Seat cushion airbag and seat cushion airbag device

Abstract

To provide a seat cushion airbag that is able to reduce a time lag between the generation of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag and is able to stably restrain the upper body of an occupant by means of a shoulder strap, and to provide a seat cushion airbag device including the seat cushion airbag.SOLUTION: A seat cushion airbag 11 is connected to an expansion fluid generation source 10 and is expanded and inflated by its being supplied with an expansion fluid therein, wherein: the seat cushion airbag is disposed in an area below a seat surface 93 of a seat portion 91 of a vehicle seat 90 and between a central part and a front-end part of the seat portion 91 in a front-rear direction; the seat cushion airbag has a side portion 11s between a top part 11t and a bottom part 11b thereof during expansion and inflation; and standing walls 20 vertically extending are provided in at least two opposite areas of the side portion 11s.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat cushion airbag and a seat cushion airbag device including the seat cushion airbag. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art It is known that when an impact occurs, such as during a vehicle collision, a phenomenon occurs in which an occupant slides downward and forward from the seat surface of the seat (the so-called submarine phenomenon). In this specification, the terms "front" and "forward" refer to the front and rear directions based on the body of an occupant seated on the seat. Similarly, the terms "rear" and "rearward" refer to the rear and rear directions based on the body of an occupant seated on the seat. In addition, in this specification, the width direction, which will be described later, refers to a direction that is horizontal and perpendicular to the front and rear directions.

[0003] The submarine phenomenon is thought to occur when the vehicle is subjected to a frontal impact, causing the occupant's waist to move forward and slip underneath the waist strap (also called a hip belt or lap strap) that is part of the seat belt and is designed to restrain the occupant's waist.

[0004] In order to prevent the occurrence of the submarine phenomenon described above, a technology has been proposed in which an airbag known as a seat cushion airbag is provided below the seat surface of the seat, more specifically, inside the seat (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0005] According to the technology introduced in Patent Document 1, the seat cushion airbag is deployed and inflated when an impact occurs, thereby raising the seat surface of the seat. It is believed that the seat cushion airbag is deployed and inflated below the area extending from the seat bone to the thighs of the occupant, which is believed to reduce the forward movement of the occupant's waist. In addition, as the seat surface rises, the occupant's waist also rises. This makes it difficult for the occupant's waist to slip through the waist strap from below, and the occupant is reliably restrained in the seat by the seat belt. It is believed that this makes it difficult for the submarine phenomenon described above to occur. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-188123 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] As described above, the seat cushion airbag introduced in Patent Document 1 deploys and inflates when an impact occurs. During this deployment and inflation, the seat cushion airbag lifts the occupant's lower back from below the occupant's lower back, and as a result, it is considered that the upper body of the occupant also rises.

[0008] In this case, an occupant sits above the seat cushion airbag and the seat portion, and a downward load is applied to the seat portion by the occupant. Therefore, the seat portion is difficult to deform upward immediately after the seat cushion airbag is deployed and inflated because the occupant gets in the way. In other words, immediately after the seat cushion airbag is deployed and inflated, the seat portion first deforms downward, which is easier to deform, and then deforms upward.

[0009] Therefore, the timing at which this type of seat cushion airbag raises the hips of the occupant tends to be delayed slightly from the time at which the impact occurs.

[0010] In order to more stably restrain the upper body of the occupant with the shoulder straps, it is preferable to have the timing for the seat cushion airbag to lift the lumbar region of the occupant as close as possible to the time when the impact occurs.

[0011] As a result of intensive research, the inventors of the present invention have found that the high internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag during deployment causes a delay in the timing at which the seat cushion airbag raises the occupant's lower back from the point at which an impact occurs. Hereinafter, this phenomenon will be referred to as "a time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag" as necessary. In addition, in this specification, unless otherwise specified, "during deployment" refers to the time at which the seat cushion airbag deploys and inflates.

[0012] In view of the above findings, it is believed that if the internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag during deployment is reduced, the time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag can be reduced. This is because it is believed that by reducing the internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag when it is deployed and inflated, it is possible to suppress downward deformation of the seat part immediately after the seat cushion airbag is deployed and inflated.

[0013] However, if the internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag is low when it is deployed, the force supporting the occupant's body from below may be insufficient, which may also make it difficult for the shoulder straps to stably restrain the upper half of the occupant's body.

[0014] The inventors of the present invention conducted extensive research and devised a shape for the seat cushion airbag that would reduce the time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag, and also aim to provide the seat cushion airbag with the ability to stably restrain the upper body of the occupant with shoulder straps.

[0015] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a seat cushion airbag that reduces the time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag, and that can stably restrain the upper body of an occupant with shoulder straps, and a seat cushion airbag device that includes the seat cushion airbag. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] The seat cushion airbag of the present invention which solves the above problems comprises: A seat cushion airbag that is connected to an inflation fluid generating source and is expanded and inflated by supplying inflation fluid thereto, The seat cushion is disposed in a region of a seat portion of a vehicle seat that is below a seat surface and between a central portion and a front end portion of the seat portion in a front-rear direction, When deployed and inflated, having a side between a top and a bottom; The seat cushion airbag has standing walls extending in the up-down direction in at least two opposing regions of the side portions.

[0017] The seat cushion airbag device of the present invention which solves the above problems is: An expansion fluid source; a seat cushion airbag connected to the inflation fluid generating source and adapted to be expanded and inflated by the supply of inflation fluid thereto, The seat cushion airbag is The seat cushion is disposed in a region of a seat portion of a vehicle seat that is below a seat surface and between a central portion and a front end portion of the seat portion in a front-rear direction, When deployed and inflated, having a side between a top and a bottom; The seat cushion airbag device has standing walls extending in the up-down direction in at least two opposing regions of the side portions.

[0018] The seat cushion airbag and seat cushion airbag device of the present invention can reduce the time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag, and can stably restrain the upper body of the occupant with the shoulder straps. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for typically explaining a seat cushion airbag of a first embodiment and a seat cushion airbag device of the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a seat cushion airbag according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a seat cushion airbag according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a seat cushion airbag according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a seat cushion airbag according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a seat cushion airbag according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a seat cushion airbag according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a seat cushion airbag according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a seat cushion airbag according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a schematic view of an upper seat in a seat cushion airbag according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a model of a lower seat in the seat cushion airbag of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a schematic view of the seat cushion airbag of the fifth embodiment as viewed from the side and rear. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a conventional seat cushion airbag. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a conventional seat cushion airbag. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a conventional seat cushion airbag. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a conventional seat cushion airbag. [Figure 17] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic view of one embodiment of a seat cushion airbag according to the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic view of one embodiment of a seat cushion airbag according to the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic view of one embodiment of a seat cushion airbag according to the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic view of one embodiment of a seat cushion airbag according to the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic view of one embodiment of a seat cushion airbag according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The seat cushion airbag device of the present invention includes an inflation fluid generating source in addition to the seat cushion airbag of the present invention. Therefore, the following description of the seat cushion airbag of the present invention can be interpreted as the seat cushion airbag in the seat cushion airbag device of the present invention.

[0021] The seat cushion airbag of the present invention is connected to an inflation fluid source. When an impact occurs, the seat cushion airbag of the present invention is deployed and inflated by the inflation fluid generated by the inflation fluid generating source being supplied to the inside.

[0022] The seat cushion airbag is disposed in a region of the seat portion of the vehicle seat, below the seat surface and between the center and front end portions of the seat portion in the front-rear direction.

[0023] In this specification, rear means the opposite direction to the previously described front. Furthermore, upper and lower mean the vertically upper and vertically lower directions of the seat cushion airbag when the seat cushion airbag is mounted on the seat of a vehicle seat.

[0024] When the seat cushion airbag of the present invention is deployed and inflated, the region of the seat between the center and front end in the front-rear direction is deformed upward. At least a part of the region of the seat between the center and front end in the front-rear direction coincides with the region from the ischial bones to the thighs of the occupant seated on the seat of the seat. Therefore, at this time, the region from the ischial bones to the thighs of the occupant seated on the seat of the seat is lifted, and as a result, the waist of the occupant is raised.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, a typical conventional seat cushion airbag is made by sewing together an upper sheet 150u that forms a top portion 111t of the seat cushion airbag 111 and a lower sheet 150l that forms a bottom portion 111b of the seat cushion airbag 111. The seam 130 between the upper sheet 150u and the lower sheet 150l is formed along the peripheral edges of the upper sheet 150u and the lower sheet 150l over the entire circumferential direction.

[0026] Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram that typically explains a conventional seat cushion airbag as viewed from above, Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram that typically explains the conventional seat cushion airbag when the internal pressure is high as viewed from the front, Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram that typically explains the conventional seat cushion airbag when the internal pressure is low as viewed from the front, and Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram that typically explains the seat cushion airbag when the internal pressure is low and the outer shape is large as viewed from the front.

[0027] The conventional seat cushion airbag has a flat shape with almost no thickness in the up-down direction when in a normal state, i.e., when not deployed or inflated. When the conventional seat cushion airbag deploys and inflates upon the occurrence of an impact, as shown in Fig. 14, the lower sheet 150l swells downward to form a bottom portion 111b, and then the upper sheet 150u swells upward to form a top portion 111t.

[0028] Here, the conventional seat cushion airbag described above has a shape that has almost no thickness in the up-down direction in a normal state, and therefore it is difficult to say that it is easy to deform in the up-down direction, especially in the upward direction. Therefore, in the conventional seat cushion airbag, if the internal pressure during deployment is low, the upward position of the apex will also be low.

[0029] In order to stably restrain the upper body of the occupant with the shoulder straps when an impact occurs, it is necessary to support the waist of the occupant seated in the seat with sufficient force from below. For this purpose, it is preferable to largely deform the seat cushion airbag in the upward direction when it is deployed and to raise the top position to a certain degree.

[0030] For this reason, in conventional airbags, the internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag at the time of deployment and inflation is set to a relatively high value as shown in Fig. 14. This causes the seat cushion airbag 111 to deform upward to a relatively large extent, and in turn causes the top portion 111t to be positioned higher in the upward direction.

[0031] In contrast to this, as already described, when the internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag 111 at the time of deployment and inflation is set to a relatively low value in order to reduce the time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag, the upward position of the top 111t also becomes relatively low (FIG. 15).

[0032] By increasing the outer shape of the seat cushion airbag, even if the internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag 111 at the time of deployment and inflation is lowered to some extent, the position of the top portion 111t in the upward direction can be raised (FIG. 16). In this case, however, the outer shape of the seat cushion airbag 111 becomes too large, which makes it difficult to say that it is suitable for placement on the seat of a general seat.

[0033] The inventors of the present invention aimed to reduce the time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag by devising a shape that facilitates upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag. With a seat cushion airbag having this shape, the top portion can be positioned sufficiently high in the upward direction without the outer shape being excessively large, even if the internal pressure during deployment and inflation is relatively low.

[0034] Specifically, the seat cushion airbag of the present invention has side portions between a top portion and a bottom portion when deployed and inflated, and has standing walls extending in the up-down direction in at least two opposing regions of the side portions.

[0035] In the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, the standing wall included in the side portion extends in the up-down direction when deployed and inflated. Therefore, the standing wall guides the deformation direction of the seat cushion airbag so that the top of the airbag is positioned higher when deployed and inflated. It can also be said that the standing wall contributes to causing the seat cushion airbag to deform significantly in the upward direction when deployed and inflated.

[0036] According to the seat cushion airbag of the present invention having such standing walls on the sides, even if the internal pressure during deployment is not particularly high, the top portion is positioned sufficiently high in the upward direction.

[0037] As a result, the seat cushion airbag of the present invention is able to support the lower back of an occupant seated in the seat from below with sufficient force, and ultimately is able to stably restrain the upper body of the occupant using the shoulder straps.

[0038] Furthermore, according to the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, since it is not necessary to set the internal pressure high when the airbag is deployed and inflated, it is possible to reduce the time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag.

[0039] Hereinafter, the seat cushion airbag of the present invention and the seat cushion airbag device of the present invention will be described with respect to each of their components.

[0040] Unless otherwise specified, the numerical range "x to y" described in this specification includes the lower limit x and the upper limit y. These upper and lower limit values, as well as the numerical values ​​listed in the examples, can be arbitrarily combined to form a new numerical range. Furthermore, any numerical value selected from any of the above numerical ranges can be used as the upper and lower limit numerical values ​​of the new numerical range.

[0041] The seat cushion airbag of the present invention comprises: A seat cushion airbag that is connected to an inflation fluid generating source and is expanded and inflated by supplying inflation fluid thereto, The seat cushion is disposed in a region of a seat portion of a vehicle seat that is below a seat surface and between a central portion and a front end portion of the seat portion in a front-rear direction, When deployed and inflated, having a side between a top and a bottom; The seat cushion airbag has standing walls extending in the up-down direction in at least two opposing regions of the side portions. The seat cushion airbag device of the present invention includes an inflation fluid generating source in addition to the above-described seat cushion airbag of the present invention.

[0042] The seat cushion airbag of the present invention is disposed in a seat portion of a vehicle seat. The seat portion is a portion of the seat where an occupant sits, and may include a frame and a cushion fixed to the frame. In addition to the seat portion, the seat may also include, for example, a backrest, armrests, etc.

[0043] The seat in which the seat cushion airbag of the present invention is installed is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a front seat such as a driver's seat or a passenger seat, or a rear seat.

[0044] The seat cushion airbag of the present invention is disposed in a region between the center and front end of the seat in the front-rear direction. In this specification, the "region between the center and front end of the seat in the front-rear direction" is referred to as the front region of the seat, as necessary.

[0045] The seat cushion airbag of the present invention may be disposed entirely in the front region of the seat portion, or a portion of the seat cushion airbag may be disposed rearward of the front region of the seat portion.

[0046] In the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, when a portion thereof is disposed rearward of the front region of the seat part, it is preferable that a majority of the seat cushion airbag is disposed in the front region of the seat part.

[0047] Specifically, in a projection view of the seat and the seat cushion airbag arranged on the seat from above downward, it is preferable that 30% or more of the area of ​​the seat cushion airbag is arranged in the front region of the seat.

[0048] The seat cushion airbag of the present invention is disposed in the seat portion as described above, and when deployed and inflated, the airbag itself deforms and pushes the seat surface of the seat portion upward. Such a seat cushion airbag is preferably stored in the seat in a folded or crushed state under normal conditions, and it is preferable to select a material for the seat cushion airbag that is both foldable and deployable.

[0049] As a specific material for the seat cushion airbag, it is preferable to select a material that is flexible and has high strength. For example, a woven fabric using high strength resin fibers such as polyester or polyamide can be particularly preferably used.

[0050] The seat cushion airbag of the present invention is connected to an inflation fluid source for supplying inflation fluid to the interior of the seat cushion airbag. The inflation fluid generating source is preferably a so-called inflator that generates gas as the inflation fluid, but in some cases, it may be one that generates an inflation fluid other than gas, such as a liquid or gel.

[0051] The inflation fluid generating source may be any device for supplying inflation fluid to the airbag, and may be, for example, a so-called pyrotype having a gas generating agent that generates gas as the inflation fluid, or a so-called hybrid type that breaks a partition of a high-pressure container to supply the gas contained in the high-pressure container. The inflation fluid generating source may be entirely disposed outside the seat cushion airbag, or may be partially or entirely disposed inside the seat cushion airbag.

[0052] The seat cushion airbag of the present invention has a side portion between the top portion and the bottom portion when deployed and inflated. The side portion may be formed only when deployed and inflated, or may be formed during normal operation in addition to when deployed and inflated.

[0053] The apex here means a region of the seat cushion airbag mounted on the seat portion of the seat that includes the upper end portion when deployed and inflated, and the peripheral portion that smoothly continues to the upper end portion. The size and shape of the apex may be any shape that corresponds to the shape of the seat cushion airbag, and may be either linear or planar.

[0054] The top may extend three-dimensionally in the up-down direction, and the length in the up-down direction is not particularly limited because it varies depending on the shape of the seat cushion airbag. In some cases, the side portion including the standing wall is formed continuously with the top, and the boundary between the top and the side portion or the standing wall is unclear.

[0055] In contrast, the bottom portion refers to the region of the seat cushion airbag mounted on the seat that includes the lower end portion when deployed and inflated, and the peripheral portion that smoothly continues to the lower end portion. The size and shape of the bottom portion may also be any shape that corresponds to the shape of the seat cushion airbag, and may be either linear or planar.

[0056] The bottom portion may also extend three-dimensionally in the up-down direction, and the length of the up-down direction is not particularly limited because it varies depending on the shape of the seat cushion airbag. In some cases, the side portion including the standing wall is formed continuously with the bottom portion, and the boundary between the bottom portion and the side portion or the standing wall is unclear.

[0057] The side portion exists between the top and bottom portions when the seat cushion airbag is deployed and inflated. When the seat cushion airbag is deployed and inflated, the top and bottom portions are at different positions in the up-down direction. Therefore, the side portion can be said to exist between the top and bottom portions in the up-down direction of the seat cushion airbag. The side portion exists between the top and bottom portions over the entire circumferential circumference of the seat cushion airbag. In this specification, the circumferential direction of the seat cushion airbag means the direction in which the sides of the seat cushion airbag extend.

[0058] The above-mentioned top, bottom and side portions are also present in conventional seat cushion airbags as shown in Figs.

[0059] The seat cushion airbag of the present invention has standing walls extending in the up-down direction in at least two opposing regions of the above-mentioned side portions.

[0060] The standing wall in the seat cushion airbag of the present invention may form only a part of the side portion or may form the entire side portion. In other words, the standing wall may be present between the top and bottom in only a part of the circumferential direction of the seat cushion airbag, or may be present between the top and bottom over the entire circumferential direction of the seat cushion airbag.

[0061] The standing walls in the seat cushion airbag of the present invention are gusset-shaped, that is, they are added to the portions of the conventional seat cushion airbag formed only of an upper sheet and a lower sheet as shown in Figures 13 to 16 that lack thickness, and can also be said to be in the form of a so-called insert cloth.

[0062] For example, the standing wall in the seat cushion airbag of the present invention may be integrally molded with the top and / or bottom, or the standing wall may be molded separately from the top and / or bottom and then joined to the top and / or bottom to be integrated.

[0063] In this specification, the term "joining" refers to a concept that includes sewing together with sewing thread, binding together using various bonding materials such as staples, bonding using an adhesive, and welding.

[0064] For example, as shown in Fig. 17, the seat cushion airbag 11 of the present invention may be formed by joining and integrating a gusset body 50s, which is separate from an upper sheet 50u and a lower sheet 50l, to the upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l, respectively. When the seat cushion airbag 11 is deployed and inflated, a part of the gusset body 50s forms a standing wall 20.

[0065] 17 and 18 are explanatory diagrams that typically explain one embodiment of the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, and more specifically, typically explain the state in which the seat cushion airbag is cut along the width direction, i.e., the left-right direction shown in each diagram.

[0066] The seat cushion airbag 11 of the present invention shown in Fig. 17 is folded or crushed in a normal state as shown in Fig. 18. The seat cushion airbag 11 unfolds and inflates as shown in Fig. 17 when inflation fluid is supplied from an inflation fluid generating source (not shown).

[0067] 17, in the seat cushion airbag 11, the standing wall 20 extends in the up-down direction when deployed and inflated. The standing wall 20 thereby guides the deformation direction of the seat cushion airbag 11 so that the upward position of the top portion 11t becomes higher.

[0068] 17 and 18, in the seat cushion airbag 11, the upper end of the standing wall 20 has a seam between the standing wall 20 and the top 11t (more specifically, seam 30), and the lower end of the standing wall 20 has a seam between the standing wall 20 and the bottom 11b (i.e., seam 30). The seam between the standing wall 20 and the top 11t can be rephrased as a seam between the gusset body 50s and the upper sheet 50u. The seam between the standing wall 20 and the bottom 11b can be rephrased as a seam between the gusset body 50s and the lower sheet 50l.

[0069] The above-mentioned portion of the standing wall 20 located near the joint 30 has higher rigidity than the other portion (referred to as a general portion 21 of the standing wall 20 as necessary) of the standing wall 20. Therefore, the portion of the standing wall 20 near the joint is less likely to deform than the general portion of the standing wall 20, and its shape is more likely to be maintained.

[0070] Therefore, in the seat cushion airbag 11 of this embodiment, when it is deployed and inflated, the general portion 21 of the standing wall 20 deforms preferentially, guiding the deformation direction of the seat cushion airbag 11 so that the upward position of the top 11t becomes higher.

[0071] Therefore, in this case, even if the internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag 11 is not so high when deployed and inflated, the top portion 11t of the seat cushion airbag 11 is positioned sufficiently high in the upward direction. In this embodiment, substantially the entire upper seat 50u forms the top portion 11t of the seat cushion airbag 11.

[0072] Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, the gusset body 50s and the upper sheet 50u in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the present invention may be integrally molded, and the integrally molded body of the upper sheet 50u and the vertical wall 20 and the lower sheet 50l may be sewn together to be integrated.

[0073] In the seat cushion airbag 11 of this embodiment, it can also be said that the standing wall 20 is configured as a part of the upper seat 50u. In this embodiment, the standing wall 20 can also be said to function as a gusset between the top 11t and the bottom 11b.

[0074] For reference, Figures 19 and 20 are explanatory diagrams that diagrammatically explain one embodiment of the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, and more specifically, they diagrammatically explain the state in which the seat cushion airbag is cut along the width direction.

[0075] The seat cushion airbag 11 of this embodiment is also folded or crushed in a normal state as shown in Fig. 19. When inflation fluid is supplied from an inflation fluid generating source (not shown), the seat cushion airbag 11 unfolds and inflates as shown in Fig. 20.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 19, when the seat cushion airbag 11 is deployed and inflated, the vertical position of the top 11t, which is part of the upper seat 50u, becomes higher, and the vertical wall 20, which is another part of the upper seat 50u and extends in the vertical direction, guides the deformation direction of the seat cushion airbag 11 in the vertical direction.

[0077] Therefore, even in this case, even if the internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag 11 during deployment and inflation is not particularly high, the position of the top portion 11t in the upward direction becomes sufficiently high.

[0078] 21, the top 11t, the bottom 11b, and the standing wall 20 in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the present invention may each be divided into a plurality of segments. The segment of the top 11t, the segment of the standing wall 20 continuous with the segment of the top 11t, and the segment of the bottom 11b continuous with the segment of the standing wall 20 may be integrally molded to form one airbag segment 11d.

[0079] In the seat cushion airbag 11 of this embodiment, it can be said that the seat cushion airbag 11 is formed by joining and integrating four airbag segments 11d.

[0080] In the top 11t of the seat cushion airbag 11 of this embodiment, there is a seam 30 between a portion of one airbag segment 11d that forms the top 11t and a portion of another adjacent airbag segment 11d that forms the top 11t.

[0081] In addition, in the bottom 11b of the seat cushion airbag 11 in this embodiment, there is a seam 30 between a portion of one airbag segment 11d that forms the bottom 11b and a portion of another adjacent airbag segment 11d that forms the bottom 11b.

[0082] Furthermore, in the standing wall 20 in the seat cushion airbag 11 of this embodiment, a seam 30 exists between a portion of a certain airbag segment 11d that forms the standing wall 20 and a portion of another adjacent airbag segment 11d that forms the standing wall 20.

[0083] In this case, too, when the seat cushion airbag, which is folded or crushed in the normal state, deploys and inflates, the vertically extending upright wall guides the deformation direction of the seat cushion airbag so that the upward position of the top becomes higher.

[0084] Therefore, even in this case, even if the internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag when deployed and inflated is not particularly high, the position above the top of the seat cushion airbag will be sufficiently high.

[0085] It is preferable that the standing wall is folded back to the inside or outside of the seat cushion airbag in the normal state, which has the advantage that the length of the standing wall in the vertical direction is increased when the seat cushion airbag is deployed and inflated, and that the seat cushion airbag can be easily crushed or folded so that the outer shape of the seat cushion airbag is reduced in the normal state.

[0086] As described above, when the standing wall is folded back to the inside or outside of the seat cushion airbag in the normal state, it is also preferable to provide a seam or joint at the fold of the standing wall, which increases the rigidity of the fold and makes it easier for the fold to maintain its shape in the normal state.

[0087] The seat cushion airbag of the present invention may have vertical walls extending in the vertical direction in at least two opposing regions of the side portions, and the length of the vertical walls is not particularly limited. The vertical walls may be continuous over the entire vertical direction, or may have a seam anywhere in the vertical direction.

[0088] In the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, in order to make the top position higher when deployed and inflated, it is preferable to make the vertical length of the standing wall, i.e., the height of the standing wall, long.

[0089] The vertical length of the standing wall in the seat cushion airbag of the present invention is preferably 120 mm or more when the internal pressure is 175 kPa during deployment and inflation. There is no particular upper limit to the vertical length of the standing wall, but if one is forced to give a limit, it is good as long as it is 300 mm or less. For reference, the internal pressure of the conventional seat cushion airbag mentioned above when deployed and inflated is approximately 350 kPa.

[0090] In the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, when the standing walls are present in two opposing regions of the side portion, the standing walls in the two regions may have the same shape or different shapes. Furthermore, in this case, the lengths of the standing walls in the vertical direction may be the same or different.

[0091] In the case where the standing wall is present around the entire circumference of the seat cushion airbag in the circumferential direction, the vertical length of the standing wall may be the same or different around the entire circumference in the circumferential direction. In order to suppress the submarine phenomenon described above, it is preferable that the vertical length of the front part of the standing wall is longer than the vertical length of the rear part of the standing wall.

[0092] As described above, the standing wall may be integrally formed with the top and / or bottom, but it is more preferable that the standing wall formed separately from the top and bottom is joined to the top and / or bottom to be integrated. By sandwiching the general part of the standing wall between the parts with high rigidity, i.e., the joint between the top and the standing wall and the joint between the bottom and the standing wall, the force of the general part deforming in the vertical direction during deployment is less likely to be transmitted from the general part to the top side and from the general part to the bottom side. For example, when the general part deforms in the vertical direction during deployment, it is considered that the upper sheet and the lower sheet may be deflected and deformed accordingly. There is a risk that the deflection of the upper sheet and the lower sheet in this way will hinder the vertical deformation of the general part. By sandwiching the general portion at the above-mentioned seam, deformation of the general portion in the vertical direction is less likely to be hindered, and as a result, even if the internal pressure during deployment and inflation is low, the vertical length of the seat cushion airbag becomes sufficiently large.

[0093] In the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, in order to stably support the lower back of an occupant seated in the seat from below, it is preferable to make the length of the seat cushion airbag in the width direction longer to a certain extent. This is for the following reasons.

[0094] For example, in the conventional seat cushion airbag shown in Figures 13 to 15, when the internal pressure during deployment is increased (Figure 14), the top of the seat cushion airbag is positioned somewhat higher in the upward direction. Therefore, the conventional seat cushion airbag can support the area near the ischial bones of an occupant sitting on the seat from below.

[0095] However, in this case, the peripheral edge of the top of the conventional seat cushion airbag is not positioned very high in the upward direction, making it difficult for the conventional seat cushion airbag to stably support the occupant's buttocks from below.

[0096] In contrast, in the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, the presence of the vertical wall causes a large area of ​​the upper seat to rise upward when deployed and inflated, and the area of ​​the top can be increased. Therefore, in the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, by increasing the length in the width direction, the top can be brought into contact with not only the vicinity of the ischial bones of the occupant but also the vicinity of the buttocks, and the area of ​​the top that comes into contact with the occupant and supports the occupant can be increased, making it possible for the seat cushion airbag to support the occupant from below. This makes it possible to distribute the downward load acting on the seat cushion airbag due to the occupant to a large portion of the seat cushion airbag.

[0097] In other words, by increasing the widthwise length of the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, even if the internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag at the time of deployment and inflation is reduced, the seat cushion airbag can support the occupant from below in a very stable manner.

[0098] Specifically, the length of the seat cushion airbag of the present invention in the width direction is preferably 280 mm or more.Alternatively, the size of the seat cushion airbag of the present invention is preferably 70% or more, assuming that the width direction length of the seat part is 100%.

[0099] In the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, the length in the front-rear direction is not particularly limited, and may be approximately the same as the length in the width direction or may be longer than the length in the width direction. However, if the seat cushion airbag is made compact, the weight of the seat cushion airbag can be reduced.

[0100] For this reason, it is preferable that the length in the front-rear direction of the seat cushion airbag of the present invention is shorter than the length in the width direction. In other words, the seat cushion airbag of the present invention has a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and it is preferable that the longitudinal direction is aligned with the width direction of the seat portion.

[0101] Specifically, the length of the seat cushion airbag of the present invention in the front-rear direction is preferably 25% or more of the length of the seat cushion airbag in the width direction.

[0102] Furthermore, in order for the seat cushion airbag of the present invention to more stably support the occupant's buttocks from below, it is preferable that, when deployed and inflated, the area of ​​the seat cushion airbag that corresponds to the occupant's buttocks and further outboard in the width direction is positioned higher upward than the area that corresponds to the occupant's ischial bones.

[0103] In other words, the seat cushion airbag of the present invention is preferably disposed on the seat so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the width direction of the seat, and the top of the seat cushion airbag has raised portions at both longitudinal end portions, which are located at a higher position than the longitudinal center portion when deployed and inflated.

[0104] Specifically, in the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, it is preferable that the protruding portion and the central portion in the longitudinal direction are spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction by 5 mm or more when the airbag is deployed and inflated.

[0105] In the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, the top and bottom may be connected by a tether. A tether is a member having a shape such as a string, a belt, a thread, etc., and is also called a tether or a strap. By connecting the top and bottom with a tether, the upward position of the top can be controlled with high precision during deployment and inflation. This is useful for the seat cushion airbag of the present invention to more stably support the lumbar region of an occupant from below.

[0106] Similarly, in the seat cushion airbag of the present invention, it is also preferable to connect the opposing standing walls, in other words, the pair of standing walls, with a tether. By connecting the above-mentioned standing walls with a tether, there is an advantage that the relative positions of the standing walls can be controlled with high precision when the airbag is deployed and inflated.

[0107] When the seat cushion airbag of the present invention has this configuration, it is particularly preferable that the standing walls are located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the seat cushion airbag, and that the longitudinal direction of the seat cushion airbag is aligned with the width direction of the seat portion. In this case, by precisely controlling the widthwise length of the seat cushion airbag when deployed and inflated, it is possible for the seat cushion airbag to more stably support the lower back of the occupant from below.

[0108] Hereinafter, the seat cushion airbag and the seat cushion airbag device of the present invention will be described with reference to specific examples.

[0109] Example 1 FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram that typically explains how the seat cushion airbag of Example 1 and the seat cushion airbag device of Example 1 are mounted on the seat portion of a seat. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram that typically explains how the seat cushion airbag of Example 1 is viewed from above. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram that typically explains how the seat cushion airbag of Example 1 is viewed from the side. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram that typically explains how the seat cushion airbag of Example 1 is viewed from the side and from the rear. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram that typically explains how the seat cushion airbag of Example 1 is cut along the longitudinal direction.

[0110] Hereinafter, in Example 1, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front" and "rear" refer to the upper, lower, left, right, front and rear shown in the drawings. The left-right direction coincides with the width direction.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 1, the seat cushion airbag device 1 of the first embodiment includes a seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment and an inflation fluid generating source 10. The seat cushion airbag device 1 of the first embodiment includes an inflation fluid generating source 10 and a seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment.

[0112] The seat cushion airbag device of the first embodiment is mounted on a vehicle seat 90, and more specifically, is disposed below a seat cushion (not shown) in a seat portion 91 of the seat 90. Since a seat surface 93 of the seat portion 91 is formed by the upper surface of the seat cushion, the seat cushion airbag device 1 of the first embodiment can be said to be disposed below the seat surface 93 in the seat portion 91.

[0113] The seat cushion airbag 11 is located above a seat bar 92 that spans the width of the seat portion 91 near the center in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the seat cushion airbag 11 can be said to be located in the region between the center and the front end of the seat portion 91 in the front-rear direction, i.e., in the front region 91f.

[0114] More specifically, in the seat cushion airbag 11 of Example 1, in a projection view of the seat portion 91 and the seat cushion airbag 11 arranged on the seat portion 91 projected from above downward, 50% or more of its area is arranged in the front region 91f.

[0115] The inflation fluid generating source 10 is disposed inside the seat cushion airbag 11 and further forward than the seat bar 92.

[0116] The inflation fluid generating source 10 in the seat cushion airbag device 1 of the first embodiment is an inflator that generates gas as an inflation fluid, and is connected to a control device (not shown) for deploying and inflating the seat cushion airbag 11, and operates by receiving power supply. The control device is an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 2, the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment is made up of an upper sheet 50u, a lower sheet 50l, two gusset members 50s, and a tether 60 sewn together.

[0118] The upper sheet 50u forms a top portion 11t of the seat cushion airbag 11, and the lower sheet 50l forms a bottom portion 11b of the seat cushion airbag 11.

[0119] The upper sheet 50u, the lower sheet 50l, and the gusset body 50s are each made of a woven polyester fabric. The upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l are substantially the same shape, with their longitudinal directions extending left and right and their lateral directions extending front and rear. Therefore, the longitudinal direction of the seat cushion airbag 11 can be said to be along the width direction.

[0120] 2, 3, and 4, the upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l are integrated by being sewn together at the front and rear portions of their peripheries. It can also be said that the upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l are integrated by being sewn together at both ends in the short side direction.

[0121] The gusset members 50s are disposed at both longitudinal ends of the seat cushion airbag 11. The upper portions of the gusset members 50s are sewn together with the longitudinal ends of the upper sheet 50u to form an integrated unit. The lower portions of the gusset members 50s are sewn together with the longitudinal ends of the lower sheet 50l to form an integrated unit.

[0122] The seams 30 of the upper sheet 50u, the lower sheet 50l, and the two gusset bodies 50s are formed along the entire periphery in the circumferential direction along the peripheral portion of the upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l as shown in Fig. 2. It can also be said that the seams 30 are formed along the entire periphery in the circumferential direction along the peripheral portion of each gusset body 50s as shown in Fig. 3. As a result, the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment is substantially box-shaped.

[0123] In the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment, the seam 30 between the upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l and the adjacent portion thereof form a part of the side portion 11s at both ends in the short direction. Also, at both ends in the long direction of the seat cushion airbag 11, the portion between the seam 30 between the upper sheet 50u and the gusset body 50s and the seam 30 between the lower sheet 50l and the gusset body 50s forms the remainder of the side portion 11s. This portion also forms the standing wall 20 extending in the up-down direction.

[0124] 2, in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment, the top portion 11t and the bottom portion 11b are connected by a tether 60. The tether 60 is disposed inside the seat cushion airbag 11.

[0125] The seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment is folded in a normal state. When inflation fluid is supplied from the inflation fluid generating source 10, the seat cushion airbag 11 unfolds and inflates as shown in Figs. 2 to 4.

[0126] The seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment is disposed in the seat portion 91 with its longitudinal direction aligned with the left-right direction, which is the width direction. A longitudinal center portion of the top portion 11t and a longitudinal center portion of the bottom portion 11b are connected by a tether 60. Therefore, when deployed and inflated, the longitudinal center portion of the top portion 11t is located at a lower position in the upward direction than both longitudinal end portions of the top portion 11t.

[0127] That is, the top portion 11t of the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment has the raised portions 40 at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The raised portions 40 are located higher in the upward direction than the central portion 41 in the longitudinal direction when deployed and inflated.

[0128] The seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment has vertically extending standing walls 20 in regions located at both longitudinal ends of the side portions 11s. The standing walls 20 deform in the vertical direction when deployed and inflated. Therefore, the deformation direction of the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment when deployed and inflated is guided in the vertical direction by the standing walls 20.

[0129] Therefore, according to the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment, even if the internal pressure during deployment is not so high, the position of the top 11t in the upward direction becomes sufficiently high. As a result, the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment can support the lower back of the occupant seated on the seat 90 with sufficient force from below, and furthermore, can stably restrain the upper body of the occupant by the unillustrated shoulder straps.

[0130] Furthermore, according to the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment, since it is not necessary to set the internal pressure high when inflated, it is possible to reduce the time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag 11.

[0131] Furthermore, the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment is arranged in the seat portion 91 so that its longitudinal direction is along the width direction, and has the raised portions 40 at both longitudinal ends of the top portion 11t, so that it can support the entire buttocks of the occupant from below.

[0132] According to the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment, the downward load acting on the seat cushion airbag 11 due to the occupant can be distributed to a large portion of the seat cushion airbag 11. As a result, the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment can support the occupant from below in a very stable manner even if the internal pressure of the seat cushion airbag 11 at the time of deployment and inflation is reduced.

[0133] For reference, the length of the seat cushion airbag 11 of Example 1 in the longitudinal direction, ie, the width direction of the seat portion 91, is about 400 mm, which is 90% or more when the width direction length of the seat portion 91 is taken as 100%.

[0134] The vertical length of the standing wall 20 is about 150 mm when the internal pressure is 175 kPa during deployment and inflation.

[0135] The length of the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment in the short direction, ie, the front-rear direction of the seat portion 91, is about 140 mm, which is about 35% of the length of the seat cushion airbag 11 in the width direction.

[0136] Furthermore, the protruding portion 40 at the apex 11t and the central portion 41 in the longitudinal direction are spaced apart from each other by about 20 mm in the up-down direction when deployed and inflated.

[0137] Example 2 Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram for typically explaining the state of the seat cushion airbag of Example 2 as seen from above. Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram for typically explaining the state of the seat cushion airbag of Example 2 as seen from the side.

[0138] The seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment is significantly different from the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment in the positions of the pair of standing walls 20 and in that the top 11t and the bottom 11b are connected by a tether 60 and the two standing walls 20 are connected by the tether 60. The seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment is otherwise substantially the same as the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment.

[0139] As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment, a pair of standing walls 20 are disposed at both ends of the seat cushion airbag 11 in the front-rear direction, that is, in the short side direction.

[0140] The upper sheet 50u forms a top portion 11t of the seat cushion airbag 11, and the lower sheet 50l forms a bottom portion 11b of the seat cushion airbag 11.

[0141] The upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l are substantially the same shape, with the longitudinal direction facing left and right and the lateral direction facing front and rear. The upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l are integrated by sewing the left and right parts of their peripheries together. It can also be said that the upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l are integrated by sewing the both ends of their longitudinal direction together.

[0142] The gusset members 50s are disposed at both ends of the short side of the seat cushion airbag 11. The upper portion of each gusset member 50s is sewn and integrated with the short side end of the upper sheet 50u. The lower portion of each gusset member 50s is sewn and integrated with the short side end of the lower sheet 50l.

[0143] The seams 30 of the upper sheet 50u, the lower sheet 50l, and the two gusset bodies 50s are formed along the entire periphery in the circumferential direction along the peripheral portion of the upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l as shown in Fig. 6. It can also be said that the seams 30 are formed along the entire periphery in the circumferential direction along the peripheral portion of each gusset body 50s. As a result, the seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment is also substantially box-shaped.

[0144] In the seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment, at both ends in the longitudinal direction, a part of the side portion 11s is formed by the seam 30 between the upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l and the part in the vicinity thereof. At both ends in the short side of the seat cushion airbag 11, the remainder of the side portion 11s is formed by the part between the seam 30 between the upper sheet 50u and the gusset body 50s and the seam 30 between the lower sheet 50l and the gusset body 50s. This part also serves as a vertical wall 20 extending in the up-down direction.

[0145] 7, the sizes of the two gusset bodies 50s are different in the seat cushion airbag of Example 2. Specifically, the vertical length of the front gusset body 50s is longer than the vertical length of the rear gusset body 50s.

[0146] For this reason, the vertical length of the standing wall 20 at the front side is longer than the vertical length of the standing wall 20 at the rear side, and the upward position of the top 11t is higher in the front portion of the seat cushion airbag 11 than in the rear portion.

[0147] In the seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment, the top portion 11t and the bottom portion 11b are connected by a tether 60 (FIG. 6). Therefore, the top portion 11t of the seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment has a protruding portion 40 similar to the top portion 11t of the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment.

[0148] In the seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment, the two standing walls 20 are further connected by a tether 60. As a result, in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment, the upward position of the top portion 11t can be controlled with high precision during deployment and the relative positions of the standing walls can be controlled with high precision. This allows the seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment to support the lumbar region of the occupant from below in an even more stable manner.

[0149] The seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment has a vertically extending standing wall 20, similar to the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment. The standing wall 20 guides the deformation direction of the seat cushion airbag 11 in the vertical direction when deployed and inflated.

[0150] Therefore, even if the internal pressure during deployment is not so high, the seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment has a sufficiently high upward position of the apex 11t. This makes it possible for the seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment to support the lower back of an occupant seated on the seat 90 with sufficient force from below, and ultimately makes it possible to stably restrain the upper body of the occupant by the unillustrated shoulder straps.

[0151] Also, with the seat cushion airbag 11 of the second embodiment, it is not necessary to set the internal pressure high when deployed and inflated, so that it is possible to reduce the time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag 11.

[0152] Example 3 FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the seat cushion airbag of the third embodiment as viewed from the side and above.

[0153] As shown in FIG. 8, in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the third embodiment, the entire side portion 11s is formed by a standing wall 20. As shown in FIG.

[0154] In the seat cushion airbag 11 of the third embodiment, the upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l have substantially the same shape. The gusset body 50s has a long rectangular shape. An upper portion of the gusset body 50s is sewn to the peripheral edge of the upper sheet 50u and integrated therewith. A lower portion of the gusset body 50s is sewn to the peripheral edge of the lower sheet 50l and integrated therewith. One end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the gusset body 50s are sewn to each other and integrated therewith.

[0155] The seams 30 of the upper sheet 50u, the lower sheet 50l, and the gusset body 50s are formed along the entire circumferential edge of the upper sheet 50u and the lower sheet 50l as shown in Fig. 8. The seams 30 are also formed along the entire circumferential edge of each gusset body 50s. As a result, the seat cushion airbag 11 of the third embodiment is substantially cylindrical.

[0156] The seat cushion airbag 11 of the third embodiment also has a vertically extending standing wall 20, similar to the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment. The standing wall 20 guides the deformation direction of the seat cushion airbag 11 in the vertical direction when deployed and inflated.

[0157] Therefore, even if the internal pressure during deployment is not so high, the seat cushion airbag 11 of the third embodiment has a sufficiently high upward position of the apex 11t. This makes it possible for the seat cushion airbag 11 of the third embodiment to support the lower back of an occupant seated on the seat 90 with sufficient force from below, and ultimately makes it possible to stably restrain the upper body of the occupant by the unillustrated shoulder straps.

[0158] Also, with the seat cushion airbag 11 of the third embodiment, it is not necessary to set the internal pressure high when deployed and inflated, so that it is possible to reduce the time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag 11.

[0159] Example 4 Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram for typically explaining the state of the seat cushion airbag of Example 4 as viewed from the side and above. Fig. 10 is an explanatory diagram for typically explaining the state of the upper cloth in the seat cushion airbag of Example 4 as viewed from above. Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram for typically explaining the state of the lower cloth in the seat cushion airbag of Example 4 as viewed from above.

[0160] As shown in FIG. 9, in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the fourth embodiment, the entire side portion 11s is formed of a standing wall 20.

[0161] As shown in FIG. 10, in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the fourth embodiment, an upper seat 50u and a gusset body 50s are integrally formed. The lower sheet 50l has substantially the same shape as the upper sheet 50u portion in the integrated member of the upper sheet 50u and the gusset body 50s.

[0162] As shown in Fig. 9, the upper portion of the gusset body 50s is integrally formed with the peripheral portion of the upper sheet 50u. The lower portion of the gusset body 50s is sewn to the peripheral portion of the lower sheet 50l and integrated. The side end portion of the gusset body 50s is sewn to the side end portion of another gusset body 50s adjacent thereto and integrated. The seat cushion airbag 11 of the fourth embodiment is substantially rectangular tubular.

[0163] The seat cushion airbag 11 of the fourth embodiment also has a vertically extending standing wall 20, similar to the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment. The standing wall 20 guides the deformation direction of the seat cushion airbag 11 in the vertical direction when deployed and inflated.

[0164] Therefore, even with the seat cushion airbag 11 of the fourth embodiment, the position of the top portion 11t in the upward direction is sufficiently high even if the internal pressure during deployment and inflation is not particularly high. As a result, the seat cushion airbag 11 of Example 4 is also capable of supporting the lower back of an occupant seated on the seat 90 from below with sufficient force, and ultimately makes it possible to stably restrain the upper body of the occupant by the shoulder straps (not shown).

[0165] Also, with the seat cushion airbag 11 of the fourth embodiment, it is not necessary to set the internal pressure high when inflated and deployed, so that it is possible to reduce the time lag between the occurrence of an impact and the upward deformation of the seat cushion airbag 11.

[0166] Example 5 FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the seat cushion airbag of the fifth embodiment as viewed from the side and rear.

[0167] The seat cushion airbag 11 of the fifth embodiment is substantially the same as the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment, except for the shapes of the gusset body 50s and the standing wall 20.

[0168] The gusset body 50s in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the fifth embodiment is folded back toward the inside of the seat cushion airbag in the normal state. Although not shown, the fold portion 50f of the gusset body 50s is sewn. Therefore, the vertical length of the standing wall 20 in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the fifth embodiment is longer than that of the standing wall 20 in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the first embodiment when deployed and inflated.

[0169] In the seat cushion airbag 11 of the fifth embodiment, the approximate center of the gusset body 50s is folded inward, and therefore the approximate center of the standing wall 20 is also folded inward. Therefore, in the seat cushion airbag 11 of the fifth embodiment, the vertical length of the standing wall 20 can be made larger when deployed and inflated, and the seat cushion airbag 11 can be folded so that the outer shape thereof becomes sufficiently small in the normal state.

[0170] In addition, since the fold portion 50f of the standing wall 20 is sewn, the rigidity of the fold portion 50f is increased, and the fold shape is easily maintained in the normal state. This allows the seat cushion airbag 11 to be folded more compactly in the normal state.

[0171] Although the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is possible to implement the present invention by appropriately extracting and combining elements described in the embodiments, and to make various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the specification of the present invention discloses not only the citation relationships of each claim at the time of the initial application, but also a technical idea that appropriately combines the matters described in each claim. [Explanation of symbols]

[0172] 1: Seat cushion airbag device 10: Expansion fluid source 11: Seat cushion airbag 11t: Top 11b: Bottom 11s: Side 20: Standing Wall 40: Protuberance 90: Seat 91: Seat part 93: Seat

Claims

1. A seat cushion airbag that is connected to an inflation fluid generating source and is expanded and inflated by supplying inflation fluid thereto, The seat cushion is disposed in a region of a seat portion of a vehicle seat that is below a seat surface and between a central portion and a front end portion of the seat portion in a front-rear direction, When deployed and inflated, having a side between a top and a bottom; The seat cushion airbag has vertical walls extending in the up-down direction in at least two opposing regions of the side portions.

2. The seat cushion airbag according to claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal direction is aligned with a width direction of the seat portion.

3. The top portion has raised portions at both ends in the longitudinal direction, The seat cushion airbag according to claim 2 , wherein the raised portion is located at a position higher in the upward direction than a central portion in a longitudinal direction when deployed and inflated.

4. 3. The seat cushion airbag according to claim 1, wherein the standing wall is molded separately from the top and bottom portions and is integrated with the top and bottom portions to form a gusset shape.

5. 5. The seat cushion airbag according to claim 4, wherein the standing wall is folded back in a normal state before deployment and inflation.

6. 3. The seat cushion airbag according to claim 1, further comprising a tether connecting the top portion and the bottom portion.

7. The seat cushion airbag according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a tether connecting the standing walls to each other.

8. An expansion fluid source; a seat cushion airbag connected to the inflation fluid generating source and adapted to be expanded and inflated by the supply of inflation fluid thereto, The seat cushion airbag is The seat cushion is disposed in a region of a seat portion of a vehicle seat that is below a seat surface and between a central portion and a front end portion of the seat portion in a front-rear direction, When deployed and inflated, having a side between a top and a bottom; The seat cushion airbag device has vertical walls extending in the up-down direction in at least two opposing regions of the side portions.

Images