the cover part of their choice at a dealer or the like.

[0038] Furthermore, in the passenger protection device S of the embodiment, the diameter reducing member 62 includes a band-shaped body (strips 63F, 63B) that can be wrapped around the opening body 61, and the bands 63F, 63B can be maintained wrapped around the opening body 61 by a fixing member 65 such as a rivet. That is, in the passenger protection device S of the embodiment, the peripheral edge of the opening body 61 can be maintained in a reduced diameter state by being pressed by the strips 63F, 63B, and the reduced diameter state of the opening body 61 can be stably maintained even when the conduit 35 (specifically, the connection side portion 37 of the conduit 35) is inserted. If such a point is not taken into consideration, for example, a diameter reducing member that can reduce the peripheral edge of the opening body in a drawstring shape and maintain this reduced diameter state may be used. In the embodiment, a rivet is used as the fixing member 65, but the fixing member is of course not limited to a rivet. For example, a staple-like member, a snap body that can be fixed, a hook body, or other member that cannot easily be released from the fixed state can be used. Also, the strips may be directly bonded to each other using an adhesive or the like.

[0039] In particular, in the airbag cover 45 of the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the strips 63F, 63B are arranged in two pieces so as to extend on both the front and rear sides when the airbag cover 45 is flatly deployed, and each strip 63F, 63B is connected at the base 63a side to the airbag cover 45 (main body 52) at a position that is closer to the front and rear center than the front edge 45c and the rear edge 45d of the airbag cover 45 when it is flatly deployed. Therefore, the opening main body 61 can be easily reduced in diameter by simply wrapping the strips 63F, 63B around the opening main body 61, and the wrapping work is easy. Furthermore, each strip 63F, 63B is formed wide, with a width dimension W1 that is about half the width dimension W2 of the airbag cover 45 when it is flatly deployed, so that the periphery of the opening main body 61 can be pressed in a wide area, and the reduced diameter state of the opening main body 61 can be stably maintained. In addition, the airbag cover 45 of the embodiment is configured to have a lap belt insertion portion 67 for inserting the lap belt 10 (belt body 8) separately from the insertion opening 60. In other words, the lap belt 10 is not inserted into the opening body 61 of the insertion opening 60, and only the connection side portion 37 of the conduit portion 35 is inserted. Therefore, the reduced diameter state of the opening body 61 can be stably maintained. Of course, the shape and arrangement of the strip are not limited to those of the embodiment. For example, a single strip may be provided extending from only one side of the front edge or the rear edge of the airbag cover, or the strip (strip-shaped body) may be provided separately from the airbag cover.

[0040] In the passenger protection device S of the embodiment, the airbag cover is made of synthetic leather, but of course the material constituting the airbag cover is not limited to synthetic leather and may be made of mesh material or the like, taking into consideration the feel on the skin when worn, etc. When a relatively soft material such as mesh material is used for the airbag cover, it is preferable that the airbag cover 45A has a two-ply structure in which a reinforcing layer 81 made of a high-strength material (for example, a non-coated cloth used as a base material for airbags) is disposed on the inner peripheral side of a skin layer 80 made of mesh material or the like, in order to stably rupture the portion of the planned rupture portion 55A when the airbag inflates, as shown in Fig. 18.

[0041] In the passenger protection device S of the embodiment, the seat belt 7 and the inflator 17 are configured to be mounted on the seat 1. Therefore, even when the seat 1 is used in a state where it is moved relative to the vehicle by sliding it significantly back and forth or rotating it, the passenger MP seated on the seat 1 can be adequately protected by the airbag 25. Of course, the passenger protection device of the present invention is not limited to a seat configured as described above, and can also be mounted on a type of seat that restrains the passenger with a seat belt having a retractor provided on the vehicle body side. The inflator may also be configured to be attached to the vehicle body side. In the embodiment of the occupant protection device S, although the airbag 25 is held by the lap belt 10 of the seat belt 7, the inflator 17 operates with a delay (about 5 ms) from the operation of the pretensioner mechanism of the seat belt 7, so that the airbag 25 can be inflated while the seat belt 7 keeps the occupant MP stably seated in the seat 1, and the airbag 25 and the seat belt 7 can provide stable protection for the occupant MP.

[0042] In the embodiment, the passenger protection device S in which the airbag 25 is disposed in the area of ​​the lap belt 10 is taken as an example for explanation, but the passenger protection device to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the embodiment. The present invention can also be applied to a passenger protection device in which the airbag is disposed in the area of ​​the shoulder belt. In the embodiment, the airbag 25 is configured such that the conduit portion 35 for supplying the inflation gas to the bag body 26 is disposed as a part of the member of the airbag 25, but the passenger protection device to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the airbag in the embodiment. The present invention can also be applied to a passenger protection device in which a conduit portion made of a cylindrical body or the like separate from the airbag is connected to the airbag. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 1...seat, 7...seat belt, 8...belt body, 10...lap belt, 17...inflator, 25...airbag, 26...bag body, 35...conduit portion, 45...airbag cover, 52...main body, 60...insertion opening, 61...opening body, 62...diameter-reducing member, 63F, 63B...strip (strip-shaped body), 65...fixing member (rivet), 67, 71...lap belt insertion portion, 75...folded body, MP...occupant, S...occupant protection device.

Claims

1. Installed in the vehicle seat, Seat belt and An inflator, an airbag that is attached to a belt body of the seat belt in a folded state, and that is configured to be inflated when the inflator is activated by allowing inflation gas discharged from the inflator to flow thereinto, protruding forward and inflating to protect an occupant seated in the seat; an airbag cover for covering the periphery of the folded airbag; In a passenger protection device having a configuration comprising: The airbag cover is long and capable of covering the outer circumferential side of a portion of the belt body together with the folded body, and both ends in the longitudinal direction are closed to allow at least the belt body to be inserted therethrough.

2. The airbag is configured to include a bag body that inflates to protect the occupant, and a conduit portion that is connected to the inflator and allows inflation gas to flow into the bag body, The airbag cover includes an insertion opening configured to allow the folded body to be inserted at least at an end side of the conduit portion, The insertion opening includes an opening body for inserting the folded body, and a diameter reducing member disposed around the opening body to reduce the diameter of the opening body after the folded body is inserted into the airbag cover, 2. The passenger protection device according to claim 1, wherein the diameter reducing member is configured to maintain the diameter of the opening body reduced while causing the conduit portion to protrude when the diameter reducing member is reduced.

3. The occupant protection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the reducing member has a band-shaped body that can be wrapped around the opening body, and a fixing member is configured to maintain the band-shaped body wrapped around the opening body.

4. Used in passenger protection devices mounted on vehicle seats, An airbag cover configured to cover the periphery of an airbag attached to a belt body of a seat belt, The airbag cover is long and can cover the outer circumferential side of a portion of the belt body together with the folded airbag, and is characterized in that both ends in the longitudinal direction are closed so that at least the belt body can be inserted therethrough.

5. The folding machine is configured to include a main body portion for storing the folded body, and an insertion opening portion formed on at least one end side and configured to allow the folded body to be inserted into the main body portion, The insertion opening includes an opening body for inserting the folded body, and a diameter reducing member arranged around the opening body to reduce the diameter of the opening body after the folded body is inserted into the main body portion, 5. The airbag cover according to claim 4, wherein the diameter reducing member is configured to maintain the reduced diameter state of the opening body with the conduit portion projecting when the diameter reducing member is reduced.

6. The airbag cover according to claim 5, characterized in that the reducing member has a band-shaped body that can be wrapped around the opening body, and is configured so that the band-shaped body can be maintained in a wrapped state around the opening body by a fixing member.

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