Occupant protection devices

Abstract

To provide an occupant protection device that is able to appropriately protect an occupant by an inflating air bag even when the occupant is seated on one side in a lateral direction.SOLUTION: An occupant protection device MS includes: a seat belt device 11 having a seat belt 15 to be fastened around an occupant MP seated on a seat 1 having a seat portion 6 and a backrest portion 2; an air bag device 30 having an air bag 38 folded and stored in a lap belt portion 17 of the seat belt fastened around the occupant and inflated so as to receive the occupant moving forward when operated; and a lifting device 60. The lifting device has: lifting members 70 (L, R) arranged on both right and left edges 8a, 9a sides in the seat portion; and driving mechanisms 61 (L, R) that hold the lifting members and lift the lifting members by their being operated before the operation of the air bag device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A conventional occupant protection device is known that protects an occupant seated in a seat by assembling an airbag that inflates by flowing inflation gas into a lap belt portion of a seat belt in a seat belt device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The seat has a seat portion and a backrest portion, and a payout outlet is provided at one upper left-right end of the backrest portion so that the seat belt extending from a retractor can be paid out forward. The seat belt is configured so that a tongue of the seat belt paid out from the payout outlet is fastened to a buckle provided on the other left-right side of the seat portion opposite the payout outlet, and the portion from the payout outlet to the buckle serves as a shoulder belt portion of the seat belt that can restrain the front side of the occupant's upper body, and the portion from the buckle to a fixed end provided on one left-right side of the payout outlet side of the seat portion serves as a lap belt portion of the seat belt that can restrain the front side of the occupant's waist, when worn by the occupant seated in the seat. As described above, the airbag of the airbag device is folded and attached to the lap belt portion so that when activated, inflation gas flows in and the airbag inflates to restrain the upper body of the occupant. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-66425 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with conventional occupant protection devices, if an occupant wearing a seat belt is seated to one side of the seat, even if the airbag stored in the lap belt portion inflates when the device is activated, there is a risk that the inflated airbag will not be able to properly support the occupant.

[0005] The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an occupant protection device that can accurately protect an occupant with an inflating airbag even if the occupant is seated to one side in the left-right direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The occupant protection device according to the present invention includes a seat belt device having a seat belt to be worn by an occupant seated in a seat having a seat portion and a backrest portion; an airbag device having an airbag that is folded and stored in a lap belt portion of the seat belt worn by the occupant, and that inflates when activated to be able to receive the occupant moving forward; An occupant protection device comprising: Lifting members disposed on both left and right edges of the seat; a drive mechanism that holds the lifting member and is actuated before the airbag device is deployed to lift the lifting member; The present invention is characterized in that it is configured to include a lifting device having a

[0007] In the occupant protection device according to the present invention, before the airbag of the airbag device is inflated from the lap belt portion of the seat belt in which it is stored, the drive mechanism of the lifting device is activated, and the lifting members built into the left and right edges of the seat on which the occupant is seated are raised, so that even if the seated occupant is seated to one side in the left-right direction, the left and right edges of the seat are lifted and the occupant is shifted between the left and right lifting members, i.e., toward the center in the left-right direction of the seat, so that the airbag that is subsequently inflated can accurately catch and protect the occupant who is moving forward from near the center in the left-right direction of the seat, while facing forward.

[0008] Therefore, with the occupant protection device of the present invention, even if the occupant is seated to one side in the left-right direction, the seated occupant can be positioned in the center of the seat in the left-right direction, and the inflating airbag can accurately catch and protect the occupant.

[0009] In the passenger protection device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the drive mechanism holds the lifting member so as to be able to return to an initial position before actuation.

[0010] In this configuration, even if the drive mechanism of the lifting device raises the lifting member before the airbag device is deployed, if the airbag device is not subsequently deployed, the lifting device can operate the drive mechanism to return the lifting member to its initial position. Therefore, the lifting device with this configuration can be prepared for the next deployment without replacing various parts. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic front view of an occupant protection device according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic left side view of an occupant protection device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic partial cross-sectional front view showing the operation of the lifting device in the occupant protection device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a schematic front view illustrating the operation of the lifting device in the occupant protection device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a schematic side view illustrating the operation of the seat belt device in the occupant protection device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 3 is a schematic side view illustrating the operation of the airbag device in the occupant protection device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an inflated state of an airbag in an occupant protection device according to an embodiment; [Figure 9]10 is a schematic front view illustrating a modification of the lifting device in the occupant protection device according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of the occupant protection device shown in FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a schematic partial cross-sectional front view showing the operation of the lifting device in the occupant protection device shown in FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the occupant protection device MS of the embodiment is configured to include a seat 1 having a seat portion 6 on which a vehicle occupant MP sits and a backrest portion 2, a seat belt device 11, an airbag device 30, and a lifting device 60.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1, 3, and 6 to 8, the airbag device 30 is configured to include a bag assembly 36 that is assembled to the assembly portion 22 of the lap belt portion 17 of the seat belt 15 of the seat belt device 11, and an inflator 32 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 38 of the bag assembly 36.

[0014] The inflator 32 includes a generally cylindrical inflator body 33 that discharges inflation gas, and a pipe portion 34 that projects from the inflator body 33 and is bent into a generally L-shape, and is attached and fixed to the rear side of the bottom portion 6 of the seat 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 7). A tip end 50a of a gas supply passage portion 48 (described later) of an airbag 38 is fitted to the pipe portion 34 and further fastened and connected with a clamp 35.

[0015] The bag assembly 36 includes an airbag 38, a bag connecting portion 52, and a bag cover 54, and in this embodiment, also includes a gas supply path portion 48 that connects the airbag 38 and the inflator 32 and supplies inflation gas from the inflator 32 to the airbag 38 (see Figure 8).

[0016] 7 and 8, the airbag 38 is configured so that, when fully inflated, the peripheral wall 39 inflates into a generally triangular prism shape when viewed from the side, and includes a bottom wall portion 40 on the bottom side, a rear wall portion 41 on the rear side, a front wall portion 42 on the front side, and left and right side walls 43 (L, R). When fully inflated, the airbag 38 has a lower surface 40a of the bottom wall portion 40 serving as a support surface 44 that supports the thighs MF of the occupant MP, and a rear surface 41a of the rear wall portion 41 serving as an occupant restraint surface 45 that receives the upper body MU of the occupant MP as it moves forward.

[0017] An inlet portion 46 having a plurality of inlets 46a for allowing inflation gas to flow in from the gas supply passage portion 48 is disposed near the rear edge 40b of the bottom wall portion 40. In addition, vent holes 47 are formed on the front sides of the left and right side walls 43L, 43R to exhaust excess inflation gas flowing into the airbag 38.

[0018] The airbag 38, together with the gas supply passage portion 48 and the bag connecting portion 52, is made of woven fabric such as polyester.

[0019] The gas supply passage 48 is configured to include a bag side portion 49 connected to the airbag 38, and a cylindrical gas passage 50 extending from the bag side portion 49 toward the inflator 32 (see FIG. 8). As described above, the gas passage 50 has a tip 50a connected to the pipe portion 34 of the inflator 32. The bag side portion 49 is provided with a communication port 49a that communicates with the inlet 46a of the inlet portion 46 of the airbag 38, and the periphery of the communication port 49a is sewn to the periphery of the inlet 46a, so that the bag side portion 49 is connected to the rear edge 40b of the bottom wall portion 40, which forms the lower end 50a of the airbag 38.

[0020] The bag connection portion 52 connects the folded airbag 38 to the lap belt portion 17 so that the folded airbag 38 can slide along the lap belt portion 17, and in this embodiment, is cylindrical in shape and is connected to the underside 40a of the airbag 38 via the bag side portion 49 of the gas supply path portion 48.

[0021] The bag cover 54 is arranged in a cylindrical shape so as to cover the folded airbag 38 and the assembly portion 22 of the lap belt portion 17 to which the airbag 38 is attached, allowing the airbag 38 to protrude when inflated (see FIGS. 6 and 8). In this embodiment, the bag cover 54 also covers the bag side portion 49 of the gas supply path portion 48 connected to the airbag 38, and the bag connecting portion 52. Unlike the material of the airbag 38, etc., the bag cover 54 is formed from a fabric similar to that used for the seat material of the seat 1 so as not to impair the design.

[0022] When assembling the bag assembly 36 to the lap belt portion 17, first, the gas supply passage 48, to which the bag connecting portion 52 before being formed into a cylindrical shape is connected, is connected to the airbag 38, and the airbag 38 is folded. Next, the assembly portion 22 of the lap belt portion 17 is wrapped with the bag connecting portion 52 before being formed into a cylindrical shape, forming the bag connecting portion 52 into a cylindrical shape. The folded airbag 38 and the lap belt portion 17 at the assembly portion 22 are then wrapped to form the bag cover 54, and the bag assembly 36 can be assembled to the assembly portion 22 of the lap belt portion 17 and covered with the bag cover 54.

[0023] Furthermore, when the bag assembly 36 is assembled to the lap belt portion 17, with the seatbelt 15 fastened to the occupant MP, the occupant side 17a of the lap belt portion 17 is positioned on the abdomen MB side of the occupant MP, with the bag connecting portion 52 and the bag cover 54 interposed therebetween, and the anti-occupant side 17b of the lap belt portion 17 is disposed in such a manner that the assembly main body 36a of the bag assembly 36, which includes the airbag 38 and the bag side portion 49 of the gas supply path portion 48 covered by the bag cover 54, is disposed therebetween. When the seatbelt 15 is not fastened and is wound by the retractor 12 (described later), the anti-occupant side 17b of the lap belt portion 17 faces the front surface 2a of the backrest 2, and the assembly main body 36a of the bag assembly 36 comes into contact with the front surface 2a (see FIG. 1).

[0024] The seat belt device 11 is configured to include a belt-shaped seat belt 15 made of woven polyester fiber or the like with good sliding properties, a retractor 12 that retracts the seat belt 15, and a buckle 19 that fastens a tongue 20 attached to the seat belt 15 (see Figures 1 to 3 and 6).

[0025] The retracting device 12 is configured to stop the retraction of the belt 15 if the belt 15 is suddenly retracted, and is further configured to include a pretensioner mechanism 13 that can retract the retracted belt 15 in the event of a vehicle collision, etc. In this embodiment, the retracting device 12 is arranged on the left edge 3b side of the upper end 3a within the main body 3 of the backrest 2 of the seat 1, and is held by a seat back frame (not shown).

[0026] The seat belt 15, with its upper end 15a on the side of the retractor 12, protrudes from the retraction opening 5 located on the left edge 3b side of the upper end 3a of the backrest 2. The seat belt 15 has its lower end 15b on the side as a fixed end that is fixed to an anchor member 18 located on the side surface 8b of the left side portion 8 of the seat bottom 6 of the seat 1.

[0027] The seat belt 15 is provided with a tongue 20, which is fastened to a buckle 19 disposed on the side surface 9b of the right side 9 of the seat cushion 6 of the seat 1. When the tongue 20 is fastened to the buckle 19, the seat belt 15 has a portion extending from the tongue 20 toward the payout port 5 as a shoulder belt portion 16 disposed in front of the upper body MU of the occupant MP, and a portion extending from the tongue 20 toward the fixed end 15b as a lap belt portion 17 disposed in front of the waist MW of the occupant MP. The buckle 19 is provided with a release button (not shown), and when the fastened tongue 20 is to be released, the tongue 20 can be removed from the buckle 19 by pressing the release button.

[0028] As described above, the seat 1 is composed of a backrest 2 and a seat bottom 6. The backrest 2 is composed of a substantially rectangular plate-shaped main body 3 that supports the upper body MU of the occupant MP, and a headrest 4 that extends upward from the center in the left-right direction of an upper end 3a of the main body 3. The backrest 2 is composed of an inverted U-shaped metal seat back frame (not shown) that is disposed within the main body 3, and seat back springs (not shown) that are disposed so as to cover the inside of the seat back frame, as well as a cushion layer (not shown) made of polyurethane foam or the like that covers the periphery of the frame and springs, and a covering material (not shown) made of fabric or the like that covers the surface of the cushion layer.

[0029] The seat 6 is a generally rectangular plate-like member, and is configured with a central portion 7 in the left-right center, and a left portion 8 and a right portion 9 on either side of the central portion 7. The seat 6 also has a seat frame 6a disposed therein, and seat springs (not shown) disposed therein, and is configured with a cushion layer 6b made of foamed polyurethane or the like that covers the frame 6a and the like, and a covering material 6c made of fabric or the like that covers the surface of the cushion layer 6b.

[0030] Furthermore, a lifting device 60 is disposed inside the seat 6 for lifting the left and right edge portions 8a, 9a of the seat 6. The lifting device 60 is configured to include lifting members 70 (L, R) that are substantially cylindrical and extend in the front-to-rear direction, and drive mechanisms 61 (L, R) that lift the lifting members 70 (L, R) from an initial position P1 to an elevated position P2.

[0031] The left and right lifting members 70L, 70R and the drive mechanisms 61L, 61R are symmetrical to each other, and the roughly cylindrical lifting members 70(L,R) are disposed along the front-to-rear direction on the edges 8a, 9a of the left side 8 and right side 9 of the seat 6. A holding rod 65 extending diagonally downward toward the center portion 7 is connected to the front and rear ends of each lifting member 70.

[0032] The left and right drive mechanisms 61(L,R) are composed of support rods 65 arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, left and right rotating shafts 63(L,R) arranged in the front-rear direction by connecting the lower ends of each support rod 65, bearings 64 fixed to the seat frame 6a and supporting both front and rear ends of the rotating shafts 63(L,R), and reversibly rotatable actuators 62(L,R) such as electric motors that rotate the left and right rotating shafts 63(L,R) by a predetermined angle. The rotating shafts 63L, 63R corresponding to the left and right lifting members 70L, 70R are arranged closer to the center of the seat 6 in the front-rear direction than the lifting members 70L, 70R, respectively.

[0033] Then, the actuators 62 (L, R) of the left and right drive mechanisms 61 (L, R) are activated, and for example, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, when viewed from the front, the rotating shaft 63L rotates to the left and the rotating shaft 63R rotates to the right, the rotation of each rotating shaft 63 causes the retaining rod 65 to rotate, and the lifting member 70L supported by the retaining rod 65 rotates counterclockwise around the rotating shaft 63L as viewed from the front, and the lifting member 70R rotates clockwise around the rotating shaft 63R as viewed from the front, and the left and right edges 8a, 9a of the left side part 8 and right side part 9 of the seat part 6 on which the lifting members 70L, 70R are arranged are lifted. At this time, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the upper surface 6d of the seat 6 is approximately horizontal before activation, but after activation, it becomes a concave surface 6e, with the central portion 7 of the seat 6 being a horizontal bottom surface 6ec and the upper surfaces of the left side portion 8 and right side portion 9 being inclined surfaces 6ed and 6ee that rise outward from the bottom surface 6ec.

[0034] In this embodiment, when actuated, the lifting members 70L, 70R are raised to a height H of approximately 50 mm from an initial position P1 before lifting to a lifted position P2.

[0035] The actuators 62 (L, R) are activated by a control device 72 that receives a signal from a pre-crash sensor, such as a millimeter-wave radar, that predicts a vehicle collision. The control device 72 is mounted in a predetermined location in front of the front seats of the vehicle. The control device 72 also receives a signal from a collision detection sensor, such as a G sensor, that detects an actual vehicle collision, and activates the airbag device 30 and the pretensioner mechanism 13. More specifically, the airbag device 30 is activated with a slight delay (approximately 5 ms) after the pretensioner mechanism 13 is activated.

[0036] Furthermore, after activation, if an actual vehicle collision is not detected, the lifting device 60 is controlled by the control device 72 to return from the raised position P2 to the initial position P1, and the actuators 62 (L, R) are activated.

[0037] In the occupant protection device MS of the embodiment, when the occupant MP sits in the seat 1 and fastens the seat belt 15, the occupant MP pulls out the seat belt 15 from the payout opening 5 and fastens the tongue 20 to the buckle 19. At that time, the occupant MP is seated, for example, shifted from the center portion 7 to the right side portion 9 of the seat 6 as shown in A of Fig. 5, and thereafter, when a vehicle collision is predicted, the control device 72 activates the drive mechanisms 61L, 61R of the lifting device 60 before the airbag 38 of the airbag device 30 inflates from the lap belt portion 17 of the stored seat belt 15 (before the airbag device 30 is activated). At this time, the actuators 62(L, R) are actuated to rotate the rotating shafts 63(L, R), and the lifting members 70L, 70R supported by the holding rods 65 extending from the rotating shafts 63 are raised from the initial position P1 to the raised position P2. As a result, the right edge 9a of the right side 9 of the seat 6 is raised together with the left edge 8a of the left side 8, and the upper surface 6d of the seat 6 becomes a concave surface 6e, forming inclined surfaces 6ed, 6ee that slope downward toward the central bottom surface 6ec on the left and right sides. Therefore, even if the seated occupant MP is seated leaning to one side in the left-right direction (the right side), the left and right edges 8b, 9b of the seat 6 are raised and slide down the inclined surface 6ee of the right side 9, and are shifted and moved between the left and right lifting members 70L, 70R, i.e., toward the central portion 7 in the left-right direction of the seat 6. If an actual collision occurs thereafter, the pretensioner mechanism 13 is activated under the control of the control device 72 (see the transition from the two-dot chain line to the solid line in Figure 7), and then the inflator 32 of the airbag device 30 is activated, causing the airbag 38 to inflate.The inflated airbag 38 accurately catches and protects the upper body MU of the occupant MP, who is moving forward from near the center 7 of the seat 6 in the left-right direction, using the occupant restraint surface 45 that faces it.

[0038] Of course, even if the occupant MP, unlike the above, is seated off to the left side 8 of the center 7 of the seat 6, when the lifting device 60 is activated, the left and right edges 8b, 9b of the seat 6 are lifted, slide down the inclined surface 6ed of the left side 8, and are shifted between the left and right lifting members 70L, 70R, that is, toward the center 7 of the seat 6 in the left-right direction, and the airbag 38 that then inflates can accurately receive and protect the occupant MP who moves forward from near the center 7 of the seat 6 in the left-right direction, while facing him / her directly.

[0039] Therefore, in the occupant protection device MS of the embodiment, even if the occupant MP is seated leaning to one side in the left-right direction, the seated occupant MP can be positioned on the left-right central portion 7 side of the seat portion 6, and the inflating airbag 38 can accurately receive and protect the occupant MP.

[0040] In the occupant protection device MS of the embodiment, the drive mechanism 61 (L, R) of the lifting device 60 uses a reversibly rotatable actuator 62 (L, R), so that after lifting the lifting member 70 (L, R) to the raised position P2, the lifting member 70 (L, R) is held so that it can return to the initial position P1 before activation.

[0041] Therefore, in the embodiment, even if the drive mechanism 61 (L, R) of the lifting device 60 raises the lifting members 70 (L, R) to the raised position P2 before the airbag device 30 is activated, if an actual vehicle collision is avoided and the airbag device 30 is not activated, the lifting device 60 can operate the drive mechanism 61 (L, R) under the control of the control device 72 to return the lifting members 70 (L, R) to the initial position P1, so that the lifting device 60 can be prepared for the next activation without replacing various parts.

[0042] In the embodiment, the left and right lifting members 70 (L, R) are each lifted by a corresponding actuator 62 (L, R), but it is also possible to use a single actuator as a driving source and connect a gear mechanism, link mechanism, etc. to that single actuator to move the left and right lifting members 70 (L, R) up and down simultaneously.

[0043] Furthermore, in the lifting device 60 of the embodiment, the lifting members 70 (L, R) that lift the left and right edge portions 8a, 9a of the seat portion 6 are configured as rods that extend in the front-to-rear direction on the left and right edge portions 8a, 9a, and are configured so that the space between the left and right lifting members 70 (L, R) is not located on the upper surface 6d of the central portion 7. Therefore, the space between the left and right lifting members 70 (L, R) can be made into a region where the cushion layer 6b is widely disposed, thereby improving the comfort of the occupant MP when seated.

[0044] Furthermore, in the embodiment, the actuators 62(L, R) that rotate the rotation shafts 63(L, R) are used as the drive source of the lifting device 60, but piston rod type actuators 66(L, R) may also be used, as in the lifting device 60A shown in Figures 8 to 11. The actuators 66(L, R) use fluid such as hydraulic pressure, and have cylinders 66a fixed to the seat frame 6a. When actuated, they raise a payout rod 67 that is integral with a piston rod 66b in the cylinders 66a, thereby lifting the lifting members 70(L, R) held by the payout rod 67 from an initial position P1 to a raised position P2. In this lifting device 60A, a guide rod 68 extending downward is connected near both the front and rear ends of the lifting member 70 (L, R), and the guide rod 68 is configured to be able to slide within a cylindrical sleeve 69 fixed to the seat frame 6a, and to guide the up and down movement of the lifting member 70 (L, R) held by the extension rod 67.

[0045] This lifting device 60A can also obtain the same functions and effects as the lifting device 60 of the embodiment.

[0046] In addition, the passenger protection system MSA using this lifting device 60A uses the same components as those in the embodiment, such as the seat belt device 11, the airbag device 30, and the control device 72, other than the lifting device 60A.

[0047] Furthermore, the lifting device 60 of the embodiment and the lifting device 60A of the modified example use actuators 62, 66(L, R) that can return the lifting members 70(L, R) to the initial position P1 after raising them from the initial position P1 to the raised position P2, but it is also possible to use an actuator that uses explosives, such as a micro gas generator, that cannot return them to the initial position P1. When such an actuator is used, the lifting members 70(L, R) can be raised instantly upon activation. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1...seat, 2...backrest portion, 6...seat portion, 11...seat belt device, 15...seat belt, 17...lap belt portion, 30...airbag device, 38...airbag, 60, 60A...lifting device, 61, 61A(L, R)...drive mechanism, 70(L, R)...lifting member, P1...initial position, P2...rised position, MS, MSA...occupant protection device, MP...occupant.

Claims

1. a seat belt device having a seat belt to be worn by an occupant seated in a seat having a seat portion and a backrest portion; an airbag device having an airbag that is folded and stored in a lap belt portion of the seat belt worn by the occupant, and that inflates when activated to be able to receive the occupant moving forward; An occupant protection device comprising: Lifting members disposed on both left and right edges of the seat; a drive mechanism that holds the lifting member and is actuated before a vehicle collision and before the airbag device is deployed to raise the lifting member; and a lifting device having the same.

2. a seat belt device having a seat belt to be worn by an occupant seated in a seat having a seat portion and a backrest portion; an airbag device having an airbag that is folded and stored in a lap belt portion of the seat belt worn by the occupant, and that inflates when activated to be able to receive the occupant moving forward; An occupant protection device comprising: Lifting members disposed on both left and right edges of the seat; a drive mechanism that holds the lifting members and is actuated before the airbag device is activated to lift the lifting members disposed on both left and right edges of the seat; and a lifting device having the same.

3. 3. The passenger protection device according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism holds the lifting member so as to be able to return to an initial position before actuation.

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