Vehicle occupant restraint device

Abstract

To provide an occupant restraint device for a vehicle which can suppress the rotational behavior of a side airbag which inflates and expands from a side part on a vehicle width direction inner side of a seat back to the vehicle width direction inner side of an occupant even when a vehicle seat takes a front side position.SOLUTION: An occupant restraint device 10 for a vehicle includes a side airbag 36 which has a main chamber 38 which is provided on a side part on a vehicle width direction inner side of a seat back 16 in a vehicle seat 12 and inflates and expands to the vehicle width direction inner side of an occupant P by being supplied with gas emitted from an inflator 32 internally, and a sub-chamber 40 which inflates and expands to the vehicle width direction inner side from a lower part of the main chamber 38. In a lateral view, the inflated and expanded sub-chamber 40 can come into contact with a front surface 22A of a console box 20 from the front side when the vehicle seat 12 takes a front side position where a front end surface 16A in the side part of the seat back 16 is located on the front side of the front surface 22A of the console box 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant restraint device. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicle occupant restraint devices in which a main bag portion of a far side airbag inflates and deploys toward the inside of the vehicle width direction of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, a lower portion of the main bag portion is interposed between a console box and the abdomen of the occupant, and a sub-bag portion inflates and deploys from a vertically intermediate portion of the main bag portion toward the top of the console box have been known for some time (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this vehicle occupant restraint device, when an occupant who is inertially moving toward the inside of the vehicle width direction due to the impact of a side collision is restrained by the main bag portion, the sub-bag portion receives a reaction force from the top surface of the console box, and the main bag portion is supported by the console box via the sub-bag portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-069729 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in a vehicle occupant restraint device having the above-described configuration, if the deployed main bag portion and sub-bag portion do not sufficiently overlap the console box in a side view, in other words, if the vehicle seat is in a forward position where the front end face of the side portion of the seat back is located further forward than the front of the console box, an occupant who moves inertially toward the main bag portion will not receive sufficient reaction force from the console box via the sub-bag portion, and may fall toward the center of the vehicle width.

[0005] That is, in the case of a small occupant who positions the vehicle seat in a forward position, in a plan view, the deployed main bag portion and sub-bag portion may rotate inward in the vehicle width direction around their rear ends as the center of rotation, which may make it difficult to restrain the occupant with the deployed main bag portion and sub-bag portion. Also, in a side view, the deployed main bag portion and sub-bag portion may rotate rearward around their lower ends as the center of rotation, which may make it difficult to restrain the occupant with the deployed main bag portion and sub-bag portion.

[0006] Thus, even when the vehicle seat is in the forward position, there is still room for improvement in the configuration for suppressing the rotational behavior of the side airbag that inflates and deploys from the inner side of the seat back of the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction toward the inner side of the occupant in the vehicle width direction.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle occupant restraint device that can suppress the rotational behavior of a side airbag that inflates and deploys from the inner side of the seat back in the vehicle width direction toward the inner side of the occupant in the vehicle width direction, even when the vehicle seat is in the forward position. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the present invention comprises: a vehicle seat that is arranged in a passenger compartment of a vehicle so as to be movable in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle; a console box that is arranged in the passenger compartment more inward in a vehicle width direction than the vehicle seat; an inflator that is arranged in the vehicle seat and that ejects gas when activated; and a side airbag that is arranged on a side portion of a seat back of the vehicle seat on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, the side airbag having: a main chamber that inflates and deploys toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat when the gas is supplied thereto; and a sub-chamber that inflates and deploys from a lower part of the main chamber toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction, wherein when the vehicle seat takes a front position in which a front end surface of the side portion of the seat back is located more forward of the vehicle than a front surface of the console box in a side view, the inflated and deployed sub-chamber is able to abut against the front surface of the console box from the front side of the vehicle.

[0009] According to the first aspect of the invention, in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, the inflator is activated and gas ejected from the inflator is supplied to the inside of the side airbag. As a result, the main chamber of the side airbag inflates and deploys toward the vehicle width inward of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat, and the sub-chamber of the side airbag inflates and deploys from a lower part of the main chamber toward the vehicle width inward. Note that "in the event of a side collision of the vehicle" includes not only when a side collision of the vehicle is detected but also when a side collision of the vehicle is predicted.

[0010] When a small occupant sits in the vehicle seat (particularly the driver's seat), the vehicle seat takes a forward position in which the front end surface of the side of the seatback is located further forward than the front surface of the console box in a side view. At this time, the inflated and deployed sub-chamber can abut against the front surface of the console box from the front side of the vehicle.

[0011] Therefore, even if the main chamber of the side airbag does not sufficiently overlap with the console box in a side view, the sub-chamber is supported from the rear side of the vehicle by the console box, so that the rotational behavior of the side airbag inward in the vehicle width direction around the rear end of the side airbag as the center of rotation is suppressed in a plan view. In other words, even when the vehicle seat is in the forward position, the rotational behavior of the side airbag that inflates and deploys from the inner side of the seat back in the vehicle width direction toward the inner side of the occupant in the vehicle width direction is suppressed.

[0012] In addition, a second aspect of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the present invention is a vehicle occupant restraint device of the first aspect, in which a lid portion of the console box is formed with a canopy portion that protrudes further forward than the front surface of the console box toward the front of the vehicle.

[0013] According to the second aspect of the invention, the lid of the console box is formed with a visor that protrudes further forward than the front surface of the console box. Therefore, even if the main chamber of the side airbag does not fully overlap the console box in a side view, the upper side of the rear end of the sub-chamber is caught on the visor and pressed from above the vehicle, thereby suppressing rotation of the side airbag toward the rear of the vehicle around the lower end of the side airbag.

[0014] Furthermore, a third aspect of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the present invention is a vehicle occupant restraint device of the second aspect, in which, when viewed from the side, the upper surface of the sub-chamber is located at the same position as or lower than the lower surface of the eave portion.

[0015] According to the third aspect of the invention, the upper surface of the sub-chamber is located at the same level as or lower than the lower surface of the eaves portion in a side view. Therefore, even if the main chamber of the side airbag does not fully overlap the console box in a side view, the upper side of the rear end of the sub-chamber is more likely to be caught by the eaves portion and is more reliably pressed from above the vehicle, thereby more reliably suppressing rotation of the side airbag toward the rear of the vehicle around the lower end of the side airbag as the center of rotation.

[0016] Furthermore, a fourth aspect of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the present invention is the vehicle occupant restraint device of the second aspect, in which, when viewed from the side, the height of the rear end of the sub-chamber is the same as or lower than the height of the front of the console box.

[0017] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the height of the rear end of the sub-chamber is set to be equal to or lower than the height of the front surface of the console box in a side view. Therefore, even if the main chamber of the side airbag does not sufficiently overlap with the console box in a side view, the upper side of the rear end of the sub-chamber is more likely to be caught by the eaves portion and is more reliably pressed from above the vehicle, thereby more reliably suppressing rotation of the side airbag toward the rear of the vehicle around the lower end of the side airbag as the center of rotation.

[0018] Furthermore, a fifth aspect of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the present invention is the vehicle occupant restraint device of the first aspect, wherein the console box has a lid portion that moves toward the front of the vehicle in conjunction with movement of the vehicle seat toward the front of the vehicle, and the sub-chamber is capable of abutting against the underside of the moved lid portion.

[0019] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the console box has a lid that moves toward the front of the vehicle in conjunction with movement of the vehicle seat toward the front of the vehicle. The sub-chamber is capable of contacting the underside of the moved lid. Therefore, even if the main chamber of the side airbag does not sufficiently overlap the console box in a side view, the sub-chamber is pressed from above the vehicle by the moved lid, thereby suppressing rotation toward the rear of the vehicle around the lower end of the side airbag as the center of rotation.

[0020] Furthermore, a sixth aspect of the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the present invention is a vehicle occupant restraint device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the gas is supplied to the sub-chamber through a communication hole formed in the lower part of the main chamber, and the sub-chamber inflates and deploys later than the main chamber.

[0021] According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the sub-chamber is supplied with gas through a communication hole formed in the lower part of the main chamber, and inflates and deploys later than the main chamber. Here, when a large occupant sits in a vehicle seat (particularly the driver's seat), the vehicle seat takes a rearward position in which the front end surface of the side portion of the seatback is located rearward of the front surface of the console box in a side view. In other words, in a side view, the main chamber of the side airbag sufficiently overlaps with the console box, narrowing the gap between the console box and the occupant. However, as described above, because the sub-chamber inflates and deploys later than the main chamber, the side airbag (main chamber) having the sub-chamber can inflate and deploy even in a narrow gap.

[0022] and a console box having a lid portion that is arranged inward in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle seat in the vehicle compartment and moves toward the front of the vehicle in conjunction with movement of the vehicle seat toward the front of the vehicle; an inflator that is arranged on the vehicle seat and ejects gas when activated; and a side airbag that is arranged on the inner side of the seat back of the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction and has: a main chamber that inflates and deploys toward the inside in the vehicle width direction of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat when the gas is supplied thereto; and a sub-chamber that inflates and deploys toward the inside in the vehicle width direction from a lower part of the main chamber, wherein the sub-chamber is capable of coming into contact with the underside of the moved lid portion.

[0023] According to the seventh aspect of the invention, in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, the inflator is activated and gas ejected from the inflator is supplied to the inside of the side airbag. As a result, the main chamber of the side airbag inflates and deploys toward the vehicle width inward of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat, and the sub-chamber of the side airbag inflates and deploys from the lower part of the main chamber toward the vehicle width inward. Note that "in the event of a side collision of the vehicle" includes not only when a side collision of the vehicle is detected but also when a side collision of the vehicle is predicted.

[0024] Here, the console box has a lid that moves toward the vehicle front in conjunction with movement of the vehicle seat toward the vehicle front. The sub-chamber is capable of abutting against the underside of the moved lid. Therefore, even if the main chamber of the side airbag does not sufficiently overlap the console box in a side view, the sub-chamber is pressed from above the vehicle by the moved lid, thereby suppressing rotation toward the vehicle rear around the lower end of the side airbag. In other words, even when the vehicle seat is in the forward position, rotation of the side airbag that inflates and deploys from the inner side of the seatback in the vehicle width direction toward the inside of the occupant in the vehicle width direction is suppressed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] As described above, according to the present invention, even when the vehicle seat is in the forward position, the rotational behavior of the side airbag that inflates and deploys from the inner side of the seat back in the vehicle width direction toward the inner side of the occupant in the vehicle width direction can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view showing an inflated and deployed state of a side airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint device according to a first embodiment when a vehicle seat is positioned in a front position. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic plan view showing an inflated and deployed state of a side airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint device according to a first embodiment when a vehicle seat is positioned in a front position. [Figure 3] 2 is a schematic enlarged side view, partly in cross section, showing the inside of a side airbag of the vehicle occupant restraint device relating to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic enlarged plan view showing a cross section of the inside of a side airbag of the vehicle occupant restraint device relating to the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5]1A and 1B are schematic enlarged side views showing the shape (circular) of a communication hole formed in a main chamber of a side airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint device according to the first embodiment, respectively. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged side view showing a first modified example of a sub-chamber in a side airbag of the vehicle occupant restraint device relating to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged side view showing a second modified example of the sub-chamber in the side airbag of the vehicle occupant restraint device relating to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic side view showing an inflated and deployed state of a side airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint device according to a first embodiment when a vehicle seat is positioned in a rear position. [Figure 9] 2 is a schematic plan view showing an inflated and deployed state of a side airbag of the vehicle occupant restraint device relating to the first embodiment when the vehicle seat is located in a rear position. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a schematic side view showing a state before a lid portion of a console box of a vehicle occupant restraint device according to a second embodiment moves together with a vehicle seat. FIG. [Figure 11] 10 is a schematic side view showing a state after a lid portion of a console box of a vehicle occupant restraint device according to a second embodiment has moved together with a vehicle seat. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, the arrow UP shown in each drawing indicates the upward direction of the vehicle and the vehicle seat, the arrow FR indicates the forward direction of the vehicle and the vehicle seat, and the arrow LH indicates the leftward direction of the vehicle and the vehicle seat. Therefore, in the following description, unless otherwise specified, when the directions of up / down, front / rear, and left / right are mentioned, they refer to up / down, front / rear, left / right, and right / left of the vehicle and the vehicle seat. Furthermore, the left / right direction is synonymous with the vehicle width direction and the seat width direction.

[0028] 1 and 2 is, for example, an occupant corresponding to AF05 (5th percentile of adult American women) of WorldSID (World Side Impact Dummy). Also, occupant P shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is, for example, an occupant corresponding to AM95 (95th percentile of adult American men) of WorldSID.

[0029] First Embodiment First, a first embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, a vehicle seat 12 constituting a vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to the first embodiment includes a seat cushion 14 on which an occupant P sits (supporting the buttocks Pb and thighs of the occupant P), a seatback 16 that supports the back of the occupant P, and a headrest 18 that supports the head Ph of the occupant P. Note that, as an example, the vehicle seat 12 is a right-side front seat provided in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction by a known electric mechanism.

[0030] In a side view seen from the vehicle width direction (seat width direction), the seat cushion 14 extends in the front-rear direction, and the seat back 16 is connected to the rear end of the seat cushion 14 so as to be rotatable about its axial direction in the seat width direction and extends in the up-down direction. The headrest 18 is provided at the upper end of the seat back 16 in the center in the seat width direction so as to be able to move up and down. The occupant P is restrained in the vehicle seat 12 by a seat belt device (not shown).

[0031] 1 and 2, a console box 20 is provided on a vehicle interior floor 11 (see FIG. 1) on the inner side of the vehicle seat 12 in the vehicle width direction (at the center in the vehicle width direction). The console box 20 is a rectangular hollow box whose longitudinal direction is the front-to-rear direction in a plan view. The front wall 22 and the rear wall 24 of the console box 20 have a front surface 22A and a rear surface 24A, respectively, which are flat surfaces, and the left and right side walls 26 of the console box 20 have side surfaces 26L and 26R, respectively, which are flat surfaces.

[0032] The top of the console box 20 is open and configured to be openable and closable by a lid 28 having a predetermined thickness. The front end of the lid 28 of the console box 20 forms a canopy 29 that protrudes a predetermined distance forward from the front surface 22A of the front wall 22 in a side view. The height of the top surface 28A of the lid 28 of the console box 20 is set to a height that allows the occupant P to rest their elbows (not shown) on it without assuming an awkward posture.

[0033] A side airbag device 30 is provided on the left side (hereinafter referred to as the "left side"), which is the side on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the seatback 16. As shown in Fig. 3, the side airbag device 30 includes an inflator 32 embedded in the left side of the seatback 16, an inner cloth 34 that distributes gas ejected from the inflator 32 upward and downward, and a side airbag 36 with the inner cloth 34 provided inside.

[0034] The inflator 32 is a cylindrical gas generator formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, with its axial direction aligned (substantially vertical) with the side frames (not shown) that form the framework of both the left and right sides of the seatback 16. The inflator 32 is activated when a side collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted (hereinafter referred to as "at the time of a side collision"), and is capable of instantly supplying gas into the inside of the side airbag 36 via the inner fabric 34.

[0035] Specifically, the rear lower end of the inner cloth 34 is connected to the upper end 32A of the inflator 32. The front side of the inner cloth 34 is formed in a cylindrical shape with its axis extending substantially vertically, and has an upper opening 34A and a lower opening 34B. Therefore, the inner cloth 34 is capable of discharging gas ejected from the inflator 32 upward and downward inside the side airbag 36. This allows the side airbag 36 to be quickly inflated and deployed.

[0036] The side airbag 36 is provided on the left side of the seatback 16, and has a main chamber 38 that inflates and deploys inward in the vehicle width direction around the buttocks Pb, lumbar region Pw, chest Pc, shoulders Ps, and head Ph of an occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12 when gas is supplied thereto, and a sub-chamber 40 that inflates and deploys from a lower portion of the main chamber 38 inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0037] 1, in a side view, the main chamber 38 extends from the upper end of the headrest 18 to the lower end of the seatback 16 (up to the seat cushion 14), and its upper part is formed in a generally elliptical shape that bulges forward so as to be able to restrain the head Ph of the occupant P. The main chamber 38 is formed into a single bag shape by sewing the outer peripheral edges of two pieces of base fabric together.

[0038] The sub-chamber 40 is formed in a generally elliptical shape that is long in the front-to-rear direction in side view, and its length in the front-to-rear direction is set to a length that does not protrude from the main chamber 38. The length (height) in the up-down direction of the sub-chamber 40 is set to a length (height) such that the upper surface 40A of the sub-chamber 40 is positioned at approximately the same position as the upper surface 28A of the lid portion 28 of the console box 20 in side view.

[0039] 6, the vertical length (height) of the sub-chamber 40 is preferably set so that the upper surface 40A of the sub-chamber 40 is positioned at the same level as or lower than the lower surface 29A of the eave portion 29 in a side view. In other words, the vertical length of the sub-chamber 40 (at least the height of the rear end portion 40B) is preferably set to be the same as or lower than the height of the front surface 22A of the front wall 22 of the console box 20 in a side view.

[0040] 7, a substantially L-shaped step 42 may be formed on the upper side of the rear end 40B of the sub-chamber 40 after inflation and deployment is complete in side view. In this case, it is preferable that the vertical length (height) of the rear end 40B of the sub-chamber 40 (up to the step 42) is the same as or lower than the height of the front surface 22A of the front wall 22 of the console box 20 in side view.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 4, the sub-chamber 40 is formed into a bag shape by sewing its outer peripheral edge to the lower part of the base fabric on the inner side of the main chamber 38 in the vehicle width direction, and is configured to inflate and deploy to a predetermined thickness inward in the vehicle width direction than the base fabric on the inner side of the main chamber 38 in the vehicle width direction.

[0042] 5, a communication hole 39 that connects the main chamber 38 to the sub-chamber 40 is formed in the lower part of the base fabric on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the main chamber 38. The communication hole 39 is formed, for example, in a circular shape as shown in FIG. 5(A) or a slit shape as shown in FIG. 5(B), and gas is supplied to the sub-chamber 40 from the main chamber 38 via the communication hole 39.

[0043] When the communicating hole 39 is circular, the sub-chamber 40 expands and deploys at a faster rate than when the communicating hole 39 is slit-shaped and has a length equal to the diameter of the circle. Furthermore, when the communicating hole 39 is slit-shaped, it is not limited to the vertically elongated slit shape shown in FIG. 5(B), and may be, for example, a horizontally elongated slit or a diagonally elongated slit. In any case, with such circular or slit-shaped communicating hole 39, the sub-chamber 40 expands and deploys to a predetermined thickness later than the main chamber 38.

[0044] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the vehicle seat 12 is in a front position in which, in a side view, the front end surface (the end surface located at the forefront) 16A on the lower side of the side of the seat back 16 is located forward of the front surface 22A of the front wall 22 of the console box 20, such as in the case of a small occupant P, the rear end portion 40B of the inflated and deployed sub-chamber 40 can abut against the front surface 22A of the front wall 22 of the console box 20 from the front side.

[0045] 2, when at least the main chamber 38 of the side airbag 36 rotates rearward and inward in the vehicle width direction with its rear end as the center of rotation (with the inflator 32 side as the pivot point), the rear end 40B of the inflated and deployed sub-chamber 40 abuts from the front side against the front surface 22A of the console box 20. Therefore, this also includes the case where the rear end 40B abuts from the front side against the front surface 22A of the console box 20 at the time the sub-chamber 40 is inflated and deployed.

[0046] 8 and 9, when the vehicle seat 12 is in a rear position in which the front end surface 16A on the lower side of the side of the seatback 16 is located rearward of the front surface 22A of the front wall 22 of the console box 20 in a side view, such as in the case of a large occupant P, the lower part of the main chamber 38 and the sub-chamber 40 can be interposed between the side surface 26R of the right side wall 26 of the console box 20 and the buttocks Pb of the occupant P. In other words, in this case, the sub-chamber 40 is configured to inflate and deploy only to the extent that it fills the gap between the lower part of the main chamber 38 and the right side surface 26R of the console box 20.

[0047] Next, the operation of the vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to the first embodiment configured as above will be described.

[0048] In the event of a side collision of the vehicle, the inflator 32 is activated, and gas ejected from the inflator 32 is instantly supplied to the inside of the inner fabric 34, and then supplied to the inside of the side airbag 36 (main chamber 38) through an upper opening 34A and a lower opening 34B of the inner fabric 34. Then, the internal pressure (inflation pressure) of the side airbag 36, which begins to inflate due to the supply of gas, ruptures the skin from the lower end to the upper end on the left side of the seatback 16.

[0049] That is, the main chamber 38 of the side airbag 36 inflates and deploys toward the left side (inner side in the vehicle width direction) of the buttocks Pb, waist Pw, chest Pc, shoulders Ps, and head Ph of the occupant P. As a result, the left side of the occupant P, from the head Ph to the buttocks Pb, is covered from the left side by the main chamber 38. Therefore, in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, the left side of the occupant P, from the head Ph to the buttocks Pb, can be restrained by the main chamber 38.

[0050] Furthermore, with a delay after the main chamber 38 is inflated and deployed, the sub-chamber 40 of the side airbag 36 inflates and deploys from a lower portion of the main chamber 38 inward in the vehicle width direction. Here, as shown in Fig. 1, if an occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12 (particularly the driver's seat) is small in stature, the vehicle seat 12 will take a front position in which a front end surface 16A on the lower side of the side portion of the seatback 16 is located forward of a front surface 22A of the console box 20 in a side view. At this time, the inflated and deployed sub-chamber 40 is able to abut against the front surface 22A of the console box 20 from the front side.

[0051] Therefore, even if the main chamber 38 of the side airbag 36 does not sufficiently overlap the console box 20 in a side view (even if it is shifted forward), the rear end 40B of the sub-chamber 40 is supported from the rear side by the front surface 22A of the console box 20, so that, in a plan view, rotation behavior toward the rear inward direction of the vehicle width around the rear end of the side airbag 36 as the center of rotation (with the inflator 32 side as the rotation fulcrum).

[0052] Furthermore, a visor portion 29 is formed at the front end of the lid portion 28 of the console box 20, protruding forward from the front surface 22A of the console box 20. Therefore, even if the main chamber 38 of the side airbag 36 does not sufficiently overlap the console box 20 in a side view, the upper side of the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber 40 is caught on the visor portion 29 and pressed from above, so that rearward rotational behavior of the side airbag 36 around the lower end portion of the side airbag 36 as the center of rotation can also be suppressed.

[0053] In this way, even when the vehicle seat 12 is in the forward position, it is possible to suppress the rotational behavior of the side airbag 36 that inflates and deploys from the left side of the seatback 16 toward the vehicle width direction inward of the occupant P. This ensures restraint performance for a small occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12 in the forward position.

[0054] 6, it is preferable that the upper surface 40A of the sub-chamber 40 is located at the same level as or lower than the lower surface 29A of the eave portion 29 in a side view. In other words, it is preferable that the height of the sub-chamber 40 (at least the height of the rear end portion 40B) is formed to be the same as or lower than the height of the front surface 22A of the console box 20 in a side view.

[0055] According to this, even if the main chamber 38 of the side airbag 36 does not sufficiently overlap with the console box 20 in a side view, the upper side of the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber 40 is more likely to be caught by the eaves portion 29 over a wide area and is more reliably pressed from above, so that rearward rotational behavior around the lower end portion of the side airbag 36 as the center of rotation can be more reliably suppressed.

[0056] 7, a step 42 may be formed on the upper side of the rear end 40B of the sub-chamber 40 in a side view. In this case, it is preferable that the height of the rear end 40B of the sub-chamber 40 (the height to the step 42) is the same as or lower than the height of the front surface 22A of the console box 20 in a side view.

[0057] As a result, as with the above, even if the main chamber 38 of the side airbag 36 does not sufficiently overlap the console box 20 in a side view, the upper side of the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber 40 is more likely to be caught by the eaves portion 29 over a wide area and is more reliably pressed down from above, so that rearward rotational behavior around the lower end portion of the side airbag 36 as the center of rotation can be more reliably suppressed.

[0058] Furthermore, gas is supplied to the sub-chamber 40 via a communication hole 39 formed in the lower part of the main chamber 38, and the sub-chamber 40 inflates and deploys later than the main chamber 38. Here, as shown in Figure 8, when an occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12 (particularly the driver's seat) is large, the vehicle seat 12 takes a rear position in which a front end surface 16A on the lower side of the side of the seatback 16 is located rearward of a front surface 22A of the console box 20 in a side view.

[0059] That is, in a side view, the main chamber 38 of the side airbag 36 sufficiently overlaps the console box 20, narrowing the gap between the right side surface 26R of the console box 20 and the buttocks Pb of the occupant P. However, as described above, the sub-chamber 40 inflates and deploys later than the main chamber 38, so even in a narrow gap, the side airbag 36 (main chamber 38) having the sub-chamber 40 can easily inflate and deploy.

[0060] Furthermore, the communication hole 39 is formed in a circular or slit shape. Therefore, the time when the deployment of the sub-chamber 40 is completed can be adjusted with a simpler configuration than when the communication hole 39 is not formed in a circular or slit shape. That is, by adjusting the inner diameter of the circle or the length of the slit, the time when the deployment of the sub-chamber 40 is completed can be easily adjusted to be later than the time when the inflation and deployment of the main chamber 38 is completed.

[0061] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate parts equivalent to those in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions (including common functions) will be omitted as appropriate.

[0062] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in that the console box 20 has a lid portion 28 that moves forward in conjunction with the forward movement of the vehicle seat 12, and the sub-chamber 40 is capable of abutting against the underside 28B of the lid portion 28 that has moved forward.

[0063] More specifically, an electric motor 44 and a pinion 46 that is rotationally driven by the electric motor 44 are provided at one end in the vehicle width direction on the upper front side inside the console box 20. A rack 48 that meshes with the pinion 46 is provided at one end in the vehicle width direction on the underside of the lid portion 28. The electric motor 44 is also electrically connected to a control device (not shown) that controls an electric mechanism that moves the vehicle seat 12.

[0064] According to this configuration, when the vehicle seat 12 is moved forward by driving the electric mechanism under the control of the control device that receives the switch operation by the occupant P, the electric motor 44 is driven under the control of the control device, and the lid portion 28 of the console box 20 moves forward via the pinion 46 and the rack 48. Then, as described above, the sub-chamber 40 can come into contact with the underside 28B of the lid portion 28 that has moved forward.

[0065] Therefore, even if the main chamber 38 of the side airbag 36 does not sufficiently overlap the console box 20 in a side view (even if it is shifted forward), the sub-chamber 40 is pressed from above by the lid portion 28 that has moved forward, so that rearward rotational behavior around the lower end of the side airbag 36 as the center of rotation can be suppressed.

[0066] Furthermore, in a side view, the main chamber 38 of the side airbag 36 sufficiently overlaps with the lid portion 28 that has moved forward (the eaves portion 29, which is the front end of the lid portion 28, protrudes forward beyond the front end surface of the lower part of the main chamber 38). Therefore, in a plan view, the lid portion 28 can also suppress rotational behavior of the side airbag 36 toward the rear inward in the vehicle width direction around the rear end of the side airbag 36 as the center of rotation (with the inflator 32 side as the rotation fulcrum).

[0067] In this way, even when the vehicle seat 12 is in the forward position, it is possible to suppress the rotational behavior of the side airbag 36 that inflates and deploys from the left side of the seatback 16 toward the vehicle width direction inward of the occupant P. This ensures restraint performance for a small occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12 in the forward position.

[0068] Since the sub-chamber 40 is configured to be able to come into contact with the underside 28B of the lid portion 28 of the console box 20, the lid portion 28 can also contribute to stabilizing the inflation and deployment position of the sub-chamber 40. Furthermore, since the lid portion 28 sufficiently overlaps with the main chamber 38 of the side airbag 36, it can also contribute to applying a reaction force to the main chamber 38.

[0069] Furthermore, the forward movement of the lid portion 28 of the console box 20 is not limited to a configuration in which it is linked to the forward movement of the vehicle seat 12. For example, although not shown, a measuring device capable of measuring weight may be provided on the vehicle seat 12, and the measuring device may be electrically connected to the control device. In this case, if the weight of the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12 is lighter than a predetermined weight, the control device determines that the occupant P is a small occupant P and drives the electric motor 44 to move the lid portion 28 forward in advance.

[0070] Furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, a camera for photographing the occupant P may be provided in the vehicle interior, and the camera may be electrically connected to the control device. In this case, the camera photographs the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat 12, and if the external shape of the occupant P is smaller than a predetermined external shape, the control device determines that the occupant P is small, and drives the electric motor 44 to move the lid portion 28 forward in advance.

[0071] While the vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to this embodiment has been described above with reference to the drawings, the vehicle occupant restraint device 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to the one shown in the drawings, and the design can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, the shape of the communication hole 39 is not limited to the circular shape shown in Figure 5(A), and may be formed in a triangular or rectangular shape, etc.

[0072] Furthermore, the lid portion 28 of the console box 20 does not necessarily have to have the eave portion 29, and the height of the sub-chamber 40 may be set so that the upper surface 40A thereof exceeds the upper surface 28A of the lid portion 28 of the console box 20 in a side view. In this case, at least the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber 40 is supported from the rear side by the front surface 22A of the console box 20, and therefore, rotational behavior of the side airbag 36 toward the inside rear in the vehicle width direction around the rear end portion of the side airbag 36 as the rotation center (with the inflator 32 side as the rotation fulcrum) can be suppressed in a plan view. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10. Vehicle occupant restraint system 12 Vehicle seats 16 Seat back 16A Front end 20 Console box 22A front 28 Lid 28A top 28B Bottom 29 Eaves 30 Side airbag device 32 Inflator 36 Side airbags 38 Main Chamber 39 Communication hole 40 Sub-chamber 40A top 40B Rear end P crew

Claims

1. a vehicle seat provided in a vehicle compartment so as to be movable in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; a console box provided in the vehicle compartment on an inner side of the vehicle seat in a vehicle width direction; an inflator provided in the vehicle seat and configured to eject gas when activated; a side airbag provided on an inner side of a seat back of the vehicle seat in a vehicle width direction, the side airbag including: a main chamber that is inflated and deployed toward the inner side of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction when the gas is supplied thereto; and a sub-chamber that is inflated and deployed toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction from a lower part of the main chamber; Equipped with When the vehicle seat is in a forward position in which, in a side view, the front end surface of the side of the seat back is located further forward in the vehicle than the front surface of the console box, the inflated and deployed sub-chamber is capable of abutting against the front surface of the console box from the front side of the vehicle.

2. 2. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 1, wherein a lid portion of the console box is formed with a canopy portion that protrudes forward of the vehicle beyond a front surface of the console box.

3. 3. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 2, wherein an upper surface of the sub-chamber is located at the same level as or lower than a lower surface of the eave portion in a side view.

4. 3. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 2, wherein the height of the rear end of the sub-chamber is equal to or lower than the height of the front surface of the console box in a side view.

5. the console box has a lid portion that moves toward the front of the vehicle in conjunction with movement of the vehicle seat toward the front of the vehicle, 2. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to claim 1, wherein the sub-chamber is capable of coming into contact with the lower surface of the lid portion when the lid portion is moved.

6. The vehicle occupant restraint device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the gas is supplied to the sub-chamber through a communication hole formed in a lower portion of the main chamber, and the sub-chamber inflates and deploys later than the main chamber.

7. a vehicle seat provided in a vehicle compartment so as to be movable in a front-rear direction of the vehicle; a console box provided in the vehicle compartment on an inner side of the vehicle seat in a vehicle width direction, the console box having a lid portion that moves toward the front of the vehicle in conjunction with movement of the vehicle seat toward the front of the vehicle; an inflator provided in the vehicle seat and configured to eject gas when activated; a side airbag provided on an inner side of a seat back of the vehicle seat in a vehicle width direction, the side airbag including: a main chamber that is inflated and deployed toward the inner side of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat in the vehicle width direction when the gas is supplied thereto; and a sub-chamber that is inflated and deployed toward the inner side in the vehicle width direction from a lower part of the main chamber; Equipped with The sub-chamber is capable of contacting the underside of the lid portion when the lid portion moves.

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