Occupant protection devices

Abstract

To provide an occupant protection device capable of smoothly protecting an occupant wearing a seat belt and seated in a seat by using the seat belt and an airbag.SOLUTION: An occupant protection device S for protecting an occupant MP wearing a seat belt 15 and seated in a seat 3, includes the seat belt and an airbag 35 stored in the seat. The seat belt includes: a shoulder belt 17 for restraining an upper body MU of the occupant; and a lap belt 18 for restraining a lumbar part MW of the occupant. The airbag inflates in such a way as to protrude forward with inflation gas caused to flow therein. Upon completion of inflation, the airbag covers the side of the occupant where an upper end 17a side of the shoulder belt is located, in a region from a head part MH to the upper body. The airbag includes a slit part 55 which is formed in such a way as to be recessed from a front end side upon completion of inflation, and which allows the upper end side region of the shoulder belt to be inserted therethrough.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been an occupant protection device that is configured to inflate an airbag so as to surround both sides of an occupant seated in a seat, including the top of the head (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 10112570 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2018 / 114723 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the conventional passenger protection device, there is no description about a seat belt for restraining a passenger seated in a seat.

[0005] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide an occupant protection device that can smoothly protect an occupant seated in a seat with a seat belt fastened, by means of the seat belt and an airbag. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention relates to an occupant protection device for protecting an occupant seated in a seat with a seat belt fastened, The seat belt and the airbag are folded and stored in the seat. The seat belt is configured as a three-point restraint type including a shoulder belt that is arranged to be inclined with respect to the vertical direction when worn and restrains the upper body of the occupant, and a lap belt that is connected to the shoulder belt and arranged to be approximately along the left-right direction and restrains the waist of the occupant, The airbag is configured to inflate by flowing inflation gas into it so as to protrude forward, and when fully inflated, to cover at least the side of the occupant where the upper end of the shoulder belt is located, from the head to the upper body, and is configured to have a slit portion that is recessed from the front end side when fully inflated, and through which the upper end area of ​​the shoulder belt can be inserted.

[0007] In the passenger protection device of the present invention, the airbag is inflated to cover the sides of the passenger wearing the seat belt, and even when the airbag is fully inflated, the shoulder belt of the seat belt covers the front of the upper body of the passenger diagonally crossing the top-bottom direction and the lap belt restrains the waist of the passenger, so that the seat belt itself can adequately restrain the passenger, and when an impact force acts from the front-rear direction, the seat belt can adequately restrain the passenger. In addition, in the passenger protection device of the present invention, the airbag is configured to cover at least the sides of the upper end of the shoulder belt of the passenger wearing the seat belt from the head to the upper body, so that when an impact force acts from the side, the inflated airbag can protect the passenger. Furthermore, in the passenger protection device of the present invention, the airbag has a slit portion at a position corresponding to the upper end of the shoulder belt, which is recessed from the front end side when the airbag is fully inflated, and through which the shoulder belt can be inserted. In other words, with the occupant protection device of the present invention, even if the airbag protrudes from the side of an occupant who is already wearing the seat belt, the airbag can be smoothly completed inflating to the side of the occupant without pressing the shoulder belt, with the upper end of the shoulder belt of the seat belt positioned within the slit portion.

[0008] Therefore, in the passenger protection device of the present invention, the passenger seated in the seat with the seat belt fastened can be smoothly protected by the seat belt and the airbag.

[0009] Specifically, in the occupant protection device of the present invention, if a retractor is provided on the vehicle body side of the seat belt on the vehicle exterior side, and the shoulder belt is configured to be able to be unwound from a position above the upper end of the backrest on the vehicle exterior side of the seat, the airbag will inflate to cover the exterior side of the occupant, and the occupant can be protected by the airbag that has completed inflating against the exterior panel (door, etc.), which is preferable.

[0010] Furthermore, in the occupant protection device configured as described above, if the airbag is configured to be able to continuously cover both left and right sides of the occupant, including the top of the head, when inflation is complete, the occupant can be protected even more accurately by the airbag inflating to cover both left and right sides in the event of an impact force from the left or right side, etc., which is preferable.

[0011] Furthermore, in the occupant protection device of the above configuration, if the airbag is configured so that the tip of the recess in the slit portion when inflation is complete is positioned at a position that is at least approximately equal to the backrest surface of the seat backrest, then when the airbag is fully inflated, the portion that inflates on the inside of the upper end of the shoulder belt does not extend toward the occupant, but is only interposed between the shoulder belt and the backrest, which is preferable as it can accurately prevent this portion from pressing against the occupant. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a seat equipped with an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the seat of FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a partially enlarged schematic cross-sectional view showing an arrangement location of an inflator in the seat of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4]1 is a right side view of an airbag used in an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a left side view of the airbag of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 5 is a partially enlarged vertical cross-sectional view showing a slit portion in a state in which the airbag in FIG. 4 is inflated alone. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a front view of a seat in a state where an airbag has completed inflation in an occupant protection device according to an embodiment; [Figure 8] 1 is a right side view of a seat in a state where an airbag has completed inflation in the occupant protection device according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a region on the tip side of a recess of a slit portion when the airbag has completed inflation in the occupant protection device of the embodiment; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an occupant protection device S of the embodiment is mounted on a seat 3 of a vehicle V, and includes a seat belt 15, an airbag 35, and inflators 30L, 30R as gas supply units that supply inflation gas to the airbag 35. In the embodiment, an occupant protection device S mounted on a seat 3 disposed on the right side of the vehicle V (the right side is the outer side O of the vehicle) will be described as an example.

[0014] The seat 3 on which the occupant protection device S of the embodiment is mounted includes a seat back 4 in which a headrest portion 6 and a backrest portion 5 are integrated, and a seat portion 11. As shown in Fig. 3, the seat back 4 includes a seat frame 8 made of sheet metal material, and a seat cushion 9 arranged to cover the periphery of the seat frame 8. Although detailed illustration is omitted in the case of the embodiment, the seat frame 8 is arranged over substantially the entire periphery on the outer edge 4a side of the seat back 4, and an airbag 35 and inflators 30L, 30R are attached to it.

[0015] The seat belt 15 is mounted on the vehicle V with a retractor 25, which will be described later, provided on the vehicle body 1 side, and is of a three-point restraint type. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the seat belt 15 is configured to include a belt body 16 for restraining an occupant MP seated in the seat 3, a tongue plate 20 attached to the belt body 16, a buckle 21 for connecting the tongue plate 20, and a retractor 25 capable of winding up the belt body 16.

[0016] The retractor 25 is disposed on the vehicle body 1 side, and specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, is disposed on the outer side O of the seat back 4 of the seat 3 (the right side of the seat back 4 in the embodiment), at a position that is the lower end side of the center pillar 1a of the vehicle V (specifically, slightly behind the seat part 11). The retractor 25 includes a winding shaft (not shown) for winding up the belt main body 16, and also includes a pretensioner mechanism 26. The retractor 25 acts to keep the occupant MP seated in the seat 3 by stopping the belt main body 16 from being suddenly pulled out when an impact force is applied in the event of a collision of the vehicle V, and the pretensioner mechanism 26 acts to pull the occupant MP back toward the seat 3 by further pulling in the belt main body 16 with a predetermined force. The pretensioner mechanism 26 is electrically connected to a control circuit (not shown) mounted on the vehicle V and has its operation controlled. In this embodiment, the pretensioner mechanism 26 is configured to operate after the inflators 30L, 30R are activated (e.g., after the inflation of the airbag 35 is completed) so as to enable the airbag 35 to be smoothly inflated without interfering with the belt main body 16 (shoulder belt 17).

[0017] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, one end of the belt body 16 is engaged with a winding shaft of a retractor 25, and the other end of the belt body 16 is engaged with an anchor member 22 (see Fig. 8) disposed on the right side of the rear end of the seat part 11 of the seat 3 through an insertion member 1b provided on the center pillar 1a while protruding from the center pillar 1a. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the buckle 21 is disposed on the left side of the rear end of the seat part 11 of the seat 3. The belt body 16 includes a shoulder belt 17 that is disposed inclined with respect to the vertical direction and restrains the upper body MU of the occupant MP when the tongue plate 20 is connected to the buckle 21 (when the occupant wears the belt) when the occupant is seated, and a lap belt 18 that is connected to the shoulder belt 17 and disposed substantially along the left-right direction and restrains the lower body MD (waist MW) of the occupant MP. In detail, the lap belt 18 is configured to be disposed substantially along the left-right direction between the anchor member 22 and the buckle 21. 1 and 2, the shoulder belt 17 extends from an insertion member 1b provided on a center pillar 1a on the right side (the outer side O) of the seat back 4 and is arranged diagonally to a buckle 21 arranged on the left rear end of the seat part 11 (the lower left edge side of the seat back 4), and is arranged to restrain the upper body MU of the occupant MP (from the shoulder MS to the abdomen). The insertion member 1b through which the belt main body 16 is inserted is, in detail, arranged slightly behind the seat back 4 and at a position higher than the upper end 5a of the backrest 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). In other words, the shoulder belt 17 is arranged to be able to be reeled out from a position higher than the upper end 5a of the backrest 5 on the outer side O of the backrest 5.

[0018] In the embodiment, two inflators 30L, 30R as gas supply units are provided so as to supply inflation gas G to a left cover portion 36L and a right cover portion 36R of the airbag 35, which will be described later. Each inflator 30L, 30R is a cylinder type having a substantially cylindrical outer shape, and is disposed near the rear end of the outer edge 4a of the seat back 4, at positions to the left and right of the abdomen of the occupant MP seated on the seat 3, with the axial direction substantially aligned with the vertical direction (see Figs. 1 and 2). Specifically, in the embodiment, each inflator 30L, 30R is attached to the seat frame 8 using a bracket (reference numeral omitted) as shown in Fig. 3. The inflators 30L, 30R supply inflation gas G into the airbag 35 (left cover portion 36L, right cover portion 36R) when activated, and are attached to connection ports 42L, 42R formed on the left cover portion 36L and right cover portion 36R using clamps 31 (see the two-dot chain lines in Figs. 4 and 5). Each inflator 30L, 30R is electrically connected to a control circuit (not shown) mounted on the vehicle V and is controlled in operation, and is configured to input an activation signal when a collision of the vehicle V is detected, causing inflation gas to flow into the airbag 35 (left cover portion 36L, right cover portion 36R).

[0019] The airbag 35 is folded and stored in the seat 3, and in the embodiment, it is folded and stored on the outer edge 4a side of the seat back 4. In detail, the folded airbag 35 is continuously arranged around the entire outer edge 4a of the seat back 4 so as to continuously surround the periphery from the left and right sides to the head HU of the occupant MP seated in the seat 3 (see Figs. 1 and 2). Specifically, the airbag 35 in the embodiment is folded and stored in a position on the outer edge 4a side of the seat back 4, which is a gap area between the seat frame 8 and the seat cushion 9, and in the arrangement portion of the inflators 30L, 30R, which is a position in front of the inflators 30L, 30R, as shown in Fig. 3. The airbag 35 is configured such that the rear edge 36d side of the airbag 35 is connected to the seat 3 by attaching a mounting tab 46a (see Figs. 4 and 5) (detailed illustrations are omitted) to the seat frame 8, which is disposed on the rear edge 36d side when the airbag 35 is fully inflated, and in this embodiment, the airbag 35 is stored in the gap between the seat frame 8 and the seat cushion 9 as shown in Fig. 3, in a state where the airbag 35 is flatly deployed and the front end 36c side is rolled up so as to roll toward the inner wall portion 37a (detailed illustrations are omitted). The airbag 35 is inflated by allowing inflation gas from the inflators 30L and 30R to flow into the airbag 35, which breaks a part of the seat cushion 9, pushing the outer edge portion 9a of the seat cushion 9 outward to the left and right, and then protruding forward, as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 3.

[0020] In the embodiment, the airbag 35 is configured to be able to continuously cover both left and right sides of the occupant MP, including the parietal region HU, when fully inflated, and more specifically, configured to continuously cover from both sides of the waist region MW restrained by the lap belt 13 to the parietal region HU (see FIG. 7). Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the airbag 35 includes a left cover portion 36L and a right cover portion 36R, which are separate bodies, and the left cover portion 36L and the right cover portion 36R are integrated by sewing (joining) their upper edges 36a, 36a together to form a seam 57, thereby continuously covering the sides of the occupant MP, including the parietal region HU. The left cover part 36L is configured to cover the side (left) located on the inside of the vehicle of the occupant MP, from the parietal part HU to the waist part MW, which is located at the lower end side (buckle 21 side) of the shoulder belt 17 when worn, and the right cover part 36R is configured to cover the side (right) located on the upper end 17a side of the shoulder belt 17 when worn, from the parietal part HU to the waist part MW, which is located on the outside of the vehicle O of the occupant MP. As described above, the left cover part 36L and the right cover part 36R are configured to be inflated by the inflation gas discharged from the inflators 30L, 30R flowing thereinto, respectively. The left cover portion 36L and the right cover portion 36R have approximately the same external shape, and their fully inflated shape is a generally rectangular plate that narrows slightly toward the lower end, with the width dimension on the front-to-rear direction set to a dimension that can widely cover the sides of the entire upper body MU of the occupant MP, and the width dimension on the up-down direction set to a dimension that positions the lower end 36b side below the seat surface 11a of the seat portion 11 (see Figure 8).

[0021] Specifically, the left cover portion 36L and the right cover portion 36R are set to have substantially the same outer shape, except that the right cover portion 36R, which is arranged so as to cover the outer side O of the vehicle, which is the upper end 17a side of the shoulder belt 17, is provided with a slit portion 55, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In the embodiment, the right cover portion 36R is taken as an example and described in detail. The left cover portion 36L does not have a slit portion, as shown in Fig. 5, and has the same configuration as the right cover portion 36R, except that the length dimensions of partition portions 48FL, 48BL described later are different. Therefore, the same reference numerals are followed by "L" and detailed description is omitted.

[0022] The right cover portion 36R is formed into a bag shape by sewing together predetermined portions of a woven fabric made of polyamide yarn, polyester yarn, etc., with a sewing thread. The right cover portion 36R includes a gas inflow portion 37R that inflates by allowing inflation gas G to flow therein so as to separate an inner wall portion 37a located on the inside (the occupant MP side) from an outer wall portion 37b located on the outside when inflation is complete, and a non-inflow portion 45R (closed portion) that does not allow the inflation gas to flow therein and is formed by joining the inner wall portion 37a and the outer wall portion 37b (see Figs. 4 and 6).

[0023] As shown in Fig. 4, the gas inlet section 37R includes a head protection section 39R that is configured from an upper region and is arranged to cover the side of the head MH of the occupant MP when inflation is complete, a torso protection section 40R that is configured from a lower region and is arranged to cover the side of the upper body MU of the occupant MP (specifically, from the shoulders MS to the waist MW) when inflation is complete, a communication passage section 41R that is arranged on the rear edge 36d side when inflation is complete and communicates the head protection section 39R with the torso protection section 40R, and a connection port section 42R that is connected to the inflator 30R. In the case of the embodiment, the head protection section 39R is configured to be wider vertically toward the front side so that the lower edge 39a is inclined downward toward the front (see Fig. 4). The torso protection section 40R is configured so that the width dimension in the front-rear direction when it is flatly deployed is set slightly smaller than the width dimension in the front-rear direction of the head protection section 39R, and is also configured to be slightly narrower toward the lower end side. The connection port portion 42R is formed so as to be in communication with the communication passage portion 41R at a position that is approximately the center from top to bottom of the right cover portion 36R and to be inclined downward toward the rear.

[0024] The right cover portion 36R is configured to include a slit portion 55 that is recessed from the front end 36c side when inflation is complete, and through which the area on the upper end 17a side of the shoulder belt 17 can be inserted. The slit portion 55 is formed at the boundary between the head protection portion 39R and the torso protection portion 40R, and a tip end 55a of the recess of the slit portion 55 forms the front edge 41a of the communication passage portion 41R. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the slit portion 55 is formed so as to be surrounded by the lower edge 39a of the head protection portion 39R, the upper edge 40a of the torso protection portion 40R, and the front edge 41a of the communication passage portion 41R. The slit portion 55 is formed downward toward the front, with the tip 55a of the recess positioned at the approximate center of the top and bottom of the right cover portion 36R when the right cover portion 36R is flattened out, and is inclined toward the front and rear direction so as to descend toward the front end 36c of the right cover portion 36R. The opening width dimension at the tip 55a side of the recess is set to be slightly larger than the shoulder belt 17 so that the shoulder belt 17 can be inserted therethrough. In the case of the embodiment, the slit portion 55 is configured so that the front and rear intermediate portions are once slightly narrowed and then expanded toward the front end. The tip 55a of the recess of the slit portion 55 (the front edge 41a of the communication passage portion 41R) is configured to be positioned at a position approximately equal to the backrest surface 5b (front surface) of the backrest portion 5 of the seat 3 when the airbag is fully inflated (see FIG. 9).

[0025] The non-inflow portion 45R includes a peripheral portion 46R that constitutes the outer periphery of the gas inflow portion 37R, and partition portions 48FR, 48BR that are disposed within the region of the gas inflow portion 37R. As shown in FIG. 4, the peripheral portion 46R is formed to surround the entire periphery of the gas inflow portion 37R, except for the lower end 42a side of the connection port portion 42R. Although not shown in detail, mounting tabs 46a that are attached to the seat frame 8 are disposed at multiple locations along the vertical direction on the rear edge side of the peripheral portion 46R (the rear edge 36d side of the right cover portion 36R). The partition portions 48FR, 48BR are formed in two locations, near the tip end 55a of the recess of the slit portion 55 and near the front end of the head protection portion 39R, as straight lines that extend upward from the lower edge 39a side of the head protection portion 39R (the upper edge side of the slit portion 55) in the region of the head protection portion 39R.

[0026] As described above, the left cover part 36L does not have a slit part, and the partition parts 48FL, 48BL formed in the left cover part 36L are disposed in substantially the same position as the partition parts 48FR, 48BR formed in the right cover part 36R. The partition part 48BL disposed on the rear side is formed in the left cover part 36L so as to extend downward so as to constitute the front edge of the communication passage part 41L (see FIG. 5).

[0027] In the embodiment of the occupant protection device S, when the vehicle V collides with an occupant MP seated in the seat 3 and wearing the seat belt 15, the inflators 30L, 30R are activated upon receiving an activation signal from a control circuit not shown, and the left cover portion 36L and the right cover portion 36R of the airbag 35 are inflated by the inflation gas G discharged from the inflators 30L, 30R flowing thereinto, and the airbag 35 protrudes forward from the seat back 4, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 3, completing the inflation so as to cover the sides of the occupant MP (see Figures 7 to 9).

[0028] In the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the airbag 35 is inflated so as to cover the side of the occupant MP wearing the seat belt 15, and even when the airbag 35 is fully inflated, the shoulder belt 17 of the seat belt 15 covers the front of the upper body MU of the occupant MP while crossing obliquely so as to be inclined with respect to the up-down direction, and the lap belt 18 restrains the waist MW of the occupant MP, so that the seat belt 15 itself can adequately restrain the occupant MP, and for example, when an impact force acts from the front-rear direction, the occupant MP can be adequately restrained by the seat belt 15. In addition, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the airbag 35 is configured to cover at least the side of the upper end 17a of the shoulder belt 17 (the outer side O of the vehicle in the case of the embodiment) of the occupant MP wearing the seat belt 15, from the head MH to the upper body MU, so that when an impact force acts from the side, the occupant MP can be protected by the inflated airbag 35. Furthermore, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the airbag 35 (specifically, the right cover portion 36R arranged on the vehicle exterior side O) has a slit portion 55 through which the shoulder belt 17 can be inserted, at a position corresponding to the upper end 17a side of the shoulder belt 17, so as to be recessed from the front end 36c side when inflation is completed. That is, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, even if the airbag 35 (right cover portion 36R) protrudes from the side of the occupant MP who has already fastened the seat belt 15, the airbag 35 (right cover portion 36R) can be smoothly completed inflated at the side of the occupant MP without pushing the shoulder belt 17, with the upper end 17a side of the shoulder belt 17 of the seat belt 15 arranged inside the slit portion 55.

[0029] Therefore, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the occupant MP who is seated in the seat 3 with the seat belt 15 fastened can be smoothly protected by the seat belt 15 and the airbag .

[0030] In particular, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the slit portion 55 formed in the right cover portion 36R of the airbag 35 is formed to be inclined downward toward the front so that the tip 55a of the recess is located at the uppermost position, so that the head protection portion 39R arranged above the slit portion 55 is arranged to be wide from the tip 55a of the recess of the slit portion 55 located rearward and above the shoulder MS of the occupant MP at the time of complete inflation to the front end side so that the lower edge 39a is inclined downward toward the front (see FIG. 8), and the head protection portion 39R can cover the side (right side) of the head MH widely from top to bottom. In addition, since the head protection portion 39R is arranged to be inclined downward toward the front, the lower edge 39a at the front end side is arranged to be overlapped with the upper edge 40a at the front end side of the torso protection portion 40R in the vehicle interior / exterior direction at the time of complete inflation of the airbag 35 (see FIG. 7). If such a point is not taken into consideration, the slit portion may be formed so as to be recessed substantially along the front-rear direction from the front end side when inflation is complete.

[0031] In addition, in the passenger protection device S of the embodiment, the seat belt 15 is configured so that the retractor 25 is disposed on the vehicle body 1 side, which is the vehicle exterior side O of the seat 3, and the shoulder belt 17 can be retracted from a position above the upper end 5a of the backrest part 5 on the vehicle exterior side of the seat 3 (center pillar 1a in the embodiment). Therefore, the airbag 35 (right cover part 36R) is inflated so as to cover the vehicle exterior side O of the occupant MP, and the occupant MP can be protected by the airbag 35 (right cover part 36R) that has completed inflation against a panel (door, etc.) on the vehicle exterior side O. If such a point is not taken into consideration, the seat belt may be configured to be mounted on the seat.

[0032] Furthermore, in the passenger protection device S of the embodiment, the airbag 35 is configured to be able to continuously cover both sides of the left and right direction of the passenger MP including the head HU when it is fully inflated, so that the airbag 35 inflates to cover both sides (inside and outside the vehicle in the case of the embodiment) when an impact force is applied from the left or right side, and the passenger MP can be protected more accurately. If such a point is not taken into consideration, the airbag may be configured to cover only the side where the upper end side of the shoulder belt of the passenger is located (only the outside of the vehicle in the case of the embodiment). Also, in the embodiment, the airbag 35 is configured to use a left cover part 36L and a right cover part 36R which are separate bodies and have upper edges 36a, 36a joined to each other, and the inflators 30L, 30R as gas supply parts are connected to the left cover part 36L and the right cover part 36R, respectively, but the airbag may be configured to be an integrated structure that covers the left and right sides of the passenger and is inflated by a single inflator. In addition, the inflator as a gas supply unit does not have to be placed on the seat back and directly connected to the connection port of the airbag as in the embodiment, but may be placed, for example, in the seat portion of the seat and supply inflation gas to the airbag via a gas supply pipe or the like.

[0033] Furthermore, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the airbag 35 is configured so that the tip 55a of the recess of the slit portion 55 (the front edge 41a of the communication passage portion 41R) at the time of completion of the inflation is positioned at a position substantially equal to the backrest surface 5b of the backrest portion 5 of the seat 3 (see FIG. 9). Therefore, at the time of completion of the inflation of the airbag 35, the part that inflates on the inside of the upper end 17a side of the shoulder belt 17 (the part of the communication passage portion 41R in the case of the embodiment) does not extend to the occupant MP side, and is interposed only between the shoulder belt 17 and the backrest portion 5, so that the part can be appropriately prevented from pressing the occupant MP. If such a point is not taken into consideration, an airbag configured to be configured so that the tip of the recess of the slit portion at the time of completion of the inflation is positioned so as to protrude forward from the backrest surface of the backrest portion may be used.

[0034] The occupant protection device S of the embodiment is configured to be mounted on a seat 3 having an integrated headrest portion 6 and a backrest portion 5, and the airbag 35 is configured to be folded and stored on the outer edge 4a side of the seat 3 having the integrated headrest portion 6. Therefore, the airbag 35, which integrally covers the lateral portion of the occupant MP from the waist region MW to the head MH, can be continuously stored on the outer edge 4a side of the seat 3, and the airbag 35 can be smoothly deployed and inflated so as to protrude forward from the storage area. Of course, if such a point is not taken into consideration, the occupant protection device of the present invention may be mounted on a seat having a separate headrest and seat back.

[0035] In the embodiment, the occupant protection device S is installed on the seat 3 arranged so that the right side is the vehicle exterior side O and the shoulder belt 17 of the seat belt 15 is unrolled from the upper right side, but the present invention can be applied to a seat arranged so that the left side is the vehicle exterior side and the shoulder belt is unrolled from the upper left side. When installing the occupant protection device S on a seat with such a configuration, a slit portion is formed in the left cover portion of the airbag. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1...vehicle body, 1b...insertion member, 3...seat, 4...seat back, 5...backrest portion, 5b...backrest surface, 15...seat belt, 17...shoulder belt, 17a...upper end, 18...lap belt, 25...retractor, 30L, 30R...inflator, 35...airbag, 36L...left cover portion, 36R...right cover portion, 36c...front end, 55...slit portion, 55a...tip, MP...occupant, MU...upper body, MH...head, HU...top of the head, MW...waist, S...occupant protection device.

Claims

1. An occupant protection device for protecting an occupant seated in a seat with a seat belt fastened, The seat belt and an airbag that is folded and stored in the seat are included. the seat belt is configured as a three-point restraint type including a shoulder belt that is arranged to be inclined with respect to the vertical direction when worn and restrains the upper body of the occupant, and a lap belt that is connected to the shoulder belt and arranged to be approximately along the left-right direction and restrains the waist of the occupant, The airbag is configured to inflate so as to protrude forward by flowing inflation gas therein, and to cover at least the side of the occupant where the upper end of the shoulder belt is located from the head to the upper body when inflation is complete, and is configured to include a slit portion that is recessed from the front end side when inflation is complete and through which the upper end area of ​​the shoulder belt can be inserted, The slit portion is inclined in the front-to-rear direction so as to descend toward the front end when the airbag is fully inflated, and the opening width dimension at the rear end side, which is the tip side of the recess, is a dimension that allows the shoulder belt to be inserted therethrough, and the front-to-rear intermediate portion is narrow, and is formed so as to widen toward the front end.

2. 2. The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the seat belt has a retractor disposed on the vehicle body side on the outer side of the seat so that the shoulder belt can be unwound from a position above the upper end of the backrest portion on the outer side of the seat.

3. 3. The passenger protection device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is configured to be capable of continuously covering both left and right sides of the passenger, including the top of the head, when fully inflated.

4. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the airbag is configured so that the tip of the recess of the slit portion when the airbag is fully inflated is positioned at a position that is at least approximately equal to the backrest surface of the backrest portion of the seat.

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