Side airbag device

Abstract

To provide a side airbag device capable of distributing gas from an inflator toward the front side and lower side of an airbag.SOLUTION: A side airbag device comprises: an airbag 20; a loop diffuser 30 provided in the vertical direction in the airbag 20; and an inflator 1 disposed within the loop diffuser 30. The loop diffuser 30 has an upper part and a seat-rearward side end that are closed, a bottom that is open, and a seat-forward side surface on which a gas outlet 30a is provided. The loop diffuser 30 is formed by folding, along a center line L, a rectangular panel 31 having an upper edge 32, a lower edge 33, and a pair of vertical edges 34, 35, sewing the upper edge 32, and sewing the pair of vertical edges 34, 35 to each other. The gas outlet 30a is located on the center line L.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a side airbag device that inflates and deploys to the side of a vehicle occupant. [Background technology]

[0002] As is well known, a side airbag device is configured to inflate an airbag (side airbag) on the side of an occupant by an inflator, and restrain the body of the occupant with the inflated airbag.

[0003] U.S. Patent No. 5,999,623 discloses a side airbag including a loop diffuser for placement around an inflator disposed within an inflatable chamber. The loop diffuser of U.S. Patent No. 5,999,623 has opposed first and second open ends for permitting communication of inflation gas to the upper thoracic and lower pelvic regions, respectively, of the inflatable chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2019-503300 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a side airbag device that can distribute gas from an inflator forward and downward of the airbag. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The side airbag device of the present invention is a side airbag device that is disposed to the side of a vehicle seat and includes an airbag, a loop diffuser that is disposed vertically within the airbag, and an inflator that is disposed within the loop diffuser, and the loop diffuser has closed top and end portions on the rear side of the seat, an open bottom, and a gas outlet on the side surface on the front side of the seat.

[0007] In one aspect of the present invention, the loop diffuser is formed by folding a rectangular panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, and a pair of vertical edges at a center line, sewing the upper edge together, and sewing the pair of vertical edges together, and the gas flow outlet is located on the center line.

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the gas outlets are provided.

[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, the loop diffuser has a trapezoidal shape in side view.

[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, the trapezoid has a lower side longer than an upper side.

[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, the trapezoid has an upper side longer than a lower side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, gas from the inflator can be distributed forward and downward of the side airbag. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an automobile seat equipped with a side airbag device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the airbag of the side airbag device of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a panel that constitutes the loop diffuser according to the embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 1 is a side view of a loop diffuser according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] 5A and 5B are side views of a modified loop diffuser. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view of a modified loop diffuser. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B are side views of modified loop diffusers. [Figure 8] FIG. 7B is a plan view of a panel that constitutes the loop diffuser shown in FIG. 7A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, a side airbag device according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, an airbag 20 of the side airbag device is configured to inflate along the window side portion of a vehicle seat 10. The seat 10 includes a seat cushion 11, a seat back 12, and a headrest 13.

[0016] An airbag 20 is folded and stored in the side of the seatback 12 and is covered with a soft cover, a hard cover, or other member (not shown).

[0017] As shown in Figure 2, this airbag 20 is made into a bag shape by folding and overlapping one piece of cloth (panel) 21, or by overlapping two pieces of cloth (panels) and sewing the peripheral edges with a seam 23.

[0018] A loop diffuser 30 extends vertically in the rear of the airbag 20. The loop diffuser 30 is made by folding a piece of fabric (a panel) and sewing the folded body, and the inflator 1 is disposed inside. The loop diffuser 30 is closed at its top (upper portion) and at its end (side) on the rear side of the seat, and its bottom (bottom) is open, with a gas outlet 30a provided on the side on the front side of the seat. For example, the inflator 1 has a gas outlet on its upper end side. Here, the "front side of the seat" refers to the front side of a passenger seated in the seat 10 in a normal position. For example, in the case of a seat facing the front of the vehicle, the front side of the seat is the front side of the vehicle, and in the case of a seat facing the rear side of the vehicle, the front side of the seat is the rear side of the vehicle. The rear side of the seat is the rear side of a passenger seated in a normal position in the seat.

[0019] For example, the loop diffuser 30 is produced using a panel 31 as shown in Fig. 3. The panel 31 has a generally rectangular shape surrounded by an upper side 32, a lower side 33, and a pair of vertical sides 34 and 35, and has a gas outlet 30a formed in the center.

[0020] A protruding portion 36 that protrudes downward from the bottom side 33 is provided on the vertical side 34 of the panel 31.

[0021] Bolt insertion holes 37, 38 and a slit 39 are formed on the vertical side 34 of the panel 31. The slit 39 is for inserting the inflator 1 into the loop diffuser 30. A part of the slit 39 extends to the protruding portion 36.

[0022] The panel 31 is folded along the center line L of the panel between the vertical sides 34 and 35 so that one half side H1 of the panel 31 overlaps the other half side H2.

[0023] The overlapping top edge 32 is then sewn together. The overlapping vertical edges 34, 35 are also sewn together. As shown in FIG. 4 , a seam S1 extends along the top edge 32 of the loop diffuser 30, and a seam S2 extends along the vertical edges 34, 35, thereby producing a loop diffuser 30 with a closed top and rear edge (the end toward the rear of the seat) and an open bottom. The shape of the loop diffuser 30 in plan view (side view) (excluding the protruding portion 36) is approximately rectangular. The front edge of the loop diffuser 30 (the end toward the front of the seat) is a panel folded portion and has no seams.

[0024] The gas outlet 30a located on the center line L of the panel 31 is opened on the side surface of the loop diffuser 30 and faces forward of the seat by folding back the panel 31.

[0025] The inflator 1 is inserted into the loop diffuser 30 through a slit (not shown) in the panel 21 of the airbag 20 and a slit 39 in the loop diffuser 30, and then the stud bolt 2 is passed through the bolt insertion hole 37 and the bolt insertion hole of the airbag 20 to protrude outside the airbag 20. The stud bolt 3 is passed through the bolt insertion hole 38 and the bolt insertion hole of the airbag 20 to protrude outside the airbag 20. Each of the stud bolts 2 and 3 passes through a bolt insertion hole in a case (not shown) of the side airbag device and protrudes outside the case. The airbag 20 is folded, housed in the case, and covered with a soft cover, a hard cover, or another member.

[0026] The stud bolts 2 and 3 protruding from the case of this side airbag device are inserted into bolt insertion holes in the seatback frame and tightened with nuts, thereby fixing the airbag 20, inflator 1 and case to the seatback frame.

[0027] The gas ejected by activation of the inflator 1 is guided to the loop diffuser 30 and distributed to the underside of the vehicle (under the seat) and in front of the seat. That is, since the top of the loop diffuser 30 is closed, the gas ejected from the inflator 1 flows out from the fully open bottom portion toward the underside of the vehicle and also flows out from the gas outlet 30a toward the front of the seat, promoting inflation and deployment of the lower part of the airbag 20, and the occupant is restrained by the inflated airbag 20.

[0028] By changing the diameter and number of the gas outlets 30a of the loop diffuser 30, the deployment performance of the airbag 20 can be adjusted.

[0029] For example, gas outlets 30a and 30b with the same diameter may be arranged above and below as shown in Figure 5A, or gas outlets 30a and 30c with different diameters may be arranged above and below as shown in Figure 5B.

[0030] The gas outlet may be formed at a position offset from the panel center line L. In this case, when the panel 31 is folded back at the center line L, a gas outlet 30d is formed in the loop diffuser 30, pointing in a direction offset to the left (or right) from the front of the seat, as shown in FIG. 6. A plurality of gas outlets 30d may be provided above and below. The diameters of the plurality of gas outlets 30d may be the same or different.

[0031] The side view shape of the loop diffuser 30 is not limited to a rectangle, and may be a trapezoid as shown in Figures 7A and 7B. The loop diffuser 30A shown in Figure 7A has an upper side (upper base) that is shorter than the lower side (lower base), and the gas outlet 30a faces slightly upward. The loop diffuser 30B shown in Figure 7B has an upper side that is longer than the lower side, and the gas outlet 30a faces slightly downward.

[0032] For example, the loop diffuser 30A can be produced by folding a generally hexagonal panel 31A as shown in FIG. 8 along the center line L1 and sewing the top and vertical sides together.

[0033] The slope of the oblique side (the direction of the gas outlet 30a) can be adjusted by changing the ratio of the upper and lower sides of the loop diffusers 30A and 30B. In addition, the distribution ratio of gas from the inflator 1 can be adjusted by changing the length of the lower side of the loop diffusers 30A and 30B and the diameter and number of the gas outlets 30a.

[0034] The above embodiment shows one form of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the protruding portion 36 may be formed of a panel (reinforcing panel) separate from the panel 31. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1 inflator 2,3 Stud bolts 12 Seat back 20 Airbag 30 Loop Diffuser

Claims

1. Airbags and a loop diffuser provided in the airbag in a vertical direction; an inflator disposed within the loop diffuser; A side airbag device disposed on the side of a vehicle seat, comprising: The loop diffuser has a closed top and a closed end behind the seat, an open bottom, and a gas outlet on a side surface in front of the seat.

2. The loop diffuser is formed by folding a rectangular panel having an upper side, a lower side, and a pair of vertical sides along a center line, and sewing the upper side and the pair of vertical sides together, The side airbag device according to claim 1 , wherein the gas outlet is located on the centerline.

3. 2. The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the gas outlets are provided.

4. The side airbag device according to claim 1 , wherein the loop diffuser has a trapezoidal shape in a side view.

5. The side airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the trapezoid has a lower side longer than an upper side.

6. The side airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the trapezoid has an upper side longer than a lower side.

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