Vehicle seat

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat which can be reduced in the mounting space of a head chamber forming a side airbag and can be adapted to an increase in the size and capacity of the head chamber.SOLUTION: A vehicle seat 14 includes a side airbag 12 having a head chamber 12A which is inflated and deployed to the side of a head by receiving the supply of gas from an inflator upon a side impact. The head chamber 12A is stored along an upper frame 34 of a seat back 18 while being folded, and in at least part of a periphery, has a thickness-reduced part 60 which has been subjected to thickness-reduction processing to reduce a fold thickness by compression.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle seat equipped with a side airbag.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a side airbag in which a chest section that expands and deploys from a side region of the backrest of a vehicle seat and a head section that expands and deploys from an upper region of the backrest are configured by separate bags and are connected to each other via a tubular filling section. In this side airbag, since the head section expands and deploys between the shoulder belt and the occupant's head, the head can be restrained early during a side collision.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, since the occupant's head is not restrained by the webbing during a collision, early restraint by the airbag is required. Also, considering that the position of the head in the seating posture varies depending on the physique of the occupant, the required protection area becomes extensive. Therefore, in the side airbag, it is necessary to meet the demand for increasing the size and capacity of the head chamber (head section).

[0005] However, when the head section is housed along the upper end of the seat frame as in the technique described in Patent Document 1 above, if the head section is enlarged and its capacity is increased, the folding thickness in the folded state becomes large, so there is a possibility that the mounting space for the head chamber is insufficient depending on the seat design. Therefore, there is room for improvement in this regard in the prior art.

[0006] In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle seat that can save mounting space and can cope with an increase in the size and capacity of a head chamber constituting a side airbag.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The vehicle seat according to the present invention In the first aspect, is provided with a side airbag having a head chamber that expands and deploys gas from an inflater during a side collision, and the head chamber It is stored along the upper frame of the seat back, and the has a thickness reduction portion at at least a part of the outer peripheral portion, which is subjected to a thickness reduction process that reduces the folded thickness by pressurization. is supplied from the lower rear side of the seat of the vehicle, so that between the shoulder belt and the head of the seated occupant Above the seat lower rear part where gas from the inflator is supplied, after being folded back in the seat vertical direction to reduce the vertical width, it is rolled up from the front end in the seat front-rear direction, and Stored in that state

[0008] In the vehicle seat according to the present invention In the first aspect, during a side collision, the side airbag is inflated and deployed by receiving gas supply from an inflater. The side airbag has a head chamber housed along the upper frame of the seat back. This head chamber Of the vehicle expands and deploys Between the shoulder belt of the vehicle and the head of the seated occupant Of that occupant and restrains the head early.

[0009] Here, the head chamber Above the seat lower rear part where gas from the inflator is supplied, after being folded back in the seat vertical direction to reduce the vertical width, it is stored in a state of being rolled up from the front end in the seat front-rear direction. And has a thickness reduction portion at at least a part of the outer peripheral portion. Since this thickness reduction portion is subjected to a thickness reduction process that reduces the folded thickness by pressurization, by compressing at least a part of the outer peripheral portion, the folded shape can be miniaturized. Therefore, for a portion with a thick folded thickness with respect to the mounting space allowed based on the seat design, by forming a thickness reduction portion, it is possible to save the mounting space. As a result, it becomes easy to secure a mounting space corresponding to the seat design, and it is possible to cope with an increase in the size and capacity of the head chamber.

[0010] In this case, "storing the head chamber along the upper frame" is a broad concept that includes not only the case where the entire head chamber is stored along the upper frame but also the case where a part of the head chamber is stored along the upper frame. Further, "during a side collision" includes not only the case where it is detected that a side collision has actually occurred to the vehicle but also the case where it is predicted that a side collision will occur to the vehicle.

[0011] According to the present invention In the second aspect, the vehicle seat is The 1 Aspect in the configuration where the head chamber is It is zigzag-folded by being folded back multiple times in the seat vertical direction, so that the vertical width is reduced formed.

[0012] According to the present invention In the second aspect, in the vehicle seat, the head chamber is It is zigzag-folded by being folded back multiple times in the seat vertical direction, so that the vertical width is reduced. Therefore, in a folded state where it is rolled up from the front end in the seat front-rear direction, a mounting space corresponding to the roll diameter (when folded Thickness is required).

[0013] Here, in the present invention, by forming a thickness reduction portion on the outer peripheral portion of the folded head chamber, the roll diameter of the head chamber can be reduced, and space saving of the mounting space can be achieved. Further, in the state where it is rolled up and folded, there is little variation in the base fabric at the outer peripheral portion and it is easy to maintain the shape. Therefore, it is easy to perform the thickness reduction process and the workability is excellent.

[0014] According to the present invention In the third aspect, the vehicle seat is The 1 or The 2 Aspect in the configuration where the head chamber is The front end in the seat front-rear direction is rolled up so as to be rolled into the inner side in the seat width direction formed.

[0015] According to the present invention In the third aspect, in the vehicle seat, the head chamber is at the seat The front end in the front-rear direction is rolled up so as to be rolled into the inner side in the seat width direction It is roll-folded. Therefore, at the initial stage of the inflation and deployment of the head chamber, the roll-fold is released and at the same time the creases folded in the vertical direction of the seat are released. That is, at the initial stage of inflation and deployment, the roll-fold is released inward between the shoulder belt and the headrest, so that the inflation and deployment of the head chamber toward the front side of the seat is not impaired by the shoulder belt. Furthermore, by releasing the creases folded in the vertical direction of the seat, the head chamber can be deployed above the seat and quickly overcome the shoulder belt. In this way, by combining and folding the folding in the vertical direction of the seat and the roll-fold, the deployment performance of the head chamber can be improved. Width direction Since the roll-fold is released inward between the shoulder belt and the headrest, the inflation and deployment of the head chamber toward the front side of the seat is not impaired by the shoulder belt. Furthermore, by releasing the creases folded in the vertical direction of the seat, the head chamber can be deployed above the seat and quickly overcome the shoulder belt. In this way, by combining and folding the folding in the vertical direction of the seat and the roll-fold, the deployment performance of the head chamber can be improved.

[0016] In the above configuration, where the head chamber with an increased roll diameter (folded thickness) formed by overlapping the roll-fold on the folding in the vertical direction of the seat is stored along the upper frame, the roll diameter can be reduced by the thickness reduction portion. Thereby, it is possible to achieve both space saving of the mounting space of the head chamber and improvement of the deployment performance.

[0017] According to the present invention In the fourth aspect, The vehicle seat is The 3 Aspect In the configuration of, the side airbag is stored from the side of the side frame of the seat back along the shoulder opening, and Of the vehicle At the time of a side collision Receiving gas supply from the inflator, for the seated occupant It further has a torso chamber that inflates and deploys to the side of the torso, and when the head chamber and the torso chamber are configured by a single bag And To The body chamber also, The front end in the seat front-rear direction Is rolled up so as to be rolled into the inner side in the seat width direction Is stored in a roll-folded state.

[0018] According to the present invention In the fourth aspect, In the vehicle seat, the side airbag has a torso chamber stored from the side of the side frame of the seat back along the shoulder opening, and at the time of a side collision of the vehicle, the torso chamber Receiving gas supply from the inflator, for the seated Inflates and deploys to the side of the occupant's torso to Of that occupant Restrain the torso early.

[0019] Here, the side airbag is configured with a single bag for the head chamber and the body chamber, and can be accommodated from the side of the side frame, through the shoulder, along the upper frame. Further, the body chamber Also , the front end in the longitudinal direction of the seat Is rolled up so as to be rolled into the inner side in the seat width direction is stored in a rolled-up state. Tsum , the entire side airbag including the head chamber and the body chamber And can be easily roll-folded, and the deployment performance of the head chamber can also be improved. Is Roll-fold Done. Thereby, The folding of the side airbag can be easily performed, and the deployment performance of the head chamber can also be improved.

[0020] According to the present invention In the fifth aspect, the vehicle seat is The 1 to The any one of 4 One aspect in the configuration, the thickness reduction portion is formed by heat-pressing the outer peripheral portion of the folded head chamber to reduce the folding thickness Ru and thickness reduction processing is performed.

[0021] According to the present invention In the fifth aspect, in the vehicle seat, the thickness reduction portion is formed by heat-pressing the outer peripheral portion of the folded head chamber. The thickness reduction portion thus formed does not require an additional member other than the side airbag, so the manufacturing process is not complicated and can be easily manufactured.

[0022] According to the present invention In the sixth aspect, the vehicle seat is The 5 Aspect in the configuration, a heat-meltable surface material that covers the outer peripheral portion of the folded head chamber is provided in the thickness reduction portion.

[0023] According to the present invention In the sixth aspect, In the vehicle seat, the thickness reduction portion is formed by covering the outer peripheral portion of the folded head chamber with a heat-meltable surface material and performing heat pressing. In the thickness reduction portion formed in this way, the shape after the reduction of the head chamber is maintained by the surface material melted on the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, the manageability of the side airbag is improved, and the attachment to the seat back can be facilitated.

[0024] According to the present invention In the seventh aspect, the vehicle seat is The 1 to The any one of 4 One aspect in the configuration, the thickness reduction portion is reduced in folding thickness by pressurization based on the contraction force of the surface material covering the outer peripheral portion of the folded head chamber Ru and thickness reduction processing is performed. The The surface material has shrinkability based on shrinkability due to heating or elastic force.

[0025] According to the present invention In the seventh aspect, In the vehicle seat, the thickness reduction portion is formed by covering the outer peripheral portion of the folded head chamber with a surface material and pressurizing it with the contraction force of the surface material. The thickness reduction portion formed in this way has its outer peripheral portion covered with the surface material, and the shape after contraction is maintained. Thereby, the manageability of the side airbag is improved, and the attachment to the seat back can be facilitated.

[0026] Furthermore, since the surface material has shrinkability based on shrinkability due to heating or elastic force, a dedicated mold or press machine is not required as in the case of performing thickness reduction processing by heat pressing. Thereby, the equipment scale at the time of manufacturing can be suppressed.

[0027] According to the present invention In the eighth aspect, the vehicle seat is The 6 or The 7 Aspect in the configuration, a cleavage portion is formed in the surface material At the part facing the front side of the seat in

[0028] According to the present invention​In the eighth aspect, In a vehicle seat, on the surface material covering the outer peripheral portion of the head chamber, In facing the front of the seat Side there is formed a cleavage portion. Therefore, when the side airbag expands and deploys, due to the gas pressure applied from the head chamber, the surface material is rapidly cleaved along the cleavage portion. As a result, the expansion and deployment of the head chamber toward the front side of the seat is not impaired by the surface material, and it is possible to achieve both the parts manageability and the deployment performance of the side airbag. Part at When receiving the supply of gas from the inflator during a side collision, it is provided with a side airbag having a head chamber that expands and deploys to the side of the head,

[0029] In addition, of the vehicle and the head chamber is stored in a folded state along the upper frame of the seat back, and has a first region in which a plurality of base fabrics are laminated in the seat height direction and a second region in which the number of laminated base fabrics is larger than that of the first region Of the seated occupant and in the second region, a thickness reduction portion in which the folding thickness in the seat height direction is reduced is formed at at least a part of the outer peripheral portion. That The head chamber Is is stored in a folded state along the upper frame of the seat back, and has a first region in which a plurality of base fabrics are laminated in the seat height direction and a second region in which the number of laminated base fabrics is larger than that of the first region And, and has 、 In the second region, a thickness reduction portion in which the folding thickness in the seat height direction is reduced is formed at at least a part of the outer peripheral portion. A vehicle seat is also conceivable .

[0030] This In a vehicle seat, the side airbag has a head chamber stored in a folded state along the upper frame of the seat back. This head chamber, in a state of being stored along the upper frame, has a first region in which a plurality of base fabrics are laminated in the seat height direction and a second region in which the number of laminated base fabrics is larger than that of the first region And, and has.

[0031] Here, in the second region, a thickness reduction portion is formed in at least a part of the outer peripheral portion, where the folding thickness in the sheet height direction is reduced. Thereby, the second region having a larger folding thickness compared to the first region can be miniaturized by the thickness reduction portion. Therefore, for a portion with a large folding thickness with respect to the mounting space allowed based on the sheet design, by forming the thickness reduction portion, it is possible to save space in the mounting space. As a result, it becomes easier to secure the mounting space corresponding to the sheet design, and it is possible to cope with the enlargement and increase in capacity of the head chamber constituting the side airbag.

Advantages of the Invention

[0032] As described above, the vehicle seat according to the present invention has an excellent effect that it is possible to save space in the mounting space and cope with the enlargement and increase in capacity of the head chamber constituting the side airbag.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0034] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, a vehicle seat 14 equipped with a side airbag device 10 according to this embodiment will be described. In each figure, the arrow FR, the arrow UP, the arrow LH, and the arrow RH indicate the front side of the seat, the upper side of the seat, the left side of the seat, and the right side of the seat of the vehicle seat 14 on which the side airbag device 10 is mounted, respectively. When explaining using the directions of front-back, left-right, and up-down, unless otherwise specified, the front-back in the seat front-back direction, the left-right in the seat width direction, and the up-down in the seat up-down direction are shown.

[0035] Also, on the vehicle seat 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, a dummy P for a collision test is seated instead of an actual occupant. The dummy P is, for example, AM50 (50th percentile of American adult males) of the World Side Impact Dummy (WorldSID). In the following description, the dummy is referred to as "occupant P".

[0036] (Vehicle seat) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle seat 14 equipped with the side airbag device 10 includes a seat cushion 16, a seat back 18, and a headrest 20. As an example, the vehicle seat 14 is arranged on the driver's seat on the right side of the vehicle, and the front of the seat coincides with the front of the vehicle. Also, the left-right in the seat width direction coincides with the left-right in the vehicle width direction.

[0037] The seat cushion 16 extends in the front-back direction and the width direction of the seat, and is configured to support the buttocks and thighs of the occupant P. The seat back 18 is rotatably connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 16 and extends in the up-down direction of the seat, and is configured to support the back of the occupant P. The headrest 20 is provided at the upper end of the seat back 18 and is configured to support the head H of the occupant P.

[0038] (Seat Belt Device) The occupant P is restrained to the vehicle seat 14 by the seat belt device 24. The seat belt device 24 includes a webbing 26 that restrains the upper body and waist of the occupant.

[0039] The webbing 26 is formed in a long strip shape, and includes a shoulder belt 26A that restrains the upper body of the occupant P to the seat back 18 in the mounted state, and a lap belt 26B that restrains the waist of the occupant. The shoulder belt 26A extends obliquely from the right shoulder of the occupant P to the left waist. And the lower end of the shoulder belt 26A is passed through the tongue plate 28.

[0040] The tongue plate 28 is configured to be detachable from a buckle (reference numeral omitted) provided on the left side of the seat. And by attaching the tongue plate 28 to the buckle, the occupant P is restrained by the webbing 26.

[0041] One end of the webbing 26 that is passed through the tongue plate 28 and folded back extends to the right side of the seat, and the lap belt 26B is formed by the portion extending in this seat width direction. For this reason, the left end of the lap belt 26B is connected to the lower end of the shoulder belt 26A. Also, the right end of the lap belt 26B is fixed to a belt anchor (not shown) provided on the floor panel.

[0042] The upper end of the shoulder belt 26A is wound around a shoulder anchor (not shown) provided on the vehicle body. Also, the end of the webbing 26 is wound up by a retractor (not shown).

[0043] (Side airbag device) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the side airbag device 10 includes a side airbag 12, an inflater 42, and a sock 44.

[0044] The side airbag 12 is housed inside the seat back 18 and is fixed to a seat back frame 30 that constitutes the skeleton of the seat back 18. As partially shown in FIG. 2, the seat back frame 30 is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the front-rear direction of the seat, and its left and right side portions are constituted by side frames 32 that extend in the up-down direction of the seat. Also, the upper end portion of the seat back frame 30 is constituted by an upper frame 34 that extends in the seat width direction so as to span the shoulder openings (upper end portions) of the left and right side frames 32. The side airbag 12 is housed along the upper frame 34 via the shoulder opening from the side portion of the side frame 32 arranged on the right side of the seat in a state of being folded in an elongated rod shape.

[0045] The side airbag 12 expands when gas generated by the inflater 42 is supplied. Also, the side airbag 12 expands and deploys between the occupant P's body and the side surface in the vehicle interior by breaking the skin on the outer side in the seat width direction of the seat back 18 by the inflation pressure.

[0046] The side airbag 12 is constituted by a single bag forming a bag body, and has a head chamber 12A that constitutes the upper part on the upper side of the seat and a trunk chamber 12B that constitutes the lower part on the lower side of the seat.

[0047] The head chamber 12A is configured to inflate and deploy between the shoulder belt 26A and the occupant P's head H upon receiving the supply of gas from the inflator 42, covering the side of the head H. Further, the torso chamber 12B is configured to inflate and deploy on the side of the occupant P's torso T (the portion extending from the shoulders through the chest to the waist) upon receiving the supply of gas from the inflator 42, covering the side of the torso T. The detailed configuration of the side airbag 12 will be described later.

[0048] The inflator 42 is a cylinder-type gas generator formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and its axial direction is along the side frame 32 of the seat back 18. Further, a gas ejection portion 42A is provided at the lower end portion of the inflator 42, and when a side collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted, gas is generated from the gas ejection portion 42A and supplied to the side airbag 12.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 3, a part of the inflator 42 is disposed inside the side airbag 12. The inflator 42 has a stud bolt 48 extending inward in the seat width direction from the outer surface disposed inside the side airbag 12. By inserting the stud bolt 48 through the side frame 32 and tightening it with a nut, it is fixed to the side frame 32 together with the base fabric 50 of the side airbag 12.

[0050] Inside the side airbag 12, a sock 44 made of a cloth material is further provided. Note that the sock 44 is also referred to as a duct, an inner tube, a rectifying cloth, or a diffuser.

[0051] The sock 44 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with open upper and lower ends, and extends in the vertical direction of the seat from the head chamber 12A to the torso chamber 12B. A bag-shaped inflator insertion portion 46 is integrally provided at the rear end portion of the sock 44, and the gas ejection portion 42A of the inflator 42 and the inside of the sock 44 are communicated through the inflator insertion portion 46. For this reason, the gas supplied from the inflator 42 is configured to flow to the head chamber 12A and the torso chamber 12B through the sock 44.

[0052] (Side airbag) The detailed configuration of the side airbag 12 will be described below. The side airbag 12 is formed in a bag shape by arranging two base fabrics 50 made of, for example, nylon-based or polyester-based fabric materials in the sheet width direction and sewing the outer peripheral portions. In FIG. 3, the sewing portion for sewing the outer peripheral portion of the base fabric 50 is indicated by the symbol "S1".

[0053] The upper part of the side airbag 12 becomes a head chamber 12A that covers the side of the head H of the occupant P during inflation and deployment. This head chamber 12A is formed in a substantially C shape with a cut portion arranged toward the lower side of the sheet when viewed in the sheet width direction. A belt-like support belt 52 is sewn to the rear end portion of the head chamber 12A. One end of this support belt 52 is attached to a stay 36 (see FIG. 2) that constitutes the framework of the headrest 20, thereby stabilizing the behavior of the head chamber 12A during inflation and deployment.

[0054] The lower part of the side airbag 12 becomes a torso chamber 12B that covers the side of the torso T of the occupant during inflation and deployment. This torso chamber 12B is formed in a dripping shape with a downward bulge when viewed in the sheet width direction and extends in the vertical direction along the seat back 18.

[0055] (Folding method of side airbag) The side airbag 12 configured as described above is stored along the framework of the seat back 18 in a state of being folded into an elongated rod shape as described above. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, the folding method of the side airbag 12 will be described. In FIG. 4, the sewing portion S1 of the side airbag 12 is omitted from the illustration.

[0056] The folding method of the side airbag 12 according to the present embodiment is roughly divided into a first step of folding back the head chamber 12A in the seat vertical direction and a second step of roll-folding the side airbag 12 from the front end portion in the seat front-rear direction after completion of the first step.

[0057] Referring to FIGS. 4(A) to 4(C), the first step will be described. In FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), the folding lines of the head chamber 12A in each step are shown by two-dot chain lines.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 4(A), in the first step, first, the upper end portion of the head chamber 12A in the up-and-down direction of the seat is folded downward toward the occupant P side (inside the seat). Width direction By this step, the portion that was the upper end portion of the head chamber 12A before folding is folded and becomes the lower end portion.

[0059] Next, as shown in FIG. 4(B), the folded lower end portion is folded upward toward the occupant P side.

[0060] Through the above steps, the head chamber 12A is folded in a bellows-like state by being folded multiple times (twice in this embodiment) in the up-and-down direction of the seat, and as shown in FIG. 4(C), the up-and-down width in the folded state becomes smaller. Thus, the first step is completed.

[0061] In the second step, as shown in FIGS. 4(D) and 4(E), the side airbag 12 is roll-folded by winding the base fabric 50 around the long and thin rod-shaped winding shaft rod 40.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 4(D), in the second step, the winding shaft rod 40 in a posture with the substantially up-and-down direction of the seat as the axial direction is set, and the base fabric 50 of the side airbag 12 is roll-folded inward from the front end portion to the rear end portion of the side airbag 12 in the front-and-rear direction of the seat. In this step, the entire side airbag 12 including the head chamber 12A and the body chamber 12B is roll-folded inward.

[0063] Note that the inward roll-fold is a folding method in which the tip of the roll-fold is wound into a roll shape (rolled) so as to be rolled inside the seat. Width direction

[0064] ​Through the above steps, as shown in Fig. 4(E), the head chamber 12A has the state where the rear end in the longitudinal direction of the sheet at the end of winding is folded inward in a roll. Thus, the second step is completed.

[0065] The side airbag 12 folded through the first step and the second step has an elongated rod-like form. And, as shown in Fig. 2, when stored in the seat back 18, the head chamber 12A is stored along the upper frame 34 of the seat back frame 30, and the body chamber 12B is stored from the side part of the side frame 32 along the shoulder.

[0066] Since the head chamber 12A has a small vertical width set by the first step described above, the tip (upper end) is outside the seat Width direction than the stay 36 of the headrest 20. That is, the head chamber 12A is stored at a position that does not overlap with the skeleton of the headrest 20.

[0067] (Thickness reduction part and thickness reduction process) Here, Fig. 5 shows a side view of the side airbag 12 folded through the first step and the second step. As shown in this figure, in the state of being folded in a roll, the thickness of the side airbag at the time of storage, that is, the folding thickness, is the roll diameter (diameter) φ when the side airbag 12 is viewed from the sheet vertical direction (winding axis direction).

[0068] The roll diameter φ of the side airbag 12 becomes larger as the number of sheets of the base fabric 50 laminated in the radial direction increases. Therefore, as the side airbag 12 becomes larger and has a larger capacity, the roll diameter φ becomes larger as the number of times the base fabric 50 is folded increases. In particular, in the head chamber 12A of the present embodiment, since the base fabric 50 is folded back in the sheet vertical direction prior to roll folding, the roll diameter φ is larger in a predetermined region than in other regions.

[0069] For example, FIG. 5(B) shows a cross-section obtained by cutting the lower end of the head chamber 12A along the line 5B-5B in FIG. 5(A). In an example of the present embodiment, the lower end of the folded head chamber 12A is a first region 12A1 where the number of base fabrics 50 laminated in the radial direction is relatively small, and the size of its roll diameter φ1 is substantially equal to that of the body chamber 12B.

[0070] On the other hand, FIG. 5(C) shows a cross-section obtained by cutting the upper end of the head chamber 12A along the line 5C-5C in FIG. 5(A). As shown in this figure, in an example of the present embodiment, the upper end of the folded head chamber 12A is a second region 12A2 where the number of base fabrics 50 laminated in the radial direction is larger than that in the first region 12A1. Therefore, the roll diameter φ2 of this second region 12A2 is larger than the roll diameter φ1 of the first region 12A1.

[0071] Here, when the head chamber 12A is housed along the upper frame 34 of the seat back frame 30, the roll diameter φ of the head chamber 12A becomes the folding thickness in the seat height direction. Therefore, in a region where the roll diameter is large like the second region 12A2, it is necessary to secure a mounting space in consideration of the folding thickness in the seat height direction.

[0072] However, since the headrest 20 is provided above the upper frame 34, there are significant design constraints on the mounting space in the seat height direction (vertical direction of the seat). Therefore, in a region where the roll diameter φ becomes large like the second region 12A2 of the head chamber 12A, it is desirable to provide means for saving the mounting space during storage.

[0073] Therefore, in the present embodiment, in a region where the folding thickness of the head chamber 12A is thick like the second region 12A2, at least a part of the outer peripheral portion of the head chamber 12A is formed with a thickness reduction portion 60. The thickness reduction portion 60 is subjected to a thickness reduction process for reducing the folding thickness of the head chamber 12A by pressurization.

[0074] FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of the thickness reduction process. This schematic diagram shows the state of the head chamber 12A viewed from the winding axis direction. As shown in this figure, the thickness reduction process of the present embodiment is a heat press using a mold 62. In the process by heat press, the folded head chamber 12A is arranged at a position facing a recess 64 formed inside the mold 62, and the outer peripheral portion of the head chamber 12A is pressurized and heated inside the mold 62. Thereby, the roll diameter φ of the head chamber 12A can be reduced. In FIG. 6, the outer shape of the head chamber 12A before the thickness reduction process is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0075] In addition, the recess 64 of the present embodiment has an outer peripheral shape formed in a substantially circular shape, and the entire circumference of the outer peripheral portion can be evenly pressurized and heated.

[0076] The heat press having the above configuration has a certain effect even when it is composed of the base fabric 50 of the side airbag 12, but it is more preferably a coated base fabric. When the base fabric 50 is composed of a coated base fabric, due to heating, a part of the surface of the coating material such as silicone resin or nylon resin applied to the base fabric 50 melts and then cures again. Therefore, compared with the non-coated base fabric, the shape reduced by pressurization can be well maintained.

[0077] FIG. 2 shows the head chamber 12A housed in the seat back 18 through the thickness reduction process. In FIG. 2, the second region 12A2 in which the thickness reduction portion 60 is formed is shown as a region surrounded by a two-dot chain line. As shown in this figure, the folding thickness of the second region 12A2 is reduced by the thickness reduction portion 60, and the head chamber 12A is set to have a substantially uniform folding thickness from the base end (first region 12A1) to the tip (second region 12A2) housed along the upper frame 34. In this way, the mounting space of the head chamber 12A can be made space-saving.

[0078] (Deployment behavior of the head chamber) The behavior of the head chamber 12A during inflation and deployment will be described in detail below. First, referring to the plan view of FIG. 7, the behavior of the head chamber 12A will be described.

[0079] When gas from the inflator 42 is supplied to the side airbag 12, the head chamber 12A inflates and deploys toward the front side of the seat by splitting the skin at the upper end of the seat back 18. At this time, since the head chamber 12A is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the skeleton of the headrest 20 along the upper frame 34, it can avoid interference with the skeleton of the headrest 20 and deploy toward the front side of the seat.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 7(A), at the initial stage of inflation and deployment, the inner roll fold applied to the rear end portion of the head chamber 12A is released. At this time, the inner roll fold of the head chamber 12A is released toward the inside of the seat between the shoulder belt 26A and the headrest 20. Width direction Therefore, a deployment space is secured between the shoulder belt 26A and the headrest 20. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7(B), the head chamber 12A can overcome the shoulder belt 26A and deploy toward the front side of the seat.

[0081] Next, referring to the rear view of the vehicle seat 14 shown in FIG. 8, the behavior of the head chamber 12A will be described. As shown in FIGS. 8(A) to 8(C), when the head chamber 12A inflates and deploys, the roll fold is released, and at the same time, the bellows fold formed by folding the head chamber 12A in the vertical direction of the seat is released. When this bellows fold is released, the upper end portion of the head chamber 12A expands upward on the seat and can easily overcome the shoulder belt 26A.

[0082] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the head chamber 12A is folded back in the vertical direction of the seat toward the occupant P side, the bellows fold is released upward and inward on the seat. Therefore, a deployment space for the head chamber 12A can be well secured between the shoulder belt 26A and the headrest 20. Width direction Accordingly, a deployment space for the head chamber 12A can be well secured between the shoulder belt 26A and the headrest 20.

[0083] Even when the upper end of the head chamber 12A is folded back once below the seat and stored, a certain effect of quickly deploying the head chamber 12A upward on the seat side can be obtained. However, by folding it twice as in this embodiment, the swing of the head chamber 12A in the seat width direction during deployment can be reduced, so the deployability upward on the seat side can be enhanced.

[0084] (Function and effect) As described above, in the vehicle seat 14 of this embodiment, during a side collision, the side airbag 12 is inflated and deployed by receiving gas supply from the inflator 42. This side airbag 12 has a head chamber 12A stored along the upper frame 34 of the seat back 18. The head chamber 12A expands and deploys between the shoulder belt 26A and the head H, and restrains the head H of the occupant P at an early stage.

[0085] Here, the head chamber 12A is folded back in the seat vertical direction to reduce the vertical width, and then stored in a state of being roll-folded from the front end in the seat front-rear direction. Therefore, when the head chamber 12A is stored along the upper frame 34, it can be stored at a position that does not overlap with the skeleton of the headrest 20. As a result, the expansion and deployment of the head chamber 12A forward on the seat side is not impaired by the headrest 20, and the deployment performance of the head chamber 12A is improved.

[0086] Also, in this embodiment, the head chamber 12A is folded back a plurality of times in the seat vertical direction to be zigzag-folded. Specifically, the head chamber 12A folds the upper end in the seat vertical direction downward toward the occupant P side, folds the folded lower end upward toward the occupant P side, and then is roll-folded from the front end in the seat front-rear direction. As a result, at the initial stage of the inflation and deployment of the head chamber 12A, the roll-fold is released and at the same time it is on the upper side of the seat and the seat Width direction The bellows folding is released toward the inside. As a result, the head chamber 12A unfolds above the seat, crosses over the shoulder belt 26A, and secures a deployment space between the shoulder belt 26A and the headrest 20. As a result, the inflation and deployment of the head chamber 12A toward the front side of the seat is not impaired by the shoulder belt 26A, and the deployment performance of the head chamber 12A is improved.

[0087] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since it is stored in a state of being internally rolled up from the front end portion in the front-rear direction of the seat, the rear end portion at the end of the winding of the head chamber 12A is internally rolled up. As a result, at the initial stage of the inflation and deployment of the head chamber, between the shoulder belt and the headrest, the seat Width direction The internal roll folding is released toward the inside. As a result, the inflation and deployment of the head chamber 12A toward the front side of the seat is not impaired by the headrest 20 and the shoulder belt 26A, so that the deployment performance of the head chamber 12A can be enhanced.

[0088] Also, in the present embodiment, the side airbag 12 is composed of a single bag, and the head chamber 12A and the body chamber 12B are stored in a state of being internally rolled up from the front end portion in the front-rear direction of the seat. As a result, by internally rolling up the entire side airbag 12 including the head chamber 12A and the body chamber 12B, the side airbag 12 can be easily folded.

[0089] Also, in the present embodiment, the head chamber 12A has a thickness reduction portion 60 at at least a part of the outer peripheral portion. Since the thickness reduction portion 60 is subjected to a thickness reduction process for reducing the folding thickness by pressurization, by compressing at least a part of the outer peripheral portion, the folded shape can be reduced in size. Therefore, for a portion where the folding thickness is thick with respect to the mounting space allowed based on the seat design, by forming the thickness reduction portion 60, it is possible to save space in the mounting space. As a result, it becomes easy to secure a mounting space corresponding to the seat design, and it is possible to cope with an increase in size and capacity of the head chamber 12A.

[0090] In addition, the thickness reduction portion 60 of the present embodiment is formed by heat-pressing the outer peripheral portion of the head chamber in the folded state. Since the thickness reduction portion formed in this way does not require an additional member in addition to the side airbag, the manufacturing process is not complicated and can be easily manufactured.

[0091] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since it is housed in the seat back 18 in a state of being roll-folded from the front end portion in the front-rear direction of the seat, there is little variation in the base fabric at the outer peripheral portion and it is easy to maintain the shape. Therefore, after the head chamber 12A is folded, it is easy to perform the thickness reduction process, and the workability is excellent. [Supplementary Explanation]

[0092] As described above, the vehicle seat 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0093] (Modification Example 1 of Thickness Reduction Process) For example, in the heat press used in the above embodiment, the entire circumference of the outer peripheral portion of the head chamber 12A was uniformly pressurized and heated to reduce the folding thickness, but it is not limited to this. For example, as in Modification Example 1 shown in FIG. 9, a concave portion 72 having a substantially elliptical outer peripheral shape is formed in the mold 62 used for heat pressing, and the thickness reduction portion 70 is formed so that the shape of the head chamber 12A after processing is flat in the seat height direction. Thereby, when the head chamber 12A is housed along the upper frame 34, the folding thickness in the seat height direction can be further reduced by the thickness reduction portion 70.

[0094] In addition, the thickness reduction process can also be performed in a state where the surface material is arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the head chamber 12A in the folded state, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0095] (Modification Example 2 of Thickness Reduction Process) For example, as in Modification 2 shown in FIG. 10(A), the outer peripheral portion of the head chamber 12A may be covered with a heat-meltable surface material 82 and heat-pressed with a mold 62. As an example, the surface material 82 is composed of a heat-melt felt (non-woven fabric) formed of a resin material having heat-melting properties. In the thickness-reduced portion 80 formed in this way, the shape of the head chamber 12A after reduction is retained by the surface material 82 melted on the outer peripheral surface. Therefore, the manageability of the side airbag 12 is improved, and it is possible to easily attach it to the seat back 18.

[0096] (Modification 3 of the thickness reduction process) Further, for example, as in Modification 3 shown in FIG. 10(B), the thickness reduction process may be a method that utilizes pressurization based on the contraction force of the surface material 92. The thickness reduction process of this Modification 3 is performed by covering the outer peripheral portion of the folded head chamber 12A with a heat-shrinkable film having heat shrinkability by heating, and then heating the surface material 92 from the outside. The surface material 92 can form a thickness-reduced portion 90 that pressurizes the outer peripheral portion of the head chamber 12A by the contraction force due to heating and reduces the folded thickness of the head chamber 12A. In Modification 3, the surface material 92 is configured as a film, but it is not limited to this, and it may be configured as a heat-shrinkable tube.

[0097] (Modification 4 of the thickness reduction process) Also, as in Modification 4 shown in FIG. 10(C), the surface material 102 used for the thickness reduction process may be configured as a sheet-like member having shrinkability due to elastic force. As an example, this surface material 102 is a sheet-like member made of a stretchable rubber material, and is wound around the outer peripheral portion of the head chamber 12A in a state stretched by elastic deformation. The head chamber 12A is pressurized by the elastic restoring force of the surface material 102, and a thickness-reduced portion 100 with a reduced folded thickness is formed. Note that the surface material 102 according to Modification 4 is not limited to a sheet-like member, and may be configured as a tube-like member.

[0098] The thickness reduction portions 90 and 100 formed by the thickness reduction process of the above-described Modification 3 and Modification 4 are covered by the surface materials 92 and 102 at their outer peripheral portions, and the shape after contraction is maintained. As a result, the manageability of the side airbag is improved, and the attachment to the seat back can be facilitated.

[0099] Furthermore, since the surface materials 92 and 102 have shrinkability due to heat shrinkage or elastic force-based shrinkability, a dedicated mold or press machine is not required as in the case of performing thickness shrinkage processing by heat pressing. As a result, the equipment scale during manufacturing can be suppressed.

[0100] (Modification 5 of the thickness reduction process) Also, a surface material 112 that does not have a shrinking force by itself may be used, as in the thickness shrinkage process of Modification 5 shown in FIG. 10(D). In this case, for example, by winding the surface material 112 around the outer peripheral portion of the head chamber 12A in a stretched state, the outer peripheral portion can be pressurized to perform a thickness reduction process that reduces the folded thickness. The thickness reduction portion 110 formed in this way can be formed using a known wrapping material used as a packaging material for the airbag, so that the material cost can be suppressed.

[0101] As shown in FIG. 11, in the surface materials 82, 92, 102, and 112 of the thickness reduction portions 80, 90, 100, and 110 according to the above-described Modifications 2 to 5, a cleavage portion 120 is formed facing the front side of the seat in the stored state of the head chamber 12A. As an example, the cleavage portion 120 is formed by arranging a plurality of thin grooves formed on the surfaces of the surface materials 82, 92, 102, and 112 or a plurality of through holes formed therethrough in a line shape. As a result, when the side airbag 12 expands and deploys, the surface materials 82, 92, 102, and 112 are rapidly cleaved along the cleavage portion 120 by the gas pressure applied from the head chamber 12A. Thereby, the expansion and deployment of the head chamber 12A to the front side of the seat are not impaired by the surface materials 82, 92, 102, and 112, and the deployment performance can be improved.

[0102] In the above-described embodiment, the side airbag 12 is configured to deploy and expand from the side outside the vehicle width direction of the occupant P's body, but the present invention is not limited to this. The side airbag 12 may be configured to deploy and expand from the side inside the vehicle width direction (vehicle center side) of the occupant P's body.

[0103] In the above-described embodiment, the side airbag device 10 is mounted on the front seat of the vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the side airbag device 10 may be mounted on the rear seat of the vehicle.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0104] 12 Side airbag 12A Head chamber 12A1 First region 12A2 Second region 12B Torso chamber 14 Vehicle seat 18 Seat back 26A Shoulder belt 32 Side frame 34 Upper frame 42 Inflator 60 Thickness reduction portion 70 Thickness reduction portion 72 Surface material 80 Thickness reduction portion 82 Surface material 90 Thickness reduction portion 92 Surface material 100 Thickness reduction portion 102 Surface material 110 Thickness reduction portion 112 Surface material 120 Cracking portion P Occupant H Head

Claims

Claim 1: A vehicle seat having a side airbag with a head chamber that is stored along the upper frame of the seat back and expands and deploys between the shoulder belt and the head of the seated occupant when gas from an inflater is supplied from the lower rear side of the seat during a side collision of the vehicle. The head chamber is folded back in the seat vertical direction above the lower rear of the seat where gas from the inflater is supplied, reducing the vertical width, and then roll-folded from the front end in the seat front-rear direction, and is stored in a state having a thickness reduction portion where at least a part of the outer peripheral portion is subjected to a thickness reduction process that reduces the folded thickness by pressurization. Claim 2 The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the head chamber is zigzag-folded multiple times in the seat vertical direction to reduce the vertical width. Claim 3 The vehicle seat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the head chamber is roll-folded such that the front end in the seat front-rear direction is drawn into the inner side in the seat width direction. Claim 4 The side airbag is stored along the shoulder from the side of the side frame of the seat back, and further has a torso chamber that expands and deploys to the side of the torso of the seated occupant upon receiving the supply of gas from the inflater during a side collision of the vehicle. The head chamber and the torso chamber are constituted by a single bag, and the torso chamber is also stored in a roll-folded state such that the front end in the seat front-rear direction is drawn into the inner side in the seat width direction. Claim 5 The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the thickness reduction portion is subjected to a thickness reduction process that reduces the folded thickness by heat-pressing the outer peripheral portion of the folded head chamber. Claim 6 The vehicle seat according to claim 5, wherein the thickness reduction portion is provided with a heat-meltable surface material that covers the outer peripheral portion of the folded head chamber. Claim 7 The thickness reduction portion is subjected to a thickness reduction process that reduces the folded thickness by pressurization based on the contraction force of the surface material that covers the outer peripheral portion of the folded head chamber. The vehicle seat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the surface material has shrinkability based on heat shrinkability or elastic force. Claim 8 The vehicle seat according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein a crack is formed in a portion facing the front side of the sheet in the surface material.

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