Occupant protection device

Abstract

To provide an occupant crash protection device capable of preventing a member for holding an airbag from coming into contact with the head of an occupant when the member for holding the airbag is moved between an operating position and a non-operating position in front of the occupant.SOLUTION: An occupant protection device M includes an airbag device AB for inflating an airbag 40 so as to protect an occupant MP, and a base member 10 arranged so as to surround the side and front of the occupant MP and holding the airbag device AB at a front part 16 facing the occupant MP. The base member 10 is rotatably attached to the seat part 2 of the seat 1, and is movable to an operating position P1 where the airbag device AB is held at a predetermined height and the airbag 40 can be deployed, and a non-operating position P1 where the front part 16 is retracted downward from the operating position P2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an occupant protection device for protecting an occupant seated in a vehicle seat. [Background technology]

[0002] Passenger protection devices that use airbags are known as devices for protecting passengers from impact when an impact is applied to a vehicle due to a collision, etc. As one form of such passenger protection device, for example, Patent Document 1 listed below discloses an armrest that includes a pair of left and right side portions provided on the sides of the passenger and a front portion that connects the front sides of the side portions to the left and right, and that stores airbags that deploy toward the passenger in the side and front portions of the armrest.

[0003] The occupant protection device described in Patent Document 1 protects the occupant by deploying an airbag with the armrest held substantially horizontal, but is configured to raise the armrest above the occupant's head when the armrest is in an inoperative state and does not require occupant protection. In an occupant protection device configured in this manner, when the armrest is moved between the activated position and the inactivated position (here, above the occupant's head), a tall occupant must bend down to avoid hitting the armrest, which leaves room for improvement. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-171999 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention solves such problems and aims to provide an occupant protection device in which there is no risk of the member holding the airbag coming into contact with the occupant's head when the member holding the airbag in front of the occupant is moved between an activated position and a deactivated position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The occupant protection device according to the present invention is an occupant protection device for protecting an occupant seated in a seat, an airbag device that inflates an airbag so as to protect the occupant; a base member disposed to surround the sides and front of the occupant and holding the airbag device at a front portion facing the occupant; The invention comprises: The base member is rotatably attached to the seat bottom of the seat and is movable between an operating position in which the airbag device is held at a predetermined height and allows the airbag to be deployed, and a non-operating position in which the front portion is retracted downward from the operating position.

[0007] With this type of occupant protection device, the airbag device is held in the front portion of the base member attached to the seat on which the occupant sits, so that the airbag can be quickly deployed and inflated from a position near the occupant to protect the occupant. In the occupant protection device of the present invention, the base member is rotatably attached to the seat bottom and is movable between an operating position in which the airbag device is held at a predetermined height to allow the airbag to deploy, and a non-operating position in which the front part is retracted downward from the operating position, and when the base member holding the airbag device is moved, contact between the front part of the base member and the occupant's head can be effectively avoided.

[0008] In addition, the occupant protection device according to the present invention can be configured so that, in the activated position, an upper door portion is formed on the upper wall of the front portion, which opens upward around the distal end on the side away from the occupant. In this way, there is no obstacle between the opening formed in the upper wall when the upper door portion opens upward and the upper body of the occupant that would prevent the airbag from deploying, and the airbag can be quickly deployed and inflated from a position near the upper body of the occupant to be protected, thereby protecting the occupant.

[0009] In addition, in the occupant protection device of the present invention, in the operating position, the front portion can be arranged forward of the knees of the occupant, and the lower wall of the front portion can be configured to have a lower door portion that opens downwardly around the distal end on the side away from the occupant. In this way, there is no obstacle between the opening formed in the lower wall when the lower door portion opens downward and the occupant's lower legs that would prevent the airbag from deploying, and the airbag can be quickly deployed and inflated from a position near the occupant's lower legs, which are the object of protection, thereby protecting the occupant.

[0010] In addition, in the occupant protection device of the present invention, the airbag device can be configured to include a first inflation section that deploys above the front portion and restrains the upper body of the occupant, and a second inflation section that deploys below the front portion and restrains the lower limbs of the occupant. In this way, both the upper body and lower legs of the occupant can be supported, thereby protecting the occupant. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a vehicle seat. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the passenger protection device together with a vehicle seat. [Figure 3] 3 is an explanatory diagram of a locking mechanism in the passenger protection device. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a schematic side view of the passenger protection device in a state where an airbag has completed inflation. FIG. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating modified examples in which the configuration of a base member for holding an airbag device is different. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view showing an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a vehicle seat, and Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the occupant protection device together with the vehicle seat. In this embodiment, the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions correspond to the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, unless otherwise specified.

[0013] The seat 1 in FIG. 1 includes a seat portion 2 that supports the buttocks and thighs of an occupant, a backrest portion 3 that supports the upper body of the occupant, and a headrest 4 that supports the head of the occupant. The occupant protection device M of this embodiment is attached to the seat 1 and comprises a base member 10 arranged to surround the sides and front of the occupant MP, and an airbag device AB held by the base member 10.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, the base member 10 has a pair of left and right side portions 12, 12 and a front portion 16 that connects the tip ends of the left and right side portions 12, 12, and has an overall U-shape when viewed from above, and is arranged to surround the sides and front of the occupant MP seated in the seat 1. The side portion 12 is a cylindrical member with a rectangular cross section that extends in the front-to-rear direction on the side of the seat 1, and the base end (rear side) of the side portion 12 is attached to the seat portion 2 of the seat 1. More specifically, it is attached so as to be rotatable around an axis 5 that is provided on the seat portion 2 and extends in the seat width direction (left-right direction).

[0015] The front portion 16 is a cylindrical member with a square cross section that extends in the seat width direction (left-right direction) at the tip side of the side portion 12 and connects to the left and right side portions 12, 12. An airbag device AB is housed inside the front portion 16 that faces the occupant MP. The base member 10 configured in this manner can prevent the occupant MP from coming into direct contact with an object that enters the vehicle compartment due to deformation of the vehicle compartment during a frontal collision, a side collision, or the like.

[0016] The base member 10 is movable between an operating position P1 indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1 and a non-operating position P2 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The operating position P1 is a position where the occupant protection device M is activated to protect the occupant, and the airbag device AB is held at a predetermined height so that the airbag 40 can be deployed. On the other hand, the non-operating position P2 is a position where protection of the occupant MP by the occupant protection device M is not required, i.e., the airbag device AB is not activated.In the non-operating position P2, the front portion 16 of the base member 10 is moved lower than the operating position P1 (to a position where the front portion 16 is approximately in contact with the floor F), making it easier for the occupant MP to get in and out of the vehicle.

[0017] According to this embodiment, the range in which the front portion 16 of the base member 10 moves is limited to the range indicated by the symbol L in Figure 1, so that contact between the front portion 16 of the base member 10 and the head MH of the occupant MP can be reliably avoided when the base member 10 moves.

[0018] 3 is an explanatory diagram of the lock mechanism 20 in the occupant protection device M. The occupant protection device M is provided with the lock mechanism 20 that restricts the movement of the base member 10. The locking mechanism 20 is composed of an engaged member 21 formed integrally with the shaft 5, an engaging claw 24 that can engage with the engaged member 21, an operating lever 25, and a biasing member 29 that biases the engaging claw 24 in the direction of engagement with the engaged member 21.

[0019] The engaged member 21 is a flange-shaped member that is integral with the shaft 5, and has an engaging recess 22 formed on its outer periphery. The operating lever 25 is a rod-shaped member connected to the side portion 12 of the base member 10 via a connecting pin 26, and is integrally formed with an engaging claw 24 that protrudes toward the engaged member 21. One end of a tension spring 29 serving as a biasing member is hooked to this operating lever 25, and the biasing force of the tension spring 29 biases the operating lever 25 counterclockwise in the drawing, maintaining a locked state in which the engaging claw 24 and the engaging recess 22 are engaged. In this locked state, rotation of the base member 10 around the shaft 5 is restricted, and its position is fixed.

[0020] In this embodiment, engagement recesses 22A and 22B are formed, and as shown in A of Fig. 3, engagement claw 24 engages with engagement recess 22B, thereby fixing base member 10 so as to be immovable at operating position P1. Also, as shown in B of Fig. 3, engagement claw 24 engages with engagement recess 22A, thereby fixing base member 10 so as to be immovable at non-operating position P2. On the other hand, by pulling the tip of the operating lever 25 upward in the figure against the biasing force of the tension spring 29, the engagement between the engagement claw 24 and the engagement recess 22 is released, and the base member 10 can be moved (rotated). Note that the locking mechanism 20 shown in Figure 3 is just one example. Any mechanism that can fix the base member 10 at a predetermined position can be appropriately adopted as the locking mechanism of the occupant protection device M.

[0021] When the base member 10 is to be rotated manually, a handle 31 can be provided on the upper surface of the side portion 12, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1. The handle 31 is preferably provided in a position where the occupant MP can reach it without bending over. In some cases, the side portion 12 can be connected to a drive mechanism (not shown) so that the entire base member 10, including the side portion 12, can be rotated around the axis 5 by the driving force from the drive mechanism.

[0022] The airbag device AB includes an airbag 40 and an inflator 45. 4, the airbag 40 is provided with a first inflation section 41A that deploys above the base member 10 to receive the upper body MU of the occupant MP, and a second inflation section 41B that deploys below the base member 10 to receive the lower legs MK of the occupant MP. A straightening cylinder (not shown) is provided inside the airbag 40 to distribute inflation gas ejected from the inflator 45 to the first inflation section 41A and the second inflation section 41B.

[0023] The airbag 40 is made of a strong, flexible, and easily foldable material, such as a woven fabric made of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, or the like, and in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, is stored in a folded state within the front section 16.

[0024] The inflator 45 supplies inflation gas to the airbag 40. The inflator 45 is fixed inside the front section 16 together with the airbag 40 in the folded state. The inflator 45 is connected to a control device (not shown), and when an impact sensor detects an impact applied from the front of the vehicle seat 1, for example, the control device activates the inflator 45 based on a detection signal from the impact sensor.

[0025] 1, when the base member 10 is in the operating position P1 where the airbag device AB is held at a predetermined height and the airbag 40 can be deployed, the front portion 16 in which the airbag device AB is housed is located in front of the occupant MP, at a predetermined height and in front of the knees of the occupant MP. At this time, the upper wall 17 of the front portion 16 is inclined upward as it moves away from the occupant MP. The upper wall 17 is configured to split along a thin-walled planned breaking portion 17c (see FIG. 2) to form an upper door portion 17a when the airbag 40 is deployed. More specifically, the upper door portion 17a is configured to open upward around a distal end 17b on the side away from the occupant MP. When the upper door portion 17a opens, the first inflation portion 41A of the airbag 40 inflates upward through the opening formed in the upper wall 17.

[0026] Like the upper wall 17, the lower wall 18 of the front portion 16 also slopes upward as it moves away from the occupant MP. This lower wall 18 is configured so that when the airbag 40 deploys, it tears along the thin-walled planned breaking portion to form a lower door portion 18a (see FIG. 4). More specifically, it is configured so that the lower door portion 18a opens downward from a distal end 18b on the side away from the occupant MP. When the lower door portion 18a opens, the second inflation portion 41B of the airbag 40 inflates downward through an opening formed in the lower wall 18.

[0027] Next, a series of operations of the occupant protection device M of this embodiment will be described. First, an occupant MP seated in the seat 1 pulls up the base member 10 from the inoperative position P2 to move it to the operative position P1, and the base member 10 is fixed in position by the locking mechanism 20, thereby enabling the airbag 40 to be deployed. In the occupant protection device M of this embodiment, when the inflator 45 is activated while the base member 10 is fixed in the operating position P1, the airbag 40 stored in the front portion 16 of the base member 10 begins to deploy and inflate due to the inflation gas discharged from the inflator 45. At this time, the upper door portion 17a of the upper wall 17 of the front portion 16 opens upward due to the pressure generated when the airbag 40 deploys and inflates, and the first inflation portion 41A of the airbag 40 inflates upward through the opening formed in the upper wall 17. The first inflation portion 41A is then supported by the upper surfaces of the upper door portion 17a and the upper wall 17, and deploys and inflates toward the occupant MP. When inflation is complete, the first inflation portion 41A is positioned in front of the upper body MU of the occupant MP in the desired deployed shape, and the upper body MU of the occupant MP is received and protected by the first inflation portion 41A.

[0028] Additionally, in the lower wall 18 of the front portion 16, the lower door portion 18a opens downward due to the pressure generated when the airbag 40 deploys and inflates, and the second inflation portion 41B of the airbag 40 inflates downward through the opening formed in the lower wall 18. The second inflation portion 41B is then supported by the lower surfaces of the lower door portion 18a and the lower wall 18, and deploys and inflates toward the occupant MP. Upon completion of inflation, the second inflation portion 41B is positioned in front of the lower legs MK of the occupant MP in the desired deployed shape, and the lower legs MK of the occupant MP are received and protected by the second inflation portion 41B.

[0029] According to the occupant protection device M of this embodiment configured as described above, the airbag device AB is held in the front portion 16 of the base member 10 attached to the seat 1 on which the occupant MP sits, so that the airbag 40 can be quickly deployed and inflated from a position near the occupant MP, thereby protecting the occupant MP. Here, the base member 10 is rotatably attached to the seat portion 2 of the seat 1, and is movable between an operating position P1 in which the airbag device AB is held at a predetermined height to enable the airbag 40 to be deployed, and a non-operating position P2 in which the front portion 16 is retracted downward from the operating position P1. When the base member 10 moves, contact between the front portion 16 of the base member 10 and the head MH of the occupant MP can be effectively avoided.

[0030] Furthermore, in the occupant protection device M of this embodiment, in the activated position P1, an upper door portion 17a that opens upward around a distal end 17b on the side away from the occupant MP is formed on the upper wall 17 of the front portion 16. In the occupant protection device M configured in this manner, as shown in Fig. 4, there is no obstacle that prevents the deployment of the airbag 40 between the opening formed in the upper wall 17 when the upper door portion 17a opens upward and the upper body MU of the occupant MP, and the airbag 40 can be quickly deployed and inflated from a position near the upper body MU to be protected, thereby protecting the occupant MP.

[0031] Furthermore, in the occupant protection device M of this embodiment, in the operating position P1, the front portion 16 is disposed forward of the knees of the occupant MP, and a lower door portion 18a that opens downward around a distal end 18b on the side away from the occupant MP is formed on the lower wall 18 of the front portion 16. In the occupant protection device M configured in this manner, as shown in Fig. 4, there is no obstacle that prevents the deployment of the airbag 40 between the opening formed in the lower wall 18 by the downward opening of the lower door portion 18a and the lower legs MK of the occupant MP, and the airbag 40 can be quickly deployed and inflated from a position near the lower legs MK to be protected, thereby protecting the occupant MP.

[0032] In addition, the occupant protection device M of this embodiment is equipped with a first inflation section 41A that deploys above the front section 16 and restrains the upper body MU of the occupant MP, and a second inflation section 41B that deploys below the front section 16 and restrains the lower limbs MK of the occupant MP, thereby supporting both the upper body MU and lower limbs MK of the occupant MP and protecting the occupant MP.

[0033] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, this is merely an example. For example, in the above embodiment, the base member that holds the airbag device is configured so that the pair of left and right side portions and the front portion form a generally U-shape. However, in some cases, it is also possible to configure either one of the left and right side portions and the front portion to form a generally L-shape, as shown in Figure 5. By using a base member with a cantilever structure as shown in the figure, occupants can easily get in and out of the vehicle without having to straddle the base member. In addition, while the above embodiment is provided with both a first inflation section that restrains the occupant's upper body and a second inflation section that restrains the occupant's lower limbs, it is also possible to adopt a configuration that includes only either the first inflation section or the second inflation section. Furthermore, it is of course possible to improve occupant restraint performance by using the inflation section in combination with a seat belt, the description of which has been omitted in the above embodiment, and the present invention can be implemented in various modified forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1...seat, 2...seat portion, 5...axis, 10...base member, 16...front portion, 17...upper wall, 17a...upper door portion, 17b...distal end, 18...lower wall, 18a...lower door portion, 18b...distal end, 40...airbag, 41A...first inflatable portion, 41B...second inflatable portion, AB...airbag device, M...occupant protection device, MP...occupant, MU...upper body, MK...lower limbs

Claims

1. An occupant protection device for protecting an occupant seated in a seat, an airbag device that inflates an airbag so as to protect the occupant; a base member disposed to surround the sides and front of the occupant and holding the airbag device at a front portion facing the occupant; The invention comprises: The base member is rotatably attached to the seat cushion of the seat and is movable between an activated position in which the airbag device is held at a predetermined height to enable the airbag to be deployed, and a non-activated position in which the front portion is retracted downward from the activated position.

2. 2. The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein, in the operating position, an upper wall of the front portion is formed with an upper door portion that opens upward around a distal end on a side away from the occupant.

3. 2. The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein, in the operating position, the front portion is disposed forward of the knees of the occupant, and a lower door portion is formed on the lower wall of the front portion, the lower door portion opening downward from a distal end on the side away from the occupant.

4. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the airbag device comprises a first inflation section that deploys above the front portion and restrains the upper body of the occupant, and a second inflation section that deploys below the front portion and restrains the lower limbs of the occupant.

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