Side airbag

Abstract

To provide a side airbag which enables improvement of occupant protection performance during a side collision.SOLUTION: A side airbag 1 is incorporated into a side support 2b of a seat back 2a of a vehicle seat 2 and is filled with a gas to be inflated and deployed between a side surface of an abdominal part of an occupant and a door 3 during a side collision of a vehicle. An extending part 1a which extends outward is provided on an outer surface of the side airbag 1, and is disposed at a position higher than that of an armrest 3b of the door 3 of the vehicle on the outer surface in a state that the side airbag 1 is inflated and deployed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1B

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a side airbag. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes that "in a side airbag device in which an airbag having a vent hole for discharging gas is filled with gas from an inflator when a vehicle crashes, the airbag is deployed between the side door and the occupant, and the gas filled in the airbag is discharged from the vent hole, the vent hole is formed on the side of the airbag, above the armrest of the vehicle door and shifted forward of the occupant's torso." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-039965 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above Patent Document 1, in the event of a side collision (hereinafter referred to as a side impact) in which another vehicle collides with the side of the vehicle, the airbag inflates and deploys, and is pressed against the torso of the occupant. However, if the armrest of the door of the vehicle is then compressed by the other vehicle at the vertical center of the airbag, it may push against the occupant's arm, potentially compressing the chest.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a side airbag that can improve the protection performance of an occupant during a side collision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a side airbag that is built into the outer part of the seat back of a vehicle seat and is filled with gas and inflated during a side collision of the vehicle, thereby deploying between the abdominal side of an occupant and the door, wherein an outwardly extending protrusion is provided on the outer surface of the side airbag, and this protrusion is positioned above the armrest of the vehicle door on the outer surface when the side airbag is inflated and deployed.

[0007] With this configuration, when another vehicle collides with the host vehicle from the side, the side airbag inflates and deploys. In the initial stage, the side airbag comes into contact with the area from the armpit to the waist of the occupant who is leaning against the seat back of the seat. When the armrest of the door subsequently collides with the area on the outer surface of the side airbag that is below the protruding portion and extends to the underside of the protruding portion, the lower area of ​​the side airbag is compressed, causing the upper part of the side airbag to inflate upwards, thereby lifting the left arm of the occupant.

[0008] As a result, it is possible to absorb the impact on the occupant in the event of a side collision of the vehicle and reduce the risk of the occupant's left arm compressing the chest, thereby contributing to improved occupant protection. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a side airbag that can improve the protection performance of an occupant during a side collision. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an early stage of deployment of an embodiment of a side airbag according to the present invention. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a front view showing a stage subsequent to FIG. 1A. [Figure 2A] FIG. 1B is a left-side view of FIG. 1A. [Figure 2B] FIG. 1B is a left-side view of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2C is a top view of FIG. 2B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1A to 3. The side airbag 1 in the figures is mounted, for example, in a side support 2b on the outer side (left side) of a seat back 2a of a left seat 2 of a vehicle (not shown).

[0013] The side airbag 1 is folded when not in operation and is stored within the side support 2b of the left seat 2. When activated, inflation gas is supplied to the side airbag 1 by an inflator (not shown).

[0014] The inflator is a gas generator that generates inflation gas to be supplied to the side airbag 1. As is well known, this gas generator is configured to include an ignition device, an ignition agent, a gas generating agent, etc. The gas generating agent is a nitrogen gas generating source for inflating and deploying the side airbag 1 in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, etc. This inflator is stored and disposed within the seat back 2a of the left seat 2.

[0015] The side airbag 1 is provided on its outer surface (left surface) with a protruding portion 1a that protrudes outward.

[0016] 2A, the protruding portion 1a is provided in a vertically middle region on the outer surface of the side airbag 1 when the side airbag 1 is inflated and deployed. More specifically, the protruding portion 1a is disposed above the armrest 3b of the door trim 3a of the left door 3.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2A, the overhanging portion 1a has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction of the vehicle in a side view and is inclined upward toward the front.

[0018] Next, the operation of the side airbag 1 during deployment will be described.

[0019] When another vehicle collides with the vehicle's own vehicle, the gas supplied from the inflator fills the side airbag 1, causing the side airbag 1 to inflate and deploy. In the initial stage, as shown in Figures 1A and 2A, the side airbag 1 comes into contact with the area extending from under the left arm to above the left waist of the torso 4a of the occupant 4 who is leaning against the seat back 2a of the left seat 2.

[0020] Then, as shown in Figures 1B and 2B, when the armrest 3b of the door trim 3a of the left door 3 collides with the area on the left side (outer surface) of the side airbag 1 from the area below the protrusion 1a to the underside of the protrusion 1a, the lower area of ​​the side airbag 1 is compressed, as shown in Figures 2B and 3, and the upper part of the side airbag 1 expands upward, causing the left arm 4b of the occupant 4 to be lifted up significantly.

[0021] For this reason, it is possible to absorb the impact on the occupant 4 in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, and to reduce the risk of the left arm 4b of the occupant 4 compressing the chest region of the torso 4a.

[0022] As described above, the side airbag 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention can improve the protection performance for the occupant 4, for example, by contributing to reducing the risk of injury to the occupant 4 during a side collision.

[0023] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and a range equivalent to the claims.

[0024] (1) In the above embodiment, the side airbag 1 installed in the left seat 2 is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0025] For example, although not shown, the present invention can be applied to a side airbag 1 installed in the right seat. In the case of such an embodiment, the same actions and effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0026] (2) In the above embodiment, an example was given in which the protruding portion 1a is inclined upwardly toward the front in a side view. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0027] For example, although not shown, the protruding portion 1a may be formed in a horizontal shape extending from the front to the rear of the vehicle in a side view. Even in the case of such an embodiment, the same effects and advantages as those of the above embodiment can be obtained. [Industrial Applicability]

[0028] The present invention can be suitably used in a side airbag equipped in a vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1 Side airbag 1a Protruding part 2 Left seat 2a Seat back 2b Side Support 3 Left door 3a Door trim 3b Armrest 4 Crew 4a Torso 4b Left Arm

Claims

[Claim 1] A side airbag that is built into an outer portion of a seat back of a vehicle seat and is filled with gas and inflated during a side collision of the vehicle to deploy between the abdominal side of an occupant and a door, The side airbag is characterized in that an outer surface of the side airbag is provided with a protruding portion that protrudes outward, and this protruding portion is positioned above the armrest of the vehicle door on the outer surface when the side airbag is inflated and deployed.

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