Airbag system

Abstract

The present invention provides an airbag device that can protect the backs and heads of infants sitting in stroller seats from external impacts without increasing the size of the seat. [Solution] The airbag device 10 includes an airbag 11 that is folded and stored, inflates when inflation gas is supplied, and is configured to cover the back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b of the seat 51 of the stroller 50 when inflation is complete, and a gas generator 14 that releases the inflation gas supplied to the airbag 11.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag device mounted on a baby stroller.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, many configurations for protecting infants riding in a baby stroller have been proposed. For example, in Patent Document 1, a configuration is described in which the cushion material of the backrest portion of the seat on which the infant sits is made into two layers to protect the back and the back of the head of the infant from external impacts.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When protecting an infant by increasing the number of layers of the cushion material of the backrest portion of the seat as in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the backrest portion becomes thicker and the seat becomes larger as the protective performance is enhanced. Therefore, when attempting to provide complete protection for an infant only with the cushion material of the backrest portion, there is a risk that the size of the baby stroller when folded will increase and the storage performance will deteriorate.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can protect the back and the back of the head of an infant sitting on the seat of a baby stroller from external impacts without increasing the size of the seat.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A typical configuration of the airbag device according to the present invention for solving the above problems is an airbag device mounted on a stroller equipped with a seat having a seat portion on which an infant sits and a backrest portion that supports the back and back of the head of the infant sitting on the seat, characterized in that it comprises an airbag that is folded and stored, inflates when inflation gas is supplied, and is configured to cover the back of the backrest portion when inflation is complete, and a gas generator that releases the inflation gas supplied to the airbag.

[0007] According to the airbag device of the present invention, the back and back of the head of an infant sitting in a stroller seat can be protected from external impacts without increasing the size of the seat. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a stroller. [Figure 2] This is a rear view of the stroller. [Figure 3] This is a left side view of the stroller. [Figure 4] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the stroller cut along the A1-A1 section. [Figure 5] This is a rear view of the stroller with the airbag fully inflated. [Figure 6] This is a left side view of the stroller with the airbag fully inflated. [Figure 7] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the stroller cut along the A2-A2 section. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram illustrating what happens when a stroller tips over. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following description of an airbag device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be made with reference to the drawings. The airbag device 10 is mounted on a stroller 50 and protects infants sitting in the seat 51 of the stroller 50. The dimensions, materials, shapes, etc. of the components described below are not intended to limit the scope of this invention to those unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0010] Furthermore, in the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, the left-right direction refers to the left and right directions of the stroller 50 placed on a horizontal ground G, specifically the left and right directions as seen from the perspective of an infant sitting in the seat 51. The front-back direction refers to the front-back direction of the stroller 50 placed on a horizontal ground G, specifically the forward and backward directions when the stroller 50 is moving straight. The up-down direction refers to the upward and downward directions in the vertical direction.

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of stroller 50. Figure 2 is a rear view of stroller 50. Figure 3 is a left side view of stroller 50. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of stroller 50 taken along the A1-A1 section shown in Figure 2.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the stroller 50 comprises a seat 51 in which an infant sits, a frame 52 that supports the seat 51, four wheels 53 attached to the lower part of the frame 52 for propelling the stroller 50, and a handle 54 connected to the upper part of the frame 52 for the operator to grip while propelling the stroller 50. The frame 52 has a folding mechanism (not shown) and is configured to be folded when the stroller 50 is not in use.

[0013] The stroller 50 also includes a step 55 on which an infant sitting on the seat 51 can rest their feet, a front guard 56 positioned in front of the infant sitting on the seat 51 to prevent the infant from falling, and a basket 57 positioned below the seat 51 to hold luggage. The basket 57 is a box-shaped member with an open top surface, and has a bottom wall portion 57a ​​extending horizontally and a side wall portion 57b extending upward from the periphery of the bottom wall portion 57a. The step 55, the front guard 56, and the basket 57 are fixed to the frame 52 with screws (not shown).

[0014] The seat 51 has a seat portion 51a on which an infant sits, a backrest portion 51b that supports the back and back of the head of the infant sitting on the seat portion 51a, and a footrest portion 51c that supports the legs of the infant sitting on the seat portion 51a. The seat portion 51a extends substantially horizontally and supports the area from the buttocks to the thighs of the infant. The backrest portion 51b extends upward from the rear end of the seat portion 51a, and the footrest portion 51c extends downward from the front end of the seat portion 51a. Cushioning material (not shown) is provided inside the seat portion 51a, the backrest portion 51b, and the footrest portion 51c. In addition, safety belts 58 for restraining the infant to the seat 51 are attached to the front surface 51b1 of the backrest portion 51b and the seat surface 51a1 of the seat portion 51a.

[0015] The stroller 50 is also equipped with an airbag device 10 to protect infants sitting in the seat 51. The airbag device 10 comprises an airbag 11, a gas generator 14 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 11, a control device 17 that controls the operation of the gas generator 14, an angular velocity sensor 16 used to detect when the stroller 50 tips over, and a battery 18. The airbag device 10 also includes a case 19 that houses the folded airbag 11, gas generator 14, control device 17, angular velocity sensor 16, and battery 18 inside.

[0016] The battery 18 supplies power to the angular velocity sensor 16, the control device 17, and the gas generator 14. The angular velocity sensor 16 detects the angular velocity around three axes in the vertical, front-back, and left-right directions. The control device 17 is composed of a CPU, a memory, etc., and is electrically connected to the angular velocity sensor 16, the battery 18, and the gas generator 14 by a cable (not shown). The control device 17 detects the fall of the stroller 50 according to the detection result of the angular velocity sensor 16, and transmits an operation signal for operating the gas generator 14 to the gas generator 14.

[0017] The airbag 11 is a bag-shaped member that is housed inside the case 19 in a folded state and expands and deploys by being supplied with inflation gas from the gas generator 14 to cover the back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b of the seat 51. The airbag 11 of the present embodiment is formed of a flexible woven fabric such as a polyester thread.

[0018] The gas generator 14 is a substantially cylindrical member disposed inside the airbag 11 and discharging inflation gas. The gas generator 14 has a gas storage portion 14a that stores inflation gas such as compressed carbon dioxide inside, and a discharge port 14b provided at the right end of the gas storage portion 14a for discharging the inflation gas stored in the gas storage portion 14a when the gas generator 14 operates. The gas generator 14 operates when an operation signal is input from the control device 17.

[0019] In addition, the gas generator 14 is fixed to the case 19 together with the airbag 11 by two metal bolted clamps 65 arranged in parallel in the left - right direction. Specifically, the bolted clamp 65 includes an annular clamp portion 65a whose diameter can be reduced, and a bolt portion 65b that protrudes radially from the outer peripheral surface of the clamp portion 65a. The clamp portion 65a is wound around the outer peripheral portion of the gas storage portion 14a of the gas generator 14. The bolt portion 65b is inserted into screw holes (not shown) formed in the airbag 11 and the case 19 in a state where the clamp portion 65a is wound around the gas storage portion 14a. In this state, by fastening a nut 66 to the tip of the bolt portion 65b disposed outside the case 19, the clamp portion 65a reduces its diameter to hold the gas storage portion 14a, and the gas generator 14 is fixed to the case 19 together with the airbag 11.

[0020] The case 19 is a substantially rectangular - parallelepiped box - shaped member that houses each member constituting the airbag device 10 as described above. The case 19 is attached to the inner surface of the side wall portion 57b on the rear side of the basket 57, and is thereby housed inside the basket 57. Here, as described above, the basket 57 is disposed below the seat 51. Therefore, it can be said that the folded airbag 11 and the gas generator 14 housed inside the case 19 are disposed below the seat portion 51a of the seat 51.

[0021] The case 19 is composed of a resin - made base portion 19a that forms five surfaces of the substantially rectangular - parallelepiped and has a substantially U - shaped cross - section, and a metal fixing fitting 19b that forms the remaining one surface of the substantially rectangular - parallelepiped and is fixed to the side wall portion 57b of the basket 57 by four bolts 61 (screw members) and nuts 62. A concave portion 19a1a, whose inner surface side is cut out so as to have a thin thickness, is formed on the front surface 19a1 of the base portion 19a. The concave portion 19a1a extends in the left - right direction across the left end portion to the right end portion of the front surface 19a1 of the base portion 19a.

[0022] The fixing bracket 19b has a case fixing portion 19b1 that extends along the rear side wall portion 57b of the basket 57 and has a screw hole 19b1a through which a bolt 61 is inserted, and a bag fixing portion 19b2 that is bent substantially vertically toward the rear from the lower end of the case fixing portion 19b1. The case 19 is fixed to the side wall portion 57b of the basket 57 by inserting the bolt 61 through the screw hole 19b1a of the case fixing portion 19b1 and the screw hole 57b1 formed in the side wall portion 57b of the basket 57 and fastening the nut 62.

[0023] Furthermore, the base 19a and the bag fixing portion 19b2 of the fixing bracket 19b are arranged to partially overlap, and both have screw holes (not shown) through which the bolt portion 65b of the bolted clamp 65, which fixes the gas generator 14 and airbag 11 to the case 19, is inserted. By inserting the bolt portion 65b of the bolted clamp 65 into the screw holes of the base 19a and the bag fixing portion 19b2 and fastening the nut 66, the gas generator 14 and airbag 11 are fixed to the case 19, and the base 19a and the fixing bracket 19b are connected.

[0024] Next, the protection of infants by the airbag device 10 will be described. Figure 5 is a rear view of the stroller 50 with the airbag 11 fully inflated. Figure 6 is a left side view of the stroller 50 with the airbag 11 fully inflated. In this embodiment, the timing of the airbag 11's completion of inflation occurs between the time the stroller 50 tips over and the backrest 51b of the seat 51 contacts the ground G. However, for the sake of explanation, Figures 5 and 6 show the stroller 50 in a state where it is not tipping over and is resting on the ground G. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the stroller 50 taken along the A2-A2 section shown in Figure 5. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing what happens when the stroller 50 tips over.

[0025] First, when the stroller 50 tips over, the angular velocity sensor 16 detects this tipping as an angular velocity. If the angular velocity detected by the angular velocity sensor 16 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control device 17 determines that the stroller 50 has tipped over and sends an activation signal to the gas generator 14. This activates the gas generator 14, and inflation gas is supplied to the inside of the airbag 11 from the outlet 14b of the gas generator 14.

[0026] When the airbag 11 is supplied with inflation gas and begins to inflate, it first comes into contact with the inner surface of the case 19 and pressurizes that surface. This pressure from the airbag 11 causes the front surface 19a1 of the base 19a of the case 19 to bend outward, starting from the thin and fragile recess 19a1a, thereby forming an opening 19h in the case 19 (Figure 7). Subsequently, when more inflation gas is supplied to the airbag 11 from the gas generator 14, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the airbag 11 inflates and deploys, being ejected from the opening 19h to the outside of the case 19, completing its inflation.

[0027] When fully inflated, the airbag 11 is configured to cover the back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b of the seat 51, and its outer shape is a plate shape that extends along the back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b. Specifically, when fully inflated, the airbag 11 is positioned at the front when the stroller 50 is placed on the ground G and has a front wall portion 11a that faces the back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b of the seat 51, and a rear wall portion 11b that is positioned at the rear when the stroller 50 is placed on the ground G.

[0028] The front wall portion 11a of the airbag 11 contacts the back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b of the seat 51 to support the backrest portion 51b when the stroller 50 tips over. The rear wall portion 11b of the airbag 11 contacts the ground G when the stroller 50 tips over. Inside the airbag 11, there are two internal tethers 11c that define the width between the front wall portion 11a and the rear wall portion 11b. One end of the internal tether 11c is connected to the front wall portion 11a, and the other end is connected to the rear wall portion 11b.

[0029] The airbag 11 completes its inflation and takes on the above shape between the time the stroller 50 tips over and the time the backrest 51b of the seat 51 makes contact with the ground G. As a result, as shown in Figure 8, the backrest 51b of the seat 51, which would otherwise hit the ground G as the stroller 50 tips over, is absorbed by the airbag 11, protecting the infant sitting in the seat 51.

[0030] As described above, the airbag device 10 of this embodiment includes an airbag 11 that is folded and stored, inflates when inflation gas is supplied, and is configured to cover the back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b of the seat 51 of the stroller 50 when inflation is complete, and a gas generator 14 that releases the inflation gas supplied to the airbag 11. With this configuration, infants can be caught and protected by the airbag 11 without increasing the number of layers of cushioning material in the backrest portion 51b, and the level of protection can be increased simply by changing the shape and thickness of the airbag 11 according to the required level of protection. Therefore, according to the airbag device 10 of this embodiment, the backs and backs of the heads of infants sitting in the seat 51 of the stroller 50 can be protected from external impacts without increasing the size of the seat 51.

[0031] In this embodiment, the airbag 11, upon completion of inflation, does not extend to the upper end of the back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b of the seat 51, but is configured to partially cover the back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the airbag 11, upon completion of inflation, may be configured to cover the entire back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b of the seat 51. In other words, when the airbag 11, upon completion of inflation, is described as covering the back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b of the seat 51, both configurations in which the airbag 11 partially covers the back surface 51b2 of the backrest portion 51b of the seat 51 and configurations in which it covers the entire area.

[0032] Furthermore, the folded airbag 11 and gas generator 14 are positioned below the seat portion 51a of the seat 51. This configuration makes it easier for the center of gravity of the stroller 50 to be lowered by the weight of the airbag 11 and gas generator 14, thereby stabilizing the stroller 50 and making it less likely to tip over.

[0033] Furthermore, the case 19, which houses the folded airbag 11 and gas generator 14, is configured to be attachable to the stroller 50 by bolts 61. This allows the airbag 11, gas generator 14, etc., to be easily attached to and detached from the stroller 50 as needed.

[0034] Furthermore, when the case 19 is attached to the stroller 50, it is positioned inside the basket 57. This makes it less likely for the operator's body to interfere with the case 19, thus preventing the case 19 from impairing the stroller's maneuverability. If this point is not a concern, the case 19 may be attached to the outside of the basket 57 or to another location such as the frame 52. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 10...Airbag device, 11...Airbag, 14...Gas generator, 19...Case, 50...Stroller, 51...Seat, 51a...Seat portion, 51b...Backrest portion, 51b2...Back, 57...Basket, 61...Bolt (threaded component)

Claims

1. An airbag device to be installed in a stroller equipped with a seat having a seat portion on which an infant sits and a backrest portion that supports the back and back of the head of the infant sitting on the seat, An airbag that is folded and stored, inflates when inflation gas is supplied, and is configured to cover the back of the backrest when inflation is complete, A gas generator that releases the inflation gas supplied to the airbag, An airbag device characterized by being equipped with

2. The airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that the folded airbag and the gas generator are located below the seat.

3. It comprises a case that houses the folded airbag and the gas generator inside, The airbag device according to claim 1, characterized in that the case is configured to be attachable to the stroller by a screw member.

4. The aforementioned stroller is equipped with a basket for storing luggage, The airbag device according to claim 3, characterized in that the case is positioned inside the basket when attached to the stroller.

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