Crew protection devices

Abstract

The present invention provides an occupant protection device that does not interfere with occupant comfort under normal circumstances and can operate quickly in the event of an impact. [Solution] The occupant protection mechanism includes a strap 4 that is in the shape of a strip and is housed in the seat back 20 of the seat 2; a winding device that is located at the rear of the seat 2 and attached to a winding end which is one end of the strap 4 in the longitudinal direction, and winds up the strap 4 when an impact occurs; and a drive element that is housed in the seat back at a position behind the strap 4 and has an airbag 60 that deploys and inflates to the side and forward of the seat back when an impact occurs. When an impact occurs, first the airbag 60 deploys and inflates, causing a part of the strap 4 in the longitudinal direction to fly out to the side and forward of the seat back, and then the strap 4 is wound up from the winding end side by the winding device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an occupant protection device that is mounted inside a vehicle cabin and protects an occupant sitting on a seat.

Background Art

[0002] An occupant protection device for protecting an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat when an impact occurs in a vehicle, typically during a collision, is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The occupant protection device introduced in Patent Document 1 is a seat belt type occupant protection device including a seat, a seat belt disposed on the seat, a retractor for winding or locking the seat belt, and a pretensioner for winding the seat belt in advance when an impact occurs to apply a predetermined tension to the seat belt.

[0003] According to the above-described seat belt type occupant protection device, the occupant sits on the seat in a state where the shoulder strap of the seat belt is worn in advance so as to span from the shoulder to the waist. Then, when an impact occurs, first the pretensioner winds up the shoulder strap by a predetermined amount, and then the seat belt is locked or wound up by the retractor, so that the occupant is restrained and protected on the seat by the shoulder strap.

[0004] By the way, according to this type of seat belt type occupant protection device, since the occupant sits on the seat in a state where the shoulder strap is worn in advance so as to span from the shoulder to the waist, the chest of the occupant is slightly compressed by the shoulder strap. Therefore, with this seat belt type occupant protection device, there is a possibility that the comfort of the occupant may be hindered by the shoulder strap during normal times other than when an impact occurs.

[0005] An occupant protection device has also been proposed in which an occupant sitting on a seat during normal times does not need to wear a shoulder strap (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The occupant protection device described in Patent Document 2 is an airbag type occupant protection device that includes an airbag stored in the seat back of the seat.

[0006] In the airbag-type occupant protection device described above, the airbag stored in the seatback deploys and ejects from the seatback upon impact. The airbag then presses the occupant's shoulders towards the seatback, thereby restraining the occupant in the seat.

[0007] In the airbag-type occupant protection device described in Patent Document 2, the occupant is restrained between the airbag that pops out from the seatback and the seatback when an impact occurs, even without the occupant having to wear the shoulder straps beforehand. Therefore, with this airbag-type occupant protection device, the occupant's chest is not compressed by the shoulder straps during normal times other than when an impact occurs, and it is considered that the occupant's comfort is not hindered by the shoulder straps. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-186633 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6434524 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] As mentioned above, with an airbag-type occupant protection device like the one described in Patent Document 2, it is considered that the occupant's comfort will not be hindered by the shoulder straps under normal circumstances. However, in this type of airbag-based occupant protection system, the internal pressure of the airbag must be sufficient to restrain the occupant when an impact occurs. However, it is extremely difficult to raise the internal pressure of the airbag to a sufficient level immediately after an impact occurs, and it is believed that there remains a challenge in the operating speed of the occupant protection system.

[0010] This invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to solve the problem of providing an occupant protection device that does not interfere with the comfort of the occupants under normal circumstances and can operate quickly in the event of an impact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The occupant protection device of the present invention solves the above problems, An occupant protection device for restraining an occupant seated in a seat installed in a vehicle, The aforementioned seats, The occupant protection mechanism comprises: a strap in the shape of a strip and housed in the seat back of the seat; a winding device located at the rear of the seat and attached to a winding end which is one end of the strap in the longitudinal direction, which winds up the strap when an impact occurs; and a drive element having an airbag housed in the seat back at a position behind the strap and which deploys and inflates laterally and forward of the seat back when an impact occurs. When the aforementioned impact occurs, first the airbag deploys and inflates, causing a portion of the strap in the longitudinal direction to protrude to the side and forward of the seatback. Next, the strap is wound up from the winding end by the winding device, thus forming a crew protection device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The occupant protection device and occupant protection mechanism of the present invention do not interfere with the comfort of the occupants under normal circumstances, and can operate quickly in the event of an impact. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram schematically explaining the entire occupant protection device of Example 1 in normal times. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram schematically explaining the front view of the occupant protection device of Example 1 in normal times. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram schematically explaining the side view of the occupant protection device of Example 1 in normal times. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram schematically explaining the front view of the occupant protection device of Example 1 at the initial stage of deployment. <​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The occupant protection mechanism comprises a strap in the shape of a strip and housed in the seat back of the seat; a winding device located at the rear of the seat and attached to a winding end which is one end of the strap in the longitudinal direction, for winding up the strap when an impact occurs; and a drive element having an airbag housed in the seat back at a position behind the strap, which deploys and inflates laterally and forward of the seat back when an impact occurs.

[0016] In other words, in the occupant protection device of the present invention, under normal circumstances other than when an impact occurs, the strap is stored in the seat back and does not compress the occupant's chest.

[0017] Furthermore, in the occupant protection device of the present invention, When the aforementioned impact occurs, first the airbag deploys and inflates, causing a portion of the strap in the longitudinal direction to protrude to the side and forward of the seatback.

[0018] Therefore, at this time, the strap is placed over the shoulders of the seated occupant from the front.

[0019] In the occupant protection device of the present invention, after the airbag is deployed and inflated, Next, the strap is wound up by the winding device from the winding end side.

[0020] As a result, the straps placed over the crew member's shoulders are retracted to the rear, restraining the crew member's shoulders.

[0021] Thus, in the occupant protection device of the present invention, the straps that restrain the occupant's shoulders during an impact do not compress the occupant's chest under normal conditions. Therefore, it can be said that the occupant protection device of the present invention does not impede the comfort of the occupant under normal conditions.

[0022] Furthermore, in the occupant protection device of the present invention, the occupant is restrained by a strap rather than an airbag, and the airbag only functions as a driving element to propel the strap to the side and forward of the seatback. Therefore, in the occupant protection device of the present invention, it is not necessary to significantly increase the internal pressure of the airbag, and the time required for the strap to be retracted by the retraction device is sufficiently short. For this reason, the occupant protection device of the present invention can be said to operate quickly when an impact occurs.

[0023] Through the above collaboration, the occupant protection device of the present invention can be described as an occupant protection device that does not interfere with the comfort of the occupants under normal circumstances and can operate quickly in the event of an impact.

[0024] Hereafter, as necessary, the period when the airbag deploys and inflates to a predetermined amount upon impact, causing a portion of the strap in the longitudinal direction to protrude to the side and forward of the seatback, may be referred to as the initial deployment phase. Furthermore, the period following this initial deployment phase, when the airbag deploys and inflates to its maximum extent and the strap is positioned as far forward as possible in front of the seatback, may be referred to as the mid-deployment phase. In addition, the period following this mid-deployment phase, when the strap is retracted from the retraction end by the retraction device, may be referred to as the final deployment phase.

[0025] The occupant protection device of the present invention will be described below for each of its components.

[0026] Unless otherwise specified, in this specification, the forward, backward, upward, downward, and width directions refer to the directions in relation to the seat, and more specifically, the directions relative to the occupant seated in the seat. The width direction may also be referred to as the left-right direction for the occupant.

[0027] Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the numerical range "x~y" described herein includes a lower limit x and an upper limit y. These upper and lower limits, along with the numerical values ​​listed in the examples, can be arbitrarily combined to form new numerical ranges. Moreover, any numerical values ​​arbitrarily selected from any of the above numerical ranges can be used as the upper and lower limits of a new numerical range.

[0028] The occupant protection device of the present invention is an occupant protection device for restraining an occupant seated in a seat installed in a vehicle to that seat.

[0029] In this specification, a seat is any seat that is installed in a vehicle and in which an occupant can sit, and may be a front seat such as a driver's seat or passenger seat, or a rear seat. The type of seat is also not particularly limited, and may be a separate seat in which an occupant sits individually, or a bench seat in which multiple occupants sit.

[0030] Furthermore, the seat may be a so-called bucket seat, in which both ends in the width direction are raised outward and forward in the width direction, enveloping the occupant seated in the seat in both the width and front-to-back directions. When the seat in the occupant protection device of the present invention is a bucket seat, the seat may be a full bucket seat with a fixed seat back, or a semi-bucket seat with a reclining seat back.

[0031] The occupant protection device of the present invention comprises an occupant protection mechanism in addition to the seat described above. The occupant protection mechanism includes a strap, a retractor, and a drive element. In the occupant protection device of the present invention, the strap is housed in the seat back of the seat. Here, "housed in" means that at least a part of the strap is stored in the seat back. For example, the end of the strap opposite the winding end in the longitudinal direction (i.e., the second end described later) and the portion continuous therewith may be located in front of the seat back, or may be housed in the seat portion of the seat. The same applies to the fact that the airbag described later is housed in.

[0032] The strap included in the occupant protection mechanism of the occupant protection device of the present invention only needs to be able to restrain the occupant in the seat by being placed over the occupant's shoulders, and it is preferable to use a material and shape similar to that of a shoulder strap in a general seat belt type occupant protection device. For example, it is preferable to use materials such as polyamide or polyester for the strap, which are resistant to breakage and stretching.

[0033] Furthermore, the width of the strap should be 46 mm or more, and more preferably 50 mm or more. If the strap width is within this range, the occupant can be stably restrained by the strap when an impact occurs, and the reaction force per unit area acting on the occupant at that time is less likely to be excessive. While there is no specific upper limit on the width of the strap, it is preferable that it be 65mm or less, 60mm or less, or 55mm or less, considering ease of installation in vehicles and seats.

[0034] The winding device is attached to the winding end, which is one end of the strap in the longitudinal direction, and is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of winding up the strap when an impact occurs. For example, a pretensioner, which is used in general seat belt type occupant protection devices to pre-wind the seat belt strap when an impact occurs and before the occupant is restrained, thereby applying a predetermined tension to the strap, can be suitably used as the winding device.

[0035] The winding device in the occupant protection device of the present invention may also include a retractor. The retractor is a device for locking the strap after it has been wound up by the pretensioner, or for winding it up further.

[0036] Furthermore, if the winding device in the occupant protection device of the present invention consists only of a pretensioner, the amount of strap winding by the pretensioner must be sufficient to stably restrain an occupant seated in a seat. In contrast, if the winding device in the occupant protection device of the present invention has a retractor in addition to a pretensioner, the amount of strap winding by the pretensioner only needs to be sufficient to apply a predetermined tension to the strap and remove any slack in the strap.

[0037] In the occupant protection device of the present invention, the strap is in the shape of a strip, and therefore the strap has a longitudinal direction and a short direction (width direction).

[0038] A winding device, located at the rear of the seat, is attached to one end of the strap in the longitudinal direction, which is the winding end. Therefore, the winding end is located at the rear of the seat. In this context, the rear of the seat refers to the part of the seat that is at the rear of the entire seat. Therefore, the winding device and winding end may be located inside the seat, including the seat back, or outside the seat, behind the seat back.

[0039] In the occupant protection device of the present invention, the position of the other end of the strap in the longitudinal direction is not particularly limited, and may be located, for example, in front of the seat or behind the seat. Furthermore, it may be located in front of the seat or behind the seat. In this specification, the other end of the strap in the longitudinal direction may be referred to as the second end, as necessary.

[0040] Since the winding end of the strap is located at the rear of the seat, if the second end is located at the front of the seat, the longitudinal ends of the strap can be positioned at a distance from each other in the front-to-back direction. This makes it possible to stably restrain the occupant from the front-to-back direction by the strap in the event of an impact.

[0041] Furthermore, in the occupant protection device of the present invention, since the occupant's shoulders are restrained by a strap, it is more preferable that the winding end of the strap be positioned at the rear upper part of the seat, and the second end be positioned at the front lower part of the seat. This allows the strap to be quickly positioned closer to the occupant's shoulders when an impact occurs, making it possible to restrain the occupant's shoulders more quickly and efficiently. In this case, the occupants can also be securely restrained from above and below by the straps when an impact occurs.

[0042] Furthermore, in order to more efficiently restrain the occupant's shoulders with the strap, it is preferable that the retractable end be positioned above the seat. Specifically, the position of the retractable end in the vertical direction is preferably above the upper 1 / 4 position, above the upper 1 / 5 position, or above the upper 1 / 6 position in the height direction of the seat back.

[0043] For reference, the upper 1 / X position in the height direction of the seatback refers to the boundary between the first and second sections when the seatback is divided into X equal parts vertically.

[0044] It is preferable that the winding end and the second end of the strap be positioned further apart in the width direction. This has the advantage that, in the event of an impact, the strap can stably restrain the occupant from the width direction as well.

[0045] A second winding device, different from the winding device attached to the winding end, may be attached to the second end of the strap. In this case, at the end of the deployment phase as described above, the strap can be wound up from both ends in the longitudinal direction using the winding device and the second winding device.

[0046] In the occupant protection device of the present invention, it is preferable that at least a portion of the strap in the longitudinal direction is routed to the seat under normal circumstances. This design ensures that the strap is held close to the seated occupant during normal operation. Therefore, in the event of an impact, more specifically during the initial to mid-stages of deployment as described above, a portion of the strap's longitudinal direction can be easily and quickly extended to the side and forward of the seatback. Consequently, in this case, the strap can restrain the occupant more quickly and accurately.

[0047] In this case, the position of the strap relative to the seat is not specifically designated, but it is preferable that the strap be positioned on the side of the seat. In the occupant protection device of the present invention, when an impact occurs, a portion of the strap in the longitudinal direction protrudes in the direction toward the side and forward of the seat back. If the strap is positioned on the side of the seat, there is an advantage that the strap that protrudes at this time is less likely to interfere with the seat or the occupant.

[0048] As described above, when at least a portion of the strap in the longitudinal direction is normally routed to the seat, it is preferable to provide a portion in the seat for storing and holding the strap. Specifically, it is preferable that the seat has a groove-shaped storage compartment. Furthermore, it is preferable that the portion of the strap that is routed to the seat is stored in this storage compartment under normal conditions. Since the exposed state of the strap under normal conditions may detract from the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle interior, it is even more preferable that the seat has a covering portion that conceals the groove opening of the storage compartment from the outside.

[0049] Furthermore, in order to reliably eject the portion of the strap that is routed to the seat to the side and forward of the seat back when an impact occurs, it is preferable that the covering portion ruptures when an impact occurs, exposing at least a portion of the strap housed in the housing to the outside of the housing. To cause the covering portion to rupture when an impact occurs, for example, a slit may be provided in the covering portion beforehand, or a weak portion with low tensile strength may be provided in the shape of a slit.

[0050] When at least a portion of the strap's longitudinal direction is normally routed to the seat, it is preferable to extend the storage section to the seat back and provide an opening in the seat back that communicates with the storage section. It is also preferable to insert the retractable end portion of the strap through the opening and position it together with the retraction device at the rear of the seat back. Positioning the retraction device at the rear of the seat back has the advantage of improving passenger comfort during normal use, as the retraction device does not interfere with the occupant.

[0051] The driving element of the occupant protection mechanism in the occupant protection device of the present invention has an airbag. The airbag is housed in the seatback at a position behind the strap and deploys and inflates laterally and forward of the seatback when an impact occurs.

[0052] The airbag in question is preferably one that deploys and inflates using a mechanism similar to that of a typical SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) airbag system, such as a front airbag, side airbag, or curtain airbag.

[0053] More specifically, the airbag in the drive element should be roughly bag-shaped and, under normal conditions, be compressed or folded and housed in the seatback. When an impact occurs, it should expand and deploy when an inflatable fluid such as gas is supplied to its interior. In addition to the airbag, the drive element may have an inflatable fluid source such as an inflator.

[0054] In order to reliably extend a portion of the strap in the longitudinal direction to the side and forward of the seatback as the airbag deploys and inflates, it is more preferable that a portion of the strap is integrated with the portion of the airbag that is on the front and upper side when it deploys and inflates.

[0055] Furthermore, in order to more reliably restrain the occupant's shoulders with the straps, it is preferable for the airbag to deploy to a position a certain distance away from the seat. Specifically, when deployed, the front end of the airbag is preferably located in front of the front 4 / 5 position, the front 3 / 5 position, or the front 2 / 5 position in the front-to-back direction of the seat cushion. Furthermore, when deployed, the widthwise protruding end of the airbag is preferably located 5 cm or more, 7 cm or more, or 10 cm or more ahead of the widthwise end of the seat cushion.

[0056] For reference, the front 1 / X position in the front-to-back direction of the seat refers to the boundary between the first and second sections when the seat is divided into X equal parts in the front-to-back direction, counting from the top.

[0057] The occupant protection device of the present invention may restrain only one shoulder of an occupant seated in a seat when an impact occurs, or it may restrain both shoulders.

[0058] For example, the occupant protection device of the present invention may have two pairs of airbags and straps. Hereinafter, in this specification, such pairs of airbags and straps may be referred to as restraint pairs as needed.

[0059] If the occupant protection device of the present invention has two pairs of restraints, the occupant can be restrained from both shoulders by the two pairs of restraints if one restraint pair is positioned to expand and inflate on the occupant's right side and the other restraint pair is positioned to expand and inflate on the occupant's left side.

[0060] In this case, the two airbags may each be equipped with a different inflation fluid source, or they may be equipped with the same inflation fluid source. In either case, it is preferable that the two airbags included in the two restraint pairs deploy and inflate simultaneously.

[0061] In some cases, one airbag may be retracted into the seatback in a position behind the two straps, even before the initial deployment phase, i.e., under normal conditions. In this case, when an impact occurs, the one airbag should deploy and inflate during the initial or middle phase of deployment, causing the two straps to spring out to the side and forward of the seatback.

[0062] Furthermore, if the occupant protection device of the present invention has two or more straps as described above, different winding devices may be attached to the winding end of each strap, or the same winding device may be attached to the winding end of each strap.

[0063] The airbag in the occupant protection device of the present invention may further have a head protection portion. This head protection portion is part of the airbag and, in the event of an impact, deploys along the front of the seat back toward the upper and central part of the seat back. The head protection portion interposes itself between the vehicle interior components located in front of the seat and the seated occupant, or between the occupant and the seatback, during an impact. It functions as a cushioning material when the occupant's head and neck strike the aforementioned vehicle interior components or seatback during an impact. The presence of this head protection portion in the airbag reduces the load acting on the occupant during an impact.

[0064] The occupant protection device of the present invention may further include a lumbar restraint mechanism for restraining the waist of an occupant seated in a seat during an impact. This lumbar restraint mechanism may, for example, use the lumbar strap of a general seat belt, or it may use any other mechanism.

[0065] As a lumbar restraint mechanism other than a lumbar strap, for example, a mechanism can be employed in which, under normal circumstances, the strap is in contact with the seating surface on which the occupant is placed, and when an impact occurs, the strap is retracted, causing the front end of the seating surface to be lifted upward.

[0066] When an impact occurs, the front end of the seating surface is lifted upward, which in turn lifts the knees and thighs of the occupant seated on the seating surface upward, causing the occupant to assume a V-shaped, bent posture relative to their upper body. As a result, the occupant's lower body is restrained in addition to their shoulders. Furthermore, this lumbar restraint mechanism does not restrain the occupant's lower body under normal conditions, making it possible to effectively restrain the occupant's entire body during an impact, while also improving occupant comfort under normal conditions. Furthermore, it is also preferable to adopt a mechanism of the type disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-143397, which has already been filed by the applicant of this application.

[0067] For example, as an example of the lumbar restraint mechanism, The second end of the strap is stretched from the front to the back, passing under the seat cushion. One example of such a seat is one in which, when the retraction device winds up the strap at the end of the deployment phase following an impact, the front part tilts upward and the rear part tilts downward. In this case, the winding device only needs to wind the strap in a balanced manner so that the seat tilts in the direction described above. For example, the winding device may be attached only to the winding end of the strap, or the winding device may be attached to the winding end of the strap and a second winding device may be attached to the second end of the strap.

[0068] In either case, the seat is tilted with the front facing upward and the rear facing downward, which changes the posture of the occupant seated in the seat, so that the legs are raised and bent in a V-shape relative to the upper body.

[0069] Furthermore, when the seat portion of the seat tilts with the front portion upward and the rear portion downward as described above, it may be possible for it to change position forward relative to the other parts of the seat, or it may be impossible for it to change position in the front-to-back direction.

[0070] The occupant protection device and occupant protection mechanism of the present invention will be described below with specific examples.

[0071] (Example 1) Figures 1 to 9 schematically illustrate the occupant protection device of Example 1. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the entire occupant protection device of Example 1 in normal conditions. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a front view of the occupant protection device of Example 1 in normal conditions. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of the occupant protection device of Example 1 in normal conditions. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a front view of the occupant protection device of Example 1 in the initial stages of deployment. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of the occupant protection device of Example 1 in the initial stages of deployment. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a front view of the occupant protection device of Example 1 in the middle stages of deployment. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of the occupant protection device of Example 1 in the middle stages of deployment. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a front view of the occupant protection device of Example 1 in the final stages of deployment. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a side view of the occupant protection device of Embodiment 1 at the end of its deployment phase. Note that the airbag is omitted in Figure 8 for illustrative purposes.

[0072] In the following examples, "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" refer to the top, down, left, right, front, and rear as shown in each figure. Note that "up" refers to the upper side in the vertical direction, and "down" refers to the lower side in the vertical direction. "Front" refers to the front side in the direction of vehicle travel, and "rear" refers to the rear side in the direction of vehicle travel.

[0073] The occupant protection device 1 of Embodiment 1 comprises a seat 2 and an occupant protection mechanism 3. Of these, seat 2 is a separate-type seat for the front, as shown in Figure 1, and the occupant protection mechanism 3 is attached to seat 2.

[0074] Of the seats 2, the seat portion 22 having a seat surface 21 is tiltable relative to the base portion 23 located below the seat portion 22. A fixing device 29 is attached to the rear of the seat portion 22, and although not shown in the figures, the fixing device 29 is fixed to the base portion 23. Thus, the seat portion 22 is fixed to the base portion 23 via the fixing device 29 and is restricted from moving excessively away from the base portion 23.

[0075] The occupant protection mechanism 3 includes two straps 4, two retractable devices 5, and a drive element 6. The drive element 6 has two airbags 60. One strap 4, retractor 5, and airbag 60 are positioned on one side of the seat 2 in the width direction, while the other strap 4, retractor 5, and airbag 60 are positioned on the other side of the seat 2 in the width direction. Therefore, the occupant protection device 1 of Embodiment 1 has two pairs of restraint pairs 18 between the airbag 60 and the strap 4.

[0076] Each winding device 5 is an integrated unit consisting of a pretensioner 50 and a retractor 51, and is positioned behind the seat back 20 of the seat 2.

[0077] Each winding device 5 is connected to a control device (not shown in the figure). In the occupant protection device 1 of Embodiment 1, the control device is the vehicle's electronic control unit (ECU), and each winding device 5 receives power through the control device and operates synchronously.

[0078] Each strap 4 is a strip approximately 53 mm wide. A winding device 5 is attached to the winding end 41, which is one end of the strap 4 in the longitudinal direction. The strap 4 extends from the upper rear of the seat 2 where the winding end 41 is located towards the lower front of the seat 2. The other end of the strap 4 in the longitudinal direction, the second end, is attached to the front portion of the seat 22 of the seat 2. The winding end 41 and the second end of the same strap 4 are separated from each other in the front-to-back direction, the up-and-down direction, and the width direction.

[0079] Of each strap 4, the portion between the winding end 41 and the second end 40 is routed to the side of the seat 2.

[0080] On both sides of the seat 2 in the width direction, there are storage compartments (not shown) for arranging the straps 4. These storage compartments are groove-shaped and open laterally and outward from the seat 2. The groove openings of the storage compartments are covered from the outside of the seat 2 by a skin-like covering (not shown). The portion of the covering facing the groove opening has a weak section that extends along the storage compartment. The thickness of this weak section is thinner than the rest of the covering. Therefore, when an external force acts on the covering, the covering breaks along the storage compartment, starting from the weak section.

[0081] The seat back 20 is provided with an opening (not shown) that penetrates in the front-to-back direction. This opening communicates with the storage compartment. Therefore, the portion of the strap 4 that is behind the seat back 20, along with the winding end 41, is located outside the storage compartment 27 via this opening.

[0082] The drive element 6 is an airbag device, comprising an airbag 60 that is roughly bag-shaped and an inflation fluid source as shown in the figure.

[0083] Under normal conditions, the airbag 60 is compressed and housed together with the strap 4 inside the seatback 20 of the seat 2. The airbag 60 is positioned behind the area of ​​the strap 4 between the winding end 41 and the second end 40, and this area is lightly secured to the airbag 60. Hereinafter, the area of ​​the strap 4 between the winding end 41 and the second end 40 may be referred to as the restraint area 45, as needed.

[0084] The two airbags 60 are connected to an inflation fluid source, which supplies gas, the inflation fluid, to the inside of the two airbags 60. The inflation fluid source is fixed to the seat back 20 of the seat 2.

[0085] The operation of the occupant protection device 1 in Example 1 will be described below.

[0086] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, under normal conditions, the pretensioner 50 of the winding device 5 is not operating, and a slight force in the winding direction is applied to the winding end 41 of the strap 4 by the retractor 51. Therefore, at this time, the strap 4 is in a state where slight tension is applied.

[0087] When a sensor (not shown in the diagram) mounted on the vehicle detects an impact, the control unit first activates the inflation fluid source and injects inflation fluid into the airbag 60. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the airbag 60 first inflates and deploys to the side of the seat 2, i.e., outward in the width direction. The time required from the detection of an impact by the sensor until the airbag 60 inflates and deploys to the state shown in Figures 4 and 5 is approximately 5 milliseconds.

[0088] When the airbag 60 inflates and deploys outward in the width direction, the restraint area 45 of the strap 4 fixed to the airbag 60, along with the airbag 60, pops out from its normal position, that is, from inside to outside the seatback 20.

[0089] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the front portion of the airbag 60 further inflates and deploys from the side of the seat 2 toward the front. Consequently, the restraint area 45 of the strap 4 changes its state so that it pops out from the side toward the front. As a result, the restraint area 45 of the strap 4 is placed over the shoulder 95 of the occupant 90. The time required from the detection of an impact by the sensor until the airbag 60 inflates and deploys to the state shown in Figures 6 and 7 is approximately 15 milliseconds.

[0090] When an impact occurs, the control device rotates the pretensioner 50 approximately 15 milliseconds after the start of inflation fluid injection into the airbag 60.

[0091] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the winding end 41 of the strap 4 is wound onto the pretensioner 50, and the restraining region 45, which is the portion of the strap 4 between the winding end 41 and the second end 40, is pulled toward the winding end 41.

[0092] As described above, since the restraint area 45 of the strap 4 is only lightly fixed to the airbag 60, when the strap 4 is wound up by the pretensioner 50, the restraint area 45 detaches from the airbag 60 and changes position to the rear. As a result, the restraint area 45 is stretched over the shoulder 95 of the occupant 90 in the vertical, front-to-back, and width directions. In this state, the strap 4 is locked by the retractor 51, and the shoulder 95 of the occupant 90 is restrained between the second end 40 and the winding end 41 of the strap 4.

[0093] By the way, in the occupant protection device 1 of Embodiment 1, the second end 40 of the strap 4 is attached to the front part of the seat portion 22 of the seat 2. Therefore, when the strap 4 is wound onto the winding device 5 and the strap 4 changes position toward the winding end, i.e., the rear, the seat 22 tilts with its front part upward and its rear part downward (Figure 9). As the seat 22 tilts, the part of the occupant 90 seated on the seat 22 from the knees to the thighs is lifted upward, and the occupant 90 assumes a posture in which the legs are raised in a V-shape relative to the upper body and bent.

[0094] In this state, the shoulders 95 of the occupant 90 are secured by the strap 4, so the occupant 90's shoulders 95 and lower body are restrained. Therefore, it can be said that the occupant 90 is more stably restrained to the seat 2 in this state.

[0095] Incidentally, as shown in Figures 6 to 9, the airbag 60 in the occupant protection device of Embodiment 1 has a head protection portion 65 that, when deployed and inflated, is positioned in front of the occupant 90's neck, at the front of the seat back and behind the occupant 90. When an impact occurs, the head protection portion 65 deploys in front of the seat back 20 of the seat 2, along the front of the seat back 20, toward the upper and central part of the seat back 20.

[0096] In front of seat 2 are vehicle interior components (not shown), such as the instrument panel and steering wheel. In the occupant protection device of Embodiment 1, when an impact occurs, the head protection unit 65 is interposed between the occupant 90 seated in seat 2 and the vehicle interior components. The head protection unit 65 functions as a cushioning material between the vehicle interior components and the occupant's head and neck when the occupant is thrown forward when an impact occurs. This reduces the load acting on the occupant when an impact occurs.

[0097] When an impact occurs, a force acts on the occupant, causing them to be thrown forward. At this time, because the occupant's shoulders 95 are fixed by the straps 4, this force causes a forward and downward force to act on the occupant's head. However, as described above, in the occupant protection device 1 of Embodiment 1, the head protection part 65 is positioned in front of the occupant's neck when an impact occurs. Therefore, even if a force is applied to the occupant's head in a forward and downward direction, the head protection part 65, which is located ahead in the direction of movement, interferes with the force, and the forward and downward movement of the occupant's head is suppressed.

[0098] In the occupant protection device 1 of Embodiment 1, the position of the winding end 41 in the vertical direction is above the upper 1 / 4 position in the height direction of the seat back 20. Furthermore, when deployed, the front end of the airbag 60 is located in front of the front 2 / 5 position in the front-to-back direction of the seat portion 22 of the seat 2. Furthermore, when deployed, the widthwise protruding end of the airbag 60 is located at least 10 cm further forward in the widthwise direction than the widthwise end of the seat portion 22 of the seat 2.

[0099] In the occupant protection device 1 of Embodiment 1, the strap 4 does not compress the occupant's chest under normal conditions, but quickly restrains the occupant's shoulders 95 when an impact occurs. In addition, the seat portion 22 of the seat 2 does not compress the occupant's waist under normal conditions, but quickly restrains the occupant's waist when an impact occurs, by bending the occupant's waist into a flexed position. Therefore, the occupant protection device 1 of Embodiment 1 does not interfere with the comfort of the occupant 90 under normal circumstances, and can operate quickly when an impact occurs.

[0100] Although the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it is possible to implement the invention by appropriately extracting and combining the elements described in the embodiments, and to make various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the specification of this invention discloses not only the reference relationships of each claim as originally filed, but also a technical concept that appropriately combines the matters described in each claim. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0101] 1: Crew protection device 18: Restraint 2: Seats 20: Seat back 3: Crew protection mechanism 4: Strap 41: Winding end 5: Winding device 6: Drive element 60: Airbag 65:Head protection part 90: Crew

Claims

1. An occupant protection device for restraining an occupant seated in a seat installed in a vehicle, The aforementioned seats, The occupant protection mechanism comprises: a strap in the shape of a strip and housed in the seat back of the seat; a winding device located at the rear of the seat and attached to a winding end which is one end of the strap in the longitudinal direction, which winds up the strap when an impact occurs; and a drive element having an airbag housed in the seat back at a position behind the strap and which deploys and inflates laterally and forward of the seat back when an impact occurs. When the aforementioned impact occurs, first the airbag deploys and inflates, causing a portion of the strap in the longitudinal direction to protrude to the side and forward of the seatback. Next, the strap is wound up from the winding end by the winding device, a crew protection device.

2. The system has two pairs of restraint pairs, one for the airbag and the other for the strap. One of the restraint pairs is housed on one side in the width direction of the seat back, The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the other restraint pair is housed on the other side in the width direction of the seat back.

3. The occupant protection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the airbag has a head protection portion that deploys along the front of the seat back toward the upper and central part of the seat back when an impact occurs.

4. The strap extends from the rear upper part of the seat towards the front lower part of the seat and is attached to the front portion of the seat cushion. The occupant protection device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein when the winding device winds up the strap in the event of the aforementioned impact, the seat tilts with its front part upward and its rear part downward.

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