Airbag jacket

Abstract

The present invention provides an airbag jacket (41) in which the movement of the occupant (R) is less restricted by the gas passage member (50). [Solution] The airbag jacket (41) comprises an airbag (42) that inflates with gas generated by an inflator (33), and a jacket body (43) that has the airbag (42) and can be worn by an occupant (R), wherein the inflator (33) is provided on the outside of the jacket body (43), and the airbag jacket (42) comprises a gas passage member (50) provided between the inflator (33) and the airbag (42) for passing the gas generated by the inflator (33), and the gas passage member (50) is inserted into and out of the inside of the airbag (42).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag jacket.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a wearable airbag jacket having an airbag function has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a suit corresponding to such an airbag jacket. That is, Patent Document 1 discloses a suit having an inflation chamber with a double wall, including a jacket body that can be worn by an occupant, and an inflater for generating gas provided outside the jacket body. In Cited Document 1, a gas passage member connecting the jacket body and the inflater is connected by a coupling.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the inflater is attached outside the jacket body as in the technology of Patent Document 1, the movement of the occupant may be restricted by the gas passage member. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an airbag jacket in which it is difficult for the movement of the occupant to be restricted by the gas passage member.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] An airbag jacket comprises an airbag that inflates with gas generated by an inflator, and a jacket body that has the airbag and can be worn by an occupant, wherein the inflator is provided on the outside of the jacket body, and is characterized in that it comprises a gas passage member provided between the inflator and the airbag for passing the gas generated by the inflator, and the gas passage member is inserted into the inside of the airbag so as to be removable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] This allows for the provision of an airbag jacket in which the movement of the occupant is less restricted by the gas passage members. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a side view of a saddle-type vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a view of the airbag jacket from the front. [Figure 3] This is a rear view of the airbag jacket. [Figure 4] This is a diagram of the airbag's exploded view. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of the gas passage member. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram illustrating what happens when a crew member disembarks without removing the gas passage component from the inflator connection. [Figure 7] This is a view of the airbag jacket in the second embodiment, seen from the front. [Figure 8] This is a rear view of the airbag jacket in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a view of the airbag jacket in the third embodiment, seen from the front. [Figure 10] This is a rear view of the airbag jacket in the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description, directions such as front, back, left, right, and up and down refer to directions relative to the vehicle body unless otherwise specified. In each figure, the symbol FR indicates the front of the vehicle body, the symbol UP indicates the top of the vehicle body, and the symbol LH indicates the left side of the vehicle body.

[0009] [Embodiment] Figure 1 is a side view of a saddle-type vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The saddle-type vehicle 10 is a vehicle that comprises a body frame 11, a power unit 12 which integrally has a swing arm 16 supported by the body frame 11 and supporting the rear wheel 15, a front fork 14 which supports the front wheel 13 in a steerable manner, and a seat 17 for the rider. The saddle-type vehicle 10 is a vehicle in which the occupant sits straddling a seat 17. The seat 17 is located above the rear of the vehicle frame 11.

[0010] The vehicle frame 11 comprises a head pipe 18 located at the front end of the vehicle frame 11, a front frame 19 located behind the head pipe 18, and a rear frame 20 located behind the front frame 19. The front end of the front frame 19 is connected to the head pipe 18. The seat 17 is supported by the rear frame 20.

[0011] The front fork 14 is supported by a head pipe 18 so that it can be steered left and right. The front wheel 13 is supported by an axle 13a located at the lower end of the front fork 14. A steering handle 21, which is held by the rider, is attached to the upper end of the front fork 14.

[0012] The swingarm 16 is supported by a pivot shaft 22 which is supported by the vehicle frame 11. The pivot shaft 22 is an axis that extends horizontally in the vehicle width direction. The pivot shaft 22 is inserted through the front end of the swingarm 16. The swingarm 16 swings up and down around the pivot shaft 22. The rear wheel 15 is supported by an axle 15a provided at the rear end of the swing arm 16.

[0013] The power unit 12 is disposed between the front wheel 13 and the rear wheel 15 and is supported by the vehicle body frame 11. The power unit 12 is an internal combustion engine. The power unit 12 includes a crankcase 23 and a cylinder portion 24 that houses a reciprocating piston. An exhaust device 25 is connected to an exhaust port of the cylinder portion 24. The output of the power unit 12 is transmitted to the rear wheel 15 by a driving force transmission member that connects the power unit 12 and the rear wheel 15.

[0014] In addition, the saddle-type vehicle 10 includes a front fender 26 that covers the front wheel 13 from above, a rear fender 27 that covers the rear wheel 15 from above, a step 28 on which the occupant places their feet, and a fuel tank 29 that stores fuel used by the power unit 12. The front fender 26 is attached to the front fork 14. The rear fender 27 and the step 28 are provided below the seat 17. The fuel tank 29 is supported by the vehicle body frame 11.

[0015] The seat 17 includes a front seat 30 on which the driver (occupant) R sits and a rear seat 31 that is disposed behind and above the front seat 30 and on which a passenger (not shown) can sit. The seat 17 is a seat in which the front seat 30 and the rear seat 31 are continuously provided integrally in the front-rear direction. The rear seat 31 is formed higher in a stepped shape behind the front seat 30 with respect to the front seat 30.

[0016] The upper surface of the front seat 30 is a front seating surface 30a on which the occupant R sits. The upper surface 31a of the rear seat 31 allows a passenger to sit. The seat 17 includes a stepped portion 32 that connects the rear end portion of the front seating surface 30a and the front end portion of the upper surface 31a of the rear seat 31 vertically. The stepped portion 32 is also the front end portion of the rear seat 31. The stepped portion 32 is formed between the front seat 30 and the rear seat 31.

[0017] The front surface 32a of the stepped section 32 is slightly tilted backward with respect to the vertical direction when viewed from the side of the vehicle, and is formed so that its surface faces the front and upper part of the saddle-type vehicle 10. The front surface 32a is located above the front seat 30. In addition, the left and right sides 32b of the stepped section 32 are each located above the front seat 30.

[0018] The rear frame 20 supports side covers 20A that cover the seat 17 in the left-right direction. On the left rear frame 20, on the inside of the side cover 20A in the vehicle width direction, an inflator 33 that generates gas is supported. The inflator 33 has a connecting portion 34 that extends upward. The connecting portion 34 overlaps the front part of the side 32b of the seat 17 in a side view of the vehicle.

[0019] In Figures 2 to 4, the airbag jacket 41 comprises a jacket body 43 that houses the airbag 42 and a gas passage member 50. The jacket itself 43 is a garment worn by the crew member R, as shown by the solid line in Figure 1. The jacket body 43 comprises a torso 44 that covers the torso R1 of the crew member R, and sleeves 45 that cover the arms R2 of the crew member R. The sleeves 45 are sewn to the shoulders 47 located above the torso 44.

[0020] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the torso 44 has a back portion 44B, a left front portion 44L sewn to the left end of the back portion 44B and facing the left side of the back portion 44B, and a right front portion 44R sewn to the right end of the back portion 44B and facing the right side of the back portion 44B. If the left front portion 44L and the right front portion 44R are not distinguished, the left front portion 44L and the right front portion 44R are collectively referred to as the front portion 44F.

[0021] The torso 44 is equipped with a zipper 46 between the left front section 44L and the right front section 44R. The torso section 44 has pockets 49 on the left front section 44L and on the right front section 44R. The torso portion 44 is made of fabric and, in this embodiment, has an outer fabric and a lining sewn to the inner surface of the outer fabric.

[0022] When the jacket body 43 is worn by crew member R, the torso section 44 has a back section 44B that covers crew member R's back from behind. The left front section 44L covers crew member R's left chest and abdomen from the front. The right front section 44R covers crew member R's right chest and abdomen from the front.

[0023] In this embodiment, an airbag 42 is housed inside the torso 44, that is, between the outer fabric and the lining. The airbag 42 is formed into a gas-inflatable bag shape by, for example, sewing together a pair of opposing base fabrics at their outer edges. The airbag 42 is sewn to the inner surface of the torso 44.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, the airbag 42 includes a front airbag 42A positioned in front of the occupant R, a rear airbag 42B positioned behind the occupant R, and a shoulder airbag 42C positioned above the shoulders of the occupant R.

[0025] The front airbags 42A are housed in the front section 44F of the torso 44. Specifically, the front airbags 42A are formed in pairs, left and right. The pair of front airbags 42A are housed inside the left front section 44L and the right front section 44R, respectively. The front airbags 42A are positioned from the shoulder section 47 to the lower hem section 48 located at the bottom of the torso 44.

[0026] The rear airbag 42B, located on the back portion 44B of the torso 44, extends from the shoulder portion 47 to the bottom portion 48 of the torso 44.

[0027] The front airbag 42A and the rear airbag 42B are connected by shoulder airbags 42C. The shoulder airbags 42C extend from the shoulder portion 47 of the rear portion 44B to the shoulder portion 47 of the front portion 44F. A pair of shoulder airbags 42C are formed, one on each side.

[0028] In the airbag 42, the front airbag 42A, the rear airbag 42B, and the shoulder airbag 42C are connected to each other. A gas passage inlet 52 is formed at a position corresponding to the bottom edge 48 of the rear airbag 42B. The gas passage inlet 52 connects the inside and outside of the airbag 42.

[0029] Inside the airbag 42, a guide portion 55 is provided, extending from the gas passage inlet 52. The guide portion 55 is a strip-shaped member sewn to the inner surface of the rear airbag 42B.

[0030] The guide portion 55 is sewn to the inner surface of the airbag 42 along its longitudinal edges, but not along its transverse edges. In other words, the guide portion 55 is sewn only on both sides in the width direction. As a result, the guide portion 55, together with the inner surface of the airbag 42, forms a hollow guide space. The guide space extends along the guide portion 55.

[0031] The guide portion 55 has multiple gas ejection holes 63 that penetrate in the thickness direction. Therefore, the guide portion 55 allows gas to pass through in the thickness direction. The guide portion 55 may also be made of a mesh-like fiber member to allow gas to pass through.

[0032] The guide section 55 is provided in a straight line along the diagonal of the back portion 44B when viewed from the back of the jacket body 43. More specifically, the guide section 55 is provided on the torso portion 44 of the jacket body 43 along the diagonal from the left end of the hem portion 48 toward the shoulder portion 47.

[0033] A diagonal line is a line connecting the two corners of the rear torso portion 44 when viewed from the back of the jacket body 43. More specifically, a diagonal line is a line connecting the position of the lower end in the vertical direction and one end in the horizontal direction of the back portion 44B to the position of the upper end in the horizontal direction and the other end in the horizontal direction of the back portion 44B. The endpoints of the diagonal line are not limited to being exactly at the same position as the corner vertices of the fabric of the torso portion 44. For example, a diagonal line may be a line that crosses the horizontal center line of the torso portion 44, in which case one endpoint of the diagonal line may be closer to the horizontal center of the torso portion 44, as long as it does not cross the horizontal center of the torso portion 44.

[0034] Furthermore, the left-right direction in the jacket body 43 can also be called the width direction, and the up-down direction in the jacket body 43 can also be called the back length direction.

[0035] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the airbag 42 is provided with a removable gas passage member 50. As shown in Figure 5, the gas passage member 50 functions as a gas passage that allows gas ejected from the inflator 33 outside the jacket body 43 to enter the airbag 42 inside the jacket body 43.

[0036] The gas passage member 50 is shaped like an elongated, bottomed bag. Specifically, the gas passage member 50 is roughly shaped like a bottomed tube. The gas passage member 50 is, for example, a hose made of tubular fibers coated with resin. One end of the gas passage member 50 in the longitudinal direction is closed, and the other end in the longitudinal direction is open. In the normal case when gas is not supplied from the inflator 33, the gas passage member 50 deflates and becomes an elongated, flat plate shape.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3, the gas passage member 50 has its closed end inserted into the guide portion 55 of the back portion 44B of the jacket body 43 through an opening 51 formed in the hem portion 48 of the back portion 44B of the jacket body 43. The open end of the gas passage member 50 faces outwards through the opening 51 of the jacket body 43.

[0038] The opening 51 is located on one end of the lower part 48 in the left-right direction. In particular, the opening 51 is located on the left side of the lower part 48, on the side of the inflator 33 provided on the left side of the saddle-type vehicle 10. The opening 51 communicates with the gas passage inlet 52 of the airbag 42. The opening 51 is formed in a position that overlaps with the tip of the gas passage inlet 52.

[0039] The gas passage inlet 52 is formed as a check valve. More specifically, when the gas passage member 50 is removed from the gas passage inlet 52, there is no longer a member to maintain the shape of the gas passage inlet 52, and the gas passage inlet 52 collapses and closes due to the internal pressure of the airbag 42. This prevents the gas inside the airbag 42 from leaking out through the gas passage inlet 52. In other words, the gas passage inlet 52 functions as a check valve that is operated by the internal pressure of the airbag 42 to stop the gas from leaking out.

[0040] The gas passage member 50 is inserted into a guide space formed by the guide portion 55 and the inner surface of the airbag 42. In this way, the gas passage member 50 is guided inside the airbag 42 by the guide portion 55 when inserted or removed. Since the short side of the guide portion 55 is not blocked, the gas passage member 50 can move out of the guide portion 55 and into the front airbag 42A.

[0041] One end 50A of the gas passage member 50 is detachably connected to the inflator 33. The gas passage member 50 is provided with a mounting portion 57 at one end 50A. The mounting portion 57 is connected to a connection portion 34 (see Figure 1) of the inflator 33 provided on the saddle-type vehicle 10.

[0042] The mounting portion 57 is a joint member that can be attached and detached without tools, for example, a coupler. Preferably, the mounting portion 57 and the connecting portion 34 are joint members that can be attached and detached with a one-touch mechanism.

[0043] As shown in Figure 5, the other end 50B of the gas passage member 50 is closed, for example, by sewing it together. The other end 50B of the gas passage member 50, the other side portion 60, is inserted into the interior of the airbag 42.

[0044] The other side 60 of the gas passage member 50 refers to the half of the gas passage member 50 that is on the side of the airbag 42 in the longitudinal direction. The other side 60 of the gas passage member 50 is equipped with an ejection hole 61 for ejecting gas generated from the inflator 33.

[0045] The ejection holes 61 are formed in the radial direction of the gas passage member 50. The radial direction refers to the radial direction of the gas passage member 50 corresponding to the cylindrical hose. The ejection holes 61 are unevenly distributed on the other side 60 of the gas passage member 50. That is, the ejection holes 61 are not formed in the half of the gas passage member 50 on one end 50A, but are formed in the half of the gas passage member 50 on the other end 50B.

[0046] Next, we will explain the function of the airbag jacket 41. The airbag jacket 41 is worn by the occupant R, who is the driver, before boarding the saddle-type vehicle 10. Before the occupant R boards, the gas passage member 50 is inserted so that at least the other side 60 is located inside the airbag 42. When the occupant R straddles the seat 17 of the saddle-type vehicle 10, the mounting portion 57 of the gas passage member 50 is attached by the occupant R to the connection portion 34 of the inflator 33.

[0047] When the occupant R moves towards the front of the front seat 30 so as to move away from the stepped section 32 while riding or driving, the gas passage member 50 is pulled towards the connection section 34, but the gas passage member 50 can move inside the guide section 55. As a result, the jacket body 43 worn by the occupant R is pulled towards the connection section 34 of the inflator 33, so that the occupant R's movement is not restricted and the occupant R can move easily.

[0048] Even if the crew member R tilts the fuselage R1 to the right, opposite to the connection point 34 of the inflator 33, for example, by turning a corner while driving, the crew member R is not pulled and restrained towards the connection point 34 of the inflator 33, and is able to move freely.

[0049] Furthermore, while the occupant R is riding in the saddle-type vehicle 10, the other side 60 of the gas passage member 50 is likely to be located inside the airbag 42. For this reason, the ejection hole 61 of the gas passage member 50 is likely to be located inside the gas passage inlet 52 of the airbag 42. In this embodiment, as long as the gas passage member 50 is not pulled out by a predetermined length (for example, half the length of the gas passage member 50), the ejection hole 61 will be located inside the airbag 42.

[0050] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the case when crew member R disembarks without removing the gas passage member 50 from the connection part 34 of the inflator 33.

[0051] When occupant R attempts to park the saddle-type vehicle 10, it is assumed that they may forget to remove the gas passage member 50 from the connection part 34 of the inflator 33 before disembarking. In this embodiment, when the gas passage member 50 connected to the connection part 34 is pulled by the connection part 34 as occupant R moves, the gas passage member 50 is more likely to move along the guide part 55 and more likely to come off the jacket body 43. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the parked saddle-type vehicle 10 from losing its balance due to being pulled by the gas passage member 50.

[0052] Furthermore, the gas passage member 50 may detach from the airbag 42 when the occupant R dismounts from the saddle-type vehicle 10, when the occupant R lowers the stand of the saddle-type vehicle 10, or when the occupant R moves away from the parked saddle-type vehicle 10. Figure 6 illustrates the situation when the occupant R moves away from the parked saddle-type vehicle 10.

[0053] As described above, the airbag jacket 41 in this embodiment comprises an airbag 42 that inflates with gas generated by an inflator 33, and a jacket body 43 that has the airbag 42 and can be worn by an occupant, wherein the inflator 33 is provided on the outside of the jacket body 43, and a gas passage member 50 is provided between the inflator 33 and the airbag 42 to pass the gas generated by the inflator 33, and the gas passage member 50 is inserted into the inside of the airbag 42 so as to be removable. With this configuration, even if the airbag jacket 41 worn by the occupant R moves due to the occupant R's movement during driving, the gas passage member 50 can move in the insertion / removal direction inside the airbag 42. Therefore, the movement of the occupant R is less likely to be restricted by the gas passage member 50.

[0054] Furthermore, the inflator 33 is installed in the saddle-type vehicle 10. With this configuration, the inflator 33 is provided on the saddle-type vehicle 10 side, eliminating the need to provide the inflator 33 on the jacket itself. Therefore, the airbag jacket 41 can be made lighter.

[0055] Furthermore, the gas passage member 50 is formed in the shape of an elongated bottomed bag, one end 50A of the gas passage member 50 is detachably connected to the inflator 33, and the other side 60 of the gas passage member 50 on the other end 50B side is equipped with a gas ejection hole 61 and is inserted into the interior of the airbag 42. In this configuration, the gas passage member 50, which is formed in the shape of an elongated, bottomed bag, moves in the insertion and removal direction in accordance with the movement of the occupant R. Therefore, the movement of the occupant R is less likely to be restricted by the gas passage member 50.

[0056] Furthermore, the ejection holes 61 are located unevenly on the other side 60 of the gas passage member 50. With this configuration, even if a portion of the gas passage member 50 is removed, the ejection port 61 remains located inside the airbag 42. Therefore, even if the gas passage member 50 is pulled out to a predetermined length, the airbag 42 can be deployed by the inflator 33.

[0057] Furthermore, the ejection holes 61 are formed in the radial direction of the gas passage member 50, and the other end 50B of the gas passage member 50 is closed. With this configuration, when the airbag 42 is deployed by the inflator 33, it is difficult for a force to be applied in the direction that would pull out the gas passage member 50. Therefore, when the airbag 42 is deployed, the gas passage member 50 is less likely to be pulled out by the gas pressure.

[0058] Furthermore, an opening 51 is formed in the hem 48 of the torso portion 44 of the jacket body 43, which communicates with the inside of the airbag 42, and the gas passage member 50 faces the outside through the opening 51. In this configuration, the protruding gas passage member 50 hangs downwards. Therefore, it is less likely to interfere with the movement of the occupant R.

[0059] Furthermore, a guide portion 55 is provided inside the airbag 42 to guide the gas passage member 50 when it is inserted or removed. With this configuration, the guide section 55 restricts the movement of the gas passage member 50 when the airbag 42 is deployed by the inflator 33. Therefore, the gas passage member 50 is less likely to move around erratically.

[0060] Furthermore, the guide section 55 is provided in a straight line. With this configuration, the insertion and removal direction of the gas passage member 50 is linear. Therefore, the insertion and removal of the gas passage member 50 can be performed smoothly.

[0061] Furthermore, the guide section 55 is provided on the torso 44 of the jacket body 43, along a diagonal line extending from the hem 48 of the jacket body 43 to the shoulder 47 of the torso 44. This configuration allows for a large stroke length in the body portion 44 in the insertion and removal direction of the gas passage member 50. Therefore, the insertion and removal of the gas passage member 50 can be performed smoothly.

[0062] Furthermore, the gas passage member 50 is positioned from the back portion 44B of the jacket body 43, through the shoulder portion 47, to the front portion 44F. With this configuration, since the gas passage member 50 is positioned from the rear portion 44B to the front portion 44F, a large length can be secured through which the gas passage member 50 can be inserted.

[0063] Furthermore, the guide section 55 has multiple gas ejection holes 63 formed therein. With this configuration, gas can be passed through any point in the guide section 55. Therefore, when the airbag 42 is deployed by the inflator 33, the supply of gas from the gas passage member 50 to the airbag 42 is not obstructed.

[0064] Furthermore, the guide portion 55 may be formed from a mesh-like material. With this configuration, gas can be passed through any point in the guide section 55. Therefore, when the airbag 42 is deployed by the inflator 33, the supply of gas from the gas passage member 50 to the airbag 42 is not obstructed.

[0065] Furthermore, the airbag 42 includes a front airbag 42A and a rear airbag 42B, and a shoulder airbag 42C that connects the front airbag 42A and the rear airbag 42B, and protects the torso R1 of the occupant R when the airbag 42 is deployed. This configuration effectively protects the occupant R when an impact is applied to the saddle-type vehicle 10. In particular, it effectively protects the occupant R from impacts with the road surface, as well as from impacts with the front components of the saddle-type vehicle 10, such as the handlebars 21. The vehicle 10 is equipped with an acceleration sensor (not shown) that detects impacts acting on it. This acceleration sensor is electrically connected to a control unit (not shown) of the vehicle 10, and the control unit is electrically connected to the inflator 41. The control unit determines whether to activate or deactivate the airbag device 40 based on the detected acceleration. If the control unit activates the airbag device 40, it activates the inflator 33 to release gas into the airbag 42. The airbag 42 inflates and deploys due to the gas pressure. Here, the control unit may be an airbag control unit rather than the vehicle's control unit. In other words, the control unit may be an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) for the airbag and may be an ECU independent of the vehicle control ECU.

[0066] [Second Embodiment] Figure 7 is a view of the airbag jacket 41 in the second embodiment from the front. Figure 8 is a view of the airbag jacket 41 in the second embodiment from the rear. Components already described in the embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0067] In the second embodiment, the arrangement of the guide portion 55 differs from that of the first embodiment. Specifically, while the guide portion 55 was arranged diagonally in the first embodiment, in the second embodiment it is arranged along only one side in the left-right direction. More precisely, the guide portion 55 is arranged from an opening 51 formed in the corner of the back portion 44B toward the shoulder portion 47 on the same side as the corner.

[0068] The gas passage member 50 is arranged in a straight line from the left end and lower end corner of the rear portion 44B toward the right shoulder portion 47 of the rear portion 44B. Furthermore, the gas passage member 50 that protrudes from the guide section 55 is positioned from the shoulder section 47 on the same side toward the chest section 101 of the left front section 44L. The chest section 101 corresponds to the upper part of the front section 44F and covers the chest of the crew member R's torso R1.

[0069] A plug 103 is attached to the mounting portion 57 at one end 50A of the gas passage member 50. A socket 105 is attached to the pocket 49 on the left front portion 44L. The plug 103 provided on the gas passage member 50 and the socket 105 provided on the jacket body 43 constitute the buckle mechanism 107.

[0070] Figure 7 shows the plug 103 fixed to the socket 105, and Figure 8 shows the plug 103 removed from the socket 105. When the occupant R is disembarking, the gas passage member 50 that protrudes from the airbag 42 can be secured by fixing the plug 103 to the socket 105 without connecting the gas passage member 50 to the connection part 34.

[0071] A wire receiving portion 111, connected to the wire 109, is attached to the other end 50B of the gas passage member 50.

[0072] Furthermore, a reel section 113 is attached to the airbag 42. The reel section 113 extends and retracts the wire 109. The reel section 113 is attached to the inside of the airbag 42 in a detachable manner, for example, by hook-and-loop fasteners. The reel section 113 is provided at the location where the other end 50B of the gas passage member 50 is located when the gas passage member 50 is stored in the airbag 42 to a specified position. The reel section 113 is an example of a retraction mechanism.

[0073] In the second embodiment, the reel portion 113 is provided at the chest portion 101. The reel portion 113 allows the gas passage member 50, which has been pulled out to the outside of the airbag 42, to be retracted into the inside of the airbag 42.

[0074] As described above, in the airbag jacket 41 of the second embodiment, a reel portion 113 for pulling the gas passage member 50 is provided at the inner end of the guide portion 55 of the jacket body 43. In this configuration, the gas passage member 50 is retracted by the reel section 113. Therefore, the gas passage member 50 is less likely to protrude after being pulled out, and thus is less likely to get in the way of the occupant R.

[0075] [Third Embodiment] Figure 9 is a view of the airbag jacket 41 in the third embodiment from the front. Figure 10 is a view of the airbag jacket 41 in the third embodiment from the rear. Components already described in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

[0076] Figure 9 shows the plug 103 fixed to the socket 105, while Figure 10 shows the plug 103 removed from the socket 105.

[0077] In the third embodiment, the position of the guide portion 55 and the position of the buckle mechanism 107 are different. In the second embodiment, the guide portion 55 is arranged in a straight line in the vertical direction, but in the third embodiment, the guide portion 55 is arranged diagonally on the back portion 44B side. Also, in the third embodiment, the buckle mechanism 107 is located inside the pocket 49.

[0078] An opening 51 is formed in the back portion 44B at a location that overlaps with the position of the pocket 49 when viewed from the rear of the jacket body 43. The guide portion 55 is positioned linearly upward from the opening 51 to the opposite end of the back portion 44B. The opposite end of the back portion 44B is the vertical center of the back portion 44B.

[0079] The gas passage member 50 is positioned linearly along the guide portion 55, extending upward from the opening 51 to the opposite end of the torso portion 44 into the rear airbag 42B. The gas passage member 50 is inserted through to the chest portion 101 of the right front portion 44R. The reel section 113 is positioned on the chest area 101 of the right front section 44R.

[0080] The socket 105 is positioned inside the pocket 49. This allows the gas passage member 50 that protrudes from the airbag 42 to be stored inside the pocket 49.

[0081] The guide portion 55 may be positioned along the hem 48 of the back portion 44B, like a belt that wraps around the waist of the crew member R. In this case, for example, the opening 51 is formed in the same position as in Embodiment 1, the gas passage member 50 is positioned parallel to the hem 48, and the reel portion 113 is positioned adjacent to the lower end of the zipper 46. The guide portion 55 may also be provided on the front portion 44F side, not just the back portion 44B.

[0082] As described above, the airbag jacket 41 in the third embodiment provides the same functions and effects as in the first and second embodiments. Furthermore, according to the airbag jacket 41 of the third embodiment, a plug 103 is provided at one end 50A of the gas passage member 50, and a socket 105 is provided inside the pocket 49 of the jacket body 43. With this configuration, the gas passage member 50 that protrudes from the airbag 42 can be stored inside the pocket 49.

[0083] [Other embodiments] The embodiments described above represent only one aspect of the present invention and can be modified and applied as needed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0084] Furthermore, although the above embodiment uses a motorcycle as an example of a saddle-type vehicle 10, the saddle-type vehicle is not limited to this, and may also be a three-wheeled saddle-type vehicle with two front or rear wheels, or a saddle-type vehicle with four or more wheels. Also, although the saddle-type vehicle 10 is configured to have a power unit 12 as an internal combustion engine, it is not limited to this, and may be configured to have an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine. In other words, the saddle-type vehicle 10 may be an electric saddle-type vehicle.

[0085] It is also possible to combine the configurations described in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment to create new embodiments. For example, the airbag jacket 41 of the above embodiment may include a reel portion 113, as in the second and third embodiments.

[0086] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, the airbag 42 is housed between the outer fabric and the lining of the torso 44, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the airbag 42 may be sewn to the exposed surface of the lining, more specifically, to the surface of the lining opposite to the surface facing the outer fabric. Alternatively, for example, the torso 44 may not have a lining, and the airbag 42 may be sewn to the outer fabric. As in these exemplary configurations, the airbag 42 may be sewn so as to be exposed to the outside without being housed in the torso 44. Furthermore, while the above embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment illustrate a buckle mechanism 107, the invention is not limited thereto, and any fixing mechanism capable of fixing the jacket body 43 and one end 50A of the gas passage member 50 to each other is acceptable. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, the main body of the airbag jacket 42 was exemplified as a jacket body 43 through which the occupant R puts their arms R2. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the main body of the airbag jacket 41 that houses the airbag 42 may be a vest, harness, sash, or belt that does not cover the arms R2.

[0087] The above embodiment supports the following configuration.

[0088] (Configuration 1) An airbag jacket comprising an airbag that inflates with gas generated by an inflator, and a jacket body that has the airbag and can be worn by an occupant, wherein the inflator is provided on the outside of the jacket body, and is provided between the inflator and the airbag, and is a gas passage member that allows the gas generated by the inflator to pass through, and the gas passage member is inserted into the inside of the airbag so as to be removable. With this configuration, even if the airbag jacket worn by the occupant moves due to the occupant's movement while the vehicle is in motion, the gas passage member can move in the insertion and removal direction within the airbag. Therefore, the occupant's movement is less likely to be restricted by the gas passage member.

[0089] (Configuration 2) The airbag jacket according to Configuration 1, characterized in that the inflator is installed in a saddle-type vehicle. With this configuration, the inflator is located on the saddle-type vehicle side, eliminating the need for an inflator in the jacket itself. Therefore, the airbag jacket can be made lighter.

[0090] (Configuration 3) The airbag jacket according to Configuration 1 or 2, characterized in that the gas passage member is formed in the shape of an elongated bottomed bag, one end of the gas passage member is detachably connected to the inflator, and the other end of the gas passage member has a gas ejection hole and is inserted into the interior of the airbag. In this configuration, the gas passage member, which is formed in an elongated, bag-like shape, moves in the insertion and removal direction in accordance with the movement of the occupant. Therefore, the movement of the occupant is less likely to be restricted by the gas passage member.

[0091] (Configuration 4) The airbag jacket according to Configuration 3, characterized in that the ejection holes are located on the other side of the gas passage member. With this configuration, even if a portion of the gas passage member is removed, the ejection port remains located inside the airbag. Therefore, even if the gas passage member is pulled out to a predetermined length, the airbag can still be deployed by the inflator.

[0092] (Configuration 5) The airbag jacket according to Configuration 3 or 4, characterized in that the ejection holes are formed in the radial direction of the gas passage member and the other end of the gas passage member is closed. With this configuration, when the airbag is deployed by the inflator, less force is applied in the direction that would pull out the gas passage member. Therefore, when the airbag is deployed, the gas passage member is less likely to be pulled out by the gas pressure.

[0093] (Configuration 6) The airbag jacket according to any one of Configurations 1 to 5, characterized in that an opening is formed in the hem of the torso portion of the jacket body that communicates with the inside of the airbag, and the gas passage member faces outward from the opening. In this configuration, the protruding gas passage members hang downwards. Therefore, they are less likely to interfere with the movement of the occupants.

[0094] (Configuration 7) The airbag jacket according to any one of Configurations 1 to 6, characterized in that a guide portion is provided inside the airbag for guiding the gas passage member to be inserted and removed. With this configuration, the guide section restricts the movement of the gas passage member when the airbag is deployed by the inflator. Therefore, the gas passage member is less likely to move around erratically.

[0095] (Configuration 8) The airbag jacket according to Configuration 7, characterized in that the guide portion is provided in a straight line. With this configuration, the insertion and removal direction of the gas passage member becomes linear. Therefore, the insertion and removal of the gas passage member can be performed smoothly.

[0096] (Configuration 9) The airbag jacket according to Configuration 8, characterized in that the guide portion is provided on the torso of the jacket body along a diagonal line extending from the hem of the jacket body to the shoulder portion of the torso. This configuration allows for a large stroke length in the body portion of the gas passage member in the insertion and removal direction. Therefore, the gas passage member can be inserted and removed smoothly.

[0097] (Configuration 10) The airbag jacket according to Configuration 9, characterized in that the gas passage member is arranged from the back of the jacket body through the shoulder portion to the front portion. With this configuration, since the gas passage member is positioned from the rear to the front, a large length can be secured through which the gas passage member can be inserted.

[0098] (Configuration 11) The airbag jacket according to any one of Configurations 7 to 10, characterized in that a plurality of gas ejection holes are formed in the guide portion. This configuration allows gas to pass through any point in the guide section. Therefore, it does not obstruct the supply of gas from the gas passage member to the airbag when the airbag is deployed by the inflator.

[0099] (Configuration 12) The airbag jacket according to any one of Configurations 7 to 10, characterized in that the guide portion is formed of a mesh-like material. This configuration allows gas to pass through any point in the guide section. Therefore, it does not obstruct the supply of gas from the gas passage member to the airbag when the airbag is deployed by the inflator.

[0100] (Configuration 13) The airbag jacket according to any one of Configurations 7 to 12, characterized in that a retraction mechanism for pulling the gas passage member is provided at the end of the guide portion on the inside side of the jacket body. In this configuration, the gas passage member is retracted by the retraction mechanism. Therefore, it is less likely to protrude after the gas passage member is pulled out, and thus less likely to get in the way of the occupants.

[0101] (Configuration 14) The airbag jacket according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a plug is provided at one end of the gas passage member and a socket is provided inside the pocket of the jacket body. This configuration allows gas passage components that protrude from the airbag to be stored inside a pocket. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0102] 1. Saddle-type vehicle 17 seats 33 Inflators 34 Connection part 41 Airbag Jacket 42 airbags 42A Front airbag 42B Rear airbag 42C Shoulder Airbag 43 Jacket body 44 Torso 44F front section 44B Back part 45 Sleeves 46 Zipper 47 Shoulder 48 Hem 49 pockets 50 Gas passage member 50A one end 50B other end 51 Opening 52 Gas passage inlet 55 Guide section 57 Mounting part 60 Other side 61 Spout hole 63 Gas vents 113 Reel section (retraction mechanism) R Crew

Claims

1. An airbag (42) that inflates with gas generated by an inflator (33), The system includes the aforementioned airbag (42) and a jacket body (43) that can be worn by the occupant, In an airbag jacket (41) in which the inflator (33) is provided on the outside of the jacket body (43), A gas passage member (50) is provided between the inflator (33) and the airbag (42) and allows the gas generated by the inflator (33) to pass through. The airbag jacket is characterized in that the gas passage member (50) is inserted into the interior of the airbag (42) in a removable manner.

2. The airbag jacket according to claim 1, characterized in that the inflator (33) is provided in a saddle-type vehicle.

3. The gas passage member (50) is formed in the shape of an elongated, bottomed bag. One end (50A) of the gas passage member (50) is detachably connected to the inflator (33), The other side portion (60) of the gas passage member (50) on the other end (50B) side is provided with a gas ejection hole (61) and is inserted into the interior of the airbag (42), as described in claim 1 or 2.

4. The airbag jacket according to claim 3, characterized in that the ejection holes (61) are unevenly distributed on the other side (60) of the gas passage member (50).

5. The ejection holes (61) are formed in the radial direction of the gas passage member (50), The airbag jacket according to claim 3, characterized in that the other end of the gas passage member (50) is closed.

6. An opening (51) is formed in the hem (48) of the torso (44) of the jacket body (43), which communicates with the inside of the airbag (42). The airbag jacket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gas passage member (50) faces the outside through the opening (51).

7. The airbag jacket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a guide portion (55) is provided inside the airbag (42) to guide the gas passage member (50) that is inserted and removed.

8. The airbag jacket according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide portion (55) is provided in a straight line.

9. The airbag jacket according to claim 8, characterized in that the guide portion (55) is provided on the torso portion (44) of the jacket body (43) along a diagonal line extending from the hem portion (48) of the jacket body (43) to the shoulder portion (47) of the torso portion (44).

10. The airbag jacket according to claim 9, characterized in that the gas passage member (50) is arranged from the back portion (44B) of the jacket body (43) through the shoulder portion (47) to the front portion (44F).

11. The airbag jacket according to claim 7, characterized in that a plurality of gas ejection holes (63) are formed in the guide portion (55).

12. The airbag jacket according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide portion (55) is formed of a mesh-like material.

13. The airbag jacket according to claim 7, characterized in that a retraction mechanism (113) for pulling the gas passage member (50) is provided at the inner end of the guide portion (55) of the jacket body (43).

14. The airbag jacket according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a plug (103) is provided at one end (50A) of the gas passage member (50), and a socket (105) is provided inside the pocket (49) of the jacket body (43).

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