Airbag device

Abstract

To improve safety of an occupant when a collision occurs in a vehicle V.SOLUTION: An airbag device includes a main airbag part 100 which is inflated and deployed toward an occupant P1 seated on a seating seat S1 when a collision occurs in a vehicle V. An occupant restraint surface part 120 is formed on a surface facing the occupant P1 of a main air chamber 110. The inside of the main air chamber 110 is provided with: a plurality of hollow columnar base cloths 130 which are sewn from the vehicle outer side toward the occupant restraint surface part 120; columnar base cloth tethers 140 in each of which vehicle inner end parts are sewn to a vehicle outer end part in the hollow columnar base cloth 130 and the vehicle outer end parts are gathered and coupled to each other at a tether coupling point JP; integral tethers 150 each of which is integrated at the vehicle inner end part with the tether coupling point JP; and tether adjustment parts 160 with each of which the vehicle outer end part of the integral tether 150 is engaged and which respectively adjust extending lengths of the integral tethers 150 when the main airbag part 100 is inflated and deployed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with airbag devices as passenger protection devices to protect passengers from impacts such as collisions.

[0003] In a vehicle, occupants do not have a fixed physique or seating position, and it is conceivable that an occupant will be shaken around violently in the vehicle cabin when a large impact energy is applied from the front of the vehicle, for example. Therefore, it is important to provide an airbag device as an occupant protection device that can accurately catch an occupant with a fully inflated airbag when a vehicle collision occurs.

[0004] As an occupant protection device of this type, there is disclosed a technology that includes an airbag that is stored in the portion of the instrument panel in front of the seat and has a receiving portion that inflates and deploys in the event of a vehicle collision to receive the face of an occupant seated in the seat according to the physique of the occupant; an inflator that is stored in the portion of the instrument panel in front of the seat together with the airbag and supplies gas to the airbag in the event of a vehicle collision to inflate and deploy the airbag in front of the seat; a weight sensor that detects the physique of the occupant seated in the seat; and a shape adjustment mechanism that adjusts the deployed shape of the airbag so that the occupant's face abuts against the receiving portion according to the physique of the occupant detected by the weight sensor when the airbag inflates and deploys (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-213196 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When a collision occurs from the side of the vehicle and the airbag expands and deploys, in the case where the occupant has a small build, the airbag curves so that the occupant side is concave, and the upper part of the airbag restrains and receives the occupant's face. However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, when there are differences in the occupant's build or seating position, etc., there is no consideration for the protrusion amount of the airbag toward the occupant side. Therefore, there is a problem that there is a risk of imposing a burden on the occupant when the airbag expands and deploys.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an airbag device that improves the safety of an occupant when a collision occurs in a vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] One or more embodiments of the present invention include a main airbag portion provided with a main air chamber that expands and deploys toward an occupant sitting on a seating seat when a collision occurs in a vehicle. On the surface of the main air chamber facing the occupant, an occupant restraint surface portion for receiving the occupant is formed. Inside the main air chamber, there are a plurality of hollow columnar base fabrics having a central axis extending from the outside of the vehicle toward the occupant restraint surface portion, and the inner end on the vehicle side is sewn inside the occupant restraint surface portion. The inner end on the vehicle side is sewn to at least two or more outer ends on the vehicle side of each of the hollow columnar base fabrics. The outer ends on the vehicle side are gathered at a joining point and mutually joined to form a columnar base fabric tether. At least one or more integrated tethers are provided, with the inner end on the vehicle side being joined to the joining point of the columnar base fabric tether. A tether adjustment portion is provided for adjusting the overhang length of each of the integrated tethers when the main airbag portion expands and deploys. The present invention proposes an airbag device provided with these components.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the safety of an occupant when a vehicle collision occurs can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. The arrow FR appropriately shown in the drawings indicates the vehicle traveling direction of the vehicle V shown in FIG. 1, the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle V, and the arrow RH indicates the right side when facing the vehicle traveling direction. Further, in the following description, when explaining using the directions of up and down, front and back, and left and right, unless otherwise specified, it shall indicate the up and down direction when facing the vehicle traveling direction, the front and back direction with the vehicle traveling direction as the front, and the left and right direction when facing the vehicle traveling direction. In the present embodiment, a case where the airbag device 1 is provided on the seating seat S1 on the left side of the front part of the vehicle when facing the vehicle traveling direction will be described. Regarding the physique of the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1, among the anthropomorphic dummy mannequins used for collision safety evaluation, the physique corresponding to the small-sized female dummy AF05 in the United States is described as the small physique SB, the physique corresponding to the average male dummy AM50 in the United States is described as the standard physique AB, and the physique corresponding to the large-sized male dummy AM95 in the United States is described as the large physique LB.

[0012] <The First Embodiment> Using FIGS. 1 to 4, the airbag device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. In the following, the airbag device 1 according to the embodiment will be described as being provided in the front panel portion FP. Therefore, when a collision occurs in the vehicle V, the main airbag portion 100 expands and deploys from the front panel portion FP toward the rear side of the vehicle. The main air chamber 110 in the main airbag portion 100 expands and deploys toward the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1 provided on the rear side of the vehicle of the front panel portion FP.

[0013] <Configuration of the airbag device 1> Using FIGS. 1 to 3, the configuration of the airbag device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a main airbag portion 100 and an inflater IF. The airbag device 1 is housed, for example, inside the front panel portion FP. Before the main airbag portion 100 expands and deploys, the main airbag portion 100 is housed in a small folded state inside the front panel portion FP.

[0015] <Regarding the main airbag portion 100> The main airbag portion 100 is housed inside the front panel portion FP on the front side of the vehicle of the seating seat S1. When the main airbag portion 100 expands and deploys, it is formed in a substantially rectangular bag shape when viewed from the vehicle width direction with the vehicle front-rear direction as the thickness direction. At this time, the main airbag portion 100 protrudes and expands and deploys toward the front side of the vehicle of the occupant P1. As shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c), the main airbag portion 100 includes a main air chamber 110, a hollow columnar base fabric 130, a columnar base fabric tether 140, an integrated tether 150, and a tether adjustment portion 160.

[0016] (Regarding the main air chamber 110) The main air chamber 110 expands and deploys toward the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1 when a collision occurs in the vehicle V. The main air chamber 110 is formed in a bag shape by sewing the outer peripheral portion of a base fabric made of a member such as nylon. Before the main air chamber 110 expands and deploys, the main air chamber 110 is stored in a folded state small inside the front panel portion FP. The main air chamber 110 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a long side in the vehicle vertical direction, and an occupant restraint surface portion 120 for receiving the occupant is provided on the surface of the main air chamber 110 facing the occupant P1. The occupant restraint surface portion 120 is provided as a smooth surface formed in a substantially rectangular shape having a long side in the vehicle vertical direction. The protruding amount PA to the rear side of the vehicle when the main air chamber 110 expands and deploys forms the length from the rear side surface of the tether adjustment portion 160 described later to the stitching surface SS in the occupant restraint surface portion 120. Inside the main air chamber 110, a hollow columnar base fabric 130, a columnar base fabric tether 140, an integrated tether 150, and a tether adjustment portion 160 are provided.

[0017] (Regarding the hollow columnar base fabric 130) The hollow columnar base fabric 130 has a central axis CA (central axis CAar~central axis CAcr and central axis CAal~central axis CAcl) extending from the front side of the vehicle toward the occupant restraint surface portion 120, and a plurality of inner ends on the vehicle inner side are sewn inside the main air chamber 110 on the vehicle inner side. The hollow columnar base fabric 130 is formed in a cylindrical shape, for example. The hollow columnar base fabric 130 may be formed in a cylindrical shape, a square columnar shape, a polygonal columnar shape, or a U shape having an opening on one side.

[0018] The hollow columnar base fabric 130 is provided at six locations (hollow columnar base fabric 130ar~hollow columnar base fabric 130cr and hollow columnar base fabric 130al~hollow columnar base fabric 130cl) inside the main air chamber 110 as shown in FIG. 2(b), for example. The hollow columnar base fabric 130 is stitched above the vehicle vertical center line HC of the occupant restraint surface portion 120 in the main air chamber 110. Further, the hollow columnar base fabric 130 is stitched symmetrically with respect to the vehicle width direction center line SC of the occupant restraint surface portion 120. By stitching the entire circumference of the vehicle inner side end of the hollow columnar base fabric 130 to the occupant restraint surface portion 120, a stitching surface SS (stitching surface SSar to stitching surface SScr and stitching surface SSal to stitching surface SScl) is formed on the occupant restraint surface portion 120. When the main air chamber 110 expands and deploys, as shown in FIGS. 2(b) and 2(c), a recess DT is formed around the stitching surface SS. The recess DT is formed where the stitching surface SS is most recessed, and further, by the stitching surface SS pulling in the peripheral portion. As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(c), a columnar base fabric tether 140 is stitched to the vehicle front end of the hollow columnar base fabric 130.

[0019] (Regarding the columnar base fabric tether 140) The vehicle rear end as the vehicle inner side end of the columnar base fabric tether 140 is stitched to at least two or more of the vehicle front ends as the vehicle outer side ends of the respective hollow columnar base fabrics 130, and the vehicle front ends of the columnar base fabric tether 140 are gathered and mutually joined at the tether joining point JP as the joining point. The columnar base fabric tether 140 is formed in a string shape by a member having high flexibility and fracture resistance such as polyester fiber. Specifically, for example, at the vehicle front end of each hollow columnar base fabric 130 (hollow columnar base fabric 130ar to hollow columnar base fabric 130cr and hollow columnar base fabric 130al to hollow columnar base fabric 130cl), for example, as shown in FIG. 3(a), four columnar base fabric tethers 140 (columnar base fabric tether 140ar to columnar base fabric tether 140cr and columnar base fabric tether 140al to columnar base fabric tether 140cl) having the same length are stitched. The four columnar base fabric tethers 140 are gathered and mutually joined at the tether joining point JP on the central axis CA of the hollow columnar base fabric 130. The columnar base fabric tether 140 is sewn at two positions facing each other on the circumference at the vehicle front end of the hollow columnar base fabric 130. Two sets of straight lines connecting the two facing positions are provided so as to pass on the central axis CA. The two sets of straight lines connecting the two facing positions are orthogonal to each other. The tether connection point JP and the vehicle rear end of the integrated tether 150 are connected by sewing or the like.

[0020] (Regarding the integrated tether 150) The integrated tether 150 (integrated tether 150ar to integrated tether 150cr and integrated tether 150al to integrated tether 150cl) has the vehicle rear end as the vehicle inner end connected to the tether connection point JP in the columnar base fabric tether 140. The integrated tether 150 is locked at the locking point LP in the locking member LM, and the vehicle front end as the vehicle outer end in the integrated tether 150 is connected at the fixed point CP of the tether adjustment portion 160 described later. The integrated tether 150 is formed in a string shape by a member having high flexibility and fracture resistance such as polyester fiber.

[0021] The overhanging length of the integrated tether 150 is adjusted by the tether adjustment portion 160 releasing the locking member LM. In the following description, the overhanging length of the integrated tether 150 will be described as the length from the tether connection point JP to the fixed point CP to the tether adjustment portion 160 as the vehicle rear side surface of the tether adjustment portion 160. The overhanging length of the integrated tether 150 is the length that determines the amount of protrusion PA to the vehicle rear side when the main air chamber 110 expands and deploys. When the physique of the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1 is a large physique LB, the required overhanging length of the integrated tether 150 is the length LL. When the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1 has a small physique SB, the required overhanging length of the integrated tether 150 is the length SL.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 3(b), the integrated tether 150 is provided such that the overhanging length of the integrated tether 150 in the state where the locking member LM is detached becomes the length LL. As shown in Fig. 3(a), the integrated tether 150 is locked to the locking point LP such that the overhang length of the integrated tether 150 in the state where the locking member LM is attached is the length SL.

[0023] (Regarding the tether adjustment unit 160) The integrated tether 150 (integrated tethers 150ar to 150cr and integrated tethers 150al to 150cl) is locked to the tether adjustment unit 160 (tether adjustment units 160ar to 160cr and tether adjustment units 160al to 160cl). When the main airbag chamber 110 expands and deploys, the tether adjustment unit 160 adjusts the overhang length of each integrated tether 150. The tether adjustment unit 160 is provided with a fixing point CP for fixing the rear end of the integrated tether 150 on the vehicle side. On the front side of the vehicle of the tether adjustment unit 160, the locking member LM is detachably provided. The integrated tether 150 is locked to the locking member LM at a preset position of the integrated tether 150. Specifically, the integrated tether 150 is locked to the locking member LM at a position where the length from the tether coupling point JP to the fixing point CP is the length SL, for example. The tether adjustment unit 160 is fixed to, for example, the front panel portion FP of the vehicle V. When the main airbag chamber 110 expands and deploys, the protruding amount is the protruding amount PA from the rear side of the vehicle of the tether adjustment unit 160, as shown in Fig. 2(c).

[0024] (Regarding the inflator IF) As shown in Fig. 1, the inflator IF is connected to the main airbag portion 100 and is fixed to, for example, the front panel portion FP. When the inflator IF receives an activation signal from a collision detection sensor (not shown), for example, it ejects gas and supplies the gas to the main airbag portion 100. The supplied gas flows into the main airbag chamber 110 of the main airbag portion 100, causing the main airbag portion 100 to expand and deploy.

[0025] (Function and effect) In the airbag device 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the operation when a collision occurs in the vehicle V will be described with reference to FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c).

[0026] When a collision occurs in the vehicle V, in the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1, the upper body of the occupant P1 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow AR1. The head of the occupant P1 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow AR2. In the airbag device 1, when an activation signal is input to the inflator IF, the inflator IF supplies gas to the main airbag portion 100, and the main airbag portion 100 expands and deploys toward the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1.

[0027] When gas is supplied to the main air chamber 110 in the main airbag portion 100, the main air chamber 110 expands and deploys toward the rear side of the vehicle. When the occupant restraint surface portion 120 in the main air chamber 110 is deployed toward the rear side of the vehicle, the hollow columnar base fabric 130 stitched to the occupant restraint surface portion 120, the columnar base fabric tether 140 coupled to the hollow columnar base fabric 130, and the integrated tether 150 coupled to the columnar base fabric tether 140 extend from the folded state toward the rear side of the vehicle. When the hollow columnar base fabric 130, the columnar base fabric tether 140, and the integrated tether 150 are fully extended, the required protrusion amount PA in the protrusion amount of the main air chamber 110 is ensured, and the deployment toward the rear side of the vehicle ends. At this time, a recess DT is formed around the stitching surface SS on the occupant restraint surface portion 120.

[0028] When the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1 has a large build LB, as shown in Fig. 4(a), by detaching all the locking members LM, the tether adjustment unit 160 (tether adjustment units 160ar to 160cr and tether adjustment units 160al to 160cl) adjusts the length from the tether coupling point JP to the fixed point CP to be the length LL. At this time, the protruding amount PA of the main air chamber 110 becomes the protruding amount P Ala. The occupant restraint surface portion 120 has a substantially planar shape having the protruding amount PAla. Therefore, the main air chamber 110 has a substantially planar shape having the protruding amount PAla as the shape for a large build. Even when the seat position on the seating seat S1 is located on the rear side of the vehicle, by adjusting the protruding amount of the main air chamber 110 to the protruding amount PAla, the main air chamber 110 approaches the occupant P1.

[0029] The upper body and head of the occupant P1 further move in the direction indicated by the arrow AR1 and are received by the occupant restraint surface portion 120 in the main air chamber 110. The head of the occupant P1 further rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow AR2 and is received by the upper vehicle side portion of the main air chamber 110. The upper body and head of the occupant P1 are received so as to be wrapped by the main air chamber 110 by the concave portion DT in the occupant restraint surface portion 120. The head of the occupant P1 is received by the occupant restraint surface portion 120 and the upper vehicle side portion of the main air chamber 110, thereby restricting the rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow AR2.

[0030] When the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1 has a standard build AB, as shown in Fig. 4(b), by detaching the locking members LMar and LMal provided on the upper vehicle side, the tether adjustment units 160ar and 160al adjust the length from the tether coupling point JP to the fixed point CP to be the length LL. Furthermore, the tether adjustment parts 160br, 160bl, 160cr, and 160cl adjust the length from the tether connection point JP to the fixed point CP to be the length SL by preventing the locking members LMbr and LMbl and the locking members LMcr and LMcl from being disengaged. At this time, the protruding amount PA of the main air chamber 110 is adjusted such that the peripheral portions of the suture surfaces SSar to SSal protrude by the protruding amount PAla toward the rear side of the vehicle, and the peripheral portions of the suture surfaces SSbr to SSbl and the peripheral portions of the suture surfaces SScr to SScl protrude by the protruding amount PAs toward the rear side of the vehicle. The occupant restraint surface portion 120 has a shape with the protruding amount PAla at the peripheral portions of the suture surfaces SSar to SSal on the upper side of the vehicle, and forms a substantially flat shape with the protruding amount PAs at the peripheral portions of the suture surfaces SSbr to SSbl and the peripheral portions of the suture surfaces SScr to SScl. Therefore, the main air chamber 110 has a protruding portion with the protruding amount PAla on the upper side of the vehicle as a shape for a standard build, and forms a substantially flat shape with the protruding amount PAs on the lower side of the vehicle of the protruding portion.

[0031] The upper body and head of the occupant P1 move in the direction indicated by the arrow AR3 and are received by the occupant restraint surface portion 120 in the main air chamber 110. The head of the occupant P1 is received by the protruding portion formed at the peripheral portions of the suture surfaces SSar to SSal, thereby restricting the rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow AR4 and the movement in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The upper body of the occupant P1 is received by the protruding portion formed at the peripheral portions of the suture surfaces SSar to SSal and the substantially flat portions formed at the peripheral portions of the suture surfaces SSbr to SSbl and the peripheral portions of the suture surfaces SScr to SScl. Furthermore, the upper body and head of the occupant P1 are received so as to be wrapped by the main air chamber 110 by the recess DT in the occupant restraint surface portion 120.

[0032] When the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1 has a small build SB, as shown in Fig. 4(c), by not detaching all the locking members LM, the tether adjustment part 160 adjusts the length from the tether coupling point JP to the fixing point CP to be the length SL. At this time, the protruding amount PA of the main air chamber 110 is adjusted to be the protruding amount PAs. The occupant restraint surface part 120 has a substantially planar shape with the protruding amount PAs. Therefore, the main air chamber 110 has a substantially planar shape with the protruding amount PAs as the shape for a small build. Even when the seat position on the seating seat S1 is located on the front side of the vehicle, by adjusting the protruding amount of the main air chamber 110 to the protruding amount PAs, the main air chamber 110 approaches without colliding with the occupant P1.

[0033] The upper body and head of the occupant P1 further move in the direction shown by the arrow AR5 and are received by the occupant restraint surface part 120 in the main air chamber 110. The head of the occupant P1 further rotates in the direction shown by the arrow AR6 and is received by the upper side part of the vehicle of the main air chamber 110. The upper body and head of the occupant P1 are received so as to be wrapped by the main air chamber 110 by the recess DT in the occupant restraint surface part 120. The head of the occupant P1 is received by the upper side of the vehicle of the occupant restraint surface part 120 and the main air chamber 110, so that the rotation in the direction shown by the arrow AR6 is restricted.

[0034] As described above, when a collision occurs in the vehicle V, by the tether adjustment part 160 detaching the locking member LM, the airbag device 1 adjusts the protruding length of the integrated tether 150 according to the build of the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1. Then, the airbag device 1 forms the protruding amount PA of the main air chamber 110 and the shape of the occupant restraint surface part 120 according to the build of the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1. By the airbag device 1 forming a shape adapted to the build of the occupant P1 in the occupant restraint surface part 120, the main airbag part 100 receives the upper body and head of the occupant P1 while restricting the rotation of the head of the occupant P1. Furthermore, in the airbag device 1, the hollow columnar base fabric 130 is symmetrically sewn to the main air chamber 110 in the vehicle width direction of the occupant restraint surface portion 120, thereby forming a concave portion DT at a substantially central portion of the occupant restraint surface portion 120. The airbag device 1 receives the upper body and head of the occupant P1 by the concave portion DT formed in the occupant restraint surface portion 120 so as to further stably wrap them in the main air chamber 110. Therefore, the airbag device 1 stably receives the occupant P1 on the occupant restraint surface portion 120 and reduces the burden on the upper body and head of the occupant P1.

[0035] As described above, the airbag device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a main airbag portion 100 provided with a main air chamber 110 that expands and deploys toward the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1 when a collision occurs in the vehicle V. On the surface of the main air chamber 110 facing the occupant P1, an occupant restraint surface portion 120 for receiving the occupant P1 is formed. Inside the main air chamber 110, there are a plurality of hollow columnar base fabrics 130 having a central axis CA extending from the outside of the vehicle toward the occupant restraint surface portion 120, having an opening at the outer end of the vehicle, and having the inner end of the vehicle sewn to the inside of the occupant restraint surface portion 120. The inner ends of the vehicle are sewn to at least two or more of the outer ends of the vehicle of each hollow columnar base fabric 130. The outer ends of the vehicle are gathered and mutually joined at a tether joint point JP as a single joint point. A columnar base fabric tether 140, at least one integrated tether 150 having the inner end of the vehicle joined to the tether joint point JP of the columnar base fabric tether 140, and a tether adjustment portion 160 for adjusting the protruding length of each integrated tether 150 when the integrated tether 150 is locked and the main airbag portion 100 expands and deploys are provided. That is, when a collision occurs in the vehicle V, the airbag device 1 changes the shape of the occupant restraint surface portion 120 by the hollow columnar base fabric 130 sewn to the occupant restraint surface portion 120 in the main air chamber 110 by the tether adjustment portion 160 adjusting the protruding length of the integrated tether 150. When the occupant P1 has a large build LB, the airbag device 1 adjusts the protrusion amount of the main air chamber 110 to PAla, forms a concave portion DT in the occupant restraint surface portion 120, and makes the shape of the occupant restraint surface portion 120 substantially flat. The main air chamber 110 has a substantially flat shape with a protrusion amount PAla as a shape for a large build. When the occupant P1 has a standard build AB, the airbag device 1 adjusts the protrusion amount of the upper side of the main air chamber 110 in the vehicle to PAla, and makes the lower side of the protrusion portion have a substantially flat shape with a protrusion amount PAs. The main air chamber 110 has a protrusion portion with a protrusion amount PAla on the upper side of the vehicle as a shape for a standard build, and the lower side of the protrusion portion has a substantially flat shape with a protrusion amount PAs. When the occupant P1 has a small build SB, the airbag device 1 adjusts the protrusion amount of the main air chamber 110 to PAs, forms a concave portion DT in the occupant restraint surface portion 120, and makes the shape of the occupant restraint surface portion 120 substantially flat. The main air chamber 110 has a substantially flat shape with a protrusion amount PAs as a shape for a small build. In this way, by forming the shape of the airbag device 1 according to the build of the occupant P1 in the occupant restraint surface portion 120, the main airbag portion 100 receives and wraps the upper body and head of the occupant P1 while restricting the rotation of the head of the occupant P1. Therefore, when a collision occurs in the vehicle V, the airbag device 1 can stably receive the occupant P1 in the main airbag portion 100 and reduce the burden on the upper body and head of the occupant P1. Therefore, the safety of the occupant when a collision occurs in the vehicle can be improved.

[0036] In the airbag device 1 according to the present embodiment, the hollow columnar base fabric 130 is sewn to the main air chamber 110 symmetrically in the vehicle width direction of the occupant restraint surface portion 120. That is, in the airbag device 1, since the hollow columnar base fabric 130 is sewn to the main air chamber 110 symmetrically in the vehicle width direction of the occupant restraint surface portion 120, a concave portion DT is formed in the substantially central portion of the occupant restraint surface portion 120. Therefore, the airbag device 1 can receive and further stably hold the upper body and head of the occupant P1 in the main chamber 110 by the recess DT formed in the occupant restraint surface portion 120. Therefore, the safety of the occupant when a collision occurs in the vehicle can be improved.

[0037] <Second Embodiment> The airbag device 1A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

[0038] (Configuration of the airbag device 1A) As shown in FIG. 5, the airbag device 1A includes a main airbag portion 100A, an airbag deployment portion 200, and an inflater IF.

[0039] (Regarding the main airbag portion 100A) As shown in FIG. 6, the main airbag portion 100A includes a main chamber 110, a hollow columnar base fabric 130, a columnar base fabric tether 140, an integrated tether 150, and a tether adjustment portion 160A. (Regarding the tether adjustment portion 160A) The integrated tether 150 is locked to the tether adjustment portion 160A. When the main chamber 110 expands and deploys, the tether adjustment portion 160A adjusts the protruding length of each integrated tether 150. A processor 210, which will be described later, is connected to the tether adjustment portion 160A. The tether adjustment portion 160A disengages the locking member LM based on the information transmitted from the airbag deployment portion 200.

[0040] (Regarding the airbag deployment portion 200) The airbag deployment portion 200 controls the main airbag portion 100A and the inflater IFA. As shown in FIG. 7, the airbag deployment unit 200 is connected to the main airbag unit 100A and the inflator IFA. Further, the airbag deployment unit 200 is connected to, for example, an in-vehicle image detection device VD provided in the vehicle V, a weight detection device WD provided in the seating seat S1, or a seat position detection device SD in the seating seat S1, and acquires information regarding the physique of the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1. The airbag deployment unit 200 includes a processor 210 and a memory 220.

[0041] (Regarding the processor 210) The processor 210 includes a physique information acquisition unit 211 that acquires information regarding the physique of the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1, and controls the tether adjustment unit 160A based on the information acquired by the physique information acquisition unit 211. The processor 210 includes a physique information acquisition unit 211 and a control unit 212. The processor 210 is connected including the physique information acquisition unit 211, the control unit 212, and the memory 220 via a bus line BL.

[0042] The physique information acquisition unit 211 is connected to, for example, an in-vehicle image detection device VD provided in the vehicle V, a weight detection device WD provided in the seating seat S1, or a seat position detection device SD in the seating seat S1. The in-vehicle image detection device VD mentioned here is, for example, an image analysis device equipped with a camera that captures the interior of the vehicle compartment, and transmits information regarding the physique of the occupant P1 to the physique information acquisition unit 211 based on the acquired image of the interior of the vehicle compartment. The weight detection device WD is, for example, a weight sensor, and transmits information regarding the weight of the occupant P1 to the physique information acquisition unit 211. The seat position detection device SD is, for example, a seat position detection device that detects the slide position of the seating seat S1 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and transmits information regarding the seat position of the seating seat S1 to the physique information acquisition unit 211. The physical condition information acquisition unit 211 transmits the information received from the in-vehicle image detection device VD, the weight detection device WD, or the seat position detection device SD to the control unit 212.

[0043] Based on the information transmitted from the physical condition information acquisition unit 211, the control unit 212 determines the physical condition of the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1. Specifically, for example, the control unit 212 stores the information transmitted from the physical condition information acquisition unit 211 in the storage unit 221 of the memory 220, and based on the information transmitted from the physical condition information acquisition unit 211, determines the physical condition of the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1 as a large build LB, a standard build AB, or a small build SB. Furthermore, when a collision occurs in the vehicle V, the control unit 212 acquires information indicating that a collision has occurred in the vehicle V from a collision detection sensor CS such as an acceleration sensor provided in the vehicle V.

[0044] The control unit 212 controls the inflator IFA based on the information indicating that a collision has occurred in the vehicle V received from the collision detection sensor CS according to the control program stored in the memory 220. Specifically, for example, when the control unit 212 acquires information indicating that a collision has occurred in the vehicle V from the collision detection sensor CS, the control unit 212 transmits an activation signal to the inflator IFA. Then, the control unit 212 causes the inflator IFA to eject gas to inflate and deploy the main airbag unit 100.

[0045] When the control unit 212 acquires information indicating that a collision has occurred in the vehicle V, it controls the tether adjustment unit 160 based on the information transmitted from the physical condition information acquisition unit 211. Specifically, for example, when the control unit 212 acquires information indicating that a collision has occurred in the vehicle V and determines that the physical condition of the occupant P1 is a large build LB, the control unit 212 performs control to release the locking members LMar to LMcr and the locking members LMal to LMcl. When the control unit 212 determines that the build of the occupant P1 is the standard build AB, the control unit 212 performs control to disengage the locking members LMar to LMal in the tether adjustment units 160Aar to 160Aal. Further, the control unit 212 performs control not to disengage the locking members LMbr to LMcr and the locking members LMbl to LMcl. When the control unit 212 determines that the build of the occupant P1 is the petite build SB, the control unit 212 performs control not to disengage the locking members LMar to LMcr and the locking members LMal to LMcl in the tether adjustment units 160Aar to 160Acr and the tether adjustment units 160Aal to 160Acl.

[0046] The memory 220 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The control program of the processor 210 is stored in the ROM, and information regarding the build of the occupant P1, etc. is stored in the storage unit 221 in the RAM. <Regarding the inflator IFA> The inflator IFA is connected to the airbag deployment unit 200 and is fixed to, for example, the front panel portion FP. When the inflator IFA receives an activation signal from the control unit 212 in the airbag deployment unit 200, it ejects gas and supplies the gas to the main airbag unit 100A. The supplied gas flows into the main air chamber 110 of the main airbag unit 100A and inflates and deploys the main airbag unit 100A.

[0047] <Control of the airbag device 1A> The control of the airbag device 1A will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

[0048] The control unit 212 in the airbag deployment unit 200A determines whether or not the occupant P1 is seated on the seating seat S1. (Step S110)

[0049] When the occupant P1 is not seated on the seating seat S1 (”NO” in step S110), the control unit 212 causes the process to transition to step S110.

[0050] On the other hand, when the occupant P1 is seated on the seating seat S1 (”YES” in step S110), the control unit 212 acquires the physical information of the occupant P1 from the physical information acquisition unit 211 (step S120).

[0051] Based on the physical information received from the physical information acquisition unit 211, the control unit 212 determines the build of the occupant P1 as a petite build SB, a standard build AB, or a large build LB, stores the determination result in the storage unit 221 of the memory 220 (step S130), and causes the process to transition to step S140.

[0052] Based on the information transmitted from the collision detection sensor CS, the control unit 212 determines whether a collision has occurred in the vehicle V (step S140).

[0053] When no collision has occurred in the vehicle V (”NO” in step S140), the control unit 212 causes the process to transition to step S140.

[0054] When a collision has occurred in the vehicle V (”YES” in step S140), the control unit 212 causes the process to transition to step S150 and transmits an activation signal to the inflator IFA (step S150). The inflator IFA that has received the activation signal supplies gas to the main airbag unit 100A, and the main air chamber 110 of the main airbag unit 100A expands and deploys toward the occupant P1.

[0055] Based on the determination result regarding the build of the occupant P1 stored in the storage unit 221, the control unit 212 controls the tether adjustment unit 160A (tether adjustment units 160Aar to 160Acr and tether adjustment units 160Aal to 160Acl) (step S160).

[0056] When the build of the occupant P1 is a large build LB, the control unit 212 performs control to disengage the locking members LM (locking members LMar to LMcr and locking members LMal to LMcl) in the tether adjustment unit 160A (step S170). The main air chamber 110 has a substantially planar shape with a protruding amount PAla as a shape for a large build. Then, the control unit 212 ends the process.

[0057] When the build of the occupant P1 is a standard build AB, the control unit 212 performs control to disengage the locking members LMar to LMal in the tether adjustment units 160Aar to 160Aal. Further, the control unit 212 performs control not to disengage the locking members LMbr to LMcr and the locking members LMbl to LMcl (step S180). The main air chamber 110 has a protruding portion with a protruding amount PAla on the upper side of the vehicle as a shape for a standard build, and has a substantially planar shape with a protruding amount PAs on the lower side of the vehicle of the protruding portion. Then, the control unit 212 ends the process.

[0058] When the build of the occupant P1 is a small build SB, the control unit 212 performs control not to disengage the locking members LM (locking members LMar to LMcr and locking members LMal to LMcl) in the tether adjustment unit 160A (step S190). The main air chamber 110 has a substantially planar shape with a protruding amount PAs as a shape for a small build. Then, the control unit 212 ends the process.

[0059] <Function and Effect> As described above, the airbag device 1A according to the present embodiment further includes one or more processors 210 and one or more memories 220 communicably connected to the one or more processors 210 and including a storage unit 221 that stores information regarding the physique of the occupant P1. The processor 210 includes a physique information acquisition unit 211 that acquires information regarding the physique of the occupant P1 sitting on the seating seat S1, and controls the tether adjustment unit 160A based on the information acquired by the physique information acquisition unit 211. That is, the airbag device 1 acquires the physique information of the occupant P1 via the physique information acquisition unit 211. When a collision occurs in the vehicle V, the airbag device 1 changes the shape of the main air chamber 110 by the control unit 212 controlling the tether adjustment unit 160A. When the physique of the occupant P1 is a large physique LB, the control unit 212 performs control to disengage the locking members LM (locking members LMar to LMcr and locking members LMal to LMcl) in the tether adjustment unit 160A. Then, the control unit 212 forms a substantially planar shape having a protruding amount PAla as a shape for a large physique in the main air chamber 110. When the physique of the occupant P1 is a standard physique AB, the control unit 212 performs control to disengage the locking members LMar to LMal in the tether adjustment units 160Aar to 160Aal. Further, the control unit 212 performs control not to disengage the locking members LMbr to LMcr and the locking members LMbl to LMcl. Then, the control unit 212 forms a protruding portion having a protruding amount PAla on the upper side of the vehicle as a shape for a standard physique in the main air chamber 110, and forms a substantially planar shape having a protruding amount PAs on the lower side of the vehicle of the protruding portion. When the physique of the occupant P1 is a small physique SB, the control unit 212 performs control not to disengage the locking members LM (locking members LMar to LMcr and locking members LMal to LMcl) in the tether adjustment unit 160A. Then, the control unit 212 forms a substantially planar shape having a protruding amount PAs as a shape for a small physique in the main air chamber 110. In this way, by forming the shape of the airbag device 1A according to the physique of the occupant P1 on the occupant restraint surface portion 120, the main airbag portion 100A receives the upper body and head of the occupant P1 while restricting the rotation of the head of the occupant P1. Therefore, when a collision occurs in the vehicle V, the airbag device 1A can stably receive the occupant P1 in the main airbag portion 100A and reduce the burden on the upper body and head of the occupant P1. Therefore, the safety of the occupant when a collision occurs in the vehicle can be improved.

[0060] <Modification Example 1> In the present embodiment, the airbag devices 1 and 1A in which one integrated tether 150 is coupled to one hollow columnar base fabric 130 are illustrated. However, as shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), two integrated tethers 150B having different lengths (for example, integrated tether 150B1 and integrated tether 150B2) may be coupled to one hollow columnar base fabric 130. At this time, by the tether adjustment portion 160B not detaching the locking member LMB, the tether adjustment portion 160B can adjust the length from the tether coupling point JP to the fixed point CP to be the length SL. By the tether adjustment portion 160B detaching the locking member LMB, the tether adjustment portion 160B can adjust the length from the tether coupling point JP to the fixed point CP to be the length LL.

[0061] <Modification Example 2> In the present embodiment, the airbag devices 1 and 1A in which one tether adjustment portion 160 is provided for one integrated tether 150 are illustrated. However, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, a plurality of integrated tethers may be coupled to one tether adjustment portion 160a. Specifically, for example, the integrated tether 150ar and the integrated tether 150al may be coupled to the fixed point CP in the tether adjustment portion 160a.

[0062] The safe driving support device of the present invention can be realized by recording the processing of the airbag deployment unit 200 on a recording medium that can be read by a computer system, and having the airbag deployment unit 200 read and execute the program recorded on this recording medium. The computer system here includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices.

[0063] Furthermore, if a WWW (World Wide Web) system is used, the "computer system" also includes the homepage provision environment (or display environment). The above program may be transmitted from a computer system that stores the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves in the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" that transmits the program refers to a medium that has the function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) like the Internet or a communication line (communication line) like a telephone line.

[0064] The program may also be a program for implementing some of the functions described above, or may be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can implement the functions described above in combination with a program already stored in the computer system.

[0065] The above describes an embodiment of the present invention in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes designs within the scope of the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1;Airbag device 1A: Airbag device 100: Main airbag section 100A: Main airbag section 110; Main air chamber 120;Occupant restraint surface part 130;Hollow columnar base fabric 140; Columnar base fabric tether 150; Integrated Tether 160; Tether adjustment part 160A; Tether adjustment part 200; Airbag deployment part 210; Processor 211; Body size information acquisition part 212; Control part 220; Memory 221; Storage part DT; Concave part IF; Inflator LM; Locking member P1; Occupant S1; Seating seat SS; Sewn surface V; Vehicle

Claims

1. A main airbag unit provided with a main air chamber that inflates and deploys toward an occupant sitting on a seating seat when a collision occurs in a vehicle, An occupant restraint surface portion for receiving the occupant is formed on a surface of the main air chamber facing the occupant, Inside the main air chamber, A plurality of hollow columnar base fabrics having a central axis extending from the outside of the vehicle toward the occupant restraint surface portion, and the inner end on the vehicle side is sewn inside the occupant restraint surface portion, The inner ends on the vehicle side are sewn to at least two or more outer ends on the vehicle side of each of the hollow columnar base fabrics, and the outer ends on the vehicle side are gathered at the joining points and joined to each other. Columnar base fabric tethers, At least one or more integrated tethers in which the inner ends on the vehicle side are joined to the joining points of the columnar base fabric tethers, A tether adjustment unit that adjusts the protruding length of each of the integrated tethers when the integrated tether is locked and the main airbag unit inflates and deploys, An airbag device, characterized in that it is provided.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow columnar base fabric is sewn to the main air chamber symmetrically in the vehicle width direction of the occupant restraint surface portion.

3. One or more processors, One or more memories communicably connected to the one or more processors and including a storage unit that stores information regarding the physique of the occupant, Further comprising, The processor includes a physique information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the physique of the occupant sitting on the seating seat, and controls the tether adjustment unit based on the information acquired by the physique information acquisition unit. The airbag device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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