Occupant protection devices

Abstract

To provide an occupant protection device which can inhibit delay of contact timing between an occupant and a protection part and achieve improvement of exchangeability of the occupant protection device.SOLUTION: An occupant protection device 50 includes: a protection unit 51 configured to receive a knee part MK of an occupant M to protect the occupant M; and a moving mechanism 52 which moves the protection unit 51 between a stand-by position located forward of a driver seat 90 and a deployed position located at the rear relative to the stand-by position and close to the driver seat 90 and which moves the protection unit 51 from the stand-by position to the deployed position when preliminary detection of a collision is performed by a vehicle 1. The protection unit 51 is deployed rearward from the deployed position and receives the knee part MK of the occupant M to protect the occupant M when the collision of the vehicle 1 is detected after the preliminary detection is performed by the vehicle 1. Further, the protection unit 51 is configured to be detachably attached to the moving mechanism 52 to be exchangeable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an occupant protection device that protects an occupant by receiving the lower legs of the occupant seated in a vehicle seat. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known an occupant protection device that is provided in front of a vehicle seat and extends rearward in the event of a vehicle collision to protect the occupant by receiving the lower legs of the occupant seated in the seat, as in the configuration described in Patent Document 1. The occupant protection device described in Patent Document 1 has an airbag (protection unit) that receives the occupant's lower legs, and a moving unit that holds the airbag, moves rearward toward the occupant after a vehicle collision is detected and before the airbag inflates, and ruptures when the airbag inflates to deploy the airbag. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-11206 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the moving part starts moving backward when a vehicle collision is detected. Therefore, if the distance between the seat and the installation position of the occupant protection device is large, such as when the seat is moved backward, there is a risk that the timing of contact between the occupant and the protection part will be delayed, and the occupant may not be protected properly.

[0005] Furthermore, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the moving part ruptures when the airbag is deployed from the moving part. Therefore, after using the passenger protection device, it is necessary to replace both the moving part and the airbag, which may lead to complicated replacement work for the passenger protection device and high replacement costs.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an occupant protection device that can suppress delays in the timing of contact between the occupant and the protection portion and can improve the replaceability of the occupant protection device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A typical configuration of the occupant protection device according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is an occupant protection device for protecting an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, comprising: a protection section that receives the lower legs of the occupant to protect the occupant; and a moving section that moves the protection section between a standby position in front of the seat and an extended position that is a position rearward of the standby position and close to the seat, the moving section moving the protection section from the standby position to the extended position when a preliminary collision detection is performed by the vehicle, wherein the protection section extends rearward from the extended position when a collision of the vehicle is detected after the preliminary detection is performed by the vehicle, receives the lower legs of the occupant to protect the occupant, and is configured to be detachable from the moving section and replaceable.

[0008] According to the present invention, in an occupant protection device, it is possible to suppress delay in the timing of contact between the occupant and the protection portion, and to improve the replaceability of the occupant protection device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a view of the area around a driver's seat of a vehicle equipped with an occupant protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the left side; [Figure 2] This is a view looking forward from the driver's seat. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the occupant protection device. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an occupant protection device when preliminary detection of a vehicle collision is performed; [Figure 5] 1 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an occupant protection device when a vehicle collision is detected; [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a view of the area around the driver's seat when a vehicle collision is detected, viewed from the left side. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a protection unit of an occupant protection device is replaced; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, the overall configuration of an occupant protection device 50 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the left-right direction means the left and right directions of a vehicle 1 equipped with the occupant protection device 50, specifically the left and right directions as seen from an occupant M seated in the driver's seat 90. The front-rear direction means the front and rear directions of the vehicle 1, specifically the front and rear directions as seen from an occupant M seated in the driver's seat 90. The up-down direction means the up and down directions in the vertical direction. Note that the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of the components described below are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to those alone, unless otherwise specified.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a view from the left side of the driver's seat 90 of a vehicle 1 equipped with an occupant protection device 50 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a view looking forward from the driver's seat 90. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the occupant protection device 50 is mounted on a lower part of an instrument panel (hereinafter referred to as "instrument panel") 12 in front of the driver's seat 90 (seat), which is the front seat of the vehicle 1. Specifically, the occupant protection device 50 is provided on a lower part of a column cover 9 of a steering column 6 that protrudes rearward from the instrument panel 12.

[0012] The steering column 6 is made up of a column shaft 7 that is connected to a steering wheel (not shown) of the vehicle 1, a column tube 8 that covers the outer periphery of the upper side of the column shaft 7 to support the column shaft 7, and a column cover 9 that covers the column shaft 7 and the column tube 8. The rear ends of the column shaft 7, column tube 8, and column cover 9 each protrude rearward from an opening (not shown) formed in the rear surface 12a of the instrument panel 12, and a steering wheel 15 is attached to the tip of this protruding column shaft 7.

[0013] The vehicle 1 is also provided with a control device 17 including a CPU, memory, a timer, etc., a distance detection sensor (not shown) that detects the distance between the vehicle 1 and an object outside the vehicle, and an acceleration sensor (not shown) that detects the acceleration of the vehicle 1. The distance detection sensor may be, for example, a millimeter-wave radar, an ultrasonic sensor, or a camera. The acceleration sensor may be, for example, a piezoelectric or MEMS type. The distance detection sensor and the acceleration sensor are electrically connected to the control device 17, and the CPU of the control device 17 controls the controlled object according to a control program stored in the memory when signals are input from each sensor. Specifically, if the CPU determines based on the detection results of the distance detection sensor that the distance between the vehicle 1 and an object outside the vehicle is equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance, the CPU determines that the possibility of a collision of the vehicle 1 is higher than normal and performs pre-collision detection and performs predetermined control, which will be described later. If the CPU determines based on the detection results of the distance detection sensor and the acceleration sensor that the distance between the vehicle 1 and the object outside the vehicle is equal to or shorter than a predetermined distance and that the vehicle 1 has suddenly decelerated, the CPU detects a collision between the vehicle 1 and the object outside the vehicle and performs predetermined control, which will be described later. The methods of preliminary collision detection and collision detection are not limited to those described above, and other sensors or control methods may be used to perform preliminary collision detection when the possibility of collision of vehicle 1 is higher than normal, and collision detection may be performed when vehicle 1 collides.

[0014] Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the occupant protection device 50. As shown in Fig. 3, the occupant protection device 50 includes a protection unit 51 (protection portion) that receives the lower legs of the occupant M to protect the occupant M, and a movement mechanism 52 (movement portion) that moves the protection unit 51. The movement mechanism 52 includes a drive shaft 53 that is disposed so that the rotation axis thereof substantially coincides with the front-rear direction, a motor 54 that serves as a drive source for the drive shaft 53, and a connecting plate 55 that is a substantially rectangular metal plate that is fitted onto and connected to the rear end of the drive shaft 53.

[0015] The motor 54 is held on the body of the vehicle 1 via a bracket (not shown). The drive shaft 53 is journaled to two linear ball bearings 88 attached to the body of the vehicle 1 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The motor 54 is electrically connected to the control device 17. The drive shaft 53 is formed with a rack gear portion 53a that meshes with a pinion gear 54a of the motor 54. When the motor 54 is rotated forward under the control of the control device 17, the driving force of the motor 54 is transmitted to the drive shaft 53 via the pinion gear 54a and the rack gear portion 53a, causing the drive shaft 53 to move linearly backward. When the motor 54 is rotated reversely under the control of the control device 17, the driving force of the motor 54 is transmitted to the drive shaft 53 via the pinion gear 54a and the rack gear portion 53a, causing the drive shaft 53 to move linearly forward.

[0016] The protection unit 51 has a mounting panel 56 (fixing member) made of resin such as polypropylene attached to a rear surface 55a of the connecting plate 55, and an inflator 57 attached to a front surface 56a of the mounting panel 56. The protection unit 51 also has an exterior panel 58 (abutment member) arranged behind the mounting panel 56 with a gap therebetween, and an airbag 60 (pressing member) and an impact absorber 59 (connecting member) arranged between the mounting panel 56 and the exterior panel 58 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0017] A plurality of metal bolt portions 56e (screw members) are provided on the front surface 56a of the mounting panel 56. The mounting panel 56 is attached to the connecting plate 55 by inserting the plurality of bolt portions 56e into the connecting plate 55 and fastening nuts 73. In other words, the protection unit 51 is attached to the moving mechanism 52 by fastening the bolt portions 56e of the mounting panel 56.

[0018] The inflator 57 has a generally cylindrical main body 57a that generates inflation gas, and a conduit 57b that extends from the main body 57a and guides the inflation gas generated in the main body 57a to the airbag 60. The main body 57a is attached to the front surface 56a of the mounting panel 56 with a bolt clamp 70. The conduit 57b protrudes rearward through a through-hole 56c in the mounting panel 56 and is inserted into the airbag 60 located behind the mounting panel 56. A discharge port (not shown) for discharging inflation gas is provided at the portion of the conduit 57b inserted into the airbag 60. The inflator 57 is electrically connected to the control device 17 by an electric cable (not shown), and is activated by receiving an activation signal from the control device 17 via the electric cable, causing the main body 57a to generate inflation gas.

[0019] The airbag 60 is a bag-shaped member made of polyester fiber or the like, and is attached to the rear surface 56b of the mounting panel 56. An opening 60a is provided in the front surface of the airbag 60, through which a passage 57b of the inflator 57 is inserted. A retainer 61, which is a substantially rectangular annular metal plate, is housed inside the airbag 60 to secure the airbag 60 to the mounting panel 56. The front surface of the airbag 60 is sandwiched between the front surface of the retainer 61 and the rear surface 56b of the mounting panel 56. In this state, bolts 77 are inserted through the retainer 61, the front surface of the airbag 60, and the mounting panel 56, and nuts 78 are fastened, thereby securing the airbag 60 to the rear surface 56b of the mounting panel 56. The airbag 60 is folded before the inflator 57 is activated, and is inflated so as to spread rearward by the inflation gas supplied from the inflator 57.

[0020] The exterior panel 58 is a plate-shaped member made of resin such as polypropylene. Before the occupant protection device 50 is activated, the exterior panel 58 is placed in an opening 12b formed in the lower part of the column cover 9 of the instrument panel 12 so as to be generally flush with the rear surface 12a of the instrument panel 12 in consideration of design. When viewed from the left and right, the rear surface 58b of the exterior panel 58 is inclined rearward from top to bottom with respect to the horizontal when viewed from the left and right in the before the occupant protection device 50 is activated. Furthermore, the left and right width L (FIG. 2) of the rear surface 58b of the exterior panel 58 is set so that both of the left and right knees MK overlap with the exterior panel 58 in the front-rear direction, even when the occupant M is not properly seated and at least one of the knees MK is spread outward to increase the distance between the knees. In this embodiment, the width L is set to 550 mm.

[0021] The shock absorbers 59 are flexible members made of stainless steel sheet metal, and four are provided in this embodiment. The front end of each of the four shock absorbers 59 is attached to each of the four corners of the rear surface 56b of the substantially rectangular mounting panel 56 with screws (not shown). The rear end of each of the four shock absorbers 59 is attached to each of the four corners of the front surface 58a of the substantially rectangular exterior panel 58 with screws (not shown). In this manner, the shock absorbers 59 connect the mounting panel 56 and the exterior panel 58.

[0022] Before the airbag 60 is inflated, the impact absorber 59 is bent and folded in a dogleg shape with the front and rear portions overlapping each other, with the central portion in the front-to-rear direction as the bent portion. When the airbag 60 inflates, the impact absorber 59 is pulled rearward by the exterior panel 58, which is pressed by the airbag 60 and moves rearward, and changes from the dogleg-shaped bent state to a state extended in the front-to-rear direction. The number of impact absorbers 59 may be increased or decreased depending on the amount of kinetic energy that the occupant protection device 50 is required to absorb.

[0023] Next, the operation of the occupant protection device 50 will be described. First, when the control device 17 preliminarily detects a collision of the vehicle 1 based on a signal input from the distance detection sensor, the control device 17 causes the motor 54 of the movement mechanism 52 to rotate in the forward direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4 , the drive shaft 53 moves rearward, and the protection unit 51 connected to the drive shaft 53 via the connection plate 55 moves rearward and approaches the driver's seat 90 where the occupant M is seated. In other words, when the vehicle 1 preliminarily detects a collision, the movement mechanism 52 moves the protection unit 51 from a position (standby position) in front of the driver's seat 90 to a position (extended position) rearward and close to the driver's seat 90. This position close to the driver's seat 90 is a position between the instrument panel 12 and the driver's seat 90 in the fore-and-aft direction, and is a position rearward of the position of the protection unit 51 before the preliminarily detected collision of the vehicle 1.

[0024] Next, if a predetermined time has passed without detecting a collision of the vehicle 1 after the preliminary detection of a collision of the vehicle 1, the control device 17 reverses the rotation of the motor 54 of the movement mechanism 52. This causes the drive shaft 53 to move forward, and the protection unit 51 connected to the drive shaft 53 via the connecting plate 55 also moves forward, returning to the initial position, which is the position of the protection unit 51 before the preliminary detection of a collision of the vehicle 1 and is shown in FIG.

[0025] On the other hand, if the control device 17 detects a collision of the vehicle 1 based on signals input from the acceleration sensor and the distance detection sensor within a predetermined time after the preliminary detection of a collision of the vehicle 1, it activates the inflator 57 of the protection unit 51. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5 , the inflator 57 generates inflation gas, and the airbag 60 supplied with the inflation gas inflates and expands rearward, deploying rearward. Specifically, the airbag 60 of this embodiment deploys rearward in the fore-and-aft direction and downward in the vertical direction. The airbag 60 may be configured to deploy horizontally or upward in the vertical direction depending on the position of the occupant M, as long as it is configured to deploy at least rearward in the fore-and-aft direction. Furthermore, the exterior panel 58 located behind the airbag 60 is pressed by the airbag 60 and deploys rearward together with the impact absorbing body 59, moving to just in front of the knees MK, which are the lower legs of the occupant M.

[0026] 6, the knees MK of the occupant M, which move forward due to a collision of the vehicle 1, come into contact with an exterior panel 58 located immediately in front of the knees MK of the occupant M. When the knees MK of the occupant M collide with the exterior panel 58, the airbag 60 and the impact absorber 59 bend forward to absorb kinetic energy, thereby suppressing the impact on the knees MK of the occupant M and the thighs and waist connected to the knees MK. In this way, the occupant protection device 50 receives the lower legs of the occupant M and protects the occupant M when the vehicle 1 collides.

[0027] As described above, according to the occupant protection device 50 of this embodiment, even if the distance between the initial position of the protection unit 51 and the driver's seat 90 is large, the protection unit 51 is moved from the initial position to a position close to the occupant M at the stage of pre-collision detection of the vehicle 1. Therefore, it is possible to suppress delay in the timing of contact between the occupant M and the protection unit 51.

[0028] 7 , the protection unit 51 is attached to the moving mechanism 52 by fastening the bolts 56e between the mounting panel 56 and the connecting plate 55. Therefore, the protection unit 51 can be easily removed from the moving mechanism 52 by removing the bolts 56e. Furthermore, when attaching a new protection unit 51 to the moving mechanism 52 after using the protection unit 51, the protection unit 51 can be easily attached to the moving mechanism 52 by fastening the bolts 56e. When replacing the protection unit 51, an unillustrated connector attached to an unillustrated electric cable is removed from the inflator 57 of the old protection unit 51 and attached to the inflator 57 of the new protection unit 51, thereby electrically connecting the control device 17 to the inflator 57 of the new protection unit 51. Thus, the occupant protection device 50 of this embodiment can improve the replaceability of the occupant protection device 50 compared to a configuration in which both the protection unit 51 and the moving mechanism 52 need to be replaced when replacing the occupant protection device 50.

[0029] Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to a configuration in which the motor 54 is used as the drive source for moving the drive shaft 53, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the same effects as those described above can be obtained even if the drive shaft 53 is moved by the driving force of another drive source, such as a hydraulic cylinder or an electromagnetic solenoid.

[0030] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the protection unit 51 and the moving mechanism 52 are attached and detached by fastening and detaching the bolt portion 56e, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other methods of attachment and detachment may be used. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a recess (engaged portion) recessed forward is formed on the rear surface 55a of the connecting plate 55, and a protrusion (engaging portion) protruding forward is formed on the front surface 56a of the mounting panel 56, and the protection unit 51 and the moving mechanism 52 are attached by engaging these recessed and protruding portions, and the protection unit 51 can be removed from the moving mechanism 52 by releasing the engagement.

[0031] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the protection unit 51 is deployed rearward by the inflation of the airbag 60, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the protection unit 51 may be deployed rearward by other methods. For example, instead of the airbag 60, an actuator may be provided as a pressing member including a cylinder, a piston rod housed in the cylinder, and a gas generator. Then, the piston rod in the cylinder may be moved rearward by the pressure of gas generated from the gas generator, and the exterior panel 58 located behind the piston rod may be pressed rearward by the piston rod, and the exterior panel 58 may be deployed rearward together with the impact absorbing body 59.

[0032] Furthermore, although the present embodiment has been described with reference to a configuration in which the occupant protection device 50 is mounted in front of the driver's seat 90, the present invention is not limited to this, and the occupant protection device 50 may be mounted in front of another seat in the vehicle 1. For example, the same effects as those described above can be obtained by mounting the occupant protection device 50 on the instrument panel 12 in front of the passenger seat, which is the front seat of the vehicle 1, to protect the occupant sitting in the passenger seat. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1...vehicle, 12...instrument panel, 50...occupant protection device, 51...protection unit (protection part), 52...moving mechanism (moving part), 56...mounting panel (fixing member), 56e...bolt part (screw member), 57...inflator, 58...exterior panel (abutment member), 59...impact absorber (connecting member), 60...airbag (pressure member), 90...driver's seat (seat, front seat), M...occupant, MK...knee part (lower limb)

Claims

1. An occupant protection device for protecting an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, a protection portion that receives the lower legs of the occupant to protect the occupant; a moving unit that moves the protection unit between a standby position in front of the seat and an extension position that is a position rearward of the standby position and close to the seat, and that moves the protection unit from the standby position to the extension position when a preliminary collision detection is performed by the vehicle; Equipped with The protective part is After the preliminary detection is performed by the vehicle, when a collision of the vehicle is detected, the vehicle extends rearward from the extended position to receive the lower legs of the occupant and protect the occupant; The passenger protection device is configured to be detachable from the moving part and replaceable.

2. 2. The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the moving unit moves from the extended position to the standby position when a predetermined time has elapsed without a collision of the vehicle being detected after the preliminary detection is performed by the vehicle.

3. The protective part is An inflator and an airbag that is inflated by inflation gas supplied from the inflator; Equipped with 2. The passenger protection device according to claim 1, wherein, when a collision of the vehicle is detected after the preliminary detection is performed by the vehicle, the airbag is deployed rearward by inflation.

4. The protective part is a fixed member fixed to the moving part; a contact member disposed behind the fixing member at a distance from the fixing member and adapted to contact the occupant; a connecting member having one end connected to the fixing member and the other end connected to the abutting member; a pressing member that presses the contact member rearward; Equipped with 2. The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein, when a collision of the vehicle is detected after preliminary detection by the vehicle, the abutment member is pressed by the pressing member, and is extended rearward together with the connecting member.

5. 5. The passenger protection device according to claim 1, wherein the protection portion is attached to the moving portion by fastening a screw member.

6. the protection portion includes an engaging portion that engages with an engaged portion provided on the moving portion, The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the protective part is attached to the moving part by engaging the engaging part with the engaged part, and the protective part is detached from the moving part by releasing the engagement of the engaging part with the engaged part.

7. 2. The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the occupant protection device is provided on an instrument panel of the vehicle, and the protection portion receives and protects the lower legs of the occupant seated in the front seat of the vehicle.

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